5 Outfit Ideas for Dinner & Drinks

Here in the UK, pubs and restaurants have re-opened and for many of us it’s the first time in a while we’ve done anything worth dressing up for. (Unless you’re like me and you dress up to put the bins out.) We all must remember to stay safe but if you have a special event that you’d like to celebrate with friends and family in a local eatery, here’s some outfit ideas for that special occasion.

There’s a reason the LBD never goes out of style. Most women are comfortable in a black dress whatever their taste and this one from ASOS is great for those of us who perhaps feel our days of showing off our bodies are behind us, because it's midi length and doesn’t ride up your thighs. The material is also very sculpting, so even though it’s bodycon, you can happily wear it to dinner with friends (I can personally testify to this as I wore it to my friend’s hen night, where I ate a lot of pasta!).

You could add a pop of colour with your accessories but I think pairing black with black looks so sophisticated and elegant, so I wore this with my Valentino-inspired heels from Dorothy Perkins. They are not excessively high and the straps make them secure and therefore comfortable enough to wear when you're propping up the bar all night. I also grabbed my faux leather jacket from French Connection and my black and rose gold crossbody from Ted Baker, which is the handbag I nearly always opt for.

The one that almost got away - I was going to return this H&M dress but am glad I kept it because it’s a very easy outfit to put on and immediately look glamorous in. I’ve used a belt from one of my floral dresses to make this more figure-flattering and to make the all-white look less stark. This dress looks more expensive than it is - the scallop detail and fit-and-flare silhouette are reminiscent of a Ted Baker design, yet it costs less than £30.

I wore this with my pink and rose gold crossbody from Ted Baker to amp up the cuteness and wore a pair of low block heels to ensure I could comfortably make my way to the restaurant.

Comfort is key when going out to dinner - life’s too short to prioritise looks over food! Culottes are therefore perfect because they look smart yet feel as comfy as a pair of pyjamas. I wore mine with my silk vest from Reiss - I love how the colours look together - and a pair of nude heels. They are not the most comfortable but are OK to wear from the car to the restaurant!

I’ve lived in floral dresses lately. More specifically, I've lived in this H&M floral dress lately! It is such a great day-to-night dress and works for so many occasions. Floral dresses make you look instantly dressed up even in the daytime so are easy to style for the evening - just add a pair of heels and a clutch. If you're going out for dinner, dresses with tie belts work really well because you can highlight your waist without the dress feeling too tight and uncomfortable after a big meal. 

This jumpsuit is youthful and flirty without showing a lot of skin - my favourite combination! The bardot neckline highlights one of my favourite bodyparts which is the collarbone. I think it’s such an attractive area to show off without being overtly sexy. The bottom of the jumpsuit is a culotte-style so again very comfortable but still dressed up for dinner.

Because it’s cropped, I love wearing this jumpsuit with my flat sandals from Dune so would wear this as a lunch-with-the-girls outfit but it can absolutely be dressed up for the evening with heels. I've also worn it with the same faux leather jacket from earlier and the Dorothy Perkins heels for an evening look.

If you liked my style, there's more where that came from! I'm emma_does_fashion on Instagram and I'd love for you to follow me.

3 Ways to Wear the Lingerie Trend in the Workplace

Yes, it is possible!

Many of us shy away from the controversial lingerie trend. If you’re anything like me, you are terrified by tiny crop tops (I wouldn’t have written a blog post entitled 'How to Style Big Boobs' if I could squeeze into those). But the lingerie trend isn’t reserved for the ultra-body-confident. There are many ways that those of us with a more conservative style can style these pieces, and it is even possible to incorporate this trend into our workwear wardrobes.

You actually may already have a lingerie-inspired piece in your everyday wardrobe: the slip dress. This '90s piece has been back in fashion for a while now and is one of those items that works really well for nights out as well as everyday. To style it for the office - yes, it can be done - balance out the slinky lower half with an oversized jumper or cardigan and add a sensible pair of heels in a matching colour. Very attractive and on-trend for SS20 while still business-appropriate - you have basically just turned it into a satin skirt!

