​Getting ready for a special event doesn’t need to be stressful- here are some tips to help you to arrive cool, calm and gorgeous...

Invitation arrives

• Start planning your outfit when the invitation arrives. I don’t want you to obsess about it- but have a good look through your wardrobe and see if you have anything that would work. Try on anything you think might work and team it up with shoes, bag, coat etc.
• If you find you have some gaps in your wardrobe it’s time to go shopping. Set yourself a rough budget and set aside a few hours to begin the search. I would advise taking a pair of heels and having some makeup on to give you a good idea of how your outfit could look ‘on the night’.

2 weeks prior

• Once you've found your outfit try it on at home- and I mean all of it- including shoes, bag, jewellery and lipstick. This needs to be done 2 weeks prior to your event to make sure you have got everything you need. Pay attention to the details- do you need to get any waxing done?  are you due a trip to the hairdressers? do you have the right accessories? do you need a new clutch to update the look? do you need smoothing underwear or a strapless bra? do you need a different lipstick/nailpolish? does the outfit need dry cleaning/alterations? does the outfit need styling tape to avoid any award moments?!
• Paying attention to the details 2 weeks out will save SO many styling dramas on the day- I promise!

On the day

• Lay your outfit on your bed from top to toe so you know exactly where everything is and there’s no running around screaming “where is my….???!!” about the time you’re supposed to be there.
• Allow plenty of time to get ready. Things always come up at the last minute- so if time allows plan to be ready half an hour before you’re due to leave to ensure a stress free departure​.

Now that you’ve done all the hard work you can relax, have some fun and shine gorgeous women- you deserve it! 

​Lise x

Does the new season coming fill you with dread at the thought of trying to keep up with brand new fashion - again?! Or excited in anticipation to discover what colours, cuts and looks have been dreamt up to keep us warm and gorgeous over the coming months? Heading to the shops at this time of year can be overwhelming- so here are a few tips to keep you up to date without breaking the bank…

First you will need your staple wardrobe working well. These are the pieces that you need every year and don’t really change that much. They will vary depending on your lifestyle and climate but as a guide a good staple wardrobe for Autumn/Winter would be- 

Tops- a good white shirt, white and black t-shirt/casual style top, wool/cashmere jumper, silk/dress shirt or top
Bottoms- black trousers, casual jeans, good jeans, good skirt and a casual skirt (cut to flatter your shape)
Dress- casual dress (jersey or shirt style), little black dress (or evening equivalent), nicer dress (that can be dressed up or down)
Shoes- boots, heels, converse style trainers/comfy casual shoes
Other- mid weight coat, leather jacket or other casual jacket

Once you have the staples you need you can use trends to keep your wardrobe relevant by buying a few key pieces every season. Accessories are a great way to update your wardrobe relatively inexpensively. Try a hat, fun necklace or scarf to transform something from mediocre to fabulous!

Don't be scared to try new things - they might just suit you!! Get into the 70s vibe this A/W and check out the following hot trends- culottes, capes, fringing, suede, long (long) boots, I could go on…

Don’t forget the most important thing- have fun with it and feel great in your clothes!

Lise x

Do you sometimes catch a glimpse of yourself in a window as you run into the office or on the school run and wish you looked slightly more polished? Of course we often need to wear our gym gear and have our hair in a high pony complete with bobby pins with a beautifully makeup free face. But there are times when some of us want a little bit of fabulous. I love a bit of glamour (actually alot of glamour!) and as I don’t frequent decadent cocktails parties or elaborate dinners nearly as much as I would like I need to create a bit of glamour in my every day life. There are soooooo many ways to glam up- but here are three simple ways to get some gorgeous glamour into your life…

Beautiful nails - This one is actually super easy for most of us and really makes a difference. If you’re not a nail person my advice would be to keep them short to minimise breaking and maximise polish longevity. Nail bars are officially everywhere now and you can choose from lux to cheap and cheerful. Gel polish (with a UV light) can last 2-4 weeks and has been a game changer for lots of mani fans. However there are plenty of regular polishes on the market with good staying power. If you prefer a no UV light option- go for a gorgeous colour and great top coat to get salon results. My fav is CND Vinylux. For instant glamour side step pale pink and reach for a bold colour- push the boundaries and go for something new- you might just love it…

Great hair - I can hear some of you groaning from here as you read this one. I know that many women are unhappy with their hair- and if that’s you I want to encourage you to make it a “work in progress”. Work with your hairdresser to find a style that you can do yourself that won’t take forever and will get you out of your daily slicked back pony or crazy frizz routine. For those of you who have found your style (yipeeee!)- factor in some time to get your glam on. You may need to set your alarm a bit earlier in the morning- but as you swish your way through the day you’ll be glad you did!

Wonderful white - White is one of fashions best assets and at the same time one of the most feared. Whether it’s a classic white shirt, summer dress or the ever chic white jeans- don’t be afraid to get into white! Even if you’ve got the grottiest toddler of all time- you could have a special something that you wear on the razz with the girls or on date night. If you’ve got the fear go for white cotton- that way you can soak it in some serious products if things don’t go as planned… Don't underestimate the power of white- it’s glamour in its purest form!  

If all three of these are too much to begin with- pick one and have some fun with it for a while. You’ll be rocking a more glamorous you before you know it!

Lise x