Just because your boobs are a D cup or bigger doesn’t mean your bras need to resemble your Grandmothers!

I feel your pain if you’ve ever browsed the pretty underwear ranges in our department stores only to find that your assets are proving to be quite the opposite! As you scan through the sizes on the hangers of all the styles you like, you’re left feeling more than a little deflated that it’s only the boring bolder holders that come in your size.

I have seen SO many ladies wearing the wrong size bra; the statics sit at 4 in every 5 of us. So, it’s really important to get yourself fitted properly. A properly fitting bra can not only change your comfort factor, but also how your clothes look and feel.

If you have a fuller bust, it’s really important that your bra is fitted. So many ladies scoop themselves into bra’s 3 or 4 sizes smaller, or wear  one too big in size across their back. It totally ruins your shape and distorts the look of your clothes….Lets not even get started on the impact to your back, neck, shoulders etc.

WELL, no more!!! Our lovely friends over at Storm in a D Cup have rewritten the rules and are here to ensure that whatever size your ‘girls’ are, they’ll have something stylish to suit you.

Sharon Bra, available in sizes D to H cup, $79.95

I was blown away by the range of sizes and styles they had! I’ve never seen so many beautiful bras in such big sizes. They start at 6D and go up to…we’ll if they haven’t got it big enough they’ll find it for you!

They also carry a huge range of MATERNITY BRA’s….if you’ve ever looked for a stylish/sexy maternity bra above a D cup, you’ll know it would be easier to find rocking horse poop, so I felt like I’d struck gold when I found some gorgeous styles that fitted like a glove!

Toffee Bra, Sizes D to F, $64.95

You’ll find when pregnant your bra size may creep up a few sizes, especially in the first three months, we asked Esther Labi at Storm in a D Cup to give us some tips on Maternity Bras to help any ladies unsure what to do…

–          Look for bra’s with more than 4 rows of hooks on the back.  Your ribs will expand during pregnancy so it’s good to have the maximum growing room here.

–          Get a bra with clips on the straps, you’ll need a feeding bra so when you’re fitting get one of these now, save you buying another closer to the babies due date.

–          You may wish to get a flexiwire (thin flexible wire) or a wireless bra, best to check with your doctor or midwife about this before purchasing a new bra.

–          Buy 3 bras; then you’ll always have one to wear, one in the wash and one in the draw!

–          Keep your old bras; you don’t know what size you’ll go back to.

If you’re Sydney based, check out the range and services at Storm in a D Cup, the ladies are super friendly, have bags of experience and can find you something you’ll love in minutes.

They open Monday – Saturday, but if that doesn’t work for you, call them they’ll arrange an appointment after hours just for you

If you have any questions or want to say hi email us at admin@rubyslippersstyling.com.au

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I felt like I was being rushed into winter this year….the stores seemed to be filling with big coats and woolen jumpers and it was still 30+ outside. This morning the weather seems to have caught up, so it feels only right we embrace the new seasons styling, layer up and plan our winter wardrobes!!

If you’re still not convinced see our guide to what’s going to be ‘hot’ this winter, and ease yourself gently into it!!

Tartan….the Celtic print will reign supreme this Autumn/Winter! Trousers, tops, hats, scarves and jackets. Apply sparingly if you’re a first time wearer, but this is a great way to add colour and print to your winter outfits. We love!

Karen Millen

Monochrome – Don’t let the sea of black in stores depress you too much, add a contrasting white to complement and achieve a timeless look. Keep prints small if you’re on the petit side.

Sportsgirl                                                                                                                Country Road

Leather mix – We LOVE this look! Just a subtle addition of leather to jackets, looks very stylish.

Burberry                                                                                                                     Steve Madden at Nordstrom

Oversized coats – The jury is still out for me on this one. I’ve yet to see anyone who isn’t a model wear it well, so proceed with caution.

Marcs

Roll necks – Necklines always creep up as the weather gets colder. These look great with leather pants or skirts. However, avoid at all costs if you have big boobs or your bust will resemble a shelf!

Pepe at Asos                                                                                                    ASOS

Midi Skirts – This look is so feminine – wear the skirts tight at the waist, with a cute knit. The length isn’t great for those on the short side. Make sure the skirt isn’t wearing you! Gorgeous for hour glass and pear shapes figures.

BooHoo

If you have any question or want some help with your winter wardrobe, say hi to us at admin@rubyslippersstyling.com.au

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Don’t let your excitement of being a new Mum get tarnished when your boobs won’t squeeze into your bra and your jeans won’t zip up anymore.  It can be difficult as you kiss goodbye to more and more of your wardrobe, and are left wondering how much of it will fit again once your little bub is with you?

