Accessories - Inspired Living SA

Accessories, Fashion, Fashion, Style Inspiration

What’s Hot Fashion Finds

Fashion Finds

Today I bring you my What’s Hot Fashion Finds! I am truly so over winter and wearing boots and chunky knits! I am cannot wait for spring to arrive, so that I can pack all my winter woolies away and get my tootsies out in the sun! Ok so it is not really shorts and sandals weather yet but it is certainly time to start looking out for those transitional pieces.

The transitional look below is one of my favourites for in-between seasons and you will find me wearing something very similar going into spring.

I have not consciously being looking for spring or summer items but it is always in the back of my mind, with our trip to Italy less than 3 weeks away! Naturally I am planning to do some shopping while we are there but I still need to ensure I have a few items to take with me.

These are a few of my latest Fashion Finds:

Mango Jeans Skull Top ~ I am afraid I have a slight obsession with skulls and could simply not resist this top from Mango. It is light-weight, perfect to wear, either on its own or under a jacket. It looks great paired with washed-out blue boyfriend jeans and as good with white skinnies. What makes it Hot? Well the skull for one and who doesn’t like a bit of sparkle!!?? RRP R349.95 Edgars Canal Walk
Jean Kelly New York Black Ballet Flats ~ I am simply in love with these ballet flats, you will have no idea how comfortable they are until you actually slip them onto your feet! Its like heaven for feet 🙂 I really had a hard time choosing a colour but I already have a tan pair of flats, so black was my next choice but I have my eyes on one or two more pairs! What makes it Hot? They are the most comfortable shoes I own barring my slippers and they look awesome too! RRP R499 Jean Kelly
Poetry Rare Earth Floral Scarf ~ I actually bought this scarf a little while ago but the weather was a bit to grey and gloomy of late, so I only hauled it out about two weeks ago and have been wearing it ever since 🙂 Much like skulls I definitely have a thing for scarves – lets just say I have many! This scarf reminds me of a spring garden just beginning to bloom, so pretty with fuchsia, corals, aqua and green shades. I particularly like the Poetry or Old Khaki scarves for transitional wear, as the are quite light-weight for those in between days, when there is still a slight chill in the air. They also have a great range of scarves at very affordable prices. What makes it Hot? The gorgeous colours are perfect for spring! RRP R140 Poetry

What are your favourite fashion finds for the season ahead? Please share any of your hot fashion finds in the comment section below.

Have a fabulously fashionable weekend!

Disclosure Ranking: Items 1 & 3 – 1, Item 2 – 2

Accessories, Fashion, Fashion, Style Inspiration

Poetry Fashion Autumn 2014

As you may know I am a bit of a shopaholic but since my wardrobe consult last year, I try to be a tad more conservative with my retail therapy sessions! I still window-shop often but if I buy something it has to fit into my existing wardrobe, in other-words no impulse buys!

Two of my favourite stores in South Africa, are Poetry and Old Khaki, which actually fall under the same global brand. I shop at these stores mainly for casual or more relaxed weekend wear. Although saying that, you can also find great occasional-wear pieces at Poetry. I think that the quality and value of both brands are really good – they are not the cheapest but as the saying goes “you get what you pay for”!

On a recent quest to find a denim jacket, I discovered the one above at Poetry – I was looking for something I could wear, as both a casual, day time jacket but also dress-up, for a smarter look. My original thought was to go for a darker denim but I fell in love with this jacket, the moment I laid eyes on it! I thought I would share this and a few of my other Poetry Fashion finds for Autumn 2014.

For this more casual look, I have paired the jacket with Stone Chinos, from Old Khaki{last season} and one of my favourite purchases for Autumn 2014, a Aqua Pullover, from Poetry. I loved the pullover so much I went back and bought it in black as well! My advice, if you find a wardrobe staple, which fits you well, looks great and the budget allows – then buy it in more than one colour!

If you are wanting a smarter look for evening, then pair the denim jacket with a pretty black lace vest or blouse and black pants or a skirt. You could also wear the jacket over a LBD for an even smarter look!

