AD | Busby & Fox hosted my travel, accommodation and experience in Henley and gifted three pieces of clothing. This post also contains affiliate links. If you shop through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Having visited Busby & Fox’s Devon stores many times, being invited to their Creators Day in Henley felt particularly special. I already loved the clothes; this was an opportunity to meet the people behind them and explore what suited me with their guidance.

It was wonderful to have my daughter join me who also helped me capture the day. After travelling from Devon and checking into The Relais Henley, we had a wander around town before heading to the boutique.

Founder Emma Vowles and the team made us feel immediately welcome. With beautiful colours, interesting shapes and thoughtfully put-together outfits, there was plenty to catch my eye. But what stayed with me from my Busby & Fox styling day was the encouragement and the conversations that came with it.

A Lifetime In Uniform

Talking with Emma and Lindsey, I realised how much of my working life I’d spent in a uniform. First as an Oncology Nursing Sister, then as a personal trainer and wellness coach, what I wore was largely shaped by what I did.

Working from home had made it easier to reach for the same comfortable things. Somewhere along the way, I’d become stuck with my wardrobe and lost a little of my sense of identity. I wanted my clothes to reflect who I am now, but wasn’t quite sure where to start.

Getting older had brought new questions about what suited me, too. At 5’2”, finding the right fit and proportions added another challenge. It had become easier to stick with familiar choices, even though I wasn’t particularly excited about them.

Emma and Lindsey listened, then encouraged me to try shapes and combinations I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen from the rail. There was time to ask questions, make adjustments and see how I felt, with plenty of laughter along the way. I began to see how I could dress differently while still feeling like myself.

Trying The Shape Before Ruling It Out

At 5’2”, shopping can be frustrating. So many clothes swamp me in length, and something I love on the rail can feel completely different once I put it on. After enough disappointing fitting-room visits, it becomes demoralising. Shopping had become something I almost dreaded.

Having Emma and Lindsey’s personal guidance made such a difference. They listened to what I found difficult, helped me understand the proportions and suggested combinations I wouldn’t have thought to try. The dark green Elise trousers were a lovely example of a shape I’d been unsure about but felt confident wearing once we’d put the outfit together.

That’s where I found the value in a personal styling session: having someone take the time to understand me and help me see what could work. I came away feeling much more confident about choosing clothes and putting outfits together, with ideas I could keep using at home.

Personal styling is available at every Busby & Fox boutique, so you can experience that guidance yourself. If you’ve become stuck with your wardrobe or lost confidence in shopping, it’s an opportunity to explore what suits you with someone there to help.

I left feeling excited about clothes again. My purse might be slightly less pleased about that!

The Conversations Behind The Clothes

As we tried things on, our conversations moved naturally into identity, midlife and confidence.

We talked about the pressure women can feel to keep everything together and making space for ourselves, our ambitions and the things we enjoy. Finding clothes that felt like me was part of a wider conversation about who we are now and what we want from this stage of life.

Those conversations connected with so much of my own work. Helping women feel supported and confident has run through every chapter, from nursing to fitness and now Woman on a Mission.

It was lovely to find that shared outlook with Emma and Lindsey, and to experience their encouragement myself. They listened to the frustrations I’d been having with my wardrobe and helped me see a way forward.

We can keep evolving, trying new things and finding out what suits us now. Sometimes a conversation, or a little encouragement from someone else, helps us see possibilities we’d already ruled out.

An Evening At Henley Literary Festival

After dinner together, we headed to Henley Literary Festival for Midlife: The Full Story.

Hosted by Jessica Jonzen, the panel brought together Emma Vowles, Lucy Porter, Poorna Bell and Alex Kadis for an evening of honest, funny and thought-provoking conversation.

There was so much that resonated with me: confidence, identity and making more of this stage of life. After our conversations that afternoon, it felt like a particularly fitting way to finish the day and it was lovely to have my daughter there to share it with me.

From Henley To My Own Wardrobe

Three stunning gifted pieces came home with me: the blush Loke jumper, dark green Elise trousers and khaki Tally trench coat. I also bought the Ruby jumper in khaki.

Since then, I’ve worn every piece and enjoyed seeing how they fit into my existing wardrobe. The blush jumper has already been out for supper with my burgundy satin skirt and boots and I’ve shared an outfit chat showing it with the Elise trousers. Finding fresh ways to wear clothes I already own has been part of the pleasure.

I’ve also popped into the Totnes store and bought the Norah jeans in black, a pair I’d kept thinking about after the event. I wore them last weekend for a wander around Bath with the Ruby jumper and my Clarks brogues, an outfit I loved wearing and received some lovely compliments on.

It had been a long time since I’d properly updated my wardrobe, so these additions felt well justified! They also sit nicely alongside this week’s Woman on a Mission challenge: before adding something new, rediscover something you already have. Looking through my wardrobe has helped me see what I still enjoy wearing, what I’d forgotten about and where a few thoughtfully chosen additions could bring it all together.

For me, that’s the lasting value of a personal styling session: bringing the ideas home and making them work for your own life. I’m enjoying putting outfits together again, with a better understanding of proportions and more confidence in my choices.

Shop My Autumn Wardrobe

You’ll find the pieces featured here, alongside other clothes I wear and enjoy, in my Autumn Wardrobe Edit on ShopMy.

A Small Wardrobe Mission

This week’s Woman on a Mission challenge is to rediscover something you already have before adding something new. Your wardrobe is a good place to start.

Choose a piece you’ve overlooked and try it with something different. Change the shoes, add a layer or pair it with a favourite you wear regularly. Looking through what you own can also help you identify what’s missing, so any new purchases work with the rest of your wardrobe.

And if there’s a shape you’ve been curious about but always dismissed, give yourself time to try it next time you’re in a fitting room. Wear it with something that feels familiar, move around and look at the whole outfit. Give yourself a chance to see how you feel in it.

My day in Henley gave me the encouragement to appreciate familiar favourites and feel more confident choosing something new. Thank you to Emma, Lindsey and the whole Busby & Fox team for inviting me and making us feel so welcome and to Emily for helping me capture the day.

I’d become used to feeling frustrated with clothes. Coming home with ideas I could use, pieces I’ve since worn and renewed enthusiasm for getting dressed has made a real difference. I feel more like myself again and that’s what I’d been missing.

Have you rediscovered an old favourite or tried something new and unexpectedly loved it?

I’d love to hear in the comments.

Love

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