Nicky Hambleton-Jones: Style is our superpower
Nicky Hambleton-Jones: Style is our superpower
As guest speaker at our International Women’s Day breakfast, we asked the stylist to tell us more about tapping into our style superpower…
Nicky Hambleton-Jones believes that style is our superpower. Whereas many elements of our lives require incredible time and effort to transform, style is one area where change can happen immediately.
She says: “The great thing about style is that you can instantly switch up the way you look and how you feel about yourself. It also has a direct impact on how other people respond to you. Perhaps you’ve got a big meeting coming up and you’re lacking confidence, if you put on an outfit that makes you feel like a million dollars, irrespective of your body shape, or your age, you will walk into that meeting radiating confidence.”
It was while working as a dietician that Nicky realised the potential of how clothes can change a situation. When she did the ward rounds in hospital with the consultants, she felt her ideas weren’t being listened to. “I thought that to be heard, I had to be seen. On the rounds, we could either wear our white lab coats or navy blue so I went and bought myself the most powerful navy blue suit I could find…”
That, she believes, made her more visible – she got the attention of the consultants, who took on board what she said and then implemented her proposals. “It’s one thing to have knowledge in life, and you can be the best in your field of what you do, but it’s about people seeing you with credibility. When you put effort into what you’re wearing, it can change your whole aura.”
Nicky has written a new book Bolder Not Older. The idea is that you can go from ‘dull to dazzling in 12 weeks’. “I wanted to write a book that would take women on a journey of self discovery when it comes to style, because I feel a lot of the styling knowledge out there is very much about what you should and shouldn’t do.
“We worry so much that we will be judged – that we’re too old, too curvy or look like mutton dressed as lamb – that it holds us back from trying anything new. I want women to forget these thoughts in their head and do what feels good for them.” To define your style, take a look at what you tend to wear – the colours you like, whether you go for trousers, skirts, dresses, do you like pattern? There may be a signature style you’re already conveying. “Look at how someone might describe your style. If that’s not what you want to be known for, start to evolve your look.”
See what’s in your wardrobe before hitting the shops. Get a clothing rail and try the ‘seven day edit’. “Take 10 items from your wardrobe. It doesn’t really matter what. Then just spend half an hour mixing and matching these items together to create outfits you can wear for the week. It also means getting ready in the morning becomes effortless.”
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Originally from South Africa, Nicky has lived in Clapham for over 20 years. She loves the common, the shops, the restaurants and wandering along Northcote Road. Nicky and her husband have two teenage children – do the kids ask her for style advice? “I think it’s fair to say that no matter how many years of expertise one gains in a particular area, when it comes to your children you know nothing. Absolutely nothing. So no. I hope I inspire them but they have a very definite style aesthetic of their own, which is great.”
Nicky’s personal style often incorporates bright colours, and she’s never seen in public without her red lipstick on. “I’m very pale. I just feel naked without it. It’s fun and it makes me feel special.” Her glasses too are also part of her signature look. “I’ve got an oval face so, generally speaking, I can wear most styles of frames but through the years, I’ve found a cat eye is the one that suits me the best. I think if you’ve got to wear something every day, it’s actually got to just be something you love wearing.”
Ultimately, Nicky says that style should be about starting a conversation. “People are so terrified that others are going to talk about what they’re wearing. How about going out with the purpose of making sure someone talks about what you’re wearing?”
To practice what she preaches, Nicky wore socks with sandals recently. “This trend will be big this spring/summer. It’s not something I’d normally wear but I thought I’d give it a go. I did and it was fun. Fashion is supposed to be joyful. That’s the one thing in our life, while the world is imploding around us, that we can actually still have fun with – bring out that inner child, and just live a little.”
Bolder Not Older is out 17 March.
