Before I became a fashion stylist, I used to work as a fashion designer for ASOS.
They initially launched as ‘As Seen On Screen’ where they ‘reinterpreted’ the coveted fashion trends worn by the latest *it girls* but as they started to evolve in to the platform we now know, I designed eye catching fashion styles for savvy online shoppers …and I loved every minute!
However, I did order from 2 other high street fashion brands
Online Stylist
ASOS is progressive, offering a a plethora of online shopping options for your wardrobes, Sydney!:
Marketplace – international sellers of pre-loved fashion
Inclusive plus size fashion, petite, tall & maternity styles
Offers international designers to the Australian consumer
Face & Body – the latest beauty care
My Personal Styling Client Needs
I’m wanted to investigate a subdivision of ASOS that I think my personal styling clients would appreciate to see how it stacks up, ASOS EDITION.
When I’m hosting a personal shop, many clients are looking for pieces that cover their knees, arms and can be worn with flats and heels.. so that’s what I delivered!
1/ ASOS MAIN RANGE – £16
PRO’S – stunning shade & flattering square neck
CON’S – wayyy too tight across bust, feels like the fit of this dress is more ‘youth’ than woman, probably because it’s in their main range
The trapeze shape flares from fullest part of bust so you loose your under bust waist/empire line shaping
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2/ ASOS EDITION – £65
PRO’S – Comfortable shirred waist.
Fantastic colour & shape is flattering on all female body types. Lots of room for fuller busts and tummies (baby bumps) & hips
Fabric is more elevated than plain cotton so looks more expensive
Takes you seamlessly from day to night
CON’S – bit low cut but easy to tack the V neckline to raise it a little
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3/ ASOS EDITION – £90
PRO’S – unusual colour makes it look very ‘designer’ and fantastic value considering the amount of fabric used
The seaming and shaping/fit over bust & waist was excellent, and did I mention the colour?
CON’S – looked amazing on model but I felt a little bo-peep-slash-90’s-bridesmaid on me, although I liked it for a fun fashion look
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4/ TOPSHOP @ASOS – £60
PRO’S – love this fun yet sophisticated floral mis-match, a fantastic interpretation of the designer trend
Wear for summer + sandals and the winter + boots & knitwear
Perfect day-to-night dress
Easy fit as it’s cut on the bias so natural stretch and comfort over the body, again, great for a baby/post baby bump
CON’S – slinky fabrics flatter most with big knickers or shape-wear underneath. I always advise against a firm fit Spanx but go instead with light/medium control knickers one size bigger
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5/ ASOS EDITION – £100
PRO’S – fully lined, stretchy & comfy with timeless feminine & flattering seaming you’ll be wearing for years
Also comes in white. AMAZING. Kept it so you’ll be seeing on my insta grid!
CON’S – bit low cut but easy to tack the V neckline to raise it a little
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Outcome Of My Online Personal Shop
So outcome is, ASOS itself offers a more ‘fast fashion’ product and generally my personal styling clients want something a little more ‘sophisticated’ or different and this is where ASOS EDITION kicks in which has some fantastic flattering pieces in superior design & fabrics.
Perfect when you want something elevated without the designer price tag, which in Australia is can easily mean forking out $400-$600 for a similar product!!
The online ordering process, communication & returns were the most simple of the 3 brands I ordered from, free of charge and paper free too!
Trackies have been the clothes we’ve been living our lockdown life in lately, haven’t they?
But now spring has arrived (cue happy dance!) let me show you how to elevate them from couch-to-city
WELCOME TO COMFORT AND STYLE
Don’t Avoid Mirrors Anymore!
Tracksuits have been on trend for a few seasons but there’s a few fashion tips to help make them slicker so you enjoy seeing yourself in them for a few more seasons!
I had my personal shopper game face on, got all exited about my stylist find, introduced you to the most perfect multitasking cardigan…..
..and it sold out 🤦🏽♀️
But don’t worry, I’ve FOUND MORE cozy cardigans that are IN STOCK and you can BUY WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME!!
Missed my video? Listen to my fashion tips:
This video explains all features & benefits of this wfh style, why it sits in the middle of your wardrobe and how you can effortlessly dress it up AND down
= VALUE FOR MONEY!!
Lockdown Fashion This Winter 2021
As a personal stylist, I know that WFH in the winter means we want:
fashion styles that feel warm as soon as you put them on
medium weight, not too heavy or cumbersum
stretchy and uber comfortable
cosy clothes that look chic
flatter and fit well
not itchy so we can keep it on 27-4
must layer over office pants, yoga pants AND pyjama pants
work for day-to-night
can be worn inside AND outside
(wow – we don’t want much, do we?)
