What's happening

Hello everyone!

This blog will be a little slow for a while (by slow I mean... no promises for blog updates this month) as I get stuck into my new job and book writing/editing/hair-falling-out-madness. I hope to have some fun blogs coming in November! 

It's in Black and White

I've recently gotten a new job (I will divulge more once I’m officially settled in and happy). Yesterday I attended a day of training and we went through everything. I mean everything. I did four hours of online induction only to spend nine hours going over it all again. Plus it was a two-hour round commute to the training venue. And there's more! But I do have a point...kinda. 

Yesterday, we went over dress-code. Um, does anyone feel like they're stuck in the black and white jail?

Not like that...

I actually I have a number of choices. Block black and white or block black and black… (For this company, block black and white means all-white and all-black. No stripes, spots, patterns or fun.)

Hey, I don’t mind having to stick to the corporate model (and we ARE allowed to wear any shade of nail polish we want, guys can wear any non-outlandish tie they want, and hair is subject to our manager’s rules -- WOOPIE DOO!).

She said if we can’t handle that, maybe we shouldn’t be working for them. Harsh to some, but fair enough to me. I went to a private school so adhering to strict uniform requirements is basically second nature. I would suggest that if you can’t follow a few simple rules (for a few hours a day) and only live to bend them, then you have serious problems my friend.

Yet I still think something is very wrong with the B&W picture. 

I mean, what is so corporate about black and white anyway? It’s not formal it’s boring. Imagine if we lived in a world where the dress-code stated that we must wear fluorescent purple or that guys must have a bowtie that spins. It might not be ‘corporate’ but I bet the rate of work-related suicides would go down.

Laters,

New template is live!

I love my new blog so much I thought I would write a quick post about it. Once again I have new template from Jessa at Caked Designs: (http://www.etsy.com/shop/CakedDesigns) Isn't it pretty!?

I hope to be able to do the new blog justice by keeping up with my posts on topics such as fashion, beauty and anything in between. Stay tuned!

Product Loving #1

 

Dream BB cream by Maybelline New York, ($7.98 - $10AU – cheapest price from large discount drug stores!)

The biggest thing girls ask, and I did as well, is ‘what the heck is BB?’ Depending on what brand you buy and where you live, it can mean different things. Generally I go for beauty balm or blemish balm. This product has the texture and colouring of foundation, but is much lighter and can be used with or without moisturiser. It’s great for when you don’t have a lot of time to get ready, or it’s the weekend and you want to look presentable, but can’t be bothered going all out.

Babylips by Maybelline New York ($1.98 – $3.98AU– again cheapest price from large discount drug stores)

It’s been forever since I’ve owned a lip balm! I feel like a pre-teen again! This product is great. It tastes good, smells nice and it has a colour to it, helping you complete your look in about 5 seconds.

Heart Sunglasses from Equip, $21.99AU

How cute are these? Change up your spring look with these sweet shades.

Mixed Metallic Rope Bracelet from Lovisa, $12.99AU

This is a very versatile bracelet. You could get lots of uses out of it. Because it’s "mixed metals" you don’t have to worry about what other metals you might already be wearing and try and match. It goes with them all!

Clear Clutch from Glassons, $24.99

I had a clear purse back in 2003 and I cannot be happier they’re back in style. Just remember to keep it clean. No one wants to see your used tissues and scrunched receipts! 

Marissa Webb: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

Within about forty-seconds of watching Marissa Webb’s 2014 Spring Collection flowing effortlessly down the catwalk at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, I was in love. There is something about the way she mixes strong tailored pieces with whimsical softness that truly drags you in. Here are a couple of my favourites from her recent show.

I adore this dress. The colour is to die for and melted my heart when I first saw it. The design is beautiful and the shape is amazing. One of the aspects I enjoy most about Marissa's Spring 2014 line is its wearability. Most of these pieces are ready to be rocked right as they are, no harsh changes needed to move them from catwalk to everyday.

This look is cute, chic and highly professional. I love the fact that it has a dash of school girl, a sprinkle of party and a healthy dose of spring floral. This is another look that is highly wearable as it is. To me it’s stylish but also appears rather comfortable. Perfect for lunch with the girls or dressed up for a formal event. Where do I get one?

