Lifestyle choice, buying yourself flowers

I love to have fresh flowers in my sitting room - It’s right next to the entrance of the flat so when you walk in you can smell fresh flowers. This gives me a sense of happiness. Also our beautiful new flat needs a lot of renovation - we’re slowly transforming the mustard yellow walls and taking down the false ceilings. So little things to make it more beautiful and homely are important to me.

So what I really love to do when I buy my fruit and veg from the green grocers round the corner - it’s cheaper and there’s no packaging involved, whats not to like? Is to buy myself some flowers or a flower depending on what money I have at the time. I used to think it was a bit indulgent and expensive to buy myself some flowers - but now I think neither. Today I bought myself one gerberry for 69p and its sitting, looking very pretty on my desk.

My recommendation of a thing to do when you have a spare moment is buy yourself a flower or some flowers and see how it makes you feel.

Get To Know Your Style

When you know what your style is and the clothes you need to create your
capsule wardrobe of excellence, getting dressed will be a pleasure. You'll
hardly want to shop as what you already have is so fantastic. When I shop
with a client I'll have their framework in mind (their style mix, colours,
body shape and their shopping list). This enables me to scan the shops
quickly and pick out a pile of potential suitables for them to try on.

I get moments of complete excitement seeing a client's capsule wardrobe
come together. There's huge enjoyment seeing a client sparkle and shine  -
feeling great in themselves. Clothes can provide an amazing feel -good
factor when you choose them well. You can also style out flaws, late
nights and tiredness from a busy life.

Everyone knows how to dress themselves, but some people want to go to the
next level. A level of excellence in appearance. This is far from vanity.
The values are of making the most of what you have, choosing what you need
(in all areas of your life and person) and looking after what you have.
What a lovely way of being? Right?

My Lucky Jumpsuit

Every girl has her dreams of her perfect wedding and perfect proposal. 

I had mine too - I wasn’t sure what they were though...

I know now, my two important things for a proposal and marriage....

Check 1 - Make sure you are marrying your man of excellence - your life long partner, a man who loves you at your best and worst and a man you love back in the same way.

Check 2 - Make sure you are wearing a fabulous outfit - now you don’t know when the proposal will take place. But as a woman you’ll probably have an idea of the window of opportunity (note this as your man will possibly start behaving out of character) in these days notch up your outfits of excellence - memories are made at these times.

Paul picked a great moment as I was wearing my jumpsuit (which is currently my favourite thing), had painted nails and Paul was looking dapper too. I had a secret dread of a pajama moment proposal, as I said every girl has her own ideals. 

So we’re getting married and I can’t wait. We’ve been practicing calling each other husband and wife. I have a strong visual of what I’d like to wear (like I hadn’t already thought about that) I’m looking forward to the journey of creating it.

When To Experiment

For me this time is often a Sunday, when I’m not working and we have a day to freestyle and do what we like.

Today I’ve experimented with a different way of doing my eye make up and a double layered dress. The verdict is very pleasing, I’m going to add both to my repertoire of go to styles. 

Times I would never experiment are when I’m busy with appointments and meetings. At these times my mind is busy with clients wardrobe plans, styles, capsule wardrobes for business trips etc... So I want to be 100% in the way I’m presenting myself and being sure of that means I don’t have to think about it again.

If you’ve got a spare moment today pre-style a go to outfit (that you feel 100% in) for a plan you’ve got scheduled this week. If you feel like sharing, I’d love to know what that outfit is?

The Brilliance Of A Capsule Wardrobe....

We moved two weeks ago. Love our new flat, it feels very much feeling like living in London by the sea. At the moment it's got egg yolk yellow walls and false ceilings, so we can’t wait to get the white paint out and our hard hats on. I like a bit of DIY, but not too much. 

So with the upheaval of moving, packing and unpacking I’m always been able to find what I want to wear. I’m sure it doesn’t surprise you, my wardrobe is well edited. In it are only things I want to wear, things that fit me, things that flatter me (I wear them happily instead of saying this will do, I never say this will do) and everything is tailored and mended. My wardrobe foundations are strong so I can build any outfit I want within them quickly, efficiently and feel great. 

I sometimes think the clothes in your wardrobe are like the food you use in cooking, if you have the right ingredients you can make amazing things. And when you know the basic principles, you’ll know why some things work and why others don’t and what to add (your special ingredient) to make your cooking or your outfit AMAZING. 

Client's Christmas shopping

I find my styling service often expands from client requests. I  am very grateful 
for these requests as it enables me to grow my work and provide more of what my clients are looking for. 

This year I've have requests from client's husbands or partners, to gather ideas, or sauce Christmas presents from a given list. I've done most remotely and some on foot in shops. It's been brilliant, and so far seems to be having very good response. I'll add this to my website very soon. 

This gets me thinking of the most thoughtful present I've ever received, which would definitely be a painting Paul gave me. What's the most thoughtful present you've been given? 

Still life, or get a life?