That’s why as a fashion stylist, I suggest a smart knitted cardigan = Coatigan = hybrid coat / cardigan
Sydney Wardrobe Stylist
What they have in common is a collar and/or rever, shown on the left (rather than shawl collar or hood) which keeps them on the ‘smart’ side of casual & gives them their versatility!
Mummy Makeover Style
They’re also perfect for those personal styling clients needing a mummy makeover! You can breast feed in it, soft enough next to baby’s skin and you NEVER NEED TO TAKE IT OFF! (apart from to launder)
My Personal Shopper Top 7 Coatigans:
PRESENTING my personal shopper top 7 coatigans that will makeover your wardrobe instantly! These clothes styles range in price, colour, fabric & sizes XXS-XXXL to fit all body types, so there’s one to match your personal style:
1/. PORTMANS
The Winter Waterfall Milano Cardigan $129 – ON SALE TILL TUESDAY 6th JULY $78
Why is this a fantastic fashion style?
The milano yarn is drier to feel and creates a smarter look. It’s a yarn Scanlan & Theodore have run for years and this is the Portman’s version
So I hope this has offered some focused inspiration on great value items at different price points and size ranges – the kind of hard working clothes styles you wondered how you lived without!?!
Want to know what to wear with these coatigans, book me for a personal shop!
If you bought the Karen Millen black pleather pants I *banged on about* last winter, perhaps this brown version could be your 2021 update?
Personal Shopper Skills
I’ve talked about B R O W N for a few seasons and most brands now offer MANY shades, so you’ve probably seen brown pop-up across the high street!!
As your personal shopper I’ve edited the best and organised in to 3 price points, depending on your budget
*EXCLUSIVE FASHION INSIGHT*
I’ll give you a bit of exclusive fashion insight….and some of you might not like what I have to say..
Brown, taupe & camel are actually WAYYYYYYY more flatter on most humans than grey!! Like, way better.
There. I’ve said it.
Ginger & Smart
As a colour expert, I’ve conducted 100’s of colour analysis’s so I’m talking from FIRST HAND experience and I know that lots of clients reading this will have witnessed this too!!
Even if you have cool undertones, so a SUMMER or WINTER, and grey should suit you, taupe generally looks better on 80% of you!!
This shows the taupe range from the coolest on the left to the warmest on the right:
Why Do I Like Brown?
I KNOW brown can be a bit scary or have unpleasant connotations (no more detail needed) but I’m telling you, it’s edgy.
It’s softer and richer than black meaning it’s less stark AND flatters more skin tones!
It also works perfectly in leather or mock leather because it’s less obviously *sexy* than black can appear
Move Over Black, There’s A New Shade In Town
Here’s all the rich shades of *BROWN* to consider buying clothes in:
So, if you haven’t tried this colour yet, how about rocking it in a more sexy way like these pleather or leather pants?
YOUR Pant Personal Shopper
As a personal shopper, I’ve edited the high street and found the best leather-look bargains, through to finest quality leather, from skinny to pleat front tapered, so here’s your comprehensive buying guide, happy shopping!
Click to understand the different female body types so you understand the best pant shape to flatter your body shape:
Fashionopolis via Pinterest
ATHLETIC = pleat front + defined waist/belted ie. Portmans, Carolina or Ginger & Smart
HOURGLASS & APPLE = flat fronted fitted pants ie. H&M, Forever New, Bardot, The Iconic
PEAR = parallel leg ie. Aje, Witchery or Ginger & Smart that creates more room over hip/thigh
INVERTED TRIANGLE = parallel or looser leg including pleat front/elasticated waist that creates a fuller leg shape ie. Portmans, Carolina or Ginger & Smart
LONG WAISTED = high waist pant including paper bag waist ie. Carolina style
LONG LEGS = any style works you lucky thing!
Fashion Shopper
There’s currently winter sales on and the sooner you purchase, the sooner you can start enjoying!
Look at the above images for styling ideas or search on pinterest or instagram #brownleatherpants including how to wear during spring & autumn to maximise your purchase and reduce your cost-per-wear!
Contact me if you’d like help shopping for your perfect pair x
You NEED This Fashion Style In Your Wardrobes Sydney!
As a personal shopper in Sydney, I know you’ve been searching for a comfortable, casual pant, versatile enough to take you pretty much anywhere.
1 fashion style that you can wear #wfh but also happy to leave the house in, you can smarten for work and A L L activities in between, because let’s face it, these days most of our daily life is spent on these everyday pursuits.
We need to make sure our wardrobe matches our lifestyle needs
Sustainable Fashion Approach
Lots of clients think that to achieve lots of different looks in your wardrobe, you need lots of clothes – but that’s simply not the case.
You just need the RIGHT clothes.
And sometimes that just takes a bit more patience, research and wardrobe planning – and that’s what I’m here for!
What Is ‘Smart Casual’ Style?
