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Posts Tagged ‘Fashion’

Why I’m a Fan of The Twisted Tunic

June 24, 2017 / Fashion / 0 comment

I believe clothes should be worn season after season. I’m a big believer in wearing pieces that will last a few years because it saves me time and money. In the last year or so I have opted for classic colours and patterns I know will last and keep for each season. But what often happens when I wear clothes from previous seasons, people want to know where they can get that same piece now – like the twisted tunic.

One of my favourite tops that I wear on winter days when it’s quite warm outside is this twisted tunic from Empress Eleven.

Wearing Empress Eleven Twisted Top over Sussan Singlet, Crossroad Jeans and Jo Mercer Boots. Necklace is by Park Lane

I was gifted this top last winter and I have had so many people comment on how nice it is and how they would like to purchase their own. I love it too. Unfortunately it’s no longer available from this brand, but I have found another online store that does a similar style of top and it comes in a number of different colours. I think I love the style of this top more because it’s longer at the back.

Wearing TOBI GET IT TWISTED TUNIC TOP in PLUM

TOBI has the Get It Twisted Tunic Top in Plum, which is what I’m wearing, and it comes in four other different colours: black, grey, ivory and cream.

I love the plum because it’s a rich colour that can be dressed up or down. In these photos, I’ve opted to wear it dressed down.

If I was to dress it up I would change the distressed jeans to black skinny jeans and high heels.

I love these twisted tunic tops for a few reasons:

1. They can be easily layered over a simple jeans and white singlet top outfit.

2. They are trans-seasonal – so work well for when the weather is mild – perfect for Autumn and Spring or warm winter days we’re currently experiencing in Brisbane.

3. They’re flattering. That twist and the drape of the fabric is flattering. Any lumps or bumps on the front and side are camouflaged with the drape of the twist.

I’m wearing a large in this top which fits a size 14 – 16.

If you love this top like I do, TOBI are offering free shipping to Australia, with no minimum spend.

The plum tunic is currently 60% off – priced at $31.71 which is a bargain, especially when free shipping is involved.

I can’t wait to share more pieces from TOBI in the future, but I’m glad I could find a top alternative for those that love my grey twisted top.

Are you a fan of tops that can be layered? Which colour twisted tunic would you choose?

Disclosure: I was gifted a TOBI Get It Twisted Tunic Top in Plum. All opinions are my own.

What I Reach for When I’m Not Fussed About What I Wear

June 20, 2017 / Fashion / 6 Comments

There are days where I don’t have the energy or time to fuss about with my outfits. I know I could choose my outfit the night before (and if I have an event, I will do this) or I could plan my outfits for the week (I only do this when I pack to go away). But I’m not always that organised and will leave it till after I’ve showered to work out what I’m going to wear for the day.

On winter days where I’m more interested in keeping warm, these are the things I reach for these outfits. I know they work together and I think it’s important to have one or two outfits you can grab to put on, knowing they work together.

What I reach for when I’m not fussed about what I wear

I’m going to share with you two outfits I reach for and why they work every time.

1. Stripes.

Whether it’s jeans and a long sleeve stripe top or a striped tee dress, stripes never let me down. A pattern and basic or block colour always works together. This type of outfit can be easily layered with a cardigan, vest or leather jacket over the top.

2. Miracle Dress and Scarf.

My miracle dresses have taken away the overwhelm of working out what to wear when heading out for dinner or somewhere that requires dressier attire. Add a scarf and leather jacket, layered with leggings, and you’re good to go.

I would say these pieces are my favourite clothes to wear in my wardrobe. I suggest having a few winter outfits ready for when you’re not fussed about what you wear. I like to try and make new outfits each day with the clothes I own, but I have moments where I’m uninspired or I have a lot on my plate and choosing what to wear is not something I want to add to it.

To create your own outfits, select pieces you love to wear and can be layered for when the weather turns cool.

Have a collection of scarves that can add more interest to these outfits. A scarf can change an outfit instantaneously.

I’ve put together two outfits, using pieces I would use to create the above outfits. These piecea are available online should you wish to imitate my outfits.

1. Bohemian Traders Long Sleeve Dress with Contrast Binding $129

2. Amelius Black Leggings $29

3. Bohemian Traders Vegan Fur Vest $79 (on sale)

4. Jo Mercer Helen Casual Ankle Boots $179.95 (on sale)

1. Black Miracle Dress $65

2. Black Amelius Legggings $29

3. Katies Geo Jacquard Scarf $29.95

4. Jo Mercer Helen Casual Ankle Boots $179.95 (on sale)

What outfits do you gravitate to when you’re not fussed about what you wear?

