Accessories

Clutch Leather Bag from Hula Style Collective www.hula.co.nz

Accessories ... there are so many!

Think about the ones you wear everyday: jewellery (rings, watch, earrings, necklace, bracelets), glasses (reading & sunnies), handbag, footwear, hats, and scarves!

Do they reflect you? Are they the correct colours, style personality mix, scale, with flattering design lines? Do you have the right accessories for every occasion ie Casual, Smart, Dressy?

Naturally, there will be some occasions when you want/need to buy new accessories. But I'd hate you to turn down a last-minute invitation simply due to not having a basic essential.

So for maximum efficiency and versatility, opt for accessories in your neutrals.

Jewellery: silver for Cools, gold for Warms. Something for everyday (Casual & Smart) and something for a Dressy occasion ie rings, earrings, necklaces, watches, and bracelets.

Glasses: silver, greys, navy for Cools (black is usually too heavy). Gold, tortoiseshell, browns, a warm blue, beiges for Warms.

Generally, enhance your face shape by choosing angular frames if your face is round, or curvy shapes if your face is angular.
For a website with more specific info. click here

Handbag: The most useful neutrals (and easiest to find) are black or dark grey for Winters, grey or navy for Summers, browns for Autumns, tan for Springs. Ensure you have an everyday bag and a Dressy one (for evenings out, weddings, etc). Consider Silver or Gold for your Dressy one. Light neutrals are more suitable in summer-time, darker neutrals in winter.

Footwear: Same as handbags but not matching (although that may be coming back into fashion). Casual - flats, Smart - court shoes with a low to medium heel, Dressy - something with a higher heel. Add knee-high boots for when it's cold.

Hats: for the sake of your skin, do have a sun-hat in a light neutral for summer-time. If you feel the cold in winter-time, then a hat can make all the difference; most folk can wear a beret. Opt for something plain in one of your neutrals for maximum versatility.

Tallulah pump by Chaos & Harmony www.chaosandharmony.co.nz

Accessories 2

one of many ways to tie/drape a scarf

Scarves: such a variety of shapes, weights, and colours! They always fit and last for ages, plus there are so many ways to wear them. Choose flattering colours plain, mixed, and prints plus have a couple in neutrals.

Check out some scarf knots and drapes on my FaceBook biz page (saved as the album 'Scarf Ties' in Photos), instructions included.

Now I'm not saying never buy coloured jewellery, glasses, bags and shoes/boots. But I do recommend you have the basic essentials BEFORE you get the coloured versions.

Buy the best quality neutral basics you can because you'll wear them often!

The trouble with summer is ...

Regular readers know I love summer-time; I enjoy the heat and hardly notice the humidity. But swimsuit shopping is a pain! So here are some tips to make it a bit easier.

As taught in your Personal Style workshop, the basic principles apply; choose a flattering colour, match your style personality and scale, find the right design lines then highlight your assets and camouflage figure challenges.

Tummy issues

Tummy issues? Draping and ruching work well by preventing the fabric from clinging (photo on left). Or, distract away from the area by creating a focus elsewhere eg your bust (photo on right).

Pear shape

Pear shape? draw the eye upwards by using a print top with a plain & darker colour for the lower half. Both togs use horizontal lines at the top to highlight the bust, the halter neck shows off  slim shoulders while the wide-set straps help to widen narrow shoulders.

PS

I never tire of helping women discover their personal style; realise their figure assets and how easy it is to camouflage their figure challenges. I'll come home on a high, absolutely buzzing.

I particularly enjoy hearing how fabulous my clients felt at a special event. Being MOB or MOG (mother of the Bride or Groom) is an important day; if there are complications (break ups, new partners etc) then it's even more fraught with stress and anxiety.

Ladies, I can relate! Let's meet and talk it through; maybe we simply need to review what you already have and put it together in a new way. Or look at what's available in the local shops and find something fabulous for you. Perhaps you'll shop further afield once you know what you're seeking. I'd love to help ... there's nothing quite like feeling gorgeous and knowing you look your very best!

Wishing you a very merry Christmas and wonderful new year - M

Spring-time Fashions

One of the dominant trends this Spring is black and white; a timeless look, and relatively easy to create thanks to Kiwi women's fondness for black.

Be cautious with the design lines, as these are emphasised in monochrome. Remember that darker blocks camouflage, while lighter blocks highlight so ensure they accentuate your best features.

A touch of colour helps to soften the strong contrast, and you know how flattering the right colour is!

Black and white suits most Winters yet it can be adjusted to work for other palettes.

Summers: try navy and a softer white, or dial down the contrast eg smaller stripes/patterns for a more flattering grey (at a distance).

