Image from http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/christmas/tips-for-a-stressfree-christmas-20111128-1o2wt.html

The Body Shop: Sweet Christmas

 

Wow, the first Friday of December and eighteen more sleeps until Christmas! Yea! This will be my last post until after Christmas and I will continue with the rest of the thirty fashion tips from then.

 

There are many great things I love about Christmas especially leading up to the festive day. Catchy Christmas carols playing throughout the shopping centre, cheery and colourful Christmas decorations throughout the cities and in the stores, special edition of items and catalogues just for Christmas.

 

I have come across this awesome Christmas catalogue from The Body Shop recently and thought I'll share it. 

 

I love the theme of Christmas treats for this creative catalogue and not to mention the makeup on the model is beautiful. They even included recipes for gingerbread man and strawberry short cakes in their 2012 Christmas catalogue. You can check out their website at http://www.thebodyshop.com.au/. 



The first two pages of the catalogue.

Tips for the party look.

Two Christmas recipes.

What is your favourite Christmas catalogue? Please feel free to share it!

 

Anyways, wish you all a safe and 

Merry Christmas!

xx 

Rule 10: Do a dress rehearsal.

Rachel Zoe doesn't just go for the first clean item in her closet. Why? Because style takes time. Don't leave choosing an outfit to the last minute. Try on several options and perfect your ensemble well before wearing them.

 

 

Rule 11: Don't buy on impulse.

"Go home and think about a potential purchase. It will either stick in your head or disappear," says Mimi Scantamburlo, accessories manager for Dotti.

 

 

The conceal and reveal strategies in the picture are from Bradley Bayou's The Science of Sexy.

Underwear

I think every body shapes are beautiful and should be celebrated. However, if you have certain part, or parts, of your body that you want to hide forget surgery, invest in super underwear/shapewear instead.

 

Orig. image from Shop Til You Drop November 2008

Here are the following five main undergarments (refer to image on the left):

 

1) This tight singlet top "flattens the tummy, smoothes the back and enhances the bust" (Harrington 2008, 104).

 

2) The body slip "firms the thighs while working to trim the waist and flatten the tummy" (Harrington 2008, 104).

 

3) The bodysuit will "streamline the tummy and midriff" (Harrington 2008, 104).

 

4) The shorts  "slim your hips, thighs and tummy" (Harrington 2008, 104) and can boost your behind (Feldon 2000).

 

5) This high-waisted brief "slim your silhouette around the waist and hips...[and] great for minimising your tummy" (Harrington 2008, 104). 

 

Body shapers can be found in Bras N Things and I am sure you can also find them in  other stores that sell undergarments.

 

 

Reference List:

• Feldon, L. 2000. Does This Make Me Look Fat?. Australia:Hodder Headline Group.
• Harrington, A. 2008. Behind-the-scenes 5 Pieces Every Girl Needs. Shop Til You Drop, November. 

 

 

Q: What is your secret fashion (on the body or face eg. lipstick) weapon?

 

For me is pair of not-so-high heels. Beside it adding a bit to my height, given that I am kind of short, it makes my outift look, and me feeling, chic and they will still be comfortable after a long day.  

 

Body Shapes

According to Coco Chanel “Fashion is architecture; it is a matter of proportions” and bad balance of clothes, that is clothes not in sync with your body, will reinforces figure flaws (Feldon 2000). It is important to understand and know your body and from there build your style and wardrobe.
Regardless of what your figure, height and weight are you will always look best when you dress for your body shape (Harrington 2008). According to Trinny and Susannah there are 12 different body figures, which deserves a section of its own, but if you are curious and interested in finding your body shape refer to Trinny and Susannah:The Body Shape Bible and or http://www.insideoutstyleblog.com/category/body-shapes-explained/real-life-body-shapes created by image consultant Imogen Lamport.

 

 

Reference List:

• Feldon, L. 2000. Does This Make Me Look Fat?. Australia:Hodder Headline Group.
• Harrington, A. 2008. How to look good in clothes...Shop Til You Drop, November.

 

Rule 9: Know your body.

"Not everything looks as great on you as it does on the runway," advises Serena Ross, founder of www.dressedup.com.au. Look for something that really suits your shape - it might be a black A-line skirt, but it'll get you more compliments than those wet-look tights were ever going to.

