Winter time in the city. It's a magical time of year, when Shopista can layer her look and snuggle up in fashion's frost-combative offering. One statement piece which has stuck it out for a few seasons now is the cape.
The cape offers a different take on the standard jacket, and looks best with skinny jeans or tailored pants to avoid looking too 'boxy', and can be thrown on with a myriad of outfits.
Always a favourite with the celeb fashion pack, having a caped crusader in your wardrobe is a perfect 'hero' piece than can be dressed up or down, and can be worn to anything from Sunday brunch to cocktails at dusk.
Happy Shopping x
p.s. Don't forget to check out SWLS's Facebook page and click LIKE for instant shopping, fashion & sales updates! VIEW HERE
Kim K and Nicole R work their look caped looks - just add a hot designer bag and oversized sunnies and you'll have the paparazzi stalking your every move in no time!
Topshop Khaki DOuble Buckle Cape approx AUD $127.63 -BUY HERE
Who said winter's palette had to be bland? Pep it up with One Teaspoon's Jefferson Cape AUD $250 - BUY HERE
Topshop Multi Paisley Print Cape approx AUD $75 - BUY HERE
Topshop Black Waxed Cape approx AUD $112.62 -BUY HERE
Alice By Temperley Intarsia Cotton Cape USD $450 -BUY HERE
Diane von Furstenberg Morinne Cotton-Twill Cape USD $575 -BUY HERE
Stella McCartney Long Knit Sweater Cape AUD $1,234.90 -BUY HERE
Topshop Grey Blue Oversized Hooded Cape approx AUD $96.10 -BUY HERE
There are many events in a Shopista's life that can get her into a fashionable tizz. Sleuth has covered off what to wear to a wedding and the weekend away, and now with the launch of the First Date Friendly concept by group buying website OurDeal, it's time to touch on the ever debatable wardrobe question, what to wear on a first date. Many Shopistas get caught in the grey area, to dress up or not to dress up? That is the question. Over the years Shopistas have read pages and pages in ladies/gossip/mens magazines that guys love a lady to dress to impress, but not overdo it. This is often a fine line to tow as many Shopistas want to feel their best when going out on a date, which was once eloquently described in Sex And The City as 'a job interview with cocktails'.
Ensuring you look your best without appearing too high maintenance is key, as the one thing that confuses men more than beauty regimes is fashion. So if you love getting quirky with your look, it's often a good idea to leave the peacock feather hat at home on the first date. By no means does this mean you shouldn't be yourself or feel comfortable in how you dress, it just means that sometimes really outlandish outfits can be a little scary for a guy, unless he likes wearing the same garb as well! This often leaves Shopista wondering what is appropriate for said date, depending on the activity and venue in which they are dining. Gaining prior knowledge of where you'll be dining will mean you'll have a fair idea of dress code, and also mean Shopista won't wind up wearing jeans in a 5 star establishment or a mini and fishnet tights while bowling with burgers.
Using some of the fab dates available to purchase at ourdeal.com.au, Sleuth has covered off some fool-proof dating gear that will have ShopMista smitten, and leave Shopista feeling fashionable, confident and ready for round two! OurDeal's First Date Friendly deals will be rotating and are available to purchase from 25th-31st July - VIEW HERE
Happy Shopping! x
p.s. Don't forget to check out SWLS's Facebook page and click LIKE for instant shopping, fashion & sales updates! VIEW HERE
Capital Grill - Located at Circular Quay in Sydney, CG is the perfect after-work date venue. What better way to get to know someone than over a Clandestine Tryst cocktail while enjoying Zak Sykes's delicious gourmet fare - First Date Friendly deal of $49 for $100 value -
What to wear - A date after work poses a couple of problems - mainly, how to take your look from desk to dinner? Simple. Every Shopista should have an outfit of Desk-to-Date validity, as you never know when it's going to be needed! A gorgeous print can work easily from day to date, just add some sassy heels and a bit of bling, spritz a fragrance and you'll have him wondering how he managed to wine and dine this fab fashonista!
Cue's Print Dress is a perfect Desk-to-Dinner wardrobe addition AUD $239 - VIEW HERE
Pair your cute Cue dress back with this man-magnet Boyfriend Jacket by Malene Birger approx AUD $356.12 - BUY HERE
Add a bit of glam to your look after 5pm with this Gorjana Parker Leather Wrap Bracelet AUD $47.01 -BUY HERE
Halt heels from Wittner are prefect for desk to dinner situations and a great staple she for your wardrobe AUD $149.95 - BUY HERE
Come 5pm, spritz some refreshingly feminine Daisy by Marc Jacobs 50ml AUD $91.50 -BUY HERE
The Lobster Cave in Melbourne is your one stop shop for succulent seafood and savvy wines. This is fine dining with a fun yet sophisticated vibe, so dress trendy mixed back with splash of eclecticism. Black is always a safe and sexy option, and mixed back with some colour-pop accessories will have you looking svelt and smokin'!
