Understanding Style

Style, what is it? It seems some have it, and some don't. Can this be rectified? Yes it can. Everyone can have their own sense of style and it doesn't mean being a slave to fashion trends, copying others or spending lots on clothes.

The best style is your own individual way of wearing clothes and colours that suit you and having the confidence you look great. Women with style other women want are women who have come some way to accepting their own body shape and are happy enough in their own skin.

Who would I rate a style icon? Well to be honest, you can't really go past Audrey Hepburn. Here was a women who knew what suited her body shape and she stuck with it her whole life. She understood the good and the not so good bits about her body and she emphasised her best asset at all times, her 22 inch waist.

She was brilliant at adapting the current fashion to suit her style. Someone who understands their body shape and colours is able to do this quite easily. I also loved her philosophy on life, which I believe have her that inner glow that helps with the outer confidence she portrayed.

A current style icon for me is Princess Kate. Here is another women who has a lot of money at her disposal and designers clambering to dress her. She often wears clothes from mainstream shops and when I see her in them I admire her for not only showing the world you don't have to spend a fortune to look well dressed, but that she chooses first and foremost what suits her body shape.

For both these women, less is more. Well cut, great shaped clothing and timeless elegance. It doesn't mean we need to copy their style, it means we need to find our own sense of style and feel confidence in our choices.

I shall leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Ms Hepburn “I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and... I believe in miracles.”

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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Does size matter?

In an era where nearly every image you see of women in magazines is 'touched-up' and air-brushed within an inch of their lives, is it any wonder many women have unreasonable expectation of how we are supposed to look/age/dress?

And how much does size really matter in this equation? In my job I have seen women from size 6 to size 30, all of whom have come out looking and feeling fantastic. If anyone has ever seen Gok's "How to look good naked" British TV show, one thing is always clear, it is never about size. It is about enhancing the great and diminishing the not so great. Focus on looking good with the body you have NOW, not the one you will have in 1 year, 10 kgs lighter or the one you had 10 years ago.

The fact is that lifestyles, babies and hormones - to name a few - change women’s bodies. In our lifetime we go through many shapes and sizes and it can be hard to adjust to all these changes. If the size or shape of your body makes you feel down, you need to make the decision to do something about it. That doesn't have to mean weight-loss, it can mean getting on with the job of looking great with what you have.

There are aspects of every single body I see that are truly fantastic. These are the things we highlight and put ‘on show’ so to speak. The areas that give you the greatest discomfort are then accordingly minimized. There are dozens of ways of making a difference to certain areas of your body by knowing the right lengths and dressing for your body shape. Clients' are often pleasantly surprised by how small these adjustments can be and what a difference they make.

Add great colour to these style changes and as the compliments roll in, your confidence will rise. It may sound simple, but it works. However, the first area of change is your mindset. It doesn’t matter if you are a mother at home or a high-powered lawyer. You need to feel as confident as you can and when you look good, you feel good. If you need help, seek it, if you feel you are able to go it alone, trust your instincts and go for it!

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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Street Style - Auckland vs Wellington

A couple of weeks ago I had a corporate presentation in Auckland and on my way from the suburbs to Wellington Airport, then from Auckland Airport to the CBD, I took notes on the street styles I spotted. What an interesting experiment this was. I alternated between sticking my head out the window to give the big thumbs up and slumping down in my seat with images of colour and style tragedies burned upon my brain. Wellintonians, you have a complete and utter love affair with the black puffer jacket. Short and simple. Dozens and dozens of them. You also win the 'sportswear on the street' award. I didn't spot one person on the streets of Auckland exercising or wearing sportswear. That was mainly because they were all in their cars to be honest but I did peer in a few as I waited in my traffic jam. Yay to the ONE women in Wellington in a hot pink wool coat and the lady in the cobalt blue coat that I gave a crazy smile to at the lights. My previous conclusion that I see a whole lot of fairly safe, conservative dressers loving black was pretty obvious - in both cities! But I had to smile at the kooky extremes in Wellington with a guy wearing a real, vintage fur jacket on one side of the street and on the other a man in shorts and a vintage Swandri. Sorry to the man at Wellington Airport who heard an excited squeak as he walked towards me wearing a purple checked business shirt with a hot pink, fitted v-neck jersey over the top. Primo. Both cities are full of people wearing black. Wellington favours adding a splash of red to this and Aucklanders the more monochrome white. No surprises there. I did see a pink puffer in Auckland that I thought would go down well in Welly. So who won the biggest fashion tragedy award? I was starting to panic that it would be Wellington after bumping into a woman wearing black trousers, pink and white coloured socks and a black high heeled Mary Jane shoes - with, wait for it, a fleece. I was saddened to have to give my beloved hometown the award but as I exited my cab in the centre of Auckland CBD I spotted a woman wearing a gold puffer jacket, leopard print skirt and moccasin slippers. Phew. Let's just call that one a tie. www.wardrobeflair.com
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Crazy, colourful legs for Winter 2012