Another office-appropriate piece that ticks the underwear as outerwear trend is the classic camisole with lace detail. To ensure this looks more outerwear than underwear, opt for a neckline such as a square, like this one from the White Company, rather than a v-neck and add a fabulous blazer on top.

Alternatively, try a vest with lace detail such as this black one from H&M. Styled with a pencil skirt or wide-legged trousers, this is a classic office piece that many won’t even realise is lingerie-inspired and therefore bang on trend.

By far the most wearable version of this trend is a sheer-sleeved top, and if you’re planning to wear the trend to the office, a sheer-sleeved blouse like this one from Topshop would be perfect. The classic way to style a blouse for the office would be to pair it with a pencil skirt and heels but you could also wear this piece with a pleated midi skirt to make it slightly more relaxed.

All of these pieces, as you can see, can be styled appropriately for work but are also great for days out as well as evening drinks. I love thinking of different ways to style the same piece so that I can make my clothes go further, so this blog post was a lot of fun to write! I hope you enjoyed reading it.

The H&M Edit - 10 Items on My Wishlist

H&M are my favourite affordable fashion brand right now. They offer great quality at reasonable prices and their clothes, especially their summer dresses, are absolutely stunning. Here’s my edit of the 10 pieces I’m loving most from H&M at the moment.

1) Tan bucket bag, £17.99

One thing I really need in my wardrobe at the moment is a tan handbag. It’s a very versatile piece that works beautifully with both light and dark outfits. This is one of my favourites from the high street. Because it’s a bucket bag, it’s good for everyday use. I would style it with my dark blue floral dress from Joules as the tones would go beautifully together,

2) Wide belt, £14.99

I love the organic materials trend. i love feeling the textures of my clothes and accessories. This is a practical belt that still looks interesting and unique. Wide waist belts are flattering on most bodyshapes and a neutral one like this is perfect for cinching in an oversized dress or breaking up a solid colour.

3) V-neck black top with lace detail, £17.99 

A black lace v-neck is one of those pieces that you will wear time and time again for all sorts of occasions. It’s appropriate for work with a smart pair of wide-legged trousers but can also be easily dressed up for dinner and drinks. Tops like this which have a bit of movement to them are extremely flattering and comfortable and always feel more expensive than they are.

4) Chiffon floral blouse, £12.00

This is a very low price in the sale so it will probably be gone soon but it’s so pretty that I had to include it here! It’s a louder print compared to the rest of my wardrobe but sometimes you have to do something a little different so that your style can evolve. I would pair this with a high-waisted mini skirt and ankle boots for a 1960s-inspired silhouette.

5) Pearl circle earrings, £9.99

I’m slightly obsessed with pearl jewellery! I love the circle design, which I find more flattering on my profile than hoops. These would add instant glam to a casual outfit. They would look especially sophisticated alongside the v-neck black top from earlier.

6) Johanna Ortiz x H&M floral dress, £ 34.99

On my hourglass figure, this oversized wrap dress could either be really right or really wrong for me - there’s no way to know without trying it on! I’m on a mission at the moment to find some summer dresses that I don’t have to wear a strapless bra with so this beautiful short floral dress could be the answer. The sleeves are quite long but, as it’s linen and unlined, it would hopefully still be cool and comfortable in hotter weather.

7) Linen-blend white dress, £24.99

All-white is a huge trend for SS20 and this strappy a-line dress would look great on a variety of bodyshapes. I would probably size down to encourage it to fit in all the right places. The dress is lined so you should (fingers crossed) be able to wear it without worrying about your underwear showing. It’s a classic style that you could wear year after year and it would be especially useful for summer holidays abroad.

