Meet Trish: DFSS Woman of Style

Trish popped up in SIA's life as a fellow Dress for Success volunteer. 

She was a newbie volunteer who stood out because of her easy yet chic style. 

Trish in the DFSS office - gotta love the branding

What makes this even more fun was that the dress above is from Target's current summer range. It is $35. That's serious code for style has nothing to do with price. 

The dress is 100% linen and it also comes in a few bright solid colours. However it's this soft cool grey zebra type stripe which SIA has seen on two women in the real world, apart from Trish. Both looked great. 

So did Trish. 

What SIA loved about Trish's look was also the way she used accessories. 

She demonstrates some really sophisticated techniques: 

Colour:

First she combines some neutral colours (shoes, classic watch, beaded bracelet, wedding ring) with a pop of colour. 

The turquoise pop is fabulously done - one really striking piece (necklace) with two smaller items (ring & earrings).

Nothing competes with the necklace/earrings (which are worn close together & effectively act as one). The neutral accessories dont compete because they are neutral and the other turquoise accessories don't compete because they are small in size. Small but effective.   

Genre:

Second, all her pieces are so different in their feeling. From classic wedding pieces/ the timepiece to a boho crochet bracelet to a dramatic 80s bauble necklace. Yet they all work together. 

Beautifully.

Here is a store photo of the Target frock.
Like I said, I've seen this on two other women on the street & they too wore it well. 

$35 Target SS 2014/15

There's a postscript on this one. 
I saw Trish a few days later at the Dress for Success Garage Sale. So I could take another photo.

Garage Sale Gal

What I thought was fabulous was how she was demonstrating the same style but with different details. 
You see, that's what stylish women do - they understand & demonstrate their style - but always changing the bits within the outfit to keep it fresh, youthful & modern. 

Trish had the same fresh but chic look in a linen smock top (hello Target) & a latte short down to the knee. She picks up one of her best colours (cool blue) around the neckline with the top's embroidery.

Neutral shoes/hat & colour pops in the bracelet, ring & earrings.  Again, notice how one accessory is very strong (bracelet) and the rest, though colourful, are smaller in scale so they don't compete.

When we see someone like Trish work her clothes & accessories in this way, be comforted that she didnt just throw anything on. It all works because it's planned & it suits her. So it looks easy & it's stylish.  

SIA did a major drool over the earrings in this look...

Things to think about:

1. Do you know your style? So even if you can't put words to it, do you find your outfits have a consistency about them and are easy to put together? 

2. Can you recall an age when your look started to demonstrate that consistency? 

3. Are accessories an integral part of your look or an afterthought?  

Meet Maureen - Lunching at Macquarie Centre

Style into Action met Maureen at Sydney's Macquarie Centre on the day when the fashion wing was opened.

SIA was checking out Uniqlo and Maureen was waiting for a girlfriend, to have lunch. 

You can't help but notice a lady with her sense of style. 
I knew if I didnt tap her on the shoulder for a photo, I'd regret it. 

What works about this look?  

1. The top & pants are basics in a neutral shade of black - no bells & whistles. They are your foundations.

2. The hero piece is the animal scarf. Nothing competes with this. It provides the joie de vivre. 

3. The bag is Kate Spade - a really sharp tote whose cream stitching nods to the animal print. It's grown up yet youthful. It's in immaculate condition. 

4. Cute patent black flats with a bow. 

5. Fine jewellery (rings, earrings) which complete the look. 

5. A candy pink mani & hair which sits just so. 

Maureen's look is quite easy to replicate at any price. 

If you don't suit black or warm tones, you can tweak it to another dark neutral base and a cool toned scarf. Too easy!  
  

Meet Jenny - Woman of Style

The scene: The mess hall tables at Carlingford Court shopping centre in Carlingford. 

SIA is eating a spud (cheese & doner kebab shavings) and having a cup of tea.

A lady with a little boy sits at the table next to her. Despite being consumed by her yummy spud, she immediately sees the blog worthiness of the lady.

When she asks the lady for photos and tells her about the blog, the lady says she'll check in with hubby and come back. Her name is Jenny. 

Jenny leaves. 

At that point, SIA commiserates with her spud that she may never see Jenny again. SIA wishes she had adopted the stalking technique instead. 

Five minutes later.

Jenny comes back. With two little boys & a hubby in tow. 
SIA excited. 

Hubby was probably checking SIA didn't have two heads and wasn't running a syndicate trafficking in pretty Asian women.

All seems good. Snap, snap, snap. 

Jenny was doing the sport luxe look. 

Why does Jenny's look work?

First, Jenny is tall & slim. But her look transcends her height & figure. It can work for most women, albeit modified.

First, you need a ubiquitous white shirt. Jenny's was crisp white cotton & oversize.
Yours can be fitted, shorter, collared and in cream rather than white. It'll still work - as long as it fits you. 

I asked Jenny whether her shirt was Korean. It looked like the Korean tops SIA has discovered in Eastwood recently. 
Jenny confirmed it was from Korea, but direct Korea, not via Eastwood. 

She wore leggings. They were in a grey/brown leopard print. 
Classy print, funky shape. You can even wear jeans as an alternate. They could be skinny or bootleg (pears). They can be printed or plain. The key though is pants didnt overtake the top. They were subtle. 

Then comes the sneakers - the sneaker is the shoe for 2014 and very running after children friendly. Notice how these are not the sneakers Jenny wears to the gym? They were totally clean, had two strokes of colour on them & were her non gym sneakers. And they worked. 

The bag was a white in a mock croc - subtle but with signs of luxury. 

Then there was the grooming - subtle make up, mani in white, loose carefree waves. Deliberate loose carefree waves. 

Plus subtle status jewellery. Nothing to overtake from the sport luxe look. 

What about me/you? 

Your height, colouring & body shape will determine whether you need to tweak Jenny's look to make it appropriate for you. 

You can turn it into preppy, minimalist even biker chic. It's all possible - as long as you know what works best for your preferences and body.

Do you have Jenny's look (or a modified version) in your closet?