How To Solve Sale Rage

Ok, so we have all been there, sale fever hits, the changing rooms are heaving, you fear being buried alive beneath a mound of writhing leopard and faux fur coats, so you hastily bag that half price skirt or jumper without a backward glance, scrabble out the revolving door and run for your life! Once home do you try the item on? No, you get a call from your mum, asking have you thanked some distant aunt for your Christmas gift and that coupled with the fact that you then sit on a mouldy tangerine on your sofa leaving you with a soggy bum, means your momentarily distracted!

 Three days later you finally go to try the item on, only to discover that the cute little lace skirt you bought is far too tight at the waistband, unfortunately you also discover that you tossed your receipt aside and it is now lost! This is where a little lateral fashion thinking goes along way. A short full skirt makes for a great short cape, if it has a deep waistband which stands up, so much the better, you now have a dramatic short cape, perfect for spring and very couture, wear with a crisp shirt collar poking out in a contrasting colour and pencil skirt or cropped slim fit jeans or flares. Or you could look to investing in a pair of leggings, using the lovely Jens guide from a little bird told me.

 If you have grabbed a sweater and the sleeves are just too long, do what I have done and give them the chop, just slightly lower than where they are stitched onto the body of the jumper then hem the arm holes in thread of the same colour to create a tank top. Or why not add drama by using a contrasting thread and running a binding stitch around the arm holes to stop them unravelling.

 One of my all time favourite sale saviours, was changing the look of a fitted v-neck cardi that was simply to deep a v, by reversing the way I wore it (no sewing required) so it looked like a fitted 50's sweater with a sexy button up back, again this works well with pencil skirts or cropped slim jeans that are heading our way this spring. Have you turned a sales disaster into something you love? For my ultimate guide to surviving sales shopping click here

Sign up to emails here on My Passport To Style, top right of my blog and win a gorgeous red satchel and goodies including 3 pairs of leather folding red foot pumps to the value of £500.00!

I'm Inviting The Man Repeller,Style Bubble & Olivia P For A Wardrobe Workout!

 The thrill of the January sales has begun, the chase of that sometimes elusive bargin is here, will fate be kind and ensure that when you click on that designer coat you have waited all year to have, that your size will pop up and welcome you with open arms. I hope so. But in the meantime take a comfy seat in my virtual fitting room, pour yourself a nice hot cup of earl grey, while I play dress up with three of my favourite fashion bloggers each with a very different look. I have decided to select a pair of shoes or two, for each of them under £50.00 from the asos sales that best fits with their personal style, let me know if you think my shoe picks work for each of them or not! 

The Man Repeller

 I struggled to choose one pair, for this fiesty lady, in the end it was a toss up between this black sandal boot and these bling pair of metalic prince charming (my term) stacked loafers, I think she would work both really well.

Next up Style Bubble

Susie loves to mix things up layering prints and textures for dramatic effect, recently she has been chanelling lady like with high pointy heels and banished her glossy black top knot in favour of loose long hair, but I associate Susie and have to say prefer her slightly tomboy styling with a feminine twist. So these pink brogues with a mix of textured nude panelling might be a good compromise.

Olivia Palermo

And finally no wardrobe workout would be complete with out the polished Palermo, I totally associate Olivias style with the use of classic nudes with an intersting twist, in print or texture so I'm confident that she would dane to wear these shoes which I personally will be teaming with a flapper style dress to keep the look fresh and fuss free. 

Sign up to My Passport To Style emails (top right of this blog) today and win a satchel and goodies including 3 pairs of Redfoot folding leather pumps worth £500! 



My Passport To Style Wants You To Play Editor!

Hi Gals!

At the end of last year I took part in a fun fashion shoot which I styled  to showcase a handbag giveaway I wanted to run here on My Passport To Style and for a local poster campaign. The theme was a Right Royal Handbag Giveaway and the idea was that I looked like I could pass as a member of the Royal family, I promised to share the rest of the shots here with you, so here they are. What do you think? Do you think I look like a Royal lady? Would you offer me a cucumber sandwich with the crusts cut off and bob me a courtesy? 

 As a bit of fun, I would love to know which of the 5 shots featured here you would vote for? It would be great to get your sartorial opinion.You might need to click on the picture to get a really good look of all 5 photos!

 If you want to enter the handbag giveaway to win a red satchel and goodies there is still time, simply sign up to My Passport To Style emails top right of my blog. xx

Sharon Sahara wears -navy 50's style trousers, vintage leopard blouse in khaki green, royal blue sparkle lurex Topshop jumper, vintage red wool coat, gold Topshop chain, Redfoot- Diana pumps, pearl earrings, Pilot hat, white head scarf, royal blue driving gloves and harlequin vintage belt. Makeup, hair and photography by Roaniad Levesley

Happy 2012 Fashionable Frolickers!

Happy New Year Fashionable Frolickers!  I love the start of each New Year a crisp fresh page waiting for new ideas to be scrawled across it. What excites me most about life, is all the infinite possibilities that exist. Meeting new people with their own ideas on fashion, style and the universe, growing something from what seems like nothing, turning an item I might have thrown away, into a piece to cherish forever, watching and predicting how each New Year of fashion, will see the films we watch, the politics we are part of, the culture we live in and even the food we put into our mouths expressed in a unique and original way by fashion designers. Some of it we may love some of it we might not, but we will have an opinion on it, because generally each new trend we see in the shops and online at is made up of tiny fragments of living history that have been  transported to us as if by magic and brought together to tell a new story; from ruffles and feathers borrowed from the roaring 20s to the leather and buckles from biker culture, each new season  gives us the buzz of the potential to express who we are through how we dress, which is why fashion is so important to us, but more than that we love to keep reinventing our image, why not it's so fun! What will you be wearing this 2012? I would love to know. xx



Sketch by the talented Sophie Griotto



The Cheats Guide To Last Minuite Party Styling!

