Dear Santa

Dear Santa

I have been a very good girl this year.

Since I am really rather particular about what gifts I want, could you please check out this list.

1. Please can you make sure the shops have warm toned swimming togs. Some things can be quite tricky for us warmies, and this is one of them. I like tankini's with a boy short. This style seems to suit so many body shapes.

2. Maxi dress. I did happen to spot a nice warm one in Shanton as I was passing today, and if I had been a cool-tone, the warehouse and Sussan still have some that are great.

3. Gold and silver ballet slippers. Wow, Santa, there are a LOT of these around. Glassons, Cotton On to name a few places. They will be great for summer.

4. Funky jewellery and accessories www.wardrobeflair.com These guys really know how to source some really lovely pieces :-)

5. A really pretty dress for Xmas day. A quintessential summer frock that I can dress up and dress down depending on the above said accessories!

6. Tie and bolero-type cardigans, just in case the breeze comes up and I need a bit of arm coverage.

7. Some just below the knee denim shorts. How versatile, denim so they go with everything and such a great length - especially if they are straight wide leg versions.

8. Finally a fabulous Wardrobe Flair voucher so that I can book a Top-up session with Sarah or Trudi next year to make sure I am still 'on track' and heading in the right direction with my oufit combining, colours and shapes.

Thanks Santa, I know you will come through for me!
Love from one of your clothing Elves XX

www.wardrobeflair.com

Racy red - who can wear it?

I get asked this question a lot. "Can I wear the colour red?". It's Christmas time and so I thought I needed to elaborate on the answer. It is, EVERYONE can wear red, it just needs to be the right red!

So all those people who have high colour on their cheeks and faces naturally and who have steered well clear of wearing red in order to not feel 'redder' can actually wear it.

Good colour on your face has the effect of giving you an even skin tone. By doing this even people who suffer from any type of redness on the face from blushing to rosacea to veins, find that it does not in fact make them redder, it actually make them look less red!

What is the right red for you? Well that depends on your skin tone and whether you are a warm or cool toned person. Cool tones wear blue-based clear reds and warmies wear tomato yellow-based reds.

Red is such a wonderful, cheerful, happy, expressive colour. I think everyone needs a red pair of shoes, a red winter coat or some red accessories to zing up an outfit. People smile at people who wear red. They also compliment them a lot more.

So embrace red, no matter who you are or in which form. It will make everyone smile including Santa!!!

Have a fabulous, merry, happy, safe and colour Christmas.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Telly Trends - Mad Men

What starts a trend? To be honest, many things but it is always driven by media so therefore it stands to reason that really popular TV shows can have a large influence.

Set in the 1960s, Mad Men has won thirteen Emmys and four Golden Globes. But for the Fasionistas, it's beautiful costumes has made us fall in love with the feminine late 1950s, early 60's fashion.

Waists are clinched in (sigh!! hooray) fabrics are pretty and interesting. Jewellery features big, especially in the clothing themselves, puffed sleeves, delicate draping, florals, A-line skirts.

The best thing about these era's were the shapes that came out suit all body types. The 50s inspired bodice, belt and A line skirt looks amazing on a women with curves. The maxi, 60s shift dress looks fabulous on those of us without many curves.

This is also the time to jump in and try some new fabrics. Interesting textures make a wardrobe fun and inspiring. Think everything from brocade, lace - which features very heavily this summer - cashmere wool, velour, velvet (a personal favourite in casual jackets for me!!), satin and leather.

So ladies, embrace these wonderful trends. They flatter our shape, they make us feel feminine, there IS something for everyone, shape, size, age. If you don't, then when the next crazy fashion cycle returns (think puff-ball skirts...) then you will have missed the opportunity to embrace fashion and have some fun.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Wardrobe Flair Vouchers for Xmas

All those people who have been converted to the Colour, Shape, Fit mantra of Wardrobe Flair are no doubt enjoying the compliments and confidence that comes with feeling really good about how they look.

Whether you are heading out to the supermarket (yes even there....) or out with friends and family. Knowing that when you leave the house you look modern, stylish, colourful and feel totally comfortable is a great feeling. Addictive one might even say...

