Style.Image.Brand

One of my favorite dresses for getting out and about quickly Seen here at art exhibition opening exhibiting one of her own pastels !

One of my favorite dresses for shopping at home. Seen ready for a shop with a client in sensible shoes!

I’ve mentioned before, I like to support Zuri Kenya, because it supports the women’s textile industry
In Kenya.
I love them but because they are sold in USD sometimes I need to appreciate them in a different way .

I had some beautiful Balinese hand woven cotton bought on a previous trip that I never made up, so I figured I better pay someone to do it for me. Yup, on a recent holiday I supported the local women’s tailoring industry in Bali !

It is a lighter weight than Zuri cotton and because it was a border print and Zuri was cut on the bias, you can see the patterns had to be centrally matched. I think my Tailor did a great job .
There wasn’t enough to do front and back so i settled on the back in plain black along with the button tabs.

Thanks to the multicolored nature of the Balinese cotton.
I can wear them with jeans and a white T, black pants & top or a longer slip dress.

I hope you enjoy the idea of duplicating much loved items of clothing while still supporting women’s s industry

When you find a style you like and is comfortable how annoying is it that you can’t get it in other colors?

I recently took two of my favorite dresses on holiday with me and asked my Tailor’s to duplicate in the fabric I took with me.
I had visions of what I wanted and my tailor succeeded spectacularly.
Now I don’t often like layered dresses but these two kept getting pulled out of my wardrobe, so I thought I would have a couple of new models , as my Tailor describe them 😎

BALI BRUMBY TAILOR

Also Wendy design Bali- +62 812-3830-2599

😎😎😎😎
An accessory tip for those difficult collars or cuffs that need to be held back

hijab magnets.👏🏻👏🏻

I just went through eBay and found a whole pile of them. I ordered metallic and Mat as you can see in the photos.
Because you only get two of each I chose the colour I wasn’t going to wear very often to use as the reverse side magnet [in this case it was grey].
Zoom in on picture 1 to see the small pink magnets that blend into the collar fantastically.

You can barely see them on my but sometimes I know I would like to use the metallic ones as feature/jewelry!

They are holding through the collar, so at least three layers of fabric .
Brilliant hold!



Zuri FRANKIE4 footwear

The classic “champagne out of warm water”!

I had my hair color just the way I wanted it and got some great head shots done two weeks ago and then for some obscure reason , my hairdresser put this horrid browny color on my hair , telling me it’s going to liven it up.

Well, it did just the opposite and I was traveling the next day so it now no longer goes with my hair pieces (And some of my outfit colors)

Be prepared for disaster I say!
I threw a box of golden blonde in for the next wash and fingers crossed but in the meantime, my updos are going to have to be simple, twists, and buns!

I think Queen Elizabeth, the second would have approved, even though the ship is actually named after Queen Elizabeth, her Mother


Taking ShapeTaking Shape
John Fluevog Shoes
Cunard

Holiday packing seems to always causes a conundrum.

It’s amazing how many people don’t check the weather forecast before packing and find themselves caught short without a jacket or without enough layering clothing. 

In fact these days you probably need to pack into two suitcases in case one goes missing!

Picture this!
14 days on the Queen Elizabeth with 4 black tie events where you simply cannot wear the same outfit twice , 6 shore excursions in the cold and 7 sailing days in luxury (or whatever the hell it is you might call it on a sailing day )

I’ve witnessed those who think they are sailing a yacht, those who think they’re climbing Mount Everest, those on safari, those look like they have just come from Walmart, and those who are constantly in gym attire. [gym attire is totally inappropriate for the Queen Elizabeth’s dining room, I can assure you] 

As long as you’re comfortable, anything goes!
And it doesn’t matter how much you’ve paid for your room or your airfare, to join the vessel.

Depending on your ability to handle luggage and what your airline will allows you to carry, packing into 2 cases is the best, however, not always available.

I’ve done so on this trip and been pleasantly surprised that at all luggage turned up.
There are plenty of hangers so I didn’t need to bring my additional velvet hangers, BUT it is something to consider.

I like to swan around the ship on sailing days like I own the ship, not like I’m driving the ship, so I get myself into bling and flowy dresses.
I see some of the ladies looking at me like I have just stepped out of a spaceship (because they are in the capri pants, sports shoes and windbreakers with sunvisors in the ballroom at high tea😉 !)