This jacket appeals to me on a few different levels but mainly because of its feminine tailoring, I love the mandarin collar and pretty rouged edging, as well as the stunning shade of denim! It has very quickly become a wardrobe staple and fits perfectly into my intermediary wardrobe. Staples like this are an important part of any wardobe, especially as the seasons change and it gets a bit more chilly in the evenings.

As well as great clothing Poetry also stocks beautiful accessories, shoes, bags and scarves, as well as homeware and bath and body products.

Featured Items: Rare Earth Evangeline Denim Jacket R650 Poetry, Aqua Pullover R450 Poetry, Lace Vest R375 Poetry

To find these and other items please visit the Poetry Website to shop online or locate a store closest to you.

Images: ©FAR Photography

Accessories, Fashion

Witchery & Mimco are set to launch at Woolworths

Following the successful introduction of Country Road and Trenery to South Africa, Woolworths is launching two additional, iconic Australian brands, Witchery and Mimco to the South African retail market. Witchery & Mimco are set to launch at Woolworths in March 2014.

At the 2014 Woolworths Winter Premium Brands Preview held recently at the Waterfront, we were treated to a sneak peek at what to expect for Winter 2014 ~ from the new addition to the Woolworths premium brands Witchery and Mimco, as well as existing brands Country Road and Trenery.

For a fashion lover like me this type of event is bliss! Surrounded by gorgeous clothing and the most stunning bags and shoes – what more does a girl need! After a preview of the Winter 2014 range for Country Road and Trenery, we were introduced to the soon to be launched Witchery and Mimco Range for 2014.

WITCHERY

Having heard so much about the Witchery brand before the preview I was super excited to see the brand first hand!

As one of the most inspiring of Australia’s big fashion brands, Witchery is a global style authority loved by Australians and New Zealanders since the 1970s. Ahead of the curve, Witchery’s fashion radar casts a worldwide eye, delivering feminine, fashion-forward collections that capture the latest ready-to-wear runway trends.

“The Witchery woman adores fashion and loves to put her own spin on the latest trends to make a stylish, personalised statement. She looks to Witchery for pieces that are fresh, glamorous, edgy and wearable that can take her from day to-night, and from work to a party,” ~ Witchery’s Managing Director, Matt Keogh.

MIMCO

As an iconic Australian accessories brand, Mimco is at the forefront of delivering accessible luxury with its quirky designs and statement pieces. Mimco celebrates unique design and eclectic styling, which was very apparent at the preview. I loved the bold red heads, dressed in fun and flirty garb, adorned with unique Mimco pieces.

The brand will offer leather and non-leather handbags, evening bags, wallets, tech accessories, footwear, jewellery, timepieces and hair accessories.

Each season, Mimco’s design team creates limited edition pieces to push the boundaries with creative design, materials and styling that offer customers rare and dynamic pieces. These personality-filled pieces will also be available locally.

“Since 1996, we have designed beautiful pieces for women who love to add a touch of glamour to their every day and who understand the value that a unique accessory adds to their wardrobe,” ~ Mimco’s Managing Director Cathryn Wills.

“Both Witchery and Mimco are strong brands with their own clearly defined points of view. We believe that they will help cement our place as a leading fashion destination and resonate with the South African woman who is looking for fashion that reflects the latest international trends and her own personal sense of style.” ~ Woolworths CEO Ian Moir,

In addition to standalone stores at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and at Hyde Park in Johannesburg, Witchery will be available at Woolworths V&A Waterfront, Cavendish Square and Tygervalley in Cape Town, Gateway in Durban, and Menlyn, Brooklyn, Eastgate, Sandton, and Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.

We received a few goodies to take home with us ~ my favourite being this stunning black & white clutch purse from Witchery! I am loving a monochrome palette at the moment, so this addition to my accessories is perfect! Thanks Woolworths!

Accessories, Fashion, Fashion

Old Khaki Summer Trends

Old Khaki is one of my favourite stores for casual wear, especially for summer. I love the quality of the fabrics they use and I find their clothing stylish, as well as reasonably priced as!

