MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

I might take two girlfriends shopping – both of them could try on the same dress and decide to buy it.

One would wear it to work with a blazer and pumps, in her classic style and the other would wear it casually to meet her friends at a cafe, in a pair of flat sandals and her denim jacket.

It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.

For example, a simple white shirt can be worn in many different ways. (Demonstrated beautifully by Carolyn Bessette Kennedy above) As can a pair of chinos or a trench coat. A scrunch here, a fold, or a button up there. Even a little tweak, can make an impact.

It’s up to you to interpret each piece of clothing from your wardrobe in your own way.

Wear it so that it shows your personal style (and personality)

Wear it with accessories that feel authentic to you and your style

Wear it with an unexpected color or texture

Wear it in winter, as well as in summer

Wear it to work, and then wear it casually on the weekend

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I receive regular emails from prospective clients asking,

“What sort of budget would I need to go shopping with you?”

My answer is always the same.

What you choose to spend on your wardrobe is entirely up to you.  I’ll work within your budget.

I work with people who only like to spend $100 on a new pair of jeans and some who wouldn’t blink an eye at spending $350.

The thing is, everyone’s different. Everyone has different lifestyles and priorities and we might have more or less to spend on clothes at different times in our lives.  (You might recall me talking about the time when I changed careers and I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on new clothes)

Despite your budget everyone deserves the right to look and feel great.

One thing I suggest to people who want to stay current and up-to-date with fashion but don’t necessarily have a lot of money to spend, is to not just avoid stores they think are too expensive for them, but to go in, sample what’s on offer and then if anything appeals to them try and find similar pieces at stores that are closer to their budget.  (And often during a “sampling” session people are pleasantly surprised that some of the stores they tend to stay away from are not as expensive as they had imagined – particularly if it’s a store where my clients receive my stylist discount) 

The above picture is an example of this.

The blazer on the left was $69.95, from Zara and the one on the right was $349, from Saba.

I will say that I do encourage people to look for quality. Even if the item is not overly expensive still pay attention to what the fabric is and how the garment is made.  (It’s not a bargain if it falls apart or looks shabby after two washes and you need to throw it out)  I also believe there are some things that are worth spending more on and may require saving for.

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Are your dowdy skirts and ill-fitting jackets making you look older than you are and frumpier than you want to be? (Nobody wants to look frumpy, right?)

Next time you try on a skirt and/or a jacket take a close look in the mirror..

Is the skirt length flattering your legs?

Is it sitting at the right place on your waist?

Is there too much fabric?

Is the jacket the right length for you?

Do the shoulders and armholes fit properly?

Is there too much material in the sleeves?

Is the style still current? (Or outdated?)

As you can see in the images above, a few tweaks (and perhaps a little bit of photo-shopping in one) to what you’re wearing and how you’re wearing it can make a whole lot of difference.

If you’re not sure about some of the clothes in your wardrobe and would like help determining whether something should stay or go or be reinvented, book in (or enquire about) a Wardrobe Overhaul here  (Likewise if you’re not confident shopping for flattering clothes)

*Original source of photos is unknown.  I came across them on Pinterest.  If anyone knows please contact me and I’ll credit it. **To be honest the after photos are a bit dated too now, but they should give you a good idea of how a few changes can make a difference.

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Years ago when I changed careers, I needed to transition my wardrobe from (largely) corporate clothes, to clothes than reflected my new lifestyle. When I set about doing that, the key things for me were to have less pieces, of better quality, but still with plenty of outfit combinations. I wanted to simplify my wardrobe and be ruthless with what earned a place in it and when I added anything new, I was strict about making sure it worked with what I already had.

If you look at these three photos, you’ll see the pieces all work together.  (Same blazer and same black pants throughout.)   You’ll also note that the pieces can also be worn in different ways, for different occasions.  This is important to me.  I want my clothes to be versatile.  For example, these black pants could be worn dressed up to a fancy event, if need be, or dressed down, for meeting a friend at a cafe for coffee.

In 2019 make conscious additions to your wardrobe. Don’t just buy something because it’s on sale or you saw one of your friends (or someone you follow on Instagram) wearing it. Build a wardrobe of pieces that complement each other.

If you need help identifying what could be added to your wardrobe (or removing for that matter) – and perhaps help finding them, details of my styling services can be found here

For details on my styling services, click here.

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