SPRING/ SUMMER FASHION 2103 TRENDS

Well first of all need to apologise it has been a little hectic of late so trying to find 10 minutes for myself as been difficult, but I promise to try and be more consistent with the blog!

I have had a large number of requests from my gorgeous friends around what the trends are for summer and here they are straight from the catwalk...

Right now anything goes from bold bright prints to neutrals.

Minimalism - Look at your neutral colours camel, white coupled with clean lines.

Stripes - Large stripes are in right now so keep the nautical look going.

Bold Prints - Patterns are in right now, look at your floral print and think African print as well. Just remember couple your prints with a neutral top or bottom you don't want to look like your grans couch. Also don't forget the 60's graphics they are also all over the cat walks this season.

Lace - The lady like peek a boo lace is still on trend. Just don't over do the ruffles you don't want to look like  you just escaped the Victorian era.

Leather - Yes I know it is summer but light colour leather is high on the IT list. Sissy boy had some beautiful white and peach leather jackets for those cooler summer nights. Just remember the rule here is you must keep the colours light. If you are really brave PVC is also a huge trend not sure that this is a sweat resistant option and I would keep it to a light colour leather jacket or a mini skirt for those nights on the town.

Cropped Tops - They are still huge right now, pair them with a cute pair of shorts and heals or a mini/ a-line skirt. Make sure it is not too baggy you don't want to look like you are swimming in your outfit.

Cut outs - Backless dresses, cut outs a round the collar of a collar shirt.

Aquafresh Blue - One of my favourite colours, blue, is a big colour for this season so dust of your cobalt blue, cornflower outfits!

Hope this points you in the right direction to what updates you need for your summer wardrobe as with anything don't forget if you don't look good in a certain trend don't be a slave to fashion, being stylish rather than fashionably correct is much more important and also the number one golden rule don't try and combine every trend into one!

Next going to tackle the accessories trends for summer so watch this space.

 

ART AT YOUR FINGER TIPS

While the good old French manicure is a faithful friend when you don't want to think too much about your nails and what matches what, however the nail art trend is continuing for summer 2013. It featured on the New York fashion week runways and top of the colour list is Nude, Pastels, Metallic Flashes, Coral, Teal and Ombre (A blend of a couple of colours). I have always been pretty boring with my nails and stuck with the French manicure however this year I have ventured a little out of my comfort zone and tried nail art and it has brought a fun element to an outfit. My go too nail person is Jackie. I literally have been going to her for the last 20 years and no one does nails like Jackie.

She has a lovely salon where she offers a range of beauty treatments including laser slimming, hair salon, facials and so much more. She is offering a special offer to all my loyal blog supporters. If you go for a set of nails your two week fill will be on the house and if you have a hair colour done your cut and blow wave will also be on the house. With summer literally on the doorstep it is a great time to have a little mini make over and Jackie offers a one stop shop with quality treatments!

Le Chic Boutique is contactable on 082 457 6613. Remember to drop my name to qualify for the special. Check out the photos below to see some of Jackie's creative work it truly is amazing what she can fit on a nail!

Metallic flashes

 

Burberry anyone

Summer Fun 

Monsters 

London calling

FINDING YOUR STYLE....

For me it is murphy's law the day you are in your oldest tracksuit and have walked out the house without a lick of make up you will run into the popular girl from school or the friend you haven't seen in ages and even ducking behind the meat counter won't stop her from discovering you. The Take-A-Lot advert on TV right now sums it up in a nut shell, the new mom running into the glamorous friend while she looks less the glamorous you can just see on her face she wishes the ground would swallow her up!

Now a lot of people will turn around and say but I don't have the time I am juggling work, kids, a house etc etc the list can go on, however I am a great believer in that if you feel great on the outside it impacts the rest of your life and just makes you a better functioning human being. I know on the days I feel less than my best it sets the tone for the rest of the day and suddenly you have accomplished half of what you normally could do just because you do not feel top of your game.

With all the new products on the market to make you life easier we really don't have an excuse to look at the top of our game every time you step out the house. Items like BB cream (Beauty Balm) that covers moisturiser, foundation and SPF all in one special little tube can cut your make up routine down by a good 5 minutes, add a bit of mascara, some lip-gloss and a little bit of blush and you are good to go, okay you might also want to put a hairbrush through your hair and make sure it looks presentable but all in all this should literally take you 30 minutes. I know people that need two hours notice to get ready to go any where, if it is taking you this long you do not have good basics in place and you need to re-examine your routine!

For me basics are your go to formula when you just don't have that hour to dedicate to getting ready and you need to still look like a million bucks. I call it my style uniform for me it is a good pair of jeans with a blouse and blazer this can be dressed up or down by adding a couple of strategic accessories. I know that it looks good and can get me through a braai or a romantic diner. Not everyone will have the same formula and remember when you are in a rush you don't want to be experimenting with a new make up look or an outfit you are not quiet sure about. The absolute key to making sure your formula works is preparation. Victoria Beckham recommends preparing the night before and I find this works so well. Now I am not saying lay all your clothes out the night before and one has to be flexible as you never know how the weather might change or even your plans for your day, but just be a little prepared in the back of your mind have a couple of outfit ideas stashed away. If I have a special event or even a day where I want to look just plan fabulous I will start planning two weeks before the event. If you feel like a million bucks it will definitely shine through on the  day!

