So I’ve had a lot of questions from clients lately about what to wear with coloured denim (without looking like they are trying too hard). Well, the answer is easy – let the jeans be the centre of attention. Bright jeans go best with nude shoes and neutral tops. The best way to tie the jeans into the rest of the outfit is to add a necklace or bracelet in the same colour. If you do pair your jeans with another bright colour try to tie the colours together with a great scarf or a patterned bag. Just remember to stick to 3 colours in your entire outfit, anymore than that and it will be too distracting.
I know we have already covered her, but we can’t look at the fascinating world of models without paying homage to one of the biggest supermodels of the last few decades. Kate Moss has a certain je ne sais quoi that takes a simple pair of jeans and an old rock tee to a whole new level. If you are looking to replicate her artistic casual style make sure your closet is packed with fabulous accessories, as Ms Moss is rarely seen without them.
I don’t like my clients heading out in their Lulu’s never mind their PJs, but I have made an exception for Stella McCartney. Only Stella can make PJs pants look good enough to walk around in! If you are going to attempt this trend make sure to pair it with classic cuts in similar fabrics. Don’t try to dress this look down Try a delicate pair of heels and a slim fitting button down blouse for a perfect Summer look.
I’m always so fascinated by models. They seem to be their own species of human. So one of my favourite things to do is observe them in their natural habitat. What do they look like when they aren’t being dressed by other people? I want to take a look at variety of these gorgeous creatures over the next few weeks to see if any of them form a recognizable style personality or if their styles are as diverse as the shows they walk in. You tell me what you think!
We are starting with the lovely Natalia Vodianova.
While I generally try to stay away from any style that immediately makes my hips look bigger, I can’t help but love the peplum dresses and tops that swept the S/S 2012 runway. Check out Zara for some great pastel options and asos.com for amazing textured pieces. Whatever colour or style you chose make sure to keep all your other pieces simple and classic. Opt for straight leg trousers or a pencil skirt to keep all eyes on your teeny tiny waist (or at least the illusion that the peplum flare creates of a teeny tiny waist!)
This week we are going to pay homage to a woman that has helped Styling and Image Consulting to reach the masses. Whenever people ask me what it is that I actually do as an Image Consultant, I often answer “Have you seen What Not to Wear?”. So this week we are going to look at Stacy London’s style. While her tailoring is impeccably classic, she plays with colour and texture to induce a little fun in to each of her outfits. Her winter colouring also allows her to pull off amazing bold colours without looking washed out or overwhelmed.
This week’s Style Icon is the ultimate Grande Dame of the fashion world: editor-in-chief of American Vogue, Anna Wintour. Wintour’s years at Vogue have established her as one the most influential fashion editors of all time. Her influence in the industry is unparalleled and her work has made Vogue one of the most successful magazines in the history of publishing. Yet, despite being surrounded by fashion and its ever-changing nature, its shifts in trends and styles and, not to mention, surrounded by a ridiculous amount of clothes, Wintour stays consistent when it comes to her personal style. She’s carefully crafted a trademark look, with her signature bob and dark sunglasses and her favouring of elegant tweeds, colourful, printed dresses and luxurious accents like statement necklaces and oversized furs. Her look is polished, refined and ladylike, consistent in pieces and in class.
This week’s choice outfit looks ahead (but not very far!) to warmer months; the soon-to-be-here days when you won’t need to bring a jacket “just in case” or worry about whether your legs will be cold without tights. That’s right: summer. Mmmmm. Warm sun, tanned skin, sandals and easy slip-on-and-go outfits. Like this one.
This is one of those perfect summer outfits for me because it’s simple and casual but so effortlessly cool in that “Oh, I just grabbed this out of my closet, threw it on and look how chic I am” kind of way. All you need is a maxi skirt or dress and a denim button down shirt, both of which are inexpensive and can be found anywhere. And because the shirt is denim, your skirt can be whatever colour you like. How nice would a light pink skirt look? Or red, to really get noticed. You don’t need crazy accessories either: I usually throw on a simple chain necklace and a cuff, pull my hair into a low ponytail or messy bun, grab a crossbody bag and voilà, I’m ready in less than 10 minutes. Perfect romantic boho style, an essential look for relaxed summer days.
This week’s Style Icon is probably one of the most influential women in the fashion industry: celebrity stylist, fashion designer, reality tv star (The Rachel Zoe Project) and mega-brand with her own daily newsletter (The Zoe Report), Rachel Zoe.
Zoe’s wardrobe is the kind that gives you heartaches and jealousy cramps. Her closet is filled with a spectacular mix of vintage finds, high-end designer pieces, statement bags and sky-high shoes, all used to create her signature seventies-inspired, bohemian glam look.
She’s equally as impeccable at creating casual chic daytime outfits as she is stunning evening looks. Her trademark daywear combination is a maxi dress, a pair of wedges, oversized sunglasses and myriad pieces of chunky and bold statement accessories. Her evening look takes her penchant for flowing dresses to the next level with gorgeous gowns in unexpected cuts, prints and colours and is always punctuated by gold, gold and more gold.
Always dramatic, always showstopping, Zoe is the epitome of glamour and sophistication. We look to her on days when we’re feeling blah for style inspiration and that extra kick we need to bring out our inner movie star (and envious sighs, of course).
YSG’s favourite look this week comes courtesy of Vanessa Jackman. Why do we love it (aside from like, look at her)? We think it’s a pretty common belief amongst women that the double denim look just can’t be done stylishly, but this outfit proves that it can and so, soooo easily.
The way to make this former faux pas fashionable is to take your cue from and channel the ’70s: high-waisted flared jeans and two different shades of denim are key and when worn with a pair of wedge sandals, you cannot get it wrong. If you’re of the long and lithe body type, you can pull this chic look off flawlessly.
YSG Tip: Don’t go wild on accessories with this outfit. A simple ponytail, fresh-faced makeup and a simple necklace or bracelet will be the perfect finishing touches and let the casual-yet-standout look make its own statement.
Your Style Queen,
