The smell of Spring

Ahhhh finally after a very long cold Winter, which let's be honest Summer last year was mostly Winter weather, the sun is finally beginning to shine & it's starting to warm up. The gym let me tell you has not been this full all winter - I can normally walk it & have my pick of machines, now I have to wait (so unfortunate). But the best part of this time of year? The boyfriend blazer!

It's still too cold to go bare shoulder of a night, and sometimes during the day - so the blazer is the perfect accompaniment to your outfit. 

Currently I am rocking a whole range of floral blazers. I love them. I love to mix prints, I love to match prints with bold colour or to wear matchy prints together. I love the new fitted blazers, but I especially love the easy fit boyfriend blazer, worn over a pair of stove pipe jeans or a pair of BM leggings. With everything from pastels to brights going around it's hard to not wear one with every outfit!!

We are also currently running a giveaway on our FB site - www.facebook.com/ariandcharli - giving away TWO celeb inspired bandage dresses - one to our new fans & one to our fans who promote our page!!! So log on & like for your chance to win win win!!

Work uniform vs the everyday wardrobe

As a women in the workforce (I also work in a boutique accounting firm as the Practice Manager) I have started to come to a realisation. I have two days off a week & am spoilt for choice no matter what the occasion, however come Monday morning I have the same two skirts & pair of pants & 5 shirts I wear every single week. Why do I spend so much money on my weekend wardrobe when really my everyday wardrobe should be my work clothes? I don't find work clothes any less important, as a matter of fact when I go to my corporate job I like to look the part, nor do I find work clothes boring to buy, but I just cant seem to bring myself to purchase a new working outfit. 

When I look at clothes I often take into consideration where I would wear them (casual weekend, lunch with the ladies) but I will not do a double take and think of gee I really need a new shirt / jacket / skirt / pants for work. 

Is it just me? 

So I'm going to change my attitude. I promise myself I will not purchase myself another iota of clothing that isn't something I can wear to work. From today on I will be purchasing myself a whole new range of pants / shirts / skirts to bring me into Spring & Summer. I will be buying pieces that not only can I wear in my professional role but also my time talking to clients at Ari&Charli. I will look at accessorising my working wardrobe and buy a beautiful new pair of shoes to go with the new clothes. 

I am liking bold prints, and cigarette pants. Therefore I am going to find clothes inlines (ASOS have a great variety) as well as retail shops around town. My working wardrobe will be these:

Teamed with some white boyfriend style white shirts, and this season's black peplum top and some point toe black heels. I am also thinking loud, bright colours for work dresses:

As my main wardrobe colour has always been black I find anything that easily goes with a black can remain a statement piece for a long time.

Also the above teamed with a Fiorelli Caplet Grab Bag -

I will be ready for either job knowing I am looking my best but also ready for a call up to go for coffee with the ladies....

See work wear doesn't have to be boring at all!

All about me

I have decided today to dedicate my blog to me. I'm feeling good about myself today. I had my hair done the other night & am no longer the normal balayage that EVERYONE is rocking. Instead I have my bright orange / red hair, which p.s. I will be toning at home for the next 5 weeks to ensure it does not fade between hairdresser appointments (SOOOO important!!!). Mister & I are also off to Melbourne for the weekend this afternoon (my fave city). So I thought I would do a blog on what I am choosing to wear for the weekend.

Travel clothes - always important!! 

Today I am rocking my cotton ASOS grey blazer, teamed with a cheap singlet top. A highlighter yellow & gold statement necklace. My black milk St Peter's Cross leggings and a pair of flat ankle boots (super important because I always manage to make the security scanner beep).

I have also taken my wardrobe staples - black leather pants, black tops, Black Milks, and of course my 200 denier tights to wear underneath. Now all I need is a rain coat and an umbrella.........

Other things I am loving today are:

My napoleon nude lipstick. I really love lipstick but sometimes you want something a little bit subtle. And I have to say it's a great day to day colour.

Wish me a happy time in Melbourne :D

Wishing for an 80's hair day

Today is a bad hair day. It's flat & lifeless & basically un-styled. And I'm at a point where I just don't care. Thankfully I have a hair appointment tonight with my beautiful hairdresser who will blow style it & remind me why I chose to grow my hair after having a pixie cut for so many years. 

However, today whilst dealing with my ugly hair (actually an all round ugly day) I realised I missed 80's hair. I think I miss the whole 80's actually. I miss big hair, actually massive hair. I miss the glam makeup (for men & women). I miss beauty spots. I miss the whole lycra look (even though I am trying to bring it back by only choosing to wear my Black Milk leggings everywhere). And I miss hair bands. I miss their loud music, with lyrics that made no sense, or sung about women wearing not much. I also miss the original Supermodel. The women were slim but still had curves, supermodels these days surely cant be role models to our children and young can they? Supermodels had boobs, the only thing jutting out of models these days are their bones.

In ode to the 80's I leave you with the following pictorial. And to why we should definitely bring them back!!! 

On a side note - I will be spending the weekend in Melbourne. Expect lots of pics of what people are wearing early next week :)