For me, it comes down to three things: regularly editing your wardrobe (something I have been terrible at lately!), trusting your instincts about what feels like you, and having a few outfit shortcuts up your sleeve. Especially for those mornings when getting dressed feels like far too much effort and you would rather just go back to bed.

And when it comes to shortcuts, you can always trust me. I am a lazy dresser. Even though I absolutely love fashion, I don’t regularly want to look like a Pinterest pin. I want to look like myself: comfortable, but still my own version of stylish.

As the days get shorter and the weather gets crappier, I find myself relying on outfit formulas more than ever. Especially on those mornings when nothing seems to work and getting dressed feels like an unnecessarily complicated task.

I am going to give you three outfit formulas I always go back to, but I want you to imagine what each one would look like for you. What could you swap? What could you change to make it feel more personal?

And please tell me in the comments! Your feedback is super important because the better I know you, the better I can create content that actually helps you.

For each formula, I am also going to show you my own take on it, plus a couple of mood boards with pieces I have found in the shops right now that could help you recreate the idea. But before you buy anything, please look in your wardrobe first and see if you can make it work with what you already have.

The beauty of outfit formulas is that you could technically recreate the same formula every day for a week and never wear the exact same outfit. And I am wondering…should this be my next challenge??

Think of it a bit like making a curry. You might keep the same base, but change the protein, the vegetables, the spices, the toppings. Same idea, completely different result depending on what you put into it.

Outfit formulas work in exactly the same way. The structure stays familiar, which makes getting dressed easier, but the pieces, proportions, colours and styling details can keep changing.

I have also started a Pinterest board dedicated to outfit formulas, with plenty more styling ideas if you fancy a little extra inspiration! I have also put together a little edit on Shopmy with pieces inspired by the three outfit formulas in this post, in case you are looking for a particular piece to fill a gap in your wardrobe.

T-shirt + tailored trousers

Casual at the top, polished at the bottom

The beauty of this formula is that you can double down on either the polished side or the casual side depending on your mood, so it can look completely different every time.

For me, if the trouser is very tailored and polished, I like to keep everything else quite casual. Or I might add just one more structured element if I feel like it. That is very much my style though, so think about what matters more to you and where you want the outfit to sit on that casual-to-polished scale, without taking the trousers into full corporate mode.

I have a few pairs of tailored trousers, but my favourites are definitely from COS. The purple pair and pink ones are incredibly comfortable and look so good on their own that they barely need any styling. I love pairing them with a T-shirt or playing around with different colour combinations.

Writing this I came across this T-shirt and immediately thought it should be the official Substack uniform.

The trousers are doing a lot of the heavy lifting here, so I love a very serious pair in pinstripe, or something super clean and tailored like this Citizens of Humanity pair or a less expensive version from COS ones.

If you want to lean more casual, go for trainers. If you want to make it feel more polished, change the shoe completely: a loafer, pointed flat or boot will immediately take it somewhere else.

You have the base, now you layer. The outerwear can really solidify the direction. A blazer or structured leather jacket can elevate the whole thing, while a bomber or denim jacket keeps the casual side going.

Main takeaway: It is all about balancing casual and polished. Let the tailored trousers do the dressing up while the T-shirt keeps everything relaxed. Pay attention to fit and proportions, and use your shoes and accessories to decide how dressed up or down you want to feel.

How I am wearing this outfit formula right now

I am definitely an outfit repeater, but when I repeat an outfit, I like to change a few little things to make it feel different.

Last year, after being constantly inspired by the way wears bright colours, I styled my purple-blue COS trousers with a grey T-shirt and a pop of red. I loved how the grey played down the tailored trousers. Normally, I would automatically reach for a white T-shirt, but grey feels a little softer and less contrasting, which I really like with such a strong colour.

So I wanted to revisit the outfit, but with a slightly different spin. And since purple and red are having such a moment, I decided to keep the red, this time in the form of a thin red jumper (M&S is having 20% off knitwear) that I can throw over my shoulders, tie around my waist or drape around my neck.

I’ve never particularly like grey against my face, but adding the red around my neck brings a colour I love closer to my face and makes the grey feel much more wearable.

I absolutely love wearing my checkered Vans with tailored trousers. They bring a bit of fun to an otherwise quite polished outfit and stop the whole thing from feeling too dressy.

Main takeaway: Repeating an outfit does not mean wearing it exactly the same way every time. Sometimes changing one colour, adding an extra layer or switching the shoes is all it takes to make it feel fresh again.

Soft trousers + structured jacket

Lazy at the bottom, “mean business” at the top

This is basically my default outfit for crappy Monday mornings. You get the ease of soft trousers on the bottom and something that means business on top.

And the trousers can be whatever version of “soft” works for you: satin pull-on trousers (have you seen this colour?!), cosy joggers, the famous Donni taffeta pants — created so many great outfits with hers! — or, if you like the look of corduroy but do not love the potential stiffness, these J.Crew trousers are a really good in-between.

Then I like to balance that softness with something more structured. I love a blazer with a soft trouser, but a shirt can work really well too, or any jacket with a bit more shape to it.

Again, the shoes can send the outfit in whatever direction you want: structured boots, sleek trainers, loafers…

For me, that is the whole appeal of this formula: the bottom half feels easy. You can sit, you can eat, you can potentially lie down. But the top half says I might join a Zoom meeting later and talk about KPIs.

How I am wearing this outfit formula right now

My favourite way of doing this formula is with my satin trousers from Uniqlo. They are incredibly soft and comfortable (in fact I wore them for a whole week last year) but the colour and sheen make them feel much more luxurious than trousers that are essentially pyjama-adjacent

I wasn’t even looking for trousers like these when I bought them. They are polyester, which is a fabric I try to avoid in trousers, but the colour won me over. And to be fair, so many similar styles I have come across are also made from man-made fabrics, often for double the price! Although I do love the Elise trousers, which are made from 50% silk. Something to consider!

On top, I like to add something with a bit more structure: an oversized shirt or the gorgeous blazer I found preloved in Copenhagen last year.

I think it’s the contrast in textures, and in this case prints too, that makes the outfit work so well. The elegant old-man blazer with the silky, almost pyjama-like trousers, the blue striped shirt against the rich brown... it is relaxed, it is comfortable, but it still feels very put-together.

I usually finish with a more structured shoe like a loafer to keep everything feeling polished, but I am equally happy wearing trainers when I want to bring the blazer back down to earth a little.

And another little trick to add structure is to add a great pair of sunglasses. Something with a metallic frame, like these, can make even the most relaxed outfit feel a little sharper.

Main takeaway: Mix pieces with different levels of formality. Something relaxed and comfortable can feel much more intentional when you pair it with a structured piece. And do not be afraid to mix textures, prints and colours along the way!

