Goldie Locks

Right now I'm feeling fresh as a daisy after a long overdue hair appointment. I don't get my hair done very often, but every time I feel like a new person. It's amazing how a few foils and a nice cut can make a huge difference in not only your appearance, but your mood. I had dull, outgrown hair and therefore felt pretty dull myself. When I feel down about myself, I find it difficult finding suitable outfits each day and feel self-conscious and never quite happy with my appearance. That's when I know I need to spend some time for myself to improve my mood and self confidence. 

If you ever feel dull or self-conscious, try a little indulgent beauty treatment to lift your spirits. It could be a mani/pedi, a massage, facial, hair treatment or something as simple and inexpensive as a relaxing bath or body scrub. I promise it will have you feeling like a new person and then you can step out with confidence and a happy glow. Clothes look a million times better on someone who shines from the inside out.

Dee x

One

It sure is a nice day to begin a brand new year! I hope 2015 has been wonderful for you so far.

I've always found New Years Day to be a little strange for me. Sure I love a good public holiday during Summer just as much as the next person, but it's the new beginning that always gets me thinking.. After living 365 (or occasionally 366) days and 12 months, time hits the refresh button and we start back at 01.01 again. (I have literally had the Brian McKnight song 'Back At One' in my head all day!). We will never get the previous year back, it just goes into the history book while the memories stay with us. And the brand new year that has started brings with it a fresh slate to create new memories.

New Year is a time for reflection. Are you happy with the past year? Did you achieve what you wanted? Did you grow as a person?... So many questions that may run through your mind as you consider the past year and look towards the future. If these are the type of questions you think about as well, then I hope all answers are YES! If not, then I think this new year (like all others) brings a perfect opportunity to start fresh and make positive changes that will ensure you can look back and be dam proud of the person you are and what you may have achieved in a year.

Achievements don't need to be anything big or extravagant. You definitely don't need to purchase a jet in order to look back and think 'hey, I did good last year!'. Perhaps you achieved a new personal best in a sport you like, or made a new group of friends, or were just an overall nicer or more confident person then you had been in the past. These are all things to be proud of.

I'm really not a fan of new years resolutions. I think they put too much pressure on people and more often then not, set people up to fail. We are always told to dream big, and I'm certainly no exception to this. Are my crazy dreams going to become reality in one year? No. Everything takes time and effort. But small changes and a positive outlook on life is totally achievable. Aim to have a great year, not do great things in one year. 

So cheers to a brand new year! I sure hope it's one to remember. If anyone is looking to improve their wardrobe or gain some clothing confidence, then hopefully I can assist you on that journey.

Dee x

Monday Moodboard - Living Room

Just sneaking in a quick moodboard before midnight strikes! Although it's not exactly clothes related, I think it's important to 'dress' your home in your own personal style and accentuate features in the same way you would with your outfit. That way your surroundings will match your fabulous, stylish self!

Today my mind was firmly in living-room-land, dreaming up all the wonderful things I wanted to do in my dream living space. I found this beautiful picture thanks to my dear friend Pinterest and I instantly fell in love with it. I adore the simplicity of the space with high ceilings, white walls and an open window which fills the room with light. The simple grey fabric of the sofa and wooden details in the furniture can work with any colour theme and make styling the room a breeze. Adding a variety of cushions in different shapes, colours or patterns, as well as a big rug and beautiful flowers brings the room to life. Lastly, the colour coordinated book shelf is so my style it's ridiculous! It's exactly how my bookshelf is at the moment.. OCD much? You know my absolute favourite thing about this room, you can change the cushions or rug as often as you like which would create a completely fresh space without the expense of purchasing new furniture and everything.

Remember that interior styling isn't all that different from your personal styling... start with a solid foundations of staples, add some fun accessories and you've got yourself a great look!

Dee x

Baby Steps

Just a little reminder to always work towards something - whether it be a promotion at work, learning about a topic of interest to you, a healthier diet, a happier outlook or the confidence to rock your own personal style. Self improvement and the motivation to achieve it is so important to overall health, happiness and wellbeing.

