Louise Blaize: “You’re never fully dressed without a smile”

Louise Blaize has a degree in Fashion from the University for the Creative Arts and currently she’s a stylist at Styling Up and a buyer for a premium high street chain.

Louise is starting her styling career and this is the first chapter. She believes that everyone has the right to look and feel good in their clothing and, to her, there’s nothing more important in an outfit than a smile: “If you’re not happy in your clothes, it shows”.

Read the full interview with this stylist and find out more about her style, her love for prints, favourite designers and blogs and some tips for several body shapes. You can also check out her personal stylist page to see some of her recommendations.

How and when did you start being a fashion stylist? Tell us your story.

Probably ever since I was a kid. I used to style my family, friends and of course my Barbie dolls. I’d say my professional career as a stylist starts right here right now, so you are reading Chapter 1. Right now, I’m building up my portfolio as a stylist through Stylingup.com, that way I get to know my client in depth, I get to understand their body and know what works and what doesn’t.

What does fashion mean to you?

Fashion is right but oh so wrong,

Fashion is a statement but it fade.

Fashion is luxury but often budget,

Fashion can be a nightmare but turns into a dream.

Above all fashion truly is passion, you either have it or you don’t.

What are your favourite brands & designers?

I love Peter Pilotto for the outstanding prints, I can look at his prints for hours and Christopher De Vos brings life to those prints with hs amazing silouettes.

Christopher Kane burst onto the scene and shook up the fashion world in 2007 with his neon collection,but one of my favourite collections is his Resort 2011 collection where he uses space images as prints for his clothing. I like Marc Jacobs not only for his crazy personality but the silhouette’s he creates and the fabric manipulation.

I really love everything about Tom Ford from his tailoring right the way through to his looks.

How would you define your personal style?

I love colour and I love prints, sometimes they marry together in an explosion that would be classed as crazy, unique, garish. I see it as having fun and letting my personality show through my clothing.

"I love this outfit because every piece is bold in its own right but put together makes such a
striking powerful outfit, everyone will notice and the wearer will feel so good in it.
Plus it has flat shoes so you could wear this outfit all day"

If you could pick 3 fashion must-haves that every woman should own, what would they be?

The most important item in your entire wardrobe is underwear, that covers bras, knickers, support, the lot. If you aren’t supported underneath you might as well consider yourself half dressed. The importance of a good bra is totally understated these days.

Another must have has got to be a LBD. No matter where you’re going or what you are doing there is always an occasion for a little black dress. It can be styled up differently each time to give you a different look but it’s always the safety net on those days when you think you have nothing to wear.

And finally you’re never fully dressed without a smile. This can make or break your outfit, if you’re not happy in your clothes it shows.

Looking back… what was your biggest fashion “mistake”?

I don’t trust anyone that says they never make mistakes with fashion, everyone makes mistakes. (Like me wearing bright green Adidas trainers and I mean bright green with pretty much every single item of clothing in my wardrobe. I loved them but looking back at the pictures that will never see the light of day, I think to myself, I’m sure I owned a mirror so what happened?) People think mistakes are bad, I think that if you don’t make them you’re not adventurous and fashion is an adventure so have fun.

What was your greatest challenge as a fashion stylist, and how did you solve it?

I was asked once to take a girl shopping who was a tom boy but wanted to change. It was hard because just getting her to try on something with colour or shape let alone a dress was proving near impossible. That’s when I realized I had to talk to her and find out why she wanted to change. Styling someone can also be a form of therapy, it’s a chance for the client to look inside themselves and find out why they want to change or why they want to stay the same.  It was then I also realized how important clothing could be in some people’s lives.

One of the outfits Louise recommended, based on a Cheetah Print Tunic from Praslin, Print Palazzo Trousers from Simply Be, Red Contrast Heels from AX Paris, Red Tote Bag from ASH, and a Bead Choker from French Connection

What’s the biggest tip you can give to women with different shapes?

Pear Shape: I say embrace your curves; you really do have a good thing. A small waist and a booty, which is there to entice, what could be better?  But if you really aren’t a fan of your shape make sure when wearing tops or jackets that they cut off above the hip line and show off your shoulders and waist to distract the eye.

