UK Online boutique Then And Now recently asked me to share my top 5 essential style tips and wardrobe staples. Since it’s a topic I’m fervently passionate about, it didn’t take long for me to jot these down. These fashion mantras are what I live by, especially now that I’ve officially ‘retired’ from the fashion industry. When I wrote them, the focus was on you, the wearer, not the catwalks, boutiques or magazines. Often we feel trapped because the media dictates the way we should dress, but if you know what looks good on you, you don’t need to be a follower. You’re set. Literally! You can be a trend-setter! I found quite a number of photos that have never been ‘aired’ in my archives that will help demonstrate these ‘style hacks’. Hope you enjoy them!

1 It’s all about proportions: opposites attract. If you wear something tight on top, balance the bottom with something looser or baggier, and vice versa. Pair skinny jeans with a roomy turtleneck, wear a more fitting top if you’re wearing culottes, palazzo pants or boyfriend jeans (all of which are timeless, because they keep coming back into the catwalk arena). At the moment, the trend is on the baggier side thanks to minimalism and ath-leisure, so you can wear looser tops and bottoms but make sure you tuck at least the front of your top into your pants to balance out the proportions.

2 Comfort is king. No matter what you wear, if you’re not comfortable in it, it won’t look effortless or stylish. I have this rule when I shop: it it doesn’t make me feel fabulous, I won’t buy it. It’s better to have a curated closet than a wardrobe full of things that don’t fit. Don’t be a victim to sales.

3 This brings me to the next point: dress for your body shape, not for the trends. If you’re top heavy, wear baggier tops but show off your fabulous athletic legs. If you’re more bottom heavy or are pear shaped, show off your collarbone, toned arms and emphasise your waist. Love and embrace your assets.

4 Know thy colours. Not every colour is created equally, for you. Stylists talk about spring, summer, autumn and winter colours for different skin complexions. This gets super confusing. Tomake things simple, just try different colours (even the ones you may not like) in the mirror and remember which ones make you look the best. Some colours are just made for you.

5 And last but not least, ‘the body is more important than clothes’. Enhance your figure by eating healthily and being active, and you’ll always look stylish. Vitality and wellness are attractive attributes that everyone desire, they trump any trend. So you see? Style is easy. It just takes practice and confidence. By the way, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t watch fashion shows or read magazines. I still do, and love them! They are like reference books, offering us help and inspiration when we need them. But it really is OK not to have the latest bag, shoes or dress. Even though I’m adamant that every day is worth dressing up for, life is to short to stress over the latest fad for.

And one last thing, instead of purely focusing on our outer beauty, let’s not forget to nourish our souls to let our inner beauty shine through. The most attractive people are those who help, give, and love the most. They truly are the timelessly stylish ones.