Those of you that have met us know we are totally passionate about helping both men and women to achieve this goal. Most of our clients have struggled in one way or another with knowing what to buy, what suits, who is telling the truth at the shops and just in general making sure their money is used wisely with each purchase while also feeling overwhelmed by the choices in the shops.

We have seen 'hoardrobes' (still one of my favourite sayings thanks to my client - you know who you are - that gave me it!) and minimalists to the point of me going under the bed just trying to see whether they really do only have 6 pieces of clothing.

This Xmas, think about sharing the love. Family members can pitch together to buy a Wardrobe Flair voucher for someone who has struggled with these issues. Or if you feel this person would embrace the experience, purchase a wardrobe flair voucher of any monetary amount that suits you and either the recipient or their family can make up the difference. They can use this money towards a wardrobe consult, or a shop, maybe even some jewellery or a colour and shape party.

All we need to know if who the voucher is going to, who you would like it to say it is from, we sent you the voucher (which looks lovely printed on a colour printer and laminated) and our bank account details and it is as easy as that. Sorted.

If you have any questions about how to go about buying a voucher, email trudi@wardrobeflair.com.

Stay colourful and spread that love!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Swimmingly good swimsuits

Most women pull some sort of grimace when you mention a swimsuit. Most have really old pieces that hardly ever see the sun. Is there a good swimsuit to suit your body shape? No matter what size or shape you are? Yes there is!

Lets go through the principles from the very top of the swimsuit. The straps. Keep these proportionate to your body shape. Most important for those with a larger chest or broad shoulders, keep them wider. This cuts through the area and makes it appear smaller.

Second, the neckline. Again, those with a larger bust or wider shoulders need to have a V or round neck swimsuit. While padding is usually reserved for us smaller chested girls, don't not try it on yourselves. Even larger busted women can need help with some support and sometime a helpful hand from lightweight padding can help with this.

Smaller busted girls DO need padding and the shape of your upper costume need to be fuller or rouched to create more of the illusion of more bust. This is usually to balance out any hips in the scenario.

Right, next stop the tummy area. Rouch rouch rouch we say! Its a girl's best friend. Quite a few swimwear options now have side rouching with a sort of cross-over front V neck swimsuit with wider straps. Perfect.

Another option is a plain pair of bottoms (we shall discuss style soon) and a patterned 'tankini" this is a top that is not attached to the bottoms but is a separate piece that covers the tummy. Use pattern wisely, keep it proportionate and it will hide any lumps or bumps you may not want seen.

Lastly, bottoms. I find for those with bigger thighs then the 'boy short' style really reduces them. For those without many curves, this is the time to have a higher cut or more standard 'brief' style bottom.

If this all seems a bit scary, then invest in a great kaftans type over-top. I have seen loads of the around. Nice flimsy material so not so hot, great lower necklines and soft floaty fabric that covers everything. Get one with a bit of bling on the front and I would be really impressed!

I hope this helps you. If you have any questions, then please feel free to use the comment section or email me at trudi@wardrobeflair.com

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Bloomin great boleros

I love bolero cardigans. For many reasons. One being that NZ never quite gets THAT hot, well not in Welly that's for sure. So some warm arms never go amiss. Second I would say 9 out of 10 women (no matter what shape, size or age) HATES their arms, so wants to cover them.


Lastly I love bolero for over dresses because quite often the more dressy the dress, the more detail it has on the front and when you cover it up with a tie or button up cardigan, that detail gets lost.

So the bolero is able to cover arms, provide warmth AND showcase the detail on your dress/top. Lets here it for the bolero!! Lots of places are doing great ones, from Hartley's at Westfield Queensgate, STAX to Shanton. All colours are covered so if you are looking to do one of the above mentioned, head to these stores.

The only other advice I have is don't go too boring with a black or white one. Try and contrast the dress with a fabulous colour that looks stunning. I love berry colours together so for instance on a recent client I teamed a purple berry coloured bolero from Ballentynes with a fuchsia pink dress from Jacqui E. Gorgeous!!!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Maxi dress must-haves

The Maxi dress is around for yet another summer. But who can wear it? Who will look great and who should avoid it at all costs?

