MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Just like the Little Black Dress, a great pair of black pants will work hard in your wardrobe.

You should be able to  wear them to an interview,  to dinner, to work, to a funeral, or to a fancy event.

The key is to find a pair that are right for you. For some it might be something very classic and for others, something edgier.  The most important thing though is to find something that flatters your body shape and fits you just right.

Challenge yourself to find a pair of black pants that make you feel good every time you put them on – not just a “they’ll have to do” pair.

Follow me on Instagram here

You can read what styling services I offer here

Don’t ruin an otherwise stylish outfit with a daggy, dated, tatty, unflattering shaped, cheap and nasty belt.

Belts, as I’ve written about here before, are often a forgotten piece – just thrown on to keep up your pants.

If this sounds familiar start thinking about belts differently. Think about them in the same way you would a great pair of shoes or a beautiful bag.  Rather than spend your money on a fancy top that goes with one (or none) other thing in your wardrobe and you wear once a year (if that), invest in a good quality belt that you can wear with lot of things in your wardrobe, and that you’ll have for years to come.

It’s the details in outfits that matter and make the difference.

FYI – this doesn’t mean that a belt you’ve had for decades or found in a vintage store or op-shop has to go. It just means anything ugly should be discarded – quick smart!

Click here to read about Fab Finds & Favourite Things.

Follow me on Instagram here

Read what styling services I offer here

This is how a nude shoe should look.

The shoes blend in beautifully with the color of the wearers skin and therefore become an extension of the legs, making them appear longer and leaner.

The focus becomes all about the person – their face and what they’re wearing – away from the feet.

Nude shoes are a great choice when you’re wearing something colorful or pattered. In fact, they pretty much go with everything.

Nude shoes elongate the legs

Tip: Keep in mind that there are so many different shades of “nude”,  so if you’re buying a pair of shoes to wear to a special occasion (maybe the races), you’ll need to consider whether you will be tanning your legs.  If so, apply some tan before you hit the shops so that you don’t end up with two very different shades of nude. (ie an orangey tan and pinky-nude shoe)

It’s not always easy, or even possible, to find the perfect match to your skin, but it’s always a good idea to aim for it (just like if you were trying to find the perfect color foundation for your face) and try and find something as close as you can to your skin color.

Follow me on Instagram here

Read what styling services I offer here

While I think the chambray shirt is always fashionable it is particularly “in” at the moment. As we head into spring and summer in Australia you’re likely to see it everywhere. So if you have an old one lurking at the back of your wardrobe, pull it out now and start thinking about how you could wear it and what you might need to buy to wear with it.

When things are “in” it’s important, if you choose to partake in the trend,  that you put your own spin on it so that you don’t look like everyone else.

In these photos I’m showing you mostly how chambray can be worn with denim, but there are so many more possibilities.

Depending on your personal style, you can team a chambray shirt with a sequined or brocade pencil skirt or with a pair of flattering tailored shorts. You can wear it open (like a cardie) over a long striped maxi dress or with a pair of patterned cropped slim pants.

However you wear it, be sure to portray your own unique style and dare to be different.

For those wondering and so you’ll be ahead of the pack if the question ever comes up at a trivia night, the main difference between denim and chambray is in the way that the fabrics are woven.   Basically, denim is heavier and woven diagonally (producing a tougher material), while chambray is lighter and plain-woven .

You can read what styling services I offer here

Follow me on Instagram here