Name:

Age: Over 40!

Location: Outskirts of London

Star sign: Aquarius

Introduce us to your blog… My blog www.juliastyleme.com is about my own personal style choices where I can pass on and share my fashion advice.  I also like to feature talented designers and show styles/current trends available to buy from a mix of high-end and high street fashion websites and stores. I like to offer styling tips on how to ‘get the look’ into a wardrobe, whatever the budget or lifestyle. I also believe that style transcends generations.  I offer personal shopping trips and makeovers, which can be booked on the blog. I am also keen on Pinterest – it’s a great place to showcase your creative side!

What made you decide to start blogging? I wanted to pass on my knowledge as a fashion expert – I have dressed many women from models to ‘real women’ in my role as a professional fashion stylist, ex-fashion editor and now personal shopping consultant.   I have lots of tips regarding shopping and styling which I like to share.  Also, I wanted to raise awareness of my personal shopping and makeover services.

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere?  I suppose to get feedback from the people that follow my blog and to know that it has been of use to them.

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts?  Everywhere around me! Fashion resources online, fashion shows, fashion designers, fashion press releases arriving in my inbox. Fashion websites, high street stores, magazines, people in the street, on the tube and of course during my very own personal styling sessions.  I also look for inspiration in my own wardrobe to see how I can interpret a new trend or update my clothes.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? Yes, as a personal fashion consultant and fashion stylist.

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? Wow!  So many in the UK and around the world.  In the UK.  I like to follow Looking Stylish (full of useful advice) Style At Every Age, The On Line Stylist, British Beauty Blogger, and many other younger bloggers across the world. I like to dip in and follow the new explosion of the numerous plus size bloggers and on Pinterest  – especially the American blog, girlwithcurves. These blogs are great for women and their confidence, to see real women dress with style wearing fashion trends whatever their size.  Plus Size Blogs are one of the most positive things to come out of blogging recently, in my opinion.  I also like the lifestyle blog Abeautifulmess from the U.S.A; in fact, I follow quite a few American-based bloggers, and a handful of chefs and cooks.

Tell us about your style…Easy, wearable, everyday style –I like to put a new twist or a current trend into the mix of my existing wardrobe. I am keen on making new purchases work into my current wardrobe. This is an essential tool, when I am personal shopping with clients, and spending their money! I like to get fashion mileage!

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? A white shirt – it can be styled so many ways for day or evening.  It does not date – a fashion classic. For  daytime, I am currently wearing my white shirt with my Vans trainers and chinos or shorts (depending on the weather!)  During the day, I could equally wear a white shirt with my boyfriend denim jeans and lace up brogues.  Styled up for evening, a white shirt works with snakeskin stilettos , black ankle length cigarette style trousers and a vintage clutch and vintage jewellery or strands of Coco Chanel-style pearls.  The styling options are endless!

Who are your style icons? I like the glamour of days gone by – Katharine Hepburn, Jackie Onassis and Grace Kelly.  I love the now-style of Kate Beckinsale, Katie Holmes and Kate Middleton (a lot of Kates!). Also the sunny L.A. style of Cat Deeley and the daytime style of Elle Macpherson – what a body!

Share a style tip with us… If you are plus size, remember that sometimes you need a silhouette and definition to your outfit – so don’t wear clothes too loose and baggy all of the time. If your jeans don’t fit (whatever your size), ditch them and go up a size – don’t struggle with that zip! Or change to leggings and have an easy life – very liberating!

How would you describe M&Co’s style? Affordable, stylish fashion – with an eye on the current trends.  I am a fan of M&Co. I like the fact you offer petite and plus size and a pile of accessories. The staff are always pleasant, in my experience, and the store is well laid out.

What’s your favourite piece(s) from our current collections? I love your dresses.  I like the Boat Print Dress, the Landscape Soft Prom Dress (my favourite!) and the Petite Print Boat Dress. I personally have many M&Co outfits. The most versatile summer one being the Skirt Dress, as it can be worn in many ways. I like the look of the new ones on the website and I have also seen them in-store.

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? Now, I like both ways. I do like clothes shopping on the high street; obviously I also shop this way with my personal shopping clients. If I get to know a brand, I will shop online for tops and accessories. I also spend a lot of time looking on the web and getting to know an online store, so perhaps I am more confident shopping online because of my job. I think it is great to have a high street presence, as it re-enforces the brand. We all love to go shopping for retail therapy!

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is…snakeskin/python mix print. I love the designer Preen’s SS2013 collection – but I can’t quite stretch to a designer price tag at the moment!  I have just bought a faux python bangle and own a faux snakeskin belt, so I will copy this trend and style my accessories with my floral top to ‘get the look’!   I also like M&Co’s trend of sundae shades and the cool mint jewellery on the website and in stores.