As a dress its easy, versatile, comfortable and pretty. So lots of options on why you should have one. So who will struggle to get away with it?


The answer is those under 5ft 5 or 165cm. When shorter people wear longer dresses and skirts it over-powers their frame. They can end up looking swamped. So those of you who are shorter in statue stick with all those lovely just above the knee tunics that elongate your legs and make you look amazing.

Ladies with curves and with height, you should go for it on the Maxi dress front. The only criteria you are looking for is 1. Make it a great colour for you 2. Get one with a band that sits under the bust to nip you in at your thinnest point. 3. Keep the straps proportionate to your body size. 4. Don't have too much volume over the tummy. Nobody needs the dreaded 'when you are due' question...

Don't save Maxi dresses for evening only, they are casual dresses that are good for wearing in the weekends. They cover your legs (against sun, lazy shavers and any bits you don't like) while keeping you feeling cool, summery and pretty.

Team them with a nice tie cardigan for day wear OR a casual denim jacket, or dress them up with a fabulous necklace and bolero for summer evening wear. They are so versatile.

I look forward to seeing colourful ladies in Maxi dresses this summer!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Summer skin stresses

Summer is on its way and that usually means we have to show a little more skin than we have for the past 6 months. I have found the biggest stresses for women are arms (wanting to cover any 'bingo' wings) and legs which may have veins or discolorations. It can be a fraught battle between the heat and the comfort each person has of baring bits we don't like others to see.

The arms are quite easy to solve to be honest. Nowadays there are lots of lightweight, 3/4 or short-sleeved cardigans that we can add to our singlets, dresses and tops. I especially like tie cardigans that sit around the rib cage about an inch under the chest. When adding 'arms' to a dress, I like bolero-type cardigans. This way the detail of the front of the dress is not ruined by having a cardigan come across the front.

Legs are a little harder to cover when its hot. So many women want to wear skirts, but feel those pesky veins and broken capillaries are not something they want to show. Firstly know that you are not alone, so many women feel the same. Again it is about whether you decided you can bite the bullet and wear that skirt, knowing that nobody actually is going to notice them in their 3 second scan of you, especially if you have lovely colour on, and are wearing a fabulous outfit with great accessories. Its sensory overload and a couple of veins are not going to get a look-in!

However for many, that is just not an option and other people do have to understand that this feels very valid to you. For you there are a couple of options depending on other circumstances. One is that if you are tall, you can wear a maxi dress this summer. This way you have full, light-weight and pretty coverage of your legs right to the ankle. A great option that will not make you feel 'locked' into always wearing trousers.

Another option is leggings. Cotton leggings are lighter than say jeans and again with a pretty skirt or tunic dress can be a lovely, feminine option for those of you who want full leg coverage.

Most people have lightweight summer trousers but I wanted to remind people that dresses can also be an option.

A great wardrobe has variety that suits you and that you feel fantastic in. So this summer, if you have areas you dislike its all about looking at the styles around and adapting it to suit you.

Good luck and I hope to see lots of lovely dresses around this season! Call us if you need help shopping for them.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

New Jewellery range

So excited to introduce some of the new Wardrobe Flair range. Go to WardrobeFlair.com to see everything. Enjoy!

Spring clean your wardrobe

So Spring is here! How exciting. I love this time of year for many reasons. One of them being that I really enjoy transitioning my wardrobe. Here is how I spring-clean my wardrobe to make me feel like I have new clothes - without having to spend any money!

Firstly I take out all really warm, woolly skirts, trousers and tops. These I put in another room for next winter.

Then I make sure that I have all my clothes on ONE hanger per item. When you start doubling up clothing on hangers you FORGET what you have. If each piece has its own hanger, you remember it, see it, use it.

I bring in from my other wardrobe (gulp....) my finer layering items like Metalicus, Vigorella and long and three-quarter sleeved Ts.