Finding a ‘smart casual pant’ is an item most of my personal styling clients struggle with, a pant that fills the void between jean and active-wear legging
It’s a casual style in a cleaner, smarter fabric
Whatever your age, size, body type this pant will suit YOU!
And depending on yourpersonal style, there’s soooo many ways to style them too!
The tapered leg that skims your body means there’s less fabric flapping about compared to a wider leg, meaning you feel comfortable wearing them to more events, and because they’re not skin tight, you don’t have to keep them just for ‘thin days’
Fashion Styling
Have a look at 3 ways i’ve styled them (or the almost identical pair I already own) and scroll down to see the actual LuLuLemon pair in action
And Where Are They From?
Drum roll please…..
They’re from the American Fitness wear brand LuLuLemon!
Did you guess it?
The Keep Moving Pant at $129
Well designed pants born out of our real world need to seamlessly move from dog walking, to business meeting
THE “TAKE YOU ANYWHERE” PANT
And the reason they’re so versatile?
They’ve left off :
> LuLuLemon logo
> triple stitching
> oversized pockets
> elasticated hems etc.
Basically all the things that would make them harder to style smarter!
Fashion Shopper Tip
It’s actually what they’ve left OFF, that makes them a clever design, so consider this clean minimal approach as a value-add feature when you next purchase
They actually appear a looser fit on the website but I found them less baggy in real life, I wore a size 10 and i’m generally around a size 8, 9 or 10 so I went up slightly, rather than down.
Website
Me in reality
Remember, the brand is American so you need to go down 2 sizes, so a size 10 = size 6 at LuLuLemon
It’s All About The Fabric
Fabric is one of the key reasons you enjoy – or don’t enjoy – wearing your clothes but it’s an area that’s not regularly considered
@lululemon have created gym friendly technical fabrics that they’re now making in ‘street’ styles
SO ‘THROWONABLE’ YOU WON’T WANT TO TAKE THEM OFF!!
The Actual LuLuLemon Pant In Action!
The music’s a little loud (or maybe I’m just showing my age ;-)) but this is the actual LuLuLemon KEEP MOVING PANT in action:
Petite Body Types
Such a large percent of my female clients are petite (5ft 3″ and under) so I was delighted that there’s a crop pair in navy.
Also perfect for those of you who have shorter legs or just prefer a crop length
Navy is pretty much as versatile as black, depending on your personal style
My Styling Services
Here’s a few more ways to style these pants for a variety of seasons using tanks, knits and brogues!
I’d LOVE to see how you’ve styled your pant, send me photos!
GOOD DAY GIRL fashion designers are revolutionizing the Australian fashion industry.
They’re a local Sydney design duo with a completely different approach to producing clothes, that’s stylish AND affordable!
As a Sydney personal stylist, we share the same philosophy in that each fashion season should layer on top of the last, evolving your capsule wardrobe as you evolve as a person.
Clever, thoughtful wardrobe planning that reduces waste as you reduce consumption.
Contact me to be emailed this article so you can read easily in full
‘FASHION SINGS A SLOWER TUNE’
In the January 13th 2021 edition of the Wentworth Courier there’s a fantastic fashion article ‘FASHION SINGS A SLOWER TUNE’ that stopped me in my tracks.
FASHION STATS YOU DON’T WANT TO READ
The statistics from this article read:
>>Between 2000 – 2014 clothing production DOUBLED
I was working as a global fashion designer during this period and realise I was part of the problem – hence why I now work as a personal stylist trying to be part of the solution, to slow down fashion consumption, 1 client at a time
Increasingly my personal styling clients ask me for more ethically sourced and sustainable fashion which is reassuring to witness positive change happening!!
>>The average consumer now buys 60% more
>>Clothing is only kept half as long
This 60% increase in consumption wouldn’t be so much of a problem if we were purchased sustainable fabrics and fulfilled and enjoying wearing more of our clothes – but these stats tell us that consumers are increasingly unsatisfied with their purchases “a graveyard of unloved clothing” as Good Day Girl put it.
Image from BBC News
Pair that with covid-comfort-spending, recently reported as a:
>> +38% increase in clothing spend according to Mozo the money saving website !!
HOLY CR%P
If we carry on in this trajectory, 2030 looks incredibly concerning for our environment, our children’s future, our spending behavior and expectations as consumer
Start Wardrobe Planning
You don’t need loads more stuff in your wardrobes Sydney, you just need the RIGHT stuff, so this is the mantra I invite you to sit with this year, to ask yourself before you buy:
Do I really love this, will I enjoy wearing it often?
It reflects the trending hashtag:
#30wears
It changes your approach to buying, by encouraging you to only purchase items you’ll get 30 wears from
Have you seen my ‘FOREVER PIECES’ on my instastories that show you the fashion styles that generate well over #30wears?
Image from Instagram
This Behavior Creates Your Personal Style
So let’s pause for a mo to think about pieces in your wardrobe you’ve worn, or look forward to wearing, 30 times
CAN YOU THINK OF MANY?
