What I wore: Fashion fail

This is my new skirt from Tree of Life. I love their clothes for my casual summer wardrobe. They are so light, airy and perfect for hot, Queensland days. This gorgeous skirt was only $39.

I wore it for the first time yesterday. I teamed it with some old EOS sandals and a black Witchery singlet. I even wore a green bra to match the colours in the skirt. Matchy, match, match.

I was feeling great. I looked good and was feeling cool in the warm, summer breeze.

It was perfect for a visit to my sister's house so the girls could have a play with their cousin. After a few hours my sister decided to announce that my skirt was COMPLETELY see-through. So see-through that she could tell I was wearing lace nickers.

That's cool.

Like I worry about things like that! See through skirts are all over the red carpet at the moment. I am that fashion forward. Except, I still had to do shopping and hang out at swimming lessons - IN THE SUN. I was walking with strategically held bags for the rest of my day.

Maybe, I'm not that cool after all.

Thanks Sis.

Being Thankful Thursday, I'll let you know that I was thankful that I was wearing nice nickers.

Have you had any awkward wardrobe moments? I'd really love you to share all the horrible, embarrassing details.


PS: I will wear this skirt to death over the next few months, but I'll be teaming it with a light black slip of some sort.

Workout clothes for different body types

Sometimes it is hard to find clothes that make us feel good and confident. Clothes that show off our good points and hide the bad. It's even harder when the clothes are all tight and made from lycra.

It can be enough to turn me off working out when I can't find clothes that I want to work out in. Here are some clothes I found for:

Curvy thighs and/or bottom. I love these tights from Skirts Sport. It has an attached skirt over capri length tights. The skirt helps disguise jiggly bottoms, sweaty crotches and camel toes. There's usually sightings of these all around gym. It's their natural habitat.

Lotta Breeze Capri $75

Curvaceous Bottom. This skort from Lorna Jane is so cute. Keeps the dimples and hungry bum hidden under the cute pleated skirt.

Brittan Skort $75.95

Mummy tummy. Team this Lorna Jane singlet with high waisted tights. Low riding tights add to the tummy tummy and high waisted tights will smooth the lumps and bumps.

Tanni Excel $59.99

These Skirts Sport tights have a rolled waist band. You can roll them up or down.

Evermore Capris $65

Tuckshop arms or Bingo Wings. Another top from Lorna Jane. This has loose sleeves and a mesh back. This will keep you looking and feeling cool. Yup, I said it.

Melody T-shirt $59.99

Or like me, you can wear of combinations of all the above.

Now, my playlist for this week is:

1. Battle Scars - Guy Sebastian. This is one of my favorite songs ATM
2. Bitch - Meredith Brooks
3. Are we all we are - P!nk. I can not stop singing this
4. I knew you were trouble - Taylor Swift. I download this for my girls and then like the beat. I realise this sounds like I am making excuses...and I am
5. Shake you Pom Pom - Missy Elliot
6. Play Hard - David Guetta
7. The boy does nothing - Alesha Dixon
8. Could've had everything - P!nk
9. Ho Hey - The Lumineers
10. Baby it's cold outside - Glee. Getting my Christmas on and a nice slow cooling down track

Flash back to 1989: My school formal

It was 1989, I was singing along to Poison 'Every Rose has a thorn'. My mum and dad were working, so it was just my hair lacquer and me. No need to worry about tan lines because no-one faked tanned and tan lines were everyone's permanent summer accessory.

I was wearing a Studebaker Hawk dress bought with hard earned money I earned from working part time at Chicken World in Kenmore. The bottom was all tulle and hemmed with wire to ensure it was big. It hit mid calf. I hunted down perfectly matching purple stilettos. My father picked me up and took me to my BFF's house where we would meet our partners and limo.

Their Rottweiler ripped the tulle from the back of my dress. Then I stepped in it's massive poo and smeared it all over the carpet of the limo. Lucky, I was drowning in my signature scent Yardley English Lavender body spray, this may have covered the odour a little. 

First, we had cocktails at the Brisbane Hilton. I was only 16 but they weren't as strict with I.D back then. I had a Pina Colada and snacked on their complimentary rice crackers. Then off to the formal at the Sheraton. We were feeling so grown up in our gaudy gowns. We snuck sneaky cigarettes in the toilets between courses.