I then do a scan to see what these new (old) items can go with on what I have. Especially for layering purposes. So a nice floaty chiffon top, can now have a metalicus under it instead of a merino. Maybe in a different colour and with a contrasting necklace to make me feel like its a whole new outfit.

I check out my new accessories, and look at where I can add something to help 'zing' up an outfit. For instance, a simple T + cardigan looks great with a wide belt and long beads. I whole different outfit. Next I would take off the belt and add a funky scarf to check out that option.

Stay really focused on adding that colour to base or 'boring' colours. Plain top? how about a brightly coloured singlet under it instead of the usual one you wear?

Put wool coats away and get out all those fabulous funky textured jackets you have. You don't? Well go and get some then! I want to see cotton, cord, velvet. Great for work, great with jeans and a scarf.

Colour code your wardrobe so you can see your 'colour gaps'. Make a list of all the colours you are lacking and that needs to be your spring/summer focus. If they are not in the mainstream shops, head to second-hand shops to source that colour.

Finally, pattern. Do you have enough? Are you a bit scared of it? Pattern is flattering, modern and can be added through various ways (see previous text on patterned and multi-coloured pieces!)

This morning I woke up and honestly felt like I had a new wardrobe. I love how by getting rid of all my bulky knits I felt like winter was really over and it was like a mental spring clean!! Fabulous.

The photo above shows just one skirt, but two very different combinations. Don't get stuck in the rut of wearing the same top with the same skirt.

Now if you look, and just can't see what a marvellous wardrobe you have and are not wearing all your options because you just don't know what they go with, call us. You need a Top-Up. One hour later you will feel like you have a new wardrobe - trust me!! It's true.

Stay colourful

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Multi-coloured magic

We at Wardrobe Flair know the benefits of making life stress-free when it comes to clothing. Having multi-coloured clothing and accessories can make getting dressed in the morning easier.

How so? If you have a multi-coloured skirt, it means you can buy tops in 2-3 of the colours on the skirt and you have 3-4 outfits instead of one. If you are wearing a plain top, by throwing a multi-coloured necklace or scarf on will transform the outfit. It will pick up the colours you already have on, of if they are plainer colours it will add the essential colour needed to transform your look.

So many people stick with block colours, and wear the same 'combinations' over and over again. Then they wonder why they are very bored of their clothes. A great wardrobe of colours, patterns and textures allows you to wear 1 particular top with say 4 bottoms. Vice versa on the bottoms.

If you are able to really use your wardrobe well, each new combination makes you feel like you are wearing a new outfit. Not spending money but wearing something different is FUN! Change the accessory, put a belt on it, wear contrasting shoes. It's these little tweaks that give us a little lift.

As a previous client of Wardrobe Flair, if you are looking at your wardrobe full of clothes and really need help 'seeing' those combinations, then book the ever-popular 'Top up' session. In one hour we can show you dozens of new combinations!!

Stay colourful and adventurous!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Quality vs Quantity

Many people are in one camp or the other. Some like a smaller wardrobe with selected pieces that cost quite a bit. They use words like 'classic' 'timeless' 'long wearing' 'beautiful fabrics' 'quality'.

Others go for gold on how many bargains they can get and how many clothes they can get into their wardrobe. The lure of the sale price ticket outweights whether or not the garment is right or wrong. They are just so thrilled with the price.

Where do I sit in all of this? Right, dead smack in the middle. I appreciate well-cut, well-made, beautiful, timeless pieces that I will wear for many years and feel stylish and 'expensive' in. I also have plenty of stuff from Shanton, Glassons, Valleygirl and The Warehouse.

I believe mixing up the two is the best of both words. Most people, especially in this economic climate do not want to spend hundreds of dollars on individual 'fashion forward' pieces. The puffed shoulder jacket, the hammer-time pants, the gladiator sandal.

If you are going to spend some serious money, do take the time to buy something you see yourself wearing for at least a few years. That beautiful coat, that glorious pair of Italian leather boots. That dress that SO suits your shape that you will wear it to death.

