Tag: Shopping in Melbourne

Never fail Colour Combinations

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Documenting what we wear has become so popular that it’s easy to garner inspiration from our Instagram/ Snapchat/ Facebook Feeds but this doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easy to turn those pictures into reality.  This simple guide will help you master some stylish combinations that NEVER fail.

Khaki, black and white

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Pictures via Pinterest – Photographers unknown

Since the monochrome trend of a few years ago black and white have become staples in our wardrobes. This trend saturated our senses and let’s be honest, we’ve got a little bored with it.  The next step in our mono evolution is to add another colour.  As the pics above prove (thank you street style on Pinterest) you can mix up any combination of these three colours.  Whether khaki is on top or bottom, teamed with B&W it works without fail.

 

Navy, cream (and red/orange)

Pictures via Pinterest – Left Nicole Warne, Right Unknown

Navy and cream are a true classics when worn together.  The combination is a softer take on it’s Monchrome sister B&W and has become a go to every season with cream blouse + Navy peacoat combos in winter and Breton striped t shirts and cut off jeans in Summer.

Navy and cream alone would be considered an elegant albeit conservative option but chuck on a red lip or bold red coat and you take your outfit to another level.

 

3. Denim and pretty much any other colour.

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Pictures via Pinterest – Photographers Unknown

In almost all situations faded Denim can be treated as a neutral, meaning it works back with most combinations; a little like it’s friend grey marl.  Our eyes are so used to seeing denim that it’s becomes a non-colour.  Easily worked into any outfit and kind to the colours it’s worn alongside; faded denim can be worn noon or night.

This is a sub-category of my favourite Denim combinations

Denim and Cream

Denim, White and Charcoal

Denim and Navy

Denim and Primary’s like Red and Green.

Put simply,  a base of Black, Navy, White, Cream, Khaki and Grey Marl and faded Blue Denim will work with any accent colour you’d like to add. It’s worth investing in well cut, classic items in these colours because you’ll find they will stand the test of time and outlive any fads.

Book me for a personalised Shop where you can learn more tricks to being your most stylish

Personal Styling frequently asked questions

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When I discuss what I do with people these are the most common questions I am asked.  I want my potential Clients to have a clear picture of what they can expect when they hire me so here are the answers… if you have any others I’d be happy to answer them too.

Will you make me spend more money than I want to?

Simple… NO.  Before we even meet we will have established the budget you’d like to spend. It’s essential that I know your budget and your goals so I can get the most bang for your buck and take you to stores that provide the best styles and quality for your budget.

 Will you put me in things that don’t ‘feel’ like me?

The primary role of a Stylist, whether professionally or in a personal capacity, is to fill the brief of the client. On a photo shoot, the client is the person producing the work. On a Personal shop you are the client.

Through my experience with dressing a variety of people from News readers to Hosts of live productions and Sporting Commentators I have the skills to assess what your ‘Personal Style’ is and my knowledge of the Australian Fashion Market makes it easy for me to match brands with your style.

I might get you to try things that you wouldn’t usually try but that’s why you hired me.

Do you work on commission?

NO

I have been approached by brands to represent them and on sell to my clients. I have decided that in order for me to feel I am working with integrity I don’t want to align myself with any particular brand.

My opinions are genuine and based around getting the best result for you.

Can I split the cost with a Friend?

YES! I am happy to cater to small groups. 1 hour per person which is the equivilant of a POWERSHOP per person.

It’s a fun outing with friends. Not ideal if you are hoping for a make over but great if you want to get a grasp on the latest trends and how to make them work for you and spend time with your friends doing something unique

Something a little special

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From top left Wittner – Anita Heel, Olga Berg – Regan Octagonal Pod Clutch, Saint Laurent – Cassandre Clutch from Miss Louise, Tony Bianco – Alita Heel
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From top left Olga Berg – Dana crystal embellished Clutch, Tony Bianco – Kappa Heel , Preciously Paris – Let’s Rock Clutch from MISS LOUISE, Tony Bianco – Laika Heel


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From top left  – Balmain – Tia Heel rom MISS LOUISE , Olga Berg  – Ace crystal oval Pod, Saint Laurent – Silver mini monochrome from MISS LOUISE , Aquazzura – Milla Jewel Heel from MISS LOUISE

 

With The Met Gala on Monday and the TV Week Logies tomorrow I thought it was time to add some Red Carpet inspiration to my pages.

The power of the right accessories shouldn’t be underestimated.  They can make or break an outfit and quickly see celebs heading to the worst dressed list. They can take your outfit from sophisticated to clunky or glam to dowdy.

As a rule, I prefer an open toe with a long gown.  I think they look more elegant when we get a peep of them and they compliment the finer fabrics often used in black tie gowns. You can’t go wrong with a single strap across your toes but if you prefer more support one that has fine straps running up your foot will do the trick.

