Style Dispensary - Featuring Carols Style Dilemma

 Hi there, welcome back to another exciting Style Dispensary.This weeks Style Dilemma comes from the lovely Carol, a uk My Passport to Style follower. Carol had been struggling with how to adapt her Wardrobe due to recently gaining a stone in weight following illness, she emailed asking me for Style Advice around her Winter Wardrobe in particular she wanted Style guidance on how to find a winter coat that would take her from day to evening.Her brief was berry and olive colours,she wanted a hood if possible, she is keen on 1940s styles with a nipped in waist and UK companies Fat Face and White Stuff that showcase classic Styles, featuring retro prints.She also mentioned that she felt her chest was quite heavy, so obviously wanted to minimise this. Quite a tall order!

  It can be quite a challange to find a coat with a hood that can allows you to make the transisition from day to evening effortlesly and still look stylish wearing a dress or skirt!The 1940s Styles Carol loves, don't generally feature hoods.So here are some of the Styles I chose for Carol that fulfil her desire for berry colours. A hooded option that is sooo chic, coat styles that slim the bust and tummy and a few other picks to give her a head start on her winter wardrobe this season. I think perhaps though it would be great for her to invest in a Stylish  hat, to extend her range of options when choosing a coat, as I know she hates brollys and British winters are generally wet and windy !

 I adore this  berry raincoat from Redoute, simple Styling great colour and a subtle but pretty pattern take the stress out of dressing up or down.Carol could team with these miltary chocolate boots from Ruche, jeans and a olive scarf for a casual look or switch the belt for an Obi belt such as these sophisticated quilted ones featured here for full on glamour for the evening and a dress or even introduce some black leather, which would look amazing with the berry!

This boiled wool coatigan in taupe again Redoute, might not be in the berry or olive colours that Carol loves, but its classic styling (chocolate piping, shawl collar) fabric and colour make it not only flattering, BUT SO EASY to transition  from casual to evening. Wear with an Obi belt for evening and a  skinny wrap around belt for day time like the leather version featured here, quality matters, buy the best you can afford, or go vintage!  

Option three for Carol was this apple green wool coat from her favourite company The White Stuff, chosen again for its classic flattering line, single buttons are by far the best option for bigger busts, as they don't draw attention to where its not welcome! I couldn't resist picking out a few smart casual pieces that would work well with this range of looks.The key here is simple cuts and layering longer light weight pieces over one another, which will elongate the figure and slim, whilst keeping the cold out! Sxxx

P.S follow me? email or post me your Style Dilemma/Questions to sharonstyle@fsmail.net and if your lucky it could get chosen and feature here! xx

The Reign Of Detailing Has Begun 2009- All Hail The Zipper!

Wardrobe Workout

This season is a Stylist dream,detailing is everywhere and where there is a detail there is the potential for looking super Stylish and playing to the strengths of our bodyshape. However to avoid looking like a christmas tree, my one and only tip, is don't pile it on! Go skinny on the detailing.Sx

Todays post is all about those little details, that elevate clothing from off the peg status, to clothing that allows you to express yourself, flatters you and allows you to create your own expression of Style. To be Stylish , we need great inspiration. So to celebrate those that inspire me, Im tagging the following blogs that inspire me with the achingly Stylish, Stylish blogger award, complete with a chic vintage lady and her Stylish purse.I would like to invite these lovely ladies, to share 5 Stylish facts about themselves! Thank-you to all my lovely followers and readers also.Sx

Lulu Letty

Blue Bird Notes

Torie Jane

Laurens Loves

The Style Strutter

The Bottom Of The Ironing Basket

Roll Up Your Sleeve

Afetir

Lemon Drop Vintage

Day 2 Of Dear Diary Event-How The Other Half Live- Lauren On Sharon!

There IS STILL TIME to enter our fabulous Dear Diary, competiton sponsored by our friends over @ Ruche and Emmas Boutique,please don't miss out! Just visit Day 1s post below Day 2, for full details ( whats not to love shoes and arm candy?!)

Sharon & Lauren  xx

Lauren of Laurens Loves interviewing little ole me!

Q1.Whats the one item you can't leave the house without and why?
A- I would have to say lipstick, not sure if its related to my bollywood roots being anglo asian tee hee, but I feel undressed without something to dress my pout!

