MEAGHAN SMITH PERSONAL STYLIST

This pea coat was about to be thrown out.

While I love it, in fact, it’s one of my favourite pieces – I knew I couldn’t wear it like this (below) anymore. I had to do something to save it, or it needed to be let go of.

Firstly, I tried using this little comb (testing it on a small area), but it didn’t work. It was pulling and tearing at the fabric – it was too rough.

So when I saw someone mention a little de-pilling device on Instagram, I thought I’d give it a go …and it worked a treat!

It now looks as good as new.

You can watch how I did it here

How you take care of your clothes is very important – both for ensuring they wear well and last as long as they should, but also so that you look well put together. 

You’ll never look stylish if you leave the house with frayed, scuffed, faded, stained, pilled, creased…or like you slept with your dog in their basket – hair all over your clothes. 

Go the extra step and take great care of the pieces you invest in.

You can read what styling services I offer here

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If you’re petite (anyone under 5ft 3) you may have similar issues to me.

Yesterday I tried this Country Road dress on. 

To someone who doesn’t know what to look for when it comes to fit, you might think it’s ok – but it isn’t.

The neck (front and back) doesn’t fit, the armholes don’t fit, and it also doesn’t fit through the waist. But, from the hips down, it’s quite good.

As you can see in the photo below, it’s too long through the body for me. It’s been made for someone a fair bit taller.

*Don’t buy anything that doesn’t fit you properly unless you can commit to taking it to the tailor to see if they can alter it for you) In this case, the dress can’t be altered, so it’s not for me. 

If there’s one thing you do for your style this year, learn about how your clothes should fit.

I have had clients with beautiful wardrobes full of amazing designer pieces worth lots of money, and many of them don’t fit. Despite the fact that the clothes are lovely, the person may never look great wearing them because of how they look on the body.

Before investing in your wardrobe, know how to tell when something fits you just right and when it doesn’t. (And also know what can and can’t be altered)

*If you’d like to learn about how your clothes should fit you book a Wardrobe Overhaul here

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“70 percent of the clothes you own should be meat and potatoes. 30 percent should be icing and fluff — that’s colour, pattern, shine, accessories. Too many women get the proportions the other way round, then can’t figure out why they can’t get dressed” — Michael Kors.

If your wardrobe is made up of 70% fluff and 30% meat & potatoes, (rather than the other way around)  it could be why you often feel as though you have nothing to wear.

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Read about my styling services here

There are many reasons why some of us dress older than we need to. It may be the company we keep is older than we are; we might think the number on our driver’s license dictates how we should look; we may recall that this was how our mother dressed when she was this age or we just don’t feel youthful and attractive anymore.

I know when we get to a mature age it can be tricky because we can worry about dressing too young. (I’m just about to turn 52, so I’m constantly asking myself whether I think something is too young or too old for me to wear.) But I think what often happens, in trying to make sure we don’t dress too young is, we dress too old.

Fortunately, there are simple changes you can make to your wardrobe that will immediately make you look and feel more youthful, up-to-date, and attractive.

..and let’s face it, every woman, despite their age, size, lifestyle, shape, or budget deserves to feel good about themselves.

You can see in these before and after photos what a difference clothes can make. (Despite the fact that they are a few years old and some of the pieces are a little bit dated)

In this photo, the clothes are ill-fitting, shapeless, unflattering, old-fashioned, and drab.

In the photo below, the same woman is wearing clothes that, without being too tight or uncomfortable,  highlight the figure, fit quite well, show a little bit of skin and are more modern.

She looks younger.  (And slimmer)

Consider the following when assessing whether your wardrobe is too old and whether you need a fashion makeover

• There is not one fitted, figure-enhancing item in your wardrobe
• You haven’t updated your reading or sunglasses in fifteen years
• You wear your hair the same way you did in primary school
• You either don’t own a pair of jeans or the ones you do have are acid washed and the waist is almost up to your armpits (or so low they almost reach your pubic line)
• The only handbag you use is the one your Nana gave you for your 21st
• Your last bra fitting was also your first
• 99% of what you have in your wardrobe is functional and comfortable, rather than stylish and flattering
• The only pair of heels in your cupboard are the ones packed away in a box with your wedding dress
• You still have and from time to time wear, outdated outfits you wore to work in the eighties
• The majority of your wardrobe is two sizes too big or too small

Are you dressing too old?

If you need help going through your wardrobe and deciding whether any of your clothes are too old for you book in or enquire about a Wardrobe Overhaul here 

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