“Looking good doesn’t require a new wardrobe every season — all it takes is a fresh outlook,” says Emily Cronin in today’s Sunday Times Style (my alma mater, as brilliant a Sunday read as ever). She rang round some fashion types for smart styling tips that I have to share with you, as they are all great. As ever - shop your wardrobe, stylistas.
“Before I went to DJ at Reading this summer, I was rifling through my wardrobe trying to decide what to wear and I came across this sequin midi dress that I’d worn to Christmas parties the year before. It’s orange and silver checks — quite full-on. You’d never think it would work in the summer. I wore it with orange trainers and a daisy bucket hat, and suddenly it was this perfect dress for a late-summer festival. I felt great in it. It was fun to DJ in a dress like that. Don’t categorise your clothes as being for a smart event or a casual setting — you can make things such as sequins work for different occasions.” Lilah Parsons, TV presenter and DJ
Modernise a midi with white boots
“Wearing white boots is an easy way to give your wardrobe a refresh, especially in between seasons. White ankle boots are great when you’re not quite ready for the full winter cover-up because you can still show off your tanned legs. And as spring approaches, white boots will feel fresh, immediately lifting anything you wear.” Isabel Spearman, style consultant and founder of Daily Dress Edit
Raid your mum’s wardrobe for clothes no one else will have
“When it came to choosing an outfit for the Fashion Awards last year, I decided to return to the source: my mother. My biggest style inspiration and my first favourite designer, Mama Ifore ran her own fashion business in the 1990s called Neruzi Designs, designing, importing and selling traditional Nigerian clothes. [ED: if your mum is not a fashion designer or lives 100 miles away, try your mates. Remember how we all used to borrow each other’s clothes when we were teens? So why not now. Quick swapping party with your bestie.] Something I’ve learnt from my mum is the importance of looking like yourself. Not only did I look like myself, I also felt like myself. It made me feel strong.” Zezi Ifore, artist and broadcaster
With necklaces, three is the magic number
“Wear different styles of chains together to add texture to your look. Odd numbers are best — some days I’ll wear five or more for a messy-cool look, but three is the magic number. At the moment I’m wearing a chunky chain, a flat snake chain and a crescent-moon pendant necklace. I always add a pendant for length and shape, as it elongates and gives a focal point. I never take off the upper chains — I sleep in them, I shower in them, I swim in them — but I switch up the pendant. There’s no need to change all your jewellery every day. Wear it on repeat, make it work hard and have fun with additional pieces.” Marisa Hordern, founder and creative director of Missoma
Sometimes all you need is one great shirt
“I plan my outfits shirt first. I wear one with jeans or smarter trousers during the day and with black leather trousers for evening. In winter I roll down the sleeves and add a chunky knit and chain necklaces over the top. My favourites are by La Veste and With Nothing Underneath, although Reiss has a great black silk one I copied from Claudia Winkleman recently. When I wore it I had loads of compliments. The best shirts have a boyfriend fit that’s not too oversized. Always, always tuck in the front.” Claire Le Marquand, cofounder of the jewellery brand Kirstie Le Marque
Try an open clothes rail
“When I had a closed wardrobe, I’d open it, glance at the clothes and think, ‘I’ve got nothing to wear.’ Now I have an open rail and my dresses, trousers and jeans are always on display. Since switching, I’ve noticed connections between pieces that had never occurred to me before because I can see everything.” Jasmine Hemsley, chef and author
Layer smart for endless wardrobe possibilities
“I wouldn’t say it’s revolutionary but I always return to styling a simple roll neck such as Toteme’s wool and cashmere blend underneath a shirt with a neck scarf over the top. I love using complementary tones like pale blue and black, or adding pops of colour like green underneath a classic white shirt. It’s a way to get more wear out of your most beloved pieces.” Libby Page, Net-a-porter market director
Tie your jumper the cool-girl way
“It’s cute to tie a jumper under one arm and over one shoulder. It’s a more modern, less preppy way to keep an extra layer around. Maybe in the past you wore your knits around your waist or over your shoulders — this is the cool-girl way to do it. I also like tying a jumper over a coat because it adds interest and colour. But if you’re wearing a coat, tie the knit over your shoulders, as it gets too bulky otherwise.” Jessie Randall, founder and creative director of Loeffler Randall
Plan a date night with your wardrobe
“This is a great way to remember what you already own and it’s really easy — pour a glass of wine, relax … and then take everything out of your wardrobe. Lay it all on your bed so you can see what you have, and then start to look for new ways of wearing these pieces. You need to have alone time with your wardrobe, you have to remind yourself about what’s in there and why you signed up for these pieces in the first place, and then fall in love with them all over again.” Emma Slade Edmondson, sustainability and marketing consultant
Wear a wrap dress as a winter jacket
“Don’t be afraid to think of dresses differently — they can be really lovely layering pieces worn over polo necks and jeans, or with sweater vests on top. In winter I wear a summery wrap dress open over jeans and a polo neck — I have a Ganni wrap dress and instead of threading the strings through and tying them around my waist, I tie a loose bow at the front, so it looks a bit like a kimono. It’s a fun, different way to style a dress.” Zeena Shah, art director and stylist
Mix your prints
“Some people stick to a strict colour palette in their wardrobes. A friend of mine with red hair wears only autumnal colours. The other day I asked them what my colours are and they said, ‘You don’t have colours, you have prints.’ They’re right: I love combining different patterns and prints. If you’re wearing two different prints, there needs to be something to connect them, either a shared base colour or one colour that runs throughout. Right now I’m wearing a wavy green and cream jumper with cream canvas trousers with blue flowers. They’re very different but the cream in both ties them together.” Hannah Weiland, founder and designer of Shrimps
Wanting to look good isn’t vain
“Spend some real time thinking about your body type. What are your favourite features? What do you want to accentuate? What doesn’t look good on you no matter how hard you try? For me a halterneck is a no-go, and at the age of 32 I’m finally at peace with that. I have an extremely long torso, and once I really started to dress for my body I felt a lot better. I find clothes that make my legs look longer and cinch at my waist. It’s not vain to look at yourself in the mirror and think, ‘OK, what do I want to optimise?’ ” Christina Najjar, aka TikTokker Tinx
So there you go. It’s Sunday, in January, and if you have nothing better to do, why not spend today figuring our some whole new wardrobe options? Personally Im going for the wrap dress as coat, roll neck under the shirt (always a personal fave) and three necklaces layered on a navy crew neck. Because why not let your jewellery do the talking?
Rule of Five is a campaign to get us all to buy less this year, whilst still enjoying fashion and looking good. If you are not already subscribed, do sign up here for extra tips.
Roll neck under shirt a lifesaver when ur low on good winter jackets