Moonlighting as a model for the day, Ellie did an amazing job of highlighting key pieces from our high summer range during a photo shoot that ended up as a double page spread in the magazine.

As our PR team usually work behind the scenes for features and shoots, we decided to get the scoop on what went on when they got in front of the camera…

Located in London’s trendy Shoreditch area, Ellie arrived at Curtain Road Studios for her ‘Ask the Experts’ photo shoot and was whisked straight into hair and make up with three fellow PR co-ordinators from other high street brands.

Ellie explains:

“I was then taken on set to model my favourite piece from the High Summer collection. This was shot against a white background to enhance the summer vibe. Following the shoot we were all interviewed by the Fashion & Cover Editor, who asked us why we had chosen our outfit and how to accessorise our looks. ”

The piece in question, chosen by Ellie and seen in our behind the scenes snaps, is the Orange Prom Dress, £35, available online and in-store very soon.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Take A Break magazine on 6th June and let us know what you think of the feature!

Age – 31 & 6 months

Location – Leeds

Starsign - Cancer (Mummy) & Libra (Elsa)

Introduce us to your blog… Our blog www.whatelsawears.com is all about baby fashion, baby life and Mummy’s general ramblings.

What made you decide to start blogging? What Elsa Wears started as a twitter account (@WhatElsaWears) as I made a pledge to take and post a photo of every outfit that Elsa wears. There are so many gorgeous baby outfits! The blog then developed from there.

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere? We are quite new to the blogging world so our biggest achievements are getting tweets and feedback saying we are providing fashion inspiration to other babies (& Mummy’s of course!).

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts? We get our inspiration from things we have done during the week, outfits Elsa has worn and, our favourite, any fabulous new brands we have discovered.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? Elsa’s day job is being cute! Mummy is on Maternity Leave at the moment, going back to work as an Accountant in September.

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? There are so many that we follow and read but Modern Mummy (www.modernmummy.co.uk) is one of our favourites and also This Day I Love (http://thisdayilove.blogspot.co.uk/) is a brilliant concept.

Tell us about your style… Elsa is a baby fashionista! I love the baby fashion and having not quite got my fashion mojo back with a post-baby body I have been channelling all my fashion energy into baby clothes. We love bright colours, anything unusual and funky and we love anything that makes Elsa stand out from the crowd. Say that, you can’t beat the high street as well!

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? Elsa’s vintage faux fur leopard print snowsuit has been my most amazing purchase. It has been worn to death by Elsa in this chilly winter and it still looks like new. And it was a bargain purchase from eBay!

Who are your style icons? As a baby it is difficult to have a style icon. There are not too many baby fashionista about so Elsa has created her own style, mixing the best of the high street with vintage pieces and quirky brands.

Share a style tip with us… Hunt out new, upcoming brands and small boutiques on Twitter. We have found some amazing clothes (and people!) that we would not have come across otherwise.

How would you describe our style? M&Co baby style is colourful, cute and classic!

What’s your favourite piece from our current collections? We are loving playsuits at the moment so it would be the M&Co Butterfly Playsuit Set -so versatile!

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? Online is the way for us at the moment. It is much easier than negotiating busy shops with a pram and we can often get better deals online.

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is… Elsa is loving neon brights for the summer but she will also be wearing her classic favourite… Leopard print! Can never go wrong with a bit of leopard.

Monochrome tea dress £39

Denim jacket was £35 now £25

Espadrille wedges £22

Laser cut satchel bag £29

Aviator sunglasses £10

Station bead necklace was £12 now £6

Name: Catherine Summers

Age: 40

Location: Devon

Starsign: Leo – though I’m on the cusp of Cancer and Leo, I’ve always said Leo. However I don’t actually believe in horoscopes…!

Introduce us to your blog… My blog is called Not Dressed As Lamb, my blog description is usually “British blogger waving the fashion flag for 40-somethings. Sharing her personal style, some musings on life & a few tips here and there”. I’d like to think it’s a perfect combination of inspiring style, great design and fantastic photography, with user friendly outfit, photo tips, and musings pages that allow the reader to peruse my blog and see posts and articles easily. My readers range from teenagers to those in their 60s, so I think I appeal to every age – I certainly don’t aim my blog specifically to any one age group.

What made you decide to start blogging? Like most bloggers, I’d been following fashion blogs for a while. I was approaching my 39th birthday, and had a horrid fear that I might suddenly turn into a frump overnight without ever realising! I wanted to record my style and see if it could be improved at all by putting it out there and making myself sartorially accountable to everyone who would read the blog. At the time I couldn’t find any 40+ bloggers (now I know loads of course), so thought I’d be filling a neat little niche that was just waiting to be filled.

