Archive for February, 2011

Feb 28

All in the name of fashion

Some people will do anything for a good story; apparently I am now one of them. Walking home the other night after an event, two champagnes under my belt, and a dodgy pair of old flats on under my pretty $400 silk maxi; I decided to take a tumble. Well I didn’t real decide to, I just did and can I tell you it was spectacular! If I’m doing to do something, I make sure I do it in the most dramatic way. It was so dramatic that my lovely friend Em (who randomly seems to feature in a few of my posts) thought that a car had hit something; no love, that was just my bottom hitting the pavement.

Oww! this is the censored version - the first one had blood....

The boy was no help either – ‘blood is not in my job description!!!’ he yelled down the phone to my mother – I was too busy weeing my pants laughing at the fact that he thought he needed to call my mother for a grazed knee. “What should I do?” he asked her. “Just do whatever Cait tells you to do” my mother replied……In fact he actually asked me whether I had done this specifically for a topic of a blog post! I’m not sure I would go that far! Now the last time I skinned my knees I was about seven, but geez I don’t remember it stinging this much at all!

Ok, sorry, how does this all relate to fashion? Well my first thought (and some of you reading this will relate) was ‘OMG, how big is the hole going to be in my dress!?!?!!?’ No worries, the hole wasn’t in my dress….it was in my knee, and shin, and ankle, and toes….and toe nail polish! That’s right, the dress was fine, I ruined the shoes, but they are going in the bin anyway because they are the cause of all this, (not the two glasses of bubbles mentioned earlier) but I absolutely massacred my whole lower right limb – how classy am I?

The ruined shoes

My second though was ‘what the hell am I going to wear to work for the next month or so while the gaping wound (I may exaggerate) on my knee heals????’ Working in a retail position, I wear the current season clothes that are on the floor of the shop at any given time. We are about to head into the winter season (I know, it’s still 30 degrees outside, don’t even get me started!) so maxis are very much on the way out. Now as I have mentioned before (here) maxis are great when you need to cover your legs for some reason or other – you haven’t been bothered to shave them, fake tan them, or you decided to revert to childhood and take off a gaping big section of the skin on your knee!!!!

So with knee nicely covered in gauze, and bandaids on my foot where my (binned) sandals scratched me, I hobbled off to work in my good old faithful SACHA DRAKE Adjustable Black Maxi dress – you know the one, I’ve talked about it here, and here. It really is the perfect dress for all occasions, wound-covering included!

So my wardrobe for the next month will consist of all the maxi dresses in my wardrobe and loose-fitting pants (because I am a wuss and my knee hurts whenever ANYTHING touches it).

I think the saving grace of my injury is that the boy and I are heading to Tasmania next week (thank goodness not the Whitsundays or some tropical place where I would be expected to where everything is short and skimpy) and I can wear leggings and jeans to my heart’s content! I have already started packing in fact just to make myself feel better about my poor knee. So here is my Tassie trip/injury-cover up wardrobe:

Black leggings x 7 – One for each day and then some!

Boyfriend jeans – skinny jeans will just be too tight for my poor knee (plus if it’s really cold I can layer leggings under looser jeans – back off, I’m from Queensland, anything below 25 degrees is freezing!)

Tunic tops – can be layered over a fore mentioned leggings
A classic - Converse Chuck Taylors

Leather hoodie – this is one of my favourite jackets ever. It’s from Sydney label Samvara and it looks just like a hoodie, only leather! Genius!

Converse shoes – A classic. Everyone needs a pair of Converse in their wardrobe, especially when traveling. They are great for walking around in all day, but not so tourist-looking as trainers or hiking/walking shoes. My converse of choice – the original white low-cut sneakers with the red and blue trim.

Flat riding boots – still debating whether to wear these on the plane or not. They are quiet chunky so would take up a lot of room if I packed them, but not sure if I want to spend a 3-hour flight sitting in them either? Thoughts?

