Earth to Sun!

Dear Sun, please try harder. We need you. Our lives have been blighted not only by a lack of natural vitamin D but the hideous fact that one has actually gone out doors in June not sporting sunglasses. It is true and until this year had been unheard of.

In fact such is the scandal of not actually needing ones sunglasses because it truly is too dark has resulted in a few minor mishaps. Sunglasses have drowned in shopping bag due to torrential rain downpour, have fallen off head as forgotten they were perched a top and not seen light of day as consigned to bottom of handbag, forgotten and forlorn.

However the silver lining in the current cloud coverage is the face I got to try on some lovely this season numbers from Polaroid who are my go to peeps for sunnies. The beauty of Polaroids is the lenses. The clarity and vision puts designer sunglasses to shame and my guess is it won't be long before a designer wises up and collaborates with Polaroid.

Personal Stylist Isobel Kershaw and I posing in a couple of pairs of Polaroids - I'm actually goofing around which was absurd given it was a one click photo opportunity. Note to self learn the hand to mouth pose again.

And on the lack of vitamin D note, you can at least cheer yourself up by attending Isobel's NHJ Style evening summer wardrobe essentials at Champneys Spas over the next few weeks because ladies the sun is coming I tell you! Isobel kicks off her mini tour in Chichester on Tuesday. Tickets are £15 which is a fashionable bargain for a glass of wine and some tip top style advice.

Style Yourself Gorgeous

My friend uber personal stylist Isobel Kershaw is running a one day Style Yourself Gorgeous on Friday the 11th of March in a Covent Garden location.

There is a 20% discount until the 14th of February, the full cost is £250 so that is a make do saving of £50!

It will be a great way to become your very own top notch personal stylist - go with a friend to have fun day out.

Something I threw...OFF

No this is not a post where Mrs MDS reveals to all she has been secretly working as a stripper. I was going to say burlesque dancer but that felt all coy and stripper seems to be a more factual term. I believe there is some debate currently regarding burlesque in respect of is it a tantalising art form or merely porn. Do I look bovvered? Seriously how contrive can 'trending' be at times. Oh look there is a film on burlesque coming out ...lets stimulate cultural debate.. Argh, this sort of thing drives me mad.

Anyway back to not being a stripper. No really I don't have a part time job as a stripper but I am in off with my clothes mode!

I've also mainly failed to put many on, in the sense that my wardrobe remains untouched and I'm wearing what can only be described as a gardener come ski instructor look. My inability to 'dress up' or properly as I think of it is due to having to walk and look after a small dog and mainly in snowy conditions. One night I went out with a dog on lead in one hand and a child on a sledge in the other. Goodness only knows what I pulled out of the hat, scarf and glove basket but I cared not one iota what I looked like!





What with snow and now just ice, working on projects at home and a dog to take care of, I really had times to get to grips with my wardrobe and my style. Because I'm always thinking of others, thinking of creative solutions and writing about fashion I rarely get time for me. Recently I got to dress up at Isabella Oliver and at Penny Dreadful Vintage's tea party and after writing the Life Laundry series of posts which I didn't really finish, I got motivated.

I've been shedding the old, the unglamorous and anything which doesn't have the wow factor. I did lots of listings on ebay of which two items raised money for Sister Wolf of which you can read the reasons why here and here. I've got a pile of things for a car boot sale as I'm officially over selling on ebay! I thought I'd do a stall with everything for a pound so I could clear it all. Some items have already gone to charity and anything very worn has been donated to the textile collectors who sell the items to raise more money for varies causes. I feel like this has been an ongoing project for a year or more and in truth it has. But like all projects you go through a concept, then initiation phase before you finally reach completion. It has been well worth doing and an end of era in some respects. The end of quantity, trends and hero pieces ( I still loath that terminology) and the beginning of quality, loved pieces and truly individual style. I would like to think that Make Do Style has contributed in part over the last 3 years to the rejection of trend driven must have pieces. I fully realise I'm not alone in this view and it is nice to see other have a change of direction too - see this post from Fashion Pearls of Wisdom

I'm nearly one month into my style challenge and I have had a few moments of wanting to waver but so far all is going well.

