The non-essential essentials

Let me introduce you to non-essential essentials. They are the things that bring you joy. You might even consider them to be frivolous and may not have thought to wear them before. But when you find ones that work for you, they will elevate what you wear and turn a jean and a top, for example, into an outfit. Non-essential essentials bring the clothes you wear them with to life. They may be noisier than what you usually wear and so you might feel hesitant to try them, thinking ‘Is this really me?’ But they are at the heart of fearless dressing because they make you stand out rather than blend in.

I love it when women tell me they had never worn a sequin before but then stepped outside their comfort zone, bought a sequin jacket and now wear it all the time. Because when you embrace this concept, you’ll realise how hard working nonessential essentials can be. We dress to look good and to feel confident, but we can have fun too. So in this section you’ll find eight of my favourite non-essential essentials and what they do. I want to give you permission, or an excuse, if you need it, to take a risk and push the boat out.

Have a look in your wardrobe. What are your non-essential essentials? How can you challenge yourself to embrace them and let them take you further on your style journey?

These items are at the heart of fearless dressing