CHRISTMAS STYLE ON A SHOESTRING

According to the latest economic predictors, we are all planning to spend a lot less this Christmas than in previous years, as the nation tightens its belt.....

Many women tend to put themselves 'last on the list' when it comes to the family budget, so if you're feeling that there's no money to spare for any new 'razzle dazzle' for you this festive season, here are some ideas to get some glamour and glitter into your celebration outfits without breaking the bank from my......

'Supermarket Sweep'

Whether you are looking for a dress, a top, shoes or some inexpensive glitzy accessories to liven up an outfit you already have, Supermarket clothing ranges have come on in leaps and bounds in recent years. You could be pleasantly surprised at what your local supermarket has in store! You can find a very chic looking simple shift dress for £20 - £30.- Florence & Fred at Tesco's, Tu at Sainsbury's - with the help of the inimitable Gok Wan - and George at Asda's clothing ranges all include some very wearable festive pieces at affordable prices.

My favourite picks from the current offerings:

Dresses - below, left to right : Satin shift dress from George at Asda, Black lace dress from F & F at Tesco, Red shift dress from F & F at Tesco

In fact I'm so taken with the Little Red Dress that I'll be heading into town tomorrow to get one for myself.

Do I really need it? No.

Do I want it? OH YES!

A Stylish Tuxedo Jacket - only one contender here and Gok's fabulous

design is a wonderful choice for those who don't want to wear a dress and prefer their 'dressed up' look to be an elegant outfit with trousers instead. This is a classic piece which will stand anyone who looks fabulous in black in good stead for many occasions well beyond Christmas. At a mere £45 it's a snip and for all those in the Chelmsford area, Sainsbury's Springfield store stocks the Gok range

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Accessories - If you don't want

a whole new outfit, how about a glamorous lacy cover up to complement and breathe new life into an existing dress?

These are also great for disguising any heaviness around the upper arms if you are wearing a sleeveless dress.....

Lace Embellished Shawl by F & F from Tesco's

Alternatively, you may just want to add some inexpensive glamour to an outfit you already have with new shoes or jewellery. A pair of satin or embellished shoes will lift any ensemble and your spirits! Tesco's and Asda both come up trumps again here with a simple but glamorous court style at under £20......

The glitter court shoe (left) is from Asda, whilst

the satin court shoe from Tesco shown comes in purple as well as the teal blue.

If you can only afford to spend a few ££s on yourself, then indulge in some bling jewellery and finishing touches to jazz up your look. Big bold bangles in dramatic designs or vivid colours can add some drama and interest to any simple outfit. Pile on the arm candy (one arm only!) with a stack of bangles or pearls bracelets in different sizes, or try adding colourful hair accessories or a flower corsage at the shoulder for contrast.

Pink beaded cuff and Flower accessory both from Tesco's

Inexpensive elasticated bead or imitation pearl bracelets can be twisted round to use as a scarf ring to add a little glamour as well.

You really don't have to spend a lot of money to look fabulous at

this or any other time of year!

If you'd like some help and ideas to boost your image, then do get in touch. Wishing you a glamorous and peaceful festive season,

Cass

Putting Colours Together

When you've lived in black or other colours which felt 'safe' for a long time, discovering new and truly flattering colours is a wonderful and exciting experience - but can feel a little strange and overwhelming to start with. You may be starting to wear different colours from the ones you are used to, and it can take a little time to get comfortable with your new palette.

One of the most important questions to be considered is 'How should I go about putting colours together to make an outfit?'

My clients all receive guidance on how to create a capsule wardrobe using their best neutrals and accent colours, but here are some further general ideas to help anyone who is struggling to use colours effectively in their wardrobe, to help start those outfits coming together....

NEUTRALS

Neutrals are the foundation stones of your wardrobe - the colours you use for the majority of your basic garments and those classic 'investment pieces' - your trousers, skirts, jackets and other outerwear.

Black, greys, navies, browns, camels, olive greens, khaki, stone and shades of white are all neutrals. When you know which amongst them are the right ones for you, your first priority should be to make sure you have at least a couple of pairs of trousers, skirts and jackets in your best neutrals. A top or two in a neutral is also a very useful piece.

This will immediately give you the basis of a versatile capsule wardrobe! Your trousers/skirts and jackets can be matching suits but don't have to be - if you've chosen neutrals from your best colour palette, each piece will tone harmoniously with the others.

It's always useful to have basic accessories like shoes, belts, and bags in your best neutrals to start with - you can add more colourful accessories as your wardrobe and your confidence grows!

COLOURS

These are your brighter and more distinctive shades - use them initially for tops, blouses and accessories like scarves and jewellery. Blues, reds, greens, purples, pinks, shades of orange/rust, turquoises...There are a million variations out there and if you have a swatch of colours to guide you, you will be confident in knowing which ones are right for you to choose!

As you get more familiar with your colour palette and want to be more adventurous, you can add shoes and bags in more vibrant colours, and also start to introduce colour into skirts, jackets and trousers.

A word of warning though - bright colour draws the eye, so if your 'bottom half' isn't your best feature, it's wisest to keep trousers and skirts in your darker neutrals and put those vivid brights onto your top half.

How should you combine neutrals and colours in your outfit?

Here are some ideas to build from:

One Neutral

You can wear just neutrals of course. Some ladies can look very dramatic in a monochrome outfit of just black, grey or navy but to avoid look dull and rather funereal, you will need a vibrant lipstick and some interesting jewellery to lift your look!

This doesn't work so well with brown shades - it can look dowdy, so some contrast is always advised if you are a lady whose best neutrals are brown shades.

You can wear 2 or even 3 contrasting Neutrals in your outfit:

e.g. black jacket and trousers and silver grey blouse or dark chocolate skirt, oatmeal blouse and camel jacket.

A blend of different depths of shade of the same neutral can also look very elegant:

e.g. light to darker shades of blue/grey or light grey/green to deeper olive

Again, some vivid colour in your lipstick and something eye-catching in your accessories is recommended if you are dressing in just neutrals!

One Neutral and One Colour

Choose a neutral for your trousers/skirt and jacket and a vibrant colour for your top e.g. dark chocolate trousers and jacket with a terracotta blouse or top

Or, try a skirt/trousers and a top in a neutral with a vivid colour for your jacket or cardigan e.g. black with scarlet or fuchsia.

You can transform an otherwise monochrome outfit with colour and/or patterns in your accessories - shoes, bag, belt, scarves and jewellery.

Two Neutrals and One Colour

You might like to choose two different neutrals for your jacket and trousers/skirt e.g. navy skirt, grey jacket and add a colour for your top e.g. turquoise

Two Colours and One Neutral

This takes a bit more care - it's often a good idea to choose different depths of shade of the same colour - think of the Dulux paint charts where you see colours going from lightest to darkest depths - to put with a neutral.

So, you could choose trousers in a greyed navy and wear with a top in light aqua, with a jacket, cardigan or long wrap in a deeper blue/green or teal. Or maybe a skirt in dark grey with a top in a pale icy pink, and a jacket in a rich wine colour?

I always feel that some colour, somewhere in your outfit, is essential to brighten your look and get the most from your colours. A splash of a great accent colour can lift your mood and liven up even a simple outfit.

As you grow more confident with your own best colours, you will enjoy experimenting with different looks and combinations and there is so much to explore - I tried dark teal blue with soft white and one of my best reds recently and was surprised how well it worked!

The important thing is knowing which shades of colour will look fabulous on you, so if you feel in need of a bit of guidance with your colours, style or wardrobe, do feel free to give me a call. I'd be happy to chat through your particular concerns, and see whether I can be of help to you.

Best wishes

Cass