Go and look in your wardrobe right now. I’ll wait. You almost certainly own a jacket you’ve stopped wearing, not because you dislike it, but because it never quite feels right. You couldn’t tell me exactly why. It just sits there looking a little off, until eventually it gets pushed to the back and replaced…
I have clients with jackets in their wardrobes that seem like they should be good, but they never reach for them. Nothing is wrong with it technically. Yet when they do try it on, it’s off five minutes later, because even though it might be in fashion, it might even “fit” there is something that’s…
You have seen the graphic. Five dresses in a row, a tidy little caption underneath, and a confident promise that vertical stripes will make you look taller and horizontal stripes will make you look wider. It gets shared thousands of times. It looks authoritative. It is also, in the most important way, wrong. Not wrong…
“I’ve Retired, But My Casual Clothes Are Still Boring” A reader recently asked me a question I hear all the time from women who’ve just left the working world behind: after years of dressing for business, how do I actually express my personal style now that “casual” is all I need? You don’t even need…
Why Do I Look Frumpy? The Real Culprits (And How to Fix Them) “Why do I look so frumpy today?” A reader wrote and told me that that’s how she feels in many of her outfits. If you’ve ever caught your reflection and thought exactly that, I want you to know it isn’t a mystery.…
Do You Actually Suit Prints? (It’s Not a Matter of Taste — It’s a Matter of Physics) “I find prints tricky, I’m not sure about finding my preferred shapes and colours when trends don’t necessarily reflect them. My daughter says I should just wear solid colours and neutrals, but I like some prints,” wrote a…
You’ve probably experienced this without quite naming it. You put on an outfit that’s perfectly “fine” – good fit, flattering colour, nothing technically wrong – and yet it feels a little flat. Then, on another day, you wear something with just a hint of sheen… and suddenly everything feels more elevated. Not overdressed. Not flashy.…
A lovely reader recently wrote to me with the following conundrum: “I have smooth, wavy hair, with textured skin and have read your post about how to wear texture when you’re naturally smooth, but as I’m the opposite, I wanted some tips on how to wear smooth fabrics when you’re textured.” Ways to Add Smoothness…
I had a question from Margie recently that I suspect a lot of you will relate to. She’s a Classic style personality living in Texas, where summer temperatures sit in the high 90s to low 100s Fahrenheit, which is roughly high 30s to low 40s Celsius for everyone else. She wanted to know: how do…
Your body changes – that’s life. But your confidence doesn’t have to. If your tummy has softened with time and you’re finding your old styling tricks less flattering, it’s simply time to update what works. Learning to create flattering outfits for a tummy involves experimenting with fit, fabric, and proportion so you can dress with…
How to Stay Stylish in Scorching Heat When You Prefer a Classic Look Have you ever stood in front of your wardrobe on a sweltering summer morning and wondered how on earth you’re meant to look polished when the weather feels like it’s plotting against you? A reader in Texas recently shared this exact struggle.…
The question came from Penny, but it’s one I hear time and time again: “I struggle with intimidation and a nonapproachable effect. I’m tall, high contrast, and have a classic, dramatic look. Lately I’ve been dressing in muted tones and low contrast to seem more approachable – but it feels less like me.” First, let…
How to Stop Second-Guessing Your Style Purchases (And Give Yourself Permission to Buy the Good Stuff) Have you ever stood in a store, holding something beautiful, but put it back because it felt too expensive or too risky? Michelle did. In fact, she wrote in with a question I hear all the time: “I have…
Small holes appear on knitwear. Particularly around the waist and also on sleeve cuffs? Now sometimes it is moths in your wardrobe, but frequently it’s because of wear and tear. Often, jeans buttons and zips may sometimes catch the fabric and create a hole. Sadly, it’s more common these days as fabrics have become thinner…
How to Find Clothes That Fit Your Body (Without the Frustration) If you’ve ever stood in a change room surrounded by rejected piles of clothes, you are not alone. Most women over 40 tell me they feel frustrated trying to find garments that fit well and flatter their shape. The good news? It’s not your…
How to Confidently Mix Colours and Patterns Without the Overwhelm Do you ever open your wardrobe, pull out a few pieces, and then put them straight back because you’re not sure how to put them together? You’re not alone. Many women I work with—even highly intelligent, accomplished women—tell me they struggle with mixing colours and…
Petite and Stylish: Why the Problem Isn’t You—It’s the Pants You’ve done your part. You’ve browsed every petite section, tried every cut of trousers, and experimented with tops that are supposed to “flatter.” Still, nothing fits quite right. And if you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered, “Is it just my body?” this is…
Do you have any clothes in your wardrobe that you don’t wear? Unless you’ve just done a cull and a wardrobe audit, the answer is most likely YES! You are completely normal if this is you because there are so many tricks and techniques retailers use to get you to buy, which is why I’m…
Have you ever put on a casual outfit and felt…well, invisible? Like you’ve gone from “put together professional” to “I gave up today”? You’re not alone. A lovely reader recently shared this exact frustration with me: “When I wear casual clothes, I look like I’m not trying. I want to look more put together.” It’s…
When most women think about building a wardrobe, they default to categories: workwear, casual wear, weekend wear, and special occasion outfits. But this rigid compartmentalisation can create a closet full of clothes with very narrow uses and often, lots of unworn pieces. Instead, I like to ask: Are you celebrating versatility in your daily looks?…
Ever opened your wardrobe and felt like your clothes were… judging you? Not horror-movie style, more like an exasperated best friend shaking her head with a sigh. Welcome to the imaginary but deeply revealing world of “what your clothes would say if they could talk.” View this post on…