If this post gave you a few new ideas for your wardrobe, consider becoming a paid subscriber! Your support helps me keep Nothing to Wear going and continue sharing styling advice that hopefully saves you from buying yet another pair of trousers you probably do not need. 😂

Subscribe now

Jeans + the amazing jacket

The jacket IS the outfit

Ok, this is not new. In fact, you know it’s absolutely everywhere right now. But a statement jacket is such a great shortcut to dressing cool this season.

But before you go and buy every statement jacket you see just Substack is telling you to, ask yourself which version actually feels like you. Which one would you still wear after the hype has died down?

Just because everyone is doing the Connor Ives-style coats and tapestry jackets does not mean your version of a statement jacket needs to look exactly the same.

Obviously, wearing a statement jacket with jeans is the easiest move, but what you do around it matters too. You can lean casual with trainers, and actually, the more elevated or dramatic the jacket is, the more I like dressing everything else down.

And if you are looking for something genuinely interesting, pre-loved is one of the best places to start. You are far more likely to find something far more unique there than on the high street. I’ve put together an edit with my latest preloved finds here in case you struggle while shopping second hand.

I am currently on the hunt for something similar, although I can’t decide whether I want a very Penny Lane long coat or something shorter that I could also wear during the mild winters here in Gran Canaria.

How I am wearing this outfit formula right now

I have always been a statement jacket kind of person, so I already have a few pieces in my wardrobe that do a similar job. Like the beautiful silk jacket below I found in a charity shop in London. I love how something so special can be thrown over the simplest outfit, in this case a white long sleeve tee and baggy jeans, and instantly make it feel much more interesting.

That is the beauty of a statement jacket for me. You don’t really need to think too much about the rest of the outfit because the jacket IS the outfit. I added my little yellow beaded bag for an extra pop of colour, how good does it look with the turquoise of the jacket??

I also have a beautiful kimono I bought in Kyoto that I would love to wear in the same way. You know, the whole I just threw a kimono over my jeans and walked out the door look (just like Kelly!). Unfortunately, mine is way too long, so I either need to save it for a special occasion and wear with a belt or figure out how to shorten it without ruining the beautiful pattern at the back. Is that even possible? If you have any ideas, I am all ears!

Main takeaway: A statement jacket does not need a special occasion. Wear it with your most basic pieces, let it do the talking and, most importantly, choose something that feels like you rather than something you bought because it was having a moment.

So, next time you find yourself in panic mode trying to get dressed, go back to your trusted outfit formulas. And if you do not have any yet, feel free to borrow mine! Just remember to make them your own, because the whole point is to feel like yourself in what you wear, you know!

And if you need a little help figuring out what those formulas could look like for you, you can always book a Nothing to Wear session with me. We will look at what you already own, find new ways to wear your clothes and come up with a few outfit formulas that make getting dressed a whole lot easier.

Love,

Noelia x

Anyway, the spirit of Marie Kondo took over me, and I ended up getting rid of more than 15 pairs and as you can see from the photo below, there are still PLENTY left.

My excuse has always been, But I’m a stylist! It’s market research! I might need them for a photoshoot! Which is all well and good, but even I have to admit there’s a limit.

The thing is, I have a lot more wardrobe space now than I ever did in my tiny one-bedroom flat in London. And with all that extra space, I’ve become far too comfortable keeping things just because I can. Funny, considering this is exactly what I tell my clients not to do.

As I started trying on shoes I still liked but never actually wore, I realised I’m probably never going to wear 9 cm heels again. And although I’m not particularly sentimental about clothes, I do find clutter stressful. Even when it’s hidden away, I know it’s there. (I’m currently trying not to think about the two suitcases of clothes I still need to go through.)

I’m not particularly sentimental about clothes, especially when I know they’ll go to someone who’ll actually wear them. This time, a friend and I are sending a box of clothes and shoes to people in Venezuela who we know really need them.

It’s also reminded me that getting rid of clothes is one thing, but making sure they end up somewhere useful is another. Sometimes it’s worth asking around a little, whether that’s women’s shelters, local community groups or people we know, rather than just dropping everything off at the nearest charity shop and hoping for the best.

So, with 15 fewer pairs of shoes and a bit more breathing room, I’ve FINALLY managed to tackled my wardrobe for the new season.

My Current Wardrobe Setup

Autumn and winter in Gran Canaria are pretty mild, although last year was unusually cold. I’d say the weather is quite similar to parts of California: you can be wearing flip-flops and heading to the beach one day, then boots and a leather jacket the next.

So my wardrobe needs to accommodate all of that! Fun right?

This year, I’ve kept out the dresses and skirts that are still fairly lightweight but not overly summery. These are pieces I can continue wearing with jumpers, boots and layers. The really summery things have gone into storage, although I’ve made sure they are still easy to get to.

My main wardrobe is for the clothes I wear day to day, while the smaller one is for going-out pieces and things I don’t reach for quite as often but still want to keep an eye on. My jackets and coats live in a common wardrobe in the hallway.

At the top, I’ve got three storage bags from IKEA (these are great, really lightweight and surprisingly spacious). I’ve divided them into:

• Chunky jumpers: Still far too warm to wear here, but I might need them when I next go to London.

• Summer clothes: The pieces I know I won’t be wearing for a while.

• Bags and accessories: Things like my travel backpack and bags I love but only use occasionally.

Trousers, shorts and swimwear live in the white drawers, and I keep my bags at the bottom of the wardrobe where I can easily reach them.

I’ve also bought a little shelf unit from Zara Home for my accessories.

It’s not my dream wardrobe setup, and it’s taken me a while to get used to not having proper shelves and all the useful storage I had before. But we are renting, so I’ve had to work with what we’ve got.

The biggest thing I’ve learnt is that I need to be able to see my clothes properly. When there’s too much stuff in my wardrobe that I don’t usually wear, I find it annoying and confusing. This is why I regularly do the chair method, where I put something I haven’t worn in ages on a chair in my room and challenge myself to style it as soon as possible. If I get bored of looking at it without ever feeling like wearing it, that’s usually a sign it’s time to let it go.

And that’s exactly what happened with this vintage skirt. Except I did end up wearing it, so I think it’s safe… for now.

Now that you’ve had a good nose around my wardrobe, let’s get to the fun part! I’m showing you how I’ve been styling my new shoes with clothes I already own (including a vintage skirt I almost got rid of!), plus some rather fabulous secondhand finds I’ve come across while shopping for clients.

The rest of this little wardrobe catch-up is for my paid subscribers. If you fancy joining us, I’d love to have you here! x

Read more

I know, I know … they can still feel a little bit daunting, specially if you are not used to wearing them. But most of the time, when a skirt outfit is not working, the culprit is not actually the skirt. It’s everything else happening around it.

This is why I started this series with shoes. Once you nail what you are wearing on your feet, everything else gets a little easier. Then what you wear on top can decide your mood for the day or where you want to take the skirt: casual, sporty, polished, dressy…

But sometimes you have nailed both of those things and the outfit still does not quite work.

