As we make plans to meet up with friends and colleagues I am conscious that many of you just aren’t ready. 😱

You have been working from home and been quite happy in lounge wear and the occasional smart top or shirt when on a zoom call. But now it’s time to step out in earnest. But, can I ask before you rush to the shops PLEASE don’t impulse buy, if your first response to this new found freedom is, “I don’t have anything to wear”.

Impulse buying is simply purchasing a product on a whim. It’s not planned, not budgeted for and, often, it’s not needed. There is an urgency to make a purchase, without having the time to consider how useful the item actually is.

If you have used lockdown productively you may have cleared your wardrobe, to know what gaps you have in it. But for some of us this hasn’t been the case and I urge the latter who may potentially impulse buy to meet a need, to STOP ✋🏽 as you just end up going round in a vicious circle buying things which don’t add any value to you or your style.

My job as a stylist is not to push items for you to buy. But to help you to shop more consciously and considered and get you to think differently about your wardrobe. Working with what you have and adding pieces (both staple items and statement) when needed.

In my latest video I take a shirt dress and show you how you can make multiple outfits if you think more creatively. Watch it here. Not forgetting as well I show you in a previous video how you can use a wardrobe staple (the second skin top) and wear it in different ways too. However, before you dash off to watch them, if you want to know how to stop impulse buying, here are some of my free tips;

1. Question your reasons: It pays to really think about whether you’re buying something because it’s on sale, it is trending today on Instagram or because you actually love it enough, to wear it several times. The beauty of online shopping means that you can sleep on a purchase. So if you wake up in the morning and still feel Carrie Bradshaw about it, (in love with the skirt and can’t eat breakfast because you’re still thinking about it) then go ahead. But if you’ve forgotten about it by the following morning, you are more likely to forget it after hanging it in your wardrobe too.

2. Do your research: When you see something you like, don’t buy it immediately. It pays to take the time to do your research and ask who made your clothes. There’s nothing wrong with shopping sales or getting a deal, but when prices are too low, someone is more than likely to be paying the price elsewhere in the supply chain. Simply start by researching eco-friendly and ethical brands. The end goal should be to create a wardrobe filled with quality pieces that promise longevity, as opposed to just quantity.

3. One in one out policy:  While it can be hard to ignore the siren call of flash sales, compensate by adopting the one-in, one-out policy. Simply donate or recycle one garment each time you purchase a new one to maintain equilibrium in your wardrobe.

4. Clothes swapping party  If decluttering those impulse buys from your wardrobe doesn’t rank high on your list of fun weekend activities, call over some friends and pop open the bubbly for a clothes swapping party? The rules? Everyone brings over a certain amount of clothes and accessories to be bartered with each other. Beyond breaking the cycle of throwaways, the party will also give you the chance to snag some exciting new pieces for yourself at virtually zero cost. Win win.

5. Finally, build a capsule wardrobe, don’t allow trans-seasonal pieces to dictate your shopping list, but look for versatile numbers that will last the entire year. Unless the weather where you live is prone to extremes, the usual roster of wardrobe basics should suffice from summer to winter. Look for a classic black blazer that makes the transition from the boardroom to the bar, an embroidered denim jacket for easy layering, or a well-tailored jumpsuit etc.

Tip of the Day: 

Whether you’re a seasoned eco-warrior or a well-intentioned beginner, we can all use a little help to ensure that our choices don’t end up as landfill fodder. Think about renting an outfit if you have a special occasion as those one off items are the ones that take up the most room in your wardrobe and you only wear them once or twice.

If you like these tips and want to know what  I am advocating on my shopping channel regarding premium basics that you need for your wardrobe head here. If you would like help with your wardrobe, why not book a virtual  session which means I can service you anywhere in the world or a personal wardrobe session. For this month only (May) I have a special offer of £50 off at the checkout if you tap in GET50OFF. Have a look here. But finally if you like what you read and want to be a part of my Style community why not download my free outfit planner here.

