Shopping professionally for a living (and having done it as a hobby since I was a teenager) I’ve got a lot of experience in this area. There are many “high street” or “chain stores” that you can find at every mall. And sure they are useful to find some basics, it’s often much harder to…
Accessories are great for adding interest and a hero to your outfit. They can provide additional colours and contrast to an outfit really easily. Plus, accessories don’t care what size you are. And who doesn’t love that about them? As I’ve discussed before, I’m a cold person (not cold in an unfriendly way, but cold…
When you think about choosing a pair of shoes, you want the shoe to work with your outfit as whole. When deciding which pair of shoes to wear, it’s worthwhile being able to quickly interpret the formality of the shoes. For example, if choosing a pair of oxfords (brogues) there are different elements that…
In this video discussion with Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types we delve into a reader’s question on the topic of wardrobing and budgeting for “control people”. Jill relates to being a “control person” (aka control freak) in having a sense of stability in knowing exactly where everything is and exactly But you don’t need…
Say “Aye!” if you are frustrated by shopping because what looks great on a hanger doesn’t look great when you get it into the change rooms and try it on your body? We are led to believe that all women LOVE shopping. That all we want to do is shop til we drop, day after…
Is All Fashion Frippery? Is fashion shallow? Is caring about what you wear unimportant? Is buying clothes wasteful? We have to wear clothes as we don’t live in a nudist society. There is so much diversity in the human race and in cultures, yet we all wear clothes. So why is fashion demonised so much?…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Autumn in Melbourne can be hot and cool and as we move through the season the mornings are cool and crisp while the days heat up, so layering is often key. Fabrics that are more trans-seasonal are also good, nothing too heavy and hot or itchy, nothing too thin and summery. Green and White with…
When you’re choosing a print, how do you know what contrast it is and how to choose the right value and colour contrast prints to flatter you? Jill Chivers of 16 Style Types do a show and tell inside my wardrobe with a bunch of patterned clothing items. In the video I talk about my “stair”…
