Wardrobe Staple – How to Wear the Crop Trouser

Crop trousers are now a capsule wardrobe staple, both summer and winter and come at all price points. Today I’ve featured a mid price pair from Isabella Oliver, they are a great flat front shape and come in the neutral beige (desert, shown) or in a gorgeous Azure blue.

As a wardrobe basic these trousers can be very versatile, from out shopping to dressed up for a glamourous evening so they are worth the time and effort to find a pair which really fit and are well made.

I’ve picked a selection of tops, shoes and bags but you probably have similar pieces in your wardrobe. If not these are the kind of items that work hard in any capsule wardrobe; a neutral tote, evening sandals, vest tops and T-shirts, a great pair of wedges and flat driving shoes.

Just one word of caution – if you have a long body and short legs a crop will cut up the leg and make it appear shorter. If you want to wear them stick to a neutral colour and make your shoes the same colour.

So three looks with your crop trousers:

What to wear to Look like you Mean Business

If you work in a corporate environment with a fairly formal dress code you’ve probably heard the saying “dress for the job you want, not the one you have.” One of the best ways to upgrade your image is with quality, classic accessories. It’s amazing how many people notice your accessories, before they notice your outfit. You can make an inexpensive dress look designer with the right accessories but sadly it doesn’t seem to work the other way. It’s worth spending more on a bag and shoes that you wear everyday of the week than on a dress you only wear once a month. Here is where cost per wear really makes sense. You see all you needed was the justification to buy that beautiful bag!

 

Start building your accessory wardrobe with a great work bag or feminine briefcase in a neutral colour that goes with all your workwear basics. Add classic court shoes, a smart laptop or ipad case, a stylish watch and pen. Go for colours like black, navy, tan and cream that will go with most other colours. Once you have a main “capsule” of accessories start to build a second one in another colour, perhaps black or navy for winter and tan or cream for summer. These items will last for years and shouldn’t be high fashion, they are an investment in your business wardrobe. It’s a great time to buy now during the sales too.
Here are some options which I have deliberately teemed with an inexpensive and a mid priced dress:

I’d love to know if you have invested in one of these classics. Do you feel more confident at work when you “dress up”?

How to Build a Casual Capsule Wardrobe

The easiest and most economical way to build a wardrobe that works for you is by creating multiple capsule wardrobes; work, casual, winter, summer etc. Pieces can work within more than one capsule collection for example finer knits from your summer capsule could be layered in the winter. Here are my top tips for creating a capsule wardrobe with examples for a casual collection which if you work from home like me may only need the addition of a smarter jacket for meetings to make it work ready too.
Top tips for capsule wardrobes:

1. Start with a neutral colour as a base – black, brown, grey or navy would be good options.
2. Build your wardrobe in 3’s. For example if you have 3 skirts make one a neutral, the second a pattern which incorporates your neutral colour and the third a complementary colour. Then add 3 tops, again neutral pattern and colour that mix and match with the skirts.
3. Spend the most money on the neutrals you will wear most often.
4. Once you have the basics add in other colours that mix with your existing capsule – maybe a colour of the season if you love it and it suits you.
5. Just because you are creating a capsule collection of clothes it doesn’t have to be boring. When you buy a new piece for your wardrobe ask yourself, “does it suit me, does it work with what I already have, and will I love wearing it and feel great in it?” If you can’t say yes to all of these move on and save your money for something that does.
6. If you find something perfect consider buying it in two colours.
7. Look after your investment. When you have spent hard earned money on your wardrobe make sure you follow the cleaning instructions, hang things on decent hangers (have you noticed how one wire hanger multiplies in your wardrobe?) get shoes re-heeled when needed, fold knitwear so it doesn’t pull out of shape and give everything enough room in your wardrobe.

