Style Me TRC: December 2012

Sunday 23 December 2012

Wishing you well these holidays

Top Ryde City would like to wish all of our lovely blog readers and shoppers a very Merry Christmas! The centre is open until 6pm on Christmas Eve and closed Christmas day and boxing day. For all other Holiday opening hours, check our Top Ryde City website HERE. Plus, see my last minute Christmas guide on our Facebook for everyone that has left the shopping until Christmas eve!!!

Stay tuned over the break, as we will be blogging all throughout the holiday season, with some of our upcoming blogs on how to successfully shop the season sales, how to find the perfect New Years Eve outfit and your essential guide to summer holiday packing. For updates on all your favourite retailers as they go on sale, like our Facebook page to stay in the loop and not miss out.

For anyone shopping over the holiday season, don't forget to take advantage of La Piazza and it's 8 leading restaurants, including Hurricane’s Bar and Grill, Kazbah and Red Spoon Thai, offering inner and outdoor dinning for the whole family.

Plus, a special note to anyone whose new years resolution is to get fitter and healthier in 2013, now is the time to visit our leading gym, Fitness First platinum. There is no time like the new year to source a great deal on a new gym membership.

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Myer is my store this Christmas

Myer, it’s the biggest retailer in Top Ryde City and one of the best when your Christmas shopping reaches crunch time! With everything from fashion, beauty and homewear under one roof, Myer makes it hard not finding everything you want in one easy breezy store! If fashion is on your shopping agenda for Christmas, then you will find a great range at Myer this season. I was fortunate enough to see the collection 1^st hand, while presenting for 2dayfm’s The Dirt. It's bold, bright and on trend, with all your favourite Australian brands. You can watch the video below, I interviewed Myer ambassador and glamour girl Jennifer Hawkins… And yes, before you ask, she is just as stunning and down to earth in real life.

While I would not discourage buying a great dress for a loved one or friend, it can be hard to shop for other people's clothes. Unless you know them back to front, i would say avoid it. Personal taste can be a funny thing and if you're not sure, it's best to leave it to the individual. No one likes returning an ill fitting gift. However, when shopping for beauty products, it’s a different story. You can’t go past a gift set, fragrance or hair appliance at Christmas. Consider them safe and easy purchases, that will be loved and appreciated.
I have done the shopping for you, here is my MYER gift edit to help you find the perfect present this silly season!

TIPS

For the girl that loves her pop music: Gift solution = A celebrity fragrance.

Celebrity fragrances are great gift ideas, from Justin Bieber to Nikki Minaj, even Britney has her own. You will be hard pressed to find a pop icon that doesn’t have their own scent these days. The way I see it, if your loved one has bought a pop icons album on iTunes or seen them in concert, then you can’t go past one of these great gifts.

For the girl that loves her hair: Gift solution = Hair tools

Curlers, straighteners, crimpers, the list goes on. Every woman needs a good at-home styling kit, that will tame their mane and have them looking like they've just visited the salon. Purchasing a curling set, curling tong, straighter or hairdryer is a great option, which is sure to get some usage. Sure, loads of girls already have them, but the question is, how old are their existing hair care tools? With innovations in hair and beauty happening all the time, a new innovative hair care appliance could be a life saver!

For the girl that likes to be pampered: Gift solution = A limited Christmas gift set.

A great gift set is a no brainer at a great price point for the holidays. Find out your loved ones favourite brand and get them a great gift set. Gift sets always have the best bits and usually a few great limited edition bonuses that you find any outside of the Christmas season. Myer has a range of gift sets for cosmetics, skin care and fragrance, so it's easy to find the right set to match anyone perfectly.

Sunday 16 December 2012

Pyjamas the best stocking filler!

