MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

..add a brooch or two to your jacket.

Something old..

Something modern..

Something old with something modern..

A glamorous pin will add an individual touch to your work jackets, but it needn’t just be for the office. Try wearing a brooch with your blazer, jeans and a t-shirt.

Remember, it’s the decoration that helps demonstrate your unique style and add oomph to your outfits.

TIP – Wearing a brooch (or two) is a great way to draw attention and focus up to your face.  (Perhaps away from something else, that you’d prefer to draw attention away from)

You can read what styling services I offer here

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Even if you were wearing a beautiful dress from Chanel, there’s no way you could look stylish wearing a shoe like the one pictured above.  (Which I must say, is not mine)

I’m a big believer that the shoes are the most important element (apart from the underwear) of the outfit.

So…in preparation for the colder months of autumn and then winter, this is your Weekend Wardrobe Challenge.

Take out all of your autumn/winter shoes and (ruthlessly) go through each of them one by one, to decide..

1. If there are any shoes that need repairing or a good clean (This includes sneakers)
2. If any of them are outdated and need to be retired
3. If any of them are no longer required for your lifestyle
4. If any of them no longer work for your personal style and represent the image you want to portray
5. If any of them are too small, too big, too uncomfortable – and send them on their way
6. If any of them are unflattering.

This week I took these shoes to my local cobbler and (for $18) had new heels put on.  I then gave them a polish with Mr Sheen to shine them up.  I know that I’ll be wearing them through the next couple of months and well into winter so I need them in good shape and ready to go.

Next up…

Make a list of the various areas of your life (For example, work (weekdays), work (casual Fridays), weekend (casual during the day), weekend (going out), etc, etc)  Determine whether your shoes cover the areas you need them to.  Make a list of any gaps you need to fill.

Take a good look at what you have and consider what could be added to your shoe wardrobe to create more outfits with your existing clothes.   (ie a pair of knee high tan boots to wear with some of your dresses or a pair of white sneakers so you can wear some of the dressier pieces in your wardrobe, more casually)

If you are having trouble deciding what’s still current, what’s not, what should stay, what should go, what needs adding or ditching, and would like some help, you can book in for a Wardrobe Overhaul here (or read about it here)

Something to leave you with..

You can read what styling services I offer here

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I’ll often ask my client while we’re doing a Wardrobe Overhaul, what their favourite color is – and I’m regularly surprised to learn that they have none (or very little) of that color.

If you love red, orange, yellow, blue or emerald green, find a way to add some to your wardrobe.

It doesn’t need to be an orange pair of pants or a yellow shirt (Which may not look great next to your face), it could be something subtle, like a casual yellow bag, an orange scarf – or even orange lips or nails.

Red is my favourite color and last year I realised after doing a good edit and analysis of my wardrobe, that I didn’t have enough of it – so I consciously set out to add more.

Red isn’t just a color I like to look at, it’s a color that makes me feel good when I wear it.  (I particularly wear it if I need a boost of confidence.)

Here’s your challenge – Think about what color you love. The color should not only visually please you, but it should make you feel happy, confident, sexy, attractive, fun, chic, joyful (whatever’s important to you).

Next, go through your wardrobe and see what you have in your favourite color.  If there’s none, find a way to add it.  If you do have plenty of the color but are neglecting to wear it often (Why would you not if it makes you feel all of the above?), plan some outfits incorporating that color.

You can read what styling services I offer here

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Around this time each year I pull out all my old coats and jackets and assess what I have and consider what I might need when the cold weather arrives.

This involves deciding whether I need/want to add something new to my collection, what maintenance needs to be done and thinking about what I could do with them to update them and give them a new look.

This year, unless something amazing catches my eye, I’ve decided I don’t need a new coat – I’m going to focus my attention on giving some of my old one’s a makeover.

For some it might be big (like cutting it from knee length to hip length) and for others it might be a little change (like adding a sparkly vintage brooch).

If you’re creative, there are many ways you can give new life to an old piece. (See how I did it here)

In the photos below and above, I’ve shown you how, by swapping over the belt your jacket came with with something different, it can give it a whole new fresh look.

(If belts are not your thing, try something else)

You can read what styling services I offer here

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