Choose Your Spring Jacket

Spring cover-up has never been so colourful and stylish!  It's not just a question of keeping the chill off, it's about investing in a jacket that you can show off and enjoy wearing. So, here are our top jacket buys for the new season.

The Modern Blazer

The modern blazer comes in a range of cuts, lengths and colours so we're not just talking about the classic tailored look here. Your blazer might be anything from a collarless box style, a peplum or a relaxed boyfriend look. It has become an enduring alternative to the cardigan because there are so many cuts avaliable to choose from.

Style Tips: pick a colour that looks great on you and works with a number of outfits and make sure you get the right cut for your figure.

The Sporty Parka
The lightweight parka never really goes out of style, but this season it gets an Olympic update with a stylish sporty edge. It's always a winner for British springs and summers as it's easy to carry with you anywhere, ready for that unexpected shower. The new look is more neat casual than slouchy sportswear and there are plenty colours to choose from.

Style Tip: the only rule here is: don't be boring!

The Barbour
If you haven't seen what is going on at Barbour, then now is the time to have a look. You may be surprised to find that they have restyled and updated their collection. New looks offer the classic design with modern a twist and some come in a range of fabulous colours.

Style Tip: the Barbour generally comes with lots of pockets and detail so, be careful not to go too bulky if you are curvy, although you will find the lightweight fabrics easier to wear.

Collar Me Beautiful!

The neck has become the focus for accessories and detail in recent seasons with scarves, draping fabric and this winter, the polo neck.  The neck trend for Spring/Summer is the collar, and more specifically the Peter Pan collar. As the name Peter Pan suggests it can have a playful feel about it, but it can also look very grown-up and ladylike.

Romantic personalities will enjoy styles in pretty lace, chiffon and rounder edges which add femininity to an outfit.  Alternatively, you could try a little colour clashing and find a garment in one strong shade with the collar in a different bold shade.  It can also look very simple and neat in a neutral shade and with a pointy collar it can really smarten up an outfit.

Neck decoration isn’t for everyone and generally isn’t recommended if you have a short neck.  The Peter Pan collar can be very subtle or it can be the focus point of your outfit. It can be a great way to add interest to the top half of a triangle shaped body.  If you are fuller in the bust make sure you choose a soft, rounded collar as oppose to a stiff, starched pointed one.

If you’re very crafty and creative you can design your own and attach it to any garment you like, a la Gok!

Fresh Make-up for a Feel Good February

At this time of year we all want to look healthy and glowing and to achieve that, we need to be clever with our cosmetics.

So, whether it's a romantic Valentine's dinner, a job interview or you are planning a proposal of marriage - it is leap year after all ladies! - make sure you look radiant with your best make-up looks.

It's easy to stick to old make-up routines because you don't have time' to try new ones or you think the old ones still work fine. But, is your make-up making the most of you?

Is your make-up making the most of YOU?

Think about it: is your make up saying 'sexy' or 'overdone'? 'Subtle' or 'washed-out'? Part of the problem is that we inherit and pick up advice, habits - good and bad, and product knowledge from Mums, sisters and friends plus all the beauty information we can absorb but don't always consider what actually works for us.

Before and After from Colour Me Beautiful's New Make-up Manual (Hamlyn). 

What look should I go for at this time of year?

You are trying to achieve a Spring-like glow in the middle of Winter, so you want to keep your make-up simple, fresh and as radiant as possible. Your skin needs to look its best so look after it and use products that suit it. Do invest in a good blusher, don't go too heavy on eye make-up, use highlighter accordingly.

Take a tip from forties Hollywood camera-ready make-up with good-looking skin (even if it means extra foundation at this time of year), great eye lashes and fabulous lipstick.

There is more to make-up than meets the eye

The best lesson you can learn about make-up is what suits YOU. You need to understand your face shape, your colouring and your personality. Once you have mastered this you can create the looks that complement you AND ensure that you send out the right signals, whatever the situation or occasion.

Choosing the right colours

There are thousands of make-up colours out there - some will make you look radiant, while others can make you look unhealthy or age you prematurely.

Once you understand your colouring type and your best make-up colours you can limit the cosmetics you buy to selecting only those that make you look fabulous. Plus, the recommended shades will work with your wardrobe too!

To help you achieve your best make-up looks this season why not book a full Make-up Master Class from just £35.

