Slouchy to Stylish - fashion tips 4 sofa time!

All of us need DOWN time.. and everyone has a different way of relaxing, whether its grabbing a cuppa and a good book / magazine or snuggling on the sofa to watch a favourite programme or film!

We all need that slouchy time and more often than not we are usually wearing equally SLOUCHY clothes to do it!  I have to admit that I am not a fan of Tracksuits and only ever wear my tracksuit trousers if I am heading to the gym (not very often).  But I do always have comfy clothing on when I am at home relaxing or doing the usual chores!

Michaela contacted me on the Facebook page with her style question which was addressing just this sort of clothing dilemma!

"Hi Claire, you asked for our styling problems on your you tube channel, I'd like to share mine: I spend a lot of time around the house and because I'm lazy I tend to only wear over sized Tshirts and sweat pants. Can you recommend some comfortable outfits that aren't as slouchy as my usual ones? I would love to look a little cuter but at the same time not being restricted by a jeans waist band. Thank you for your help. Michaela"

So I have put together this blog as well as a style video to address The challenge of Stylish slouchy clothes.  I hope you all enjoy it.

Click the picture below to see the style video:

VISIT THE YOU TUBE CHANNEL TO WATCH

So here is my choice of items on the high street that will fit in with this slouchy 2 stylish concept.  I am continuing the idea of leggings instead of tracksuit bottoms for all of these looks!

1st is this really easy to wear Oasis stripe dress £36.00, if you wanted to jazz it up you could add a coloured belt, but it does not need one if you wear the waist higher and then slouch the top over.

A more relaxed option is this Oasis Claret Sweatshirt dress £42.00, it wont give as much shape but if you add in a contrast coloured long sleeve T-shirt underneath it will add interest and slim down limbs!  I would also add a necklace to this which I have written about at the end of the post!

If Oasis is usually out of budget....  they still have some great buy's in the SALE, thisOasis floral stretch dress is only£10.00!  What a bargain!  The print on this makes it feel more dressy, but I think that with leggings and some over sized slipper socks this will be cosy but can also be dressed up if someone pops buy unexpectedly!

Stretch dresses aren't for everyone so here are a few looser tunic style options:

This Dorothy Perkins camel print tunic £35.00 has a great open neckline which really flatters bigger busts, but the print is also great at breaking up the body!  Layer a long sleeved T-shirt underneath to make it look more stylish and you have a great look.

Another great option for COMFORT....  Don't judge me ladies...  But it is a maternity top!!!  Dorothy Perkins Maternity top £29.00 could be worn with black leggings and then I would undo the top 2 buttons and layer an acid coloured cami underneath and change the belt to a black one. (my Reiss dress in the video could be worn as maternity.. so why not just buy maternity)

Another fun option is this ASOS crochet dress £31.50, the neckline is similar to the Oasis one and the crochet element makes it appear more styled and interesting...  I would again layer a long sleeve T-shirt under so that you had a contrast colour!

The last look is this ASOS contrast sleeve tunic £22.00, it's only available in size 16 but I had to share it with you because it is such an easy one to style add a contrast necklace and you are instantly looking stylish, what is not too love?

I mentioned a couple of accessories that will help finish the looks..... so here they are:

Accessorize Metal ring layered rope necklace £12.00

Slipper socks from Next £14.00

As one last parting tip... why not try a denim legging instead of a block colour one?  You get the denim look but without the un-comfort...  Marks and Spencer have these great ones £15.00.

But I would remind you that they are STILL LEGGINGS and should be worn with Tunics and dresses.  As in my book leggings are NOT trousers!!!!!!

APRES SKI STYLE AS REQUESTED

For Vicky......

First off lets get the footwear sorted! If you are not going to a resort where they drive you everywhere like Scott Dunn!  Then you will defo need footwear that is comfy (after a day in painful ski boots)/warm (SNOW = COLD and chic (one must always look awesome).

My top pics are:
Timberland's Snow boots £131.00

Black quilted snow Boots from Debenhams £28.00

In terms of clothes to pack...  I always think jumper dresses are great options as you can wear them with tights or leggings and will be snug but not too casual!

This Jumper dress is £40 from ASOS and can be dresses up with tonged hair and a RED lip!

Another great option is this Claret Jumper dress £35 also from ASOS  Add in the gold belt or statement necklace and it is instantly dressed up!

For casual, the obvious is a skinny jean and some lush tops but why not try a Leather look leggings £12

Layer a Cami dress over the leggings £7.00

Then layer over this great Sheer lemon stripe jumper £36 from Topshop

or if you want a bot of bling then this Sequin jumper Oasis £15.00

or something more relaxed like this print top from Warehouse £40.

To be worn over the top to give you the WOW factor Faux Fur and knit cape £75 (sold by me also available in brown 4 in stock)

Accessories you need to finish the looks...

Some awesome Sunglasses

Floppy Hat or statement hat of your choice... but this is mine and its only £14.99 from H&M

Polka Dots

Polka dots are huge this autumn/winter as was easy to witness from the Claridges, annual Christmas tree switch on!

