What special occasions do you have to look forward to this summer?  Whether it is a wedding, maybe a 50th or 60th birthday party, a barbeque, a trip to Ascot or a christening, Afibel have lots of options to help you choose your stand out outfit.  Add in shoes you can walk in and wear all day and seek out some gorgeous accessories to elevate your look, you really will be feeling fabulous.

For my collaboration with Afibel this month, I am sharing ideas for styling a selection of special occasion outfits.  From formal to relaxed, I think there is something for everyone and Afibel really do offer a huge range of inclusive styles for every BODY stocking sizes from a 6 to a 34 with designs that are both flattering and comfortable.  And don't shy away from admitting you want to feel comfortable either!  I've long since ditched the high heel shoes, the restrictive waistbands and tight shift dresses, life really is too short for shapewear and feeling hot and flustered. 

Let me know what you think, I'm starting with my favourite colour, red combined with polka dots and a wrap neckline ...

This is a sponsored blog post.

They say you should get your colours analysed regularly, ideally every 5-15 years because as we age our colouring becomes softer, we have less contrast to our skin and even the pigment in our eyes and lips can change.  I've been feeling very insecure recently, having grown in confidence in my early 50s, the last 6-12 months I seem to have completely lost my sense of style and happiness in who I am and my confidence along with it.  I've gone from (mostly) loving my wardrobe, to hating it!  I am also fed up with online shopping due to too many deliveries and constant returns.  I feel guilty at the amount I buy, I get anxious when trying to choose what to wear and the whole style thing is causing me a lot of stress.  I have been trying to gradually reduce my wardrobe over the last couple of years, I am learning not to keep things I never wear or don't love but it is slow progress and I am a long way off being perfect.  I have enough overwhelm going on as it is without the extra worry of what the hell shall I wear?!

I want to open my wardrobe and see a structured, capsule collection of styles I love, that I feel good in, work for my lifestyle, my colour palette and my body shape.  I want my clothes to fit.  I want to wear something because it works and not just because it is in my wardrobe and I 'should' wear it!

I have been working on this by myself for months, years probably, chipping away at it!  I've had a style and colour consultation in the past but I've never fully seen the process through to the end.  My goal is a carefully curated wardrobe that is perfect for me.

So when Sarah van Dort from Abfab Image and I got chatting on Instagram, it felt like the right time to ask for help!  Sarah and I met up for a chat in Marlow and I loved her enthusiasm for all things colour and style, she's a super bubbly person and we bonded over a shared love of wearing red!  I booked in for an image makeover which included colour analysis, body shape and style personality.  I also wanted some advice on a wardrobe edit!