A cut above the rest

The Sleeveless tailored jacket

Vogue named it “spring’s new wonder piece”. The classic, reliable blazer has had a revamp. Not to be mistaken for a waistcoat, this is to be worn as outerwear.

Designers from Yves Saint Laurent to Neil Barrett presented their own versions for spring/summer ’11 and the general consensus was…tailored is best.

Images courtesy of Style.com
Neil Barrett, Yves Saint Laurent

 

Why I like it?

1.       One for all – this may be a trend best kept for warmer weather but the sleeveless tailored jacket offers tailoring essentials that flatter every body shape, making this a garment we can all wear!

How? The structured shoulders give you definition on top (nb: if you have broad shoulders avoid shoulder pads in your jacket) and a tapered waist will create the illusion of a slimmer or more defined waistline.

2.       It’s versatile – Just like the classic blazer, the sleeveless jacket is something you’ll be able to wear over and over again and for any occasion.

A perfect example is this Elizabeth and James piece £128, from TheOutnet.com

How to wear it?


Dress up for the office.....

Trousers £30, ASOS.com , Leather clutch £60, Topshop.com
.....Team your sleeveless jacket with a pair of slim-fit trousers and a leather handbag for New York office chic.

Weekend wear.....

Skinny jeans £45, Cheap Monday at ASOS.com
.....Go more casual and team your sleeveless number with skinny jeans and a loose-fit cotton vest top.

Night on the town.....

Silk-georgette skirt £115, Elizabeth and James at TheOutnet.com , Aztec shoes in sale £45 Topshop.com
.....Wear it open with a silk sleeveless blouse and an eye-catching mini.

I’ll be sending this vintage, linen blazer to my tailors for a few alterations so I can turn it into my ‘wonder piece’. Electric blue is a huge colour for this season and the cut is perfect as it has all of the tailoring essentials noted above. Secretly I’m tempted to wear it with my blue and white pinstripe tailored shorts. Too preppy?.....Perhaps.

                                                                                 

Next blog post …. my favourite fashion shoot of the moment and tips on wearing stripes.

 

Noreen x

'Pops of colour'

Spring is here!

Winter 2010 was all about camel coats, nude-tones and creating a minimalistic, neutral look for our daily wardrobes. I welcomed the sleek Chloe-inspired tailoring that came with this trend as I’m a huge fan of tailored clothing for women. Yet, come mid-winter I was starting to tire of the soft hues, the outfits were starting to feel muted and I was sensing a need for something new and exciting.

When I saw the Spring/Summer 2011 catwalks bursting with honeysuckle pink thrown against peapod green and clashed with citrus yellow, I was overwhelmed…..overjoyed and so over those neutrals! ‘New and exciting’ were here and it was in the form of ‘pops of colour’!

                                   Prada, Gucci, Christopher Kane

Images courtesy of Style.com 

As I type, this trend is on its way to the high street and our wardrobes so you may be wondering how to make this trend work for you. The fashion world is saying this trend is all about wearing bright colours in block format, as perfectly displayed by Gucci above.

Bearing this in mind, I turn my attention to consider how real women are going to be wearing colour this season? How can this daring trend be made more accessible to my clients? For me, there is only one way I’ll be wearing this trend. I love the colours, I love the boldness, but less….is always more! So here’s how I’ll be wearing ‘pops of colour’ as perfectly displayed by a recent photo shoot I styled (see my facebook page for more pictures http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-upon-Tyne-United-Kingdom/Noreen-Elizabeth-Styling/185394161504606)

What are my rules for ‘pops of colour’?

                                                  

Easy does it

It’s so easy to get this trend wrong so don’t go crazy by wearing every colour in your wardrobe as you risk the possibility of looking like a children’s entertainer. Ease yourself into this trend by starting off with vibrant accessories.

                                                 

Really make them ‘POP’

Take your vibrant accessories and wear them against your minimalistic neutrals from winter. This will make the colour stand out even more and create an instant eye-catching outfit, while also making your winter hues a spring necessity.

                                                    

Keep it in the family

If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try wearing different colours together, go for different shades from the same colour family. For example: in this outfit, I chose to mix the vivid orange detailing in the scarf (worn as belt) with shoes in a rich, slightly pink, shade of coral. The different shades work in harmony rather than clashing harshly, it gives the same effect, but it’s easier on the eye.

                                              

Brighter is not necessarily better

Don’t invest in brightly coloured garments just because they’re bright. Find a colour that’s flattering on you and wear it with confidence.

Where’s best to buy colour on the high street?

So now you know how to wear it, where are you going to buy your colour pieces from? Without a doubt it has to be River Island. They have stuck with the sleek tailoring from winter ’10 and the colour palettes they used are more vibrant than any of the other high street stores. For me, this gives the garments an overall more expensive and polished finish. What more could you ask for? I would recommend you make it your first port of call for Saturday shopping!

What’s next?

Vogue is calling 'it' "spring’s new wonder piece!" ..... Find out what ‘it’ is in my next blog post.

Noreen