I don’t follow fashion trends. I wear what I like and what suits me. If I like what’s ‘in’ then I guess I’m in. If not, then I’ll just be a out-of-date me. Black and Brown? It’s so 2009 apparently.
My husband and I had three children while we students (not sure how we survived, but we did), so I know all about shopping on a budget. To me, being stylish is making the best with what I have.
Skivvy: Ezibuy
Cardigan: Fashion Fair (wore it here and here)
Belt: Fashion Fair
Boots: Half price from Mika Boutique on Main Street Caloundra. Also worn here and here.
Necklace: Diva
My Tip: Don’t follow fashion. Wear what you like. Shop within your means. Be you.
What I Love Most: The necklace. It’s like wearing a little bit of happiness around my neck.
See other My Style Posts
My Style: 23.10.09: Planning a Special Outfit
My Style: 11.7.10: Soft Side of Edgy
My Style: 22.6.10: Casual Elegance
My Style 23.10.09: Planning a Special Outfit
In October 2009 I was 30. So technically, I’m still 30. Do I sound paranoid? Maybe I AM paranoid. I’d hate to be paranoid. Am I sounding paranoid? 
No, I’m not paranoid about it — well maybe just a little. I surprised myself when I realised how afraid I was to be 30. I still like to skip, jump over fences, swing, climb trees and run barefoot on the grass at midnight. Must I stop now that I’m 30? Must I grow-up?
To ease the shock of being a decade older, I planned a party. A masquerade-supper party shared with my husband who is only 2 days older than me. {And yet he still sometimes forgets my birthday; it’s true! I love him anyway}.
One of my favourite things to do is plan an outfit for a special occasion. I usually start with something I fall in love with and work my outfit around that object. That something could be earrings, or a belt, a dress, bracelet, hair accessory or shoes. This time, I fell in love with shoes. Head over heels in love {no pun intended}.
Shoes: Shop on Long Road (Gallery Walk) Mt Tamborine, Queensland
Dress: Harris Scarfe (couldn’t believe how well it matched the shoes)
Hairband: Target
Bolero: Jacqui E (pinched from my sister)
Earrings: Can’t remember
Tip:When planning a special outfit, find something you really love and work around that object. I found my shoes about 9 months before my party. And I kept them too, without wearing them, until the special day. I went a little matchy-matchy with all the flowers but it worked because it was a masked-party event. Don’t be afraid to mix old with new; you’ll be creating your own unique look.
What I love most: The shoes! Hands down!
Party Venue: Home Store & Cafe, Ashgrove
Soon, I’m attending the Connect2Mums conference and the Ausmumpreneurs Awards. I anticipate a full, inspired weekend of learning. What am I wearing to the Ausmumpreneurs Awards? Not sure yet, but I’ve fallen in love with a dress. I need to muster up some courage and brave the walk into the shop and hope the price tag is not too high. It will feature in an up-coming My Style post, I’m sure.
My Style: 11.7.10: Soft Side of Edgy
My Style: 22.6.10: Casual Elegance
My Style 11.7.10: Soft Side of Edgy
I like wearing sharp lines and I love black. To soften the look, I’ve added a long grey vest and gone a little extra on the accessories.
Wide Leg Pants: Target
Scarf: Sportsgirl
Shoes: $15 from Nova
Top: Ezibuy
Vest: Clearance rack $5 Myer (Miss Shop)
Headband: Pretty Things Distract Me
Belt: Kleins (now closed down)
Ring: Equip
Bangle: Beaded: Jacqi E Silver elphant: Gift from Bangladesh
Tip: If you are wearing shades (black and grey) go extra on the accessories.Try mixing bold coloured accessories (I’ve used red) and shade assessories (I’ve gone both black and grey).
What I love most: The vest. Gotta love a bargain.
My Style: 22.6.10: Casual Elegance
My Style 2.7.10: Feminine
I rarely shop at teen orientated shops like, Supré, Fashion Fair and Valley Girl. I’m sure this will change once my girls are older. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, the sizes are so small, they make me feel depressed. Secondly, I do love great quality clothes when I can afford them. Thirdly, I try to ‘dress my age’ and the worst thing, well maybe not the worst, is a 30-year-old dressing in teenage clothing. However, when I walked past Fashion Fair at the start of winter, I spotted this dress in the window and I knew it would go with a lot from my wardrobe. I love wearing it.
Dress: Fashion Fair
Belt: Fashion Fair
Jacket: Purchased 5 years ago for $19 from Katies
Boots: Half price from Mika Boutique on Main Street Caloundra.
Earrings: They were my Mums.
Tip: If you are wearing a patterned or floral dress, pick one or two complimentary colours for accessories. If you’ve chosen two, for example, I’ve picked two colours from the dress, brown and beige, to wear, balanced it out by having the same number of accessories for each colour.
I wore beige tights and jacket with brown boots and belt (2 beige/2 brown). Insead I could have worn my brown jacket and boots with black tights and belt (2 brown/2 black). The combinations are endless!
It’s safe to go with one complimentary colour. I could have chosen to wear black jacket boots, tights and belt, thus creating an entirely different look.
By mixing and matching complimentary colours, you can create a slightly different look so it feels like you are wearing a different outfit.
What I love most: The dress; it’s feminine and pretty.
