MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Contrary to old-fashioned, outdated “fashion rules”, navy and black can be worn together – and in fact – can, if done well, look incredibly chic.

No, it more than likely won’t work when you try combining your navy suit jacket with your black suit pants.  Chance are you’ll look like you got dressed in the dark.

But it will work beautifully with a black pencil skirt and a navy silk blouse, a navy dress and a black patent leather belt or black jeans, a navy sweater and a black leather jacket.

Give it a go.  It just might give you a few more outfit combinations from the clothes you have hanging in your wardrobe. Ones that you might never have considered before.

Keep in mind, it’s all about the shade of the blue and the texture of the fabrics.

Click here to read about Fab Finds & Fave Things where I share what I buy as well as what my clients are buying.

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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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 image via here

While some of the fashionistas attending the autumn/winter 2013 ready-to-wear shows are following the current trend of wearing their coats and jackets oversized, Emmanuelle Alt, Vogue Paris editor-in-chief, is true to form, doing her own thing and wearing her coats pulled in at the waist with a belt.

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We all know I do love a belt and I’m a big proponent for accentuating the waist, so the inspiration I’m taking from these photos of Emmanuelle is that I’m going to follow her lead and attempt to add new life by changing the look of some of my winter coats with different belts. I’m going to pull out all my coats, try them on with my various belts and see what works. Perhaps before winter comes around I need to add a couple of belts I can wear around my waist, to my shopping wishlist and keep an eye out for new ones to add to my collection.  (TIP: Don’t wait til winter is here. Plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time to search for interesting pieces and bargains. Some of my favourite belts have been found in op-shops and vintage stores.) 

And the most inspirational thing for me, one that I always take from Emmanuelle and her style, is to do your own thing.  If you want to just wear black – wear black.  If you want to only wear pants – only wear pants.  If you want to wear flats – wear flats.  If you want to cinch in the waist of your coat when everyone else is wearing it shapeless and oversized – cinch in your waist.

Do your own thing……if it makes you feel great.

Details of my personal styling services (Including prices) here

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

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