Printed Jeans

I'm having a bit of a love affair with printed jeans.  I haven't bought any yet, probably because there are SO many to choose from.

Pretty much every print and pattern you could dream of is available. Tye-dyed, animal print, spots, florals, splashed, metallics, flocked, dip dyed, starred or striped.  How will I ever decide?

I like this painted pair by Blank Denim.  They remind me of the time I came home from art class with my jeans looking like this.  I don't remember my Mother thinking they were very fashionable at the time.  But I do remember getting into trouble.

Naturally my research is your research, so I've compiled a selection of great printed denim to view.

Pretty Pastels

As August approaches, so too does the realisation that Spring is merely weeks away.  Official spring that is.  We all know our fair city can sometimes forget that spring is indeed upon us.

So as we head into what will inevitably be a bleak and chilly month,  pretty pastels are already popping up in stores to remind us of the sunny good times ahead.

DIY Necklace

This necklace is quite possibly the easiest DIY in history!

Step 1 - buy accessory
Step 2 - buy elastic
Step 3 - thread elastic and tie it in a knot.
Step 4 - there is no step 4.  You're done!

Finding Jeans That FIT

You can never have enough pairs of jeans ... right?!   A girl needs to be prepared - just like the Scouts  - only more fashionable.


When I tell people that I buy most of my jeans on-line, (at great prices I might add), the most common response is "how will you know they will fit"?  


It still surprises me that so many women have trouble finding a pair of jeans.  Whenever one of my clients is looking for jeans, I have to say our success rate of finding the perfect fitting pair is near on 100%. 

You may have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince, but you certainly do not have to try on a lot of jeans before you find the perfect pair.


Here are my tips for finding the perfect pair of jeans.

My Style Philosophy #1

I have many philosophies on style.  The one philosophy I repeat most often is …

"Look like you got dressed on purpose"  

The key phrase here being ON PURPOSE!

What do I mean?   I mean that you don’t have to be in the latest fashion or trend; I just want you look like you made an effort.  

Backstage at Matcho Suba

Last week in Melbourne, former Project Runway contestant and designer extroadinaire Matcho Suba launched his Chernobyl 013 collection.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the photographers for the event, so rather than write a blog about how fabulous the collection was (which it most certainly was by the way), I thought I'd focus on, and pay homage to all the people who work behind the scenes to create such an event.

Firstly the designer.  I visited Matcho in his studio in the week leading up to the event.

Spikes & Studs

Ever feel like spiking up your look?


A spike a day probably won't keep the doctor away .. especially in my case as I'm so damn accident prone, but a few well placed spikes or studs will certainly add some sparkle to your outfit.  Albeit a slightly dangerous sparkle.


Accessories are a great way to wear spikes without looking like your about to run off and join a punk band.   However you choose to wear spikes, you can be sure that no one will mess with you!

DIY Blanket Cape

I have fond memories of sitting on the couch on frosty Saturday mornings, wrapped in a blanket with the cat curled up on my lap,watching cartoons.    In our family, if you were cold, you grabbed a blanket in preference to putting on more clothes.  Most of us still do.

With this in mind, I decided to use my love for a good Nanna blanket as inspiration for a blanket cape.

Even if you don't sew, blankets capes are extremely simple to make. I've even put a step by step guide together for you.  Enjoy x

Join the Cue

Way back in the depth of many a wardrobe, my clients almost always have a piece of Cue history lurking. I myself have jackets, skirts and shirts dating back .. well let's just say a 'while'.

So many of my clients love Cue clothing, for both the cut and affordability, and fatten up their working wardrobe whenever we head out shopping.  So, in celebration of Cue's new on-line store (finally!), I thought I'd throw a few outfits together for your work-wear inspiration.  Enjoy x

Winter Knits

Taylah from CinemaModels.com

It's cold!  

This chilly morning had me grabbing for a cozy knit and realising that I could really do with a few more before winter officially hits.

I'm not usually a jumper person, preferring to don a vintage coat or wear three thousand layers to keep warm, but with so many fun knits to choose from this winter, I am finding myself increasingly drawn to them.

Given that I have lots of [broken leg] time on my hands and am not shopping with clients in stores at the moment, I've searched on-line  for my favourite styles to share with you.

Bamboo-zle Your Style

Somewhere between yellow and mustard sits this sunny little colour sure to brighten your day.

Broken Leg Chic

drawing by my artist aunt Marj Millar

It's been a while since my last blog.  Mainly because I've been crazy busy, but also because I broke my leg.
 
That's my second fibula break, and the fifth bone in total that I have broken. You could say I'm accident prone.  Although in my defence, each break was somewhat spectacular or unusual in occurrence.  Luckily it's my left leg, so it doesn't affect driving (both car and sewing machine).

But enough about me and onto fashion!

So what does one wear with a broken leg?  Anything I can pull on without screaming or passing out is fairly high up on my criteria list, obviously.  But apart from this, all outfits must be fashioned around flat shoes.  FLAT SHOES!  For at least the next SIX WEEKS!!   *sigh*

Fall Deeply in Love With Teal

This murky mix of blue and green has been popping it's little head up all over town.  

Perfection is Flawed

I have my ranty pants on about the subject of perfection.  

The terms perfection or flawless, should only be used to describe such things as cushion placement, garment construction, bus routes, conversations, and shower curtains, but should never ever be used to describe anything organic … such as humans.

Friday Fashion Faves

All that glitters ...

The Hunt for a Great Tote

I always need to carry stuff.

In addition to my standard handbag staples, I always seem to have other stuff to carry like magazines, bits and pieces to give  back to people, notebooks, fabric swatches, sketchbook etc.  So naturally I am always on the hunt for a fun and stylish tote.

When my friend, designer Nico Wilsdon showed me his textile design entitled 'The Hunt' and told me of his plans to locally produce a fabulous tote bag, I got excited!

Finally a tote bag that I actually like!

Easter Parade

There are very few musical movies that I can watch without wanting to jam knitting needles in my ears.  A little dramatic I know, but show tunes just make me irrationally cranky.

There are of course exceptions to every rule.  Singing in The Rain, The Wizard of Oz and Easter Parade remain some of my favourite movies.

I don't watch Easter Parade every Easter, but if it's on and I happen to be watching TV, then I can't go past it. This year was one of those times.  

As with all movies of this vintage, the fashion captures my heart the most.

Print Envy

Well LMFF is over for another year - (at least the runway portion is over, the cultural program continues until the end of the month).

There was so much goodness that graced the runways, but one designer in particular has most of the fashion gals I know in an envy frenzy.

The designer is Jolet, and the object of everyone's desire is this soft, pretty and completely desirable original print entitled Artificial Elements.

Print Pants Not Paste Pants

While busily snapping away at Loreal Melbourne Fashion week, (which by the way, is better than shopping), I am having a winter love affair with printed pants.

They have been around for a little while, and I am loving the over-the-top designs and patterns available this coming season.

There is a print and a style available to suit everyone, so next time you're shopping, go on, try on a pair!

Here are some of the styles seen on the runway thus far:

30 days : 30 outfits Round-up

Even though February was a short month, it didn't seem so short for those of us participating in my
30 days : 30 outfits challenge.

The challenge was to wear 30 different outfits in 30 days.  It wasn't about having a huge wardrobe of clothes, it was about exploring the possibilities within your own wardrobe and creating new and different outfits with the items you already had.

Why?  Because sometimes we get stuck in a rut and tend to wear the same things over and over in the same combinations.  This challenge was aimed at breaking old habits, and seeing all items in your wardrobe as 'options'.