Stormzy’s personal stylist, Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe, outlines seven definitive dressing tips in a new weekly shoppable series called Love That, streaming on YouTube and Instagram. The program pairs Holdbrook-Akposoe with a rotating panel of presenters to test and review the latest M&S clothing drops while sharing wardrobe hacks. The show, produced in partnership with M&S, has drawn close to four million viewers since its launch about a month ago, underscoring the growing appetite for fashion guidance that doubles as a retail guide.
Holdbrook-Akposoe, 34, has become a household name beyond her work with the British-Ghanaian rapper Stormzy. Her client list has included heavyweight names such as Anthony Joshua, Maya Jama, and David Guetta, and her influence extends from red carpets to social feeds. The stylist’s online presence is strong among Gen Z, with hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and millions of views on TikTok. Naomi Campbell has been cited among those who follow her, and her Brent Cross M&S Foodhall hauls have become widely shared content in their own right. The Love That program leverages that crossover appeal, presenting fashion advice in a shoppable format that keeps viewers engaged while guiding them toward product drops from the retailer.
Image: Melissa Holdbrook-Akposoe
The seven tips Holdbrook-Akposoe offers through the series are framed as practical guidance for building a wardrobe that lasts. She emphasizes a long-term approach over chasing every fleeting trend. Do invest in wardrobe staples, and don’t spend big on trends that will pass quickly. She frames the capsule wardrobe as essential: a good blazer, quality jeans, and elevated basics on the rail, which can be refreshed with seasonal prints or textures such as polka dots, snakeskin, leopard, or a chocolate-brown suede bag or leather trench coat.
Another pillar is quality over quantity. Do choose quality over quantity and wear your clothes to the max, and don’t buy fabric that won’t stand the test of time. The message doubles as a sustainability stance: the goal is longevity, not one-off vanity purchases. She champions fabrics that endure, naming real leather and suede, 100% cotton, rigid denim, wool, hemp, linen and bamboo as natural and durable options. When shopping, she says, ask whether you would wear the item 10, 15, or 20 times, reinforcing the idea that durability outpaces disposability.
Know your colour palette is the third pillar. Do know your color palette, and don’t be afraid to introduce texture and print. She advises that not every color trend suits every person, and that texture, prints, and layering can create depth without requiring a full palette of bold hues. Bold primary colors are optional; depth can come from mixing textures and silhouettes to keep the look interesting yet wearable.
Tailoring follows as a critical step. Do tailor your clothes, and don’t assume one size fits all. She notes that tailoring can feel intimidating but is accessible to most people, with many local dry cleaners offering in-house tailoring services. A well-fitted pair of jeans or a jacket often elevates an outfit from casual to curated, making the wearer appear as though the entire look has been thoughtfully prepped.
Accessorizing is the next lever. Do accessorize, and don’t overdo it. Layering is powerful, but she cautions that sometimes the final piece is the one that needs to come off to preserve balance. She cites chunky resin bangles as a current favorite for an expensive-looking, statement finish without overwhelming the ensemble.
Expressing personality and avoiding crowd conformity round out the set. Do express your personality, and don’t follow the crowd. While it’s natural to look to celebrities for inspiration, Holdbrook-Akposoe urges viewers to cultivate a personal style that aligns with lifestyle and individual taste, rather than replicating someone else’s look wholesale.
Finally, organizing and rotating your wardrobe are practical essentials. Do keep your wardrobe organized, and don’t forget to rotate seasonally. She recommends seasonal rotation and packing away pieces not in use to see gaps and rediscover old favorites. Wardrobe staples, investment fabrics, texture and prints, and accessories all anchor a thoughtful approach to dressing that can evolve with trends without losing a sense of personal style.
The Love That series positions fashion as both a styling tutorial and a retail shortcut, offering viewers an opportunity to learn alongside a stylist who has built a distinctive, celebrity-grade portfolio. By combining demonstrations of how pieces fit on real bodies with transparent commentary on fabric choices, tailoring, and layering, the show aims to help households translate high-fashion sensibilities into everyday wear.
Holdbrook-Akposoe’s presence in the fashion ecosystem reflects broader industry trends toward more accessible luxury and personalized style curation. Her appeal to younger audiences lies in her candid, practical advice and her willingness to explain the choices behind outfits, from fabric durability to tailoring effects to the impact of a single statement accessory. The collaboration with M&S also signals a desire to bridge fashion editorial insight with direct-to-consumer availability, a model increasingly embraced by retailers seeking to connect with new generations of shoppers who expect both inspiration and immediate purchasing options in one place.
As the series grows, observers will be watching not only for the outfits but for how Holdbrook-Akposoe translates her celebrity dressing expertise into everyday guidance. If the early response is any indication, the seven tips could become a durable framework for viewers seeking to refine their personal style without sacrificing practicality or budget. In an era where fashion can feel increasingly fast-paced, the emphasis on staples, fit, and longevity offers a measured counterpoint that resonates with a broad audience, from fashion insiders to casual observers looking to elevate their everyday looks.