Then we hit the dance floor. Who can resist Milli Vanilli 'Girl you know it's true' or The Bangles 'Eternal Flame'. I was like Madonna, working up a sweat with all my awesome moves on the floor until my zip broke. And it broke all the way. Not good for a strapless dress that didn't have a safety hook. I caught it just as it started to fall off, held to tight and ran back to the smoke filled toilets. I few tears and 10 minutes of giggling friends and it was okay.

No more dancing for me. Madonna had packed up her stilettos for the night.   

Here is the only photo of my night.

What was your best memory of your night?

Hair: Lightening up for Summer

I have been putting off my regrowth issues for a while. I knew it was time to do something with my hair but I wasn't sure what. I think that if you are unsure, then don't do anything. But, there was a fake grey that reappeared and forced my hand. With summer coming I decided it was time to lighten up a little. I settled on light brown with blonde highlights. It's quite a procedure to lighten hair that is dyed dark.

1. Strip the colour. This product is only applied to the dyed portion of the hair. The virgin roots (haha) are avoided

2. When this is rinsed out, you maybe left with strange, orange coloured hair. That's okay

3. Foils galore, focusing mainly on the front and top

4. Apply the colour over the rest of the unfoiled hair. My hairdresser uses Redken Chromatics. I would highly recommend it. They have zero ammonia and leave your hair gorgeous and shiny. 

5. Rinse, style and admire how smart you were for making the change.

6. Your hair will require the correct home maintenance products to ensure your hair colour and condition is the best it can be. Ask your hair dresser for recommendations but I love the Redken Colour extend range for shampoo and conditioner and Extreme strength builder as a weekly (or bi-weekly) mask.

I am loving the new lighter, bronde (that's what my girls are calling it). Now I just want it to be long enough to braid, twist or knot for summer. This might be a little harder to achieve.

Do you change your hair with the seasons?

Melbourne Cup: What I wore

I had a great day yesterday. I would have been a little better if 'Zabeeeeelionairrrre' won.

I love Melbourne Cup because I will use any opportunity to wear a hat or fascinator.

Yesterday, I wore a gold sequin and yellow feathered fascinator. This was bought on eBay years and years ago. A slim, gold Guess belt with a H&M skirt sent to me by the gorgeous Kimbalikes (thank you). Gaudy, sequinned Nine West heels and a multi-coloured Mimco pouch.

I hope you had a great day too.

PS: I am joining up for Wordless Wednesday with My Little Drummer Boys

and Twinkle in the eye

Summer Florals

Summer is nearly here and I have been sourcing my summer wardrobe. I have been noticing a theme in my new pieces.

Floral Jacket. I stumbled across this by accident and bought it for a photo shoot. I seemed to stay with me. This jacket is from the Grazia range in Target. It was only $49.   

 Skirt from Tree of life. I am obsessed with the light flowy clothes from there.

 Review skirt. Marked down and purchased for $28

 It think it's time to look for non-floral pieces.

PS: I am joining up for Wordless Wednesday at My Little Drummer Boys and Twinkle in the eye

5 minute beauty routine to disguise that you only had 2 hours sleep

I am a champion at getting ready in a limited time frame. I know that sounds braggy, but everyone has a skill and this is mine.  I am an insomniac and I don't want to always look like death. 

This morning I did in fact look like death and I had minutes to recify it. 

 Today my 5 minute routine involved these products   

Garnier Dark Spot Corrector and Garnier BB Cream

Makellos Eye primer. I used this as a base and eyeshadow to lighten and open up my tired, red eyes.

Mirenesse Eyeliner in Minx Black  and Maybelline Turbo Boost Very Black Mascara

 MAC Mineralised blush in Dainty. To add some much needed colour.

 Makellos again. Their Lip pot in Red Wine. This isn't on their website anymore. I hope they bring it back. It's the perfect natural soft red.

Plus the accessories to distract people from the exhaustion written on my face. Ralph Lauren sunglasses and a scarf from Tree of Life. 

What are your best 5 minute beauty tips?

6 Tips: How to Disguise a Muffin Top

Aka podge, jelly belly, mummy tummy, pooch, rum gut.

A reader suggested I write about how to disguise a belly. How could I refuse! We all have areas we don't like. The best advice is to show off what you do like and hide what you don't.  Here are few tips to help you disguise a curvy tummy:

Jeans
Stay clear of low rise jeans. If these can create a muffin top on the thinnest teenager, they are not going to look better on you. Also, showing your money box when you bend over doesn't pay off (yes, it's a sneaky pun).