Before getting annoyed, blaming your body (not on my watch!) or reaching for the old jeans and calling it a day, there is another thing worth looking at: The Proportion.

I have talked before about my 3 Ps, as an easy reminder to nail an outfit, but today I want to go much deeper into proportion specifically to do with skirts. Where things finish, how much fabric is happening where, when showing a little bit of shape changes everything, and all those tiny adjustments that can make an outfit suddenly click.

And because I’ve had quite a few questions about maxi skirts, we are getting into those too.

A small disclaimer before we start: these are the proportions I tend to like on my body. Yours might be completely different, and that is exactly the whole point about personal style… so if you are struggling to wear your skirts, let’s chat!

For me what’s important is that I am not trying to make myself look smaller, slimmer or more hourglass. What I generally want is to avoid feeling swallowed by fabric, to feel put together without looking overly done, and most importantly, to feel comfortable.

When you are putting your own outfits together, think first about what you want the clothes to do and how you want to feel in them. Maybe you like emphasising your waist. Maybe you love volume. Maybe you want to show your legs, your shoulders or absolutely none of the above. There is no correct answer.

Styling is not about “fixing” your body. It’s about using clothes to highlight what you enjoy about yourself and creating proportions that make you feel good.

1. Change the silhouette before you change the outfit

Before you take off the skirt and throw it out of the window, try changing the silhouette first.

With skirts, where the top ends can have a much bigger impact than it does with trousers. A skirt is one continuous shape of fabric, so if the top finishes at an awkward point, the whole outfit can suddenly feel heavy, shapeless or slightly off.

Most times the problem is not the top, it just needs to sit somewhere else, so try moving it up slightly, tucking one side or to the back, showing a little more of the waistband, or changing how much volume is sitting around your middle. Those tiny shifts can completely change the look.

But let’s compare!

Graphic tee + column/satin skirt = pay attention to where the top ends

The first example is an outfit I wear a lot: a long, straight silk skirt with a graphic T-shirt.

There is nothing particularly wrong with the oversized T-shirt worn loose over the skirt. In fact, the shoes are doing quite a lot of work here because a pointed toe is always going to help elongate the silhouette. If you like them, these are very similar.

But in the second picture there is a little more styling involved. I have rolled the waistband of the skirt slightly to shorten the hem, so it finishes just as the calf starts to narrow. Then I have added my usual little side tuck to show a bit more of the waist, which is something I like when I want to feel slightly more put together.

Nothing dramatic has happened. Same T-shirt, same skirt, same shoes. But those few small adjustments give the outfit a bit more definition and another dimension.

And this is the outfit I wore on Friday. Instead of tucking the T-shirt, I tied a knit around my waist for three reasons: to give the waist a bit more definition, to keep the casual feel of the T-shirt while contrasting with the more elevated skirt and shoes, and to connect with the colour of the bag and earrings.

If you enjoy this more personal, in-depth look at my style and what’s actually happening in my wardrobe, this is the kind of thing I share every other Sunday with paid subscribers. Come and join us!

You will also get access to the paid subscribers’ chat, where you can ask me anything: styling dilemmas, wardrobe questions, second-hand finds, what to wear to your ex’s wedding…

Subscribe now

Jumper + maxi skirt = keep the volume but add definition

A really great way of wearing skirts during the colder months is with knitwear. Feels cosy, it makes the skirt look less serious, but it can have the potential of making you look a little bit like a floating head, especially if the skirt is long and floaty.

This was actually a question that came up in my subscribers’ chat, so I wanted to show you a few ways I make this combination work.

I have gone for a maxi skirt because, in my opinion, this is the hardest version to nail, especially if you are on the shorter side like me. I am 164cm, which I think is perfectly average for a Spanish, but my husband thinks I am tiny.

Anyway, when you are wearing lots of volume on top, going shorter on the bottom is obviously the easier option. I particularly love a long chunky jumper with a mini or just above the knee skirt because showing more leg naturally breaks up all that fabric and makes the silhouette feel longer.

But because I love a boho vibe, I am super into a floaty maxi with a jumper, so this is how I tend to wear it:

For me, the trick is not necessarily to remove the volume, but to give it some definition. A chunky jumper cannot always be tucked neatly into the waistband of a skirt, so I usually start by folding the jumper under slightly and pushing up the sleeves. Straight away, that creates a bit more shape around the waist and breaks up the fabric as you can see in the picture above.

Then, if I want even more definition, I add a belt. In the third version, the belt is not really making the outfit smaller; it is consolidating the shape I have already created. It gives the eye somewhere to land and adds a little more structure to two very soft, floaty pieces.

You can also buy elastic belts designed to sit underneath a jumper and create this effect, but before buying anything I would always try folding, gathering or pinning the knit first.

For footwear, I generally like something that keeps the bottom of the outfit relatively clean: a shoe that shows the top of the foot, like the fisherman pair I am wearing here, a pointy flat like this or a slim boot that disappears underneath the skirt works really well too.

Other ways of ‘tucking’ the jumper without actually tucking it:

• Use a brooch or pin to gather the jumper slightly at the side or front. It changes where the hem sits without stuffing half the knit into the waistband.

• Show the layer underneath. Let a t-shirt or fitted long sleeve peek out at the hem. That little break between jumper and skirt can stop everything merging into one long block.

• Fold the jumper under itself. If the knit is soft enough, roll or fold the hem underneath so it sits higher without needing a tuck.

• Push the sleeves up. If there is already a lot of fabric from shoulder to ankle, showing the wrists can make the whole silhouette feel lighter.

• Use the skirt waistband as a visual break. Even showing a tiny bit of it at the front or side can be enough.

• Let it stay oversized on purpose. If you actually like the long, loose silhouette, do not “fix” it just because some stupid rule says you need a waist. The question is whether you feel intentionally oversized or simply swallowed.

Shirt + floaty skirt = change the shape with small details

The most obvious way of adding contrast to a feminine skirt is with a men’s shirt, but it needs a bit of styling!

The first version does not work for me at all. There is too much fabric sitting in one long, uninterrupted block, and the shirt is swallowing the skirt rather than working with it. Also, Canva’s background remover has decided I no longer need ankles. They are still there, I promise.

In the second version, I have opened the neckline, pushed up the sleeves and undone a few buttons at the bottom. Those tiny changes completely alter the proportions: you can see more skin, there is less visual weight through the middle, and the whole outfit feels lighter and much more like me.

If you are in the mood for a browse, I have put together a little ShopMy edit for this series with pieces I like and similar options to the ones I am wearing.

2. A note on maxi skirts

Maxi skirts can feel trickier simply because there is more fabric and less leg showing, so every other proportion becomes a little more noticeable. I normally keep an eye for these:

• Create a break somewhere. Show a bit of waist, push up the sleeves, open the neckline or shorten the top slightly.

