Posts Tagged ‘Fashion’

Christmas 2013 and Emerging from the Little Room

/ Fashion, News / 69 Comments

A very belated Happy New Year to my clients and readers. I can’t believe that it is February!

I haven’t updated this blog for a few reasons. Firstly I wanted a break over Christmas and New Years, but then that break turned into what I would like to call sick leave because I haven’t had the headspace to blog about anything fashion related while I have been feeling so poorly. I’ve just been able to maintain writing on my plumbing blog, The Plumbette.

Anyway, I’d like to rewind to what I wore on Christmas Day which ended up being a terrible styling mistake of sorts and had me changing out of my attire into a completely new outfit.

I wrote a post about possible outfits that could be worn on Christmas Day and these outfits are still fitting for a summer BBQ or casual dinner out. I decided a week before Christmas that I would get myself a new outfit for Christmas Day, after all I was hosting and I had just found out I was pregnant and wanted to spoil myself with something new even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to get much wear until next summer.

In Witchery I found this gorgeous playsuit reduced to $59.95. There was a size 16 and 14. I loved the pattern and loved that it zipped up at the front because I figured I would still be breastfeeding my new baby next summer and would need outfits that required quick and easy access to my boobs.

Witchery Playsuit $59.95 on sale

Witchery Playsuit $59.95 on sale

The 16 was really roomy and so I opted for the 14 which still had some generous room around the bust. It was pretty much a 5 minute purchase because I had a 3 year old and 10 month old in tow in a trolley, and as soon I saw the playsuit on the sale rack I picked all the available sizes and jumped in the change room and did a quick try on.

On Christmas Eve I opted to wear the dress I wore on Christmas Day in 2012 because of the fantastic empire line that gives great allowances for pregnant bellies. I’m wishing I wore this Christmas Day, but sadly, after the Christmas Eve church service I threw up and the dress needed to be put to the wash.

This is me with my gorgeous cherubs on Christmas Eve, just before we went to church

This is me with my gorgeous cherubs on Christmas Eve, just before we went to church

On Christmas Day I excitedly changed into my new playsuit and I didn’t realize how far the shorts rode up my leg when I sat down. And because I was drinking a lot of water and soft drink to keep my morning sickness at bay, I was going to the toilet every half an hour which made the playsuit a nightmare to get into and out of. By the third time of going to the toilet, I changed out of my outfit into a new pair of comfy pants, a black tee and statement necklace. Morning sickness can do that to you, even on the happiest day of the year.

This is the only photo I got of me in the Playsuit watching Esther unwrap her Christmas presents

This is the only photo I got of me in the Playsuit watching Esther unwrap her Christmas presents

This is what I changed into and the photo is blurry because my three year old took the photo

This is what I changed into and the photo is blurry because my three year old took the photo

This outfit has pretty much been my uniform for the last month and a half while my little bump grows. I add on a statement necklace when I go out, but when I’m at home, its just the tee and pants because I still have frequent visits to the toilet from being sick. Ugh.

I’m so glad that I made the investment into my wardrobe with clothes that would help me with my weight loss because the extra room has been accommodating for my growing bump.

Funnily enough I’ve had to visit this post recently to get some inspiration for my maternity wardrobe because I had started to sell some of my maternity dresses on ebay thinking I wouldn’t be needing them again.

Oh well… I guess I’ll have to go shopping. Thankfully I still have my winter maternity wardrobe which is what I will be needing for this pregnancy.

For those that don’t read my plumbing blog, here is a link to a post that I wrote announcing my surprise pregnancy. My baby is due on the 20th July, but I’ve been scheduled for a C-section 2 days after my 30th Birthday.

It’s going to be a big year.

So over to you, did you have a good Christmas and have you had any fashion attire mistakes like me?

The part of fashion I don’t like

/ Style tips / 20 Comments

Thank you for all your comments in relation to my styling posts. I really enjoy being able to offer style advice that I use myself and know will assist you in developing your own style.

But there is a part of fashion that I don’t like and I feel that I should reveal it to you. And that is the pressure to constantly buy something new so that your wardrobe is on trend. I feel as a stylist, I have a responsibility to lead by example and sometimes I think I have to wear the latest styles because that’s what a stylist should do. But I can’t afford to. And I know that a lot of you who read my blog can’t either.

So how do I spend my money when it comes to clothes and what do I look for and where do I go?

Well firstly, I rarely buy designer clothes at present because

  1. I can’t afford them
  2. My size is fluctuating from having children and I don’t want to spend money on something I won’t be able to fit into
  3. I have a three year old and a 9 month old. Grubby hands and snotty noses end up being wiped on my clothes.

So I try and spend middle of the range and only buy what I need and LOVE.

