Evening Party Look For This Autumn/Winter

‘Tis the season for party invites, which for some women means a lot of stress whilst standing in front of their wardrobes. I know many people like this, my mother included, who pretty much try on every item of clothing they have before proclaiming that they simply have nothing to wear. It’s because they’re shy of shopping for new items as they aren’t fully clued up on what suits them and what styles are currently in fashion. If you fall into this category, I hope that a few of my tips will help you in your seasonal quandary; don’t despair!

Flatter Your Body Shape

The next time you head to the department store, I’d advise you to try on a number of different styles of a particular item - be it a dress, trousers or top. By trying these on you’ll soon learn which shape suits yours. Don’t panic if you put something on and it doesn’t look right, this is simply something to avoid in the future. Remember that the style that looks stunning on you won’t suit someone else so we’re really all in the same boat!

Top tip: For an evening party I’d advise keeping hemlines at or below the knee as it does look more tasteful - there are some excellent Adrianna Papell dresses that demonstrate this perfectly so this might be a good place to start.

Boost your confidence

If there are aspects of your body that you don’t want to show to the world, this is perfectly okay. I’m not a huge fan of my bingo wings so I tend to buy dresses with a three-quarter length sleeve or I wear a jacket with a sleeveless dress. There are solutions to most body confidence problems such as nipping in the waist with a belt or wearing control underwear and hosiery. Wear what you need to in order to boost your confidence, even if it’s something small like your favourite pair of earrings.

Top tip: Try wearing a tailored dress with lace sleeves to your evening party; this gives plenty of coverage whilst revealing a bit of your arms.

Use accessories

The use of accessories can be a brilliant way to bring your outfit together. Since I began helping my mum with her party wardrobe she has dubbed it “the distraction technique” as she believes her shoes or handbag can draw attention away from her figure. She looks gorgeous to me, but it’s important for her to feel the same. By investing in some stylish court shoes and wedges, she is instantly able to add an extra something to a little black dress. Another useful accessory is a neck scarf as it can be tied neatly for a bit of Hollywood glamour.


Top tip: Coordinate your handbag or clutch with your high heels as it will create a polished look. The same can be said for a jewellery set such as pearls or diamonds.

~Andi (today's guest writer)

2013 Fall/Winter Fashion Picks

All pictures can be found on my pinterest board.

I thought it would be great to share some of my top picks for fall/winter type weather. Of course, this list almost doubles as my basics list too, give or take a few items. These items aren't in number order, rather they are in the order they came to my mind. Without further ado, my picks for fall & winter.

Avonlea Fashion Weekend ❘❘ Blog Event

If you have been a long-time follower of Bramblewood Fashion, you might remember my first ever blog event that I did: Anne of Green Gables Fashion Week. Well...I'm excited to announce that come the end of October, I'll be hosting a little fashion weekend with the theme of Avonlea -- perfect for both Anne of Green Gables & Road to Avonlea fans. Exciting right?!? Well, that isn't the best part, because Sullivan Entertainment is sponsoring a giveaway for the event (the prize is going to be wonderful, and open to anyone in North America).

Tired of Your Clothing Falling Apart in the Offseason?

In October I'll be doing a series on how I organize my room, closet, and eventually my sewing area. I'll also be sharing my wardrobe basic picks that work for my personal style & lifestyle -- which will from person to person. To start out the series, we will be having a guest post from Danielle Ames who will be sharing her tips on storing your off-season clothes, and just how to prolong the life of your clothes. 

It never fails. Winter rolls around, you decide to unpack your warm cozy clothes in preparation, only to discover they have acquired a strange smell or developed small holes in them. It is a frustration phenomenon that almost everyone has experienced. If this hasn’t happened to you, you’ve probably still experienced other clothing dilemmas such as knits being stretched out and not fitting properly from being on hangers, dusty fabrics or footwear that seems impossible to clean, boots that have lost their shape, or clothing with faded color. It makes trying to dress nicely and present yourself well a more difficult task than it needs to be. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to help prevent all of these problems. Taking some very simple steps will help prolong the life of your clothing and help keep you looking your best year round! 

Winter Clothing 

Winter clothing is often found in a variety of fabrics. Many of them are bulky and insects seem to adore them; they are the cause of all those pesky little holes that appear. Most winter clothing is best stored in plastic, airtight containers. You can put commercial made products in with them to help keep them smelling fresh or you can use something natural such as lavender—doing this will also help deter insects. When you unpack your sweaters and winter clothing, watch for small holes. If you find them, you may have an insect problem and should take precautionary measures. One of the easiest things you can do is put the clothing in a freezer for two days, take them out for a day, and place them in the freezer for another two days. This kills any living insects, as well as their eggs and larvae. Be sure to put the clothing in a sealed plastic bag or container to keep them from escaping! 

