FEEL-GOOD FASHION
“If you look good, you feel good – and then you are unstoppable,” says personal stylist Rhona Langan. Elysia Fryer checks in to talk style, Spanish influence and today’s social pressures, over tapas in Harrogate
Finding your fashion Whether it’s a Hollywood star, an Insta-famous fashion figure or a royal role model, we all have our own style icons for various reasons. In today’s ‘click and fix it’ world, we don’t fall short of inspiration to look and feel fantastic. The problem, however, is how we take those tips from the wider world and implement them into our own lives. Personally, I think I know what I’m looking for when I shop. I know which colours I am drawn to. But I have never actually sat down with an expert and defined my wardrobe, my style and my ‘best neutrals’. In search of inspiring female figures doing good things in the fashion world, I stumbled across the lovely Rhona Langan – a personal stylist and colour analysis expert based in Harrogate. A lightbulb moment over 12 years encouraged Rhona to take the plunge, leaving her life in Croydon for a slow and steady life in glorious Yorkshire. All in the bid to pursue a passion project as a qualified fashion stylist. Shortly after, Style Illuminated was born. “I have always loved fashion,” says Rhona. “As a child, I would pour over historical fashion books. I loved to visit stately homes and follow fashion through the ages.” A childhood craze which she didn’t shake off in her teenage years, Rhona’s love of all things fashion only grew with age. “I studied Spanish at university in Scotland,” she recalls as we sit down for tapas at La Feria in Harrogate. “And here we are, tucking into tapas in my favourite Spanish restaurant. How apt!” she laughs. “Much of what I do comes down to Spanish influence – hence the ‘camino stories’ on my website. In Spain, a ‘camino’ is a path, a journey, an adventure.
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“I lived in Galicia, North West Spain, for some time, teaching in secondary schools as part of my degree. “Black and purple dominated my wardrobe in those days, and when I arrived in Spain, I was shocked to see so many bright colours. I was way out of my comfort zone, but as I settled into life in Spain, I was enjoying experimenting with style.” It wasn’t just the flamenco colours that inspired Rhona to ‘find her fashion’, it was the Spanish lifestyle, too. “As people, they are so well put together,” she says. “They don’t spend their fortunes on homes and cars – they often rent tiny flats and keep their funds for fun, food and fashion.
Rhona’s fashion findings >> Long-lasting statement pieces are key “It’s great to invest in things like blazers and jackets. During wardrobe overhauls, you can change up the buttons to create a completely new piece.”
Revamp, revamp, revamp! “The single best thing anyone can do when it comes to sustainability, is to keep their own things for longer. Rework and restyle what you’ve already got so it keeps its space in your wardrobe, without missing out on key trends.”
Find local fashion swaps “There are lots of great fashion swap events you can get involved in. You take your eight pieces of clothing and come away with eight new pieces. It’s a really nice, social evening for lovers of fashion.”
APR/MAY20
