A flattering fit

Oh dear, poor Jessica Simpson is always getting it in the neck from the paparazzi. Whatever she wears, she seems to either get it totally right or get it hopelessly wrong.

I was struck by seeing this pictures of Jessica, squeezed into this dress and it reminded me of so many times when I've made bad purchases and convinced myself that I will slim into something or that it looks okay, when it just doesn't fit me properly.

I'm afraid that badly fitting garments whether they are too tight or too baggy can create the unfortunate impression to the outside world that we are not self-aware. So here are some valuable tips on how to make sure you're buying something that fits well:

1. Look at a garment from all angles
If you can see your rear-end in a dressing room mirror then take a really good look or ask the shop assistant's advice (oh and pray that she's honest and not looking to hit her sales target for the day!). Try the garment on again at home (sometimes retailers' mirrors and lighting are a little more flattering than those at home) and get another mirror so you can see it from the back or ask a friend or loved one if it fits well. If not take it back immediately, never, ever, ever believe that you'll slim into it. You might well do but it will take time to do so. If you don't manage to lose the weight then it will remain, unworn, in your wardrobe like a little gremlin giving you nasty knowing looks with its label still firmly in place.


2. Never rely on size labels
As we all know, sizes vary radically from store to store. I can be an Extra Small in Gap and a size 14/16 in H&M (seriously, this happened only last week). Take three sizes into the fitting room with you and buy the one that fits and flatters best. Ignore the size on the label and if it bothers you that much, then cut it off.


3. Skim rather than cling
If something is clinging and riding up and you don't have the body of Katy Perry, then put it back on the shop floor. Life is way too short to spend time breathing in, wearing savage Brigtitte Jones style knickers and obsessing about how big your bum looks in something.

We're going to do a whole Style Club event in the new year about how to get the perfect fit, we're going to be talking about all those little details that you never realised were vitally important. In fact, attending this event will change the way you shop and how you build your wardrobe forever! Interested? Well watch this space for more details.

Do you want some jeans that actually fit?

Much excitement here as I write this! I've just read about breaking news in the jeans market that I know you'll love too.

Levi have just brought out a range of jeans called Curve ID.These jeans are magical because they not only claim to banish flat bottoms and muffin tops, they also come in three cuts; Bold fit; Slight fit and Demi fit.
Bold is aimed at the Shakira, J Lo shaped lady, demi fit is aimed at ladies with medium curves and slight fit for all those of us with more slender, boyish shaped bottom halves.

Hurrah! Finally a jeans manufacturer who recognises that we're all not the same shape and that we might actually need different sized waistbands in relation to our hips and thighs. Curve jeans cost between £80 and £95 but for the pure pleasure of owning and wearing a well-fitting pari of jeans, I'd say it was money very well spent.

Demi Moore's Flawless Style

I watched a brilliant film on DVD recently, Flawless, starring Demi Moore as an woman fighting her way up the career ladder working for a diamond company in the 1940s. The storyline was very gripping and brilliantly acted, but what kept my attention most was Demi's fantastic wardrobe throughout the film. Whoever designed the costumes did a fantastic job, we were transported back to a wonderfully stylish era in women's fashion. Her suits were beautifully cut and very fitted at the waist. I loved the tweed fabrics and pussycat bow blouses and the coat she wears is to die for!

Well, the good news is, the fashions from Demi's film are all going to be on-trend this autumn/winter. I cannot wait to go shopping. It's been a long time in coming for a season to have so many really great styles all at once, but I can assure you, this is a winter well worth waiting for!

Deeply Beautiful

I couldn't resist this picture of Alexandra Burke looking radiant in shocking pink. Why does this shade of pink look so great on her? Well, it's because she has deep colouring. When your colouring is deep, this means you have dark brown or black hair and dark coloured eyes. Your skin doesn't necessarily have to be dark, but your overall look has a depth to it. So ladies like Nigella Lawson, Catherine Zeta Jones and Victoria Beckham are all deep in their colouring.

Deep ladies can take powerful colours such as this shocking pink and electic blue, primary colours also look sensational on them. Deep ladies look amazing in very dark colours such as black, winter navy, charcoal grey and the deep chocolate brown. So if you too are deep then avoid soft, pastels and greyed out neutrals and instead, opt for insense and powerful colours that harmonise with your depth of hair and eye colour.

Want to find out what colours look great on you? Come and join us at our Style Club event on 7th September at 6pm when we'll be looking at autumn and winter fashion, which colours will make you look sensational and which ones to give a wide berth!

Go Wild for Winter

I loved seeing this recent phot of Nadine Coyle from Girls Aloud, wearing the latest leopard print fashion.

If you didn't already know it, the hottest new fashion trend is leopard print. Now whether this thrills you or worries you, then there are a few things that you need to consider. Animal prints when worn in the right way can look fabulous, but beware of the pitfalls. Here are Natalia's top tips for wearing them this autumn/winter season.

Less is more
Wear leopard, and any other animal print for that matter, sparingly. I would ideally go for a ratio of no more than 30% leopard. Wear black, brown or beige to dampen down the leopard print and cancel out the Bet Lynch/Cruella DeVille factor.



