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Your Comfy, Stylish Capsule Wardrobe For Stay At Home Living

A capsule wardrobe is a small collection of clothes that you can mix and match to effortlessly create many outfits.

Home isolation is our current reality and it’s easy to slip into wearing your gym gear, tracksuit or PJs on a regular basis.

Sure, it’s comfortable, but it doesn’t help your mindset around the fact that you’re stuck at home. Wearing those types of clothes day in, day out can make you feel a bit ‘blah’.

Keep your style game on I say! Not only will you look good, but you’ll feel much better too.

The key to creating your capsule wardrobe is to include clothes that have a common theme. The theme I use is colour.

Ten items of clothing plus two pairs of shoes, and matching accessories.

The 10 garments I’ve used in my example are all warm colours i.e. They have golden, yellow-based undertones.

Here are examples of a warm and cool set of colours:

 

A swatch of warm, yellow-based colours.

Warm colours

A swatch of cool, blue-based colours.

Cool colours

If you’re not sure whether warm or cool colours suit you, a Personal Colour Analysis is the way to find out. You can have yours done online – it’s so much fun, and you receive ‘goodies’ in the post which is like Christmas 🙂

How To Create Your Comfy, Stylish Capsule Wardrobe

To create your capsule wardrobe choose five tops, two bottoms and three jackets or cardies.

When you calculate all of the ways you can mix and match the garments i.e. 5 tops x 2 bottoms x 3 outer layers you end up with 30 outfits.

You can make your capsule wardrobe as extensive as you want. For example, if you wanted to add an extra bottom, you would be able to create 45 outfits i.e. 5 tops x 3 bottoms x 3 outer layers = 45 different combinations.

Also, you can have all skirts, all pants or a selection of both in your capsule depending on your preferences. You can easily make this wardrobe formula your own by introducing tops with different necklines, sleeve lengths, fabrics, and patterns.

Finally, include accessories like necklaces, earrings and scarves to complete your outfits and add your stamp of individuality.

It’s that easy!

 

If you have any questions about creating your capsule wardrobe write them in the comment box below – I’ll be happy to answer them.

 

Sticky
April 14, 2020

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: ‘Step Into Paradise’ exhibition

In 1973 Jenny Kee opened her Flamingo Park store in the Strand Arcade. ‘Step into Paradise’ was the sign that hung on the door. The shop was described as “romantic, exotic and kitsch” by Jenny – a riot of colour, texture, and pattern. It showcased vintage clothing finds from London, Linda Jackson’s unique creations, and Jenny’s famous knits.

The exhibition is showing at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney until 22 March 2020. It celebrates the creative partnership between these two inspiring Australian fashion designers as well as their individual achievements in the fashion world. Over 150 garments, textiles, photographs, and artworks are on display. These items give us an in-depth insight into their design style, sources of inspiration and creative evolution.

Flamingo Park was a ‘must-see’ destination in the 70s and 80s. Famous visitors included David Bowie, Christie Brinkley, Lauren Bacall, and Olivia Newton-John. They were a global sensation! Local and international celebrities wore their clothes. Remember the media frenzy when Princess Diana wore the Jenny Kee koala jumper to a polo match in 1982?

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson’s creations were brightly coloured, heavily patterned or both. They were inspired by everything iconically Australian. Years spent exploring the bush, especially in and around the Blue Mountains, influenced their Australian flora and fauna themes. Other sources of inspiration were semi-precious stones like opals, Australian landmarks, and indigenous art.

Here’s a sneak peek into some of the fabulous outfits on display.

Step Into Paradise: the store

Mock up of Jenny Kee's Flamingo Park store in Sydney circa 1973

Mockup of Jenny Kee’s Flamingo Park store in Sydney, 1973

 

Bright pink, over-sized knitted top with Jenny Kee motif on the back.

Bright pink, over-sized knitted top with Jenny Kee motif on the back. Mannequins in 50’s style outfits on the right.

 

Glamorous evening gowns inside the mockup of Jenny Kee's store, Flamingo Park.

Glamorous evening gowns inside the mockup of Jenny Kee’s store, Flamingo Park.

