Archive of ‘Fashion’ category

Chambray Shirt Dress – The Denim That Won’t Make You Sweat

/ Fashion / 4 Comments

Today’s outfit is gifted. Not gifted from a shop or brand, but gifted from my mum on a recent shop to Blue Illusion.

My mum is a huge fan of Blue Illusion and we can never go to Garden City Shopping Centre or the airport without visiting a Blue Illusion store.

I never say no to a window shop because I love how the store is always styled and occasionally I will really like something and my mum will offer to buy it for me for my Birthday. Which is in July.

On a recent shopping trip a couple of months ago, I saw this Chambray Shirt Dress and knew it would be the perfect dress to wear in autumn and during our mild winters layered with a scarf and sleeveless duster.

Blue Illusion Chambray Dress

Blue Illusion Chambray Shirt Dress on sale $84.99

I took the dress down to Sydney recently and wore it with a stripe scarf from Sussan and my silver Sophie shoes from Frankie 4 Footware. I forgot to get a picture of my outfit, but here it is relived for today’s post.

chambray shirt dress

chambray shirt dress

In true VIP fashion, when my mum bought the dress, if she spent an extra $50, she would get a voucher for the next time she shopped. So I was chastised to find something for $50 so my mum could get her voucher. I found a scarf.

Not typically a scarf I would have bought straight away from the rack, it was the best that was available. Sadly, the scarf brought us $2 short so a hand cream was added to the sale. Crisis diverted, I got a new outfit and mum got her voucher. It was a successful shop.

gifted blue illusion dress styled by bec

All styles of denim and chambray have been trending over summer and longer sleeved versions of dresses and shirts have arrived for autumn and winter. This chambray dress is on sale, and I’ve found some other styles online to accommodate all budgets.

chambray shirt dressesTop Left hand corner going clockwise: ASOS Somedays Lovin Undercover Indigo Chambray Dress $57, Eleni Elasticised Shirt Dress $49.98, Mix Apparel Chambray Popover Dress $29, Elm Indigo Shift Dress $129

When was the last time you were gifted clothes? Added any chambray to your wardrobe lately? Seems I’m addicted to it because I’ve written about it here, here and here.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

 

5 Neck Accessories You Should Try This Autumn 2016

/ Fashion / 27 Comments

The way I view fashion has started to change this year. I’ve always been attracted to bright and unusual patterns throughout all seasons of the year, but after taking an outfit photo consistently each day since Phoebe’s birth for #everydaystyle, I’ve noticed which outfits I feel happiest in and suit me really well. Wearing neutrals and classic outfits make me feel the most comfortable and stylish in. It means my winter wardrobe has been viewed in a new and different light.

Anyway, one classic outfit that I love is the simple white shirt, with skinny jeans and ankle boots. It’s the easiest trans-seasonal outfit to put together, and it’s a classic that everyone should own. But how do you make it your own without feeling like you blend in the crowd? Here’s where accessories come into play and I’m going to share 5 neck accessories you should adopt this season.

neck accessories

1. The Hair Tie Head Band. I bought my one and only headband hair tie from Behr & Co who no longer make these hair ties, but you can find them on Etsy or Top Knot Girl. You need to a buy a band that can be tied at the ends, not an infinity style headband. I wore mine as a neck tie on Easter Sunday with my white shirt. They way to tie it is to simply cross it over – as if you’re tying a shoe lace. Let the ends drape down casually.

Hair Tie neck accessory

 

hair tie neck accessory

2. The Neck Tie. My husband is overflowing with ties that he doesn’t always wear. If you want an edgy look, raid your partner’s wardrobe and tie it loosely around your neck. They same tying principle as the hair tie above.

necktie

3. The Scarf. One of my favourite ways to dress up a classic outfit. The best scarves to use are the soft, long length, drape type scarves. Wear it loosely, or tie it in a loose knot and leave the knot dangle near your chest.

scarf with white shirt

4. Layered necklaces. It pays to have a good accessory collection to create this look – and make sure your layered necklaces don’t weigh a tonne because you will have a sore neck afterwards. Whether you choose delicate jewellery or bright beads, the bolder the better.

layered necklace look

5. Bow Tie. This is a punk style look so it may not be for everyone, but this look is guaranteed to help you stand out from the crowd. The bow tie is usually kept for special occasions and rarely gets worn. You can change that by wearing it with a classic white shirt.

bow tie neck accessory

Which neckties will you be trying this Autumn?

Treat Yourself This Easter With Some Winter Wardrobe Updates

/ Fashion / 17 Comments

Easter is another one of my favourite times of year where I indulge in my favourite food: Chocolate.

I find the Easter egg chocolate is moreish than a block of chocolate, even though the block of chocolate is better value. First world problems I know.

Each Easter, before Jacob and I had children, we would head to Toowoomba and go to  Easterfest – a Christian music festival. On the Saturday, we would head to the main shopping centre in Toowoomba and I would buy a few essential items for my autumn/winter wardrobe.

Easter can be a great time to stock up on some much needed items for your wardrobe. Today I thought I’d share some pieces you might like to think about investing in if you want treat yourself this Easter with some winter wardrobe updates.

easter fashion updates 2016

The long sleeve swing dress. Like the t-shirt dress, I know that a long sleeve dress will get a lot of wear and will be an easy outfit to chuck on during those mornings I need to get dressed quickly – which is usually every morning. This stripe style is currently on my radar.

The duster vest. I’ve already got one of these in my wardrobe – my mum kindly paid off a layby I had sitting at Sussan, but this is a great layering piece that will dress up a long sleeve dress or simple jeans and long sleeve shirt outfit.

