Ghislaine, Tales in Style

11/10/2025

Living in a “Material World”! It’s a privilege we don’t always appreciate.

Being able to walk in dark places where art appears around corners - both visual, physical & for all our senses. Let’s be honest I didn’t try the food, I heard it was good.

This Late is/was part of the autumn exhibition in Kew. And the highlight was unexpected. To hear & play a set in one of my favourite places was special.

My father gave me a love of jazz taking me to extraordinary gigs. I remember clearly hearing Mr Watkiss with the Jazz Warriors back in the day. He remains a unique vocalist whose work evolves to embrace the new into very ancient rhythms.

I am no expert but to pick out the sample of a cotton gin weaving alongside the voice of Mahalia Jackson gave me chills.

This event continues tonight and next weekend with different artists featured. I will post links in my stories.


Not an ad, I paid full price for my ticket.

08/10/2025

An uplifting evening thanks to

My beautiful friend & client Pam nailed her colours last night as we listened to talks from Dr Rebecca Fleetwood-Smith & representatives from Dementia UK.

What we wear matters at all stages of our lives. This can quite literally tell our story as a member of the Lived Experience Advisory Board shared. Clever use of slogans on t-shirts had helped her father navigate early onset dementia while reflecting his personal preference for casual clothes. “The sun shines on muddled minds” ❣️

We heard of the important work of Admiral Nurses supporting care home workers and families in their efforts to keep the dignity of vulnerable adults.

This invitation following the adaptive clothing event I attended during London Fashion Week really enforced my belief that fashion is for everyone.

Clothes protect us from our changeable environment. What we wear signals so much about who we are. For many our wardrobes are a source of joy, memories and comfort.

08/10/2025

02/10/2025

How often do you get your eyes tested? It’s every year for me.

I have this done with an opticians I trust who just happen to have the coolest styles in eyewear. This isn’t an ad. I have bought my glasses here for some years.

Glasses are jewellery for the face. Accessories rarely make our lives safer & more comfortable. UV filters on lens are important to stop the tiny cataracts growing. A regular eye check can discover serious health issues early.

Also I regularly get stopped in the street by strangers who love my glasses. I enjoy these random chats & connections.

The time is coming for a new pair. Which ones do you prefer?

20/09/2025

It’s been a while! So now is a good time for a (re-)introduction. Hi!

I’m Ghislaine, Tales in Style began as a personal styling business, it still is though also so much more.

For today I feel that the most significant part of how I feel about style is the stories we tell ourselves & others with the clothes we wear. Long ago I began to enjoy pieces that had a history This didn’t need to be one I knew in detail however an awareness that I was only a part of the picture gave me a sense of continuity.

Later this grew to encompass almost all my style choices because I found the secondhand market more interesting. By accident I was exploring how to minimise textile waste and finding that this was totally in line with all my eco-choices. And it seemed that others were interested too.

I have been quiet on here thanks to some personal changes and a business venture that stalled. This image was yesterday and sees me back with my confidence rebuilding.

Of course the dress has a history, it belonged to one of our musical greats and her stories are not my business. For me it’s beautiful, silk, fits perfectly and was just right to wear to a special piece of dance with two young people who have great things in their futures.

Check out for an innovative programme in a stunning venue!

For now I am looking forward to being more present on here.

18/06/2025

A wardrobe malfunction prior to an event had me scurrying round the local charity shops. Phew, I found this cute cardi!

I saw a very tiny pull which was no problem for that evening. On washing I could see it would need a tiny mend. I had matching thread but chose a tiny visible mend instead.

* Perfection is over-rated
* Visible mends often provoke conversations
* I never choose pre-loved to be seen in items from the high street. Trends are fun but not what guides my choices. I don’t buy from charity shops to get cheap versions of pieces available currently. I buy pieces I like and enjoy the thought that these have been saved from landfill.

Do you buy pieces you know may need mending?

