Forever New Summer 2012

Forever New- Paradise prints!

Just in time for your Christmas shopping and the mad rush to get that holiday outfit for when you visit the family Forever New in the centre has a whole new collection available. The new collection follows on with one of the key trends for the season that I have been talking about...Prints! Think tropical Hawaiian prints of exotic florals mixed with bright bold contrasting colours of paradise. The great thing about this season is prints are not only 'in' but they are refreshed, gone are the days of boring floral prints that look like your grandma's handkerchief. This season floral prints are bright bold and modern. I love what Forever New have done with the accessories in this new collection opting for jewelled sandals and flats over thongs adding glamour to what could be a casual look. Nothing is worse than old flip flop with a stunning new dress. It's important to remember that it is the details such as oversized hats, totes, jewelled flats and jewellery that add glamour and style to your look.

Tip: Dresses composed completely of prints can be overwhelming to the eye. This is easily fixed (as you can see below) with a belt thin or thick as it will enhance your shape by cinching in your waist and break up the eye line and pattern creating a more flattering silhouette. I would always suggest that a belt is a must when wearing heavily printed garnets.

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How to wear prints on prints

Print on prints is one of the biggest trends for spring summer, as well as one of the most daunting ones. I like to look at it like this, if prints on prints is in, imagine the endless possibilities your wardrobe is now open to! Like all trends, no trend works for everyone, but if you're willing to give it a shot, here are my top tips on how to pull it off without looking like you're trying to hard.

Confidence- Without sounding like a broken record, it's important to be confident in wearing any new look that is a bit daring or out of your comfort zone!

2's company, 3's a crowd- Choosing two key items in a print to wear is all you need to achieve the look, I would say in most cases using 3 separate printed items is overkill. Of course there are exceptions with the right pieces. Beginners to the trend should start with 2 pieces and see how they feel from there and if clashing printed clothes is to much for you, start small with accessories.

Spots and stripes- Yes, they are considered a print and one of the easiest prints to wear together. Spots and stripes work for woman looking for a more demure and classic approach to the trend. Think riviera dressing with navy blues, lady beetle red, crisp white and black.

Start small- If you're new to prints on prints, start small. Clashing printed heels with a printed blazer or wearing a printed scarf with another print is all you need to achieve the look. A printed belt in floral or leopard print is also a great idea. Don't freak yourself out thinking you need to do the whole she-bang, like you may have seen in the magazines or a runway, the look need to be wearable and suit your individual style and personality .

Block coloured accessories- Because using prints on prints is a trend that can easily turn into a cluster or mess, go easy on your accessories. Choose a colour from the print and then find that same colour in a block bold accessory.

Printed pants- Printed pants are the hardest of items to pull off in a print, because they require ample confidence and a really good fit. To be frank, printed pants can make your hips, legs and thighs appear larger than they are, with so much going on in one area it has a clustering effect. This is where it's up to you to decide if this is something you're okay with. Everyone has parts of their body they're proud of and others that they might try and hide or not show off as much. So if your legs, butt or hips are something you're not happy with, then wearing bold printed pants might not be the best option. Instead, I would go for a great A line printed skirt, that will suck you in at the waist and flair out over your butt and thighs for a nice hour glass shape.

If the prints on prints idea is still scaring you from leaving the front door, then leave the trend be and instead opt for a block printed maxie. I recently shot an amazing piece from Sheike at Top Ryde City, it's a printed maxie of the sunset and skyline. 

Below are some examples of prints you can find in the centre from a range or retailers, prints are everywhere at the moment, so you options are endless.

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Style me in review

Happy Monday.
Our 'Style me' campaign is coming to an end, with all the tips and posters having been released. I thought this would be a great time to review the campaign in full and for all our new readers, share the making of the 'Style me' video!

Rest assured, our blog is not going anywhere, so stay tuned. We have exclusive interviews with your favourite stores and retailers coming up, as well as more videos and styling advice to keep you on trend all the way through the holiday season.

Be sure to ask me anything on Facebook, love hearing feedback and exactly what you want to see on Style Me.

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Our interview with Betts shoes!

Shoes glorious shoes!