Christmas shopping, it's on everyone's to do list at the moment, including mine. I've been avoiding it and time is running out. However, even if i am doing a last minute shop, i'll never be that girl who gives a hamper pack of socks and underwear. Nothing says "I forgot all about you" like some sports socks and beige undies. Sure they are essentials, but they hardly make it onto the cool creative gift list. If you are short on time and stumped as to what to get your mum, girlfriend, sister, aunt or any other female in your life (even the men in you life), then an awesome set of Pyjamas is the answer. PJ's never disappoint. They're that essential item we need and want, which we never seem to get around to buying ourselves. I went for a scout in the Top Ryde City this week and I loved the range of PJ's at Sussan. Below are some of my favourite sets. They have everything in-store, from super sweet lace lingerie sets to cotton shorts, nighties and dressing gowns in great prints. Plus if you're stuck for stocking fillers, you will find some great nick-nacks in the store as well. Problem sorted!

Tuesday 11 December 2012

How to find the perfect celebrity inspired bandage dress

Bandage dresses have been the secret weapon of celebrities walking the red carpet for years. Since their invention by designer Herve Leger (who is famous for creating the bandage dress) there have been 100's of designers making very similar style dresses at a fraction of the cost, allowing even girls on a budget to get that A list look. I'd be hard pressed naming a female celebrity that hasn't been seen in a bandage dress at some stage, they simply are the magic weapon that work for women of all shapes and sizes.

I was tweeted this week by a Top Ryde City shopper on my twitter - @rochelle_fox (feel free to tweet me your style questions) who was stuck as to what to wear to her work Xmas party. She wanted something sexy but appropriate, that would impress a fellow co worker (no harm in that). My first response was a Dollhouse bandage dress. Dollhouse have long been known as the store within Top Ryde City for dresses with bling, glamour and that will make a statement. Aside from the huge array of formal dresses that are available at Dollhouse, they also get daily deliveries of the latest celebrity inspired bandage dresses. Now I know some women steer away from tight fitting figure hugging dresses, but the beauty of a bandage dress is the way it slims your figure. A bandage dress's fabric and construction is designed to pull you in and smooths out your shape, giving you sleek elegant curves.

Here are my top tips when shopping for a bandage dress at Dollhouse

Don't be afraid to go down a size- Bandage dresses should feel tight when you first put them on, but they will soon mould to your shape and be super comfortable. Never be fooled and go for a bigger size, as it will ruin the whole effect.

Experiment with colour- Bandage dresses come in a massive range of block coloured styles and mixed colours, as well as geometric prints and patterns. Just like the fabric and fit is designed to be slimming, so is the colour distribution. The use of strategic colour can have a slimming effect by creating an optical illusion. Once you know the size and preferred shape of your bandage dress, you can buy them again and again whilst changing up the colour combination. That is what makes them the perfect emergency dress!

If you're scared, go for knee length- If you never or rarely wear figure hugging garments and are taking the plunge to wear a bandage dress, my advice is to go for a style with a hemline that sits on your knee or lower. A longer bandage dress gives a more sophisticated and mature look.

For example, Miranda Kerr often wears bandage dresses, but since becoming a mum her style has become more conservative. Despite motherhood and changes in her body, Miranda is still a big fan of the famous bandage dress, though she now opts for a style with a longer fit. She also has made the style work for her as she gets older, by changing her overall look with the dress. By tying her hair back and keeping her makeup simple with a statement red lip, she makes the look her own.

Google celebrity bandage dresses for inspiration- There are loads of pictures of your favourite celebrities in bandage dresses on the net. Google can act as a great inspiration when shopping for yourself. If you have a celebrity that is a similar shape to yourself, give them a google + bandage dress. For example girls who are bottom heavy and have a bust could google Kim Kardashian to be inspired on how the curvy reality tv star rocks the style. Googling bandage dresses will also give you some great inspiration on how to best do your hair and makeup while wearing the style. If you want to re-create a celebrity makeup look, book yourself into Napoleon Perdis in the centre, who can re create any red carpet look on you with their make over package! I always suggest not to completely copy a celebrity look, simply be inspired and make it your own!

Ask Vicky or the Dollhouse girls- I've come to know most of the shop owners at Top Ryde City while doing this blog and they are all really lovely and passionate people. Vicky, the manager at Dollhouse is a pro when it comes to dress shopping in her store. The girls at Dollhouse are there to offer a shopping experience and love making girls look and feel great. So don't be shy, ask for assistance and advice when shopping for this style, everyone can use an honest opinion.