Examples – the pieces in 3′s




Every piece in this collection can be worn in a variety of ways. Once the basics are there another seasonal colour could be added, for example a red would work well in here.
Below are just some of the outfit combinations:





Hopefully this has given you food for thought. Try laying out your clothes in 3′s like this then mixing them up. You will then see what you are missing – take a note with you next time you go shopping to see if you can fill that gap.

Summer Trend – Sugar Candy

There is a real feminine feel on the high street for the summer (you remember what summer is!) with girly candy colours translated from the catwalks. If you feel that it’s all a bit too sugary for you try just one piece mixed in with your every day neutrals. For example add sugary pink with navy, lemon with grey or coral with black.

Here’s how it was done full on at the shows:

Images courtesy of Style.com

And some high street pieces:

Pieces above from a selection at Boden, Fenn Wright Manson Pure Collection Phase Eight, John Lewis and House of Fraser.


Will you be trying the candy trend? I am definitely lusting over some of the pretty makeup collections, and I can see myself wearing some of these colours in my outfits too – but when the sun (eventually) comes out!

How to Look Stylish – 10 Tips

Having worked with women of all different shapes and sizes as well as having a figure that has changed over the years, I have come up with my top ten tips of what works and what doesn’t – for me anyway, and hopefully you will find some useful ones too. I’d love to know if you agree or have some of your own. Also if you disagree I’d love to know what works for you and why.

1. Emphasise the bits you like – got great legs? Wear a patterned pair of tights, fab shoes or a shorter skirt. If you have a neat waist wear a belt. Love your curves? show them off in bias cuts. Tiny wrists and elegant hands? add thin bangles or bracelets and paint your nails. We should all have one bit of ourselves to love, what’s yours.
2. Everyone looks better with a little makeup. Cheek colour, defined lips and a little mascara if you are makeup shy, only the very young can get away with a bare face. However, the other extreme is being overdone – we’ve all been to a makeup counter and come away thinking “well she is obviously trying all the new products out at once!” Treat yourself to a makeup lesson to find your best look.
3. Splurge on accessories. You can get away with a cheap jacket paired with a beautiful scarf. Leather shoes and bags last longer too, so are a better cost per wear.
4. Have a signature that defines your style – red lips, unusual costume jewellery, scarves, a favourite colour, your hair style. Have something that makes you stand out and tells people a little about you. Work out your style words and buy items that fit your personal profile. Are you chic, elegant, wacky, edgy, romantic, feminine, minimalist? I believe your clothes should reflect your personality. have some fun choosing your words and building a wardrobe to go with them.
5. Wear a great colour for you next to your face - if you aren''t sure what suits you book a colour consultation - sometimes we just want to wear black even if it doesn’t suit us – so make it work with a colour that does.
6. Wear things you love and that are comfortable. You won’t look relaxed or confident if you are constantly pulling your skirt down because you think you are revealing too much, or if you can’t walk in your shoes. Buy things you love and wear them – don’t save for best. Nothing is sadder than a wardrobe full of beautiful things that never get worn. Besides some things look even better when they get a little worn for example a slouchy leather bag becomes softer with use.
7. The older you get the more grooming matters. It doesn’t take much effort to have shiny hair, manicured nails and looked after skin. You don’t need to spend a fortune, give yourself a couple of hours of home pampering doing a facial, manicure, pedicure and brows. Whilst you are doing that slather a conditioning treatment on your hair. Add a girls night in DVD and a glass of something chilled.
8. Clothes must fit. It doesn’t matter what the size on the label says just pick the best fit and cut out the label. If any alterations are needed and you can’t do them yourself get them done professionally. Don’t spoil the look of a beautiful outfit with poor fit. Too big can be as unflattering as too small.
9. Don’t get stuck in a time warp. Keep ideas fresh, buy something from the new season that works in your existing wardrobe for example this season it could be a leopard print belt, a bright coloured bag, or a top in an ice-cream colour.
10. Your clothes should make you happy – if they don’t why are you wearing them? Isn’t life to short not too feel good when you walk out of the door? I think we are sometimes scared of dressing our best in case people think “who does she think she is?” Well you are you and who says you shouldn’t look and feel fabulous every day!

