Archive of ‘Style tips’ category

What to wear to a semi-formal occasion in Winter

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I had a reader ask me for some outfit ideas for a semi-formal occasion that she has to attend in July. Her work Christmas party has been brought to July so they can celebrate ‘Christmas in July’ style.

The hardest part of wearing a semi-formal outfit in winter is making sure you have enough layers for warmth and that your attire meets the brief.

Here’s a little insider secret – you can make most party, smart casual or corporate style dresses semi-formal by wearing the right accessories. Add a strand of pearls or a glitzy necklace or chandelier earrings and a clutch and you are in semi-formal mode.

But if you still feel that none of your dresses fit the mark, I have done some exploring for you.

There are plenty of sales on at the moment so don’t hestitate to check out Birdsnest and Yeltuor. These are my go to online retailers that I shop from when I need a frock for a semi-formal occasion.

If you have the dollars, I would invest in a Sacha Drake dress as it will be worn time and time again. While it ends up being a big expense in the beginning, you get your money’s worth from the cost per wear. I have also found her dresses rarely date.

If you are on a tight budget  (why does that happen when there are end of financial year sales on?), I have put a budget friendly outfit together. This outfit may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I love that it’s different, it has colour and can work with any existing black shoes and jackets that you may already own in your wardrobe.

 

If this outfit hasn’t inspired you, here are some other dresses to consider. Add a blazer or waterfall jacket and some heels and you will be semi-formal ready.  I should also explain semi-formal is the same as cocktail style dressing. A formal or black tie event is usually floor length gowns. And the ones that I’ve gone to in recent years, usually cocktail dresses have been worn to these.

Do you have a go-to outfit when attending semi-formal occasions? Any of these dresses strike your fancy?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT and Kimba Likes for Wardrobe Wednesday.

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.

The Most Flogged Dress in my Wardrobe – Black Winter Dress

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The most flogged dress in my wardrobe during winter is my black 3/4 sleeve draped dress. I bought it a few years ago from Ezibuy on sale. I wear it through Autumn and Winter and layer it to create different looks. It’s my go to dress in Winter.

My black dress drapes at the front so I was able to wear it when I was pregnant last winter and this season it camouflages and skims over my not-so-flat tummy.  If I am having a flat day and need to look stylish, my black dress is what I gravitate towards. Every woman needs a black winter dress in their wardrobe to wear during the cooler months. It’s versatile and becomes a base outfit that can be layered with different pieces that are trending in the season. Here are a few ways how I’ve worn my black winter dress recently.

With a vest and belt

With a vest and belt

 

With a plaid scarf

Layered over tights and a long sleeve tee, accessorized with a plaid scarf and boots

 

Worn with a pleather jacket and scarf

Worn with a pleather jacket and scarf

 

I’ve found a selection of purse friendly black dresses available online. The key to finding a versatile black dress is opting for a 3/4 to long sleeve style. A body con style is great if you intend to layer it with knits and vests, but a draped style dress will skim over lumps and bumps that are often acquired during the cooler months.

Do you have a black dress you wear during winter? What’s your go-to-outfit in winter?

I’m linking with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

* Please note, there are affiliate links on this post. Should you choose to purchase any of the dresses featured in this post, I will receive a small commission at no extra expense to you.

 

What I wore in Melbourne

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I went to Melbourne for the weekend to attend the Kidspot Voices of 2015 Masterclass. I knew I had to pack warm clothes so I planned on taking a simple black, white and red palette to make packing easier. We were only going away for two nights, but I didn’t want to overpack as whenever I travel with a baby I find I need the extra room to pack baby stuff.

One tip I suggest you do before packing for a trip is to try on the clothes you are going to wear before you pack them into your bag. This proved to be a wise tip as the skirt I was going to wear to the Masterclass wouldn’t do up so I had to think of an alternative. I’m thankful I didn’t just chuck clothes into my case because that would have been a disaster.

Flying down to Melbourne I chose to wear a simple black long sleeved top with my Katies jeans, a tartain scarf and beret.

Melbourne Look 1

On the day of the Masterclass I chose to wear my Charlie Dress from Bohemian Traders with a faux fur vest from Dotti and my brown Sandler boots which I wore down the previous day. I didn’t take any other shoes for the trip.

Melbourne Day 1

Flying home, I work dark denim jeans, a black long sleeve tee and my possum wool jumper from New Zealand. The jumper is too warm to wear in a Brisbane winter so I was glad I got some wear out of it in Melbourne.

Day 2 Melbourne Look

Jacob surprised me with a necklace from Tiffany and Co as a combined wedding anniversary gift and a simple gesture of congratulations for The Plumbette reaching Alumni. I love the length of the necklace and it matches well with the key chain I got for my 30th Birthday.