Why do you you rely on them? What do they have in common?
It’s the REASON you wear what you wear on rotation that I’m eager to understand as a personal stylist, because THIS becomes the basis of your personal style
Made-To-Measure Fashion Style
Now, I’m not suggesting all conventional shops are replaced with made-to-measure, but I am saying that it would be great to see more of these more environmentally friendly yet affordable business models, wouldn’t it?
Let’s Start A Fashion Revolution
What if current fashion brands started to offer this service and as a result
STARTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR TARGET MARKET!!
I’ve learnt sooooo much from workshopping 1:1 with my clients that would make me a much better fashion designer if I’d want to return to my former career (like, 500% better)
Imagine that – listening and responding to customer requests?
Now, certain brands are already good at this as they repeat best selling styles but often the update colours are a guess and still the production would be in large batches as that’s how they’ve always worked, but if Good Day Girl can manage producing low runs of 1 style from quality fabrics then surely larger fashion brands could off-set this cost too?
Omgosh
That would be a fashion revolution now wouldn’t it…?
>> It is estimated that only 1% of our clothing is ultimately recycled into new garments
This is because of problems with industry processes such as difficulties in breaking down fibers to recycle them if they are a mixed yarn eg. a cotton/polyester blend, particularly man made fibers.
Buying recycled or ethically sourced fibers reduces waste, so is this something you look out for when purchasing?
Image from BBC News
So I know that this waste issue isn’t purely a over consumption problem but industry wide processes that need changing – URGENTLY!
That’s why the Global Fashion Agenda was set up in 2017 to work towards a Circular Fashion System, read more here
It’s Not Just “Fast Fashion” That’s To Blame
We all know the fashion industry, is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, water and air pollution, creates problematic levels of waste, and often comes with poor working conditions in other countries
So then I ask you to consider how to reduce your own waste?
Below are some ideas plus a blog I wrote about easy ways to be more ethical, because let’s face it, no-one’s perfect but if we can all make positive changes that fits with our lifestyle, we’re more likely to maintain them:
Dress For Success – an incredible charity set up to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life
Local OP Shops – always needing quality donations
Sell unwanted items – if they’re modern and in good condition there’s consignment stores, Ebay or facebook groups (my fav is High End) that will recycle your clothes in to money to give them new life. You can them recycle your money in to another item that will serve you better
Give to friends who better suit them AND WILL ENJOY WEARING THEM!
Clothes swap party – pull together some girlfriends you can swap items with and if you’re different body types, take accessories!
Textile bins – located all over the country and in certain brands such as H&M and Zara help recycle old textiles in to new clothes
So let’s start 2021 with a mantra of mind-fullness
Let’s turn ‘mindless consumption’ in to
mindful consumerism
& enjoy our purchases more
Contact me to help put this in to practice and book in your session today
Here’s your complete personal shopper guide to the key S/S20 fashion trends based on body types
1 tank styled differently by Camilla & Marc
These 5 affordable style updates create instant an wardrobe makeover and the best part? THEY LOOK FANTASTIC WORN TOGETHER
Because as a wardrobe planner, I always tell my personal styling clients to :
*think in outfits*
By planning what you’re going to buy before you go clothes shopping, you BUY LESS and WEAR IT MORE!
Spring 2020 Trends
I’m concentrating on SPRING fashion, so featuring clothes in longer lengths with sleeve coverage etc. but because I ❤️ you, I’m also sharing my style tips on how to wear certain fashion trends in to summer, autumn and even winter!!
Let’s dive in….
…Fashionably Late
Here’s an little personal shopper video I actually shot back in September (oops) but I’m chuffed to say that I’ve been back-to-back with clients so blog posts had to be politely *paused*.
It outlines some key fashion styles to help inspire and guide you, high street versions I’ve sourced and published based on positive personal styling client feedback, so many are tried and tested!
Sydney Guided Shopping:
Fashion Trend 1/. TIERED SKIRTS
These tiered skirts are FUN FUN FUN!
There’s a version for everyone – some are easy wear with simple tiers, whilst others are more ‘fashun’ with layered ruffles and patterns which offer a higher octane party theme!
What ever your personal style, you can match it, go boho, girly, edgy, the choice is yours!
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
All body shapes apart from a rounder APPLE
Particularly good for PEARS
If you have a bit of a tummy then invest in a style with a 2 layered wide waistband – or basque – to offer support
For curve sizes, I would advise the easier to wear simpler styles or softer fabrics if choosing ruffles
Check out my Pinterest TIERED SKIRT board for loads of style inspiration
MY PERSONAL SHOPPER PICKS:
Easiest to wear: what a great denim skirt update for a mummy makeoverfrom Seed!
As a professional image consultant, I often suggest buying the matching top for maximum impact and then pair with a t-shirt for an effortless day look?