 

Three dresses from the Flamingo Park store circa 1973

Three dresses from the Flamingo Park store circa 1973

 

Australian Themes

Hand knitted wattle dresses 1978

Hand knitted wattle dresses 1978

 

Jenny Kee Waratah dress

Waratah dress

 

Three garments featuring Australian wildflower motifs and boomerangs.

Australian wildflower themes with hearts and boomerangs

 

Three Jenny Kee hand knits in earthy colours.

Hand knitted pieces in earthy tones. Intarsia knits. The Australian bush inspired these scribbly bark and leaf patterns.

 

Two outfits that feature water themes, dolphins and fish.

Celebrating the ocean and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

 

Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson: Bold Colour and Pattern Statements

Jenny Kee mannequin wears her iconic red glasses and densely patterned scarf and jumper.

Jenny Kee mannequin wears her iconic red glasses and densely patterned scarf and jumper.

 

Mannequins wearing colourful dresses.

Beads, feathers, ruffles, and striking colours.

 

Mannequin wears an bright, bold outfit featuring large rounded shapes.

Bright, saturated colours and large shapes make this outfit anything but ‘beige’.

 

Asian inspired jacket with pointy, exaggerated shoulders and appliqué.

Asian inspired jacket with pointy, exaggerated shoulders and appliqué.

 

Ethnic Themes

An outfit from Linda Jackson’s ‘Indigo’ collection. Ethnic patterns.

An outfit from Linda Jackson’s ‘Indigo’ collection

 

Outfits feature beading and vivid colours

Beading, vivid colours, triangular and diamond shapes give these outfits an African feel. Colourful organic shapes reference Australian opals.

 

Jenny Kee 'Harvest Goddess' costume designed for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000

Jenny Kee ‘Harvest Goddess’ costume designed for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000

Portraits of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson

Mixed media portraits (drawing and paper collage) of Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson were a fitting way to end the exhibition.

Portrait of Australian fashion designer, Jenny Kee.

Jenny Kee

Portrait of Australian fashion designer, Linda Jackson.

Linda Jackson

Would you like to see more photos of amazing outfits and jewellery from fashion designer and artist exhibitions? Here are links to Dior, Cartier, Guo Pei, Hermes, Frieda Kahlo Museum, Viktor & Rolf.

Sticky
March 02, 2020

12 Joys of Colour – Part 4

Collage depicting brown items eg coffee, a wooden door and floor, chocolate, brown hair, rocks.

12 Joys of Colour

This is the fourth and final instalment in the 12 joys of colour series.  In this blog I explore two elegant neutrals: brown and grey, and the universal hue: teal.

Day 10 – Brown

Brown is a natural, neutral colour. It’s one of my favourites. 

Have you been to Italy in winter? The Italians ‘do’ brown so well – dark chocolate married with rich caramel and hints of cinnamon. Italian men and women look very stylish walking the cobblestone streets of Rome, Florence, and Milan wearing these hues.

If you are light in colouring i.e. fair skin, fair hair, brown is a wonderful alternative to black – less harsh against your skin. And, with connotations of elegance, reliability, warmth and honesty, there’s a lot to love.

Previously, brown was viewed as old fashioned and ‘suburbia bland’, but not anymore. Now it is considered sophisticated and ‘euro chic’.

There are warm and cool browns. Choose the ones that harmonise with your complexion, hair and eyes. The personal colour analysis system I use helps take the confusion out of knowing which colours look great on you. It simplifies the overwhelm of colour choices and gives you the confidence to know you are choosing your best colours all of the time. In face to face interactions others see you before one word is spoken. Why not make that first impression count?

Collage featuring grey coloured items e.g pebbles, grey coat and blazers, cement building.

Day 11 – Grey

Grey is a sophisticated neutral and a stylish alternative to black.

In its purest form, grey sits on the cool end of the colour spectrum (black + white = grey). However, there are warm and cool versions depending on the colours it is mixed with. Add yellow to pure grey to create warm grey (It looks slightly green). Add blue to pure grey to make cool grey (It looks slightly purple).

