It turns out that the title of this post is a little outdated. Whoops. We have already hit winter (officially) because boy oh boy, doesn’t time fly. I decided to keep it though because what I’m talking about is those sunny days where it’s warm enough for pretty much whatever you want to wear but cool enough for a jacket. Those magical days.
And on magical days a girl needs an outfit.
For me, the go-to, fall-back, never fail outfit is a simple dress, ankle boots and a jacket (usually something pretty light). For some of you, it will be jeans and others a maxi dress, we all have our items or style that we love. In the end, the rules to making that outfit work are pretty similar. Take something you love, pair it with something warm enough and add some killer shoes.
Who said style is HARD? Haha.
Wearing Ellos Knit Dress (22/24 – Navy), Autograph Fashion Cropped Denim Jacket (similar) and BareFoot Tess Boots (so old)
I’m Team Slouch, maybe more so these days than I am Team Stripes, shock horror. I love to wear draped, easy, oversized pieces. It’s become my thing in the last few years. The combination of a deep neckline and slouchy dress or an oversized maxi knotted up to show some serious leg is just really sexy cool to me.
There’s a conversation that says that plus size women shouldn’t wear ‘oversized’ shapes to avoid looking bigger. God forbid, right? Why would ANYONE want to look fatter than they are? Forget that. Forget all that they told you. First of all, why is every fashion aim to look smaller, leaner, thinner? Why is that the only outcome we are told to achieve? Flattering, ugh, that word is so overused and annoying.
Forget the rules! Have I mentioned before ‘they’ lied?
And yet, if flattering is what you’re after, there is plenty of it here. Plenty of flattering, plenty of comfort, and plenty of easy to wear goodness. As someone who was 100% team pencil skirt, skin-tight dresses and t-shirt (and sometimes, still am) there is a lot to be said for the casual cool ease that comes with an oversized, slouchy silhouette. Try it, if you haven’t already, you’ll thank me later.
This White Haven Emporium dress (called the Curve Miracle Dress) is the latest addition to my Team Slouch, crease free closet of wash and wear favourites. I’m going to do a blog post of how I’m putting together my favourites in this category. I mean, when it comes to my life wash and wear is the way it goes. Especially since I gave my sister my flash steamer iron. So watch out for that.
Wearing White Haven Emporium Curve Miracle Dress (free size – gifted) in black and ancient ankle boots from BareFoot Tess.
The dress, gifted to me, is free-sized and true to the guide on the website saying up to a size 26. I’d say this would comfortably work to a size 26 and depending on your height, beyond. I’m a size 24 at the moment and I have plenty of room and length. If I was at the smaller end of the range, I would consider the ‘straight-sized’ option or get in touch with the team to discuss that. I’ll leave that up to you, team.
When it comes to wearing black, I keep it interesting by incorporating textured fabrics. It’s hardly revolutionary, Melbournites have been doing it for as long as black has been in. It keeps the outfit interesting but simple. It simple works every single time. Using textures for interest is pretty simple too.
In this outfit, I’ve used a leather-look midi skirt (my current loooove) and layered this top over it. It’s a simple outfit. Really simple and easy to wear, but it’s got a certain impact about it too. The top brings that. The skirt brings that. The nude boots in their easy perfection add to it as well. They sort of bookend with my hair actually, now I think about it.
And that’s the key. Keeping it simple and letting those blended textures and looks together. Effectively this is a skirt and top, but it’s so much more than that. So much more because it looks like something you want to touch, it’s interesting. So I one hundred percent encourage you to give it a try.
Try a monochrome textured outfit, I’d love to see the results!
In other exciting news, beme have launched their new Facebook page and want you to be involved! Fun. So to entice you to check out and like the page, I have $100 gift voucher to giveaway on my facebook page.
Wearing bemeLong Sleeve Lace Front Top (size M), ASOS Curve Leather Look Midi Skirt (UK24) and Barefoot Tess boots (old stock).
Head on over to my Facebook page for your chance to win a $100 beme Voucher!
There’s a frustration that comes from seeing an item of clothing on a blogger and not being able to buy it. I get that. BEEN THERE. But the thing is that my wardrobe is something I live out of, I wear the clothes I blog and sometimes there are items in that I purchased YEARS before.
