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Archive of ‘Fashion’ category

Fruit Prints for Summer Fashion

December 4, 2019 / Fashion / 0 comment

I love fruit prints for summer fashion as they are often colourful and provide a print alternative to florals.

Whether it’s an evolving trend or one that is universal, having a fruit print ‘something’ is definitely a way to update your wardrobe this season, and beyond.

My favourite fruit print is a dress I got from Gorman a few years ago. It still makes me happy when I wear it and I don’t see myself letting it go anytime soon.

And this has now become my mantra for most of my shopping decisions these days. I want to keep it for a long time, not just for a good time.

I’ve been carefully curating my wardrobe to keep pieces that not only give me joy, but can be worn on repeat, and look as good as the day I bought them.

But back to the fruit print, I’ve recently added more fruit prints to my wardrobe.

I’m loving this dress I got a few months ago from Stylefast. It’s available at Little Party Dress. I go up a size in button down dresses to prevent unwanted gape when I sit down.

I also bought this Strawberry Multiway Top from Frankie and Dash. I eyed this piece a year ago and only added to cart on the weekend. It may be the top I wear on Christmas Day… with white pants. Not sure if that’s a good thing to do or not… I may make a last minute decision about that one.

If you’re loving the fruit prints like me, here are some pieces I’ve found online for varying budgets.

1. Adrift Remy Dress in Red Pineapple $89.99

2. Frankie and Dash Strawberry Multiway Top $41.99

3. Little Party Dress Marley Summer Feast Dress $69.95

4. Little Party Dress Havana Summer Spots Lemon Dress $74.95

5. Gorman Mandarino Tulip Dress $199

6. Strebor Clothing Festival of Fruit Top $109.95

7. Bohemian Traders Lucia Dress in Tuscan Sun $189.95

8. Nova Lux Fruit Top $29.95

Are you a fan of fruit prints for summer?

Disclosure: 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.

My Thoughts Buying From Shein

October 23, 2019 / Fashion / 0 comment

I’m part of a group chat with school mum friends, and one of my friends was sharing her experience buying from Shein.

This piqued my interest because I love fashion, and love perusing stores for research and who doesn’t love a bargain?

However, after my experience buying from a cheaper, overseas store, I wasn’t keen to lose my money again. Plus I do believe in buying local.

I have known friends who have bought from Shein, and they have given mixed reviews due to sizing. But the thrill of a bargain can be enticing can’t it?

I’m a bit of a walking contradiction where I say buy local, but am tempted by buying cheap clothes from overseas too. What if I get a bargain? What if I lose my money, again?

The thing is, I don’t want to waste my money on clothes that don’t fit and require my time and costs to return so I can get a refund. Also, I do get concerned on knock offs of designer pieces and the living standards for the people creating these clothes.

The other question I have is, are the designer pieces we spend hundreds of dollars on in Australia made in the same factories overseas, hence why cheaper alternatives can be sold? I know it happens with plumbing fixtures and I know it happens with supermarket brands of foods we buy at the grocery store.

I understand the markup of clothes does need to be high in Australia to make a profit. But, money talks. If I can get the same dress for $30 and save a couple of hundred, have I made a wise decision for my finances or have I just selfishly duped someone from a wage?

While I was scrolling through all the boho dresses on Shein, I saw imitations from Spell and Arnhem to name a few.

With all these thoughts on my mind, I still really loved some pieces for myself and my eldest daughter at Shein.

So, while I was perusing clothes for my girls, I added to cart two pieces for myself which were under $30 each – which is apparently expensive for Shein standards due to their sales and coupons. It resulted in free shipping so the purchases were worth the addition, I convinced myself.

I received the clothes this week. The clothes for my daughters all fit perfectly. (Although one top is a crop top best worn at home!). They look well-made and they are unique pieces you won’t find in Kmart.

For me, the dress I bought… well it was perfect in the body, but way too small in the arms and shoulders. So small, when I went to put the dress on, I couldn’t get it off.

The Bohemian Embroidered Top, which I really liked, was a plus size top. I went through the Shein sizing recommendation putting in my weight, height and measurements and it told me 1XL would fit me.