You can not MOVE in a shop this season without seeing colourful trousers, jeans, cords, leggings and tights. Marvellous I say! A multitude of options for people of all ages, stages and sizes. Too young? to faddy? ah, come on, fashion is supposed to be fun and there are heaps of ways to indulge without breaking the bank.

There really is a colour skinny jean for everyone! If you don't feel comfortable wearing a skinny jean by itself (many don't) then how about using them as a thicker type of legging over a tunic dress or top? So don't get caught up worrying about your thighs or calves, instead just think about creating a great A-line shape over them and they will peak out below as that wonderful splash of colour I so enjoy seeing people wearing.

I am also liking this option for all the coloured straight and fitted cords. What a wonderful, fun, warm texture to have in your wardrobe. I have always been a bit fan of cords as an alternative to jeans in the winter months. Stylish, stretchy and textured. Not that big chunky 70s cord either, nowadays it's a finer, sleeker version.

Legging and tights are around in a multitude of colours, patterns and textures. What fun. I am in tights heaven at the moment. As a warm tone I have chalked up berry colours, mustard, teal and chocolate brown of late. I like to add these to make a patterned dress pop or just liven up a plainer block coloured outfit. If these scare you then throw them on with a pair of boots and all you end up seeing is just a little hint below the knee. Not so scary then.

So people of Wellington, who love their black and might not budge on a coloured coat this season (I'll get you next winter!) then lets see some coloured legs on show instead. I'm happy with baby steps into the wonderful world of colour. For those of you who embrace and love wearing colour, start thinking about how you can 'clash' a few of those colours. Enjoy, stay warm and always colourful.

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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Trelise Cooper SW12 Collection

I hate to start yet another blog by saying it was a wet, windy and wild Wellington night when the doors opened at the beautiful old Public Trust building on Lambton Quay that houses Trelise Cooper's lovely pieces, but it was. Those of us who attended Wellington's fabulous Fashion Week recently had seen a snip-it of Trelise Cooper's AW12 collection. Last Wednesday was a chance to view the whole 48 piece collection whilst supping on Rosebud cocktails and partaking in a few nibbles. Very nice thank you very much! I particularly enjoyed listening to Trelise talk about how she finds inspiration for each collection. Her Stevie Nicks story was very amusing and she gave great detail on her passion for trawling the markets in Europe. I think this really does shine through with many of her collections. The incorporation of lace, delicate eclectic prints with birds, florals and fruit in AW12 in particular remind me of those markets.
In her usual style, one inspiration is just not enough, so you mix this with the description on the invitation of "sassy spirited saloon girls bringing Cooper the 1800’s Americano Prairie Couture. Diamond dressed bunnies at the animal tea party spot the swan fluttering its feathers frivolously from afar. Last but not least the little Frolicking Foxes and whacky magical birds are relishing this winter’s vintage bouquet whilst fantasizing over Trelise's fabulous return to colour this winter ". Colours were pretty and blended well with neutrals. As the models sashayed down the runway, it was apparent the cut and quality of the fabric was amazing. The textural mix and styling was eclectic and fun. There were some very beautiful dresses, one being the bronze shift dress with beading that I spotted and drooled over at Wellington Fashion Week. I drooled again. I think there are a lot of pieces for New Zealand women to enjoy in this range and if you do acquire a Trelise Cooper piece, know that you are joining the likes of celebrities such as Liv Tyler, Miley Cyrus, Suri Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julia Roberts and last but not least, Stevie Nicks.