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere? I’ve just recently been shortlisted for a blogger award: the Bath in Fashion Blogger Award 2013. The winner will be crowned at the catwalk show at Bath in Fashion week on 18 April, and I couldn’t be more excited (or nervous)! It’s definitely my proudest moment so far, whether or not I win.

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts? Most of my posts are OOTD posts of my personal style, so they’re easy… otherwise I post “Phototips Fridays” about photography and “Musings Mondays” where I mostly muse about ageing and body image. Photography posts either cover solutions to problems requested by my readers, or tutorials on specific areas of photography that I think others may benefit from (I have a photography degree and am finally putting it to direct use). My musings are inspired by articles in the media, a news story, or simply a conversation I’ve had with someone recently. I make a note of all ideas and keep them as drafts for the future when I need writing inspiration – it makes scheduling and keeping structure to my blog a lot easier.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? I’d love to blog full time if I could, but I have a mortgage to pay… I’m a marketing manager by day, and a blogger by night (and weekends)!

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? I find it hard to choose just a few, but this week I’m loving that little extra:
Frassy http://www.befrassy.net Audrey dresses like no-one else – she is totally unique with a healthy touch of over-the-top.
Delightfully Tacky http://www.delightfully-tacky.com Elizabeth is the blogger I’d most like to be! She is so down-to-earth and has a lovely vintage-meets-kitsch style.
It’s Not That Deep http://www.itsnotthatdeep.com I can’t begin to say how stylish Sheree is. She absolutely rocks new trends with aplomb and is just so sleek.
Lella Victoria http://lellavictoria.creatorsofdesire.com Another individual – Daniella loves her designer pieces but somehow manages to create very wearable outfits.
Keiko Lynn http://www.keikolynn.com Who doesn’t love Keiko?! Exquisitely beautiful, very distinctive styling and totally unpredictable.

Tell us about your style… I’d describe my style as eclectic, but veering towards preppy with a twist. I also can’t get enough of pattern mixing and bright colour.

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? A pair of knee-high, tan leather studded boots I bought years ago. I paid a lot of money for them (about £120, that was an absolute fortune to me then) and the cost-per-wear may as well be in the minus figures by now, I’ve worn them so much! There’s hardly an outfit they don’t go with, and they’ve appeared on the blog an awful lot.

Who are your style icons? Olivia Palermo – I know that’s a cliché, but the girl really can’t do any wrong. I love how she mixes designer with high street.
Dita Von Teese: she has turned vintage style into a fine art and is impeccable every time she steps out the door.
Chloe Sevigny: I love the risks she takes and her quirkiness.

Landscape print soft prom dress £45

I also love characters that actors have played in particular movies, for example:
Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink: her vintage eccentricity in a sea of 80s pastels and Miami Vice tailoring was so unlike anything else from that era.
Ali McGraw in Love Story: I’ve always loved her preppy Ivy look, with the tartan mini skirts, tanned limbs and centre parting hair.
Jane Fonda in Barefoot in the Park: her 60s bouffant hair is to-die-for! I’d happily wear everything that she wore in that movie now – swing coats, slim leg trousers and mustard coloured tops.
And the ultimate is of course: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s – needs no further explanation!

Share a style tip with us…My best tip comes in two parts:
1. Buy a full length mirror. It’s truly impossible to dress yourself properly without one.
2. Photograph your outfits and upload the photos to study objectively on a monitor screen (don’t just zoom in on the camera). I guarantee you’ll see the outfit totally differently, and you’ll be able to get a feel for what suits you and what doesn’t very quickly. This is what happens when you have a blog – you get to see yourself very objectively.

How would you describe M&Co’s style?
Feminine, flattering and colourful. Three qualities I love!

What’s your favourite piece from our current collections? I love so many of the summer dresses (I am so looking forward to some warmer weather!), but I especially love the Landscape print soft prom dress – I love vintage inspired pieces and this print reminds me of kitsch 1950s landscape paintings. I find minimalism hard to do so I’m all for a crazy print!

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? Online: I do about 90% of all my shopping online – from groceries to electrical goods to clothes! I prefer to be able to try on clothes in the comfort of my own home and with other items in my wardrobe to see if the pieces will work with what I’ve got. Plus in-store, you can’t see what clothes look like on: when clothes are hanging on a rack you just see a strip of the item down the edge – online you get a picture of what something looks like head-on, and often on a person. In a shop you can’t judge length or fit. The only things I buy in-store now are impulse buys!