I hope you have found this post helpful. Let me know in the comments how you are getting ready to meet people again and what tips you will be taking away?

Until next time xx

#wardrobeessentials #wardrobestyling #howtowear #stylingideas #ootd #outfitinspiration #wardrobestaple #stylegoals #styletip #wardrobegoals #capsulewardrobe #effortlessstyle #minimalstyle #simplestyle #waystowear #wardrobebasics #capsulecloset #basicessentials #personalstyling #stylishwomen 

Let me get straight to the point, how confident are you in the way you look and feel?

The reason I ask is that back in January I had the pleasure of chatting style and fashion with one of Britain’s most influential black women (according to British Vogue’s 2020 Power List) Dawn Butler MP, as well as getting the opportunity to ask her more serious questions such as, what’s it like to be a women in government, as well as what’s it really like to be black and woman in government.

Naturally you assume that some one of her stature would feel confident all the time. But during this honest conversation, Dawn mentions at certain times in her career she felt shy or didn’t feel confident in certain scenarios and it made me realise – despite the persona, even the most influential of women can get nervous, lack confidence and question their ability to own their own stage even if its for a minute.

My interview with Dawn Butler MP was indeed very open and honest and I love to scratch past the surface and get to know the real person (and you can watch this honest interview here.) But it also highlighted to me how image has a massive part to play in your confidence and if you are struggling with how you look or want pointers on how to improve your image then this post is for you.

As a fashion stylist one of the biggest reasons why clients come to me, is that they want to get confident with what they wear and how they look. But I believe it’s so important for people to understand that their image is not just about how you look but also about your self esteem and how you portray yourself to others as well as yourself.  So there are a number of pointers I would like to give, to help you take the right road to dressing confidently.

Knowing your body shape: Have you every bought outfits online or in person and realise that they don’t suit you when you get them home? Well that’s simply because you don’t know your body type. Understanding your body type makes a massive difference to the purchases you make and whilst not everybody is the same size or proportion, dressing in ways that flatter your unique shape can help you confidently strut your stuff whether you’re short or tall.

Understanding your wardrobe: A lot of us have loads of items in our wardrobe but will always say we don’t have anything to wear and that’s purely because we are not looking at our  wardrobe creatively. As a stylist weeding out the items that can be worn in different ways to make new outfits and donating or getting rid of the rest is the pillar to get a client back on the right road so they know what’s in their wardrobe and how to use it. Therefore this shouldn’t be left to chance. If covid has taught us anything,  buying for the sake of buying is not smart, especially when times are hard.

Finding your colours: Knowing what colours suit your complexion and hair colour, whilst understanding what colours can say about you and the mood they can convey, are so important especially if you are an entrepreneur or just want to give the right impression at work. Statistics say people are six times more likely to be influenced by the colour you wear than anything else about your appearance? Therefore one of the ways to dress with confidence is to know what looks good on you and what doesn’t.

Playing to your strengths: Creating an image that you love has to be based on what are your best features and how to highlight them. By understanding you body shape, then choosing the outfit that flatters, in a colour you look good in, will enable you to have a well thought out look, that you are happy with, no matter what your style.

Gaining your personal style: Once you have an understanding in these areas, finding your personal style becomes easy and you will know what to wear wherever you are going, whether its for a business meeting or out with friends.

Tip of the day: Dressing confidently really doesn’t have to be down to chance, personal stylists like me can genuinely help you get on the path to feeling great and dressing with confidence. If this resonates with you why not book a FREE discovery call with me to see how I can move your image to the next level here.

However if this has been on your mind for quite a while and want to find out your body type with no hesitation book here and if its a wardrobe edit book here. In both scenarios I will be with you in a heart beat.

Finally, if you like these tips why not join my style community where you get tips, offers and products information straight to your inbox, just head here.

I hope you found this post useful?

Until next time xx

#confidentdressing #imageconsultant #confidenceforeverybody #dressingandgrooming

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