Of course everything takes time, so be patient and trust that you are heading in the right direction. Remember that the only competition is with yourself, not with anybody else.
Aim to be the best version of yourself you can be.

Dee x

Monday Moodboard - Hats

Summertime has arrived! (Seriously, how fast has this year gone?). It's such a beautiful time of year with lots of festivities packed into one simple month. My Christmas tree is up (albeit, currently naked), mangoes are frequenting the fruit bowl, crickets are chirping at night and the sun is setting later each day. What's not to love about this season?!

My favourite Summer accessory would have to be a beautiful hat. Fedora, straw, wide-brimmed, panama, boater, trilby... I love them all. Team it with a simple dress or your fav bikini, no-fuss beach hair and a killer pair of sunnies. Not only do they look super stylish but they serve an important purpose to protect us from the sun. Functional and flattering; the perfect Summer essential.

Dee x

Baby Brain

After the recent birth of my son, my brain is still well and truly in baby mode. It's amazing to think that this tiny human becomes the centre of your universe in an instant. Luckily he's such a massive cutie so I totally don't mind! I figured I'd role with this train of thought to create a maternity themed post for anyone who is currently pregnant or plans to become pregnant sometime in the future.

Dressing when pregnant is hard. And when I say hard, I mean really bloody hard. It's such an exciting and unbelievable time when your body completely changes while this little life is growing inside you. Until you are pregnant, it's impossible to imagine how much your body will change and the daily challenges you may face. Your newfound girth means that it's impossible to look at your toes (no pretty pedicures for me!); you all of a sudden bump into benches and door frames all. the. time; and you may stare aimlessly at your wardrobe each day with the devastating realisation that you literally have nothing to wear! The latter was certainly my situation in the final few weeks when my body had expanded to it's maximum and I was literally ready to pop.

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of the whole 'maternity fashion' trend. I'm not even entirely sure of why I steer clear of it to be completely honest. I think I'm mildly skeptical of a lot of the maternity clothes because it does seem like the price is increased because of the word 'maternity' on the care label.  I think it's important for expectant mums to know that you don't necessarily have to purchase something from the 'maternity' section of the stores or online boutiques. There are lots of suitable styles that will work with your prego bod, you just have to know what to look for. 

I purchased very few new clothes throughout my pregnancy because I was adamant that I would make do with what I had as much as I could. I figured that spending a stupid amount of money on new clothes that would only fit for a 9 month period wasn't the smartest way to shop. It did work in my favour that I'm a big fan of layering clothes and mostly prefer looser fitting garments (with the exception of jeans, which caused me the most grief throughout my Winter pregnancy!). If tight fitting tops and dresses is more your style, then it's safe to say you may need to purchase a fair few more pieces then I did.

So what are my top 5 pregnancy purchases to add to your wardrobe?

1. MATERNITY BRA

This is a bit of a no-brainer as everybody has heard of maternity bras. For the ladies who wear underwire bras normally, it's especially important for you to consider switching to a great maternity bra (or two) earlier in the pregnancy. The underwire in normal bras sits directly on the milk ducts and can cause problems with milk supply or perhaps even lead to painful infections later on. I started wearing maternity bras from about 3 months in. We are so lucky to have a range of pretty maternity lingerie in stores this day and age compared to the plain, nude, extremely unsexy styles of decades past. The best bras I found were by Chloe & Lola from Myer. I even purchased during a 'buy 2 get the 3rd free' sale.. score! Plus I received lovely compliments from the midwives in hospital who declared my bras were WAY too nice to be maternity. Trust me, when you're so sleep deprived and your body feels like it's falling apart at the seams, a compliment like that makes you feel ahhhmazing!

2. BELLY BAND

This was without a doubt the best thing I purchased all pregnancy. I found mine at Big W for around $25 and probably should've purchased 2, but was able to make do with 1. I was bursting out of my skinny jeans pretty early on and this band was an absolute lifesaver! As I was pregnant throughout Winter and my 'work uniform' consisted of pretty much jeans every day, I would've been lost without this band. It's pretty much just a stretchy bit of fabric, similar to a bandeau, that holds your jeans in place when the button and zip are completely undone. It's so simple and so discreet and a MUST to get through pregnancy wearing your usual jeans or pants. By the end of the pregnancy, jeans were a no-go zone altogether, but I was very happy to have a good 7-8 months of regular wear without needing to purchase a pair of 'maternity jeans'.

