mabengi: June 2012

Saturday, June 30, 2012

FLORAL JEANS

Dotti floral jeans, Something Else by Natalie Wood blouse, Tony Bianco Sandals, Low Luv necklace via Eyegasm Brands

My latest obsession is anything is this cotton candy pink colour, and this Something Else shirt is absolute perfection. It seems to work back with everything in my wardrobe, especially these floral jeans.

At the moment, I'm eyeing off a Josh Goot dress is the same colour, which I think will be the perfect party dress for my bridal shower which isn't too far off now.

Three more weeks, 'til I board a plane bound for the U S of A. I can't wait to soak up the summer rays which are so lacking in Melbourne's chilly winter.

Friday, June 29, 2012

What Hat to Wear to an Engagement Photo Shoot

A Veuve Clicquot Champagne picnic

on a local beach

was on the top of my list of

best engagement shoot photo ideas.

Ellen Christine hat, Reiss dress, adorable fiance

Arun and I wanted to have

our engagement shoot

in a beautiful place

with the best of both worlds -

the beach and the woods.

Grafton Lakes State Park

was the perfect choice.

I also wanted to wear my

Ellen Christine 'Gigi' fascinator

for the first time!

The elastic band

fit under my updo.

Isn't the feather amazing?

What better way to introduce you

to my blog photographer Arun

than to share photos

from our engagement shoot

with Tara Wiley photography.

The 'Gigi' fascinator made me feel

pretty and a little sassy.

Tara remarked that I

"turned on the attitude"

when I put on the hat.

With a small tip of my head,

I could reveal or conceal my eyes.

It's so tempting to flirt

and play coy with this hat.

This type of fascinator

would be a great choice

for a confident petite woman.

The feather draws the eye upward

and gives the illusion of added height.

Would you wear a sassy fascinator?

ഐ ലവ് യു ഹോനേ

I'm linking to Visible Monday at NotDeadYetStyle.com

Want to feel inspired

to wear hats this summer?

Gucci Menswear Pant/Coat 2013 | Gucci Sumeer 2013 Menswear Collection

Gucci Spring 2013 Menswear Collection

Missoni Men's Fashion Show of Spring Summer 2013

The Missoni style reflects the successful venture of a husband-and-wife team: after they married in 1953, Tai and Rosita decided to start a knitwear business that went on to become an icon of Italian fashion in the mid-Sixties.Missoni introduced and successfully established an unmistakable way of dressing and living: from the boldly colourful “put together” concept of zigzags, stripes, waves and flame stitches to patchworks of geometric and floral jacquards.

Barbara Feinman hat - The Best Summer Straw hat

Come and take a peek

at my Barbara Feinman straw hat!

Barbara Feinman hat, Zara fish print dress,

Aldo purse, Nine West shoes, Jade necklace & earrings

There is something extra special

about this hat.

Wonderful things happen to me

every time I wear it.

The first time I wore it,

I received several compliments

and a man in a truck even stopped

in the middle of an intersection

to let me cross the street.

Arun and I took these photos

at Frear Park in Troy, NY.

This beautiful light came onto the flowers

and made these pictures glow!

Are you checking out

that amazing bow?

The pattern woven into the straw

provides a luxurious added dimension

to this hat.

The neutral color of the hat

makes it a great accessory

for the "candy colorized" outfit I chose

for Petite Fashion Challenge #17,

hosted by Sew Petite Gal.

The Zara Fish Print dress

has a beautiful print

featuring fish and other

underwater creatures.

Maybe this hat and my smile

encourage people to be at their best

and help out a stranger.

Does wearing a special item of clothing

help you to remember

the good things in life?

You may remember

my other Barbara Feinman hat,

the one with the purple striped ribbon.

If not, see more of that hat here:

http://thatsaprettyhat.blogspot.com/2012/06/what-to-wear-with-purple-hat.html

Want to feel inspired

to wear hats this summer?

Moschino - Pre Woman's Wear Spring/Summer 2013

Moschino Cheap & Chic - Pre Ready-To-Wear Spring/Summer 2013

Moschino occupies an important position on the international fashion stage, thanks to its own history, consistency and continuity. The Moschino, Moschino Cheap and Chic and Love Moschino collections make their mark by expressing its creativity that makes irony and elegance its strength through the reinterpretation of the classics.