So that is my ‘thank goodness we are going south cause I fell over and grazed my knee at 30 years old’ wardrobe. Have you ever had to change the way you dress because of an injury? What did you do?

The replacements - will these be as dangerous?

Update: So apparently I haven’t learnt. I needed to replace my only pair of black flats so here are my replacements….. $5 on sale from Kmart!!! It remains to be seen if these cheap and cheerful shoes serve me well, or send me slipping and sliding all over again…..

Feb 22

8 Comments

Working girls

‘Cait, she always wears these gross stripper heels and really low-cut top…but a really nice silk skirt, I just don’t think she gets it!?!?!” This was part of a conversation a girlfriend and I were having about a co-worker of hers recently. Their boss is at her wits end trying to work out how to tell her she has to dress more appropriately for the office.

Fashion is anyones game at the moment and because almost anything now goes, etiquette for dressing in certain situations has been lost in the crowd. Don’t even get me started on what some girls wear to the races, or a job interview – it’s not a nightclub ladies!! And a real lady NEVER takes her shoes off!! But that is for another time. This is all about how us working girls need to pull our socks up and dress for success (I was trying to see how many fashion clichés I could fit into one sentence, you like!?)

Working Girl

You can still look feminine and professional at the same time so here are a few tips on what NOT to do and some better options:

Dont show cleavage, ever (unless you work at Bad Girls etc and that IS part of your job description). If you are wearing something that you think is a little too revealing, wear a camisole, singlet or slip underneath to shield the poor men of this world from staring at the girls during an important marketing meeting (it’s ok boys, we all know you look).

Heels need to be an appropriate height – can you walk in them without doing the 18-yr-old wobble walk (you know what I mean!), in general, work shoes should be closed-in, not strappy. Save the sky-high stilettos for when you hang them over your shoulder walking home from the races…. (again, you know what I’m talking about).

Perfect for work - Jacqui E suit RRP $349.95

Skirts need to sit on or below the knee – you need to be able to sit comfortably in a meeting without the rest of the room knowing what you had for breakfast. You have more important things to worry about, like last months sales figures, to be constantly pulling at your skirt.

See-through clothes are to be left for after dark – If a blouse is sheer, wear a camisole or singlet under it, and one that DOESN’T show bra straps.

Underwear of ANY KIND should not be visible – this includes bra straps (Carrie Bradshaw rocks the black bra under the white singlet but don’t think you boss will get that reference), VPL’s (that’s when you can see your undie lines through your skirt, trousers etc) and the toes of your pantyhose in an open toed shoe.

Rock the frock - SACHA DRAKE Wrap Dress RRP $239

Don’t be afraid of the frock. These days, a great wrap dress can be totally appropriate for the office. In general they are long enough (below the knee), have a 3/4 sleeve and don’t show too much boob (and if you are worried they do, throw on a cami or a full slip under it). Suits are still expected in some workplaces but there are great feminine cuts available now days – you don’t have to have the power-women of the 80′s look, try a suit jacket and slimline skirt (below the knee) from Cue, Jacqui E or Saba to name a few.

Stockings – some workplaces still require women to wear stockings/pantyhose in the office. Try and find a colour that is quite sheer and matches your skin tone. Alternatively, black opaques are a good option in winter worn with a smart pump. Pantyhose are something you should invest a bit of money in, the cheap ones will ladder much quicker and you will end up spending just as much on twice as many pairs, and for goodness sake, always keep a spare pair in your drawer -runs are NOT cool (unless you are an indie rocker, which I guessing you’re not).

If, and I say ONLY IF shorts are appropriate for your workplace, the same rules as a skirt apply. To the knee or longer, no VPL and wear with a heel or wedge to give them a professional edge.

Polish up – Dressing professionally comes down to looking polished.

