#stylefilecardigan #stylefilevelvet #stylefileleopard #statementearrings
As the week comes to a close on my first ever blog post, I’d love to start by giving a massive shout out to my dear friend @kirstyiswriting and my little bro, Ben. Both helped me selflessly with the styling and direction of my blog. Thank you also to you all for reading it, for the kind comments, the great ideas and the general engagement – it really means a lot!!!
As this particular week comes to an end so does the @teamstylefile by Kimba Likes #winterstylefile challenge. I often take part in these (including a recent one by @citygirlcountyteacher and #DAREcember by @foxinflats) and delight in telling people, especially my students, what my ‘daily style prompt’ is.
Why do I love them? I don’t always stick to them for the entire month, but for someone who is constantly thinking about fashion, it’s a great tool for helping with styling direction and a reminder to seek out some of the gems I already own! I used to partake in these, long before I decided to become a #fashionblogger (there I go … using that term again!!)
Confession time – I am a hoarder. I always have been and always will be. My dad is a hoarder. My nana was a hoarder. (Side note: my mum is NOT a hoarder, I’ll leave you to imagine how my teenage years played out!) So – style challenges that require me to find one of the few pieces of leopard I own, to style velvet or dress ‘pretty tough’, have me digging into the depths of my wardrobe and, in the process, locating pieces I often haven’t seen in ages. I lay in bed the night before a prompt challenge, cataloguing my items through my ‘mind wardrobe’ – considering what clothing or accessories I have to match the style prompt for the following day. For all of you out there that see a Style Challenge and want to embrace it but don’t know how to begin – here was my fav Style Challenge this month … ‘pretty tough (#prettytough)’.
So I read ‘pretty’ and I thought lace, frill, glitter, bling – details … I knew that there were many pieces in my wardrobe to match this theme, but ‘tough’ … I consider that to be biker jackets, slogan tees (with band names?), heavy boots or super high stilettos, maybe some diamanté studs and none of these items are really in my wardrobe. After flicking and flicking through the mental catalogue that is my ‘mind wardrobe’, I landed on my favourite pair of ripped Zara jeans.
When I purchased these jeans (much to the dismay of my husband who thinks I am far too old for ripped jeans!) they had a dainty rip in the knee, but after a period of time, bending and stretching (#realmumlife) they now have gaping knee holes! But … they are so comfortable and I genuinely love wearing them. ‘Tough’ … surely the rips/holes made them ‘tough’. This was my item!!! Now onto the easy bit … ‘pretty’. I had just been gifted a beautiful, soft 100% cotton knit with a darling roll neck detail. That alone with my jeans wouldn’t fit the bill though. It needed more ‘pretty’ … bring in the shoes. Shoes can make or break an outfit! Shoes can also ‘age’ an outfit. I could have gone a gorgeous kitten heel, a ballet flat … but I wanted to bring gold into the mix. I knew I had the perfect pair of rose gold mules – they literally glistened in the sun *PRETTY*. A basic clutch with a line of sequins and my outfit was complete.
Tough = ripped jeans! Pretty = gorgeous detail on my knit, glistening rose gold and sequins!
Now I certainly do not have the time, every day, to put this much thought into presenting my #OOTD. However, I enjoy creating this inventory and having a Style Challenge to work with. So – my number one tip for ‘matching’ with a set Style Challenge prompt … choose one piece (my Zara ripped jeans) and then let the creativity flow!
Fashion is about expressing yourself and as this #winterstylechallenge comes to a close for this season, I eagerly await the next …
mummasteachingstyle.wordpress.com 