You can leave your hat on...

With the weather having plunged head first into winter this week, it's time to start thinking about those heavy duty accessories. Not only for the purposes of keeping warm and battling the elements, but also for adding depth and colour to your seasonal looks. Having been viewed in the past as a novelty item, the humble wooly hat for example is now seen as a popular addition to any outfit. With its ability to add individuality as well as style, wooly hats are now available in a range of designs and colours fit for any fashionisto. Below are a few of my personal favourites for this season.

Hype accessories are hugely popular right now. Adding a touch of urban styling as well as a pop of colour, this piece could prove to be the one. 

Or maybe this more traditional wool one is for you, simply ideal for funking up classic/monochrome looks. 

Finally this one is for those of you already thinking about Christmas. It's festive fairisle pattern will be sure to put a spring in your step. 

For help in strengthening your winter look, contact one of our stylists today. 

Until next time,

Matt x

Halloween Inspiration

As you know the scariest night of the year is drawing upon us, which can only mean one thing - fancy dress costumes!!! If you have a Halloween party planned with no costume organised, there is no need to fret. I have sourced a few ideas from celebrities who know how to celebrate in style!

Can you guess who the celebrities are? Let us know by commenting below.

The Friday Girl's Tips: Dress for your shape; Pears! 2/2

Happy Friday lovelies, this is your second installment of the How to Dress for Your Shape if you're a pear! You can read the first part, on tops, here.

This part is all about how to dress the part that is all part of the problem, the bottom half. Whether it be your bum or your legs, or both, these bits are going to be slightly bigger than the top of you, hence making you a pear shaped lady. This shape can also be called the triangle shape, if you've heard that one before and might be wondering what that is. 

We're going to look at some clever tips & tricks with trousers & skirts to enhance your gorgeous figure. 

Jeans

The classic jean cut for a pear shaped figure is anything that will balance your ankles out with your hips such as a boot-cut jean or even a flare. I love a flared, wide-leg jean and you can find some great ones at Levi's. Levi's do a great range called Curve ID where they have three fits, so depending on the size of your pear, they will have the perfect fit. They come in Slight, Demi and Full curve. 

Top tips for trousers & jeans
- Stay away from side pockets or detailing as this will add volume to your hips
- Go for clean, tailored lines so there's no distractions from your great bum!
- Belts should be slim and a dark or similar colour to your jeans/trousers so to not draw attention to the bit you're trying to remedy!

SkirtsAn A-Line or Pencil skirt will look great on a pear-shaped figure. The pencil may be for the more body-confident of the pears, but trust me, just try one and you'll be amazed by the confidence boost it will give you! You could even try an illusion pencil skirt or dress to make the body seem even longer and slimmer. This camel one from Next is a great autumn neutral and has the eye-drawing illusion panel down the centre. At only £22 this is a bargain for a piece of fashion magic!

Tweet me with any questions that you'd like answered.
Bye for now! Allie x

Style Icon: Solange Knowles

I admire Solange Knowles for her quirky, bold style that appears effortless and natural. The beauty is does not shy away from colour and print through experimenting with electric, vivid shades and patterns. She explores various silhouettes from body-con dresses, tailored suits and cute shorts to complete her stylish look. Overall, she never fails to step out in a winning outfit.

Which outfit do you prefer?

Let's get serious about Sweaters!

Ok so for a long time, the sweater has been viewed as the go to winter warmer! The item of clothing that doesn't always appear the most stylish, but will provide all the comfort you need.
This has all been changed!
Thanks to a sudden surge in designer interest, the humble sweater has seen a boost in popularity as well as a rise in the style stakes!
AW13 brings with it the widest variety of fits, styles, colours and shapes seen in a very long time. Perhaps ever!
Whilst high end designers really set the bar, the high street is offering accessible styles at a much more affordable price. Here is the rundown of my top 3...

Topshop Croc Front Sweater

River Island Leopard Print Sweater

Zara Striped Sweater

So there we have it. I couple of options for you to consider when you are out shopping this weekend.

Until next time,

Matt x

Perfect pick: classic, sexy, feminine & funky shoes

There are no shortage of beautiful shoes on the high street this season and River Island seem to have hit the nail on the head with a collection of some classic yet sexy, funky and feminine shoes designed to wow many outfits. Our favourites:

Don't take our word for it, check the full range out for yourself: www.riverisland.com

Strike A Pose

Spend your Tuesday afternoon creating a montage of character's for your cat to experience. It sure looks fun!!

Items needed:

A Cat

Cardboard

Scissors

Coloured Pens

Imagination

Which version is your favourite? 

Classic Style: Michael Kors

Creating a classic style in the wardrobe:

There are ways to set a trend and there are ways to draw attention from those in awe of your style. But whatever that style might be, there's always room for a classic staple item in the wardrobe. 

Classic designer brands such as Ralph Lauren, Prada, Chloe, Chanel etc etc all have their place in the market and a price tag to match. But a brand such as Michael Kors create not only classic styles to match those of high designer brands but the price tag is affordable to those who prefer quality over quantity. Remember, splash out on one or two key items in the wardrobe and work them with high street affordable trends for an enviable style and wardrobe that will work season after season. 