Clean and tidy hair whether its worn up or down – although if it’s over the shoulder and gets in the way, maybe think about tying it up.
Makeup should be worn but keep it simple. Daytime colours such as browns suit most people. A light covering of foundation, a bit of blush, add a stroke of mascara and a bit of lippy or lipgloss – what not to do> Mimi from The Drew Carey show – see right.
If you wear nail polish on fingers or toes, make sure it is neat with NO CHIPS!! there is nothing that says ‘I don’t care about how I look” more than an unpolished look and chipped nail polish is the number one killer!!
Not really right for work you think?

Make sure your clothes fit properly! If you are bigger in the bust, don’t wear a button-up shirt that pulls across your bust, either get one that is tailored to a bigger bust or wear a knit or stretch blouse. Make sure that your trouser pants are the right length (not too long, not too short – I feel like Goldilocks…). A trouser hem should sit half way up the heel of the shoes you wear most with them.

And the number one, most important rules of corporate dress etiquette? DON”T RUN/WALK TO WORK IN TRAINERS!!!!! The 80′s called and they want their ‘Working Girl’ back. If you walk a distance that you can’t do in your heels, swap them for a cute pair of ballet flats (see here) in winter or flat sandals in summer. Or if you must wear trainers, change the rest of your outfit to match – talk the opportunity to get in some real exercise. Change into your gym gear at work and walk home, or jump on the bus/train a few stops later so you get a good workout in.

Have you ever had a workplace wardrobe ‘incident’? Do your colleges get the office dress code or are you dying to pull them into the nearest Cue store for a full office wardrobe makeover (that doesn’t include Supre and Dotti)?

Feb 21

The mission!

I think one of the most frustrating thing about shopping is when you go on a hunt for a specific thing and you can NEVER FIND IT when you are looking for it! I was just this second flicking through the latest Shop Til You Drop magazine (I have a slight obsession with fashion mags, but that’s a story for another post) and I noticed that high-waisted, flared jeans are hot again this winter. I have the perfect pair of them!! Excite my life!!

So now my mission is to, and I quote; “find a soft, subtle top in a fine fabric that you can tuck into the top of them with out adding too much bulk” The words ‘easier said than done’ immediately sprung into my mind, BUT it is a look that I can definitely work (I have the height to get away with a high-waisted, flared jean) So I’m going on a shopping mission!

I thought it would be fun to take you on the mission with me – so this post will be slightly different. It might take a little while to get it up onto the blog but I will document my whole mission, how long it takes and the final result for you! I am on a VERY limited budget (again, reasons will be revealed in an upcoming post) but here is the mission that was finding that thing that I really want (well this week anyway)…..

Friday Feb 18, 2011, 5:36pm: I first spot the article in the March Shop Til You Drop – I can do that trend! In fact I have just the top that will do it, and the shoes to go under the jeans! No wait, the top and shoes are SLIGHTLY different colours but enough of the same to look too matchy- matchy together, so oh well, must get a new top (damn). Page of mag is torn out and attached to pin board that holds my wish list of all things wonderful. Here starts the mission (and the idea for the blog).

All kinds of wrong for me! (but still a lovely top)

Sunday Feb 20, 11:31am: Have a Witchery voucher to spend (thanks Em!) and time on my hands so thought I would try my luck in Witchery up the road. The voucher will help with my limited budget and I know that Witchery will still have a good sale on. Flicking through the racks, I spy a few possible options. So with arms loaded up with tops I hit the change rooms. The first top is nice, but the bottom of it would not have tucked into high-waisted jeans well so that was a no (remember I’m shopping with purpose!).

The second top – pictured on the right, I should not have even tried on!! Whoa, it’s one of those things that you know will not suit you but you continue to torture yourself, and make yourself feel fat and ugly (even though we all know we are not right girls!?!) by trying them on every time you see them. This is a gorgeous top, but it has a straight-across neckline (fail) thin straps (fail) and a pull tie that will sit on the hip, not showing off the waist (fail fail fail) NONE OF THESE THINGS SUIT ME!! And what is worse, I KNOW they don’t suit me but I pick it up anyway! Sheesh! So number 2 was a no.