I love fashion. I love trends. I always adapt them to suit my body shape, colours and budget! I make a point of buying a new pair of sunglasses each summer season. I will add a latest trend scarf to a classic coat. I will accessories with the latest colours and print.

Some trends come back year after year and it is knowing which ones do, that make buying what you may think is a 'trendy' item, actually a classic. Leather, Nautical, Fur, Military, animal print to name a few. I have pieces in these trends I have had for 5 years and they get recycled and added to new additions nearly every single year.

If I am not sure the trend will remain, I buy fun, funky pieces that suit me but are not overly pricey. I love having an eclectic wardrobe. Some of the cheaper pieces get the most compliments.

It is never how much you spend, it's about having the confidence to try something that feels right for you. Not to young, not too old, not too tight, not too short. A smattering of animal print, a little bit of floral. Mix it up. The British call this 'the designer + high street mix'. Kate Moss loves this term and having a bit of both worlds.

So the challenge is, if you only ever buy designer, try mainstream. Keep an open mind and buy something safe that will fit with your existing wardrobe. If always buying cheap and sale items, try saving up with a classic purchase in mind and going into some stores that are usually a little out of your comfort zone in price.

I think everyone could be pleasantly surprised!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Accessory of the season

I have recently been up at the Auckland Gift Fair and it was amazing as always to see so much beautiful jewellery and various other accessories. I noticed a huge amount of wonderful scarves this year and yes ladies, I purchased a fair amount of them.

Scarves can be a girls best friend. They are comfortable, and when you wear them to the specified neckline that suits you (a little more open for those with a bigger bust) and higher up for those who are somewhat smaller in the chest department, they look fantastic.

The scarves these days are meant to stay on, not be taken off like those old woolly ones worn for pure warmth. They are an accessory in their own right. They add texture and colour to an outfit.

They allow people to incorporate seasonal trends without having to wear an item of normal clothing. Stripes in, then striped scarf it is. Floral in, then a pretty floral scarf is going to be just the ticket.

Staying modern with trends is a way of feeling like you are moving with the fashion times. Its keeps our wardrobes fresh and interesting.

So keep your eyes peeled to this blog and our Facebook account - which has DAILY tips on what to wear http://www.facebook.com/WardrobeFlair for when the next batch of scarves are coming in. They are utterly divine.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

P.S get in now and get the best Christmas present EVER. A Wardrobe Flair voucher. The gift that gives men and women the tools to learn to shop effectively. We also do partial vouchers for money towards a session or you can group together with the rellies and get a full session.

Wedding Wear Worries

The invitations are flooding in for summer weddings (where are mine??). I know they are because I am getting some stressed out ladies emailing, asking for either advice or a booking for a shopping session so we can go and FIND a great outfit.

There is no simple answer as to what to wear to a NZ wedding. They are so varied in their casual/formal scenarios. However here are a few simple hints which may help. What time of day is the wedding? Morning weddings are usually a little more casual, evening weddings traditionally more formal.

Where is the wedding being held? Church? Garden? Again, you need to tailor your outfit to the correct environment.

Here is what I believe. You can NEVER be over dressed for a wedding. You will see a range of people wearing so many different outfits, but the main consideration is that you are going to a special event, to help two people celebrate a very important moment in time. I believe it is important that you make a big effort, not only for them, but for you to be able to look around and feel confident that you look fantastic! Plus there are also the photos!!

You have around three options. The first, and easiest is a wonderful dress. Sleeveless, with a round or v-neck, band under the bust and a flowing A-line skirt that comes to just below the knee. Try Jacqui E, these guys know how to do some great dresses.

If you want to cover your arms, a little bolero will be perfect. I like boleros because they cover the arms but don't cover the dress, which might have nice detail on the front. If not a bolero, then a simple tie-cardigan is also appropriate.

Second option is separates. A great skirt, in a fabulous fabric. Satin/velvet/chiffon detailing, A-line. If the fabric is interesting and luxurious looking then it will be wonderful. Then either a nice top or what I really like is a bustier type top, then again with the bolero or tie-cardigan. Separates have the advantage of being able to be dissected and worn on different occasions with different pieces. Can't find a skirt? Head to the fabric shops, grab some fabric and have a dressmaker whip you up a simple A-line skirt in your beautiful fabric. Then just concentrate on the top and accessories.

