New Season Check

ASOS T-shirt in Tartan Print, Josh Goot Skirt, Sandals 

You can no doubt clearly see that a little bit of honest sun worshiping went along with the intended shoot here. It may be cooler, but that sun can still pack a punch! 

As the new season approaches and local retailers begin to include cardigans, parkas and faux leather fronted leggings beside their simple tees and mum-style denims on the racks I thought it best to do a little wardrobe updater. I have added a few low cost pieces to update my regular go-to's including an on-trend, but actually pretty cool print. This check print top by ASOS (which also comes in a dress- see it here) ticks the boxes I place 'check patterns' under (there are always rules- I can not help it!). Blue, red and white is okay. Black, red and white- no matter what the material or cost seems 'cheap and nasty' looking. The blue and red compliment each other, but the black and red compete with the eye, creating to sharp a contrast no matter the intensity of the hue. Maybe for me there is also some lingering childhood love of the colour purple (which when red and blue are paired together…)

This print top is not something I would label in the 'Capsule Wardrobe' category, nor would I add the red shoes, but when worked back with a simple grey marle skirt, or pair of jeans and white Converse, it is fun and easy to add an on trend or occasional printed piece. I have seen a lot of check printed tops around, everyone seems to have caught the Celine check print bug, so go forth and embrace.

xx Jenelle

How To Wear Denim Shorts With Heels

Zulu & Zephyr Shallow Top, Ksubi Denim Shorts, Mimco Sporto Scarf, Zu Heels

How To Wear Denim Shorts With Heels (and not look skanky) 

One of my favourite Fashion houses by far, would be Balmain. Year after year the collections tear down the runway with stunning models completely blowing me away with utterly cool rock and roll style. I can never get enough, the images torn out of magazines featuring the looks have stayed with me long after the trend has been copied (usually poorly), are always influencing my style. French, glamorous and edgy, but usually adaptable off runway, with military references, embellishments and texture, there is a lot to covet. In the Spring Summer collections of 2010, Balmain sent tiny denim shorts down the runway, and we have seen them ever since. I am definitely guilty of having ridiculed denim shorts- and even vowed not to wear them. I big time 'knocked it before I tried it'. Then I started working long hours installing design work over the 30-40+ degree heat in summer, painting, lifting and carrying things, bending down etc. Skirts didn't get the job done, pants were too hot and cotton shorts were generally not sturdy enough to hold the vast number of items I would shove into my pockets. Realizing how useful and in fact comfortable they could be, my attitude toward the denim short shifted. Each time I pull them on I admit I still think of the 'never nude' shower scenes from tv show Arrested Development, and can not help but think of the gazillion teenagers out there wearing them (body shape flattering or not- cause they gotta be in with the crowd). It still feels a little too casual at certain times, and I have certainly ordered a pair online only to find the rear coverage is a fraction less than I would like (WARNING: examine them carefully before adding to cart!), but I honestly do like wearing them. I am going to spell that out one more time, I honestly DO like wearing them.

The Guidelines

Of course, there are some rules which I stick to and can recommend as guidelines if you should choose to try out this tricky wardrobe staple ( if it is regularly over 38+ degrees, they are a staple). 

- Make sure that they suit your shape, and buy a size or two up from your 'normal' fit. They look better with some room in the thigh area, and you can wear a nice leather belt to bring them in should you need to at the waist. If they don't suit your shape- something else does, find out what that is and stick to it! 

- Cover up your behind and keep your modesty, no matter your age, keep it out of sight. It only takes a few added centimeters to the hemline to avoid this faux pas

- Stick to a light or dark blue vintage wash, or a simple black, grey or white denim short. 

- On the Balmain runway, the short denim shorts were not seen without a tee and leather motorbike jacket. The thing to take away from this is, if you show off all of that leg, do not show off all of your arms/ chest/ midriff as well. You pick one, and stick to it. 

- Still too hot to wear a long sleeved jacket, knit or cardigan? Opt for a loose long sleeved tee or shirt. 

- Pair with a plain white, grey, black, khaki or beige top, t-shirt, cardigan, knit, jacket or blazer

- I don't see much point in buying into something overly embellished as for me, I grow sick of that really fast. 

- I am not so keen on the pocket linings sticking out past the hem line, it asks for ridicule (and seems like a classic case of design wank to me). 

- As this look can be easily cheapened, go with quality, simple accessories. Add a light scarf or wide brimmed hat for a point of difference. Avoid cheap costume jewelry. 

- Keep makeup simple, clean, natural and minimal (in these photos I'd forgotten mascara, and look extra sleepy, oops!)

- Keep your legs neat, moisturized and natural- no orange streaky fake tans (or, don't fake tan at all, it works for me)

Footwear

- You can wear them with a heel (I chose to emphasize this by even styling them for this shoot with a LEOPARD heel. Surely short shorts and leopard are equal to skank, right? Sometimes, yes. It is a very fine line. These leopard faux pony pumps are the right hue, have the right sized print and aren't platform, so it works. Right now there are a lot of this faux pony leopard on offer, in various shoe forms. Below I will add some suggestions that I have been eyeing off). 

