Lots of clothes, nothing to wear?

 

Does this ring a bell, I can guarantee when you read this you say either out loud or in your head........yep that's me?

 

You are so not alone, I can honestly say that every woman I have helped with a wardrobe wake up, wardrobe consultation or wardrobe detox they have called me because they feel like this, even I have felt like this!

 

The other image I love is this one, how many of you open your wardrobe every morning and feel like this, it may not look like this but very near to it.

 

I wanted to help you by giving you some tips on how to get your wardobe ready for the new season and how to make your wardrobe work for you with both your personality and lifestyle.

What I love is that each and every one of you will have a wardrobe that tells a story, it will tell which are your favourite style trousers, whether you like dresses or skirts, is your life more casual than work orientated and so many more intriguing facts like the personality you are.

 

For example; ladies that struggle to find the right dress will have none in their wardrobe but they will probabaly over compensate by having lots of trousers & shoes.

 

I know there will be items in your wardrobe that still have the labels on, are too big/small, you never really liked...maybe now is the time to do something with them and make space for new pieces to update your wardrobe and inject modern new season items.

 

As a firm believer that having a capsule wardrobe makes our life easy and helps us look stunning all the time here are my top tips for building your own capsule wardrobe;

The secret of having a capsule wardrobe is that all your items can be worn  as a standalone or with each other, trust me it makes life less stressful .

My wardrobe wake up tips are make 3 piles;

1. Keep
2. Charity / Swishing party . Re sell
3. Say bye bye

• If you have not worn something for a year and it is not seasonal then it needs to be lovingly placed in one of the above piles. There are some fab places who sell your clothes for you or you can advertise them yourself if good quality. You may get paid for clearing out your wardrobe...how cool is that?
• Keep items that look fab and that you can build on, these will be your base items ie; jeans, black trousers, jacket, skirt, dress etc
• When shopping think of what you have in your new cleansed wardrobe and how any new items will go with that you have, think of colours, styles etc.
• Accessories such as jewellery, belts and scarves are amazing and are wonderful to jazz up any outfit. I recommend to hang your accessories on your hangers in your wardrobe, that way they become another piece of clothing you see when you open the door. It saves you time!
• Keep best neutral shoes/boots to go with everything but shoes with colour look amazing especially in the Spring/Summer months

I hope you are able to use the tips to breathe fresh air into your wardrobe. I can truly say it is great fun and you will feel great after a good clear out, let me know how you get on.

 

Lots of love

Lisa

CeMe Luxury fashion brand

Exquisite tailoring, beautiful draping and ultra feminine designs epitomises CeMe London.

I was so lucky to come into contact with this fabulous brand, I just had to show you. These dresses and jumpsuits are perfect for any lady of many body shapes. Brilliant for those that carries weight on her tummy as the draping illusionises this area.
The wonderful fit is perfect for the Hour glass and Slender / Athletic as they really accentuate the natural curves of the hour glass and help the slender/athletic create those much wanted curves.
The maxi dresses love the pear body shape and the dresses with the lower neckine are great for those top heavy ladies.

The range if colours are amazing, from vibrant to muted from block colours to prints, I really believe you will find one you love.

Here's a sneak peak;


                                               Palloma natural peach pink maxi dress

Sophia blue animal print

Arabella bordeaux jumpsuit

Pop over to their website and see the wonderful range of dresses, tops and jumpsuits.

lots of love

Lisa

Midnight Blues

Dress by H & M

Following on from my last few posts on the new season trends I wanted to show you how so many of our favourite trends are rolling over, they are just being worn slightly differently.

I love how new trends create a modern look to our wardrobes but please don't be a slave to the trends, use them just to keep your look up to date and fresh 

Midnight

Another trend rolling over from previous seasons, this gorgeous colour has the ability to look stunning ,elegant, chic and casual all in one. To achieve this trend look for rich deep blues in modern shapes.

lots of love

Lisa

Fur frenzy

Autumn/Winter 2012/13 is seeing some of the trends carrying over and I love the fact fur has remained an exciting texture into this new season so don't throw away but maybe just change it a little to ensure it is up to date for your look this season

Fur again!

