ARE YOU ONE OF MY GIRLS WHO GOES OUT SHOPPING EVERY SATURDAY, HAS A WARDROBE PACKED FULL OF CLOTHES BUT NOTHING TO WEAR? THEN READ ON, MY DARLING, BECAUSE ALL THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE. We are going to take a fresh look at what you wear, and I am going to show you how to put together some great new outfits that you will love. What’s more, my stylish sweethearts, you won’t have to spend, spend, spend to do it!

“British women shell out an average of £1,000 a year on clothes!”

British women shell out an average £1,000 a year on clothes and yet only a third of those fashion finds ever sees the light of day. The rest, it seems, are banished to the dark recesses of your wardrobes, along with all those other pieces that fashion forgot. Nearly every girl’s wardrobe that I see (and let’s face it, my angels, I have seen more than most!) is bursting with clothes that have never been worn. And that’s where my style quest to get you to buy less and wear more comes in.

So, girl, walk over to that wardrobe right now, throw open the doors and, like discovering your own little Narnia, get ready to step into the magical world within. Here’s where we start sorting out the good from the bad and the ugly, decide what to keep, what to add, and—most important of all, girls—what to kiss goodbye to. (I know how hard it is, gorgeous, but believe me, it really is for the best!)

“Nearly every girl’s wardrobe that I see is bursting with clothes that have never even been worn.”

Whether it’s those trusty black trousers, that one-for-all winter coat or those sparkly slingbacks that you paid a fortune for but have never worn, I am going to be right by your side revisiting everything you have got stuffed away in there.

We’ll do all this while keeping an eye on the latest trends, of course, and I’ll give you loads of advice on how to create a classic collection of outfits along the way. I also want all the tips and tricks in this book to inspire you beautiful belles to break free of any dressing habits that are way past their sell-by date, and to try out something new, because a change of direction will always spruce up your style.

Just remember, ladies, when it comes to being truly stylish, there really are no hard and fast rules: you can pick and choose elements of any outfit and adapt them to suit your look. Whether you are a trend-sawy teenager, a thirtysomething career girl or a fabulous fiftysomething, this book is all about building a brilliantly hard-working wardrobe, and that means a wardrobe that works for you.

I’ll show you how to create the kind of simple style statements that never go out of fashion, that you can adapt to suit your size and shape, and that you can depend on to make you feel your beautiful best every day. I’m not suggesting that shopping sprees are off the agenda, though, girls—we all want to feel part of what’s going on in fashion—I just want you to see how easy it is to look and feel fabulous without breaking the bank.

To help you get the most out of our new style journey, and so that you can quickly revisit the parts that work best for you, I’ve split this book into four easy-to-find sections. In SECTION 1, we’ll put some solid fashion foundations in place as I highlight the key pieces of clothing that I think no woman should be without. SECTION 2 is where we compile the ultimate accessories drawer and discover why the devil really is in the detail. In SECTION 3, I’ll use my stylist know-how to show you how to create a timeless selection of gorgeously chic outfits, and in SECTION 4, we’ll add a slick of gloss and polish to your fab new outfits with some gorgeous hair and makeup tips.

And that’s it. By making your wardrobe work for you, you’ll be a collection of chic new looks richer and ready to feel fashion fabulous anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Because the one thing you never, ever have to cut back on is feeling gorgeous. That, my angels, doesn’t cost a thing.

Chic Classics

Dedication

From white shirts to pencil skirts and the classic mac, in this section we’ve got the basics covered

Chapter One The White Shirt

THERE’S A LOT MORE TO THIS SIMPLE piece of wardrobe kit than you might think, girls. And, no matter how you like to wear your white shirt, trust me, by the time you’ve finished this chapter, you’ll be pulling it out of your wardrobe and wearing it a whole lot more.

“The white shirt has got such fabulous fashion potential!”

THE WHITE SHIRT IS A TRUE CLASSIC. THE MINUTE YOU FIND ONE THAT YOU LIKE it becomes your new best friend—you can always depend on it. But like anything we come to know and love, ladies, sometimes we can take the white shirt a teensy bit for granted. All you smart girls will undoubtedly have a white shirt in your wardrobe, but I’ll bet if I asked you how you wore it, you would probably say that it was mostly for work. Yet it’s got such fabulous style potential. Think of Marilyn Monroe in The Misfits wearing a man’s white shirt with simple jeans—she looks red hot! And that’s how your white shirt should make you feel.

Let’s take a look at THREE CLASSIC WHITE-SHIRT STYLES, and over the next couple of pages I’ll share my top tips on how to wear them.

1 the classic

THE MOST TRADITIONAL SHIRT SHAPE OF ALL IS CLEAN, CRISP AND SMART, AND WILL ALWAYS SAY ‘ELEGANT CITY CHIC’. The minute you pair it with a suit jacket and trousers, though, it can look a little too traffic-warden chick. (Come on—even all you lovely wardens out there will admit that this is not a look you’d go for if you had the choice!) So let’s clock in and whip that ‘work-uniform’ element right out of the classic white by loosening it up and bringing it bang up to date.

”Dressing down is the new dressing up and this look nails that style perfectly.“

· NATURAL BEAUTY

Dressing down is the new dressing up and this look nails that style perfectly. Opt for a shirt that’s a size or two bigger and you’ve got classic boyfriend style. Or just nick one from your other half and give it a soft, feminine touch. (Don’t worry, he won’t notice—until he sees how fab you look in it! Girls look so sexy in oversized men’s shirts.) Because this is the perfect look for casual days, just wear it as big and baggy as you want, then raid your accessories drawer and add a few girlie touches—quilted ballet pumps and some long necklaces, say. If you are going to be heading out for drinks at some point, style it plain and loose over smart ankle-skimming trousers with some high, high heels. Or just pair it with your favourite denims and boots for a trés sexy look.

· UPTOWN GIRL

This is all about classic workwear with a sharp, sexy edge, and it’s a style that I think looks good on women of any shape and age. The shirt should skim your figure, not cling to it. And let’s give those suit trousers that you pull out for work every day a rest for a while. Pull out a figure-enhancing pencil skirt instead. (I’m sure you’ve got one hanging in there, sassy girl.) Wear your shirt with a fitted waistcoat (Victoria Beckham pulls this look off beautifully), roll up the sleeves, add heels and a slim patent belt (or any of your trusted big, sexy waist-cinchers) to show you mean business.

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