Trends for Autumn Winter 2010

People are starting to ask me what they should be on the look out for a/w 10 in terms of the trends and key pieces that they should be grabbing, so here's my take on the season ahead.

CAPES
Capes are one of this season's biggest key pieces, camel capes in particular will be everywhere!
I've recently seen a gorgeous one in Zara Woman and in Asos's previous campaign modelled by the gorgeous Olivia Palmero. Stunning.

CAMEL
As previously mentioned above, camel is one of this season's hottest colours and is something that if you invest in now, you'll be able to utilise in your wardrobe for years to come as it's such a classic and beautiful feminine colour.

If you're worried about camel making you look pasty around the face as we start getting in to colder weather then go for a pair of camel trousers rather than a top or jacket. However if you fall in love with a camel jacket or coat but still worry that it's not flattering your skin tone, accessorise with a scarf or statement necklace to bring the colour back to your cheeks!

MINIMALISM
A huge trend on the a/w 10 catwalks was classic, simple, elegant lines and investment pieces that will remain your wardrobe heroes for years to come. Paris shows like Celine, Chloe and Stella McCartney showed feminine classic shapes in delicate hues that demonstrated how women are still being careful with their money whilst coming out of this recessions and looking to invest in the right pieces that will keep them looking stylish and modern for years to come.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS
Hiking style boots, tweeds, riding boots, jodpurs, padded jackets will be seen everywhere this season. Practical yet stylish this is a great trend for school mums who need to get up and out in the morning; whilst staying warm and looking stylish at the school gates. Choose one or two key garments such as the boots and jodpurs and then soften with something more feminine up top to avoid looking like you've just come from a horse riding lesson.

LEOPARD
One of my fave trends but needs to be handled with care at the risk of looking very Bet Lynch from Corination St!! Go for a skinny leopard belt or hairband and just team with all black or camel if you are at all concerned of looking too 'animal print'. Hobbs have a fantastic little leopard print belt that will update your wardrobe instantly.

If you want help from a Personal Stylist or Personal Shopper updating your wardrobe this season then get in touch with My Style Companion on 01625 508264 or visit http://www.mystylecompanion.com/

My Style Companion offer personal shopping and personal styling services in the North West region of the UK including areas such as Macclesfield, Mobberley, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Prestbury, Poynton, Knutsford, Chelford, Wirral, Liverpool, Merseyside, Manchester.

How to Dress for First Dates

Yesterday I was a guest on BBC Radio Manchester's Heather Stott's show. What a fabulous woman and totally game for a laugh - I really enjoyed my time there so thanks to Heather and her lovely team.

I appeared on the show to provide a bit of style advice for people out there who are dating second time around.

You can listen my style advice on the Heather Stott show http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/p009vx67/
or alternatively read my style advice article about what to wear for first dates on my website by following this link
http://www.mystylecompanion.com/ArtAd_TopStyleTipsFirstDates.html

A big thanks to the lovely people at Stockport Homes who have literally made me feel right at home this week whilst I have been providing 15 minute styling appointments for their staff as part of their Health & Well Being Week.

I hope I have managed to provide some style inspiration and positive style advice to the women I have been speaking to there!!

Yet again I am being asked the same questions proving that all of us women all worry about the same things regardless of our age, shape or size. This in many ways is so assuring as there is a certain comfort in knowing that as women, we all totally understand what each other are going through! However it also puts me on even more of a mission to raise awareness about ways in which you can get more control over how you feel about your image by having a chat with a personal stylist or even treating yourself to a wardrobe consultation.

I do believe all women deserve to have total confidence in their style and no matter what shape, size or age - you can! I promise. It's all about understanding your strengths and really putting them to good use; whilst recognising your weaknesses and finding ways to overcome them. It really is that simple - you just need to learn how to use clothes to do this, and that's where My Style Companion comes in.

Take a look on my website www.mystylecompanion.com and read the client testimonials from real women all over the North West region of the UK who have had wardrobe consultations, style consultations or personal shopping sessions with me. I don't just pick out a load of clothes that I think will work and cross my fingers; which is what most women who have gottne stuck in a style rut end up doing most of the time. And it's not like taking a girlfriend shopping with you either; as this always ends up with you buying something that is totally way out of your comfort zone and reflects more of your friend's style than yours - this always ends up sat in the wardrobe with the tag on.

I EMPOWER you to take control back over your wardrobe and your style. To make clothes work for YOU. I don't want you to have to wander around the shops trying to find out how you can fit in with the fashion showcased in the shops - we'll make it work for YOUR figure; YOUR personality; what YOU feel comfortable in; whilst also making you look like a million. It can be done; you just need to put your trust in your Stylist and wait for the compliments to start rolling in.

