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]]>Spring is definitely erm, springing? I love this time of year, hopefully the rain will stop soon and we can enjoy some golden sunshine. I’m still knitting, planning my collection for next autumn/winter in sumptuous merino wool, but more of that later in the year. As we are heading out of winter I thought I would take a slight departure from knitting to talk about home dressmaking. It’s enjoying a real resurgence in popularity right now and you can see one of my first attempts at dressmaking (above), with one of my scarves ready for photographing in my studio.
When it’s too hot to be sat under a pile of wool, my other passion is sewing. Anything, from dresses to cushion covers, patchwork to upcycling old jeans! And The Great British Sewing Bee has started again (BBC 2 Tuesday 8pm), yay! I get to bliss out, salivating at their haberdashery and fabric collection plus have the chance to shout at the telly “Noooooooo you don’t do it like THAT!” It’s a win, win situation. Throw in a glass of wine or a slice of cake and I’m in an hour of self-indulgent heaven. If only I could watch it in the bath, hmmmm.
My mother was a keen sewer, back in the days before cheap supermarket clothing. A time when making your own clothes was not only a creative outlet of self-expression, but also made financial sense. She passed on some skills and my first ever Saturday job was in a (now long gone) fabric shop in Farnham. One thing hasn’t changed though – if you make your own clothes you can get them to fit you exactly! No more trousers dragging in the mud, unflattering hem lengths on skirts or uncomfortably low necklines.
In Guildford town centre, C&H Crafts and Home in Tunsgate have dressmaking patterns, fabrics and haberdashery. There are some supplies in Pandora and the nearby Cath Kidston sells her fabric off the roll upstairs. Hansson Silks also sells quality silks but you might want to choose an easier fabric to work with, like cotton, if you are just starting out on your sewing journey.
There is a multitude of fabric suppliers on-line. You can’t feel the fabric before you buy, but the range of fabrics available is amazing! Try the Fabric Rehab website HERE for a great range of retro, modern and funky fabrics.
I suggest a simple skirt pattern as a starting point for a newbie sewer. Look for one that says ‘easy’ or ‘quick sew’. Then is the fun bit – choosing your fabric. Let your inner fashion designer free. Go with what you love and think will suit you as a skirt! I know that seems obvious, but it’s very easy to get carried away when confronted with a gorgeous spring green fabric. But if spring green doesn’t suit you, you’ll never wear it!
If you are buying in a shop then the assistant should be able to advise if your fabric choice will work with your pattern. I’ve never met anyone working within fabric that doesn’t LOVE the opportunity to pass on some of his or her hard earned experience and knowledge. Then kindly ask them to look over the pattern once more and make sure you have everything you need before you head home. Trust me, there is nothing more annoying than sitting down to start a project just to realise you don’t have the right colour thread or you’ve forgotten the Vilene.
Then just practise! There is a vast amount of information and advice to be found online, plus some sewing tutorials. Remember you can always unpick any mistakes and try again. If only everything in life was that simple…
Rebecca Symonds
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]]>The post Leather leggings during the day – Style by Daryl Downing appeared first on This is Our Town Guildford.
]]>Here are two ways to get away with it.
The leggings:
Plus
or
To find out more about these outfits or for more ideas of how to get out of a style rut, contact me at [email protected]
Daryl Downing
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Do you know what a stylist or personal shopper does?
Most importantly do you know what I can do for you?
My job is to make you look amazing and feel more confident, while saving you time and money!
Most people spend a lot of money buying items that will never suit them. They either don’t know how to wear an item or don’t have anything that goes with it.
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I can help to assess your body shape, colouring and style personality as well as translate this into a capsule wardrobe of items that will suit you and your personality. Most importantly they will be items that suit your lifestyle, age and budget. They will also be hard working items that can be worn in numerous different combinations. This really can take the stress out of early morning dressing.
Starting with the wardrobe that you already have, I can look at your clothes and give you new ways to wear them. It is amazing how many items can be easily updated with a few accessories or just by combining them in different ways. I will then provide you with a list of any items that may be missing from your wardrobe and help you to source these.
