Three things we love at Ruby Slippers…playing dress up, doing a good deed and being loud! So when we heard about Loud Shirt day, we were sold!

Friday 18^th October, is Loud Shirt day…get the memo out to your fundraising crew, this is a great one for the school, office or just an excuse to wear that awesome shirt you’ve been a little frightened of! The Shepherd Center organise this annual event to raise much needed funds for Deaf Children, so it’s a wonderful cause to support.

This year’s event is perfectly timed with this season’s trend of ‘prints’. Along with stores holding the usual florals, spots and stripes… prints are covering, well, pretty much everything! Fruit, cars, animals… you name it! The print is officially in and a welcomed addition to everybody’s wardrobe.

If you haven’t yet purchased this seasons latest addition, then let Loud Shirt Day kick off a new look in your wardrobe. Follow our simple tips below, nail the look, and most importantly raise some money for charity!

–          Don’t lose sight of the importance of the main colour of the shirt, just because you’re wearing a print doesn’t mean the predominant colour shouldn’t complement your skin tone and hair colour.

Girls:

–          If you’re on the petite side, keep the print small so it’s doesn’t over power you.

–          Don’t be afraid to accessorise, just because you’re wearing print doesn’t mean a necklace can’t work with it too.

–          Team them up with neutral colours.

Guys:

–          This is the perfect in-between shirt. Dressed down from your work shirt, dressed up from a casual tee.

–           Wear with neutral shorts, slacks or jeans.

–          For a more summery look, get a short sleeved version and roll up the sleeves once.

We can’t wait to see how you look people, so take a pic and share it! #loudshirtday

Shirts available at Burberry and Three Over One.

Picture by USMagazine.com

We salute Sofia Vergara for being someone who knows her body shape and rocks it. Pictured here at the Emmy’s wearing a beautiful Vera Wang dress, and looking absolutely HOT in it!

Her outfit ticks all the boxes a dress should for an hourglass figure…

Deep V neckline – check

Nipped in waist – check

Straps to balance out her chest – check

Fitted across her hips and thighs, with volume at the bottom – check.

The colour is amazing on her and the ring and earrings, keep it interesting. We love!

A couple of outfits that didn’t get a seal of approval were the see through skirts worn by Julianne Hough and Lena Headey:

Far from being sexy, we think these just show off what can only be described as Bridget Jones knickers! Not a look we’re going for.

Anna Faris was a great example of a lovely dress in an amazing colour….on the wrong person.   The shape is great for her, but the bright yellow colour against her fair skin and blonde hair wash her out – as a result she is lost in the dress and it really doesn’t do her justice.

This would have looked a million times better on someone with a warm skin tone such as Eva Mendes or Halle Berry.

Key learning for us all; get the fit, colour and style right for you!

It’s National Op Shop week this week (25 Aug – 1 Sept), so schedule in a Spring Clean, refresh your wardrobe and do a good deed!

National Op Shop week is a great initiative organised by the Charity Do Something, to help boost stocks for Op Shops and the charities behind them.

Follow our easy guide to performing your own wardrobe clear out and if it’s becoming a mission fit for an expert, call us about our Wardrobe Refresh Packages!

• Clean and thoroughly dry winter clothes, then pack them 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’.  Hmmm, that might be the case, but if they don’t fit you now, 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 donate them.

Be selective – In 2012, 60,000 tonnes of items donated were unusable and disposed of in landfill – the cost for this is borne by the charities. That’s why only good quality items should be donated to charity op shops, so:

• Don’t leave clothes if they are damaged, dirty or worn out.
• If clothes come in pairs e.g. gloves, attach them together. Tie shoes together with their laces.
• Make sure you empty all your pockets and donate any treasure you find!

So get clearing and donating!!!