Eureka!! The perfect top!

Number three was not normally a colour I would pick out to wear. It’s not a crisp white, which is generally best for me, it’s more an ivory (thanks to the boy for working out the colour for me…beige? bone? off white?). Deep v-neck (very flattering for my bust), thick straps, actually you would say its more of a sleeveless blouse (so good to wear a normal bra under), a neutral colour (which will work with the dark denim of the jeans and either the rust or olive wedges I want to wear with them), and will tuck perfectly into high waisted jeans. I can’t believe my luck! I do a double take in the mirror to make sure that this blouse is as perfect as I thought it was!

This NEVER happens! That was the whole point of this blog post! When you have a specific item in mind it’s

Only the start of the savings! I paid $17.45 in the end

always such an effort to find it, especially in that short amount of time! But the best bit about it? It cost me $17.45 reduced from $129.95 – I kid you not, look at the price tag! With the combination of sale, Witchery Card membership, (25% off in store) and my gift voucher I forked out less than $20 to find the perfect top!

Although this was all waaaaaay to easy, something isn’t right here, now it has me thinking that maybe it isn’t the perfect top after all!? I’ve been tricked, missions don’t come to and end just like that – so maybe I should just keep a look out anyway for another perfect top……now where are my car keys, I’m still on a mission!

Have you ever gone on a mission for that perfect thing? Did you find it? Was it easy or impossible to find? (Or did you buy up the rest of the store instead!)

Feb 18

No honey, this is not a MuuMuu – it’s a Maxi

So we have talked previously about boy-shopping vs girl-shopping (here) but there is also boy-fashion vs girl-fashion. In general, boy-fashion is anything short, fitted and/or see-through whereas girl-fashion tends to be a little more varied. Most of the time us girls actually dress for other girls (or ourselves) rather for boys. Other girls appreciate the time and effort that goes into getting dressed each morning, and I think we also appreciate when someone is stepping out of their comfort zone a little and trying something new.

One of these trends that men tend not to understand (and yes, I generalise) is the maxi dress. Not being dress-wearers themselves (well most of them) they don’t understand the complete comfort and freedom that a maxi dress can offer! Run out of all your clean undies except the Bridget Jones that live in the back of the drawer? Never mind, pop on a fun, flowing maxi dress and no one will know the difference. Haven’t been bothered to shave/wax/fake tan your legs for a while? People will be none the wiser if your legs are hidden under the wonderful folds of a maxi dress.

Now I do have to admit that there are some horrid maxi’s out there, and as it the case with everything, you still need to dress age and shape and size appropriately. So here are a few tips to find the right maxi that you (and if you really care, he) will love!

1. Make sure your maxi touches, or comes close to touching the ground – there is nothing worse than an ankle-skimming maxi dress. It just makes it look like it shrunk in the wash! If it needs to be taken up, try it on with flats (no heels, see point # 2) and take it up so it sits about 3cm above the ground.

The AMAZING Maddison Dress from SACHA DRAKE

2. ALWAYS wear maxis with flats (ok, I will let you off with a wedge). A maxi dress (in the context in which we are talking about) is quite a casual style of dress, heels just make it look like you are trying to hard. It really relates to the point above too, if you wear a heel, chances are the dress won’t look as long and you lose the dramatic effect of wearing a LOOOOOONG dress.

3. If you have big boobs, don’t wear a maxi with shoestring straps – the proportion on this is wrong for you and you WILL spend all day pulling up your strapless bra and trying to stop the tiny straps indenting your shoulders permanently! Ditto for big boobs and MOST strapless maxis, but there are definitely some exceptions. The Maddison Dress from (my fav) SACHA DRAKE is an INCREDIBLE maxi dress than can be worn quiet casually but also dressed up if the occasion calls for it. It is a strapless dress but it is lined and figure-hugging, so will look great on all bust (and body) shapes and sizes.

