Archive for August, 2011

Aug 31

The one where I wear my ugg boots outside (as if!)

BUSTED!! Unfortunately I DON'T look like Kim Kardashian without my make-up on (sigh...)

But I may as well have been! Don’t you hate it when you think, “I’ll just pop down to the shops for 5 minutes, no one will see me.” You think that last part because you are wearing your gym clothes (from when you went for a walk at 8am this morning – it’s currently 2pm), you have dirty hair, no make-up and a whopping great pimple (or several) on you chin.

Well there is this horrible thing called Murphy’s Law (or Karma) that says whenever you say that to yourself, you will inevitably run into EVERYONE YOU KNOW (including, hands down, one of the most beautiful and stylish people I know – ‘Oh hi Monique!‘). HOW. EMBARRASSMENT.

Brittany TOTES has it going on (all she needs now is leggings as pants) I so know how she feels

Serves me right – I was just being lazy – just because I work from home does not give me the right to ‘let myself go’. I don’t have seven children to run around after, I’m not renovating, I don’t get dirty or messy for a living; I write, and talk about pretty clothes, and test fabulous new beauty products – isn’t it about time I practice what I preach?

Don’t worry, I’m not going to start preaching about how you should never leave the house without a full face of make-up and in your highest heels (when was the last time you saw ME in heels!) BUT I do think for me personally, someone who working in fashion, I should have a little more self-respect and confidence in myself (and my brand, which is me). I also know that I feel better about myself when my hair is freshly washed, my nails are not chipped and my lashes have had a little mascara boost.

So whether you are an exhausted new mum, busy mum of 2 or 3, uni student, or working from home, here are some quick tips for looking your best QUICKLY AND WITH NO EFFORT in 5 minutes before you run out the door.

1. Hide your hair

If you have time, wash it – you know you will feel better when you do. If you don’t have time, a fedora (all year round, but especially in summer) or cool beanie (in winter) is your best friend. If that fails too, put you head upside down, spray a little (or a lot) of hairspray or sea salt spray (or both!) all over you hair and put up in a messy high bun (the ‘messy’ and highness of the bun will hide some of the greasiness).

Don't worry, mine doesn't really look like this either, but you get the idea. Tigi Bed head Hard Head hairspray $19.95 or KMS California hairplay sea salt spray $29.99

2. Invest in a great tinted moisturiser

My ‘full’ make-up routine takes a while (well, over 5 minutes, which is a lot for me – I have a short attention span ok?!). I use a primer, then a liquid foundation, then a concealer, then a translucent powder (it’s worth it, it lasts all day) BUT sometimes I just cannot be bothered. This is where a good tinted moisturiser comes in. Goes on in one easy application, covers small blemishes and uneven skin tone and protects from the sun too! (now to be honest, this is a step I have NOT mastered yet, so if anyone can recommend a good tinted moisturiser that would be super!)

Here are two I have heard great things about. 1) Becca luminous skin colour $44 2) Invisible Zinc tinted moisturiser $29

3. Have a ‘go to’ outfit

Need to run out the door with 5 minutes notice? Have a ‘go to’ outfit that you can throw on, but you know it looks great! In the cooler months, a tunic, leggings and a blazer make up an awesome comfortable look. Ballet flats, flat boots or Converse trainers complete this 5-minute look. This look has been a staple of mine this winter, it’s comfortable, and easy to wear but a little more chic and sophisticated that gym gear or jeans and a T.

Your winter 'go to' look could be something like this? 1) Country Road tunic $99. 2) Mesop leggings $39. 3) Mooloolah fedora (from City Beach) $25. 4) Converse Chuck Taylors $80

Getting a little warmer? If you like them, make a maxi dress your new best friend! I have some great maxi dresses that I can literally throw on with a pair of havianas and I still feel incredibly glamorous – there is something about metres of fabric flowing around me as I walk that makes me feel a bit spesh (in a good way!). If maxis are a little scary for you, a simple cotton frock is perfect. Again, have a pair of havianas or sandals next to the door ready to go!

1) Just Add Sugar maxi $99.95. 2) Rebecca Thompson kaftan $377. 3) Sacha Drake 'Lola' dress $219. 4) Witchery maxi dress $189.95. 5) Country Road striped jersey dress $199. 6) Gordon Smith spotted sun dress $119.95

Three little things that I SHOULD have done before I ran out the door yesterday (and ran into a bunch of people “yes, I do actually work in fashion, can’t you tell?“) I would have felt so much better about myself and what I do for a living!

