Definately a hit

Hey you know. When you stick to one colour in different tones its called monochromatic.
Well I have a monochromatic look today:
first the bad photo (of over all look) and then the semi bad photo (but top it good)

then the extreeme close up of my the flowers.















Now the original in Ezi Buy catalogue.....

and guess what? I sewed it all up for $3.95!
I used a tank top in dark navy and a long sleeved top (light navy) for the main top. Both given to me.

Ezi Buy sells them for $39.95.

Yippee!!! another top!
I really should concentrate on skirts aye... lol

Colours

Colours are always hard to wear when you have no idea what really goes together or goes right on you.....

That was my problem for a long time.... until I got my "colours done"
Really I had no idea what colours suited my skin tone at all and my hit and misses were well mostly misses.

I found out from my colour consultant and friend Sarah Manifold that I was a Deep Autumn.

 I don't wear black blacks but more of a dark grey/brown black.
 The other end of the spectrum is off creamy white for me.

All colours in between are deep tones, warm and rich.

since getting this done I have had more hits than misses with my dressing. It certainly helps to know what colours make you look your best!


How much was this? hmmm I think she charges over $100 but not sure as I helped consult her on some crafting tools for scrapbooking and gave her heaps of advice to get her started on her new hobby. So we did a skill swap. Great way to do it if you are able to.

The next step from here would be to get my body shape done. It helps you dress to your body shape to get the most out of your clothing. All depends on your jaw line and over all shape on what styles suit you best.

Will be saving up for that one but in the mean time I'll be buying clothing according to my colour palette. ;)

Todays hit and miss

My hit and miss consists on a long top ($10) - green - from Temt
skin tight top ($9) - brown - from Temt
Blue Jeans (previously shown)
Brown scrunched healed boots (about $35) - from No1 shoe warehouse

My hair has also been cut by a professional for the first time in 4 years!

that cost me $45 for wash, cut and blow wave.

my hair dresser is in Grampian Street, Christchurch.

Well other than that there is nothing else to say really.


Just that earthy colours are just me right now. ;)

Ok so that is $92 in total not including haircut.

Tutorial - arm warmers/altered top

I've been admiring arm warmers for a while.
They come in various lengths, just covering hand and wrist (as in Alice in wonderland), hand and forearm, hand up past the elbow.

Any colour and any style too.
I've seen plenty made out of felted woolen jerseys lately. But this one is a little different.

These arm warmers are made from a cut up knitted top.

Yes its orange with black trimmings.
I have a thing for orange at the present.... no correction... I have a thing for colour. I really don't wear much black at all.... but that will be another post.




You will need:

1. An old long sleeve top.
2. scissors
3. sewing machine
4. felt or other fabric to finish off/trim the thumb hole and top of arm

Step 1:
cut off arms
and cut off stinky part of under arm then discard that bit. Keep the top and arms.

Step 2:
cut out of black felt 1" strips that are long enough for your thumb holes and your arm holes.

Step 3:
cut Holes in your sleeves near the cuff.
Cut along the seam.
Make sure they are 1" from the end in both sleeves.
Try to make the cuts straight (unlike my example)

Step 4:
Sew ends of all your 1" strips together.

Step 5:
Pin smaller strips to thumb holes folding the edges of the hole into the strips and sew. (this is the fiddly bit but keeps it from fraying when wearing it)
Keeping seam of strip opposite side to the end of the sleeve. (this keeps the bulk of the seams away from the hand.)
do for both sleeves.

Step 6:
Do the same with the end of the sleeves. I also later on added black wool by sewing in a weave (in and out type style) as they kept falling down. You can add black shearing elastic to keep them up. It would be a better option I think.

Step 7:
Try them on and Pose!!!

I also decided to finish off the top around where the sleeves were by double folding and zig zag stitching.

Again another pose!
I put my watch on the outside so I could see it. Seen this done.

and because of my colour fettish i put on a bright blue plain top underneath ($9 at Temt from Northlands mall) with blue jeans. (same ones posted the other day - I had bought 2 at once).


Original top was bought on sale last year for about $10 - forget the name of the shop.

Todays hit and miss

I don't think I did too bad today.

Eyeliner (wet Avon eyeshadow in dark grey applied with brush)
Lipstick (Mary Kay - suede)
No foundation but put a powder on (Mary Kay)
Hair accessories - clip in highlights.
Hair not dyed.
Plain hairclips in hair.

Todays clothing:
Brown polar fleece cardy thingy.... by re-launch Bought at Hartleys in the Palms shopping center for $45 (discounted from $200!) About 2 years ago in their end of season sale. Its still good! - their sale is now on again!

Green sparkly top - no label - bought from Vinnies second hand store in Papanui about 2 months ago for about $5.

Jeans $35 bought from Farmers last week- Denim Republic - Essential stretch bootleg.
Worn with a leather belt - gold coloured buckle $5 from above second hand store.

I am however wearing - long johns under the jeans to keep my legs warm and a no sleeve singlet. (all totally unseen). - one must keep warm!







Shoes bought from No1 shoe warehouse- last month - make: Diva - not totally flat but not heals either. $35? I think

socks from The Warehouse (in a 5 pack) $6.

Total cost for outfit:

$126 not counting undergarments
And you wouldn't buy that all at once anyway right? as you see by my post I did take a long time to get this outfit together... several years. lol

so what do you think of this combo?
I'm warm - oh its winter here in NZ... Spring soon! Hope it arrives very soon. I hate being cold!

Fashion has aways avoided me!

Ever had the thought that you never really caught onto the "fashion thing"  or not really into it as it cost too much? Or either that its totally bypassed you and you just throw some clothes on in the morning hoping you look good only to find out its a hit and miss thing?

Well that really describes me. I've been like that for years.

Whats been really frustrating to me is when I get any type of fashion sense I have no money to get extra help to enhance that sense. NUTS!!!!

So my motivation behind this blog is really a journey. My journey of exploring fashion through my eyes. With, hopefully helpful tips and hints that you too can follow on the way.

I'm NOT claiming I'm perfect. I'm NOT claiming I'm a fashion guru. And I'm certainly NOT spending a fortune on clothing/makeup and accessories! (of course I would if I won lotto.... but I don't do lotto). So I'm stuck the way I am.

I'm an at home mum of two kids under 7 yrs old.
My hubby is a registered Nurse.
I'm addicted to the internet and crafting.


Thanks for joining me in my world.