Look for high rise jeans in a nice thick denim. This will suck and tuck it all in.

Layering
Layering is great. But, when you are layering over jeans, look for jeans that are unfussy. Button, zips and pockets can push out the top fabric and add more bulk instead of hiding it.

Undies, leggings and tights
Once again, go high. If the elastic waist band lands under or in the middle of your curvy tummy it can look worse. You want to smooth it down, not cut it in half and create two bumps. That is not what Fergie meant by 'lady lumps'

Suction undies
These are your friend. They are not just for older ladies or the red carpet. Remember, smooth bumps are better than dimply lumps and bumps.

Belts
Don't be scared of them. On my really bad days, I use a thick belt and wear it loose on my hips.

The art of distraction. All the bells and whistles.

The art of distraction
Scarves, bells, hats, necklaces, whistles and teeny, little dogs in handbags. Use them all. No one will notice what's going on under all that.

Tune in next week for: Chunky butt disguises

Get her Chic....

The lovely Sonia and Melinda from Shop-Me-Chic asked me to participate in their series, Get Her Chic. I love this site and this series, so I was thrilled to be included. Lola the photo bombing dog wanted to share her Doggy chic too.

Please drop by and say hello.

http://shop-me-chic.com/2012/10/03/get-her-chic-rachel-from-redcliffe-style/

Part 2 - How to look fit when you are not

I am sure you are all putting my last 10 faux fit tips into action. Now it's time to take it to the next level.

I received a couple of tips from some excellent readers and I have to share them too.

1. Dab a little deep heat behind your ears (Thank you Anne from Domesblissity). The scent of menthol screams that you have been working out. I also love that it sounds like a Beyonce scent 
2. Spray water on your armpits, chest, face and your crotch. It will look like you have been working up a sweat (Excellent advice Jodi~). I agree, nothing says healthy body like a sweaty crotch.
3. Wear a team shirt or hat as casual wear. Don't do both, it's too matchy-match and people will get suspicious. Try and get them from a local club. Around here we have the 'Moreton Bay Runner's club' this is a great shirt. Wear it to lunch with your girlfriends
4. When at this lunch with the girls, order whatever you like and tell them you are 'carb loading'. No one can argue with carb loading
5. Use a sports bag as a handbag and fill it full of high protein snacks. Anne suggested tins of tuna. Hmm Anne, I think you have done this before. This also makes you very popular with cats. Win/Win

It's school holidays, so I am going to be working these looks in the supermarket for the next week.

Stylish Thoughts...

At Blogopolis I attend the Imogen Lamport workshop. Imogen is a successful personal stylist and image consultant and her blog is Inside Out Style. Imogen talked about idea sourcing and content creating. This was a fantastic, informative and useful workshop.

After the workshop I took a deep breath, popped a mint, pulled up my tights and approached her. She was so lovely and kind and gave me her card.

As a direct result of attending Blogopolis and meeting awesome people and I now have a post on her blog Inside Out Style about my Stylish Thoughts. How awesome is that!!

You can find her blog Inside Out Style and my post here ..

Insideoutstyleblog.com/2012/07/stylish-thoughts-redcliffe-style.html

How to perk up your winter wardrobe cheaply

It is hard to keep up with fashion and change your wardrobe with each season. It can get pretty expensive but one of the easiest and cheapest ways to update your winter wardrobe is with stocking and tights. You can pick up a pair for as little as $5 or $10. I have teamed up with Stockings Online to show you are few of my current favourites.

Colours

If you are about to grab a pair of black tights re-consider and grab a colour instead. It is such an easy and cheap way to change an outfit. Purple is one of my favourite colours and I especially love it with red. It's a great popping winter combination. Don't be scared of a little colour and have fun mixing them up. I teamed them with a black dress from Abby Lee Fashion Boutique, a red Country Road cardigan and red Mary-Janes.

Voodoo Purple Potion totally opaque tights $19.95  

Red, red rover I call over...a pair of gorgeous red tights. I can't walk passed a pair of red tights to warm me up in winter. I threw them on with a grey Metalicus dress, a black Witchery jacket, a scarf from Abby Lee (PS: they have a liquidation sale on at the moment) and old grey studded cowboy boots.

Voodoo Fever Red totally opaque tights $19.95  

Patterns

A-MAZE-ing. I love patterned tights and stockings. They are sexy, classy (the perfect combination) and dress up a simple outfit. Don't be scared to had a simple pattern or add some more textures. I wore a Lilli cardigan with a Kitten d'Amour pencil skirt and black Zu booties. (photo bombed by the cavoodle again!)

Voodoo Fashion tights Maze $22.95

Prints

There are so many great prints to choose from. I picked a subtle digital print. I like the slimming optical illusion they create. Who wouldn't want that? With printed stockings, just like patterned ones, don't be scared to play with textures, prints and colours. I have teamed it with a black shift dress from Country Road, grey sequinned cardigan, a patterned scarf both from Witchery and studded boots.

Platinum Fashion tights Digital Lines $19.95

 

Stockings Online

info@stockingsonline.com.au

07 3162 3688

PO Box 33, Geebung, Qld, 4034

I did receive products but I did not received any payment for this article. I am happy to be paid but my opinions are always honest and can not be bought.

Styled for Reality

I have asked some wonderful local bloggers to write guest posts and I have the awesome and ridiculously funny Michelle aka Blundermum guest posting today. I spit my coffee at the screen laughing whenever I read a new Blundermum post. Here she is....

There’s a discrepancy between fiction and reality we need to address.

Namely, how well dressed people on TV are. They’re not just well styled, but they’re actually fully dressed at all times! Perhaps I’ve been raised in a semi-nudist colony, but if one my friends dropped by to invite me to the movies, this is how the scene would play out:

Friend: Hey, you want to go to a movie?
Me: Hmm, yeah. Suppose. I just need to put on a bra.
Friend: And clean pants.
Me: *looks down at crusted cornflake patch* Huh. When did that happen? Yes, and clean pants.
Me: Can you find my left sneaker?

Etc. Then we miss the session and end up strolling through the shops instead, buying more clothes we won’t wear at home. Or anywhere. I probably still forgot to brush my hair. None of this grabbing-a-jacket-that-was-strategically-hung-by-the-door-and-setting-off business.

In reality, leaving the house is hard work. Then I’ll spend the entire time wishing I could go home and peel off those skinny jeans and finally eat something. If I could be bothered wearing heels, they would come off first, but only because I would have fallen up the stairs and through the door onto my bum, into perfect shoe removing position.

That’s if I make it home alive, some days I suspect my scarf is out to get me. Not only does it drop itself in my coffee, and get stuck in my seatbelt, it actually tightens like a boa constrictor in high winds. 

They never show that on TV.

Women on TV also never get a static zap from synthetic fibres. They never get their watch snagged on their blouse while sneaking a boob scratch, resulting in a severe wardrobe malfunction.

And they never get out of their pyjamas at lunch time, purely for the purpose of putting on a fluffier set instead.

TV has been setting an impossible standard of style and I object. I object as vehemently as someone wearing Elmo pyjamas at 2pm on a Monday afternoon possibly can.

Please drop by and visit Michelle's blog, Blundermum. You won't regret it.

Proskins with a GIVEAWAY valued at $285!!!

I love leggings and wear a pair nearly every day I wear them under skirts or dresses and then sporty pairs to the gym or running. This week I was thrilled to receive a pair of Proskins anti-cellulite leggings. Proskins are the experts in Compression wear and these are sports leggings.

What makes these leggings so special is that they are made from a revolutionary yarn that contain unbuilt caffeine, aloe vera, vitamin E, retinol and ceramics. They work to reduce cellulite and slim your legs while you wear them. They had me at 'anti-cellulite'. While I am not admitting to cellulite, I will say that I am tempted to wear these day in, day out and to sleep in them.

These are so comfortable and I love that they come up to the waist. No low riders, hipsters or muffin makers for me. You can wear these as gym pants, running leggings, as sleep wear or under your normal everyday clothing.

At the moment, I can not vouch for their cellulite fighting abilities, but I can tell you they are extremely comfortable.

Update: This competition has now closed the and winner has been notified by email.


PROSKINS PACK GIVEAWAY!!!!
Proskins has offer a prize to one lucky winner, a pair of Proskins Capri Leggings RRP $135 and a Proskins Top RRP $150. I am quite jealous about the top. Their products are sized between 6 - 20. I love that they are catering to a wide selection of sizes.  To enter you must:

1. Like Proskins on Facebook. You can do that here
2. Like Redcliffe Style on Facebook. You can do that here
3. Comment below or on Facebook and tell us why you would love to win the Proskin prize pack. The most original answer will win!
4. Do this prior to 6am on 19th June 2012.

Good luck!!

On Tuesdays I link up with Diary of a SAHM