Hey, at least I wasn’t wearing my ugg boots outside or leggings as pants! (oh wait……)

Have you dashed out the door not looking your best and run into everybody you have ever met?

What are your ‘ready in 5′ tips for when you have to rush out in a hurry?

Aug 29

2 Comments

The one where I go shopping in my jammies

Don’t worry I didn’t leave the house (but I was wearing my Ugg boots!), yes I’m talking about online shopping. Two words that make my credit card squeal from inside my purse. After a conversation on Friday night with THE most glamorous person I know (hello Kimmy, I mean you) about how she bought not only her shoes and dress, but her husbands shoes online from the US, the boy and I came home and decided to do some browsing….

Everyone is into online shopping these days

asos.com was our starting point, and to be honest, the boy had much better luck than I did. He is one of those annoying people who looks good in most clothes (broad shoulders and narrow hips) so it was more a case of finding things that ~~I like~~ ehm, he likes.

On the other hand, I tend to be a little more selective about things I buy online. I have curves, I need to try things on. I am probably more of a browser than a buyer online, but I did put a few things into my Asos.com shopping bag to come back to later.

Both of us also found that the site was really user-friendly! The pictures of the garments are clear, there are several options and all the return and shipping policies were easy to find.

I bought these in white - best bikinis ever! Seriously!

Now I have had a dalliance or two with online shopping before (I bought THE best pair of bikinis I have ever owned online from Victoria’s Secret, and they are WHITE!) but as we know, I am a shopping addict, and part of that is the thrill of the chase, the try-on, the feeling of walking out of the store with a bag full of goodies. I love the physical act of shopping. BUT I do also love the variety of things available online, not to sound like I am mocking my own industry, but Australian fashion can be found wanting sometimes.

My love of shoes has also lead me to dream online – remember when I found that amazing pair of Tory Burch wedges but I was doing ‘No Buy July’ and by the time I was finished they had sold out?!?! (read the original story here). This story has a happy ending however because I found the wedges on another online site – the Saks Fifth Ave online store (www.saksfifthave.com) – Can I tell you, I never thought I would buy ANYTHING from one of the most exclusive department stores in the world, but I’m a shoe addict – what can I say.

They are FINALLY on their way to my wardrobe!

So while I was wasting a couple of minutes (read: several hours) of my life, online browsing, I also found another pair of bikinis that I had to have – this time brought to me by Marc Jacobs. I have never owned a Marc Jacobs anything so excite my life when I see the cost of the bikinis – approximately $80 AUS for the whole set!! You almost can’t get a pair of bikinis from David Jones for that price!

My new Marc Jacobs bikinis are on their way! I will NOT be posting a pic of me in these - but I can't wait to hit the beach in them this Summer!

I can safely say that was well and truly the single biggest online store purchase of my shopping career (yes, it is a career!) but I am SOOOOOO excited! In fact, I loved the experience so much that I re-visited the Asos site (which to be honest, left me wanting the first time) and I am proud (?!) to say that I know have a shopping bag full over there too! I am also waiting until my next pay-day to actually hit the “purchase” button on that lot!

My Asos.com shopping cart - next months pay has already gone bye bye (or should I say buy buy!)

Still not sure online shopping is that easy? Here are a few tips if you are an online newbie:

1. Make sure the online store ships to Australia (or wherever you live) in order to avoid disappointment after finding the perfect shoe/dress/bag and then realising that they don’t ship to Oz!

2. Check your size! Most online stores have a really good size chart – get your measuring tape out and check it people – sizing is different in different parts of the world! (ie. an Australian size 12 = a US size 8.)

3. Check the shipping costs before you hit “purchase” – sometimes the ‘free shipping’ that many of these sites use to draw you in only applies to the states

4. Check you are looking at prices in $AUS (or $ appropriate to where you live). If it’s not available on the site, goggle the exchange rate so you know what you are in for.

5. If you can, get your order shipped to a PO box, or an address that you will be at during that day. I love Aust Post, but I don’t trust them with my Marc Jacobs!

6. Check the returns policy of the website. This will give you peace of mind when purchasing clothes without trying them on. If you have the option to return them, you aren’t risking as much

7. If you are STILL worried – start with purchasing accessories and shoes, they are not quite so tricky to fit as clothes.

Hello my name is Caitlin and I am an online shopping addict.

How about you? Do you/have you shopped online? Where do you shop? (feed my addiction!!)

Aug 23

1 Comment

Getting behind Liptember – mwah!

