How To Know What To Wear

Emptying the clothes hangersHow often have you felt like getting Trinny and Susannah round to look through your wardrobe - but perhaps without ripping you to shreds as well as the clothes?

A less traumatic way to garner top tips is at a styling event run by Zoe Lem, the stylist behind the What Not To Wear fashionistas.

She's a softer, far more diplomatic version of the intrepid duo, who's dressed celebs including Cat Deeley, Robbie Williams, Sara Cox, Trisha, Jennifer Ellison and Ant and Dec.

At this, her second styling weekend event, myself and 60 women of varying ages and shapes turned up hoping to transform ourselves and our wardrobes.

Zoe LemFirst up is body shape and we're told to learn to appreciate our curves rather than hiding them. Apparently dressing well is about distraction.

Hourglass

We obediently queue up for Zoe to look us up and down and tell us what shape we are. And her pronouncement is, for me at least, truly revolutionary.

I've spent the last 20-odd years gasping at my thunder thighs and assuming they make me a hideously extreme pear shape. But apparently my small waist and big shoulders actually make me an hourglass.

So the distorted crazy mirror image in my head just popped and suddenly I'm Jessica Rabbit meets Marilyn Monroe. Nice.

A wardrobe de-clutterChunky cuffs

This truly is a life-altering thing that Zoe has done for me.

As is her session on jewellery. Take a good look at your bones - chunky or delicate? How about your neck - long and elegant or a little short?

If you've got delicate bones like me you're better off in delicate rings and bracelets rather than chunky cuffs. But my beloved choker has to go after I'm told I don't have the neck to carry it off and that, rather, it cuts me off. Sob.

Stand tall

Next up we have the lecture on underwear. You guessed it - chuck out the greying, frayed nasties and get measured up properly because most of us are wearing a bra too big in the back and too small in the cup.

Zoe Lem talks clothesZoe recommends splashing out on your smalls - it'll make you stand tall and make cheap clothes hang better. So maybe more of a bargain than it sounds.

On day two, we get onto colours and spend time with a pile of samples in various colours and a mirror. It's surprisingly easy to see what flatters and what washes you out when you hold a colour up against your face.

Steal ideas

But I still have a penchant for a rather bright turquoise and it's not until Zoe makes it to our table (60 women is a lot of people to get through when they're all clamouring for your attention) that I'm told it's not really good for my (un-tanned) olive skin.

Suits you: Tailor's dummyThe school uniforms we shudder to think of - in navy, burgundy, brown and grey - are made in those colours for a reason. They are all frighteningly flattering.

One of the best tips when it comes to colours is to steal ideas from fabrics and wallpapers. An expert has spent a lot of time putting a good palette of colours together there - so take advantage of their know-how when you're picking out shades for your layers, shoes and accessories.

Stern advice

When it comes to jeans Zoe has stern advice. Ditch the skinnies, which suit no one with any curves whatsoever. The skinny jeans-and-boots combo is sooo over, she warns. Wide leg jeans may be hard to come by but they're a lot more flattering.

And remember that denim is a colour, so match it in to your outfit; don't think you can just chuck on a garish T-shirt with your jeans, young lady, you need to colour co-ordinate that look.

In our coffee break, one stressed-out lady dashes off to the loo to un-tuck her skinny jeans from her long boots (worn with Sienna-style tunic). No fashion victims allowed here - it's all about what suits you and just you.

Zoe's Top Tips:

• Be happy - dress for now rather than that magical day when you're your ideal size.  
• Make sure your clothes glide - buy in a bigger size if you have to and get your clothes tailored to fit.  
• Get two pairs of wide leg trousers in different lengths - to wear with heels and flat shoes.  
• If you have a big bust, don't wear a necklace on the cleavage - it creates a third nipple.  
• Take care with ankle straps and dainty shoes. If you're not sure they suit you - avoid!  
• The most flattering and smallest bit for any body shape is under the bust.  
• Where we spend our clothing budget isn't normally where we spend our time - we don't spend enough on work clothes but far too much on a wedding outfit.  
• Try out Peacocks - yes, Peacocks! - for shoes and accessories.

What's In:

• Platforms and wedge heels  
• Wide leg trousers - and jeans  
• A-line skirts  
• Culottes  
• Wrap dresses  
• Puffed sleeves  
• Pencil skirts (hourglass)  
• Belted trench coats  
• Magic knickers

What's Out:

• Skinny jeans  
• Gypsy skirts  
• Black - unless you're very pale-skinned  
• Black shoes and handbags, unless it's a black outfit  
• Tapered trousers  
• Cropped trousers - if you're petite or short-legged

If this is sounding familiar, you've probably read the Trinny and Susannah books, like I had. If that's the case this course does cover much of the same ground - although obviously in much more detail so, before you decide to splash out, it's worth assessing your figure and wardrobe honestly with a friend.

But overall it's a rare treat to spend a day or two investing in your look and getting some expert advice. Just don't turn up in skinny jeans.

Suzanne Locke

* The next Introduction To Personal Styling event is on 17th June 2006 and costs £199. For more details, go to www.helloyou.com, phone 0208 780 0497 or email hello@helloyou.com.