Vive la difference

Last week I was walking back to my car after Thursday’s Fitted for Work session, with my boss, Elizabeth. It was the first day after a series of very rainy very cold dreadful days and the sun was out & it was balmy & lovely. In the middle of winter. 

Liz was staring up at the sky, admiring the day & saying how beautiful it was & how she loved summer and the warm weather.

OK, fine. Very nice.

After admiring the day about 10 times, I looked at her & I must have given her a strange look (who? me?) because she stopped mid sentence and looked at me.

So I had to tell her. It was dying to come out. The nice weather is all well & good, but the only place I would like to be now is in a mall, having a pot of tea and a sweet, perhaps ice cream & looking around at all the shoppers and then doing some window shopping myself.

She tried again. But doesn’t this make you want to sit outside on your balcony & enjoy the weather?

Nope. I don’t like the outdoors. I like concrete & big buildings and I like to be inside them. I just do. Its in my DNA and always has been.

She thought I was strange.

I think there are more people with her preference for nature compared to me with my city preference. But the great thing about this, is that my view works just fine. For me. Her view works just fine. For her. 

But what's really sweet about it, is that we wont be fighting for the same shoes!

Vive la difference!

10 Ways with Black Leather Pants

1. THE BASIC

leather pants, white top,
black jacket, quality looking accessories

2. STRIPES

no one said anything about them being horizontal

3. DENIM JACKET

again, deliberate classy accessories

4. WHITE JACKET & TOP

5. TAILORED JACKET

A tailored jacket takes the look up a few notches

6. MOTO LOOK

7. CHAMBRAY SHIRT

This isnt any chambray shirt & leather pants.
Its deliberately semi fitted & the choice of shoes is key.
A rich burgendy velvet adds jsoosh.

8. RED TRIM WITH CAMEL 

Deliberate red trim makes this stand out.
The shoes, the hat, the scarf.

9. BURGENDY ACCENT WITH BLACK & WHITE

10. BURGENDY ACCENT WITH CAMEL

& IF ALL ELSE FAILS - 

Swap for black pants, keep everything else fitted with a scarf accent

10 Ways with a Square Silk Scarf

1. THE WHOLE HERMES DEAL

2. POCHETTE

Pochette with bow - too cute.

3. SLING

Kinda makes me want to break my arm

4. QEII (AKA the GRACE KELLY)

This is what I look like too, when I am peeling the vegetables.

5. WAYS WITH HAIR

6. TRIANGLE TIE FRONT

7. BAG ADORNMENTS

8. BASIC TIES

This one is my favourite & is easier than it looks.
Its Mai Tai's Friendship knot.

9. AS A TOP

This one's easy.
The vee neck is created with an elastic band on the inside. 

10. BELT

10 Ways to Kick Maternity Ass

BOUQUET

What works with these florals is their fabrics have body
& hence create presence. Much better than a soft fabric in that respect. 

in Dolce & Gabbana

BODY CON

the basic wrap

jzooshed up with ruffles

make sure the stripes are in the
right places to flatter your shape

An example of how NOT to do it.
These stripes make Busy look much bigger than she is. 

A tee shirt dress rocks with a scarf & a skinny belt

FASHIONISTA

KICK ASS SPOTS, 101

Note the youthful energy of this dress.
The shirt dress style and the graphic nature of the spots
creates movement & energy.

Grounded with black, tan belt & funky accessories.
This is how a young person rocks maternity spots. 

With a leather jacket, a tank underneath & aviator sunnies.
Red lips & nails.
Wear the leather jacket over your shoulders too. 

KICK ASS STRIPES 101

The men's cardi is a bit risky. Try only if you're tall &
make it skim over the body - not too voluminous.

This girl uses great colours - the mustard, red & purple
work well with a B&W print.
Definitely not nana's colour mix.

Chambray shirt as a jacket. Reece pulls it off beautifully,
but watch that it isnt too voluminous & long.
Love the metallic thong sandals too.

PUCCI OR SCARF PRINT

This is my hands down favourite for a princess. Its a perfect combo of comfort & uber style. 

Serious ass kicking! 

WE ALSO LOVE...

In Narciso Rodriguez perfect maternity style
The black trim & the edgy colour combo wins out here.

A flapper style with a boyfriend jacket & serious heels.
The light colours soften the look.

A very classic maternity style

BOHO MATERNITY BABE

Keep the denim jacket bolero length - its more flattering.
Add a brightly coloured bag.

Tiered sun dresses always work.
Glam up with metallic thongs.

Getting colder? Layer a skivvy, add a denim jacket
 & boots are mandatory.

Very modern boho babe. Love the way the belt is tied & the fact that
the print looks like an empire line (seam above the bump).

Resort glamour, earthed with a man style cardi. 

Can you relate to this? It comes very naturally to Gwen. 

Aztec print tunic

100% relaxed, 100% stylish

DENIM MATERNITY 101

Add a colour

Boots, fur vest & a 70s floral 

Very classic - make sure the topper isnt too oversize -
keep the armholes tight & that should manage this.

The colours here are gorgeous.
This is a Zara floral which she works with a long line cami
which deliberately matches the jeans to create a slimmer line. 

Double denim with an accent colour

Denim skirt with a bright cardi

Another bright tunic top to lift a denim skirt

Gotta love this clean fresh look

Fresh navy design which you can dress up with gold jewellery
 or dress down with leather accessories.

Basic, easy, youthful.

Easy shirts - to avoid the sloppy look, make sure the
shirt fits around the armholes properly & the fullness is limited to the boobs/tummy.
ie: Dont just buy a men's XXXL.

Make it dressier by changing the jeans to pants.

LAYER, LAYER, LAYER

PATTERNED PANTS

MINIMALIST MATERNITY 

in her own design

A Dior on a non pregnant Alexa which is a perfect maternity style.
Very edgy. Prefect for a young person. 

Colour blocked minimalist

in Narciso Rodriguez 2002

Sculptural yet basic. You either love this or you dont.
There is no middle ground. But its edgy & youthful.

Classic minimalist with a touch of edge. 

EVENING MATERNITY

The trick is to expose a touch of skin & not much more.

Loose black layers

Cocktail dress with sparklies

in Azzaro

in Versace

in DVF

in Donna Karan Collection

You can wear this for day or night. A strong floral works wonders.