STYLE NOTES - Assess and Dress

For some of us Summer is a daunting season. With rising temperatures comes the need for less clothing which means baring a little more skin that some of us are comfortable with.  If coping with the summer heat is enough to deal with, then noting these style tips might hopefully take the sting out of summer dressing.

STYLE NOTES - Summer Stripes

As another Summer rolls around, a sense of fun and festivities fills the warmer air. Weekends call for more socialising, more entertaining and more reason to dress for the party season. So what do you wear to a weekend soiree where enjoyment is key, and style is more casual? A striped tee is a must in any wardrobe and is a great way to look up to date without having to try too hard.

STYLE NOTES - Introducing the Red Carmella Tote

STYLE NOTES - A spring in your step

STYLE NOTES - Winter Warmers

There’s nothing better than feeling warm and cosy in winter but it’s hard to do this without a good coat. And the best news is, you only need one. 

From the Stylist - Minimalist Monochrome

Monochrome: ‘a style developed or executed in black and white or in varying tones of only one colour’

Monochromatic black and white is more than just a season-in, season-out trend. There is no better example of how enduring a trend it is, than iconic fashion designers Coco Chanel and Carolina Herrera.  Always chic in her black Boucle Chanel suit and white blouse was Chanel and the gracious Herrera in her signature white shirt and black trousers (or vice versa) is the absolute height of elegance and sophistication.

Monochrome in black and white is one of the simplest, most stylish of looks to try whatever the year, and whatever your age, and never fails to gain attention when done well. Bright whites tempered with inky blacks can be used to create a truly bold statement.

How to wear it-

The fact that you probably already have a few black and white items hanging in your wardrobe makes a monochromatic look possibly one of the easiest of Autumn/Winter trends to execute. Another plus about monochromatic style is that is helps to slim and lengthen, visually making everything look longer and leaner.  And long after all the colored garments from the past seasons have faded into fashion’s oblivion, you will still be able to wear monochrome classics that stand the test of time.

Queen of Black and White - Carolina Herrera

SARAH CONNERS Carmella Shopper

Nicholas Kirkwood Elaphe heels

Bassike checkerboard leather top and pants

Our "From the stylist" tips come from Melbourne stylist and personal shopper Sally MacKinnon 

From the Stylist - Trans- Seasonal Dressing

The fashion seasons may well be moving full steam ahead into AW13, but whilst winter clothing fills the shelves of our favourite retailers, temperatures are still mild and unsettled for most of us. It’s the time of year that if you know how to take your favourite summer pieces and rework them to suit the changing climate, you’ll get more bang for your buck from your wardrobe.

The key to taking your summer pieces into the new season, without having to buy an entire new wardrobe, is having key staple pieces. These include blazers, dresses (silk tunics, wraps and shifts) silk shirt, jeans, ankle boots and scarves.

How to wear it-

A stylish and easy way to create a trans-seasonal outfit is to start with your favourite silk dress. 

Silk is a versatile fabric that can move you from summer to winter. 

Add a tailored blazer and roll the sleeves to the elbow to create a relaxed, contemporary style. 

Swap the pumps for a modern ankle boot, but keep the legs bare. 

Add a lightweight scarf if you require more warmth or alternatively some low denier black tights. 

And remember that your outfit doesn’t have to be too matchy-matchy; have fun with mixing patterns and textures.

Accessorise your transeasonal style with the SARAH CONNERS Tender Ines Satchel , Acne blue blazer, Rag & Bone grey boots and Palmers Coco Butter Self-Tanning Lotion.

Our "From the stylist" tips come from Melbourne stylist and personal shopper Sally MacKinnon