MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

If you’ve got a pair of white jeans sitting in your wardrobe, that you only ever wear in summer, pull them out and see if you can make them work for you this winter.

Sometimes when we feel bored with our clothes or like we have nothing to wear (despite a wardrobe full of clothes), it’s because we’re not using what we have in different ways. We have this idea in our head that, that top only goes with that skirt, or that dress is only for weddings or christenings or those pants can only be worn with those shoes.

Try and expand that thinking a little bit. Maybe the lovely silky shirt you bought when it was hot could be worn under a sweater now that it’s cooled down. Perhaps you could layer pieces over that strappy little dress you love but hardly wear, with tights, a jumper, a jacket, and boots. And maybe those white jeans can be worn in winter with knits, coats, boots, pumps, loafers, or sneakers.

Contrary to popular belief, white jeans can be worn by all of us. (Here’s my Mum wearing her white jeans) Like all jeans, it’s just a matter of finding a pair that works for your shape and getting a pair that have the right fabric and the right fit. (i.e. not too thin or too tight)

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If you’re having your jeans cropped and not sure where to tell the alterations person to take them up to – show them this.

*Just above the ankle bone.

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When I changed careers several years ago, my clothes needed to change too.

I was working at an Investment Bank so most of my wardrobe was made up of suits, crisp shirts, blazers, and heels, but when I started my Personal Styling business, my needs were different. My style was still classic, but it needed to transition from corporate classic into a more casual, fashionable classic.

Before I invested in new clothes I made the conscious decision to simplify my wardrobe, and how I dressed and also decided that I would build a wardrobe around a color palette, of black, white, grey, and navy.
Having these colors as my primary base means that everything works together, and therefore dressing is easy.

Over time, for variety, I would add bits and pieces in other colors – red, orange, cobalt blue, fuchsia – that would complement the neutral basics.

I’m now ready to introduce a new neutral. One that I know will work well with all the others, as well as some of my colored pieces. This autumn, I’m keen to incorporate some khaki into the mix.

What are the primary basic colors you’ve built your wardrobe around?  (For you it could be beige, charcoal, cream, white, etc) If you haven’t (and your wardrobe is only made up of lots of colors and patterns) it could be one of the reasons you find putting outfits together difficult and you feel like you have nothing to wear.

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Depending on your lifestyle and where you live, you might need a variety of coats for winter – one for everyday wear (perhaps for work), one for weekends, one for evenings out and one for extreme cold. (ie the big puffy fur lined coat I might wear to the football).

If your work coat, is the same as your going out coat, and your watching kids sport coat, and your go to the snow coat, etc, .. think about building a wardrobe of different coats for different occasions.

Coats can be expensive investment pieces, so start with the one you need and will wear the most. Then continue down the list.

I bought this one (pictured), decades ago in a vintage store. I like to buy myself a new coat every few years – and have a collection that I’ve had for about 20 years. (Which also includes a vintage Dior I found in an opshop, for $40).

Rather than just buying stuff, (and still feeling like you have nothing to wear) think about what your wardrobe needs.

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