Tag: personalstylist

It’s Who I Am

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Let’s talk about self love.

I’ve shared my story before,  but when Fantasie Lingerie asked if I’d join in with their It’s Who I Am campaign I was right behind it.

You see they’re using real women for their SS20 advertising and whilst I was gifted this underwear set, me and Fantasie actually go a long way back.

Many moons ago, back when I was studying Retail Management, I was a bra fitter. Fantasie was always one of the popular brands we fitted on women and my nan always wore them too. So I learnt the importance of a good fitting bra very early on. 

I always wanted to work in fashion but my dreams of becoming a buyer slowly faded away as mortgages, marriage and children came along.  I ended up working in finance and social care and I was fortunate to be a stay at home mum for a few years. But, soon came the time to go back to the work place.

Except a week after going back to the office my dad died,  followed by my father in law 4 months later and my dear nan just weeks after him.  Infact in 2017 – 2018 we lost 5 people in the space of 10 months.

And our business.

Life suddenly became very hard. A cliche I know but it all gets put into perspective when you lose someone.  I knew I needed to follow my dreams of 20 years ago, I just wasn’t sure what it would look like at age 40. But just weeks after my dear nan died,  Fantasie Lingerie got in touch after seeing my Instagram profile.  Some may say it’s coincidence,  I say it’s my guardian angel showing me the way and dropping a massive hint!.

I knew it was time to step up and  I knew I was totally over caring what anyone thought.  I’d put on two dress sizes and finally felt happy in my own skin.  No more worrying whether I looked fat in this or that or what people might be saying about me. I’ll admit having two children tends to have something to do with getting over yourself as well!.

I got measured at a Fantasie press event and found I’d had a free boob job – me, a bra fitter in the wrong size!.

It was just the beginning.  I qualified as a stylist last March and launched Style Me H in April. It rebuilt my confidence, and encouraged me to get out there and use what I’d been through to help other people. A Personal Styling business helping women regain the confidence they had lost.

It’s Who I Am – my real life story and my journey with Fantasie Lingerie. We all have our stories so let’s celebrate being you #loveYOUmore.

#ItsWhoIAm

H x

High Street to the danger zone

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It’s happened, they’re here! There’s no escaping them and no matter what you do or who you are, they will find you and stalk you, even haunt you in your dreams. They’ll be there first thing when you wake up and last thing at night, they’ll probably keep some of you awake. They’re a constant drip, a form of water torture, they catch you unawares and lure you in and whatever you do you must not look them directly in the title!

That’s right people it’s the sale emails! The smails! They’re coming at you thick and fast and even Murray couldn’t bat them away quick enough. It starts innocently enough- the first one is exciting – &otherstories you had me at &. You caught me when I had a coffee – you also enticed me with your VIP pre-sale. I mean I like your clothes, I really do – and I can’t bear the thought of there being something I need in my life (that I didn’t even know I needed) and it selling out the next day when you launch the ACTUAL sale. So, yeah I’ll browse your VIP pre sale and stick it on the credit card (making sure I’ve bought enough to get the free p&p because you all know how we feel about paying that extra £4.95) Oh and guess what a full price dress fell into my basket too – how’s that even happen? It’s the curse of the smail that’s what! Somehow all those savings on the sale items add up to the cost of a new dress – hmmm weird.

&Other Stories Coffee Bean Maxi Dress
https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.floral-print-maxi-dress-blue.0493476004.html

HM turned up next, like literally a couple of hours later – another VIP sale and extra discounts for HM members club. I open the smail with my eyes half closed, squinting at the pics, grimacing, almost praying I don’t like anything as the images load. Phew its ok, nothing grabs my attention – apart from the whopping 30p member discount I have accrued! Think of the damage I could do with that!

And now I’m dreading what’s coming next…..I check my emails, shitting myself its going to be Zara or Topshop…I dont think my JL Partnership card can cope with that today. OMG, I cant believe it, its the school uniform shop – smailed to say 10% off everything – I mean come on!

Its ok, I have no need for any more school skirts, my card gets to have a break for the night. But here’s why sales and smails are a problem for many. We get excited at the thought of a bargain, we succumb to fomo, we want to look like that amazing influencer we follow on the gram and we think by grabbing a bargain we will instantly be transformed. But the reality for a lot of us is we panic buy and throw these things in our baskets willy nilly (what a great saying!) and whilst you may think you have a bargain, how many of us truly give any thought as to whether it’s going to work hard in our wardrobe? Do you even know what is in your wardobe? Be honest can you even SEE what is in your wardrobe?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint. I mean I caned some serious money yesterday but I made considered purchases (trousers in a colour that I know will work with a number of tops I own, jeans that are high waisted in white which when summer arrives will also work with the same tops plus I need white bottoms for my daughters carnival and I am NOT donning a pair of white leggings! and a tshirt that I just loved – and I do love a tshirt – I’d say its my signature look. But the full price dress – yeah you got me there – I fell in love with it and couldn’t help myself – the only excuse I have if it does fit, is it’s my birthday next month and I often get clothes and just tell people I’ve already got my pressie and they give me the cash! Cheeky but true.

I don’t know about you but I personally hate trawling the sales in the shops. It’s good to know what suits you and what’s missing in your wardrobe so when the smails arrive you are ready. It’s great if you have had your eye on a piece for a while and unlike me have been saving for it and waiting for it to be reduced – altho this can induce panic trying to find your size! And I would always, always recommend buying staples in the sale – your favourite jeans, a quality blazer, a classic white shirt, a winter coat, decent boots and trainers, a suit. There are some items that are worth investing in and if you get them reduced then lady you are winning!

But beware of the smails. They’re like gremlins – they turn up all sweet and innocent but you start looking at them and feeding them after midnight (late night in-bed shopping is the most dangerous kind there is!) and before you know it your clothes have multiplied, your wardrobe is bursting at the seams, you have buyers remorse, can’t think what you were even thinking and try to fix it by buying more clothes to go with the clothes you bought after looking at the smail – just before you fell into the high street sale danger zone!