Q2.You're a big fan of cooking. What's your signature dish?
A- puddings are my favourite thing to cook, I make a mean steamed lemon sponge, using a whole lemon! Its delicous!How to make friends and influence their waistline I think my receipe book would be called, tee hee!

Q3.Whats the garment every woman should own?
A-The cliche, but ever so true answer is a trench, they suit every bodyshape and are a complete classic that looks right whatever the occassion, I have a real penchant for some of the shorter versions that Burberry have brought out this year, love browsing in their gorgeous Manchester store!My first ever trench was a beautiful cream 3/4 length Aquascutum mac from a charity shop bought years ago, I fell in love that day, however I looked the mac worked for me.

Q4.Going for a smear test is hugely important. What would you say to women who skip their appointment?

A.The longer you leave anything, the harder it becomes to do. My father always says, your health is the most important thing in life, he is a Dr working in a third world country where free health care doesn't exsist as it does here in the UK, but he is soo right.It's about prioritising our health as women over your embarrasment, discomfort and fears!

Q5.You're a freelance stylist.How did you begin your career and whats the most rewarding thing about your job?
A.I became a Style Consultant, after I realised through feedback from friends and associates in my previous work as a counsellor that I had a natural appitude for taking high fashion trends and  interpreting these trends in ways that made them infinately more wearable, whilst still enabling men and women to look and feel fantastic.So I retrained and have never looked back! My job is so rewarding, I see it as a partnership beween the person who is wanting you to help them transform their image or find the perfect party outfit and myself, who works to transform them, by visualising and listening to who they are and who they want to say they are.

Q6.Which celebrity style do you admire the most and why?Gwen Stefani has fabulous style! She juxta positions lady like chic, with British eccentricty and throws in sporty, because she is a dancer I think she understands clothes and movement.She knows how to make casual elegant, she is beautiful, I love her spirit and her joy.I think I relate to her, because I was a dancer also at one time in my life.

Q7.Whose your favourite glamorous pin up of yester year and what do you think they can teach us? I would have to Sophia Lorren, she was stunning, so unusual for a pin up at that time, really confident in her curves, although Marilyn had lovely soft marshmallowy curves and a real sweetness of character and Audrey Hepburn with her doe eyes was one of the most humble and beautiful women on earth. The main thing we can learn from all  those pin ups was they embraced their assets and showed them off proudly! So Audrey who had a small chest didn't fret about it, she wore figure hugging clothes that showed of her streamline figure and hats that framed and drew attention to her incredible eye shape! They were also were not scared of sticking to one strong statement look that worked for them! It's still a formulae that works well today look at JLO with her maxi dresses.

Q8.How would you describe your own style and whats the one item that always makes you feel good when you put it on? 
A- I would describe my style as eccletic, I always feel good at the moment when I put on my dark denium paneled pencil skirt, it hugs my curves! I mix my look up all the time. For me cut, colour and fabric are so important, so clothes that combine all those elements speak to me, I love and am attracted to clothes with a theatrical bent, that are dramatic and romantic corsetts, fabulous coats, well tailored jackets capes.I suppose I like well cut classical clothing made using unusual fabrics to add a modern or sporty edge, but I also suit, fifties style cuts because I have a squashed hour glass shape and they help to really define my curves!The lipstick helps too!

Q9.If you had £5.00 in your pocket, what would you spend it on?

A. Coffee with a friend!

Q10.What would be your ideal date? (Apart from your husband, Ashley of course!)
A.Oh you are naughty Lauren! Thats easy Johnny Depp, those mocha eyes, his quirky nature and Im undone, to quote a famous line from a very romantic films he starred in with a gorgeous french actress, ring any bells ladies? 

love Sharon xx

This Weeks Style Dispensary, Featuring Sher Of Beneath The Crystal Stars

This weeks Style dilemma comes from Sher of Beneath The Crystal Stars, she asked me for Style Advice on how to wear her favourite skirt.

