Aura Personal Styling Weekly Newsletter #28: What is Structure and Flow?

Sorry we're late! We had writer's block.

Author

Kerryn Rutherford
February 02, 2024

Personal Stylist sitting on an arm chairr

SPECIAL OFFER

Book our Empower Personal Styling Package before 9 February and receive 1 month FREE Aura Membership.

That’s me in your pocket for all your styling questions for a whole month.

It’s February, my Fashion Friends!

I have often heard women utter the question, “but when would I wear this?”

It is true that you should purchase clothes that suit your lifestyle. There is no point adding tailored suits to your wardrobe if you work in a casual office or are currently running around after kiddies.

It is also true that your life happens in your daily routines.

You life is those mundane tasks that form part of your everyday: Your weekly grocery shop, school drop off, coffee run, working from home or afternoons spent at the park with your little one.

It is your 9 - 5 and the admin tasks you complete to keep things ticking along.

So, if your life isn’t a reason to wear your favourite top, dress or colourful sneakers, then what is?

I’m writing this wearing a black dress, chunky animal print sandals with a slick of red lipstick to finish the outfit off. I have nowhere in particular to go once I hit “post”, but this outfit is delicious and it gave me the motivation I needed to get out of my head and write this newsy.

Over the next week, I want to encourage you to wear that outfit. Shake off any feelings that you may be overdressed for your daily tasks. Who cares if you’re overdressed or aren’t seeing anyone special! All that matters is how YOU feel. Chances are you’ll feel amazing.

If you’re questioning whether your clothes suit your lifestyle and need help bringing your style to life, our Personal Styling Packages are just what you need.

Have a stylish weekend wherever you are in the world. Thank you so much for reading x

Structure and Flow

A well-balanced wardrobe has a combination of pieces that can add structure or flow to your outfits.

Structured pieces are items that are carefully tailored and shaped, like a blazer, suit trouser or button up shirt. There is a stiffness to these garments because they hold their form. Structured items elevate a look making it feel more professional.

Flow pieces are items that fall away from and drape across the body. There is a a softness to them. Flow pieces include skirts, silk blouses, t-shirts and ruffles. These items will dress down an outfit and have a more casual feel.

When assessing whether an item is structural or flowing, look at the garment construction, then the fabric and finally the print. Soft fabrics like silks, viscose or cupro having a fluidity to them. Floral and gingham prints feel more casual and feminine, which means garments in these prints will usually add flow.

You can utilise the principles of structure and flow to dress a look up or down.

For example -

  1. Dress down tailored trousers with a t-shirt or singlet and strappy sandals.

  2. Dress up a bias cut skirt by adding a tailored vest.

  3. Create the perfect smart-casual look by pairing jeans (a structured piece) with a soft, feminine top.

Consider your wardrobe and whether you have a good balance of structure and flow.

Too many structural pieces, may mean you struggle to put together casual looks.

Too few and you may find yourself flustered when dressing for smarter events.

Need help determining whether you have the perfect balance of structure and flow for your lifestyle?

Hit reply to this email or book a free chat!

Aura’s Personal Styling Packages will empower you with the tools you need to get dressed with ease and confidence.

View our Personal Styling Packages or book a free 15 minute call (both linked) and let’s bring your style goals to life.

IN THE KNOW

CONTENT WE’RE LOVING THIS WEEK

Dear Dilate is a weekly (or bi-weekly) substack written by Jade Fox, a writer and copy writer. It explores what is means to be a mother in our modern world.

This week, Fox discussed a topic that has been on my mind a lot: “The wanting of both career and motherhood at the same time”.

It’s an honest read. I appreciated Fox’s candour.

Lately, I feel like I am treading water, particularly in my business and life. I’m finding it very hard to decide what to prioritise and where to focus my energy. This article put words to how I am feeling to some degree.

If you read it, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Arthur Brooks has studied the science of happiness and he shares his learnings as a Harvard lecturer, coach and writer.

This podcast episode is a fascinating and wide ranging discussion about happiness and anxiety and explores why society is wrong about happiness and how it is infections.

I’m about to give it my third listen. It’s really THAT good.

#3 WE’RE WATCHING - Griselda on Netflix

Griselda Blanco (Sophia Vergara) was the Godmother of Miami’s cocaine ring in the late 1970s and through the 80s.

Griselda is a fictional account of Blanco’s life starting in 1978, when she flees Medellín for Miami and, within 3 months, establishes a booming drug smuggling ring, selling cocaine to Miami’s elite.

Blanco was ruthless in her pursuit of success and power and stopped at nothing to establish herself. If Pablo Escobar is afraid of you, you must have made a deal with the devil.

The Empower Personal Styling Package includes a Wardrobe Cleanse and Personal Shopping experience. Under our Empower Package, I will:

  1. help you determine your personal style words;

  2. show you how to style the clothes you already own so you can get dressed with ease and confidence; 

  3. clean out items that no longer serve you, your lifestyle or style goals; and

  4. help you create a wardrobe that makes getting dressed a fun, empowering and simple process;

  5. help you shop for the missing pieces in your wardrobe and empower you with the knowledge you need to shop with confidence; and

  6. integrate your new pieces into your existing wardrobe so that you can be your best dressed self.

By the end of our sessions, you’ll have a clear understanding of your personal style, wear more of what you own, shop less and reduce those waisted purchases. Most importantly, you’ll feel confident, powerful and be able to get dressed with ease and confidence no matter the occasion.

BOOK BEFORE 9 FEBRUARY and receive 1 month FREE Aura Membership.

- WEAR SHORTS -

Wearing shorts (or short hemlines) can be intimidating.

We say: life is too short not to wear what YOU want to wear.

So, this week, as Natasha Bedingfield sings in her cult classic, “release your inhibitions”, embrace summer and throw on the shorts you keep eyeing out but haven’t worn.

Share your looks with us by replying to this email or tagging us on Instagram.

Feeling a little uninspired by your wardrobe? Reach out!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU 

Hit reply and let us know your thoughts on this newsletter.

Refer a friend so more people can get tips on how to be their best dressed selves.