Straight Shape: You need to create shape from somewhere and that could be in the form of A line skirts (add a tutu for a real 50’s,volumising silhouette), shoulder pads or epaulettes are a good way to add some structure and draping is an excellent way to add volume, just let the fabric do all the work.

Hourglass Shape: You ladies have the best of everything so be proud of it. I know fashion stores don’t easily cater for curvy women, hopefully one day they will catch on but in the meantime. You can wear any skirt you please but nothing suits you better than a pencil, your clothes can be figure hugging but don’t go overboard I’m not saying go out dressed as Jessica Rabbit. Consider going up a size especially for tops with buttons, you do not want to keep buttoning your blouse because the buttons keep popping out.

Diamond Shape: You need to create a waist so a belt or clothes that incorporate a belt or some kind of paneling will be your best friend. You can wear V neck tops or thin straps to show off your shoulders and cleavage (make sure the strap isn’t too thin that it shows off your bra straps). Make sure when wearing trousers or jeans that they are straight, no flares for you and besides the 70’s are over.

Oval Shape: A wrap dress is perfect for you, it shows of your bust, drapes to create a waist and also disguises your mid section whilst skimming over your hips. Patterns that elongate your body are the ticket to looking good as an oval shape.

Inverted Triangle Shape: This can be a very desirable shape, your waist is slim and you have hips as well. You can go wild with asymmetric cuts on tops and dresses. If you want to create volume in your lower half try harem pants, a long pleated maxi skirt or tulip dress. As for the top half anything that will draw the eye downwards and away from your shoulders will help so wrap tops are ideal and nothing beats a waterfall neckline.

Do you usually check out fashion blogs and magazines?

Style Bubble - For fantastic close up images of the latest trends, great front row and backstage images of fashion shows and Susie’s writing is engaging and sometimes amusing.

Fifi Lapin - I just love Fifi she’s really cute.

The Online Stylist -  A great way to see fashion looks easily and access to bloggers websites from around the world.

Dazed and Confused Magazine – Best Articles

Vogue – One of the top UK fashion magazines, what else is there to say?

Schön! Magazine – This magazine covers fashion, art, photography, all things I love

SS14 London Fashion Week (LFW) Highlights: Day 2

Zoë Jordan starts the second day of Fashion week sending graffiti covered garments down the runway. Adhering to the season’s colour palette of pastel pink and grey, she also decides to throw in a bright red at the end of her show to leave a lasting impression.

Girls just wanna have fun and Sister by Sibling knows how to give a girl just that through her clothing and this collection doesn’t disappoint. They provide everything in this collection from the slogan sweaters, peak a boo dresses and flower sandals.

My favourite element of Antipodium’s collection had to be the peak a boo metallic skirts and dresses Geoffrey J. Finch made for this collection, I could have seen a whole collection with that fabric.

At the Orla Kiely theatrical show the models walked through a safari camp stopping at different stations along the way and carrying props. Orla is famed for her prints; her famous leaf print makes an appearance along with a graphic giraffe.

Some of Holly Fulton’s wonderful prints look to be inspired by Ishihara colour test (colour blindness test) but as always Holly Fulton sends a variety of prints down the catwalk so we were just spoilt for choice.

John Rocha also went for the peak a boo look for his collection. He creates layers using the sheer fabric, he throws in some  embellishment and ruffles and what we are left with is a collection which keeps making me think ‘kinky my fair lady’.

The collection everyone was waiting for was Julien McDonald’s and there would be no unhappy faces in the audience. Julian produced what everyone would expect from him which was bling and glamour. His sexy dresses wrap around the models like a second skin and float so beautifully to the floor they look like glitzy angels.

With David Koma we want structure and impeccable tailoring and what the people want the people get. His sharp asymmetric black and white dresses were to die for, every woman no matter what your shape would look fantastic in any of these.

It’s a good thing that J W Anderson is now designing womenswear because he’s good at it. You can see that he loves to play with fabric and textures, this collection looks like it was his sand box and he just got the green light to go wild.

