MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

There are many reasons why some of us dress older than we need to. It may be the company we keep is older than we are; we might think the number on our driver’s license dictates how we should look; we may recall that this was how our mother dressed when she was this age or we just don’t feel youthful and attractive anymore.

I know when we get to a mature age it can be tricky because we can worry about dressing too young. (I’m just about to turn 52, so I’m constantly asking myself whether I think something is too young or too old for me to wear.) But I think what often happens, in trying to make sure we don’t dress too young is, we dress too old.

Fortunately, there are simple changes you can make to your wardrobe that will immediately make you look and feel more youthful, up-to-date, and attractive.

..and let’s face it, every woman, despite their age, size, lifestyle, shape, or budget deserves to feel good about themselves.

You can see in these before and after photos what a difference clothes can make. (Despite the fact that they are a few years old and some of the pieces are a little bit dated)

In this photo, the clothes are ill-fitting, shapeless, unflattering, old-fashioned, and drab.

In the photo below, the same woman is wearing clothes that, without being too tight or uncomfortable,  highlight the figure, fit quite well, show a little bit of skin and are more modern.

She looks younger.  (And slimmer)

Consider the following when assessing whether your wardrobe is too old and whether you need a fashion makeover

• There is not one fitted, figure-enhancing item in your wardrobe
• You haven’t updated your reading or sunglasses in fifteen years
• You wear your hair the same way you did in primary school
• You either don’t own a pair of jeans or the ones you do have are acid washed and the waist is almost up to your armpits (or so low they almost reach your pubic line)
• The only handbag you use is the one your Nana gave you for your 21st
• Your last bra fitting was also your first
• 99% of what you have in your wardrobe is functional and comfortable, rather than stylish and flattering
• The only pair of heels in your cupboard are the ones packed away in a box with your wedding dress
• You still have and from time to time wear, outdated outfits you wore to work in the eighties
• The majority of your wardrobe is two sizes too big or too small

Are you dressing too old?

If you need help going through your wardrobe and deciding whether any of your clothes are too old for you book in or enquire about a Wardrobe Overhaul here 

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A couple of days ago I was in a store trying something on, when I heard someone say from outside my change-room,

“That’s not you!”

The comment, not directed at me, came from one of two women who were also trying things on in the common area.

The puzzled response was, “Oh, you don’t think so?”

I was intrigued.  I was wondering what one of the women had on, that made the other say that she didn’t think it was her.

When I left my cubicle I discovered the piece in question was a camel colored trench coat. I thought it looked quite nice.

The thing is, how can someone tell you – what’s you.  Only you know that.  Even if these women had been friends for 40 years or they were mother and daughter, nobody can tell you what you like.

In the same way that nobody can tell you whether you like mushrooms, floral perfumes or the sound of Justin Beibers music, nobody can tell you what your style is.  Only you know that.

..and if you don’t then you should spend some time figuring it out, otherwise you, like this lady in the change-room, will rely on others to tell you what to wear.

(Which can then result in filling your wardrobe in someone else’s style)

In the case of these two women, a better thing to say, would have been – “How do you feel?  “Is that your style?” And let the friend work out for herself whether the piece felt right and worked for her or not.

*Certainly there’s nothing wrong with asking a friend or someone working in a store what they think of how it looks on you, BUT you have to be careful when you request that advice.  Remember they’re looking through their eyes, with their own style, not with your personal style in mind.

For example: Imagine for a moment two people looking at Picasso’s Weeping Woman (above).  One might think it’s incredible and the other might think it’s hideous.  Both are right!

It’s quite possible in the case of these two women, that the friend giving advice didn’t like the piece or how it looked on her friend.  But just because that’s how she sees it, doesn’t mean she’s right.

It’s all about perception.

This is why shopping with friends, family members, etc, can be fun….but sometimes tricky.

You can read what styling services I offer here

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We’re currently in what can be, not quite disastrous, but certainly a dangerous period. Sales time.

This is the time when costly shopping mistakes are frequently made.

It’s when we can be easily lured into buying something we don’t really love, that isn’t at all flattering and doesn’t one bit represent the style and image we want to portray.

Here’s a scenario to think about…

You’ve been looking for something to wear to a friend’s wedding and not having much luck. You head out to the shops, thinking I have to get something today. I’m getting desperate.

You walk into a designer shop where they’re having a big sale. You’re thinking, this looks promising. But discover the only thing in your size is this pale pink satin ruched dress (pictured above). Its original price was $2072 and it’s on sale for $300. And it’s Nina Ricci. OMG, you think. I could never afford a designer dress like this normally. This is such a huge bargain. You try it on and it fits even though the neckline is too high for you, the length too short, you don’t really like the color (and it’s too pale for you) and you have no idea what underwear you’ll be able to wear to smooth out the lumps and bumps, which the shiny fabric seems to be highlighting. But it’s designer, it fits, it’s such a bargain and you’re desperate to buy something. The wedding is only 3 weeks away.

You’re still debating whether or not you should take it or not when the salesperson comes over and tells you you look incredible in it and that it’s beautifully made and only a handful of them were created – therefore nobody else will be wearing the same as you on the night. She gives you some ideas for how to accessorise it and how you could wear your hair and by now you’re starting to think it must look good if she says so. She works in fashion so she probably knows better than you. She could be right – the light’s not great in the change room, you don’t have any makeup on and you’re wearing bad undies.

What do you do? Do you buy it or leave it?

*If you do buy it…do you feel incredible when you wear it or do you feel uncomfortable, and unauthentic and wish you’d bought something that was flattering to your shape and reflected your style?

If you need help navigating the sales you can contact me here

You can read what styling services I offer here

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I receive regular emails from prospective clients asking,

“What sort of budget would I need to go shopping with you?”

My answer is always the same.

What you choose to spend on your wardrobe is entirely up to you.  I’ll work within your budget.

I work with people who only like to spend $100 on a new pair of jeans and some who wouldn’t blink an eye at spending $350.

The thing is, everyone’s different. Everyone has different lifestyles and priorities and we might have more or less to spend on clothes at different times in our lives.  (You might recall me talking about the time when I changed careers and I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on new clothes)

Despite your budget everyone deserves the right to look and feel great.

One thing I suggest to people who want to stay current and up-to-date with fashion but don’t necessarily have a lot of money to spend, is to not just avoid stores they think are too expensive for them, but to go in, sample what’s on offer and then if anything appeals to them try and find similar pieces at stores that are closer to their budget.  (And often during a “sampling” session people are pleasantly surprised that some of the stores they tend to stay away from are not as expensive as they had imagined – particularly if it’s a store where my clients receive my stylist discount) 

The above picture is an example of this.

The blazer on the left was $69.95, from Zara and the one on the right was $349, from Saba.

I will say that I do encourage people to look for quality. Even if the item is not overly expensive still pay attention to what the fabric is and how the garment is made.  (It’s not a bargain if it falls apart or looks shabby after two washes and you need to throw it out)  I also believe there are some things that are worth spending more on and may require saving for.

You can read what styling services I offer here

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