8) Crinkled floral dress, £29.99

Can you tell I have a thing for florals? I’m actually am not keen on patterns myself but I do have a soft spot for delicate florals, which H&M are very good at. If venturing outside, I would cinch this halterneck maxi in with a belt - perhaps the organic one we mentioned earlier - but would wear it loose if working from home for maximum comfort.

9) Striped wide-legged trousers, £ 29.99

On my Instagram, it looks like I live in long dresses but I’m actually a huge fan of trousers, especially wide-legged, high-waisted ones. They are smart enough for work yet cool enough for more casual outings and they always garner compliments. I would wear these with my chocolate silk vest from Reiss to pick up the brown tones in the stripes. They would also look lovely with the black lacy tee above.

10) Rust maxi skirt, £24.99

My style has definitely changed a lot as I’ve gotten older but one thing I’ve always loved are crinkly, tiered maxi skirts. I love how this has been styled on the H&M website with a plain beige tee and neutral mules. On hotter days, I would wear this with a camisole and slides to keep myself fashionably cool, perhaps with a classic white shirt tied in a knot on top.

How to Shop for Eyewear

They are an accessory like any other but because we need rather than want glasses, we resent paying for them and treat our eyewear purchases like a chore. Usually, the only criteria we have in our heads when shopping for spectacles is the price.

Fall in love with shopping for eyewear! If you have a prescription, glasses will be your most-worn accessory so put some thought into what you want and choose a pair you really love. If it’s your first time shopping for prescription glasses, I highly recommend going into your local Optician's for help but for those more seasoned glasses-wearers, I will also talk about how to buy glasses online.

If you only have a small prescription, you will probably be able to wear any frames. However, some people’s prescriptions really impact the styles they can wear. You’ll know this if you have a very high prescription because you’ll likely have quite thick lenses, meaning you can’t wear especially thin, lightweight frames. The distance between your pupils will also affect the frames you can choose - my eyes are closer together than the average person’s so I can’t wear fashionably big styles because my prescription simply wouldn’t work the way it's supposed to. Remember when narrow, rectangular glasses were in fashion? That was my favourite time.

Not everyone can wear contact lenses but it's worth trying them if you can. I like to wear contact lenses on holiday because that means I can wear whatever sunglasses I like, whereas I’m limited to the petite range when shopping for prescription sunglasses. (If you can’t find what you want in the petite range, have a look at the teen options too!)

There are plenty of funky designs out there for both glasses and sunglasses and if that’s your style, go for it! If, like me, you wear your spectacles every single day, your best bet is a classic shape in a neutral colour like the Rayban Wayfarer. My glasses broke recently and I ordered the exact same pair from Glasses Direct because I know they work well with the rest of my wardrobe. They are minimal and stylish - perfect for everyday.

I chose Raybans because I liked the style and I knew I would get the wear out of them but budget eyewear ranges are often great quality too. If you spend more money, you’ll get extra features like spring hinges for durability but as long as you look after them, any pair of glasses should last you a long time - as long as you don’t sit on them!

Glasses Direct are a fantastic option if you are comfortable inputting your own prescription. If buying online, make sure you ask your optometrist for your 'PD' (pupillary distance, i.e. the distance between your pupils) because you’ll need this to order your frames. When ordering online, have a look at the inside arm of the frames you already own - you’ll see two 2-digit numbers and a 3-digit number. These are the measurements of your current frames. Try to stick close to these numbers when choosing your new frames.

If you don’t have a prescription, the world is your oyster when it comes to sunglasses. You can basically wear whatever you like as it won't affect your vision, but of course some styles will suit you more than others. Try as many on as possible and have a good look in the mirror to see which styles suit you best. Ask someone to help you choose - someone you trust to give an honest opinion! 

Most sunglasses have plastic frames and you may struggle to wear these if the bridge of your nose is shallow. If you love plastic frames, keep an eye out for ones with nose-pads attached, like my Gok Wan sunnies above. You can take these into your local Specsavers to be adjusted so they fit your nose perfectly, whereas the nose section of purely plastic frames can only be manipulated so much. This is especially important if you have a prescription because not only will it keep your glasses from falling down but the fit also affects your vision.

