Don’t judge me, please, but this week I’m taking inspiration from a classic film. In fact, I think it was one of only three DVD’s my sister and I owned when we lived together ten-ish years ago (give or take, who is counting after all?) in London. It kept us company on many a hungover sleepy weekend in our youth. (In a slightly mortifying admission, I feel like I could probably still recite it by heart all these years later). I digress, though, the only line relevant to today, is ‘Frost yourself’, whispered in that raspy voice that’s a Matthew McConaughey trademark. (If you still haven’t worked out the film I’m referring to, it’s How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days).
So many of my clients come to me looking for advice on how to look and feel more polished, more pulled together, more styled. The easiest way to do that – for both my male and female clients – is to concentrate on accessories. Even the simplest outfit of a white shirt and blue jeans, or the most basic black shift dress in your wardrobe can be revolutionised (OK, a mild overstatement, but you get the picture) by the addition of a bit of bling. And no, we’re not talking Titanic-style diamonds. For men, I’m talking a polished belt buckle, or a steel watch bracelet; for women, a cracking necklace, some bold earrings or a pair of statement shoes can lift an outfit from the doldrums to the dancefloor (bring on the 19th July).
Bottega Veneta has been the go-to accessory brand for the last couple of seasons, and this year their accessories are a rainbow of bold bright colours, ideal to compliment a simple outfit. Deep jade green, soft buttery yellow and bold tangerine clutch bags, skinny belts and shoes have been selling like Glastonbury tickets did when festivals were still a thing.
But that doesn’t mean you need to spend anything close to a month’s mortgage payment on accessories. In fact, I’m a huge fan of high street jewellery and accessories. For jewellery, Mango and H&M are my absolute go-to’s, while Uterque, Cos and & Other Stories are fantastic for statement bags and belts.
While we’re talking jewellery though, a knockout pair of earrings or a banging necklace are even more likely to be your friend as you get older. And by older, I mean you hit 30 – sorry to be the bearer of such unfriendly news. Jewellery (and indeed sequins, satin fabrics with a little sheen and make-up formulas that aren’t completely matt) are super flattering around the face. They serve to reflect light and bring life back to the face – which is what we’re all after, especially once the sheen of youth is that little bit less obvious than it once was.