WATCH NICKY'S CHALLENGE ON OUR EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: TO ADD A SPLASH OF COLOUR TO EMILY'S DARK WARDROBE

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Few women can say they never wear black. But PA Emily Phillips, 25, never wears anything else.

“Black’s become my uniform,” she says. “It gives me confidence and everything matches everything else!”

It doesn’t help that Emily’s boyfriend Ronnie, 27, thinks she looks hot in black.

But Emily, from London, says: “Now summer’s here I feel that everything I own is so wintery.

"And I’ve booked a holiday to Crete, so I’m determined to wear some lighter, brighter clothes.”

TV stylist Nicky Hambleton-Jones is only too happy to help Emily break out of her black comfort zone.

“I want to show her that wearing colour can help Emily look smart for work, funky for the beach bar, and cute for a day trip with Ronnie,” she says.

Emily’s verdict: “Wow – I never thought I’d enjoy wearing floor-length florals but I love the maxi dress. It flatters my figure. The skirt and shirt are retro, which appeals to me too.”

For more tips, read Top to Toe by Nicky Hambleton-Jones (Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99)

NICKY SAYS:

“I’ve teamed a bright top with jeans and a jacket. Emily has a great cleavage, so I’ve splashed some attention-grabbing colour across her chest.”

Jacket, £49, Kookaï; top, £40, Lipsy; jeans, £45, Oasis; earrings, £8, Diva at Miss Selfridge; shoes, £20, New Look

 

Click to buy these black jeans and see more styles in the Fabulous Shop

 

NICKY SAYS:

“Maxi dresses are big this season. By teaming this one with a belt, bangle and sandals, I’ve stopped it looking frumpy for a day on the beach or a date. The dark cardigan balances out the look.”

Cardigan, £10, Tom Wolfe; dress, £45, Freemans; beads, £12, Dorothy Perkins; belt and bangle, stylist’s own; sandals, £12, New Look

NICKY SAYS:

“This outfit accentuates Emily’s hourglass figure but she’s not flashing the flesh, so she could wear it to the office.”

Shirt, £25, Jane Norman; skirt, £28, Dorothy Perkins; Alice band, 75p, George at Asda; belt, £12, bangle, £7, both Accessorize; shoes, £22, New Look

STOCKISTS
Accessorize (0870 412 9000),
Diva at Miss Selfridge (01277 844157),
Dorothy Perkins (0845 121 4515),
Freemans (0800 900200),
George at Asda (0500 100055),
Jane Norman (020 7659 1234),
Kookai (020 7239 1070),
Lipsy (0845 680 0088),
New Look (0500 454094),
Oasis (01865 881986),
Tom Wolfe (01895 818818)

Words: Natalie Blenford. Styling: Jemima Fleming. Assisted by: Larissa Goerner. Photography: Lancton. Hair: Guy Kremer for Guy Kremer salon (guykremer.com). Make-up: Pascal Marin (pascalmarin.com). Assisted by: Heiddis Austfjord