I don't know many girls that don't have a shoe fetish. Let's face it, an undying love for shoes is pretty much written in most women's DNA. I am quite loud and electric with my personal style, I tend to take risks and don't mind wearing things that stand out. So when it comes to dressing my feet, I am always looking for a shoe that will give me that WOW factor, as well as add a few inches to my height and make my look complete. That's why Betts are without a doubt one of my favourite shoe brands. They're affordable, on trend, comfortable and they always bring out something new and exciting to experiment with. Not to mention they have just taken on Sara De Bono as the ambassador for Betts Shoes, ummm GIRL CRUSH! It was hard not to fall in love with Sara as she rose to fame from The Voice with her colourful popstar demean and fiery red hair, she's definitely a rising star on the fashion radar. I'll have what she's having thanks ;)

With trends coming and going, shoes are one of the easiest and most affordable ways to get the look without breaking the piggy bank. To keep you all on the shoe radar I chatted to the Betts team to get the low down on the spring/summer trends at Top Ryde City's Betts store :)

What are the key trends for this spring/summer for Betts Shoes?

This season it’s all about electric neon and pretty pastels! Whilst these might seem like opposites, they actually work so well when mixed together. This season, Betts has become an ice-creamery with soft gelato tones of spearmint, peach and banana that leave your feet looking sugary sweet. But for a really delicious colour palette, we can’t resist roughing it up with electric neon trims and finishes.

If you could name a must-have shoe for the season from Top Ryde City what would it be?

Ohh that’s a hard one, we’re crushing on so many styles this season! But one of our absolute faves would have to be ‘Obsessed’. The soft pastel colours combined with the jolt of neon piping makes them a sure-fire showstopper.

Colour is always such a huge part of Betts collections. What is the most on trend colour for Betts this season?

We’re loving all the tones in the Spring Summer colour palette, but our absolute must-have would have to be soft seafoam. It’s definitely the colour of the season.

Shoes are a massive part of race wear fashion and often the most painful one! What are you race wear tips for happy feet?

Strutting you stuff all day in sky-high heels can be a little difficult, that’s why we suggest grabbing a pair of Party Feet for your stilettos or a pair of Starlettos, that’ll save your heels from falling in the grass. Or, just opt for a fabulous pair of colour-pop wedges!

What would be the best shoe advice you have for us shoe lovers?

Always opt for a fabulous pair of shoes to finish off your look. Whether you love flats, wedges or towering heels, always team your strut with ample attitude!

Check out some of my picks available in the centre from Betts, I am loving the pastel trend, think all the colours of a gelato shop! Plus nothing beats basic black pumps and flats in patent, studs and spikes, edgy and classic!

Sara De Bono in her electric style rocking Betts.

A small part of my personal Betts shoe collection, told you I was addicted ;)

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How to wear a jumpsuit

Jumpsuits Baby!

I LOVE a good jumpsuit, but only if it's a good one. You see, Jumpsuits (or playsuits as some people call them) are one of those items of clothing that either do wonders for your shape, or do nothing for it at all... Naturally like everything in fashion it's about the fit, so not everyone can pull it off. This is because of the way jumpsuits are made and sit, their construction and the fact they're not an everyday staple item. All these factors can make it hard to judge if you're making a fashion statement or looking like a fashion disaster! I rarely wear jumpsuits, because most of them make me look frumpy. Yep, I said it... frumpy, not because I think I am fat or anything, but because they just don't do the right things for my unique shape. I am 5'10 tall and a size 8-10, but that doesn't mean everything works, I have my problem areas just like everyone else. On a rare occasion I'll find a great jumpsuit that does all the things I look for in an outfit. Lifts my boobs, gives me a waist, creates an hour glass shape, slims my legs and makes my butt look sexy, everyone likes a sexy behind! 
A killer jumpsuit is a great casual look, better still, a jumpsuit is easily transformed into the perfect fun night out outfit just by adding a pair of heels and a clutch! Here are my tips on how to make jumpsuits work for you. 

Confidence- Because they're all one piece, Jumpsuits fit the body and move with your body unlike any other garment. If you're doubting a jumpsuit, forget it, this is a style that needs you to stand tall and be confident. Slouching, twisting, stooping will ruin the silhouette of the whole look and do horrible things to your shape!

Black always works- You can't go past a black jumpsuit, we all know black is slimming, but it's also classic. Jumpsuits stand out, so if you're not one who likes to be the centre of attention, a jumpsuit in black will be best to make you feel more at ease.

Belt it- Jumpsuits have a lot going on, so wearing a belt around your waist will break up the fabric, cinch you in and create a great hour glass silhouette.

