How to Dress Like a Celebrity - title card

THERE’S A BIG SECRET MANY TALENTED STYLISTS AND CELEBRITIES HAVE BEEN KEEPING FOR YEARS.

You all know the reason I started this blog was not only to help women dress in a way that makes them feel confident but let them in on the tricks effortlessly stylish people use to make clothing work. I don’t want you to spend hours trying on clothes and still feel like nothing works at the end of it. So it’s only fitting I share with you one of the most overlooked and under appreciated factors of having fabulous style.

Every day, men and women come to me with images of celebrity style they would love to take inspiration from when creating their own style and while it’s true, celebrities look effortless and their look incorporated into my clients’ style is achievable, it takes tailoring to get right.

Yep, that’s the big secret, fit and tailoring. It might upset you if you’ve been hunting online for styling tips, following all the dressing rules, googling ‘celebrity style’, only to come up with the answer of; spend your life savings on designer gear and lose weight. It’s simply not true, every makeover show you’ve ever watched; What Not To Wear, How Do I Look, Queer Eye, etc, all of them use alterations but never really mention it on their shows.

Example of clothing alterations on Sarah Jessica Parker's wardrobe

Everything you see has been altered. Everything. The tee’s, the jeans, the shirts, the skirts, even those head to toe ”I’ve just woken up and look fabulous” shots of celebrities caught off guard by the paparazzi.

Their clothing has been altered and no one told us. No magazine dropped the goss on how really to get their look, celebrity stylists don’t really talk about the impact of a hem. I only found out through working in this area and I can tell you, everyone who learns this has the same reaction – it’s all too hard. Clothes should just fit. We’re already spending enough money on them and now we need to pay for alterations too?

Examples of clothing alterations on Melissa McCarthy's wardrobe

CELEBRITY STYLE SECRETS

I know, but the proof is in the pudding and it’s what every good stylist does for their clients who want to look good from all angles and get the best possible fit. They buy a garment to fit the clients widest part and alter the rest, it seems super expensive and a waste of hard earned money but when each item you own fits perfectly, it makes such a difference to your overall look.

I want you to think back to the last time you saw a celebrity or media personality in an interview. Do you remember seeing them adjust their clothing? Some of us honestly walk around in clothing that twists or bunches because we think ‘that’s just my body shape, it will always do this‘.

Nooooo!!!!

It won’t, gorgeous, your curves just need hugging in the right places. That celebrity whose style you love is probably walking around in a bigger shirt to fit her boobs while everything else has been taken in and you’re thinking, where does she find shirts to fit her boobs?!

As a millennial, (I hate that word and avocado), spending more money on clothing to make it work feels painful. I too feel the struggle to part with my money for alterations even though I know they work wonders. If anything, it reinforces the need to only invest in clothing that will really work in my wardrobe and for you, if you’re really wanting that fit right, think of everything that goes into your wardrobe as an investment.

Example of clothing alterations on Cate Blanchett's wardrobe

GAME-CHANGING ALTERATIONS

The best alterations are the simple ones, I’ve listed my favourite below:

Hem: When a pair of pants gets hemmed to the right length, your legs look longer even if you are wearing flat shoes. Slim fitting pants that taper in around the ankle should stop around the top of your ankle bone. Pants that are wide-leg or don’t fit in close around the foot then your pants should just touch the top of your foot.

Sleeve: Models have long limbs, it’s what helps to make clothing look better because most clothing brands manufacture according to their limb length. If you find you’ve always got bunching sleeves or sleeves passing your wrist and covering your hand, a simple sleeve shortening will lift the look of your posture and neaten up your appearance. Aim to fit your sleeve to the crease between where your hand meets your wrist.

Shortening: When wearing a dress or a skirt that is a knee-length, ensure the dress is ending a place that makes you feel long in the leg. Often off-the-rack knee-length dresses are a touch long and can shorten our appearance. Try folding up and pining the edge of the dress by an inch or two until the dress ends in a place that makes you feel fabulous!