Because that’s the reality, right?
This blog isn’t about having the most up to the minute, new from the post items that the world-wide-web has to offer. It’s about style, personal style and living your life the best you can. And let’s face it, plenty of people spend more than they can afford and that would never sit right with me.
So sometimes, you have to deal with some major reusing. And you know what I know about you guys? You’re more than okay with that. The injection of new items from sponsors or interested brands keeps you up to date, but realistically no one needs an entirely new wardrobe every month.
And that’s why I will always advocate you shopping your wardrobe, a friend’s wardrobe or restyling something you’ve worn a million times. It just makes sense. This outfit, clothing all 17 Sundays, is put together from items that I’ve collected over the past few years. The quilted skirt may be available, possibly, maybe, but the rest are probably long gone from any shop or sale. But come on, it’s all sorts of on-trend. If I do say so myself.
That’ the point team.
Build your wardrobe of GREAT pieces and you’ll never really need to shop again.
Well, unless you want to. Because it’s fun and new stuff is fun.
Anyway, that’s my point.
So, what’s your wardrobe philosophy? New or old, packed or sparse? Budget fashionista or splurge queen?
When the blog mojo fails, and you’ve been posting nothing (well, not nothing, but nothing on the blog), then it’s time to take it back to basics. And basics for me is my good old ankle boots, chambray, and a throw over jacket combination. Luckily for me the Team at 17 Sundays have me well stocked in denim/chambray pieces (as per) and I’ve got my winter look all wrapped up.
I know, some of you are like WINTER!? Winter, seriously Suger your leg are still bare. But well, such is life around here. Sure nights get cold, where I live can just edge over into the minuses temperature wise. But the days are perfection full of sunshine and skipping along in grassy meadows.
Ok. Maybe not the meadow bit.
Lucky me. I do envy those of you in jumpers, knits and boots, though. Legit winter type weather but let’s face it; I probably wouldn’t survive. I’m lucky enough to have warm weather follow me wherever I go; New Zealand, Melbourne nearly every time I’m there. I’m the summer whisperer. Go me.
But wait, what was I talking about? Man, that was a diversion. Anyway. When my mojo is gone, there’s nothing else for it but to pull out the classics, the clothes I know work for me and on me, and get back on the horse. Which I did if this week is anything to go by. Plus I have some cool stuff in the wings that, yup you guessed it, it’s too soon to talk about. LOL.
Sleeveless Trench Jacket from Target Australia (similar’ish), Boots from Bare Foot Tess (old, sorry babes) and Weekend Denim Dress from 17 Sundays. Regrowth by me.
So tell me, what’s your go-to style to get your mojo back? Got a link or photo you want to share? Hit me with them. Until then, I’ll be prancing about in meadows laughing at how ridiculous this post ended up being. Gosh.
You all know that it rained here for about two weeks straight, right? Well, in the middle of all that there was a wedding. A beachside wedding. A wedding that was moved indoors because of sideways crazy-ass rain! My cousin’s wedding. She married her partner of ten years in a small ceremony. It was perfect.
Don’t you think that things like that are sent to remind us that marriage never goes your way all the time? That it’s a preparation of sorts to learn to be flexible and open to change and compromise? I do. I think that’s why it’s such good luck to have it rain on your wedding day. You get the lesson long before the rest of us do.
But what does one wear to such an event? At the last minute, I changed my mind from the outfit I had planned to this one I borrowed from fellow Queenslander Christine of the CC Bloom Blog. Both from ASOS are a perfect combination of stylish and simple. And the print of the dress just happened to work with my ankle boots which was an important advantage after I’d ditched my heels out of fear of an ankle injury or faceplant.
There’s something perfect about a printed, simple dress for a wedding right? And would you look at that, no black! Go me.
Patterned Swing Dress – ASOS Curve Grey Slouch Trench Coat – ASOS Curve Boots – Bare Foot Tess
Slipping the fabric of this white dress over my head, pulling it over my hips and into position around my legs, I thought to myself how comfortable, how easy it is to wear and how stylish. With a shake of my hair, the grabbing of my favourite boots and the addition of some jewels I was ready. Another dinner out. Grocery shopping has been avoided this week at all costs. ALL costs.
