Tips to get your man to dress better

Posted on 1:00pm Wednesday 28th Mar 2018

Does your boyfriend have bad taste in clothes? Do you wish you could dress the man in your life a little better? You’re in the right place! In this article I’m going to share some tips to help you encourage your man to dress a little more fashionably.

This is definitely a topic I can relate to. When I met my husband I wasn’t overly keen on most of his wardrobe and style choices, including wearing black shoes with casual jeans. It made me cringe! Shallow perhaps, but it really did. I had to sort out his shoe collection and luckily I introduced him to Vans slip on shoes which I thought would suit him much better and look more appropriate with his casual attire as well as age appropriate as we were only in our mid-twenties then! Luckily he loved the Vans and they’ve become his staple shoe choice ever since I encouraged this change. Paired with casual Superdry jeans, a t-shirt, hoody and bomber jacket, they really do look so much better!

Here are some handy tips if you want to get your man to dress better:

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Be honest

Sometimes honesty is the best policy. Be upfront and honest. Just tell him what you don’t like about his wardrobe. Some men just wear things for their purpose rather than trying to be fashionable or look good. He might not have realised something bugs you and he may be happy to make a switch. If he loves what he wears, then he can tell you and you’ll know he doesn’t want to change. Then you’ll just have to move past this and accept things as they are. At least you’ll know. Be prepared too – he might return the favour.

Buy clothes as presents

Some men don’t want to spend money on clothes. They have much better ways to spend their money than the latest fashion! In this instance it might be best to buy him clothes as birthday and Christmas gifts. That way he doesn’t have to spend his own cash on something he’d rather not! This way you get to buy him exactly what you’d like to see him in and hope he likes it too.

Go shopping with him

As we’ve established some men are clueless when it comes to styling themselves and even knowing what to buy. They like to walk in a shop, get what they need and exit as soon as possible! Sometimes shopping needs to be done and perhaps a little help from you will go a long way. Some gentle persuasion to try clothes he might not otherwise have thought of trying could change his clothes shopping habits for the better. He could be pleasantly surprised by your clothes choices and you’ll come home with a newly dressed man!

Compliment him

Tell him how great he looks when he dresses how you prefer. Compliments can go a long way and make him feel better in what he’s wearing. If the compliments aren’t working and he doesn’t feel comfortable, then you’ll need to try something else that suits his style more.

Have a clearout

Make it a joint mission to donate some of both of your old clothes or sell some on eBay. Once he feels good about giving and also making a bit of extra pocket money you can hopefully get him to give away the clothes you are least impressed with. With the tips above and some new clothes from your shopping trip, he’ll hopefully feel ready to part with his old attire to make space for new things and even feel good about it.

More fashion posts
How my style is changing now I’m in my 30s
Style Challenge: Dressing the man in my life

Tips for transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring

Posted on 12:20pm Friday 23rd Mar 2018

You can probably tell I’m a teeny tiny bit excited for the warm weather to begin with all the spring and holiday related posts I’ve been writing just recently. I literally cannot wait. I’m meant to live in a warm climate I’m sure. I can’t stand the cold and spend the whole winter moaning about it. When the sun is warm and shining on me I am instantly happy and calm. One of the best things about spring is being able to transition to my warm weather wardrobe. I’m so much more comfortable in lighter simpler clothing.

Here are a few tips to help transition your wardrobe from winter to spring:

Don’t put the boots away just yet

Sure spring is warmer, but there are still cool days and chilly breezes. Keep your boots out, but scrap the woolly tights. Go for over the knee socks or knee high boots with bare legs, floaty skirts or flirty dresses. For some classy knee high boots, click here.

Stay chunky

You can even keep a hold of your chunky jumpers and team them with chiffon skirts, or wear loosely over floral print dresses for a laid back effortlessly cool combo. Choose between pumps or boots to finish off the look depending on how cool those spring breezes are.

Brighten up

Winter is all rusty oranges, burgundy reds and deep teal greens, but don’t be afraid to brighten up your colour palette as the weather brightens. Bright colours and even dazzling whites will brighten any gloomy spring days and they’ll be the first thing you’ll reach for on those hot summer days.

Lighten up

Yep, brighten up and lighten up. Choose lighter jackets, lighter knits and lighter tights: lighter colours, lighter textures and lighter materials. You’ll still want to wear a light jacket most days or to carry one with you just in case, but a denim version or blazer should suffice.

Switch up your scarves

You’ll want to pack away your knitted scarves, but keep out your lightweight oversized fashion scarves as both a great way to accessorize, but also as back up for the not so hot days. These will also take you through to summer as a lightweight shawl, beach cover up and sarong.