Surely not I thought.

But I added it to cart and guess what, it fits perfectly. I’m very happy with this purchase. Plus, I have the earrings to match.

It looks like I have another dress to sell to a friend or on Facebook Marketplace. The dress I featured earlier this year was sold to a lady who loved it and said it fitted like a dream for her. So these pieces do end up in happy homes.

But if I buy from Shein again, I will use the sizing guide. I will most likely purchase for the girls, but for me, I still like to support local businesses where I can, and I do dream of affording a Spell dress or two one day. I love my Spell kimono, even though my dad thinks it looks like a dressing gown.

I’ve never worried about what he’s thought about clothes anyway.

And that’s enough thinking about clothes for one day.

Have you ever bought from Shein? Do you ever have the same thoughts about buying from Shein or other cheaper fast fashion online stores? Or am I just overthinking this?

How to Make a Maxi Skirt Work For You All Year Round

October 17, 2019 / Fashion / 0 comment

I’m not sure what has piqued my interest, but I’ve been looking at a lot of Boho Fashion lately.

In my searches I’ve come across so many gorgeous maxi skirts. I’ve found some of my favourites and have placed them into a post to share with you. Plus some tips on how to make your maxi skirt work for you all year round.

Apate Maxi Skirt $69.95

Spell Buttercup Maxi Skirt $249

Bohemian Traders Coco Wrap Skirt in Blossom Days $169.95

Ada and Lou Willow Skirt in Emerald $199.95

Arnhem Amelie Midi Skirt Cassis $179 great option for our shorter ladies

Bohemian Traders Strawberry Fields Midi Skirt $179.95 (another great option for shorter style)

Adrift Jacinta Skirt in Rose Riviera $89.99

Gingham and Heels Sweet Love Maxi Skirt $69

Stylefast Lemonade Spot Print Maxi Skirt $69

I personally prefer a maxi dress than a maxi skirt. However, there are a lot of outfit options when you invest in a maxi skirt.

How to make a maxi skirt work all year round

Maxi skirts can be worn all year round – with boots in winter and tan sandals in summer.
Layer with a denim jacket or biker jacket for cooler months, and team with a blank tee or cami for summer
Consider buying a top in the matching skirt pattern to create a set. This is a great way to add definition for a waist.
Buy a midi skirt if you find maxi skirts are too long. (featured some above)
Elastic waist allows for more control on where the skirt sits on your waist – it can sit low on the hips or high to create an empire waistline.
Some maxi skirts can be worn as a strapless dress – this can add another outfit to your wardrobe.

You will need to have some foundational basics to wear with your maxi skirt. A plain block colour top, like a white tee works well.

Do you love a maxi skirt? Any faves from the ones I’ve found online?

Disclosure: 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.

Two Ways to Wear a Cocktail Dress – Changing Your Look With Accessories

October 13, 2019 / Fashion / 0 comment

If you have a cocktail dress you love to wear again and again, the best way to make it look fresh is through the use of accessories. I thought I’d share two ways to wear a cocktail dress.

I used to be that girl who bought a dress for every occasion because heaven forbid anyone see me in the same outfit twice.

However, as I’ve gotten older (and wiser) I realised this cycle was not sustainable, nor beneficial to my back pocket.

I will admit, I did go to a shop to try on a maxi dress as I visualized a particular look with accessories I owned. But it didn’t fit right, so I went to plan B: wearing something I owned and making those accessories work with the dress.

I did go and buy pink heels, but I had needed these for other dresses, so it was a deliberate decision to purchase.

Two Ways to Wear a Cocktail Dress

Let’s see how I wore the same dress, differently.

Classic Elegance

Black off the shoulder cocktail dress classical elegant look

City Chic Off The Shoulder Dress

This was how I wore the dress last year, and it was a common look on Friday at the awards night. An elegant, off the shoulder black dress paired with heels, sparkly earrings and matching clutch.

