Michelle-Claire Styling

What’s the point of layering clothes?

Layering has benefits to keep you warm, it’s practical and you’ll look good.

Some people in the fashion/design industry have recently been heard saying that Layering is a new ‘on-trend’ feature.

I disagree. It’s always on-trend in my opinion. It’s people being clever and utilising all of their wardrobe. Yes, it’s more perfect than ever that it is being highlighted and recessionistas are making the most of it.

It’s knowing what you need to add to your basics and gain the maximum benefit out of your wardrobe.

Summer/Winter wardrobes stay as one and a WARDROBE MAKEOVER helps people in lots of different ways to make the best out of what they have.

Casual Up and Smarten Down is the key.
Never layer with a single colour.
Shorter stature people - wear longer scarves and jewels as too much
layering can work against you. Add extra height with heels, hat or
high hairstyle.
Longer stature people - layering is great as different items chop your silhouette.
There’s no strict rule - try lighter under darker colours and vice versa.

In the Office:

You’ve got a suit hanging up in your wardrobe and it’s just not appealing to you anymore?
Wear it separately with other items and get creative. Find out how to adapt this and other garments in different ways
experiment with waistcoats, belts and scarves can give a totally
changed look teamed with statement jewellery.

eg: The Office Dress (but why keep it as an ‘Office’ dress?)

Our clothes are needed for more than one purpose and why not when clothes take so much away from our budget.

Wrap a belt round it and if it has one already then opt for a
different one.
Try a blouse/shirt underneath it - even try 2 different style
collars!
Then think about an over layer as in a waistcoat rather than
a jacket or cardigan.
Wear with bare legs, footless tights and heels and a pair of
evening trousers.

BASICS TO COMPLIMENT A DRESS: Shirt/Blouse, Cardi/Jacket, Waistcoat, Camisole Top, Scarves, Jersey Tops x 3, leggings, different footwear, trousers, jeans, footless tights, jewellery.

eg: Be feminine in a pair of Jeans

Don’t just think jeans as a ’slobbing about’ item. Pay more
on a pair and enjoy.
Wear with summer wardrobe items and layer up.
Put with a winter jacket too.
Casual walking boots in a complimenting colour.

eg: Sun dress/Top

Purchase a jersey top in different necklines.
These work perfectly well under those sun-dresses doing
nothing unless you are in a warm climate or on holiday, they
are only giving you less room if you’re not wearing them. Why
put them somewhere else - wear them!

A floral dress, sweater tied with belt and knee high boots
is a great look.

How about looking at what you have in your wardrobe and purchase the opposite to what you have?

eg: Choose a different neckline
different collars
Opt for roll neck jerseys
Choose different hemlines on tops
Purchase a tank top and wear with a long open neck shirt.
For a more casual look - tie your long shirt in a knot at
the front and wear with a pair of jeans and a silk scarf.
Wear a belt on the outside ie: your outerwear.
Utilise your denim jacket more by wearing something that
has a hood underneath it.
A sweater over a long cuffed shirt with the cuffs up turned looks
great accentuating the layered look simply.
Be sure to wear a loose garment over a tight garment otherwise
can look a little cluttered however, you can always try a belt.
Don’t be a fashion victim but buy odd fashion pieces to layer.
Variety all the way in different lengths, patterns, colours and
textures.

Everyone is an individual and should dress as that - here’s your chance to experiment with your own design.
Accentuate your best assets.

Michelle-Claire xx