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is…I hate to say it: I’m drawn to black and white! For someone who is so anti-black and all about colour, I’ve really taken to all the graphic looks around at the moment. I might be approaching it as mostly white, but with touches of black.

Name

 Age: 46

Location: Singapore

Starsign: Cancer

Introduce us to your blog… 40PlusStyle.com provides fashion, beauty and style inspiration especially for women over 40.

What made you decide to start blogging? I was creating websites for others and really wanted to create my own website. I love sharing my experiences and love for fashion and really wanted women over 40 to become more visible online and create a community. What’s better than to write about style and fashion for a day job?

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere? I’m so happy that I have been able to reach a lot of women with my main message, which is to have fun with fashion. And to let them know that no matter what age or size you have you can look fabulous. My biggest reward is to receive messages from women saying that my site has really helped them and they feel so much better now that they have (re)discovered how to dress and find their own unique style. I’m also very proud that I have just successfully launched my first style e-course and book (http://40plusstyle.com/10stepstoamorestylishyoucourse.html)

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts? I get a lot of questions these days from readers which I try to address on the blog. I also read a lot of blogs which inspire me always. Other than that, I talk about my own experiences and look at what is happening in my direct environment.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? Yes it’s my full time day job, although I occasionally do a bit of web consultancy work as well.

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? I follow so many but I love my fellow 40+ bloggers like No Fear of Fashion (http://nofearoffashion.com) The Style Confessions (http://thestyleconfessions.com/) the Style Crone (http://stylecrone.com/) and http://www.thecitizenrosebud.com/ For a lot of other fabulous 40+ bloggers you can have a look at my list of more than 200 40+ bloggers: http://40plusstyle.com/women-over-40-blogger-community/

Tell us about your style… My style is modern, contemporary, minimal and comfortable.

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? My white trousers

Who are your style icons? I don’t really follow anyone in particular, but I like women that have their own unique style like Tilda Swinton, or have fun with fashion like Cate Blanchett.

Share a style tip with us… Wearing what makes you happy is the most important. Try to add an interesting detail like something asymmetric, some really hip shoes, or a wonderful piece of contemporary jewellery.

How would you describe our style? Casual feminine chic

What’s your favourite piece from our current collections? I like this fun spotted red dress.  I would probably pair it with a solid bright colour like green or cobalt to make the look even more graphical.

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? I still like to try on lots of clothes and feel the fabric before I buy so still prefer to shop in-store.

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is… I love to wear black and white with a prominent colour for a really graphical look.

 M&Co Boutique Smudge print embellished dress, £79

Name:

Age: 26

Location: Sheffield

Starsign: Aquarius

Introduce us to your blog… My blog is A Dress Is For Life (www.adressisforlife.blogspot.co.uk) I post my outfits which are, as you might have guessed from the name, mostly dresses!

What made you decide to start blogging? I started last year after years of reading other blogs. I really love to see how other people style their outfits and I wanted to give it a go myself. So with a gentle push from my hubby, or should I say photographer, my first post was born.

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere?  It’s definitely getting tweets and emails from other plus size women saying how much they enjoy my blog and how reading my blog has helped them choose a new style or experiment with prints or colours.

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts?  I guess you could say my wardrobe once I’ve finally decided on an outfit. The rest of the post comes easily.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? I wish! I have a full time job in a call centre.

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? There are so many to choose from that it’s hard to narrow down, but I love Louise over at http://polkaspotsandfreckledots.blogspot.co.uk she shares my love of dresses and all things polka dot.

Tell us about your style… It’s cute and quirky with a hint of grandma chic.

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? When you have three wardrobes, picking just one item is really hard! If I was pushed I’d have to say my leopard print maxi dress – it makes me feel fab and who doesn’t love leopard print?!

Who are your style icons? For me it’s my nan, she always looks so beautiful and she has a wardrobe full of lovely dresses and a shoe collection to rival mine. If only we were the same size!

Share a style tip with us… Wear whatever you want to and as long as you love it nothing else matters.

Animal print ponte dress was £45 now £31.50

How would you describe our style? Fun and vibrant, you have so many amazing prints online it’s great to see.

What’s your favourite piece from our current collections? The Animal print ponte dress caught my eye straight away, I love a fitted dress especially when it involves leopard print too, and for the polka dot lover in me I had to choose the Flock spot prom dress, it’s just the perfect dress for twirling around in.

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? I prefer to shop in store as I like to touch the clothes and feel the fabrics. Plus, I’m quite impatient so once I’ve decided I want something I don’t like to have to wait for it to arrive.