Seen last Autumn/Winter season I am so pleased to see the fur making a return. This season you will see them as the focal point to your outfit.

For the hour glass, pear and slender/athletic body shape the fur waistcoat is a must this season, it will be great as we are seeing them worn with a belt to accentuate the waist.

The waistcoats will vary in length and warmth so opt for the one that suits you.

The lovely picture above shows how wonderful detail at the sleevs just adds that little bit of wow to your outfit.

I for one will be adding a little fur luxury to my wardrobe next season.

lots of love

Lisa

Tasty Tweed AW12/12

I'm going to have a real problem this Autumn/Winter season, I am known for not really having a specific style other than one where I am incredibly comfortable during the day. This season plays right inot my hands and I can honestly say I am so excited as I love nearly all the trends and am already wishing the summer away and the cold weather to come so I can get on wearing it!!!

Here is another sneak preview into another look you will see in our lovely high street stores. I have already seen the most beautiful wool tweed blazer in Primark.

Downtown Abbey

The dramas influences can be seen in the following catwalk references: country tweeds, lace, pearls, cloches, dainty tied shoes, mid-calf silk dresses, dropped waists, subtle velvets, three piece-suits for women and the return of hosiery. 

lots of love

Lisa

Splash the Colour AW12/13

Whilst browsing my twitter this morning it is so apparent that we all just hate the dark grey skies and the chill in the air. It puts quite a downer on our day....do we layer up, do we take a coat and even an umbrella. Isn't it just amazing how the sun really makes us feel like smiling and those around us?

So, I for one am really pleased to see from the AW12 catwalks beautiful splashes of colour,  brights on brights, powerful block colours worn in head-to-toe matching combinations.

You will see these colours in dresses, coats and trousers....what a great way to brighten a dull Autumn day.

The shops are now starting to fill with the new season collections, which one will be your favourite look this year?

lots of love
Lisa

M & S rocking, yes really!!

I really love it when the seasons change and we get to see how the high street start to represent the trends from the fashion shows held earlier in the year.

One of the trends from the new Autumn / Winter season is what they are calling
Optical play, in my mind this is 'trick of the eye'

This trend has already been seen on the red carpet ( worn by Kate Winslett and many others and designed by the wonderful Stella McCartney ) as it is not only beautiful but very flattering.

These garments create an optical illusion by using blocks of colour to add interest and optically tease.

So, I was left a little shell shocked when I saw this gorgeous promo shot today and found out it is a new season dress from M & S, yes, you did read that right M & S!

I am thrilled to see M & S embracing the trends and I am also even more pleased that it should have a reasonable price tag for the majority of us

I am going to bring you more new seasons trends in the next couple of days so please do pop back.

Lots of love

Lisa

Summer competition

I hope you are having a great summer.

I am amazed just how fast it is going and what I have managed to cram in so far...a long weekend in Center Parcs, the climbing wall with the kids in Reading, a swimming course and playing continuous badminton in the garden!!!

So, I thought if your holidays are as busy as mine then it would be nice to give away a lovely treat from me to you.

Check this out.....

Your chance to win this beautiful make up bag from Bare Escentuals. All you have to do is pop me over your contact details to info@lisatalbot.co.uk

Bare Escentuals is one of my most favourite make up brands, the next step for you is to pop into one of their beautiful boutiques and fill it with product goodies.
This great make up bag was given to me by Bare Escentuals for my clients as a thank you for loving their brand
Go on enter what have you got to lose.

CLOSING DATE IS FRIDAY 3RD AUGUST

lots of love
Lisa

Summer florals from H & M

I popped into H & M the other day to pick up some t.shirts for a workshop I am holding. I was met with their new collections. I am really loving the florals, arn't they great?

This one comes up on the small size so you may need to go up a size. Great for elongating the body as the print runs downwards and sits central to the garment.

