MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

When I posted about white shoes a few days ago, I got a couple of questions and comments about 1. The practicality of them (keeping them clean mostly), and 2. Whether I thought it was a good idea to buy into the trend now. (Whether I thought they’d be around for a while.)

So…

1. As you can see I have a pair of cream boots and I haven’t had any trouble keeping them clean. I’ve had the odd mark and I’ve just used this (below) and so far it’s worked great. FYI – I don’t drive in them.

2. I have no idea how long the trend will last – remember skinny jeans were a trend and they were fashionable for decades. The thing to think about is, will they work for your style, with the clothes you have and do you love the idea of them? It doesn’t really matter if the trend disappears, if you buy a fairly classic style, you’ll be fine. It’s just a color. (I’d like a white sling back kitten heel for spring/summer)

I think it’s very smart to shop thoughtfully – I (try to) do it & I encourage my clients to do it. But, I also remind myself that fashion and dressing is supposed to be enjoyable and fun. It’s a way for us to express who we are. I bought these boots about 5 years ago. I didn’t want to invest too heavily in the trend at the time. (They’re just from Zara) I’ve loved wearing them. If I’d been too sensible, I would never have bought them. (Or my flares)

Click here to read about Fab Finds & Favourite Things.

Follow me on Instagram here

Read what styling services I offer here

When it’s chilly like it is now, it’s the ideal time to play around with layers to see if you can bring something fresh to some of your old, everyday looks.

For warmth, to add depth, maybe extra texture and color to your outfit, try layering a turtleneck knit underneath…everything. Shirts, dresses, other knits, jumpsuits, hoodies, etc.

It’s an easy tweak that can make a big difference and make the outfit look like you’ve really thought about how you’ve styled it.

TIP: Fine merino turtlenecks are ideal for layering because they sit close to the body so don’t add any bulk when you use one underneath other pieces. (And they’re warm).

Click here to read about Fab Finds & Favourite Things.

Follow me on Instagram here

Read what styling services I offer here

Fabulous Finds & Favourite Things is a subscription group where I …

• Share what my clients have bought.
  • Tell you why we liked the piece.
  • Explain what to look at if you try it on.
  • Give you ideas and examples for how you could wear it.
  • Give you the chance to ask me questions about it. 
• Show you my current favourites (e.g., favourite jeans, t-shirts, white shirt, belts, etc.)
• Tell you about anything that might have caught my eye while I’ve been researching online or in-store.   
• Let you know when any of my favourites go on sale.
• Share with you what I’m buying or eyeing.
• Scan the sales, and tell you what my picks are. (What I think are worth checking out)
• Give you style and wardrobe tips and advice.

For example, I bought this (above) beautiful (French brand) leather jacket for AU$140, while it was still available online in France for AU$680.

And I recently bought these jeans for $40, knowing they were in the Levi’s store for $160.

Both were shared on Fab Finds.

(Both were bought in Melbourne, but occasionally I’ll share something from an international online site such as Net-a-Porter.

Fabulous Finds & Favourite Things was born from clients telling me that they like to look good, love clothes, and (some) even like shopping, but rarely have the time to do it. Or, they find when they do, that it’s overwhelming and often unsuccessful.

So my idea was that I would show them different things I’d see in my travels, and then they could just click and buy if they liked it and wanted to try it.

It would help those who just want to know what to buy to keep their wardrobe updated, it would inspire those who get stuck wearing the same thing over and over, and maybe it would bring some joy to those who get as much of a thrill as I do when they find something “fabulous” they love.

Here’s an example of something I might post.

The Fab Finds & Fav Things subscription is ideal for anyone who…

• Wants to look and feel good, but doesn’t have the time to physically go shopping.
• Would like to stay up to date with what’s in fashion
• Likes the occasional bargain. (Who doesn’t!) 
• Might not be able to afford to work one-on-one with me, but would still love to learn about style, fashion, and shopping, and have the chance to ask me questions.
• Doesn’t want to make any more costly fashion mistakes
• Would just like to be shown what to buy.

*While the subscription is certainly about shopping, it is also designed to help you build a great wardrobe of versatile pieces, and not just waste your money on stuff. My intention is to encourage you to make conscious purchases.  

The current subscription cost is…

$99 for 6 months
$169 for 12 months

If you’d like to buy a subscription, have any questions, or would like some further details about it, you can email me at meaghanbs@hotmail.com

My lovely client Helen recently mentioned Fab Finds in her Google review…

“I’m a repeat subscriber to Meaghan’s “Fabulous Finds and Favourite Things” (FF & FT) Instagram private group where she provides regular suggestions on what to try/buy from current season clothing in mostly Australian retail stores, as well as loads of inspiration on how to wear pieces. I’ve become a more confident shopper because of Meaghan!”

Follow me on Instagram here

You can read what styling services I offer here

It doesn’t matter if something is fancy designer and costs you a lot of money, if it fits badly, it looks bad.

Remember when Gwyneth wore this pink dress to the Oscars?

It’s not that it wasn’t a nice dress – it just didn’t fit her properly.

Supposedly, Gwyneth removed the piece designed to wear under the bodice (Breast pads or a structured bustier??) leaving the top part too big for her. *I’m not suggesting Gwyneth didn’t look lovely, she did – the dress was just not right.

Despite the dress being Ralph Lauren couture and worth a squillion dollars (I heard her say in an interview it was before the days of stylists, and she bought it herself), it didn’t look great, because of how it fit.

When something doesn’t fit well…

You might put it on to wear and then take it off again. You can’t put your finger on it, but it’s not quite right.

It can make you feel frumpy.

It might make you look like you have a different shape than you do. (Not in the way you want!)

Your outfit can look messy, rather than clean, sharp, polished, etc, etc.

Maybe in a work environment, it could send a message that you don’t care. (i.e. “That’ll do”)

And the most important one – it could affect your confidence.

Most of us are not taught what to look for, to know when our clothes fit us properly. Growing up, if we could get it on and do it up, it meant it fit.

So, if it matters to you, spend some time really looking at the way your clothes drape over your body. Is anything pulling, puckering, not sitting where it should be, or even making you look wider than you are? If so, figure out why.

If you’d like some help, learning how your clothes should (and shouldn’t) fit you, book a Wardrobe Overhaul or Personal Shopping.

If you’d like to learn how to know when something fits or doesn’t fit you well, book in for a Wardrobe Overhaul or Personal Shopping here 

Follow me on Instagram here