I am speaking at my first event this coming Friday night.
So, this one's for, you, girls I'll meet that night- and - for those of you who've been waiting for me to post (for a year)...sometimes it just takes some good, old fashioned pressure to push a person to get her proverbial *behind* in gear...thanks for reading.
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Since, like with anything else, we aren't all born with an innate sense of 'what works' when it comes to fashion/ dressing, it is my style-responsibility and privilege to share what I've learned through my many years of pouring over fashion mags and the trial/error process of coordinating looks for myself and my friends- here it is:
WHAT I KNOW- (some) Bec Abbot Style Principles (in a nutshell)
1. FIT
- Know yourself- understand your shape and body challenges- be honest (really honest)
-top heavy/ bottom-heavy, short-waisted/ long-waisted, curvy/ straight? love handles/ saddle bags, thick ankles...sister/ brother- we all have issues, even thinner girls, comme moi!
And since you can only take others as far as you are willing to go (or be honest about!)
bec is: straight/boyish and short-waisted- I look great in skinny jeans/ pants they hug what little I have; belting helps create curves for me; I need to avoid high-waisted anything since my waist is already just about under my boobs- lower-waisted bottoms and leaving tops untucked detracts from this 'issue'. Oh- I also have a post-baby-stretched out tummy, so I am saying bye-bye to bikini's and navel-baring tops (oh, never did those, anyway..!)
2. FEEL
-Know what you love- what style (s) do you dig?/ what are you drawn to?
I will refer here to 'The Lucky Guide to Mastering Any Style"- France/ Linnet (of Lucky Magazine, my fav- check it out!)...it includes inspiring, fantastic images and descriptions of different style types, including the following: Bombshell, Gamine, Mod, (North) American Classic, Rock n Roll...
TIP: 1. take cues from your decorating choices- sleek, ornate, casual, warm (pumpkin orange, mustard yellow) or cool colours (raspberry red/sky blue)...chances are you prefer to dress the way you style your home (for better or worse!) and
Tip 2. look to celebs or musicians whose 'look' you aspire to or relate to- Debby Harry, Katie Holmes, Rachel Bilson, Dianne Keaton etc...*start a tear-sheet folder or binder with pics of looks you love- chances are, over time you'll see patterns and trends in the things you gravitate toward
bec loves: Rock n Roll/ Arty-Slick style- I LOVE accessories with studs and chains, graphic t-shirts under my tuxedo blazer, animal prints, and my leather leggings, BUT I ALSO adore the 'art-piece-inspired' elements like bat wing sleeves, funnel necks on my coats and sweaters, uneven hem lines and graphic statement rings, necklaces and belts a la Tilda Swindon/ Tina Chow- my style and colour preferences and tendencies do extend throughout my home- I have a studded pillow in my living room, and a disco ball, and I have a massive piece of art and love eye-catching stripes and wallpaper treatments (in small doses)- I tend to decorate in/ wear neutrals and black and white as my foundational pieces, then add the odd graphic print or coloured piece and make statements using my accessories...
3. FUNCTION
-where do you live, work and play? what kind of clothes will serve your lifestyle and allow you to function well, while still looking great? Always consider the 'cost-per-wear' (if it's trendy, spend less/ little; if you'll wear it many times/ week- spend more/ most)
bec lives: at home during the day with a 3 year old, mostly, but still likes to be stylish and dresses up for irregular, but important date nights, and Sundays at church- I don't require ball gowns or even multiple pairs of stilettos each season (though I covet many of them, anyway)- one, new high-heeled style each season will do, as well as keeping in stock great-fitting basics that I can accessorize the heck out of for those evenings/ Sundays.
4. OTHER IMPORTANT STYLE PRINCIPLES:
i) quality- the truth is that when I/ you need a number of items for my wardrobe each season, there just isn't the income to shop in designer stores- do the leg work and hunt for pieces- search for higher-end pieces at the local thrift store- and, honestly, more and more chain stores are providing decent designer-style knock-offs to satisfy those of us with trend-loving tendencies- remember to buy the best YOU can afford.
ii) restraint- start with less and add more- accessories one by one; watch how many colours per outfit- as a rule the law of "3" works in most cases (accessories, colours)
iii) coordinating/ not matching- if you're going to match your bag and shoes, at least make sure the texture is different- I prefer the look of a cognac brown boot with a tan, olive green or metallic bag...it makes for a more varied, and 'well-travelled' style- like that room where everything doesn't come from Ikea.
iv) think before you shop- work off of a seasonal, shopping list- created twice, yearly by 1. going to your closet to see what you have that is in good shape, fits, and that you still wear and love, then 2. consult magazines/ retail websites/ style blogs for what's in/ hot, then 3. ask yourself what's missing (basics you need and trends you love) and add them to the list before you hit the stores...this decreases the chances of over-spending and duplicating what you already have in your closet
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ok, there is more I could tell you, but that's all I am giving away for free. I have to feed my kids, too, right!?
Can bec abbot style help you to discover and/ or develop your closeted, stylish-self?
It would be my privilege to act as teacher, guide or simply a second, expert opinion in your own journey of developing your personal style, editing your closet and building a workable, flattering and lasting wardrobe - so that you can move toward to *more* in your life.
*ASK ME* about:
-multi-service Style Packages
-A la Carte Services
- your personal Style Profile
- Virtual Consulting (Skype, Baby!)
*Whatever your budget, we'll make it work*