And this one came up on the big size so I would recommend you take a smaller size into the changing room to try.

These t.shirts are simple if just added to white linens, denim jeans or shorts, coloured jeans, block coloured skirts, or if your feeling brave add them to print leggings and striped or floral shorts for a more dramatic look

lots of love

Lisa

The active holiday look

Well, I have been so lucky to have just spent 4 days with my lovely family at Longleat, Center Parcs.

For those of you who know Center Parcs it is not a relaxing holiday but it is if you know what I mean!

For a very active family we love the cycling and swimming ( and there's loads of it! ) together with additional activities we tried this year which were Laser Quest, the aerial tree treking ( the zip wire not being my favourite ), treasure trails and so much more.

But, what to wear for this holiday does somewhat play on the mind, it's all about comfort so I thought I would show you what I wore.

I took 3 pairs of jeans and 6 t.shirts, converse trainers and my Top shop pumps and of course bra and knickers!

I'm wearing my high waisted Leigh jeans from Top Shop together with a floral t.shirt from the

H & M new collection and pumps from Top Shop also.

For this outfit I am wearing my 7 For all Mankind skinny jeans which are again high waisted and so comfortable and my H & M Breton style long sleeve t.shirt. I finished this outfit off with my navy converse trainers.

And to prove I really did go away I thought I'd show you my mini fully loaded. Boy, did she look cool. I'll tell you the story of how we lost the keys to unlock my daughter Maisie's bike another day!!!!

Enjoy the sunshine

lots of love
lisa

Benidorm tops the fashion stakes

The wonderful people at Very.co.uk have conducted a survey of 1,000 British women aged 18 to 35 and found out some amazing results of the value of us Brits suitcases.

New research out today by online fashion retailer Very.co.uk could change our perceptions of the Benidorm stereotype.

With the exception of the Cote D’Azur (and super-glam sun-kissed destinations such as St Tropez, Cannes and Nice), Benidorm tops the list of the ‘fashion suitcase spend’ resort league table – as young British women heading there this summer are planning to take a whopping £664 worth of clothes, heels, swimwear and accessories with them.

The research revealed the average suitcase value for Europe-bound Brits to be £580. The value per resort is as follows;

1/. Cote D’Azur - £691                                      2/. Benidorm - £664 

3/. Tenerife - £655                                            4/. Bodrum - £654

5/. Rhodes - £645                                             6/. Gran Canaria - £617

7/. Ibiza - £603                                                  8/. Fuengerola - £602

9/. Alicante - £558                                           10/. Algarve - £542

And then there’s the specifics regarding what’s actually being packed. The blueprint for the average case contains:  

4 x daytime dresses                                         3 x casual footwear (e.g. sandals / wedges)        
3 x evening dresses                                         2 x pairs of heels

5 x daytime tops                                              3 x pieces of swim / beach wear

4 x evening tops

 
In terms of where the most expensive suitcases are travelling from, it’s perhaps no surprise that jet-setters from the capital lead the way (£639), but delving a little deeper, a comprehensive destination analysis throws up some interesting revelations. 

While it might be famed for its boutiques, bars and yachts – and known as the Mediterranean playground for countless reality TV stars – Marbella has an average suitcase value of just £532, meaning it fails to even crack the top 10: and is only two places above the traditional British seaside resort of Blackpool (£507). 

However, ‘Marbs’ does lead the way when it comes to a number of specific summer essentials: namely fake tan (16 per cent of young women heading there will take it with it them – more than any other resort), ‘beach bods’ and tablet technology.

Of all the pre-holiday diets, arguably the most trumpeted in 2012 has been ‘No carbs before Marbs’ – and it seems there’s more than a ring of truth to this. A third of women (32%) jetting out to the high-end location will purchase at least one clothes item ‘a dress size down’ as an incentive to get a ‘bikini bod’ for their holiday – compared to an average of 23% across all other resorts.