Footwear 

Before storing your footwear, make sure it is clean. This is especially important with winter shoes that may be covered in harsh chemicals such as salt. If you leave this on the shoes, they will break down much more quickly and the color may fade. Leather shoes should also be polished or conditioned before storage to help keep them looking nice. Stuffing your shoes with newspaper or special made shoe forms is also a good idea; this will help them keep their shape. Magazines rolled up are great for boots. Using the original boxes the shoes or boots come in, or using plastic containers, is a great way to keep them from getting dusty or damaged while they are being stored. To help your boots uphold their original form for everyday use, check out shoe racks like many of the organizers found at Taylor Gifts that provide upright hooks intended for this purpose. 

Delicates

Knit clothing, silk, and other delicate fabrics can be difficult to store and maintain. Clothing made of these fabrics lose their shape and can easily be damaged if improperly stored or cared for. The most important thing is to keep them as flat as possible. Avoid hanging these fabrics if at all possible. If you do need to hang them, don’t put the hanger through the neck and shoulders like you would a normal shirt. Instead, carefully fold them in half and drape them over the bar of the hanger like you would a scarf or a pair of pants. This will minimize the distortion of the fit. 

Summer Clothing 

Most summer clothing requires little thought. However, linen fabrics are best stored rolled, rather than folded. Rolling the clothing puts less stress on the fabric and will help prevent deep creasing or fading at the fold points. Rolling will also help maximize storage space. If you travel, it is a great way to pack your suitcase! 

General Things to Keep in Mind 

If you want to use moth balls, don’t let them touch fabric. They will destroy the fabric with prolonged contact so it is best to use them in special pouches or even an old sock. You should also keep fabrics as dry as possible. Opt for plastic over cardboard, as the latter will allow dampness to seep through; Amazon has plenty of bins of various sizes. Having too much moisture in the air when the clothing is stored can cause mold and mildew to ruin the fabrics. With some preplanning and a bit of research on the types of fabric you are storing, it is possible to successfully store all of your clothing for the next year.

My Swell Caroline Favorites

I thought it would be lots of fun to share with y'all my picks from Swell Caroline. As I simply love their jewelry and who knows, I might inspired you to make some purchases from them. *grin* 

Fish Hook Rope Bracelet ❘❘ Cabana Teardrop Earrings ❘❘ Harper Necklace

I adore this Fish Hook Rope bracelet, only problem is that I have small wrists which means most adult bracelets are too big for me. Oh, well...if you have normal sized wrists this would look adorable on you. 

If you love simple, yet colorful teardrop earrings you should check out the Cabana Teardrop earrings -- I think these would look adorable if you have longer hair (I don't know why, but I just love these type of earrings with longer hair).

To help dress up your basic tee shirts, try pairing a statement necklace like the Harper one for added color & glam. It can really help dress up just about any outfit.

Brooke Earrings ❘❘ Sterling Silver Monogram Bracelet ❘❘ Cabana Necklace

These Brooke earrings are another casual, yet glam type teardrop earrings -- except with this shorter shape I think it would look good with wither short, or long hair. Yay!

I've come to really love Monogram jewelry, and this bracelet is so adorable and would look great stacked with some other bracelets & a watch. 

If you aren't really into the really bold statement necklaces, you might want to check out the Cabana necklace -- it is simple yet long, with some sparkle of color.

  

Cutout Monogram Earrings ❘❘ Bloom Necklace

Remember how I love monogram now? Well, these post earrings are another great way to add some monogram to your collection, as they are simple yet classic.

Now, I own the Bloom necklace and I love it paired with dresses, tee shirts, and button-downs. Looking at the necklace on the website, or in person you wouldn't think it would go with that much, but actually it goes with just about everything in my wardrobe -- which is kinda awesome.  

What is your favorite thing from Swell Caroline?

~Ashley

What I Wore | Take Me Back to the Start

What I'm Wearing

Striped Tee -- Forever 21 ($6)

1950s Vintage Skirt -- c/o Paraders

Leopard Print Scarf -- J.Crew via Thrift Store ($8)

Key Necklace -- Forever 21 ($2.80)

Flats -- Ruche ($15)

Pear Drop Earrings -- Brittany Chavers Etsy Shop (?)

Lipstick -- Mary Kay in Apple Berry (won in a giveaway)

Nail Polish -- Essie in Carry On

Hello lovelies! How are y'all doing? I wore a very fun outfit today, as it had a lovely mix of modern, classic, and vintage! As a thank you for writing about Paraders 60% off closing sale, Rachael let me pick out something from her shop. After much debating, and thought, I went with this fun 1950s circle skirt over a 1950s/1960s dress -- mostly because it would be easier to style a bunch of different ways, than a dress would be. This afternoon I stopped by at our local Starbucks (which they just built down the road from our house), and all of the girl workers loved my outfit! I don't always get that when I'm out and about, but the skirt is so unique with the built-in petticoat that it sticks out from everyone else's outfits.   

Does anyone watch The Voice? Me and Gaby are keeping up with the show via Hulu, and we have already fallen in love with one of the artists -- Holly Henry. I'm really hopping that she wins this season. I know it is still early, but if you watch the show who is your favorite so far?

~Ashley