A Fashionistas’s Guide to Effortless Chic By Stylist Gabrielle Teare

Nothing to Wear? Does your heart sink when you open your wardrobe? Where is that hot pink Ungaro dress? In order to get the most out of your wardrobe the first step is to know what is in it. Amongst the unworn and the unloved will be great clothes if only you could find them.

Declutter

We wear only 20% of what we buy. This is a staggering waste of money, and means that we can’t find the great LBD when we need it. Wardrobes need tough love, throw out anything you have never worn or that does not fit or suit you. If you can’t face this alone use a Personal Stylist to help you.

Sort by Category

Long dresses, short dresses, skirts, trousers etc. Then sort by colour. This makes life easy, rather than scrabbling through random items, we can then find the pencil skirt in one minute. Get rid of anything that is not in your colour palette. The wrong colour will drain you colours should lift your skin and your spirit! Your clothes should all colour co-ordinate with each other so finding tops to go with skirts becomes simplicity itself.

Discard The Unfashionable

Trends change. The quickest way to update your wardrobe is to buy new shoes. Dated shoes and clothes will date you so bin them. If you keep things hoping that they come back into fashion they may then not be age appropriate.

Why are you keeping clothes you don’t like?

When I do a Wardrobe Management, so many women have clothes that they do not even like in their wardrobes. The usual reason for keeping them is because they were expensive or a statement designer piece. Sell them, and make a vow to only buy clothes that you love. Clothes that make your heart sing!

Does it Fit You?

“This is for when I lose weight.” or “I might get pregnant again.” Have a wardrobe of clothes that you can wear now. If you lose a lot of weight studies show that one of the ways to keep it off is to get rid of your old wardrobe. This is a massive financial and motivational incentive. When you do lose weight chances are it will be out of fashion. Likewise throw away shoes that hurt. However expensive, shoes that you cannot wear have no place in your wardrobe. Never buy shoes that you love in a size smaller hoping they will stretch, they won’t they will just give you blisters!

What is your lifestyle?

Many women have lots of work clothes but few casual clothes and vice versa. Think about the percentage of clothes you have and it will show you where you are lack items. Perhaps you have only trouser suits for work. One of my clients had only pin- striped suits. There are many other styles to choose that would create a more varied wardrobe. Sweater dresses look great they don’t have to be short. Wear a skirt suit. It sounds obvious but so many women don’t have one. You can be professional and feminine. This is a devastating advantage, use it.

Does the style suit me?

Have a Style Consult. If you keep buying clothes that you never wear probably they do not suit your colouring or body shape. The advice you receive will save you money in the long term as you can wear all of your wardrobe.

STYLE 101: "Fashions fade, style is eternal." -YSL

It can be truly frustrating for a busy woman to keep up to the minute with trends. Every season we're bombarded with trend after trend and many wonder, what are the things that will never go out of style? What should you invest in? As an editor I see trends come and go, but I also take note of the things that will never go out of style. Here are some favorite fool-proof looks that are eternally stylish:

#1 The Little Black Dress (LBD)I have many little black dresses.You should own at least one. The love affair with LBDs began during the 1920s when Coco Chanel introduced it as an everyday dress that can go from day to night with a raise in the heel, a switch from a handbag to a clutch and a dash of red lipstick. The LBD is even more stylish today and comes in an array of cuts and detailing.

#2 Sunglasses They really are a life saving when you wake up in the morning only to realize you look as if you've been to hell and back. I suggest you invest in designer shades, go designer shade shopping at vintage stores and you're bound to find something that's unique and durable. Please stay away from anything that makes you look bug-like. I adore Halston's line of sunglasses.

