Archive of ‘Style tips’ category

How to wear a patterned tee

/ Fashion, Style tips / 12 Comments

I loved a patterned tee. Just add a pair of shorts and you’re good to go. The pattern speaks for itself. I have few Witchery patterned tees in my wardrobe and I wear them in summer with shorts or harems and in winter I wear them with jeans and a cardigan.

There are so many prints out this season you’re not limited for choice. Florals, polka dots, stripes, digital and animal prints are just some of the patterns that are on offer.

Summer Patterned Tees

Patterned Tees

1. Asos Oasis Textured Floral Tee $55.45

2. Freez New Cover Print Top $39.95

3. Charlie Brown Police Shattered Top $199.00

4. Blue Illusion Short Sleeve Trapeze Top $99.95

5. Sussan Print Splice Tee $59.95

6. Witchery Linea Printed Tee $59.95

 

How to wear a patterned tee

The patterned tee is an easy item to wear and it works especially well in summer when you don’t want to wear accessories or it’s too hot to wear a scarf. The patterned tee is the feature of the outfit. It can be teamed with a block colour short or with denim shorts.

To create a really interesting outfit, mix your patterned tee with a patterned short. The key to mixing your patterns is to have one colour in common. The pattern can also be the common denominator so long as it is similar in shape. In the example below, you could team either of the tees with the Sussan Print Chino shorts because the same colour blue is featured in both items. To balance the outfit, wear a block colour sandal. There is no need to add a necklace because the patterns in the outfit are the show piece of the outfit.

Patterned Tee Options

Styling Ideas for Patterned Tees

1. Freez Sass Take Over Tee $49.00

2. Sussan Stamp Print Chino short $59.95

3. Colette Aria Structured Metal Edge Tote $49.95

4. Sussan Print Splice Tee $59.95

5. Country Road White Stretch Short $69.95

6. Style Tread Mollini Wakes White Sandal $129.95

 

Have you got a patterned tee in your wardrobe? What do you normally wear it with?

Spring Racing Outfits 2013

/ Style tips / 35 Comments

This time next week is the Melbourne Cup. How fast has this  year gone? I love this time of year with the new season offerings of dresses just in time for Spring Racing Season and the Christmas Parties that follow on the next month.

I decided to put together two Spring Racing Outfits. One is floral using a maxi dress and the other is a plain colour dress jazzed up with an accent colour. I love florals and colour in Spring and these trends are perfectly acceptable to be worn at the races. The outfits are budget friendly because as everyone knows, you can’t wear the same outfit every year and when you are buying a dress and the necessary shoes and accessories to match, it can cost a fortune to pull an outfit together.

Because I am a mum and I haven’t been very organized this year, I will be at home watching the race while my girls are asleep – providing I don’t have any plumbing work that crops up – but it’s highly unlikely because most businesses and residents are focused on the Melbourne Cup too.

Anyway, here are my two suggestions for Spring Racing Outfits for 2013. Some of the images are hazy because I am still learning how to format pictures, but you get the gist of what I’m trying to show you.

SpringRacing2013

Spring Racing Outfit One : Floral Maxi Dress

1. Freez Spicy Sugar Overlay Maxi Dress $59.00

2. The Iconic Morgan & Taylor The Grace Fascinator $99.95

3. Collette Avery Weave Hardcase Clutch $34.95

4.The Iconic RMK Henrietta Wedge $129.95

 

Navy & Aqua Spring Racing Outfit 2013

Spring Racing Outfit Two: Two Tone Outfit using Navy & Aqua

1. ASOS Midi Dress with Short Sleeves $46.21

2. The Iconic Morgan & Taylor The Emily Fascinator $79.95

3. Collette Glam Evening Necklace in Blue $16.95

4. The Iconic Therapy Malawi Heels $49.95

5. The Iconic Miss Co Snake Contrast Clutch $29.99

 

Do you have any plans for Melbourne Cup? Have you got your outfit sorted?

Summer Maternity Capsule Wardrobe 2014

/ Style tips / 26 Comments

It’s kind of hard for me to believe that this time last year I was pregnant with Magdalene. She is 8 months old and I really can’t believe how fast the time has gone. I had to buy new maternity clothes suitable for summer because my previous pregnancy was during the months of winter.

I love the variety that is offered by some retailers, but I don’t always appreciate the price when the items are only going to be worn for a short amount of time. I fell in love with ASOS maternity and pretty much bought my whole summer maternity wardrobe online. I’m a size 14 normally so I bought size 16 maternity dresses and they all fitted like a dream.

So I thought I would do a Summer Maternity Capsule Wardrobe 2014 for those that are expecting this coming season. A lot of the pieces are sourced from ASOS maternity because I can vouch for their quality and their sizing. (They also do free delivery) The items can be worn throughout pregnancy and beyond if breastfeeding. I’ve included a scarf and necklace that can be used post baby too – the necklace is from Tiny and I which makes chew friendly jewellery for teething bubs and a scarf to add some interest to the outfits. You will be hot so remember to wear clothes that will allow for ventilation and keep you cool.

