I have always appreciated high end designer fashion. Some of my favourite designers are Missoni, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada and Miu Miu. Unfortunately, my budget does not extend to purchasing these high-end designers (unless I am lucky enough to pick them up in one of my favourite thrift stores) but they always influence my styling.
Things are changing very slowly but there is change in fashion that is now being more inclusive and designing adaptive fashion. The catwalks of Paris and New York this year had a variety of body types and the use of upcycled fashion. In Australia there were models with disabilities that were part of the runway shows. There is a very slow move to change but it is going in the right direction.
Designer fashion is impeccable. The fabrics are thought about not only for their design but also for their weight and texture. With high end design the whole process from design to implementation has been well thought about and crafted. Most are hand crafted to give unique one-off quality to the garment. Every detail from buttonholes, zips and seams are thought through to give the wearer the feel of ultimate luxury. Nothing feels out of place. The designer will consider every detail when designing the garment, the cut, colours, patterns, textures and fit.
This is how I style for myself and my clients. I have fun with the use of bold colour and style in a glamorous sometimes cheeky way.
Dolce and Gabbana are one of my favourite designers. Their baroque aesthetic, the more is more style with a bit of a punk attitude appeals to my sense of fun and not sticking to the rules. My design mantra is “you have to know the rules to break the rules”. I love their theatrical style, their use of contrast, movement, exuberant detail, deep colour and grandeur. They are known for taking the traditional masculine suit and crafting it into a female symbol of power and confidence. They use this technique often to exhibit empowerment to females, but this can also be applied to convey empowering in the disability sector.
That’s how I think about styling and what works on the individual. Once you know the colour, pattern, and shape rules, you can then turn it on its head. Being able to think outside the box, whilst applying the rules of styling is a must when working in the disability sector. You must think about your client’s likes and dislikes, what works for them and how to invent a look that works with their disability. Whether that is reinventing a look or modifying a look to work for them. Many clients I have worked with have an acquired a disability later in life, so the style that may have worked for them beforehand needs to be rethought creatively.
If a client is an amputee, I would consider their prosthetic limb when styling them. Some may be very comfortable with the prosthetic limb and may be very open to wearing bolder colours or design that draw attention whilst other may feel less comfortable and want something that will draw less attention. Comfort is another key consideration, is a certain style of garment more comfortable for your disability? Do you only want to wear flat shoes but still want to have a fashionable look? Thinking outside the box helps me to achieve what is right for your individual needs whilst still making you feel special and empowered.
Book a Free 15 Minute Discovery Session today for an opportunity to discuss how we can help you ‘Rock your Style!’