Imagination Archives | Personal Styling With Imagination

6 Steps to an autumn wardrobe

4th September 2019 By HKT Image Consultant

I know, I know…the kids are only just back at school and summer isn’t over yet (well hopefully not anyway), and I want you to start thinking about autumn/winter clothes.

Actually, here’s the thing…autumn creations have been in the shops for over a month now. The shops are full of exciting new clothes and the distinctive colour palette that marks the autumn season on the High Street.

Are you like me? I go for a couple of years and love everything in my wardrobe, just adding a few items to freshen up the look and then suddenly one morning you look in your wardrobe and there’s nothing! Clothes that you loved wearing have suddenly lost their charm. Almost overnight you’re bored with the colours and the style is starting to look a little last year.

I took a long hard look at my wardrobe this week and I’m afraid I think I’ve reached the stage where it needs a real shake-up. So what is my advice for getting an autumn wardrobe on track? Here is my six step approach…

Be ruthless – take a long hard look at your clothes and identify what is really past its best. Send to charity or a clothes bank. If you’ve just gone-off an item you could swap it or give to a friend. Or you could hold your own swishing party with a few friends.
Think about why you’re no longer keen on some things. Have you changed shape, had a baby, put on weight or lost weight so that the style is no longer quite as good on you? Or has there been a major change in style – like the trend away from skinny leg towards wider leg 70s style trousers. Get rid of anything that doesn’t make you really excited.
Take a look at your diary and work out what events you need outfits for, in the next 6 months. Have you got something for your friends’ Wedding/Baby Christening/Add your own event here
Have you seen some outfits on celebs that you love or do you admire someone’s style that you’ve seen in the magazines or on TV – work out what it is you like about the look and think about how you could wear a similar look.
Work out what you might need to replace or buy. Make yourself a shopping list and set a budget (and stick to it!).
Spend an hour or so Internet shopping to get a good idea of what’s in style and available and this will help you plan a shopping trip.

Putting a wardrobe together from scratch doesn’t happen overnight. Indeed, you may not be working from scratch. you may already have some key items to build on and just need a couple of new items to really give your wardrobe a lift. Whatever your stage in the process – you will need some quiet time to plan, which will save hours of leg work. And it’s OK to come home from a shopping trip empty handed. At the very least, get out of your comfort zone and try on as many new styles and shapes as you can while shopping – you may be in for a pleasant surprise and get new inspiration for your wardrobe.

You’ll see an eclectic mix this autumn 2019 Let me know how you get on…

And if you need some moral support, why not book a personal shopping session with me at Bluewater…

Helen

PS Why not Download my September wardrobe planner here:

Get ahead with a hat…

9th May 2019 By HKT Image Consultant

At any formal occasion a hat is still the order of the day. But which hat should you choose? Well it depends on which event you are attending and how formal you are expected to be. Here is the advice on Hats from some of the venues where hats are expected:

Royal Ascot

Village Enclosure: It’s compulsory for women to wear a hat, headpiece or fascinator and smart dress.

Queen Anne Enclosure: Women must wear a headpiece or fascinator.

Royal Enclosure: Hats should be worn; a headpiece which has a base of 4 inches (10cm) or more in diameter is acceptable as an alternative to a hat. For men, a black or grey top hat.

Epsom

Queen’s Stand on Investec Derby Day: Ladies must wear formal day dress, or a tailored trouser suit, with a hat or substantial fascinator.

Queen’s Stand on Investec Ladies’ Day: Ladies are asked to wear a fascinator or hat.

Henley

“Whilst not a requirement, it is customary for ladies to wear hats”.

Le Prix de Diane, Chantilly France

The advice from Sophie Thalman, Présidente du Concours D’élégance: “Alors, Mesdames, cultivez l’élégance, prenez soin de chaque détail…

By Harriet Bespoke Designs

Et n’oubliez pas votre chapeau!”

