MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

When was the last time you tried something new?   A new lipstick, a new hairstyle, new reading glasses or a new style of jeans.

They might not work, but that’s fine. You’ll know then, that they’re not for you. But at least you tried.  Be prepared to experiment and make mistakes with your style.  Have some fun.

It’s when we do the same thing all the time, that we find ourselves in a style rut.

It’s ok if you never…

• wear belts
• paint your nails
• color your hair
• wear makeup
• carry a handbag
• wear color
• wear heels
• wear pants
• etc

You should do whatever makes you feel great. BUT…if you don’t feel great in your clothes, then maybe it’s time to start challenging some of those “never’s“.

Even Victoria Beckham, who once mostly wore black,  has freshened up her look and started wearing a bit of color.

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I know, … it’s not exactly a sexy topic, yet it’s one we really shouldn’t ignore.

As I’ve mentioned previously, details matter.

In fact details can sometimes be the difference between whether an outfit looks shabby, just ok or great.

In this instance, the detail in question is, the collar.

Because the collar is so close to your face it appears right in the eye line of others.

So it’s hard to miss a collar that is dated, stained, crumpled, frayed or *flying.

If you have one that sits in any of the above categories, I’d encourage you to remove it from your wardrobe and send it on it’s way.  ASAP.

*If you often wear a blazer/suit jacket with a shirt, tuck those collars in.

Like this..

Not like this..

It’s ok if they pop out a bit but don’t purposely spread them like wings. (Like Miranda has done above)  More than likely, they’ll make your outfit look out-dated.

Keep your look modern and fresh. Flying collars can appear a bit 90’s.  (Unless of course that’s the look you’re going for)

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While I don’t think denim skirts have ever really been completely out of fashion, they are certainly having a moment now.  We’ll be seeing more and more of them in the stores over the next few months – different colored denim and different shapes and styles. Keep an eye out!  If you’ve got an old one in the wardrobe, it’s a good time to pull it out and play around with modern ways to wear it.

Think of a denim skirt as an alternative to jeans.  Wear it in the same way as you’d wear them.  With a t-shirt or blouse and sandals in summer and with a knit, a coat and boots in winter.

A denim skirt, just like jeans, can be dressed up or dressed down and worn for various different occasions. To coffee with girlfriends, for casual Fridays in the office or shopping on the weekend

Find a style that works for your shape and then wear it in a way that represents your style – whether that’s classic, bohemian or whatever..

*Don’t be put off a denim skirt because you think the style doesn’t suit your shape.  Just like all skirts there’s a style for everyone.  For example, if a straight style doesn’t work for you, maybe an a-line style will.

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My Mum has always had a love of shoes, make-up and perfume. Right from school, at a very young age, she worked in the cosmetics department at Myer where her weekly pays would be saved up to buy shoes.

I don’t remember Mum ever leaving the house without a beautifully made-up face. (Well at the very least with her lippy on) I went to Paris with my Mum for my 40th birthday and this is one of my favourite pics. It’s Mum re-applying her lipstick in the Louvre.  She has one of those little lippy cases that she carries around with her and she is often seen whipping it out to do a quick touch up.

Those who follow my blog or Facebook page will know I too have a thing for great shoes and cosmetics.  I have to be very disciplined to buy practical as well as simply gorgeous shoes and I could spend hours in a store trying lotions and eyeshadows and smelling different fragrances.

The other thing my Mum taught me about style is about fit.  From a very young age (2 or 3) til I was in my early 20’s I did calisthenics and my Mum made all my (and my two sisters) costumes. She was a perfectionist when it came to how the leotards and costumes fit us. There was never a wrinkle, an extra fold of fabric or a loose sequin anywhere. She would spend hours and hours making sure they were just right. Near enough was not good enough. If we were on stage and she noticed a thread or a slightly too long hem length, it would be altered immediately.

And finally probably the biggest lesson I learnt about style from my Mum is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to dress and look stylish. It shouldn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or how much money you have, you work with what you have and what you can afford. If you need to, you save, you plan, you make or alter and you search and hunt for bargains. You don’t give up on your style just because you don’t have a lot of money to spend on clothes. You find a way to look and feel good.  If you’re really interested and willing to invest the time and effort to learn, you can be stylish – even with a limited budget.

So somewhat unconsciously I have been aware of and studying style since I was a very little girl.  From the time I learnt what the odd contraption that turned out to be an eyelash curler was, to the moment I had my first costume fitting, to when I worked with my Mum to design the school formal dress she would make for me.  All those years, of subtle education, without me knowing it, contributed to my passion for style and fashion, and helped get me where I am today in my career.

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