MaternitySummer2013

 

1. ASOS Maternity Sheer Panel Black Top $40.66

2. Sussan Multi Modern Floral Scarf $29.95

3. ASOS Maternity Animal Print Shift Dress $64.69

4. ASOS Maternity Support Leggings $40.66

5. Target Feeding Top in Shell Pink $20.00

6. ASOS Maternity Grecian Dress $83.18

(aaah, this green one has gone on sale and not many sizes are left, but they do have this dress in other colours and will bring more in, it’s an ASOS maternity staple)

7. Tiny and I Amalia Teething Necklace $44.00

8. Sussan Maternity Pencil Skirt $69.95

9. The Iconic Cody Trim Wedges by Spurr $39.95

 

If you’re expecting this Summer, what pieces have you purchased to get you through the hot season?

 

How to update your wardrobe when losing weight Part 3

/ Fashion, Style tips / 61 Comments

I don’t do shorts very well at the moment. I actually have quite nice calves but from the knee up I’m fairly untoned. This was the main area that copped the excess weight when I was pregnant with Magdalene.

But shorts are such a necessity in summer, so I try to wear ones that cuff up just above the knee. If you don’t like shorts or you don’t wear shorts, the next best thing is a cotton pant that looks stylish and keeps the lower half of your body cool in summer.

Key Piece Three : Gypsy Print Pants

Gypsy Pants, as I like to call them, are similar to Harem Pants where they have a lower crotch and slim down at the ankle. Gypsy Pants tend to have the same width of pant from the hips to just before the ankle where it tapers in, where as Harems cling closer to the leg from the lower thigh down.

From my description of Gypsy Pants, they sound quite unflattering but having worn them, they are quite the contrary. I have found it is best to wear a tighter style for a more flattering fit and these pants are fabulous for when you are trying to lose weight because the waist band is generally elasticized or has a draw string.

I am wearing my Erin Louise Crimson Belle Gypsy Pants

I am wearing my Erin Louise Crimson Belle Gypsy Pants

I fell in love with these Erin Louise Crimson Belle’s and I got so many compliments when I wore them to a Church Family Picnic Event last week. The sizing is bigger than normal. I purchased the Medium and there was plenty of room in them.  I am still a size 14-16 around the waist area, yet because of the elasticized waist I can wear them on my hips or at my waist.

I recently had a reader tell me she had bought a pair of these type of pants from Sussan from their Sleepware section. If they’re comfortable to sleep in, and you want comfortable, these are the pants for you.

GYPSY PANTS1. Freez Genie Pant

2. Erin Louse Mexicano Pant

3. Sussan Tie-Dye PJ Pant

4. Erin Louise Confetti Pant

I’ve listed a few styles to consider if you would like to add these to your summer wardrobe. On the top half, just wear a plain tee and a necklace and you’re good to go.

GypsyPantsOutfit

1. Witchery Light Grey Marle Tee

2. Colette Tear Drop Necklace

3. Erin Louise Confetti Pant

4. The Iconic Mandy Metallic Sandals by Spurr

 

What do you think about the Gypsy Pant? Have I convinced you to get a pair?

How to update your wardrobe when losing weight Part 2

/ Fashion, Style tips / 42 Comments

When you’re a mum, chucking on a dress is so easy. It’s the one outfit where the only thing that needs to be thought about is the accessories and shoes. For me, I’m still breastfeeding so I needed to find a dress where the neckline was easy to pull down for booby access. This Spicy Sugar Kaftan Dress was the answer. It has a belt that can cinch in the waist or at the hips which will look even better when I lose those extra post baby kilos.

A Kaftan Dress that allows me to breastfeed.

A Kaftan Dress that allows me to breastfeed.

Key Piece Two : Kaftan dress

I bought this cobalt blue Kaftan dress from my local Boutique and I know that I’m going to get a lot of wear out if it even when my tummy and hips start to shrink because Kaftans are meant to be flowy and a belt can do wonders for your silhouette.

BlueKaftanDress2

Living in Queensland and going to the beach for our annual holiday also means that this dress will come in handy as a summer beach cover up and because I’m fair, I love that it covers my back and shoulders… although I will need to be careful where the open sleeves bare my white arms.

I have worn this dress twice when having guests over because it is one those versatile dresses that can be dressed up or down. In this picture I’m wearing my Emily Green Bead necklace and matching turquoise earrings as well as my Coral Pink Flat Sandals bought last season from London Rebel.

If you are keen to add a Kaftan dress to your summer wardrobe, why not check out these styles online? Number 3 & 4 are the same Spicy Sugar design as the one I am wearing. I wear a size 14 and I am hovering between a 14 and 16 at the moment.

KaftanDresses

1. The Iconic Tigerlily Laharia Mu Mu Dress

2. The Iconic Ouch Tribal Kaftan Dress * Tip: So that this dress doesn’t look so billowy, wear a belt at the empire line to give the dress extra definition

3. Freez Spicy Sugar Kaftan Dress

4. Freez Spicy Sugar Kaftan Dress Yellow Paisley

Are you willing to try the Kaftan Dress?

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