18/06/2025

A wardrobe malfunction before an event had me scurrying around the local charity shops and I found this cute blue cardi. I felt good, hadn’t spent a fortune on a mistake. I knew there was a tiny pull and once washed it became clear that this needed a few stitches.

I have an exact match and could have chosen to make an almost invisible repair. I chose to make the mend visible for several reasons.

* Perfection is over-rated
* Visible mends often provoke conversations
* I don’t buy pre-loved to get cheap versions of items sold on the high street. The choices I make are pieces I like, nothing to do with trends. Sometimes these need a little TLC.

Do you mend?

22/05/2025

Yesterday ran a workshop with

We contributed to a Storytellers’ Map. There was a talk from a man who sees solutions to problems and then does something. How refreshing!

I love maps. My father loved maps, he read them like books. I use maps to organise my stories as I prep. I feel an idea brewing.

I love how .raeburn used military maps to create beautiful pieces.

Anyone else using maps creatively that you love?

Do you love maps?

20/05/2025

Back doing something I love! Yesterday I spoke to a lovely Wi group about the Power of Colour.

It was fun. They joined in, shared their experiences & complimented each other on some beautiful colour choices.

This booking has coincided with several bookings from new clients. In a matter of weeks I have gone from having lost confidence in myself to remembering why I set off down this path originally.

Feeling lost & isolated when my health deteriorated I used my love of clothes & colour to pick myself up, get myself out there. Although I was masking just how unwell I was, at that point, I didn’t even have an autoimmune diagnosis.

This process got me started. Fast forward to today & I have worked with so many lovely clients. To be reminded at this point in my life has really helped. Yet again some personal changes undermined my sense of self. I am profoundly grateful to the group of ladies I met yesterday for reminding me that we all go through transitions in our lives. Sometimes we need to heal and sometimes the support of others gets us back out there in full technicolour 🌈🎨🫟

22/03/2025

Two big thank yous for yesterday evening:
for inviting me to join her with at Wembley.

This fab initiative aims to make the beautiful game more accessible to women. Having lived through an era of violence & tragedy at games this was never on my radar.

Yesterday’s match was great. I loved the buzz around the stadium, felt welcome & at ease. Sitting next to Faye really helped as she could share her insights as the game was going.

England 2 Albania 0 was the right result for the talent on show. Let’s hope this is the way Thomas Tuchel means to continue & that Myles Lewis-Skelly isn’t greeted with boos next time.

I loved the story of how Dan Burn came to his first England cap aged 32 in the same week as he scored for Newcastle United to win the Carabao Cup just last weekend.

The away fans were energetic. The atmosphere throughout was positive from our experience. I travelled home proudly wearing my England scarf.

Would you go to a match if your with a group of others committed to keeping the experience safe & respectful?

05/03/2025

Today we rescued 2 pairs of jeans and a cardigan

The sun shone & we received a warm welcome from

Thanks to for the initiative & some funding. It was great to spend time with Rachel, & today. Hopefully this little workshop has got you started on a lot more creative mends.

The needles were 🔥 today so I think that covers today’s prompt “Hot”!

Would you like to join a Social Mending group if we can organise more?

22/11/2024

Black Friday! Black Friday Week! Just Don’t!

The Netflix film isn’t the best but the images from Wall-E are a stark reminder that our kids were watching movies about the outcomes of this behaviour and it’s already a reality we are encouraged not to see.

The interviews with ex-corporate employees & leaders show how we can persuade ourselves to look away until we just cannot any longer.

This week in the run up to Thanksgiving & the obscene rush to consume it is easy to take action. Just don’t do anything.

🛍️ Don’t buy anything you wouldn’t normally buy
💳 Leave your credit cards at home
😆 Find joy in what you already have
🎁Give away what you don’t need
❤️ Take care of yourself
💞 Spend time with people who you love who love you right back
🌏 Enjoy the world around you



Will you be shopping this week?