• Do not assume one half has to be fitted: as I showed you before a slightly chunky jumper, an oversized shirt or big jacket can work too, as long as the volume feels deliberate and there is some lightness somewhere else in the outfit

• Watch where the top ends. A long top finishing at the fullest part of the skirt can make everything feel heavier.

• Keep the shoe relatively light. I love a shoe that shows the top of the foot, or a slim boot that disappears under the hem.

• I really like adding a belt with a maxi skirt or dress because it breaks up the silhouette and stops me feeling like I am drowing in fabric.

  Depending on the mood, I might go for something leather and structured. I love a statement buckle, like this one from Sézane or this Prada preloved one, because it gives the outfit a stronger focal point.

  But it does not always need to be that obvious. Even a dainty chain belt can help define where the top ends and the skirt begins, without adding much weight to the outfit.

• If you are on the petite side, going for a tonal look can help you elongate the figure, the colours don’t need to match, in fact I think is better when they don’t, just need to sit within the same colour story like the outfit below.

3. But what about when you add another layer?

Ok, now this is where things get interesting! because adding a jacket can completely change the proportions of the outfit. But the same idea still applies: look at where the jacket ends in relation to the skirt, and sometimes the top underneath too.

If the jacket finishes right where the skirt starts to flare, or if everything ends around the same point, the middle can suddenly feel much heavier. So I usually play with length, how open the jacket is and what I am doing with the sleeves.

A shorter jacket can help define the shape

With the white skirt and striped shirt, the brown leather jacket finishes quite high, which lets the fullness of the skirt start underneath it rather than competing with it. I also like that you can still see the shirt poking out, so there are a few different lengths happening rather than one solid block.

Wearing the jacket open keeps the outfit lighter

With the orange maxi, the jacket sits around the hip, but wearing it open creates two vertical lines through the front and lets the belt and waist underneath stay visible. That stops the jacket from cutting across the outfit too heavily.

Push the sleeves up

The black leather blazer is quite structured, but pushing the sleeves up makes it feel much less formal and exposes my forearms which immediately lightens the whole look.

Oversized can work too

And then there is the oversized biker. It’s longer, heavier and much bigger than the blazer, but I actually really like that extra volume because it feels intentional. The pointed shoe and column skirt keeps the bottom of the outfit relatively sleek, so the jacket can be the big shape without everything feeling super bulky.

The main take away from this is whether the proportions feel deliberate once that extra layer goes on.

Now, with longer coats and maxi skirts, I like to either have a clear difference between the two hems or for the coat to almost cover the skirt, if both hems hover around exactly the same point it can feel a bit too busy.

4. A quick skirt check

If you have followed all three parts of this series (I love you and thank you!) so this is basically the little checklist I would run through before deciding a skirt outfit is not working:

• What do I want the outfit to feel like? More defined, more relaxed, more dramatic, more polished?

• Check the footwear. Is the shoe helping the skirt length, or fighting with it?

• Check what is happening on top. Does the top make the skirt feel too dressy, too obvious or too serious?

• Add a bit of friction. A graphic tee, a sporty note, something utilitarian or slightly unexpected can make the skirt feel much fun.

• Check the proportions. Where does the top end? Is there too much fabric in one place? Would showing a bit more waist, wrist, ankle or neckline help?

• Style before you swap. Tuck, fold, roll, unbutton, push up a sleeve, add a belt, change the hemline.

• Then ask yourself if you actually dislike the outfit, or if you are just not used to seeing yourself in it yet.

And if it’s the second one, come and book a session with me. We can go through the skirts you already own, work out why they are not quite clicking, and find ways of styling them that actually feel as easy as wearing jeans.

Love,

Noelia x

Too pretty? Too dressy? Not sure how to make them feel cool, easy and actually wearable in real life?

If you have not read Part 1 yet, that was all about the big pressing issue: what the hell do I wear on my feet? Start there.

If you have already done your homework, welcome to Part 2. This time we are looking at what to wear on top to make skirts feel more exciting, modern and a little less precious.

And right at the end, paid subscribers are getting some quick fixes for when the outfit still is not quite working, plus some of my current Vinted favourites, which are very, very good and I am slightly territorial about sharing…

But first, let’s get into this!

Subscribe now

1. Let the Skirt Be the Star

One of the easiest ways I make skirts feel more everyday is by letting the skirt be the star of the outfit and keeping whatever goes on top much more casual.

Think satin, tweed, silk, pleats, animal print, anything slightly ladylike or special… paired with the kind of T-shirt you would normally throw on with jeans (or your pyjama bottoms!)

My favourite version is a slightly oversized vintage graphic tee and I am obsessed with how from Wear Some Fun finds the most random vintage T-shirts on the internet, down to the very specific search terms she uses.

If graphic tees are not your thing, a plain T-shirt in your favourite neutral works just as well. A white, grey, navy or black tee can be exactly the palette cleanser a busy skirt needs. I really love how styles her column skirts with a slightly oversized long-sleeved T-shirts, which feels minimal, casual and a little more current than the classic short-sleeved version.

I also like playing with the tuck rather than doing anything too neat. Sometimes I just tuck the top slightly to one side so you still get a bit of shape without making the whole outfit feel too done. Other times I leave it completely loose. Depends on my mood and level of bloatiness.

Some quick styling tips:

• Use the T-shirt to make the skirt feel like jeans. The more polished, ladylike or precious the skirt is, the better a very ordinary tee can work with it. The classiest tweed skirt with the slightly cheesy I ❤️ NYC T-shirt from the Chanel Métiers d’Art is the perfect example: something lady-like vs something you might buy as a joke.

• If the skirt is already doing a lot, keep the T-shirt very simple. A plain white or grey tee works brilliantly with animal print, checks, shiny fabrics or anything visually busy.

• A long-sleeved T-shirt can make the same formula feel more current. Especially when the skirt is straight, column-shaped or a little severe. It feels slightly more directional than a classic short-sleeved tee.

• Tucking changes the mood completely. A neat tuck, like the Maison Margiela look above, makes a graphic tee work beautifully with a pencil skirt because the waist stays defined and the proportions feel sharper. A loose or side tuck makes the same idea feel much more relaxed.

• Use a belt if you want the T-shirt to feel more deliberate. Particularly with pencil or straight skirts. The belt creates a proper break between the casual top and polished skirt, and adds a bit of visual weight around the waist. If you are worried about your tummy showing, that extra structure can actually help the fitted silhouette feel more pulled together and less exposed.

• Let the T-shirt be a little bit (or a lot!) wrong. A vintage graphic, faded logo, random slogan or slightly oversized fit works better than something pristine because it gives the feminine skirt some real friction.

The Outfits

Two ways to ground a skirt via the top half: slightly sporty with a band T-shirt on the left, cleaner and more structured with a simple long-sleeved tee on the right.