Finally, it seems Marbella-bound belles can forget about the latest must have sunglasses or ‘beach jewellery’… because the ultimate style accessory to be seen with there this summer is a tablet PC. Surprising to say the least, over a third of women (36 per cent) will be packing their mobile shopping and gossip gadgets to keep up to speed with Facebook, and an eye on celebrity websites, from their sun loungers. 

Rounding off the key findings, the research threw up a number of interesting insights as regards to the fashion behaviour of British women on their holidays. They will spend an average of 42 minutes getting ready to go out in the evening and one in ten women (11 per cent) admit to four or more outfit changes in the course of a single day.

Julie Donnelly, Head of Womenswear Very.co.uk said, “British women take great pride in what they wear and a summer holiday represents the perfect chance to showcase a hot summer wardrobe. Whether they’re heading to the coast or the Med, it seems our girls are committed in packing to impress.”

For me, this survey just proves that us brits really do care about how we look wherever we are. Very.co.uk have an amazing sale at the moment so get yourself over to the website and bag some lovely pieces for your hols.

lots of love
Lisa

Gorgeous feet but dry!!

So, the weather lady has just told me to prepare for rain this weekend, if you are anything like me this throws my feet into turmoil, do I wear open toed, flat etc. I have dug out a few styles which will be perfect for you this weekend, worn either with jeans, trousers, skirts or dresses.

I love this espadrille trainer from ASOS Vanity and at £37.00 even better. This shoe will look great with a pair of bootcut jeans and a soft gold metallic knit.

Loving this strap on the ankle shoe from Bertie at £85.00, I can imagine this worn with a linen skirt or even a pair of tailored shorts.

Let's keep with the animal print trend with this great little pump from Dune at £65.00.  I just love how although the shoe is simple the print alllows your outfit to come alive

The Brogue has been seen by all the A listers this season and this one from French Conenction at £45 will be perfect for your summer wardrobe. As the colour is base neutral it will go with everything in your wardrobe.

I have to admit these are my guilty pleasure, I just adore these desert boots from Steve Madden at £70. These boots will really give your outfit the WOW, turn your lemon skinny jeans into a statement. Why not pop a cotton blazer into the mix to complement the look

Lots of love

Lisa

Kiss the rain goodbye

Ok, hands up if your fed up of the rain. A lady told me yesterday that she hasn't yet packed her winter clothes away and I have to say I haven't either.

Does the rain throw your wardrobe into turmoil, the weather at this moment is hard to judge as it is warm yet raining so what do you wear?

I have selected a few great macs that will keep you dry but not make you too hot.

This lovely mac is from Reiss, simple and stunning. Perfect for the Hour glass and Pear body shape as it accentuates the waist. A little tip, if you want to create the waist but not have bulk on the tummy pull the belt and tie at the back.

It is always great to have a mac in a colour it will really brighten up your day, this one from Hobbs is perfect for these dreary days. It's in the sale so even better!!

Why not embrace the Parka trend this season, it will also be seen next season so a great investment buy. This one from H & M for £29.99 is perfect.

Well, I'm off to do a sun dance in the hope it may peep out today and grant us with warmth.

lots of love

Lisa

Designer sale picks

It's my favourite day...Friday. I feel when I get to Friday that I can take the foot off the pedal for at least a couple of hours, that is after I have done the school run, picked one up from rugby and taken the other one to Stagecoach and finally sat down with my takeaway pizza at 9pm!!!

But, I have the most amazing week checking out the best buys in the sales. As my last blog post stated only buy what you feel you are really going to get wear from but do use them too to treat yourself to pieces you may normally not have been able to .

Today I have found you a few great bargains from my favourite designers.

I love this Marlene Birger, Heaven drape dress which has been reduced to £62, this dress is a fabulous dress to have in the wardrobe, suitable for all occassions and will give you that instant chic look. It's fab if you carry any weight on your tummy.

Linen comes into it's own in the summer and I love the way tops link beautifully with this fabric for a simple yet stunning look. This super Michael Kors printed gauze top with detailing at the waist has been reduced to just £60. It can also be worn with coloured jeans.

