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Dressing for confidence and your body shape by Charlie Elmy-Britton
We were so pleased that Charlie Elmy-Britton could join us for our recent 'Sip N Style' event and asked her to write a guest blog so she could pass on her great styling advice to those of you that didn't get a chance to meet her on the night.
As a stylist and personal shopper I’m constantly asked how to make a client feel more confident and look ‘better’ through their outfits.
I start with a wardrobe consultation and we look through existing pieces in the wardrobe. Together we look at what is working and what isn’t and why! Holding on to pieces that no longer fit or do not flatter your body shape need to go. Squeezing into an old pair of jeans not only is unflattering it does not give you confidence in your appearance.
Donate or sell on pieces that don’t work removing the guilt of mistakes or pressure to change the way your body is now. I use preloved shops such as Sign of the times in London, Circle in Haslemere and Willow and Eve in Rustington and Arundel. Once this is done it enables us to see what is working in the wardrobe and what we can add in to enhance your outfits and create a more confident you.
The cut, shape and colour is important. I advise my clients starting out on their style development to stick to two colours in each look. This creates a simple look that gives confidence as it’s streamlined and fuss free. Later on we add in one more colour.
Colours are a great way to project confidence and emotions and eventually your own confidence will grow as you become more aware of your own style, feel comfortable and learn how to project yourself.
I use certain colours in outfits to portray and project, especially to deal with work or social situations.
Red is a great colour to portray confidence even if you’re not feeling it, so whoever is looking at you will think you are a more confident person, this in turn makes you feel more confident within yourself. I’ve used a lot of red for clients to help secure promotions.
Green is a very calming colour and exudes generosity and tranquility so if I have a client dealing with a tricky situation we may use green to create that feeling.
One of my favourite colours to create outfits is purple its the colour that depicts luxury, power and ambition. If i’m dressing a client to sit in a boardroom full of men it’s the colour that never fails to make my clients feel like powerhouses! They often ring me and say buy more purple!
Blue is great in all shades and works well with work and social situations it portrays trust, confidence and loyalty.
Yellow portrays hope, positivity and joy its great to boost mood in the office or at home if spirits need lifting.
When thinking of outfits it’s so important to think of the clothes that flatter and enhance your shape. We all know how much happier we are when we love our outfit, that will be because it’s your own style and suits your shape. Then in turn making you feel more confident. Remember these outfits and play with new colours. Little tips I use:
If your waist is your best feature don’t wear shapeless tops of dresses. Show your waist off or highlight with a belt.
If you're pear-shaped or any other shape with undefined proportions, you may want to balance it by wearing clothing that draws attention to your upper body, such as a statement necklace or a fitted blazer.
Try different lengths to play with proportions. Work out what length tops, dresses, jackets look best for you. Take pictures and compare.
If you're apple-shaped, you may want to balance your proportions by wearing clothing that elongates your torso, such as a v-neck top, a long necklace or draped scarf.
Choosing the right fabrics can also make a big difference in how your clothing looks and feels on your body. Try and feel fabrics to make sure they are not itchy or add bulk or scrunch up. If you feel uncomfortable or look disheveled this will not make you look or feel confident.
Natural fabrics especially Silk drapes beautifully and can be very forgiving when the right cut. Anything with spandex or elastane can enhance curves if you would like to show off a particular feature.
Confidence comes from within and feeling and looking the best version of you helps portray that confidence to the outside world. Remember be kind on yourself and try new looks. If in doubt ask a professional ‘you're worth it’.
Charlie Elmy Britton
