MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

If you have an upcoming Christmas party you need to come up with an outfit for, instead of thinking I need to buy something new to wear, why not think, what do I already have in my wardrobe that could be dressed up with some fabulous decoration?

Try and imagine this outfit (pictured) without the red lips, sparkly bag and jewels and simple up-do. What you would have would be just a skirt & top (albeit lovely and in this case a very expensive skirt and top) – not an outfit.

Don’t underestimate what accessories (and the finer detail) can achieve – alternatively how bad accessories can ruin an otherwise great look.   *Remember Julianne Moore in these shoes?

*The key when you look at images like this is not to think, she’s 20 years younger than me, 2 feet taller and 5 dress sizes smaller….wearing diamonds and Chanel.  You need to be imaginative and creative.  When I first saw this picture one of the first things that came to mind was that I could make a similar necklace/choker to the one she’s (stylist, Caroline Sieber) wearing with a large vintage brooch and a piece of black ribbon.  The photo also reminded me of the impact a red lip can have and how it has the ability to bring all the attention up to the face.

If you want some help putting together an outfit for a Christmas Party, perhaps using what you already have in your wardrobe, email me here.   (If I can’t come to your home or go shopping with you, you can send me some photos and I’ll give you my thoughts and suggestions.)

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Tomorrow why don’t you give yourself a challenge and wear a piece of jewellery you own, in a way you haven’t worn it before.

Perhaps it’s wearing a vintage brooch that was your Nana’s on your denim jacket, or wearing a pair of big statement earrings you’ve only ever worn in the evening with a t-shirt and a pair of jeans or wearing a long pendant necklace (shortened) like Diana Vreeland is wearing hers in this photo.

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image via here

Bored with the clothes hanging in your wardrobe?

Could it be possible that it’s because you wear the same thing, the same way, every time?

You wear the same black pants, with the same black shoes and the same black jacket and carry the same black bag.

BORING

Mix things up.  Experiment with your clothes and wear them in new and different ways.  (As in this photo above, where a dress is being worn over a dress)  It won’t always work.   Sometimes it might feel silly. Sometimes you might even leave the house and feel all wrong, all day.  But that’s ok.   At least you gave it a try and had some fun with your clothes.  If it did’t feel quite right and you didn’t feel confident, you just don’t wear that outfit like that again.  You try something else.

Keep in mind that “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got”

And Remember when you see photos like this don’t just think, I don’t wear those colors, I’m not that tall, that young, that thin…or I don’t have the budget to buy these types of clothes.  Look at the image with a creative eye.  Get inspiration from it.  Rather than think I don’t have the legs to wear a dress that short, instead think, maybe I could layer two of my dresses (dresses that flatter and complement my style, lifestyle, budget and body shape)  OR I could wear two chunky necklaces rather than just one OR I could carry my little bag like that rather than wear it across my body all the time.

Read more about getting inspiration from images (and people you see in the street) here

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I spent last Friday afternoon getting my beautiful niece ready for a year twelve school formal – doing her hair and make-up and …. repairing her shoe when it broke five minutes before we were about to leave.  My cool, calm and collected skills were certainly put to the test.

This is what she wore…

A vintage black velvet dress that was modified and altered to her size, shape and style, Prada gold and black ankle strap heels (see the loose undetected button on the pic of the left heel) and a vintage beaded bag.   She also wore a tiny pair of earrings and that was it for jewelry.  She didn’t want anything to overpower and compete with the shoes.

Channeling a young Brigitte Bardot, I curled her hair (with old fashioned heat rollers) and she wore it natural and slightly messy/tussled. (I used some Schwarzkopf Volume Powder at the roots and lots of Elnett hairspray)  I put a few tiny false lashes on the outside corners of her eyes, a sweep of black liquid liner and lots of black mascara.  She had pink dewy cheeks, a little dab here and there of liquid illuminator and she wore fire engine red lipstick to match her nails.

Tip

For any occasion, whether it’s a school formal, a wedding or a fancy party, the outfit you put together (including hair and makeup) should reflect your personal style and flatter your body shape.

If you never wear your hair up, never wear soft floaty pretty dresses or red lipstick, ask yourself, will you feel comfortable and confident wearing it for a special event?  (i.e. if you’d never dream of wearing pale pink or gold in your day to day, why on earth would you wear it on your wedding day)

If you wear a dress or hairstyle that is not flattering to your shape or not really your style, there is the chance that you will spend the entire night (or day) feeling uncomfortable and self conscious.

My niece nailed it. She often wears black, she often wears red lips, she often wears her hair down, natural and wavy and she doesn’t wear a lot of jewelry.  When she ran out the door she was a gorgeous,  glammed up version of herself.

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