Complimentary fashion

I've developed an obsession with something I've dubbed 'complimentary fashion', which entails styling an outfit using a colour palette made up of complimentary colours. For those of my readers who's not so clued up on the meaning of artsy terms like complimentary colours... I've included a colour wheel in this post as complimentary colours are defined as colours that can be found on opposite sides of the colour wheel. So to join in my current obsession take a walk on the wild side and pair red and green, orange and blue and purple and yellow for some over the top complimentary fashion! Seen here, I've paired my latest Sass Diva find a green statement necklace, with a red top from Mr Price (previously worn here).

The best things in life are free!

I read in the latest issue of Elle magazine (which is a page-turner, make sure you get your hands on a copy!) that designer Jessica Hische once said: “The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.”

Makes you think doesn’t it? What do you do while you procrastinate? For me this blog is procrastination central...a clear sign that this should be my one and only passion. Yet somehow I’ve not been able to get around to much procrastination this past year and my journey has been stuck in productivity land. Studying like crazy and turning out assignments like some high-powered factory machine.

Yet there’s still one little thing I make time for...getting dressed in the mornings. Yes, it’s a requirement not a mere procrastination, something that each and every one of us are required to do every day. So I spend that extra few minutes to think what I will wear, to think how others will view my outfit and whom I can reach with a colourful splash of yellow. But most of all I think of myself. I grant myself that one last indulgence left in a busy schedule...to step out in an outfit that wasn’t just thrown together two minutes before I grab a piece of toast, gulp down some coffee and set off on yet another chapter in my hectic journey.

I might not be able to share all these outfits on this blog until I’m finally able to call myself a university graduate at the end of the year, but I can give you this: those few extra minutes spent putting together a masterpiece of an outfit. Believe me it’ll make everything worthwhile!

Furthermore I’ve decided to re-evaluate what really makes life worth living...friends, family and the precious moments spent with them...those are the things in life that are free. And you know what they say, the best things in life are free...

I’ve posted some pics of a red and blue themed picnic a friend recently hosted at Irene diary farm...also let me know what you do when you procrastinate! Take a moment to think about it about it and you might just experience something of a revelation.

Break out the burgundy!

The hottest new colour of the season is a lovely mix between red and maroon, the kind of burgundy that reminds you of a yummy red wine and wipes out memories of ugly maroon school uniforms. You’ll see this burgundy in all its different shades hanging out in all the hip stores...and I was finally able to get my hands on my very own beautiful burgundy piece. This oversized burgundy sweater was hiding in Mr Price when I was feeling in the mood for some retail therapy and promptly rescued me from my fashion rut.

I had some impulsive fun on the University of Pretoria campus shooting some pics of the outfit I threw together the very day after I went home with my new number in tow. Things are winding down on campus as the students prepare to go into exam mode, so I was able to sneak in a few pics without feeling too awkward (shooting fashion blog pics on campus can do that to you...) Luckily my boyfriend’s quite the amateur photographer and definitely not scared to act the role of pro fashion photographer!

Paired with mid-ankle boots, a chunky ring, and a golden chain necklace this sweater transforms from average to fashionable with help from winter’s three key items. What would you pair it with? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Till next time, happy weekend! xxx  

Naturally inspired!

Inspired by the beautiful Carolina Herrera Spring 2012 collection, with its upbeat bird prints offset by ethereal blues, greys and neutrals (view the collection here), I set out to find some nature-inspired accessories that could inject my wardrobe with some much needed Herrera flair. I found a fantastic pair of leaf earrings in gold and white at Mr Price for only R15.99, which I’m already wearing almost every day! Another great find is a pair of feather earrings from Identity in a purple-blue that reminds me instantly of the Carolina Herrera collection!

So why not set out for a little end-of-the month pay-day celebration shopping spree yourself? There’s nothing like retail therapy!

There’s a trick to every trade...

Peep-toe wedges, Mellisa at 36boutiques

Red postman bag, Habits 

Grey high-heeled courts, Foschini at 36boutiques

Leather belt, Habits

The saying goes, there’s a trick to every trade...and whenever I’m confronted by the mysterious ability of art to speak to the soul or the undeniable strength of a well-written poem, I think of this saying. It’s true there truly is a trick to every trade, every tradesmen has something up his or her sleeve that makes his work unique.

I have a friend who seems to have a few tricks to her repertoire and in the process she creates the most beautiful mosaic that I simply had to photograph. Of course I have a few tricks of my own and therefore I’ve paired her mosaic with some items found on a fruitful online shopping session. 

