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 per usual it was packed to the hilt with all the latest gossip, discounts and promotions as well as our usual monthly spot; Client of The Month.

April’s COTM goes to not just 1 stylish lady, but 2! Chet Patel, (owner of the brilliant www.mamibychet.com) and her bestie; Nikita Mashru.

Both these ladies from Peterborough are seasonal Miss Dress shoppers and  love spending a day in london shopping picking up items that are bang on trend. Like so many other Miss Dressers, enjoying some indulgent time away from the kids is always a bit of clock watch. So to ensure that their time is spent wisely and not wasted wandering around the shops aimlessly, they call on Miss Dress to ensure their retail therapy demands are met!

Their seasonal Buying Buddies session last month was focused around cool casual wear for the school run, a few funky outfits to wear on a night out and everything in between to see them through from sun-up to sun down this British summer.

Here are a few of their choice outfits:

Chet's gorgeous Chanel style jacket from Zara looks the part but a snip of the price at £80! Her green pleated dress from Topshop is a nod towards the flapper trend in fashion right now and the chain belt from Zara gives it that modern edge.

This bright purple Karen Millen Skirt has got a touch of Herve Leger about it and looks super glam teamed with this beaded cream top I found in Topshop

This was one of my favourite outfits for Chet. The aqua open front blouse is from Topshop and the electric blue cigarette pants are from Ted Baker. Coloured trousers are the Choice du Jour for anyone this season!

Nikita has got amazing slim legs and I wanted to show them off in white skinny jeans from Zara and play on colour pooping with the bright vest under this pretty embelished tank top from Topshop

These Armani Exchange sateen pants have a touch of Olympic Chic to them and I showed Nikita how to push them up to sit on the knee so that they look great with heels

Another Armani Exchange outfit combo for Nikita. The nude leather dress is so on trend right now, yet the little black jersey blazer is so versatile for dressing up and down any outfit.

Would you like to book a Buying Buddies session with your best gal pal and have some glamour injected into your wardrobe like Chet and Nikita?! Email dress@miss-dress.com for more details! http://www.miss-dress.com/buying-buddies.php

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!

February’s Client Of The Month deserved winner is Emma Saunders!

Like so many of you Miss Dressers, Emma has recently had a baby and has just returned back to work. Having lived in maternity wear and comfy clothing the wardrobe needed a big revamp but with no time (or patience) to work her way around the shops on her own to put together a new wardrobe, it was the responsibility of Miss Dress to give this Lady back some closet control!

With a budget of £800 for her Shop SOS, I needed to out together a capsule wardrobe that consisted of a selection of outfits for work, casual outfits for being with her son, smart casual outfits for catching up with friends/family and a handful of outfits suitable for evenings out.

By using the high street shops wisely at Bluewater, I was able to get 22 items for Emma to mix and match for £800 on the nose! After the session was over and I sat down to type out my obligatory list of outfit combinations, I had created 36 new looks for her!

Now that should fend off bad clothes days for quite long time!!

Here is the shopping list:

Dorothy Perkins:

Stripe Jacket (pictured) £40.00

Parrot print top (pictured) £28.00

zebra print cardigan £28.00

butterfly print pussy bow blouse £28.00

black and white basic vests £9.00 (black pictured below)

Warehouse:

leopard print top £30.00 (pictured below)

hot pink butterfly cotton scarf £18.00

Zara:

red blouson top £29.99

yellow floral printed blouse £29.00

Gap:

bootcut jeans (pictured) £27.90

Massimo Dutti:

silk orange blouse £44.90

Oasis:
coral pleated top £32.00

nautical striped dress £50.00

green tropical print evening dress, £60 (paid £15 as we had a £50 gift voucher for this dress)

Next:

tan work trousers £35.00

black wide leg work trousers (pictured) £35.00

black pencil skirt £28.00

grey tailored fitted work dress £40.00

matching tailored jacket £50.00

black fitted cardigan £18.00

Aldo:

tain trainers £45.00

Tan boots £70.00

New Look:

Green heels £20.00

Monsoon:

Yellow and black floral printed blouse £50.00

Do you want a wardrobe overhaul like Emma? Why not book your own Shop SOS  where I can help you! http://www.miss-dress.com/shop-sos.php

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!

From now on, each month we will be asking one of our clients who has had a Miss Dress session we think has had a real transformation to feature as our Client of The Month.

This month the winner is Kate Smith who had a Speedy Shopper session.

At 27, Kate has lost a whopping 10 stone in the last year and so understandably is discovering a whole new world of shopping, not to mention shapes and styles that suit her new figure. Hence why Miss Dress was brought on board to ensure her gorgeous new body shape looked fabulous in all the clothes she wears!

Before her Speedy Shopper, Kate always wore quite a lot of dark colours, especially black!

I wanted to change that and put Kate into colour but also soft fabrics that skim over her lovely curves and draw the eye down onto her long legs. I added a long necklace that sat just below her bust to put focus on her waist (slimmest part of any women is directly below her bust) and finished off with a structured yet casual blazer that keeps her warm but ensures she still looks smart and sophisticated.

Bianca and I think Kate looks fabulous and throughly deserves to be Client of The Month.

Well done Kate – Goody bag winging it’s way over to you soon!

Kate before Miss Dress…

Kate after Miss Dress!

Electric blue top, £22 Oasis, Navy vest (under), £10 Warehouse, Navy Blazer, £24.99 H&M, Long Necklace, £7.50 Dorothy Perkins, Skinny black jeans, £25 New Look, Boots (Kate’s Own)

Mustard sheer pussybow blouse, £35 Miss Selfridge, navy vest, jeans and boots all as before.

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!