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Posted By Stefania Bartolomei,
30 January 2024
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Many of my clients come to me unsure on how to create a wardrobe that reflects their personality, works for their body, and is easy to create outfits from.
For some, it’s the “I have nothing to wear” problem. Most of the time this can be due to an overwhelming amount of garments in their wardrobe, that, in fact, do not work well together to create a collection of outfits. While some feel that the outfits they can create don’t work for their day to day lives or reflect their personality.
The most important part of making your wardrobe work for you is picking garments that are versatile and timeless. This can feel a little daunting, particularly if you have been following trends and building a wardrobe for years!
If you’d love to have a wardrobe that feels accessible and that works for your needs, here’s my guide to help you create a versatile and timeless wardrobe!
Assess your needs
The first thing you need to do when creating a wardrobe that works for you, is knowing what you need each day.
Ask yourself:
- What does my professional working life look like?
- What does my free time look like?
- Do I attend many special occasions?
- Do I need to change after the school run?
When you know what outfits you need, you can know what type of clothing you will require. For example, if you attend lots of special events, your wardrobe will need far more black tie and formal wear than someone who doesn’t. In the same vain, if you have a corporate job that requires suiting, your requirements will be different to someone who works in a creative company where you can wear more casual attire.
If you're a mum, your priority is probably practicality (but this doesn't mean you have to give up on style!).
Understanding your daily needs will help you have a strategy when you assess your current wardrobe and when you go shopping in the future.
Declutter your wardrobe
Now you know what you need, you want to make sure your current wardrobe works for you. If you have the “overfilled” wardrobe problem, the best way to work on this is to take out everything and go through the items one by one. When I work with a client, we work through the items and question whether the pieces either bring them joy, or work well across multiple other pieces to create outfits. If it doesn’t do this, it can be put to the side to be donated or sold.
When you have the pieces that work together, and work with your daily needs, your wardrobe will already begin to feel more approachable.
Keep your wardrobe curated and minimal, and get rid of what doesn’t work for you, especially before buying anything new. Only keep what suits you and your lifestyle and what makes you feel good. A minimal wardrobe will truly simplify your life.
Curate a wardrobe of versatility
Versatile pieces are the ones that can be mixed and matched across one another in unique ways. They should be able to be worn in different situations, without compromising on your style, personality and comfort.
Here are a few of my top pieces for versatility:
- Blazer – essential for a professional look, but can also work for more casual looks that you want to elevate. You may be amazed at how many ways you can style a blazer.
- White (or neutral) shirt / Tee - depending on your personal style, you can’t go wrong with a plain white t-shirt or shirt. It can be paired with countless bottoms, and can balance out a statement piece that you have in your outfit.
- Body suit or fitted tank top – I love a body suit, because it can be worn as a layering piece, and can be a clean, smooth garment that doesn’t require tucking in. If you don’t like a bodysuit, a fitted tank top is a great alternative.
- A neutral dress – the little black dress is beloved for a reason – it works! Black can, however, be a colour that doesn’t work for many skin tones, so finding a neutral shade in your colour palette can be a great alternative. Depending on your style, you could opt for a maxi dress, mini dress, a-line – there are lots of options. Adding layers and hosiery, as well as accessories can transform the dress effectively making it work as multiple outfits in one.
- Knitwear – I know this is a broad term, but, you need a few pieces of knitwear that you can throw on as the weather gets cooler. I like a cropped cardigan, a longline cardigan, and a couple of heavier jumpers in my wardrobe.
- Formal trousers – even if you don’t go to the office regularly, a pair of more professional trousers can work across a multitude of events. Depending on your body shape you may want to look for wide legged, straight leg, or cigarette style.
- Denim – a pair (or two) of jeans are an essential for any wardrobe. They can be dressed up with a blouse, or down with a vest/tee. They are great for running around and doing errands, or can even work for a date night with heels.
- A selection of skirts – Midi skirts have stayed in style for several years, and this is because they are so versatile! Pair with a white tee, a blouse, or a body suit to complement the day ahead.
For more ideas on how to create a wardrobe that works for you, you may want to consider creating a capsule wardrobe. View my recent article on how to do this, here.
Let your wardrobe reflect your personal style
Finally, the most important thing to consider is your own personal style. A timeless wardrobe works when you have pieces you feel confident in. Staying away from fast fashion and trends that don’t work for your personal style will ensure you have a wardrobe that lasts.
Too often we fill our wardrobes with garments that are currently in style, rather than pieces that reflect our personality. When you understand the personal style that is inherent to you, you will feel more confident when dressing and when shopping.
And it's rather simple, it's about understanding what works for you on the outside (from colours, shapes and styles) and on the inside (helping you express your personality and feel your most confident)with.