Jo Mercer Birdy Mid Heel Sandals Black Leather $179.95
Adorne Sequin Hexagons Evening Pouch $39.95
Adorne Elizabeth Jewelled Front Necklace $69.95

Colourful Boho

Here was how I wore the same dress last night. I wore my favourite Pom Pom tassel earrings from SFH Designs and matching clutch, with pink heels from Miss Shop.

Jo Mercer High Heel Sandals in Hot Pink $79.95 (on sale)
SFH Designs Red Flower Pom Earrings $29.95
SFH Designs Pom Pom Colourful Clutch $48

I kept my hair down, curled with the GHD.

I felt fab in both looks and I know I probably have enough clutches and accessories to update my look for the next occasion, when required.

Disclosure: 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.

My Travel Wardrobe to New Zealand

October 5, 2019 / Fashion / 0 comment

Capsule wardrobes do work well for travel, but it’s not until you start packing you start panicking, thinking you haven’t packed enough clothes. I often do wonder in these moments if I’ve packed too little. My travel wardrobe to New Zealand was a good lesson for me to pack for comfort. While I was away I realized often, less is more.

First day in Queenstown. It was fresh… I put my jacket on as soon as we boarded our cruise

What threw me was the weather and the reports of possible snow in the areas we were to stay in.

We have warm clothes for a Brisbane winter, not a New Zealand winter. Despite the weather predictions, it didn’t snow on our holiday – except when we went to the Snow Farm and Cardrona Hotel.

My outfit at the Snow Farm. Do check the buttons can do up on your jacket when you pack it. I look a bit sloppy, but no one was around and I didn’t care.

Layers work best when going to a cooler climate. My faithful black puffer jacket served me well again on this trip. I’ve had it for more than a decade and it is still going strong.

I probably packed too many bottoms. I’m not a fan of track pants unless absolutely necessary but I did buy two pairs from Jay Jays before we went on our trip. There were days where I was grateful for their fleece lined comfort due to the single digit temperatures outside.

There are PLENTY of articles on the net sharing how to pack the ideal capsule wardrobe for travel. This post is really the after-post sharing what worked in my capsule and what didn’t.

I didn’t wear my leopard print faux fur coat as often as I thought. I think it was mainly because my black coat was more versatile.

I was glad I took 3 scarves to create different interest in my outfits though. I made sure the pieces I did take, worked together.

I took one pair of Frankie 4 Black Boots and they didn’t come out of my suitcase. Lesson learned with this one as we did a lot of walking and my Frankie 4 Nat Sneakers and Hiking Boots (which I bought in NZ) were sufficient.

Here is what I packed for a 12 day holiday to New Zealand in early spring.

This dress is a bargain and currently on sale for $49.95 from Swiish. Great to put away for next winter.

My Travel Wardrobe to New Zealand

Tops
2 Cardigans
4 long sleeved tops
2 Dresses
1 ¾ Puff Coat
1 Puff Jacket – for the snow
1 Leopard Print Fur Coat

Bottoms
2 Pairs of Jeans
1 Pair of Leggings
2 Pairs of Trackpants

3 Scarves

Shoes
White Frankie 4 Nat Sneakers
Black Boots (didn’t wear)
Hiking Boots – bought in NZ

I didn’t get outfit photos everyday so there are some pieces I’ve listed which haven’t been photographed.

Some tips I could offer if you’re planning to travel and create your own travel capsule wardrobe:

Choose a colour theme. Mine was black, white, navy, rust and mustard, with scarves to match (stripes, leopard print and polka dots).
Invest in a black puffer jacket which will serve you for YEARS and can fold into nothing.
Shop at your destination if it’s going to be cheaper – we found a lot of snow gear expensive to buy in Brisbane – even at Factory Outlets. When we landed in Queenstown, we headed straight to Mountain Warehouse to get essentials we needed for our day at the snow. You could hire the items, but the cost at Mountain Warehouse due to their end of season sale was the same or nearly cheaper than hire fees.
Choose flat shoes for walking holidays. I love my Frankie 4 Nat sneakers. My hiking boots bought from Mountain Warehouse were a good investment too.
The Wanderers Santorini Bag and Travel wallet making travelling easy. I use them every day now too.
Choose accommodation with free washing facilities.
Leave a little space for some new purchases.