Autumns: hunt down black and cream options, wear one of your best colours near your face (earrings or scarf).

Spring: keep the combination lighter eg 70/30 rather than 50/50, and opt for ivory with navy.

 

Spring-time Fashions cont.

Of course there ARE fashion colours - something to please everyone this spring-time. Bright pinks, deep cobalt blues and teals (Winters), soft blues and greens (Summers), deep rich oranges, and olives (Autumns), clear bright oranges, leaf greens and warm reds (Springs).

Useful neutrals are easy to find too; light oatmeal, sand and khakis, blacks, greys and navies.

Ensure you have the essentials to make your wardrobe work; neutral jackets, bottoms, and footwear because they'll go with any of your colours. Once you have the basics, then splash out with some fun items so you'll look up-to-date.

Spring-time Fashion cont

Typical in spring-time are the floral prints; a little different this season is that they're worn in suits

(matching jackets and skirts/trousers). Print trousers continue to be popular.

Chambray - a light-weight denim but softer and faded - is very popular. It can work as a neutral with one of your seasonal colours, or as a soft colour for Summers and Springs. It's useful for NZ's laid-back living and worth investing in, as the fashion comes around every few years.

Also this year there's a huge Japanese influence eg cherry blossom, oriental style (obi belts, wide sleeves, collarless jackets). I love the look ... it can be timeless, and pretty, and relaxed, and ethnic - something to tick all the style personality boxes! Just remember to select an item that has your unique style personality mix ratios.

There's still some 20's influence; beautifully cut for gorgeous draping, feminine, applique detailing, and hats. Looks like we'll be seeing many more hats being worn from big floppy styles to smart little cloches.

PS

Lovely to see the sun, warmer weather and fab new fashions popping out.

I've had the pleasure of working with hundreds of women over the last eight years yet it's still the most exciting fun sharing a workshop and helping women discover their personal style. Not everyone wants to 'go public' but being privy to their stories and seeing the impact our time together has had is magic, and very precious.

We have a new little grandson to dote on! First-born to my son and his wife, Adam is - of course - absolutely gorgeous! He arrived a little sooner than expected; an early birthday present for his Dad, and ensuring a Father's Day celebration this year.

Enjoy this new season - M

Wardrobe Treasures

Most of us have them - wardrobe treasures. They're the items we wear again and again, our favourites. They may be clothes or accessories (jewellery, bags, belts, footwear, scarves).

So what is it that makes them work so well? Because if you know that, you can repeat the success. Here are the aspects I've identified:

Colour: treasures are often in your Season's neutrals as they go with any of your colours, often core pieces ie essentials. Other success stories will be in your Season's colours. Have you discovered your 'magic' ones? There are usually two or three colours within your Season that look particularly amazing.

Style: there are two aspects to style; the first one is about your style personality. A favourite item reflects your style personality mix, with similar percentages.

The other aspect is the style of the garment; treasures have a timelessness about them (they may need a bit of tailoring to update them). The design lines flatter your shape, camouflaging and highlighting the right bits. Also the scale of the item is appropriate to your personal scale.

Fit: treasures fit properly. Make the effort to have items altered (especially tailored pieces) as it's rare to find something that fits perfectly.

Condition: treasures are worth repairing, although eventually they'll wear out (which is why it pays to buy quality pieces as they last longer).

Treasures aren't always in fashion yet thanks to trend cycles, they'll come back.

Versatility

While I don't enjoy the winter temperatures, I do like creating new looks with some of my wardrobe treasures.

A simple Little Black Dress can be layered up with a slip, a net top, leggings/tights, shoes or boots (yay for warm socks inside knee boots) and a coloured cardigan, or a bright scarf and denim jacket or a thin coloured merino under the dress and a tailored jacket. Easily topped with a coat, scarf, hat and gloves at night or on unusually cold days.

TV Debut

I was invited to take part in the Bella Vi seasonal make-over programme recently. I met with Tracey Ruddock-Gudsell of Creative Tauranga for her Personal Style workshops one Monday. It was a beautiful day and we had great fun discovering Tracey's personal style.

Tracey was up early for the next day's filming; I caught up with her mid-afternoon in Mt Maunganui. My interview with Aimee and shopping with Tracey was filmed at Women. Within a week it was edited and broadcast.

to view the programme, click here

to see just my interview, click here

PS

Hello
The family wedding I mentioned in my last newsletter went well, and I squeezed in two shared Private Consultations (two friends on Friday, mother & daughter on Sunday). It made for a busy few days so I appreciated the time alone with my hubby as we drove down and back.