These skirts shout *summer holiday* but cleverly this midi-maxi-length skirt style also offers some warmth which means you can wear most of the year round when styled correctly!
SUSTAINABLE FASHION TIPS: To achieve maximum bang-for-buck then buy a skirt you can wear with your fav winter boots like this image.
That’s autumn winter 2021 sorted too!
Tiered Dresses Are A Bit Of A ‘Thing’ Too
Whether you like your dresses strapy, crew neck or sleeved, the high street has you covered so there’s a version for everyone!
STYLE TIPS: The wider the hem circumference, the more ‘fashun’ it looks!
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
, although this style will ‘cover and conceal’ rather than ‘flatter’ but you do want a variety of shapes in your wardrobes because we don’t always feel like showing our bodies off
Particularly awesome for pregnant women or rounder apples
This essential little tank has had a 2020 makeover!
Close body fit with high neck and cut-away shoulder, this is also the ultimate layering piece for when it gets cold, just throw over a leather biker!
Hot and particularly popular in neutrals & the on-trend macaroon shades, it outfits with pretty much any fashion style! Amazing paired with voluminous bottoms like baggy pants or the above tiered skirts as a neat, fitted outfit solution!
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
Particularly good on ATHLETIC body shapes
Ribbed stretch jersey can be worn tight for anyone feeling confident – don’t buy too big as this thicker rib won’t flatter if it’s not taught
Wear looser in drapy lighter-weight fabrics for those feeling less body confident, see my linen examples below
Avoid this style if you feel ‘bulky’ up top, stick to a scoop or V neck
MY PERSONAL SHOPPER PICKS:
Most brands offer 1 style in different colours so pick the shape you like and then pick your shade!
SUSTAINABLE FASHION TIPS: Rather than buying a new bra, buy the plastic adjuster to convert your standard style to a racer style bra.
As it’s reusable, you can transform several of your bra’s time and time again
Check out my Pinterest TANK TOP board for loads of style inspiration
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Fashion Trend 3/. BERMUDA SHORTS
Longer length tailored shorts – what’s NOT to love!
So many clients don’t love their legs but want to wear a conventional ‘short short’ so here’s the perfect fashion trend – a PRACTICAL one that offers more coverage! YAY!!
Newer than the ‘city short’ that my clients say can make them feel a little ‘frumpy’, these are edgier, more feminine and cling less to the leg
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
Every!!! The more triangular in shape – the more flattering they are!!
1 or 2 subtle pleats work and can even help to cover a small tummy
FASHION TIPS: remember that linen and cotton fabrics will crush and crease when you sit down
SUSTAINABLE FASHION TIPS: buy the matching jacket to give these shorts more outing options…
This new suit can take you to wedding, the races, work or a dinner date!
Check out my Pinterest BERMUDA SHORT board for loads of style inspiration
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Fashion Trend 4/. SQUARE NECK TOPS & DRESSES
How nice is it to have a different neckline in your wardrobe?
A square neck is open and therefore flattering. These new fashion styles often come with a handy little sleeve which gives you perfect coverage for spring.
Impactful in pop colours and patterns, these really add some energy to makeover your spring summer wardrobe
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
Pretty much all body shapes, just take care with really full busts as the straight neckline can be unflattering depending on the cut & cloth
Really flattering for smaller busts
Perfect for clients who don’t love the top of their arms, you can show off your décolletage, but not the top of your arms!
This Witchery style is stunning and also comes in oatmeal, but clients have felt that the generous waistband gathers had them feeling a bit ‘little bo peep’ so make sure you try it before you buy it.
Remember, styling for a photo on a website is different to real life style!
Trust me, I used to work as a fashion stylist for a magazine and there’s many tricks we use during photo shoots!
How To Wear Square Necks For Summer
If you love this square neck style but want a high summer version, just go for a sleeveless style!
Consider the layer you’ll pop over the top to give you more wear during spring & autumn. I’d suggest a lightweight snug fit jacket!
Choose a pattern with black in if you have a black winter boot (or brown + brown) so you can pair together easily – and this sleeve coverage means you won’t be shivering your way through cocktails!
Pull up the sleeve and swap to a sandal for spring. Easy!
Available in a plethora of shades so my personal stylist advice is to go for one in a neutral and one in a solid pop colour as it’s inexpensive and soooo versatile. Choose subtle padding, rather than bulky and watch my video for reasons why
FLATTERS THESE FEMALE BODY TYPES:
Most body types
Take care if your an INVERTED TRIANGLE or particularly busty
The strong, sharp shoulder makes your waist look smaller!
So I hope you’ve found this a useful spring shopping guide to inspire you to make stylish, yet value-based purchases that evolve your capsule wardrobe.
Certain personal styling clients have such a transformation that a few ‘before & after’ photos just don’t do their journey justice.
