Fashion for the Unfashionable

I marvel at people who leave the house on a morning looking perfectly put together. I consider it a win if I leave the house looking vaguely symmetrical. These days I realise that fashion is less about attention and more about confidence.

Fashion for the Unfashionable 

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Current trends? Pah!

I don’t own labels. I haven’t worn a dress since my wedding day fifteen years ago and I haven’t worn makeup since I was seventeen years old. Trends have come and gone and overall I’ve just stuck with a style I’ve found affordable and comfortable. That’s not to say that fashion isn’t important to me. I certainly make more sensible fashion choices these days.

I may not be sporting the catwalk latest or spending obscene amounts of money on clothes, shoes and accessories, however, I still place importance on my clothing as how I look and feel in my second skin is a real confidence booster.

Fashion and Colours

Again, fashion is often about the latest trends, the next big thing, the latest colours. I’ve followed my own colour palette in terms of fashion over the past few years/decades, namely black. Black, gray and an occasional bold smattering of navy blue. I’ve tried injecting bold colours but they don’t make me feel good about myself. These days you might see more forest green, a little pink and even the odd smidge of mustard peeking out from my wardrobe. I can’t wear bright colours, bold patterns and that’s ok because fashion for me is donning something that again, makes me feel good about myself.

Fashion and Feeling

Something else I’ve realised over the years is that fashion is as much about how something feels as it looks. I’ve shopped at simplybe.co.uk for several years and have found that they tick all of my style-related boxes. From fabulous fabrics, superior design and attention to comfort, even in their shapewear department, you can see why I keep going back time and time again. My current personal favourites are their denim jeggings which pull on and off, have a fabulously comfortable waist and look great with boots. I’m grateful to have found somewhere who caters to the “how you feel” aspect of womenswear. If I’m feeling like I need to spruce up my look, accessories are the way to go. A simple pair of glasses that are the height of Italian fashion and a tiny bit of modest bling around my wrist can help me feel a little bit “dressed up” if I need to be. That way I can wear these sorts of items without feeling uncomfortable.

In Summary

When it comes to fashion for the unfashionable, as I consider myself, it’s all about finding your own groove, what suits you and what makes you feel good. I no longer try to wear heels, having realised that comfort and style can go hand in hand and I don’t concern myself with trying to find my eighteen-year-old figure anymore. I’m pretty sure that ship sailed years and two children ago. What about you? What does fashion mean to you? Do you feel the need to keep up with the current trends, or are you comfortable in last season’s clothing as long as it is well-made and comfortable?

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How to Prepare for Fashion Week

fashionWith the international fashion shows season just around the corner, you need to be organised if you plan on attending. These top tips for the fashionistas amongst you will help to ensure that you have everything that you need before your alarm clock goes on the day of departure.

Pack in advance
You will have items that are necessary to take: laptop, hard drive, camera, business cards and chargers, and those that you would like to take such as books and comfy sweaters. Remember to pack any toiletries into plastic bags, you do not want any spillages onto your clothes. Your clothes: you will more than likely have been fretting about what to wear for several weeks ahead of the fashion show, and while you will be tempted to keep adding items to your bag, it is important that you don’t exceed the weight limit for your carrier.

Each item that you select must be able to be worn in a multitude of ways, for example, turtlenecks can be worn with slip dresses, undershirts, with skirts or trousers. Remember that accessories can transform the same outfit, and are lighter to pack and carry. Check the weather before you leave, Paris, for example, is notably warmer at this time of year than New York, London or Milan, and so you need to pack accordingly.

Transport
Before your departure day, make sure that you have arranged transport from the airport to your hotel, and that you have the necessary details to access it. You may be tired from travelling when you arrive, and the last thing that you will want to have to try and arrange is transport to your hotel. Your return flight is another issue, and you have time to consider all options, but arriving in a city to go to an area that you are not familiar with is another story.

Your travel clothes
Make sure that you are comfortable when you are traveling. To avoid having to pack your large winter coat and risk creasing it, wear your coat to travel in. It will also double up as a blanket to keep you warm during your flight, and as people have a tendency to get tearful on flights, you will be grateful for the additional comfort!

Airport check-in
Take full advantage of checking-in for your flight ahead of arriving at the airport. Not only will you avoid the queues of people, but you will be able to get through passport control and security without stressing about the time that it invariably takes you. You will be able to arrive at your departure gate in good time to have a drink, and read a book or catch up with sporting events on the Unibet blog before you have to board.

Once you have arrived at your destination and booked into your hotel, you can exhale. The temptation will be to get right out there and soak up the Fashion Week vibes, but remember that you have all week, and you need to pace yourself to make the most of it! Have a wonderful time!