Sunday, December 9, 2012

Aussie Curves- Mixing Patterns

This week the Aussie Curves challenge is about mixing patterns. It's not something I've really tried on purpose before. I love patterns and have a lot of them, I just haven't mixed them together! I decided on trying to mix both colours and patterns, why not jump right in the deep end, right? I love the red and blue colour combo, and thought I'd try mixing my polka dot shirt with my floral skirt. I think it works!


I picked up the polka dot shirt a little while ago from Big W. The skirt is a Target brand find from the op shop (must have been back in the day when they made coloured plus-size stuff). The skirt is a bit big, I had to safety pin it at the back. 


My shoes are from Best and Less, they were only $10 at the time, and came in a snug size 11. My hair bow and necklace are from my favourite local markets, the Olive Tree Markets. My bracelet set is from Yours Clothing. I like the colours and the elastic which means it fits my wrist, but the quality isn't great. The knots on it made from string or something, are starting to unravel.


I bet the other Aussie Curves ladies have some great pattern mixes, check them out below!


Outfit Details
Top: Big W (24)
Skirt: Thrifted (Target, 26)
Shoes: Best and Less (11)
Tardis Earrings: Etsy
Bracelet Set: Yours Clothing
Necklace and Hair Bow: Olive Tree Market




Sunday, December 2, 2012

Aussie Curves- Orange

Thanks to the Aussie Curves group, I've been venturing into the colours orange and yellow. I tried out my first orange top (in this post) and loved it! Orange is such a cheery fun colour and given my love of colour I'm surprised I hadn't tried it before. I guess I thought my complexion wouldn't suit orange as I tend to look washed out in warm tone colours, but I think it looks okay. And even if it did, well so what? I want to wear things because I like them, they don't have to suit my complexion. Another fashion rule that you can follow if you want, but there's no need to!


I was going to wear my orange top again, but then I remembered this skirt. I usually play up the red tones in the skirt, but there's plenty of orange there to work with! This pretty skirt is an old Autograph one (back when they were called Sixteen Twenty Six) given to me by a friend. My black top was passed on to me by a friend too! By the way, when I have described something as "gifted" on my blog, I meant something given to me by a friend or family member, not something donated to me by a brand. I'll include more details from now on so I don't give the wrong impression. All my gifted items on the blog so far have been presents or things passed on to me from friends/family, and if I'm gifted something by a brand I'll say so clearly.


I think this orange hair flower is my biggest so far. The flower and skirt together make me think of tropical vacations. :-) The skirt is lovely and comfortable and swishy.


Trying to show you my accessories here. Hair flower and earrings are from Big W. My unicorn necklace wasn't photographing very well today, so further down is a better photo from another time.


Unicorn necklace from Catfight Collections.


Check out below the other ladies rocking some orange!


Outfit Details
Skirt: Gifted from a friend (Sixteen Twenty Six, 22)
Top: Gifted from a friend (Katies, no size on tag)
Necklace: Catfight Collections
Earrings: Big W
Hair Flower: Big W
Shoes: Payless (11)


Aussie Curves- Dark

I almost didn't get this theme done this week, I've been busy, and dark isn't really a theme I'm into. I have one black dress that I'm saving when we have the LBD theme, and most of my other dark shade colours were used in previous weeks. I could just wear all black, but I'm not a fan, wearing all black makes me feel depressed. Then I remembered I had this spotty dress.


Yes it's black, but the white spots make it fun. I picked this dress up at Best and Less for about $40 years ago and it's really been value for money. The pattern reminds me of a starry sky. It is comfy and easy to wear too.


I usually pair this dress with red accessories, but I went with purple to keep it more in the "dark" theme. The bag I'm holding is a vintage bag that used to be my Mum's when she was young and single. :-)



Just trying to show you all my accessories in one pic. The necklace is from the op shop, the bracelet from a market, the hair flower from Target, and I made the button earrings myself. I added the hair ribbon to the pendant, I think it goes nicely. Also, you can adjust the length really easily, which I like.


Isn't the embroidery pattern on the bag cute?


