As much as I love the shapes, colours, textures and the whole visual impact of clothing; I am also fascinated with the psychology behind why we wear what we wear. If you’ve been to any of my events or read similar blog posts of mine, you’ll know that I hark on about the fact that fashion is not just frivolity… what we wear speaks volumes! How we dress is how we express our unique personalities. This is why I love personal styling.
When I work with clients, I am helping them do so much more than simply choose what clothes to wear. I am helping them express themselves and dress in a way that not only compliments their body shape and colouring, but more importantly; their lifestyle and personality too. It would be foolish and entirely wrong to dress a client in an outfit that suited them from an aesthetic perspective but yet didn’t align with their personality. And this is what’s key to great styling. Dressing in a way that not only makes you look a million dollars, but also represents who you are as a person. That’s when you really start to OWN what you wear and your true style emerges.
So when a client first approaches me, the first thing I will do is get to know them as a person and understand their reasons for enlisting my help. I’ll also explore how they feel about their body and their style aspirations. This exploration commences during an initial consultation and continues as we work together.
Many women reach their 40s and find they have lost their style mojo due to lifestyle and body changes. Perhaps they weren’t so concerned with what they looked like whilst they were bringing up young children, but now have the space and inclination to spend more time on themselves. Many women will have lost or gained weight and no longer know how to dress their new body shape. And some women simply don’t know where to shop anymore as there is so much choice it has become overwhelming, much like their wardrobes!
Whatever reason a client has decided to enlist my help, my main priority will be to help them dress in a way that is congruent with their personality and in turn, makes them feel confident; because confidence is the cornerstone to great style. Have a read of my top 10 tips for boosting style confidence here. I help my clients connect with their inherent style and choose clothes that flatter – both externally and internally.
It’s most definitely not about following all the latest trends!
One of the greatest pleasures I get from personal styling is seeing a client step out of the changing room – in an outfit that they would not have chosen for themselves – with a huge, beaming smile on their face. Because they look and feel FABULOUS.
Clothes don’t just change the way others see you, they change the way you see yourself. One client told me that she wanted to look and feel sexier. When we explored this further it wasn’t in the obvious sense of revealing cleavage etc., but much more subtle and yet empowered. So we settled on the term ‘sassy’ and I helped her find items and put together outfits in a way that addressed this. Now, when I see her, she exudes confidence and sass as she evidently feels amazing in her new wardrobe. I have helped empower her.
Just as our personality and our lifestyles develop and change; our style evolves too. There’s no shame to admitting that we have lost our sense of style somewhere along the way. It happens to more people than you may think!
I see style as a form of self-care; something that needs upkeep. Just as we would devote time to go to the gym and hire a personal trainer; we should set aside time, thought and investment to the way we dress. Feeling stylish and well-put together (from a sartorial perspective) is just as important as feeling fit and strong. When we look good; we feel good; and when we feel good; we do good. Clothes are powerful tools and they assist us in a much more deeper way than just projecting a positive outer image.
As a personal stylist, to be involved in such a transformational process is incredibly rewarding.
If you’d like to know more about my Personal Styling Services, please head over to my Services page. I offer a free consultation prior to any bookings, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.