One of the easiest new year pick-me-ups is a little style revamp but where do you start? The best place to begin is your wardrobe; so, before you go out and make the most of the high street discounts, assess the old before you start buying the new.

The Wardrobe Assessment 
When assessing your wardrobe, don’t just flick through the hangers, take everything out and hang it around the room, lay it out on the bed and move things about. Sometimes it takes seeing garments in a different light, literally, to see how you can give them an update. Whilst it is wise to hang on to some really good pieces, don’t keep things just because they are good if they don’t suit you. Someone else will make better use of them.

Keepers for 2012

The highs for me were most definitely the bride, she reminded me of an elegant timeless classic beauty like Grace Kelly. I loved the lace and the beautiful elegant silhouette of the dress, she was a knockout and she wore a true clear white which is fabulous for her colouring – dark hair, bright blue eyes and olive complexion.

Other highs were: Carole Middleton for silhouette, although she could have carried off a slightly darker shade of blue better; Countess of Wessex was spot on for colour and shape; Lord Frederick Windsor’s wife, Sophie was a complete knockout in Armani; Tara Palmer-Tomkinson in cobalt blue, in my opinion was one of the best dressed guests, although I would have ditched the gloves; Earl Spencer’s daughters were all on the money for colour, style and flawless make-up and accessories; Nick Clegg’s wife Miriam looked too fussy as a wedding guest. I think the mesh was a little over the top; Princess Letizia wore the perfect pink for her ‘soft and cool’ complexion and showed off her neat hourglass figure perfectly; and finally l loved Zara Phillips hat.

For me the sartorial lows were:

The Princess Royal in that over the top floral coat, she looked so mumsy and older for her years; Princess Beatrice chose possibly the worst colour a lady with ‘warm’ colouring could wear – a soft muted pink, so the fact that it was Valentino couture fades into insignificance. It drains all the colour away from her face and the paleness is compounded by heavy dark eye make-up and the hat looked just too ridiculous for her small face; Princess Eugenie wore the perfect colours but the shape and fabric of her Vivienne Westwood ensemble adds pounds to her beautiful full hourglass figure. She would have benefitted from a drapey fabric and cut; Serena, Viscount Linley’s wife, looked plain and dowdy in that high neck coat and granny hat; Lady Sarah Chatto looked dull dull dull in an ordinary grey pleated dress by Jasper Conran – more apt for the office than a royal wedding; Victoria Beckham looked so austere, anyone would mistake her for dressing for a funeral. The high neckline and dark navy dress needed more zing; and Chelsy Davy – she looked unkempt – her hair was untidy and you could see the lining of her skirt hanging lower than the outer fabric; Sam Cam looked lovely in Burberry, perfect colour but a bit more flair with the bag and shoes would have been good.

Overall, what this says to me and hopefully others, is that money and status does not necessarily mean one has style, good taste and elegance. Surely you would expect their friends, family and if they have stylists, would give them an honest opinion as to how they look? It just goes to show, from time to time, we all need a little help, especially if one is going to a wedding being watched by over 2 billion people.

I thought you might be interested in some of my favourite quotes from the infamous Coco Chanel:

“The best colour in the whole world is the one that looks good on you.”

“Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

“A woman can be over dressed but never over elegant.”

“Adornment, what a science! Beauty, what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!”

“Fashion has two purposes: comfort and love. Beauty comes when fashion succeeds.”

If you haven’t already, please go out and purchase Hello! has a wonderful special souvenir issue – Prince William weds Catherine Middleton. I’m going to keep it as a souvenir for my four year old daughter.

Best wishes and bye for now

Anita x

Pattern can add sartorial punch to your wardrobe without having to go overboard and it’s a great way to update your look. So, whether it’s bringing in separates and accessories or choosing one statement piece, don’t be afraid to invest in pattern but do make sure you find the right prints for you.

Choosing prints

The patterns you choose will depend largely on your personal taste. However, picking something simply because you like it doesn’t mean it’s going to suit you. So, here are Colour Me Beautiful’s top tips to consider when choosing pattern:

Prints of the season

Key look 1: Stripes
*Small and large stripes together, diagonal stripes, stripes in a range of colours on one garment.
*Ideal for straighter bodies; wear finer stripes in the same colour but different tones if you are more curvy. Avoid stripes across fuller parts of the body. A rounded tummy will ‘disappear’ under a print.
*Find it in dresses, skirts, tops and handbags.

Key Look 2: Oriental Florals
*Softer and fewer flowers; some pieces have a print in one area rather than all over so it’s easier to pull off (but think about where the print sits on your body). This style lends itself to more fluid fabric so looks ultra-feminine.
*Can be a good ‘minimal’ floral option for fuller figures.
*Find it in silky jackets, dresses and tops.

