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Autumn is around the corner and I’ve already spotted ‘9 stylish new pieces in Marks & Spencer’ perfect for the season.

It really came in to focus for me during lockdown that I didn’t have all the necessary essentials for my wardrobe. Yes, I had some of the latest trend pieces, but what I really needed were key versatile pieces.

There are some super useful modern classic pieces to have in your wardrobe nowadays. These can really enable you to get dressed and get on with your day a whole lot easier. That’s why, post lockdown, I’ve focused on upping my seasonal capsule wardrobe game. Ensuring I have key pieces to get me through every quarter.

Marks & Spencer is always ahead of the game and they do try to please a wide audience, which is why they have great basics. They also do more trend-led pieces too, which I also love. These are the nine that have caught my eye recently with some ideas on how to style them. I’ve added links to the website in the sub-headings.

9 Stylish Pieces

Black Wide Leg Trousers

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A wide leg trouser is one of the easiest to wear for nearly all body shapes. They’re stylish worn with a top tucked in and can elongate the body if worn with a longline cardigan of the same colour.

This pair has the advantage of an elasticated waist, so they’ll be comfy. They can be easily pulled on and worn with a shirt tucked in. Simply pull out the shirt a little bit to overhang the trousers if you want to hide the waistband.

Dress down these wide leg trousers (£25.00) with a big jumper as the weather turns chilly, or dress with a blazer for work or drinks.

Faux Leather Oversized Long Sleeve Shirt

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Faux leather has come a long way and many women have a few pieces in their wardrobe for the cooler seasons. What I like about this shirt is that its oversized, so I think it is perfect for transition dressing. Wear over a cami, vest or T. Shirt in the next few weeks and then swop for a turtle neck when it’s colder. Priced at £35.00.

Denim Belted Midi Shirt Dress

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The denim dress (£45.00) is a classic for any season and this midi option is perfect for Autumn. I love the nod to the classic western style collar and pockets. Wear with a pair of tan boots and the leopard print cross body below and be super stylish all autumn long. Don’t forget to try wearing it open with a thin layer top and jeans for a casual look.

Leather Cross Body Camera Bag

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A cross body camera bag is a great accessory for the weekend, or if you want a smaller bag to hand while carrying a larger tote for work.

The cross body camera bag basically carries your essentials in an easy carry/access way. What I love about this double zip, animal version from M&S is that it can really up your style game.

Leopard-print has been lauded as a neutral of late and I have to admit to having a fair few items in my wardrobe. It basically goes with everything. Wear with one colour ensembles or over a trench and jeans at the weekend. Priced at £49.50.

Animal Print V Neck Knee Length Shift Dress

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Dress and skirt lengths don’t have to be midi and maxi. This knee length dress looks great for wearing now and into autumn. A printed dress can be quite a statement piece in the wardrobe so choose your print wisely to get lot of wear out of it. Like I said earlier, animal print is a neutral and comes back time and again, so this print makes for a versatile piece. Wear with knee length boots when colder and over leggings for warmth when at home. Priced at £25.00

Corduroy Straight Leg Trousers

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Fancy something different from black jeans? Why not try black corduroy. They can offer warmth and has more chic appeal. This pair in M&S comes in a quite a lot of colours and at just £22.50 they likely be very popular. They offer a good wardrobe basic for autumn and winter and as they’re straight leg will look good with trainers or heels.

Faux Leather Croc Midi A-Line Skirt

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More faux leather, but it has a place in a capsule wardrobe. This one would look great with a white or animal print shirt and I’d love to wear it with a denim shirt on a Saturday. It has a place in the wardrobe, because its cute and chic dressed down with chunky boots and a big jumper, just as much as if worn with knee high boots, a red turtle neck and classic camel coat. Definitely give a faux leather skirt a consideration, as it also won’t break the bank. This one is just £35.00.

Floral V Neck Midi Tiered Wrap Dress

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This dress is made with a lovely weight material, so it’s not too heavy to wear now or underneath a ‘big coat’ come winter. I think the detailing is super feminine and the wrap style top helps define the waist, while the v-neckline elongates the neck. Cute dress that you’ll wear all the time. Priced at £39.50.

Pure Cotton Embroidered Long Sleeve Top

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Great for work and even better with jeans and tan accessories for the weekend. That’s if you like neutrals, of course. A great soft white top looks good with lots of colours and especially matched with soft autumnal shades for cosy days. This top, priced £19.50, would look great with the corduroy trousers above and, I imagine, with a long tiered maxi skirt and boots this winter.

Hope you enjoyed the read and like the ideas. If you would like a more personal approach to shopping with me then do take a look at my 1-2-1 personal shopping service where I identify pieces to suit your body shape, lifestyle and budget. Check out the service here.

Gail x

This week’s post is all about shopping for an apple body shape. If you watched the Style Surgery with the GP on Friday (see here), you will have seen that the focus of this week’s Dressing for Your Body Shape was apple.

