“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”.

And I truly believe that.

Only about 7% of communication occurs only through words—there are so many ways to convey a message, and our style says a lot.

As a stylist, I know a lot of my clients feel really underwhelmed by their current wardrobes. They often have cupboards that are bursting at the seams, but still feel like they have nothing to wear. 

What I find as we go through the wardrobe edit process (something that’s part of the packages I offer), is that we soon come to realise that not all the items they have are worth keeping. And, with less items (and the right items), we can actually create more options.

It’s in the curation of the right pieces that their own authentic style can really shine through, and no matter what outfit they choose, they will always look and feel their best.

I’m going to share with you the five key tips I use with my clients to ensure the right pieces end up in the wardrobe. The kind of pieces that, no matter what outfit they choose to wear that day, will always leave them feeling amazing, confident, powerful, and ready to take on the day.

1. Fit

Fit is the number one thing that must be right in order for something to look good and for it to be comfortable. Have you ever shopped for a pair of jeans (a dreaded task for most) and ended up buying the pair that will just ‘do the job’, even though the fit isn’t 100% right for you? For a lot of my clients, generally speaking, the fit is too loose around the waist. And every time they put those jeans on, they take them off again because they know they’ll be hitching them up all day. So, the jeans just sit there, acting as a reminder that jeans shopping is a terrible experience and one that leaves so many of us feeling deflated.

It’s my job as a stylist to research on my client’s behalf to find the right fit for their body shape. Once we know a garment fits right, is comfortable on the body, reflects their authentic style, and makes them feel good, we know it will get first choice over anything that doesn’t quite cut it.

The transformation I see in my client’s body language as soon as they put something on that truly fits and flatters their shape is amazing. It’s one of the many highlights of my job. I know that every time they put that garment on, it will have the same effect.

2. Quality

I can’t tell you how many times I have been in a client’s wardrobe and come across clothes that are worn out, stained, have holes in them, are missing buttons, or have fallen hemlines. To some, these seem like minor details that should not really matter—there is the mentality that ‘it’s just a small stain or missing button, no one else will notice it’. But the fact is, you deserve to wear clothes that are of good quality and in good condition. It’s those ‘minor imperfections’ that can really let an outfit down.

If you’re someone who works in a corporate or client facing role, can you really afford to turn up to that meeting in a shirt with a missing button, or that is slightly yellow under the arms? What kind of message does that send to your client, your boss, and your colleagues?

Have you ever worn something that you knew wasn’t in the best condition and found that all day, you were worrying if anyone had noticed? Being distracted by something so minor can take up so much mental energy that could be put to better use. It also doesn’t allow for you to give off the confidence that a good outfit should encourage.

Imagine if I turned up to a styling session with you in a garment that has a hole in it…you would probably start to question my credibility as a stylist.

Quality is so important. It really can make all the difference when it comes to an outfit looking sharp, elegant, professional, or polished—all of which will make you feel more confident. 

3. Forget trends

With trends evolving as fast as the news cycle, it’s important to have a core wardrobe stocked with pieces that give you options. ‘Capsule wardrobe‘ is a buzz term we’ve been hearing a lot lately, in line with sustainability movements in the fashion industry. But outside of the positive environmental impacts, a capsule wardrobe allows us the opportunity to mix and match, and to create maximum outfit options with less pieces. This then allows us to shop smarter when it comes to trends, rather than being a slave to them.

Once you get the basics right—think a great fitting pair of jeans, the perfect pair of black or navy trousers, a crisp white shirt, good quality, soft knitwear, structured blazers and the covetable LBD (little black dress)—you can then look for trend colours, prints and pieces that actually elevate your look and reflect your authentic style.

My recommendation when it comes to what is on trend is to select two to three highlight pieces to inject into your wardrobe and play with fun accessories.

“Fashion comes and goes, by style is forever”

Coco Chanel

4. Make friends with colour

When I ask my clients during our consultations what colours they wear most, nine out of 10 say black, white, grey, and navy. And while these colours give a great base structure to the wardrobe and are great for those core wardrobe pieces I spoke about above, it’s clear that colour is highly underrated.

What most people don’t realise is, colour has the ability to instantly lift our mood and state. And when you find the colours that work for your complexion, it can really transform your entire wardrobe.

I know for me, as soon as I wear bright, vibrant colours, I feel lifted. More positive. My skin glows and my eyes become brighter. I own this bright pink dress with puff sleeves and a micro pleat skirt in a textured fabric. And every time I wear it I receive the most wonderful compliments. And I very much doubt I would receive the same reaction if this dress was in black, white, grey, or navy. Sure, it would still be a nice dress, but it wouldn’t give me the same feeling or glow-up for my skin.

Colour is powerful. Play with it in your wardrobe and experiment with it in your outfit. Adding colourful accessories like a necklace or statement earrings can be a great place to start if the thought of colour is scary. Utilising colour in print and pattern can also be a great starting point.

The secret to colour is to make sure it enhances your features. Look for colours that make your eyes pop, your lips pinker, your skin glow, or give you that post-holiday, refreshed face. Trust me when I say, making friends with colour will drastically improve your mood when you find the colours that work for you and start building outfits that include them.

5. Stop dressing for everyone else

As we go through life, we start taking on the opinions and rules of other people. And it’s no different when it comes to the ‘rules of dressing’. You might be someone who was once told that blue and green should never be seen or that horizontal stripes can make you look bigger (thanks mum). Or perhaps your mother once told you that you shouldn’t wear a particular length of skirt, or style of trouser because it cuts you funny or makes your bottom look big.

Take a moment now to think about some of the rules you may have in place when it comes to the clothes you can and can’t wear. In fact, write them down. Once you have your list, I want you to cross every one of them out, and start to consider who you’re dressing for.

Stop dressing for everyone else and start to really consider how it is you want to present yourself each and every day. As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, we all get dressed every day. So who are you dressing for?

The freedom that comes when you truly understand your own authentic style and how to create a wardrobe and outfits that reflects that is truly transformational. I know, because I’ve seen it happen time and time again with my clients. I’ve seen clients go from shy and unsure of their shape, to feeling confident and sexy. From someone who wore clothes to try and fade into the background, but really, their goal was to stand out.

It is possible. And the power lies in your wardrobe.

A mentor of mine, Lauren Di Bartolo, once said:

“Clothes aren’t just beautiful or frivolous, they’re powerful”

And you’ll get to experience this for yourself if you consider these five tips when it comes to your own wardrobe and the way you dress, every day. If you feel like you need some help to unveil your authentic style and start to feel confident and amazing in what you wear each and every day, I know a great stylist, and she would love to help you!