5 tips to help you feel ready for the winter season
I think we can now safely say that summer is well and truly gone, meaning it’s a great time to sort out your winter wardrobe. So I’m going to share some tips on how I get prepared and how it makes my life a little bit easier.
Tip number 1 - Rotate your wardrobe
This applies if, like me, you don’t have enough space to keep out all your clothes and shoes all the time.
Just recently I’ve had the chance to go through my wardrobe and strip out anything that I know I’m not going to wear over the next 6 months.
I’ve packed away my summer dresses, summer jumpsuits, lighter weight items and summer shoes and dug out my winter box from the loft. From the winter box I had a thorough try on of everything, and only items that fitted well made it back into the wardrobe.
Now I know that everything hanging up is going to work with the seasonal weather, works on my current bodyshape AND it fits.
Not only is it a really good feeling but I also feel like I’ve got some ‘new’ things to wear! It does require a bit of time though so if you feel overwhelmed, do it in sections rather than one big hit.
Tip number 2 - Weatherproof your footwear
Whatever you’re going to be wearing on your feet, be it boots or shoes, give them a good old brush and clean before spraying liberally with a protection product. This will help keep them in better shape through any rain, snow or slush. Or pop them in to Pavers or Deichmann both of whom can spray them for you.
I’ve also seen video clips using beeswax and your hairdryer to achieve the same waterproofing effect but can’t admit to trying that one myself yet!
While you’re spending time on your footwear, check the soles and heels and repair at your local cobblers if necessary. I’ve just had some boots reheeled and now they are good to go for another season.
Tip number 3 - Invest in a great winter coat
Honestly, a fabulous coat can be a game changer. It’s the easiest and fastest way to make an outfit look great. Plus, if you get one that’s fairly long, it doesn’t matter what you’ve got on underneath as the coat will do all the talking for you.
I’m a massive fan of coats (have I mentioned that I was forced to sell some as the weight of them pulled the hooks off the wall last year? ) and my top tip is to have one in a neutral tone and one in a colour.
I’ve been lucky enough to find two amazing quality coats this year - both were from charity shops and cost less than £50 for the pair. I went for black as my neutral and red as my colour pop as these feature a lot in my wardrobe. The black one can easily be worn over colours whereas the red one can bring a bit of magic to a neutral outfit.
Have a look in your wardrobe to see which tones would be the most complimentary for you.
Tip number 4 - Sort your base layers
I’m really talking vests and tights here....
If you hate being cold, having the right base layers can make ALL the difference. I love my dresses and thermal tights make them wearable on even the coldest of days.
I’ve tried so many types I’ve lost count but I’ve found that Snag had the best fit and didn’t once need hoicking up, Heatholders fleece lined thermal tights were the warmest (I tested them in Lapland last year) and Thought super soft bamboo tights as well as Seasalt Cornwall soft recycled nylon tights were the best eco options.
When it comes to vests, they might not be your friend if you’re experiencing hot flushes but if you’re not, the warmth a simple vest can add to an outfit is immense. Try and find one that’s quite fine and well fitted so it doesn’t add too much bulk.
Tip number 5 - Embrace winter accessories
I’m talking scarves, hats, gloves, earmuffs, shawls, throws and the like.
Not only will they keep you warm but they can change the whole vibe of an outfit and are an effective way of showing your own unique style personality.
You can create looks that are classic, chic and understated through to quirky, artistic and avant- garde just through the accessories you choose to wear.
I’ve dug out the zebra gloves I won in a competition last year and they will look good with both my red and black winter coats.
If you have a neutral coat, adding colourful gloves and a scarf will give you that instant hit of colour and create a more uplifting look.
So there’s 5 ideas to get you started towards being super organised for winter!
An evening of styling and shopping
On the 25th October, Village Green (which is a gorgeous, pre-loved designer boutique) and I will be joining forces to offer you an evening of styling and shopping.
I’ll be sharing my tips on how to choose clothes for your own unique bodyshape before helping you pick some lovely things from the shop.
Tickets are £15 and include drinks, nibbles and 10% off all purchases. There’s two slots to choose from and numbers will be limited so that I can help everybody.
So if you fancy some new additions to your wardrobe or perhaps something for the festive season, this is for you.
You can get your tickets here!
Hope to see you there x
It's all kicking off!
Goodness me!
If you had told me this time last year that I would be running shopping tours of the charity shops I wouldn't have believed you. But it's very real and the word is getting out there fast. Even the BBC recently filmed a short piece on it as they were intrigued by the concept! So I just wanted to share some of the feedback from recent shoppers as it's such a good feeling to know that other women are now finding joy in pre-loved clothes.
