If you are a working mum, run your own business or have a demanding corporate position, presenting a stylish, professional and put-together image can be challenging when you’re often in a rush and there are many demands on your time. You need to be able to put together simple, easy to wear outfits that make you look and feel great, and create that important first impression.

Here are some of my top tips to make looking good every day a little bit easier...

1. Easy, simple dressing is the key, and accessories can give your look personality and impact. Adding a statement necklace (my favourite game changer) to a monochrome dress or simple top and trouser outfit, will transform the outfit and make it look polished.

2. Good shoes will look professional, last longer and offer all day comfort. Cheap shoes are rarely comfortable and wear more quickly. Investing in quality shoes definitely pays off when you consider cost per wear. Instead of un-supportive ballet shoes, try patent lace up brogues or metallic loafers. Slim block mid-heels are a more comfortable all-day option than narrow stiletto heels. Nude shoes ‘lengthen’ the leg and co-ordinate with any outfit.

3. A dress is an easy to wear, one-stop outfit. If you wear one with sleeves, it can eliminate the need for a jacket or cardigan if you need arm coverage. A three-quarter length or bracelet sleeve is very elegant and flattering. A well fitting dress can be a work life-saver.

4. Before going to bed, get into the habit of putting out your clothes for the following morning. Being a bit more organised will save time and stress. Also, you’re less likely to reach for the same outfit time and time again when you’ve got a little more time to think. Who wouldn’t benefit from an easier morning routine?

Summer Holiday Beach to Bar Cover-Ups

Are you counting down the weeks to your sun holiday and starting to plan your getaway wardrobe?

When you want to take cover from the sun or need a throw-on to take you down to the beach or pool and over to the bar, you need a stylish cover-up to help you look & feel cool There’s plenty of choice, but look for one that suits your look and budget!

Here are my tips -

Maxi length - Always elegant & chic

Sleeves - Good for extra coverage and sun protection

The coolest fabrics against skin are cotton & linen

Embellishment and embroidery score high in the glamour stakes

* Images above, clockwise from top left - Boden £49.50, Hush £65, ASOS £26, John Lewis £73, New Look £15, River Island £35, Gap £39.95, New Look £18

Just add sunglasses & a cocktail!

Style Over 40 - Topshop Picks by karinatstyle featuring a long-sleeve shirt

THE TRENCH  - THE PERFECT NEW SEASON SMART/CASUAL COAT

Spring is lurking around the corner and it’s almost time to start to think about packing away your puffer coat, hurray! 

What will you be wearing when you still need an outer layer, but don’t need the padding??

A trench coat is the ideal solution, it’s very on trend, can cope with showers and best of all, is perfect for both smart and casual dressing. They look great over a suit or dress, and smarten up a t-shirt and jeans.

Go for single breasted to slim the torso if you are larger on top, and tie the belt to create an hourglass waist. 

Go traditional with stone or beige, choose a smart navy, or go with lime or red for a modern twist.

Many of us battle the same dilemma at the weekend or on a day off - how to pull together a casual look that says stylish, not scruffy. 

Most people like to make a distinction between their work day clothes, even if that’s normally fairly casual look. 

The key to off-duty dressing is to think of the silhouette or outline your outfit creates, and choose good quality shape retaining fabrics. Loose, comfy, unrestrictive clothing feels right, but if it means wearing a combination of a longline shapeless top with comfy jeans or leggings and ballet shoes or Uggs, the overall effect is sloppy. 

Balance a relaxed vaguely oversized jumper with well fitting skinny or bootleg jeans, or well cut jeggings that resist sagging. Up-style boyfriend jeans with a plain t-shirt or white shirt under a jersey fabric blazer. Wearing boots with a low heel instantly makes you feel less slouchy. 

-Nautical

-Riviera

-Festival

Ask yourself the following questions - 

Do you spend too much time deciding what to wear?

Is your wardrobe a fashion minefield?

