January 2012 archive

What to wear to the Theatre & Matinee Shows

/ Style tips / 27 Comments

On the weekend my husband and I went to the Lyric Theatre in Brisbane to see the matinee session of Mary Poppins. The show was fantastic and we had a wonderful time, but preparing my outfit for the show wasn’t too fun.

 

We have gone to the theatre before, but have attended the night performances, not the day ones. My dilemma was ‘Is the dress code different if you attend the matinee show?’

 

In the end I decided to wear the black dress I recently bought from Target. (you can read that post here) I dressed it up with a black belt, Scarlett red heels and a Kate Hill handbag with jewellery to match. It had been a wet week in Brisbane and the weather on Saturday was dreary. I didn’t feel like wearing something bright or over the top.

 

My husband wore his grey pants fromCountry Road and a blue checked shirt from Rhodes & Beckett. We looked smart and stylish. I was surprised to see the attire of other attendees which included a tee, jeans and thongs for some or a simple day dress and sandals.

 

It raised the question about what is acceptable attire to the theatre and after some research into the matter I have concluded that the Theatre is a once in a blue moon function to attend… unless you are rich and can afford to go to every show that is shown at Qpac! So it requires our respect and we must dress accordingly.

 

Throughout history only the elite and prestigious townspeople went to the theatre and they wore their Sunday best. Hats and tail coats for the men and Victorian dresses for the ladies. History hasn’t changed much except that it isn’t the elite and rich that attend the show nowadays, it’s those that can afford such luxuries or wait for the opening sales to get the best seat at the cheapest price.

 

The theatre is an atmosphere and production show that requires the respect of our attire. For women a smart cocktail dress or pants suit would be correct choices. Choose an outfit that you would wear to a wedding or formal function. Not formal enough to wear to a black tie unless it is the premier or opening night. These same outfits should be worn to the matinee sessions. The theatre is the theatre whether it’s day or night. Also make sure you bring a bolero or a pashmina for your shoulders if you get cool from the air conditioning. For men a classy suit worn open with a long sleeve shirt. A tie should be worn on opening night.

 

What’s the big deal about dress code anyway? Well it’s a big deal when you attend a job interview or when you perform your job. What we wear leaves an impression on the people we meet. It’s also a reflection on you as a person. A neat and tidy appearance says you respect yourself and others enough to put the effort into making your self look good.  By dressing formally to the theatre you are giving respect to the many actors and actresses that have spent time practicing to give you a good show. It’s not often we get dressed up, so going to the Theatre is a good reason to wear that expensive dress you thought you’d only wear once to a wedding!

What is Style?

/ Fashion / 16 Comments

What is style? How do you discover your style? This is a hard question to answer if you have never thought about what look you want to portray when you get dressed. And it’s not always about what you put on your body that tells a story, it’s the way you wear your hair, apply your make-up and accessorize.

 

Sometimes what I like doesn’t always suit me. For example I wish I could wear kaftans but unfortunately they make me look huge! Short shorts are also a no no for me but it’s a look I’ve always wished I could wear.

 

But there are many styles that do suit me and I’m not scared to try a trend. When experimenting, be bold and wear it with confidence. I don’t always follow trends either. You can waste money on trends that are here for a season and gone the next and as a stylist it’s important to look your best and ensure that the clothes you wear are Tran seasonal and will last a number of years.

 

This is why I always encourage clients to change their accessories because they are a cheap and easy way to follow a trend and they can be easily stored away until the next time they are back ‘in’ fashion.

 

I am always inspired by looks from past era’s and sometimes I wish I was born then because the dresses in the 1940’s, 50’s and early 60’s would have suited me to a tee! But rather than wishing I go back in time and wearing these beautiful figure flattering dresses, I just need to start wearing them now and inspire others with my style.

 

My grandma has been wearing these lovely cream Chrysanthemum earrings which are so sweet and they are the type of earring that can be worn with the most simplest of outfits but make it look stylish. Instead of hunting the shops to find a pair, I made some. I have listed them on my facebook page and will sell them in my shop on madeit.com.au. Inspiration can come from young and old! (If you want to purchase a pair, check out my store http://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=59226)

 

 

When discovering your style, look in magazines, books, shops and next time you’re at your mall – people gaze! Some people have the most amazing outfits that can inspire you. Don’t just follow the trends, wear what suits you and what you love.