We need to hear their story.
Lisa Munro’s Full Makeover experience was so profoundly positive, she’s been telling everyone, including her thousands of followers, about it.
And to say I’m thrilled, is an understatement, as it means she’s genuinely shifted her happiness scale upwards.
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Learning to like your self-image is THE most radical thing you’ll do in your lifetime and unfortunately most of us suffer for too long, unnecessarily
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This article is a giant testimonial of self acceptance, empowerment with a jump in confidence that wouldn’t feel out of place with a brass band accompaniment xXx
My Purpose As A Personal Stylist
One of my driving purposes is to re-connect my image consultant clients with their wardrobe so they enjoy it more, through understanding how to make the best of their individual look.
And Lisa nailed it.
Miss Munro = Miss Monroes
Apart from working a corporate job, Lisa is also a #ladyboss & #solopreneur founding Miss Monroes premium anti-chafe lingerie. She designs, manufactures and sells in Australia, helping thousands of women feel more confident about the clothes they wear.
——- SO YOU SEE, WE SHARE A VERY SIMILAR VISION ——-
Stage 1 : Colour Empowerment
Understanding why certain shades flatter you, whilst others don’t is incredibly empowering and has numerous benefits. It’s the first step to liking what we see staring back at us every day because, put simply;
Flattering colours helps us feel better about the skin we’re in
So, I’m going to sit back and let Lisa do (most of) the talking with her first hand experience of her style makeover …
Showing a similar bespoke colour wallet
Stage 2 : Body Type Empowerment
BODY TYPES & SELF ESTEEM ARE INTRINSICALLY LINKED.
Like many of us [read : 99.9%] Lisa has struggled with her body image.
Body types are a subject that makes many women feel uncomfortable, even a little painful, so we need to talk about it, hence my devoted August facebook posts all about clothing sizes.
We hold so much value and self worth on how low that number is on that teeny tiny polyester tag, don’t we?
So much so, I wrote an article about it for a little blog called MamaMia.
Re-wiring The Way We Think About Our Body Types
Body image issues don’t have to be weight related but I hear lots of people say they’d love to see me but…
“…when they loose weight”
But for many that doesn’t happen.
They wait and wait but the reality is that their comfortable, natural weight is the size they’re at.
It’s like they don’t deserve to feel good or they’ll be giving in to their weight gain if they buy bigger clothes.
But this waiting game is often just that – a game that becomes increasingly hard to win, so I encourage honestly and finding peace with your body so instead of constantly working against it, you work with it.
Certain personal styling clients are shocked at how challenging dressing STILL is although they’re 2 sizes smaller!! It’s often because UNBALANCED BODY PROPORTIONS are harder to dress than body SIZE
You can change your body SIZE, but it’s more difficult to change your body TYPE
I hear this FAR too often
During my personal shopper VIP experience, I show you flattering clothes that FIT YOUR BODY you never knew existed!
Now Lisa knows how to enhance her ‘best bits’ with the right colours, cuts and fabrics AND where to shop for these!
Lisa has quieted her negative internal dialogue (that we all have) by changing her narrative, focusing instead on the positives.
And there’s MANY !!
Couldn’t agree more x
Stage 3 : Personal Style Empowerment
The last thing I would do as a personal stylist is try to change Lisa’s personal style, but I do want to identify and evolve it, so that means taking the essence of what she loves, but make it represent the new ‘her’.
Lisa is fundamentally feminine and glamorous with a boho edge,but she wanted a more sophisticated femininity, cleaner and more contemporary.
Updating Lisa’s Fashion Style
She had a denim pencil skirt in her current wardrobe that we styled up during session 1, the Personal Analysis & Wardrobe Makeover, but we later realised that it still didn’t feel true to the way Lisa’s fashion style was developing, so we bought her a new one that totally nailed her brief!
Don’t get hung up on a duplicating a style your friend might wear as chances are, they’ll have a different body shape and fashion style to you!
Let’s find YOUR version.
This is Lisa’s version of a denim skirt – a feminine denim look pleat skirt!
But look at just someof her brand new outfits we created from her current wardrobe (we’ve generated about 250 outfits total post her personal shop) !! We work-shopped accessories, solved layering problems, talked turn-ups and everything in between!
Then Lisa catagorised her outfits as a quick reference every morning because having 2 jobs, means you don’t have much time to think!! :-
Because black isn’t one of Lisa’s best shades, I helped her outfit it in more flattering and glamorous way which suits her personal clothes style.
Lisa looks more modern & polished
Stage 5 : Personal Shopper Outfits
Lisa needs to feel confident about the self image she shows the world and her Miss Monroe customers, so we’ need to ensure we’re dressing the woman she’s becoming, not the woman she’s was.
Lisa’s transformation needed to be
internal AND external
So we hit the shops for a VIP Personal Shopper session to complete Lisa’s makeover!
