8 items you need to update your wardrobe in AW20
/
This is a strange season in fashion indeed. The fashion houses created their collections in pre-COVID times and now in a post-lockdown world where we’ve all become used to more comfort, more Zoom calls and spending more time at home, I’m not sure how relevant gold dresses for all is going to be (obviously skip the gold dresses if you have a cool palette anyway).
Will we even be allowed to go to a Christmas party?
But I hope that lockdown has also reminded us that a good outfit lifts the spirits. Pyjama days and scruffy loungewear was great but when you got dressed properly, it changed your mood for the better. Remember?
As always with any new purchases, trend-led or not, you need to:
Consider your lifestyle and for a lot of us, autumn has already seen a return to some normality with schools going back and some offices opening up, but it’s not the same.
Consider your style personality - don’t get swept up with the trends in general, look for the trends that will suit you, then it will last longer.
Consider your shape - I do think that many of the bodyshape rules are to be taken with a pinch of salt and are becoming more irrelevant - we should all be wearing what we love, but if flattery is important to you and you want a starting point of ‘rules’ then avoid trends that don’t work with your body.
With all this in mind, here are my recommendations of seven things you need to update your wardrobe this AW20. As always, the best place to shop is YOUR OWN WARDROBE!
New loungewear - my thoughts on sustainability is to wear your clothes a lot (at least thirty wears per item) and let’s face it, we’re wearing loungewear most days - even if it’s to change into for a couple of hours - and your current loungewear is probably looking rather tired now, so I say invest in some better quality loungewear you love. The softer and cosier the better.
Statement earrings - a statement earring that flatters your faceshape and complements your skintone means you can wear any top and you’ll look put together on Zoom (if you’re not on Zoom, skip this one and go to item 3). Go for a colour or gold (for warm skintones), silver (for cool skintones) or rose gold for all! If you have a softer skintone then a brushed metallic will work better for you.
A new face covering - rather than the medical blue ones, get some washable cotton masks in a fun print - more sustainable and more pretty!
A face-framing top - if earrings aren’t your thing but Zoom calls are, get a top that frames your face in a fabulous colour. Wear your eye colour, it will highlight them - or a shade of pink you know flatters you. White and black can look really harsh on screen and brighter colours make us stand out more, so do put some consideration into what you wear on screen.
Cardigan - cardigans are having a moment and what better way to add some colour and warmth to your wardrobe. Go for a short, chunky jumper that you wear done up and do a French tuck into your jeans.
Red - red is having a moment, but in my book red will always have a place in my wardrobe. It’s the colour of confidence and can help give you some much needed energy on those days you feel less than energetic. Go for orange reds if you have a warm skintone and raspberry reds if you have a cool skintone.
Shoulder detail - puff sleeves, shoulder pads, large statement collars are all having a big moment, so if you like this trend and it suits you or your personality (and bodyshape), then dabble but remember that this probably won’t be something you’ll want to wear in 10 years time (maybe 30).
Ankle boots - if you want to add a youthful edge to your outfits, ankle boots are a great addition to your wardrobe. Go for a style that you love - chelsea boots, Western boots, biker boots, pointed pixie boots, cowboy boots - whatever style you love, ankle boots are here to stay and worth investing in! If you want a colour that will last for years, choose a colour that’s similar to your hair colour (yes, it will bookend your look) or if you wear black tights and need to lengthen your legs, then black boots are a good option. I also have a penchant for a metallic or animal print boot - way more versatile than you’d think but it needs to suit your personality.
If you’d like to learn more about the trends that would suit your personality, colouring and bodyshape and learn more about your style so that you can make better decisions about what to buy (and stop wasting money on mistakes you never wear), take a look at my Online Style & Colour Consultation - if you’d like some personalised advice on how to update your wardrobe you can book online or contact me to find out more.
