1. All that jigging about on a bike or on the treadmill means boobs no matter how big or small need a bit of friendly support. Don’t opt for a boring scaffolding looking sports bra, these funky patterned crop tops from Pure Simple Sport, are cheap look cute AND hold everything neatly in place.

Tie Dye Sports Bra, £10, Pure Simple Sport at JD Sports http://www.jdsports.co.uk

2. Gym classes are designed to make you sweat intensely so T.shirts are the worst item of clothing to wear – smelly and wet.   Urrrggh!! A fitted dryfit vest in a bright popping colour from Sweaty Betty will help bring out your inner Jessica Ennis and hopefully lead you to a gold medal too.

Athlete Vest, £28, Sweaty Betty http://www.sweatybetty.com

3. Worried your legs look too short when not in a pair of 4 inch heels?  Make sure you maximise the length of your legs even when having to wear trainers with a pair of uber slimming Nike black leggings.

Running tights, £36, Nike www.nike.com

4. Thanks to Carrie on SATC we all know the scrunchie is dead, but what to wear to pull the hair off your face? Move in the wide headband. Worn low over your hair line, this Sweaty Betty essential piece of sportswear not only keeps your hair in place but mops the sweat of your brow. Genius!

Anna Headband, £10, Sweaty Betty http://www.sweatybetty.com

5. Bored of your trainers but can’t quite face taking out a small bank loan to replace them just yet? No need to splash the cash – simply swap your tatty laces for a slick neon pair for instant style transformation.

Fluro laces, £4 Aldo http://www.aldoshoes.com

For more style tips and to find out more about Miss Dress personal styling services, visit: http://www.miss-dress.com/ or email: dress@miss-dress.com

Finally the spring wardrobe rush is over now that all our regular clients have had their wardrobes revamped and refreshed, which means it is time to tell you about the next up and coming fabulous Miss Dress event!

Yes the summer holiday season is nearly upon us (and let’s face it with weather like this we are all dying to feel the sun on our backs), but of course packing for your summer hols brings on a whole new clothes conundrum.

That is why we have teamed up again with the ever amazing premiere London spa; Chelsea Day Spa and the insightful Miss Nutritionist to bring you our spectacular evening event:  Beach Body Ready

On Wednesday 30th May from 6.30-9.30pm join us for an intimate evening of advice, tips and treatments to get yourself ship shape and Beach Body Ready inside, out in time for your special holiday.

During this fun evening there will be:

A mini workshop from Miss Dress on what swimwear and accessories to choose for your body shape to ensure you look     cool by the pool.

A motivating talk from Miss Nutritionist on how to eat your way to a flat stomach

A  specialist skin consultation with Chelsea Day Spa to discover how best to prepare your skin for the sun

Complimentary mini manicures available throughout the evening

Delicious healthy detox drinks and canapés to satisfy your taste buds!

Amazing goody bags packed with cosmetics, skin care and health treats

PLUS each business will be offering a fantastic promotion on services exclusively to guests!

This is an intimate evening with a limited 10 spaces for Miss Dress clients and its a first come, first served basis so if you want to get your self set up for the summer book your space NOW! Email clare@miss-dress.com

Tickets £35 (worth it for the amazing discounts we are all offering on our services!)

As you know, this time of year I am very busy shopping and styling all my client’s Spring wardrobes, putting together multiple outfit combinations from the high street to see them through the next 6 months, come rain or shine. Plenty ask me what I have brought this season and whether I practice what I preach.

The answer to that is; Yes I Do! I love the British High Street and this spring there are so many gorgeous pieces out there. So I thought I would share my favourite buys with you all to hopefully sprinkle some ‘Miss Dress Magic’ into your own wardrobe!

This cute coral skirt from Cos is great for teaming with my white shirt and all the pastels in fashion this season

Bright jeans are the thing this season and look best with a crisp white shirt tucked in and ballet pumps. I got these electric blue chinos from Gap and these cherry red skinny jeans from Mint Velvet. Both have become firm wardrobe staples for me.

My beloved white shirt from Gap! This casual fitted white shirt I wear with jeans, skirts even under some of my summer dresses from last year. Isometimes layer either of these neon vests from Zara under shirt or under sheer blouses to add a bit of a sporty 'Olympic Chic' to my outfits

It might not have been warm enough to wear this H&M sun dress yet but when it is I will definitely be rocking this with a pair of wedges. I love the handkerchief hem and planning to team it with a pretty pastel coloured cardigan

This cute nude coloured mohair ballerina wrap top from Topshop adds a diiferent texture to my wardrobe and looks great worn over sun dresses and over t.shirts with white jeans.