This collection by Ashish is so cool and not just because it uses one of the most coolest brands out there, the styling is on point especially the iconic shopping bags that are synonymous with the British High street.

Another show people couldn’t wait for was House of Holland, Henry Holland’s collection. He had all the colours of the season included, check, stripe and floral prints, even the Virgin Mary got a chance to shine.

Now let’s not forget the fashionistas who make LFW what it is. Take Vanessa Feltz, bless her she does try and that dress is a pretty good choice for her so give her a round of applause, oh wait look down at her feet and a sigh leaves my lips and my head is shaking, she was so close but what on earth are the shoes she is wearing?????? Front row at Julian McDonald consisted of wag Abbey Crouch, Anna Kendrick, Paloma Faith and Eliza Doolittle who coincidently also took this opportunity to have a bit of fun with the wardrobe wearing a cut out body suit, which isn’t anything new for her and some very questionable trousers. These are people you are supposed to look towards for inspiration but ladies don’t look for your sakes it’s best to look away.

This post was written by Louise Blaize. Louise is a fashion stylist at stylingup.com. Her style is mainly colourful and edgy and she loves art, travelling, food and cocktails.


MORE LFW SS14 SPECIAL POSTS:
SS14 London Fashion Week Highlights - Day One
Spring Summer 14: Wear the Trends (Body Shape Tips)

SS14 London Fashion Week (LFW) Highlights: Day 1

Day 1 of London Fashion Week starts off with Bora Aksu sending down the catwalk an array of beautiful outfits comprising of intricate fabric manipulations and textures.

Fyodor Golan a Latvia and Israeli born duo ease the audience in gently with softer tones of white, nude and sky blue only to dazzle them with a colour that could be described as golden neon yellow.

Felder Felder, the twin sisters who studied at Central Saint Martin’s. Their ideal client is a woman who is at ease with herself and the world. Felder Felder women are young at heart but a little wild. This show proves they haven’t lost touch with the customer.

Ostwald Helgason threw colour and prints at everyone at Fashion Week, proving to those in doubt its ok to mix and match your prints and still look really cool. I bet no one missed the cheeky balloon animals on the T-shirt.

J JS Lee a Korean born talent who’s pattern cutting is superior, minimalist and modern. Sending down the catwalk a mixture of miniskirts and cigarette trousers.

The duo that is Pearce Fionda sent down the catwalk a series of evening wear outfits which are a testament to their talent. Any woman will feel like a million pounds as she enters the room in any one of these outfits. Beautifully cut and masterfully sculpting the female figure with such precision.

Daks went for a check print, which features throughout. The orange and tan colour brings life to all the outfits, I love everything in this collection, what do you think?

Christopher Raeburn need I say more. The mens and womenswear designer who always comes up with the goods. I can’t decide if my favourite piece is the metallic silver dress (beautiful and very forgiving) or the cool quilted blue metallic jacket with the jersey sleeves. Both are on my wish list I think.

Jean Pierre born in Canada and studied at Central Saint Martin’s, this man knows a thing or two about prints. With a somewhat oriental vibe mixed with modern art, his collection is edgy, daring and dark.

Well Jasper Conran definitely wanted to mesmerise the audience, firstly with the set which was covered with monochromatic patterns on the walls and floor. Then to top that the clothing seemed to have emerged from the background and come to life right in front of the audience. By far the most graphic collection so far of London Fashion Week.

The last show of the day was PPQ and they didn’t disappoint. Bringing the tropics to rainy London, bright sunshine yellow bodices, crop tops, colour blocking and fitted skirts with ruffled hems. I didn’t expect anything less but fun and frivolity from this duo.

That’s it for the first day but I couldn’t let you go without seeing what the fashionista’s were wearing to London’s most fashionable event. #On the Streets

What the fashionista's were wearing to London's most fashionable event

This post was written by Louise Blaize. Louise is a fashion stylist at stylingup.com. Her style is mainly colourful and edgy and she loves art, travelling, food and cocktails.


