Autumn Hats

 In response to a query from a reader about Hats and where to get a fedora in Auckland? - bit of a mission this time of year I am afraid! All the straw hats will be on the sale shelves in stores, so you night be able to grab a bargain! Some of the pharmacy's have a good selection too. I know that Kookai hat some lovely fedora hats this year and this very cute wide brimmed straw hat from country road is perfect and still in stock.

Country Road Hat $64.90

If you want to be on the front foot and go for a hat that will also work in the coming colder months try a felt Fedora. Lots of fashions darlings have been wearing them at the end of summer heading into Autumn/Winter this year.

Elle Macpherson

Felt Fedora, Dotti $39.95

In Winter: Aim to wear it with some faux fur and skinny jeans ideally with a sheen - two great accessories at the moment are this great faux fur scarf from Country Road (already low in stock), which can be added over any jacket or top to add a bit of luxury. Loving these coated skinny jeans from Portmans with gold zip detailing - fab!

Fur Scarf, Country Road $109                     Coated Skinny Jean Portmans $79.99

from Dotti  - Felt Hat $39.95

Olivia Palermo wearing felt fedora

Miranda Kerr and Kate Moss Wearing Felt Fedoras

Hope this gives you some hat inspiration! Enjoy! S xx

Romance Is In The Air

Valentines Day is Coming up and this week I want to share with you some of the best frocks out there for that special dinner date.......... after all there is nothing like wearing a new dress to make u feel good! Portmans have a great selection of dresses at the moment.. had to share some of my favourites!

Classic Little Black Dress - you just cannot go wrong... I love the cut on this dress if you are an hourglass shape and the little capped sleeve is great for making arms look slender and more toned. The little waist detail is perfect, pair with a great sparkly statement necklace and statement heels.

Portmans Dress $99

Is Audrey Hepburn your idol? what about this "Holly Go Lightly" inspired shift dress with box pleats. All you need are pearls and diamonds......

Portmans $120

 Go Graphic Print in this cute pocket detail shift dress.... has that romantic feel with the floral type pattern but the cut is edgy..love it! The great thing about this dress is that you could dress it up or down and with peep toe booties it would be a definite hit!

Slouch Pocket Shift Dress $99

Make your curves pop like Kim K is this shape enhanching shift dress! wow!! hourglass girls this is how you work it!

Portmans Dress $120

The ultimate date and party dress in one with this sexy cowl back is fun and flirty. For a date I would pair it with a cute black cropped jacket (more formal) and black pumps or denim cropped jacket (for casual cool) and silver or nude coloured high heels. YUM!

Portmans $220

Portmans Vintage Baroque Dress - Get all Baroque and Anna Karenina inspired with this gorgeous dress wear with simple black accessories so elegant....

Portmans $120

Going somewhere really special??? or expecting a romantic surprise? what about this gorgeous dress very similar to a Karen Walker dress from last season (that cost a small fortune) and with a classic cut this will never go out of style. Wear with gold simple earrings, simple sleek hair and black pumps - so classic and beautiful!

Portmans Baroque Dress $220

Hope you feel inspired!
Love Siobhan XX

Top Trends for 2013

The new season styles are hitting in store at the moment, and if you are a savvy shopper you will be looking out for items which you can work into your autumn/winter wardrobe.

I recently was back in Melbourne and scoured the stores (especially the designer ones) to check out what was trending for Autumn/Winter 2013.

Designers that were really popular were Dion Lee, Nicholas, Alexander Wang, Nobody Jeans and ACNE (go to http://www.greenwithenvy.com.au/ to view examples), among the traditional favourites of Sass and Bide, Collette Dinnigan (great reasonably priced accessories available at Lovisa in Sylvia Park), Scanlan and Theodore etc. Bassike for great t-shirts - available at The department store, Takapuna and The Refinery, Birkenhead both Auckland.

You will see lots of Burgundy, Green, Khaki, Orange, White and Black.

Victoria Beckhams style has really influenced the upcoming season - her clothes have been used in so many advertising campaigns for example Miranda Kerr in the new Qantas adverts..............

Miranda Kerr wearing Victoria Beckham Dress for Qantas Ad

Victoria Beckham Dress $2699 and Dolce and Gabbana Shoes $699

You will see a much higher neckline than we have seen in recent years - tailored shift style dresses with pencil skirts and round, short v or boat necks. Classic short sleeves or sleeves that finish just above or below the elbow. Very ladylike and classic.

Miranda Kerr in VB Sheath Dress

Victoria Beckham AW 2012

Scarlett Johanson wearing Victoria Beckham Spring 2013 with Peep Toe Booties

Lots of the high street stores are now catching on to the shift in shape and giving us budget friendly versions! Here are some examples but you will see lots more of these with longer sleeves over the coming season.

 Dress, Country Road $169                                     Tweed Dress David Lawrence $249

Dress, Forever New $99.99

Snake Print Dress Country Road $169

Dress, Country Road $149

And yes these dresses are great for work but you can dress them down with flat boots and more casual accessories for everyday.... the trick is to get a really comfortable fabric like the jersey grey shoulder detail dress from Country Road. Keep an eye out for them in store.

Black and White

Still really popular with all the big designers with a combination of all white, all black or a combination of the two. 

Sass and Bide Jacket $630    Sass and Bide Skirt $400

Prints

Lots of wallpaper, floral, animal prints and digital prints in all combinations - tops, skirts, pants and dresses.

It seems the bolder the better and also head to toe! - keeping accessories to a minimum and having the print fit you perfectly is key  to getting it right.

Alexa Chung and Leelee Sobieski both stepped out in Mary Katrantzou's signature elaborate prints, pairing their respective frocks with black heels and minimal jewelry, while Kate Bosworth attended an InStyle event in a stunning Peter Pilotto sheath dress, styled with cobalt blue pumps and a nude clutch.

Scale Print Dress Decjuba $100

Bags

The Bag styles that are really popular right now are the Doctor bags (sometimes referred to as a bowler bag) and Crossover bags.

Prim, proper and structured to the nines, doctor's bags are the business for the coming season. The typical doctor's bag is a Gladstone, structured on a hinged metal frame and with a top handle to tote.
The perfect accessory to complement this season's ladylike mood, a good structured bag will work hard for its keep, its durability only trumped by its enduring stylishness. 
These lovely bags are dropping into stores very soon, you've just got to be patient...

Doctor Bag Alexander Wang $1500

Kate Moss with Doctors Bag London Dec 2012

Black Bag $79.99 and  Anna Weave Bag $69.99 both from Forever New

Still remaining really popular the cross over bags look great with any casual look - this drool worthy Alexander Wang crossover is pricey but there are more budget friendly versions out there!

Alexander Wang Crossover Bag $850

Country Road CrossOver $229                               Black Hip Back, Country Road $199

CrossOver Bag Forever New $69.99

Booties & Peep Toe Booties

A big trend are the regular booties and peep toe booties worn with skirts, loose print trousers, tailored trousers... the list goes on... and on..... you will see lots of examples of these in store soon....

Booties Country Road $279

Alexander Wang $725 Net-a-Porter.com   Giuseppe Zanotti $895 Net-a-Porter.com

Gianvito Rossi Booties $650 Net a Porter.com

NumberOne Shoes $59                            Red Bootie Novo Shoes $110

Ankle Boot, Trenery $229

Gold Metal Accents and see through detailing are everywhere this season - on everything from shirts to Jackets to shoes and bags.........so don't forget to look for some gold accessories to match!

Sass and Bide T-Shirt $160

All the new stock will be coming in the next few weeks....enjoy!


Siobhan X