- Stick to a simple heel shape, aka a pointed pump or strappy heel in a neutral colour (or a bright red or cobalt for some splash of colour) or a boot. 

- Stay away from anything too busy, platformed or 'cheap' looking. Leave the gimmicks alone. 

Get the look
Denim Shorts:
Under $100: (Vintage Wash) One Teaspoon, (White) One Teaspoon
Under $50: (Vintage Wash) Asos, Just Jeans, Wrangler (Black) Billabong, (White) Rip Curl

Faux Pony Hair Leopard Shoes:
Heels: Seed Heritage, Tony Bianco
Flats: (Skate shoes) Seed Heritage, Windsor Smith, (Flats) Steve Madden, Tony Bianco

xx Jenelle

Shots by Mario Recchia

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Building A Capsule Wardrobe: Dresses

I will confess something, at one point a few years ago I had accumulated more than 100 dresses. They took up one entire wardrobe, and I wore little else. These were for day, night, dressy or casual occasions, work, or just simply amazing vintage finds I had to hold on to. 

This life of excess did not bring me any closer to being ready on time to go out- or solve the issue of finding the right thing to wear. I needed more shoes, bags, hats, jackets etc to go with them. It became a nightmare. I had different prints, patterns, colour, shapes, styles, fabrics… you name it. 

At one point something had to crack, and they had to go. 

Sometimes now I realize that at times, I dress like a boy. I don't even mean to, but I look down and, there it is- long shorts, an over-sized t-shirt and sneakers. 

I do however love to wear dresses. This is where I find my feminine balance. Dresses can if chosen correctly, save you time and make you feel confident.
When writing about the must have dresses in a capsule collection, I realize it all comes down to personal body shape. For that reason I have made two lists and collages, one for my body shape (see above) and one as a general for other body shapes (see below).

I have a small waist, and try to emphasize this. I have a small bust and tend to try and direct more attention toward my legs, rather than chest. In an ideal world, I would have a 20cm longer torso, and my bust would be a little bigger to create the 'perfect' proportions. I would also have better eyesight and not have scoliosis. Rather than focus on what I do not have, I dress with my shape in mind, and can at times create the illusion of a well proportioned shape. I like dresses to come in at the waist, and generally flare out a little, like a skater skirt (but not too hugely a la Dior's The New Look, that's too dressy for me). A non clinging pencil skirt I am down with (without showing awkward under ware lines)- it has to sit right. I also prefer to share my lower legs rather than upper, so for the most part most hem lines finish slightly above or below the knee. If I do wear a shorter mini length dress, I try to balance this out with a longer sleeve length. I don't mind showing off shoulders, but tend to vary sleeve lengths to balance out a hem length- it is all about sharing the right amount of skin. 

In my capsule collection I house a number of beautiful occasional dresses- mostly of silk, or beautiful french lace, which I spent far too much on, but try to make the most of. I think here is where the cost per use thing is completely imbalanced, as unfortunately I do not wear these many times each per year. I find it too easy to scope out beautiful occasional dresses. Really though, you only need ONE killer cocktail dress and one LBD! Finding good everyday dresses is a little bit harder, but staple shirt dresses are flexible for multiple occasions and t-shirt dresses are relaxed and comfortable. I try to avoid synthetic fabrics- like nylon and polyester, but will admit that some of my favorite Lover dresses are made from Poly (please switch back to a better fabric!). This means I can not wear them in hot weather, as those fabrics do not absorb water- meaning your body can not breathe and sweat gathers underneath the fabric. Just look at the care label before you commit to buy and bare this in mind.

My breakdown of the 'Must Have Dresses For Any Woman' (My body shape-- collage above): 

- 1x White Cotton Day Dress (embroidery or some detail make a nice touch)

- 1x Grey Marle T-shirt Dress (roomy, comfortable and perfect all summer)

- 1x Black Lace Dress (Handy to have ready to go for any special occasion)

- 1x Cotton Shirt Dress (tailored at the waist is nice to add shape, stick to a neutral colour)

- 1x Chambray Everyday Dress 

- 1x Cocktail Dress (make sure you invest in a well fitted, comfortable dress in your best colour)

- 1x Striped T-shirt Dress (a classic sporty or slightly nautical look for everyday wear)
1x Beautiful Skater Dress (can be styled up or down for dressy or casual looks)

My breakdown of the 'Must Have Dresses For Any Woman':
In the second collage (above), I found dresses I think are good staples for women of curvier body shapes:

A v-neck on a slightly bustier woman can be really flattering, particularly when paired with an elasticated or tied waist. The floral print and snake print dresses below both also use a print to keep the eye moving rather than settling on a block colour. Choose patterns which draw the eye across the body, rather than in premium curved areas where the eye may rest for the wrong reasons. The wrap dress, when worn with the right shaping underware, will smooth out the silhouette, again hiding bumpier areas, same goes for a body-con dress like this red one. The red body con dress below works for a lot of women who aren't afraid to show off curves.

