A comment in an article in The Telegraph got me thinking about scent. Perfume to be exact. There are now so many zillions of fragrances launched every week that’s it’s actually difficult to know where to start. Gone are the days when you recognised  immediately the in-vogue aromas of Poison, Opium, CK One, Rive Gauche or Chanel No 5 and who was wearing what. I like the idea of a signature fragrance but even with the choices on offer, you still seem to come across someone else who loves your favourite and wears it often.

Since I gave up smoking a few years ago, the fragrance industry has held less appeal for me. I think I used to use it to mask the smoke battling under the illusion no-one would know I had a filthy habit – in reality I probably gassed everyone within a large radius of my presence ! My husband, also a reformed smoker, rarely touches aftershave now for the same reason. So I decided to do a little research of my own to see if the perfume industry is still as vital and active as I once thought.

Yesterday I attended the Beer Festival at my local pub. I checked everyone I met, which I admit was quite a number throughout the proceedings, to see if they were wearing perfume. The result: only one older man who wore a slightly overpowering cologne. Wonder who’s buying it then?

I must admit I do have a favourite but I sometimes forget to apply it. It’s Sa Majeste La Rose by Serge Lutens. Heavenly, if you love the smell of fresh roses. But please don’t go and buy it. Find your own!

Customer Service. My bug bear, or at least the lack of it. I rarely receive the level of service I require and if I do, you’ll have heard about it via this blog. Spurred on by an inspirational  Australian colleague, Clare Maxfeld, I decided to investigate locally and take my passion one step further. Clare had taken part in a Mystery Shopping expedition and was shocked by the appalling service levels in her native Melbourne. Knowing full well that I could expect a similar response in Peterborough, I decided to test it out for myself but using the shopping trip for a very valid reason. To buy a new suit ( we’re going to a wedding in less than a month) for my ‘much larger than he used to be’ husband.

Well, you could have knocked me down with a feather. The service we received from the 3 stores we entered was unbelievably brilliant. My husband’s chest has expanded to 52 inches and his waist is 10 inches smaller. Most men’s suiting has a ‘drop’ of 6 inches i.e. the difference between the chest and waist measurements so we were never going to buy off the peg – or were we?  M&S, Big on Style and Moss Bros ALL spent ages tracking down separate jackets and trousers from stores throughout the UK. M&S’s store manager went through every rack to see if they had any returns ( the store here is too small to warrant the larger sizes as standard stock) and his staff took to their computers to track down other ranges that would be suitable. Big on Style was fabulous but all the trousers were far too large, so at least hubby’s ego stayed intact, and I did buy him a fab pair of pink stripey socks care of Dragon’s Den’s Peter Jones.

I was literally gobsmacked and so was hubby. Has word got out that customer service is the only thing that differentiates a store if it wants to retain its customer base or is it just different for men?  Whatever the answer, let’s hope it continues.

…….  or does it? Many of us get so hung up on size labels when, in reality, it’s such a waste of time and effort. Sizing has not been regulated since the 1950′s and our bodies have changed in shape and size dramatically since the days of Doris Day et al so use them as a guide and leave it at that.

A case in point  -  I bought a fantastic trench dress from the new All Saints flagship store on Regent Street a few weeks ago. I had tried it on in a fabulous chocolate brown thick silky material (almost like a raincoat fabric)  in my normal size 8 and had panicked about getting it off again. I seriously thought I might need scissors to cut me out of it as it was so tight round my shoulders and chest. The same thing happened with the size 10. I’m making this sound quite ordinary but it was a scary ( and very sweaty) moment I can tell you. I knew I had expanded around my middle but had I put on that much weight? Despite my confidence issues I still coveted the dress but the 12 was out of stock, so I settled for one in linen instead. For some reason the size 10, in a pale blue fabric, fitted me fine and looked great, albeit in a different way.

Weeks later, I was still thinking about the chocolate brown dress - always a sign that it should be in your wardrobe.  Having already checked it wasn’t available online, I was highly delighted when I saw it at half price in the Leeds branch this weekend. Not surprisingly, the rack was full of 6′s and 8′s (you’d need to be a twiglet to get into them) and one size 14. Yes, you’ve guessed correctly. That was the one I bought.  Bizarre but true. So forget size. It really doesn’t matter. What does make the difference is great fit and your happiness at finding something you love – which also loves you back.

By the way, if you are very small the online shop has reduced the 6′s and 8′s by a further 50% so a real bargain is to be had. www.allsaints.com   £145 dress is now £37.50

I’ve just returned from a long weekend break with Leisure Plan Holidays. I use them frequently, as they are SUCH good value for money and experts in the field of fitness and looking after yourself (but you can still have a drink!!) 

This particular break was at the newly refurbished Met Hotel in Leeds. I was astounded by the fantastic quality of service I was shown by EVERY member of staff. I know I shouldn’t be surprised as this what hotels are supposed to do, but it’s rare to find it these days. So I can heartily staying there. Some of the bedrooms have seen better days but the food in the Tempest restaurant is to die for.

So having been pummelled, oiled, soothed and reflexologied out I am content with the world AND also the great sale at All Saints, just down the road in the Victorian Quarter!!  More on that tomorrow.

http://www.fitnessfiesta.com/bodycare-breaks.php

As Autumn approaches, most of us will be thinking about what to do with our legs. If you’re a trouser girl then read my blog of 2 days ago, otherwise read on.

The sheer tight is making a big comeback. Yes, snags and all. The opaque will still be around but sheer is here. How do we know? Kate Moss, the instigator of all trend related clothing, has been sporting them even in the sweltering heat. It seems it’s not only my generation that think bare legs may not be our best look.