If you just started wearing glasses and you’re devastated that you can’t wear your favourite designer sunglasses anymore, you can take them into an opticians to have the lenses changed. Just bear in mind that they won’t be exactly the same colour that you’re used to and the opticians will not be liable if they break in the process, so if they’re very precious, try wearing them with contact lenses. When buying a new pair of prescription sunglasses, it's useful to know that you are not limited to the pairs of sunglasses that are out on the shelves - you can ask for a tint to be put into any frames you like, even if the display pair are not tinted.

Also, if they ask if you if you wanted polarised sunglasses? Say YES. They are expensive lenses but they are SO worth it. Your vision will be so much clearer whether you wear a prescription or not.

I hope this was helpful to you whether you have a prescription or not! I post on this blog every weekend and also post fashion content regularly on my instagram, @emma_does_fashion so if you like the photos in this post you might like to follow me on Instagram too!

How to Choose Your Jewellery

Two days ago, I was supposed to get married! For obvious reasons, this has been postponed, so I wanted to celebrate our original wedding date in a small but significant way by wearing my bridal jewellery: a beautiful Tiffany & Co necklace and a pair of gorgeous diamond earrings from Monica Vinader. (There is of course one more piece of jewellery that I'll wear on my wedding day but I obviously am saving that until I'm actually married!)

Photos taken from Tiffany & Co and Monica Vinader websites

Here's some tips on how to choose your wedding jewellery - or jewellery for any special occasion.

Compile a list of pieces you really want to buy. It's important to do everything you can to avoid impulse purchases because when I declutter, these are inevitably the ones that get taken to a charity shop. When I find something I love, like my Tiffany necklace, I never ‘add to basket’ right away - I always take a step back and wait to see if I keep thinking about it. It's always such a lovely feeling when you finally treat yourself to that item you've been thinking about for so long and you will definitely treasure more than any impulse buys.

Once you’ve found something you think you’ll eventually buy, you can use the Shoptagr app to keep an eye on it. This is a really useful tool for building your jewellery collection as it will alert you when something you love goes into the sale. Also, when Black Friday rolls around, consult your list before shopping - I bought my Monica Vinader earrings on Black Friday and got a good 20% off.

Hopefully you found those tips on how to save money on jewellery and build a capsule jewellery collection useful. Let's look more specifically at how to actually choose your jewellery.

I never pick jewellery before my outfit - jewellery is always my final finishing touch, the icing on the cake. Try your outfit on with no jewellery at all and have a good think about what styles would compliment it. The neckline is important - my wedding dress is a sweetheart neckline so I knew a necklace would compliment it well. I had already seen the Tiffany & Co necklace online and immediately thought of it because it mirrored the style of my dress (and is of course very apt for a wedding).

If I were to wear a higher neckline, I would likely forego the necklace and opt for drop earrings instead as this makes that area look less busy. It’s also a good idea to think about how you’ll have your hair. If I’m wearing dangly earrings I usually wear my hair up to show them off. For my wedding day, I chose diamond studs for an understated look as I knew I'd be wearing my hair down. I had also been looking at the waterfall studs from Monica Vinader's Riva collection for a while so decided to buy those once they went into the sale. (You see? No impulse purchases!) They are a unique design yet still classic enough that they should stand the test of time.

Think about the materials you like best and which colours you like to wear them with. On nights out, I usually go for a little black dress and I LOVE how silver/white gold jewellery looks with black. However I also adore rose gold with my white and blush pink outfits. Try your outfit on with your jewellery so you can see how well the colours compliment each other.

As you can see, I didn't choose traditional bridal jewellery for my wedding day. With any fashion purchase, I always aim for a capsule collection and so I never buy anything I'll wear just once (wedding dress notwithstanding). I chose these pieces of jewellery because i knew that I would be able to wear the earrings on other special occasions and the necklace would be perfect for everyday once the wedding was over.