3. TUNIC DRESSES

This style of dress looks great with or without pregnancy. The loose, shapeless style through the body means the size of your stomach is irrelevant. I'm a big fan of tunic dresses with tights and boots for a fun Winter look, or team them with a hat and sandals for a fresh Summer outfit. Anything works. I purchased a couple of tunic dresses from ASOS (in the normal women's fashion section, not the maternity page) and they worked so well right up until my due date. I'll definitely continue to wear them post-pregnancy because they are so dam comfortable.

4. ANYTHING BUTTON-UP

If you're planning to breastfeed your new bub, this is a really important one. Having button-up garments means less time fiddling around awkwardly trying to undress while your new baby is crying for a feed. I have to admit that I didn't even consider this until my trusty Mum said I should look at getting a button-up nightie (especially handy for the hospital stay!) as well as anything else with buttons to make my life easier. I purchased a beautiful nightie from Peter Alexander and once again, it's totally suitable for post pregnancy/breastfeeding. Button-up shirts will also make breastfeeding easier, although loose t-shirts have so far been ok for me.

5. JERSEY

Having tops or dresses made from jersey fabric is so handy during pregnancy. They are lightweight and have a beautiful stretch which means they can grow with your body. Not everybody is comfortable showing off their baby bump in all it's glory, but I personally think it's so beautiful. I usually had mine covered up because it was Winter, but a couple of jersey dresses I owned worked perfectly in the later stages of pregnancy when I just wanted something easy and comfortable to wear. It's lovely to be able to enjoy your new shapely figure while it lasts. Your core body temperature also feels about 10 degrees hotter then it ever did pre-pregnancy, so breathable fabrics are super important.

So there you have it, a few things I couldn't live without during my pregnancy. There are plenty more ideas and suitable styles out there to help other mums-to-be. Just remember to spend money wisely and before going on a shopping spree, try to go right through your current wardrobe to see exactly what can and can't be worn. There may just be a dress or two that had been banished to the back of your wardrobe that would be perfect for your prego bod. Be inspired by your beautiful new shape and enjoy every minute.

Dee x

Monday Moodboard - Grey

I have to admit that before writing this post I did look up the word 'grey' in Wikipedia to check the definition. Yes, yes I know it sounds completely crazy because everyone knows grey. BUT, what is it actually?? A colour, a shade or a tone? This was what stumped me when I decided on the theme for today's moodboard.

Wikipedia to the rescue! According to the trusty web encyclopedia, it is in fact a colour 'without colour'. Interesting... you learn something new every day right?

So back to this wonderful colourless colour. As mentioned in the above wiki blurb, it's often associated with being boring, dull or conforming. Although I can see how people may feel like that, I couldn't disagree more! I think grey is fresh and timeless. It has a beautiful relaxed feel to it (especially when used in knitwear) and compliments all skin and hair tones. 

A common theme in my wardrobe is grey marl and I find that I'm drawn to just about every type of garment in this fabric when out shopping. One of my all time favourite pieces is a long line grey marl cashmere cardigan. I bought it 7 years ago when I was working in a Fashion Agency. It felt like such a splurge at the time, but I have treasured it ever since and practically live in it every Winter. And the best part of all, it literally goes with e v e r y t h i n g. Now I'm no financial expert, but 7 years of consistent wear sounds like a dam good investment to me!

So whether grey is your kind of 'colour' or not, give it a try one time! You may just surprise yourself with how easy it fits in your wardrobe or how well it compliments your hair or skin tone. Try teaming it with navy for a beautiful, polished look; denim for casual, everyday wear; blush pink for a pretty combo; or classic white for a fresh Summer look. Or throw everything out the window and discover your own favourite combination. 

Fashion is about having fun and enjoying your unique sense of style.

Dee x

Pics - Pinterest