My Olympic Chic theme continues with this amazing sheer Whistles T.Shirt which I layer one of my neon Zara vests under and wear with either coloured jeans or chinos. I also often add this lemon scarf from Zara for a bit more style

Of course no wardrobe would be complete without a jacket to keep you warm! This bright yellow fitted Zara jacket finishes off all my favourite pieces and completes my sporty luxe style

This month between Bianca and I will have seen a staggering 25 clients! Not only that, we have been presenting at The Ideal Home Show AND held our highly anticipated Reiss event. (Now can you see why I have been to busy to blog!)

As mentioned, this week  saw our much publicised collaboration with Reiss to bring Miss Dressers a showcase of the new spring collection and a chance to shop the clothes exclusively as well as enjoy some indulgent pampering by the georgeous girls at Buff London (www.bufflondon.co.uk)  and Saint Tropez!

When Bianca and I sat down for our first meeting of the year to discuss how we were going to make Miss Dress bigger and better, we never expected to be recieving a call from Reiss a couple of days later asking us whether we would like to hold an event with them.                                                   Naturally we jumped at the chance, a brand loved by both us and our clients. What could be better!

Fast forward a couple of months to Tuesday 20th March and there we were in the Regent Street store with a gaggle of gorgeous women all in their Miss Dress finery!

See pictures below taken by the lovely Emma at Style Sequel (www.stylesequel.com)  to view the action!

Want to come to the next Miss Dress event?! Sign up for the monthly newsletter Now! http://www.miss-dress.com/newsletter.php

Our delicious cupcakes!

Pre Miss Dress/Reiss workshop!

selection of outfits we showcased

Favourite bag from the evening

A selection of the sumptuous textures in store right now

The gorgeous Hilary from Boom with friend!

Bianca with Yolanda (another friend of Miss Dress)

Guest enjoying complimentary back rub from Buff

Another guest enjoying a manicure with Louise at Buff

Min shopping the exclusive Reiss collection

Laura, Sian and Natalie, enjoying a glass of bubbles!

Miss Dress is officially 3 years old next month-Hurrah! So to celebrate Bi and I have put together the ultimate shopping event for you lovely ladies!

You have heard the murmers on twitter, Facebook and in the monthly newsletter, at a long last we are shouting about it from the roof tops! Yes I am of course referring to our up and coming shopping weekend in…NEW YORK!!!!

From Thursday 17th-Monday 21st May we have just 6 spaces (that’s 3 pairs of friends) for this  all inclusive Shopping Extravaganza!

Watch our New York Video NOW!

The Weekend Itinerary:

Following on from your arranged transfer from JFK airport, your weekend kicks off with a 4-night stay at the luxurious Mansfield Boutique Hotel, ideally located right in the heart of Manhattan where you and your friend will be sharing a Queen Room.

Thursday evening: Welcome cocktails and mini style consultations, followed by dinner at a stylish venue.

Friday: Group shopping trip in the ultra fashionable Tribeca and SoHo neighbourhoods, where we will show you around some of the best-kept secret shops. (And maybe a bit of celeb spotting!)

Saturday and Sunday: You will each get your own Buying Buddies session with Bianca and I. Shopping in pairs in midtown, we will show you exactly what bargains are to be had for your $ to £ on the New York High Street. And when you’re not shopping, plenty of time to enjoy the sights of Big Apple!

Sunday evening:  Special dinner at another chic NYC hotspot where we you can all marvel at one another’s star buys!

Monday: Style consultations to ensure you know exactly how to incorporate those fab New York purchases into your wardrobe, as well as any last minute shopping and sightseeing before catching your arranged transfer to JKF airport and catching the evening flight back to London.

The total cost of your Ultimate NYC Shopping Experience is £1170 per person

(Included in this fabulous package is: convenient transfers to and from JFK, Hotel (room only) Miss Dress fee (£500), cabs to and from arranged Miss Dress events and shopping sessions as well as dinner and drinks for the two evening events mentioned.)

Travel Recommendations:

For your connecting transfers to and from JFK airport, we recommend:

Virgin Atlantic £485.16
Flight No: VS045 – Outbound Thursday 17th May
Depart London Heathrow 14.00. Arrive at New York JFK 16.40

Flight No: VS004- Return Monday 21st May
Depart New York JFK 19.30. Arrive at London Heathrow 07.50 (22nd May)

British Airways £485.16
Flight No: BA1056 – Outbound Thursday 17th May
Depart London Heathrow 14.00. Arrive at New York JFK 16.50

Flight No: BA0176- Return Monday 21st May
Depart New York JFK 19.30. Arrive at London Heathrow 07.20 (22nd May)

We have already checked that if you would like to use your Air Miles with either airline, they are acceptable for both of these flights.

Interested….???!!!

If you and your friend would like to come on this utterly amazing weekend, your non-refundable deposit of £300 will need to have reached us by Friday 29th March with the outstanding amount payable by Friday 27th April.

