My Springtime Style

I am loving the sunshine and hoping that it lasts, but it seems too early in the year for summer dresses, hot pants and flip-flops if you ask me - but maybe I’m just getting old because judging from the fashion on show on a recent shopping trip, it seems that I’m out-of-touch. However if, like me, you’re not quite ready to bare all just yet...here are my 

Top Tips for dressing at the moment!

• Get a hot new Hairstyle: It’s time to ditch the winter hats, and as we can no longer hide our hair under one, it’s a great time to have a hair makeover. Check out this article for some inspiration  http://www.ivillage.co.uk/celebrity-hair-trends-get-the-look/146452  If you’re thinking of dyeing your hair remember this might affect the colours that flatter you in terms of clothes and make-up.
• Do a Make-up audit: Talking of make-up, it’s also worth checking your make-up bag now too - I’m moving from my deep plum lippy to red. Also don’t forget you should get rid of anything that is out-of-date and up the SPF.  
• Up top and over: The daytimes are lovely and warm, but as the sun goes down and the evening cools you will need a lightweight cover up. Also, out of the sun or in open areas there can be a breeze. For me it’s time to get out my cropped denim jacket and an array of bright cardi’s.
• Lower level: Like I said, I’m not ready to expose my legs just yet... after a winter of tights, they need some TLC first! But it’s never too early for my linen trousers and coloured jeans are also very now. When I do ditch the trousers, Spring sees the outing of my denim skirt and coloured pencil skirts make an appearance.
• Dress-up: Maxi dresses are a great way to look girly and remain a bit covered-up.  I like them layered – maybe a t-shirt underneath and my denim jacket/cardigan on top (which also works with a summer dress). I also avoid all over black and shift to navy/grey/beige which look less harsh and are just as smart and versatile.
• Fetching feet: OK, so I have to get out of my boots but rather than go straight to sandals and flip-flops, I’m going with peep toe shoes. Coloured pumps also make for great Spring-time footwear.

Finally, this Spring is a great time for sherbet colours, floral prints and lace.

The main thing though, is to make sure you’re wearing the right colours and styles for you and have a closet of clothes that makes you feel as warm and bright as the Spring sunshine... so feel free to ignore me and wear your bikini now if you want to!

Me wearing a printed maxi dress, bright cardi' and peep toe shoes.

Happy birthday Barbie!

Today in 1959 the Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York, and she’s been going strong ever since.  

Some say she’s good, some have major issues but she should at least be recognised (especially so close to International Women's Day) for her staying power!

OK so she’s too skinny - even with her wider waist in later years - but Barbie, in other ways, demonstrates some great examples of ‘Girl Power’.  The same people who highlight that she is a bad role model for young girls with regards to her weight might also recognise that she sets a great example in other ways.

Here are seven reasons why? She's...

1.     A go-getter… is there a job (male-dominated included) that she hasn’t tried out?

2.     Independent: after all, she’s not conformed to marriage and leaves Ken in her shadow

3.     Re-invented herself to keep up with the times - that show's openness to growth, right?

4.     Resilient and bounces back from disaster (fairly often!)

5.     Appears to be a great friend to humans and animals

6.     Embracing of different cultures (appropriation?)

7.     Makes films that have a positive message

On a personal note, I’d quite like to have her influence, resources, an extensive wardrobe, and designers providing me with outfits for a 50^th birthday catwalk show.

In a week where the question has been raised as to whether we girls are too hard on each other, I say ‘Go Barbie’!

The Prince of Colour & Style

I’ve been doing a number of ‘developing confidence through colour’ and ‘defining your style’ events recently and was planning on using one of these ‘themes’ as the basis of a blog.  But it seems as if I’m meant to write about Prince instead (or is he still the Artist formally known as?!), because I find myself listening to “The most beautiful girl in the World” and finding out that there’s going to be a sing-a-long version of Purple Rain shown at a local cinema. So here goes:

“The most beautiful girl in the World” is on an album called “The Gold Experience” and suddenly I’m thinking about all the Prince songs featuring colours.  Personally, I can’t think of another artist who has done so many. I know of 11 Prince songs (I may have missed some?) that have a colour in the title, and these are:

“Purple rain”
“Little red corvette”
“Raspberry beret”
“Gold” (from “The Gold experience”)  
“Cream”
“So blue”
“Peach”
“Blue light”
“Computer blue”
“3 chains o gold”
“Starfish and coffee”

Hence why Prince is my ‘Prince of Colour’.

But it’s not just that I find many of his songs cool, and that he writes about colour - I actually do admire his style as he’s as ‘colourful’ with HIS style choices as his song titles.

Prince has been around longer than Madonna and changed image at least as often, you just have to look at his album covers to know that he is into how he looks. His suits are razor sharp, and he is not afraid to wear them in colour (often in unusual combinations). The man knows how to accessorise (from his guitar to pearls and elaborate rings) better than many women. With pattern & print, ruffles and polka dots, (not to mention his footwear!) he could come across as 'girly' (no bad thing) but somehow he just doesn’t - he just looks like a man who is confident enough to do his own style thing... And that style is pretty unique from the waistlines to heels (in which he looks comfortable and cool). 

He is one of my many style icon because he is fearless, creative, ‘fierce, colourful and individual (not really my style personality).

So here’s the thing, he actually captures the essence of colour confidence and defining your own style (which is where I started this blog)... Ladies – take note, Gents – don’t be shy if you need heels! but remember whilst imitation is the highest form of flattering for someone else, when it comes to you...BE AUTHENTIC.