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.

10 Fashion Must Do’s Before The End Of Financial Year

June 13, 2017 / Lifestyle / 7 Comments

With the end of financial year looming, it’s often a great time to invest in fashion pieces that may be on sale. But I wanted to share some fashion must do’s before the end of financial year which have helped me save money or make it. While the title can be a bit misleading – you don’t have to do anything – these tips are things I do or have done in the past.

1. Declutter and sort out your wardrobe.

This tip should be done every season. Be ruthless with your culling. If you don’t wear it because it’s too tight, stained or doesn’t fit right, it’s time to get rid of it. Keep a pile of clothes for donations and keep the designer pieces to sell online.

2. Buy a 10 pack of 500gm Australia Post satchels

Generally, Australia Post will announce when they increase their prices, but before June 30, I buy a 10 pack of 500gm Australia Post Satchels. Buying them in a pack of 10 means you get one satchel half price and I get them before Aus Post decides to increase the postage prices. The reason I have satchels on hand is for when I need to return online sales that haven’t fit me or suited my shape. I have peace of mind knowing I’m sending a trackable parcel back, even if I’ve lost $9 in postage. It doesn’t happen often as most times I’m pretty good at picking the right sizes, but there are the odd occasions when return postage may be at my cost and I want to send it the most affordable way I can, with tracking.

The other reason for the bulk buy of satchels is to use them when I sell pieces online.

3. Sell designer pieces you no longer wear

I usually sell designer pieces I no longer wear online on Ebay. But Andrea from Sublime Finds shared how she made $1500 by selling her pieces via buy sell swap groups on Facebook. I haven’t done this, but this is a great way for fans of the label to purchase your pieces. It may sound unusual to sell your designer pieces in June, but many people will wait until June to purchase that piece they couldn’t afford at full price.

If it is on sale, it may be best to hold onto it. But if it’s sold out, you may get more for your designer piece. I once sold red, sparkly Peter Alexander slippers for over $100 because they had sold out Australia wide. Even though they were worn, I had a bidding war on the slippers and they ended up selling more than the retail price. A big win for me.

4. Sell winter clothes now.

Sell your pre-loved clothes in the season you’re experiencing. So winter clothes in winter (now for Australia) and summer clothes for summer. When it comes to selling your clothes, sell brands by themselves like Witchery, Review, Sass & Bide, Country Road and etc.
If you have pieces from retail stores like Sussan, Katies, Rockmans, Target and etc, try and group pieces together and sell as a bulk lot.

5. Make all eBay listings to end on a Sunday afternoon or night.

This is peak time for the website and you will most likely sell everything and get the highest dollar for your wares.

6. Really consider if it’s worth your time selling your pieces.

Consider having a clothes swap or donating to causes like Dressed for Success or initiatives that help clothe those in need for winter. Sometimes the time it takes to do the photos and write the listings may not amount to much money.

7. Invest in pieces that will fill a hole in your wardrobe.

If you need a new jacket or some basics, now is the time to purchase them while the sales are on.

8. Buy replacement uniforms.

If you work in a job where you have to wear a uniform, buy replacement uniforms before June 30 so you can claim them on tax. When it comes to corporate clothing, the logo of the business must be on the clothing before it can be claimed on tax. Check with your accountant on what can and can’t be claimed. They will tell you how to purchase so you can get the benefit.

9. Start an End of Financial Year slush fund.

Open an online savings account and get a small amount deposited automatically into the fund so you can use the money to buy your fashion pieces next EOFY. Five dollars per week will accumulate to $260 (plus interest) and $10 per week can accumulate to $520.

10. Check your local op shop for designer finds.

If people are decluttering their wardrobes for winter and donating, now is the perfect time to grab a bargain at your op shop. Some op shops in high end areas can have amazing designer pieces for a small price.

Not all the tips will relate to your situation, and some may be considered common knowledge.

The end of financial year is only two weeks away. Plenty of time to declutter, shop and buy some satchels.

What fashion must do’s would you recommend to do before the end of financial year?

Three Ways to Wear a Pink Knit Jumper

May 27, 2017 / Fashion / 0 comment

I don’t own a lot of knits in my wardrobe because I tend to wear cardigans or jackets that can be taken off during the day. But there are days where a knit jumper is needed all day and into the night because it can be freezing cold.

I was quite taken by this knit from Wardrobe 22, but when I put it on, I just didn’t feel convinced it suited me. I like to wear knits that are longer to cover over my tummy, but this knit, sits higher than I like.

