MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

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I wish I had a dollar for every dress I’ve seen in wardrobes that either still had the tags on or was under a piece of dry cleaning plastic, where it had been for years and years.

Unfortunately, many of us buy dresses for occasions and wear them, feeling less than fabulous in them.

Either the dress was bought last minute, or because it was on sale, or because nothing else could be found and it was a “that’ll have to do” purchase.  And because the item was never really loved and it never really flattered the owners figure or made them feel amazing when they wore it – it just remains in the cupboard, hanging there and wasting space.   Or it could be that the dress was in fact lovely, and it did make the wearer feel good, but now they have no idea what to do with it.  They don’t really go anywhere to wear it or they’re not sure how they could wear it again.  Sound familiar?

When you shop for a new party dress there’s a few things to ask yourself so that you end up buying something that not only makes you feel great, but something that becomes a versatile piece in your wardrobe.

• Is it my style?  (Remember how I told you before I understood my style I bought dresses that were other peoples style because I loved it on them – Read about it here)
• Is it accentuating my best features?
• Is it the best length for my particular leg shape?
• What underwear will I need to wear under it?
• Can I change the look of the dress, so I don’t get bored with it,  with the use of different accessories?
• Can I move in it? (Sit, dance and walk elegantly)
• Is it flattering?
• Could I possibly dress it up and dress it down and wear it for other occasions?
• How will I need to take care of it? (ie. will it need to be drycleaned or can it just be hand washed)
• Does the color complement my hair and skin?
• DO I LOVE IT?

READ: “You’ve Bought The Dress But Have You Thought About The Underwear?” here

Details of my personal styling services (Including prices) here

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

..& Instagram here

One of the most versatile items of clothing you can have in your wardrobe is a classic white shirt.  Those of you who are not typically classic dressers will no doubt be screwing up your noses at this moment – but before you think I’m suggesting you own something bland and uninteresting, bear with me until I show you a few different ways a white shirt can be worn.

My personal favourite is from Ralph Lauren, but I also have one from Gant and another from French Connection.  I prefer it to be fitted and the cotton to be thick and crisp.  Having said that, I’m searching for a men’s white shirt that I can wear large and un-tucked (channeling Audrey Hepburn) with skinny cigarette pants and black ballet slippers.  I keep mine bright white with the occasional overnight soak in warm water and NapiSan and if I want some extra crispness for a meeting or interview, I’ll give it an iron using spray starch.

Sure, the white shirt can at times, be a little tricky to wear.  White certainly doesn’t compliment all complexions, the cotton can be a bit painful and time consuming to iron and the whiteness even harder to maintain – particularly for those with young children.

But what I love about the white shirt is how versatile it is.  I love that one item of clothing can be worn in so many ways and look different each time.  You need to be creative and come up with lots of ways to wear it – with a pencil skirt, the neck open as low as you can go and a lovely lacy cami or bra peeking out the top; with a pair of denim cut off jeans, a straw hat and a French market basket or with a pair of black pants and a large brightly colored bib necklace.   Your challenge is to wear it in new and interesting ways each time you take it out of the wardrobe.

Inspiration…..

I wear mine with my black pants suit, with jeans and a navy blazer, with a vintage brocade skirt,  under my V-neck sweaters, with my black skinny tube pencil skirt and with my blue sailor pants.

Click here to read about Fab Finds & Favourite Things.

Follow me on Instagram here

Read what styling services I offer here

As if the prospect of re-entering the workforce is not daunting enough, often when women want to return to work after they’ve had a long break, they are faced with the issue of what to wear.

Not only could you be confronted with the fact that the clothes you used to wear no longer fit or are no longer flattering, there is also the dilemma as to whether any of your clothes are still “in fashion” and therefore suitable for work.

It may also be that you don’t have a big budget to buy new clothes for your work wardrobe when you first start back – so clever thought and planning are needed.

The trick is to be as resourceful as you can. Play around with items that still work in your wardrobe and think about what could be added to them to create different outfits.

For example, you may have an old black skirt which is still in great condition, but the shape is now outdated.  Think about whether you may be able to take it to a tailor (or if you’re handy with a machine, do it yourself) and have it remodeled and modernised.