How to dress current and approriate? Take tips from Samantha Cameron

Samantha Cameron is a lady who knows how to dress well. It’s true that even after her fourth child she still has the advantage of a neat figure, but her wardrobe success is down to her knowing what suits her. She dresses well for her figure and her personality whilst combining understated elegance with current looks.

For the Children in Need event at Downing Street last week she chose to wear a high street piece, as she often does, which she apparently bought last summer. She chose well. The green patterned shift dress ticks all the right boxes;  it is the right shape for her with modest sleeves and the length is a sensible just below the knee making it appropriate for the occasion. The cut, colour and pattern are all in line with current trends.  The contrast of the greens against the cream background of the dress and the vibrant shade of green in the pattern also work well for her ‘Clear’ colouring.  

Deborah Arthurs of the Daily Mail summarises her style perfectly: “She is very aware of what suits her, choosing narrow silhouettes, round necks and simple accessories, and although she is adventurous with designers and prints, she never strays into fashion victim territory.”

It may not be Mrs Cameron that needs to impress us, but we can appreciate that it is important for her to dress appropriately yet still wear what she feels is right for her personality (we think she is more or less a ‘City Chic’) and her age.  Most of us have to consider this every morning when we get dressed for work; we want to look appropriate and up-to-date and we still want to feel like ‘ourselves’.  It’s not always easy and requires practise but once you know how, you will save yourself time and money and feel more confident knowing you look good because you’ve got it right.

Accessories - the easiest way to update

Accessories need an update too and they are a great way to revamp your look with little outlay. You've seen previous articles about one dress with several different looks, the accessories are key here.

The neck has become the focus for accessories with the scarf being a must-have in recent seasons. The most current neck detail is the collar. You can buy a top with a pretty collar or find a collar accessory to give your neat jerseys or cardigans a new look. If you're crafty and creative you can design your own. Not everyone suits detail around the neck or décolletage so if this look isn't for you then make your new accessory a handbag. Find a great new shape or colour that works for your style. You won't go wrong with a day clutch bag to look utterly on-trend!

Keepers for 2012: Shapes, Styles, Patterns and Colour

Shapes and Styles

Midi and maxi skirt lengths are sticking around as are feminine fabrics such as chiffon and silks. There is still a vintage 40's/50's influence with looks that hail the female shape such as full skirts and curve-flattering shift dresses. Fortunately, dresses are everywhere so pull out all your dresses and work them with different separates, colours and accessories to make them feel renewed.

Patterns

Unusual graphics, banding and bold floral patterns appear with a new twist. To give your patterns a current look you can mix them up a little. Unless you're a real creative or fashion forward personality, go with just as much as you feel comfortable with; it should suit your personality and overall look. Texture is almost as popular as pattern with embellishments and overlays such as lace, devore, metals and sequins so if you don't have any, make that a new little buy.

Colours

Whatever you do in 2012, if you don't have any red then make sure you invest in your best red shades, it's the colour of the year. Unfortunately, reds can be tricky to wear; blue based reds suit some, whilst orange based reds look better on other people. If you aren't sure on the best reds for you, it is well worth having a colour consultation.

Fortunately, colour is still a big story for 2012, so you can keep all your great colours and try wearing them in different ways. Key shades for next season (apart from reds) are greens, oranges and blues. Mix your red shades together (or green shades or blue shades..), wear an entire block of colour or wear a more subtle shade or a neutral (e.g. grey, cream, camel) shade with a stronger colour. For help with Colour Blocking, check out my previous post on colour blocking for your colour type.

Revise, Revitalise & Accessorise: the New Year Wardrobe Update

We all reinvent ourselves in various ways throughout life and a new year inspires us to 'renew' ourselves. It might be changing a small part of our weekly routine, getting more exercise, trying something new or giving our home or personal look a bit of an update.

One of the easiest new year pick-me-ups is a little style revamp but where do you start? The best place to begin is your wardrobe; so, before you go out and make the most of the high street discounts, assess the old before you start buying the new.

The Wardrobe Assessment

When assessing your wardrobe, don't just flick through the hangers, take everything out and hang it around the room, lay it out on the bed and move things about. Sometimes it takes seeing garments in a different light, literally, to see how you can give them an update. Whilst it is wise to hang on to some really good pieces, don't keep things just because they are good if they don't suit you. Someone else will make better use of them.

If you need help, book a style or colour consultation to understand what styles and colours suit you and what you should clear out from your wardrobe, as they aren't your style or colour!

Check back soon for hints and tips on colours and styles for 2012 and how to use accessories to update your wardrobe...