Key Look 3: Polka Dot
*Both large and small spots on everything and in all colours. The season’s look is modern 40′s and 50′s vintage.
*Get the right size of spot and a good colour combination for you. Black, navy, brown or dark beige and white combinations are the classic options.
*Find it in full skirts, fitted jackets, feminine blouses.

For some seasonal style advice, an image update or if you want to completely reinvent your look, contact feron clark style

Top Print Tips

*If you just want to dip your toe in pattern then wear the season’s top accessory: the silk print scarf. If you’re not a scarf type of woman then try an animal print bag in a summer colour.

*To keep it understated wear pattern with a very simple top and wear minimal accessories.

*Whatever pattern you go for, make sure it is in your colours!

So, what is there to do whilst the coffers are recovering and the waistlines slimming down? GET ORGANISED !

How to Declutter your Wardrobe.

If you find the task too scary to contemplate, why not arrange for Anita Feron Clark to come and help you, it will be so much more fun and efficient!

If decluttering fills you with dread try a simpler exercise: put your clothes together in obvious groups, i.e. skirts, trousers, jackets, tops, dresses and so on and within these groups put them into colour groups, so all the whites, the blues, etc. You will start to see your wardrobe emerging.

Our dream Wardrobe!

If you already know what colours and styles work for you the task will be a lot easier. The nice thing about a declutter is that we often uncover some forgotten items that we can revive. Ditto for shoes which usually pile up at the bottom of the wardrobe or in a corner of the bedroom whilst we wear the same pair day in, day out. The idea is that you may well have more than you think you have thus giving you more options without any need to spend any money.

Colour Sorting

If you find your wardrobe is a mish mash of colours you’re not sure you really like, you might benefit from a colour analysis. A consultant will advise you on your best colours hence saving you money and time in the short, medium and long term. To find out more about what you can achieve by attending a colour consultation, click here.

The good news as we move towards spring – and don’t miss our March issue for more details – is that there is little change from last spring-summer in terms of fashion. So get last year’s purchases ready for this coming spring: Are the buttons all there? Does anything need to be washed/go to the dry cleaners? Are the hems of those long dresses in good shape or does the whole thing need shortening?

Your heavier clothes should be replaced with layers:

a vest, shirt, cardigan, jacket etc. and you can start peeling off as the temperature rises. If budgets are tight just treat yourself to a new scarf, a new lipstick or a new pair of opaque tights (with some pattern for a change).

* Make sure that the hem stops at a slimming part of your leg – for many women it will be the ankle or just below the knee.

The Lips Have It

Be prepared for the perfect pout! You’ll need to have the right tools at the ready: lip base, lip brush, lip pencil and lipstick/lipgloss (or both).

* Apply a lip base before applying lip pencil

* Fill lip pencil colour all over the lips to deepen shade

* Blot the colour with a tissue and then re-apply colour

Valentine’s Va Va Voom!

It doesn’t matter if you are in a couple or not, Valentine’s Day can be a wonderful excuse to put on a great dress and go out. Whilst we might be bombarded with everything heart shaped and red, it doesn’t mean you have to wear red head-to-toe.

Red is the colour of love; it is also the colour of energy and will make you feel confident on the night, but if red isn’t for you, maybe try pink. From baby pink to fuchsia, this shade will bring out your feminine side and suggests gentleness and empathy.Or, to go with the new season’s fruity theme why not try orange? From subtle apricot to tangerine, these shades show that you are vibrant (from the red tones) and cheerful (from the yellow tones).

The shops are already full of the LRD (little red dress) so if red it has to be, you will be spoiled for choice.

Just make sure you choose the right shade for you and you will have compliments galore!

Hello,

I thought you might be interested in Caroline Ware’s story; she is one of my clients and has kindly written this article about her experience using a personal shopper for the first time!

“Just after the summer holidays, I had one of those crises moments women get about their clothes. I had too many, they all looked dreadful and nothing mixed and matched. I ended up wandering around Oxford Street aimlessly, not knowing where to start as I felt so overwhelmed by the choice.

A friend of mine told me about a personal shopper, called Anita Feron Clark, whom she had used in the past and how she would come around the shops with me and make suggestions about what I should wear. Although I had previously thought that having a personal shopper seemed so self-indulgent, not something normal people do, I remembered the same friend at our recent college reunion. She had come to the event wearing a stunning emerald green dress, a colour she had never worn before, and she looked like the belle of the ball. ‘You look gorgeous!’ I had told her and her reply? ‘I went to a personal shopper – it’s the best thing I ever did.’ She then went on to tell me how she felt so good about herself and how she looked, that she thought the experience was worth the money 10 times over.