These days a suit is not always required for interviews and work places. As long as you are well groomed, in well fitting coordinated pieces and smart accessories, that’s all you need.

Here are a few things to consider (before panic sets in) about what to wear and how to update your look, when you return to work …

• Don’t go out and buy a whole new wardrobe before you start. Wait until you get a feel for the culture and environment of your new workplace. Some places can be very casual and others quite formal.  Look to the way your manager dresses for guidance.
• Go along to your hairdresser and get a great cut. This will immediately give you a confidence boost.  (This is my hairstylist if you want to try someone new)
• More than likely if your work shoes haven’t been pulled out of the cupboard for a while, you’ll need a new pair.  If your old shoes are still suitable, make sure they look new with a polish and maybe even a re-sole.  *Whatever you do, don’t wear your shoes like this.
• Perhaps you already have a great handbag, but it might be a bit neglected and in need of some TLC. Think about either taking it to be restored or giving it a polish yourself. If you don’t have a good quality handbag, consider investing in one.  It’ll instantly add polish to your look.  Consider a color that goes with about 80% of your wardrobe.
• If you don’t already own a pair, invest in black pants.  If you like to wear both flats and heels, opt for a style that works with both.
• Refresh whites that have been sitting in the cupboard for a while
• Consider a flattering pair of dark denim jeans for casual Fridays. Team them with a blazer and ankle boots for winter/wedges or pumps for summer.

Need help with your work wardrobe, details of my styling services can be found here

More of my style tips (including how to de-pill your knits, clean your boots, etc) can be found here and here (In the “Highlights”)

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

..& Instagram here

 I received an S.O.S text message from a girlfriend this morning.

“Help!!!  I bought a dress online.  Black chiffon with a ¾ sleeve with lace and just a sack on me.  I did all the measurements and it fits but it is the wrong style for me. I am ashamed to say that it was very expensive”

Immediately I called her because I knew the dress she was talking about was for a function she was going to tomorrow and I knew she had taken my advice and shopped online. So I felt some responsibility.  When I spoke to her she said she’d done everything I’d told her to do.

• Taken her measurements to make sure it would fit
• Enquired about the return policy
• Asked questions about the fit
• Checked how long delivery would take
• Made sure the dress was her style
• Asked herself whether she’d be able to wear it in different ways and therefore be able to wear it on several occasions

She did everything I told her to do, BUT it soon became apparent during our chat, that she had neglected to ask herself (possibly the biggest and most important question)

“Will this dress flatter my shape?”

When the dress arrived, promptly and conveniently to her doorstep and she excitedly tried it on, the answer was no.  The dress did not flatter her shape.  In fact it did the opposite.  It made her appear bigger and boobier, than she is.  She “looked like a sack of potatoes”.  The fact is, she actually has a very voluptuous, womanly figure that would look amazing dressed in the right style and fabric.  But a dress like the one she had purchased made her look completely shapeless. Her boobs were squashed, making them look larger than they are, her neck looked short and her face looked chubby.  Worse still was the dress was over $300. This is a lot of money for her. Like most of us, she can’t afford to make costly shopping mistakes.

She’d finally taken my advice and bought something online and it hadn’t worked out. Certainly I felt a little bit bad that I’d encouraged her to dabble in online shopping and on this occasion it hadn’t worked out, but I reminded her that the most important thing when shopping in stores, online and even in your own wardrobe, if you want to find something to wear that makes you look and feel great, is to wear something that flatters your particular body shape

Fortunately, after she emailed me a photo of herself wearing the dress, I was able to give her a few ideas, (with the use of some cleverly placed accessories and a suitably shaped jacket) as to how she could make the dress work for her so she could wear it tomorrow.  But I was very quick to remind her that if she didn’t want to continue to waste her money on bad buys, she needed to learn and understand the styles that suited her body shape best.  Then she needed to get into the habit of assessing every part of the garment, until it became second nature and she knew immediately as soon as she put something on whether it was right or wrong for her.  Otherwise, she was going to have a huge wardrobe full of clothes that cost her a lot of money and that didn’t make her feel good about herself.

Ask yourself, are the clothes in your wardrobe making you look like the voluptuous, curvaceous, attractive woman that you are or are they making you look like a frumpy, shapeless sack of potatoes?

Follow me on Instagram here

You can read what styling services I offer here