Outfit 1: Soeur jacket / Me + Em multi-position necklace / Preloved Prada skirt / New Balance trainers / J. Crew white leather bag / H&M graphic t-shirt

Outfit 2: Preloved Prada skirt with belt / COS long sleeve t-shirt / Celine sunglasses / Preloved Acne Studios biker jacket / Toteme zebra shoes / COS leather bag / PDPaola earrings

2. A Touch of Sportswear

If you are a millennial, you probably wore the hell out of trainers with dresses and skirts back in the day (maybe still do?), so this should feel fairly familiar. What changes the mood now is taking that idea one step further and adding an obvious sporty element on top.

It makes skirts feel more casual and wearable, but it can also make that old skirt you’ve had forever suddenly feel much more current.

And yes, windbreakers and rugby shirts are everywhere right now. I have to admit I gave in and already bought a windbreaker from Zara, and I have already worn it loads because it is super light and adds something unexpected to dressier pieces.

But if you are tempted by the trend and not fully committed, do not immediately go out and buy a collection of windbreakers and rugby shirts. Experiment with what you already have. Maybe it’s an old Adidas tracksuit jacket you only wear to the gym, an ancient bomber you found in a charity shop, or even your partner’s hoodie. Anything with a vaguely sporty feel can work.

A few things I keep in mind:

• Keep the sporty element to one main piece. If the track jacket, rugby top or windbreaker is doing the sporty work, I usually let the rest of the outfit go in another direction.

• Add something polished back in. A sharp blazer over a rugby top, black accessories, a structured bag or a pair of diamante earrings can stop the outfit from going too ‘running a marathon in my skirt’.

• If the top is sporty, keep the footwear sleeker. As much as I love a chunky trainer with a skirt, I would probably skip it here and go for a loafer, ballet flat, slim boot or something more refined.

• Let the sporty piece feel slightly out of place. That is often what makes the skirt feel fresher. If everything matches too neatly, you lose the little bit of tension that makes the outfit interesting.

The Outfits

On the left, the rugby top makes the satin skirt feel much less precious, while the leather blazer keeps it from going too sporty. On the right, the striped tee and pink utility jacket give the pleated skirt a much more casual, slightly unexpected direction.

Outfit 1: COS rugby shirt / COS layered skirt / Celine sunglasses / COS leather blazer / COS bag / COS ballet shoes / COS hairpin

Outfit 2: Arket Harrington jacket (sale) / COS stripe t-shirt / Massimo Dutti pleated skirt / Demellier Stockholm bag / Me + Em diamante earrings / Loeffler Randall tall boots

3. Bring in Something Utilitarian

Another way I like to make skirts feel less pretty and more like a pair of jeans is by adding something that feels a bit more practical, structured or uniform-like on top.

Think barn jackets, denim, suede, leather, utility jacket, boxy blazers, even a Napoleon-style jacket. Basically, anything that brings a bit of weight or structure to a skirt that might otherwise feel too soft, feminine or polished.

I especially like this with anything super cute and pretty: satin, silk, minis or fuller skirts because the contrast is so easy! The skirt brings the movement and softness, while the jacket makes the whole thing feel much easier and relaxed.

And again, I would not rush out to buy the exact jacket everyone is wearing. Look at what you already have that gives you the same feeling: an old denim jacket, a slightly battered leather one, a military-inspired coat, a utility shirt or a blazer with strong shoulders.

And if you live with a man, even better, raid his wardrobe! Menswear versions often have the boxier shape and extra weight that works brilliantly with a skirt.

This is also one of those trends that is especially good second-hand, so go to your local charity shop and see what you can find.

A few things I keep in mind:

• Let the jacket have some structure. Boxier shapes, heavier fabrics and strong shoulders work especially well against a skirt with movement.

• Do not make everything polished. If the jacket is already quite formal or decorative, like a Napoleon jacket, keep the rest simpler.

• Use texture to do some of the work. Suede, denim, waxed cotton, vintage leather and tweed all bring a bit of visual weight without needing lots of extra styling.

• Keep the shoe relatively simple. Loafers, a chunky boot, ballet flats or a clean trainer let the jacket and skirt do the talking.

• Look for the general mood, not the exact trend piece. The useful bit is the structure, utility or uniform feel. You probably already own your version of it.

The Outfits

Two ways to make a skirt feel less precious with a practical layer: leather and denim on the left, quilted jacket and loafers on the right. The skirts stay feminine, but everything around them feels a bit more grounded.

Outfit 1: Soeur jacket / Ami Paris denim shirt / Flore Flore t-shirt / J.Crew skirt / Loeffler Randall chunky boots

Outfit 2: Barbour jacket / COS merino wool top / COS skirt (sales) / J.Crew snake print loafers / Massimo Dutti suede bag / COS mismatched earrings

For paid subscribers, I am getting into the bit I always want after reading a styling post: what to do when you try the idea and it still somehow looks wrong.

First, a few quick styling fixes for the most common skirt problems. Then I’m sharing some of my favourites on Vinted: a few statement jackets, chunky boots inspired by Claudia Winkleman, and some very good deals on loafers by The Row and Dries Van Noten.

Read more

However it was latest post that gave me the idea for this newsletter. She made a very similar point, just through a different comparison: instead of treating the skirt like a T-shirt, she argues that we should style it as we style jeans. Easy, everyday and casual.

Which got me thinking… because I have always treated skirts a little bit like that. I love a skirt. In fact, I normally find skirts easier to wear than jeans. Jeans are supposedly the ultimate easy wardrobe staple, but when you have a smaller waist, bigger hips and a bum, they do not always sit quite right. gives really good advice here about how to wear “hard pants” — aka jeans — when you would rather be in soft trousers.

So a skirt has often been that for me, that easy pull-on trouser. But I know that skirts are super easy to wear in the summer. Add a T-shirt, maybe a flip-flop to take the prissiness out of it, and you are done.

Autumn is where things get more interesting…

Once the temperature drops, how do you keep a skirt feeling easy and effortless rather than suddenly turning it into a lady who lunches?

As an avid skirt wearer, I realised there is actually quite a lot I want to say about this, so rather than cramming every skirt thought I’ve ever had into one enormous newsletter, I am turning this into a little series on how to make skirts feel as easy as jeans [or insert your comfy bottoms of choice here].

I have also started a Pinterest board for this series, where I will be pinning all the skirt styling references, runway looks and random outfit inspiration I find along the way. You can follow if you want to see the visual side of all this unfold in real time.

We will get into T-shirts, oversized layers, sporty jackets, big cosy jumpers and all the other things I use to make skirts feel less precious. But I want to start with footwear, because this seems to be the thing that trips everyone up.

As soon as I asked in the subscribers’ chat about skirt-styling dilemmas, Emma sent me this message, and I think she summed up the problem perfectly.