I bought the Dalston dress at Hula Fashions, and had it adjusted to fit (taken in at the back so it didn't fall off my narrow shoulders or gape at the bust).

Thank goodness I knew how to do some sneaky layering as Wellington was a bit chillier than we hoped. My extra layers included some shapewear, a slip, pantyhose (with open toes to wear with peep-toe shoes), and a turquoise pashmina. I swapped the pashmina for a lovely warm, bright blue cardigan at the reception.

The bride looked like a fairytale princess, her mum (my sister) looked fabulous and my grand-daughter Bella was a lovely flower girl (awww!). It was wonderful having most of the family there to celebrate together.

I'm looking forward to wearing my dress again next summer; let's hope we have another lovely hot one!

Meanwhile, enjoy the change of seasons and the opportunity to find some winter wardrobe treasures.

Margaret

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Autumn/Winter 2013 Trends

What an amazing summer! I love the warmer weather and shiver my way through winter but ooooh! what wonderful fashions are coming into the shops. So many different themes there's bound to be a colour and style that you'll enjoy.

A British inspired country / equestrian flavour gives us tweeds, herringbone, tartans / plaids / argyle, and paisley prints. Tailored jackets, waistcoats, knitted vests, pencil skirts, sensible brogues and riding boots (knee-high & ankle). Chunky knits and big collars paired with slim skirts or trousers. 

Think dressing for dinner (Downton Abbey?) in lady-like lace & velvet, sheer blouses with high necklines. It's rich and opulent with brocade and heavy embroidery, lots of detail, sparkles and sequins. You'll see it both in patterns and materials.

Maybe the leather trend can be linked to the British Country feel too ... leather / pleather short jackets abound (fitted, & bomber style) with leather trim / panels on everything. 

Peplums are still popular; they don't suit every figure shape but good design makes all the difference (generally speaking better design costs more). You'll see them being worn with belts this season, they'll add curves to the slim waist by highlighting hips (& tummy).

COLOURS It's fascinating reading the predicted trends then comparing them with what's actually in the shops. Blue - bright cobalts (Winters) and smokey mid-dark blues (Summers & Autumns). Wine - from purples to rich reds with grape, aubergine, plum & burgundy (something for every Colour Season). Emerald green - the exact shade varies so be careful (some are warm & some cool). Rich oranges and gorgeous golds (Autumns & Springs rejoice!) with occasional lemons (suits a few Winters & Summers). Bright Pink - can be a difficult colour to wear - bright & clear versions for Winters (a few Springs), softer greyed/muted ones for Summers. 

Black (of course!), White and lots of outfits combining the two, Ivory, Oatmeal, Gunmetal Grey, and some dark khaki-browns. It's not often that there are Neutrals for every Colour Season, so stock up and make the most of it.

Basing your wardrobe around warm or cool neutrals, then adding in same-base colours is simple and efficient. Everything harmonises! It's only when you mix warm-based & cool-based colours or neutrals that you run into problems.

The new footwear has every type of toe shape; from very rounded to quite pointy. Stiletto heels, stacked, Cuban, wedge and some astonishingly sensible ones!  Handbags are more lady-like satchels, carried by the handle rather than using the shoulder strap. 

Wardrobe Review

Time to get out the warmer clothes; try them on and experiment by putting different things together. Don't always wear this jacket with that skirt, try it with others as well as cardigans. Dive into the back and review the items you don't wear; can they be revived by some clever tailoring? It could be worth raiding an older relative's closet ... well-made suits and coats can be a real find.

Once you know what you have, work out what you need and only then go shopping. Try and buy 1 or 2 really good pieces each season; they'll last for years and you'll never regret buying quality. You'd be amazed to know how old some of my things are!

Hello

This quarter's newsletter is a bit later than usual... 

We had my youngest daughter & family stay with us for a month; they're the ones usually in Cambodia. Apart from Skype, we only see them once a year so it's a very special time.

My grandsons are growing up quickly; Malakai is now five and a half, Jakin is two and a half. Kai remember our house and the toys we have, he was pleased to be here. Jakin's English is really coming on (both boys are bilingual), it was lovely to hear their "Hello Nana"s.

I chose to focus on enjoying our time together... which is why this newsletter is rather late. Ah well, you'll get to read it over Easter. 

We'll be enjoying Tauranga's Jazz Festival and helping out at Easter in the Park. Let's hope the weather is kind.

Please take a moment to have a look at my website. There's greater clarity in describing the workshops, a slight price adjustment with new bundling options and, of course, they're available as Gift Vouchers.

Margaret

 

Nana M. with grandsons Malakai and Jakin

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