Sunday 9 December 2012

How to create a style board

If you've ever watched 'the secret', you would have heard about inspiration boards and might even already have one. Inspiration board, mood board, collage, dream board, whatever you like to call them, they are a great way to focus your attention and streamline your thoughts, creating a clear visual of what it is you want out of life. I've been a fan of making collages of my dreams and aspirations for years. It's become an integral part of my goal setting and I believe they've had a positive effect and are part of why I am doing what it is i am doing today.

Over the weekend I've made some new goal boards as well as a style board, which I am going to use to inspire my personal style. I've used a collection of my favourite models, bloggers, celebrities and every day snaps of people dressed in a way that's connected with me, then simply cut and pinned them onto cork boards. I now have these boards hanging strategically around my apartment, in clear sight to inspire me over the holiday season.

With the holidays fast approaching, everyone is soon to have some well deserved time off. Creating a mood board during the holidays is a great way to refocus, as well as get creative and have some time to reflect on everything. Nothing is better than giving yourself a mini holiday style makeover, before you see everyone back at work in january!

Here are some tips for creating style boards. These can also be applied to inspiration boards and goal boards.

Only use images you love- Style boards are not something you make every week, let's be honest, who has the time! Choose images that you absolute LOVE, they need to really catch your eye. I look for outfits that look timeless and I know are wearable. Keep in mind these images don't just have to be of people, it could be a fabric swatch, hair style, a pair of shoes you saw in a catalogue, an image from our Style Me campaign complete with tips. It's all about choosing anything visual, that will inspire your style.

Make a wish list- Wish lists are great, just like the shopping list, write down the things or items you are wanting to add to your wardrobe. Currently on my wish list are some new nude heels I've found at Freelance in the centre (my old ones have seen better days) and a Christmas day outfit. Pinning your wish list to your board will remind you to save a few extra dollars towards those purchases.

Google, find, print- If you know who's style you're trying to emulate, then great. Choosing a particular style icon can be a great idea, especially if they are a celebrity or person with a public profile for the large array of images available on the web. Give your chosen person a google photo search, once you find something that inspires you, copy and paste them into a powerpoint presentation. From there you can print them out, cut them out and pin or paste them onto your boards.

Quotes- If you 'Like' our Top Ryde City Facebook page, you would know i am super fond of styling quotes and fashion quotes. Yes, a picture tells a thousand words, but a strong quote can give you literal advice to apply to the way you dress. When choosing quotes, look for ones that really represent you and immediately strike a cord with you. They're not meant to be complicated, the best quotes are strong and simple.

Collect images- I'm not going to suggest you become a magazine horder like me, because it's not a fun habit to have. However i will suggest you choose your favourite pages, clippings, images from magazines, newspapers or any other reading material and tear them out for filing in a safe place. That way you are constantly collecting the best bits, allowing you to recycle the unnecessary.

For the online lover- The old school idea of cutting and pinning pieces of paper onto boards is not for everyone. Some people prefer to keep everything streamline and online. That's totally understandable. I am an online person myself, but personally I find the benefits of physically making style board and hanging them up to be more rewarding. If however you're hell bent on doing it online, there are loads of options, 'Pintrest' for instance, which is literally an online cork board community. Tumblr, which is a blogging photo collage site is another great option, or you can simply make a power point presentation of your style inspiration.
In choosing to keep your boards virtual, I would caution that for them to be effective at bringing you inspiration, you need to see them daily for them to become an influential part of your life.

TIP: Make your virtual board in power point and export it as a JPG, then save that picture as your desktop. This way it will always be in your sight, and never far from your mind.

Below are two of my personal mood boards/style boards to give you an idea of how they can be done as well as some of my favourite style quotes to kick off your inspiration.
TIP- If you worried about not having enough images or lacking inspiration do a lap around the centre and grab all the latest catalogues and campaign from our retailers.