Last option, and really only appropriate for a late, evening wedding. A pair of dress trousers and I MEAN dressy. Not just a pair of trousers. They need a sheen or some sort of interesting fabric to set them apart form just bulk standard trousers. And a 'sparkly' type top. Something really lovely and dressy. Your objective is to make sure you don't look like you are going to work.

Think about what you will be comfortable in. What works with the rest of your wardrobe (you may already have one piece that you can use and then need to find the rest). Think about your colours, what suits you, the shape of your body and check out all shops - not just the ones you usually go to.

In the past I have found great outfits for weddings in Stax, Jacqui E, Pagani (of all places) Savemart, designer boutiques, Farmers, David Lawrence and Max.

Don't forget those finishing touches. A hat does look great, but if you are not sure, then there are lots of gorgeous flower hair accessories around to pop into your hair. A simple material flower clipped up on one side looks lovely. Necklace and fabulous shoes a must.

P.S Please tell your friends that I am always happy to have any invitations to weddings because I LOVE weddings and have HEAPS of lovely outfits to wear :-)

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Question time!

That's right. You all know I love to waffle on about fashion, style, trends, cut, colour and pretty much anything associated with making men and women feel confident.

But lets get a little more interactive! Send me your requests for blogs. For instance the 'shoe' and skirt blog was requested by a client and likewise, in a few months time I shall do a full, detailed blog about swimwear.

But if you have a question, dilemma, problem etc, then send me an email at trudi@wardrobeflair.com and I shall be more than happy to help you out.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Boys in Blazers

Where did the suit go? Who knows, but it is pretty much nearly gone in most working environments. This caused SUCH a dilemma for many men. They had their suit and shirt for work, then their jeans and old Ts for home. Then someone changed the rules and said 'hey, lets go casual dressy".

We are now many years into the casual dressy work attire and men are still struggling. However, there is a solution! The blazer is the new 'suit' for men. Not only does this tick all the boxes with a casual smart pair of trousers and shirt for work, it looks fabulous with jeans for going out. Bonus!

Many men lack this 'going out' item, or some sort of jacket they can throw on at work for when a little more professionalism is needed. I see so many old, dusty suits and am told many of these are kept at work for that 'just in case' moment.

I really believe the blazer is the way forward. A well cut blazer looks fantastic and some of my favourites actually have a little bit of texture included too. Think fine cord or velvet (don't freak out boys it looks really good!!)

Easy, plain colours are best. Classic cuts are also best. Some stores are trying to 'funk' the blazer up and adding epauletts. These look cool now but will dates, so unless you are going to be buying TWO blazers, keep it nice and simple.

Meccano has a lovely dark navy blazer (Queensgate & Porirua) Rodd & Gunn have a great charcoal option. Even Haldenstein's jumped on board last season had a great brown blazer. So they are around. Find the cut and colour that will go best with all your shirts and enjoy the benefits of not having to worry about looking too casual any more!

Give us a call if you need help with this.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

The MILLERS challenge

Yes. I did it. I went into Millers, a shop I never go into. I practiced what I preached. I went looking for items that shone and did I find some?

Yes I did! Now as we always say here at Wardrobe Flair, never judge a shop by it's shoppers. Glassons may be full of 18 year olds, but always has some jems. Millers may not have had anyone under 50 in it while I was there, but as I found, it still can come up with some goodies.
One thing I really like to see in a shop, is a good size ratio. Millers ranges from 10 to size 22. A good start. However, is not set out in a particularly attractive way with most clothing swished onto one of those old style circular rack things.

But they must have seen the merit in some of the pieces I liked, because they were the ones they mostly choose to display.

The above photos show some clothing that I would have selected a warm toned client to try on. I really liked the wide-leg dusky pink cords and while a few pictures show some sweatshirts, hey, we still do need casual clothing as well!!