Re-wiring The Way We Think About Shopping
Lisa had a default setting when it came to how much money she would spend on one piece:
“…. only because my brain thinks it needs lots of outfits for variety and buying cheaper means I get more for my money ” ~ Lisa
When actually, it’s simply about buying the right mix & match pieces which I show you using my 20 years fashion experience dressing women! Plus, this is more ethic and sustainable way to build your wardrobe, the result of which are on her below instagram @missmonroesshop
You can see where Lisa’s old fashion style, which isn’t particularly ‘bad’, it just didn’t show Lisa to her best, it can get frustrating when we’re not fulfilling our potential, can’t it, across any area of our lives actually!?
Old Fashion Style
feminine and soft
lots of black & white which I see a lot during my styling sessions
only a few full body shots which are often distorted
She’s now striking, can’t-take-your-eyes-off-self-assured!
My Unique Personal Styling Services
I hope this cosmic SHIFT is Lisa’s happiness and body confidence can inspire you, or someone you know, to undergo a personal styling session and if you love reading about my clients journeys then let me know and I’ll create more.
I understand that opening yourself up to a image consultant session can make you feel a little vulnerable, but clients will tell you about my non-judgemental approach and that I’ll probably love your wardrobe more than you do x
FASHION IS NEVER JUST ABOUT CLOTHES
Clothes are powerful and knowing how to use them to your advantage is your edge over your peers.
You’ll be amazed at how much you learn about yourself during my personal styling services, it’s knowledge we should ALL be armed with – it’s about sanity, not vanity.
I believe if we learnt how to work with what we have at a much earlier age, society would be much happier.
Let’s be completely honest, we’ve all put on a little weight during lock down, haven’t we?
Bracing yourself when attempting to pull on those jeans again after weeks of ignoring their existence was *intense*, wasn’t it?
#covidkilos
As a Sydney personal stylist, I chat about body types, size and weight a lot (not just during lockdown) and so many of my clients have put on an average of 5kg.
That seems to be THE number!
I’m A Different Kind of Sydney Personal Stylist
But as a personal stylist with a more unique approach to solving fashion problems, I’m sharing some practical style tips to help your clothes become more flexible in size so you wear them more.
I don’t want you to feel like you have to rush out and buy a new wardrobe but instead offer you some sustainable fashion tips to avoid feeling so crappy about yourself.
4 Fashion Tips To Give Your Wardrobe A Makeover
These tips are for those of you who need to make their clothes half-to-one size bigger for any reason, not just #covidkilos but could be part of your MUMMY MAKEOVER service
I’ve had fantastic feedback from my image consultant clients about this handy little style hack that means they enjoy wearing skirts they had previously written off!
Why This Fashion Tip Works:
Skirts generally have a longer shelf life when we put on weight because we wear them higher on our waist as we expand (perfect for my petite clients who might feel the skirt was initially a little long in length).
Therefore, most skirts already have about 1/2 or 1 size flexibility in them naturally – then this fashion tip creates a further 1/2 a size!
It’s also helpful during dinner dates to know you have some flexibility without your skirt falling down! ;-0
2/. FASHION STYLE : PANT WAISTBANDS
I know from 20 years fashion experience that pants are THE hardest thing to make fit well!
This is because unlike skirts that really only need to fit 1 part of our body – at the waistband – pants need to fit our 3D bodies in every way!
Most of us know about the ‘belly band method’ of extending the size of our jeans waistband often used during pregnancy but my method creates a more comfortable and permanent solution that doesn’t show your skin.
Being able to add half a size can be the difference between you wearing them and not and we don’t always consider the power of the inside jigger button.
3/. FASHION STYLE : JACKETS
CALL ME CRAZY, BUT LET’S GET THE SCISSORS!!
It might sound counter-intuitive from a fashion stylist, but removing some of that fabric you paid for could be the difference between enjoying it or ditching it.
4/. FASHION STYLE : TIGHT WAISTBANDS
When you’ve only got room to tuck in 1 layer and you want to keep warm, this is your secret weapon!
Currently reduced to $20, this little clothes style from Glassons will be your best friend, an uber comfortable SEAMLESS V-SCOOP CROP TOP
Why This Clothes Style Is A Problem Solver:
It works because it’s:
V or scoop neck
Comfortable seamless layer next to your skin
Flat necklines that don’t look bulky under a layer
Long sleeves keep you warm that you can cut shorter (jersey doesn’t really fray, no-one’s going to see it, so save on paying to alter it
Obviously the fact that it’s cropped and doesn’t need tucking in!