One question I am asked often is how you find what style works for you? (This is where I must outline the difference between style and fashion: style is your signature that works for you and normally flows through everything from your home décor to your personal look, fashion is more art in my mind it is the runway shows and the latest trends). Okay but back to the question at hand, I am a great researcher I will study magazines, celebrity trends (and not the red carpet stuff lets face it how often in your life are you going to attend a ball?) but rather their every day looks. Think about it a celebrity normally has some sort of stylist assisting and guiding them so by looking at a celebrities style you get the benefit of a stylist at no charge.  Remember when looking at which celebrity's style you like you need to keep in mind are they the same body shape as you, height etc and does it fit in with the restrictions you might have? There is no point in wanting to look like Victoria Beckham when first of all you are not build like a bean pole and work in a factory or casual environment prancing around in 5 inch heels is not going to be practical or realistic. What you could take from her is that she always looks put together whether she is attending a soccer match with her kids or attending a fashion gala.

So you have picked someone you would like to emulate again it might not be a celebrity but perhaps a good friend or acquaintance whose style you admire. Look at what you like about their style and also what you don't like. I then build what I call my style file in this style file (digital or old school) I will store outfit ideas both casual and formal. Look at what are their go to basics. For me my current "style icons" are Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Alba and Jessica Biel (I must have a thing for people whose name starts with J). I love the way they look put together but in an understated way. The common thing for all of them is they love neutral basics, jeans, blazers, scarves (a great way for dressing an outfit up or down) wedges, boots, shirts and your plain basic T. Their style is not fussy or busy.  You also want to keep your age in mind, it would be ridiculous for me to look at Miley Cyrus as a style inspiration there comes a point in time when you are just not going to be able to rock that crop top! However what I could take from her is her edgy rock side and spice up my own style with a leather jacket thrown over a maxi dress for instance! My style file is there to help inspire me and especially on those days when I just don't know what to wear.

This even helps me edit my own wardrobe, it helps me decide if a particular outfit fits in with the overall look I am going for, also when you are shopping keep in mind the items you are missing to achieve an overall look this should help you save money and not end up buying items that will never be worn. Another great place to get inspired and help find your style signature is style books two that I would highly recommend as they are easy reads and style focused rather than fashion is Style A to Zoe by Rachel Zoe and Style by Lauren Conrad and of course style blogs! You will soon see the kind of style that inspires you.

Most important factor to remember is have fun while you are finding your personal "style" signature. You will make mistakes, I still leave the house on days and later in the day think what was I thinking! Making mistakes is how we learn. I also offer consultations if you are still stuck where we can look at things like wardrobe editing building your shopping list and even just helping you find your style signature.

Here is some style inspiration...Look out for my next blog don't forget to subscribe to get your copy emailed directly to you. XOXO Simone 

Going to have to give the outfit in the middle ago!

Jessica Alba shows us that even a new mom can be stylish!

Simple plan black skinnies and jacket are dressed up with a scarve. Scarves are great ways to change an outfit with minimal expense. Throw one on with jeans and a plain white t-shirt with wedges and you have a great out and about outfit.

Dresses are great wardrobe basics the long maxi's that are in fashion right now are awesome!







BATTY ABOUT HATS

If there is one thing I wish women would wear more its hats. I think they add that extra bit of glamour to any outfit and used to be high fashion but sadly died out at the end of the sixties. However with people like Kate Middleton sporting them they are starting to make a fresh appearance however more so in the States and the UK. Africa we need to catch up and start the hat revival!

However not all hats are created equally and unfortunately not everyone looks good in a hat but don't let this stop you from giving it a try as there are so many hats to choose from that I am sure 95% of us can find a hat to give us that little extra spark and hide a bad hair day...

Here are the important factors to look for when picking a hat:

1. Find the right colour - remember a hat is right next to your face so you don't want it to wash you out. Try it on in natural light to make sure it does not wash you out.  
2. Play around with position - see which way your hair looks best under the hat, does it look better in a low pony etc. also the position of the hat, don't just plonk it on, should it be at an angle or further forward. Make sure you look at yourself in the mirror from various angles not just the front.
3. Size is everything - make sure the hat is not to tight and cutting off blood circulation to the brain and that it is not do big that you look like a cartoon character.
4. Storage and care are key - ideally they should be stored in a large enough box to protect them from dust and help them keep their shape. I store mine on a hook in the cupboard. If they loose their shape or get a dent you can try using steam from the kettle or a steam iron to mould them back to their original shape.