I am a huge fan of Nicole Farhi at the best of times and also the biker trend so this little stretch linen jacket is fab. It will carry you into a season and through the whole of the season too. A great colour to combine with other colours. I would love to see this worn with a coral pleated skirt. At £140, this for me is a recommend investment purchase.

Happy shopping and Happy Friday

lots of love

Lisa

Shopping in the sales

Well the shops have started their sales and I know only too well how enticing a bargain can be.

Love them or hate them here are my top tips on how to make the best of shopping during sale times. Typically we get the big sales just before and after Christmas and mid summer, but to be honest we're never more than a few weeks away from the next store clear-out. Read on and find out how to bag a bargain. The main function of the sale is to shift the unsold stock to make way for the new seasons items. Herein is your first clue..unsold items.. the reason its in the sale in the first place is because no one has wanted to buy it for the last 10 weeks - there was probably a good reason. Do you really want something that no-one else wanted? Avoid buying "high fashion" items in the sale. High fashion items are normally only in for one season, so by the time it's in the sale its not hot any more so leave it on the rail. DO look for your classic items. Jeans,Black trousers, quality knitwear, basic Ts, classic jackets. Sale time is a great time to invest in clothing from shops and brands that you can't usually afford to buy from. If you work this can be a great time to snap up items in neutral colours such as grey or navy. DO invest in shoes in the sale. It's my favourite time to buy shoes - A whole rack or what is left in my size, easy to try on lots of styles without having the assistant running back and forth. Shoes take up a lot of storage in shops so are also normally heavily discounted. Don't be afraid to buy sandals in winter and boots in summer - bag the bargains and store them til its time to wear them. TOP TIP: Be a savvy internet sale shopper. I often select and try on clothes throughout the season. If they're out of my price range I wait for them to appear on the shop website and buy it online to avoid the sale queues and disappointment if my size has gone. Subscribe to all the shop websites and they'll send you email alerts as soon as their sale starts. Take Care with terms and conditions. Shops have no obligation to give you a refund or exchange unless an item is faulty, most stores will exchange or refund as a gesture of goodwill but there is often less goodwill at sale time so check the refund policy before you buy. Finally: A bargain is not a bargain if its never worn! Lots of love Lisa

Stunning LIV

I was called last week by Caroline who is the PR company representing LIV

LIV is the most beautiful clothing which allows you to wear ethical garments without having to compromise on fashionability or quality.
LIV's clothing has to be felt to be believed, cotton that is soft as cashmere with the longevity, wearability and versatility that only cotton can bring to a garment.

I was thrilled to arrive home after speaking on Marlow FM about Royal Ascot style to find a box sitting on the doorstep. Like a child in a sweetshop I rushed to open the box. I found myself saying O'h and A'h which the dog found quite amusing!

Just look at what was in my beautifully wrapped and presented box.
The box was wrapped in a gorgeous white ribbon and when opened I saw this lovely note.

The box had this wonderful smell, I noticed a little lilac tissue paper wrapped box shape and when I opened it I found this wild lavender hand made soap which is engraved with the LIV logo. What a beautiful touch.

I can now see you all tilting your head for this photo, I really just wanted to show you the ticket with the little heart, it really is a brand that has thought of the personal touches.

This is the beachcomber deck dress which I was sent and I have not been disapppointed, it did look like this on the website.

	A flattering boat neck shift dress with retro deckchair stripes and softly elasticated at back to draw in waist. Made in India using 100% organic and fairly traded cotton

The Pier Cardie has a retro feel and styling and looks great over the deck shift or the Urchin Vest. Made in India using 100% organic and fairly traded cotton.

I am thrilled with these pieces as this brand really does say what it does on the tin.

Have a look at their website and I'dlove to know what you think www.liv.co.uk

I have a treat for you in that we will be running a competition with this brand so please do keep coming back.

Lots of love

Lisa

Day 30 - My favourites seasons pieces

Well, today is the last day of my 30 day blog challenge where I have bought you my style picks from the high street.