Hi Gals, its that time of year again, no, not when you fall over in bright tights and fab shoes, although you might do a little of that, it's time to celebrate New Years eve in style! If your anything like me you have probably scoffed the contents of a tin of quality street and consumed your own weight in turkey and stuffing over the last few days, add to that being kept buisy seeing friends and relatives and you probably have not had time to think about THE party dress and how your going to style it. So I have decided to play fairy god mother and come up with the cheats guide to looking party ready!

 A very happy New Year to all my lovely Fashionable Frolickers! 

 Lets start with the dress, cascading ruffles are great for hiding turkey belly!

Buisy patterns like this blue leopard print distract the eye from any Christmas wobble and the ruching over around the tummy prevents fabric from clinging in the wrong place. 

High waisted scater style dresses with clever side pleating skim curvy bottom, hips and thighs if that's where your trifle has chosen to lurk!

No time to trim hair or style hair at the salon? Slick short hair back with strong hair gel or scape back in a pony tail and add a pretty hairband. These are my favourite looks below.

Next up you necks looking a little bare, nothing says I have arrived, than a statement chunky necklace like this one below, if you don't have one, don't worry, find some necklaces in a variety of lengths and various of textures, pearls and gold chains work well or pretty glass beads.

 Next fasten each necklace and using each end as a loop, thread some pretty ribbon through each loop and each end then fasten round your neck, so you get a chunky double necklace effect, repeat with various lengths until you have depth of cascading chunky decadence you require. If you have long hair you won't see the rows of bows across your neck, if your hairs shorter it can look quite pretty, you could use bright colours to work with the colours in your dress, I like to use nude ribbon, which blends into my neckline.

No time for a last minuite manicure? Try some vampish short satin gloves, to create a well groomed look with a retro twist, you don't have to be a vintage girl to use this trick, try it with anything from a jumpsuit to your favourite jeans and bustier for a fun look.

 Last by not least if your legs are looking a bit pasty and your keen to shed your 60 denier black tights, these toeless Pretty Polly tights from Tights Please in natural, will allow you to wear peeptoe heels and leave your legs looking flawless with a subtle tan. Add an Art Deco, feel to your favourite comfy dance shoes, with these shoe brooches from Blingbacks.

You Shall Go To The Ball!

 The Beautiful Emma Watson, ready to party!

Sign up to My Passport To Style posts by email, top right of my margin and get more free fun style advice for real women delivered to your in box, put a smile on your face and a spring in your step today gals! 

Postcard From Japan, The Big Reveal

Hope you enjoyed these Japanese street fashion postcards, in between sale shopping! I think the way Anzu Yahagi has set up these shots of herself, was really clever adding an air of mystery to unveiling her final look, the first shot in the series/headshot gave the impression of a really demure look, as you only got a peek of just her shirt collar and the black top section of her sweater, in the finale reveal we see the look is much more complex and exciting! 

if you haven't yet entered my handbag giveaway (A Right Royal Handbag Giveaway) to win a red satchel and a ton of fashionable goodies to the value of £500.00 there's still time, all you need to do is sign up to my posts via email at the top right of my blog margin and leave me a message to let me know here or on the giveaway post here

Good luck gals! xx

Postcards From Japan

Rich Red and blue rosettes overlap and nestle into the ivory fur on Anzus hat setting of her perfect red lip and bodice on her sweatshirt.

if you haven't yet entered my handbag giveaway (A Right Royal Handbag Giveaway) to win a red satchel and a ton of fashionable goodies to the value of £500.00 there's still time, all you need to do is sign up to my posts via email at the top right of my blog margin and leave me a message to let me know here or on the giveaway post here

Good luck gals! xx

Style Postcards From Japan - Sharing My Latest Obsession!

I just adore how Anzu Yahagi has styled up her uniform look, bringing the unusual and the basic together so beautifully.

if you haven't yet entered my handbag giveaway (A Right Royal Handbag Giveaway) to win a red satchel and a ton of fashionable goodies to the value of £500.00 there's still time, all you need to do is sign up to my posts via email at the top right of my blog margin and leave me a message to let me know here or on the giveaway post here    Good luck gals!

The Pain Free Guide To Shopping This Years Sales!

1. Always ask about the returns policy before you purchase, I was told by one indie label I could have a returns note or an exchange but not a cash refund, when I changed my mind a day later!

2. If you can't  think of at least 3 ways to wear that top or skirt then chances are you won't get much wear from it.

3. When your blood sugar sinks you make poor choices, take some nibbles with you.

4. Remember most changing rooms will make you look washed out, once your clothes are on, top up your foundation, bronzer, pink blush and add natural lipstick, then make your decision.

5.  Wear something that you can pull on and off easily and shoes that do the same.

6.  Sit down in dresses, skirts and trousers to check for comfort and length.

7. Don't worry too much about trends going out of date, instead  focus on quality and the right shape and colour for you. This is the era of clashing decades, mixing vintage with new and high street with designer, so as long as the item really works for you and your happy to mix it up, you can bag yourself a bargin that will actually get worn.

 8. Bring some neutrals with you, so you can make brighter and patterned  pieces work, shoes, tights and t-shirts are usually a good idea.

 9. Good music on your ipod, well it goes without saying.

 I'm currently compiling a list of the best changing rooms; read fun/ sophisticated, to feature here on My Passport To Style if you find yourself in one that fits the bill, twitter pic me @ zipbuttonandtuc and include the address and I will link to your blog here on My Passport To Style.

Happy Christmas!

Happy Christmas, fashionable frolickers and a very happy New Year!

                                      

                                                       love Sharon xx