WHAT I WORE - BOMBER JACKET

Back in the 80’s the bomber jacket was the staple that every “bad boy” had in his wardrobe. Ever since, due to its simple shape and lightweight design, the bomber jacket has secured its position as a cool classic and it comes as no wander that it is having a huge comeback as a principal wardrobe item for transitional wear for both genders.

  

Jeans:  J Brand

Jacket:  Lover

Keeping its true nature and style intact, ie short in the body with rather puffy sleeves and a front zipper, the modern bomber jacket brings a luxurious and fashionable vibe and versatility in a wide range of styles, colour schemes and fabric choices from luxurious expensive silky textures to swooshing nylon, from leather to lace, and from sheer to simple jersey giving us myriads of options to choose from which could become tricky when it comes to decide on which one to buy and how to wear it.

It took me quite a considerable amount of time trying to figure out which jacket suits me best and how much use can I get from it.  My choice fell on a very pretty white colour bomber jacket from “Lover” with the very distinctive texture of silk embroidery in the same colour tone for a few reasons.  First of all, because of a solid colour and rich fabric, it would give me endless opportunities for mixing and matching my bomber jacket with high and low-end items of clothing depending on the time of the day, the event or my mood.  Also, because bomber jackets tend to be quite boxy and can come across as slightly masculine, jackets in light pastel shades seem to look more feminine. 

During the day, I like to wear it with high-waisted cropped pants and lace up flats for a playful and relax look.

Pants:  Sass&Bide (I wore them here)

For a casual weekend away, I throw my bomber jacket over a pair of jeans and add a touch of panache with a beautiful silk scarf.

On a night out, I swap the flats for high heels and a pair of well cut black classic or tuxedo pants for a touch of elegance.   You can always add more glamour to your look by wearing some gorgeous necklace or other eye catching accessories.

Pants:  Fabiani (I wore them here)

The bomber jackets are fun and fresh cover-ups for women who want to mix-up glamour and modern pace of life and are irreplaceable for a transitional period.  You can wear it over your t-shirt or slightly warmer top once the temperature starts to fall.  They are great with almost any type of pants or jeans and even with skirts and dresses and I would highly recommend them to women of any age.

Wear a bomber jacket this season and you are bound to look fabulous!!!

HOW TO WEAR A KIMONO

I bought this kimono on a whim in one of the many shops in Tokyo’s Ginza district during our visit to Japan.  Well, of course, it is not a proper kimono per se but rather a simplified version of it designed especially for tourists.

 At first, I didn’t know what to do with it, it seemed to be quite in disaccord with my existing wardrobe and I was having difficulties to find a match for it.  So I just hang it in my cupboard and forgot all about it…..

Then, one day I was packing away my winter clothes I stumbled over the forgotten purchase; I put it on and absolutely loved it.  It was the right time for it, as soon I began to notice a presence of similar garments in many shop windows across Sydney.  That’s what probably evoked my memories about the kimono hanging in my cupboard.

Anyway, it is great peace of clothing, hugely adaptable, widely trans-seasonal, quite edgy and exhibits a lot of personal style and panache.

SUMMER ESSENTIALS - CAPRI PANTS

Hello again, everyone

I trust that you all had a fantastic Christmas and are gearing up for New Year!!!

Ours is going to be quite modest due to my husband’s heart operation which he had in September, we don't want to go anywhere which is remotely crowded or too noisy.  So we are planning to have a fabulous dinner with our friends at a restaurant called Monopole and we will watch the fireworks from their apartment overlooking the Harbour Bridge.

Now that Christmas is over it does not mean that we, in OZ, stop partying.  There is still New Year to come and as summer is in full swing in the Southern Hemisphere, we, Australians spend a great deal of time outdoors eating, drinking, swimming, sailing and generally having a ball.

And what is one the great fashion staples that is perfect for summer weather?  The answer is a pair of Capri pants.  I will be honest with you, I have never been a big fan of short pants.  I have seen so many women wearing these type of pants that did not suit them that I quite often felt tempted to ask why would they wear such unflattering clothes?  