Use accessories minimally- The 70's are gone, this is not Abba, the jumpsuit has come a long way and unless it's for a themed party, don't go back in fashion history. Jumpsuits look great with accessories, as they often show a bare neck and décolletage. Choose between a statement necklace or statement earrings on top, so there isn't too much going on. If you're wearing a block coloured jumpsuit, choose another colour and stick with that to create contrast. If you're wearing a printed or patterned jumpsuit, go easy on the accessories, try minimal gold, silver or metallic jewellery and let the jumpsuit do the talking.

Beach to bar- A short jumpsuit or playsuit is a really great non fuss option for your beach to bar days. If you find a fun jumpsuit in a light cotton fabric you can easily wear it from the beach to the bar with your bikini underneath. It's relaxed, casual and sexy, just add heels, no flip flops in the bar!

Here are some pictures of me wearing a full length black jumpsuit. Get my look in centre.

Jumpsuit- Kookai 

Necklace- Kookai

Sunglasses- Sportsgirl

Belt- Sheike 

Cuff's- Diva

Shoes- Betts

Find more Jumpsuit stockists in the centre 

at Top Ryde City

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Casual Wear

This week we launch the final image from our Style Me campaign; casual wear. What you wear casually should be the most beloved items in your wardrobe, day to day wear is what you are most comfortable in and represents you the best. Casual looks should be made up from your capsule wardrobe, as basics are the key. Think comfortable cotton T-shirts, a great pair of fitted jeans, shoes that you can walk in such as a ballet flat or wedged heel. Whenever I think casual attire, I instantly think the classic girl next door look of jeans and a t-shirt as it's timeless and achievable for everyone at any age. Each season there's always a way to update what is an old favourite, so here are some easy ways to refresh the Jeans and T-shirt look.

• This spring/summer jeans get an update with colour. Jeans can be found in pastel hues and bold block primary colours. Country Road, Millers, W lane, Myer and Sussan  in the centre have a great selection. If you're daring then printed jeans in florals or a digital print are also on trend.
• T-shirts should be comfortable & wearable, so choose a light cotton blend in a classic fit. When shopping for T-shirts, always wear the correct bra. A t-shirt bra is best, head to Bras N Things in the centre to get a professionally fitted one. Wearing the right undergarment when shopping for a great fitting T-shirt will ensure you get the right fit to flatter your shape.
•  A great way to jazz up the classic jeans and t-shirt look is by adding statement accessories. When looking for new pieces, think bold colourful statement necklaces that really pop. A belt, even if you don't seem to need one, belts do wonders for your overall shape and ascetics of an outfit, this season lose the neutral belt and go for a thin bright fluro one. Big sunglasses and a colourful heel or flat shoe that you can spend the whole day walking in are essentials. Remember, casual wear is not something to break the bank over, you should be taking what you have and buying some key pieces that reinvent your outfit.
• If you're heading out, your casual look should be able to take you from day to night. It's as easy as popping on some lipstick that complements your accessories. Adding a blazer in white or a print, be it a floral or digital one. Also change up flats for heels and your handbag for an easy to go clutch. 

My Top tips for men wanting a casual look update is chino's in colour (read my blog on chino's here) and sunglasses! A really easy stress-free way for a guy to get a new look is a great pair of shades. With such a large selection of affordable sunglasses on the market, guys should play around with shapes and experiment with frames to achieve the right look. Head to Glue Store, Country Road and Myer in centre for a good selection.

Get our Style Me Campaign look in centre

Male Model 

Shirt and tie – Witchery Man

Chinos – Oxford

Shoes – Glue Store

Sunglasses – Glue Store

Female Model 

Sunglasses – Witchery

T shirt – Country Road

Jeans – Country Road

Necklace – Diva

Belt – Kookai

Bag – Colette by Colette Hayman

Shoes – Freelance Shoes

Rochelle (me)

Dress – Witchery

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Tips on how guys can appear taller, and women appear slimmer!

Happy Friday everyone! It's 'Ask a Fox Fridays' where I answer readers questions and dish out styling advice. Today I have some tips for men who worry about their height.

If you're self-conscious about your height, there are ways to create the illusion of being taller through your clothing choices.

• V-necks are a great way to elongate your torso. A V-neck T-shirt will create a vertical line down your front and creates more length to your neck. A crew neck t-shirt (or high cut shirt) on the other hand will create horizontal lines across your chest, cutting off the length of your neck. Try these styles with loads of colour options from Country Road, YD and Glue Store. Oxford also have a great range.