MORE LFW SS14 SPECIAL POSTS:
SS14 London Fashion Week Highlights - Day Two
Spring Summer 14: Wear the Trends (Body Shape Tips)

Spring Summer 14: Wear the Trends (Body Shape Tips)

Even though it’s raining outside I feel warm inside after taking a quick look at the Spring Summer 14 Resort collections where I see prints, colour and short skirts. I can’t wait, can you?

London Fashion Week (LFW) is starting tomorrow, so I gathered information regarding trends and what to expect for the upcoming Spring Summer 14 Season. You can also find a few tips on how to pull off these fashion trends to flatter your body shape.

Whether you're pear, oval, inverted triangle, hourglass, diamond or straight shaped (calculate your shape), below you'll find a few hints on how to choose the best trends for your shape, regarding colour, patterns and stripes.

Trend #1: Club Tropicana (Tropical Prints)

Don’t just think of Florals next spring; bring the tropics to this island in the form of tropical prints.

Prints are great although they can make or break an outfit, here’s how to wear this style according to your body shape.

Prints are always a great trend, but choose them wisely according to your body shape

Straight body ladies – You can wear any print you like, you just need to think about creating shape. Great examples for you are the outfits from Reed Krakoff and Fausto Puglisi. Both fantastic designers and one of the most important elements in their outfits you have to look at is the belt, It creates instant shape.

Pear ladies – Prints can also act as camouflage, take the Kenzo outfit. This print is so striking and bold no one will even notice your hips and if you’re brave enough to wear a crop top this is also a trend for SS14.

Hourglass lovelies – You don’t want to lose your shape under a load of palm trees, with you less is more.  You can be bold with your prints and colours but try to keep them on the top half of your body. The trick is to mix and match with plain staples so you won’t look like an Hawaiian tourist.

Inverted triangles - Don’t think that you have to miss out on this trend, you can wear the boldest patterns with the brightest colours, the only rule you have to abide by is only wear them on your bottom half.

Oval lasses – Patterns are your friend so this trend should be too. Be careful though and opt for a darker print especially around your mid section so you don’t highlight this area. Try wearing an empire line or belt to create a waistline.

Diamond women – Go for smaller prints, large prints will overwhelm you. If you can try and keep darker patterns around your waist and go for bold colours around your neckline and lower body creating an hourglass illusion.

Trend #2: Smooth Suede (Fabric Trend)

Suede comes in all shapes, sizes and colours, and that’s the most important aspect of this fabric trend, colour. Any body shape can pull off this trend; just make sure you compliment your figure. If you want to be bold you don’t have to stick to a suede jacket, see Emilio Pucci’s purple suede shorts, for all you inverted triangles out there.

Suede is the Spring Summer 14 fabric trend to have

Trend #3: The ship hasn’t sailed (Nautical Stripes)

As always the nautical trend is back but unlike previous years you don’t have to be too garish, just a little blue, red and white stripe here and there and that’s really all that’s required. Now some of you ladies are afraid of stripes but don’t be.

Nautical  Blue Stripes will be back on the next Spring

Straight shapes can wear horizontal stripes, if you can try and get irregular striped clothing, this serves as an illusion which if positioned in the right place can create shape.

Pear ladies must avoid horizontal stripes around the hips because it will only widen them. Keep stripes on your top half and stick to thin stripes.

Hourglass women have to make sure you don’t hide your curves, vertical stripes are the best for you because they won’t widen your body.

Inverted triangles should wear stripes on your their bottom half. Nice pin stripe trousers will make a really nice outfit, flares are good for you so you might want to stick to the nautical colours and if you want to be bolder choose a horizontal striped skirt.

Oval shapes would be great in vertical stripes of any thickness because they draw the eye up and down and not side to side.

Diamond ladies don’t think that stripes should be a no go, even vertical ones if used correctly could make you look like a million pounds. If you wear stripes of varying widths and use the colours of this trend to your advantage by keeping navy and black stripes around your mid section, no white here ladies that will have the opposite effect to what you want. Vary the size of the stripes the further you get from your waist and you can introduce white and red too. If that just sounds too scary try stripes that go in multiple directions again with varying colours.

