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 Have a Fashionable Birthday in Quarantine

Those of us born in Spring are feeling a little blue. We want to go for a nice birthday meal, Boris! But of course we must adhere to the social distancing rules put in place for our own safety, and many of us have already found ways to maintain normality in our homes, whether it's a candlelit 3-course anniversary meal lovingly made for your partner or an alcohol-fuelled Zoom call with your best and oldest friends.

I'm pretty sure on my birthday last year, my big exciting plan was to... Have a takeaway. So I guess this year wasn't all that different! I made sure I still had a girly, glamorous day. If you want tips on how to do this, read on, and don't forget to read my previous blog post, How To Keep it Glam at Home.

The first thing we do every Saturday morning is our daily exercise. For us, this means walking our miniature dachshund! I always try to look stylish as well as practical on dog walks, which you'll know if you follow me on Instagram (@emma_does_fashion) because that's when I take all my photos!

For my birthday walk, I wore my pink floral cut-out dress from Sisters of the Tribe, which is a brand sold at ASOS. It's a maxi dress so looks elegant without really trying, and even though I got it last year it's still on-trend for SS20. I paired the dress with my comfortable yet stylish Dune sandals and of course a big floppy sunhat. I also curled my hair and did my makeup nicely before we went out, because it's not just any dog walk, it's my birthday dog walk!

When someone asks what I'd like for my birthday I nearly always say vouchers. Ted Baker and ASOS are usually top of my list, but this year I asked my fiancé for a Holland Cooper Clothing voucher. This of course meant that I was doing some online shopping the morning of my birthday, and to be honest I've not stopped since! Once everything's arrived from all the retailers, I'll be showing you a haul of what I got - hopefully on YouTube if we are in our new house by then! Follow me on Instagram to see when it's ready.

When I got home it was lunchtime, so at this point it didn't really matter what I was wearing because CAAAAAAAAAAKE. We ate a decadent chocolate cake from Marks & Spencers and shortly afterwards, the most divine bunch of flowers arrived at my door! My mum sent me an enormous bouquet, the scent of which travels all the way through the house and just smells wonderful.

I had a takeaway for dinner (of course) and by this time I was in my pyjamas, but of course I made sure they were my absolute favourite pair! I wore my satin floral Ted Baker pyjamas which are so glamorous and yet so comfortable. I had another slice of cake (why not eh?) and congratulated myself - I celebrated my lockdown birthday in the most fabulous, fashionable way!

How to Keep it Glam at Home

Why bother staying stylish at home? Well, it does wonders for your mood. When quarantine first reared its unglamorous head, I found myself staying in my pyjamas for FAR TOO LONG. I won't lie, it's nice to do this every now and then, but it makes me feel rubbish if I do it too much. Save your PJs for bed and dress yourself each morning as if nothing has changed. Lockdown? What lockdown?

On that note, upgrade your #WFH outfit and step away from loungewear! When working from home, most of my outfits are the same as I would wear to the office. That's because I buy my clothes with style and comfort in mind (and I've always had somewhat corporate tastes!). My red floral jumpsuit from Quiz is a firm favourite as it seems like I've made a proper effort but essentially I'm wearing a fancy onesie!

Instead of leggings or tracksuit bottoms (I jest - I don't own tracksuit bottoms!), I wear midi skirts, culottes and statement dresses in materials like cotton or chiffon. IMO these are more comfortable and less restrictive than jeans or leggings. I've got my eye on this Reiss ombre midi skirt and this gorgeous coral dress from Ted Baker - both are practical for working from home and also office-appropriate for when we finally return to the real world.

You might find this next tip distasteful, but trust me, it's worth it - iron all of your clothes. I iron pyjamas, pants and even socks. The process is therapeutic and the end result is a crisp, clean outfit every single day. If you're not as keen on ironing as I am, why not try a handheld steamer?

Once work is over, I like to change something about my appearance to signify that the working day has ended and me-time has begun. Usually I just put my hair up and switch out my jewellery. It's a small change but it makes me feel good. Other times, I'll pop on my sports bra from Bravissimo and some high-waisted leggings and do some of my favourite YouTube work-outs, such as a gentle yoga routine.

I love pyjamas (especially freshly ironed ones) and think we all should own at least one extra-special pair. I adore my Ted Baker pyjamas pictured above; every time I wear them, I truly feel that spark of joy. I've always been obsessed with delicate nightwear - when I was a teenager I used to wear satin chemises to sleepovers! My friends laughed at me but I felt so glamorous and a luxurious pair of PJs still makes my night! And to be honest, my friends still make fun of me for always being over-dressed.

That lockdown life is all about self-care for me. This is a great time to really focus on your skincare, and a good pamper could also boost your mental health. I try to treat myself to a red-hot bath and a face mask at least once a week. Your skin will reap the benefits and you will be fresh-faced and gorgeous without the need for makeup!

If you're finding it hard to motivate yourself to dress up for your home office, or home school, why not make it fun and take a picture of your #ootd each morning? You don't need to post it anywhere, but if you do, please tag me so I can see! My Instagram account is @emma_does_fashion. Thank you for reading, my lovelies!