 

 

New Year Sales and Autumn/Winter 2012 Trends

/ Fashion / 20 Comments

January sales are the perfect time to buy clothes, accessories and shoes at a reduced price. I always love this time of year because of the bargains, but unfortunately it can also be draining on the credit card if you don’t have a plan of attack on what you need for your wardrobe.

If you are a budget fashionista like myself you would have already looked at what your wardrobe lacks and made a list of things that you need. You would also have made a list of items you will need for the coming Autumn. Winter 2012 trends are also another hot topic. The question is how can you buy for Autumn/Winter 2012 when you don’t know what the season trends will be for that season? Well I’m about to tell you!

My list included a black dress for all occasions, new t-shirt bras, black footless tights, pair of jeans and some smart casual tops both short-sleeve and ¾ sleeve to wear with jeans and cargos – easy casual wear for a mum running after a toddler.

As most mums know, gone are the days you could stand in your wardrobe and um and ah over what to wear. When the sun breaks, the day has started with little mouths to feed and you don’t have the luxury of ‘creating’ a cute outfit and trying on 3 different pants to get the right ‘look’. My outfits need to be comfortable, but fashionable, but not too trendy that I will cry if I get mashed banana or stamp ink on them.

I headed to Target where there was HEAPS of items reduced. This was where I found my gorgeous black sheer chiffon overlay dress with a necktie and brown belt. It was a steal at $30 (reduced from $59) and it’s a dress that I can dress up or down depending on the occasion. My t-shirt bras came from David Jones and were Simone Perele brand. They were originally $99.95, reduced to $29.95. When it comes to bras, you really need to get fitted for the right size and quality is of the upmost importance as you wear them everyday. David Jones and Myer have a free measuring service and their sales are always worth having a look at.

For my jeans, I can’t talk enough about the Katies Ultimate Denim range, especially if you have been pregnant. For me, after I had my daughter, I started in a size 16 and I have slowly gone down each size to a size 10. For $49.95 these jeans are a MUST HAVE for all women. They really do cinch in your tummy and butt to make you a size smaller than you really are.

My final shop was at Witchery and I can’t buy enough from this shop. To be quite honest I RARELY buy full price here because I often think the prices are hefty for what you get BUT when they have sales, they are worth popping in and browsing the racks.

At present Witchery have a promotion that if you buy two items you get the third free even on sale items. So here I bought a stunning ¾ sleeve animal print dress, a batik print tunic, a batik print tee, footless black tights and 2 ¾ sleeve t-shirts for Autumn.

Being a stylist and knowing my shape and colours means I  don’t have to fully apply trends for Autumn/Winter 2012 because when I wear what suits me, I will always look on trend anyway. BUT if you are quite fanatic about trends, here are the predictions from the runway for Autumn/Winter 2012 –

  • Tailored wool coats with a feminine detail  –  For inspiration look at the Duchess of Cambrige aka Catherine Middleton. Burberry has some gorgeous designs but for budget fashionista’s like myself, wait for the department stores to bring in their 2012 range.
  • Colours in the shades of moss green, deep grape and mauve as well as blue based greys and cherry pinks and reds. ‘Burnt’ colours will also have a look in so look at your burnt orange, mustard, red based browns and charcoal and black.
  • 70’s bohemian and and sophisticated glamour from 2011 will also impact 2012.
  • Wide leg pants, bell bottom and bootleg are the pants to wear for the season. In most cases, opt for the bootleg as the wide leg and bell bottom will overwhelm most body shapes unless you are tall and athletic
  • Patchwork jumpers/jackets and pants – try this trend sparingly!
  • Sheer blouses and maxi dresses (hint, my black dress from Target is perfect for this trend layered with a tailored wool coat)
  • Dare I say it winter jump suits
  • Knee high boots and ankle boots