Coleen’s Real Style

What Is Real Style?

Experimenting and finding the styles that best suit your look.

Everyone who knows me knows that I love fashion, and by that I don’t mean going out and hitting the shops and spending until I drop, no matter what the papers say. It’s just that, like most girls I know, I simply enjoy clothes and love trying out new looks and styles. I’ve never really been into full-on fashion-y looks, though. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing all the new styles from the catwalks every summer and winter and trying some of them out, but at the end of the day I’m a real girl with a real shape. And that means that no matter how much I love all the things I see, there are plenty of styles that are just never, ever going to do it for me.

Photograph © WireImage/Getty Images.

I love all the catwalk looks, but I’m a real girl with a real shape.

And that’s where my Real Style guide comes in. It’s not about telling you the latest designer clothes to buy or just pointing out what’s in fashion now, it’s about me sharing my experiences with you and showing you some great ways to help you look and feel your best. Because whether you like to dress up in the latest designer gear, or love high street faves like Topshop (and who doesn’t?), to me, real style does not come from copying someone else’s look or wearing a designer name from top to toe. At the end of the day, whatever you decide to wear the only name that should be all over your look is yours.

Handbag, La Redoute.

My top five

So let’s get started: I think the best way to do this is to take you through my idea of what makes a great, easy-to-wear set of clothes and styles – or ‘capsule wardrobe’. That’s what this section of the book is all about. I’ll come back to certain things in the following chapters, like tops and bottoms and dresses. Oh, and don’t worry, I’ve dedicated a whole chapter to jeans, so we’ll look at these in loads more detail later on.

But don’t flick through to that bit just yet; we’re going back to basics first. This is how I do it: when I’m deciding what to wear, I ask myself five key questions when I look at my outfit in the mirror:

Top, Yves Saint Laurent; skirt, Joseph.

Style Tip

It’s OK if a shaped jacket won’t button around the waist but fits well at the shoulders. buttoned up can look too office-like anyway, so just wear it loose the nipped-in cut of it will still highlight one of your best bits your waist.

1 Is this the right size?

Whether you’re a real boho-chic girl or love the sexy, fitted look, the bottom line is that whatever you wear, you want to feel comfortable. You don’t want to look too comfortable, though – I love chilling out and pottering about the house in my Juicy trackies, but they really won’t do for a big night out! No, what I mean is making sure that your clothes fit well, because this is really the first step to not just looking good but feeling good too.

Think of the times you’ve gone out wearing something that is too tight, only to spend the whole time trying to hold your tummy in and looking like you’re sucking a lemon. Or, if you feel your skirt is too short, you end up spending the evening pulling the hem, trying to wriggle it down all the time.

So it really is best to always wear clothes that fit well; that are the right size and in shapes that make the most of your figure – day and night. After all, why would you want to let anything get in the way of shopping, having fun or dancing the night away?

2 Which are my best bits?

It really helps to get to grips with the shape of your body, as this will give you a head start in finding the basic clothes shapes that suit you. Most of us go up and down in weight a bit but, generally, whether we are having a ‘fat’ or a ‘thin’ day, our basic shape stays the same. Mine is classic British pear: I’ve got quite a round bum (Wayne’s really cheeky and says it looks big when I wear my Juicy tracksuits). I don’t mind my shape and it’s not likely to change that much, so I always dress to make the most of it.

Jacket, French Connection; shoes, George at Asda;belt, Mexx.

I think my best bit is my waist, though, as it’s quite petite. This gives my body good proportion and balances out my shape, so I mostly go for clothes that highlight it. Big belts are brilliant for this. Also, as you can see, I’m definitely not the tall, leggy type, so I always have to take my height – and short legs – into consideration when buying new clothes. (Now you know why I love my heels.)

I have to be honest, though, understanding how your own body shape fits with the styles you like is one of the hardest things to get right, and it’s taken me ages to figure it out. But when you have you’ll realize that getting the balance right makes a huge difference. Because I know what shape I am, it makes it so much easier to pick styles that fit. So I always love things that come in at the waist and that highlight my shoulders – like a Grecian-style dress, or skinny jeans and a floaty top. And, of course, my Christian Louboutin stilettoes.

Real Style Note

 If you’re having a ‘fat’ day, wear clothes that are looser but not too baggy, as you don’t want to look shapeless. Again, it’s about highlighting your good bits.

 Jeans can also feel a bit pinchy in places, so if you’re not feeling your best, go for an outfit that flows a bit more, like a nice silky shirt and skirt, or softer, tailored jeans (7 For All Mankind do good ones).

 Wear something that you always feel good in, even if it is a bit dressy. A little extra glamour can go a long, long way.

