How to feel confident wearing summer clothes
Your summer holiday is officially around the corner and you need it SO BAD right? As a Personal stylist in London, I have the total joy of helping you and your wardrobe get summer ready. Sadly, I also know about the negative emotions that come along with you every summer and steal the joy of dressing for sunshine by knocking your confidence.
As a stylist based in London, I am asked on the daily, how to pull looks together, how to complete outfits and update items that people already own ready for the season ahead. I am also asked about how to dress for shape, what necklines best for you and even how to dress for weddings. In the summer I get such a variety of questions from everything from fabric, to colour, to make up and even hair. I thought id share a few simple tips to help you get into a positive frame of mind for summer rather than panic mode.
How do I avoid sweat patches?
As a London-based Personal stylist, this is my no1 asked question. The quickest answer is to wear clothes made from natural fibers which include cotton, linen, viscose , rayon and silk which are naturally hypoallergenic. They also have unique anti-bacterial qualities, therefore making them ideal for sensitive or allergy-prone skin. Natural fibers keep you cooler in the summer and therefore sweat less and the sweat patch issue can be resolved.
Another way of avoiding sweat patches is to wear sleeveless tops like halternecks or looser-fitting bottoms like linen trousers with a movable waist belt. We all know the worst thing is boob sweat though so for that I recommend cotton bras with a little padding so it doesn’t come through a top/dress that you are wearing.
What outfit can take me from day to night in the summer?
Day to night or desk to disco as I still like to refer to it as can be troublesome in the summer. I genuinely think a simple dress with some unqiye details or a funky print with a canvas trainer or simple sandal will do just the trick. The benefits of wearing what I call a one piece is that you have less thinking to do when putting the look together because its literally done in one, if its flaotyy, it can be lovely a breezy down there and a dress can be transformed with a necklace or earring (or both) and they are SO easy to carry. You can either risk a jacket and have an alcohol blanket or choose a light cotton jacket you can stuff in your work bag.
What makeup will stop me from getting so shiny?
Ok so skincare and make-up as a London stylist is BIG but also a very new concept for me. I am pleased to say with the help of some of my make-up gals’ I have got my perfect solution. I recommend Giorgio Armani primer (also has SPF) and if you can get the luminous silk foundation that too and then the magic of Laura Mercier translucent setting powder… honestly a game-changer.
Also, another tip of mine is to wear Vaseline and a lip liner if you want colour on your lips but feel odd in lipstick… pretty proud of that one haha.
How do I keep my hair out of my face but still look cool in the summer?
If you have been with me since my early styling days you all know what Im about to say here… a headband OBVS. The definition of an outfit finisher and easily adds colour and a bit of extra finesse to your summer look. As a Personal shopper across London, it’s so important to know where to get the best of the best accessories from and obvs my fave is War&drobe but also Anthropology is nailing it this season too. Make sure you check out all of their accessories because they are on fire this summer.
There we have my top advice to feeling confident with your clothing and accessories choices this summer from me, a wardrobe stylist based in London. To recap, go natural fibers, a dress or jumpsuit you can wear at work and jazz up with accessories for date night on your way home, treat yourself to some spenny make up – its worth every penny I promise and finally, get your sweaty hot hair out of your eyes with a headband.
Stylish wishes as always,
Sian x