Newsletter 02

CONFIDENCE CONFIDENTIAL

What do well-dressed women exude that others don’t? Simple: confidence. It’s not a question of how expensive your clothes are or what label, it’s whether you look and feel good wearing them.

Take one of this season’s trends, the boho look. The slavish follower of fashion might spend hundreds of pounds on gypsy skirts, colourful Indian tops and ethnic jewellery, but if they don’t know how to put this look together simply and tastefully, they will leave the house the following day looking like an explosion in a 1970s jumble sale.

Dressing for confidence is not a question of simply following fashion, the trick is in selection - like choosing your favourite chocolates rather than scoffing the whole box. The best approach is to hone in on items that reflect your personality. That way you will leave the house with a spring in your step, knowing that you can carry off your look. It will also save you money - there’s no point in buying an outrageously fashionable or colourful outfit if you never pluck up the courage to carry it off with confidence.

Think about your body shape. Should you really wear that voluminous white gypsy skirt just because they are ubiquitous this summer? Why not try one of the colourful, prettily beaded, less flouncy skirts also in the shops this season (Warehouse has a lovely rich chocolate brown skirt with beading down the front and round the hem, £40, and Jigsaw has a good, though more expensive, selection), and team it with a simple white T-shirt or blouse (Mexx and Next always have good staples at decent prices. If you want a totally plain, cheap, simple T-shirt, it’s hard to beat Matalan). More practical, more stylish, more flattering to most figures, and by widening your choice of colours and designs you will be less likely to find yourself standing next to someone wearing the same outfit.

A little thought on accessories will also go a long way. One stunning piece of jewellery, such as an amazing necklace, will have more impact than lots of fussy pieces that make you jangle as you walk. Invest in a piece that you really love and you’ll feel more confident when wearing it and will therefore wear it again and again. Try out local craft outlets, especially in places such as Brighton, which veer towards the arty/crafty side. Alternatively, on the high street, Accessorise always have a really good range of up-to-date jewellery in a broad range of colours. One of my favourite buys this season was a pair of embroidered thongs with chunky cork soles, which cost just £25 from Sketchers. Not only do they set off this season’s fashions, but they can move from day to night with ease and are wonderfully comfortable.

So stick to a wardrobe that makes you feel good and you will step out with confidence every day.