Age, Trends and Fads (II)

Trends and fads are different (Feldon 2000). “Trends are general directions in mood and shape – as in trend toward romanticism, minimalism, or more narrow silhouettes” (ibid, 121), whereas fads “are like little bleeps on the trend graph” (ibid,121), they are temporary snippets of the broad concept (ibid). For example, skin tight clothing and stiletto heels are the snippets of the narrower silhouette trend (ibid).

According to Australia’s fashion designer Jayson Brunsdon “trends come from all over the place...Politics, the economy, people, films, art movements,” (Markezic Dec 2008, 104). Below is a copy of an article by Emma Markezic about the birth of a trend from the awesome fashion magazine Shop Til You Drop December 2008.

When it comes to trends apparently the younger you are, that is before and during puberty, the more you can get away with the latest trend (Feldon 2000). Theoretically your twenties is your mellowing-out phase, when "dressing like everyone else is not crucial to survival or even desirable" (Feldon 2000, 120). While during your thirties, your tastes are more sophisticated, unique and creative (ibid). Going into your forties, there is a natural convergence of who you are and what you wear in your style (ibid). From your fifties and onward, you just enjoy your well-earned style confidence and flair (ibid).

 

Trends will come and go, but style can be timeless so invest very sparingly on fads and you should only buy key trends that suit your body shape and personal taste. “Sophisticated dressing has a natural quality – there’s a certain effortless elegance to it. A look that has everything – the right fabrics, great proportions and beautiful elements in design will all marry in perfect harmony...It’s about buying clothes that you love which has a timeless sense of beauty,” says fashion designer Bianca Spender (Markezic Oct 2008, 96).  

Image from Shop Til You Drop December 2008, page 106

 

Reference List:

• Feldon, L. 2000. Does This Make Me Look Fat?. Australia: Hodder Headline Group.

• Markezic, E. 2008. Are your clothes ageing you?. Shop Til You Drop, October.

• Markezic, E. 2008. Who decides what's in, anyway?. Shop Til You Drop, December.

Age, Trends and Fads

Similar Outfit: Older (Katie) Vs Stylish (Miranda)...
Let me know what you think?

I remembered some years back when Trinny and Susannah’s style makeover show was on Australian television, where they do wardrobe and style transformations for the poor unsuspected ‘fashion victims’ that were nominated by either their family and or friends. Basically what these ‘fashion victims’ have agreed to do, when they have chosen to continued with the program, were to disposed of all garments that were considered by Trinny and Susannah to be absolutely wrong for them and  start anew clothes and wardrobe with Trinny and Susannah’s help and guidance. The two style gurus were brutally honest and it was interesting to see that some of us still have very old, out dated and ill-fitted clothes. Don’t get me wrong I love vintage clothing, but we are not talking about old vintage piece of clothing, but styles that were unflattering and seemed to be stuck in some sort of a time warp.



Images from Shop Til You Drop
October 2008, pages 96 & 97  

Anyways, I remembered this one episode with this lady, she was a horse riding instructor or as such, and she was really stuck in her teens with miniskirts, tight t-shirts and jeans. What makes this disastrous was that she was in her late thirties, or was it early-mid forties, but she was definitely not seventeen. Trinny and Susannah did a wonderful job with her transformation and dressed her in a style more appropriate to her age, but in the end she went back to her initial style. She felt it was more her and was happy with it, and good for her but honestly, and in my opinion, she looks kind of tacky and why was she still trying so hard..?!

 

Dressing appropriately for your age these days, however are somewhat fuzzy when you have celebrity such as 44 year old Elle Macpherson who still looks good in skinny-leg jeans. You want to be stylish and fashionable, but trends come and go so quickly, it is sometimes difficult not to get left behind or worse trying to keep up.  Clothes can make you look older than you are or a “mutton dressed as lamb”, which also makes you look older, and “to slavishly follow trends is instantly ageing” (Markezic Oct 2008, 96).

The secret to staying stylish according to most stylists and designers is invest in clothing that flatters your body shape, emphasise on your positives and hide the negatives. Not all trends are bad especially the ones that suits and complements your body and personal style. However, the right trends for you might come in rarely it is ideal to be conscious of the general trends and “buy only those pieces that work for you, your shape, your age, your lifestyle” (Markezic Oct 2008, 96).   

To be continued...

Rule 7: Know a fad from a trend.                          

While you should invest in key trends, spend sparingly on passing fads - like harem pants and cobweb tights.

Rule 8: Acknowledge your age. 

