Russell Editor's Note _Press_Craig Lawrence @ Marie Claire_July issue 2011

June _A London Stylist's view on Fashion Trend

Fashion So What and Who inspires you...
Who is she: Sheppard style

Gemma Sheppard’s ability to style people by cleverly enhancing their assets rather than superimposing her taste onto others, has earned her the nickname ‘Banksy’ (of the styling world). 

It also refers to her utmost professionalism and discretion and her talent of working magic behind the scenes.  Whilst she spends most of her time being a celebrity stylist, she has a large number of private clients whom she helps address the everyday challenges of fashion attire.

One of her key strength is cataloguing their wardrobes and working out practical yet elegant styling options for their daily lives.  It is this unique combination of understanding how to bring to live fashion & styles with very minimal means yet with the foundation of having worked the red carpet glamour etiquette.  This is exceptional in the styling world as often stylists only do one or the other.  Gemma, on the other hand, is able to make a very regular person feel positively stylish and elevated!  She does so through her in-depth knowledge of how glamour plays to the feel-good factor in people’s perception of themselves.

Fashion – So what and who inspires you?

I discovered that it was such a pleasure to write about fashion.

Fashion has been one of my passions ever since I was a very small: I was raised with a freedom to experiment and encouraged to be.

For me as a stylist I am always aware of my surroundings: Art/culture/Life and having spent last week in London E1 – I came to the conclusion Fashion is all about location, location, location.

I want to create for you an interactive vibe – Please feel free to contact me and ask me questions and hey fashion evolves and above all you own it – For me it is about attitude

So what’s going on: I am a massive believer in mixing it up – High end luxury designer labels with High street – A abundance of fire… For summer now I am loving the vibe at Marc Jacobs, Missoni  & Alaia– I have a deep passion for McQueen & YSL – All of whom are embracing masses of colour with the interaction of 70s Glamour and the floppy BIG hats…

Wide Palazzo Trousers with very tight fitted blouses tucked and Sharpe tailoring with Big shoulders – I adore a strong silhouette… create clean contours and embrace contradiction…

Then with the sun bang and summer brings out the maxi – A wardrobe comeback year on year.

My current wardrobe crush and a wardrobe must is the Wolford Fatale dress – This versatile monster keeps on giving and giving – It can be your LBD – Long or short – Boob tube – Or sexy pencil – It is so affordable and everyone should own one –

•Just as the '50s and '60s are back, so too are particular elements of the '70s. There are two main aesthetics: '70s bohemian, and '70s sophisticated glamour. When it comes to the latter, think dresses that fall like shimmering water in the evening and high-waist pants with elegant blouses by day. Breezing down the spring/summer 2011 catwalks were flowing chiffon blouses, wide-legged trousers, high waisted shorts and an army of ’70s-inspired accessories – mamma mia! As always the high street has caught on fast and tis represented heavily at these lovelies Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Topshop all are available to buy online now.

•We have seen flowing maxi dresses at Dior, YSL and Givenchy, the latter collection given over to bold animal prints. Wide leg pantsuits at Celine and Dries van Noten, sailor pants at Dior, and culottes at Alaia.

•We all want that vintage vibe in our wardrobe. That essence of an era gone by. And we want to cherry pick the sleekest, sexiest, and most stylish looks from it. In recent years we've worn the best of the 20s and 30s, seen the rebirth and fading of an 80s come back, and we're just about to do it all again. But this time, its the 1970s that are due for a reinterpretation. While '70s fashion is making waves and sure to continue on as a fashion trend in 2011, let’s not forget there are several variants: you can get lots of wear out of your key seventies pieces, by taking them from 70s boho to a more sophisticated 70’s look.

Oh, and never forget – I only do heels!!!!

www.twitter.com/sheppardstyle