#3 Extreme Nails When it comes to nails stick with the two no fail colors. Either go with very pretty pale pinks or very rich dark reds. My favorite for pale, sheer pinks is Essie and for Rich reds I adore OPI. Try:A. Sugar Daddy by Essie (a luxurious sheer pink)B. I'm Not Really A Waitress by OPI (a candy apple red)

#4 Bold Jewelry Bold jewelry can add a little spice to your outfit. I love daring necklaces, cuffs and cocktail rings. Jewelry is also a great way to incorporate a season's trends into your closet without breaking the bank. I suggest you find pieces that you will wear forever. You have to really make sure your collection screams you. The best costume jewelry is always found during your travels. Whether it be real or costume, jewelry will always look fabulous with minimal care. Some items every girl should have:

• Cuffs (Try to find exotic styles with eye catching details)


• Hoop earrings (Thin is in)


• Statement necklaces. Cocktail rings (don't be shy and wear them during the day)

Style is not fashion and does not come easily. Some are born with it and other have to work very hard. It's a hard task but it's not impossible. A few good places to start would be through fashion blogs, fashion books and guides and of course magazines. A book you should get your hands on if your absolutely new to the fashion world and want a crash course on the industry is the new title by Nina Garcia, The One Hundred. It features 100 pieces that every women should own as well as tid-bits of fashion history. My favorite website for beauty updates is Temptalia the editor is up-to-the minute and features almost every new product out there. For fashion updates I enjoy La Couturier . It's a great site with a fresh take on fashion. My favorite magazine is Town & Country. I hope this article inspires you to work on your own personal style and must haves. Remember, be fabulous or stand outside.

The Difference Between Clothes And Fashion By Gabrielle Teare

As a personal stylist I spend many hours reviewing wardrobes. Given the fact that we only wear a shocking 20% of what we buy, frankly most of my clients waste money. The buzz of buying translates into the unworn, there is nothing remotely glamorous about this. I have improved since I learned the difference between “clothes” and “fashion” and now wear most of my wardrobe until it wears out.

“Fashion” is last season’s sleeveless jacket. Hugely expensive, but did you ever see anyone wearing this?? This is a non garment too cold to be a jacket, too edgy to be worn often by most in public. “Fashion” is also the here today, gone tomorrow looks that reinvigorate your wardrobe. Shoes are a fantastic “fashion” statement and so are bags. Fashion should be fun!

We all need regular “fashion” hits but we should not pay too much for them. Remember the 80:20 rule, and do not pay over the odds for something you will wear only for a season or not at all. Buy the diffusion ranges or the better high street brands and look to wear for 2 seasons only.
Sometimes we are all hit with a “I will die if I don’t have that” and these instincts should be followed for the sheer fun occasionally but if you let them dominate your wardrobe you will have nothing to wear.

“Clothes” are what you actually wear 90% of the time so spend money on them, buy the best you can afford and look to keep them. A great beautiful coat in your style and colours will last 10 years so buy a more expensive one. The “fashionable” coat will last 4 months so don’t pay too much have fun with it buy a great colour and look to replace it.

“Clothes” are your signature style. Last summer when smocks were in most of my clients bought them, these are now part of the vast unworn in your wardrobe, along with the sleeveless jacket etc. “Clothes” should be items that you love deeply that you will wear for ever. Jackets, jewellery, coats, cashmere should not be dull but beautiful in rich colours. Fit is everything, buy for how you are now, not I might lose some weight or I am fat so I will buy a bigger size this does not work. Buy beautifully cut garments that flatter whatever shape or size you are.

If grey is in and it does not suit you don’t buy it. In short, learn what suits your body, learn what style you are and buy clothes that fit you. Baggy clothes generally don’t flatter and make you look fatter than you are. Go spend your money on fantastic must-have shoes instead or a great piece of jewellery and when things are in the shops that you love, that make your heart sing, that really really suit you, buy them. These will form a great wardrobe for many seasons to come. Aim to be beautiful and fabulous and you will be!

Ooh La La The Secrets Of French Chic By Gabrielle Teare

With Carla Bruni set to become the new Jackie O, it is time to get some of that seemingly effortless chic, poise and polish into your wardrobe. Not for years has the political landscape had someone as stylish and elegant. How do you achieve this look? One way to do this is visit a Fashion Stylist. The other is to follow my secret tips....

Fashion in Milan, Paris and London remains very different to the US. Europeans love America for casual clothes and will stock up on all the basics, jeans etc. Particularly with the current dollar rate.Visit Paris, and arriving on Eurostar what you notice is Quality. So how do Parisians do it? Here's How:

Invest in good jewellery. From waitresses to shop assistants, French women will wear beautiful pieces clearly saved for. Costume jewellery is often large scale and chosen to match colours. Parisians will buy the dress and at the same time the matching must-have necklace. Galerie Lafayette and other department stores carry vast choice.