Wine and Navy. These two colours are going to be popular this season. They are rich hues that can be paired back with denim and black jeans and leggings.

 

All types of denim and chambray. Denim jackets and chambray shirts and dresses are still trending in the cooler months. These pieces don’t offer a lot of warmth in winter but they can be layered and work well for warmer climates like QLD where the cool temperatures can be quite mild by the middle of the day.

 

Are there any fashion items you have your eye on for this winter?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess.

Disclaimer: There are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase an item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Ruby Olive Necklaces PLUS A Giveaway

/ Fashion / 49 Comments

I can be a bit of a hoarder when it comes to necklaces and scarves. If I find a necklace or scarf I love, I usually buy it straight away because it’s usually something I can afford as opposed to clothes and shoes that can make more of a dent into my budget.

I’ve always been a fan of Ruby Olive necklaces because of their bright colours. I love to wear bright clothes, so a bright necklace is just up my alley. I’ve owned a few Ruby Olive pieces after buying them at stores and receiving them as gifts. You can never underestimate the power of a necklace as it can be the cherry that pulls an outfit together.

Ruby Olive Necklace

I don’t have any prerequisites when purchasing my necklaces. Sometimes the quirkier the better for me because I like the interest in can add to an outfit.

Many of the necklaces in the Ruby Olive range can be worn with a number of outfits. Sometimes they work even better when not teamed with matching colours.

I chose this Multi-coloured Paradiso Pebble Necklace to feature in today’s post because it can be worn long or short, and the colours in the necklace make it a versatile piece that can be worn with many of the outfits in my wardrobe.

During summer and the first half of autumn, I find it’s too hot to wear a scarf, so I wear a necklace which adds just as much colour and fun to my outfit as a scarf would.

ruby olive

Here are just some of the ways I have styled my Ruby Olive necklace.

ruby olive necklace

ruby olive necklace

Ruby olive necklace

ruby olive necklace

Ruby Olive Necklace

Ruby Olive Necklace

Ruby Olive have just released a softies range, perfect for mums with babies that like to chew on their mum’s necklace. The teething necklaces are such a great way to dress up a nursing top if you decide to go out with your baby. It can add the right amount of ‘pop’ to your outfit.

If you are needing to add some colour to your wardrobe, why not consider purchasing a Ruby Olive necklace? Best of all by doing so, you are supporting a local business run by a mum in Brisbane.

Giveaway

Ruby Olive is giving away 2 x $30 gift vouchers to Styled by Bec Readers so you can have some Ruby Olive goodness in your accessory collection.

In order to enter the giveaway, just enter via the widget (Like Styled By Bec on Facebook, like Ruby Olive on Facebook, Subscribe to the Styled by Bec Newsletter and Follow on Instagram) and answer this question in the comments: Which Ruby Olive necklace is your favourite and why? The most interesting and fun answer will win a voucher.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Terms and Conditions

1.This is a game of skill. Each valid entry to be judged on creativity and originality, not by chance.

2. There are 2 prizes: 2 x $30 Ruby Olive vouchers.

3. Entries open from 12am Brisbane time Tuesday 15th March to Wednesday 30th March 2016 12pm Brisbane Time.

4.Prize is not transferable or changeable.

5. Prize sent out by Ruby Olive will not be replaced in the event it is stolen, lost or damaged in transit or virtually.

6.Entry is via the widget and answering the question in the comments section.

7.Entry into any giveaway or competition is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions

8.Entrants must be Australian residents and aged 18 or over

9. The winners will be notified by email and have 3 days to reply and claim the prize. The winner will also be announced on Facebook. This giveaway is not endorsed by Facebook or Instagram.

10. The decision on the winner is final and no dialogue will be entered into otherwise.

11. These terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice

Black Ripped Jeans for the Win – AW16 Trend

/ Fashion / 28 Comments

Two weeks ago I took a friend style shopping to get some new outfits for her Birthday and a conference we were heading to, the weekend that has just passed.

I took my friend to Sussan because I wanted to purchase a navy sleeveless duster, but it had already sold out. I busied myself pulling items from the shelf for my friend to try on. There was an extra 30% off the sale rack and I had my eyes on a few pieces that I could wear for Autumn.

Once my friend had tried on her outfits and decided which pieces she was going to wear, I randomly grabbed a pair of black jeans to wear with the tops I had picked off the sales rack.

As soon as I put the jeans on they felt good. I loved the fit and where they sat on my waist. I couldn’t afford to buy them at full price, so placed them back on the shelf.

I couldn’t stop thinking about those jeans and went into my wardrobe to look at my current jean stockpile. Most were in need of being donated because I have lost weight from walking Esther to school and most of the jeans sag at my bum. #notagoodlook.

On the Wednesday before leaving to go to Sydney, Jacob had a day off work so we headed to a newish shopping centre to see if I could find a cheaper black jean alternative. I could find them, but they still didn’t fit as nicely as the ones I found in Sussan. I resorted to buying the jeans full price because I was keen to own them.

You wouldn’t believe my luck when I walked into the store and those jeans had 40% off! They had been put on sale that morning. They are still on sale if you’re looking for a pair of ripped black jeans this winter, check them out.

I’ve still got to get a pair of denim jeans, but I’m glad I got these black straight leg ones. The rips at the knees give them a bit of edge.
Here are a few pics of me wearing them when down in Sydney.

bec wearing sussan black jeans

bec in chambray and black jeans

I’ve never been a fan of owning black jeans because they tend to fade quite quickly. I don’t like the faded/worn black look. To keep these jeans crisp, I think I will let them dry in the shade to retain their colour. Do you have any tips on helping black jeans retain their colour?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

1 … 34 35 36 37 38 … 51