And so I took the plunge. I called Anita and we had a chat over the telephone about my lifestyle, my budget, what clothes I really needed and so on. I also emailed her some additional details and a recent photograph and before long, I found myself with Anita in Westfield Shopping Centre for the best part of three hours! Anita had done an hour’s prep prior to our meeting (from the information she had gleaned) and had lots of lovely clothes waiting for me in the fitting room to try on. I came away beaming, clutching shopping bags and knowing that for the first time ever I was the owner of a functioning ‘capsule wardrobe’. It was the best money I had ever spent. Thank you Anita.”

feron clark style: personal shopping service – so how can I help you?

By giving you the time and confidence to look and feel good.

Whether you have a meeting, a work do or a parents’ evening, you’ll know exactly what to wear because an expert has told you. You will feel confident and have all bases covered. What’s more, you’ll have no need to go out and buy any more clothes, saving you both time and money in the long term.

To get the top picks from this season the best time to shop is in February and March. If you would like to treat yourself to one of my personal shopping services I would love to hear from you. Simply contact me on anitaferonclark@mac.com or 07799 856544 and see how I can help transform your life.

When we were little girls we were told to keep our very pretty clothes for special occasions, so the satin party dress, the velvet skirt or the lace trim blouse would only get an airing every now and then. So, the current trend of wearing our ‘fancy’ clothes during the day as well as the evening, at work and at play, may seem a little extravagant. However, in the spirit of getting the most value out of our wardrobe, it makes a lot of sense.

Before you start adding sequins to your look or wearing a velvet dress to the office you need to know which fabrics look good on you and how to work them.

Silk and Satin

The easiest way to wear silk and satin for day wear is probably with a blouse and to keep the glamour factor it should have a nice detail like a bow or ruffle or a hint of a puffed sleeve. A simple satin blouse teamed with jeans or under a shift dress gives you an easy luxury look for daytime. Fluid silks and satins also glide nicely over curves so they are flattering for full hourglass and rounder body shapes. Be careful if you go for stiffer or layered versions though as they can add bulk.

The light reflecting quality of these fabrics will make them the focus of your outfit so think about where and how you wear them. A satin skirt in a bold shade will attract the eye to your lower half, so beware triangle shapes; you should be drawing attention to the top half of your body instead. Silk trousers can work for some but the styles are generally pegged so ideally better on leaner and/or taller figures.

Great for: Adding classic glamour; flattering curvy figures; layering.

Velvet

Velvet is available in a range of guises and looking much more stylish than we might remember it. You will still find dramatic floor length evening dresses and evening coats but there are some more versatile pieces too. Its rich texture gives the wearer a feeling of real luxury.

Velvet is a more substantial material so think about how it fits with your body. A structured velvet jacket will work best on neat hourglass figures, rectangles and inverted triangles. The ‘swing’ jackets will look good on curvier figures. A knee length (or just above) dress is perfect for day wear with tights or leggings and boots. The great thing about this seasons’ velvets are the colours, so don’t just go for black, find one of your great colours and it will have more impact.

Great for: Giving a luxurious feel to your look; both structured and softer lines; jackets and coats.

Sequins and Shimmer

This will bring real ‘wow’ factor to your day wear so enjoy, but don’t overdo it. If you feel it’s appropriate, the sequin jacket is a favourite and easy to slip over a dress or jersey and team with trousers or skirts. There are also ‘body conscious’ dresses, glittering trousers and fun tops in various colours. For more discerning tastes choose a top with a subtle all over sparkle effect or just a smattering of sequin in parts.

As with the satins, this fabric is going to be the attention grabber in your outfit so consider what you can really get away with; over the top shimmer for daytime certainly wouldn’t be appropriate for your job in the city but don’t be afraid to get your shimmer on at the weekends!

Great for: Out-and-out feel good glamour, brightening your day, getting attention!

Other textures

There are other luxury fabrics to consider this Autumn including cashmere, chiffon, brocade and leather. Cashmere is not just for your grandmother’s twin set, treat yourself to a quality piece of knitwear and it will last you for winters to come. Neat knits or slouchy, it’s a luxurious way to keep warm.

Chiffon is feminine and alluring – and generally transparent – so do be careful For daywear the ideal options are garments with a little chiffon mixed in, say in a sleeve or as an overlay to another material. Brocade textures have a classical feel but can be worked with modern fabrics to keep them current. Leather has been given new life this season seeing modern twists on trousers and skirts and fabulous dresses. Most of these will be super soft leathers but can still be restrictive on curvy bodies so try and try and try before you buy!

