MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

When was the last time you tried something new?   A new lipstick, a new hairstyle, new reading glasses or a new style of jeans.

They might not work, but that’s fine. You’ll know then, that they’re not for you. But at least you tried.  Be prepared to experiment and make mistakes with your style.  Have some fun.

It’s when we do the same thing all the time, that we find ourselves in a style rut.

It’s ok if you never…

• wear belts
• paint your nails
• color your hair
• wear makeup
• carry a handbag
• wear color
• wear heels
• wear pants
• etc

You should do whatever makes you feel great. BUT…if you don’t feel great in your clothes, then maybe it’s time to start challenging some of those “never’s“.

Even Victoria Beckham, who once mostly wore black,  has freshened up her look and started wearing a bit of color.

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My Mum has always had a love of shoes, make-up and perfume. Right from school, at a very young age, she worked in the cosmetics department at Myer where her weekly pays would be saved up to buy shoes.

I don’t remember Mum ever leaving the house without a beautifully made-up face. (Well at the very least with her lippy on) I went to Paris with my Mum for my 40th birthday and this is one of my favourite pics. It’s Mum re-applying her lipstick in the Louvre.  She has one of those little lippy cases that she carries around with her and she is often seen whipping it out to do a quick touch up.

Those who follow my blog or Facebook page will know I too have a thing for great shoes and cosmetics.  I have to be very disciplined to buy practical as well as simply gorgeous shoes and I could spend hours in a store trying lotions and eyeshadows and smelling different fragrances.

The other thing my Mum taught me about style is about fit.  From a very young age (2 or 3) til I was in my early 20’s I did calisthenics and my Mum made all my (and my two sisters) costumes. She was a perfectionist when it came to how the leotards and costumes fit us. There was never a wrinkle, an extra fold of fabric or a loose sequin anywhere. She would spend hours and hours making sure they were just right. Near enough was not good enough. If we were on stage and she noticed a thread or a slightly too long hem length, it would be altered immediately.

And finally probably the biggest lesson I learnt about style from my Mum is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to dress and look stylish. It shouldn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or how much money you have, you work with what you have and what you can afford. If you need to, you save, you plan, you make or alter and you search and hunt for bargains. You don’t give up on your style just because you don’t have a lot of money to spend on clothes. You find a way to look and feel good.  If you’re really interested and willing to invest the time and effort to learn, you can be stylish – even with a limited budget.

So somewhat unconsciously I have been aware of and studying style since I was a very little girl.  From the time I learnt what the odd contraption that turned out to be an eyelash curler was, to the moment I had my first costume fitting, to when I worked with my Mum to design the school formal dress she would make for me.  All those years, of subtle education, without me knowing it, contributed to my passion for style and fashion, and helped get me where I am today in my career.

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Don’t spoil the look of an otherwise great outfit, by leaving the price stickers on the sole of your shoes.

I know it may seem a little petty, but sometimes those little things make a big difference to the overall effect of your outfit.

Of course none of us are perfect (I once took two different shoes of the same color but of drastically different heights  to wear to a clients home and when I arrived and realised, had to wear the sneakers I had driven in to the appointment. All I could do was laugh at myself) and sometimes we just forget or we simply didn’t realise we needed to do something .  It’s good, though, to be aware of things.  (Like removing designer labels from coats and scarves. Another spoiler!)  

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Viviana Volpicella, a Milan based stylist,  is the first in a new series I plan to regularly have on my blog, showcasing the personal style of different women.

Viviana’s style is all about color, patterns, unique accessories and attention to details.   How she rolls a sleeve,  how she mixes unexpected pieces together and how she expertly clashes prints.

But what I always take away from any photos I see of Viviana, is her beautiful beaming smile.  Without doubt, her best accessory.

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You can read what styling services I offer here