Then one day I walked into a Trenery store and saw a pair of white linen Capri pants.  Actually, I was looking for regular white slacks but I saw these and decided to give them a go.  As is my common practice, I brought them home and then spent the next hour mixing and matching them with what was in my closet to see how they would work together.

Mixing and matching is a lot of fun, it is a great skill that becomes better with practice.  It helps to utilise the contents of your wardrobe to its maximum capacity.  Once you have mastered it, you will be surprised about how many different looks you can create and how many various outfits you actually own.  Not to mention that is a very practical way to save money and time so you don’t have to look for a new dress every time you received an invitation to a dinner party.

Following wise saying that, "a picture worth is a thousand words", I decided to take a different approach to writing about fashion and instead of just telling you what type of pants you should or should not wear, etc. (cyberspace is clogged with websites giving women this type of advice, so that there is nothing new left to add) but rather I will share with you some images of my take on Capri pants. I sincerely hope that they would give you some ideas and inspiration on how to wear yours.

However, if you have any questions to this post or any of my previous publications, please drop me a line and I would be more than happy to help.

On this note I wish you all a fabulous New Year and I will see you again in 2015!!!

Until then

Black and White is always trendy

Pants:  Trenery

Shoes:  Senso
T-shirt:  Sportsgirl

Sunglasses:  Ray Ban

Elegant shoes and smart jacket will change the look from casual to chic

  

Jacket:  Zara

Shoes:  Miu Miu (as before)

Bag:  Coach (as before)

With the help of an oversized tunic and contrasting shoes I am ready to rock 

Top:  Prada

Cardigan:  Sloane Society

Shoes:  Chloe

Keep it simple and let the accessories do the talking

T-shirt:  Trenery

Shoes:  ZaZou

WARDROBE ESSENTIALS - BLACK PANTS

In my last post I shared with you my thoughts on gorgeous extras, ie shoes and their role in the every stylista’s wardrobe.  Today I would like to talk about one item of clothes that, in my opinion, every modern woman should have in her closet, a pair of gorgeous black pants.

But first, let me tell you a little bit about my philosophy on shopping.  One thing I can say for sure is that I am not a spontaneous shopper nor do I follow the latest fashion trends.  I very seldom buy clothes on impulse or because it is “hot right now”  for a few reasons: a) I do not want end up looking like everybody else around me and b) once the trend becomes yesterday’s news, I don’t want the face a dilemma of “What should I do with this piece now”? 

And it is not just the money you paid for it, you have to find valuable space in your closet to store this currently out-of-fashion item until the wheels of fashion roll over yet again (say every 10 years!!!) and you will be able to wear it once more.  My guess is that by that time, you will probably forget its existence and your body shape could be a different size.

My philosophy in buying clothes is quite simple and logical, to me at least:  avoid impulse shopping, do not succumb to short lived trends; instead look for timeless classical pieces that you never grow tired of and when buying a new piece think whether it will go with in your existing wardrobe.  Mixing and matching is a lot of fun, and if you can master this trick, you instantly double or triple the volume of your outfits.

When shopping for new clothes I prefer to buy them in the stores that allow you to bring the item back for a refund and not just for a credit note.  I like to bring them home and see how it complements what I already have and if not, I return it.

There are quite a few items in my wardrobe, I call them “My capsule collection” that I bought a couple of years back but I love and wear them regardless. Clothes like dresses by DVF (see previous post), a white silk blouse, a smoking jacket or a pair of timeless black pumps are my saviours when I am clueless or in doubt about what to wear.

A case in point is a pair of black slim fit pants I bought while visiting my in-laws in Cape Town. Not only do I love the fact that they are not entirely black but rather have shimmering pattern, they also fit well because of the classic slim cut.  But what is most attractive about them is their versatility, every time you pair them with a different top, it’s like you have a completely new outfit.  They are like a blank canvass and it is what’s in your wardrobe together with your personal taste and imagination that will make them look dressed up or down, helping you achieve an elegant and sophisticated look, or to be playful and casual. 