3 Does this style really suit me?

Most of the time, you slip on a new top with a pair of your favourite jeans and you feel great. But sometimes, I have to admit, it’s not that easy. You look in the mirror and think ‘hmm?’ before realizing that sometimes the look that really works for your mate, or that looked good on the girl in the shop, doesn’t quite have the same effect on you. I know the feeling. I mean, I love to look good, but, like most fashion-lovers, I’ve had my fair share of fashion disasters. And there are sure to be many more ‘What was I thinking?’ moments to come…

Top and skirt, Balenciaga. Photograph © Nils Jorgensen/Rex Features.

Sometimes, if you take a chance, you can be really surprised at the results.

But of course we can’t all be perfect, and that’s just fine, because I really don’t think that’s what looking good is all about. In fact, over the past few years, I’ve come to the conclusion that none of us, no matter how fashionable or famous, ever gets it 100 per cent right.

The only way I can work out what suits me best is by trying on the things I like. I’ve even taught myself to stop walking past things that I don’t think are my style as I’ve realized that, sometimes, if you take a chance, you can be really surprised at the results. One of my favourite ever outfits was a little Balenciaga miniskirt and silk blouse that I wore to the Closer Young Heroes 2006 awards. I have never been a lover of minis, as I didn’t think they would flatter my legs, but Justine at Cricket, my favourite designer boutique, encouraged me to try this one out. I think it was because the skirt flared out a little at the bottom, in an A-line shape, that it felt a bit different. I decided to wear it with opaque black tights. My legs didn’t feel too big after all. That was a real result. But I really am comfortable with the fact that I won’t always get it right. I think it would take all the fun out of fashion for me if I did.

Real Style Note

 Challenging your usual style can be a real confidence booster and can make you look at your body shape in a more positive way.

 If you live in jeans and T-shirts, the Boho, or ‘new hippy’ look might be a good one for you. Try wearing jeans and 1970s-style blouses with floaty sleeves, and add some necklaces and pendants. (Freedom at Topshop and Accessorize are brilliant for jewellery with a little more edge.)

 If you think that certain shapes are not your thing, just try loads of different brands on? from high-street styles to more expensive looks. It takes some effort, but keep searching and trying stuff on, you will be surprised at what you find.

4 Is it time to get a second opinion?

We all have these moments when we realize that something we’ve just bought is not quite right or that it doesn’t really look the way you saw it in your head. So, if no matter how many times you look in the mirror you just don’t feel sure about it, it’s time to get a second opinion.

This can be a little bit tricky, because if you ask your close friends if something that you’re not sure of looks good on you, the chances are that they might not want to hurt your feelings by saying what they really think. At this point I call in the expert: my mum. I’ll often get ready to go out at my mum’s in Liverpool, as I go out a lot there with my mates. My mum’s really good at telling me if something’s not quite right, and I trust her opinion. She’ll just say ‘not sure’ if she doesn’t think it looks good.

Real Style Nate

 Remember that if you ask for an opinion you might not get the response you had hoped for. So try to take it on the chin and don’t take it out on the person you asked.

 If someone asks for your opinion, it’s always better to be honest, but at the same time to be a little gentle with the truth.

 Be as encouraging as you can and make any suggestions based on that person’s usual style.

I don’t always agree with what they say, though, so I’ll maybe just go with my first choice anyway. Some of my mates will ask their big sisters for help. Wouldn’t it be great if we could all just hit the shops and bring back one of those?

Style tip

It’s best not to wear skirts too short – for obvious reasons but if you like wearing minis, then styles that sit just above the knees are a good bet. Try wearing them with thick, black tights or leggings in winter. The bare-leg look is not one that many people can carry off. Especially in cold weather! But, if you have the legs for minis, why not!

Dress, Lanvin.

5 How should I do my hair and make-up?

Getting your hair and make-up right is another one of those things that takes years to work out. I’ve never really been one for much make-up: I usually just put gloss on my lips and often I don’t even bother with mascara. But while that suits me fine during the day, I always put a little more thought into how I look for going out at night.

I loved the way Kate Moss had a star painted in gold eyeshadow across one eye on the night of her 34th birthday party. But that’s Kate’s real style and it just wouldn’t be me to go for something like that. So, while I would never suggest that you hit the eyeshadow palette with a paintbrush, there’s no doubt that if you’re glamming up for a night, just keeping it natural can make you look too washed out. The way I do it is simply to make my daytime look a little stronger. So, I’ll put on some black mascara, brush on some bronzer and maybe wear a darker lip gloss.

Top, Hennes; ring, vintage.