Darker greys feel more formal and professional (business suits), whereas medium to light greys feel calm and harmonious (long line cardigans you wear in winter).

Grey is very versatile, so you can wear it with any colour. But if you’re wanting to inject an element of fun and interest into your outfit, combine grey with red, blue, green, yellow or pink.

A great tool you can have is your own personal colour swatch. It will take the guesswork and confusion out of what colours look good on you. If you have warm undertones the swatch will have examples of your best warm neutrals and colours. And, if you have cool undertones it will have examples of the best cool neutrals and colours to suit you.

Peacock, blue-green water, lady wears teal waterfall jacket.

12 Joys of Colour: Day 12 – Teal

Well here we are, at the end of the 12 Joys of Colour. I’ve chosen a hue that suits everyone – teal.

Mix calming blue with healing, optimistic green, and you create teal. Deep versions are understated and elegant. Light versions stimulate creativity and individuality.

Some of you will know that I used to work for Qantas, so anything aviation interests me. And, my mum was a ‘Kiwi’, so this little bit of trivia sparked my interest…

Air New Zealand’s aircraft livery and crew uniforms were teal until 2012. Air New Zealand’s forerunner airline was Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL). Is it a coincidence that the acronym and the airline’s signature colour were aligned? I wonder…

Teal is a very versatile colour. It looks fresh and summery with white, cream and coral, and is ‘lifted’ by gold and silver.

Have the 12 Joys of Colour sparked your interest in discovering your best colours? Feel confident and proud of your image by wearing colours that harmonise with you. (Plus, save time, energy, and your sanity when shopping for clothes). 

Join me in Leichhardt (Sydney) at one of my fun and empowering Personal Colour Analysis Workshops. You can buy your ticket on Eventbrite or by contacting me.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me. Wishing you colour confidence always!

 

Sticky
February 03, 2020

12 Joys of Colour – Part 3

Collage of red coloured items, such as a red dress, flower and a model wearing a red top and jacket.

 

12 Joys of Colour:

In the lead up to Christmas 2019 I posted my 12 Joys of Colour series which was inspired by the 12 Days of Christmas. In this blog I explore the 3 primary colours: red, yellow and blue.

Day 7 – Red

Passion, energy, optimism.  Anger, intensity, dominant.

Red is a truly versatile colour which is linked to extremes of emotions, feelings and situations. Bright versions are perceived as being more energetic, and dark shades, more powerful and elegant.

Red sits on the warm side of the colour spectrum. Warm hues advance and draw our attention – think stop signs and fire trucks. This is an interesting fact to remember when dressing in red because wherever you wear it people will pay attention. E.g. Trying to hide your thighs? Red pants will emphasise that area. Instead, wear a red top and draw the eye up and away from your bottom half.

Pantone, the world’s leading authority on colour and colour trends has recently released their predictions for Spring/Summer 2020. One of those colours is youthful and empowering ‘Flame Scarlet’ (featured in the top right corner of the collage). The great news is that this hue looks good on almost everyone! If you’ve shied away from this bright version of red in the past, perhaps next Spring will be the perfect opportunity to try it.

How do you feel wearing red? Conspicuous? Confident? Determined? Energised?

Images: Pantone, Unsplash, Pinterest

 

Collage of different tints, shades and tones of blue.For example, blue sky and tropical blue water.

Day 8 – Blue

Writing about blue I’m thinking of summer happiness: blue skies and warmer weather. Also, the relaxed, holiday feeling you get when you see azure, turquoise blue waters at tropical destinations like Cairns and Hawaii. Wearing lighter versions of blue evokes a sense of playfulness and fun.

When I think of deep blues, other associations come to mind like trust, authority and power e.g. police uniforms and business suits.

Classic Blue is Pantone’s 2020 ‘Colour of the Year’. Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone said, “When we look at the world around us, we know that we’re living with a lot of unrest… Blue… has always represented a certain amount of calm and dependability… this particular shade really gave us that feeling of confidence and stability.”

Even though blue is a colour, i.e. not a neutral, it works well for the basic garments that are the ‘work horses’ (essentials) in your wardrobe, like pants, jackets, skirts and jeans.

Choose your best versions of blue by taking your unique colouring (hair, skin and eye combination) into account. That way you’ll always present the best version of you and feel good about your clothing choices.

Images: Pinterest, lifewire.com, uniqtravel.com

 

Collage featuring the colour yellow. For example: a cut lemon, a lady standing in a field of wheat and a yellow flower.

Day 9 – Primary Hues: Yellow

Hello to happy, cheerful, optimistic yellow!

If you’re feeling mentally exhausted and there’s still a lot to do, wear a small amount of yellow (it could be in a pattern) to stimulate your mental activity and concentration levels.

Yellow is a warm, bright hue that vibrates on a high frequency, so it grabs our attention. Even though most of us think of its positive connotations, many people shy away from wearing yellow because it can feel intense or overwhelming – especially if you’re experiencing major changes in your life.

There are versions of yellow to suit everyone from soft, icy lemon to vibrant canary. During a colour consultation at Image Confidence we compare 18 different colour groups to identify which colours harmonise best with your complexion, eyes and hair. You receive a swatch (mini fan-deck) of 40+ colours to use as a guide when shopping for your wardrobe.

Red, blue and yellow are just some of the colours in your palette that will have you looking good and feeling great!

Images: Pinterest, Unsplash

 

Contact me if you would like to feel empowered and self-assured about your image in 2020.

A Personal Colour Consultation is fun and is an investment in you.

 

Sticky
January 12, 2020

12 Joys of Colour – Part 2

 

12 Joys of Colour:

My version of the 12 days of Christmas to share vibrancy and happiness in the lead up to the festive break.

Day 4 – Orange

Orange sits on the warm side of the colour wheel.

It’s a mixture of strong, passionate red with the sunny optimism of yellow.

Orange is one of my favourite colours. When I wear it and see it, I feel energised and happy!

People with warm or neutral skin undertones can wear this colour successfully. If you have a cool undertone orange will make you appear jaundice rather than healthy and radiant.

One of my recent clients, Bronwyn, came for a colour consultation. We discovered that her best colours were cool colours. Bronwyn said she’d been yearning to wear orange and was disappointed that it was not in her colour palette. (Sometimes we just need to wear a certain colour because of the way it makes us feel.)

I suggested 3 ways that she could wear orange and still look good:

  • Wear it below your waist
  • Use only very small amounts
  • Wear one of your optimal colours in-between it (the orange) and your face

 

Collage featuring gold earrings, bag, shoes and woman with gold coloured finger nails.

Day 5 – Gold

Sparkle and Glamour…

We associate the colour gold with quality, sophistication, luxury and success.

Wear gold if you have warm undertones. If you have cool undertones wear silver.

Like all precious metals, gold accessories will add interest to a plain outfit. It will be the focal point of the outfit so ensure you place it where you want people to look i.e. around your neck so they are drawn to your face, or around your waist if your waist is an asset.

If you find yellow gold too showy opt for the more subtle versions: brushed gold or rose gold.

Gold pairs beautifully with warm neutral tones like chocolate, olive green, khaki, rust, taupe and caramel.

How bold or how subtle should you go? You decide. Make a statement of ‘full blown glamour’ (think of the long evening dresses you see on the red carpet or Bollywood), you can wear it in the form of subtle sophistication (like simple gold and diamond studs worn with a black dress), or you can choose something in-between.

 

Collage with men and women wearing purple clothes. Also, purple colour swatches and flowers.

 

Day 6 – Purple

Purple is a combination of 2 primary colours: red and blue. When you look at a colour wheel or colour spectrum you will see that purple is called violet.

Centuries ago the ingredients to produce purple dye was so rare and expensive that only the very rich could afford it. Small mollusks, found exclusively in the Tyre region of the Mediterranean Sea (now modern-day Lebanon), were used to make the dye.

That is why we associate mid to deep purples with royalty, luxury and power. Lighter versions, like lavender and lilac, are seen as soothing, romantic and mysterious.

Recently I had a wardrobe audit with Ella and discovered a beautiful purple, navy and white striped skirt with the shop tags still attached. Ella said that even though she loved it, she had no idea of what to put with it. So, I searched through her tops and found a red blouse and a mint green tee – both looked fabulous with her skirt.

Other colours that team well with purple are orange, yellow and other purples.

 

Book in for your personal colour consultation and wardrobe audit to fall in love with your clothes again, create new outfits from the clothes you already own, and gain a boost of confidence.

 

Image Credits: Pinterest, Unsplash, Tommy Bahama, weddingbee.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sticky
December 16, 2019

12 Joys of Colour – Part 1

,Man and women wear green coloured clothing. Examples of warm and cool green swatches.

 

12 Joys of Colour is my version of the 12 days of Christmas which aims to share vibrancy and happiness in the lead up to the festive break. Here are the first three colours:

Day 1 – Green

“Green, which is Nature’s colour, is restful, soothing, cheerful, and health-giving.” Paul Brunton

Colour surrounds us. Subliminally, it affects how we feel and how we are perceived. Cultural and personal experiences can also influence the way we view colour.

I’m going to focus on the positive messages green evokes.

Below are some shades and hues of green and how they may be perceived by others and how they might make you feel.

  • Deep greens, like seaweed and bottle green = reliable, strong, tenacious
  • Lighter, brighter greens, like lime and mint = cheerful, playful, fun
  • Grey greens, like khaki and sage = wisdom, trust, nurture
  • Emerald and jade greens = lively, sophisticated, regal

So what colours team well with green?

When I take clients out on personal shopping trips I quite often pair green with blue (navy especially), purple, brown and tan, charcoal, yellow and other versions of green.

 

Man and women wear white clothing. Swatch samples of different tones of white.

 

Day 2 – White

Ivory, snow-white, snow, milk, milky-white, chalk, pearl, antique white, chalk, seashell, cream, linen, ghost white, beige, cornsilk, alabaster.

These some of the words we use to describe the many variations of white.

Classed as a ‘neutral’, white is a blank canvas that allows other colours to shine. It is ideal to use in your home and to have in your wardrobe.

Have you ever searched for white paint? You were probably shocked to discover that there are thousands of shades of white paint available. And, you would have worked out pretty quickly how important it was to choose wisely because it influenced how the room looked and felt e.g. bright, warm, cold.

The same applies when you choose your white clothing. There are very few people who can wear pure white successfully. Many of us look tired, pale and sick in pure white. Instead, wearing a soft white (white with a tiny drop of yellow, umber, grey or green added) compliments your complexion and gives you a healthy glow.

If you would like to see how soft white looks on you, dye one of your white tee-shirts in tea. It’s simple to do: Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Steep two teabags in the water for 15 minutes. If you want a light, yellowish colour use green or white tea. If you’re wanting something a little darker, use black tea.

I feel calm, fresh, stylish and relaxed wearing my versions of white. How does white make you feel?

 

Man and women wear pink clothing. Swatches of various tints, tones and shades of pink.

 

Day 3 – Pink

“Pink is the new black.” Diana Vreeland

Known universally as the colour of love, pink was once seen as a ‘girls only’, sissy hue.

But social attitudes have evolved and pink is more widely accepted as a colour for everyone. As an image consultant and personal stylist I’ve found that there can be resistance to wearing pink, but generally, once all of the other elements of the outfit are added there is a change of heart.

Pink is a wonderful mix of red and white – the white subduing the fiery energy of red.

Dark pinks can have similar effects to red. Viewed as strong and bold, dark pinks can heighten emotions. On the other hand, paler pinks are perceived as soothing and approachable.

Salmon, coral, hot pink, fuchsia, blush, flesh, flush, fuchsia, rose. Which is your best version of pink? Is it pale, cool and icy, a yellow-based coral, or more vibrant and striking like fuchsia? Match it to your complexion and your skin will glow.

Book in to have your Personal Colour Consultation

 

 

Sticky
December 15, 2019

7 Key Colours to Wear With Navy

What are your favourite colours to wear with navy?

Navy is a deep blue and a great staple to have in your wardrobe. It works well for all seasons and is a timeless, classic neutral. You can wear navy at work to relay a reliable and dependable vibe (think police uniforms). Or, for casual wear, navy jeans always look smart. And, who doesn’t love a navy blazer over jeans and a tee?

There are so many different colours you can wear with navy. Honestly, the list goes on and on! So I’m just going to give you 7 examples for inspiration.

There are so many ways to wear navy

Navy always looks fabulous with other variations of blue. Creating a monochromatic scheme with shades of blue creates a sophisticated look.

Woman sitting in a chair wears an outfit in various shades of blue

Navy and orange sit opposite on the colour wheel. This colour combination creates a high impact, dramatic effect.

Woman wearing an orange suit and blue top stands near a garden.

Here I’ve created a more subdued look by teaming navy with two neutrals: ivory and grey. The classic ivory blouse is from Zara and the very comfortable navy skirt is from Cadarra. Other neutrals that work well with navy are white (always crisp and fresh), soft khaki, beige and taupe.

Woman wears a ivory coloured Zara blouse with navy Betty Barclay jeans.

Two neutrals such as the navy and grey in this outfit can look very chic and stylish.

Another eye catching colour that works well with navy is red. If this is too bold for you then choose its lighter version – pink. And, yet another option is to wear burgundy, a rich shade of red.

Woman stands on a balcony wearing a red blouse and shoes, and navy pants and jacket.

Blue, in all of its shades, sits next to green on the colour wheel. This mint green knitted top works harmoniously with my navy culottes. Other greens that would work just as well are lime, viridian, and teal.

Blue and green sit next to each other on the colour wheel. The combination of mint and navy create a harmonious looking outfit.

 

If you decide to wear a few colours with navy make sure that only one colour dominates and the others play a supporting role. Remember the 60/30/10 rule of design. In this outfit the navy top and jeans make up 60% of the outfit. The coral jacket makes up 30% and the small pops of colour in the scarf make up the remaining 10%.

Women wears deep blue top and jeans, coral jacket and multi-coloured scarf.

 

And as always, make sure that when you wear any colour close to your face that it’s undertone blends with your unique colour palette so that you always look healthy and vibrant.

 

I’d love to hear about your favourite ways to wear navy.

 

Sticky
June 27, 2019

Your Perfect Fit: Top Tips For Buying a Jacket

These tips for buying a jacket can be invaluable when you go clothes shopping.  We’re all different shapes and sizes, so finding clothes that fit perfectly off the rack can be quite a challenge.

Why is getting the perfect fit so important? It’s kind of like a ‘three bears’ scenario. Too loose and the garment looks like it belongs to someone else. Too tight – people might assume you’ve put on weight or the garment has shrunk. But, when it’s ‘just right’ you look polished and stylish. People can see you’ve made an effort.

Jackets can be expensive items to buy, so you want to get it right. They are investment pieces that stay in your wardrobe for many years. So, it’s better to own one great fitting piece that costs a little more than owning three less expensive ill fitting ones. Whether it’s for work or play a jacket elevates your look creating positive first and lasting impressions.

Sometimes when you’re clothes shopping instinct tells you if an item is working or not, and sometimes it doesn’t! Use this checklist to be absolutely certain the jacket is a great fit for you.

Top Tips for Buying a Jacket

  1. Sleeves should finish just under your wrist bone, and no more than 1cm below it. You can roll or push up longer sleeves of casual jackets.
  2. Fold your arms across the front of your body. Does it feel too tight, too loose or just right?
  3. Vents (slits that open at the back of the jacket) should lie flat.
  4. Even if you think you are never going to wear the jacket buttoned up test to see that you can close them and that the buttons are not pulling.
  5. No pulling across the shoulders.
  6. The seam where the shoulder and arm meet should sit right on the edge of your shoulder bone. If you notice divots, wrinkles or pulling try another size or style. Alterations to the shoulders are costly and they can change the shape of the garment.
  7. Lapels should lie flat – not pucker or bulge. Lapels are the folded back pieces of fabric either side of the front opening.
Woman wears red jacket and carries black handbag
Man wears good fitting blue checked jacket.

So, you’ve followed my guidelines and your new jacket looks great, but the sleeves are too long or the waist area needs tapering. My advice is to find a trusted tailor who can make those minor adjustments for you. It’s worth every penny to achieve your perfect fit.

If shopping for your wardrobe seems like a daunting task contact me to have a conversation about helping you find clothes that suit your personality, lifestyle, colouring and proportions, and boost your confidence.

Image credits: Nordstrom for Women, Nordstrom for Men, Pagani, Pinterest, Just Jeans

Sticky
June 23, 2019

The Only Travel Packing Tip You Need To Know

Travel packing can be a time consuming, overwhelming ordeal. Whether you’re going away for a weekend or a couple of months, knowing what and how much to take can be tricky. You really need to be prepared for all seasons without taking your entire wardrobe.

Using the capsule wardrobe system will help you cut down on what you pack, and take your travel packing nightmare from mission impossible to mission accomplished.

Some of the benefits for packing this way are that your suitcase will be lighter (feeling exhausted after lugging your bag around will be a thing of the past – remember getting your bag up 4 flights of stairs in that cute Italian pension?), you’ll have more space for the bits and pieces you buy along the way, packing will be quick and easy, AND you’ll achieve stylish travel looks with a minimum of fuss.

The main aim is to take clothes, shoes and accessories that mix and match together, so that even though you’re wearing the same items over and over again, the outfits always look different.

Here’s an example of a travel capsule wardrobe I packed for two weeks in Cuba. Temperatures range from an overnight minimum of 19 degrees Celsius to around 30 degrees during the day.

This combination weighted 9 kilograms and only took up a quarter of my suitcase. By mixing and matching the 12 elements (excluding the accessories) I can create 30 different outfits!

Travel packing step by step

I started with 2 pairs of pants and a jacket which are in neutral colours (Neutrals include navy, white, cream, beige, black, brown, grey and khaki).

Note: You could easily substitute pants for skirts or shorts or a combination.

Choosing neutral coloured pants and a jacket are the first step in a travel packing capsule wardrobe.

Then I added 4 tops from my personal colour palette.

Step two in the travel packing capsule wardrobe is to add four tops to the two pairs of pants and the jacket.

3 pairs of shoes: Sneakers, espadrilles and flat, brushed gold sandals.

Step three of the travel packing capsule wardrobe is to add three pairs of shoes. Image shows a pair of sneakers, espadrilles and flat heeled, brushed gold sandals.

Add 2 lightweight dresses and voila!

Two dresses have been added to the four tops, two pairs of pants and one jacket to complete the garment components of the travel packing capsule wardrobe.

And finally, some fun accessories to complete the overall look.

Two belts, three necklaces, two rings, assorted fun bracelets and a scarf complete the travel packing capsule wardrobe.

This diagram illustrates how it works:

This diagram shows how the clothes and shoes mix and match in the travel packing capsule wardrobe.

If you added another top, the outfit options would increase from 30 to 36. Increase or decrease the items you take depending on the destination, what activities you will be doing and the length of the trip.

Try this excellent travel packing tip if you want a more enjoyable, convenient and stylish trip away.

Wishing you happy and safe travels. Bon Voyage!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sticky
April 01, 2019

Underwear Essentials: Your Guide To Flawless Style

Good underwear essentials are the foundations of flawless style.

Get it right and your clothes will appear to fit better, you’ll look great and you’ll be comfortable!

Get it wrong and ill-fitting underwear will ruin your day and ruin your outfit.

Can you remember a time when your bra was digging into you so much that you couldn’t concentrate, it made you grumpy and as soon as you got home you threw it in the bin? And, what about when your undies were so tight they achingly dug into your skin creating lumps and bumps that had never existed before? Or undies that rode up and ‘disappeared’ because the elastic had given up the ghost?

Here’s how to stop these annoying situations ever happening again.

Underwear Essentials 1: Your Bra

History’s not clear about when the bra (as we know it) was first invented. In 1889 French born Herminie Cadolle separated a corset into two pieces. The upper part supported the bust using ‘rubber thread’ shoulder straps (the equivalent of modern day elastic). A few years later Marie Tucek introduced the forerunner to the underwire bra by using metal support plates in her design. But, it was Mary Phelps Jacob who patented her lightweight, soft ‘Backless Bra’ in 1914 that paved the way for the bras we wear today.

Underwear Essentials blog. Two ladies wearing 1950s bras.

I highly recommend having a professional bra fitting every year. Our breasts and bodies are constantly changing. Your bra needs to be comfortable, fit perfectly and support you every day. A professional bra fitter will ensure the band, cup size, straps, hooks and wires suit your body shape and proportions.

It’s amazing what a great fitting bra can do for the way clothes hang on your body. When your bust is lifted you look more youthful and, if you have a large bust, your waist looks slimmer. A few times during personal shopping trips I’ve recommended we start with buying a new bra. Clothes looked so much better when their bust was properly supported and shaped.

Large department stores like David Jones and Myer offer fitting services. Storm in a D Cup in Sydney’s Bondi Junction specialises in D to K cup bras.

Have you found that clothing sizes vary dramatically? Well the same applies to bras. ‘Try before you buy’ is my motto. A Berlei 14C will be different to a Victoria’s Secret 14C or a Simone Perele 14C.

Invest in a couple of ‘workhorse’ bras. They’ll have no lace or embellishments and will be nude in colour. Both practical and versatile, they can be worn under most of your clothes, even finer fabrics and tees.

If you’re prone to nipples that protrude, wear a slightly padded bra or invest in reusable nipple covers from B Free or Cotton On.

Underwear Essentials 2: Your Undies

Panties, undies, knickers. Whatever you call like to them, choose wisely. A visible pantie line (VPL) is a sure-fire way to ruin the look of your outfit. VPLs happen when the outer edges and seams of your underwear show as a ridge or depression in the clothes you’re wearing.

Underwear Essentials blog. Image shows 6 pairs of laser cut panties.

Laser cut panties

 

How can you avoid it? If you find g-strings and thongs uncomfortable the answer is laser cut underwear. No elastic in the leg, waist or sides creates a smooth, nearly invisible appearance under your clothes. For hygiene and comfort reasons look for brands that stock undies that have a cotton crotch like Berlei, Triumph and Uniqlo.

Laser cut undies come in all shapes and sizes.

Underwear Essentials 3: Your Shapewear

Underwear Essentials blog. Picture shows ivory silk satin and whalebone corset circa 1900

Excruciatingly restrictive whalebone corsets, and old-fashioned girdles worn from the 20s to the 60s have thankfully morphed into the shapewear we know today.

Think of period movies like Gone With The Wind, Titanic, Elizabeth and Marie Antoinette that give us an insight into how gruelling it was to get into these devices and how uncomfortable they were to wear. The options we have today trim, smooth or lift virtually any area of your body, encourage natural curves and are comfortable.

Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day version of a girdle - the OnCore mid-thigh bodysuit from Spanx.
Underwear Essentials blog. 1942 advert for a Berlei girdle.
Underwear Essentials blog. Model wears a modern day girdle: the Strapless cropped mid-thigh bodysuit by Spanx.

 

The most important tip I can give you is to buy the right size. Too small and you’ll create bulging lumps outside the shapewear area (and be screaming on the inside). Too large: you’ll add wrinkles to your outfit fooling no-one about what’s going on underneath.

Putting shapewear on is easy if you wait a few minutes for your body to cool down and dry completely after you shower. And a small amount of talcum powder dusted over your skin will help too.

These days there’s an abundance of underwear brands offering a huge choice of styles, fabrics, sizes and fits to suit your preferences and needs. Update and invest in your underwear essentials for ultimate comfort, confidence and flawless style.

What is your favourite underwear brand and why?

 

Image Credits:

vintagedancer.com

Philadelphia Museum

Lacy Hint

eBay

Spanx

 

 

 

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January 12, 2019
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