ARE YOU ONE OF MY GIRLS WHO GOES OUT SHOPPING EVERY SATURDAY, HAS A WARDROBE PACKED FULL OF CLOTHES BUT NOTHING TO WEAR? THEN READ ON, MY DARLING, BECAUSE ALL THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE. We are going to take a fresh look at what you wear, and I am going to show you how to put together some great new outfits that you will love. What’s more, my stylish sweethearts, you won’t have to spend, spend, spend to do it!
“British women shell out an average of £1,000 a year on clothes!”
British women shell out an average £1,000 a year on clothes and yet only a third of those fashion finds ever sees the light of day. The rest, it seems, are banished to the dark recesses of your wardrobes, along with all those other pieces that fashion forgot. Nearly every girl’s wardrobe that I see (and let’s face it, my angels, I have seen more than most!) is bursting with clothes that have never been worn. And that’s where my style quest to get you to buy less and wear more comes in.
So, girl, walk over to that wardrobe right now, throw open the doors and, like discovering your own little Narnia, get ready to step into the magical world within. Here’s where we start sorting out the good from the bad and the ugly, decide what to keep, what to add, and—most important of all, girls—what to kiss goodbye to. (I know how hard it is, gorgeous, but believe me, it really is for the best!)
“Nearly every girl’s wardrobe that I see is bursting with clothes that have never even been worn.”
Whether it’s those trusty black trousers, that one-for-all winter coat or those sparkly slingbacks that you paid a fortune for but have never worn, I am going to be right by your side revisiting everything you have got stuffed away in there.
We’ll do all this while keeping an eye on the latest trends, of course, and I’ll give you loads of advice on how to create a classic collection of outfits along the way. I also want all the tips and tricks in this book to inspire you beautiful belles to break free of any dressing habits that are way past their sell-by date, and to try out something new, because a change of direction will always spruce up your style.
Just remember, ladies, when it comes to being truly stylish, there really are no hard and fast rules: you can pick and choose elements of any outfit and adapt them to suit your look. Whether you are a trend-sawy teenager, a thirtysomething career girl or a fabulous fiftysomething, this book is all about building a brilliantly hard-working wardrobe, and that means a wardrobe that works for you.
I’ll show you how to create the kind of simple style statements that never go out of fashion, that you can adapt to suit your size and shape, and that you can depend on to make you feel your beautiful best every day. I’m not suggesting that shopping sprees are off the agenda, though, girls—we all want to feel part of what’s going on in fashion—I just want you to see how easy it is to look and feel fabulous without breaking the bank.
To help you get the most out of our new style journey, and so that you can quickly revisit the parts that work best for you, I’ve split this book into four easy-to-find sections. In SECTION 1, we’ll put some solid fashion foundations in place as I highlight the key pieces of clothing that I think no woman should be without. SECTION 2 is where we compile the ultimate accessories drawer and discover why the devil really is in the detail. In SECTION 3, I’ll use my stylist know-how to show you how to create a timeless selection of gorgeously chic outfits, and in SECTION 4, we’ll add a slick of gloss and polish to your fab new outfits with some gorgeous hair and makeup tips.
And that’s it. By making your wardrobe work for you, you’ll be a collection of chic new looks richer and ready to feel fashion fabulous anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Because the one thing you never, ever have to cut back on is feeling gorgeous. That, my angels, doesn’t cost a thing.