MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

 image via here

Do you put as much thought and effort into decorating your outfits as you do decorating your home?

If you love your home chances are it’s because you’ve surrounded yourself in beautiful, handpicked pieces that are special to you and that reflect your taste.  (Art, cushions, vases, rugs, lamps, frames, etc, etc)

Treat your wardrobe like you do your home.  Decorate your clothes, as you would your furniture.

Gather together great accessories that reflect your individual personality and then wear them – don’t just collect them.

These are some of my belts.  I’ve had a few for decades, a couple I made, several I picked up in op-shops, a couple are vintage and one or two were discovered while I was travelling.  The one thing in common is that all of them are flattering to my shape and all of them are my style.

The key is to make sure the accessories you own and wear are your style – not someone else’s.

image via here
 image via here

 image via here
 image via here

For more inspiration for how to decorate your clothes check out my “Accessorising” Pinterest page here

Details of my personal styling services (Including prices) here

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

..& Instagram here

I bought this jacket a few years ago while I was on holiday in Rome with my mum, aunt and uncle.  It’s not a fancy designer piece and it wasn’t super expensive but I still remember the day I bought it and it brings back special memories.   I won’t keep it forever, it’s not that much of a sentimental piece, but at the same time I’m not quite ready to part with it just yet.

Recently I pulled it out to wear and it felt a little tired.  I gave it a good clean and played around with it a bit – buttoned the neck a different way, rolled up the sleeves – to see what I could do with it to breathe some life into it.  What I found did the trick was adding  a different belt around the waist.  I realised the old belt, the fabric buckle in particular, was what was dragging down the jacket and making it look stale and worn out.  My Trenery waist belt (purchased on sale for $19) was all it needed to give it a new look and the boost it needed.

Go through your wardrobe and see what’s in there that can be rejuvenated by running it in, taking it out, taking it up, adding new buttons,  beads, brooches, belts or even some dye.

Be resourceful.  Don’t just dismiss something and toss it out before you really analyse it and look at it with a creative eye.

Need help deciding what can be reinvented (and how to do it)? Book in for a Wardrobe Overhaul or Review here 

Details of my personal styling services (Including prices) here

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

..& Instagram here

 image via here

While some of the fashionistas attending the autumn/winter 2013 ready-to-wear shows are following the current trend of wearing their coats and jackets oversized, Emmanuelle Alt, Vogue Paris editor-in-chief, is true to form, doing her own thing and wearing her coats pulled in at the waist with a belt.

image via here

image via here

image via here

image via here

image via here

We all know I do love a belt and I’m a big proponent for accentuating the waist, so the inspiration I’m taking from these photos of Emmanuelle is that I’m going to follow her lead and attempt to add new life by changing the look of some of my winter coats with different belts. I’m going to pull out all my coats, try them on with my various belts and see what works. Perhaps before winter comes around I need to add a couple of belts I can wear around my waist, to my shopping wishlist and keep an eye out for new ones to add to my collection.  (TIP: Don’t wait til winter is here. Plan ahead. Give yourself plenty of time to search for interesting pieces and bargains. Some of my favourite belts have been found in op-shops and vintage stores.) 

And the most inspirational thing for me, one that I always take from Emmanuelle and her style, is to do your own thing.  If you want to just wear black – wear black.  If you want to only wear pants – only wear pants.  If you want to wear flats – wear flats.  If you want to cinch in the waist of your coat when everyone else is wearing it shapeless and oversized – cinch in your waist.

Do your own thing……if it makes you feel great.

Details of my personal styling services (Including prices) here

Get to know me and my style on Facebook here

..& Instagram here

The first thing I noticed when I looked at the images from this Oscar de la Renta show, was the emphasis being put on the waist.

Practically every piece in the collection is designed to show off the beautiful female shape.  Nothing is shapeless or boxy.

Yep sure, these women modelling Oscar’s clothes are twenty something glamazons, but playing up the waist is not just for the tall, slim and young.  It’s for everyone.

Just last week I worked with a lady in her sixties who had been paying so much attention to her tummy and hiding it under tent like tops and dresses, that she didn’t even realise she had a waist.   When her husband returned home and we were still working through her wardrobe, she called out to him,

“Meaghan’s found my waist *Fred”    (*not his real name)

Some people don’t think they have waists…but I like to prove them wrong.   I’ll point out exactly where it is and then I’ll show them what styles they need to wear to accentuate their curves.

What I also noticed in Oscar’s resort collection was that the waist is being brought to our attention by the use of vintage inspired waist belts.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, belts are not just for holding up your trousers. Belts can show off or create a waist, completely jazz up and change the look of a piece of clothing and artistically pull an outfit together.  Like a piece of jewellery or a fabulous shoe, a belt is something you can use to demonstrate your unique personal style.

My best suggestion for searching for belts similar to those in these pictures is to rummage through op shops, vintage stores or search online at eBay (Australian & International) or Etsy.

While keeping your body shape in mind – not all belt styles will suit all shapes – start collecting in time for spring/summer.

Are you wasting your waist or have you worked out how to accentuate it?  If so, what’s your best tip for doing so?

Follow me on Instagram here

You can read what styling services I offer here