Clutches are like a bow on a present, they add a little sparkle or contrast to the ensemble.  The fact is, you have to carry a bag so you may as well use it to your advantage.  If you have a simple dress you can elevate it with something sparkly in the same colour, on the other hand, if your dress has it all going on with sparkle and glitz you can tone it back with a simple matte clutch.

Don’t let your accessories be an afterthought and check out the links above for some affordable and splurge options..

x Rach

 

 

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Scanlan and Theodore-Double Cotton Trench $800, Viktoria and Woods – Valentina $699, TY-LR – Antonia Dress $490 

I love living in a city with defined seasons. Melbourne does it well with a full display of colour in Autumn and beautiful Icy winters. The air changes from one season to the next, affecting our moods and lifestyle. As the leaves turn to gold and red we need to start thinking about how we’ll layer for the coming winter. We’re no London or snowy New York but there is still a need to rug up, don a coat and spend weekends relaxing by fires.

This seasons Coats for women range from waterfall wraps to long and over sized with the trench holding it’s place as a wardrobe staple. I love the colours showing this season from soft pinks to rich tans and teal and of course classic navy.  There is a lot of felted wool coming through adding to the unstructured feel and making them super snugly.

An important tip for buying the right coat, especially when the overall style is unstructured, is to make sure it fits you well in the shoulder. The shoulder seam should sit at the edge of your shoulder bone.  Too narrow and it will look to small and your arm will look larger and rounded.  Too wide and your neck and shoulder will appear to slope.  It’s all about a sharp angle where the shoulder is concerned.  If you do have a shoulder the drops away from you neck consider popping in a slim shoulder pad.

The wrap coat is a great option for those that want their coat to mix work with pleasure.  Tightly cinched at the waist gives a classic pulled together look for the office.  Try swapping the tie belt with a simple leather one for an individualised, look.  Then on weekends, loose the belt all together and casually throw it over jeans and roll neck knit.

These are a few of my top coat picks for AW 2016 .  Click on the captions to head straight to the On line Stores.

 

Godwin Charli – Maxine $799, Godwin Charli – Georgia $699

 

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Karen Millen – Mohair and Alpaca Wrap Coat $ 675 , Saba – Penny Coat $499
Diana Ferrari – Maxwell Blanket Coat $349.95, Viktoria and Woods – Altitude Coat $549

 

Country Road- Military Button Coat $399, Viktoria and Woods – Equalizer Coat $699

 

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As much as I am able to appreciate my last Shoe post visually and as a Stylist; the thought of spending more than a few hours in heels is my idea of hell and I know I am not alone. Not all of us trained our feet to wear heels and find the pain a major distraction from living our lives to their fullest.

Here are my picks of Flats and Boots that’s I’d love to get about in this Autumn/Winter.

Most of the brands will be familiar to you but there is one that you might not have had the pleasure of getting to know.  I am talking about Habbot.  The brain child of Annie Abbott, a talented Melbournite with a passion for shoe design and a desire to have them beautifully hand made at some of Naple’s best shoe makers.  They have a store in the newly refurbished The Strand Melbourne and in the iconic Royal Arcade.  If you are wanting handmade quality footwear please pay them a visit or head to their online store.

I am in love with the patent leather coming through in flats this season.  It gives our comfy flats some glamour, making their limited height less noticeable as the high shine is the attraction here.

This season we’ll see the sneaker hold it’s position as a major trend.  This is music to a flat shoe wearer’s ears.  Team it with your mid-length skirt and  a roll neck jumper for a great off/on duty look.  Ginger and Smart have been clever with the hard ware on their sneakers, adding some rose gold zips and studs.  Wittner’s Beckett is a less expensive pair that offer similar flexibility with what you can wear them back with.

So go forth and be comfortable.  Your feet and the person you’re trying to have a conversation with will thank you!

Habbot – Exposure $395, Walnut Melbourne – Driving Leather Loafer $129.95

 

Wittner- Jerome Boot $249.95, Habbot – Magnify Boot $450

 

Habbot – Dose Shoe $395, Ginger and Smart Forte -Sneaker $369

 

Wittner – Keiko $179.95, Country Road – Carrie Flat $119

 

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Country Road – Ira Knee High Boot $299 , Wittner – Isabelle Boot $329 

 

Habbot – Cha Cha $325,  Habbot – Dish $395,  Wittner – Beckett $99.95

Bag of tricks

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Bag- Mecca, Blusher – Mac’s Fleur Power Satin Blush, Eye Shadow Mac’s Burgundy times Nine Palette, Lipstick – Mac’s Satin finish in Faux, Instant Volume Powder – Schwarzkopf , Dry Shampoo – Klorane 

 

We all need a little help in the morning. Especially on those mornings when we haven’t slept well, don’t have time to wash our hair or generally feel a little lack lustre.  This is my bag of tricks.. products I rely on to help me emerge into society every day.