You can enjoy a first date (or fifth) at The Lobster Cave with this great offer of $49 for $100 value - BUY HERE
Rick Owens Long-Sleeved Jersey Dress USD $555 -BUY HERE
Topshop Black Faux Snakeskin Suede Biker Jacket approx AUD $240 -BUY HERE
Miguel Ases Blue Quartz Swarovski Earrings AUD $209.15 - BUY HERE
Putting some pop into the mix - Michael Kors Leather Clutch USD $395 - BUY HERE
Thierry Mugler's Alien fragrance series is sophisticated without being suffocating - lending its wearing an air of mystery, and perfect for a first date! 30ml AUD $66.50 - BUY HERE
Cognito in Perth is casual fine dining - so the perfect setting for a weekend date or setting an unpretentious atmosphere for you to get to know one another. For more casual dining, adopt a more relaxed look, while still maintaining an air of sophistication - you want this guy thinking he's got a real catch on his hands! Enjoy two entrees and two mains along with a bottle of WA's finest for just $79 for two - ooh la la! BUY HERE
Showing a bit of skin will get him guessing, while keeping your look sophisticated with this Sportsgirl Stripe Cut-Out Top AUD $59.95 -BUY HERE
Witchery Zip Detail Relaxed Pant AUD $129.95 - BUY HERE
Add a bit of height with Witchery's Winnie High Heel AUD $169.95 -BUY HERE
Kenneth Jay Lane textured hoops for a bit of bling AUD $34.54 -BUY HERE
Move over crown jewels! This year's summer exhibition at Buckingham Palace will differ slightly to other years, mainly due to the fact that the world's most famous dress will be the star of the show. With 160,000 already sold of the 600,000 available tickets to view the McQueen Royal Wedding masterpiece (and all tickets expected to fly before the October finish of the exhibition), The Duchess of Cambridge took her granny-in-law (akhem, The Queen) for a quick spin around the exhibition before it opens to the public. Unfortunately, the most important critic of all (to Kate anyway)appeared to be less than impressed with the display. It would be thought that the Queen may have tried to soften her less-than-favourable thoughts around the newly appointed Duchess, but no, gung ho! She's part of 'the firm' now so let true sentiments be known!
Kate's dress at Buckingham Palace's Summer Exhibition
Picture - news.com.au/AFP
Kate and the Queen viewing her dress on display
Picture - PA
While it would have been a bit shattering to have the Queen call your wedding dress display 'horrid' and thought it was 'made to look very creepy' - she's actually not too far off the mark! Interestingly, the team behind the exhibition felt that a faceless display would be best, which has resulted in the effect dress loosing some of its luster. Without the gorgeous Kate beneath the veil with her pearly whites, glossy brown locks and sun-kissed tan, the dress does indeed look rather...ghostly! Looking at the pics actually takes Sleuth straight back to childhood, watching Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and being so perturbed when the faceless armoury came alive that there was little sleep to be had for many weeks after!
Armour coming alive to fight in Bedknobs & Broomsticks
Kate's mannequin looking a little lonely!
But back to the gown. The engineering is quite spectacular, with the exhibition screening a film of designer Sarah Burton talking about the making of her career-defining design. "There were a lot of references to Victorian corsetry, the padded hip, the tiny cinched-in waist, and also to the arts and crafts movement with all of the hand-work on the lace of the dress and also the bustle inside to create the shape of the back of the dress. It has an essence of Victorian but we cut the dress in a very modern way, it is in a very light fabric, also the pleats and the folds create a modern feel rather than a historical piece," says Sarah of her creation.
Being able to see the gown up close allows us to see the craftsmanship and long hours put into the gown, with snippets of info like the fact the needleworkers washed their hands every 30 minutes to maintain the pristine lace and changed their needles every 3 hours to ensure they were sharp, just shows how much effort (and money) was put into making this fairytale gown a reality that little girls (and big ones too!) can dream about for years to come.
Kate's ivory & white satin-gazar dress designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Possibly Sleuth's favourite part of the gown, the pleated waist gave the Duchess a beautiful line and echoed the lustrous designs of Victorian days.
The Cartier Halo tiara, with it's 1000 diamonds was leant to Kate by the Queen as her 'something borrowed'
Kate's Sarah Burton-designed Alexander McQueen slippers, befitting a true princess....(or Duchess!)
Perfection. Grace Kelly on her 1956 wedding day, and her dress on display in the exhibition
'The Grace Kelly Years'.
Many comparisons were drawn between Kate's gown and the one worn by Grace Kelly as she too joined the Royal fold. The display methods differ though as Grace's gown was (graced) with a head, giving form to the gown and helping take the viewers straight back to her magical day. While Kate's display is a little eerie, getting up close to see the intricate design will certainly be a magical experience for those luck 600,000 revelers, who too can marvel in the history-making moment when Kate and Will sealed the deal.
For those Shopistas wishing to pay homage to this design feat at Buckingham Palace, tickets can be purchased for £17.50 at www.royalcollection.org.uk
It's true. There's no use hiding it and blushing at the mention of her name. Sleuth has a serious style-crush on non other than Olivia Palermo, Shop Til You Drop's August covergirl. Now, for those Shopistas who watched The City (yes, it was tedious at times, but the fashion and interning at Diane von Furstenberg and Elle Magazine was worth the pain!) you'll know that Olivia is no saint. She's more the back-stabbing-can't-trust-a-thing-she-says-or-does kind of lass, but alas, her wardrobe is one of envy, and not since Carrie Bradshaw have Shopistas the world over lusted after a wardrobe with such adoration.
Olivia's faultless style comes down to two factors - an endless budget (when you're dripping in Chloe, Louboutin and Alexander Wang, how can you NOT look amazing?) but also her ability to pull a look together. Liv always mixes the right garments back with the right accessories, the right amount of style and a heck of a lot of sophistication (and of course, let's not forget the attitude!) resulting in her fashion palette of nude and blush tones sometimes being interjected with a pop of colour, just to keep us guessing what this style maven will wear next!
Below are some of Sleuth's fave Liv fashion moments, along with a collection of pieces that will help you get the Palermo look.
Happy Shopping! x
Get Olivia's super-chic look!
Alexander Wang knotted Wrap Dress AUD $521.55 -BUY HERE