Whether it's jewellery, clothes or shoes, if you can only think of one time you might wear it, don’t buy it. It’s bad for the environment and for your bank account.

Jewellery trends are a lot of fun and you should absolutely play with them! However, when choosing jewellery for a special event like a wedding, it’s advisable to go for something classic. If you really want to incorporate a trend, make it something that will stand the test of time - perhaps a particular material, like yellow gold, which has come back into fashion and will continue to do so time and time again. Some trends, like the current chain jewellery trend, can work if done properly. Just remember, the aim is for it to still look good in the photos 20 years later!

10 Items You Should Definitely Have in Your SS20 Wardrobe

We are stuck in a perpetual winter here in England but I’m being optimistic and still thinking about Spring/Summer fashion. Here’s 10 things I think make the perfect capsule wardrobe this season.

1) Lightweight Outerwear

Brits never put their coats into storage because one minute we could be in a slip dress and strappy sandals and the next we’ll need a padded down jacket and wellington boots! It’s therefore important to have a strong collection of coats and jackets in your wardrobe.

 The trench coat is a staple for most women, camel being my colour of choice, and denim and leather jackets are timeless trends that are both having fashion ‘moments’ right now. Wear a leather or denim jacket over a printed profile dress to add edge to a romantic, feminine look.

2) The Crossbody That’s Also a Clutch

Huge handbags are inching their way back into fashion but in my wardrobe, a smaller crossbody is always my go-to. They are harder to fill with rubbish I don’t need and don’t cause any strain on my back or shoulders. If you’re a lover of huge handbags or you need one for the office, pop a smaller crossbody in your big bag so you don’t have to take all your belongings with you when you nip out for lunch.

 Clutches are hugely in style right now. Thanks to designers like Bottega Veneta, they’ve made the leap from evening to everyday accessory. Make your money go further by buying a crossbody with a detachable chain so you can switch up your look whenever you feel like it. Lighter handbags in neutral tones are perfect for Spring/Summer.

3) A (Groundbreaking) Floral Dress

H&M x Johanna Ortiz

I’ve worn nothing but floral dresses this season. Not only are they eye-catching when you do venture outside but they are relaxed and comfortable enough to work from home in all day. H&M have some wonderful affordable designs and, of the more premium brands, Ted Baker always deliver when it comes to floral dresses.

 If you’re a lover of neutrals, dresses are the pieces you can afford to be more playful with, as you don’t have to worry as much about how to style them. And floral dresses are so easy to dress up or down - add heels and a clutch for date night or slides and a bucket bag for your daily walk. (Visit my Instagram to watch my IGTV where I style the same floral dress from Joules for every single season!)

4) A Camisole in a Neutral Colour

I don’t think I could live without my camis in Summer. Because I only buy them in neutral tones, they go with all my other pieces and they keep me cool when it’s hot (and can also be easily covered with a jumper if it suddenly gets cold again!).

 Pair a skintight cami with a paperbag a-line skirt or a floaty cami with a pair of high-waisted jeans to balance out your look. The high street is a great resource for camis - H&M and River Island provide good quality for a low price.

5) A Pleated Midi Skirt

Thankfully this trend isn’t going anywhere. At 5 feet tall, I used to turn my nose up at midi lengths because I thought they would cut me in half (whatever that means) but it’s actually a very flattering, elegant length. The pleated midi works for any occasion: add a crop top and flip-flops for holidays; a slogan tee and bright white trainers for a trip to the shops; or a silk cami and heeled 90s sandals for a wedding.

 Midi skirts are also a great transitional piece as they are surprisingly warm and look great with opaque tights and boots.

Reiss

6) Neutral Knitwear

Knitwear isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of SS20 fashion but I bet you wear it more often than you realise in these warmer months. It is especially useful for the unpredictable British Springtime.