Trend #4: Lighter side of denim (Light Denim)

Denim comes in all colours but in SS14 the only shade you need worry about is light. And don’t just think that denim is only for the weekends, see Altuzarra taking the tone of denim and using it for this smart skirt and blazer combo.

Anyone can wear this trend, even if you don’t want to be head to toe in light denim mix darker tones and different textures to really spice up your outfit.

Light Denim is a major trend for Spring Summer 14

Trend #5: The Only Way is Up (Mini Skirts)

Your skirts hemline that is, be prepared to show off your legs in SS14. After a blistery winter it’s only natural we want to get our pins out so they can breathe a little.

This trend is for everyone, the trick is not to go too high or you might head into dangerous/unflattering territory. For those with a bit or a lot of hips make sure you wear fabric that has a bit of give in it or vents so your skirt doesn’t start looking like a stretched elastic band.

The trend isn’t about frilly or flared skirts, think simplicity not milk maid.

Show off your legs with Mini Skirts

Now do tell us... which trends are you dying to wear?

This post was written by Louise Blaize. Louise is a fashion stylist at stylingup.com. Her style is mainly colourful and edgy and she loves art, travelling, food and cocktails.

LFW AW Trends: From the catwalk to the streets

Summer is slowly departing after a short visit, the stores are gearing up for Autumn and the countdown to London Fashion Week (LFW) has started, ready to show us what delights await us in Spring/Summer 2014.

Let’s recap on what we saw back in February for the Autumn Winter 13 (AW13) trends strutting down the catwalk. Below, you'll find not only the trends for the upcoming AW season but also some tips on how to pull off these trends shopping from high street retailers and wear them on a daily basis.

Trend #1: Monochrome

Monochrome has had a mini makeover this AW13, it’s all about bold black & white prints in tailored work wear to elaborate evening ensembles.

Any body shape can pull off this trend; just remember one word ‘sophistication’. The below outfit is perfect for a pear shape. The white blazer draws the eye to the smallest part of your body, the geometric patterned top adds detail and has an asymmetric hem line skimming the hips, the panel trousers elongate the legs and the bag and shoes complete the monochrome look with a tiny bit of colour thrown in for those that can’t go without.

The greatest thing about this trend is it will always be in fashion, mix and match to create your signature style.

Trousers from Simply Be; Jacket from French Connection; Satchel from Fiorelli London; Mesh Top from Boohoo; Wedges from Dorothy Perkins

Trend #2: Masculinity

Another trend this season is masculinity, but before you ditch your silhouette completely there are a few rules. Try to keep a little femininity whether it’s a bow on your blouse, a splash of colour from a belt and don’t forget the tailoring. You can stretch the masculine look with an oversized coat later in the season.

See the outfit below, the star of this outfit are the denim trousers, the crease down the front helps to elongate your legs and still looks smart enough to wear to work. Double breasted blazers are smarter than single so this outfit is a total mix of casual and smart. The pop of colour comes from this really cool red studded handbag, even though there’s a masculine trend you should still look like a women. And lastly for those women who can’t tolerate high heels you don’t have to feel left out this season, with the masculine trend comes flat shoes. This patent slipper pump is perfect and comfortable.

Bow Blouse from French Connection; Slim Leg Trousers from M&S; Jacket from French Connection; Handbag from Missguided; Pumps from Simply Be

Trend #3: Sparkle Impact

Last but not least with all that monochrome and masculinity during the day a girl’s got to feel like a girl in the evening so it’s time to frost yourself with crystals and diamonds (if you're that lucky), if not sequins and glitter will do the job just fine.

Below this outfit is sure to impress and it’s all about the dress. With its asymmetric hem line showing off your stunning pins and all over sequins dazzling everyone that looks your way, its maximum impact with very little effort.

Bodycon Sequin Dress from Love Label; Envelope Clutch from New Look; Gold Heels from Love Label; Tassel Earrings from AX Paris

This post was written by Louise Blaize. Louise is a fashion stylist at stylingup.com. Her style is mainly colourful and edgy and she loves art, travelling, food and cocktails.