MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

If your new jacket or coat (or skirt) features a *vent, then generally you’ll find two small threads in the shape of an X (securing the vent) that need to be carefully snipped and removed before you wear it.

The vent stitch is designed to keep the garment from getting wrinkled and creased during transportation to a store and while it’s hanging on the rails or in storage.

If the stitch is still in place once the jacket’s on the body, it can prevent the garment from fitting and falling the way it’s supposed to. (i.e. It might make it pull across the hips)

*A vent is a vertical slit at the bottom hem of a jacket, coat, or skirt to allow for ease of movement. (e.g. Back in the day they were designed to make horse riding easier.)

**It’s easy to forget. I’ve done it myself and I’m sure to do it again. ?

You can see in this pic, that the vent stitch here is yet to be removed.

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If you’d have seen me on this day 10 or even 15 years ago (when I was working at a bank) I might have been wearing something very similar to what I wore today.

The only difference might be, that black trousers would have replaced the leopard print pants.

My style hasn’t changed much. I’ve always liked wearing tailored pieces, with clean, non fussy lines, in neutral colors (mostly black or navy).

What has happened, is my style has evolved to reflect my new career and lifestyle. It’s now less corporate, less conservative a bit more relaxed and slightly edgy but …always classic (timeless/somewhat traditional)  Some days I’m a bit preppy, other times I’m a bit rock chick (ish).

What you don’t want is your style to lag behind. You want your clothes to keep up with who you are and where you’re at in your life – not 3, 5 or 10 years behind.

Do your clothes represent your current self?

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Around this time each year I pull out all my old coats and jackets and assess what I have and consider what I might need when the cold weather arrives.

This involves deciding whether I need/want to add something new to my collection, what maintenance needs to be done and thinking about what I could do with them to update them and give them a new look.

This year, unless something amazing catches my eye, I’ve decided I don’t need a new coat – I’m going to focus my attention on giving some of my old one’s a makeover.

For some it might be big (like cutting it from knee length to hip length) and for others it might be a little change (like adding a sparkly vintage brooch).

If you’re creative, there are many ways you can give new life to an old piece. (See how I did it here)

In the photos below and above, I’ve shown you how, by swapping over the belt your jacket came with with something different, it can give it a whole new fresh look.

(If belts are not your thing, try something else)

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Don’t just save your trench for work..or good, try wearing it casually with your jeans and a smart pair of sneakers.

This could be a good casual Friday outfit. Casual, yet sophisticated. Just pop your shoes on when you get to the office. ( I used to keep an array of shoes under my desk when I worked at the bank)

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