 Lightweight jumpers and cardigans are fantastic assets at this time of year. I like to go for neutral colours like cream or oatmeal as these can be thrown over any outfit (as you skip merrily out the door in your summery clothes then realise, to your dismay, that it’s p*ing it down).

7) Slidin’ into Summer

Those flip-flops that give you blisters between your toes? Chuck them away and get yourself a pair of slides. I adore my white Birkenstocks (uncomfortable when you first try them on but with wear they mould to your foot shape and begin to feel like a second skin) and my Hermes dupes from Dune, which are so comfortable that I’ve taken to wearing those around the house instead of slippers.

 There are plenty of choices for SS20 footwear, the most obvious being the 90s-inspired barely-there sandal, but you can’t go wrong with a comfy pair of slides.

8) You Can Leave Your Hat On

Apart from little old ladies doing their gardening, most British women wear their floppy sunhats on holiday and then shove them to the back of cobwebby cupboards for the rest of the year. It’s such a shame because sunhats add instant glamour to an outfit and they also protect your skin from the sun so why wouldn’t you want to wear them?

 The slogan hat was a trend I loved and will probably never move on from - see my ‘Do Not Disturb’ hat which is all over my Instagram. You can also use big floppy hats to spy on good-looking surfers, a la Samantha from Sex and the City.

9) ‘Hiding from the Paparazzi’ Sunglasses

These are in every fashionista’s collection and are one of the few accessories that the majority of shoppers are happy to splash out on. Bigger has been better for a long time when it comes to sunnies - there was a brief spell where skinny sunglasses tried to take the limelight but we still all crave the Audrey Hepburn look. Tiffany & Co are of course the perfect place to buy a glam pair of sunglasses.

 Like floppy hats, a huge pair of dark sunglasses instantly elevate your outfit and add some Hollywood glamour.

10) A Pair of Culottes

Like floral dresses, culottes are amazing to work from home in because they are just SO comfortable. It feels just like wearing pyjamas!

 Culottes always garner compliments and can easily be smartened up for the office. Pair with a floral crop top and wedges to tick off the retro flower-power trend this season.

Always Elegant, Never Boring

I've always loved elegant fashion, although it didn't always have a name. I adore Instagram - I dread to think how many hours I spend each day, just scrolling - and have found so many wonderful accounts with a focus on elegant styling. I love a timeless look and elegance fits right into that. But how to keep your look simple and classic without meandering into that most dangerous of territories - how to avoid looking BORING?

COVER UP - AT LEAST A LITTLE.

Elegance is not all about being prim and proper. You can definitely show a bit of leg, or rock a plunge neckline. The key, though, is to choose one or the other. For the office in the cooler months, I often opt for a 1960s vibe, with a high-necked jumper, a mini skirt and tights. It's a classic look that feels true to my personal style, and you can make it extra-fun by really exaggerating the 60s theme, with smoky eyes, a nude lip and of course a towering bouffant.

STRIVE FOR TIMELESSNESS.

The beauty of the 60s look is that it's timeless. It's definitely my favourite era when it comes to fashion. I don't do the retro look every day but I do strive for timelessness in everything I wear. The catwalks may be filled with tiny crop tops that are basically bras, but in the street we always see practical yet stylish items like trenchcoats and jeans. Classic items in neutral colours are what I like to fill my wardrobe with - they never go out of style.

INVEST IN YOUR WARDROBE AND ONLY BUY PIECES YOU LOVE.

Timeless elegance does come with a pricetag. I like to buy clothes that I will wear a lot for many years to come, and these things are expensive - not always, but often. I do understand that not everyone can afford premium high street or designer, but rather than buying a dress you'll only wear once for a night out because 'it was only £9', why not put that £9 in a savings account and eventually treat yourself to something special, like my floral wrap dress below, which was around the £80 mark from Joules. Surely it's better to own 20 items you really love than 200 you only like.

KEEP UP WITH TRENDS - TO A DEGREE.