If you’re just as moved by her art as I am you can contact the artist for some unique mosaic pieces of your own:

Anita du Toit

dutoit.anita.heleen@gmail.com

0741471324

Singing in the rain

“I´m singin´ in the rain
Just singin´ in the rain,
What a glorious feeling,
And I´m happy again.
I´m laughing at clouds
So dark, up above,
The sun´s in my heart
And I´m ready for love.”

‘Singin’ in the rain’ by written by Arthur Freed

It’s been raining cats and dogs in both Pretoria and Joburg the past week so I’ve had to dust off the old umbrella in order to ward off frizzy hair and ruined shoes. In the process of searching for my slightly disabled, three year old umbrella I realised that waking up to pouring rain shouldn’t hamper one’s inherent fashion sense and the happiness we find in dressing in something pretty each day...No! Instead we should be singing in the rain, viewing brightly coloured umbrellas as the newest fashion accessory and matching your umbrella to your outfit just like the hip ladies of the 60’s matched their lip colour to their nail polish.

So I stepped out into the rain under a pretty green umbrella from Woolworths that perfectly matched my earrings and ring. It’s the umbrella revolution..and it’s time to join in! And what better way to join than by getting your hands on one of these two brightly coloured umbrellas I found at Woolworths!  

Tie the knot!

I recently discovered a random piece of material lying around my room that’s too long to be a scarf and too thick to be a belt. As you know I have hard time letting anything go without first trying to incorporate it into my wardrobe, hence the pair of keys I turned into a necklace in a previous post. So I decided to transform it into a necktie/necklace type accessory that works perfectly to spice up a dull outfit or a monochrome t-shirt! So here’s my step by step guide to the necktie/necklace:

1.     Take a long piece of material. (In hindsight I realised a thinner, more stretchy material would possibly work better!) and let it hang around your neck.

2.      Loop the material loosely around your neck.

3.      Take the two ends and tie it onto a knot.

4.     Position the knot at a slightly tilted angle or tie a pretty bow.

And there you have it...another creative DIY project by pretty little pigeons!

Beautiful Birdie Brooch

As you know this past week I’ve been madly inspired by the fashion of the award winning television series Mad Men. One of my favourite characters, the feisty red head Joan, is constantly seen wearing a beautiful brooch pinned to a sexy jewel-toned dress.

So today I decided to emulate the fashionable Joan and wear a brooch of my own. I inherited this birdie brooch from a family member a few years back and until watching Mad Men I’ve never really been inspired to pin it with pride. Now I’m completely smitten and even though by mid-morning it was sweltering hot outside I persisted in wearing the cardigan I’d pinned it to so everyone could admire my pretty heirloom.

Of course I simply couldn’t rant and rave about my beautiful brooch without letting you guys in on where you could get your hands on your own...so I hopped onto the fantastic bid or buy website (where I’m told you can find almost anything!)  and found brooches in all shapes and sizes, ranging from vintage to brand new. Why not try a pretty vintage brooch as a thoughtful yet fashionable Christmas gift?

(All photos below from Bid or Buy)

If the key fits...

I was busy tidying my room (which could also be translated into serious procrastination and avoidance of studying) when I found a bunch of old keys lying around. Don’t we all have those? Keys lying around that’s been long forgotten, know one knows where they fit or who they belong to?

I swiftly decided to put the forgotten keys out of their misery and put them to good use! I took an old chain I also had lying around (yes, I’m quite the hoarder...) and turned my unused keys into a beautifully unique accessory.

If the key fits...why not wear it around your neck?

These are a few of my favourite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’ m feeling sad... I think of a few of my favourite pretty things! Everyone has something that makes them feel that undeniable glow of excitement; to me beautiful things seem to do the trick. Today I share with you a few of my favourite things for the month of October...the few small things that brighten my day!

Right at the top of my list would be this headband my sister bought for me at the Woolworths in Bloemfontein...not only does it remind me of my sister, but it also has a pretty little pigeon print on it!

Next up are handmade flower brooches, which if you’re a regular reader wouldn’t come as much of a surprise to you seeing as I do rave all the time about how I love all things handmade! Let’s pin flowers in our hair, on our t-shirts and jerseys and deny spring a reason to abandon us for the hot madness of summer!

Lastly, another favourite is eclectic nail polish in bright and unusual colours. Join me in showing the world that there is no colour that doesn’t belong on our nails!

Of course these are only the material things...what I truly love most about October are the neverending display of purple that is Pretoria this time of the year (something I intend to share with you in a coming post!), the undercurrent of excitement and nerves that slowly builds as exams near and the year comes to an end and the nostalgic feeling that days pass a bit too fast and that we really need to hold on to whatever we hold dear...