MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Andie MacDowell (arriving at Nice airport for the Cannes Film Festival) and showing us how chic all black can be – especially when you’re wearing it with great accessories.

*The thing about traveling with a dress like this, is that you could make it work for different events/occasions by swapping the accessories. i.e. hair down, add jewellery, a heel and a clutch OR a hat, a straw bag, and a slide or sneaker, etc…

Photo: @voguemagazine

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It might just look like a blazer and a pair of jeans but it’s more than that.

This is what I notice…

The fine stripe on both the jacket & the shirt.
The gold on the glasses, the bag & her bangles.
The plaited belt.
The sleeves of her shirt poking out at the end of her jacket.
The slightly relaxed fit of the jeans.
The size, color & length of the bag.

It’s all these details that give an outfit texture and depth and make it look interesting, modern & pulled together – even if it’s something quite simple – like this one appears to be.

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“Tell me about this floral (pink, yellow, green, orange, red, blue) top”, I ask my client during her Wardrobe Overhaul, “Do you love it?”

“No”.  She responds. “I bought it because I thought I should add more color to my wardrobe.” “I hate it!”

There’s a misconception, I’ve discovered since doing this job, that to look interesting, you need to wear lots of color and pattern – but it’s simply not true.

In fact, stylish and sophisticated looks can be achieved by simply wearing black and white.

My tips to make sure your black and white outfit looks chic, rather than bland, are to:

• Keep the black, very black, and the white, very white 
• Make sure the fit is (really) good. (Because black and white is so clean, an ill-fitting silhouette will be highlighted)
• Keep the cuts and styles modern (Rather than outdated)
• Put plenty of thought into how you decorate your black and white pieces (Don’t let down an otherwise great outfit with a daggy, sensible shoe or scruffy handbag)

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When I’m thinking about buying something new there’s a series of four questions I go through in my head to determine whether it comes home with me or whether it stays in the store.

This means that I don’t waste my money on random purchases and that my wardrobe is filled with only pieces that work.

If the item has passed my first three questions then the final question – the deal breaker –  is asked..

Can I wear this piece in at least three different ways, using what I already have in my wardrobe?

If I can’t visualise at least three ways of wearing it, whether it’s a t-shirt, shoes, a belt or pants, I don’t buy it.

As you can see in the photos above, Italian fashion designer, Giorgia Tordini is wearing her suede ankle boots in four different ways.   With pants, with a skirt, with a dress and with jeans.

If I were Giorgia I would consider the boots to be a very good, versatile, hardworking purchase.

How many times do you fall in love with something in a store, bring it home without considering how you’ll wear it, and find that it remains hanging in your wardrobe, unworn?

Take your time when you shop and make considered purchases.

Avoid wasting your money and get the most out of your clothes.

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