• Wear vertical lines. Have you ever heard women talk about the danger of wearing vertical lines and making them look bigger than they are, the same rule applies to men. A shirt with vertical lines will create the illusion of length and height while horizontal lines will shorten your torso and draw attention to your mid section, making you appear larger. Try this shirt with vertical lines from Country Road. YD and Oxford also have some similar and great styles.

• One thing to avoid if you're worried about your height, never wear dress shirts with shorts arms, they will shorten the appearance of your limbs.

For the ladies.

I had a tweet from a girl in her early teens this week saying she loved the sporty chic trend, but she wanted to find a sporty chic dress that was not body con. She felt a tight fitting dress did not complement her shape.

I cannot stress enough that more important than any trend, is dressing for your shape. Fashion is not about being on trend as much as it is about looking and feeling your best in what you're wearing. Confidence is always key and if you're not feeling comfortable then you're definitely not radiating confidence! That is why choosing styles that flatter your shape is so important in order for you to look and feel great. 
While body con dresses are part of the current sporty chic trend, they are not the only style or cut of dress that works. I've found some great dresses that are still on trend for 'sporty chic' and are A-line, which is the ideal cut for women who feel body conscious. A-line style's work because they are fitted around your torso and bust, synching in your waist before they flare out around your hips, covering your thighs and butt, which is a common area of concern. Curves are a great thing to have, but we all want them in the right places. A-line styles allow you to re create your shape forming an hourglass figure like that of Marilyn Monroe, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and many other style icons that you might be a fan of.
Tip: To create the illusion of an even slimmer waist while wearing A-Line styles, simply use a thick dark belt around the smallest part of your waist.
The below dresses are my A-Line picks, which can be found in Top Ryde City's Forever New.

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Chinos the chameleon staple

For men there can often be confusion about how to dress appropriately for the occasion. It's a fine line with men's fashion, and far easier for a man to look underdressed than it is for a woman. With the silly season in full swing and the social diary filling up fast, it's the perfect time for the men out there to have a wardrobe update. One staple item every man should have in his wardrobe is chino's, especially in colour! 

Consider them your chameleon staple that will get you from the office to after work drinks and even that BBQ you have on the weekend. 

A pair of chinos combined with the right jacket redefines high end dressing in comfort.

Country Road in the centre is one store that's sure to provide you with your chino fix. With a selection of styles and colours, every man can find the right pair to fit their shape and personality.

While you can't got past a classic chino in beige or black, I am loving them in bold block colours, think turquoise, green and yellow. The great thing about a bold block colour chino is you can also wear it well with a basic cut shirt or tee, getting more use of your wardrobe. Chino's can be worn rolled up or down, giving you options to play around with your footwear. Rolled up, just add a classic boat shoe for a casual relaxed look that's practical, or for a formal look wear a dress shoe and rolled down chino's with a shirt and tie. 

TIP

Men, don't be tricked into thinking chino's are too preppy for your look, because they're not, it's all about how you wear them. Team chinos with a leather jacket and you're instantly edgy without clashing styles.

Check out the style boards below on how to wear the 'Country Road' Chino. 

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Sporty Chic for Men

This post is for the boys, so ladies if you're a frequent Style Me reader, grab your man and get him to have a read. Gentlemen if you are reading this, welcome.

In my experience with styling men, I have learnt that most men want fashion to be easy with nothing complex or too contrived about it. Most men love dressing simple, which is great, but simple should still be stylish. Like the ladies, gentlemen should also have a capsule wardrobe of basic pieces, that they can work with to create their classic looks. Examples of what a man's capsule wardrobe should include are; a well tailored suit, blue and black jeans, a light coloured dress pant or chino, a white dress shirt, some well fitting casual t-shirts in black, white and a block colour, dress shoes, boat shoes etc.  

This summer if you're a man looking to update your wardrobe, it's as easy as finding a few key pieces that will work back with what you already have in your closet. 

A huge trend for both men and women this summer is sporty chic, which will refresh your look, add colour and be on trend. The main focus for male fashion in line with the 'Sporty Chic' trend is to update your t-shirts and shirts with colour prints and textures. Look for t-shirts with interesting prints and textures, in a cut that compliments your shape. For men the top colours of the season are pastel and royal blues, mustard and khaki. Aside from t-shirts, adding a blazer or fitted jacket in a light colour for summer is a great investment piece, if you can find one with shoulder pads even better. Summer is full of social occasions and finding the balance between dress code and what you have in your wardrobe can be hard. Having a good dress jacket will help get pants and a t-shirt across the smart casual line with no fuss.