If you want to find out your personal style, and in turn, have a wardrobe that is versatile and timeless, find out more about our Colour & Style Clinic.
One of a Style team is here to help you create a wardrobe that truly works for you and simplify your life!

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Posted By One of a Style,
28 March 2023
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As spring is welcomed here in the UK, the colours are bright and abundant. This is usually the time when people yearn to add colours to their outfits. If this feels alien to you, and you are wondering where to start with colours, then I am here to help.
If you are just beginning to dip your toe into adding colours to your outfits, or haven’t yet tried to do so and are feeling overwhelmed, then here are my tips for adding colours to your wardrobe.
Play with colours that match your neutrals
If you want to make your colours feel appropriate for a look, investigate the colours that work with your neutrals. As a part of a colour clinic with us, we provide the base neutrals and complementary colours to work with them in your very own colour palette. This can be taken with you in your handbag so you can quickly pick and choose colours that go together.
If you don’t yet have one of these, here are a few of my favourite complementary colours that go with specific neutrals:
Colours that work with black:
Considered one of the most versatile neutrals, black is in fact one of the hardest colours to wear. Breaking up this basic colour with an additional colour within your colour wheel will make a huge difference to your look.
Some of my favourite colours to put with black are:
- ●Dusty rose
- ●Fuchsia
- ●Green
- ●Metals (copper, gold, silver, platinum)
- ●Lilac
- ●Red
Colours that go with navy:
Navy is a great base colour in particular for professional outfits as it isn’t as harsh as black.
Some of my favourite colours to put with navy are:
- ●Pink
- ●Red
- ●Orange
- ●Lime green
- ●Mustard yellow
- ●Gold
Colours that go with beige:
Perfect for the warmer months, beige is a light, airy colour that can be an excellent neutral in your wardrobe.
Some of my favourite colours to put put with beige are:
- ●Rust
- ●Aqua green
- ●Burgundy
- ●Olive green
- ●Mauve / lilac
- ●Pastel pinks
Start with the extremities
There is nothing more daunting than an entire outfit full of colours. This is why for those of you who want to dip your toe into adding colours to your looks may be stepping back.
The first way to approach colours can be starting with your extremities – such as your hands, feet or head.
These smaller areas of your body can take on a little dash of colour, while the rest of your body remains neutral, permitting for that colourful flash to be more approachable.
Shoes & bags are often the best place to start as they come in so many different colourways and patterns. Shoes can be covered gently with wide leg trousers or boot cut jeans meaning the colour peaks out.
Bags can be swapped out easily between outfits (as long as you remember to swap out your essentials!) so you can play with whatever look you feel like. Take a bold bright bag one day, and more composed look with a colourful handle the next.
Another option is to add a colourful headband or earrings, which can also quickly and easily be swapped depending on the occasion.
Break up the colours with your layers
Now you have your neutrals and your accessories set, you can look to adding additional pieces to your outfit. You can break up the colours in your outfit by wearing layers such as a blazer, a jacket, or even hosiery.
For example, if you want to bring a dash of colour to a summer dress, you can pair a neutral dress with a colourful blazer. You could also add an underlayer to your dress such as a thin long sleeved mesh top in one of your colours.
For your two-piece, why not add a colour through a slogan tee under your neutral suit? Pick out the colours from the tee and pop on a pair of shoes or a bag which has a colour that is in it.
Monochromatic looks
Just like your neutral suit feels less daunting than a bright one-off dress, you may find that monochromatic looks can be an excellent solution for adding colour to your outfits.
Picking one colour and seamlessly utilising it across your outfit can be a beautiful way to make an outfit feel approachable yet bright and inviting.
Consider a green suit, or match a pink dress with pink shoes and accessories. Picking out different levels of the colour can make it more dimensional as a look, too.
If you are looking for someone who can help you discover the perfect colours for you to add to your looks so you can shine, our colour clinics can be an excellent solution.
And if you can't meet us in person, we could help through our Online Colour & Style Clinic.

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Posted By Stefania Bartolomei, Stylist/Image Consultant,
15 March 2022
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When we go into the world of work, parenting, career moves, or want to feel more professional and confident, it can be a bit challenging.
I don't know about you, but when I feel my clothing shows my professionalism and personality, my confidence prepares me for a more successful day.
So, if you want to dress for a meeting, a new job, or simply to feel a little more powerful & confident, here are my tips!
Invest in key pieces
Gone are the days when we are falling into the world of fast fashion, and only designer-priced pieces are sustainable and long-lasting. You don't need to wear something different every day! Have some key pieces that are high quality and easy to wear across different outfits.
With the likes of London-based, sustainable creators, you truly can find beautiful & high-quality pieces at a more appropriate budget. This isn't to say they are on the same level as Primark in terms of cost, but they can be more suited to our everyday wear investments.