So I don’t wear lipstick much but I did have an obession with lipsmakers back in high school – don’t look at me like that, I know you did too! What was your fav? Mine was the one that had a slight pale pink tinge to it and glitter in it (I was a bower bird in a previous life, I love anything that sparkles!). Skip forward a few years, and it was the wonders of lip-plumping lip gloss that got me going all Zoolander on ya ass! So much so that I used to get in trouble for NEVER smiling in pictures……

Too funny! What can you do if not laugh at yourself every now and then. Notice some OTHER repeat offenders in here too by the way!

Well it is safe to say I have gone back to smiling in pictures, my obsession with lip balm has been renewed and all for a very good cause. Welcome to Liptember!

Burt's Bees lip balm in Hibiscus - the official tint of Liptember

Liptember is the brainchild of Managing Director, Luke Morris. It came about when he was out with a few mates celebrating the end of Mo-vember and there was talk that there was nothing really for the girls to do that was similar. After a few cold ones, the idea of Liptember was born, and when he woke up the next morning, Luke tells me, the idea just wouldn’t go away!

So, what exactly is Liptember? Well the idea is simple,

buy the special Liptember lip balm (It is the Hibiscus shade provided by Burt’s Bees) from any MYER store.
Jump online liptember.com.au and either set up your own sponsorship page (or join mine)
Smack your lips every day in the month of September with the wonderful lip balm from Burt’s Bees that you have just purchased for your local MYER store
Get all your friends and family to sponsor you to wear the Liptember lip balm every day of September
raise HEAPS AND HEAPS of money for gender-specific mental health issues for women

Easy huh! So I would love you to join my team, we can save the world, one lip balmed pout at a time!

If you would like to join Chasing Cait’s Liptember team email me on chasingcait@gmail.com with your name, state, age and email address. We can do this together! Throughout the month, I will post updates of how we are going and pics of our team members and their lovely lips!

If you don’t think you can get through the whole month with just one colour lippy then maybe you would like to become a sponsor? Head over to the link below for more details.

My profile link:

http://www.liptember.com.au/profile.aspx?u=chasing.cait

The rules are simple listen here,

A month is all it takes my dear.

All you girls out and about,

Always display your Liptember pout.

Whether it be work or play,

The lipstick must always stay.

When the weekend comes around,

Show it off out on town.

But don’t forget rule number one,

Liptember is all for having fun.

Women participating in Liptember must wear the lipstick throughout September at work and when out and about.

Are you going to join me for Liptember? What is your favourite colour lippy and could you wear it for one whole month?

Liptember is supporting, and being supported by:

Aug 18

4 Comments

The one where the boy has a say

He has been going on for ages about how he was going to do a guest post on the blog (he gets enough mentions to warrant that though!) so finally I have let him loose on the laptop…..enjoy!

Finally!

As Cait says, I’ve been threatening to overtake the blog over a number of different topics, but Friday night led me to start typing. So here it is.

Ughhhh, too many clothes and nothing to wear!

Don’t you hate it when you’re about to head out for dinner with friends, you’re dressed, your girlfriend is dressed, everyone is dressed and seemingly happy… Then you go to the bathroom and emerge two minutes later to find your girlfriend half undressed and in the process of removing said approved and happy outfit….WTF!

“What are you doing?” I asked

“I’m too hot, I’m over-dressed, this outfit isn’t right”

“It’s eleven degrees and the middle of winter, how could you be hot!”

She did look hot, nigh amazing, wearing a short black, recently purchased dress from Zara, green belt, black leggings, and little black ankle boots.

Fantastic! She more than matched my shirt, jeans and new suede boots!

He likes us to match...isn't he cute?? (he is going to KILL me hee hee!)

So WHY, would she feel the need to change?

Apparently, the venue was a little underwhelming in the fashion stakes, and she didn’t want to make some sort of scene. Now what would be wrong with opening the restaurant door and having every person look at you and mentally compliment you on that outfit you so lovingly put together?

Now I’m not one to grandstand or play the part of the headline act, but surely it’s okay to flaunt it if you’ve got it?

Cait is tall and curvy and knows how to showcase the best bits of her body. So you should really listen to her when she passes on these pieces of fashion advice!

Ladies, if I can say one thing – learn to flaunt what you’ve got!

I’m not suggesting having everything hanging out, but if you aren’t happy with your rear end and have great boobs, then highlight your boobs! When it comes to men, you should all know by now that we are very easily distracted (ever try to have a conversation with us while the football is on?), so by showing a tasteful but saucy line of cleavage, we will revel in them!

