Creative Outlet

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Dress: Zimmermann silk

Cape: Taking Shape velvet, silk, embellishment

Ankle Boots: Urge via Zomp Shoez velvet with silver hardware

Bag: Forever New vinyl with silver hardware

Bracelet: Tibetan silver

Ring: Gift, silver

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While working as a personal stylist, one of the main questions I'm asked is whether I get tired of shopping so much?! The honest answer is no; no I don't. Each & every client has different needs, wants, feelings, fears, budgets & comfort zones & I look on their personal styling needs as more than just mere "consumerism" or idle "vanity." Dressing well - whatever your size, shape, budget - is more than just putting on clothing; it's presenting yourself to the world in the way you wish to be seen & can have remarkable effects on confidence & self-worth that shouldn't be underestimated. I look at each client's diverse needs as a puzzle to be solved & my enquiring mind just LOVES the thrill of the chase & the feeling of victory as I see a client walk along beside me, happily swinging the bag containing their fresh, new purchases.

For this particular styling job - chaperoning a group of five ladies around the Brisbane Airport DFO in search of stylish "winter woolies," I donned a gorgeous plum coloured, pleated silk dress with drawstring peasant neckline & voluminous sleeves from Aussie label Zimmermann, boho-luxe velvet & silk cape with beaded embellishment in the shape of a butterfly from Taking Shape's sadly-now-defunct "eventwear" collection (bring it back, please!), funky paisley printed velvet ankle boots from Urge via Zomp Shoez in Fortitude Valley & a shiny silver vinyl handbag from Forever New to carry all my essentials. Such an eclectic ensemble only required minimal jewellery - a Tibetan silver bracelet from a little boutique on the main street in Maleny & a handmade silver ring in the shape of a leaf, gifted to me by a dear friend on my 30th birthday.

Creative Outlet

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Dress: Anthea Crawford neoprene

Haberdashery: Kaela's Patch polyblend

Heels: Wittner leather

Bag: Forever New vinyl with silver hardware

Watch: Guess silver

Wrap Around Bracelet: Swarovski leather & crystal

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver

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What I love most about being a stylist is the transformative power of fashion; the way that empowering someone through what they wear has a "flow on" effect in their lives. It's not just a frivolous endeavour - the right outfit can increase a person's confidence, improve their outlook & even inspire them to undertake a task they never thought possible. Best of all? It doesn't have to "break the bank," as the saying goes. It's not about how much you spend, it's about choosing the right fabrics & cuts for you & styling them up in a way that is both interesting & appropriate for the occasion. Truthfully, I do wear quite a lot of designer label Anthea Crawford dresses (some gifted by dear friends, some purchased by me) so to offset that expenditure & keep it from becoming too "precious" for everyday living, I like to try & find bargains when it comes to the accessories... you know, that items that really "pull the look together."

Here's where DFO Brisbane Airport comes in! Big brands at low prices. Not everything is reduced (of course) & you might have to rummage through sale racks, but it's worth it to find some absolute gems for a steal... Personally, my favourite stores include Wittner, Review, Blue Illusion, Portmans & Decjuba for big reductions on a wide range of styles & sizes. For Queensland readers, here's my tip: it may not feel like it now but WINTER IS COMING & I am quietly confident that we will need knitwear of some kind to layer... DFO Brisbane Airport is knitwear, jacket, overcoat & gumboot heaven, so make sure you check it out before the big chill actually begins...

For a morning spent styling up some beautiful ladies, I donned a gorgeous large-scale floral neoprene wiggle dress with cold shoulder detailing & below-the-knee hemline from Anthea Crawford. The first time I wore it there was an unfortunate mishap with a pocket knife & a rogue thread on the bodice so I forced to "think outside the box" & head to my local haberdashery store, Kaela's Patch, to find a solution. Cue this amazing 3D polyblend flower embellishment that I had sewn over the offending spot... I think they add just a little something extra to the whole look, don't you?

When it came to footwear, I decided on these blush leather strappy heels from Wittner for the optimum mix of comfort & style & carried a matching vinyl shoulder bag with silver hardware from Forever New... always best to keep your hands free if you're planning on a big shopping trip. Jewellery was simple, yet statement-making & most of all smooth to avoid create pulls or marks on any of the clothing: an androgynous silver watch from Guess, chunky silver hinged bangle from Wallace Bishop & white leather wrap bangle studded with crystals from Swarovski for that touch of daytime sparkle. Scroll down for a final look...

These Days

Finally sharing the pictures from a lovely few days I spent with a dear friend & her little boy, shopping up a storm at DFO Brisbane Airport on Friday before braving the rain for brunch by the water at Redcliffe's Cafe Diversity on the Saturday. Scroll down to see more of what we did & most importantly (well, this is a fashion blog after all) what I wore...

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Dress: Anthea Crawford twill

Duster: Forever New denim with gold hardware

Boots: Puma mesh

Bag: Anthea Crawford vinyl with gold hardware

Hinged Bangle: Gift, vintage gold & silver (from Metropolitan Museum of Art)

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Here I am, posing beside some rather hilarious stylised piglets at Brisbane Airport wearing a gorgeous "seaflower" floral twill dress with slightly tapered v-neckline & princess seams from Anthea Crawford, burgundy denim duster with gold hardware (well, shirtdress worn open) from Forever New to ward off the Autumn chill, funky white mesh kickboxing boots with gold metallic panels from Puma (seriously comfortable, like wearing NOTHING at all on your feet) and carrying a colour-blocked vinyl handbag (also from Anthea) filled with all the essentials. When it came to jewellery, less was definitely more: a singular silver hinged bangle with gold scarab pendant, gifted to me by a dear friend who picked it up years ago from New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop during an Egyptian exhibit. 

Mexican for lunch!

Playtime for Ol' Blue Eyes...

I believe they call it "Puppy Love"

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Dress: Anthea Crawford brushed cotton

Jacket: Tree of Life khaki & embroidery

Brogues: Beltrami suede (via Styletread)

Bag: Anthea Crawford vinyl with gold hardware

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Hanging out on the Redcliffe Boardwalk during a break in the (often) torrential rain, leaning against a statue of an old-time diving apparatus & wearing a vibrant floral brushed cotton fit-to-flare dress with horsehair trim from Anthea Crawford, military-inspired khaki jacket with bohemian embroidery details from Tree of Life, gold suede brogues without laces by Beltrami via Styletread & colour-blocked vinyl handbag with gold hardware (also Anthea) that was worn to the airport the day before. 

Brunchin with this Munchkin

Seven Spice Calamari & Squid with Beer Battered Fries & Aioli

With the band!

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