This is my, hands down, favourite piece of Marissa Webb’s Spring 2014 line. I have no words… except maybe saying “Look how pretty!” The structure of the metallic skirt meets the effortlessness of the sheer top. Is this outfit strong or breezy? We will never know! But what I do know is that it’s gorgeous. I hope this look hits Australian stores sooner rather than later! 

Watch the show, learn more about Marissa and more: 

http://www.mbfashionweek.com/designers/marissa_webb

Style Doctor! New look, less than $35!

I’m poor. Like... really poor. I hit the shops with a budget of $0 and 0c. It sucks. 

For those of you who know what I'm talking about, there's nothing worse than that pang of stress when an occasion arises and you need look great... and you have nothing to wear. Or you simply want to scream because you're sick of wearing the same old tired outfit again and again. 

It’s frustrating when you know your funds are limited at best. When you need to look fab, but instead you look drab.

But fear not! With a few simple changes you might be able to bring a new outfit to life. Today, I thought I would share an outfit that I've pieced together with old stuff and new stuff, coming in at just under $35au (just in time for the weekend!) 

The Outfit

I've decided to go with a dress. Normally I'm a total pants girl. Pants rule all. But this time I wanted to do something a little different. The cardie, belt and shoes are old faves that I've brought in to this outfit. I got the dress from Crossroads when trolling their winter sales, $19.95. Outfit - done. Now I only need accessories. 

Tip 1: You might be able to save money by bringing in items you already have. If you are wearing a dress that you already own, great! All you need to do is maybe buy some bling-a-ling. Small additions can make you feel like you're wearing something totally new. If you're a pants-wearing Lass, then maybe buy a new top to go with smart jeans (smart= if you're going somewhere nice, don't wear jeans with holes or washed out fabric!) 

Tip 2: How do I know what to wear? Well... where are you going? If you're going to the movies for example, keep it simple. Maybe some new bangles and even a new way of doing your hair! If you're heading out somewhere that is a bit fancy, or you're dressing to impress, doing what I've done with a mix of new and old stuff is an easy way to sharpen up.

The Bag

It's one of the new things I purchased for this look. Kmart, $12, what a bargain! The dress made from a lace material and is very soft and feminine. I adore this bag because of the studs. It gives the look a bit of an edge. 

The Bracelets 

I'm a bangle hoarder. And for one very simple reason: mix and match! Because the studs on the bag are gold, I'm matching with some gold bracelets. I've taken a bangle from one older set and mixed it with two from a new set, (Kmart $3! WOW!). I could create at least another ten looks with just these two sets of accessories. 

The Shoes

Oh beige shoe, is there nothing you cannot do? It takes a while to find the right pare of flesh-toned shoes. Quite often they look like something your Nan would buy. But once you have them they're great for many looks. I bought these about a year ago from Rubi Shoes. I think they were about $20 and they've paid for themselves many times over!

Don't forget about me!

This belt is pretty cute, no? It actually came with the dress. I've simply decided not to wear it. But don't forget about things like this in the future. Like the pink belt I'm going to wear, this little baby can be used later to re-vamp another outfit! 

Mixed Print MADNESS

'Mixing prints'. Never before has there been a fashion term that can make your hair stand on end like this one! 

If you’re asking 'why?' then the answer is simple. It’s really easy to look like crap. 

Mixing the wrong prints can easily leave you looking like a homeless lady with sixteen cats. That being said, it really is a process of trial and error. For those who've never jumped off the high-dive into mixed prints, here are some simple style ideas to get you thinking.

Easy Ways to Style Mixed Prints

Black and White

http://www.hustleandwale.com/2013/05/23/mixing-prints-101

How cute is this look? The black and white is broken up with a coloured, patterned dress underneath. It’s young, it’s fun and it’s different.

Patterns on Patterns

http://www.hustleandwale.com/2013/05/23/mixing-prints-101/

A common trend when mixing. I like the contrasting of the prints. One floral design is very busy and bright, the other is a steady black and white. The fact that the top is quite loose, by design, makes it causal and easy.