Anyone can wear leopard print
Even if you think leopard print just isn't you or you simply can't wear it to work then don't despair. A splash of leopard can be added with a pair of neat little pumps (see the gorgeous ones below £30 from www.asos.com), a slimline leopard print belt or even just in the lining of a bag or purse.

Leopard print brings pleasure!
According to fashion feng shui, leopard print represents fire energy and attracts pleasure into our lives. So if you want to have more fun, look no further than a splash of leopard and pep up your winter wardrobe into the bargain!

The Power of Neutral Colours

I absolutely love neutral colours and if you take a look at the images of Camilla Belle (top) and Jennifer Aniston (above) you will see exactly what I mean.

Wearing neutral colours means the eye can effortlessly scan down the body making you appear longer and leaner. Neutral colours are going to be big this autumn/winter but which ones will suit your skin tone and hair colour best? Which ones will you be able to keep in your wardrobe season after season? Which colours will accompany the rest of your wardrobe and give it a style boost?

You can find out the answers to all these questions at our next Style Club event on 7th September at the City Inn , Leeds. Click here for further details and to the hottest style ticket in town!

What are Your Boots Called?

Doing some internet window shopping recently I came across a pair of boots named after me.

Yes, I was quite amused to discover that the Natalia is a purple, suede ankle boot with patent leather trim. I was very happy though, as I love these boots and they are very 'me' and not a bad price at £59.50 from HA Designershoes

This set me off on a mission to find out what type of boot Karina was and I'm delighted to tell you that she is far from high street. Yes, Karina is a very upmarket Jimmy Choo shoe-boot no less. At £695 she's definitely worth it and uber-stylish! I quite like the idea of having Karina on my tootsies so I'd better start saving!

The Jimmy Choo 'Karina' shoe-boot

Give the LBD a Personality Change

We're big, big fans of the LBD (little black dress) and if you haven't already discovered the power of this unassuming little garment then we're here to help persuade you.

Black is the most forgiving of colours on nature's little lumps and bumps. You see, black absorbs the light and has a camouflaging effect. As if that wasn't enough, black goes with everything and everything goes with black.

One of the secrets to having a versatile wardrobe is to keep key pieces neutral so that you can change their personality. So here is the little black dress worn beautifully by Kelly Osbourne. She shows how you can take it from classic to rock chick in a matter of seconds.

Take it to the Max!

Do we finally admit defeat and accept that summer might actually be over? Well, if you invested in one of the biggest trends of the summer season, the maxi dress, don't despair too soon. Our lovely first lady of style, Samantha Cameron, shows just how easy it is to wear the maxi dress to perfection in this horrid English climate. Here are Samantha's three steps to style.


Step 1 - Thou Shalt Layer

Sam teams her maxi dress with a lovely little cardigan. You might want to add a shrug or pashmina to give yours a lifeline as we coast into chilly autumn.A denim or casual cropped jacket would look great too.

Step 2 - Keep it Simple

Sarah Jessica Parker overdoes her maxi dress by adding too many accessories. Sam's dress is the style statement in itself and needs no further embellishment. (Other than a world leader on your arm perhaps?)

Step 3 - Keep it Flat

Maxi dresses cry out for flat footwear. SJP's towering heels are just too much, whereas Samantha Cameron opts for simple thong sandals that work a treat. When the weather gets too cold for sandals, then pull on a pair of ballerina pumps to complete the look.

What's new for Autumn & Winter?

Whether you love or loathe the outdoors you won't be able to get away from outdoor trends in clothing this autumn/winter. At our very first Style Club event on 7th September, we'll be talking all about the latest season's fashions, one of which is called 'The Outsiders'. So do you invest in the latest heritage fabrics such as tweed, corduroy, plaid or mohair? Should you buy a cape or a coat? Will it still be in fashion this time next year? Where can you find the best of the new season to update your wardrobe and what should you avoid?

Well, Professional Stylist Natalia Colman will be there to steer you to wardrobe heaven and help you avoid making any fashion faux pas. Natalia loves shopping and so will you by the end of the evening when she'll tempt you with a range of delights from the high street and on-line retailers. We want you to sit back and enjoy a sensational evening of style at the City Inn. You can get tickets and further information about our first event here.

Let's warm up to winter!

Style Club has launched!

We are are proud to say that Style Club Leeds has officially launched and what a fabulous launch event it was too!

On Tuesday 17th August we kicked off our Style Club launch at the ghd Style Academy in Leeds. Over 120 people came along to show their support and we were overwhelmed at the numbers and the great feedback we had. We wore our new Little Black Dresses (see picture) and enjoyed the fabulous surroundings of the ghd Style Academy. Thank you to all our sponsors for the evening including Costco, BusinessWardrobe, and  Cupcakes, Cakes and More.

So now it's full steam ahead for the Style Club events which promise to be even more amazing than the launch event. Our first event is on Tuesday 7th September at 6pm at the City Inn, Leeds. You can get tickets by clicking here.

We're looking forward to seeing you at our next event!

Natalia & Karina x

Hello & Welcome to the Style Club Blog!

We're delighted to welcome you to our brand new blog. We hope you like reading our musings about all things related to style and image, plus news about forthcoming events and anything else that we know you will love.

Please don't forget to add your feedback, we can't wait to hear your thoughts and ideas so do keep in touch with us.

Warmest regards,

Natalia & Karina x