Last week I visited their Cavendish store to get a heads up on what their summer fashion trends are. I thought I would share a few of my favourite looks with you:

I am really loving the Old Khaki Summer Trends and the colourways which they have used in this seasons range. My favourite colours Aqua and Coral feature quite a bit, complimented with pretty florals and neutral shades.

I absolutely adore this bag and have added it to my shopping wish list. It is the perfect shade to compliment all these gorgeous summer colours!
[Read more…]

Accessories, Fashion, Fashion

Summer Fashion Essentials

I love summer! Especially the warmer weather, which means spending more time outdoors and more importantly changing over to your summer wardrobe!

There is always that transition time between seasons, when you are not quite sure whether you should pack your winter woolies away but once summer is here in earnest there is nothing better than swopping your winter boots for strappy sandals and a pair of jeans and a jumper for a gorgeous summer dress.

With the help of Dominique Luck I did a spring/summer wardrobe sort a few weeks back. Once we had sorted all my existing clothing and decided which items would make the donation pile, we made a list of the summer fashion essentials, which I need to add to my wardrobe.

These are a few of the Summer Fashion Essentials, which were on the list:

Trousers: Pleated, printed,tapered or wide leg its all good! I find that I tend to live in jeans but often I need something a bit smarter for evening wear or I simply want to achieve a different look. Dominique’s advice is no matter what style you choose ensure they fit well and make a statement! A few great trends for this season are preppy cotton trousers or statement printed wide leg or tapered trousers. To find similar style printed trousers click here. I managed to find the pair below, from Trenery at Woolworths, which are perfect for an evening out or an event and you can wear them with heels or flats.

The ballet pump: Pumps are essential for spring/summer, especially during the transitional weather when it is still too cold for flip flops or sandals but too warm for boots. There are so many styles and colours to choose from in the shops at the moment, we are spoilt for choice but it is also so good to have at least one neutral pair. I especially love handmade pumps like the pair above from Luli Pulani. On my search for a new pair for everyday wear, I found the pair below at Old Khaki, they are part of their Rare Earth range – they are super comfy and look great with just about any outfit!

Strappy sandals: The best part of summer is getting your tootsies out! Donning a pair of strappy sandals or wedges, with a bright and summery colour painted on your toes – perfect! My sandal collection is a bit sad at the moment, so I opted for a very versatile silver pair from Aldo to start off my summer sandal collection. I am still on the hunt for a sexy pair of high wedges for summer!

Dresses! I think I love the idea of dresses more, than dressed themselves but I think my apprehension lies in finding the “right” dress – one that makes me feel and look sexy and feminine! Last summer I found two pretty pastels lace dresses, which I loved wearing, they are both shorter in length and make me feel super sexy. If you prefer something longer then opt for a statement maxi dress, there are so many gorgeous prints available – a few new maxi dresses are definitely on my shopping list! To find summer dresses click here and here.

Scarves!!! I love scarves, much like shoes and bags, if I walk into a shop I HAVE to look at the scarves they have on display, whether I need one or not! Florals, pastels, geometric brights it does not really matter!! Mix match and or clash – just have a bit of fun 🙂 I found the gorgeous scarf above at Old Khaki and have had so many compliments when I wear it. {I had to go back and buy the cardi, which is also from Old Khaki. I did not buy it first time around as I have quite a collection of cardi’s but coral is one of favourite colours, so I had to have it :)}

A few fashion tips to remember:

~ If you find a classic clothing item, which fits you well, then buy more than one!

~When buying a T shirt ensure that you remember the secret formula – 95% Cotton and 5%Lycra or Spandex, this will help it hold its shape and last longer.

~When buying denim, especially stretch denim, buy a size smaller because it will stretch and lets face it there is nothing worse than a saggy-butt!

~Keep a scarf in your bag or car – it will perk up any outfit and take your look from ordinary to fabulous!

There are many other items which are essential to complete your summer wardrobe but these are a few of the basics.

Items Featured: Black Trousers R599 Trenery at Woolworths, Nude Rare Earth Pumps R599 Old Khaki, Silver Thong Sandals R499 Aldo, Coral & Pink Scarf R160 Old Khaki, Coral Cardigan R350 Old Khaki, Floral Dresses bought on holiday in Thailand.