For as long as I can remember fashion has fired my imagination and coloured my dreams. I grew up customising my Sindy doll’s clothes and plastering my bedroom walls with torn out pages of Vogue and Elle. This suffused my creativity and awakened my innate love of fearless fashion.
Heading to Art School, with only a limited selection of parent-approved clothing, my individuality was somewhat inhibited! But constraint breeds creativity, so I raided my dad’s wardrobe for cool, oversized pieces that I paired with reams of jewellery and the tiniest mini skirts I could get away with!
Finding Your Style
When it comes to clothes, my philosophy is simple: be yourself! As a stylist, I help people connect with their individuality and channel the power of fashion to fortify inner confidence. That doesn’t have to mean bright colours or bold looks that turn heads. It’s simply about finding and honing your own personal style.
Many people tell me they struggle to create cohesive outfits, so I selected 3 classic occasion-types and describe how to style a look for each…
Casual Coffee Meeting
At the heart of each look you create, should be at least one statement piece. Often, this will dictate the colour palette from which you’ll build your outfit.
Here, the Stella McCartney joggers take centre stage. The floral print makes a bold statement, while the green acts as our highlight colour.
Pairing with monochrome flatforms accommodates a busy schedule and looks über-modern. The green cashmere sweater adds colour and the leather jacket brings a tougher edge.
Accessories maketh the outfit! Never forget them. Adding a necklace highlights the face, and the floral clutch creates a fun pattern-clash against the joggers.
Desk to Drinks Style Tweak: Hardworking women need hardworking wardrobes! Simply switch out the chunky necklace for sparkly earrings, remove the sweater and swap boots for stilettos. Drinks-ready in minutes… just add lipstick!
Joggers: Stella McCartney, Cashmere: The Cashmere Centre, Leather jacket: Belstaff. Glasses: Victoria Beckham. Purse: Christopher Kane, Flatforms, stilettos and jewellery: Stylist’s own
Best Dressed Guest
Occasion dressing can be tricky. Whether it’s a graduation or a summer wedding in the West of Scotland, one thing’s certain – the weather is unpredictable! It’s therefore worth starting with a statement cover-up. This Temperley oversized trench is both pretty and modern. Wear cinched at the back to reveal the dress below. Keep the colour palette tonal and pair with complementary scarf to create verticals that elongate the figure. Shoes are key – match or deliberately clash them, but don’t forget to consider them. Adding go-to black heels simply won’t work.
Style Tweak: Remove coat and dance the night away!
Dress: Paule Ka, Coat and scarf: Temperley London, Shoes: Stylist’s own
Date Night
A bodycon dress is the hero piece you need to knock ‘em dead on date night. V-necked, but not plunging, short-sleeved but not naked, this deceptively demure Victoria Beckham dress is subtly sexy. Colour-blocked in royal blue and black, the fabric is simply magic-making. It sucks you in and creates curves you never knew you had. It needs very little styling beyond killer heels and statement earrings.
Style tweak: Raise the zipper at the back for a thigh-high split if your date deserves it!
Dress: Victoria Beckham, Shoes and earrings: Stylist’s own
If you’re struggling to say what you want with clothes, whatever the reason, get in touch – I’d love to help you! Love Nikki xx
All clothes featured are available to buy from Isabella’s Wardobe ‘Gently Used Luxury Fashion’ at 318 Crow Rd, Glasgow. Also thanks to the teams at Radisson Red and House for an Art Lover for their stylish venues. Shots by John Murray.