Miu Miu's AW13 collection has several spotty items to get you into the mood.  But for a little more inspiration to go dotty this festive season find my top picks from the high street!

Miu Miu

HIGH STREET PICKS

Dorothy Perkins £45 

Mango sweater £39.99

House of Holland Jeans £140

Nails varnish £9

Oasis Umbrella £14

Animal Fever

Leopard print has been prowling the catwalks once again ready for autumn/ winter this year. Seen here from Moschino Cheap & Chic. 

If you're feeling confident, try challenging the Moschino Cheap & Chic look with this matching bomber jacket and trouser look from Topshop. Bomber £55, Skinny Trouser £42.

If you'd prefer a more simple take on the look, try some of these leopard print garments from the high street.

River Island £15

Missguided £34.99

Oasis £38

You can even mix it up a bit and try the animal print look in a different colour.

 River Island £15

Topshop £35

For more looks, and hints and tips on introducing animal print into your wardrobe.  Check out the my Leopard Print style Video on You Tube

Acid Brights at Centre Court Shopping

Acid Brights have exploded on the runway and high street for SS13, with Burberry Prosum and DKNY injecting hi-res colour to their collections. 

Crystal has on, a very 60’s inspired take on the trend which has a real Louis Vuitton feel to it, the Coral dress is by ALMARI at OASIS £49.95, the Pink and orange clutch is from ACCESSORIZE £29.00 and then to make the look more DAY!  we popped the Elissa brogues from JONES THE BOOTMAKER.

If the shape of the Oasis option does not work for your body shape then take a look at this great dress from VERO MODA AT OLIVER BONAS £34.00, the colour really pops when put with this Necklace also OLIVER BONAS £26.00.  The summer Hat is from ACCESSORIZE £20.00 and give the outfit more glamour!

Another great look that we used was this H&M number, the jacket £29.99, trousers £24.99, top £14.99 and gloves all came from H&M. Then with so much colour we toned the outfit down with a metallic shoe from MODA IN PELLE £59.95

So be daring and highlight your wardrobe this season with florescent pink, orange or yellow and if wearing the colours in garments feel a bit to out there!!!   Go for neon accessories instead.

For more fashion ideas or to book into the next Centre Court Shopping Centre event go to http://www.centrecourtshopping.co.uk/

Leather, love it or hate it its here to stay!

Leather has become a real staple in every girls wardrobe and those who shunned it this time last year are starting to give it a go.  But I have noticed that a lot of my clients panic on how to buy in to the trend so I thought I would show you a few key items that are an easy starting point for a LEATHER VIRGIN!!

For any shape and size I think there is a leather option out there and the easiest way to start is with a trouser... Gasp!  Yes I know your all thinking of the scene from friends where Ross gets stick in his leather pants, but leather or Pleather trousers are not like they used to be.  They have much more stretch and there are even options that are part legging or Trouser rather than full Leather:

Hoss Intropia do a fab option with a relaxed waist for £470, on the expensive side but the waist is worth it!

Or for you gals who don't have to worry about the waistline Zara do these for £25.99 and the leg has quite a bit of stretch.

And for those of us that have more curvy legs these leather panel leggings from Topshop £28.00 are great at slimming the leg, are super comfy and super stylish!

Of you really aren't a trousers girl, fear not as there is an abundance of leather on the high street in skirts and dresses too that will get your wardrobe back into action.  First off are my 2 favourite skirts from the high street:

First is a fab Burgundy pencil skirt from H&M £69.99 that will look super chic for day or night and the colour makes it stand out from the usual leather options!

Then for the more playful girl this skater style from Oasis £42.00 in army green will look great with a chunky gold knit tucked and is super easy to wear! 

Another way to get leather into your wardrobe is to add it into your work wear and I think classic shift dresses with leather panels inserted is a great starting point.  This first dress is by The Fold a fab on line company that specialise in amazing work wear and this Brompton Navy dress £375.00 works a treat and in the Navy gives the leather a much softer feel.

Zara also do a very similar idea with this Houndstooth dress £39.99.  The great thing with these dresses is that if you want to soften the leather you can layer fabulous blouses underneath for day at the office then loose the blouse and add statement jewellery for evening. 

I hope this has inspired you to give Leather a try if you haven't already. x

The cropped trouser

With this ever changeable climate I am trying to come up with fab new spring summer looks for my clients without them freezing to death, or looking overly summery on an over cast day!

If you are having the same quandary then look to a cropped or 7/8th's trouser.  It loos summery and fresh with out leaving you with blue legs from the cold!

My Top 3 on the high street or on-line are:

Oasis Navy crop trouser £35.00

Zara, Trouser with turn-up £29.99

or Isabella Oliver 365 Cigarette pant £95.00

Wear them for work with a vibrant print blouse, a blazer or on the weekend with a loose T-shirt and leather jacket.  You will look fabulous.  Just make sure you team it with a fab heel to elongate those pins, my top shoe choices would be:

This Next court for work £18.00

This Aldo wedge for weekend £70.00