BETTINA LIANO

Bettina Liano jeans, Dotti knit, Country Road shirt, Tony Bianco shoes, Arnette shades

Despite it being the middle of winter here in Australia, those following me on instagram (@friendinfashion), would know that I'm well and truly in summer packing mode.

This means, is that all I can think about are pretty pastels, short shorts and bikinis!

Needless to say, this outfit is channelling only one of the things I hope to be wearing a lot of in the next few weeks and that is lots of gorgeous colour.

These jeans via Aussie denim matriarch, Bettina Liano are the perfect summer hue, and will definitely be accompanying me on my travels.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Hat Etiquette FAQ - When to remove your hat

Suite 101 blogger Christina Gregoire

has put together an informative article

on hat etiquette at the Canadian website suite101.com.

Gregoire encourages ladies to wear hats

and discusses a few
common-sense hat etiquette tips

that will give new hat wearers more confidence.

I enjoy dining al fresco in the summer

and was pleased to learn
that the so-called prohibition

against wearing wide brim hats in the evening

only applies to dining inside a restaurant

or attending a black tie affair.

Gregoire also answers the questions:

Should a lady take off her hat
for the National Anthem?
.

Scala hat

Though the answer is "she does not have to,"
I would take my hat off if I was wearing
a fedora, sunhat or ladies dress hat
that was not fastened to my head.

Should a lady take off her hat

inside a restaurant (for lunch)?

Barbara Feinman hat

I have received some amused looks,
but I do not take my hat off during lunch,
unless it interferes with my ability to eat.
I feel so classy wearing a
ladies dress hat to lunch.

Can a lady wear a hat
to a wedding and reception?

As we have seen with Prince William's wedding -
the answer is yes!

What hat should a lady wear with

an evening dress or ball gown?

Ellen Christine hat

I would wear a cocktail hat or fascinator
like this one by Ellen Christine
with an evening dress.

Goorin Brothers hat

A cloche hat
is an excellent accessory

for having a cocktail with friends

at a bar or restaurant!

The article is here:

http://christina-gregoire.suite101.com/how-to-wear-a-hat---womens-hat-etiquette-at-restaurants-parties-a230451

Want to be inspired
to wear hats this summer?

DSquared2 Resort Pre-spring 2013 Collection

Dsquared2 Resort 2013 Collection

Trina Turk for Banana Republic 2012 sunhat

How to wear a Trina Turk sunhat to the beach.

When Arun first saw me in this sunhat

he said, "that's so exciting." I agree.

This pattern is all sorts of colorful and exciting.

Trina Turk for Banana Republic sunhat, H&M bikini, vintage coverup

I recently brought my Trina Turk sunhat

to the Long Pond beach

at Grafton Lakes State Park in Grafton, NY.

The pattern reminds me of

plants and coral underneath the sea.

I highlighted one of the hat's many colors

by pairing it with a solid coverup.

I chose a beach towel

with a similar shade of blue.

The beautiful neutral brown color

of the beach sand is a perfect backdrop

for such an over-the-top colorful hat.

A wide brim would be unwieldy in the city,

but it keeps the sun off my face and neck

perfectly here on the beach.

Trina Turk sunhat, H&M beach towel, Vineyard Vines flip flops

Wearing a giant, colorful sunhat to the beach

makes me feel a little romantic.

In an era where everyone else

is showing so much skin,

I am the mysterious lady under the sunhat.

Do you have a colorful sunhat?

I am posting this to Visible Monday

at Not Dead Yet Style

Want to see more hats?

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Pinko Collection Spring Summer 2012-13

PINKO - S/S 2012 collection preview

LOVELY LACE

Lucette Lace Blouse on Friend in Fashion

Lucette lace blouse & trousers, Samantha Wills ring, Tony Bianco shoes

There is something so feminine and luxe about lace.

It is one of my favourite fabrics to wear, and my friends at Lucette, have nailed it once again with this beautifully crafted lace shirt.

The perfect contrast against black or navy in winter, and I can't wait to style in the heat of the northern hemisphere soon, against white-washed denim.

Four weeks and counting...

mabengi