MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

I get so much inspiration from looking at what everyday people are wearing on the street overseas. (Particularly in Paris and Milan) I devour as much as I can from anywhere I can.

They’re not necessarily fashion people or influencers paid to wear the clothes – they’re just wearing what they like, in their authentic and unique way.

It could be from Zara, a vintage store or op shop, the latest designer piece, or something that belonged to their grandmother.

As I’m flicking through the photos, I look at and think about things like…

The bag. The color chosen for the outfit, its style, and even how it’s being worn.

The shoes. Same as above.

The jeans. What style they’re wearing – length, shape, color, and cut.

What colors they’re combining in the outfit.

What jewellery they’re wearing and how they’re wearing it.

Are there any pieces I’ve noticed worn regularly? (i.e., perhaps a trend we might see here)

Are there any styling tweaks that are new to me?

Are there any ideas for me to wear something I have in a new way?

Is there something I could add to my shopping list? (Maybe a cream pleated skirt for spring.)

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These images are from @milanesiamilano.

Basics are the key to your wardrobe.

When you’re building an outfit start with the basics first and think of them as a blank canvas.

For example, a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt is the canvas, which you then add to, to create a look.

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The first time I went to Paris, one of the earliest fashion observations I made was that wearing sweaters tied around their shoulders was a thing for men.

It didn’t matter whether they were 20 or 70, suave looking, beautifully dressed, and groomed Frenchmen, were doing it.

At the time, I couldn’t imagine any guys I knew back home wearing it that way, so I guess I was intrigued by this different look.

Now, if Instagram is anything to go by, it’s become quite a fashionable thing to do – for women*.

But apart from it being somewhat of a current trend, I think there are good reasons to give it a try (if you haven’t already), these are some of them…

The obvious one – it adds warmth.

It gives you the chance to add more texture to your outfit. You can see how the cable knit is doing that here.

You can use it to add an extra color. It can be particularly good if you need something to work with the shoes. e.g., If you’re wearing black shoes and feel like you need a bit of black up the top.

You can use a knit in place of a scarf. e.g., If you don’t have the right colored scarf for the outfit, but you have a knit that will work.

It could be a new way to wear something you already have in your wardrobe and might help you create some new outfits.

Those Frenchmen would generally have their sweaters perfectly placed and neatly tied. I don’t do that. I just throw mine around my neck, make sure it’s sitting fairly flat across my shoulders, and then leave it draping or tie it. And just like I would generally do with a scarf, I’ll create a V shape at my neck.

*It’s quite possible the Parisian women were doing it back then too; I just didn’t notice. 😉

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If you wear knits then you need something to de-pill and de-fluff them so that they continue to look fresh and new, rather than tired and shabby.

Pilling is the fibres breaking and forming little balls on the surface of the knit. It tends to happen mostly where the fabric rubs together (ie under or down the sides of the arms) or where something you’ve worn has brushed against it (a jacket or bag), but can also happen in the wash.

While there are various little tools that you can use (including a razor if you’re very, very careful) to remove the pills – I use these pictured above. From memory, I bought both from discount stores for about $4 each, but you can also find them at supermarkets, haberdasheries, (Spotlight?) and hardware stores.

The idea is – the comb (very gently) lifts the pills from the knit, and then the lint remover brushes them off.

*The lint remover is also essential for removing fluff, dandruff, dust, hair, etc., from your clothes.

TIP  Keep in mind that moths are attracted to dirty clothes, (even the tiniest little speck of food) so it’s always a good idea to remove anything that can get trapped in the fibres as best you can to avoid them having a feast in your wardrobe and destroying your favourite pieces.

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