Building an elegant wardrobe doesn't mean buying the same thing over and over again and never taking part in any trends. Trends are an excellent way of keeping your classic wardrobe up-to-date and interesting. It's all about knowing which trends will slot in with your usual style, and only taking part if you really love the trend. For example, there's no point me wearing neon or underwear-as-outerwear just because it's in fashion, because this would never fit in with my personal style. Instead, I partake in trends like chain jewellery or puff sleeves, because these compliment the rest of my wardrobe while keeping it current.

BE CREATIVE.

Have a good think about the different ways you can style the specific items in your collection. Last week on Instagram, I talked about how I like to turn my summer dresses into maxi skirts by wearing jumpers or my Topshop cardigan over them. Have fun styling things up with different accessories - a floppy sunhat is chic and practical, and a pair of drop earrings will elongate your neck and glam up the most casual of outfits. I've got my eye on this feather pair from Pandora. They would be a funky, modern addition to any elegant outfit.

SIT ON THE FENCE.

A good rule of thumb is to stick to a neutral colour palette. That way, everything in your wardrobe can be paired with everything else, and you'll never be unsure of what to wear. This is good to bear in mind when starting to build your classic wardrobe, but once you've got a good collection of neutral pieces, if you don't add a pop of colour, you run the risk of looking like you're in uniform. To avoid this, allow yourself the odd frivolous purchase in a vibrant colour. Adding a splash of pistachio green or living coral to an outfit will freshen up your look and show that you know what's on trend.

YOUR FACE IS A CANVAS.

If you want to look elegant, it's not all about the clothes. Your hair, make-up and nails should be polished (pardon the pun) too. The world of beauty is an area where you can mix things up and experiment. There are so many imaginative YouTube tutorials available for you to follow at home and add an unexpected twist to your elegant attire.

LEARN HOW TO ACCESSORIZE YOUR ASSETS.

I explained in last week's blog post how to dress when you have a larger bust and when creating a classic wardrobe, it's definitely important to know how to dress for your bodyshape. This is not a hard and fast rule but it's good to know which silhouettes flatter you, then those styles can become building blocks for your classic wardrobe which you can modernise at your leisure. For instance, I've always known that wrap dresses suit my hourglass figure, but I never would have thought to wear a maxi one until that trend appeared a year ago.

JUMP ON THE SUSTAINABILITY BANDWAGON.

If there's any trend we should all take part in, it's this one. The fashion industry is notoriously bad for the planet and also has a horrible history of animal cruelty and sweatshops, neither of which are yet shadows of the past. However, brands like H&M and Ted Baker have added conscious collections to their rails and the fashion industry does finally seem to be waking up. In Glamour's SS20 issue, they ran a piece on #onesmallchange several top designers have pledged to make.

One thing you can do to help avoid waste is to rent items rather than buy. The Catwalk Club are a company on Instagram, sadly closed at the moment due to COVID-19, but when they open up again you will be able to rent luxury handbags for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them. They even have a Chanel handbag available for rent. This is a fantastic way to rotate lots of designer items and enjoy that 'newness' feeling without adding to the environmental issue.

I hope you found my ideas useful. Next week, I'll be talking about the accessory many of us wear every single day and don't give a lot of thought to - our glasses! (For those of you who don't wear prescription lenses, never fear, I'll be talking about sunglasses too!)

How to Style... Big Boobs!

It's so true that you always want what you don't have. Like many big-breasted women before me, my boobs have often felt more like a burden than a blessing. At 5ft tall (or short) and a cartoonishly exaggerated hourglass figure, they sometimes make me feel positively dumpy.

Gok Wan told me to wear wrap dresses, so I wore wrap dresses. Trinny and Susannah said roll-neck jumpers would make my boobs look like an extension of my chin, so I shied away from those. I learnt very quickly the art of dressing for your bodyshape, which is a concept most fashionistas turn their noses up these days. It is true that no one should tell you What Not to Wear. It is true that, if you want to wear horizontal stripes, you should feel free to wear horizontal stripes. Nowadays, I don't think I own a single v-neck item (although I do have one wrap dress!). These traditional hourglass-friendly silhouettes can often make me look matronly rather than chic.