And here's what some of my most recent shoppers had to say about the whole experience:
““I keep meaning to write and say what a BRILLIANT time I had on the last charity shopping tour with Becky. It was so helpful to have your wisdom and eagle eyes Becky and I absolutely love everything I bought, including that amazing 1950s vintage dress for £20. One very happy woman! Thanks so much xxx””
““7 tops, 4 dresses and 4 necklaces...epic shopping session today with the amazing Becky Barnes. Becky you are a total legend and thank you for a fab morning””
So if you fancy seeing what little gems might be out there for you, please have a look at my latest dates and book yourself on before I hang up my shopping shoes for the summer! You can find all the details and book here:
Go on, with summer just around the corner let's bring in some new pieces to help your wardrobe and your style feel refreshed x
Some of my favourite boutiques in Bristol
The party season is almost here! From office parties, family gatherings to New Year’s festivities, there are plenty of opportunities to look glamorous. That’s why I love the season so much! Next time you’re in Bristol, you don’t necessarily need to rely on the High Street when looking for that special outfit - if you want something a bit different and extra special to wear, give one of Bristol’s numerous boutiques a go. I know we’re all busy in the lead up to Christmas, so to save you time I’ve put together a list of some of my favourite hidden gems in Bristol to help you begin exploring...
Rhubarb Jumble
I love Rhubarb Jumble and they specialise in 1950s to 1970s fashion as well as homeware. Their collection is just amazing which is why they were recently featured as one of Bristol and Bath’s 'hot spots' in none other than Vogue magazine. They take a lot of care in choosing fabulous pieces so you’re bound to discover something unique. As a bonus you’ll might find a perfect gift for someone too, such as Lea Stein jewellery.
Location: 52 North Street, Bedminster, BS3 1HJ and their website is here
Amulet Boutique
You’ll find an exciting range of brands at Amulet and there’s something to suit so many styles and occasions. From dresses to outerwear, skirts to accessories, they have something for everyone in their extensive range. They also stock Fair-trade and ethical products as well as British made and organic items too. If you try to source your clothes ethically and sustainably then you will love what’s on offer.
Location: 39A Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY and their website is here
Motiq
No outfit is complete without stunning jewellery – and Motiq has just that! They carefully select the most beautiful pieces of jewellery as well as other accessories such as sumptuous shawls and silk scarves. You’ll find a range of showstopper party pieces too available during the lead up to Christmas. We all deserve to treat ourselves to something special during the festive period so go and see if you can find yourself something amazing.
Location: 8 Boyce's Avenue, Clifton, BS8 4AA and their website is here
Heartfelt Vintage
As the name suggests, Heartfelt Vintage specialise in all things vintage and their shop is absolutely beautiful to look at. You’ll find a carefully selected range of designer vintage pieces that combines style and quality. If you haven’t given pre-loved fashion a go yet, I promise you’ll only find very high quality, faultless pieces here. Once you’ve finished shopping, you can give yourself a break and enjoy a scrumptious afternoon tea in their beautiful tearoom – just be sure to book in advance.
Location: 32 Alma Vale Road, Bristol, BS8 2HY and their website is here
Movement Boutique
Movement Boutique is relatively new on the scene after launching in March 2016 and they’ve already blown me away with their great taste. You’ll find brands and items here from across the world, many of which are completely new to Bristol. They currently have some beautiful dresses by Rixo which I urge you to go take a look at. They’ll definitely give you a warm welcome and help you find something special,whatever the occasion.
Location: 66 Alma Rd, BS8 2DJ and their website is here
And if it's still too hard, I can take you shopping and provide invaluable support and guidance to help you find the perfect look. Happy exploring! x
In need of a confidence boost? I might have just the thing for you!
One of the reasons I set up my business was because I witnessed women losing their confidence over the years and I wanted to help give some back. I can say this from a position of authority as I was one of those women. The type that had a career, a great social life and didn't think twice about spending time and money on myself.
Then babies happened. My world changed overnight. Post natal depression kicked in, I felt isolated, incompetent as a mother and over time, I slowly lost my identity.
My self esteem took a nose dive, my body took a battering and as a result I morphed into the background. My son didn't sleep through the night until he started primary school and I gave birth to another baby in his first term. So just as I had one successful sleeper, another round of sleepless nights began.....
You will be hard pressed to find ANY photos of me at this stage of my life. I really didn't like what I saw and to some extent, I gave up. I was in survival mode and when you're there you just don't have the capacity for anything else.
But slowly things got better, the children became older, I got some sleep and I began my second career as a stylist to enable me to work around their needs.
And that is where the magic happened. My love of colour and clothes returned. The excitement of buying a beautiful piece came flooding back. I got my hair cut, had my nails done and started to put myself further up the priority list. I was turning into me again and it was bloody powerful stuff!
Over time I started to rebuild my sense of self worth and noticed that instead of it being an indulgence, the whole family benefitted from my new found happiness.