As I throw off my shackles of old and enter into a new year (and a new decade!) I will get back to sharing my outfits and continue to dispense style advice, especially once I've lost the bag lady look and this flipping freezing weather.

How to wear a belt

1. Only use a belt to make an outfit interesting. There is a great danger with constantly adding a belt ( a la Gok) as a style statement which tips an look over the edge.

2. How do I know if I'm adding interest not going overboard? I still have a horror of the boho look that was the bane of my life circa 2003/4/5 when every woman alive seemed in possession of a belt with a big round metallic buckle for decoration. Usually worn over the hips of jeans or long boho skirt. It was the rise of the Ugg boot and the shaggy or faux fur gilet. Beloved by every retailer and the consumer - that belt transferred easily to the real and faux Juicy Couture track/leisure suit thing that was going on too. This is an example of a belt being overkill or overboard. It was essential to the look but did not add interest.

3. How to add interest? Take a shift dress which is tailored and has a defined waist -think Anna Wintour. Now our Anna is not a woman in search of a belt, instead she relies on her tennis in the morning and her coffee to keep her trim. Also Anna is quite prescriptive and her necklace(s) add to her signature style. If you have such a dress then you can add to it with either a necklace or a belt.

4. How do I do that with certainty? Use your eye and check your mood! Some days you might add a belt to the dress and it looks/feels great and on another you hate it. Your moods do have an effect on when you wear an item and not just your clothes. If it feels good do it but if not so what.

5. But I haven't got a shift dress. How else do I wear a belt? Okay here's a few scenarios! Long boyfriend cardi, top and skinny jeans. Add belt over the b/f cardi. Shirt and skirt - add waist belt at waist of skirt. Top plus black trousers - try a hip belt, these have a curve at the back of the belt. On no accounts wear a belt as described as above! Wear a belt over a jacket or coat. I was wearing a navy blue tunic dress with a black jacket the other day and wanted to look more formal so I did up my jacket (which was a charity shop find ages ago) and added a navy patent belt at the waist. I breathed in all day but it did the job. Look at old magazine images for a vintage take - remember those 60s dresses with a gold chain belt. The trick is not to be prescriptive or rule bound this should be experimental to develop your own sense of what suits you.

6. What about my body shape? Even though I know everyone is obsessive about body shapes I prefer the idea of proportions. One of my friends is an apple shape and sworn off all things round her middle because of her voluminous bust. But her back size and round her ribs under her bust is her tiniest point. At first I introduce a ribbon on her favourite empire line dress (which does not look like maternity wear due to gorgeous pleating flowing beneath) and then a very skinny belt. It isn't something she does a lot but occasionally it lifts her mood when wearing the same old dress. You just have to try differing widths of belts in different places with an item you wish to dress up. Therefore you go in said outfit to a variety of shops and try on lots of belts.

In short, experiment, use your eye and don't be afraid no one is going to appear with a big foam hand pointing out your belt wearing. I wouldn't do it every day, and go for weeks without donning one but is nice to have in your arsenal of style props.

Dress a blogger for a wedding

A request has come in from Angie Muresan to provide her with an outfit for her sister's wedding in Hawaii next month.

Angie wants to look beautiful not trashy. Now my first view is that it is always important to remember that it is the brides day. Regardless of anything it is not your day it is the bride and bridegroom who matter. So, the best thing to achieve is a look that is fitting for the day, fitting for you and not too showy.

Angie has told me she is taller than her sister and she adds a bit rounder but she has had two children! Her sister is opting for a Grecian white dress. I've decided that for Angie to feel at ease she needs to wear flats and a dress with colour. I've opted for blue as the setting will be quite gorgeous and in my opinion it will be calming for the wearer and won't be attention seeking and will allow for understated and gorgeous accessories.

I've selected items from the forthcoming season and gone for designer, as Angie can potentially buy the dress, and then find cheaper flats or a necklace (choose one expensive item and sub any cheaper version but don't compromise on style). Or she can source similar items as new stock arrives. The dress is clever in that the shape is in the bow, and a shift dress is more forgiving than anything body con. The shorter length will allow longer legs to be shown but will be balanced by pretty flats. The items are respectful of the Grecian theme but are not imitating or trying to compete. Just add perfect manicure and pedicure - be daring go for a dark midnight blue or black nail varnish to avoid a prissy look. Hair up or down depending on the bride.

