Old socks with holes in them or just odd socks that have lost their pair? Worn out grubby sneakers? These are often apparel items that just get tossed in the bin, not good enough to give to any thrift store. I mean who wants your stinky old socks and shoes? Rather than throw them in…
I was recently asked by a reader to talk about why so many women feel guilty about purchasing clothing and accessories. I’ve seen it many times, as women hide their purchases (or cost of purchases) from partners, from leaving a item in the bag for a while, to hanging it up and then not wearing…
Do you have some jeans (or other pants) that slide down, the waist is either a little too large, or you have a straight body shape (like my H shape) and they just slide down as you wear them? You’re not alone! I have this exact issue. Normal belts are OK, but I find they…
Shopping for clothes is often a fraught experience for many women. It can be so hard to go shopping and actually find the clothes you want, the clothes that fit, the clothes in colours you love and that flatter you, and the clothes that express your personality. It’s a big ask really when you think…
Shopping mistakes around clothing are so common. Why? For a myriad of reasons that may include: Feeling the need to purchase to make the salesperson happy or not feel like you’ve wasted their time Feeling the need to purchase so that you justify your time and effort spent shopping (that hunter/gatherer instinct in us) The…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I were asked to share our personal strategies for replacing items in the wardrobe – particularly those wardrobe workhorses that wear out and need to be replaced. Replacing Items in Your Wardrobe 1. Can You Get an Exact Replacement? If it’s a particular cut/style/brand – can you…
Looking for some unique gifts for loved ones? Then Etsy is definitely the place to go to find a myriad of items that they will love. I’ve spent some time trawling through it and found some fabulous ideas for Christmas gifts. For Around the House Unique handmade glass splat wall clock Recycled wood hanging display…
Recently I discovered the lovely and talented Meredith Hoult who is a jewellery designer and maker of gorgeous handcrafted silver and anodised aluminium jewellery in Melbourne. Given my love of jewellery (it’s such a brilliant accessory to draw attention to your face) I picked up a few pairs of her earrings in different colours and…
One question that popped up for me (and is something I’m asked about) when I wrote about the expected fashion lifespan of your wardrobe staples here, is how long can you expect a garment to really last – as far as it still looking good and wearing well – how long will your clothes really…
When you’re out shopping and deciding whether or not you should bring home a new item. How do you know it’s a winner and will earn a place in your wardrobe? Or is it just going to end up as clutter that fills up your precious space? This is a really important step to take…
How we can we honour our style recipes in a retail world where quality is low, prices are high and individuality is minimum? I live in NYC and many of the interesting boutiques are gone and most stores carry very similar inventory. Honouring Your Style in a Mass Market Retail World To feel truly stylish…
Whenever I visit London (and I realised on the way over on the plane – in that 24 hours that is such fun in a tin tube – that it’s been 16 years since I was last here), I love to visit Liberty of London – just off Regent Street in Central London – as…
In this podcast episode, Jill Chivers of Shop Your Wardrobe and I discuss how solid garments can still be classed as heroes. Not all statement (hero) items are prints, so what other elements of garments can be heroes and how can you tell the difference between a hero print and an interest print. Which Kind…
The era of disposable fashion is coming to a close (well I really hope so), that buy it, wear it once or twice, then throw it out fashion that has been rampant in what is known as the “junior market” (that is the young women’s fashion 16 – 25 age market). And I believe that…
Have you ever thought about whether you are a hunter or a gatherer when it comes to your shopping style? In this podcast episode (yes it was a very fuzzy video), Jill Chivers of Shop Your Wardrobe and I discuss how the concept of hunting and gathering from ancient times is still an applicable idea…
I hate shopping now. I used to be a “good enough” buyer and now I know what I want and can’t find it. I’m not sure if I’m being too picky or not allocating enough time or not going to the right stores, but I’m frustrated at having needs I can’t fulfil. For example, I…
Inside Out Style Reader Question Online shopping tips, please! How to get a good enough match with the colour in the palette from Imogen as each of the colours in the swatch has their own names; can I use it for online shopping? This is a tricky one – sadly there is not a fabulous…
Sponsored by Godfreys Welcome to my studio, come inside and I’ll show you around as I road test the Vorwerk Kobold VK200 Upright Vacuum Since you’re coming over, I thought I’d better just give the place a quick tidy up! Welcome to Inside Out Style Headquarters Today I thought I’d share with you a…
The 7 Words to Listen For That Tell You To Definitely Not Buy a Garment Beware, next time you’re in the store changing room, trying on some clothes and want to know if the colour is right or wrong … How often have you been trying on something in a store and the ever ‘helpful’…
Sponsored by Airpufs I have a reasonably sized shoe collection (my husband would say large, I say reasonable) which I’ve gradually acquired over many, many years (actually I still have two pairs of shoes from the mid 90s). One of the reasons I have so many is that when I was about 19 years old…
Social media, Instagram in particular, is changing the way many women consume clothing. This is the topic of discussion with Jill Chivers of Shop Your Wardrobe in our video. The ubiquitous outfit photo that is posted daily on Instagram creates a pressure to turn over your wardrobe, or just acquire more and more new items…
