Guest blogger Lisa Gillbe is a Personal Stylist and Image expert based in South London. Her diverse client base includes Mum’s, successful professionals, entrepreneurs, television presenters and radio personalities as well as major corporations. Lisa’s experience editing wardrobes and personal shopping have given her a wealth of knowledge into what people need in their wardrobes, that most people are hoarders and the importance of being the best version of yourself.
Key pieces to create a perfect capsule wardrobe
Having a stylishly put-together and organised wardrobe will have startling results throughout all aspects of your life. Total Wardrobe Care take care of organising wardrobes, clothing repairs, alterations and mending as well as moth control and storage but is your wardrobe style up-to-date and refreshed and full of clothes you love? Does your wardrobe reflect who you are now or who you were 10 or 15 years ago? Wouldn’t it be nice not only to have a well organised wardrobe but a stylish one too and to never stress about what to wear, knowing you’ve got it right.
During the last few years editing wardrobes and personal shopping for people, I have gathered fascinating insight into how people get dressed, their insecurities about getting it right and frustrations with shopping. I realised that I have continually recommended the same few pieces to a varied range of people that resonate with them all despite having very different lives. There have been so many articles written about ‘core wardrobe staples’ but I know these work for real women with practical lives.
Although everyone has their own Personal Style, the way you communicate yourself to the world (which has nothing to do with fashion) no matter what that is and is and even if you are an entrepreneur, a business owner, professional, a trustee or a stay-at-home Mum, there are always occasions when you’ll need something classic to count on. Even Kate Moss, usually a rock chick has some classic pieces in her wardrobe, perhaps the only people who don’t are Bjork and Grayson Perry but even they might surprise us!
My job as a Personal Stylist is to dress individuals and help them uncover their Personal Style and create a wardrobe that only contains clothes they love, a perfect balance of essential staples and remarkable pieces for every occasion. Not everyone wants or needs ankle boots or biker boots yet for me they are an absolute necessity year on year. However this article is about the core pieces that almost everyone would get lots of use out of because one way or another we are all practical women with real lives:
1. A well cut blazer
Useful over a pair of jeans with some flats in the day, over a glamorous top for evening, over a short dress to ‘class-up’ the look or with tailored shorts and heels for a sassy evening look. The most beautifully cut jackets I have found are by Theory, available at Harvey Nicholls, Fenwick’s and Selfridges.
2. Pair of smart flats
You might be a casual relaxed girl and opt for converse but if you have appointments something smarter will work well in any wardrobe. Charlotte Olympia does the best flats on the market if you have a cheeky side and don’t like anything too classic.
3. A crisp white shirt OR a silk blouse (both would be good)
Not exclusive to people who work in offices, a beautiful silk blouse in cream or ivory can dress-up jeans and elevate a day look. Margaret Howell does the best shirts and young French brand Maje does great cream and ivory silk blouses.
4. Court shoes. 1 x ‘straight’ and 1 x glittery and amazing!
We all need a good pair of heels to slip on to completely change an outfit and where necessary add power. Lucy Choi is Jimmy Choo’s niece and does gorgeous court shoes with something for everyone.
5. A ‘WOW’ dress or dinner dress that makes you feel fabulous
This is for those times when you are out for a special evening of cocktails or dinner and you want to pull out all the stops: Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Hayden Lace Dress.
6. A leather jacket, a denim jacket or (SS15) a military jacket
The point is, a light jacket for when you don’t need a coat and the weather is chilly or for evening. This season coloured leather jackets replace black and denim jackets are everywhere too, like All Saints North Jacket.
7. A well cut pair of jeans
Skinny isn’t for everyone however straight usually works. I like Frame denim jeans.
8. A revolving selection of ‘going-out’ tops
The huge 70’s revival going on now means there are lots of amazing bat winged and bohemian inspired tops to keep your look current. The great thing about tops is that simply by changing these regularly it is easy to keep your look interesting and avoid looking dated! Isabel Marant, the current Queen of Boho style has a great selection of tops and Zara has a huge selection of 70’s styles.
9. A trench coat
Let’s face it, we have 7 months of pretty rubbish weather in this country and a trench coat like Burberry’s will always be useful and suits everyone!
There you have my odd number of core wardrobe essentials for spring/summer and beyond.
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