And that is really the question, isn’t? How do you make skirts work with practical shoes without the proportions suddenly feeling a bit off?

However my first instinct is always to say: do not overthink it! An unexpected shoe can bring the right bit of friction the outfit needs. I now, that you subscribe for facts, so I am giving you all the facts!

1. The easy lengths: anything above or just below the knee

If the skirt finishes above the knee, you have plenty of leg showing, which gives you more room to play with footwear.

• Trainers, loafers, ballet flats and chunkier shoes can all work because there is enough visual space between the hem and the shoe.

• Socks are your friend here. Instead of leaving a random strip of bare ankle, let the sock become part of the outfit.

A loafer with a visible sock — even better if it is a pop of colour — can make the whole thing feel much more deliberate.

This is why I find shorter skirts so easy to style. You can go any direction you want to go: delicate, chunky or slightly masculine just by using the right footwear.

2. But what about the midi?

Midi skirts tend to be a bit more problematic to style, specially for the colder season. And the issue is not so much the shoe itself, but the little section of leg left between the hem and the shoe.

If the skirt ends mid-calf and the top of your boot finishes at the widest part of your calf, you can end up creating several horizontal lines very close together, which is often what makes the proportions feel awkward.

With a midi, I usually prefer going for any of the following:

• Keep the shoe low enough that you see a clear stretch of ankle.
  This is why midi skirts tend to look so good with kitten heels, pointed toes, ballet flats, slim loafers or a sleek trainer. Anything that keeps the shoe relatively low and shows some of the top of the foot helps the leg look longer and cleaner, rather than cutting it off at an awkward point.

• Go high enough that the boot disappears underneath the skirt.
  This is where knee-high boots really earn their keep in autumn. If the boot disappears under the hem, you avoid that awkward little strip of calf between skirt and shoe, and the whole line looks much more continuous.

  

• Use a sock to bridge the gap.
  This one deserves its own section, and its below!

• Go chunkier on purpose.
  A heavier trainer, loafer or shoe can look brilliant with a midi skirt, especially if the skirt itself is quite feminine. That contrast is what makes the outfit interesting. The only catch is that you may need to get used to the proportions at first, because it can look “wrong” just because your eye is expecting something slimmer.

3. The shape of the skirt matters too

Sometimes it’s not so much about the length of the skirt as the shape. That can completely change which shoes feels right.

We could get VERY deep into this, but I want to keep it fairly simple and useful. If you still have questions, comment, email me or drop them in the subscribers’ chat. Or, better yet, book a session with me!

• Full / A-line skirts: they can usually handle more weight underneath. Loafers, chunky trainers, boots and sturdier flats work well because the volume of the skirt balances the shoe.

• Straight / column skirts: tend to look best with a cleaner shoe shape. Slim trainers, loafers, ballet flats or a boot that disappears under the hem to keep the line feeling sleek.

• Slip / bias-cut skirts: this is where contrast can be really useful. A trainer, loafer or heavier boot can stop the skirt feeling too dressy or precious, while a slimmer shoe keeps the whole look cleaner and more elegant. It really depends on the mood you want

• Pleated skirts: can go either way, I find pleated skirts to be super versatile, just like A-line skirts. A slim shoe keeps them polished; a chunkier shoe makes them feel more edgy, pick your poison!

• Mini / short skirts: the easiest of the lot. Because there is more leg showing, you can usually get away with a chunkier shoe, boot, sock or something more masculine as we saw above.

The Little Nerdy Styling Details

I am off for a week from Sunday, so there won’t be a separate paid newsletter this week or next. Instead, I am going a little deeper into what to look for when a skirt-and-shoe combination still feels a little off, and let me tell you, I went DEEP!

• socks and how they bridge the gap

• anklets for taking down the sweetness

• why slits matter more than you think

• tights as part of the outfit, not just because it’s cold

• why a few centimetres of hem length can change everything: with a very specific visual guide

Read more

I’m still very much doing my Isn’t that yesterday’s outfit? challenge, and this week I seem to have accidentally taken it one step further. Instead of just carrying one piece from yesterday’s outfit into the next, I’ve been wearing the exact same base outfit two days in a row.

You know how much I want to find ways to make getting dressed easier for you (and for me), because I know how much we all have going on. And while getting dressed is fun and we all love fashion, sometimes the brain simply cannot cope and we end up throwing something on and feeling a bit meh about it.

So, for those days when your brain is completely fried, I present to you: start with a simple base outfit and stop trying to invent the whole thing from scratch.

I tried three different bases this week and wore each one for two days in a row. Were they revolutionary? Nope. I went with the things I’m pretty much always in the mood to wear.

But the finished outfits? Well, they were actually really good, if I say so myself.

It’s funny how the exact same base can look completely different depending on what you put on top, the shoes you choose, the accessories you add and the direction you decide to take it.

So, let me show you…

Monday and Tuesday: Denim shorts + tank top

I wanted to start the week with a base that could carry me through a couple of days easily. Because of the challenge, I had to bring something over from Saturday’s outfit, so on Monday I added this Mango net jumper (here is something similar) that I seem to reach for all the time, which is perfect for adding texture without the actual heaviness of a jumper.

Denim shorts are a great transitional piece, I bought this pair from Zara thinking they would be much looser fit, but I actually prefer them like this. The raw edges add that little bit of undone-ness that stops them feeling too neat.

Because it’s still ridiculously warm, I’ve also been making a point of bringing autumn into my outfits through colour rather than layers. The necklace was perfect for this: burgundy and khaki green against all the cream, camel and denim. Then I added my Zara windbreaker-style jacket, a belt with a statement buckle and my David Bowie tote from the V&A — an easy bag that adds so much personality.

And for a Monday, I’m actually quite proud of this fit.

But this is where the experiment gets interesting, because the next day I kept the exact same denim shorts and tank top and took them in a completely different direction…

Monday was soft, tonal and textural. Tuesday I was in the mood for something tougher.

I started with these new Massimo Dutti pointed mules I bought recently, which, by the way, are SO comfortable, and built everything else around them. I wanted something slightly more masculine and cool, so I added an oversized men’s striped shirt and my leather blazer, which I actually didn’t really wear because it was too warm.

And can we talk about the sleeves?! Letting an oversized shirt cuff peek out from underneath a blazer is such a small move, but it makes an outfit look instantly more styled. A little messy, a little effortless, my perfect kind of styling moment.

Then I finished everything with black accessories: the pointed shoes, cat-eye sunglasses and a black belt with a big gold buckle to really commit to the edgier direction. I’d actually been looking for a belt like this for ages — preloved, vintage, everywhere — and where did I eventually find it? Zara. Of course.

And I am OBSESSED with Tuesday’s outfit. You will absolutely be seeing me in some version of this again.

I’m sharing all outfits from this little experiment below, plus the styling decisions that made the same simple bases feel completely different.

