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?…
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…
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 Shop Your Wardrobe and I discuss ways to put…
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…
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…
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…
Following on from a reader’s question on how to know if you’re in a style rut and how to get out of one if you’re in one, I thought this would be a great topic to discuss with Jill on video. Ruts can make you feel less than happy, as clothing affects how you feel…
Many of us can get pretty bored with our outfits and lack inspiration in putting them together. Many of you tell me too that you want to get your contrast levels right. Why is this? Well once you’ve seen the power of contrast you suddenly realise why so many outfits you’ve put together before just…
What is Pinspiration? It’s outfit inspiration gleaned from Pinterest. Did you read my post about how to get fabulous outfit inspiration with my easy Pinterest Hack? This weekend your style challenge is to use Pinterest to create an outfit – based around something in your wardrobe. My necklace was inspired by a necklace…
Life hacks are all the rage… I mean, don’t we all want to be able to do things more easily, faster, and well, just better? Pinterest is a fabulous tool for finding inspiration as well as a bunch of life hacks, whether it’s decorating your house, cooking a meal or putting together an outfit. That’s…
It took pregnancy to have me really think about building a wardrobe that was versatile, cost-effective and that worked for all the aspects of my life. Most maternity wardrobes are great capsules. So let’s unpack what you can learn from that short gestational time in your wardrobe. 1. It’s Better to Have a Few Great…
Many years ago, Tim Gunn had a TV show called Tim Gunn’s Guide to Style and in it, he would help women become more stylish as he showed them what flattered their shape. Now one of Tim’s essentials in any wardrobe, was what he called a “sweatsuit alternative”, that comfy thing you sling on when…
One of the issues I have in the cooler months, if I want to wear pants and an open top shoe – like a ballet flat or pump, even a loafer, but I don’t want to wear a pair of tights (hosiery), then my feet get cold. Now there have been the old “pop sock”…
Why is it that some women seem to be effortlessly stylish yet others struggle? From years of experience working with many clients and taking note of what makes a stylish woman, I’ve come up with this list: 7 Secrets of Stylish Women 1. They understand what flatters them physically in colours, shapes and proportions Knowing…
This week I wrote about how to be a magician using the art of illusion and distraction (and if you missed the post, read it here). For this weekend’s style challenge, I want you to think about using some of these illusion and distraction techniques to create yourself a fabulous outfit. Here in this…
This summer in Melbourne (so far) has been hot, but not what I’d call ‘stupid hot’ where it’s over 35C for 10 days – 3 weeks at a time. It’s mostly in the 23C – 33C which is easy to enjoy. Some mornings are cooler which ask for a light sleeve or sometimes a lightweight…
Today is Australia Day, and it’s a day that is traditionally celebrated with barbecues. It’s a day at the end of the summer school holidays that is usually hot and a reminder that the working year is gearing up again (Australia really does go on holiday most of January). We love a bbq so I…
Style Recipe Ingredients Style recipes help to shape your style. They give you a framework and the ingredients you need when shopping for clothes or putting together outfits. I think they are an essential element of becoming truly stylish in an authentic way. I’ve written about them many times and why you must have one…
For my last look back at 2016 I thought I’d share some of my favourite blog posts and also favourite outfits I wore last year. I’ve chosen a favourite for each month of the year just in case you missed them! January 1. What are you holding onto – January 2016 This one was…
Becoming a magician with clothes involves learning the illusion of line. The slowest line we see is the curved line. Why? Well as our eye follows its path, it’s curves slow us down. Thus, if it’s a slower line to look at, it adds volume and curves to our bodies. Where do we find curves…
Diagonals are action lines – they create movement, and interest. They move your eye from one point to another (as I discussed here). This weekend, your challenge is to find some diagonals and use them in an outfit. There are lots of different places you’ll find diagonals, from necklines (V) to collars,…