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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Wellington Fashion Week Wows

It has been a super exciting time here in the capital with our first Wellington Fashion Week having just ending. Set against a beautiful venue backdrop, we watched collections from our favourite established Wellington designers mixed with young, new talent. The music was eclectic and good and loud, the goodies bags looked amazing, the crowd was excited and wowed by the professionalism of the event. I have to say being a personal stylist who every day sees the people of New Zealand, in all their glorious shapes and sizes, I find it hard to turn my 'practical' brain off when viewing catwalk fashion. I can appreciate the detail, the 'wow' factor, the sheer brilliance of creativity at it's fashionable best. But still my brain says 'ok, so WHO can wear that? And if that person isn't 6 foot, then how is that length going to work?" Overall colour was not in abundance with the crowd on any night, or with many of the collections. Pops of colour was the most popular way of integrating it, with Wellington's favourite neutrals, black, white and grey. I guess the Wellington crowd would have loved the dark, sombre colours of some of these collections. Being 'the woman who doesn't own any black' - as introduced by someone in the press to another - I am a lover of all things colourful. So needless to say I loved the second Group B Fashion show on Friday kicking off with super colourful Robyn Mathieson. Other highlights included the overtly pretty, feminine pieces by Kelsey Genna, and Starfish's lovely dresses in delicious summery colours. For those liking those darker, edgier looks I was impressed with Moochi's ever cool combinations, Mardle's stylish tailoring and use of navy with pops of colour, Storm also wowed us with their amazing styling and fabulous mixes of sparkles and textured leggings. .

The Young designs did themselves proud and I loved the quirky flavour of their designs. My only disappointment with the show was not seeing the designers come out and follow behind their models. Especially the up and coming designers who were showing collections for the first time. Some bolted past the entrance to the runway so fast, we couldn't see who they were, let along what they were wearing! We wanted to applaud you in person. Ok, so the question is, from this abundance of beautiful clothing, what would I have chosen to take off that catwalk and wear immediately? Taking into account there was very slim pickings in my colours, I would love the Trelise Cooper brown beaded slip dress, the Robyn Mathieson wrap dress and the Julia Lynch cream trouser suit. Well done to the organisers of Wellington Fashion week for a stupendous effort, well done Wellingtonians for coming along to support them. I am already looking forward to next year's shows.

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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Spotlight on a Wellington Designer - Robyn Mathieson

When you ask Wellington Fashion designer Robyn Mathieson what is one of the things she loves about living in our beautiful capital city she says 'the weather'. Yup, you read right. She adds "it's always changing, never boring and often quite exiting". She could be describing her fashion collections as she is well-known and loved by many for her beautiful cuts and amazing fabrics in vibrant, happy, mood-lifting colours.

But colour is only part of the design puzzle and those that own a Robyn Mathieson piece already know that the quality of the fabric plays a hugely important role in Robyn's design process. "If we get a sample fabric in that I consider won't wear or perform well, or isn't the right type of fabric for the design, then we don't use it".

I am always intrigued as to how designers come up with the inspiration and names for their collection and it's no surprise Robyn admits this is a really fun part of the process. It initially involves a brainstorming session between herself and her design assistant Pip Stevenson, but it is a team effort and everyone has fun thinking up names to be included.

I asked Robyn if she has a seasonal preference with clothing, either designing or wearing and she replied, "I always prefer designing and wearing winter clothes. Maybe that's why our brand sells so well in Queenstown and Invercargill and of course I'm from down that way so perhaps the slightly colder winters did influence me. However, we do design very Tran seasonal ranges which can be layered up for those times when we have four seasons in a day!"

Robyn Mathieson is one of the designers involved in the very exciting inaugural Wellington Fashion Week from 18 - 22nd April 2012. What are Robyn's hopes for the event? "Obviously I'm hoping it will be a big success and that Wellingtonians will get right behind it in the way they support other events like the Arts Festival and the Film Festival. Personally for us, it is an opportunity to give our loyal customers a sneak peek at our new Summer range. It's always exciting to see our clothes on stage".

I fully agree with her, I am super excited to see her collection and the rest of the designers in what is shaping up to be an amazing event. Come on Wellington women, grab a ticket and lets show our fabulously creative designers we are right behind them.

Stay colourful!
Trudi
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