                                        
I can understand why Sher would struggle, her tartan skirt is such a pretty style, but this colour is nortoriously hard to wear as the red has almost a fluorescent tone, so it needs to be handled with extreme caution! Sher has done the right thing working this trend, through wearing a skirt rather than a top, as the colour is very hard to wear next to your face. The good news is all the colours this skirt should be teamed with, to temper its brash colour are perfect for Shers beautiful asian skin tone and will help her look luminous rather than sallow, these are navy, black, grey and silver.Sher and I share the same skin tone, as my father, who as some of you will know is asian, so these colours work well for me too!
Ok, on to Style, I believe that to create the most stylish tartan look, you need to be true to the skirts herritage and stick to classic pairings whilst giving a more modern feel through the use of accesories.I teamed a navy argyle polo, with beautiful suede snow boots and a gorgeous little satchel from topshop to add a bit of interest for a really casual, kicking up the leaves feel.
 My 2nd look, centre is inspired by the 20s vintage flapper girl feel, with a very elegant embellished black sleevless blouse, silver leaf earrings, brocade bag in gold and black and I just had to choose these adorable but slightly quirky vintage inspired gold lame flats, full on glamour and I think a great evening look. Far right we have a smart casual look, the grey shirt should be worn buttoned to the top, no need for jewelry the tailoring should do the talking, but I did add a more contempory twist by off setting the grey tone of the shirt, with a silver skinny belt.Team the skirt with grey tights and these sensational grey and black boots to lengthen the leg. Top it all off with this gorgeous black cape, that would work well with all these hot looks. Sx                                                      

True Colours Are Beautiful

As most of you fashionistas out there are probably aware, the natural world has been a huge source of inspiration for fashion designers all over the globe, from reworking prints such as leopard and zebra to using poweful images of animals such as gorillas and prehistoric animals on T-shirts and dresses. So I decided to get jiggy with the whole animal kingdom inspiration thing and today my muse is the the little ladybird.Tiny it may be, but from a colour perspective it packs a punch, translate that into the world of fashion and you're onto a winning formula, at least for those of you out there, who like to get noticed! Beware this colour combo is not for the faint of heart! My advice keep hair and makeup simple. So here are some of my favourite ladybird looks for this A/W, some as usual are a little playful! In case any of you are wondering, the red and black sculpture of a eighteenth century lady is a cake! Sx

You Need Your Greens Too!

Hi there gals, I decided to try and balance our Style diet with a few delicous green and ethical picks today, its a really great feeling buying clothes that don't compromise on Style, but enable the people who make them to live dignified lives, or keep our precious planet healthy, to pass on to future generations.My Dad is Nepalese and lives in his home country of Nepal (I was born in the UK), some of you may have heard of, home to the Himalayan mountains and one of the poorest countries in the world. Gradually things are improving in Nepal as more and more co-operatives are set up which ensure men and woman receive a fair days pay for making their beautiful handmade garments.Giving us all somthing to smile about.

I just had share some of these beautiful bags from ethical clothing company Hug, I think their silver wrapper bag is pure genuis (made from crisp packets) and metalics are set to stay. Next up is this sweet organic cotton dot bag, I love its mosaic like quality, followed by this stunning Peacock purse in shimmering turquoise which, would you believe it is under £6.00! I have a feeling Koralee might quite like this!Their felt Emily bag is so clever, it combines the structure of a leather bag with the softness of felt, it comes in chocolate also. Moving onto Autumn /Winter wear, hopefully by now, there is not a sniff of a candy/chocolate bar in sight, as you are feverishly fixated on my hot and healthy Style picks. Just think the extra pounds/dollars spent on chocolate/candy could mean that you could start to build up some juicy ethical buys.Ok starting with sweaters we have a hand knitted designer led, ink black tank and sweater with pretty embroidered detailing on the front of the tank and as a necklace feature on the sweater, made in Nepal, all by People Tree. Next I have a whole host of lip smacking lovelies for you, how about this hand woven dogtooth dress with contempory silk paneling on the shoulder or this handwoven rich magenta and orange totem dress ( one of my personal favourites). I was inspired by People Trees flamboyant beautifully made Kimono Style pieces, both the Kimono top and dress are made from organic cotton.The Kimono dress showcases, sections of striking red, black and white striped paneling and could be worn for either day or evening with the right accessories and the blouse is feminine but strong and as you can see works really well with black.  Im sure this will delight you gals who love black, Angela Henrie springs to mind! My finale pick is this stunning reycycled teardrop sari dress, in red black and grey.If all else fails and you simply couldn't resist the chocolate/candy, why not go for a Divine chocolate/Candy bar its fairtrade! Visit People Tree at http://www.peopletree.co.uk/ or Hug at http://www.hug.co.uk/

Just wanted to say a big thank-you to all of you who take the the time to read my Style posts and for following me, I really appreciate it and I enjoy reading all your comments, you are one Stylish bunch!  Sx