COLOUR BLOCKING

Colour blocking is not one of the hottest trends in 2015 but I still like experimenting with it. 
Firstly, I just love bright colours in clothes and secondly, I also get a lot of fun experimenting with them. 
By definition  "Colour blocking is a method of wearing multiple solid colours, called complimentary colours, together in a single outfit".  

Looking at the colour wheel, you will find them sitting right opposite each other like blue and yellow, for example or purple and green and their vibrancy and brightness are vital if you want to create stunning and strong fashionable statement.

If you feel that this colour palette is too strong to your taste, you can always take it down a notch by settling for less intense hues, known as "analogue colours".  Those are the colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel and belong to the same colour family such as orange and yellow or blue and green.

Simpler still, choose one bold vibrant hue for one item of your clothing and pair it with one of the neutral colours (black, grey, beige or white).  Knowing what works best for you will help you to decided what to conceal and what to attract, for example:  wear a bright jacket and no one will notice your hips or thighs.

Choosing the right silhouette is very important in colour blocking.  To make this combo success, stick to simple shapes and classic silhouettes such as pencil skirts or shift dresses.
Shoes, hand bags and other accessories also play an integral part in this creative process.

Choose your colours, have fun and simply, look fabulous.

Blouse:  Equipment

Skirt:  Karen Millen

Shoes:  Dolce & Gabbana

HOW I STYLED BLACK AND YELLOW STRIPED PALAZZO PANTS

Hi everyone,

They say that you can tell much about a person by the clothes they wear, so if you want to know more about me, look no further because this outfit provides the answer.

Have you heard the saying “A picture is worth a thousand words”?  Well, I think that my palazzo pants in black and yellow strips are a classical example of this proverb.

I do, however, believe that it is worth mentioning that when one piece of your wardrobe makes a strong statement by way of colour, pattern or shape, then when wearing such an item, the other piece should be of quite a neutral colour and simple in design to accentuate the impact of the stronger piece.

Another point worth mentioning it that the accessories should be kept to a minimum and thus allow the palazzo pants to be a highlight of the show, so to speak.

Linking up with Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Fashion Should be Fun

MY CASUAL WEEKEND OUTFIT

I am a woman who typically loves to wear high heels, slim pants and fitted jackets and carry a nice handbag, however there are moments that I tell myself it is time to let it go, let your hair loose, relax and go with the flow.  And that’s what I try to do every weekend.  When the time comes to leave the house, I just slip into my soft loose pants with elastic band, sand shoes and one size fits all t-shirt or a loose top (I just love my new twisted cross-over top by Helmut Lang) with minimal or no accessories at all.  My face is stripped of all make-up but I do, however, allow myself to be a little bit naughty and as a token to my alter ego, I smear my lips with bright red lipstick. 

It is what I am, after all!!!

Do you like casual clothes and feel quite comfortable wearing them all day or are you, like me, a woman who loves to dress up and find it challenging to let go?  Please let me know.

FLARED LINEN PANTS- A TRIBUTE TO THE 70'S

For those who have been following my blog, you might have noticed that I love to wear slim pants and skinny jeans.  However, here comes a time when you want to get out of your comfort zone and try something different, a case in point, and my wide leg linen pants.

The 70’s vibe is one of the most wearable trends in 2015 which means flares, of course, a lot of knits and expectantly the choice of colour is brown.  However, you can liven up this potentially drab shade with rich colours like maroon or copper. 

I was just a child at the time but I clearly remember my older sister wearing wide bottomed pants, thick soled shoes, electric colours and huge earrings.  It seemed like a lot of fun and I wanted to be a part of it.

Going back to my outfit, truth be told, I have those linen pants for years.  I bought them in Italy 8 years ago.  It was my first trip to Europe on the way to South Africa to visit my in-laws.  The richness of the colour and the fabric, which is pure linen, were the reasons that attracted me to them in the first place and that is the same reason that prevented me from throwing them away when I had stopped wearing them.  

In keeping with the 70’s boho vibe, I paired the flares with a copper colour top in a chunky knit and leather sandals.

As for the accessories, I had to dig dip into my old jewellery box to find a bracelet that would match my outfit and I think that the pendant suspended on a leather string is a true tribute to the era.

There is a Russian expression: ”Everything new is actually well-forgotten old” and the return of the 70’s fashion, as many others, once again is a proof to this notion.