As a woman, I can't stress enough that when a guy wears the same t-shirt all through summer because the first time he wore it he got told it looked great... is not a good idea. Most women love fashion and it's nice to see a guy changing it up every now and then. Mixing up basic elements like your t-shirt will keep you fresh and show that you care about your appearance.

Guys who are always skipping the accessories, my advice is don't. Accessories are the most inexpensive way to update a look. Adding a great hat or sunglasses to your outfit can make a massive difference. One of my best tips for men this season is invest in a great satchel bag that will last. Myer have great options in store as do YD and Country Road. Bags are super practical and keep you organised. Once you have one that you love, which works for your life style, you won't know how you managed without one. If bag shopping is not your thing, put it on the X-Mas list ;)

Get the look at Top Ryde City from-

Sunglasses – Glue Store

Jacket – YD

Jeans – Glue Store

T Shirt – Glue Store

Shoes – Country Road

Hat – Oxford

Watch – Myer

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How to wear wedged sneakers

Every season there are trends that step off the international runways and make their way into every store around town. This season that trend is wedged sneakers! It's one of those trends you either LOVE or LOATH, but regardless this new twist on old lace up sneakers is a trend that is spreading fast! The best part is, it's part of our look of the week 'how to wear Sporty Chic'!

I am a massive fan of the new sneaker trend for more reasons than one:

• Wedged sneakers are the perfect shoe option for summer to give you that extra bit of height, they elongate your legs without looking like you're trying.
• Wedge style shoes are by far the most comfortable form of high heels.
• Sneakers are a great look for women that have a more masculine style, as they offer height without the pretentious look that some high heeled shoes can give off.
• The colours and styles available are massive, with almost every shoe store creating their own twist on the trend. This way you're not stuck for colours or variety. 

I am not the only fan, celebrities are all over wedged sneakers, pairing them with everything from jeans to dresses, skirts and even swimwear!!!  (Proof that celebrities don't always get it right, sneakers and cossies are not a new look)

Here are my tips on how to pull off the wedged sneaker for the everyday woman.

For Teen's: Work your wedged sneakers with denim shorts to elongate your legs, whilst still keeping the look cool and casual. 

So many girls wear flip flops non stop in summer. Flip flops are great for the beach but not a practical walking shoe. A wedged or non wedged sneaker is the perfect option to replace flip flops . Teens should have fun with metallic colours and sneakers with loads of colour like the below from Shoe Box in centre. 

COLOURFUL SNEAKER - SHOEBOX Top Ryde City

             

For 20's: Take our Top Ryde City campaign for inspiration which you can find HERE. Team a metallic sneaker with a body con dress that hugs your curves, a great look for a night out that won't kill your feet.  (Yes girls, that means you can dance all night long!) For a more casual day look wear a body con skirt in a block colour, fluro, or print with a simple white shirt and wedged sneakers.
Tip: If you want to experiment and get a bit DIY you can change up the laces of the sneakers to match your accessories or lip colour.

METALLIC SNEAKER - FREELANCE SHOES Top Ryde City

For 30's: High heeled sneakers are a great way to change up your casual footwear. The great thing about a wedged sneaker is you get height without compromising your comfort! If you find the right fitting pair you can wear them all day with no concerns. Sneakers look great with jeans whether they be new season coloured jeans or your classic black and blue denim pair. My advice for women in their 30's that are a bit apprehensive about this trend is to stick to a metallic, silver, gold, beige, black or white wedged sneaker. I always advise that when in doubt about a trend, opt for a more neutral look. However, if you're like me and love the look, don't be afraid to experiment with studs or coloured styles. Studded or coloured sneakers will make those simple black or blue jeans from your capsule wardrobe pop. You can complete the look by adding a statement necklace or a simple metallic or coloured watch. Age appropriate, on trend and comfortable.

BLACK SNEAKER- SHOEBOX Top Ryde City

FOR MORE INSPIRATION ON HOW TO WEAR SPORTY CHIC AND SNEAKER WEDGES, 

HEAD TO OUR FACEBOOK HERE FOR THE SPORTY CHIC INSPIRATION ALBUM!

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