Style Rules: Charlotte Emily Sanders

My style is best described as minimal, effortless and classic. I always feel my most confident when I’m wearing understated looks that don’t look too put together. My wardrobe isn’t all that colourful! Instead, I prefer to stick to muted tones like nude, grey, clean whites and, of course, black. Everything I own is pretty classic – lots of wardrobe staples that will never go out of style like white shirts, black blazers, jeans. 

If I could share one piece of style advice with everyone, it would be to buy less and, when you do, make it better quality. When I buy something now, I ask myself, will I still love it and wear it in a couple of years’ time? I used to find myself buying clothes just because they were on sale, and only end up wearing them once or twice. I try to be more conscious nowadays and stick to a capsule pieces that can be mixed and matched, and worn time and again.

Good sunglasses always add a chic touch. Accessories really pull an outfit together, and anyone who knows me will say I don’t go anywhere without a pair of sunglasses. I invest more in accessories than any other part of my wardrobe. You can easily find some bargain pieces from a vintage or charity shop before adding some high-end accessories to make the whole outfit look more expensive. Also, most things look better when they’re oversized. Unless something is specifically meant to be fitted, I will always go up a few sizes or shop in the men’s section – it always looks that bit cooler. 

At Sundarbay, we develop quality, capsule wardrobe staples. They’re pieces every woman needs in her wardrobe and all of them are designed to last – I proudly wear something from Sundarbay almost every day. The Frankie Shop is one of my favourite brands for coats and tracksuits, while Khaite and Magda Butrym are two other higher end labels I love. Their pieces might be a bit more expensive, but I can attest that the quality is amazing. You can’t beat a good Zara piece sometimes, but it’s easy to get carried away. 

Don’t be afraid of colour. The beauty of neutrals is they’re easy to style but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid to add in a bit of colour or a contrasting piece to keep your look interesting. A statement bag is one way to do it – or a bright pair of sunglasses can look super chic with a neutral outfit. Wearing more lightweight fabrics is a great way to transition into the new season. I love layering in spring as much as I do in winter, but I tend to layer with softer fabrics such as linen, silk and satin. 

Use platforms like Pinterest to get yourself out of a style rut. Create a mood board of looks you’ve seen and loved, then have a good rummage through your wardrobe and see if you have anything similar. It might give you some new ideas to wear things differently, and you might rediscover things in your wardrobe you haven’t worn in ages. Failing that, have a think about anything in your wardrobe that might be lacking, make a shopping list and have some fun trying on different styles. Don’t be afraid to try things that are out of your comfort zone – who knows? You might love them.

The secret to great style is understanding what you like and what you don’t like. Everyone has a different idea of what constitutes great style, so experimenting is the best way to find out what makes you feel your best and what doesn’t.