WEARING ANIMAL PRINT PENCIL SKIRT|WIDE SLEEVE TOP AND HIGH HEEL SHOES

I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get back into writing mode.  I have two good excuses though, one - I was away for ten days on a holiday and two – a few days after we got back, I fell quite ill and it took me more than a week to shake off a nasty cold but I have since run out of excuses, so I thought that I’d better get back into it before I totally lose the ability to write something more exciting than a comment on Facebook or Instagram.

As the seasons change, I usually go through my clothes trying to establish my options for the upcoming season:  what will be good, what should be changed and what is this old dress is doing in my closet?  I like to be prepared because as is happens quite often, one day the weather is still cold and you need to wear something warm and the next morning you wake up and it is so hot that you can’t wear yesterday’s clothes any more and you panic thinking, OMG, I have nothing to wear!!!

It is during one of these inspections, that I noticed that the number of multi-coloured skirts and pants in my wardrobe far outnumber the amount of solid coloured tops and I need something preferably in neutral colour that can be worn with almost everything thus utilising my existing wardrobe to the max and I decided to rectify the situation immediately and went shopping.

This time of the year, I am talking Australian spring, the shops are full of new season’s clothes representing all trends and fads possible which makes the process of choosing very difficult and sometimes borderline impossible.  I like to have a clear vision of what I am after, otherwise I would come home empty-handed.   What caught my attention, while wandering from store to store, is the strong presence of warm caramel and earthy tones of neutral colours.  Not only are they very gentle on pasty skin tones (the result of being out of the sun for the last four months) but what these hues lack in intensity and volume are greatly compensated by the richness of textures of the fabric, in the unfinished hems of dresses and tops and thick seams intentionally turned inside out.  

I also noticed the new trend in sleeves:  almost every blouse or top have flared or bell-bottom like shape (just like the jeans I used to wear).   And while the latter looked very hot right now, I was leaning towards something more moderate and more adaptable to my working part of the closet.

Today I am wearing it with my animal print pencil skirt that I wore here.  As for accessories, I find a way to make simple looking clothes look more interesting is to adorn it with strong statement pieces like oversized necklaces, thick chains or bright scarfs.

My choice of shoes for today's outfit is Louis Vuitton high heel shoes that I bought while on holiday in Paris few years back.  Interestingly enough but somehow a pencil-skirt-flats combo does not work for me, hence high heels.

Skirt -  Witchery (as before)

Top - Country Road

Shoes:  Louis Vuitton (I wore them here) 

Handbag:  Louis Vuitton (as before)

Necklace: Gala Curious
Ring:  Uterque

Linking with High Latitude Style, Birdie Shoots, Shelbee on the Edge, Style Nudge, Over50felling40, Not Dressed as Lamb

ANIMAL PRINT PENCIL SKIRT|WHITE SHIRT|BLACK JACKET FOR A BUSINESS LUNCH|I WILL WEAR WHAT I LIKE

My husband and I were invited to a business lunch organised by a leading bank the other day.  Since my husband is involved in merchant banking, he attends such affairs on a regular basis and usually on his own but this time the invite was for both of us and it was important for my man so I was left with no choice but to join him.

Jacket:  Zara

Shirt:  Uniqlo

Skirt:  Witchery

Shoes:  DVF

Bag: Bulgari

Business lunches are quite boring events where people just pretend that they are interested in what you do but in fact the only thing they do care about is giving away as many business cards as possible that in turn will generate as much business. 

Anyhow, I was faced with the dilemma of what I clothes should wear.  Black and white combo would be expected for such a sombre affair but I wanted to wear something playful, something that would reflect my creative nature and would convey the message that I am not taking this event too seriously.  Luckily for me, just a few days ago I bought a lovely pencil skirt in a leopard print from a Witchery store that paired with a black jacket and a white crisp shirt underneath would be exactly the outfit I was looking for.

The black or a dark navy classic-cut jacket is one of the staples that every woman should have hanging in her closet.  Its timeless shape and colour suggests endless variations and combinations that will help you cover almost every possible occasion and always look smart, fashionable and chic. 

 

A white blouse or a button-up shirt is another staple that should not be underestimated nor overlooked.  Not only does it go well with almost anything from a tuxedo to denim dungarees, the white colour complements your face tone making it look young and radiant which is very important at our age.

As for accessories, a string of pearls was quite an obvious choice.  A pair of low heel nude pumps completed the look.  

With a bunch of business cards tucked into my Bulgari hand bag (one of the many generous gifts received from my husband, this was for our wedding anniversary) I was ready to learn more about mergers and acquisitions.

Today I am linking up with Tania on Wednesday’s Wardrobe, Michelle's Pa(i)ge