Sandals and jeans

There’s nothing more summery than a pair of sandals and you can start to wear them in spring with jeggings and jeans matched with a lightweight knit or top and cardi. Add sparkly gem sandals to a plain pair of jeans to glisten in the sunshine.

Never trust the weather

It may look boiling hot outside, but as we first creep in to spring the sunshine can fool us. It may actually be hot in the sun, but as soon as it disappears behind a cloud we’re reminded of the temperatures of winter we’d rather leave behind. Remember to always layer up with light knits and scarves that can easily be packed away in your bag when the sun does shine.

Fun animal print scarves for spring (and a 40% off Lylia Rose discount code)

Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 22nd Mar 2018

Please someone tell me spring is just around the corner? I'm not sure I can deal with any more snow and freezing temperatures. It's making the winter feel incredibly long all this snow of late. I'm certain I suffer with seasonal affective disorder and need the warm weather more than ever right now. Ben told me it was going to snow again, but upon checking his weather app he said it must have changed. I'm still not sure if he was being serious or just trying to wind me up!

As spring is hopefully about to finally start and then a long hot summer (I can only dream) it’s the perfect time to stock up on beautiful lightweight scarves from my blog shop. Oh yes, I don’t only blog, but I have a fabulous little online store on this website selling a great range of oversized lightweight printed scarves for all tastes and budgets.

To celebrate the hopeful arrival of spring I’m offering a huge discount of 40% off any purchase with the code MARCH2018 until midnight of Thursday 30^th March 2018. With prices starting from only £4.99 you’d be barmy to not check it out!

2^nd class UK delivery is free and there are speedier options for a small cost – great if you need a prezzie in a hurry! Delivery is to the UK only and there is a minimum order total of £4.99.

Prints range from flowers and trees to patterns and animals. The material is a soft poly fabric, so it’s not scratchy at all. I wear one most days and they’re suitable both indoors and out keeping my neck ever so cosy. Once I start wearing one I begin to feel lost without it.

Don’t forget to enter code MARCH2018 for 40% off your scarf order today!

Below are some of my favourite animal prints.

Rows left to right: Swallows, Elephants, Owls, Giraffes, Whales, Penguins, Sausage Dogs, Polar Bears, Horses!

For more great ways to use a Lylia Rose scarf, check out these fab ideas from me and other bloggers:

Unique and alternative uses for a fashion scarf
Five Other Ways to Use Your Fashion Scarf

Achieving smart casual — how can it be done?

Posted on 12:20pm Thursday 15th Mar 2018

The line can sometimes be blurred between clothing that is too formal and too casual, so what should you and your partner be wearing to a smart-casual event? CT Shirts, retailers of men’s blue suits, tell us more:

When to go for the smart casual look

In many day-to-day situations, we aren’t provided with a strict dress code. Some offices and workplaces have ‘dress down Fridays’ or a casual dress code every day. However, it’s still nice to make an effort and look reasonably smart — even if this doesn’t involve a ballgown or three-piece suit and tie.

In other cases, we might be told to follow a dress code. If this is smart casual what do you wear? At a dinner party for example, a men’s shirt and tuxedo or ball gown is not expected but slack jeans and a T-shirt would be looked down upon. Or, for a first interview — it may specify casual in the email, but first impressions count and your outfit should still be carefully considered.

Choosing to dress in this style can be the safest option to go for when you’re unsure what to wear. It avoids the error of looking like you don’t take pride in your appearance and prevents you feeling out of place by dressing too formally.

Save your money

Instead of buying a brand new outfit for a smart casual event, why not simply purchase a few new garments?

A blazer is one way for men and women to carry a smart casual vibe. It depends on your fashion preferences as to what sort of blazer you opt for — just choose one that you feel confident in and it will show. For men, an unstructured blazer is perfect for those who prefer a relaxed look and want to avoid a rigid and overly tailored shape. Some believe that these are more comfortable too, as they are without inner folds and allow you to move more freely. For women, a structured blazer emphasises the shape of the body. It gives more of a snug fit to the wearer and is generally more expensive, as it takes great skill to create an impressive jacket of this style. Navy is a good choice for a blazer as it is very versatile and not as formal as the traditional black jacket.

You might not think that people notice what’s on your feet, but good footwear can make or break an outfit! Depending on your preferences, choose a pair of brogues or loafers to complete a smart casual look. Brogues are uber stylish and recognisable by their detailed leather uppers and thin laces. Loafers, on the other hand, are lower shoes so the ankle is exposed. They do not have laces and often have a low heel. They can be seen as less formal than the brogue because more of the foot is on show. In terms of colour, brown is a good colour to go for as it can be paired with denim or smart trousers, whereas black may be too dark to complement some colours.