Paraphrasing: Dress with care and attention to detail and don’t forget your hat…

In the UK Philip Treacy is a well know milliner and regularly provides hats for the Royal Family and formal Royal Events. With the Duchess of Cambridge, Sophie Wessex, Zara Phillips and countless society girls wearing her designs, milliner Jane Taylor is also well-known in certain circles.

But if you’re looking for a something a little different for your own special occasion whether it be a wedding or the races you could take a peek at the lovely designs “by Harriet”

Harriet can offer a bespoke design, made to order, following a consultation…as well as Bridal designs and an accessory service.

She has some top tips too, which may answer any fears and problems that you may have about wearing a hat.

Under 500 Calories

13th February 2019 By HKT Image Consultant

When you own a Thermomix® have access to the Cookidoo
® platform you are rarely stuck for ideas on what to cook for supper. A new mini collection of recipes comes out every week and this week “Under 500 Calories” was published. Now you may think that that’s not very exciting – and I must admit I was about to ignore it, until…

As a Thermomix Team Leader and Advisor we have regular meetings and ongoing training. And at our meeting this week the Branch Managers from the southern area treated us to several of the recipes from this collection for our lunch.

There are some real winners in this collection. We tasted Warm haloumi and pomegranite salad, Mexican stuffed peppers, Prawn pasta with rocket pesto and Coconut and spinach Dahl…of course when you sample all these on one plate I think you probably have more than 500 calories! However they were really delicious dishes and I’ll definitely be trying them myself.

If you haven’t been on Cookidoo for a while “Under 500 Calories” is not the only new collection. There has been “Mocktails”, “Christmas Vegetarian and Vegan”, “A Look Back at 2018” and this week “Storecupboard Wonders”.

As it’s #Veganuary you may want to have a little look at the the Christmas collection – although when you search on Cookidoo you will find plenty or recipes that are suitable for Vegans.

If you haven’t really got to grips with Cookidoo and you live in Kent, UK do give me a call and I can arrange to pop in and help you find out more about this fantastic website. Oh and of course if you don’t own a Thermomix – you’ll need to start there! If you’d like to see this appliance in action you can find out more here and phone 07725 576472 to arrange a demonstration.

My attempt at Chicken and Chorizo Filo Pie…delicious!

Take the stress out of shopping…

21st October 2018 By HKT Image Consultant

Do you hate shopping? Does the thought of going shopping send you into panic and stress you out? Or perhaps you have an event coming up and you have to get some new clothes or a new outfit, but don’t know where to start….ever considered a Personal Shopper?

An independent Personal Shopper can really take the stress out of shopping. If you pick one with experience you’ll often find your special outfit within the first 20 minutes…I can hear you doubting whether that’s possible…

Here’s the thing…

I’m out shopping with clients week in, week out. I know the current stock in the shops. I understand all the price points. I know all the styles in every shop. I appreciate the current trends, the fashions and the fads…

Then I know how to apply it to you. I understand the colours that suit you best, the styles that flatter your figure, how to purchase new items and stay within your budget. I will introduce you to new brands and give you fresh information to take the stress out of your next solo shopping trip. I can style your outfits and help you find accessories and makeup.

Why hire a Personal Shopper with Imagination?

There are all sorts of reasons to hire the services of an Independent Personal Shopper. Most of all, because we are independent. I can take you in to any shop and there will be no pressure to purchase, because I am not employed to sell. My role is to make you feel totally confident in the items you purchase – whether you have £100 or £1,000 to spend.

And don’t worry it’s totally confidential. No-one knows that I am a professional shopper (although shop assistants may wonder why I shop so often and have so many friends!). And that’s it…we shop as if we are friends…no-one knows that you are my client…

So next time you have an outfit to find or you need a wardrobe update…why not take the stress out of the situation and hire a personal shopper…one with Imagination.

It costs just £145 for 3 hours shopping and a 30 minute discussion over a coffee prior to shopping. Please phone 07725 576472 to book your appointment. (Please note shopping is best in the week when the shops are quieter – ideal time 10am start.)

Or if you’d like to treat a friend you can purchase a Gift Voucher for Personal Shopping here.

Let’s speak soon! Helen

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