Relevant Be A Fun Mum Links:
My Style 20.6.10: Class
Today I dressed in a jersey jumpsut (am I too old for a jumpsuit?). I threw on my red coat, gold flats and handmade scarf and then, the mail came…
In the mail came my gorgeous Kellie Christie button brooch. It would have looked fine with the outfit I was wearing, but fine is never a good word is it? (Men take a very long time to work that one out). I brought in another colour into the outfit so to balance the mix, I replaced the red scarf with a blue one, thus bringing out the blue in the button.
Jumpsuit: Ezibuy (Emerge)
Red Jacket: Ezibuy (Grace Hill)
Gold Shoes: Hand-me-down
Button Brooch: Kellie Christie
Red Scarf: I knitted it myself (feeling so proud right now)
Blue Scarf: Would you believe it, an old ballet scarf from the dress-up box
Tip:If you bring another colour into an outfit, tie it in with a handbag or accessories
What I love most: My red jacket. It reminds me of my whirlwind weekend in New Zealand.
Relevant Be A Fun Mum Links:
My Style 26.6.10: Casual Elegance
Every Mum needs an outfit like this. Firstly, and most importantly, the jersey material doesn’t need ironing. Secondly, it’s so comfortable, you could sleep in it (minus the belt). Thirdly, it’s an outfit that carries you from day-time shopping to a night-time outing.
Jersey Dress: Harris Scarfe $20
Belt: Fashion Fair
Long Cardigan: Fashion Fair
Boots: Half price from Mika Boutique on Main Street Caloundra.
Earrings: Purchased on the way to Maleny for $6
What I love most: Outfit doesn’t need ironing
Tip: If you wear large earrings, don’t wear a necklace
Bronze / Brown Simple Make-up Tutorial
I went for a bronzed / brown look with this outfit. Here is a simple, yet effective make up tutorial.
Foundation: Liselle Mineral Makeup – Bliss
Cheeks: MAC Bronzing Powder (refined golden)
Eyes: Bourjois 05 Brun Irreel
Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick (Ginger Rose)
Brows: Mirenesse Brow Lift and Shape Mascara
Brushes
Foundation: Liselle Foundation Brush
Bronzer: MAC 187SE
Eye Shadow: MAC 275SE
Eye Line: MAC 212SE
More video tutorials here.
**************************
Previous My Style post: My Style 22.6.10
Related post: The Yummy Mummy Epidemic
My Style: 22.6.10: Introduction
Glamour. Many people comment on my style and say I often look glamours (don’t look at me now peoples). Style comes effortless to me. I find pleasure in dressing nice but I don’t place a lot of value on material things; balance is important. I’m an all or nothing person; either I’m dressing up a storm or wearing a 10-year-old jumper and jeans.
My Style. My Style is a new series I’ll be doing here at Be A Fun Mum. My Style is about making the most of your wardrobe without spending a fortune. It’s about finding the balance between dressing nicely and being obsessed with fashion. My Style is about finding your own style.
Self-conscious. After my first two pregnancies, I wore my jeans out of hospital; however, during my last two pregnancies, I gained extra weight that I’m still trying to shake. I don’t like my body, and I’m not comfortable with how I look. In saying that, I don’t feel pressure to be thin — I’m totally over that. I’ve come to terms with my body shape; I’ll never be petite; I’m strong. What I do need to do is focus on being healthy. I’m working on it.
Memories. I remember Mum visiting my school, and I always felt so proud of her. I felt proud because she always made an effort to dress beautifully and all my friends would comment, “Your Mum is so beautiful.” I felt proud because she was so kind and all my friends would say, “Your Mum is so nice.” I too want my children to be proud of me.
This is My Style. I love dressing up. I love dressing down. I often wear the same outfit two days running and hope I don’t meet anyone who notices. My style is elegant with dash of edge. It’s pretty meets spunky. It’s simple with a variety of texture. I’m often consertative but am prepared to take risks. I love finding vintage and handmade style pieces. I don’t have a lot of clothes, I just know how to make the most of my wardrobe. My Style says me.
Black Skivvy: Eizbuy
Sleeveless Cardie: Vintage Primrose
Black pants: Target hand-me-downs
Red Boots: Half price from a little store on Main Street Caloundra.
Rose Ring: Equip
Red Watch: Gift from a friend
Felt Brooch: Handmade item from the Goombundgee Art Gallery.
[Goombundgee is a gorgeous country town. Put it on your places to visit list.]
Hat: Myer (purchased 2 years ago)
What I love most: The boots. Would have to be the red boots.
Related post: The Yummy Mummy Epidemic
External Blog Link: Styling You
Three Ways to Wear the T-Shirt
I’ve put together three different looks to go with the Be A Fun Mum ‘Love the Moment’ t-shirts. Don’t have a t-shirt? Don’t worry, there will be more available soon.
I want to thank my model Emma. Isn’t she beautiful? She is mother to two children aged 2 and 8 months. She’s a fair-dinkum Aussie farmer’s wife and loves the lifestyle. She likes to train her dogs and muster cattle on horseback around looking after her children.
ONE – Keep it Casual
Team the shirt with cute denim shorts and sandals for this casual look.
Hair: Keep the hair loose or up in a ponytail.
Bow by Pretty Things Distract Me
TWO – Spice it Up
As the weather cools down, wear the t-shirt with a black (or denim) jacket and jeans. Add spunky red shoes and a scarf and you’re all set.
Hair: Straighen hair for a sleek finish.
THREE – Simple and Elegant
A white t-shirt with dark denim jeans is classy. Add a silver belt to the mix and you create an elegant look.
Hair: Fix an up-do to create an elongated look. I did Emma’s hair this way. (click for a video tutorial)