Invest in items such as an all important trench, typical tote, black court shoe or the ever so popular Michael Kors Chronograph Watch to complete a classic look that you won't need to replace for a very long time!

www.harveynichols.com

Just be COS!

Its rare that you are able to find a clothes shop that offers high end minimal styles at high street prices. However that is exactly what you will get with COS. Being a sister brand to Swedish giant H&M means you can instantly expect accessible designs and affordability. However, what makes COS different is the brands expensive looking aesthetic. Quality fabrics and tailoring give you the shape and look rarely seen in many high street stores. With a growing awareness and buzz developing around the brand, there is no doubt that many more will continue to pop up around the country. Look out for the nearest one to you! Until then take a look at some of my personal seasonal favourites...

For help in opening your mind to other brands and lesser known labels, why not get in touch with one of our stylist to arrange a personal shopping session?

Until next time,

Matt x

Be Yourself

Everyone's guilty of seeking approval of friends, work colleagues or even total strangers. Although, it is useful to get advice from others (especially from the stylists here at The Image Consulting Company) it is important to remain true to yourself.

The Image Consulting Company aims to enhance our clients own unique style and personality through techniques and useful advice. Our goal is to help people express and experiment with fashion as a representation of themselves.

I love how this image shows that just because everyone else is wearing black it is acceptable to wear red and be yourself!!

The Friday Girl's Tips: Dress for Your Shape: Pears!

Over our time at Bristol Fashion Week, we did a little bit of market research and we found that a lot of the women we saw were pear shapes. This means slightly heavier on the bottom than the top. We saw size 8 pears to size 18 pears! A lot of ladies are surprised that pear shapes can be smaller sizes but they can, it just means that you're bottom half isn't in perfect proportion with your top! But who wants to be perfect, hey? 

Here's a little post to give some little hints and tips for dressing the pear, this week I'm focusing on tops

Being a pear, one of the best things to do is elongate your figure and balance out your top half with your hips. Draw the eye up with slightly padded shoulders or a statement scarf or necklace. Highlight your waist with a skinny belt if wearing a dress and wear something dark and slimming on your bottom half if you're very conscious of it.

Try a bright top to draw the eye upwards, here are some from Topshop I'm loving at the moment;

1. Topshop Heart Geo Print Shirt

2. Floral Print Tee

This is also a fab shirt from Marks & Spencer which will elongate the torso and draw attention upwards; perfect tucked in to a pair of tailored trousers for a smart effortless look

Last tip: One of the worst things that you can do is wear a big baggy garment on top to cover yourself up as it will just look like you're as big as your bottom half all over! 

Make A Bag Statement

Statement bags are a great way of adding a unique touch to any outfit or occasion. Whether you prefer a classic clutch, a large tote or a relaxed duffel there are endless amounts of print, colour and styles available this season.

I have collated a selection of bags below to demonstrate how simple and fun it is to experiment with this essential accessory.

Coast White Clutch: £40

Warehouse Cobalt Blue Clutch: £26

Hobbs Leopard Clutch: £129

Warehouse Tote Bag: £38

Zara Maroon Duffel: £39.99 

As you can see there is such a great variety on the high street. If you would us to point you in the right direction be sure to book a personal styling session today with one of our stylists. 

Lighter Life: How to dress for your changing shape

Recently the team here at The image Consulting Co took to pages of the 'Lighter Life' magazine styling a photo shoot for four lovely ladies who have lost a total of 26 stone on the Lighter Life diet plan. The results of which are now featured on the Lighter Life blog: 

Lighter Life Blog: We lost 26 Stone!

"On our recent LighterLife magazine photo shoot, Emmeline styled looks for four of our fabulous slimmers, who had lost 26 stone between them (check out the pic below to see what they looked like after their makeover). They all felt amazing in their new outfits, but admitted they had no idea what to wear now that their shape had changed.

Emmeline offered four top tips on what to look out for when shopping for your new shape:

Colour: Wearing the right colour can make a big difference to your overall look – and how you feel as well. Many people wear black and hide behind that because they think it’s slimming, but in actual fact building different prints and colours into your wardrobe can help you balance out your proportions better and feel more confident in what you’re wearing.

Size: Remember that the label is just a number. It’s different in every shop, so don’t just religiously stick to one size because it’s what you’ve always worn. Take a few different sizes into the fitting room and try them all on.

Fit: Lots of women continue to wear baggy clothes, even after they’ve slimmed down and a lot of LighterLife clients have told me they don’t know how to wear fitted garments now. The most flattering clothes hug your shoulders and nip in at the waistline. We tend to hide our waistlines – but really emphasising that can help make you appear slimmer. Try things on and move around in them to really get an idea of how that garment is going to fit you.