Shoes must be leather, high quality, as opposed to high fashion and are chosen every season.

Bags are another investment piece, whatever the budget quality is paramount.

Each season Parisians flock to the stores and buy just one or two key items. This is not random shopping, it is carefully considered choices. Colours and styles are chosen to complement existing items.

Scarves are everywhere, worn in every permutation by young and old alike.

Cosmetics, hair and skin care are highly valued, with regular facials, tints etc. to present a groomed look. Many shops carry large ranges of small diffusion beauty brands at every price level.

High fashion trends are cheaper and mixed in with the investment buys and designed to last one season.

Lingerie is a whole universe. Big department stores will have a whole floor given over to lingerie. French women know they look good from the inside out. This is true grooming.

Perfume. It is the nation of Perfumers -look good smell good.

Knowing what truly suits them and buying it. This is probably the key secret. If you don’t know this, use a Personal Shopper or Image Consultant and learn. What you learn will pay dividends for the rest of your life.

“The Basics Of Le Mode”

Photo Courtesy of www.BigDropNYC.com
Fashion is your yellow-brick road to expressing your personality through apparel. To some it’s an art form and to others it’s a religion. If you take a look around you you’ll realize that fashion controls everything from media to even how your cell-phone looks. It’s been around ever since man desired modesty, not to mention protection. The human characteristic of competition has fueled our species to come up with new designs to flaunt everything from our social status to personal taste. If you take a trip back into history you’ll be able to dissect a civilization’s whole history through what it’s people were wearing.

Designers have a major impact on what will be in vogue. Designer fashion shows are held five months ahead of season. Explaining why Spring/Summer collections are shown in Fall/Winter months and vice versa. The media including fashion editors and buyers view the designers’ collection and get to work immediately picking out what they think will seduce their readers and customers in the coming season. Celebrities and other glitterati are usually the first to sport the brand new looks by the designers. Hence, inspiring the more commercial market, simply speaking, the mall. In the end it’s you who decides if the trends are either in or if they’re out.
Fashion is nothing unless you make it your own, meaning dress your body in trends that flatter your figure and not falling for trends that make your body look less than perfect. The whole point of dressing well is to look slim and tall, no matter what your figure. So I decided to share some of my basic rules of dressing.

· Have a color palette. I can't explain how important it is to have your own color palette. It's basically sticking to a palette of 6 colors or less in one color family. This insures everything in your closet will match. Pick a color palette to match your skin tones. If you have cool undertones (blue, green, or a porcelain skin coloration) stick with cool colors like white, blue, purples, silvers. If you have warm undertones (red, yellow, or an olive skin coloration) stick with an earthy color palette , which includes greens, yellows, reds, browns. Remember everyone can wear black and white.

· Buy for quality not quantity. People in France look Fabulous all the time. Why, you ask? They're wearing those oh so chic designer digs day in and day out. The next time you’re out shopping check the tags. Stay away from synthetic fabrics and look for luxurious fabrics like 100 percent cotton, silk, etc. Also every wardrobe needs at least one piece of cashmere it’s the greatest wardrobe indulgence.

· Don’t be a slave to trends. It’s easy to fall into the trap of piling on all the trends of the season at once. Trends are fun but they can get ugly if they don't fit your style, personality or body. Instead pick one trendy item and pair it with a classic piece. For example take those huge Boho beaded necklaces and pair them with a basic Gap tee and keep your ears bare instead of pairing your gigantic beaded necklace with huge earrings along side a flashy club top. You get the picture.

· Dress your body for what it is. Bright colors like hot pink and yellow draw your eyes to them. Use this to your advantage by wearing these hues in areas that you’d like to flaunt. Wear high heels! Whether you’re vertically challenged or lucky and statuesque high heels will help you have fabulous posture and automatically look long and lean. I’ll devote a whole article on dressing each kind of body in another issue.)

All in all fashion is a wonderful thing. It’s one of the world’s leading industries and it’s defiantly here to stay. Have fun with fashion, play with it, be creative and most of all make it your own. Until next time, Ciao.