The rules for picking the right hat for you is to look at your face shape:

1. Oval or triangle - This is the easiest face shape for a hat and most hats will suite you. Just make sure when picking a hat that the crown of the hat is never narrower than your cheekbone's.
2. Round or square - brims that are placed at an angle work best with this face shape. Also hats with a high broad crown work well to lengthen your face.
3. Oblong -  stay away from hats that are tall and with wide brims. Also try bringing the hat down a little on your face to your eyebrow to shorten your face.

Well hopefully the tips and tricks to finding the right hat for you will help you bring hats back to life! I have posted a couple of pics below to inspire you. Two of my favourite hats that are on trend right now are the Trilby and Fedora (this is definitely on my wish list currently) , happy hat shopping and remember hats are for both winter and summer.

It is impossible for a hatless woman to be chic - Emily Post

XOXO Simone

Fedora perfect for autumn and winter

Cowboy hat looks great with a costume or bikini and makes a statement by the pool 

Tribly looks great with jeans or with a boho inspired an outfit as warn here

Fedora softens the other wise overpowering all leather outfit

SMALL CHANGES MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Linen from @home and pillows Mr Price Home



Little stool from décor shop in area, with small bucket with guest soap etc.

Brought in some style books (always looks chic) small tea light protea candle and a fresh Protea flower they last forever

 Making my home and making small changes helps me fall in love with my house all over again and make sure that it feels like a home. Pinterest is an absolute haven for décor ideas and since magazines are pricey now a days it is a great way to get up to date information without shelling out on a magazine.

I have even incorporated my spring cleaning with the home make-over setting myself a goal of doing small updates to at least two rooms a month and at the same time tackling the cupboards and sorting out the clutter that has accumulated in these rooms. So basically killing two birds with one stone so to speak. It is amazing how much we can acquire over the years.

The first room to receive a little make over is our guest bedroom. Now that I have two teenagers this room sees a lot of guests. We had painted this room a few months ago and the beige duvet and red curtains were just not working in this room! One of my key make-over drives is to change the bed linen and duvets through out the house to white, white always reminds me of being on holiday plus white accessories make the room lighter and brighter without having the major expense of changing dark furniture etc.

Mr Price Home and @home all have some great accessories and linens at reasonable prices, I even found a gorgeous white fluffy blanket at @home to keep the bed cosy in winter. Adding a few flowers not only gives a nice fragrance to the room but is also inexpensive way to add a hotel touch, here again look for in season flowers that last a while to keep expenses down (Proteas are great for this I have some that are in their third month and still look great). I put some deodorant and disposable toothbrushes in the bedside draw with a box of tissues for guests that stay over un-expectantly. I also reduced the number of cushions on the bed at one point it had grown to about seven scatter cushions, reducing it too two cushions makes it easier to un-make and make the bed.

Final finishing touch was a small stool with a hand towel and bath towel on the bottom shelve and an extra blanket on top. I also found the cutest little "bucket" which I put a sponge, soap and small shampoo and conditioner in to make the guests feel welcome.

XOXO Simone

WHATS IN THE BAG

Oh how I want a Louis....

A request I received this week is what are the key essentials for your handbag if you want to be "style" ready at the drop of a hat. I love to research what celebrities are hiding in those large bags that keep them camera ready and these are the key items I have found I reach for on a daily basis without making your handbag weigh so much you get a mini work out in the process...

First up is the all important make up bag as you never know when you are going to need to be photo ready...You really just want the basics, if you apply your make up properly in the morning and use good products as a base then you should not need to reapply a whole face of make up by mid afternoon (if you do it is either too thick or not the right brand for you). My key essentials are a concealer, lip balm (I love Carmex), lipstick (I just keep my go to shade Shy Girl, good neutral shade), lipgloss, eyeliner and a que-tip to remove those pesky black bits that form in the tear duct. Also an old mascara wand this helps control eyebrows and brush out any mascara clumps (if you shop at mac they have little brushes that are there for samples so pick up a couple next time you pop past Mac).

Other Key essentials are...

Small bag containing Panado, Gaviscon, nail file, tweezers, plasters, hair tie, toothpicks, dental floss (I have a thing about clean teeth), waterless hand cleaner (Woolies has a mini one), compact mirror.

Hand cream is a must especially in winter (Woolies again has a great one right now that smells divine, I have the raspberry one. Then I have a little sewing kit which also comes in really handy (Dischem has a nice handbag size one in their travel section, small hairbrush (again travel size ones are easy to find) and chewing gum (again oral hygiene a must). Also a tiny little bag with female goodies just in case she decides to visit without warning! Then last but not least my purse.

Hope you have found this helpful let me know if you have anything unusual in your bag!

XOXO Simone 

Eventually....

Well those of you that know me, know I have been threatening for ages to start a blog. I love trying new products etc when it comes to beauty and fashion and have small pearls of wisdom to share. Friends and family are always asking my opinion on new products and my recommendation's, hence the birth of Simone's Style Café where I can share the latest tip bits and style inspirations to help you navigate through the world of fashion and beauty! I am hoping to post every Sunday if not more often just to keep you at the fore front. Let me know if you have any special requests. I look forward to hearing from all you fashionista's out there.

XOXO Simone