There is nothing wrong with showing your bodies best bits – that’s (in some/most/all respects) what it is there for right? And if you decide on an outfit, and your partner compliments you on it – stick with it!

And on that note I say this:

“Are you ready yet dear?”

*Note the irony of the last line, as I’m always the last to be ready!

Is your man patient with you when trying to decide what to wear? Or does he take longer than you do!!

Aug 15

1 Comment

Nautical and floral and white, oh my!

When I worked in fashion PR (as you do daaaaarling) we used to have a joke about “Spring Trends”. What’s new this Spring? Wait, wait, let me guess; Nautical, Floral and White. Without a doubt, every September issue of every fashion magaine would blast Spring Trends all over their covers, yet you could pull last years September issue of the same mag and you would see the same trends. Now, I’m not complaining (especially because I actually l0ok really good in white) but it makes me laugh every Spring!

What does this mean for us this year? Well you guessed it, this Spring we will be wearing Nautical, Floral and White. So let’s have a look at some of the ways you can get the Spring Fling-feeling without looking like a slave to fashion!

Wear your stripes, but make the vertical line still the prominent shape. I'm wearing tunic dress from Witchery, blazer from Sacha Drake and tights from Voodoo

1. Nauticals

Come on, hands up if you love a navy and white stripe *hand goes up* but there is so much of it about at the moment I think you need to choose your stripes wisely. Now what have we learnt from previous posts ladies? (besides leggings are NOT pants) – vertical lines are our friends! This still applies to some extent with nautical, but don’t be scared to wear horizontal stripes! If you are scared, add a block-colour jacket or cardigan over the top – that way the predominant line is still a horizontal line like I have in the picture. I have also added some red tights to give my look that real nautical feel without looking like I’m about to step onto my yacht (although that would be super if I was! Anyone have a yacht?!).

The Freida Maxi Skirt from SACHA DRAKE RRP $299

2. Florals

Change it up – florals doesn’t mean floaty, girly Liberty Print sun-dresses (Liberty Print is that tiny little floral print that looks cute on 4-year-olds but a little childish on almost anyone over 12). Try something dramatic to make a statement with florals like this a.ma.zing maxi skirt from SACHA DRAKE. (I happen to have this same skirt in black and white and it is to die for).

The trick with prints is to get the right print size for your bodyshape. If you are curvier than the average bear, a bigger print is your friend, especially if you are TALL and curvy, as you have the stature to pull off big prints. If you are more on the petite side, a small print is better for you as a larger print be overpowering, the print ends up wearing you as opposed to you wearing the print.

Gordon Smith linen pants. Available online at Birdsnest.com.au RRP $119.95

3. White

For me, the most exciting thing about white is that it is NOT black! How sick am I of black by the end of each winter, or grey, or charcoal, or did I mention black? White makes your skin look more tanned, it makes any other colour you wear with it look really fresh and it just makes it feel like Summer time!! (are you getting the feeling I love white!?).

But white doesn’t suit me, and it gets dirty easily! ummmm have you heard of nappy-san?! White is actually really easy to keep clean beacuse if it does get dirty you just bleach the be-jezuz out of it, wash it in HOT water and then hang it in the sun, all these tricks will help keep your whites whiter (do I sound like a toothpaste commercial or what!). White is much easier to maintain than many other colours because you don’t risk stripping dyes out of the fabric and ruining or fading your clothes.

If a entire white outfit makes you break into a cold sweat I have two words for you: Linen pants. In white. They are style personified – and they DO suit most people! The wide leg of a linen pant is great on the larger hips, and the thighs of an hourglass or pear, but the fitted, low-slung waist also looks great on those slimmer-hipped columns and apples.

Nikon GoGo watch in white RRP $149.95, Mooloolah fedora RRP $25.99 and Billabong essentials scarf RRP $19.95 (all available from City Beach). Tan wedges RRP $49.95 from Spend-less Shoes

PS. Accessories

If these trends are all a bit too much, accessories all the way! Here are a few pieces you can use to add a touch of trend to help celebrate Spring! White accessories are always a good way to go if white clothes are too much and nothing says nautical like a fedora and some tan wedges so accessorise it up people!

See! Trends can be easy (not scary) and if this post tells you anything, Spring trends are pretty predictable so if in doubt remember; nautical and florals and white! Oh my!

What is your favourite Spring trend? Have you found your own way to wear any of these trends?