How to wear a summer hat

It's not quite as simple as you may think

From Frank Sinatra's Fedora to Charlie Chaplin's bowler, the hat has been a strong sartorial choice by many great men. But a misjudged hat can leave you looking more than a little foolish (think Simon in the Inbetweeners). With this in mind we've got a couple of tips from Julia Rebaudo, resident blogger for StyleCompare.co.uk, on how to wear one with style.

"The key to wearing a hat well is knowing what suits your face shape and picking the right style accordingly. The aim is to remove as much asymmetry as possible and give the appearance of balanced facial proportions – the thinking here is that the eye finds symmetry attractive."

Homburg hat

Face shape: Square. If you have a square face you need a hat that will make you appear less boxy. Avoid a tapered or square crown. Choose a hat with a full, round medium height crown with almost no taper. The brim should be wide, not narrow. Tip: Wear tilted to the side to break up square lines. Style: Homburg, Bowler

Face shape: Round. A round full face needs a hat that’s going to give you a little height to avoid looking short. Make sure the crown is of medium height and size and that there is a slight taper. A narrow band helps lengthen the face. Tip: Don’t tilt your hat forwards as it shortens the face. Styles: Fedora, Gambler, Panama

Face shape: Long. A long, thin face needs to be shortened to balance it out. So avoid hats that have a high or full crown. Choose a style that has a shorter height and a moderate taper. A moderate brim and a wide hatband is ideal. Tip: Hatbands in contrasting colours help break up vertical lines. Style: Porkpie, Fedora, Trilby 

Face shape: Big Jaw – If you have a prominent jaw then you need to avoid crowns and brims that are both too big and small. You need to go for a medium sized brim and crown with a slight taper. Tip: Don’t tilt your hat too far back. Style: Fedora, Trilby, Porkpie

How to wear them: http://www.refinery29.com/shopping-roundup-sizzlin-summer-hats/slideshow#slide-9

Feeling relaxed.....

Today the boys wanted to go to the pools.... the cool breeze was not inviting to go into the water, so I decided to sit and watch them doing their flips and jumps...... lots of fun!
To my outfit: I am wearing a very "relaxed" outfit. its very comfortable and nice fabric. the pants are linen and I love that I can pull them up (to create slimmer legs) I added the orange wool belt to add color and style. An orange singlet to add color and the off white V-neck top  (lights colors are great for summer, white, ivory, coca, cream - stay away from black!! ).
These sandals I have had for years, bought them in Israel....  but as we say trends are always back.. so these type of sandals are never out of style.... it is only a matter of wearing the same style of clothes matching the look (boho, creative) long earnings are ideal for this look...

Linen pants -got mine in Switzerland -  similar style and material can be found in Witchery
woollen belt -  hand made - easy to get in  any markets or do it your self
singlet - from Glassons 
V-neck top -  http://www.worldwear.co.nz/
Sandals  - http://www.shoebuy.co.nz and Hannahs
Earrings -Lovisa 

let this coming year...

Let this coming year be better than all the others. Vow to do some of the things you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time. Call up a forgotten friend. Drop an old grudge, and replace it with some pleasant memories. Vow not to make a promise you don't think you can keep. Walk tall, and smile more. You'll look ten years younger. Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'. Say it again. They are the sweetest words in the world.

A guideline on Sale Shopping!

With some of the biggest shopping discounts of the year up for grabs, it's hard not to get carried away with the idea of the sales. However the reality of overcrowded high streets, flocks of bargain hunters and unorganized sale rails are a force to be reckoned with. Follow these tips on sale shopping.

Make a Plan
Pay a visit to your local high street in advance of the sales and plan which stores you want to visit. You'll be more familiar with the shop layout and know where to locate your dream items.

Dress Comfortably
Darting in and out of changing rooms, traipsing around your local shopping centre and waiting in endless queues is a tiring business. Wear comfortable flat shoes which can accommodate hot, swollen feet, and clothes that you can easily change out of so you don't waste valuable time in the changing rooms.

Know your Body Shape
The first step to successful clothes shopping in the sales is knowing your body shape. That way you'll know which clothes show off your best bits, making you feel confident about your style all the time. Stick to the body shape rules and you'll never make a rash sales purchase again.  Pay attention to the balance of your figure and proportions. For example, ideal top length is just below your belt. Short jacket looks great with jeans, shirt or t-shirt. Cropped pants should finish at the widest part of your ankle and will look good with high heels, flats or ankle boots.

