MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

I bought this jacket a few years ago while I was on holiday in Rome with my mum, aunt and uncle.  It’s not a fancy designer piece and it wasn’t super expensive but I still remember the day I bought it and it brings back special memories.   I won’t keep it forever, it’s not that much of a sentimental piece, but at the same time I’m not quite ready to part with it just yet.

Recently I pulled it out to wear and it felt a little tired.  I gave it a good clean and played around with it a bit – buttoned the neck a different way, rolled up the sleeves – to see what I could do with it to breathe some life into it.  What I found did the trick was adding  a different belt around the waist.  I realised the old belt, the fabric buckle in particular, was what was dragging down the jacket and making it look stale and worn out.  My Trenery waist belt (purchased on sale for $19) was all it needed to give it a new look and the boost it needed.

Go through your wardrobe and see what’s in there that can be rejuvenated by running it in, taking it out, taking it up, adding new buttons,  beads, brooches, belts or even some dye.

Be resourceful.  Don’t just dismiss something and toss it out before you really analyse it and look at it with a creative eye.

Need help deciding what can be reinvented (and how to do it)? Book in for a Wardrobe Overhaul or Review here 

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As much as I grumble about it and dislike the cold, grey aspect of winter, I do love the chance to rug up and wear some of my lovely warm coats.

I’ve been collecting them for years now.  I thought I’d show you a few.

The green cashmere and fur coat above was found in a charity shop in South Melbourne.  It’s vintage Christian Dior.  It needs a bit of love and attention before I can wear it.  The lining needs replacing and I want to have the arms and the back taken in.  The alterations, my tailor said, will cost me about $200, but given it only cost me $40 I think it’s worth it.

The green, black and white tweed is also vintage.  The label says it’s Made in France and I bought it over a decade ago from a little store in Melbourne’s Royal Arcade called Anonymous Posh.

I think you need at least one coat that you’ve saved for, that you’ll have for years and years to come.   Something classic, that will still be in style in 5 – 10 years time and that goes with 95 percent of your wardrobe. That’s my black Kors by Michael Kors coat below.  I picked this one up in the sales a couple of years ago from Bluefly.

And finally the camel hair and fur coat was discovered in a little vintage shop in Yarraville.  It’s in impeccable condition and incredibly warm.

Vintage coats are great for adding something interesting and unique to your wardrobe without spending a lot of money.  I know that there’s not much chance of anyone having anything like it.  I do however – despite how cheap they might be – make sure they are clean and aren’t smelly or stained when I buy them.  *Always check the lining to see what condition it’s in.

A new coat on the other hand, can be quite an investment so you want to make sure you get it right.

Given that some of you will wear it every day during winter, you want something you put on and it makes you feel great – not just some old ill-fitting, bally thing that does the job.

It needs to flatter your body shape. (Unless of course you are embracing the over sized trend then the style will not necessarily be conventionally flattering – yet style stylish)

Match your style & personality.

Be comfortable and versatile.  There’s no point having one purple coat in the cupboard if it only goes with 10% of your wardrobe.

Think of a coat like a couch.  If you buy something in a neutral tone you can make it look different by changing your accessories.  Just like adding a few cushions and a rug to change the look of a couch, you can add some gloves, a scarf and a bag or boots, to make the coat look different each time you wear it.

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There’s never a better time than the start of autumn to learn about the art of layering.  Not only is it resourceful, saving you time and money, but it can also be very chic and stylish.

Here in Australia we’re still mastering the art of layering but in other parts of the world, they do it beautifully. Where some of us would pack our white jeans or fuchsia trousers away once the weather turns cool, they would simply add a camel jacket and suede ankle boots or a navy sweater and a trench.  The Europeans are not afraid to blend the months together. They use their spring and summer clothes as the base and then they layer pieces on top.

Although trans-seasonal dressing may seem complicated and tricky it’s not.  Aim to add items to your closet that have multiple uses.  Next time you shop think about it –   Will this skirt be ok with tights and my trench and then again with my sandals and a t-shirt? Will I be able to wear it year round? If I rolled these up and wore them with an open toe wedge, can I work these pants from autumn into my summer wardrobe?

There are many ways I could show you how to layer your clothes and take them from summer to autumn and beyond – here’s a few photos for inspiration..

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So before you race out and buy new autumn clothes ask yourself whether you need to.  Is it possible that what you really need is just a few things that will complement and work with your existing wardrobe – a couple of knits, some scarves, a jacket, tights and boots.

If you would like me to go through your wardrobe with you, decide what you need to add for autumn and winter, make a plan, write a shopping list and help you put together some autumn outfits using some of your summer clothes – email me here.  You might find you don’t need anywhere near as much as you thought.  You just might need some ideas as to how to wear what you already have, in new and different ways.

**Remember you don’t have to take these shots literally – just use them for inspiration as I explained here

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Black is incredibly chic.

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

As someone who has a lot of black in their wardrobe and wears it often, I’ve had plenty of people comment over the years that I wear too much black or that I’d look lovely in a bit of color and I’ve had a couple of clients tell me they hear the same thing from their family and friends.

My response is always, if you like black and you feel comfortable and confident wearing it – then go for it.

But be aware that wearing head to toe black can look a bit bland and boring, so you need to be conscious of trying to make it look interesting rather than flat and dull.

Having an interesting and stylish all black outfit can be achieved by..

• Mixing different fabrics and textures. (ie Wool, silk, denim, suede, patent leather, etc)
• Adding unique accessories.
• Ensuring the clothes fit and flatter your body shape beautifully
• Wearing nothing that is faded, stained or pilled.
• Considering your makeup.  You might find you need to add a bit more color than usual to your cheeks and lips.

I adore color, but I always feel the most stylish when I’m wearing black. (You can see me wearing all black here)

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