Accessorise: The right accessories, such as a necklace or a bangle, can really lift an outfit and perhaps take the focus away from areas you don’t want to emphasise. Try on a few different bits and bobs with each outfit to see what looks good – but remember not to go overboard. One or two statement pieces are far better than three or four small ones

Well done ladies - you all look fantastic and have happy healthy bodies with amazing results :)

Want to know what goes on behind the scenes? 
Head over to Emmeline's blog to find out!

How to Wear Colour

Many women find it difficult to introduce colour to their outfit and turn to black as a safe option but here at The Image Consulting Company we LOVE colour ......... and we don't except a red sole as an excuse!

Here are a few examples of how the lay in questioning below could add colour without having to change her outfit.

1. A coloured blazer would instantly transform and lift her outfit.
2. A printed scarf would brighten up her look.
3. Add a statement bag to bring a splash of colour.
4. A striking belt would break up the black ensemble.
5. Wear jewellery to add interest and sparkle.

If you find yourself reaching for your trusty black sweater and trousers each morning book a personal styling trip to add colour and personality to your look.

The Friday Girl's Picks; Winter White Out

A huge trend this Winter will be the white out, winter whites were all over the catwalks over Fashion Month and it's such a chic look to carry off. It looks so clean and a little bit different in the sea of grey and blacks that people tend to gravitate towards over the colder months.

Obviously, pure white can be a bit harsh on some people's skin tones, so choose a cream to compliment your skin tone. Hold up a yellow based cream and a pink based cream up to your face and see which one makes your skin look brighter. Avoid the other one. If you're feeling brave, you have a very warm skin tone or plan on wearing a bright lip or a statement necklace then go all out on the bright white in a dress or a top. 

If you're not feeling brave with the white trend at all why not try a sharp clutch like this one from Whistles? It has a contrasting black side to tie in with the Monochrome trend too. Bonus!

1. Whistles White/Black Small Pouch

White nails are still a huge trend too! Why not try Crabtree & Evelyn's new range of nail varnishes? This one's called Snowdrop and their currently 3 for 2! 

2. Crabtree & Evelyn Nail Lacquer in Snowdrop

Some celebs that have been rocking this look recently are Amanda Seyfriend, Emma Watson & Jennifer Hudson. I love the accessories that they've put with these outfits  tone it down with grey shoes a la Seyfriend or have some fun with metallics like Emma.



Image Source

Trend Alert AW13: Green

With a definite chill in the air this week it's safe to say that autumn will soon be leaving us, thrusting us head first into those long cold months of battling the elements. With this said, there is no reason for your wardrobe to become drab like the weather! A whole selection of colours become available at this time of year, some of which I have previously covered. What with Christmas round the corner too, the party season truly demands a whole new level of statement dressing. One way to achieve this is to go green. This popular hue really comes into its own during the autumn/winter months. With darker olive shaves in particular working their way throughout the high street. With outerwear key this season too, green macs and coats are a timeless piece that will work well with your existing wardrobe. Here are a few key pieces you can easily find on the high street this season...

          

   

Be playful and go green! For help in finding your green pieces this winter get in touch with one of our stylists. 

Until next time,

Matt x

Life is Too Short To Wear Boring Clothes

"Life is too short to wear boring clothes." - What does this statement mean to you?

Here at The Image Consulting Company we hear a lot of comments about why clients shy away from colour, print and current trends due to many factors including age and confidence. I believe in this quote that life is too short to wear clothes that do not excite you and give you confidence. 

Therefore, I challenge you to wear an item of clothing that makes you feel great, whether this is a scarf, piece of jewellery or an amazing dress that you have been saving for a special occasion!! We would love to hear how your day goes by commenting below.

Styling Top Tips!!

These stylish animals know how to dress for their skin tone and body shape by following our top tips from The Image Consulting Company. As they line up for their passport photo or mug shot I couldn't help but notice their great styling!

The Image Consulting Company's Top Tips:

Bear: Warm up for Winter with a printed knit.

Deer: Add a coloured jacket to brighten up your wardrobe (this sure brings out his orange skin tones)

Sloth: Blazers add a smart edge to any outfit.

Pig: Don't be afraid to wear print!

Frog: This orange knit really brings out his eyes!!

Polar Bear: Scarves bring colour and interest to any outfit.

Photographs by Barcelona-based graphic artist Yago Partal 

The Friday Girl Went; Bristol Fashion Week Live Blogging #BFWAW13

I was invited to blog 'live' from the Bristol Fashion Week A/W 13 show last week! The show was great, as always and I love how they use a range of models, from young and petite right through to the gorgeous Grace, the plus sized model and the stunning mature models like Denise.

As usual, Andrew Barton & Mark Heyes were on top form and their witty banter keeps you going between scenes. Here are a few snaps from the day, I hope you like them!

This was the London Calling, punk and rebel inspired theme with fashions from River Island.

I love this gorgeous leopard print jacket from Marks & Spencer Limited Collection.

The lovely Gemma who had the make-over.

These pics are from the amazing Ann Summers scene.

The Winter Wonderland scene for the winter whites trend started with this amazing ballet dancer.

The finale was a frenzy of gorgeous tartans and reds, perfect for this season's trends.