Nic x

Resolution to Blog!

Tis true, I have officially been the worst blogger over the last few months, but now I've moved house (My Style Companion has now relocated to Cheshire, however still provides perosnal shopping and styling services all over the North West) and am feeling slightly more organised (well as organised as I will ever be!?!) I resolve to blog far more frequently. :-0

Maybe it's a/w10 that get's me soooooo excited that I simply can't help but share all the great things I'm coming across this season; and seeing as I can't buy them all (for fear of losing boyfriend to severe clothing and accessory addiction - love you honey!) then I just can't see all these goooooorgeous pieces go to waste.

Wondering what to buy? A cape has to be one of the must haves of this season, camel would be even better! Divine. Embrace a shearling jacket if you have the funds but be prepared to pay a few hundred (if not a few thousand) for a great style - Hobbs have one on its way in to store v soon for £999 that easily rivals some of the designer labels for a third of the price. Worth the investment though for a classic piece to treasure for years.

For those of you working in a more formal environment, the pointed stiletto is back so dig deep to find your inner Melanie Griffiths (the original Working Girl) and hunt down that perfect pair that will elongate those pins. Wear with a fabulous pair of high waisted, wide legged trousers (look to LK Bennett, Hobbs) and tuck in a beautiful silk blouse to finish the look.

The countrified look we're seeing coming through inspired by the great outdoors is great for women who are outdoors a lot - ideal for the school run. Think padded / quilted jackets, lotsof tweeds and textured fabrics, and hiking style wedge boots (take a look in Kurt Geiger), and accessorise with cute brooches to personalise the look (see NW3 at Hobbs) or man's best friend for the more authentic look!

Get shopping girls. Here's to a fabulous and stylish season ahead...

Nic x

LBD season is upon us!

The sun may be shining (woohoo) and even though I can't get enough of this vitamin D, I simply can't help but look forward to LBD season after seeing this fabulous Armani Exchange embellished dress at Met Quarter yesterday. Definitely worth a few more kms on the treadmill to get the legs for this (I will continue to dream)...

Met Quarter A/W10 Press Day, Liverpool

A big thanks to Karen and Vicki at the gorgeous Met Quarter shopping centre in Liverpool after attending their press day yesterday.

Seriously covetting some a/w10 updates here girls....

To Die For.... Triwa Naked Brasco Watch from Azendi... it's on the birthday list already....

Must Have a/w10 Skirts!

Oh it's my favourite time of year! a/w10 has landed.

If you're feeling a little uninspired lately, try some brands that you never normally would even consider - you may be pleasantly surprised!!

I often take my clients completely outside of their comfort zones when they tell me they are bored with their style or stuck in a bit of a rut. Very often women have pre-concieved ideas about a brand and this can prevent them from landing some unusual, unique and absolutely fabulous pieces.

For example, very often Phase Eight is believed to be an 'older lady's' brand, but I just LOVE their designs - you can really funk some of their pieces up. This is a skirt I will most definitely be investing in this season....the Phase Eight Pontoroma. Either smarten up for work with a crisp white shirt, blazer and a pair of opaques; or simply team with a black vest and rock some of this seasons hottest boots for a night out with the girlies.

Your Style Companion

Nic x

Styling Masterclasses for Hen Parties

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of entertaining a group of very excitable ladies for a hen party in Allerton, Liverpool. What fun!

The group consisted of 16 women from the ages of about young twenty-somethings to mums of the bride and groom; however interestingly all females of the group wanted (as always) what someone else had!

The tall girls wanted to be shorter; the shorter girls taller; the athletic shapes more curvy and the curvy girls more athletic. Something I see most days when working with female clients however for some reason this weekend it seemed even more apparent with so many different shapes; sizes; ages and personalities in the same room.

I am making it my mission now to educate more women on how their body can be the envy of others if they just dress it in the right way. Every shape can be beautiful but I think the confidence needs to come from within in order to shine - however it seems that confidence can only start to grow once that particular woman can see how beautiful she really can look in the right outfit (as opposed to seeing herself as a size bigger than she actually is, when wearing the wrong clothing).

Ladies stop wasting so much time wishing you have the 'perfect' figure - I can confirm that it really doesn't exist; however the perfect state of confidence can mean everything and is far easier to achieve if you just take some action on the things you aren't 100% happy about. So start today, just take some form of action. Nicola x