So why am I telling you all this? Because over the next 12 months I'm going to be teaming up with other incredible business women whose purpose is exactly the same as mine - to help you feel better about yourself, to give you a shot of confidence and to help you see just how beautiful you are just the way you are now.
The first collaboration is super exciting as I'll be working with Janette from Beautifully You Photography. Janette creates absolutely stunning photos of women and is as passionate as I am about helping women to see their true beauty. You can check out her work here: https://www.facebook.com/beautifullywomanportraits/
For a limited period we are coming together to offer you a unique makeover package which includes:
A style and body shape consultation
A full colour consultation and booklet of colour swatches to keep
A wardrobe edit to include an outfit building session
A shopping list of suggested pieces to invest in
A high quality, luxury makeover photoshoot including professional hair and make up
A gorgeous 10 x 8 inch image to treasure forever
And most importantly: A HUGE boost of confidence and much needed pick me up! All for just £399.
So if you feel like a you're ready for a little lift, we're here for you x
Is a capsule wardrobe the answer to your style dilemmas?
So how hard could it be to create a capsule wardrobe from scratch and then wear it for 30 days? Honestly, I thought it would be a breeze. I thought it would be great fun to style a new look every day, document the pieces and the price of the outfit and share it with my followers. I thought there might be a few small challenges along the way but I had NO IDEA how quickly it would start to affect me (for the worse).
My capsule wardrobe of 18 pieces of clothes and a handful of accessories.
I should state that all I sourced all the pieces from local charity shops as I wanted to show that you can pick up some great finds, meaning style is accessible to everyone. I also wanted to highlight how buying secondhand clothes is kinder to the environment. My views on this remain absolutely the same - and I will continue to be an avid shopper of pre-loved clothes, be it from charity shops, second hand boutiques, swishing events and so on.
So how did the 30 days go? I started out full of enthusiasm. It was new, I was keen to see how well the pieces worked together and I felt positive. The outfits came together nicely and I enjoyed the fact that every morning there was no overwhelm. It felt good.
But from day 10 I started to feel differently. I began to crave my old clothes and I was desperate for more colour. And from that point on, I realised I had made more and more mistakes with the 18 items I had selected. By day 20 I thought finishing the challenge would be impossible. I was just so down and felt so unlike 'me' that it felt counterintuitive to continue. I even had my 6 year old daughter beg me to put my "old clothes' on as she just wanted her mummy back. But I was determined to get to the end so started focusing on how a capsule wardrobe could work.
So having reached day 30 (and boy am I glad it's over!) I have the following 6 tips for you to help you if you ever feel like having a go at a capsule wardrobe yourself:
1 - Your clothes have to fit you well. Some of my items didn't - they were a touch too big or too small meaning ultimately, they were uncomfortable to wear. If they don't fit, you're not going to wear them so don't give them wardrobe space.
2 - If colour is your thing, then you've got to have lots of it in your capsule. I purposely chose a lot of neutrals to give me maximum flexibility and I had one accent colour in orange (not one of my favourite colours but I thought I'd give it a go). Turns out I hate wearing orange and I missed all the jewel tones I love so much. I discovered that stripping me of colour, stripped me of happiness. I know that sounds pretty dramatic, but it's true and the speed at which my mood dropped, actually scared me.
3 - You have to love the items and want to wear them. My issue was I didn't love any of my items, they were just OK. But if your clothes are just OK, that's probably how you're going to feel when you're wearing them. Nothing excited me and I started wearing the items in different ways to try and make them work better for me. If you don't believe me, below is a picture of me wearing a pair of trousers as a scarf!
4 - You have to decide what your capsule wardrobe is for and plan accordingly. Mine was supposed to be for both work and play and I just didn't have enough variety or fun to cover all bases. I also work with a lot of women who want to keep work and weekend clothes very separate. If this resonates with you then I suggest one capsule wardrobe for work and one for home, which leads nicely onto number 5...
5 - You need to have enough clothes in your collection. I had 18 pieces (4 of which were outerwear) and it simply wasn't enough. Although I enjoyed the fact I wasn't overwhelmed with choice, it did feel like I was depriving myself and that's never a good thing! I think you need at least 30 items in a capsule to help you feel you have sufficient variety and to stop the boredom. Trust me when I say I was sick of my items by the end of the challenge!
6 - You can go outside your capsule when you need to. I had a number of evening events to attend during my 30 days and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't turn my items into 'party wear'. Once I had given myself to go outside the capsule for special occasions, it felt so much better.
So here we are on day 30 and I cannot tell you how excited I am about delving into my own wardrobe tomorrow to choose something fabulous! Having lived with a capsule for 30 days I can see how one could work and I'm going to take the learnings into my own wardrobe where I will definitely be stripping out and refining. But for now, I'm going to select the outfit for day 31 - one which is full of colour and makes me feel like me again x