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.

How to Wear Black

The last few seasons have been full of colour, on the catwalks and in the shops. Those of us who love colour have been spoilt for choice. But there are still many women who either feel ‘safe’ in black or who may have to wear black at work. If you are the second of the two and have to wear black, even if you know it doesn’t suit you, there are some options. The first is to wear makeup. Make sure that the colours you wear on your eyes and lips are complimentary. If you can, break up the black with a top under a suit or with a necklace – again make it one of your best colours. (If you don’t know which colours suit you, please book a Colour Consultation)
If on the other hand you have some great black pieces in your wardrobe that you want to wear, below are some options for how to make them work for your colouring, here based around the ‘little black dress’ worn to party or work:

The Light Woman – try to keep the black as far from your face as possible. Wear a scarf or necklace in one of your best colours and add a coloured jacket in light aqua a blush pink or an apple green. Don’t make your lips too neutral or you will look washed out, wear a rose or light coral – check out the latest collection from Chanel, or find equivalent colours in Boots.

The Deep Woman – You can wear black but you look good with combinations of rich strong colours, black on it’s own is boring so liven it up with a pop of red, true blue, or teal. Deeps are great in drama so wear your best red lipstick and nail varnish to make an entrance.

The Warm Woman – brown is a much better neutral for you but if you do wear black this season is a bonus for you as there are plenty of warm earth colours in the shops. Wear your black with orange, yellow, rust and lime green. This seasons makeup colours have gorgeous golds, corals and greens to complement your golden colouring.

The Cool Woman – You can wear black but you look best with contrast. So mix your black with pinks from baby to fuchsia, lavender, violet and light blue. Wear a great rose or fuchsia pink lipstick and keep your blusher pink rather than peach.

The Clear Woman – Back will be a staple in your wardrobe, but like the cool woman you need contrast, so wear it with a bright or a light colour. You can do black and pure white – one of the trends of this summer season, but equally there are plenty of brights around for you to try too.  You are the woman who needs a strong lipstick colour to highlight that contrast between your fair skin, dark hair and jewel like eyes. Why not try a bright purple eyeliner?

The Soft Woman – Black isn’t great on you, your colours should be muted and blended so if you do wear black soften it with peach, beige or if you want to go for a colour blush pink or a light sage or moss green. Wear blends of soft neutrals and make sure your lips are defined in a soft neutral brown beige or pink. This season has plenty for you with all the soft neutral tones which give such an expensive look.


I hope this has given you some new ideas on wearing black and making it right for your colouring.

Dress in all images – Jersey Tea dress from Boden

How to wear yellow

Welcome to a new regular feature, How to Wear, and this week it’s How to Wear Yellow. Because if you have been noticing the gorgeous new clothes hitting the high street, yellow is there – big time!

Yellow is one of those colours that you either love or shy away from entirely. In colour psychology yellow is about emotions, self esteem and creativity so if you are feeling down yellow may lift your spirits. On the other hand because yellow focuses on ego it takes some confidence to wear.

Those of us who are on the warm side of the colour wheel can wear yellow easily – our palettes are based on it – but those on the cool side need a little more caution and should keep it away from the face by accesorising or wearing an icy yellow. If you have the confidence and know it suits you – go for it. If however, you want some fresh ideas on how to wear yellow here are some options for you.


Cropped Cashmere Cardigan from Pure Collection £109 Navy Crinkle scarf from Pure Collection £29 Merino Stripe Jacket from Fenn Wright Manson £149 Pashmina scarf in Citrine from Pure Collection £79
Spot Palazzo Trouser from Phase Eight £79 Mini Cross Body Bag in Citrine from Pure Collection £179 Azure sandal in Citrus from LK Bennett £175 Ted Baker Jeans from House of Fraser £79 Ballina Bag in navy by LK Bennett from House of Fraser £185 Sabrina Court shoe n Navy from LK Bennett from House of Fraser £155


Textured jumper from Boden £59 Printed Stole from Pure Collection £69 Linen Shift Dress from Pure Collection £119 OPI Nail varnish In Fiercely Fiona from Beauty Bay Two tone strand necklace from Phase Eight £25 Wool Stretch Tailoring trousers from Fenn Wright Manson £129 Yellow bag from Boden £89 Sequin trim pumps from Boden £79 Wool Stretch Tailoring Jacket from Fenn Wright Manson £199 Carvela Bow shoe from House of Fraser £120


Pashmina scarf in Mandarin from Pure Collection £79 Cardigan by Jaegar from House of Fraser £199 Stone chip necklace from Phase Eight £25 Spring Trench Coat from Boden £129 Crinkle scarf from Pure collection in Flame £29 Classic Stachel from Boden £129 Olive Handbag by LK Bennett from House of Fraser £395 Orange it’s obvious nail varnish by Essie from Beauty Bay Platform Court shoe from Phase Eight £120 Juniper bag by LK Bennett from House of Fraser £345 Nail Varnish in Ole Caliente by Essie from Beauty Bay Warehouse red jeggings from House of Fraser £35 Every day pumps from Boden £59

Are you brave enough for yellow? Let me know if you find a great piece to bring some sunshine into your wardrobe.

British, enduring and now full of colour

Something exciting has happened at Barbour.  Much like Burberry, they have taken a great piece of British heritage wear and given it a modern and stylish update.  First of all we say hats off (and jackets on!) to this brand for its longevity.  It has generally been associated with  country dwellers and outdoor types, but their new collections have transformed it into a coveted fashion item.

Both women and men can proudly step out to work in the city in a Barbour.  What’s more, it’s not just the styles that have been reworked, whilst the muddy green is still a brand staple, you can now choose from a range of wonderful colours.  A cheap purchase it isn’t, but you will get top quality and good value for your money.

As with the old styles, the new ones still come with pocket detail and various weights of fabric and padding, so take care not to go too bulky if you are curvy.  Lighter padding is easier to wear.

This is a good investment piece for us Brits who often need a practical jacket on hand, even in the height of summer.  Their spring quilts collection is perfect for the current trans-seasonal weather and colour trends.

http://www.barbour.com/collection/womens-heritage-fashion