A smart pair of trousers can really complete the look. For men, a light pair of chinos are a good option for warmer weather, as they can brighten up your outfit whilst keeping you looking smart. For women, if you feel more comfortable in jeans, try to choose a darker denim as this gives off a more formal vibe — just avoid distressed or ripped denim at all costs.

Jumpers and shirts

To meet the smart casual code as a woman, choose a sensible blouse or loose-fitted shirt. But what about men? How can they achieve the look?

The art of layering

Tell your man to get a smart jumper for the wintery seasons. A roll-neck jumper is perfect for layering and looking smart. Pair a black wool roll-neck with a grey slim fit jacket and coloured pocket square to become the master of business casual. Match socks with the pocket square for co-ordination and wear a favourite pair of swanky trousers.

Dress down the dress shirt

Wearing a loose-fit shirt, with denim, can look equally as smart as it does casual. Choose complementing colours for the shirt and blazer, such as different hues of blue or grey, to really make the outfit come together. Purchase tailored trousers or jeans and pair with brogues to complete the look.

Following the smart casual dress code doesn’t have to be difficult. Of course, keeping your outfit neat and tidy is important too, so don’t let smaller details drop you into the ‘casual’ bracket. Have a lint roller on hand before leaving the house and make sure you always look your best.

Other blog posts you may enjoy:

Unique and alternative uses for a fashion scarf

A peek at my new short hair

TOBI Holiday Fashion

A peek at my new outfits from LOTD

Collab

Unique and alternative uses for a fashion scarf (plus a discount code for last minute Mother’s Day gifts)

Posted on 10:45am Wednesday 7th Mar 2018

It’s nearly Mother’s Day and I have a treat for you with a whopping 30% off in my online fashion boutique which sells printed lightweight fashion scarves. You’ll find the discount code in this blog post. Not only are these perfect for keeping necks cosy in the winter, but they are lightweight and make the perfect spring/summer fashion accessory both indoors and out.

Cool scarf uses for mums, babies and kids too!

You can also get super inventive with these scarves. They can be used for so much more. Here are a few alternative uses from my own brain and other bloggers brilliant suggestions too:

Breastfeeding cover

You’ll have the prettiest breast cover around! I’ve seen some huge plain looking breastfeeding covers, but these scarves are much prettier. They are also lightweight and easy to pack in a change bag, or simply just wear it all day and stretch out to cover baby when needed.

Sarong

They are so big they can be used as a sarong on the beach or by the poolside. They could also cover shoulders to help protect against the sun or as any sort of beach cover-up to protect your modesty or for walking about.

Photo Backdrop

A blogger told me a while ago that she used my scarves as pretty backdrops for her photos. Such a great idea and one I must remember to do with my own scarves.

Clothing

Ooh I love the alternative clothing uses. Not only could you use as a beach cover up, but you could tie it in all manners of ways to make a cool summery top, headscarf or belt.

‘I've been known to use a scarf as a tube top hehe (if that's the term for it - top without straps)’ www.thegrowingmum.com

‘I use mine as a belt. It can make an outfit pop.’ http://www.kerrylouisenorris.com

Dress up

Children love to dress up and these are perfect for their dress up boxes. They can use them as capes, dresses, skirts, head scarves turning themselves into superheroes, princesses and so much more!

‘My daughter uses mine to dress up as a Princess!’ www.surreymama.com

Peekaboo

What a fantastic idea to play peekaboo with a young child or baby.

‘Can go into baby’s sensory play basket. Both mines lived playing with them when they were little. Not just a touch and the feel of them but for peekaboos and other basic games they are great’ www.captainbobcat.com

Summer pram blanket

They are perfect as summer blankets for little ones in their pram and can also double up as a shade cover by attaching to the hood of the pram or car seat and floating down over baby letting them get much needed sleep and keeping them out of breezes or bright sunshine.

‘For a thin pram blanket in the summer when it's a little breezy’ www.anklebitersadventures.co.uk

Save 30% on Lylia Rose fashion scarves this week

Use code MUM2018 until midnight Sunday 11^th March 2018 to get 30% off your order. Second class delivery is free, but for a speedier delivery to get in time for the big day just select a different option at the checkout starting from just £1.50 for first class delivery.

Shop here: https://www.lyliarose.com/ourshop

Hope you have a brilliant Mother’s Day and do let me know if you buy your mum a scarf from my shop. Tag @lyliarose in any pictures on Instagram or Twitter.