The dog days of summer are passing, and before we know it, the cooler days will be with us. But that's no reason to let our style go to the dogs, too!
This month, I'm back with some easy, uplifting fixes to help you look fresh and modern, feel confident and dress with joy, all without the need for a total wardrobe overhaul. Simple style tips for your real life.
And, not only that, I'm offering style advice on what not to do as well. After all, the road to Frumpsville can be just around the corner at any moment, when we least expect it!
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Don't hide yourself inside your clothes
Too much extra fabric everywhere in an outfit (so that you are drowning in material) is a sure-fire way to head down that road to Frumpsville.
In fact, if you wear all baggy clothes, your indicator may already be flashing to turn into that road!
Wearing a lovely, loose, fluid pair of trousers or a floaty top can look and feel beautifully cool individually, but, put together, can be overwhelming and hide all your beautiful assets.
So, how can you look more modern and less like a citizen of Frumpsville?
Having some shape – any shape – is more youthful and 'with it'. Try to wear pieces that aren't too tight and that fit you properly – you'll look and feel so much better.
Lastly, balance your outfit to look like the best version of yourself. Remember: fitted top with loose bottoms or fitted bottoms with a loose top.
If you like trousers more than a skirt, a modern way to approach this sort of look is with this River Island waistcoat.
Buy the black sleeveless button detail waistcoat
For a more budget-friendly purchase, split up your payments using Klarna or Clearpay
I love the detail on this, which elevates it much higher than its price tag.
Consider combining it for perfect balance with a pair of trousers like this pick from H&M, for an easy, fluid look.
Remember: fitted top with loose bottoms or fitted bottoms with a loose top
|RIVER ISLAND / H&M
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Having some shape – any shape – is more youthful and 'with it' | DEIRDRE NICHOLAS
Don't wear a saggy bra
There's nothing quite like a saggy bra for making our whole look, well – sag!
If the foundations of our house are collapsing, anything we put on top by way of clothes will look less than fabulous.
My absolute go-to bra for comfort, support and all-around wonderfulness is a Wacoal bra.
Wacoal's lingerie is exceptional, from moulded and contour bras that create an uplifted and smooth finish under clothes, to plunge bras that offer a deeper neckline, to strapless bras that are perfect for Bardot or bandeau styles of clothes.
Honestly, they are my go-to bra brand for comfort, support, and quality.
My absolute go-to bra for comfort, support and all-around wonderfulness is a Wacoal bra
|WACOAL
Don't wear high-neck or boxy tops
It's not always the clothes themselves that can take us down that Frumpsville road turning. It can also be the way we style them that counts.
Of course, which neckline suits you can depend on your body shape, but ask yourself, "Is this neckline setting off my face as well as it could?"
If you are wearing an up-to-the-neck top, maybe ask yourself, "Do I look as though I've been strangled?!"
What's at your neck can affect your entire look, and high necks can sometimes make you look a bit stodgy unless you have a beautiful, long neck.
So, instead, maybe think about some of these styles of tops and don't forget that a great, slightly fitted shirt with its open neckline can be a really easy, everyday, flattering item to pop on.
This cotton shirt from Boden is worth its weight in gold as an addition to your wardrobe. So versatile, it looks modern and 'with it'.
If you're looking ahead beyond those dog days to cooler temperatures, this M&S jacket is a great little investment that can take you anywhere.
Ask yourself, 'Is this neckline setting off my face as well as it could?'
|BODEN / M&S
Don't wear bulky, round-toed shoes
If you're still trying to avoid looking longingly at the signpost to Frumpsville, one sure-fire way to avoid it is to steer clear of very bulky, round-toed shoes – especially if they dwarf the rest of your outfit and are not in proportion.
If you go for heavy, round-toed shoes, they tend to look a bit clumpy unless you are wearing very heavy garments, or unless you are working on the roads in construction.
Instead, you might like to try footwear that is more in proportion to your outfit and less clumpy.
One of my favourite options is this pair from Ralph Lauren.
For a more budget-friendly option, why not try a sub-£50 pair from Zara?
You might like to try footwear that is more in proportion to your outfit and less clumpy
|RALPH LAUREN / ZARA
Real Life, Real Style is your monthly dose of fashion and style inspiration for living confidently and dressing with ease, no matter what your day (or decade) looks like.
It is exclusively written for GB News by Deirdre Nicholas, the creator of 50 and Fabulous with My Friend Deirdre.
For more style inspiration, check out her YouTube or Instagram.
Haven't caught up on last month's column? For Deirdre's three must-have summer dresses, click here.