If you come on a shopping trip, the items will already be put aside for you to try in the shops that I think will suit you and your lifestyle. I will then help you to see how they can be worn and accessorised. This makes shopping fun and stress free.
The women that I most often work with are new mums who are returning to work or who just aren’t sure how to dress for their new lifestyle and often very different body shape. I also work with women who are unsure of how to incorporate trends into their wardrobes or who would like to know how to make themselves look their best as they age or their shape changes.
With a new season just starting and Christmas parties just around the corner I will be very busy over the next few months making local women look and feel fabulous! Why not let it be you!
For more information please go to www.daryldowningstyle.co.uk
or email on [email protected]
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]]>The post Grab High Street Discounts – Style by Daryl Downing appeared first on This is Our Town Guildford.
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For any of you that are interested in a good bargain, I am going to take the hard work out of it for you and post any sales that I notice on my blog.
The October mags are out and here are my favourite deals (Plus a few ideas of what to spend them on)
Glamour is the best buy of the month. The October issue out already, costs only £2, and from September 28-October 4 they are running what they have termed as Glamour Week. On each day of that week you can get 25% off your Autumn buys in one high street store:
So here are the best days of the week !
Monday: River Island (online only)
Channel a 70’s vibe with a jumper or roll neck matched with an a-line skirt and black knee high boots
Wednesday: Banana Republic (in store)
No idea what to wear for the midseason school run? This option is easy to dress up or down
Thursday: Dorothy Perkins dresses (online and in store)
Right on trend this season, they have one of the best collections of pinny dresses I’ve seen! Wear with a shirt or roll neck and knee high boots or brogues
Friday: Miss Selfridge coats (online and in store)
Great selection of coats, from everyday parkas to on trend capes
Best of the rest:
Elle October issue: 25% off River Island from 3 September to 2 October
Good Housekeeping 20% off at Phase Eight
Next week I am off to Cosmopolitan Fashion Fest so looking forward to letting you in on all the trends that are about to hit the shops.
If you want to know how best to work these trends into your wardrobe( and budget) in a way to suit you, book an appointment for a shopping trip on www.daryldowningstyle.com
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]]>The post Embrace Your Curves – Style by Daryl Downing appeared first on This is Our Town Guildford.
]]>Having worked for a while as a personal stylist, I’m very aware that we come in all different shapes and sizes. We’re all capable of looking fantastic, but fashion, in particular the high street has not always allowed that. It’s all about finding clothes that show off the bits you love and hide the bits you don’t.
This season the British high street has provided options for all: petite, tall and curvy, but I’m particularly loving the range of plus size options available.
These are some of my best:
Asos Curve
UP to date trends online for sizes 18-30.
This season I have loved their floral dresses and printed trousers. Become a VIP for just £9.95 and receive free next day delivery and free returns for a year!
Violeta by Mango
Launching in 2014 both online and in-store this collection provides a collection of 400 items for women size 12-24. I’m not sure that I would call a size 12 or even 14 plus size, but this collection is all about providing flattering, feminine clothing to suit different body shapes. On trend and well worth a look!
SimplyBe
Recent winners at the ITV High Street Fashion Awards for Best Curvy Collection. They stock sizes 12-32 and take great care to provide options for all shapes, whether it be a larger bust or extra curvy hips. I’m loving their new collections , particularly 70’s and tribal prints.
Evans( as seen in top image)
Both online and in-store, they provide clothing in sizes 14-32.
For the next month they are running a brilliant recycling jeans campaign. Have a look at details on their website.
Anna Scholz
For something a little more special have a look at Anna Scholz both online and at her shop located in Portobello Green. Anna was a plus size model herself and her designs show a real love and understanding of the female form.
According to Anna, the luxury high end designs follow the latest trends and styles to create fashionable clothes for curvy women to look and feel incredible in. With glamorous and sexy plus size dresses and stylish designer trousers, jeans and jumpsuits to choose from, you will never have looked so good!