So 25 denier or less, along with fishnets (also making a comeback), are now deemed edgy. They will probably look great with the new midi skirt, also coming our way for Autumn. Perhaps the designers are thinking about us older women after all.

If you really want to feel special treat yourself to Cashmere and Silk tights for just £108 – hope they don’t ladder!

http://www.wolfordshop.co.uk/Cashmere-Silk-Tights/cp500004959/si500460021/cl2/vt01/

I was ecstatic yesterday. I read that Sarah Vine, The Times’  Beauty Editor,  had called in image professionals (a designer, personal shopping advisor and stylist) to help her choose her clothing. You’d have thought that someone in her position would have had all the help and advice she needed from her co-horts in the Fashion department at The Times But no.  Like many of us, she is not stick thin, under 20 years of age and 6 feet tall and shopping for great clothes is a challenge.

It all fell apart when she was invited to The Opening of Parliament. Disaster struck as she accompanied her daughter to school en route to the big event. A velcro fastening caught against her chiffon trousers and that, basically, was that. If you’ve ever had to dress in something you hadn’t planned on wearing for an occasion it wasn’t meant for then you’ll get the agonising position in which she found herself.  When you know you’re not looking your best, it is SO hard to enjoy the moment. And many times, these really special occasions do not come around again. What a shame. What a pity. So to make sure it never happened again, Sarah called in the professionals.

Many people poo poo what we do, but Sarah was hooked. If you read yesterday’s Times’ Fashion supplement, you’ll see what I mean.

Thank you Sarah for your endorsement and to the professionals that did such a great job.

Trousers can be such a problem. Short legs, long legs, curvacious hips, muscular thighs, saddle bags, skinny legs, small waist, no waist, long body, short body and heel height all to be considered. Get one wrong, and you’re doomed. So it’s with relief I hear that Gap is launching its latest Autum collection on July 27th and dedicating it to the humble trouser. Eight new styles to suit everyone of us, whatever our shape. Choose from Straight, Boot Cut, Kick Flare, Relaxed Crop, Curvy, Slim Cropped, Skinny and Boyfriend.  The quality of design, cut and fabric is far superior to its humble price tag of around a non bank breakable £30-50. Tel: 0800 427 789 for more details.

The great news is that there are so many different styles around, most of us will already have at least one of them lurking in the wardrobe waiting to be re-invented as a style must have!!

Forget the gym, holding your stomach in or taking to your poolside chair never to sit up again!  Mama Mio’s brand new serious tummy toning cream has been a huge hit since it launched in Debenhams. Two pumps rubbed into your stomach once a day can make you loose inches from your waist, or the very least tighten your wobbly bits. Products in this fun new skincare range all have quirky names and Mama Mio has chosen their ‘Get Waisted’ serum to help raise funds for my charity of choice – Look Good Feel Better (aimed at helping cancer patients worldwide to look fabulous). They are hoping to raise £10,ooo by donating £1 for every bottle sold through their own website or in Debenham’s stores throughout the UK. Its even been given the seal of approval from Weight Watchers magazine. What are you waiting for? You get the bikini body and you’re doing your bit for charity too.

 Get Waisted Body Shaper £35

 http://www.mamamio.com/uk/get-waisted-body-shaper.html

Having just run my second The Art of Style programme, I am so aware of the absolute importance of  dressing your values and honouring your needs when choosing what to wear.

I’ve been really fortunate to have Sarah Stuart staying with me. She is a fabulous new and exciting fashion design graduate and image consultant from New Zealand who is going places – believe me. We had to go shopping. It’s a necessary event for someone who has travelled from elsewhere and a fantastic opportunity for both of us to have another professional alongside to critique potential purchases.

We wne to to Stamford, a fabulous olde English town with independent (though less now due to the economic climate) boutiques and very few national chains. We me in mind, we both swooped on a fabulous Alexander McQueen dress. Sarah agreed that it fitted my body perfectly, it flattered my colouring, it was funky, it was quirky, it was fashionable, it was comfortable  and within my budget (well, I would have squared it somehow) but I still didn’t buy it.  Why not? It creased when I sat down. Not a huge problem as the dress would have still looked good, but I didn’t feel good. Looking ‘creased’ makes me feel like I’ve forgotten to iron my clothing, that I’m not professional, that I’m not as good as I could be and that I’m slipshod in my standards of care. Wearing  this dress would have adversely affected my performance when meeting people and that really isn’t good. 

It was sad to walk away but if I had bought it, I know for sure that it would have stayed in the wardrobe with the labels still on because I was not confident in its performance. My clothing needs to honour my values and my principles and this dress could not deliver. What a shame. It was beautifully tailored but without the substance required to be perfect.

I decided to take a  few days off, as I don’t seem to have had any kind of break for a very long time, and of course, the weather completely changed. No more tropical sunlight but rain and cold weather all day long. So what’s a girl to do but go shopping for her Autumn collection.

I LOVE winter clothes so you can only imagine my sheer joy when I found this. A bright pink and purple kilt. Designed, of course, by my favourite lady Dame Vivienne. The pleats aren’t fully attached to the skirt and move 90 degrees when you swirl around. And ladies, that is exactly what I was doing in the shop. I may be 52 years old but I felt like a schoolgirl with her new uniform. All I needed was a satchel and an apple for the teacher. I actually felt like skipping!!

If your clothes shopping doesn’t excite you in this way, ask yourself, why not?