Defined by the following characteristics, the apple body shape has some great features that can be highlighted to make you feel and look great.

Common characteristics:

Bigger bust
Less definition around the waist
Narrow hips
Slender legs

Let’s Go Shopping for An Apple Body Shape

Okay, so when it comes to shopping we are always looking to not just make our lives a little easier, we want it to be more stylish! It’s easy to do this when you know how and dressing an apple is easier than you might think. Follow these simple tips to get you started.

Draw attention to areas you want to show off
- this could be a great pair legs
- or it could be highlighting a gorgeous bust
- and let’s not forget a beautiful face
Skim the mid-section or focus on the narrowest part of the body, e.g. underneath the bust

With this in mind, let’s go shopping. I’ve visited online retailers to pick out some key pieces that are currently available.

The Shift Dress.

A shift dress is a go-to for the apple. During the summer a sleeve-less design will show off arms and legs and winter styles include this year’s knitted option. Wear with chunky ankle boots to be totally on trend, or if you want a little height add knee high boots. I would choose a boot colour opposite to what you’re wearing, e.g. tan knee highs with a black knitted dress, to draw the eye down.

Here’s an idea from Top Shop.

2. Tunic-style top and wide leg Trouser combo.

When shopping for tops look for longer length versions. Ideally, they should be below the hip. I spotted this sequin version in H&M and it comes with wide leg trousers. Both flow together well, skimming curves, but offering excitement to the overall look with a ton of sequins. No-one puts baby in the corner! Perfect for Christmas. Not a bad price either.

Note. if you’re a tall apple this top might not work as it must come down below the hip.

3. Statement Accessories.

Ooh I love accessories. They are such powerful tools in either playing up or playing down an outfit. For an apple, who perhaps wants to draw attention away from the mid-section, a good pair of eye-catching shoes will do just that. I spotted these on Gillian Anderson, who is currently the star of the Dune London Autumn/Winter shoe campaign. They are FAB.

Just a couple of tricks here for you to take-away. Like to see more ideas? Visit my October Shop Pinterest board, where you’ll find the rest of this morning’s shopping for an apple body shape.

Of course, if you want a more bespoke shop please do drop me a line at info@notgivinin.com and I’ll walk you through how I can help you wear better clothes that suit your figure and ultimately make you feel more confident.

Have a great weekend.

Gail xx

Wearing clothes that work with your body shape rather than against it is key to looking and feeling great. This week’s focus is the hourglass.

If you watched my Instagram stories yesterday you will have seen that my Style Surgery helped viewers identify if they were an hourglass and gave some tips on what to look out for when shopping. You can still watch it in my highlights here.

Meanwhile, I’ve done an online shop for an hourglass ‘client’ and want to share with you a few key pieces. Of course, we’re all individual, we have different body shapes. You could be a narrow hourglass, a petite, or a tall hourglass. For a bespoke fitting work with me, but do take a look at the full shop on my Pinterest board for ideas.

My Top Three Tips below…

The Trench.

Okay, so first off, it’s raining. We’re in the middle of a storm, but hey it’s the UK, there’s always a shower heading our way. So what better way to stay showerproof and stylish than with a trench coat.

What I love about the hourglass body shape is that you can really tune is to the classic trench cut – fitted, neat, and belted. You can see from my example below, that this style ensures you don’t lose your waist.

Avoid cape style, oversized trench trends. They’ll drown you.

A double breasted Trench Coat currently in Marks & Spencer.

The All Occasion Dress.

There is definitely a trend for dresses with a built-in cinched waist this season that I would make the most of if an hourglass is adding to her wardrobe this season.

Some retailers call it a knot, but you’ll notice a gathering around the waistline and it’s just brilliant for anyone who has a narrow waist, or for someone who wants to create more of a defined waist.

Zara has some great options, but I’ve focused on this design from Hush. I’ve seen this dress in real life and what I love about it for an hourglass figure is that it also has a small print so it won’t overpower the silhouette. Hourglass figures are one of the few body shapes that can wear one colour or print from top to toe, because they have balanced proportions.

Hush, Saskia Twist Shirt Dress.

The Cute Knit.

A wrap style is the easiest top for an hourglass to wear, as long as it’s covering the bust. On the latter point, size up, or use hidden fastenings to ensure you don’t have gaping necklines.

This season, knits are a key look and to narrow it down further, a cardigan is THE piece to wear. The retailer, & Other Stories has introduced a range of soft, fluffy cardigans that are perfect for the hourglass figure. See below, Turquoise wrap cardigan.

Really fluid and effortlessly pretty, this aqua coloured top will softly support those fabulous curves, and, as you can see, works really well with denim. I’d also love to see it with culottes, worn with knee-high boots underneath.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these key pieces. Got the bug to shop some more? Head to my Pinterest board for other ideas. Want more help? Please see my in-person and online services here. I offer a free half hour consultation, so make the most of it and let’s have a chat about your wardrobe frustrations and how I can help. Drop me a line info@notgivinin.com and let me help look and feel great.