4. Empire-line maxi’s don’t really suit too many people. If you have an amazing hourglass or pear shape, try and find a maxi that skims your WAIST as opposed to sits under your bust (empire-line style). Generally women are the smallest around their waist, and by wearing a dress that drops straight down from under your bust, you are skimming over the tiniest part of you, not accentuating it, so actually making yourself look a little bigger than you really are. (Take this advice from a big-busted, hourglass shaped girl who LOVES her maxi’s). You may remember my raving on about my most favourite go-any-where, wear-anytime dress (here)? This is the most flattering maxi dress I think I have ever owned because it still follows all the principles of dressing for my shape, PLUS it’s a wash and wear (which means NO IRONING!!) jersey fabric – the best kind!

5. Don’t be scared of prints but a maxi dress has a lot of fabric, so the smaller the print, the better. If you are a little worried about how big your bum will look in a printed frock (firstly, don’t worry – it won’t) start with a block colour. A plain coloured dress is really easy and fun to accessorise because pretty much anything goes.

Brisbane jewellery designer Saralli has stunning bold, bright necklaces that are perfect with a plain maxi dress

If you find a plain black maxi (although we know that black is not always best – see here), have some fun with your jewellery. Wear a big, bright necklace, or add some pop with some long, dangly earrings.

6. If you are petite, look for a block colour and quite fitted maxi. You are tiny as it is so don’t add extra bulk to your frame by surrounding your self in fabric. Look for a fitted style, or a jersey dress that has lots of drape without being too ‘foofy’ (that’s a technical fashion term you know).

7. If you love it, wear it – in the end, if you love the dress, and you feel great in the dress, don’t worry what anybody else thinks about it (especially me, what would I know anyway!?!) work it!!

Are you scared of wearing a maxi? Does your boyfriend/husband/partner appreciate the wonders of a maxi dress or does he just tell you that you look pregnant?

Feb 16

It really is all about how you look

If you are a store that is! Let me clarify…..

The spectacular fit out of Kitten D'Amour

I was on a regular expedition to Chermside Shopping centre (I run a fashion boutique, clearly I don’t get enough exposure to clothes in my working life!) and had dragged the boy along for the ride. We were doing the usual walk around when we decided to pop into a fairly new store. You might know it, you might not, it’s the second flagship store of Australia label Kitten D’Amour. This shop was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. I felt like I’d walked into a Katy Perry video clip! From the cotton-candy coloured walls to the black and white checker-board floor, every detail of the store fit out had been carefully considered and matched to represent the brand. The clothes themselves are also amazing, frills and lace and vintage-inspired prints run amuck in the store. The girls in the store as just as delightful too. Cheerful and friendly and (of course) looking amazing in the frocks, but still, the thing that stood out to me (and to the boy I might add) was that the store had personality!

You got a really understanding of what this label and these clothes were all about as soon as you walked in the door. Fun? tick! Flirty? tick? Their brand message was strong, but more importantly, the shop was a FUN place to be!

After spending a good 15 minutes soaking up the atmosphere (and trying a few cheeky things on), we finally dragged ourselves out of the store and across the way to another, much frequented store. I am not going to name this store because I am, in fact, a fan of what they do generally – let’s just say it was ‘just another chain store’. The difference when we walked into this store almost elicited a physical reaction however, after we had just walked out of the wonderfulness of the previous store. ‘Blah’ was the word that came out of both our mouths almost immediately. Bland, boring and same same. This store had zero personality – if this store was a person, they would have been described as ‘beige’, in fact beige is the perfect word for it. The store fit out was beige, the staff were beige (actually they didn’t even say hello) and the clothes were literally beige. It was one of the most underwhelming shopping experiences I’ve had, highlighted by the fact our senses had just gone into overload in the first store.

It really was a shame because I do love the clothes that the said chain store have on offer but I was so uninspired to even look at them because of the whole experience of walking into that store and being underwhelmed. So I guess it shows that is some instances, appearances really do matter! Have you had a beige shopping experience?