Having said that, it’s a gorgeous knit and I asked Karen if I could take it home to style a few different ways. I decided to style the baby pink and well… I may be thinking about buying it now.

I thought I’d show you three ways I’d wear this knit this winter. For $45, it’s a bargain buy and it comes in a few colours.

All shades of light pink and blush are popular this season and they look lovely with denim, khaki, white, black and navy.

With those colours in mind, I created three outfits using the pink knit from Wardrobe 22.

The first outfit is what I originally thought I’d style with the khaki knit. But I just love the mix of polka dots with pink. It’s feminine and fun and I would get a bit of wear out of this outfit.

The second outfit is teaming it with my khaki tube skirt. Mind the dust line that’s across the front of the skirt. I literally took it off the washing line and didn’t see the line in the previews! I added a scarf and ankle boots to complete the look.

The last outfit is something I’d wear for a casual day to the park or to kids sport if that’s where you find yourself on a Saturday morning in winter. I’d add black leggings to keep my legs warm if the day is particularly cold. I’ve thrown the knit over a simple tee dress and added my canvas shoes for a sporty casual look. I think this outfit was my favourite and I’d wear it the most.

So now the decision on whether to keep the pink knit or not.

If only we all got to try our clothes with other pieces in our wardrobe before we could buy. But the purpose of this post is to show you how the knit sits on a size 14/16 woman like myself (I’m wearing the L/XL) and styling suggestions if you own one of these knits.

Are you loving all the shades of pale pink this season? Do you think I should keep this pink knit?

Disclosure: I was gifted a dress and received a discount for other purchases, not for the purpose of this post, but as a contra deal. Wardrobe 22 have been generous in allowing me to take clothing home to style so I can create content for my website and returning them to store. I will always disclose if I have been gifted an item or received a discount.

It’s Never Too Early to Teach Our Daughters They Look Fabulous

May 20, 2017 / Lifestyle / 5 Comments

Since learning about fashion styling, I have always put an effort into my outfits and how I look.

I do it because it makes me feel good and I find myself more productive when I look somewhat put together. Funnily enough on the days I feel like I’m a bit untidy, I may get the odd compliment on what I’m wearing. I don’t dress for others, but simply dress for myself, yet I take the compliments graciously and try not to wave them off. It can be a hard thing to do.

Last night I headed to a Kindy fundraiser at my Maggie’s Kindy for a ladies night. I started to talk to one of the mums who relayed a cute story to me and it offered encouragement and a big lesson for me about influence and how far it can reach our younger generations.

For the purpose of the story, let’s call the mum Catherine* and her three-year-old daughter, Laura*.

I can’t completely remember the context of the situation, but Laura was getting dressed and told her mum, “I look absolutely fabulous!”

Catherine thought and asked Laura, “Where did you learn to say that?”, expecting the answer to be something she watched on TV.

Laura told Catherine, “Maggie always says it whenever she plays with the dress-ups at Kindy.”

I told Catherine how I write this blog and take a photo of my outfit everyday, which I share on Instagram or on here.

Catherine told me how it all made sense to her, as she always envied my outfits when dropping Maggie off to Kindy. This gave me the opportunity to encourage her, and with her being a mum to three little ones under three, clothes are the last thing on our minds as mums with children so little.

It wasn’t until late late last night, I thought about Maggie’s influence on her friend Laura. I have told Maggie she looks fabulous many times simply to build her up and because she really does. She has an eye for putting outfits together. Her tan ankle boots are the first shoes she reaches when it’s time for us to go and they literally add spark to all her outfits.

I also make an effort to tell my girls they are beautiful, no matter what they wear.

Even their grandma compliments them on their outfits when they head to church.

My girls watch me as I get dressed in the morning and will sometimes help me choose my outfit. I allow them to do the same with their outfits for the day and they will either take my photo to share on Instagram or they will see Jacob take it. I’ve never really understood the impact this has had on my girls, but when they ask for me to take their photo and share it, I can see it building their confidence and pride in appearance.

It’s not my intention to teach them vanity, but I do want them to know they look fabulous and they are perfect the way they are. I want to fill their confidence bucket so they know they are special and beautiful before the world lies to them and tells them they need to do this, this and this to look beautiful. I want them to understand how clothes can make them feel and how important it is to choose their clothes wisely and enjoy the creativity of putting outfits together.

I never expected something I’d say to my daughter would travel and influence another child, but this story shows how we can all impact our younger generations, and how they in turn can positively influence those they interact with.

How do you build confidence in your children? Do you compliment your children on what they do or what they wear?

*names have been changed

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