We headed into a quaint shop called 'Right Up My Alley' who had an impressive collection of antiques, jewellery, collectables, possum fur/merino products, a lot of it imported from Eastern countries. Now Lee and I love this kind of thing and I have made a conscious decision to incorporate a more Bohemian Style into my wardrobe, while still achieving a classic look.
I found these cute little ponchos that were cut very nicely...not big and bulky, but discrete and elegant. These were available in red, black & brown. Being a spring colouring, I quickly eliminated the black (not good on me), but spent some time deliberating between the brown or the red. The brown was a lovely mid-brown, perfect for us springs and would co-ordinate with most of my existing wardrobe. This colour gave a more casual look.
The red is exciting & would add a bit of pizzazz to an outfit. (Excuse the casual attire, but even wardrobe stylists need to dress down in the weekend & be make-up free).
I opted for the red for the reason that this is an unusual piece and I wanted it to grab somebody’s eye when I wear it. I can picture wearing this wee poncho with jeans or with chocolate brown dress pants (as long as they are one colour). It will be good to add warmth when out in the city in the evening and going for a more casual look. Red is one of the key accent colours that use in my existing wardrobe, so I have several mix and match options. The poncho was $85.00.
I was also tempted by several pieces of antique jewellery. I kept my eye out for Lee, because she is a different colouring & body shape for me, so can wear many of the things that I admire and don't suit. Lee and I spent 1 month in India in 2006, so she is very drawn to the ethnic jewellery & clothes.
We saw this beautiful rose quartz necklace. The v shape it creates elongates Lee's neck and the dusty pink harmonises with Lee’s delicate summer complexion. For those that are interested in gems, rose quartz is famous for opening up the heart chakra, and the stones have an energy of their own. So this piece was a go for $140.00 and will be a much loved accessory in Lee’s wardrobe.We also discovered a wee shop called 'Scintilla' which produces original clothing made in NZ. I purchased a lime green tunic style top for $140.00. This works well with jeans, neutral coloured pants, or in the winter, chocolate brown pants. I love this colour on me....it makes me feel alive and refreshes me.
These chocolate brown jandals with red gems will add some fun to my wardrobe also for only $49.00. If you a drawn to individual pieces, this shop will cater well for you.
So the moral of the story is, don't head down to Raglan and check out these shops unless your credit card has plenty of credit on it.
And remember, that Fashion is not style....style is about being creative and projecting what you want to project. I can help you determine your personal style, go to www.stylewise.co.nz to find out more.
Monique