Outfit Details
Dress: Best and Less (20)
Necklace: Op shop/ thrifted
Earrings: Made by me
Hair Flower: Target
Bracelet: Market
Shoes: Payless (11)


Sunday, November 18, 2012

Aussie Curves- Strapless


A strapless theme this week was easy in the sense that I have only one item of clothing to choose from. It's a special occasion kind of dress, so in the interests of honesty I disclose that I did not wear this out in public this time. I have however worn it to a cocktail party, and to my brother's wedding reception.


This is the first time I have worn it strapless. Usually I wear a normal bra and shrug not because I don't want to expose my upper arms, but because I have only one strapless bra, and it is the most uncomfortable bra in the world! It doesn't hold me up very well and gives me a weird shape. But I am putting up with it so you guys can see it strapless.


This dress is from ChicStar, I ordered it online. The sizing can be all over the place with ChicStar, but this dress was pretty true to size. I ordered a 24. I love the lacing, the lace trim and the shimmery colour of the dress. It also comes in black. I'd love to see it in purple or a wine-red. In my opinion the bodice needs a bit more support to keep it from rolling down, I usually pin it to my bra just to be safe.


The skirt is almost a full circle skirt. It is so swishy! I'm wearing my purple Domino Dollhouse petticoat underneath for some added swish.


The only necklace that seemed to go with it is my Grandmother's necklace, but I can imagine a better necklace with more of the antique black scrollwork and darker, larger stones. Maybe I'll see something like that one day. I'd love a sort of gothic/steampunk necklace. And for the first time I'm not wearing a hair flower- shock! I couldn't find one to match. :-)



Outfit Details
Dress: ChicStar (24)
Petticoat: Domino Dollhouse (XXL)
Shoes: Payless (11)
Bike Pants (underneath): Big W
Necklace: from my Grandma
Earrings: Diva


Check out what the other ladies are wearing below! (and anyone got suggestions for good strapless bras?)





Sunday, November 11, 2012

Aussie Curves- Pastels

A little more challenging was the theme of pastels this week. I usually stick to bright, rich jewel tones in my clothes, they're what I'm drawn to. However, knowing that pastels was coming up, I picked up this dress from Asos Curve back when it was on sale.


I was surprised by how much I enjoyed wearing this lovely lavender purple. I'm a fan of purple, but had never tried out this shade before. The swishy skirt was made even better by the addition of a Domino Dollhouse petticoat in lavender. I love how the frill just sticks out around the bottom of the dress. I felt quite girly and pretty wearing this outfit, I wore it to a late birthday lunch with one of my friends that didn't make it to my birthday dinner. Domino Dollhouse petticoats are so soft and comfortable to wear, despite it being a warm day I wasn't uncomfortable.


Yes I know I should have ironed the dress. But is was hot and sticky weather and I just couldn't be bothered. I paired the dress with my pretty wedge sandals from Big W.


In wearing the pastel colour I needed a different shade of lipstick, and found a new shade that I love! I'll have to look for it at the shops (its an old small sample lipstick back when I did Avon, so I need a decent substitute). If not for the dress I would never have tried it, so yay! You may have noticed that a hair flower is a signature style for me. As eclectic as my outfits get, I nearly always wear a hair flower. These pretty ones are from Best and Less.




Necklace used to be my Grandma's. Earrings are from Big W. I put the brooch on (a gift from a friend) as the neckline is way lower than I'm comfortable with. I'll put a few stitches in it later.


Outfit Details
Dress: Asos Curve (24)
Petticoat: Domino Dollhouse (XXL)
Shoes: Big W (11)
Necklace: my Grandma
Brooch: Gifted from a friend
Earrings: Big W
Hair Flowers: Best and Less
Bike Pants: Big W (22)






Sunday, November 4, 2012

Aussie Curves- Polka Dots


I was excited to see that Polka Dots was the theme this week, as I am a big fan. I have polka dot pyjamas, polka dot hat, polka dot plates and of course polka dot clothes. I decided to recreate what I wore for my birthday last weekend. This pretty dress was marked down to $20? (can't remember) from City Chic, which is the first thing I've bought from them. Usually their prices are too high for my budget, and they don't seem to have 70% off as often as Autograph, so I don't usually pay them much attention. But the price was right for this dress! I like that the straps are adjustable, as I needed to adjust them a lot (the usual fit around the hips, too big up top problem). The dress is comfy to wear and I love the combo of ruffles and polka dots. It came with a belt made out of the dress material, but I found a more structured belt worked better. 


