Life & Style Blog
See what's new and have your say on the latest trends, fashion, products and events at Forrest Chase.
09 November 2012, by Rachael Ciccarelli
Image sourced from Glamour Fashion.
As we stand on the brink of summer, breathing in the sweet warm air - contemplating the hours of beach time and weeks of beer time ahead, an important decision awaits: What in the hell do I wear to whichever obligatory music festival I’ll be attending over the next few months? (Australian law clearly states you’ll be lured to least one festival each financial year; via single popular or nostalgic artist on the bill that refuses to play side shows, via misguided gift, or via pressure from peers).
Obviously, the nature of your outfit is determined by the acts and where they’re playing - wear your Summadayze high waisted denim cut-offs/ crop top/ floral headband to A Day on the Green and risk being the cause of any number of heart attacks – but what about your dignity? Much like Halloween (and sometimes more horrifying), music festivals have become license to expose patches of fake baked skin in the most inventive ways possible. And in a way, I understand that. But, in another, more accurate way, I don’t understand it at all. Without body-shaming or whatever other pseudo-feminist terminology Cosmo is throwing out these days, if you would never ordinarily wear clothing that exposes your but cheeks because, well... it’s your BUTT, why does being in the presence of Tino Maas* negate that for you? Does he have some sort of special force field that gives us all bottoms that belong on the beaches of Brazil? If so, I apologise. If not, then maybe this flowchart to safe festival wear will keep your dignity until you throw it up over a bouncer at 11 pm: Denim cut-offs flowchart.
*He’s still a guy, right?
What do you think? Comment here
Category: Featured
Tags: Fashion, Trends
or
01 November 2012, by
Image sourced via theequinest.com.
A slightly finger-wagging tale by Rachael Ciccarelli.
Once upon a time, every stylist/ fashion buyer in Perth came to me; eyes black with rage, tearing their hair out and beating their chests, crying: “It’s Melbourne Cup day, and I’ve been invited to a thing, but I just hate racewear. It’s the WORST.” Nodding with eyes cast down and a sigh of resignation, I’d reply: “Big time. Racewear as it stands makes me want to kill everything in the world, even innocent, wide-eyed puppies. But it wasn’t always this way. Before orange spray tans and tiny bottles of champagne served with straws, before “fascinator” became a faster way to say “bit of netting with an ugly fake flower and some feathers”, and before double-sided tape became a point of structural integrity for most frocks, racewear was the epitome of daytime elegance. The rules were strict, and the ladies were clothed. And there was nary a cheap feather in sight.”
“Really?” they’d gasp, dizzy with glee at the thought.
“Yes. And while resurrecting looks from the 1940s might be a touch uncomfortable, there are slightly more modern inspirations to consider. And dresses to wear. And accessories to don, the combination of which will hopefully leave you looking less like you crawled directly from a tanning bed after a big night out.”
“Show me!” they cried, and so I waved my wand, et voila –
Images sourced from: The Skinny Stiletto.
Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) at the polo match in Pretty Woman. Yes – it’s polo, and yes, she plays a prostitute – but she STILL looks more race appropriate than most women I see stumbling around after Cup day. Note the fantastic preppy details – the belt, the gloves, the wide brimmed hat: an excellent one to inspire.
Image sources: Dress from Myer, Hat from Myer, Shoes from Ninewest.
This is a lighter take with more springy, feminine accent colour, sure – but the classic nipped in waist, clean print and brimmed hat are all there.
Image sources: Dress from Portmans, Hat from Sportsgirl, Shoes from Ninewest.
Taking the 50s silhouette once again, this is a sharper, monochrome take on the Vivian-is-totally-my-date-and-not-for-hire-oh-no-George-Costanza’s-going-to-find-out-and-say-something look.
Image sources: Dress from Cue, Earings from Sportsgirl, Shoes from Novo.
Here we’ve got a great, block coloured coral base for those who aren’t so into print –and the accent colour is introduced via accessories. Not too bad, eh? Note the lack of hat: while unusual, is totally acceptable… and much better than kowtowing to ugly headwear for the sake of it.
What do you think? Comment here
Category: Featured
Tags: Fashion, Myer, Portmans, Sportsgirl, Trends
or
25 October 2012, by Rachael Ciccarelli
Image sources (L-R): Sexy Bert & Ernie from Mama Pop, Sexy Rooster from Jessica Infante blog and sexy Giraffe from eBay.
Or: how to dress up and maintain that part of your dignity that would ordinarily never let you near a velour “sexy cookie monster” costume (I wish I were kidding, I really do: http://majorspoilers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/sexy-cookie-monster.jpg). Here’s the 411, folks – sexy miscellany is dead. Sexy Ernie dug the grave and Sexy Bert rolled the corpse into a carpet and buried it at midnight while giggling and drinking a vodka cruiser from a curly straw. I know some of you really want to wear lingerie with animal ears in public, and I understand why – but it’s Just. So. Over. In order to maintain a public holiday where bustier and stay-ups are socially acceptable wardrobe, I move that “sexy (insert character here)” shifts to Valentine’s Day – which is about as culturally important as Halloween, and at least then mountains of cleavage will make sense.
