Therapy Ladies Fashion: I love Mimi Spencer

Wednesday 23 February 2011

I love Mimi Spencer

Welcome ladies to the Therapy Blog.
This one's for you! Having established my own personal blog, one of you lovely customers suggested I might add to that with info on our shop. Louise, our manager took it a stage further and suggested a separate Therapy Blog.

So what do you want to know?

This season we will see the return of the Seventies. Does that scare you?!
I love Mimi Spencer. She writes a fashion column in The Mail On Sunday's You Magazine. Have you read her book: "101 Things To Do Before You Diet"? Brilliant!

Mimi is a diehard Fashionista, unashamedly in thrall to beautiful clothes and the latest trend. But she's one of us - a mother and a middle aged woman who can't get away with hotpants or the colour nude any more. She manages to suggest a middle ground for the likes of us - combining the season's trends (come on, we're not dead yet) with styles that will flatter rather than mock. Good for you Mimi!

This is where I start as well. My aim has always been to combine my customer's desires and needs with what's out there in the world of fashion. I don't know how many times I've searched for a particular skirt length, the perfect knitted coat or navy when every designer's promoting black.

I do this for you dear customers. Fashion is about feeling and looking good in a way appropriate to the context within which we live. Now I personally subscribe to a Hippy Chick/Vintage Vibe/Secretary look. I feel like a free spirit but that is balanced by my urge to be neat and tidy.

It seems to me that many of you are the same. We want comfortable, well designed clothes that flatter our lifestyle and are easy to care for. Shouldn't be a tall order, and I do think that things are improving.

Finally bigger retailers and modern designers are cottoning on to the fact that we're the ones with the money. It's about time too. As I said (did I?) in my first blog, my customers buy according to their figure and their lifestyle. Age has nothing to do with it and I'm delighted that this is the case.

I don't know about you but I feel Primark and the likes are for the young. Yes I shop there occasionally but if I want to look good then I spend a bit more on something special. I do this for several reasons: I can afford it nowadays, I need a better fit and better quality fabric to make me look good, I don't buy unless I love it and it flatters me so I want it to last, I buy it because it makes me feel good.

And what's wrong with that? We do have to work harder as we get older. And we have earned the right to look good, to spend a bit of time and money on ourselves. Haven't we?

Please let me know what you want to read about. If you have any fashion queries please share them. If we don't have the answer then I'm sure one of you out there will!

Thank you for reading.
Laura x

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SIZE!!

Let's talk about size. We're all conscious of it and spend our shopping lives trying to work them out.

I have a simple tip:

BUY CLOTHES THAT FIT YOU!

I have personally experienced and seen in our shop, clothes sized in every variation possible. Ignore the size in the garment and buy the one that fits you best.

Not only will this be more flattering but the clothes will last longer and look better.

No one need ever know what "size" you're wearing. You are wearing the size that fits you. And no matter what the number, it is the same size as all your other clothes.

You are beautiful whatever your shape and size. We're not 18 any more and that is ok. I have finally learnt to appreciate my body and see it as the tapestry of my life. I'm proud to have got this far and grateful to my body for getting me here.

Give yourselves the same credit.

Laura x

How To Buy Jeans

Now if you're anything like me you're always searching for the perfect pair of jeans.

So I thought I'd write down what I've learnt about buying the perfect pair of jeans:

The first thing to remember is that it takes time. jeans may be our throw on casual wardrobe staple, but like good makeup, it takes work to look this natural.

So give yourself at least an hour and if you like, bring a friend along for moral support.

In case she's busy, let me assure you that at Therapy we'll give you an honest answer. None of our staff work on commission and we want you to look good, not be made foolish.

So, what are you looking for?

Let me tell you:

"I want to hide my muffin top!"

"I want to wear them with heels to make my legs look longer."

"I have a slim waist but big bottom and hips - how do I flatter my figure?"

"I spend all my time in jeans. Do you have jeans for different occasions?"

Sound familiar? Yes, we're all looking for the same thing.

And I think at Therapy we've found it:

We stock NYDJ (Not Your Daughter's Jeans) from America and FDJ (French dressing Jeans) from Canada.

Both brands design jeans to fit every woman and accentuate our best bits. These jeans fit to the waist but don't have any stiffener to create muffin tops - a smooth line guaranteed.

The denim and other fabrics all have 4 way stretch, meaning that the fabric not only stretches vertically but horizontally too. It feels like you're wearing your comfiest old jeans, but they look fantastic.

Both brands come in straight and bootleg. Bootleg are great if you want to balance out bigger hips or bottoms. Straight leg look good on every shape (as does bootleg) and is a slimmer, sleeker silhouette - perfect if you're after a more elegant look.

Fabrics are varied with the seasons and denim washes become more interesting as the years pass. Jeans really are a wardrobe classic.

So, how do you buy?

With our brands, they are cut to flatter and reduce. There are panels of stitching inside the tummy area which pull the tummy flat. The higher waist and soft waistband create a smooth and comfortable contour at the waist.

How they should fit:

If your normal dress size is a UK 12 then start by trying on a size 10 and a size 8. The jeans are designed to cause you to drop a dress size or two.

Hold your tummy in and fasten the waistband. If they feel snug but not strangulating then this is a good fit. Because of the stretch in the fabric, your jeans will loosen by about a quarter of an inch all over as you wear them. Once washed they will return to their original size.

Try on both smaller sizes. If the smaller size feels little different to the larger, then go for the smaller size - they will give.

Look out for wrinkling around the legs and bum. If there is wrinkling then there is too much fabric and you need a smaller size.

Remember - these are not the Blue Jeans of old that we had to soak in a bath to shrink-to-fit. No, these are high tech creations using the latest fabric and fit to make you look at least a dress size smaller.

Okay so we sell from a 2 (UK average size 6 woman) to whatever you like. We can order in most any size, shape and colour for you.

And, yes, I suspect there's an element of what the Americans call "vanity sizing". We all love to feel slimmer, don't we. But these jeans really work. They really do what they say on the packet!

So why don't you give us your time and we'll guarantee to find you the perfect pair of jeans...well, not exactly guarantee, but definitely try our best.

Laura x

What to think about when dressing for a special occasion

Have you got a special event to go to? Perhaps it's your daughter's wedding or an important dinner?

Don't panic!

Think about what you are comfortable in, what shapes you suit, what colours make you feel good.

The most common problem with special outfits is choosing something we don't feel happy in because we're not in a familiar situation.

Surely that's when we need to feel most comfortable?

Think about soft dressing - a stretch lace dress from Nancy Mac with a beautiful long lace cardigan on top. Or what about a pretty chiffon skirt and cashmere knit? Very feminine and you can wear it again after?

Don't forget that we're here to help you to feel good - just ask!

Laura x

Therapy Ladies Fashion

Wednesday 23 February 2011

I love Mimi Spencer

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