I hope I have covered most brands that you can readily pick up when you are out and about. I am sure I have missed off some so apologies for that.

What were you favourite pieces from the days?

Here are mine.

Bubble dress from Desigual

Lace top from ZARA

Peplum top from New Look

Stunning, embellished dress from French Connection

 Slim fit jeans from H & M

Front ruffle dress from F & F at Tesco

Ivory Ponte jacket from ZARA

Heart detailed cardigan

Please do let me know your comments, I really do love to hear them

Lots of love

Lisa

Day 29 Sizzling Summer Style

Sizzling Summer style

There is something truly wonderful about feeling the warm sun on your face, doesn’t it just make you smile your way through the day?

As a stylist I am always like a child in a sweetie shop when I see what the fashion world has conjured up for us to be seen in during the summer months.  Getting ready for summer is always an exciting time, whether we are air bagging away our winter clothes or preparing to add in new pieces to our wardrobe to inject a new lease of life.
This summer is no exception and I am thrilled to tell you all about my hot finds from both the high street and luxury brands for this year. The trends this season are quite varied, I just know you will find your favourite.

Colour plays a huge part this season, the ice cream colours will fit beautifully into your wardrobe, pretty shades of mint, powder blue and soft lilac will give any outfit the modern look.  The most flattering way to wear these colours is on their own, they work so well together.

If you prefer to wear a bolder colour then vibrant yellow is a trend all on its own. Yellow looks stunning with a pair of indigo jeans or team it with a lovely wide legged pair of linens for a chic daytime look.

Do you like blue, then indulge yourself in the electric blue that is adorning our high street, it looks wonderful if you mix it with an orange or a soft coral. Dress it up with gold accessories for a great evening look.

I am so enjoying seeing the revival of the feminine woman, this trend emphasises a woman’s silhouette but not in a girly way, more of the sophisticated and chic lady. If you are a lover of this look then you will find the waisted dresses right up your street. Dresses are perfect for work, home and play. DKNY and Nicole Fahri’s collections of dresses are truly beautiful.

Nougat London this season have embraced the ‘white’ romantic trend, wear dresses with lace detail and embroidery anglaise to create a feminine but sophisticated look. Wearing white gives a fresh, crisp look. White is a great base where you can add any colour or print.

 Do you love prints, well this season you have a gorgeous selection to choose from, my favourite this season is the paisley and the floral. Both can be worn subtly or make a statement with a strong print. Ted Baker’s floral collection are for me the best this season

 I have always recommended the ‘peplum’ as a great style so was I pleased to see it as a fashion piece for this season. The peplum adds curves and distinction to a pencil skirt or flat fronted trousers. Vera Wang’s designs were inspired.

 Summer is all about femininity, the flapper/drop waisted dresses have made a comeback with a vengeance. The tassles  on these dresses add fun whilst leaving the dress to inject the dramatic appearance, for a great selection of dresses visit ASOS or pop to River Island.

Keeping with the feminine look has seen skirts and dresses with amazing pristine pleats, Whistles, Zara and Primark have the most amazing skirts in their summer collection. As the fabrics are lighter the items will not create additional bulk where us ladies with curves don’t need it!

With the tassles comes the feathers this season, feathers are being seen as a great accessory piece on a hairband, earrings and are being used as trims. The beauty of the feather is how the use of colour has created new, exciting and different looks for many occasions.

Bling is back and lots of it, I have to admit I love this trend which sees flecks of glitter injected into fine knit jumpers and sequins scattered on the front of t.shirts.  Don’t keep this look for evening, it looks wonderful worn during the day. In keeping with the glitter based ideas we have seen the shine of pewter, silver and platinum used as a finish for simple garments. Be wary of wearing block metallic colours if you are top heavy, as the light reflects it makes the area appear larger and disproportionate

Enjoy the summer and these beautiful trends, they’ll make you smile sun or rain.

lots of love

Lisa