I love to wear them with loose blouses for the office, with quirky tops and short boots when I am out for a drink or movies and with a pair of elegant black shoes and a pearls and an onyx necklace for a night at the Opera.

Top:  Georgio Armani

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes:  Mark Jacobs

If you, like me, a lady of certain vintage, you would know exactly what style suits you best.  It is possible that the slim fit pants might look on you like a second skin or on another hand, you’d prefer to cover some parts of your body by way of plaits, layers or loose fit, so you would opt for some more streamlined silhouette. 

Points to remember:

One – high heels make anyone’s legs look longer and add few extra inches to your height;

Two – regardless of style and colour, your pants should be of high quality and fit perfectly.

Top:  Zara

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes: DKNY

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Top:  Sass

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Boots:  Midas

Top:  Fabiani (SA)

Pants:  Fabiani (SA)

Shoes:  Christian Dior

ESSENTIAL ACCESSORIES - SHOES AND HANDBAGS

Hi there, my dear readers,

Today I would like to share with you my thoughts on beautiful extras - shoes and bags.  They have the ability to transform your look drastically and with minimal fuss, from a casual day time look to evening glamour but try to reverse the scenario by pairing a swanky dress with plain casual shoes and the wrong bag and the result is a disaster.

As Rebecca Miller once said: “Like most girls, I understood from an early age that shoes are magic vessels”.  And I totally agree with her, I strongly believe that good shoes and handbags are the best investments that will carry you over many fads and trends always looking stylish and fashionable.  You don’t have to wear expensive clothes with good extras.  Better to wear higher quality shoes and a cheaper dress.  When the shoes and bag appear classy, no one ever assumes that the clothes are down- market.

Shoes speak volumes about your personality and your taste; shoes and bags in vibrant hues instantly spruce up your basics and take a muted monochromatic look into a completely new level of fun and creativity;

If you, like me, love to wear high heels, indulge yourself.  The added height lengthens you and gives your calves a toned look.

Whether it is to treat yourself or to simply boost your mood, buying an awesome piece of footwear is a fabulous thrill – and it will look great on any figure!!!

An awesome pair of shoes are girls' best friends

 

Shoes:  Dolce & Gabbana (I wore them here)

Shoes:  Ted Baker (I wore them here)

Shoes:  Chloe

Handbag:  Naomi Levi (I wore them here)

 Shoes and hand bag:  Luis Vuitton (I wore them here)
 

An injection of vibrant hues add new vibe to black and white colour scheme



One dress -  two different looks (accessories is the key)

HOW TO WEAR BLACK AND WHITE

My love affair with the dresses continues (see my earlier posts) From vibrant and exciting bright colors to a classic and sophisticated black and white monochromatic palette, I simply can’t get enough of these garments.  

Dress:  Zara

Boots:  Robert Clergerie

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Monochrome is a trend that timelessly carries on from season to season, it looks marvelous on its own, works beautifully with an injection of a bright colour (colour popping is the term, I believe) is added and screams with confidence when mixed and layered with different patterns. 

Dress:  Zara

Boots:  Midas

Coat: Jane Lamerton

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

Of course, time of the day, an occasion or just the mood you are in right now should be considered when choosing the outfit and accessories but no matter what you opt for, choose the one that works for you and wear it with pride!!!

Pants:  Glassons

Shirt:  Zara

Shoes:  Repetto

Coat: Jane Lamerton

Pants:  Trenery
Top:  Sportsgirl
Shoes: Senso

Jacket:  Lovers
Pants:  Sass & Bide
Shoes: Repetto

Pants:  Glassons (as before)
Top:  Seed
Shoes:  Miu Miu
Bag: Coach
Necklace: Bondi Markets

Pants:  Sass & Bide

Top:  Marcs

Shoes: Midas

Pants:  Sass & Bide

Top:  Marcs

Shoes: Midas

Bag:  Georgio Armani

Jacket:  Saba