As for a bag... well hand your lippy to husband and be hands free for easy elegance and a glass of champagne!




Moschino Cheap and Chic bow front crepe shift £335 Net-a-Porter



Oscar de la Renta Gold plated chain necklace £525 Net-a-PorterStella McCartney Metallic braid detail flats Net-a-Porter £195

Project resourcefulness

I haven't read this one yet but I have Nina's other style books - this one might be a good Chrimbo gift for yourself to curl up with for an hour or two. It is meant to help you eliminate any unnecessary spending on clothes.

Dress a blogger for Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

After completing the Masters degree, having given over 18 months of my life to it, my brain has suddenly turned to mush. I'm slowly getting back to some semblance of order but not as organised as usual...so there is a delay in linking the Small Fabric of my Life and the fact she actually got the dress and shoes and compiled a real life version of my suggestion! How fab!

Today's victim is across the ocean and some.... Enc of Observationmode This is a look for the toned and honed! Which means keeping it simple....

Warehouse One shouldered dress reduced to £35 in dark teal


Oasis Bright green round facet stone necklace £18

French Connection Jess shoe reduced to £96 in red

total budget is £149

Dress a blogger for Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

A reader request who is also a dear friend from the Wild West of Wales with a plea to dress her for Chrimbo. Two factors - one the reader has a pair of sequin leggings so I'm going to exploit this fact and use this to build up an outfit. Secondly, high street stores are limited so I'm sticking to the two I know are there! As usual the £150 budget applies



Dress to wear over sequin leggings New Look Tiered Chiffon Dress £25.00

Dorothy Perkins Pink gladiator sandals £30.00

Dorothy Perkins Cobalt leopard print cardigan £32

DP's Facet stone collar £12

2 x New Look gold Chain stretch bracelet £6 (one for each wrist)

total cost is £111

Rachel -wear cardi undone and just add black nail varnish to fingers and toes, apply smoky eyes! and some pink lippy!
PS the necklace might not work but just try and see...if not substitute earrings.

Dress a blogger for Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

Continuing this popular series from last year my first proposed outfit for a fellow blooger is Jane from The Small Fabric of My Life
I take all the clues from the clothes the blogger tends to wear, the colours and then challenge their usual looks a little! Being Make Do Style the budget is set as it was last year at £150. The total for this outfit is £137.99



Dorothy Perkins Blue geo print shift dress £32

Monsoon Cotton Stretch Ivory Bolero £36

Clarks Daily Bread Smart Shoes in Red £59.99

Navy 80D opaque tights £5
(I'll leave you to imagine navy tights! This look could easily substitute red tights instead of navy)


New Look Heart Necklace £5

Back to Work

Now I've finished my dissertation and hence my Masters I need to go for glory on getting freelance fashion styling work. I'm lucky to have fairly regular contract work and I'm teaching on the next NHJ Style Academy in January...however I need to mention that I do undertake personal styling and direct you to my website, which is in need of an update as it's been a holding page for two years now! Contact me for commercial, editorial or personal styling.

The imaginarium of petit garcon

He is but a small boy but already he has no fear of putting a look together. Recently the petit garcon trumped his usual take on every day style namely a Ben 10 t-shirt and shorts, although he is happy to dress up to go into town, and recently took to composing his own photo shoot.

He threw together a look composed of a Baby Gap tank top of his from his teddy which was his aged 3 - 6 months. Teamed with his pirate pyjama bottoms and a free Bart Simpson wrist sweat band from a comic.

Oh er!

Well what fun we had! Less clothes went than I anticipated but only because quite a few are high summer items and I'll wear them out in the next couple of months. But I'm on the road to stellar glamour.

It was so lovely to have someone be me for a change and make me move on over a few items. Yes its sad to see a some old friends depart but on the whole I've got more space, a few things in the growing holiday pile (what holiday?) which I'm sure I'll cull anyway. There was only one item of contention -it was a Max Mara jacket that Isobel said should go and I've wavered over doing this. Basically anything tired, (remember I do alter my clothes and wear them to death) a bit shapeless or outdated has gone.

