On Target

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Dress: Target Limited Editions

Bolero: City Chic

Booties: Target

Bag: Novo patent

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Bracelet: Vintage Kellie's Antiques silver

Ring: Vintage diamond & sapphire

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Rocking it in an edgy Target Limited Editions shift dress topped off with a motorcycle style leather bolero, perfect for a meeting where I really need to stand out. 

I am a firm believer that you don't need to spend a fortune to look like a million dollars. It is widely known among my friends & family that I will try on ANY dress in ANY store - if it catches my eye - regardless of brand or price. As far as I'm concerned, my pursuit of fashion knows no stigmas (that's not cool enough etc... you've probably heard them all) as hidden gems can be found almost anywhere - cheap chain stores, funky market stalls & ritzy boutiques as well as shopping centres & big department stores. 

The trick is to look for items that are a little out of the ordinary - vibrant colours, unexpected prints, funky accents like exposed zippers & fabrics that leave people wondering about their quality. For example, some types of polyester can easily pass for silk if the pattern is well placed & the print looks high end - much like the shift dress above, which picks up on the current cobalt trend & uses a "painterly" print to evoke a sense of decadence. Cheaper fabrics & cuts can also look better in the next size up from what you would normally wear so that seams don't pull or the lack of a lining doesn't show any lines or bulges. 

Mixing less expensive pieces with on-trend accessories is also a great way to add richness to an ensemble. Remember, you aren't investment dressing so you can afford to be a little experimental. Case in point: I've matched my pointy-toed black booties with cobalt elastic to the cobalt blue in the dress print to create cohesion & give the feeling of opulence. 

Another tip is to add more expensive jewellery to elevate a look. In this instance, I have mixed a chunky silver bangle & heart locket bracelet with my Nanna Violet's delicate sapphire & diamond ring to once-again create a cohesive colour palette & - much like in home decor, where groupings of different shapes & sizes draw the eye in - add visual interest. Besides, some days I just like to feel something of hers close to me, you know?