It’s kind of hard to believe that Pantone had decided that a brown is to be 2025’s colour of the year, yet in some ways, I’m not surprised. Over the past decade-plus years, brown had gone out of fashion and greys have been the trend (you see this a lot in interior decorating). This past…
Are you tired of feeling frustrated when putting together outfits that don’t quite feel right? Or maybe you find yourself staring at your wardrobe, wondering why certain clothes don’t flatter your figure the way you hoped they would. The secret lies in understanding the foundations of style—your body shape, proportions, and variations—so that you can…
How to Wear Medium-Low Contrast in Winter When You’re Light in Value Winter fashion can be a conundrum, especially if you have a light colour palette. Many of us instinctively reach for dark clothing during the colder months—perhaps because winter feels darker, or because darker clothes can be more practical in snowy, messy conditions. But…
Decoding Fabrics: The Science of Choosing the Right Material for Your Wardrobe When it comes to crafting a wardrobe that aligns with your style and lifestyle, the choice of fabric is just as crucial as the cut, colour, or design. Understanding the properties of different fabrics can help you make more informed decisions, ensuring that…
How do you know that the clothes you’re buying will wear well and are good quality? If you’re not a seamstress (where you’ve spent hours and hours of your life making clothes and learning about construction techniques and the qualities of different fabrics) it can be hard to know what you’re getting, and it’s easy…
If you’ve had a colour analysis in the past and discovered that you have a warm skintone (undertone) or warm season, what do you do when your hair goes gray? How does this change the colours that suit you? Navigating Your Colour Palette When Your Hair Turns White or Gray As we age, one of…
Reader Struggle: “I found it difficult to know what to wear once I left the workforce and became a Mom. I knew suits weren’t going to be appropriate but I didn’t really know what was and ended up in jeans and sweatshirts which I admit was comfortable but was a bad habit. Now the kids…
Struggling to Find Clothes in Your Color Palette? Here’s What to Do Have you ever felt like the universe is conspiring against your wardrobe? You know your colours, and you’ve done the work, but somehow, after countless hours of shopping both in-store and online, you still can’t find anything that fits the bill. If this…
Reader question: “Now the problem I have is I am just 5 feet and with very petite delicate features I have been told that I’m ultra petite by a good friend, so the clothes I’m drawn to can look as if they’re drowning me. The other thing is that I’m now 64 but again have…
Unleashing Your Inner Style Maven As women age, our relationship with style can evolve. While some embrace their newfound confidence and sartorial freedom, others may find themselves feeling lost or unsure of how to express themselves through their wardrobe. Do you feel that you’re stuck in a style rut and are not sure how to…
Struggling with colour coordination? You’re not alone – here’s a question I received from a lovely reader: “My biggest challenge is selecting solid colours that work well together. Something– the shade, brightness or intensity–causes too many of my solids to not work well together. It doesn’t help that I live in the Ozarks and am…
Do you love the laid-back vibe of relaxed clothing but want to elevate your style? You’re not alone! Many of us appreciate the comfort and ease of casual attire, but we also want to feel confident and stylish. In this post, we’ll explore tips on how to achieve a relaxed yet refined look. Here’s the…
Iris Van Herpen is a Dutch fashion designer whose stunning garments have been worn by Beyonce, Bjork, Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga, JLo and Tilda Swinton (to name a few). The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art is currently holding an exhibition of 130 garments and accessories of her work and is a must-see exhibition. …
Colour trends are constantly on the move, just as fashion trends are too. There are some colours that stay around for longer or are almost always available, such as a version of red, or grey and of course black and white, others come and go at a faster speed. Neutrals (along with red) do tend…
Do You Want a Timeless Wardrobe? A wardrobe that lasts, that you can wear for many years, is a wonderful thing. It’s good for not only your bank balance (as you’re not jumping on every new trend) and it’s also good for the planet, as you’re not buying lots of clothes that you don’t end…
It’s a classic! The word classic is used a lot when related to fashion and style, yet there are two distinct meanings of it, and they are often either conflated or confused. So let’s define Classic in its two distinct ways: Classic Style – Personality Dressing Style The Classic personality style is one of the…
Do You Feel the Need to Dress to Fit-In? A client I was working with shared the following with me, she felt dissatisfied with her style, particularly when she dressed to “fit-in” or “blend-in” with the style of those who lived around her, which was a more casual relaxed and slightly classic style than her…
It was 16 years ago I that wrote my first blog post here on Inside Out Style. When I started I wanted to share the wisdom that I’d learned from my work as an image consultant and my experiences with clients as I wanted to share the science and art of colour and style that…
Reader Question: “How to choose neutrals other than black, even though it doesn’t suit my personality and I find it harsh I tend to go there all the time. I find it hard to find greys that go together as there are so many different shades. What are some of the smart solutions for combining…
Do you still have to follow the fashion rules of matching shoes to handbags and also shoes to your belt? When deciding on the colour for accessories like shoes, bags and belts, what are some of the different strategies you can take to make your outfit harmonious and still express your personal style? To…
In Gretchen Rubin’s Happier podcast the topic of Finding Your Style was one of the topics (and Inside Out Style was mentioned as a great resource to help you do this squeeee!). There are so many reasons that finding your style can help you feel happier. 1. Dressing from the Inside Out When you find…
