An Interior decorator once told me that she always treated stripes as a ‘solid’ rather than as a pattern as they are so easy to mix with multiple other prints and patterns. Many of you will have a simple striped t-shirt which you may usually wear as your patterned element of your garment. But how…
Refashioning old garments is something that can be worth doing if you’re a little creative, or if the garment just isn’t quite right anymore. I’m currently attempting to refashion a leather skirt (hopefully it will work out, and then I’ll show you my efforts). So if you’d like some refashioning inspiration here are some great…
Thank you for your posts – I really enjoy them and find them useful. I have a question about mixing the colour navy. I tend to wear a lot of (brighter) navy to work (can’t do black) but wonder about mixing different navy pieces, particularly plain navy pants and a jacket/cardigan not from the same…
Mixing patterns is one of the bigger trends on the catwalk at present. It’s not something for everyone and tends to be something that is only for those with more creative or dramatic personality styles. These images are from the Marc Jacobs Spring 2016 and Gucci Spring 2016 catwalk shows and show examples of successful…
I received this email in my inbox: I like to know if you had anything written about cold weather accessories? For me one of the main things I learned from the 7 Steps to Style program is that accessories make the finishing touch for the outfits, which I neglected before. I made a big progress…
Melbourne is having a few (seriously, just 3) glorious spring days at present (well by the time you read this they will have come and gone), so I’ve been going through my summer wardrobe as it’s hot enough that I don’t have to wear layer upon layer of clothing to stay sane (and warm). Inspired…
Picking Your Size from On-Line Size Charts by Catherine Scholze The internet has been a boon to independent designers over the last ten years: it allows us to talk directly to our customers and meet the needs of under-served markets that conventional retailers can’t address. But it also means that you, the customer, cannot try…
Imogen, I am part of the evolve your style program and I have an issue for you to address. If you’ve already written a post regarding this, could you share the link? I am a v shape with a somewhat short waist. I am 5’4 so slightly petite. I want to have my upper body…
Are you annoyed by tags on your clothing? Do you end up removing them? Do you hate wearing wool as it’s scratchy? Do you like to feel like your clothes are not constricting you and that you can move freely in them? Can you not think if your shoes aren’t comfortable? Do you hate…
One of the common issues with many tops is that they are too long and end on an unflattering point, or just are not proportionally great for you. I talked about ruching up the sides in this blog post where you can sew or use shirring elastic to do so. Today I want to share…
Lots of great DIY t-shirt projects on this blog – love this one though I wouldn’t cut the stripes as widely if you don’t want your bra-straps showing. Turn a long sleeve tee into a cardigan Make and infinity scarf from an old tee Create a cute open-backed sweater from a boxy old jumper Make…
Reader’s question: How do I create more interest and excitement in my outfits? 1. Add Accessories Accessories really make a difference to your outfit. They take it from plain to interesting. They add personality. They add excitement. You want to wear them. Don’t be scared, nobody died from accessorizing. In fact, what most people…
Here is the issue: I am over 62 and the era where style and fashion were important, to me, was during the years I held a professional job from 1972 through the 1990s. During that era, dressing was simple then because of very few choices and narrow opportunities for your own self expression. Those were…
by Catherine Scholze Flattering a curvy frame requires a combination of structured garments that support the shape of the body and good fitting lines that provide the correct amount of space for the curvy areas of the body. The structure of a garment refers to its ability to give the body a certain shape, and…
Hi Imogen I love your articles and especially enjoyed the article ‘what to wear when you’re retired’, it was so helpful. Have you got any styling tips to match either a striped t shirt or animal print t shirt with a scarf? I don’t seem to be able to get it right. Thanks Libby Here…
What can you do if a style that you love doesn’t suit your body shape? I love the general vibe of loose fitting clothes, such as found at Eileen Fisher, but my body shape and stature suggests more classic, form fitting clothes are the way to figure flattery for me. When you love a…
Your outfit doesn’t have to be complicated to be stylish. This is one of my current favourite combinations. I don’t wear it exactly the same every time, but it’s an easy outfit to wear. I love the loose nature of this top, so easy to wear and it hides my tummy. How to Mix Patterns…
How to Choose Makeup Often there is a ‘rule’ that when you are more mature then you should steer away from any sort of makeup with sheen or shine (pearlesence) in it. This rule will work, if you have matte skin, but even if you are more mature, you may still have a skin that…
I’ve been asked to show you some examples of using contrast – what is high medium and low contrast, so here are examples and the 7 essential elements you need to know about using contrast. You need to understand your personal contrast levels to then choose the clothing/garments and create outfits using a similar contrast…
After a recent discussion with the Evolve Your Style group members, when deciding what to keep and what to throw out (because it is dated), I was asked about what is dated and what becomes timeless. I thought I’d ask one of our group members and recent Stylish Thoughts contributor Lisa White share her thoughts…
I like to dress with a level 1 combined with level 2 level of refinement, but don’t want to look try hard or overdressed when not dressing for more formal or fancy occasions. What to wear? If you are a more formal dresser naturally, you prefer more classic or structured clothes, finer fabrics and an…