To offset the chill as I went out for birthday dinner (if you're ever in Newcastle, El Nonno in Hamilton have yummy Italian food and great service for reasonable prices) I wore my Domino Dollhouse jacket. Both the jacket and the dress were having their first outing, by the way. I turned up the cuffs so you could see the adorable polka dot print on the lining. The jacket doesn't photograph well, but the colour is a rich burgundy velvet, so nice to wear. I like the crop length too, especially over dresses.


I wore my awesome op shop find boots. I like how the jacket, boots and studded belt add a bit of edge to the pretty floaty dress.


The bunny brooch and polka dot hair bow were birthday presents given to me on the night, which I promptly wore. The necklace is a dark purple stone from my Grandmother, it's not exactly right with the dress but I couldn't find a better match. 

My bracelet and my sparkly handbag are both op shop finds. The bow on the handbag is the belt from my dress.


I've assembled some other polka dot looks for you, which can be found here, here and here. I still have two more polka dot clothing items I haven't featured on the blog, maybe I'll show them off this week.


Outfit Details
Dress: City Chic
Jacket: Domino Dollhouse
Bike Pants (underneath): Big W
Boots: Thrifted
Bracelet: Thrifted
Necklace: Gifted
Hair Bow: Gifted (Olive Tree Markets)
Bunny Brooch: Gifted (Blackbird's Corner)
Belt: Asos Curve
Handbag: Thrifted




Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Orange!

I'm so excited to tell you about my first foray into the shade of orange! I have always stayed away from it, figuring it wouldn't go with my colouring, but this shirt caught my eye with its lace yoke and bright colour. I was walking past Millers on the way to do some grocery shopping- I usually don't bother looking in there as they only go up to a small size 22. But the top looked roomy and is very stretchy, so I gave it a go. There was a bright pink version which I usually would have chosen, but I wanted to be different. I paired it with my Asos Curve jersey pencil skirt, and wore them both for the first time today. I've taken a few photos as I wanted to show you the different ways I wore the shirt.


The shirt is very loose with not much structure to it, but it's very comfy and the lace is soft and not scratchy at all. The material is a bit sheer, but I'm wearing a dusky-coloured bra so it doesn't show that much. Darker coloured bras really show, not quite ready for that look yet. :-) The skirt is so comfortable to wear, I sized up to 26 but I probably could have stuck with 24 as the waistband is a little loose. But I like being comfortable so that's ok. I like how the stretchy fabric stops the skirt from impeding my movement.



A close up of the lace. I paired it with my orange earrings and purple flower along with a dark purple stone necklace from my Grandma. I like how the bright orange looks with my pale skin. My darker hair from dyeing earlier in the week helps too. Below are some different lengths to wear the top- I wore the left hand one most of the day. The right hand photo is the full shirt- I like the way it scoops at the front and back. My favourite way of wearing it was the left-hand photo- shirt slightly tucked under, no belt. What's your favourite?


Outfit Details
Top: Millers (22)
Skirt: Asos Curve (26)
Shoes: Target (11)
Necklace: Gifted
Earrings: Target
Hair Flower: Target


Monday, October 29, 2012

Aussie Curves- Skirts


Just a quick post today, I've had a busy weekend of birthday outings, and then on my actual birthday yesterday I spent it with a migraine and vomiting. So today I'm feeling a bit shaky and I'm living in sunglasses. But I didn't want to miss another week of Aussie Curves, so here is my skirt outfit (minus any jewelry 'cos I'm too spaced out from yesterday to think about it).


This skirt was an op shop find, original brand "Woman" from Best and Less. It's a size 22 so I hike it up to under my bra and it hangs fine. I love the cheerful pattern. 


Yes you're seeing my Sweet Tooth shirt again, what can I say, it goes well with so many of my outfits! I remix things a lot, so you may as well get used to it.

Outfit Details
Top: Em&Sprout from Etsy (2x)
Skirt: Thrifted (originally Best and Less) (22)
Shoes: Wild Surf Co (10)
Polka Dot Hair Bow: Olive Tree Markets