Creating Your Signature Style - and Link Up

What's your signature style?  You may be perplexed by the question, because according to the Is This Mutton? fashion and beauty survey, many of you are confident enough to flirt with different  styles depending on your mood.  You can switch easily from boho to classic with a twist or trendy. But even if you like to stick to one style, you're no doubt making it your own with a few of your signature special touches.

Above is one of my favourite styles, the Peter Pan collar.  Now I'd forgotten how much I love these until I saw a picture of Fearne Cotton wearing a similar number. A few years ago Peter Pan collars were very fashionable and I had several. Now, I have hardly any. I shot myself in the foot by giving everything to charity shops. I couldn't find too many online either, but I did manage to grab the top above in La Redoute's sale.

I particularly love Peter Pan collar outfits in black and white. It's a classic combination that never goes out of style.

From now on I will have a permanent "Peter Pan collar" search on eBay to alert me to any pre-loved dresses or blouses.

Layered Pearls

Another wardrobe staple of mine is layered pearls.  I used to layer up three necklaces of chunky pearls which is an easy way to make a monochrome outfit look dramatic. This year I bought a couple of new longer chains featuring "fresh water" pearls  (simulated of course) which were a more contemporary way to wear pearls.  Every season I buy a couple of new necklaces from Mango or Topshop - a fast and cheap way to update your outfits.Your jewellery style may be layered bracelets or dramatic rings.  Whatever it is, own it!

I remember the first serious management course I did, which was just for women and at Cranfield business school as it was then. One of the trainers was a strikingly elegant and attractive woman called Sandy Cotter, whose signature style was diamond tennis bracelets stacked on her wrists;  a loose draped cream blouse and tailored black trousers. This was the late 1980s and she was a couple of decades older than me, but I never forgot how stylish she looked. And those bracelets were probably genuine diamonds, not diamante, because she was a successful career woman.

In the photo below from 2017 I'm showing several of my signature moves - pearls (on the jumper too), a metallic belt and an eye catching clutch.

Shoes and Boots

We may get fat, we may get thin, but by and large our shoe size will remain the same all our lives, and buying footwear will always be a pleasure, although having said that, strange things happen to our feet as we get older and it becomes more difficult to wear high heels. Check out my article here on feet.

But even if high heels are off the agenda, there are still plenty of funky flats and kinder kitten or block heels. Show your style from the ground up.

I've shown you before my collection of quirky Poetic Licence shoes.

I've spent the summer in Stan Smith trainers - I've just added a black pair to the white - and I've got several pairs of flat shoes like my green velvet embellished shoes from Next and my lilac brogues from The-Bias-Cut.com

Winter is joyous for those of us who love boots.  I adore ankle boots:  pointed toe, round toe, metallic, cowboy - you name it. I find metallic boots, gold or silver, are perfect neutrals and go with everything.  Cowboy boots or Doc Martens add a bit of edge to a conservative shift dress or print skirt.r

Fancy Belts

I also love belts, although I'm very particular about what style. I like wide waist-cincher type belts which are ideal for those with an hour glass or rectangle shape. Buy the elasticated type if you want to create a waist which was previously hidden. Quality leather belts in gold and silver are great all-rounders (see above) and buying a belt in one of the latest colours, as dictated by Pantone, or prints (think snakeskin or zebra skin) will add pizzazz to an old outfit.

Ladies With Signature Styles

TV presenter Fearne Cotton, who I mentioned earlier, has been rocking a favourite look of mine, cropped trousers in bright or pastel colours with funky shoes and a cool print shirt.

Dame Judi Dench always looks elegant and smart in her flowing tunics and artfully draped scarves. Not to mention her wonderfully flattering and chic pixie hair cut.

A fabulous 58 years old, TV personality Carol Vorderman is never afraid to showcase her fabulous curves in body con dressing. Her derriere is the result of 20,000 squats a year, plus she tries to fit in a long walk every day.

Meanwhile retail guru Mary Portas always impresses with her geometric and distinctive jewellery, her sharp red bob and her fluid tailoring.

What are your signature touches?  Do tell in the Comments.

Sharing this post with #WordlessWednesday at Claire Justine, Chic&Stylish at Mummabstylish, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, #ThursdayTell at Muttonstyle, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style; Fabulous Friday at A Pocketful of Polka Dots, Anna at The Glamadventure,  Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee On The Edge, #BloggerClubUK at My Random Musings, #Stylewithasmile at Stylesplash, Grace at Color and Grace, Julie at This Main Line Life, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, #ShareAllLinkUp at Not Dressed as Lamb

Now it's time to see your signature style in #WowOnWednesday.

Last week's most clicked was Laurie from Vanity and Me with her post: Autumn Fashion - Too Early to Be Thinking About That Yet? Laurie has a fantastic sense of style and knows exactly what suits her, plus she has a canny eye for a fantastic handbag!

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