“Buy less, choose well, and mix it all.” Vivienne Westwood

How to express your personality through your clothes

One of the easiest ways to inject personality is with colour.  Use high contrast to project authority, for example to meet your bank manager wear a dark jacket or suit and a light top, and make sure everything is crisp and immaculate. But also ensure that your outfit shows who you are by injecting a colour that you love – maybe with your top or shoes. On the days you want to “win friends and influence” go for softer or lighter colours, bringing in colours you love which make you feel relaxed. Beiges, creams, and soft grey or light navy work well.

Accessories are the perfect tools for showing who you are. You don’t need the latest It Bag to make a statement, unless you want that statement to be that you are a sheep with no imagination of your own!  A vintage watch, bold piece of costume jewellery or beautiful silk scarf says so much more about you. I like to have a signature piece, a scarf or necklace, firstly because I love scarves but secondly because they draw the eye up to the face helping to make eye contact and establish rapport.

Build yourself a capsule wardrobe that works for all eventualities. Spend more on the pieces you wear often and the accessories that will lift an inexpensive suit or dress.

Thinking about what you wear isn’t superficial, it helps to express who you are and building a workable wardrobe should be fun. Look your best for you and let people get a glimpse of who you really are rather than them making uninformed opinions. Confidence comes from knowing who you are and not being afraid to express yourself.

Does Your Wardrobe Work for you?

As women we inevitably have several “roles” in our lives. Having a workable wardrobe for all the different heads you wear isn’t easy and can put us into a flat spin when we get invited to a wedding or black tie event, or have an important presentation at work. Add to that those purchases you made in the sale or to cheer yourself up and your wardrobe starts to bulge but when the occasion comes you still don’t have the perfect outfit.

I am a great believer in having a wardrobe full of clothes you love that make you feel fabulous, so wouldn’t suggest that you fill it with basics and never have any fun. However, you still can make your wardrobe work for a variety of occasions as well as having pieces you cherish. It’s all about clever accessorising and not saving items for “best”. For a start best may never come and an expensive piece will sit in your wardrobe unworn, and secondly I believe we deserve our best every day.

As an example of how a versatile wardrobe can work, a week in my life might include:

• Majority of work time spent at my home office
• Coffee catch up with an existing client
• Visit to a new client
• Shopping trip with a friend
• School run, household errands and chores
• Dinner at a friends

I don’t need traditional Office Wear however, I do need to look professional when meeting new clients. When I am working at home my key requirements are warmth and comfort. Since having my own business and not being in an office everyday my wardrobe has gradually relaxed, but because of my personal style preferences I still like to feel that should someone turn up on the doorstep I wouldn’t be embarrassed to open the door.

These key capsule wardrobe pieces work for me all the time:

• A great pair of smart jeans (I don’t do scruffy, it doesn’t suit my style. Dress down with a T and flats or up with heels and a necklace)
• Black jersey trousers or leggings (good quality that won’t bag at the knees or bottom)
• Long cardigan (a neutral and a bright or fun colour)
• Loose tunic tops/dresses (great for layering under cardigans, over jeans and leggings and T-shirts, or worn alone with tights and boots, heels or flats)
• Breton stripe T-shirt (a staple all year round layering piece and more interesting than a plain T)
• Flat Pumps (comfort for running around, but in a metallic great to dress up for evening, summer or winter)
• A pair of heels (for dressing up jeans and tunic tops/dresses)
• Smart Tote (in a neutral that goes with everything, big enough to carry my ipad for business)
• Every day Tote (again a metallic is great summer and winter and goes with everything)
• Scarves & necklaces (my finishing touch – one or the other, adds colour near the face and draws the eye up)

Fourteen pieces make numerous outfits and by adding a few more tops/tunics, another cardigan or jacket, a scarf in a print, the possibilities become endless.