Stay Classic if you dont know your Style Personality
The sales are not the time to experiment with new fashion ideas. Those gold lame harem pants have 70% off for a reason: no one will be wearing them next year. This sale season stick to wardrobe staples such as a nice dress or a classic jacket  - a much savvier sale purchase.
Classic pieces worth investing into:
- Trench coat
- Leather jacket
- Little black dress
- Jacket in Chanel style
- Neutral colored shirts and t-shirts
Read more about it http://coffeewithpensy.blogspot.com/2011/07/discover-your-style-personality.html

Play with color!
It’s elusive to think that if you fill up your closet with pieces of total black color you’ll have versatile wardrobe. You need color to splash to avoid looking like you’re at the office all the time. There are a couple of ways you can change your style using colors. For instance, a bright t-shirt seen from a V-sweater or a cardigan, loud accessories with a classic suit or a simple dress – will look appropriate both at work and at the party.

Double Up
We all know how difficult it can be to find that perfect pair of jeans. If you happen to stumble upon jean heaven during the sales, it's worth buying two pairs. Save one for when the first are starting to wear out - you'll thank yourself in months to come. Make sure your jeans finish just 5mm over the bottom of the heel.

Try Before You Buy
Although long queues for changing rooms can be off-putting, it's worth trying clothes on before you buy. Always ask if more sizes are available, and check garments for dodgy zips, snags and missing buttons before you hand over your cash.

Check the Returns Policy
Many shops only offer an exchange on sale items. Make sure you're entirely happy with your purchase - or are willing to buy something else from that store - before you buy.

Make your imagination fly
If you have an item that you like very much but it just doesn’t fit in your look don’t hurry to put it away. Think for a minute and make necessary corrections. Experiment with belts because they can change the silhouette. Don’t forget about brooches, scarves, kerchiefs and other stuff. Buy transformer things, look at street style of other people, and runway looks. The livelier your wardrobe is the better.

Do's and Don'ts when followingTrends

Today’s women want to look good and trendy at any age. With greater job opportunities, higher disposable income and constant exposure to the latest fashion and beauty trends, women today are certainly wanting to be more savvy in their overall visual presentation. However, the desire to be “IN” may actually become your worst nightmare when you cannot keep up with fashion’s notorious fickleness and end up looking so “last year”! Fashion comes and goes in hyper speed; sometimes a hot fad may fizzle out in a matter of months. To avoid looking like a fashion victim, here are some general guidelines:

1. Do invest in timeless items such as tank tops, jeans, well-cut blazers and little black dresses. You cannot go wrong with these classic pieces. Buy them in neutral solid colours for easy coordination with other trendier pieces.

2. Do opt for a natural sheer look be it your make-up, nail polish or hairdo. If you are in the creative field, you can be more adventurous with your style, otherwise a sun-kissed matte look always project a sharper and polished image. If you want to experiment with bold colour make-up, go for a matte instead of glossy finishing for work.
3. Do update your wardrobe in small doses. For example, trendy accessories such as a bright colour handbag, patterned tights in neutral colours or laced-up booties will add instant wow into your core wardrobe without having to spend too much.

4. Do wear your hair in a neat and light style. Frizzy or flyaway hair can be kept in control with the use of hair products or accessories. Long hair should be sleek and tidy; wear it in a chignon style or low ponytail for an elegant day-to-day look.
5. Do wear trendy fashion because you really like them and not for insecurity reasons. You do not have to be togged in trends from top to toe to look good and feel belonged. Inner beauty triumphs over fashion at the end of the day. Eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, think positively and cultivate friendships. As designer Kenneth Cole says "To be aware is more important than what you wear."

• Don’t bet on exaggerated styles, cuts and colours to stay for long e.g. acid wash jeans, big shoulder pads, micro minis, neon colours and military jackets. These styles are not only difficult to pull off but they will fade away by this time next year. 
• Don’t wear flip-flops in and out of the office. It does not matter if they are branded, fashionable or ultra comfortable. A slipper is a slipper and it has no place in the corporate world. It instantly diminishes your credibility at work.
• Don’t wear bright make-up to work. Blue eyelids were hot in the 1980’s and are making a comeback but unless you work in a beauty industry, I would recommend that you choose a softer blue palette for the board room.
• Don’t overdo in the accessories department. Big bold accessories may be the trend now, but wearing oversize necklaces or rings will be distracting for the office. You will want your boss, co-workers and clients to focus on your sales pitch or presentation rather than your fashion statement.
• Don’t wear leggings to work no matter how casual your office is. Leggings will continue to be a strong trend but that doesn’t mean it should become your office wardrobe staple. Remember you will want to stand out in the crowd and not be one of the crowd to get that promotion.