Sophie Ashcroft has spent more than a decade as a journalist and writer. Based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, she runs an image and style consultancy business, with services offered across London and the local area. She is a full member of the Alicia Kite Academy, a leading image consultancy network. We asked her to give us a few thoughts for the forthcoming season.
Huge Hat? Check. Oversized Jackie O sunnies? Check. Vertiginous heels? Check. With Royal Ascot starting today and Henley Regatta in the diary over the coming months there’s a lot of outfit planning to be done. Here are a few top tips for a stylish social season!
Millinery madness
A day at the races is all about the hat, with creations ranging from the bizarre to the beautiful. Avoid the temptation to make everything ‘matchy matchy’. As long as your hat tones in with a colour in your dress or accessories then it will work. More importantly, the style of your hat and outfit should tally. Hats in softer fabrics with feathers or drapery look fabulous with lightweight summery dresses while the sleek, sharp lines of more structured headwear complement a tailored suit or dress.
Still haven’t found the perfect hat? Visit Ronnie Ryan for an amazing hat or facinator.
Hair-raising
If you do opt for a hat, consider your hairstyle. If you’ve chosen a wide-brimmed hat with lots of coverage maybe create a low ponytail or bun to sit under it. Longer hair looks great down, especially if it’s relatively thick or wavy. Don’t forget to consider the likelihood of ‘hat hair’ if you want to remove your headpiece later in the day! And if previous years’ wind conditions are anything to go by, a few hatpins wouldn’t go amiss!
Ear, ear
Take a leaf out of John Galliano’s book and ensure your hat, earrings, collar and make-up all work in harmony. Be clear on your focus. If your hat’s the statement, remember to keep earrings simple; studs are usually the best option. Over-accessorising can cheapen an outfit. Your make-up might also need a slight change. Hat wearers tend to look better with darker eyes – to counterbalance the shadow effects of the hat – and more neutral lips.
Footfalls
Wear shoes that you don’t mind getting grassy! If you want the best of both worlds then wear your killer heels and pop some flats in your bag. A good excuse to invest in an oversized clutch from Jimmy Choo or Anya Hindmarch perhaps? Keep watching for more summer styling tips. In the meantime happy shopping!
It’s time to celebrate your curves with this season’s fifties-inspired glamour. The A/W 2010 catwalks were awash with full skirts and nipped in waists. Much to the delight of us ladies who weren’t blessed with perfect pins, the minis that have stolen the limelight for so long have been replaced with mid-length skirts – either just below the knee or calf length. Around knee-length skirts tend to be the most flattering for all figures while mid-calf is better left to the taller and slimmer.
