Lifestyle buying (Part 3) The Look

Often the easiest way to create a supper stylish you is to achieve a look. Call it a signature style or simply your preferred mode of dressing. Having a fashion house or someone you consider a style icon who inspires you makes it easier to buy your wardrobe. If you know what you want to achieve it cuts out a lot of faffing around looking because you can edit out everything that doesn't fit into how you want to dress.

The first objection most people make is based on their body shape. We get told to dress to our best assets and accentuate our curves or create curves. Frankly does it really matter. Dress to please yourself, dress to be happy and then whatever your wear will look good. The first point of having a look is to not compare or contrast. I used to scream every time Gok put a belt on someone 'to nip in your waist'. Maybe she doesn't want or need it to be nipped in I would exclaim!

So when Mrs Bossa siad she wanted to achieve Marni-esque style but was worried about certain body parts I said fear not. Marni is all about playing with shape and boldness is all that is required. No need to worry about nipped in waists. This is about as nipped in waist Marni get...from the Resort 13 collection

Here is a sample of Marni from the last few collections.

 A/W12

 S/S12

A/W11

all images Style.com

The point is the look has some consistent elements. Ankle socks with shoes (ditto Prada), elbow length sleeve cuts, bold cuts or prints or both. Shapes are deconstructed or unsymmetrical in finish. Yet a lot of the work is done for you as the cut is clever, sharp and creates a look.

Now I realise you are not going to be able to dress head to toe in Marni or who you preferred designer is not merely because of price but we all like to inject a bit of personality. So what are the key elements to achieve the Marni vibe.

Well you can look back through the Marni shows on Style.com to pick out what you like and then source similar in high street stores. COS is an excellent choice as the aesthetics aren't dissimilar. But key items do make the Marni look - the bold details whether in the clothing, the accessories or the shoes. 

Take one sale dress from ASOS....

Add some lilac ankle socks..... ( or pale blue or grey if you prefer)

Falke cotton ankle socks £10 in lupine

A pair of sandals ...

Zara fashion high heel sandal £69.99

Finish the look with a bold necklace....

Necklace £40 Monsoon

And there you have it! The necklace and the shoes are pieces that will work with lots of dresses or tops and skirt combos. Think 7/8 trousers length for Marni as again the ankle sock and shoe are the real feature!! If you've got a look that you'd like to create and need my tips then tweet me MrsMDS@MakeDoStyle

Go classic

Now this is nothing to do with the Middleton gals and more to do with Miuccia(Prada), Margaret (Howell) and Marni. I find the Middletons have too a high a heel preference for my liking and I know they are never going to step out in ankle socks or thick tights. It is that NYC bare legs thing or a good old fashion Sloane 10 denier thing for them.

Instead I prefer to mix my M&M's in a different way. I take a blend of Miuccia, skirts, ankle socks, design with a dash of Margaret, simple, sensible, easy to wear and a slug of Marni, more ankle socks, classic with a twist. Which gives me the Edie shoe from Kurt Geiger in Navy Blue

Marni & me

Last week I bought a top from The Outnet, which I always find a brilliant place to buy items you love at prices you can just about cope with! At £87 I thought my choice of a Marni top was a good buy. Why, you could easily spend half that amount of money on a top at Topshop, the same amount at Reiss or even more at Whistles.

I was actually spending my earnings before I'd got them as this week I'm taking a break from writing and doing some fashion teaching. Stepping back into the saddle so to speak found me travelling into central London with my 'armour' an Anya Hindmarch clutch and a Smythson fashion planner inside it.



After a hard days work I returned to find my purchase had been safely delivered. I couldn't wait to try it on and get some quick pics, so forgive the poor photography. I must confess the urgency was based on twitpicing Mrs Bossa!

It's arrived!

I paired it with an Isabella Oliver black pencil skirt

I will be pairing the skirt and top a lot for the A/W season

Excuse the tennis racquet in the background, I realise I might be channelling Anna Wintour!