Come snoop around my wardrobe with me ❤️

Read more

Read more

Me neither.

It’s been so warm here that even the thought of taking my knitwear out of storage makes me itch all over.

So I’m getting ready for the new se…

Read more

Read more

And because I’m still deep into my Isn’t That Yesterday’s Outfit? challenge, I’ve been looking at a few of my favourite past shows for inspiration.

A redo of the outfit that felt flat last week

Last Saturday I wore my Mango crochet top under a tank top with linen cargo trousers. I needed something comfortable, but looking back, the outfit felt a little flat and boring for me.

So on Monday (Day 5 of the challenge) I tried something different and wore the crochet top over a white T-shirt instead. It’s still crazy warm here in Spain, but even the slightest bit of layering can add another dimension to an outfit while keeping everything else quite summery.

Paid subscribers get the full Style System I use with my styling clients, access to my entire archive, and these more personal wardrobe diaries where I show you how I personally put all of this into practice.

Today: the outfits I’ve been reworking instead of replacing, the colour combinations I’m stealing from Fashion Week, and the tiny NYFW styling tricks you can try with what’s already in your wardrobe.

Read more

But if the weather …

Read more

What I do love about this time of year, though, is how much fun you can have mixing seasons. Linen with leather? Yep. Loafers and socks with shorts? Absolutely. Summer dresses with heavier jackets? Even better. It’s that little window where almost anything goes, and somehow the slightly unexpected combinations look extremely cool.

So this week I’ve prepared five easy outfit formulas for the in-between weather, which might give you some inspiration in what to wear right now.

Followed by a closer look at the first few days of my Isn’t That Yesterday’s Outfit? challenge — what I repeated, what worked, what absolutely didn’t, and whether going back to basics actually made getting dressed easier. This second part is for paid subscribers. If you want to come behind the scenes with me while I test this challenge properly, the good outfits, the bad ones, the things I’m learning and the bits I’d do differently, can I interest you in upgrading? Your support genuinely gives me more time to create this kind of content.

Subscribe now

5 Outfits for This Weird In-Between Season

One of the nicest things about transitional weather is that you don’t have to suddenly pack away all the summer pieces you still love wearing. Instead, you can slowly start introducing richer colours, different textures and a few more autumnal pieces, and make what you already own feel new again.

So here are five easy outfit formulas for that awkward in-between bit, when you want to start dressing for the new season without looking completely ridiculous because it’s still 25 degrees in the afternoon.

1. Summer dress + cardigan + leather jacket + loafers

This is basically summer underneath, autumn on top. A floaty printed dress still makes complete sense when it’s warm, but the cobalt cardigan, brown leather and loafers immediately make it feel less summery.

I especially like the socks with loafers here because they are such a small seasonal switch. And you can obviously take the leather jacket just in case the weather gets colder.

Why it works: you are not trying to make the dress look “autumnal”, you’re just changing what you wear it with. The raffia bag adds that little nod to summer and adds a whole lots of more texture to the outfit.

2. Mini dress + bomber jacket + ballet flats

One of the easiest ways to keep wearing a bright summer dress is to add a jacket that feels completely different from it and I love how a bomber jacket has the power to add edge to the most feminine piece.

The orange and olive combination is slightly unexpected, which is exactly why it works right now, and the burgundy ballet flats bring in an autumn richer tone without making the whole thing feel heavy.

Why it works: the summer silhouette stays, but the colours and jacket start moving the outfit into the next season.

3. Tank + sarong skirt + oversized blazer + ballet flats

This is exactly the kind of outfit I love for September because the base could easily be a summer outfit: tank + printed skirt.

Then you add the oversized blazer and suddenly it feels much more polished and transitional. The white ballet flats and woven bag stop it from going too autumnal.

Why it works: a structured layer gives lightweight summer pieces more weight.

4. White T-shirt + wide-leg trousers + colourful knit + summer shoes

Probably the easiest formula to recreate right now.

Start with a completely basic base like a white tee + relaxed trousers, add a colourful knit around your waist. Wear it properly if it gets cooler, always showing a little bit of the white t-shirt underneath for contrast.

And I’d still wear the flip-flops. We are transitioning, not forgetting it’s still technically summer.

Why it works: you have an autumn layer ready, but the outfit still makes sense if it’s 26 degrees outside.

5. Summer dress + leather jacket + closed-toe mules

Possibly my favourite way to extend the life of linen summer dresses.

The pale pink dress is very summery on its own, but that gorgeous burgundy leather jacket adds a completely different point of interest, suede mules and a darker woven bag completely change the mood. I love that contrast between something soft and feminine and something heavier and slightly tougher.

Why it works: instead of changing the main piece, you change the texture and mood around it with things you already probably have in your wardrobe: leather, suede and deeper hues instantly make the same dress feel more autumn.

A Week in Outfits: Back to Basics

I have a fashion theory: when you are feeling a bit bored of your wardrobe, overwhelmed by choice and have absolutely no idea where to start, one of the best things you can do is go back to your basics.

The pieces that feel easy. Natural. Your comfort outfits. The things you reach for when everything else fails. These are basically your core pieces — the ones that give your wardrobe some structure. Maybe it’s your jeans, your midi skirts, your statement trousers, your pull-on ones… the pieces that somehow make an outfit feel right, even when you haven’t really planned it.

Read more

Yes, transitional outfits are fun. You can blend seasons, play with layers and textures, and honestly, it’s proba…

Read more

So, in honour of my upcoming milestone, I thought I’d do a slightly different sort of post. No fashion today, just beauty.

I like to do a lot of research before slapping something on my face, but I’m also not prepared to watch 350 Reels to find out. I like to hear from people who actually know what they are talking about so I really enjoy watching the Doctorly YouTube channel — two very cute dermatologists who go into skin concerns in a lot of detail without making everything feel unnecessarily complicated. I also swear by Caroline Hirons’ book Skincare, which helped me build a routine around my actual skin and concerns rather than whatever product is getting the most attention — or commission — that week.

My main concerns at the moment are hydration, pigmentation, texture and pores, the occasional breakout and, obviously, the bloody fine lines.

Over time I’ve tried quite a lot of things, so I thought it could be useful to share what I’m actually using and what I think is making a difference.

First: cleaning my face properly

This has been life changing! My skin actually got worse when I moved back to Spain. Yes, there was a lot of lovely sun tan and glowing skin (sweat most times!), but wearing so much SPF and then actually not cleaning my face properly made me break out a lot more than I was used to.

Caroline Hirons is very strict about double cleansing, and this is probably the habit from her book that made the biggest difference to my skin. In the evening I double cleanse, particularly if I’ve been wearing SPF and/or make-up, and once in the morning. Even when I get home at 3am, tired and slightly tipsy, I still double cleanse. It’s non-negotiable.