The key here is love. How many times have you bought something just for the sake of buying something and you haven’t really liked it? I have done it so many times and I did it a lot in my pre-children days because heaven forbid I wear the same outfit twice to church or to a function.

But when you are reduced to a smaller wage due to having children and bills take higher priority, there isn’t much left over to spend on clothes.

I usually buy my clothes online or from Witchery, Target and other high street stores if I see something I fancy.  I keep an open mind on all sorts of stores when I’m hunting for something new.

Just recently I bought a new black tee, white tee and orange tee from Target ranging from $9-$15 each. They are staple items for my wardrobe and can be worn with jeans or patterned pants.

While I was at Target I saw a gorgeous Black and White Polka dot cardigan reduced to $20. I bought that too knowing I will get good wear out of it in Autumn and Winter next year.

I was also on the hunt for a pair of coral sandals and brown sandals. I ended up getting both pairs from Target for $25 each.

Pre-children I would have overlooked Target because I had more money to burn and labels were important to me. But now, style and comfort at a lower price is what I look for. And I am impressed with the quality at Target.

I shopped up a storm when I went to Melbourne. This was pre-children of course.

I shopped up a storm when I went to Melbourne. This was pre-children of course.

Accessories are also a great way to incorporate a trend without spending a fortune. You can never have too many accessories, but smart shopping means most accessories can be worn time and time again when the trend pops back up.

For example, I have a fabulous leopard print scarf from Witchery that I bought 3 years ago and it makes an appearance every winter because leopard print interweaves itself in the trend cycle. Some stylists argue leopard print is a neutral and therefore a staple but I disagree. It’s a print and prints do go though a trend cycle.

Smart buying is really what a Stylist should be doing for you when giving you advice to update your wardrobe. Yes, you want to be stylish, but you also don’t want a wardrobe full of items that are trendy for one season. Your wardrobe needs to be workable and wearable for future seasons.

So tell me, do you have a budget for clothes shopping? Where do you go to shop?

I’m linking up with Essentially Jess for IBOT.

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?

Does God Care about what we WEAR?

/ Fashion / 13 Comments

Does God care about what we wear? It’s a question that I am currently writing a study and book about because I think we sometimes get caught up in the fashion hype and forget what really matters when it comes to personal style and image.

Brought up as a Christian, my mum taught me from an early age to wear a dress for church on Sunday morning. Jeans were a NO-NO. Ironically to this day I still can’t wear a pair of jeans to church in the morning and I feel out of place when I wear a pair of pants rather than a nice dress or skirt. I am also instilling this fashion etiquette to my 19 month old daughter even though she goes to creche!

But am I too ‘old fashioned and stuck in religious etiquette’ or should I not care about what I wear because ultimately God judges the heart?

You will have to stay tuned as I research this interesting topic. My dream and goal is to develop a study for women about cherishing their body and treating it as a temple of God. I am amazed at what God has already revealed to me as I have enquired Him about this. Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on this topic.

‘Nothing to Wear’ Wardrobe Dilemna

/ Style tips / 15 Comments

How many times do you say ‘I have nothing to wear!’ every time you look in your wardrobe? Women only wear 20% of their wardrobe because

a)    The items don’t fit because they are the wrong size or wrong shape

b)    The items are no longer in fashion

c)     The items sit in the  ‘One day I’ll wear it…’ pile

d)    The item needs fixing for example a new button, shorter hem etc

e)     The items are uninspiring

 

 

Wouldn’t it be great NOT to spend money on a new wardrobe and utilize everything in your current wardrobe and give it some life?

 

Some women find this really hard to do, so here are some tips to get your wardrobe de-cluttered and in 100% wearable order. (Alternatively you can give me a call and I can do this for you for a fee!)

 

  1. Go through your wardrobe and TRY everything on to find out what fits and suits your body shape. The items that don’t fit or suit your shape put them in a separate pile. These can either be donated to a charity, sold individually on ebay for cash to update your wardrobe OR sold in a bulk pile if the clothes aren’t the best labels. $10 is $10 and can go towards a new top or even accessories!
  2. Sort your ‘fitting’ wardrobe into tops, pants, skirts, dresses, jackets etc.
  3. If some items are no longer in fashion, look at magazines or online through Pinterest or fashion websites to get inspiration on how to wear it without looking dated.
  4. Any clothes that need mending – mend them or drop them to a friend or family member who can fix them for you. Alternatively if you are embarrassed to ask someone close to you to mend your clothes, find your local dry-cleaner as they will have a clothes altering service.
  5. Now that your wardrobe is sorted, start experimenting putting outfits together. If certain things are missing in your wardrobe, make a note to write them down and when you have the money from items you have sold on ebay, go shopping!

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