Tiffany necklace

This was the first time I didn’t specifically buy a new outfit to wear to a blogging function, although I did come to purchase the Charlie dress from Bohemian Traders on a recent spend and save sale. It’s on sale again for 2 days with 30% off the Charlie range online. I love the dress because it is much longer than other dresses from Bohemian Traders which I’ve found have been much too short for my liking. I had a few bloggers check me out because the dress was on their wish list. Now’s the time to purchase it if you are keen on owning this dress in your wardrobe.

How good are you packing for a short trip away? Do you pack too many clothes or not enough?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

 

 

How to wear a Skinny Belt in Winter

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One of my favourite accessories is the skinny belt. I have a collection of different coloured skinny belts that can be added to any outfit should I choose.

I fell in love the with belt when I studied my Diploma in Fashion Styling. For me, it showed off my waist and was the missing accessory to bring my outfits together.

Some women can’t wear belts because it cuts them in half or they have a small torso – meaning the distance between under the breasts and waist is quite small. If they were to wear a belt they would literally look like an hourglass but not in the right proportions of an hourglass shape if that makes sense?

I have a few skinny belts in different colours including tan, beige, black, orange and red. My tan and black belts get the most use, but the colour belts always get used during summer. I might even wear them this winter should I feel I need to add colour to a dark winter outfit.

Wearing your belt

I wear my belts either just under my bust to give my tunics an empire line or around my waist just above my hips. It all depends on the amount of fabric and what an outfit looks like cinched in at the waist.

On Sunday I wore a waterfall knit vest which added bulk to my hip area and so I used a tan skinny belt to cinch it in. I decided to cinch in just under my bust but I was unsure of the look when I looked at my #everydaystyle photo. There was a positive consensus to keep the belt so I did. Even though I feel confident on how to dress, I’m not immune to being unsure sometimes.

Bec wearing a winter belt

When I buy my belts, I generally buy the largest size (I’m a 14/16 at present) because it gives me the option to wear the belt on my hips, waist or under my bust line. The excess belt can be tucked into the band of the belt or knotted for a different look. I also love reversible belts because you get more options for your dollar and it saves having to store a lot of belts.

I also have a mixture of belts with different coloured buckles. Most of my belts have a silver buckle but I do have some black belts with a gold buckle. I find the colour of the buckle helps complement with the colour of my jewellery. I’m a bit matchy matchy when it comes to jewellery and accessories, which is no fashion rule, just a rule I follow myself but works for me. I also opt to wear a shorter necklace as opposed to a long pendant necklace when I wear a belt. Sometimes I may opt not to wear a necklace at all allowing my belt to be my hero accessory.

Belts are definitely a fun accessory to play with during winter. They can cinch in vests and knits that threaten to enlarge your silhouette.

Do you wear belts in winter? Do you wear belts any time of the year?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

The Winter Hat: Do you need one?

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I headed away to Byron Bay Hinterland with my family on the weekend to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary and to take some time out after a very busy start to the year. I intended to do a bit of shopping in Byron Bay because our stay did coincide with Mother’s Day and I’m not one to turn down an opportunity to shop.

Byron Bay is a mixed street of alternative and high street fashion. I headed in Karmeleon where I bought some scarves, a tunic top (one pictured), beret and a beige fedora.

Wearing my new tunic and fedora from Karmeleon

Wearing my new tunic and fedora from Karmeleon

When it comes to hats, I don’t wear them as often as I should because I don’t like to get hat hair. I generally try to stay out of the sun because of my fair skin and if I am out I stay in the shade. But while I was in Karmeleon I saw this beige fedora and I liked it straight away. I chucked it on my head and really liked the look. So I bought it and I’m looking forward to getting some wear out of it this winter.

So how do you chose a fedora for yourself and if you’re a stay at home mum like me when will you actually wear it?

Well when choosing a fedora, choose a colour that suits your complexion and one that will work well with colours you wear frequently. Black and beige would be the most popular choice, but for something different try caramel or a teal. Teal works well with winter shades of black, charcoal, grey and tan. It can add a bright contrast to your winter outfit.

Wear your hat as an accessory when going out to an afternoon party, a picnic or taking the kids to the park. The fedora can replace the sun hat you would wear in Summer. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time to wear your hat or you will never wear it.

As for the hat hair situation, I will try not to take my hat off in public if I can help it. Usually a ruffle can sort out any head hair issues. Ensure your hat isn’t too tight to avoid a major indentation on your do.

Do you wear a hat in winter? Do you own a fedora?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

*This post contains affiliate links, so if you do choose to purchase one of these hats, I will receive a small commission but it’s no extra cost to you.

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