MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

Whether it’s Target or Prada, anything you add should earn its place in your wardrobe.

For example, having four pairs of *black pants…

One that don’t fit properly.

One that the material’s awful – scratchy and pills easily.

One that you’ve had since you started working and now feel outdated,

and,

One that are a fancy designer, hand-me-down from your sister, but not at all your style.

…means essentially, you really don’t have any black pants you want to wear, or, maybe even can wear.

You’d be so much better off with one very good pair.

A reliable, versatile, hardworking, comfortable, feels-like-you pair that can take you to different occasions and possibly through different seasons.

*Black pants or white T-shirts, a navy blazer, a brown handbag, etc, etc.

BTW – Charlotte’s wearing something here that I have on the list in my Substack – ‘These Are The Things I’m Suggesting My Clients Update In Their Wardrobe For Autumn/Winter.’ You can read it here.

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Almost half of the outfits Meryl Streep wore during ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ press tour, started with a pair.

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Not everyone will have classic pieces in their wardrobe – and that’s ok.   Not all of us like to dress classically.

But for those of you who do have classic style, (ie traditional, tailored, clean, simple)  with a wardrobe of pieces to complement it, the thing to keep in mind is that while classic clothes are often described as being timeless – realistically they are not.

Classic clothes date like everything else.

Here’s your homework…

Pull out all of your classic pieces and throw them on the bed.   They might be…

Classic blue jeans

Classic white shirt

Classic navy blazer

Classic black pants

Classic grey pencil skirt

Classic beige trench coat

Classic blue sweater

Classic tailored dress

Classic black pump

Now, one by one, try them on and assess whether they are still current.

Give away’s will be, the size and width of the shoulder, where they sit on your torso (ie low or high waisted), the size of the collar and/or lapel, the width of the sleeve, where the pants finish on your leg, the width of the leg, the shape of the skirt, the length of the armhole and the shape of the toe of your shoe.

*If you have a suit you bought in 1992 from Armani or Anthea Crawford, despite it being beautiful fabric and quite possibly still in impeccable condition,  it’s more than likely out-dated.  Before you decide to toss it consider whether it can be reinvented by a tailor.  Don’t however, keep hanging on to it, wearing it, just because it cost you a lot of money 20 years ago.  Revamp or let it go!

While you certainly don’t have to wear clothes that are trendy, you do not want to wear clothes that are outdated.  Tired and outdated is aging.  Modern and current is youthful.

If you’re unsure and having difficulty determining what has and hasn’t dated in your wardrobe, consider booking in for a Wardrobe Overhaul and I will help you.

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These images from a recent Vogue Paris really caught my eye.

While I enjoy wearing black and white (I talked about it back here, remember?) I had lost sight of just how striking the combination can be.

The photos also reminded me of a few things I’ve had on my shopping wishlist for a while – black Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a white lace top, a black bomber jacket and white sneakers – that I should start hunting down, because of the impact they’d each have on my wardrobe.

I know some of you are nervous about wearing black and white together for fear of looking like a waiter or a penguin, but I think if you take these photos for inspiration, that won’t happen.

Just like wearing all black, it’s about how you wear it.

Consider the texture of the fabrics, the shapes of the garments and the interesting and unique accompanying accessories. (The decoration)

It’s not just about wearing any old white top with black bottoms.

That’s just boring.

Can you come up with some interesting outfit combinations using existing black and white pieces from your wardrobe? If not, what could you add to your wardrobe to give you more options?

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