Kylie's Perfect Pashmina

I  love pashminas. To me they are a wardrobe essential. A pashmina accompanies me on holidays as it's the perfect cover-up when the sun goes down. I tuck one into my handbag on a trip to the cinema so I can curl up in it when the air conditioning gets too chilly. Pashminas add a spalsh of colour to a neutral outfit and just look so stylish.

If further proof were needed, look how great Kylie Minogue looks in her pashmina.

The most stylish way to sport a pashmina is to drape it over the crook of your arms as in the image below.

If you want an accessory that will compliment your winter coat and add a touch of colour and glamour to an evening outfit, something that can be worn all year round and never goes out of style, then invest in a pashmina. The best places to find pashminas include Kettlewell Colours and Monsoon.

Natalia

Free Hot Drink at Pret a Manger Leeds

Here at Style Club we love Pret a Manger. If you do too or you've never been, then here is a perfect opportunity to give them a try. Leeds Loves Shopping has teamed up with Pret a Manger to offer you a free hot drink from their Lands Lane shop in Leeds. The offer is valid until 25th December. Click here to download your coupon.

Enjoy!

November Style Club Event

Just a quick reminder about our next Style Club event coming up very, very soon on Tuesday 2nd November - 6pm to 8:30pm at The City Inn, Granary Wharfe, Leeds

Join us for a fascinating body shapes masterclass this month at our Style Club 'Body Shapes Clinic'.
I believe that everyone deserves to wear clothes that fit and flatter without feeling frustrated. so if you've ever wondered how to dress to flatter the shape you're in and where to find garments designed for your shape, then this is the event for you!

During this fast-paced, fun and very interative workshop, I'll be showing you the secrets of creating perfect proportions, how to love the shape you're in and dress it to perfection. Learn how to go find the styles and colours that are just right for you and go shopping with enthusiasm and pride in your figure.

This event includes drinks, nibbles and a personal body shapes workbook. You can get tickets by clicking here.

Natalia

Less is More

Having seen recent photos of Danielle Lloyd and Cheryl Cole wearing no makeup and daring to show off their natural side, I have to say I rather like it.

Danielle Lloyd fresh faced & braving the cameras

Cheryl Cole looking radiantly pretty

It seems there's a new trend, that of the make-under. Celebrities are falling over themselves to show off how they look without makeup and it's quite a revelation in more ways than one. Yes, I admire how cleverly they apply their smokey-eyed, full-on make-up which I still can't manage to do for myself, but in the images above Cheryl and Danielle look far more attractive to me. All I'd do to Danielle is add a slick of neutral lip gloss and Cheryl I would not touch, she looks utterly perfect in all her dressed down glory.

Sometimes, it just goes to show that less really is more.


Natalia

There's just something about waistcoats!

If further proof were needed of just how wonderful a wiastcoat is for men and women then take a look at Justin and Kate working the waistcoat. See below for some great waistcoats from www.businesswardrobe.com and www.asos.com

Ted Baker waistcoat with beautiful cartography print satin back panel £99 from www.businesswardrobe.com

Ted Baker waistcoat with stunning satin back panel £85 from www.businesswardrobe.com

www.asos.com have a great selection of men's waistcoats this one is £30

Waistcoats are such fabulous, classic pieces that never go out of fashion. The trick is to stock up on them when they are in fashion...which is right now, so go, go, go and don't stop until you have the waistcoat of your dreams!


Natalia

Smart Casual for the Guys

I wanted to show you an excellent example of a smart casual look for men.

Here are Jason Gardner and Duncan James giving their jeans a much more dressed-up and might I also add, extremely stylish twist. I love to see men dressing flambouyantly and Duncan's coat has just the right amount of 'look at me' factor.

Jason looks uber chic in his waistcoat, hat and jacket and both guys have the perfect shoes to complete their outfits. So gentlemen, now you know the secret to dressed up casual style...it's only a waistcoat away!

Dressing up When You're Dressed Down

I had so much fun putting together the workshop for Leeds Loves Shopping last week. I decided to speak about a topic very close to my heart, how to achieve the perfect smart casual look.

We dress much more casually these days both in our work and social lives, yet every single client always tells me that smart casual is the look they stuggle with most. It seems that whilst we want to be comfier in the way we dress, we also want to add a touch of style and chic.

If you couldn't make it to the Style House on Friday then here are my top five tips for giving a casual outfit a dressier look.

1. Sharpen up your act

Create a more defined silhouette. The looser and more shapless your clothing is, the more casual you will look. Smarten up by adding a jacket or blazer, shirt or waistcoat just like these lovely stylish ladies:

2. Add excitement top & bottom
You can glam up a pair of jeans  and a simple top with a beautiful coat and a sassy pair of shoes or boots. Take them off and you are casual once more, perfect for popping out to the shops without having to make a huge effort.

3. Keep it neutral

A simple, neutral column of colour head to toe looks very smart and elegant as it allows the eye to sweep effortlessly along the body. It worked for Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly, so why not give it a try?

4. Accessorise darling!

Accessories really do make an outfit, take a look at the images below to see what I'm talking about.

5. Add a hat
In this country, we might as well use the weather to our advantage. I've spotted dozens of beautiful hats popping up in every store on the high street. Go along, plonk your shopping bags down and have a hat trying on session to see which styles suit you best. Hats add something special to an outfit and once you get used to wearing one you'll never want to remove it from your head! Hats cover up bad hair days and give us an immediate air of glamour and mystery. Enough said!