Don’t get me wrong – I love Halloween. I treat every day as another glorious opportunity to dress up, and Halloween is the time when I can dial it up to eleven with hair, makeup and a bottle of Tanqueray tucked under my arm. Hurray!
Inspiration number one: Glam rockers
Image sources (L-R): David Bowie from static.guim.co.uk, The Sweet from blogspot and Ace Frehley from Hair Metal Mansion.
It’s wonderful to dress up as 70s glam rockers like Bowie or The Sweet because as long as you wear something unbuttoned and ostentatious, the hair and makeup that will really do all the work for you. All you need is a cheap wig, some facepaint and gigantic platform heels and you’re there.
Inspiration number two: Classic horror movie characters
Image sources (L-R): Tim Curry as IT from Collider.com, Hannibal Lecter from Row3 and Michael Myers from Fan Pop.
Let us not forget the true meaning of Halloween: dressing up in order to scare people into giving you candy. Go back to the classics and dress like a crazy serial killer that might kill you in your sleep. Top of the list: IT, as played by Tim Curry. ARRRGH, MY PRECIOUS DREAMS.
Inspiration number three: American sitcom families
Image sources (L-R): The Huxtables from College Fashion, The Tanner family from Restless Legs and Married with Children cast from The St. Petersburg Times.
If you’ve got a bunch of friends attending the same party as you, this is a fun and slightly left-of-centre direction to go in – a smack of nostalgia here, a tongue in cheek “what’s more horrifying than the perfect family” comment there (oooh, so topical) and a good raid at your local op shop for some chunky Coogee jumpers and you’re in a comfortable costume that you may-or-may not re-use when your ridiculous vintage costume inevitably comes back into fashion.
What do you think? Comment here
Category: Featured
Tags: Special Occasion, Trends
or
18 October 2012, by Rachael Ciccarelli
Image sources (L-R): Tom Selleck as Magnum P.I. from NorthWithTriona, Guys in retro shorts from Ipernity and Tobias Funke from Moves Like Jäger blog.
It’s a time feared by most men – a time when the gentlemen get a tiny glimpse into what it might feel like to a be a woman negotiating the often complex world of fashion: it is officially shorts weather, and gents? There’s nothing you can do about it but strip down and shorts up like a MAN.
Let’s be clear: I’m not talking about board shorts (although your time in them will come soon enough). They are rarely an acceptable form of outerwear, and believe me, if I see you wearing gigantic surf branded boardshorts with thongs and some garish t-shirt while you’re hanging out in the city I’m going to march right up to you and slap your hand. I’m talking about above the knee pants designed exclusively for out-of-water use. Men, I understand: your life is difficult. Shorts make you feel weird and you don’t like them. Can’t you just wear jeans all summer? Well, I guess you can, but you won’t be very comfortable. In an attempt to make your next few months less sweat-stained and to speak the solution-heavy language of MEN, here’s a problem/ solution chart for you to consult:
Problem: Shorts make me look like I’m 12 or something. Do I look like a kid in these?
Solution: OK, so years of private schooling have left you feeling like every pair of shorts you try on makes you look like a schoolkid. If you’re wearing lace up dress shoes with those shorts, stop it. Roll down your socks, weirdo – or better yet, go shorts shopping in boat shoes or moccasins – and try on a pair of shorts that doesn’t have a crease down the front. Try them on without a collared shirt. Is that better?
Problem: I feel like some jock named Chett with a trust fund who participates in weekend polo matches.
Solution: So the preppy look isn’t for you. Stay away from chinos, seersucker and anything with lines that are too tailored. Try denim instead, there’s a world of it out there (do not try Tobias Funke inspired cut-offs unless you are a never-nude. That ends well for nobody).
Problem: These shorts are too short, aren’t they? Or are they? I’M SCARED.
Solution: Look, while my general rule for fashion is to wear the cut you feel most comfortable in, shorts on men are generally at their best when they’re somewhere between 10-15cm above the knee to resting around the middle of the kneecap (anything below the kneecap and we are no longer friends), depending on your height and legs. Short shorts should be avoided unless you’re about to play rugby. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but those exceptions are usually really confident guys with no need for guidelines (see: P.I, Magnum).
Problem: This pair of shorts makes me look like my grandfather.
Solution: Hey, sonny Jim! The shorts you are wearing are too loose, too long and probably too beige. You should take off those socks with those sandals.
What do you think? Comment here
Category: Featured
Tags: Fashion, Trends
or
Page:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >