FIFTYFABULOUS, Stylecuratrix: Mango

Showing posts with label Mango. Show all posts

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

CAPSULE WARDROBE

Decision decisions, what to buy to create the capsule wardrobe? Winter months in the Southern hemisphere does not exactly require Canadian goose or down jackets, however the wind chill factor does require some warm cover up. Irrespective of your means, the best way to go about it is to obtain items that can be mixed and re-matched with each other and that will blend in with the rest of your wardrobe. So where to start, classic coat or trench, cocoon or oversized, wool or cashmere? A Trench is a staple item that is worth it's weight in Gold, and will serve you well for may years. Although I 'm a great fan of the cocoon coat, my favourite remains the classic all wool double breast coat in either fine Cashmere or a wool mix in either White or Black. A Khaki coloured trench is probably the most practical. My love for winter White takes preference when it comes to picking a classic coat, and although you have to find a specialist dry cleaner to maintain it's virgin look, it's an item worth investing in for many winters. The Black version is always more practical, but then again, we don sometimes stray......! A well made pair of loafers in Black will provide for happy feet, and with the addition of a funky pair of tights, gives your look an instant edge!

My beloved Aquazzura suede lace up pumps in Cobalt Blue is considered sacred, and an absolute must if you venture towards the more colourful shades. Trust me, this pair will contribute greatly towards your creative ability to assemble outfits! As for over the knee boots, I find the leg hugging slimming stretch suede the most flattering and less masculine. A leather skirt will serve you well, and last for many seasons to come. If you cannot find a suitable button up shirt in crisp White cotton, don't overlook the men's section in department stores. My husband recently came to my rescue when he put my on track of beautifully tailored man's shirt that actually follows the female curve, slightly tapered in the waist, with a collar firm enough to put our grandmothers redundant acts of starching collars, to shame. One last thing that a capsule wardrobe needs is a Breton shirt, in honour of Ms Chanel who made this wonderful item so useful. The addition of a timeless cross body bag or small purse will finish off your look, and voila, what more does a girl need? If you're into online shopping, a great place to start is Asos. You can virtually create a plethora of outfits with these basics!

Friday, 5 July 2013

NATURES CUE

Some stylists believe in colour analysis to determine which suits you best, and some of us dance to our own tunes. Another stylist once told me that Rust was not my colour, and that I should not wear this shade close to my face. However, I decided to venture onto my own colour expedition by wearing exactly what I was told not to, and feeling great doing so! Some outfits just allow you to exude confidence, and some, notwithstanding receiving many compliments, sometimes make you feel less confident. My style motto is to wear what suits your body and what makes you feel comfortable. There is nothing worse than watching women wearing something merely because it's trendy or fashionable, but lacking confidence! Do any of you ever experience that? This time of the year, the vineyards in the wine lands turn reddish Brown, much like the jacket I am wearing, inspiring a new kaleidoscope of colours and winter shades, so why not take your cue from nature?

Photographs taken at the beautiful Lanzerac Hotel & Spa, Wine Estate outside Stellenbosch

Jacket - Belle Epoque

Pants - C & A

Shoes - Woolworths

Handbag - Mango

Neck Piece - Honey

Bracelet - unknown

Friday, 7 December 2012

HOW TO WEAR YELLOW

Although I prefer creating my own style and to be original, I often glean from others. I was specifically inspired by this outfit worn by Olivia Palermo. The mood created by Yellow is very energetic, and understood to stimulate creative brain activity! Hence the addition of a new item on my shopping list, a Yellow jacket. Worn with Black, it creates an instant statement, and adding a little snakeskin, the outfit is suddenly on trend! I specifically styled it with the eternally beautiful quilted bag by Chanel, a must have in your classic collection. Turtlenecks are just so comfy and versatile, contrary to doomsayers canvassing the idea of it being outdated!

I openly canvass the idea that you do not have to enslave yourself to fashion or to succumb to every trend in order to be stylish or chic, as it may not always suit your body type or skin tone, nor is it always flattering, but should fashion be used as a guideline. When I wear my yellow coat, I will most certainly ad some gloves, perhaps in Black leather.......

Compare and hold different tones of Yellow to your skin in front of a mirror before deciding on a purchase, as some tones tend to make one look washed out, while others warm up your skin tone. Ochre Yellow, like the peacoat styled below, is suited to most skin tones.

Yellow Coat-theoutnet.com
Leather look Pants-Topshop
Shoes-madisonharding.com

STYLE INSPIRATION by fiftyfabulous featuring a pea coat

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

FIRM FAVOURITES

No matter how hard a try, I tend to lean back towards the classic style of Black and White, occupational hazard perhaps? In spite of the myriad of colour seen in stores, I revert to my old favourites when dressing for the office. Do I need to describe my level of enthusiasm in any more detail for these beautiful and timeless pieces, most of which can be bought at pretty bargain prices? The bags are a little more expensive, but will most likely remain in the front row of your wardrobe for quite a while.

Thursday, 15 November 2012

BERRYLICIOUS

Winter shopping list.....

Occasionally, I return to the favourites and revisit colours that featured in the 80's. Much to my delight, fashion repeats itself from time to time! ( Yes, I've been around the block!). With a career that demands Black almost to be worn like a uniform, and lawyers being strongly associated with it, it is extremely exciting to venture down the colour wheel and slide into the warmer winter shades. It follows naturally that come weekends or after hours, I head directly towards the brights, and move away from the rigidity of all Black, creating something more dramatic without being to serious. Burgundy is seen in different tones this year, my favourite being the one leaning towards berries. Whether it is Plum, Merlot, Cabernet, Ruby or just Burgundy, a berry flavour will ad some spice to your winter wardrobe. Isn't this one of the most beautiful biker jackets? I tend to look for less masculine lines adding some femininity to the look, and this one fits perfectly........

Friday, 9 November 2012

BAROQUE RECREATED ON A SHOESTRING

You can spend a small fortune on the beautiful Emilio Pucci jacket above, or recreate the look on a shoestring by simply paying a visit to your local haberdashery store, and with the velvet jacket below, spruce it up to a magnificent piece of art. Do so by buying some elaborate trimmings and braiding to give some glamour to a classic jacket, perhaps in velvet, or by simply buying a well styled jacket in a good quality fabric and then adding some new metal buttons and trimmings. Then lay out the trimmings and braids seen below, on the jacket, and stitch it on by hand. Play around with your artistic ability, manoeuvre the braid around, add some extravagant buttons, layer the trim in rows around the cuffs and the collar to create some opulence and turn your otherwise plain jacket into a an enviable item!