I’m not sure how I got by before discovering dry shampoo.  It feels like there are two very distinct periods in my life; before dry shampoo and after dry shampoo.  Before dry shampoo I had to wash my hair most days so that it wasn’t a complete greasy mess.  As I’ve mentioned before I have 2 children so find that time to blow-dry and make my self presentable is limited.  A few sprays from this magic can and I’m grease free.  I like the Klorane brand.  It works well in my ash blonde hair and is available at most supermarkets; so easily accessible.

A more recent, but equally profound discovery, is ‘instant volume powder’  While Dry Shampoo does as you’d expect, making your hair appear more clean than it is, ‘instant volume powder’ provides more of a post salon/ freshly styled look.  A few sprinkles in the roots and you can add volume; sprinkle it along a length of hair and you can control where your hair sits.  From what my Hair stylist friends tell me some are better than others so get some advice on what might work for you.

When I was a new Mum and people came by to meet little Milla they would often comment on how well I looked.  I maintain to this day that it was very much thanks to blusher and eye shadow.  It certainly wasn’t a result of a well slept night.  A gentle lashing of blusher and an application of eye shadow that compliments your eye colour, can transform you from zombie to human in a matter of seconds.  I love Mac products.  They have such a variety of colours and finishes that compliment every complexion. I have blue eyes so choose a Burgundy eye shadow palette and soft pink blusher for my fair skin. Professional Make up Artists favour Mac so I figure if they work for the harsh lights of film and TV they’ll be brilliant for the real light of day.

Please share some of your ‘tricks’ in the comments below.

 

 

 

Stand and Deliver AW16

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We don’t need an excuse to look at amazing shoes but I want to give you a reason.  I have scoured some of our favourite Australian Shoe brands to bring you my Picks for AW16.

This season it’s all about the detail. I love Manning Cartell’s take on the mule and the subtle tassel detail on Siren’s Honour heel.  Heels are either super slim and sharp or solid and blocky; not much is in between.  Suede and Metallics features again this season and we see the introduction of Velvet.

Designers are still loving the 70’s vibe.  I prefer a nod to a previous season rather than a costume like reference.  So Mules are in but I’d avoid tan Suede ones…..

 

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Siren Honour $189.95, Manning Cartell Clear and Now $449 

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 Saba Ava Lace Bootie $249, Tony Bianco Aztec  $239.95
 

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Manning Cartell Leisure Seekers Mule $499, Siren Dawn $219.95

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Willow Work Shoe $650, Saba Roxy Velvet Heel $229

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Manning Cartell Kick Starter Bootie $549, Ginger and Smart Helix $449
 

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Created on Polyvore
Created on Polyvore

 

I am often told I must have a huge wardrobe, given my job and all.  The truth is my wardrobe is quite simple.  I have 2 children… Anyone with kids knows that the window of daily styling is a small one, often involving sticky fingers tugging at our shirt tails.

A well planned wardrobe is the key to maximising the outfits you can create without the fuss.

Capsule wardrobes are popular in blog land and for good reason.  You have a select number of items that all work back together.

Keeping colours simple and compatible is the trick with this plan.  I find this easy due to my love of black, white and denim.  But I could easy add coloured pieces to work with this selection from pastels to bright red or khaki.

In this lay out I have covered most possible styling scenarios from school and errand runs in black jeans white shirt and denim jacket to evening in black dress pants, white shirt and tuxedo jacket; lunch with friends – denim shirt, Aline skirt.  The options are endless.

I created this lay out on Polyvore. Sadly Balmain is out of my budget so that wont be the exact jacket I purchase but the inspiration is there to keep me focused on my sartorial plans!

 

Portsea Polo

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It’s only 5 days until the Jeep Portsea Polo; an iconic Melbourne Event that marks the real start of Summer’s social calendar. The dress code is relaxed but stylish. The Panama and Fedora’s that are popular this Summer are perfect for a day at the polo.  Not only do they look good, they protect your skin from the harsh January Sun.

Nerida Winter has some amazing Fedora’s and Boaters available.  You pay a little more for the attention to detail that make these investment pieces.  For a moderately priced alternative Ace of Something  have a beautiful selection including soft pastels and wide brim varieties.

When wearing a brimmed hat it is all about proportion.  An easy rule to remember is – the more skin the wider the brim.  A wide brim adds elegance to a shoulder bearing dress or plunging neckline.  A smaller brim is great if you’re wearing a higher neckline, adding an element of fun while showing more of your face and hair.

Hair and makeup should be natural at the Polo and works perfectly with these hats. If you decide you want a pop of colour add a great pink or red to your lips with bare eyes and bronzed cheeks.

Pair them with a great Romper, some Broderie Anglaise or floral Onsie by Thurley and you are ready for a day by the sea.

So summer begins…next the Austrailan Open!