Rule # 26: How to built a functional wardrobe.

If your wardrobe is stacked with clothing and you stand in front of it for hours and hours feeling like you don't have anything to wear, it is time to start rebuilding it! When I do image consulting workshops, I always talk about how important is to have a functional and fashionable wardrobe.

Now could be the perfect time because you can actually get more for less during the summer sales. And I promise you that if you’re thinking that rebuilding your wardrobe with fashionable clothes will be expensive and you’ll need to spend a fortune, you are wrong. Basically what you need is to get oriented in your style and understand what you look best in.

1st STEP: the first step in creating a functional and fashionable wardrobe is to clear out what you already have. I'm sure you have clothes you haven't wore in ages! Once again, less is more. You have to get rid of clothes that are not fashionable anymore, don't fit you anymore or you don't feel comfortable wearing them. 

2nd STEP: focus on basics and neutral colours. Basics are essential. Basics are the items that you wear more often and which can be easily mixed and matched with other pieces in your wardrobe. Basics include: LBD (little black dress), a pair of jeans (as simple as possible and always bear in mind your body shape), a white shirt, a pencil skirt, a pair of stylish trousers, classic pumps in black, brown or nude colour, comfy flats, a cardigan, a coat or a leather jacket, a functional handbag, a scarf and some jewellery. Neutral colours are timeless and can be easily mixed and matched both with brights and neutrals. Think black, white, brown, grey, camel, navy and cream. Don't forget to get things for special and different occasions. Buy some formal dresses, casual and work attire.

A black pencil skirt and a t-shirt upgraded with accessories. 

A black pencil skirt and a white shirt upgraded with accessories. 

LBD: one dress, two options.

3rd STEP: pay attention to trends. As I said before you should focus on basics. However, you can't forget about trends if you want to look fashion-forward. If you add a couple of trendy pieces to your outfit your look will be fresh and up to date. 

4th STEP: if it doesn't fit you, don't buy it. This is an unbreakable rule! Don't try to convince yourself you'll lose weight and start at the gym because we both know that will never happen and, as I’ve said so many times, remember to choose what suits your body type, ok?

5th STEP: always consider your lifestyle. For example, if you work outdoors and walk a lot, towering heels and an elegant pencil skirt might not work for you. 

Now you have all the tools to build a brand new fashion-forward wardrobe. But don't forget something you cannot buy anywhere: your attitude and personality. Try not to copy others and always try to be unique. It doesn't matter how strict the dress code at your work is, you should spice things up with your attitude and go for details that highlight your personality. Always have fun with your styling.

Winter Weekends

Once again the weekend is here. It's time to relax, enjoy long chats over coffee with friends, lunches with the family and also to party all night long! Whatever you do, you need to look gorgeous and be the center of attention. On rainy days a trench coat like this one is just perfect. It's an essential for any woman's wardrobe and, although it is a classic piece, it is very versatile. Wear it with jeans or leggings, you will be comfy and cozy.

Top & jeans, Mango. Trench coat, Dorothy Perkins. Foulard & belt, Uterque. Sneakers, Blanco. Sunglasses & bag, Asos.

At night it's all change and the challenge is to be sexy without looking cheap. Leave your boots at home and choose a pair of high heels. Pair your boyfriends jeans with a plain top and add some edge and sparkle with a sequined waistcoat like the one I chose from Mango. Don't forget to wear a jacket. In this look I went for the fur bomber jacket from Topshop. Add some accessories but don't overdo it! The sequined waistcoat is sparkly enough!

Pull & Bear boyfriend jeans. Top & sequined waistcoat, Mango. Fur bomber jacket & heels, Topshop. Clutch & cuff, Asos. Belt, Uterque. Rig, Selfridges. 

Beauty comes from the inside. Rule # 6: Take care of your skin

As all of you know beauty comes from the inside. There's nothing more important than being healthy. You don't have to be on a diet for life but eating healthy food will make you look better and live longer. But we know it takes more than just this, don’t we? There are some tricks you should know to make your skin look younger, flawless, healthier. In another post I wrote about Atelier Room B and its founder, Sandra Almeida. She teaches makeup classes and gives workshops. She has great experience in this business and has worked for important makeup companies and in fashion weeks around the world. So who better than her to give us some tips about how to have a healthy skin and look even better? I asked her some questions and here are her answers.

1. What are the basics for keeping your skin healthy?

Healthy, well cared for skin immediately makes you look younger.

People often still believe that for youthful and energetic skin you need to spend a lot of money and a lot of time in the morning. But the crisis had led brands to invest in the quality of their products and to make them easier to use, and these days you even can find very good products at the local supermarket.

The first step is to know what your skin type is.

The second step is to work out how much time you have in the morning for your skincare and make-up routine.

The third step is to use your products every day, morning and night without fail!

You don’t need a lot of products, but there are a few essentials to your skincare routine:

- Remove your make-up and clean your skin every morning and every night.

- Apply eye cream morning and night.

- Moisturise your face morning and night.

- Exfoliate once a week.

2. Is it important to use that right products for our skin type? Why?

It’s very important, because every skin type has specific needs and the right products will meet those needs.

3. How can we find out our skin type?

The best way is to go to a beauty counter in a department or specialist store. If you live in Lisbon, you could try El Corte Ingles because it has specialists for every brand.

Even so, it’s often difficult to get exactly the service we want, so you could also have your skin analysed at the Atelier. Make an appointment and you will leave with accurate information about your skin type and a list of the right products for you.

4. There are people who only use a daily exfoliant and a moisturising cream. Is this enough or is it also important to have a full facial from time to time?

Cleaning your skin will not solve all its problems if you don’t combine it with daily maintenance, but it is also important to have a full facial twice a year. I always recommend you do this at the end of the winter and then again at the end of the summer.

Clarins is highly recommended, as are El Corte Ingles in Lisbon or Gaia. They are good value for money and the products and service are excellent too!

5. Make-up. Basic products and essentials. The ‘must haves’ for any woman.

The basic products for ideal make-up depend on your individual style, but I always like to recommend the basic of basics that always look good with any outfit and eye or hair colour.

This is your everyday survival kit:

- Foundation, concealer and powder, because smooth and flawless skin will make any colour pop.

- A palate of neutral colours in tones of brown to honey

- Mascara

- Bronzing powder for blush

- Neutral or coloured lip moisturiser

- A natural colour lipstick

Sandra Almeida - Work @ Atelier Styling Project

Sandra Almeida - Work @ Atelier Styling Project

Sandra Almeida