I like to start with Beauty Pie Japanfusion, which gently melts away make-up and SPF, then follow with the L’Oréal Vitamin C cleanser. Nothing fancy, but I love both and have been using them for years. I also don’t think cleanser is where you need to spend loads of money to be honest!

The ingredients I swear by

One of the things I learnt from Skincare is that, instead of spending your money on magical serums and creams, it’s much more useful to understand which ingredients are actually doing something for your skin.

You don’t need one insanely expensive “miracle” cream , it makes much more sense to use a few targeted ingredients that do something different. Which, for the lazy person in me, took a while to get used to. I would much rather wash my face, slap on an expensive serum, a fancy cream and SPF and call it a day. But I’ve changed the way I do things, and it’s actually working.

Over time I’ve worked out which ingredients my skin likes, and I keep going back to them depending on what I’m trying to tackle:

For hydration: I start with the Elixir Brightening Essence Lotion I bought in Japan, then layer Hada Labo Gold on top. Together they’ve made a really noticeable difference to how hydrated and plump my skin feels. Both were fairly cheap in Japan and I don’t know what I am going to do when I ran out! Go back to Japan most likely!

For pigmentation and brightness: vitamin C , I’m currently using Melano CC, another Japan buy. I really like it because it’s lightweight and easy to layer without making my skin feel sticky. I use it in the morning because I’m mainly looking for help with dullness and uneven tone, especially as I’m very conscious of sun damage and pigmentation.

For pores, oiliness and the occasional breakout: niacinamide — I use The Ordinary Niacinamide, which I’ve used on and off for years and always go back to. It’s one of those unglamorous products that just seems to keep my skin a bit more balanced, particularly when I’m sweating more or my pores are looking more obvious.

For dullness and texture: glycolic acid, I use The Ordinary Glycolic Acid around three times a week. I like that my skin feels smoother and looks brighter the next morning.

All of the products above were bought with my own money. There are also a few things I’m currently trying that were gifted to me, so let’s get into those.

For texture and fine lines: retinoids — probably the ingredient I’ve been most consistent with long term. As you probably know, they are basically vitamin A derivatives that help speed up skin-cell turnover and support collagen production, which makes them very good for fine lines, texture and pigmentation, ding ding ding! I’m currently using Medik8 Crystal Retinal, and so far so good. It’s a little stronger than the Beauty Pie retinol I was using before, so I’m only using it a few times a week for now while my skin gets used to it.

For keeping everything looking a little bouncier: peptides — these are short chains of amino acids, basically the building blocks your skin uses to make proteins like collagen and elastin. The idea is that they help support firmness, hydration and overall skin resilience rather than doing anything dramatic overnight. I’ve started using Medik8 Liquid Peptides, which feels very light and easy to layer, and I do feel like my skin looks a little plumper when I’m consistent with it, so let’s see!

And yes, collagen. I’ve been taking collagen for a while now, and while I can’t say I’ve noticed some miraculous transformation in my face, I do notice a difference in my hair and in how my joints feel after exercising. I’m currently using Elevate (15% off with code NOELIA15) and Ancient + Brave (both gifted), I add them to yoghurt, smoothies or coffee, depending on the type.

The devices I actually use

This is where my beauty routine starts becoming slightly ridiculous.

I already had an LED mask from Beauty Pie, but then CurrentBody (10% off with code NOELIA) gifted me theirs and I ended up preferring it simply because it’s much more comfortable to wear. It stays properly on my face, and the little remote can clip onto your clothes, which sounds incredibly specific but is actually essential because it means I can walk around the house, make dinner, tidy up, answer emails, whatever, rather than having to sit completely still for ten minutes. I use it always in the evenings just because I have more time. Red light is supposed to be good for overall skin health, brightness and helping with inflammation, and I do feel like my skin looks calmer and a little more glowy when I’m consistent with it. Is consistent the key to everything?

Yep!

Then there’s the ZIIP Halo, which was also gifted and is a much more recent addition. If you are thinking about getting one, I also have a 10% off with code NOELIA.

ZIIP claims a LOT, lifting, sculpting, glow, fine lines, all sorts, and I’ve seen some fairly wild reviews from people saying their face looks immediately more snatched after using it. I’m only about two weeks in, so I’m not ready to tell you it has rearranged my entire face.

But so far, I really like it. I was already doing a quick gua sha routine in the mornings for lymphatic drainage, so this feels like a slightly more high-tech version of that ritual. I definitely notice a glow straight afterwards, although that could also be the 35 different ingredients I’m applying to my face at this point, lol.

What I really like is how easy it is to use. The guided videos are genuinely helpful and weirdly soothing, and it’s become a really nice way to start the day. Full disclosure: I also don’t have kids, so introducing another ten-minute beauty ritual into my morning is probably considerably easier for me than for many people.

I’ve only been using it for two weeks, though, so this one is very much to be continued.

The Professional Stuff

Read more

Read more

At times it was actually too warm, which is something no one there is ever ready for. There were days when leaving the house before 5pm felt absolutely crazy and unnecessary and going into central London was completely out of the question. The Tube is still very much a non-air-conditioned situation — an absolutely wild concept when almost everyone relies on it every day. So if you are planning a London trip during a heatwave, forget every accessory you think you need. Buy a personal fan instead.

I lived in London for many years — basically most of my twenties and thirties — before moving back to Spain after Covid. At the time, I was very ready for it. I wanted to be close to my family again, live by the sea, have more space, more sun, a slightly slower life. All the things London is famously terrible for.

And I love living in Gran Canaria. I really do. But I still have the Londoner DNA very much running through my veins.

I miss walking everywhere. I miss having an insane amount of things you can do on any random Tuesday. I miss finding little vintage shops out of nowhere, meeting a friend for lunch and ending up partying until 2 am, going to the theatre, people-watching, wandering around Soho, and yes, jumping on the Tube, even if that means being drenched in sweat and standing next to someone who clearly forgot deodorant.

So when I go back now, and I go back very often, I try to do everything. I want to see everyone. I want to eat everything I’ve missed. I want to go to exhibitions and the theatre and shops and neighbourhoods I haven’t visited in ages. I want to walk around London for hours even though, technically, I moved away partly because I was tired of having to walk around London for hours. It makes absolutely no sense, I know!

It's the curse of being an immigrant, when you are away, you miss home desperately. But then you go back home and realise you don’t completely belong there anymore either, because you are not quite the person who left.

Anyway, enough with the soppiness. You came here for fashion.

Below, I’m sharing some of the outfits I wore, plus a very unofficial guide to some of my favourite London spots — including where I get last-minute West End tickets, the best place to buy souvenirs that don’t suck and my favourite shopping areas that are, obviously, not Oxford Street.

Read more

The question you might be able …

Read more

As a stylist, I know I should be interested in it, maybe even offer it to clients, but the truth is I've always struggled to make sen…

Read more

To the mar…

Read more