So enjoy the photos. Take the challenge. Go into THAT shop you never go into today, whether it because you label it too young/skinny/stuck up/cheap or frumpy. You just never know.....

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Skirts - now what SHOES?

So often I find women are quite keen to branch out into dresses and skirts, but are hesitant in what sort of footwear to put with them.

One word. BOOTS. They MUST be knee-high, none of these awful mid-calf ones please!! They create too much of a gap between the skirt/dress and the boot, plus they cut you off at the calves. Nobody needs that :-)

Make sure those boots are knee-high and they look great and very stylish with skirts and dresses/tunics.

If boots don't float your boat, then mary-janes are always good. A little wedge heel suits pretty much anyone, is comfortable AND looks really pretty. For the shorter people, keep the strap of the mary-jane as low as possible. For taller people, you can have it going across the top of your foot.

So to clarify, skirt and dresses with either KNEE-HEIGH boots (yes you can find boots to fit ANY sized calves now so never fear) or stockings / leggings and mary-janes. Another nice look can be the simple, flat, ballet slipper. Looks the best with leggings and tunic. Chuck a pair of skin coloured knee-high stockings on under the leggings to give extra warmth and so your tootsies don't get too cold.

We expect to see an explosion of skirts and dresses now.... get to it! They are SO flattering and easy (no problems with matching things when you wear a dress!!).

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Funky Florals

You will start to see these filtering into the shops. For some people, they will shiver with horror at the thought of this girly trend. But as with all trends, it can be adapted to suit your own personality.

Those smaller sized ladies can go for a more traditional small rose/flower design. It will suit their smaller features and their finer jewellery.

Those luscious curvy ladies need to find the medium sized blooms - to look bloomin lovely!

Rules: Don't OVER floral yourself. Floral Top + floral cardigan = ghastly. One floral per outfit. Be it a dress, under, cardigan, skirt. Then pick up your very favourite colour in the pattern (the green of the leaves or the pink of the flower) and balance out the floral with that piece.

Warm tones, not MANY florals for us. Mostly Cool tones, but you CAN find some. I have a cream tunic with dusky pink florals.

If you just can't do a floral (I know who you are!!!) then how about a pretty floral necklace or scarf? An easy way of doing what we at Wardrobe Flair love to see, people stepping out of their COMFORT ZONE!!!

Good luck!

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com

Tunics + curvy girl = Awesome

So many fads and phases. So many trends and styles coming and going. What is best for the 16+ curvy girl? As I am always saying, trends are great, as long as they actually suit your body shape, colours and personality!

The tunic / over-dress is a huge trend. And its pretty hard to ignore it. Whilst doing our Walk-in Wardrobe sessions at Queensgate, the question most asked was "Can I do this trend or am I too old/curvy".

The answer is YES. You can do this trend but it needs to be adapted for both your shape and your age. The curvy woman who has a bigger bust and some hips needs to balance both these out. Therefore the following rules are:

Lower neckline tunic or dress
Good nipped in waist or shape
An A-LINE tunic that sits just above the knee.

There you go. Easy peeasy. They look great, they are comfortable and there is a tunic for everyone. Ok, so we have covered curves, about what about height? Again, adapt. The tunic style actually really suits the shorter woman. This is because she is able to have a shorter dress (just above the knees) and this then adds more length to her legs.

I found some superb tunics at... wait for it.... Ballentynes!! See attached photo!! They really are great and have a fabulous cut. My 5ft 2, Size 16/18 Friday client bought the striped one, and we teamed it with stretchy fitted grey trousers and a purple long sleeve T. She was so shocked to see how great she looked it brought a wee tear to my eye!

Other ones I have spotted and like have been from Farmers, who of course again do great sizes. One of these was in the Ella J range (blue pattern above) and the other in the Wild Child section (Red pattern above).

So go for it, follow the rules and find a tunic that suits you. This fashion phase is here for some time and trust me when I say once you are in - YOU ARE IN! Its so completely comfortable and stylish.

Enjoy and if you need some help finding that tunic, then give us a call.

Trudi www.wardrobeflair.com