 A maxi dress on a woman taller than me (in my opinion I do not wear many of these as I am so short that they swamp me a little) looks amazing, worn with sandals or a slight heel. Again I chose a v-neck here to demonstrate how to show off curves and an elasticated waist to draw that in comfortably.
For a woman with killer legs, the black mini dress with long sleeves is perfect for showing off her assets, without overdoing the skin sharing on top- balance. ;)
 The curved strapless dress style, paired with a draped hemline can look amazing on a curvier woman (my hat goes off to you if you can hold this up without your bust falling out- it's a fine line!). Finally a patterned tunic dress is bohemian, suits all body shapes, can be thrown over swimwear in summer or tights in the cooler months. Love it. 

Have any 'finding the perfect dresses tips'? Please share them below!

If you have missed any of the 'Building A Capsule Wardrobe' series, check out the previous posts here. 

I will be bringing you more of this sort of post in coming weeks, so stay tuned.

xx Jenelle

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Rock Steady

ASOS Cami, ASOS Linen Shorts, ASOS Purse, ASOS Clutch, Ellery Sandals, Kailis Pearl Necklace, Catarzi Fedora, Costume Jewellery necklaces (worn around wrist), Tom Ford Glasses

For years I wore long black shorts, the day I had to let them go- having died, I have missed them so much. Back then, I may have channeled a rock steady Gwen Stefani vibe with a few pocket chains and studded belt, yep (again, to gigs). I may lose the chains this time, but I love that they can work with a sandal or a pump, cami or buttoned silk shirt (tucked in with a belt of course). Essentials for summer, particularly thanks to the cool linen (expect to see them again). 

These swing camis, also from ASOS are actually amazing. I had hummed-and-harred about getting one of these and am so glad I did. The easy care fabric, loose, oversized fit is perfect for a summer day, and satisfies the nod to the 90's singlet which is working wonders this season (yikes, does that mean I am somehow on trend?!). Nope, just staying true to my undone, rock influenced style. 

Also how'd you like this yellow faux pony/ leather coin purse?- super bright I know (I would have preferred a white or cream), but it's cool, and probably works better given so much black. 

You can't always get what you want…

… but if you try sometimes, you get what you need. 

xx Jenelle
Photos by Mario Recchia

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Remedy

 

Jazzy Nail Art! If you want to get some Jazzy Nails happening I can highly recommend Bobbi Jo, she does mine, these were so cute. Check out the link below to her site. x

Remedy

With the beautiful Le Fanciulle girls Trish and Steph with their gorgeous pal Sinéad

With the darling Kate

Hosted by the lovely Hannah and Emma from All of the Above Creative at 140 Perth Remedy celebrated Spring Fashion, embracing local Designers and Artists, with funds being raised for the Australian Cancer Research Foundation.

The walls lined with beautiful pieces up for silent auction, vintage apothecary bottles sprouted yellow blooms, pretty live music, great wine and sushi made the entire night a full sensory Spring experience. Girls dressed in beautiful vintage yellow toned dresses, hair adorned with yellow flowers skipped around making everyone feel welcome, while towering models were prepped for the runway. Please excuse my lack of quality pics, I ran out of the house without my camera! (Stupid move! Which I will not repeat!)

Local designers Zsadar, Garth Cook and Little Gracie, Peppermint Milk, On A Whim, Tindale, The Butcher and The Crow, Raspberry + Pop and Kim Barton all presented looks, which were donated and up for auction.

 Artists Pippa McManus, Andy Quilty and Anya Brock all donated pieces as well.

I managed to catch up with the incredible Maevana of PeppermintMilk who I know has been flat chat getting her pieces ready for Perth Fashion Festival. Back during our WAAPA days, I would see her in the Costume/ Design hallway and just die over her clothes. There was one pale blue dress she wore which I swear was the BEST dress I have ever seen! Considering her labels aesthetic is at once feminine, sexy and has a nod to costume history, I know she is busy coming up with all kinds of magic to share. The boning that goes into each dress alone, as well as exquisite fabric choices speak for themselves. If you get along to the WA Designer Collections show be sure to check out her pieces. 

I was so happy to meet Trish and Steph of Le Fanciulle, who are the most fashionable Med students ever. How on earth they manage to blog, DIY up a storm and study Medicine is beyond me. You ladies rock.

I was happy to tote some personalized nail art care of Jazzy Nail Art. Bobbi-Jo gave my nails matching peter-pan collars to my Lover Winona Skater Dress. If you are wanting to jazz up your nails for PFF, a special occasion, or you know, the occasion of 'life' get in touch with Bobbi Jo through the Facebook page link above or email jazzynailart@gmail.com 

Thanks to Kate for being my date (and taking some pics for me) and to Lover for making amazing dresses. Seriously, can I wear that one all the time? Please? 

xx

Officially a Vintage Eskimo

 

It is pretty cold hey? Went for a walk down the road, and made sure to rug up. This vintage coat has me feeling a little like an Eskimo, and I love it. Anyone for a bonfire?

Stay warm!
xx

Glasses, Tom Ford
Coat, Vintage
Jeans, Witchery
Sneakers, Converse