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is… the retro trend. I love things with a vintage vibe, buying plus size vintage can be hard so trends like this make it much easier to achieve the vintage look.

Age 19

Location Manchester/Cheshire

Starsign Gemini

Introduce us to your blog… My blog is ‘A Rose Like This’ and I talk about everything from beauty and music to vintage and lifestyle.  I put a strong focus on plus size fashion and how I dress, being a plus size girl myself.

What made you decide to start blogging? I originally started blogging because of my college course. I just started posting pictures of me in my favourite clothes and realised blogging was something I not only really enjoyed but something I was quite good at.

What’s your biggest achievement in the blogosphere? My most recent achievement would be doing a video about plus size fashion for a company which was shown on ITV’s This Morning and had a feature in Closer Magazine. Other than this I’ve met some of my best friends through blogging and being lucky enough to meet people like Gok Wan.

Where do you look for inspiration when writing posts? I just blog when I want to, I have no set posts a week or anything like that as I’m the most unorganised person at the best of times! I get my inspiration from clothes I love, celebrity style or music.

Is blogging your day job or do you have another occupation? Blogging isn’t my day job. I’m a second year fashion student, but I’m currently employed at a publishing company working on their Vintage Life and Unique Bride magazines.

Any favourite blogs/bloggers? I love so many bloggers! And read a large number of blogs too, so I’ll just mention a few. I love Becky from http://www.mrsbebeblog.com , Dani from http://www.ablogfromblackpool.com , Lauren from http://www.pocketrocketfashion.com (who was one of the first blogs I read!) and finally Bethany from http://archedeyebrow.com/ because I basically want to steal her whole wardrobe!

Tell us about your style…  I would say my style is pretty eclectic as I wear whatever I want to and I’m not one for completely following a trend. Saying that, I always make sure I know what’s in style. I also adore vintage styling – be it antique style lace on dresses or the perfect pin up look.

Zip hem leggings £14

What’s the one piece in your wardrobe you couldn’t live without? As boring as it sounds it would have to be leggings, as I genuinely wear them constantly! I can dress them up or wear them casually and to me they are so comfortable. The only downside is very thin ones you can see your skin through, those I’m not a fan of!

Who are your style icons? I’m sure a lot of plus size women would say Adele and, as much as I wish my hair and make up was just like hers, I just think she wears far too much black. Though after her dress at the Grammys I’m definitely beginning to want to steal her wardrobe more. There isn’t one style icon I admire the most as I tend to be influenced by a number of different people. I’m currently loving Paloma Faith’s eccentric style but I also like the indie cool of Alexa Chung.

Share a style tip with us… This one’s more of a beauty tip but lipstick can instantly make a basic top and jeans look really polished.  And look after your hair, as it can have a real effect on how you feel that day. If my hair’s in a bit of a mess, you can be sure that I’m in a bad mood!

Flock spot prom dress £49

How would you describe our style? I would describe M&Co’s style as classic but with pieces you can mix up to make an outfit that’s really original. I’m loving all the prints and patterns at the moment and like that I can find things I love as a 19 year old, but my mum can also find pieces she likes to wear as well.

What’s your favourite piece from our current collections? I am so in love with the flock prom dress! It’s something that basically screams my name. Its vintage styling and adorable detailing just make it the perfect dress for me! Paired with a cute clutch, shoes and a slick of red lipstick it would have the perfect retro vibe.

Do you prefer to shop online or in-store and why? I like to do a mixture of both but I prefer shopping in-store to a degree because it means I get to feel the fabric of the clothes and see if it’s something that would suit me or not.

The one trend you’ll be wearing this season is… Monochrome, though I wear this all year round so technically it’s a classic look for me. That mixed with the cute fifties silhouette is my ideal style.

Our brand new Boutique collections have been causing quite the stir. Featuring in all your favourite magazines including Essentials, Best, Take a Break, Woman and Reveal we thought it was time to formally introduce you to some of our most coveted pieces…

Art Haus – Monochrome is everywhere this season and it’s easy to see why: simple cuts, shapes and styling create a look ideal for so many occasions.

1. Chevron sleeveless top was £45 now £31.50

2. Striped ponte jacket was £55 now £38.50

3. Brooch detail bodycon dress £79

4. Striped ponte dress £55

5. Contrast bodycon dress £69

Meadow – Pastel shades and floral prints bring your wardrobe into spring with pops of hyacinth and aqua adding a touch of this season’s hottest colour trend.

1. Floral print trousers £39

2. Pearl and diamante embellished cardigan £39

3. Ribbed bodycon dress with sleeves £79

4. Mirror print dress £69

5. Printed slash neck dress £49

Let us know which pieces will be gracing your spring wardrobe.