With teens wearing vintage boxy jackets and Helen Mirren parading around in a bikini, the age line has never been fuzzier. But if you have to give it more than 60 seconds thought, that's a no.

Check out these fashion blogs/websites

It is mind boggling that there are so many fashion blogs and websites on the internet. There are endless inspirations, ideas and tips on the net and if that is not enough, there are fashion magazines and books. Anyways, I will start with the following four websites and blogs and will add more down the track.

1. http://www.thesartorialist.com/

This is created by photographer/blogger Scott Schuman and it is a blog of daily world fashion.

2. http://streetpeeper.com/

This is also a blog of fashion around the world, created by Phil, with beautiful photographers/pictures.

3. http://www.whowhatwear.com/website/home.php

This fashion website has the latest trend and celebrities inspired looks/outfits. It is also an online shop.

4. http://www.westfield.com.au/au/be-inspired

This is also another informative fashion website/online shop. Ensure that you click on the 'Style Kit' tab for the interactive tools to help you find your style star.



Copied from Westfield Innaloo Insider Spring-Summer 2012



Rule 5: Be Inspired.

Fashion blogs show us how fashion plates around the world are styling themselves on the street and can give you a unique (and workable) take on the latest trends.

Rule 6: Workshop your look.

Avoid future what-was-I-thinking moments and get a friend to photograph you in new combos. Later, look at the pictures and you'll know what to do.  

"I think everybody's weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it."

Johnny Depp

Johnny has worked with many amazing directors and actors such as young Leonardo DiCaprio in the beautiful film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), lovely Kate Winslet in Finding Neverland (2004) and the legendary Marlon Brando in Don Juan DeMarco (1994) (Johnstone 2006).

Johnny has acted in many films and the list is too long to write about each one in this two-three pages biography (for a more comprehensive biography refer to Johnny Depp The Illustrated Biography). One of the films that I find him to be utterly mesmerising in is Jim Jarmusch’s philosophical Western, black and white film Dead Man (1995). The story starring Johnny as William Blake (ibid) is strange yet poetic and the combination of black and white cinematographer and the soulful music score by Neil Young is very captivating.

Another character that Johnny has portrayed amazingly is the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean movie and sequels, the first film was released in 2003. His interpretation of Jack Sparrow is a combination of the romantic cartoon skunk Pepe LePew and guitarist Keith Richards (ibid). Johnny was nominated for the 2004 Academy Awards for Best Performance for his role of Captain Jack Sparrow (ibid). 

Johnny is very handsome and sexy (voted as the sexiest man numerous times), but he is so much more than just his good looks. He is artistic, perceptive, versatile, odd and a true individualist. Johnny has remained true to his first love, music (Bingham 2005).  He has appeared in and directed many music videos and has wrote part of the soundtrack for Once upon a Time in Mexico (2003) (ibid). He has turned down many blockbuster movies, including Lestat in Interview with a Vampire, which was taken by Tom Cruise and Officer Jack Traven in Speed, which was instead played by the wonderful Keanu Reeves (ibid). Johnny acts in films, probably minus a few chosen roles in his very earlier years, that have some or deeper meanings to him instead for fame and fortune. He is unique and very talented and this resonates through his many different and wonderful characters.

Reference List:

• Johnstone, N. 2006. Johnny Depp The Illustrated Biography. Australia: Carlton Books Ltd.
• Bingham, J. 2005. Johnny Depp. Great Britain: Harcourt Education Ltd.
• Attanasio, P. 1987. 'Platoon' (R). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/videos/platoonrattanasio_a0ad90.htm. (accessed October 29, 2012).
• Ehirsch6. 2010. Best Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movies. http://www.imdb.com/list/rOpZpeTqOjc/. (accessed November 3, 2012).  

Images in this mini biography are copied from google images and http://www.fanpop.com/spots/johnny-depp/images 

A Unique Individual: Johnny Depp (Part II)

Johnny first appeared in the hugely successful horro movie A Nightmare On Elm Street in 1984 playing Glen Lantz (Johnstone 2006). He then starred in several unsucessful films including Private Resort in 1985 (ibid). In order to get more serious about his acting, Johnny enrolled in acting classes at The Loft Studio (ibid).

In 1986, Johnny played Private Lerner in Oliver Stone's Platoon (Bingham 2005), a movie about the Vietnam War in all its gore, fear, confusion and "chaotic battles without an overlay of esthetics or ballet" (Attanasio 1987).

