Ageless style Our regular fashion writers, stylists and bloggers Marie and Claire from Surreyfrills.com track down the ever-bright and colourful Nicky Hambledon-Jones to discuss styling out your own indiviudual look, regardless of how many (or few) miles you might have on the clock Queen of the before and after and perennial style maven boutique offers a prestigious array of inspiring and Nicky Hambledon-Jones is probably best known for eclectic British and international labels. hosting the popular reality show 10 Years Younger. Here Nicky talks to us about her style inspiration, Hosting the hit series whilst imparting her style what’s on her Summer wish list and how to shop wisdom, the specs-ellent NJH spoke and the nation more mindfully post-lockdown. listened. Lucky for us, Nicky’s skilled sartorial touch knows Can you describe your style in three words? no boundaries; Nicky is notable as a top personal Tailored. Vibrant. Sophisticated. stylist, author of several books and a successful entrepreneur. In 2001, she launched the NHJ Style Is style ageless? Consultancy, followed by the NHJ Style Academy. Absolutely. I think the key word here is STYLE. The Academy offers supercharged training to anyone Fashions come and go but good style endures. A well- looking to turn their passion for fashion & styling dressed woman will catch your eye no matter what into a career with the tools, skills and connections to her age. It’s our secret weapon against ageing. You gain recognition and success. don’t have to look old, you don’t have to feel old, you Meeting Nicky, it’s evident that her speciality is just have to find a style that works for your shape and working with real people, helping them to redefine makes you feel good. To me there is nothing more the way they feel about themselves and her recently inspiring than a well-dressed woman in her 50s, 60s launched on-line course How To Be Style Confident or beyond because you know she’s taken nothing for aims to do just that. granted, she’s had to work hard, she hasn’t given up With more than 20 years in the styling business, and it shows; effort pays off. Many people assume Nicky knows that everyone has the potential to look you have either to be rich or have a natural flair for fantastic effortlessly, no matter what their size or shape. fashion to look fabulous, but in reality there is a direct Eager to know more and to see this power stylist at correlation between the amount of time and effort work, we invited Nicky to Lucindas Boutique in you invest in your wardrobe and how stylish you look. Purley. Founded in 1985, Lucindas is something of a Surrey institution. The family run business is a one- What is a capsule wardrobe in 2021? stop shop for all your high-low needs; a winning mix To me a capsule starts with a core 10 pieces and 5 of staple and statement pieces. Both a local and a accessories which you can mix and match together to destination store for the stylish shopper, this unique create a collection of looks. When I take clients new XX42 43 PREMIER FASHION PREMIER IN BRIEF about transposing the latest trends onto them but more about understanding what look they’d like to achieve and if they’re a blank sheet of paper, helping them to create a style identity that’s unique to them. Then it is a case of identifying the gap between reality and the dream/vision. Sounds simplistic but you have to know where you are heading and then see what you have to work with and take it from there. It is proven that conflicts, pandemics and recessions change the way women dress- going forward how do you season shopping I always focus on a seasonal capsule as think people’s fashion choices may change. the core of the shop and then add a few extra pieces Well the pandemic has put loungewear on the fashion to extend and personalise the capsule. I don’t believe map, totally killing any last vestiges of style in many in a one size fits all capsule e.g. everyone should have of people’s wardrobes. It’s also made people lazy a white shirt, blue jeans and a beige Mac as part of about getting dressed as we’ve got out of the habit their capsule. It has to be relevant to you, be made of having to think about it. However, as lockdown up of pieces that represent your style, personality continues to ease I think people will slowly and surely and lifestyle. I see the capsule as the nucleus of re-embrace their forgotten wardrobes and start to up your seasonal wardrobe which you build upon and level their daily outfits again. I think there is a definite mindfully extend to create fresh and interesting looks mindfulness when it comes to purchasing fashion that all integrate together. This is the best way to be with a big focus on sustainability and supporting small sustainable and more thoughtful about what you buy. businesses. Less is more; spend a bit more, and have It’s not about just purchasing things you like, but more less. Quality vs quantity. Style vs fashion. But time will because it will enhance the looks you want to create tell, it will be interesting to see how deep the wounds from your capsule. post pandemic are or whether it’s out of sight, out of mind and quickly forgotten. I think not! Three pieces you are buying this summer to update your look. What has been the most memorable This summer I am investing in a floral maxi dress. I moment of your career, so far? have never been one for dresses but having recently Definitely having the privilege to host 10 Years “Less is more; spend a turned 50 I feel like a selection of summer dresses Younger for 5 years. What an amazing experience and bit more, and have less. in my wardrobe will inject an element of effortless so wonderful to be able to help so many women to Quality vs quantity. summer chic without having to worry about the look and feel better about themselves, something I Style vs fashion. But colour of my legs…haha! will never forget! time will tell, it will I’m also after a pastel pink blazer to add a softness to be interesting to see the tailoring in my wardrobe, and a blouse with puff Favourite item in your closet? how deep the wounds sleeves. I love a statement sleeve but always find them Ooh now that’s a tricky one, probably my metallic impractical in the winter when you have to wear post pandemic are or gold pussy bow blouse from Sezane. It’s such a jackets and coats all the time, so the summer is the statement piece and makes me feel so glam when I whether it’s out of perfect opportunity to get your sleeves out. wear it. sight, out of mind and quickly forgotten” What is your approach when you first start Tell us about your Style Academy? styling someone? I launched the NHJ Style Academy in 2008 where I always start by finding out about them; what is their I started running courses to train personal stylists; I story, how did their current style evolve and what is wanted to ensure everyone who worked for me had the style they would like to achieve. It is a bit like been trained by me and to the same standard. My Blue Sky Thinking, where are you now and if you flagship personal styling courses run a few times a could have anything- what style would you like to year for up to 10 people but due to lockdown, I have achieve? It is so important to base everything you recently launched Six Weeks To Stylist, which is an suggest around the individual you are styling. It’s not on-line personal styling training programme taking 44 PREMIER FASHION PREMIER IN BRIEF ..And for skin that looks 10 years younger Dr. Ash Soni, owner of The Soni Clinic, located in Reigate, Surrey and Windsor, Berkshire, suggests treatments to help turn back the clock on our skin’s elasticity Award-winning hair stylist Teresa Weller place over 6 weeks and includes an online LIVE and make-up artist Jana Jurakova apply the finishing touches masterclass by me each week. I have also recently The “Zoom Boom” has meant that many women and men are seeking launched ‘How To Be Style Confident’ for ladies in aesthetic-based treatments to heighten their self-confidence and make the 40s and 50s who have lost their style mojo and themselves feel more youthful and refreshed. As a plastic and reconstructive want to revamp their look and their wardrobe. This surgeon, it gives me the extensive experience and knowledge to restore my is an online self-study course with a series of video’s patients’ youthfulness by creating very natural and rejuvenating results. and tutorials to work through at your own pace in The treatments that I am seeing most commonly post-lockdown at The Soni your own time. Clinic are tear trough fillers, jawline sculpting, and anti-wrinkle injections. Tear trough fillers target the under eye area where we lose volume. Many develop hollowing in that area from young, if there are genetic factors, Which items do you feel are worth splurging on? and others notice these changes as they age.