However I don't think that dressing with your particular figure in mind is a completely outdated attitude. We feel more comfortable wearing clothing we know suits us. These 'rules' that are so often sniffed at today can be very useful, especially for someone whose body is changing - perhaps you have had a baby, or lost a lot of weight, or have had to change your diet for medical reasons. I feel you need to know the rules in order to be able to bend them.

Gok, Trinny and Susannah would definitely all agree that the waist should always be the focus when dressing an hourglass figure, and I think this is such a flattering look on ANY bodyshape, but especially if you have big boobs. That contrast between your waist and boobs is so feminine and lovely. Gok would have achieved this with a waist belt, but these days I own a grand total of 1 waist belt and instead own numerous high-waisted skirts and trousers (which weren't so fashionable back in the Noughties!).

Now for your actual boobs - what are the best necklines to flatter them? Well, all of them! I had a lot of fun revisiting Trinny and Susannah clips on YouTube for this blog post, and they are absolutely appalled by the idea of a big-titted (their words, not mine!) woman wearing a crew-neck. I completely disagree, but I listened back then. What changed? Well, it was probably about 70% a shift in my attitude, and 30% a really, really good bra.

Until I found Bravissimo, I hated bra shopping, but now I look forward to it! The bra-fitting experience at Bravissimo is fabulous. There's not a tape measure in sight. They look at how the bras suit you and where they are and aren't fitting and keep bringing different shapes and sizes for you to try on until you find the perfect fit. I love love LOVE the Gossard Glossies bra - I own three of them in total! The plunge shape is smooth so I don't get that bulging '4-boob' effect that I so often got with balconette bras (it probably didn't help that I bought them from New Look and focused more on prettiness than practicality) and because it fits me so well, it has a slightly minimising effect which means I can wear them with higher-necked tops without looking 'lumpy'.

My next brassiere-themed tip is this: I adore wearing boring bras. Lacy, embellished bras are stunning but let's face it - most of spend our days with our underwear covered up. A lacy bra may look beautiful when you take your layers off but underneath a lovely cashmere jumper, it will create lumps and bumps that completely ruin the effect. Boring bras make for a smooth base that you can wear anything over - and they don't itch either.

Bras can't do all the work for you - good posture is key. This is something I always forget, and then I'm sharply reminded of it when I look at my outfit photos later! It's a really difficult thing to get into the habit of, since I've been slouching my entire life - if only I'd listened to my mum when I was young! In my defence, I think those of us who are larger in the bust area are more prone to poor posture because, let's face it, our boobs are heavy!

Like I said, you can wear pretty much any neckline if you've invested in a good bra and you feel great in the outfit. However bardot necklines are becoming a firm favourite of mine. The traditional "rules" of those Noughties styling programmes will tell you that if you have big boobs, you should show them off, but we don't always want to! A bardot neckline covers the boobs without necessarily trying to hide them, and displays the underrated shoulder area instead. Since adding more and more bardot styles to my wardrobe, I've decided that the collarbone is one of the sexiest part of a woman's body. Again, if you put your shoulders back, you can accentuate the area beautifully.

Next is the dreaded plunge neckline. Many of us DD+ ladies avoid these like the plague, terrified of "falling out" or looking too "tarty". Since discovering my Gossard bra, which is also a plunge style, I've found that plunge necklines can actually look very sophisticated. My navy floral Joules dress is the perfect example of this. Again, it highlights that elegant decolletage but, because my bra fits me properly, my cleavage isn't stealing the show.

The number one so-called "rule" for styling big boobs? Wear what you love. Don't scroll past every turtleneck and shift dress because you think they won't suit you. Try things on. Experiment. You might be surprised.