For bookings and further details email dress@miss-dress.com and we’ll be in touch.

Time to dig out the passport and get packing…!

Not only that, our amazing collaborations with big name brands just keep coming up! Keep watch here and on Twitter for more details!!

So on to this week’s post and in case you did not know, Bianca has crossed over the river and settled in Surrey meaning that our fashion radar has now expanded!

Yep, from now on Surrey ladies, we appreciate how busy you are and know that trekking into London can be a bit of pain, so with Bianca based in Weybridge, she has quickly become well acquainted with the shops in Guildford, Kingston and Westfield as well as being at the ready morning, noon and night to dart round to your home to fix your wardrobe.

In case you need any reminding, we have a wide range of services on offer that all ensure great style is  easy, accessible and most importantly;  stress free! Whether you want to shop for a specific outfit, clear out your wardrobe, or start from scratch with a capsule wardrobe, whatever your budget, Bi will be able to help!

Check out Bi’s background http://www.miss-dress.com/personal-stylists.php or contact Bianca directly for bookings and details. bianca@miss-dress.com

And just to let you know, our Surrey services include the following:

1.Take a productive, stress-free shopping trip with Shop SOS

2.Maximise the clothes in your closet with Wardrobe Wakeup

3.Revamp and revitalise your image with Rescue Remedy

4.Create a whole new you in double time with Speedy Shopper!

5.Get an online personal stylist in your home with StyleStream! NEW!

6.Take a friend on a shopping trip to remember with Buying Buddies

7.Find a dazzling outfit for upcoming events with Special Day Dilemmas

Oh and men: we of course have gift vouchers that make an ideal present for any woman!

For the first time ever,  I decided to run an event like we have never done before and create a very intimate evening for guests to enjoy 3 different workshops spread out over 2 and half indulgent hours that were all about ‘Cleansing’ diet, skin and wardrobe.

I am pleased to say my idea surpassed my expectation and Chelsea Day Spa was the dream location for such an event. Bijou, pretty and the staff were fantastic.

Upon arrival, (courtesy of Miss Nutritionist) guests were greeted with Lychee Bellinis, Very Berry Smoothies, Raw Nut Sushi, Chickpea Mini Burgers and mouthwatering Cocoa and Almond Bonbons that were all utterly delicious, alcohol and sugar free and perfect for starting off our detox evening.

Throughout the evening guests were divided into 3 groups so they could explore the 3 different mini workshops and find out from Chelsea Day Spa how to do a great DIY facial; from Miss Nutritionist how to cleanse their diet and start the detoxification process and from Miss Dress, how to cleanse and re-invent items in the wardrobe to give them a more spring feel. Plus throughout the evening all guests received a complimentary manicure, all not before leaving with a goody bag loaded with beauty and nutritious treats.

It really was a lovely evening and it seems a good time was had by all.

“Just wanted to say I really enjoyed The Ultimate Cleanse. I thought your nutritionist was really great and loved the nail & skin care bit. Your duo presentation on updating our wardrobes was fantastic!” Georgina

“Hi Clare, Thank you for a brilliant evening!” Jacqui

“Had a really fun evening. Very different and I learnt so much. Thank you!” Priya

Unfortunately as I was playing hostess, I was unable to take any pictures during the event but at least you can have a look at the location and food!

Oh and before I forget, we will be doing another event all together again. ‘The Bikini Body Ready’ evening will be held sometime in May – but if you can’t wait that long for the next Miss Dress event, save Tuesday 20th March in your diaries for our mega event with Reiss!

OK, so I have resumed normal eating again (i.e no alcohol, mince pies and all that other delicious stuff that makes us pile on the pounds) and last week I trained 9 times (Yes you did just read that right),and having lost an impressive 1.5kgs I still have this last 1kg to shift which as feared is proving to be particularly resilient.

Ahead of next week’s detox event ‘The Ultimate Cleanse’, an evening designed to reveal your inner ‘slim’ goddess,  I thought many of you might like my top 3 slimming style tips to get you through the next couple of weeks until the exercise and diet have paid off…

Make The Printed Cotton Scarf Your Best Friend.

If you have not heard me bang on about this ingenious new ‘it’ fashion accessory (then where have you been?), you must buy one as the chunkyness of cotton mixed together with print add a whole heap of interest around the neck and take the focus firmly off the tum. If you are particualry style savvy choose a bright tribal of floral print (Massimo Dutti have some great ones), 2 big print trends for Spring/summer.

Wear Structured Blazers instead of Cardigans

Nope, wearing baggy shapeless knitwear does not conceal the flab, only highlights it and indeed makes you appear bigger all over. Keep yourself warm with structured blazers that NIP IN AT THE WAIST. Very important they do this as it will immediately make your wait appear more defined and thus slimmer. Opt for a jersey fabric for optimum comfort and sling your cardigans to the bac of the wardrobe. You won’t be needing those until Spring when the new Lady Trend really kicks in.