In 1987 Johnny starred in a television series 21 Jump Street as Officer Tom Hanson, an undercover detective in an America high school (Bingham 2005). Johnny initially turned down the role twice, but due to financial hardship he relented (ibid). The series were a great success and attracted millions of loyal young viewers (Johnstone 2006). Despite the fame, money and stability, Johnny was frustrated and unhappy about being idolised for his looks and being a teen pin-up (ibid; Bingham 2005).

In 1989 Johnny was offered the role of Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker in Cry-Baby directed by John Waters (Bingham 2005). Johnny hoping to break away from being a teen idol accepted the lead role (ibid). The movie is set in Baltimore 1954, the nascent days of sex, drugs, rock ‘n’ roll and tells the story of high school misfits, a juvenile delinquent Wade Walker from the wrong side of the tracks and a forbidden romance (Johnstone 2006).

In 1990 Johnny landed in another lead role of Edward in Edward Scissorhands, an antithesis of ‘Tom Hanson’ (ibid). He enjoyed playing Edward and was very much intrigued by the idea of a character who “wants to touch but can’t” (Bingham 2005, 23). Edward is a loveable misfit (Johnstone 2006) and despite the character’s frightful hairdo, multiple scars and sharp scissor hands, Edward is naive, gentle, kind and creative. 

Edward Scissorhands is the first of many great movies that Johnny has collaborated with the ingenious director Tim Burton (ibid). “[Johnny] Depp has become something of an alter ego for Burton” (ibid, 39). Their many collaborations include Ed Wood (1994) playing the director of B-movies Edward D. Wood Jr; Sleepy Hollow (1999) as constable Ichabod Crane; Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) as the imaginative and eccentric Willy Wonka; Corpse Bride (2005) voice for Victor Van Dort; Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) playing the sinister serial killer Benjamin Barker a.k.a. Sweeney Todd; Alice in Wonderland (2010) as the Mad Hatter; and Dark Shadows (2012) as the 200 year old vampire Barnabas Collins (ibid; Best Tim Burton/Johnny Depp movies 2010).

...

A Unique Individual: Johnny Depp (Part I)

John Christopher “Johnny” Depp II, born on the 9th June 1963 in Owensboro, Kentucky America, is the youngest of four children (Bingham 2005). Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors of his generation. Despite his good looks, he hardly chooses glamorous roles (Bingham 2005), but instead Johnny has played “an incredible eclectic array of tongue-tied misfits, sensitive outsiders and eccentric renegades” (Johnstone 2006, 6).

While growing up Johnny was fascinated by old films about the Second World War and stuntman Evil Knievel, who represented a recklessness and danger that intrigued Johnny (Johnstone 2006). Other individual daredevils that also appeal to Johnny later in his life are writer Hunter S. Thompson, author of The Rum Diary and guitarist Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones (Johnstone 2006). By the age of fifteen, Johnny has lived in approximately 20 different places and in order to deal with the lack of stability, he developed a fantasy world which he could escape into (Johnstone 2006).

Johnny’s first love is music and has formed his first of many bands at the age of thirteen, which they called themselves Flame (Johnstone 2006). Johnny was exposed to live music and instruments throughout his childhood by his uncle, who was a Baptist minister and ran a gospel group (Johnstone 2006). 

At the age of twelve, his mother bought him an electric guitar, which he then spent hours, locked in bedroom playing (Bingham 2005). He taught himself to play by listening to records and jamming along to music from Aerosmith’s “Season of Wither” or albums by Alice Cooper and Kiss (Johnstone 2006). Johnny also listened to soundtracks albums A Clockwork Orange, Last Tango In Paris, albums by Bob Dylan and classical music by composers such as Brahms and Mozart (Johnstone 2006). His earlier influence also included the famous punk band Sex Pistols and U2, who was part of the “New Wave” music movement, and Iggy Pop (Bingham 2005 and Johnstone 2006). 

Johnny dropped out of high school at sixteen in 1979 and concentrated on writing songs and becoming a rock star (Bingham 2005 and Johnstone 2006). In 1983 Johnny married his first love and wife Lori Ann Allison and moved to Los Angeles hoping to make it big with The Kids, a band he later joined (Johnstone 2006). Life in LA was a struggle, the band was not doing well and in order to make ends meet and pay rent Johnny took a succession of low- paid jobs (Johnstone 2006). In 1984 prior to their divorce Lori Ann Allison introduced Johnny to her friend Nicolas Cage (Johnstone 2006). It was a meeting that has changed the course of Johnny’s life and entered him into the world of acting (Bingham 2005 and Johnstone 2006).

