Yes it is your time to shine, so come along and join Natalie from Lilamaya and myself on the 18th of September.

   We will be having afternoon tea and champagne at 1/475 Nepean Highway, Brighton,Vict. 3186.  $15.00 P/Person

   Contact me for bookings; you will pick up some great insights and useful styling and make up techniques for the

   up and coming spring season. 

   See you there, Caaren Hulme, "where we create your unique best fit".




  

Why are we always in a hurry to get to the next season?  I have loved our cold winter days, open fires and chestnuts roasting.  And of course those long cold windy football games watching my son’s team get walloped.  Thankfully we can now peel off all the layers and breathe a little more easily. So yes I am looking forward to slipping into some spring fashions.

The nude tones and soft pale denims are everywhere.  When did nude become the new black?  How did chambray slip back into the cat walks?  For those of us from the wrong side of the decade investing in nudes and pale soft colours does not come easy. But as the warmer air is floating in and the softer colours dominate, I am going to look at the best way to wear these colours.  

• Creating a nude monochromatic outfit is about experimenting – for the purist.
• Don’t just match a cream skirt to a cream tee shirt.
• Include layers, textures, and tones.
• Make your shoes and bags sing with accent colours when worn with a neutral palette.
• The crotched stitched look is a style you can use to get texture into an outfit.
• Many styles use draping this season, here you can get layers underneath.
• This is a great time to over state some Jewell’s, the more layers the merrier.
• Try matching your soft nudes or chambray back with some vintage denim.
• Warm based women should work with peaches, cream and khaki blends.
• Cool based women should work with whites, slates and pale blues.
• Blonde hair and light eyes will carry nudes well.
• If you have dark brown/black hair and dark eyes, consider breaking nudes up with a dark layer or strong contrasting colour. So you create a conection.

Summer Romance

The delicate dare I say Laura Ashley floral print is showing a strong presence for the spring.  Think delicate, soft, romantic, swishy, floral, lying in a field of grass type summer romance.  Anything with a flower bud and you are on track.  This is definitely a trend for the young at heart.  I saw a shirt made up in the floral Laura Ashley print yesterday while I was out with a client.  I could picture some one young in it, matched back with a distressed pair of denim shorts and boots.   But a 40 + year old may end up looking very ‘librarian’.  If you want to play with a trend like this make sure you match it back to something that is very ‘now’ and keep your hair in a modern style/cut.   When you can remember a ‘look’ from your younger days you need to think about how you wear it. 

• Soft delicate prints will look best on women who are soft and delicate in their own appearance.

• If you lean away from the ‘delicate’ and are stronger in appearance, think about breaking the floral top or dress with a denim jacket.  By adding a stronger texture to the outfit you will be able to carry the floral with more conviction. It’s about the harmony.

• If you are not petite look for prints that are a little bigger.  Try to match your scale.

• The lighter more washed out florals will look great on you if you have light hair, light eyes and a light skin complexion.

• Choose the darker floral prints if you have darker hair and eyes.

• Find florals with a peachy background if you have warmer colouring.  

• As these prints all have a retro attitude about them you need to wear this floral print with modern pieces or else you will could end up in the library looking very serious and studious.

Posted by Caaren Hulme,  Image Consultant.

No doubt the stripe has made a strong comeback this spring season.  I have always found the stripe sensible and secure in its attitude.  So it is refreshing to see some great twists on this trend.  I have never worn or bought stripes as I never felt right in them. They always seemed to over power my mid tone soft complexion. You have to choose a stripe that does not wear you. I found some great softer stripes for myself at Sportsgirl and Frenchconnection.  There is always a great option out there for everyone.

• As there is such strength in a contrasting red/blue/white the wearer should have similar strength in her own colouring. Women with mid colour hair and eyes should look for stripes with a more 'faded' appearance.
• Can you see how this model has similar strength in tones to the top she is wearing? She has a mid contrast in her colouring.
  

• Girls with dark hair, dark eyes and porcelain contrasting skin can carry a bold stripe with ease.As thier own complexion is of high contrast.  So go for red/blues/blacks & strong colours in the stripe. 

•  If you have mousy brown to dark blonde hair and blue eyes you would be better suited to a stripe with a softer contrast. As your own colouring is not so high in contrast. Look at a grey on pink stripe for better harmony.

                    http//www.frenchconnection.com.au/                                                      

• Girls with very light blonde hair, light blue/green eyes and light skin should look for stripe combinations that have more white in them.  As they need to match to their own light complexion.

If you are warmer based and have red hair and golden skin look for stripes with cream instead of the traditional white.



Posted by Caaren Hulme Image Consultant

I’m excited, because the scarf is back.  You may say ‘Where did it go’?  Well no where for all the women who confidently enjoy wearing the scarf.  But for many who do not venture this way I can happily say to you, ‘the scarf is really back, so come and experiment and see what the scarf can do for you.

• Creates interest and a focal point up high.
• Creates great opportunity for contrasting colours.
• Keeps neck safe and warm.
• A slender neck can look alluring and sexy when wrapped once & loosely hangs.
• Offers a relaxed but confident touch to your outfit.
• Keep all other accessories clean and let the scarf make a strong statement.
• Can change the whole look of the outfit.
• Can hide unwashed hair when that ‘hair’ day haunts you.
• worn long and loose creates a great slimming technique.
• Worm wrapped around the shoulders can help widen the top half of your body, helps pear body types.
• Please add to my list and let’s see what we can come up with.

So why am I confidently jumping for joy?  In September we are going to see Hermes celebrate with a new collection of scarves that have been developed in collaboration with the cool French boutique Colette. Marketing their iconic scarves at the younger street uber cool cliental means that we will be seeing much more of this versatile accessory.   If you don’t believe me go and check it out.  Hermes has a great new site dedicated to new fresh styling ideas for their product.  And I for one am a happy girl.

http://www.jaimemoncarre.com/#/home

Happy shopping

Posted by Caaren Hulme, Image Consultant