Never Fail Stripes

http://www.hustleandwale.com/2013/05/23/mixing-prints-101

Stripes are awesome to mix with. In fact, stripes are awesome in just about any capacity... ahh stripes. *Ahem* Back to mixing! I seriously love this outfit. The stark, straight striped pants are contrasted with the light, pastel floral top. This is such a fun way to wear mixed prints in an office environment.

Summer beauty

Missy http://popofstyle.com/uncategorized/how-to-mix-prints-6-ways/

Check out  Missy from PopofStyle.com wearing this great look. It’s mixed prints, but highly coordinated too (for those of us who like a little order in our fashion – me!) She keeps the outfit flowing by using two designs of stripes as the main focus, complimented with a bag and accessories that match the dress. Killer.

Apricot Punch

I love the Rimmel London range of nail polishes, particularly the 60 Second range - perfect for when you're on the go and don't have all day to spend blowing on your fingertips. But I particularly enjoy the I Love Lasting Finish range as well. The colours are amazing, bright and unique AND the price is quite affordable. This weekend I picked up another beauty (On sale at Big W for $2.85 - oh my glob! Why didn't I get more?) for my collection. 

It’s the I Love Lasting Finish “Fruities” #053 Apricot Punch. Now, at first I actually didn’t notice the very small word “fruities” in the love-heart and spent ages smelling my fingers trying to confirm where this delicious scent was coming from. Turns out it was me. Yes. Apparently they’re actually scented and the smell lasted, on my hands, for a solid four days. That's a lot of fruity-goodness power! 

This colour, or a colour very similar, is currently being displayed in magazines such as CLEO. Nothing like feeling fashionable. Love it. 

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Teen Trap: Makeup

When I was growing up, the makeup section of my local department store was like this infinite black hole of brands and products. A former total tomboy, I blocked a lot of beauty tips from female family members and wanted to do it on my own. This resulted in cosmetic disasters including the dreaded foundation clown-face (where the makeup on your face is about three shades darker or lighter than your neck and could be mistaken for a mask), lash clumping, shadow smudging and lips that can be seen from 4km away.

The one thing that I discovered along the way is that you don’t have to go OTT to look fresh and fab. Here are some tips that help you avoid embarrassment! (Note: I recommend this to teens that have some experience with makeup. Those new to the scene, I have a blog coming later just for you! Fear not!)

Moisturiser: The key to beauty. Nothing says young and fresh like healthy skin and moisturiser brings you one step closer. The teen years can be a bit scary for most of us. I myself had acne prone to skin growing up, very bad. So I suggest going oil-free until your skin decides it loves you too. I heart Neutrogena oil-free moisturiser. It comes in different varieties including sensitive and SPF 15 (super light, super sneaky sunscreen!)  

Foundation: If you’re keen to try foundation you have two choices, powder or liquid. Powder can be good for newbies as it’s a lot lighter and easier to remove if you make mistakes. The only trick is finding your perfect shade. Most girls tend to try and make themselves more tanned by using darker foundation. This ends up looking tacky and cheap. Keep foundation natural, if you’re light: use light foundation! You can always give yourself a summer glow with a light brush of bronzer and/or blush. TIP: Use your oil-free moisturiser first, let it dry, and then apply foundation. It helps it stick longer and gives you a nice little barrier skin and makeup).

Mascara: Finding your perfect mascara can be a long road well worth travelling. I suggest going for something simple. Don’t be lured in by the “super-maximum-ultra-va-va-volume” ads on TV where the woman is (clearly) wearing false lashes. Most of these products come from CLUMP CITY and are out to stick your entire top and bottom lash sets together!

“Does it have to be black?” -- A question I recommend you ask yourself when trying new mascara’s. Fun Fact: Not all mascara’s are black! If you’re of fair completion I suggest trying brown or black brown as a softer contrast.

Lipgloss: In my opinion, always better for teens than lipstick. Why? Most teens hit the harsh reds like they’re going out of style. I will cover lipstick in another blog. Lipgloss is easy to apply, gets you used to the shape of your lips and often tastes great (WARNING: Melly does not recommend you eat your lipgloss!) The only thing I would suggest here is buying a gloss of quality. The Body Shop’s “Born Lippy” goes for $7.95AU, lasts forever and is great quality. Other brands you know like Nivea make affordable lip products too. For sporty gals I recommend a product with a built in SPF 15 to keep your lips loveable!