It’s available in 7 colours, 5 of which cater to different skin tones. Unsure what your undertone is then contact me for a COLOUR CONSULTANT makeover service:
SAND CASTLE = olive & brown skin
PRINCESS PEACH = golden undertones
BLACK = black & dark brown skin tones
WHITE = pale ivory skin
FAIRY FLOSS = cooler undertones
This is another version I’ve just found that’s only $16 bucks but only offers 1 neckline and 3 colours:
2021 UPDATE:
Here’s another Glassons styles currently in store you can online shop today, or try this one that comes in a few colours.
Learn how to shop smarter and benefit from a PERSONAL SHOPPER experience.
I hope these fashion tips will help makeover your wardrobe – and your headspace. Often just a ‘tweak’ is all we need to feel more comfortable in our clothes.
As a fashion stylist, I can affirm that there’s manyways to convert your feminine summer dresses in to winter appropriate frocks – and the best news?
This makeover only takes a couple of key wardrobe essentials to achieve!
Wardrobe Essentials You Need In Your Wardrobes, Sydney!
“Wardrobe essentials” are the building blocks of your closet that as a WARDROBE PLANNER I suggest you invest in, to ensure you have everything you need at your sanitized fingertips to effortlessly dress. Every. Single. Day.
Sustainable Fashion
Wardrobe essentials are the considered purchases that will last season after season, saving your time, money and energy whilst creating a more sustainable closet.
Buying even just a few generates a wardrobe makeover because they’ll be the hardest working, most flexible pieces you own!! I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again…
” YOUR WARDROBE SHOULD BE AS FLEXIBLE AND HARD WORKING AS YOU “
—– Trans-seasonal Styling —–
1. Personal Style : ROCK CHICK
If you like a ‘tougher’ look that transforms your pretty summer dresses, this one is for you, although I’ll post some alternative styling ideas so there’s a version depending on your personal style.
It’s 2.5 minutes long, although I do need to point out how unrehearsed this video was, noticeably “…..got that more attitude type feel”. Gosh. I clearly wasn’t qualified to home school my daughter English language was I? :-0
Double Your Fashion Style
So don’t think that a white summer dress is just for the hotter months, you can get double the enjoyment from it by styling it differently for colder weather.
THE WARDROBE ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK :
BIKER JACKET + BOOTS
Rock Chick Styling
The Fashion Styles & Brands
Teal biker jacket – Topshop (bought 8 years ago from their vintage section)
Black biker boots – Dune (bought online last winter)
White dress – Country Road (last summer) bought in the sale for $100!!
Green dress – Ganni at David Jones (current season) bought in the sale
CONTACT ME FOR OTHER STRATEGIES ON HOW TO RE-STYLE YOUR SUMMER CLOTHES FOR WINTER!!
2. Personal Style : BOHO CHIC
This is a different example for those of you who fashion style is a little more laid back and bohemian.
This is an actual gorgeous client I worked with back in May who needed to transform her summer dresses in to autumn winter ones, but wasn’t sure how…so I showed her!
These dresses were some of her favorites because they’re patterned so she doesn’t have to worry too much about accessorizing, they flatter her stunning hourglass figure as well as reminding her about her carefree days traveling the world so we want to make them work harder.
The Fashion Styles You Need
THE WARDROBE ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK :
DENIM JACKET + ANKLE BOOTS
Denim Jacket – most brands have their version, ideally it would have stretch in the denim and the length to finish around the waist so it works well over dresses
Ankle Boots – aim for the shade to be similar to your leg so there’s a flattering flow with a small wooden heel
3. Personal Style : MINIMALISM
This is another example from a client who had just bought this expensive Proenza Schouler dress and wanted to understand how to re-style it to reduce her cost-per-wear.
Doubling the amount of times you wear an expensive dress, HALVES your ‘cost-per-wear’!
Adding An Underlayer
This time we layered something UNDER her dress.
I spend a lot of time work shopping ‘how to layer clothes’ because it’s a tricky area of fashion!
Because this particular client loves shorter sleeved styles, she’s stayed true to her personal style meaning she can layer these pieces to achieve edgy, yet practical, outfits.
FASHION TIP: when you choose a polo neck to layer under your patterned dress, pull a shade FROM the pattern!
I’ve used an olive polo neck below under my check dress in image 2, as well as pairing with a solid navy dress in image 3
…I’ve even layered my black polo neck under my boiler suit! Have you got a boiler suit or pant suit? If you have, this is how to wear it during the cooler months!
The Fashion Styles You Need
THE WARDROBE ESSENTIALS YOU NEED TO ACHIEVE THIS LOOK :
POLO OR TURTLE NECK KNIT
Polo Neck – go for a body-con style and because it’s a knitted yarn it has lots of stretch in for great fit and comfort.
Ideally go lighter weight so you can layer clothes over it with only 1 fold on the neck to avoid too much bulk here.
CONTACT ME TO COME AND WORK-SHOP YOUR SUMMER CLOTHES TO MAKE THEM APPROPRIATE FOR WINTER!!