When we go off an excursion, I tend to make sure I have layers that I can takeoff and carry easily. I.e. lightweight, windbreakers, and raincoats that keep you warm. I also like Marino vests or V-neck jumpers to wear underneath or over the top of tops. 

We’ve had the first Gala event which was a black and white evening .
Yes , I will admit I wore the same dress I did for years ago but nobody remembers that except you and me .

Note to self : try to purchase pieces that don’t date, add a new jacket or shoes and bag to update

Remember my Zuri post?
The company who provides employment for women in countries where it’s not easy for them to provide for their families, or indeed even themselves?

My came out for her first “work to dinner” day , so after consulting the Great Wall of accessories, I chose the most fishy lure of the 3 yellows I had.
I think the accessories have more impact if they match the mood of the outfit, not just the colour
You will notice I always choose a longer necklace to draw the eye downwards, elongating rather than cutting off a certain (neck or bust) level .

Even the most analytical of those I work with loved the colour and design (I think secretly they would like to get out of their black and grey pants and plain shirts!🤭 )

It’s a heavy cotton dress protecting me from the office aircon and able to be worn as a dress, tunic or jacket over pants or skirts ….. or a slip dress and dressier shoes in my case, for Dinner from the office

https://au.shopzuri.com/collections/shirts

When is too much , too much?
I find it hard to pick unless I see the entire image.
Individually, it can appear like “What the…?” , but give it a go.

Started with a floral print. It may too much for some, or maybe its ok if matched with plain accessories? Ermmmm …..

Grabbed not just 1, but 3 matching navy/gold/aqua necklaces. They might scare some, or maybe they are ok if they only go on plain outfits?
Ummmm ……

Wrapped up in pastel-mint green, hot pink , cornflower blue …. and a heavy navy?
Arrrh ……

Oh my head’s exploding🤯

Throw it all together !
Come on , DO IT.
Be adventurous and look at the entire picture before you scare off.
Don’t follow the trend, follow what makes you happy

, , , Taking Shape
,

One of my passions is supporting groups who provide employment for women in countries where it’s not easy for them to provide for their families, or indeed even themselves.
Made in Kenya , printed in Ghana , loomed in India !

If you love beautifully designed prints in cotton fabric , with excellent workmanship , that ALSO supports women’s employment , have a look at Zuri clothing.

https://au.shopzuri.com/collections/shirts

I’m becoming quite the Zuri addict !

My latest pink turned up today and I couldn’t be more overjoyed.

They come in the most beautiful patchwork tote bags made from the scraps. These, of course, can be purchased online individually and make a terrific little gift.
The website has lots of items and beautiful scarves, headscarves and wraps [like the Maasai wear]

Some designs have three-quarter sleeves while some are sleeveless.
I wear mine as dresses and jackets. You could also wear the sleeveless as a vest , of course.
(A few washes will soften the fabric but no colour running👍)

They come in a standard and a shorter length.
I own both and find them equally as useful and always get compliments when I wear them

Try something new!

Ps : there is even a swap,but & appreciation page where you can buy and sell items that may not fit you any longer, not be your color or you find you just don’t reach for anymore.
They keep their value well!

Day 4 - hand luggage challenge
Fly day

And no, stripes don’t make you look bigger but they will accentuate curves so make them loose and when possible distract the eye.
This Taking Shape tee is a little bit long to just wear on its own, so when I am not putting a jacket on top I use an elastic band on the inside to gather up a rosette and divert the eye away from “Tummy Stripes”!!

Black stretch velour pants coming out for second wear on the plane so will be cozy 😂

The pink fur cape has to travel in the cabin so I’ve planned accordingly colour wise.

Bag/traveling contents:
2 dresses : day or evening flexible
2 trousers: day or evening flexible
2 tops : day or evening flexible
2 shoes. : 1 day and 1 evening
2 Jackets : 1 day and 1 evening / flying
2 socks and 1 tights

Obligatory 4 days of un**es and night attire
Small toiletries and accessories pack

Total 8.2kgs coming in under my allowance of 10kg and allowing my few purchases to come home.

Challenge yourself