Leeds Loves Shopping

We had a wonderful afternoon on Friday at the Style House marquee on Briggate, as part of Leeds Loves Shopping. Thank you to all the lovely ladies who came along to our Style Club presentation 'How to Dress Up When You're Dressed Down'.

The Style House events were organised by Kirsty McKinnon of Marketing Leeds and City Festival Co-ordinator Alison Sweeny . They did such a fantastic job and everything went without a hitch.

Natalia on stage with Alison Sweeney  (left) & Kirsty McKinnon (right)

Thank you also to Sam from KNM Events for being my 'super' model and helping me to show how to create a range of  smart casual looks, I was particularly impressed with the way she got changed form outfit to outfit in extra quick time.

Finally, a really big thank you to the very talented Sarah Clough who lent me a array of her fabulous belts. Sarah is an incredible belt designer and as any stylish lady knows, a belt is an essential accessory in creating the perfect outfit. You can see more of Sarah's designs at www.opika.co.uk

30% off Body Shop On-Line

Get your Christmas shopping done a little earlier and avoid the queues by shopping on-line with this fabulous offer.

Body Shop is offering a huge 30% discount off all on-line purchases. Visit www.thebodyshop.co.uk fill up your basket and enter the following code at the checkout screen: Autumn30
You'll have to hurry as this offer ends on Monday 18th October.

Why not try their new sweet lemon range of bath and body products. I've just bought the shower gel that also works beautifully as a bubble bath and it smells absolutely divine!

 Don't forget to stock up on some great gifts for friends and loved ones from the comfort of your arm chair. The scented candles and oil burners make lovely presents and will help them chill out over Christmas and beyond. 

Do you love jeans?

I came across a great website that I just had to tell you about.

Ilovejeans.com is a website devoted to everything about jeans. You'll find every brand under the sun, advice about jeans for body shapes and information about size, colour and prices.
It's great to see these specialist sites popping up. Jeans can be the most fantastic items to own and wear but the most devilish to get the ones that are just right for you.

With the jeans dilemma firmly in mind, we've got a Style Club event lined up in the New Year all about how to find the perfect jeans. All will be revealed nearer the time!



Natalia

Heavenly Wardrobe Workshop

A big thank you to all the terrific ladies who attended our October Style Club event last night and a warm welcome to our new Style Club members.

We all revealed our deepest, darkest wardrobe hoarding habits and discovered some of the areas where there are gaps in our closets. A highlight for me was everyone sharing one of their favourite style and beauty secrets.

My secret is using a mug tree to display necklaces and a kitchen roll holder to show off your bracelets and bangles. Dunelm Mill has a particularly beautiful collection of these in chrome which look very striking on the dressing table.

We created new outfits using different pieces of clothing and lots of accessories to change the personality of the garments. We were also entralled by the inspirational Amanda Collins of www.saveyoursole.co.uk who told us all about her fabulous shoe soles and her even more fabulous shoe hotel.

Congratulations to Sharon Cain who won the wardrobe revamp box of goodies, she now has no excuse but to spend all weekend revamping her wardrobe to make it a shrine to her loveliness!

Natalia

Gorgeous jacket

Searching for coats on-line for a client this morning, I came across this rather wonderful jacket that I just had to share with you.

  

It's £99 from Phase Eight and is so very flattering, skimming and body sculpting. If you are top heavy then you'd probably prefer to unbutton it and let it gently drape. The gathered shoulders will help to balance your body out if your top half is smaller than your bottom half.

Natalia

Our Event at The Style House

Just a reminder that you can get free tickets to our event during Leeds Loves Shopping. It's at 3pm in the utterly gorgeous Style House on Briggate in Leeds on Friday 15th October. Our 45 minute workshop is all about dressing up when you're dressed down, how to achieve a sensational smart casual look.

There are only a few tickets remaining so you'll have to hurry to avoid disappointment.

You can get your free tickets by clicking here.

Boot Camp

Now we are well and truly into boots wearing season. Not only do boots look great with skirts and worn over leggings and slim-line trousers or skinny jeans, but they're also perfect for this grotty weather. This season boots are a major fashion trends, so get them whilst they're hot.

Whether you want to work to a budget or break the bank, there's bound to be a pair of boots that will catch your eye. Remember to try and spend as much as you can afford on boots. Invest in a classic style and they'll last you year after year, giving you an excellent cost per wear. Here are some of our favourites:

Moda in Pelle - Henri Boot £99

Jones the Bootmaker Tabitha Boot £145

Dune Riding Boots £160

Autograph for M&S Suede Faux Fur Boots £65

See by Chloe Knee High Boot £293

Beyond Skin 80s Ankle Boots £170

A hole lot of trouble

Poor old David Cameron. If he didn't realise that being Prime Minister means being scrutinised in the minutest of detail, I'm sure he does now.

Mr Cameron appeared on This Morning with Phil and Holly yesterday and sure enough, eagle eyes spotted the hole in his sock. Oh and on national TV too, the shame of it!

Now before we all start sniggering at his misfortune, I bet we've all been there. I certainly know that every time I need to remove my shoes to go through airport security, I seem to have pulled on a pair of grotty, holey socks. I end up doing a sprint to the other end of conveyor belt to put my shoes back on and hide my embarassment.

So how do you avoid such misdemeanours? Well the very best and, probably the only way is to do a regualr revamp of your wardrobe. So if you'd like to know what this entails and how wonderful it is for your wardrobe and your welfare, then come along to our next event on Tuesday 5th October 'How to build the wardrobe of your dreams.' You can get further details of this fantastic event and tickets by clicking here.


Natalia