Thursday 6 December 2012

Get Taylor swifts celebrity style!

Taylor Swift.
I am a huge fan of Swift for her booming music career, attitude and fashion. Taylor Swift emulates 50's glamour and is fond of vintage and feminine classic dressing. Something I love about Taylor is that she's skipped the whole teenage rebellion look, with her fashion she's remained true to her style as her career develops and always looks classy, classic and breathtaking. All you have to do is look at her on any red carpet like her recent appearance at the Australian Aria awards to know she's got her look down pat!

The key thing to learn from Taylor Swift- is her ability to look super sexy without looking like she's trying. Taylor is able to achieve this through her big personality and down to earth attitude, combined with her vintage inspired style. When Taylor looks for a sexy look she chooses one thing to flaunt, be it her legs or her decollate and chest. She never flaunts it all at once, always leaving more to the imagination. She often rocks super cute vintage tailored short shorts, long sleeved striped tops with high necks, playful 50's print dresses that stop at her knee's and red lips and accessories for that 'va va boom' look.

Here are 3 of Taylor's looks which you can recreate in the centre from our retailers.

Tip- Avoid stripes looking mumsy or boring, by accessorising the look with a bold colour such as red lip lipstick, shoes or bag. Red gives anything instant sex appeal and glamour without showing any skin.'

Tip- Make short shorts look classic and classy by choosing a vintage inspired style in a neutral colour and make sure they are a well fitted tailored design. Keep the rest of the look neutral.

Tip- 50's inspired A line dresses in floral are super cute and timeless. Tie hair back loosely with floral dresses to draw attention to your neck and decollate, so you're showing some skin between the print. For shoes go for a wedge with a slight heel to elongate your limbs and show off your legs.

Tuesday 4 December 2012

How to get Kate Middleton's look

Kate Middleton is a woman whose style has become a talking point all over the world, with men and woman alike. With the news this week of Kate's pregnancy, her fashion is going to be of even more interest as she ventures into one of the most challenging times in a woman's life, maternity! Before the baby bump starts to show, here are some of Kate's current looks which i love that can be easily recreated with Top Ryde City's leading retailers. I will be sure to keep a eye on Kate and her style over the next 9 months and relay any tips for future mums needing some maternity dressing advice. Who better to be inspired by than Kate!

Tip for dressing like Kate

Keep it simple- Kate is no fuss when it comes to dressing. Her look is always understated, never loud or overbearing. One thing she always has is immaculate hair, blow dried in big loose curls and a fresh face, complete with blush and eyeliner to define her eyes. Jewellery is kept to a minimum of small delicate items, such as her wedding ring and the occasional charm bracelet or gold bracelets on one wrist.

By keeping simple things like a uniform hair style and jewellery combination, Kate is able to wear every dress in her own unique way. Garments never wear the princess, she makes every look her own.

Smile- She never looks uncomfortable or uneasy in her fashion choices. While I'm sure she's worn some uncomfortable things in public over last few years, one would never know as she always smiles and radiates in photographs.

Keeping it classic- We all know there is a standard for royal dressing. Kate stays between the royal lines, while still keeping her choices modern and current. As a contemporary icon of the Royal Family, the princess has taken her role in full force ensuring both her attitude and fashion choices remain relevant to those of the younger generation. She remains modern, while showing us that elegance and classic tailoring never goes out of style, which is something we can all learn from.

Shoes- You'll never see the princess in shoes that were not meant for walking! Kate wears a combination of ballet flats and heels. When wearing heels she opts for a court shoe or wedge and never goes too high or bright. She sticks to patent and leather in neutral tones of black, beige, white, brown and navy.

Stockings- Kate Middleton is renowned for having a beautiful healthy body and great legs, but if you look closely her pins get a bit of help from stockings! Kate almost always wears a sheer pair of skin coloured stocking in her shade under her dresses and skirts. Stockings can do wonders for your legs, hiding imperfections, giving you colour and adding a great sheen and glow that will slim your legs and compliment your attire to finish your look.

Get the Princess's look at TOP RYDE CITY