Creating your Personal Wardrobe Portfolio

Claudia Croft wrote a fabulous article in The Times Style Spring issue (4th March) discussing how “these days, it’s not how much you spend on your clothes, but what you buy and how you mix it up that really counts”.

In recent years, mixing lower end price tags with quality pieces has pretty much become a trend in itself. It is largely a result of leaner times. Fashion can dictate styles but it also responds to universal moods. Economic belt-tightening (pardon the style related pun) means people have to be more resourceful. This can actually be more fun, and more importantly, it forces us to take a step back and think more carefully about the clothing we buy: do we really need it, does it really suit us and will we get much wear out of it?
This is the approach we should always take with our clothes in order to create a successful wardrobe, and a successful wardrobe is one that works for YOU. Your wardrobe ‘portfolio’ should have styles and fabrics that work with your body shape, colours that flatter you and the overall looks should reflect your personality. You should be able to combine pieces easily and enjoy wearing each piece you have in it. Of course, you might have one or two quirky items or unique pieces that won’t go with everything (especially if you are creative or dramatic type) but you shouldn’t have lots of pieces that only go with one other thing. What a wardrobe shouldn’t be is bursting at the seams with all the latest styles and great labels which you find yourself gazing at endlessly wondering what to wear.

Looking good isn’t a luxury, it is something we all deserve and can achieve without having to spend a fortune. For many people, clothes shopping and dressing well, whether on a daily basis or for an occasion, can be a chore because they simply don’t know what suits them. They may have a few pieces they enjoy wearing and feel good in, but because they don’t understand why they look good in those pieces, they can’t easily replicate it. You have to understand what styles work for your figure and for your personality (as well as your budget and lifestyle of course) and do some research to find out the best places to shop for them.

The great thing about the current mood in fashion is that it is all about your personal style, and even if the universal mood changes when economies bounce back, it should still be about your personal style. Claudia Croft rounds off by saying “Now it’s about savvy spending, insider knowledge of the best shops and brands, and knowing how to style yourself”. We couldn’t agree more.

Why the Savvy Woman has Dresses in her Wardrobe

If like me you are now itching to get something new into your wardrobe, persuading yourself that Spring is just round the corner and you can start to think about colour, then I suggest your first buy be a dress.

As someone who is more likely to be found in trousers on a day to day basis this might seem a strange suggestion. It’s not that I don’t like skirts and dresses, actually I do, and in the summer with bare legs I wear them much more. But having found a couple of dresses which I can dress down with boots and wool or opaque tights, or dress up with my faithful black LK Bennett kitten heels, I realise how simple it is to dress in a dress! No need to search for the right separates to make up the outfit a dress gets you out of the door fast and looking pulled together.

Here are a few double duty dresses that you can wear smart or more casually and some suggestions of how to wear. After all having a wardrobe that works for all occasions is the savvy and chic woman’s secret.


Satin Overblown Print Wrap Dress from Fenn Wright Manson £169
Pure Collection cashmere Chunky Rib Snood was £69 now £39
Cashmere Blend Waterfall Cardigan £129 from fenn Wright Manson
Leather Shopper from Pure Collection was £249 now £186
Boden Spring Boots £149
LK Bennett Twisted Pearl necklace from House of Fraser £125
Classic wool tie coat from fenn Wright Manson £249
LK Bennett Bury courts from House of Fraser £155
Metallic clutch by Vivienne Westwood from my-wardrobe.com was £193 now £96

Bell Sleeve dress from Isabella Oliver was £99 now £69.30
Isabella Oliver Chunky scarf was£65 Now £32
Isabella Oliver Envelope clutch £165
Every Day Biker Jacket from Isabella Oliver was £369 now £258.30


Satin Crepe Dress from Fenn Wright Manson £199
Phase Eight Luoisa Hat £110
Fenn Wright Manson Cropped grosgrain Jacket £129
Moschino Shoes from my-wardrobe.com was £402 now £160
Matching Moschino bag from my-wardrobe.com was £437 now £218
Phase Eight Hamilton necklace £20
Fenn Wright Manson angora blend cardigna £129
Pattie boots by Hobbs from House of Fraser £225
Michael Kors Jet Set Tote from my-wardrobe.com £170

Print, print and more print! Pick your patterns for spring

Fashion is going print mad for spring with designer Mary Katrantzou leading the way with her exotic and elegant designs. If you’ve missed out on her collection in Top Shop (now sold out!), you might want to look at Marni’s more subtle but quirky patterns available in H&M from 8th March.

Many people are wary of investing in prints for a number of reasons, which are mainly a) because they are not as versatile as plain garments, b) we tend to feel they can date more quickly and c) they are not sure if print suits them or not. Firstly, the good news is that good designs stay around for a while, so if you pick up a good piece you should get a fair amount of wear out of it. Secondly, prints can inject a bit of interest and fun into your wardrobe and you don’t need to worry about adding to the piece because it makes a statement in itself.
The most important thing with choosing prints is, knowing which ones suit you and therefore, which ones to invest in.

The guidelines for choosing your prints are:

* Get the right size print for you. Even if you are confident about pattern, a large print on a small frame can look overwhelming; equally, a dainty print on a larger frame will have no impact.
* Choose the right design for you. Think about your body shape AND your style personality. For example, strong angular graphics can be unflattering on curvy figures and bold florals will seem too fussy if you’re either a Natural, Classic or City Chic personality who prefer will more casual (Natural), classic or simple but elegant and coordinated (City Chic) looks.
* Be careful how you wear it: busy pattern around wide hips or a large bust will appear to add more volume so it is better to wear it away from your ‘problem’ areas.
* Choose the right combination of colours. Especially if you wear the pattern close to your face.
* You should feel good when you wear it! 

The creative personalities will love the more inventive designs for spring (some of which are updated old classics) such as paisley in vivid colour, dainty and bold animal shapes, tropical themes, oriental flowers and more. For those of us who are not quite so creative or confident about print there are some fabulous new striped looks in a range of shades and the classic spot in various guises too.

If patterned clothes are not for you but you like to dabble in new trends, why not try prints in accessories.

Dressing between seasons: black is not the only option

Spring fashions are urging us to move away from winter clothes but it’s just too early to  make the wardrobe transition.  Dressing between seasons presents a few challenges, particularly from winter to spring as we are longing to wear more colour and shed a few layers.

The film and TV world seem to be dealing with this by wearing a great deal of black and white, which is terribly uninspiring.   Victoria Beckham wore head to toe black for the launch of her new Autumn fashion line and whilst her colouring can take it, it looked more like a lack of effort than an elegant statement.  Twiggy has launched her new range at M&S and the media shots show her in which shade? You guessed it, black (with white and grey).
There is no doubt it’s a challenging time of year for looking good and black and white can look fabulous, but right now we need a bit of perking up. We want to look more vibrant, feel positive and shake off that winter pallor and black just doesn’t do it.

Wearing colour makes a difference even if it’s a plain sweater under a jacket, a shirt collar poking out, a scarf or a statement bag.  Just one shot of colour, the closer to your face the better, will lift your look and your mood.   Need proof that it works?  See Angelina Jolie at the Golden Globes. She wore a Versace dress in ivory with a bold  red panel across the neckline and teamed it with red lips and handbag to match.  She looked stunning. It’s true, Angelina  always looks good because she is a good-looking woman, but the injection of red against neutral ivory made her look exceptional (the shiny fabric and contrasting shades also work perfectly with her contrasting bright eyes and dark hair). She outshone everyone, hands down, which is particularly interesting for a woman who frequently wears black.

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.