Great clothes may not always look great on you if they don’t suit your body shape and scale. feron clark style will give you all the tools you need to make sure that you shop wisely and look fabulous, always.
Contact Anita Feron Clark, 07799 856544

Camel is having a momentous revival and appearing in all sorts of garments from jerseys to leather skirts to silk blouses to hats. For those that can wear camel, you will want to find something, or several things, in this shade because it looks so luxurious and sophisticated. For those that don’t really suit camel, there are plenty of elegant greys for you.

Which shade of camel?

For the Lights,Softs and Warms, camel is made for you. You will look sophisticated and chic with a certain Parisian ‘je ne sais quoi’!

For those with Deep colourings, you will find the shade too light or too subtle, so your best investment pieces are separates rather than a coat and ideally you should wear them with darker shades. A darke military green or classic navy would be ideal for your coat this season. For the Clears, don’t hesitate to mix your camels with your reds and purples for maximum effect.

Camel not your colour?

Those with blueish-pink skin tones and silver or ash hair will struggle with camel, it’s too ‘warm’ for you. You could try a very light camel and mix with white or grey garments or just wear camel on the bottom. Honestly though, you are better off to skip camel altogether and focus on another great neutral that really suits your colouring: grey. You can wear this shade from silver to charcoal.

When you’re investing in some new pieces for next season and beyond, you want to make sure you are choosing the right cuts, fabrics and colour for you.

Coat Styles for your Body Shape

Traditional – looks particularly flattering on rectangles and inverted triangles with straight body lines.

Belted - most suited to neat and full hourglass shapes. Fuller figures should find a softer wool.

Double Breasted Military- there’s alot going on with this style; big buttons, shoulder detail etc. Styles that have a fuller ‘skirt’ will work for small hourglass figures, just take care with the volume. They will look great on rectangles or lean columns

Cape- a popular style this season but think carefully before you buy, they will add width to your body. Curvier shapes should look for straighter versions with less flare. Triangles should avoid this style completely as it will accentuate a smaller upper bod and bigger bottom half.

Pale and Interesting

Your make-up should be kept simple to match your understated camel (or grey) garments and the season’s minimalist feel. Lips are natural tones but not nude. Swap your bold summer lipstick shades for a more natural look.

Whilst many of us are clinging to Summer, we can’t deny that looking forward to Autumn and Winter fashions is rather exciting. If you’ve been keeping up with all the style reporting you will know that it’s all about good cuts for women and ‘pared down chic’. Minimalism is ‘in’ and THE understated shade for the new season is camel.

Camel is having a momentous revival and appearing in all sorts of garments from jerseys to leather skirts to silk blouses to hats. For those that can wear camel, you will want to find something, or several things, in this shade because it looks so luxurious and sophisticated. For those that don’t really suit camel, there are plenty of elegant greys for you.

Which shade of camel?

For the Lights,Softs and Warms, camel is made for you. You will look sophisticated and chic with a certain Parisian ‘je ne sais quoi’!

For those with Deep colourings, you will find the shade too light or too subtle, so your best investment pieces are separates rather than a coat and ideally you should wear them with darker shades. A darke military green or classic navy would be ideal for your coat this season. For the Clears, don’t hesitate to mix your camels with your reds and purples for maximum effect.

Camel not your colour?

Those with blueish-pink skin tones and silver or ash hair will struggle with camel, it’s too ‘warm’ for you. You could try a very light camel and mix with white or grey garments or just wear camel on the bottom. Honestly though, you are better off to skip camel altogether and focus on another great neutral that really suits your colouring: grey. You can wear this shade from silver to charcoal.

When you’re investing in some new pieces for next season and beyond, you want to make sure you are choosing the right cuts, fabrics and colour for you.

Coat Styles for your Body Shape

Traditional – looks particularly flattering on rectangles and inverted triangles with straight body lines.

Belted – most suited to neat and full hourglass shapes. Fuller figures should find a softer wool.

Double Breasted Military- there’s alot going on with this style; big buttons, shoulder detail etc. Styles that have a fuller ‘skirt’ will work for small hourglass figures, just take care with the volume. They will look great on rectangles or lean columns

Cape- a popular style this season but think carefully before you buy, they will add width to your body. Curvier shapes should look for straighter versions with less flare. Triangles should avoid this style completely as it will accentuate a smaller upper bod and bigger bottom half.

Pale and Interesting

Your make-up should be kept simple to match your understated camel (or grey) garments and the season’s minimalist feel. Lips are natural tones but not nude. Swap your bold summer lipstick shades for a more natural look.