Do you give your skinny jeans to charity? Will a belt ever go round you again? How many bras should you buy? Argh all the questions!

Well do not despair, at Ruby Slippers we’re here to help you look stylish right until your waters break….and again after! So, follow our top tips on how to rock the style stakes during pregnancy:

–      Get yourself a great pair of maternity jeans in either dark blue or black. Avoid any bright or ‘on trend’ colours. You are probably going to wear these jeans more than anything else in your wardrobe, so buying a neutral colour will ensure they go with more. Wash them cold to make sure the colour doesn’t fade too much.

 Our fav’s for maternity jeans are: 

Topshop 

Just Jeans

Next Direct

GAP – 

( GAP up to size 20)

–      Remove tight fitting items from your wardrobe that you’re not going to wear anymore, store them in an airtight container and get them out of sight. Looking at them every time you get ready, will just depress you.

–      Ensure anything new you buy fits your growing chest as well as your tummy.

–      For bras, get some good support and ensure your bra fits well. Your boobs are probably growing at a rapid rate, but you need something that give you the right support and shape.

–      The bigger you get the more you should try and draw attention upwards, big statement necklaces, scarves, earrings, tops with embellishment on the neckline or shoulders…..and your growing cleavage!

–      Shift dresses are the perfect investment….team with sandals for a casual look, wedges for brunch, heels or boots for nights out.

 Our favourites for dresses are:

 Asos, Queen Bee, Hatch, Top Shop & Glamamama:

Be kind to yourself, you’re pregnant, your body is changing while your create another being….enjoy the glow and wearing some different looks!

If you have any questions, get in touch at admin@rubyslippersstyling.com.au

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Is your wardrobe starting to resemble the racks in Vinnie’s?  Are you wearing the same outfits day in, day out even though the closet is full to burst…. then it’s time for a clear out!

New Years resolutions are in full swing, so while you are making the most of your gym membership, avoiding wine and eating kale with every meal…. it’s a great excuse to give your wardrobe a refresh and brighten up your look.  So, plan some ‘you’ time and follow Ruby Slipper’s simple guide for rejuvenating your wardrobe:

Pack up winter clothes into air tight containers and store them away.

• Mend damaged items or get rid of them.
• If clothes don’t fit you anymore, give them to charity. We hear lots of people saying…’when I lose weight or when I put weight back on, I’ll need these again’.  Mmm, that might be the case, but if they don’t fit you now, then get them out of your cupboard space!
• Don’t just throw items out because you haven’t warn them for a while, try them on and see what they look like. You might spark a comeback!
• Items looking faded and worn – either dye them or throw them.
• Be ruthless with items such as bridesmaid dresses, are you really going to wear them again?!

If the clear out job is too big or you don’t know what looks good and what doesn’t, drop us a line and we can organise a ‘wardrobe refresh’ session!

First Zara, then Topshop and now H&M are making their way down under.  The Swedish retailer plans on opening its Melbourne flagship store in the GPO Building on Bourke Street early 2014.

It is inevitable that the retail giant will follow its rival’s footsteps by opening a second Australian store in Sydney shortly after….we patiently await the announcement.

For those of you who are not familiar with H&M it is the perfect example of “fast fashion” offering on trend styles taken straight from the catwalk, designed and produced really quickly and sold at very affordable prices.  Popular with younger girls and women who want on trend pieces and they want them now!!  They also sell menswear, kids clothing and home ware.

To connect with their customer and raise their profile they regularly enlist high profile celebrities for advertising campaigns and collaborate with designers such as Marni, Lanvin, Versace and more recently Isabel Marant.  These collections normally sell out within minutes attracting the younger and money conscious consumer who can’t afford the high end versions.  Let’s hope any future collaboration’s reach the Aussie stores as well.

Isabel Marant for H&M

After discussing the Sydney Topshop and Zara with friends, and colleagues there seems to slight air of disappointment that the stores haven’t quite lived up to the same expectation that they are loved for in Europe.  Although they deliver the fast fashion we desire, it seems to be the inflated prices (which I completely understand due to high import costs and the overall high cost of living in Australia) or the lack of must have pieces.  I personally never get that excitement rush that I get when I walk in to Topshop on Oxford Circus or even Zara in Hong Kong where the stores are immaculate, merchandised fantastically and filled with all the most wanted items.  Having said that, the six Zara stores posted $108 million in sales for the year ending January 2012, so they must be hitting the spot right with shoppers.

So, let us wait to see if H&M break the mould, and can bring us fast moving, current fashion with a store as impressive as their Stockholm flag ship?  We wait excitedly to see!

We also hear the giant Japanese brand Uniqlo will also reach our shores in 2014….we think it will be a good year for shoppers!

Written by Susan Black