"So much more than clothes" - Meet Penarth's self-care stylist
By Alex Jones
11th Sep 2020 | Local News
As I tramp towards the woman who waits for me outside Willmore's Cafe - in flowing green dress and boots, she is clearly the personal stylist I'm looking for - I have a sudden rush of self-consciousness.
"Un-ironed shirt, bed-head, odd socks. What on earth is she going to think of me?"
But as soon as we start talking, all my fears fade away.
It becomes suddenly clear that judgement is not what Claire Jacklin, "the self-care stylist", is about.
"I like to call myself the self-care stylist because I'm really, really passionate about helping women - or men - feel like themselves again.
"It's not about trends or buying all you can so you can follow that trend. It's as much as much about getting to know the person as it is a fashion consultation.
"My passion is to combine my two biggest interests: psychology and fashion. I am very much about talking to clients, finding out who they are and how they want to present themselves to the world. And most women come to me and express all their negative features and insecurities. My main goal is to turn that around."
But when someone has convinced themselves of their insecurities, how does Claire dispel that myth?
"I do a style consultation which looks at their body lines, their proportions, style personality - are you more romantic, classic, sporty, natural or dramatic? - I call them "jigsaw pieces of style. Everyone has their own pieces, and once you know those pieces you can begin building your own picture. And it's really important to be yourself."
Claire has been working in the industry since she was 19, when she got her first job as a designer with Paul Smith in Nottingham.
She then went to university in Huddersfield to study fashion and then worked various roles - amassing experience in fashion, an interest in psychology and motherhood along the way - before setting up this business in 2014.
A mother of two, she says balancing parenting and business has been difficult, but considers this to be part of her appeal.
"There's always been a lot of pretentiousness and ridicule in fashion - think Trinny and Susannah. I'm not about that at all.
'I'm approachable because I'm just a normal mum - winging it, a real headless chicken. I mean how many times did I cancel this interview? It's what you see is what you get with me.
"There's no judgement or pretentiousness. Everyone has the right to feel good in their own skin. And if i can make people feel that then everything I do is worthwhile."
Alongside her self-confidence crusade, Claire is also deeply passionate about sustainability.
She shows me some denim bags hanging on the wall.
"These are made from repurposed denim and the insides are umbrellas - perfect make-up bags.
"I'm really anti-fast fashion and hate to see how much my industry wastes. You see a lot of stylists taking their clients to extortionate and unethical shops just so they can keep up with the latest fashion. I just want people to feel good and to help save the planet in the process."
I meet Claire on the second day returning to work since lockdown began. Her excitement is palpable.
"I've got a face shield, I wear one, they can wear one. We sit apart. Everything is deep cleaned. We've got it all covered.
"It's hectic but it feels so good to be back. I love doing this because I love helping people. I love feeling connected to the community. It's so much more than clothes."
The best place to find Claire & see her daily musings is over on Instagram: @clairejacklinstylist
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