Get Wardrobe-Ready for Life After Lockdown

After what has felt like such a long time, I am thrilled to reopen my studio and offer my clients my one-to-one personal styling sessions in my Cork academy now lockdown restrictions are beginning to relax.

During lockdown, it has been easy to get lazy when it comes to choosing what to wear. Now we are able to go out and start enjoying the ‘new normal’, it’s time to ditch the loungewear, and start dressing to impress again!

Here are a few personal styling tips if you have lost your confidence because of the pandemic and are looking for a new look as we head into the season ahead.

Start ‘Wardrobe Weeding’

If you are thinking about how personal styling could benefit you, the process of ‘wardrobe weeding’ is a great method for allowing you to think critically about your current wardrobe. Open up your wardrobe, take a look – and be honest.

There is probably a core 20{619a3c8b1f8a18e6647bfd73a853e0c63177444a908d5a5aa58714055aa8e4d1} of what’s in there that you return to time and again, whether that be tailoring or casual jeans and sweaters – that is your capsule wardrobe right there. By looking at your existing clothes and by following these few simple steps will help focus your mind, help you tap into your style before we decide to buy anything new.

Try everything on – This will allow you to get a feel for why you like/dislike an item and get to know the style you tend to go for.
Sort your clothing into keep and get-rid – Whether something no longer fits, or you’ve simply fallen out of love with it, it’s important to make space in your wardrobe by removing anything unnecessary.
Create outfits with what you’re keeping –Work through the clothes you would like to keep, and during your personal styling consultation I’ll show you how to style these clothes in ways you may not have thought of before.
Take pictures of the outfits – This will give you a reference when it comes to styling yourself outside of the personal styling session.
Make a shopping list for any new items you need – This process will allow us to visualise where your wardrobe falls short, and what items will provide you with more styling opportunities and where to source each item.

A Capsule Wardrobe – in a Modern Way

A capsule wardrobe requires team players. Whatever your personal styling preferences, there are core items that can pull an outfit together that you can wear on repeat. Whether you opt for understated neutral-tones, or you tend to gravitate towards bold colours, staple items can allow your unique items to sing, or do all the talking in an outfit.

Here are a few examples of some essential pieces that, in my experience, having run my own personal styling consultancy for over two decades, you simply cannot go wrong with.

The Oversized Shirt

(Image: Arket – €55)

Paired with jeans for a more relaxed look, or a pair of smart trousers for a chic back to the office outfit, you cannot go wrong with an oversized shirt. Particularly in white or blue striped, a very versatile staple to have in your wardrobe.

A Simple Blazer

(Image: COS – €99)

This is modern with a casual twist and is a great look that will work perfectly for a full range of post-lockdown events. My personal styling session will help you create a range of different looks with staple pieces such as this essential blazer.

Relaxed Trousers

(Image: Mango – €39.99)

Staple shopping is all about finding pieces that can be dressed up and dressed down and a relaxed pair of trousers are perfect for this. Dress them up with a pair of heeled boots for an evening outing, or pair them with trainers for a day running errands. As a personal stylist, proportional dressing is all important, so I recommend that you show-off the waist in this particular style.

Well-fitting Jeans

(Image: River Island – €50)

Jeans are a well-known fail-safe. However, you may be struggling to find a style that is not only comfortable but suits your shape and personal style too. The shops are full of a range of shapes and colours, and my personal styling expertise will help you find that perfect pair you’ve been after.

Easy fit Sweater

(Image: Mango – €39.99)

This fuss-free sweater makes layering simple on cold sleepy mornings when you just want to throw on and go and still look stylish while feeling cosy. I think the key to styling simple pieces is in the small detail. Skinny jeans, wide leg pants, a folded cuff, a collared shirt underneath, great boots that can take the look up a notch without being too complicated.

Book Your Private Styling Session Today

As an expert personal stylist, I have worked with thousands of women with different body shapes, personalities, and preferences – I welcome clients into my private styling studio, get to know their character, lifestyle, and the problems they face when it comes to dressing, allowing me to get a true feel for each person.

If you need my help getting your wardrobe ready for winter and to face the world again, get in touch today to book your first personal styling consultation in Cork.