There you go, no excuse not to have fun and look great!
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]]>What to wear to a summer wedding? Looking great is important, while at all costs not upstaging the bride.
Never wear white or cream and try to avoid black, especially if it is a day time wedding.
Think about where the wedding is being held.
If there is grass or beach sand involved, choose the right shoes. Sorry girls, that means leave the stilettos at home!
If you’re part of the bridal party or a family member and may be in formal photos you may want to check that your colour choice won’t clash.
This outfit would be perfect for a wedding with an evening reception. Keep accessories and makeup minimal. You’re definitely not going to look like a bridesmaid. For a flattering silhouette wear culottes with heels to elongate your legs.
These beautiful summer colours would be perfect for a daytime wedding, but would work equally well going into the evening. The top is slightly cropped, but fear not as with the higher sitting waistband of the skirt your midriff will not be on display.
Pear shaped girls with slightly larger hips will love this outfit as the skirt will even out the hips, the wedge will lengthen the leg and the pattern on the top will draw the eye upwards.
Separates are a great option if you find it difficult to find dresses that fit on top and bottom.
The top of this dress can be tide in 15 different ways to create a look that will suit both your shape and the occasion. The pastel shade is on trend, but if not to your taste the dress comes in 4 different shades.
Wear the maxi dress with flats and again keep accessories minimal. The drop earrings would look lovely with hair pulled back off the face.
This dress would suit a slim athletic or shapely hourglass frame as it defines the waist perfectly.
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]]> The best holiday clothes are comfortable, stylish and multifunctional.
Here are some examples of clothing that can be worn around the pool by day and to the bar by night.
• Pack a few pairs of neutral shoes. That doesn’t mean only tan, navy or black. This year metallics are everywhere and will go with any outfit. Include a flat sandal, wedge heel and ballet flat or slip on trainer.
• Try to choose clothes that don’t tend to crease and that wash easily. When packing them, always roll never fold.
• Halter and bandeau necklines will look gorgeous with your holiday glow. Choose simple designs in colours like navy, red, white or black and just accessories with different chunky jewellery to get more than one nights wear.
• Mix and match bikinis take up hardly any luggage space and can be a fun way to add a splash of colour to your holiday. Try a few different styles like a smaller tie side bikini bottom and a 1950’s high waisted bikini bottom. Match these on one day with a tie triangle top and a balconette bikini top the next. Don’t try to match the colours, rather match different bright colours and a few prints.
• Accessories are easy to pack and a great way to make any outfit more glamorous. Try a beaded cuff, drop earings, tribal necklace or printed clutch.
Add a gorgeous tan, some lipstick, a Pina Colada and you’re good to go!
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]]>No matter what your size or shape there is a swimsuit out there that will make you look gorgeous and feel confident. It’s all about playing up the bits you love and playing down the bits you don’t!
Use a low v-neck to bring attention to your bust and face. Dark colours will camouflage your tummy. Wrap styles and high waisted bikinis are on trend and very figure flattering. Prints will hide any lumps and bumps while well placed colour blocks can draw eyes up and away from your middle.
Use colour blocking to draw the eye to your chest and shoulders and away from your hips. Place lighter, brighter colours and prints on the top and darker colours on the bottom. A slightly higher cut on the leg will slim your hips while a boy short will draw attention and make them look wider. Halter and bandeau necklines will broaden your shoulders and balance out your figure.
Use details like frill and bows to create a feminine effect. Tops with padding will create curves. Cut-out swimsuits will create the illusion of a more hourglass figure.
Use the same colours and print on both the top and bottom as your figure is already balanced. An all over small print or single colour swimsuit will create a sleek silhouette while a colourblock design with lighter colours placed centrally will have a slimming effect. If you have a larger bust, a halter design with wider straps will provide support and create flattering curves.
For more fashion blogs, visit: daryldowningstyle.co.uk
Next week: Dresses that can take you beach to bar
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