We spotted a few key transition pieces for A/W and tested the look. I would have had a few looks photos to post but the petit garcon in the midst of our slog was amusing himself by trying on shoes, breaking my camera and gradually becoming naked. How he broke my camera I know not and what could I say whilst he was wearing some gold flats with diamante feature and some pearls and nothing else!

The photos move from camera pre breakage to poor blackberry ones for the after shots.

Before sort out-the middle thing houses belts, jewellery and jumpers

right hand side before being tackled

left hand side, completely crammed

poor shoes in need of a tidy up, my best ones are in their boxes

I take a last minute stand against revealing my stash

I collapse at this point in hysterics as Isobel makes me try on a dress I bought to go for dinner years ago with the then to be in-laws, she said it looked like something you'd try and impress the in-laws with -opps, point taken and so true!

Isobel gets her pen out to lick me into shape!

Evidence of petit garcon's handy work in progress, he managed to snap the destruction

By now naked and sorting out the hangers

Some of the pile to go

Ah happy tidy shoes, although the garcon just put back the gold flats and pink Tods he'd been wearing

Sorted. Arranged from left to right are coats, jackets, dresses, shirts then cardigans, trousers and skirts

Selfridges starts sale scurry!

Shoe prices have been slashed at Selfridges. I was only there as one of my lovely clients needed to get some clothes and so discovered there was a mix of normal stock and prices in some concessions and extreme slashing in others.

We got a lovely Paul Smith black dress down from £270 to £135 and she tried on a fabulous Thakoon number down from £980 to £440 but the Paul Smith suited her better. There were glorious Matthew Williamson dresses also reduced by 50%. Lots of concessions are still at full price but Toast has already gone sale mad on the 3rd floor and the online sale doesn't start for a week. The shoe department is a complete frenzy, Prada was cordoned off with only so many allowed in at one time - bonkers. Particularly as Christian Louboutin's were sat alongside Lanvin, Alaia Azzedine to name a few without a cordoning off in sight.

If you fancy climbing up on the shoe ladder then now is the time to snag some bargains. Moi - well I'm on a budget (zero) and attempting to sort through the mess on a styling session is pointless unless it was specifically a sale one. We hot footed it to Russell & Bromley for some gorgeous gladiators and a pair of tributes to 'Tributes'.

Now my client also gave me the best story of the day in the world of bad publicity. Now this is not the Hogggate that poor Susie Bubble had the misfortune to suffer, but how to make your husband think your stylist is a nightmare. True, I mentioned to said client that it would be better to have more wardrobe space so she could hang all her clothes together but I didn't expect this to result in a house MOVE! Can you imagine the curses muttered by the husband about the 'bl**dy stylist' - hey I'm innocent in this.

Seriously, their house is being viewed tomorrow morning and they are viewing another one with an intent to buy too. See I told you girlynomics would save the world (even though this is extreme girlynomics!). When the housing market gets going again you'll know who helped it along....

Designer sunglasses date

My trusty favourite for all sorts of bargain and delightful purchases TK Maxx, is hosting in conjunction with NHJ Style, a fabulous in-store styling session to help you find the perfect sunglasses.


I'll be the stylist on hand to help you with choosing from a selection of designer sunnies in store at Glasgow on Wednesday May 20th and London's High Street Kensington store on Thursday May 21st.

PS am in store from 1pm to 3pm at both locations.

Jean Genie

Forgive me for my dual relationship with the blogosphere. I was consumed with the demands of essay writing and felt that I was delivering a poor service and needed a break. I'm sort of back but still caught between my love of making do and a serious analysis of all matter fashion and film.

I have discovered that I'm actually not Mark Kermode when it comes to film reviews! Which is probably a good thing as he is rather excellent at them and whilst I wish I was as good as Mr Kermode, I'm actually much better at my fictional attempts.

However I now know I'm good at my make do style delivery. This is very cheery news and none more so than when my expertise is called upon to delivery good old fashioned high street fashion solutions.

