Work Your Wardrobe: Gok's Gorgeous Guide to Style that Lasts. Gok Wan
SAVVY SAVER
THE BRILLIANT THING ABOUT JEANS, ANGELS, IS THAT YOU CAN WEAR THE SAME OLD PAIR FOR YEARS. ALL IT TAKES IS A LITTLE STYLE KNOW-HOW TO GIVE THEM AN INSTANT UPDATE.
1 ALTERATIONS, ALTERATIONS, ALTERATIONS! They’re a fashionista’s best friend. It’s tempting just to stick with hems at the length they were when you bought them, or to leave legs bagging round the thighs because they fit you at the waist, but jeans alterations usually only cost a few quid and I can’t tell you how much they will ramp up the revamp factor.
2 THE WAR IS OVER, GIRLS, SO THERE’S NO NEED TO BOIL-WASH YOUR DENIMS TO DEATH. Keep your jeans looking better for longer: wash them at 40 degrees. Also, turn them inside out before you put them in the machine.
3 CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME AND WHEN IT COMES TO GREAT-PRICED DENIMS, second-hand shops are a godsend. When I’m styling, charity shops are one of my first ports of call, because the denim selections are fabulous—not to mention fabulously well priced. Have a good rummage and you’re sure to find some fab styles.
SAVVY SHOPPER
SHOPPING FOR JEANS CAN BE A TOUGH CALL THESE DAYS—YOU NEED A MAP TO NAVIGATE ALL THE STYLES AND CUTS ON OFFER. SO HERE ARE MY SIMPLE POINTERS TO SET YOU ON YOUR WAY TO FINDING THE PERFECT PAIR.
1 MAKE GAP YOUR FIRST STOP: they have really cut to the chase with the way they label their jeans and have made it so easy to recognise which shape is which.
2 THE PRICES OF SOME DENIMS ARE REACHING LEVELS THAT WOULD MAKE A HOLLYWOOD HEIRESS THINK TWICE. Yes, I know that some are beautifully cut, so if you have the cash to splash on a special pair, then treat yourself. But I think traditional brands, such as Wrangler, Lee and Levi’s, give you as much for your money—after all, they have been making jeans for centuries.
3 IF YOU ARE GOING JEANS SHOPPING, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PAIR OF HEELS WITH YOU, and try to fit a fave top in your bag, too. It really helps to style jeans up before you buy. Plus, having some of your other key pieces to hand will encourage you to try new styles.
where to buy
FIND BOOTCUT JEANS AT: Wrangler, Topshop, Gap, John Lewis, M&S, House of Fraser FIND SKINNY JEANS AT: Topshop, Uniqlo, ASOS, River Island, Diesel FIND STRAIGHT JEANS AT: Levi’s stores, high-street jeans specialists (for Levi’s, Wrangler and (lee), House of Fraser (for mid-range designer), Ilovejeans.com FIND BOYFRIEND JEANS AT: Dorothy Perkins, Gap, New Look FIND HIGH-WAISTED FLARES AT: French Connection, Topshop, ASOS
“So now you know how the jeans that you wear every day can be easily styled to make you feel fabulous, whatever your mood.”
TROUSER SHAPES HAVE REALLY CHANGED OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, with designers offering us everything from the peg leg to the harem pant and the spray-on skinny.
WHILE I AM A GREAT BELIEVER IN TRYING OUT NEW SHAPES (it’s a great first step to refreshing your style, girls), I think there’s so much fashion potential in classic styles that you don’t have to rush out and buy the latest trouser trends every season—phew! That’s not to say that finding even a classic pair to suit your shape is an easy task; many of my ladies say that they find trouser shopping tricky. But if you do have a pair, those timeless trousers should be the brilliant back-up to your little black dress: a dependable, do-all closet classic that will suit you from day to night, desk to dancefloor and beyond.
Now, my angels, let’s take a look at some of the CLASSIC TROUSER STYLES that I find hanging up in most of my girls’ wardrobes.
Gok’s FIT TIPS
STRAIGHT TROUSERS
1. Flat-fronted straights will work wonders on my girls who prefer to keep their midriff under wraps, as they can streamline the tummy area.
2. Defined front seams will elongate straight legs, but juicy girls beware: if the seams stretch and flatten across the hips, it can focus attention on this area.
3. Pinstripe trousers can do wonders for curvy shapes by drawing the eye right round them. They can also make legs look longer.
1 straight trousers
WHEN IT COMES TO TAILORED BLACK TROUSERS, STRAIGHT LEGS CAN REALLY LENGTHEN THOSE PINS, SO WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE? Straight doesn’t necessarily mean straightforward, though, and because there are quite a few different options, it’s worth looking at whether the ones you wear are working well for you. As is always the way, ladies, when making your classic pieces work to suit your shape, it all comes down to detail. So check the waistband and leg style (straight cuts vary slightly in width), and follow my ‘Fit Tips’ for the best straights to suit your shape.
· CITY SLICKER
It doesn’t take long to make these simple staples into a super-stylish office get-up, whatever your age or shape. Just pair with a plain black fitted shirt, add a classic black or tan belt with a smart metal buckle (gold or silver will work) to define the waist, slip on a pair of statement flats (pumps with jewels or buckles on) and hang a classic black jacket casually over your shoulders for that ever-elegant European chic. Or, for a sharper look, slip on a sumptuously silky vest top (wear a slouchy fine-knit cardie over that if you don’t like the tops of your arms on show), turn up your trousers to the ankle and slip on some power heels. Accessorise with a scarf or necklaces. Whichever route you choose, darling divas, style central is your destination.
“Kick off your flats, jump into your heels and you’ve given these pants a super-sultry evening spin.”
· BLACK NIGHTS
When it comes to dressing for evening or putting together an easy office-to-party look, black slim pants are the wings of any social butterfly. To make your work trousers say ‘fashion-week chic’, just slip on one of your black silky blouses and wrap a super-wide belt (at least 6 inches) between the waistband of your trousers and your bust. A sequined belt or a classic cummerbund will do. (I always find them in charity shops.) No one will ever know you are wearing your work trousers, while the wide belt will elongate your mid-section beautifully. Just kick off your flats, jump into your heels and you’ve given these pants a super-sultry evening spin.
Gok’s FIT TIP-
WIDE-LEG TROUSERS
1. Watch out for pleating and drawstring styles, as they can add bulk to your tummy.
2. Wide pants will work wonders on my lovely pear-shaped girls, especially if the trouser waistline is ever so slightly high.
3. Wide pants are a great option for my older girls—they say smart, sophisticated and just the right side of sexy.
2 wide-leg trousers
NOTHING SAYS OLD-STYLE GLAMOUR LIKE WIDE-LEG PANTS: THEY NEVER, EVER DATE. They can be worn at any age and just ooze the kind of easy elegance that says, ‘effortless glamour’. They