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

At Ruby Slippers we are VERY excited to announce the Ultimate stylist experience….
shopping with us in LA!!

We’ve team up with LA Experience to offer you this amazing trip packed with fashion, styling & pampering!!

THE RUBY SLIPPERS VIP SERVICE

Indulge in celebrity treatment as you experience personal styling sessions matched to your style and budget. With access to LA’s best retailers, you’ll be presented with clothes and accessories personalised to your individual desires. What girl doesn’t
dream of traveling to LA with their own personal stylist?

DESIGNER BRANDS AT UNBELIEVABLE PRICES

Access fabulous savings on designer brands! With up to 70% off, immerse yourself in the world of Burberry, DKNY, Coach, Kate Spade and more. With the tour planned when the US are having their sales, you’ll be able to seriously indulge in retail therapy.

5 STAR FIVE DIAMOND LUXURY ACCOMMODATION

You’ll reside in the prestigious Montage Hotel in the heart of Beverley Hills. Offering unparalleled opulence every step of the way; relax and revive in the Spa Montage, escape to the mosaic rooftop pool or simply enjoy breakfast overlooking the breathtaking views of the Hollywood hills.

INSIDER ACCESS

No trip to LA is complete without visiting the highly coveted
hot spots in Hollywood. You’ll gain access to the world famous
lvy Restaurant, the exclusive Sunset Tower bar, the legendary
Polo Lounge, sunset cocktails at Venice Beach and more.
You’ll feel every inch the VIP with your own driver!

The tour will run from 12-17 June 2014. Spaces are limited.

If you are interested please email us at admin@rubyslippersstyling.com.au or call 0450754726, and the full itinerary will be sent to you.

The price for this amazing experience (excluding airfare) is USD$3950.00 per person, twin share. This covers 5 nights

accommodation and breakfast, two lunches, three dinners, stylist sessions, day trip to outlets, beauty session, pamper
afternoon and much more. And of course Ruby Slippers consultation throughout the 6 days!

Check out this amazing review of the tour from Kirstie Clements, Editor-in-Chief Vogue Australia

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Now, I think the time has come to address a trend that people either love or hate. One that’s worn by celebs across the globe and has become increasingly popular over the last few years.

It’s the trend that you thought you would never see again, at least not after you graduated primary school.  Yes, I’m talking about jelly shoes!

These particularly flexible plastic shoes, that most girls will remember as being a NIGHTMARE to deal with when they were 5 years old. Why? Mostly because although they look pretty, if you got a pebble stuck in one of those bad boys, you were done for. Pain city.

So, obviously I was skeptical when I started noticing a resurgence of jelly shoes cropping up in stores not only in the US, but in Sydney too.

However, I caved when I saw a reasonably priced pair, in a wonderful array of colours at Country Road,  (on sale at $29.96, get them quick).  The T-bar sandals with a toe strap in neon pink ones (besides perfectly matching my nail polish at the time) were calling my name.

I definitely didn’t regret it.  This wasn’t your grandma’s jelly shoe, no sir! These had been streamlined and were surprisingly comfortable for being made of a hard plastic.

Now jelly has proved itself to be extremely versatile and celebs are loving them! Designers like Tory Burch, I purchased this great pair of lilac Revas in Jelly, have jumped on the jelly train and they are flying off the shelves.

The design is smarter, my Revas have air holes for ventilation (no sweaty feet here!) and I’m positive even the biggest Negative Nelly can find a pair of jellys to fit their style.

And it’s not limited to sandals. Oh, no!

If you’re especially daring, Vivienne Westwood has an iconic line of jelly heels, featuring a sweet heart or lip detail on the front of her jelly open toe pumps. They come in a wide range of colour combos and fashionistas like Rihanna and Katy Perry have both been snapped in them.

So the next time you’re thinking about upping your style game, think about adding a pair of jelly’s to your wardrobe.

Try the sandal version on your next trip to the beach, while out for brunch, or add a wedge pair for a wander around Sculptures by the Sea. If you go for a brightly coloured pair keep the rest of your outfit neutral and let you feet do the talking.

As the great Marilyn Monroe once said, “Give a girl a great pair of shoes and she can conquer the world”.

Jelly shoes that is!

By Ishtar Schneider

Blue jellies available at JuJu Jellies

If you are buying your jeans raw then avoid washing them for as long as possible to allow the fabric to develop its wear and character. Think of them like a good wine that you cellar and allow to age!

To avoid leaving a blue trail in your path, wear your jeans for a period of time before going near light coloured tops, trainers or sofas! There will always be loose dye initially on the surface of the fabric, but after a few weeks this will disappear. The other option is to give them a quick cold rinse to remove the surface dye, but it is a shame to do this so early on.

Wear them until you notice that dye is no longer coming off on your hands when you touch them then you’re good to go with light colours!

There are various techniques to avoid washing such as dry cleaning, airing them regularly or even storing them in the freezer to kill the bacteria!

If you can hold out (6 months is a good period of time), then wash them at a cool temperature, as raw denim is more prone to shrinkage than pre washed denim. You will be amazed at the results.

You will notice that the denim has faded more in areas that are in contact with other surfaces. Boys, you will notice marks where you keep your wallet, keys or phone and creasing around the thighs and the back of the knees.

After this first wash its time to buy a new pair and start the process again. It is always good to have a dark and a washed denim in your wardrobe at any one time.

See your jeans as an investment, they will more than likely be your most regularly worn item of clothing. Spend as much as you can to get the best quality you can. It’s worth it!