Are you spending too much on clothes that you hardly wear?

If so, you need to consider creating a CAPSULE WARDROBE. More about quality than quantity, it is a small collection of carefully chosen pieces that will form the backbone of your wardrobe, through the seasons, year on year. Not high fashion, it's more about investing in classic items that you can update with cheaper on-trend pieces 

You'll quickly find that you're saving time, money and stress, and getting dressed has become less of a chore and more of a pleasure!

Dressing to Gain Trust in Business

 Does your job depend on forming relationships with potential clients or customers, gaining trust and making sales?

Read these 5 tips to ensure you don't "derail your sale" because you don't look the part -

 1. Dress Like Your Customer

If you are meeting on a casual basis in a relaxed environment, don't overdress and risk making your customer or client feel uncomfortable. A suit & tie is probably not appropriate

2. Think Locally

If you travel internationally, ensure that you adhere any customs that might apply to business dress. It's vital to demonstrate respect for the country you are in

3. Stay Neat & Tidy

Always make sure your clothes are clean, well pressed, hemmed & shoes are clean. Sounds obvious, but often overlooked

4. Beware of Odours

Don't overdo the perfume or aftershave, guard against bad breath and B.O. You need to look and smell approachable!

5. Women - Avoid Low Necklines & High Hemlines

The best strategy for women is to avoid baring too much flesh. It's distracting & un-business-like

How To Wear the 70's Trend This Spring

The 70's is a key trend for Spring 2015, and you'll see the influence creeping into the new high street ranges. 

On trend pieces you can buy for an easy wardrobe update, are flared jeans or cotton trousers with a flattering high waist. Wear with heels (wedge or platform) to avoid 'shortening' the legs, and tuck in your shirt or oversized t-shirt to create a slim silhouette. 

Wear long boots with an a-line denim skirt and add a felt fedora or floppy hat, and a fringed cross-body bag to really rock the trend.

  As a Personal Stylist, I am often asked “how do I address appropriately for my age?”, usually by women in their 30s, 40s and beyond who don’t want to look like ‘mutton dressed as lamb’, or appear older than they actually are.

They want to have confidence in their image and be noticed for the right reasons. Style confidence comes from wearing clothes that look right and feel good. Therefore, my advice is don’t dress for your age, dress for your body! 

Teens and 20-somethings have the youth to carry any look off, but as you get older you need to know what works for your figure and which bits to show off!

Don’t hide in black, as wearing the right colours can have an amazing effect

 A colour analysis session is a great investment and will show you which colours you look great in, you might be pleasantly surprised when you see it!

Create balance in your outfits, ie, wear a short skirt with crew or high neck, wear skinny trousers with a longer, loose fitting top

Spend as much as you can a few, quality classic pieces and spend less on current ‘fashion’ items

My personal tip is don’t overload on jewellery, less is more and too much is overkill!

  If you want to know more, and how to dress for your body type, get in touch!

Create the look on a high street budget with this dress (£45) or elegant jumpsuit (£75). The dress is good for hourglass figures, but if you are bottom heavy or have broad shoulders, the wide leg jumpsuit will be more flattering 

Wear shape enhancing underwear for a smooth silhouette, but keep jewellery discrete to create impact

  A timeless wardrobe investment, wear for Christmas nights out over a simple t-shirt or camisole with jeans, dressy trousers or a pencil skirt. Add a statement necklace & heels for evening glam

  People are affected by your image whether they realise it or not. If you are in business, how you look can strongly influence your success.

                              Your appearance can affect how people perceive your -

Trustworthiness

Intelligence

Suitability for hire or promotion

Authority

Financial success

  Image is more than just physical appearance, it's a part of the package. Combined with how you talk and behave, your personal presentation can influence how people behave towards you.

A positive effect can make people-

Comply with your request

Trust you with information

Give you access to decision makers

Hire you or purchase your product or service