No matter the print, whether it’s florals, animal, abstract, ikat, check, geometrics or stripes, finding prints that relate to your value and value contrast will make your outfit look so much better on you. Just as with colours where you should wear the colour rather than the colour wearing you. You should be the one…
The ageing process changes many aspects of your life, from body, to lifestyle and how you approach style. And then of course there is colouring too, which is the topic of the video in this post as Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss how colouring changes with the ageing process (and show…
There are a couple of things to consider when choosing a metallic accessory such as jewellery or metallic garments. 1. Undertone (or temperature) of your colouring 2. Brightness of your palette and sheen of your skin Let’s look at each individually. Undertone or Temperature Whether you have a cool or warm undertone will make a…
Packing is both a science and an art and I’ve discussed how best to plan your packing to make it work as well as you can (given the unknowns, and there are always unknowns when travelling). You want to have maximum options with minimal pieces. You want to cover all bases for all occasions from…
A nude lipstick is a great weekend or casual lipstick colour to own and wear as it doesn’t make a big statement, and you won’t notice so much when you eat it off. A nude lipstick is also great to wear when you’re doing a more defined or smoky eyeshadow in a darker palette if…
Following on from our video on the subject of ageing and style, we were asked by a reader to discuss the topic of ‘age and staying classy’ particularly when stores offer so many clothes that are more appropriate for a youth market. Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss how sophistication is more…
Recently I was asked a question about how to deal with and embrace style as you go through midlife into older age with the many changes that happen to us, from lifestyle to body and colouring. My aim is that you still enjoy the process of dressing and style with maturity even though the…
Night Life Exhibition at Rippon Lea Sequins and sparkle, bugle beads and hand painted silk are all featured in the fabulous new exhibition of divine fashion from Victoria’s 1920s and 30s. This exhibition includes over 50 divine delicate pieces, all hand made with swathes of intricate hand beading on silks and velvets. It also includes…
Most wardrobes are built around basics or what I call, supporting acts. Basic outfits are the neutrals and solids with little built in detail (like denim jeans, black pants, plain tops and jackets) that are the glue as they go together with many things easily. But, if you’re not careful, a wardrobe of supporting acts…
What are my 6 essential steps to consider when packing for trips? Whether vacation or work I use this 6 step process to ensure that I pack as well as I possibly can. Tomorrow I set out on my next adventure, for a week in Mexico City for the AICI (Association of Image Consultants International)…
Not sure what to wear or how to put an outfit together? Stuck for ideas on what to wear so you keep going back to that same old tried and true formula? This weekend, do something different and why not go monochrome and put together an interesting, layered outfit. Watch the video and see examples…
The National Gallery of Victoria has recently opened their winter masterpieces exhibition of Van Gogh and the Seasons which runs until 9 July 2017. It’s the largest ever Van Gogh exhibition to be held in Australia with masterpieces borrowed from collections from across the globe. This exhibition covers Van Gogh’s work in a historical perspective…
Ok, I’ve got to admit it. I love knowing what other women carry around in their handbags, and so I thought that some of you may be in the same boat! Firstly I change up my handbags pretty frequently to match my outfits and also depending what I’m doing and how much I need to…
Monochromatic, meaning one colour (read up on the definition here), outfits can look extremely sophisticated and gorgeous, or if you’re not careful, a little boring and plain. So how do you ensure that your monochromatic outfits are stylish and sophisticated not dull? Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss ways to put…
Navy Blue is a colour that seems to get a lot of attention these days. It’s back in fashion (yay!) and makes a great neutral for so many people as it’s way easier to wear than black for the majority of the population. The name came originally from the Royal British Navy and…
So you’ve got some clothes in your wardrobe in colours that don’t really agree with your colouring. It could be an element of an outfit, or it could be a whole piece. It could be a uniform that you have to wear. So how can you wear those colours that don’t do anything for…
I’m not much of a pants girl (that’s trousers for you English folk who class pants as underpants, and as I always argued with my English colleagues when I lived and worked in Bristol “pants go on top of underpants, that’s why they are called underpants, as they go under your pants!”. On the…
When you think about the value of someone with a darker skin tone, usually they have also darker hair which makes their overall value down the deeper darker end of the value scale. But what is their value contrast and colour contrast? Frequently their colour contrast is monochromatic – one colour – dark brown eyes, skin…
It was the year 1985, the location was Paris. It was my very first trip overseas and my first and long lasting love affair. The subject of my affections? Sunglasses After walking down the street with my eyes weeping as I squinted through the Parisian summertime glare, I bought my first pair of sunglasses and…
Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types and I discuss all aspects of animal prints in this video post. I explain the contrast elements of animal prints, both value contrast and colour contrast. Watch the video in this post if you want to know more about choosing prints and the contrast of prints (it’s the…
It’s very easy to get stuck in the same colour combination rut. You always put red with white and blue, wear your orange with your brown and then just stick with adding any colour to black as it’s ‘safe’ and you’re really not sure how to mix colours. So sit tight as it’s time to…