When your wardrobe has key pieces that are of a mid-to-high quality, they will look more professional and feel better too. When they fit within your colour palette and style, you'll also want to wear them outside of the professional world, too!
Step into your shoes
I was once told that the first place people tend to look is at our shoes. I don't know why this is, but I have noticed that when someone is wearing a pair of beautiful shoes, they could be wearing a plain, monochrome outfit & still stand out!
The shoes we wear not only add a touch of personality to our outfit in a way we feel we may not be able to with the clothes, but they also can bring in that confidence by how we walk.
Whether it's a pair of stilettos in your colours matched with a navy or black suit, or a pair of chunky boots with a pair of jeans, they can elevate a look in a flash.
If your go-to look for work is more neutral, try adding a touch of colour and height with your shoes the next time you pull together your look.
Layers & accessories
Finally, the finishing touches are where we truly transform our looks from "day to day" to "professional".
I have said it before - accessories & layers make a difference! Think of the looks that you are drawn to - do they have layering and accessories, or do they stay without?
Most of the time, I see the looks my clients want to replicate and it has that stylish finish. Necklaces, earrings, rings, as well as blazers & jackets are these final parts to a professional look that will make it feel more polished.
If you are unsure on where to start with your accessories - start with the metal that works on your skin tone and invest in a layered necklace and a few rings that you can easily add to any outfit. Then you can build the collection up - belts, earrings & so on.
I hope these tips have helped you discover some new ways to dress for success with confidence. If you are looking for someone who can help you feel more confident with your fashion & style, I’d love to help.
Photo credit Stefania Bartolomei

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Posted By Stefania Bartolomei, Stylist/Image Consultant,
11 January 2022
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As we head into a new year, often we may feel refreshed and invigorated to stick to goals we have set ourselves! If one of your resolutions is to feel more stylish, confident, or even work on making new connections, get a new job, or build your business – one way to start can be understanding your wardrobe and style in a better way.
Where to start with a new personal style
The first step to discovering your new style, is to understand what you want to portray through your fashion. A few questions I always ask my styling clients are:
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What are the first few words you’d like people to think of when they see you?
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Who are your style icons or inspirations?
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Do you feel a certain way in particular colours?
When you know these, it can help you start developing a sort of style mood board, which is what I create with my personal styling clients on Pinterest, to help you see a selection of options in one space that will help you with future purchases.
Remove items from your wardrobe that don’t fit within your style
When you know the type of style you want to portray through your clothes, that you feel confident in and showcases the personality you’d like to convey, you can then start to edit your current wardrobe.
Having a wardrobe detox helps with several things when it comes to developing your personal style:
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It will save you time each day – no more wondering what will go with what!
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Your wardrobe will work smoothly together as full outfits that you can mix and match easily.
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You’ll no longer have any clothes that you don’t feel comfortable in – removing items that don’t fit you is one of the most important parts of this process, as well as the ones you don’t love or feel confident in when you put them on.
Once you have a wardrobe of items you already own, that work within your style you can move onto the next step – finding new items that work with your current ones!
How to find clothes that work with your personal style
Now you have a wardrobe that you can maximise outfits from, that makes you feel your best, and you have a curated mood board for your style inspiration, you can begin your shopping journey!
As a personal shopper myself, I am sure you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that I think making a shopping experience fun, enjoyable and functional is the most important part of your shopping experiences! You’ll want to make sure you do a few things before heading to the shops (whether online or in person).
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Note which items you want to purchase to create outfits from your current pieces in your wardrobe.
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What new items do you want to get to create new outfits?
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What is your budget for this particular shop, or perhaps your quarterly shop? Knowing your finances that you are happy to spend each season for particular items will make sure you know what you can invest in and what you need to save for.
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What colours do you want to add to your wardrobe, if any?
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Which accessories would be a great addition to your collection to help develop fuller more diverse outfits? Whether it’s a belt, a bag, shoes, jewellery, or hair pieces, accessories can transform a look and finish an outfit!
When you have a plan, and an understanding of the style and messages you want to convey through your styling choices, your shopping experiences should be more economical and more useful for you. When we reactively buy because of new year’s sales, a sudden need for something quickly, and without thought, it can cause us to buy items that we ultimately don’t wear. Fast fashion, trends, and garments that don’t last cause us to spend our valuable money on pieces that don’t suit our style for the long term. Taking time to consider what you want your style to showcase, why you want to create that style for yourself – perhaps for your work wardrobe, your confidence, journeying into a new age bracket, or merely to feel great – can truly make a huge difference to how you feel.
Clothes and fashion should work for you – not against you. I hope you will walk into the new year with more confidence and joy each day, and if you’d love help to do this using fashion as one of the tools to manage this, please get in touch.

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