 To be continued...

RULE 3: Celebrate your individuality.

“Fashion is a form of self expression,” says Melinda Janian, designer and co-founder of Melinda & Narina. Whether through a vintage brooch or quirky print, inject a little bit of yourself into every outfit.

RULE 4: Be Confident.

Never, ever wear anything that you don't feel comfortable in. "It doesn't matter how much money you spend, if you lack confidence, your outfit loses its appeal," says Veronique Xavier, head buyer and designer for Wanted Shoes.  

Get Creative

Wear a nightgown that is not sheer or too short that will show your underwear. Add a belt, a necklace and a cropped jacket, or vest, to take the nightgown out of its bedroom role.

Or

Tuck the shirt that is usually reserved for work into a pair of high-waisted jeans or as shown above in the picture of Grace Kelly in a pair of three quarter jeans and add a scarf for a bit of colour and personality.

Or

Combine your one piece swimsuit with a skirt, or shorts, and a belt for a business or casual look. However, be aware that going to the bathroom could be a bit problematic with a one piece bather.   



 

Original Images of Model and Tees are from Shop Til You Drop May 2008               



Plain t-shirts are simple and comfortable. It is also a blank canvas for you to add your personality and creativity into your clothes through accessories, a scarf, a vest, pictures or a tie. The style can be casual with just a pair of jeans or smart casual plus a jacket over the t-shirt. Either way, t-shirts are awesome!                          

Rule 1: Get back to basics.

Neutral tees and black pants are a good base for your closet to grow from.

Rule 2: Get Creative.

Let your clothes live outside of their designated roles. For eg., turn your work shirt into a casual weekend wear or your night gown into an evening outfit.

Let us know what’s your uptake on these first two rules?

 

'30 of the Best Style Rules'

On Monday the 28^th of September 2009 I came across this “30 of the best...Style Rules” on http://www.30daysoffashionandbeauty.com.au. To me, this 30 tips and rules really do sum up all you need to know about being your own fashion stylist. The rules and advices are from experts and people who work in the fashion and beauty industry. I have created collages around the 30 Rules and added my spin on it. A majority of the images in the collages are cut from numerous fashion magazines.

30 Days of Fashion and Beauty is an annual event in Australia that occurs throughout September. It celebrates all things fashion and beauty including designs from up and coming Australian fashion designers.

Fashion and Style                    

Fashion, according to the Macmillan English Dictionary, is “the activity or business that involves styles of clothes and people’s appearance” and style in this context is the way we dress. Fashion can be sexy, glamorous, mysterious, confident, graceful, empowering and allows us to express our individuality. It also has history, which gives us a small glimpse of the events of its time.  

In 1966 when Yves Saint Laurent launches his famous and fashion phenomenon the “Le Smoking”, tuxedos for women, it created controversy but empowered women and offered them the choice to wear a suit that was normally exclusive to men with influence and power (Baker 1995 and White 1995). The tuxedo was then revived in 1981 (White 1995) and recently in YSL’s 2011 Fall/Winter collection.

The romantic and historic time of Jane Austen where fashion consists of “organdie ruffles, silk flowers and the empire line” (Johnson 1996, 17) and equates to a sense of opulence (Johnson 1996). Or the decadence designs of the twenties where style was bohemia and eveningwear “catches the scent of silent movies and opium dens” (Johnson 1996).

The 18th century romanticism and lavish rococo design of Marie Antoinette’s time and pre- revolutionary Paris, where gowns were made from layers and layers of pastel fabrics, ruffled lace, bold patterns, embellishments and beading (Huckbody, 2006).

Fashion comes in many combinations, structures and designs and like designer Paloma Picasso said “It’s very important to use fashion only as it serves you and not to become a slave of fashion”. And Nicole Chavez, stylist to celebrity such as Rachel Bilson and Scarlett Johansson, “Bring your personality into your clothes and have [your wardrobe] be an extension of who you are”. 

 

Reference List:

• Baker, K. U. 1995. Evening Star. Vogue, May
• White, L. 1995. The Saint returns. Vogue, May
• Johnson, A. 1996. Scene stealing. Vogue Australia, November
• Huckbody, J. 2006. The New Rococo. Harper’s Bazaar Australia, December