Step Into Your Favourite High Heels

Quit whinging, it’s not snowing outside so no excuse for not donning a pair of heels. We all know wearing a pair alters our posture and makes our bottom stick out and our shoulders go back which ultimately leads to us looking slimmer from the ankles upwards. Need I press this point further?

I’m back!!!!!

Happy New Year – I hope you are feeling all re-engerised after your Christmas break?! As always I had a great time and you will be glad to know that my Ipad Christmas present is all set up for receiving emails on the go; the new webcam is installed for making your Style Stream sessions even clearer; and my biceps are rested and ready to heave around shopping bags for yet another year :)

But if you have started off 2012 feeling a little sluggish after the month long festive period you (and a friend) might want to kick start 2012 by nabbing a place at our luxury detox event exclusively in collaboration with The Chelsea Day Spa  and Miss Nutritionist to really banish those January Blues!

Whether you feeling a little bloated after a bit too much festive merriment

Your skin is looking a bit dull from being blasted with central heating

Or your wardrobe feels a little lack lustre and in need of a bit of a refresh to see you through Spring..

Then come and join us :

The Ultimate Cleanse

Wednesday 25^th January 6.30pm – 9.30pm

The Chelsea Day Spa, 53 Hollywood Road, (Off Fulham Road) SW10 9HX

During this Spectacular Evening there will be:

• Delicious healthy detox drinks and canapés to satisfy your taste buds!

• A  detox talk from Miss Nutritionist to find out which foods to eat to start the detoxification process and lose your Christmas excess fast!!

•  Mini workshop from Miss Dress on ‘detoxing’ your wardrobe and regaining closet control with the key items every woman should own!

• A free cleansing treatment from the therapists at Chelsea Day Spa AND bespoke advice on making your skin glow like a goddess!

• Complimentary mini manicures available throughout the evening

• Amazing goody bags packed with products

• PLUS each business will be offering an exclusive promotion on services (Worth it if you want to make a saving on a Miss Dress service – will work out cheaper to come and enjoy the evening AND have your personal session)

Hurry! There are now only 8 spaces exclusively for Miss Dress and it’s first come first served

Ticket Price £35 each

To book your space just email dress@missdress.com confirming how many spaces you would like.

Hope you can make it, it is going to be a great night!

What with both Bi and I flat out shopping for party dresses and kick starting wardrobes in good time for Christmas and New Year for everyone else to coo over our clients it is really no wonder that 2011 is disappearing fast.

But before I move on to the important stuff of this week’s post, still time for me to get on my soapbox and have a little rant about the fashion faux pas witnessed in the last few days!

So another year of X Factor has passed. (Thank God). No more cringing at Tulisa stomping around in heels she can’t walk in and no more Little Mix – for the mean time at least. (Clearly I am the only person who thinks they cannot sing). I never know which was worse, the offending of my ears or the offending of my eyes at their TERRIBLE styling!!! I don’t think I will ever recover from THAT denim ensemble I witnessed at the final. Those dungarees looked liked they had had a fight with a paper shredder!

Anyway moving on from the Little Mix denim disaster and on to the denim dream that is Donna Ida.

http://www.donnaida.com/

For those you that receive the Miss Dress newsletter you will already know that this month we have joined forces with the luxury denim boutique to offer subscribers an exclusive 10% off any pair of jeans brought in store or online.

So what is so special about Donna Ida? Apart from the fact that the staff in both London stores are incredibly knowledgeable and pinickety about jean cut and fit on figures (trust me there are not many shop assistants are aplore), the extensive range of shapes, styles, sizes and choice of American, Australian and UK brands from Citizens, Paige, GoldSign and James is an enviable list and a store to be reckoned with.

Having shopped in the Westfield store for over 2 years, I have no fear in sending customers here to find their perfect pair. Spacious luxury fitting rooms and girls that run around for you bringing jean after jean and never compromising on how big your butt looks, this is a one stop shop for anyone wishing to take on the plight of finding a new pair of jeans.

Hurry though subscribers, your discount ends 31st December!   http://www.miss-dress.com/newsletter.php

Paige Hollywood Hills £180.oo

http://www.donnaida.com/denim/bootcut-jeans/paige-premium-hollywood-hills-bootcut-fountain.html

James Jean High Class Straight Leg £180.00

http://www.donnaida.com/denim/straight-leg-jeans/james-jeans-high-class-straight-11.html

Hudson Mid Signaure Skinny Jeans, £225.00

http://www.donnaida.com/denim/skinny-jeans/hudson-mid-signature-skinny-jean-iconic.html