Designer Portfolio

With the wedding season getting closer by the minute and the new seasons fashion making an appearance, we are getting really excited about finding the perfect new outfit. If you are anything like us, you will love shopping, however we also appreciate the value of recycling outfits to get the most wear out of them – after all, if Kate Middleton can do it, then so can we.

First of all, you need to find a dress that allows for re-styling. Block colour and mid-length are good options as they allow for versatility from really smart occasions to more casual events.

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Why we love colour – and so should you

Black leather jacket, black tux, LBD… black clothes are cool. We can’t argue. And black is slimming – an important point to remember as the chocolate mini eggs make their third round of the office. But the truth is that black isn’t all that flattering. Most British skintones do not wear black well. It ages the face and can highlight dark lines under the chin, shadows around the eyes and wrinkles. It’s even mean to Peaches Geldof and she’s only 19!

Enough already with that depressing talk! (More on black later before you set fire to half your wardrobe.) Time for some good news – and we have it vibrant, youthful, flattering truckloads. Yes! That’s it. What black robs from your complexion colour puts back. It lifts, reflects, brightens, flatters and does wonderful things for every woman. And, as cannot possibly have escaped anyone’s notice, colour is…drum roll please….in FASHION!

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Why we know style is eternal

Who says women of a certain age can’t wear leather, or shorts, or mini skirts, or playsuits…? The list of supposedly banned apparel goes on and still we’re no nearer an answer. But that’s no problem because at Gray & Osbourn we don’t believe a word of it anyway.

Style is not and never has been a matter of age (FYI, here at HQ we go from 20 to 60 years). And, as older women are increasingly proving, beauty really can be eternal. Enter Dame Helen Mirren who at 67 looks sexier than many women half her age; Michelle Obama, just entered her 50^th year and is beyond fabulous; Anna Wintour who shows no signs of losing the fashion plot; Dame Judi Dench – just getting more gorgeous with the passing years… we could go on but the point is that celebrity examples are not the point. We are the point – normal real-life women who do not have a ‘best before’ date either on themselves or on their style credentials.

Style really isn’t about age. However, style can be ageing. So here’s our guide to keeping it fresh (at any age!):

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The characteristics of a woman with a rectangular body shape are shoulders and hips of equal widths and an undefined waist. You may have a small bust, long legs and a flat bottom. Learn to love your silhouette, and you will find that there are endless possibilities to have fun and create a great look.

The best thing you can do is forget all your pre-conceived ideas about what you should and shouldn’t wear and dress for you and whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

An ideal approach is to create shape using clothes to help create a more feminine appearance. This can be done by increasing your shoulder and hip width which will make your waist appear smaller.  There are several ways this can be achieved; clothing style, padding, colour and pattern and fabric.

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It’s that moment of panic which arrives minutes after hearing the joyous news that your daughter (or son) is getting married: the realisation that you are going to have to find an outfit for the big day.

And not just any outfit, but one that lives up to the ridiculously high expectations which today’s mother s of the bride or groom seem to have set themselves – or perhaps have been set by all those glossy bridal magazines!

The first piece of advice from SoSensational.co.uk, which specialises in helping grown up women find fabulous fashion,  is “don’t panic” – whatever your budget, you will find the perfect outfit.

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With the sun finally making an appearance, it is time to start thinking about summer colours. By now, your skin is probably at its palest (unless you have been lucky enough to find some winter sun) and so the colours you choose should not only blend seamlessly with your skin tone, but should boost your complexion allowing you to shine, not matter what the weather.

A hot colour this summer season is coral; as worn by many to the most recent Oscars. It is fun, feminine and comes in a host of tones and variations making it an easy choice for all skin types.

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As the mother of the bride (or groom), the real key to looking fabulous on the big day is to choose something which suits you – that works for your body shape and your colouring and that feels comfortable.

Finding the right colour is so vital that if you have never had your colours analysed, it is a great investment to have them done before making your purchase. When you know which colours make your skin glow whenever you wear them, it immediately makes clothes shopping easier because you can eliminate everything that isn’t in your colours and focus on what is.

If you don’t want to bother with colour analysis, try the blink test. If there’s a colour you are contemplating, hold a piece of fabric in the colour below your face and stand in front of a well-lit mirror. Close your eyes for a count of 20 and then open them. If the first thing you see is the colour, it is wrong for you – don’t buy in that colour. If you see you – your face, hair and features, the colour is right for you. And remember with colours, it is about the shade and tone, so don’t dismiss green, for instance, because grass green doesn’t suit you; just find the shade and depth of green that flatters you.

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Stripes are one of those trends that never disappear; instead being reinvented to coordinate with the current style and colours of the season. Wearing anything with stripes is a nod to the trend having seen it all over the runways at New York Fashion Week.

The classic stripe is fun and adds boldness to any outfit; it is easy to wear with everything and anything from smart to casual, but how do you wear stripes effortlessly?

• Larger stripes are often found on more casual pieces which should speak for themselves, so try not to over accessorise.

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With so many different trends and emerging fashions along with the timeless classics, it is hard sometimes to know where to start. At Gray & Osbourn, we know that dressing for your body shape is the key to looking and feeling your best regardless of the season or current trend as we always have the best labels to keep every figure fashionable.

Being the inverted triangle; or sometimes referred to as cornet shaped, you are lucky enough to have the ‘model’ physique. Most will be jealous of your slender figure, being able to look sleek in just about anything but you, on the other hand, are probably fed up not having curves to accentuate.

Ladies sporting the inverted triangle shape often have broad shoulders with little or no bust and tiny waist and hips.

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The wedding of your son will be one of the most memorable days in your life, so naturally you will want to look your best. The memories of the day will stay with you forever so making sure you are not only comfortable but also wearing an outfit that will turn heads is essential as there will be numerous photos in which you want your smile and your ensemble to shine.

There is one steadfast rule to bear in mind;

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