Real Style Note

 If you don’t like wearing make-up, look after your skin, as a fresh complexion always looks good.

 I always carry a little pot of Vaseline in my bag: it’s a great natural lip gloss. Use a teensy amount on your eyelashes and eyebrows to lift them a little. Don’t overdo it, though, as you don’t want to look too shiny.

 Groomed hair always looks smart, although tousled, rougher styles can look lovely at night.

Of course, like most girls, I could go on forever about my hair. But my general rule is to pull it into a ponytail for day, and to wear it soft and loose or sleek and straight at night. If you’ve got short hair, add some glossing product and make it a little sleeker – spiky hairdos can look a little fierce. If your hair’s curly, add some moisturizing anti-frizz spray for healthy-looking locks and tease your curls out a little at night – and if it’s short, pull and lift the waves back from your face. But don’t be afraid to experiment: I did just that when I went to Victoria and David Beckham’s Full Length and Fabulous party in 2006, and my hairdresser pulled my hair up into a top bun. I’m not sure if I’d go for that look again but, like Kate Moss, I had fun trying it out.

Brushes, The Body Shop.

I like to stick to a natural make-up look and soft, neutral colours.

Top, DKNY; skirt, DKNY.

Style Tip

If your shirt buttons gape around the bust, wear a pretty camisole underneath. It’s smart and will add a little extra something to your look.

Shaping up:

Styles to suit your body shape.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been lucky to get loads of advice from the style professionals I’ve met on photo shoots (and I’m passing on lots of their tips, so ‘thanks’ to all of you). But the main reason I wanted to do my Real Style guide was to share my love of fashion with you, and to let you know how I’ve worked out the best ways of making the most of my own style.

I think real style is about constantly developing and changing your ideas.

Like most normal girls, it took me a while to get the confidence to develop my own tastes in clothes. And I’ve mostly done that just by trusting what I see in the mirror. I’ve still got lots to learn, but then to me that’s what real style is all about: mine is constantly developing and we all change our ideas about what we like as we get older. There are some things, though, that I would never change: having the confidence to make your own choices, feeling good about the way you look, and, most of all, just being true to yourself.

Which shape are you?

SUPER LADYLIKE Then you’ll tend to have a curvy bust and bum or thighs, and a nice, neat waist.

Dress, Marks & Spencer.

Styles to suit your shape:: Try simple, lower-cut necklines: anything too fussy can make you look square. Longer-length tops pulled in with a big wide belt will make your body look longer (I love tan-coloured leather ones as they go with everything. Try Reiss for a selection); nipped-in jackets show off the waist, shoulders and all your nice curvy bits to their best advantage. Try wearing skinny jeans with a longer floaty top to cover the bottom – this is one of my favourite looks for going out. Make sure that your trousers are not too short, as this can make you look a little square or stocky; A-line, just-below-the-knee skirts can really balance your shape out; and pencil skirts look fab worn with that lovely big belt.

GORGEOUSLY CURVY Then you might have more of a tummy, and nice, shapely legs, too.

Styles to suit your shape: Try pretty necklines detailed with pleating, bows or ruching, as they will draw attention away from your middle – I think See by Chloé and Topshop do really good tops and T-shirts like this. Or try V-necks, as these will highlight your bust more and give the impression of narrowing the top of your body. Hipster belts will make the best of slim hips, and nipped-in jackets are also good for making you appear to have more of a waist. I would also try slim-cut trousers or jeans.

TALL AND LEGGY Your lovely, slim frame means you’ll look really good in simple outfits like jeans and a T-shirt.

Styles to suit your shape: Try plain tops in fresh colours such as white or powdery blue and coral pink, and dress them up with long necklaces and accessories. I think Elle Macpherson carries this style off so well. She sometimes even does her casual look when you see pictures of her on evenings out and she still looks fantastic. Another good idea is plain shirts – I got a blue-and-white striped one from the Kate Moss Topshop range, which looks really smart during the day. Bigger blouse styles can also look great when going out. Slim trousers or ‘boyfriend’ styles (Gap is brilliant for these) will look really stylish. And you’ll be able to wear long, ruffle skirts and full-length maxi dresses. That’s a look I love for summer.

Real Style Quiz

Now it’ time to check your Real Style factor. If you agree with any of the following, tick the boxes next to them:

 I love choosing new clothes

 I love shopping with my mates

 I love getting dressed up

 I love looking good

 I love feeling good

If you answered YES to all of the above, you’re totally in tune with your Real Style.

If you answered YES to three of the above, you might need a little fine-tuning.

If you answered NO to more than three of the above, you’ve got a Real Style journey ahead.