I shouted to Mr Suger that I would meet him in the car, grabbed my camera on the way past and flicked through my phone while I waited for him to join me. We left and on the way pulled over to grab some photos. The sun was setting, so we had to be fast. We do this often, fast is not a problem. Then as we returned to the car Mr Suger, with an odd look on his face said, I don’t know, and that dress looks like a cross between a sack and a nighty but with better material. Then he shrugged, jumped in the car, and turned the key.
As he drove us to dinner, I punched him on the arm. Told him to shut up, this dress rocks and what would he know anyways. I love the man, but he is the worst when it comes to helping choose my outfits. It’s the reason we’ve decided I wouldn’t ask him, and he wouldn’t tell me. After all, he has no idea, right?
Sharing my outfit today with a side order story about my friend Olivia. Olivia who likes to loan and sometimes even sell me clothes. Olivia who I love, of course. I mean you don’t meet people like this woman every day. But you must be wondering, why the love fest for Olivia? Well, the reason we are talking about Olivia is that she gave me this dress.
Cute right?
Olivia was one of my first girlfriends since high school that I could swap clothes with. She lives close enough to home, wears a similar’ish size and even if we don’t style items the same way we have a crazy amount of crossover of the same items in our wardrobe. It was a revelation! A friend that I could swap clothes with. Whoa. I was all normal and stuff.
It certainly never hurt that Liv has a massive wardrobe filled to the brim with awesome clothes, AND she’s generous. One of the first times I ever borrowed an item from Liv she gave me pieces that were brand new with tags. Seriously. Just handed them over like, enjoy them lady, bring them back later. How special is that?
This really is a Liv love fest. It’s getting awkward really. But anyway.
Back to this dress today! It’s a slight detour from my usual style but paired with my go to items I fell in love with it. The white and blue are super charming and as soon as I saw it I thought of yes, I could work with that. Nude ankle boots were my first thought. You’ll see that I went with them in the end.
A perfect casual evening with Hubby outfit thanks to the beg, borrow, steal’ability of Liv’s wardrobe. Such a win, right?
Take Me Away Sequin Jacket – 17 Sundays {gifted} Ella Big Ankle Boots – Bare Foot Tess
{disclosure}
p.s. Can I tell you about the new trick I learnt with my hair? I wash it, blow dry it roughly, brushing it flat as I go with a paddle brush. Then while it’s still warm from the hairdryer I twist it up and pin it back while I do my makeup… And when I let it go, it’s like hey presto blow wave! Magic, right? Am I the last person in the world to discover this? I bet I am.
I’m a big fan of the classics. I like a simple and chic all black ensemble. I looooove a black and white combination. I could live in a throw on denim jacket and never have any need for any other jacket ever. The classics are classic for a reason and in my opinion if you plan to get the most out of a smaller wardrobe then you need to embrace the classics.
Especially if by classics you mean simple lines in black and white.
Am I right or am I right?
Most of my outfits lately have been black on black or black and white. I’m okay with that. Sure I add colour here or there but when I get stuck on something I wear it to death. I actually ended up ordering the white jacket that matches this skirt. I have no plans to wear them together {unlike the floral suit} but you should never say never, right? So watch this space for that.
My plan this winter is to wear white. A LOT. I’m adding to my wardrobe and I pretty much am planning to add the snowy shade to everything I wear. Stains pending. Haha. But I love the white against my skin tone and copper hair colour. Adding black, grey and denim is my entire plan. Don’t expect much colour from me this winter. I’m going some version of Scandinavian, an Aussie version. I like colour, but meh, maybe another season. Ha.
Do you ever do that? Just decide that for a while all you are going to do is dress like this, do that, whatever? I do. Sometimes I realise I’ve done it and I have only worn black and white for a week. Other times it’s part of a strategic plan that does or doesn’t pay off/work out. This time I added denim {hello chambray} back in because of this jacket. I mean, why wouldn’t you? A repeat from a previous season this beauty is just as stylish, effortlessly cool and chic as it was the first time it was released. Well done team, well done.
