Season’s greetings from the style icons of Kent who’ve gift-wrapped their top style tips and favourite festive outfit ideas to guarantee you’ll fir-sure look your best this Christmas
Personal Stylist and founder of Your Style Elevated
Sherri specialises in helping individuals with their personal style, providing services such as wardrobe edits, colour consultations, personal shopping and expert guidance on dressing for their body shape.
‘The edit is a great place to start if someone has a wardrobe in crisis,’ Sherri says. ‘I can help to reorganise and declutter, as well as suggest new ways to wear pieces hiding at the back of the wardrobe. I use the four seasons method to help people discover their best colours. It’s a complete game-changer and once a client knows which colours make their skin glow, there’s no going back.’
Discovering which colours suit you can help you look and feel younger and enhance your wellbeing. Did you know wearing colours like red can help lift your mood, and green hues can have a calming effect?
Many clients opt for an edit package first where Sherri can help them identify key pieces that are missing before accompanying them on a shopping trip to curate their dream wardrobe.
‘My ultimate goal is for my often time-poor clients to get dressed with ease and feel confident with their style,’ Sherri shares. ‘I’m a big believer in fun and sequins, especially for the party season. I like to wear different textures like a satin shirt with a velvet two-piece suit or a sequin dress with a feather clutch and metallic heels. These winning combinations will add interest to any outfit.
‘I also like using the colour wheel to inspire me. You can look it up online and note the colours directly opposite each other. When worn together, these two hues will make a striking contrast. Picture a fabulous emerald dress with bright red lipstick or a beautiful blue sequin dress with a pair of orange heels. That’s what I call festive fabulousness.
‘Though my absolute favourite Christmas outfit must be a pair of lovely dark navy wide legs with gold stars that are part of a co-ord set. It may be a little gameshow-esque but I love it! To mix things up I paired them with a satin pink crop halterneck top and gold metallic blazer. I adore the contrast of the navy against the eye-catching pink, especially when teamed with the subtle shine of the gold.
‘I think the greatest part though is that wearing it brings me joy, which is the key behind choosing any great outfit for this season.’ yourstyleelevated.co.uk
Director of Bod & Ted
‘I’m always drawn to brands and collections that have a great point of difference and do something in a fresh way,’ Sophie says. ‘We currently stock brands such as Hayley Menzies, Essentiel Antwerp, Farm Rio, Sea NY and American Vintage, as well as amazing footwear brands and denim from the likes of AGOLDE and Citizens of Humanity.’
Bod & Ted is a truly independent, multi-award-winning womenswear boutique located on Tunbridge Wells high street and established by Sophie, and her mum Yvonne in 2008. Shortly after they became known as the place to find something truly individual, and in 2022, they won Womenswear Independent of the Year at the Drapers Awards.
The team specialise in providing a personal shopping experience, and mixing well-established brands with up-and-coming designers, resulting in a versatile array of pieces that are equally unique and exciting. Their selection of labels is continuously evolving, guaranteeing a fresh shopping experience for visitors every week. It’s the perfect place to discover all wardrobe essentials as well as head-turning looks for the upcoming festivities.
‘Presently brown is having a moment and I’m loving our head-to-toe brown Varley sets as well as our ba&sh camel jacket in suede, a texture that’s hot for autumn/winter 2024,’ Sophie shares. ‘I’d recommend paying attention to the textures when it comes to putting a festive outfit together. Whether it’s sequins, velvet or leather, it always works for me when it’s a piece you can dress up or down and wear in a multitude of ways. As for Christmas Day itself, comfort is key. I’ll be wearing one of our PJ-style sets from Ukranian brand Sleeper.
‘For parties, or a lunch out with friends, the Hayley Menzies moonshine top will be my go-to. It’s a total winner. Offering a smattering of sparkle, yet dressed down with knit fabric, it’s a versatile choice that can be worn in any setting and looks great. I’d team it with a pair of jeans and some of our Flabelus ballet pumps for a more casual look that can be worn every day.’ bodandted.co.uk
Owner of Tamarisk Boutique
Following the birth of her two daughters, Emma was inspired to retrain as a stylist and become her own boss. Quickly noticing the need for fun, flattering, colourful clothes that didn’t break the bank, the idea for Tamarisk was born. It’s been almost 15 years since the boutique opened its doors on Deal’s high street, becoming a fashion hot-spot with locals and tourists alike and encouraging all in the community to break the trend and to shop independent.
Today Tamarisk is a two-time winner of Best Womenswear in Kent at the Muddy Stilettos Awards and is the ideal place to discover affordable, accessible, bold, unusual pieces that are perfect for any age.
‘Our mission at Tamarisk is to bring the joy back into getting dressed,’ Emma shares. ‘We curate a vibrant range of figure-complimenting, delightful articles to help our customers feel comfortable and confident. Our prices are reasonable too!’
When it comes to finding inspiration for festive looks, it can be a good idea to pay attention to the trends currently hitting the zeitgeist.
‘My favourite trend at the moment is maximalist prints,’ Emma says. ‘I adore mixing extravagant, sumptuous patterns, particularly animal prints. It’s a great way to let your creativity shine.
‘When it comes to Christmas, for me it’s all about the sparkle. More is more! This Christmas I’ll be wearing a pair of comfy trousers, a plain tee shirt and one of our signature blazers. Nothing beats getting glammed up at this time of year.
‘Though if you’re a little reluctant to go head-to-toe sparkle, think of mixing some unexpected textures. A chunky knit paired with a statement sequin or satin piece will ground the outfit and give it a contemporary, more casual look.’ tamariskonline.com