I'm quite excited to be the stylist in residence at the Harlequins shopping centre in Watford (almost VB territory if you count the Hertfordshire Beckingham Palace residence) for the month of May on all matters concerning jeans!

This prompted me to review my jeans scenario and find it sadly lacking on the looking sexy front. It was fine from the point of view of skinnies - tick (Topshop), old pair of good bootcuts -tick (2004 Abercrombie and Fitch purchase in NYC). However I had a pair of American Lucky jeans with hole in knee due to car races with petit garcon and a suspect H&M pair that really only are allowed to fall into mum on go/ in house bracket ( oh how I envy all without kids who have no need for jeans!)

Realising I needed high street not designer jeans I hot footed it to French Connection and splurge £70 of my precious pounds on a fab pair which I'm not sure are available on tinternet.
I fell for them because they are the pair that I thought were very Chloe-esque. They remind me of Phoebe at her height (is it me or am I the only person desperate for her first proper Celine collection!)

Anyway you'll either get to see me at Watford if you are passing or on a video being filmed this Friday when I do a make over!

Dress a blogger for Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

Upon my word it is mighty cold and dark in the UK! After 10 days of sunshine and Christmas carols in the supermarket wearing basic attire of havianas, white shorts and a variety of tops (none of which were spaghetti tops or vests - more on this subject in a post to come!) it is indeed a proper Christmas feel now. Although I surprised myself at how easily I could embrace a Christmas of rum punch and flying fish rather than sherry and mince pies.

Still back to the dressing a fellow blogger. I noted an almost request from the super Hammie. If you haven't read her blog then do - I'm torn between Hammie and Sister Wolf being the mother I'd choose!

Once again the budget is £200 and this time I'm taking inspiration from the magic of this time of year to create Hammie the perfect glamorous fairy godmother! The point is for Hammie to walk into a room and light it up not just with her own aura but because she is bedecked in gorgeous fabric and lots of costume jewellery bling. The dress is from a shop I rarely visit but it does produce a great selection of dresses and look hard and you'll find a reasonable priced dress delivering grown up glam.


All the items are available on-line and best of all most of these items will be discounted heavily with varying store or on-line offers with VAT reduced and 25% off offers.
















Taffeta Wrap Dress £132.12 Coast
Lace overlay shoe £20 New Look
Jet stretch bracelet £11.74 Oasis
Sparkle flower ring £11.74 Oasis
Crystal Shaker bracelet £13.70 Monsoon Accessorize
Elaborate Gothic necklace £15.65 Monsoon Accessorize


Wear both the bracelets together for maximum effect and leave ears bare with all the other bling to show off - just add red lipstick, some perfume and voila!

Dress a blogger for Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

Thanksgiving has now passed so we are down to the last three festivals to come. Once again a plea has been entered. This time the wonderful Sharon Rose wants £200 spent on her!

Oasis sequin tunic £55

Topshop Indigo Eva Skinny Flare jeans £40

Topshop Pelle Premium Sandal boot £80

Topshop Vintage brooch ring £18

Leaving Sharon Rose £7 for a spot of nifty thrifting!

Dress a blogger for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Happy Holiday

As we approach the many festive occasions between now and New Year, I could think of nothing better than to dress a fellow blogger for a special occasion. All outfits will be from the hight street and the top limit for a complete outfit is £200!

First up to recieve the dress a fellow blogger treatment is the lovely observationmode!

Her outfit is a fabulous jumpsuit from French Connection

To be wore with a cocktail ring from Topshop and these flats from Dune in silver!

Lady Stardust all in one £100 French Connection

Purple Rhinestone ball ring £12 Topshop

Petty flats in silver £35 from Dune

How not to scare people with clothes..

Continuing the theme of sorts on dualism, there's a great piece on Elle.com by Creative director, Joe Zee on trends you can wear well or not! Referencing the impending Halloween, Trick or Treat, Joe uses it to give tips on personal styling on certain themes.

I'll cut to the chase I love this look!

image: Elle.com

PS I'm a bit late posting today because I might have acquired a minor martini hangover courtesy of Everybodysaysdon't we met up for drinks last night and it was hilarious. It was a lovely night in Covent Garden and great to have finally met up!