A little boutique....

My preferred shopping experiences will always be in gorgeous boutique environments, with unique collections, and great service. Sadly, to experience all three aspects is rare so whenever I do hit the trifecta I love to 'show and tell'. 

On my recent trip to the US, there was one boutique in particular that I fell in love with, located in beautiful Doylestown, Shop Sixty Five, (just 55 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City). 

While we were shopping we had the privilege of meeting boutique owner, Linda La Rosa. 

Linda, a former New York stylist has an exquisite eye for detail and it is no surprise that the collections in the boutique were perfection.  

Linda and her team of girls were fabulous and they seemed to enjoy the experience as much as we did; each of them were engaging and 'present', and with their in depth knowledge of each collection in store, were able to pull from the racks and personalise a perfect selection. 

Impossible to leave empty handed, with a beautiful Rebecca Taylor dress, and a great deal on a fab pair of Genetic Denim skinny jeans from their amazing Denim Bar upstairs... I left one happy girl.

You can keep up with the great collections in store by following Shop Sixty Five on Facebook, twitter and their blog, Shop Sixty Five 

Sadly for my Australian friends at this point in time, international shipping is not available, but if enough of us show them the love.... you just never know....

sharing the love....

xo 

pics courtesy of shopsixtyfive.com

New York Dreaming

It will come as no surprise that looking good is important to me, and on my recent trip to NYC, I was feeling somewhat intimidated, (perhaps terrified might be a more appropriate word) at the fashion set that was about to greet me.

It is one thing to look and feel good in your "local haunts", quite another amongst the style set of what I would consider to be one of the style meccas of the world. 

The problem with fashion is that there is always going to be the next "IT" bag, something prettier, someone more stylish, and at the heart of it often lies comparison, insecurity and inferiority. 

We must embark on our own journey to discover our unique style mantra, because true style will never be a carbon copy. In the words of Epictetus, "know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly".

I hoped that what I would find in New york would be eclectic, creative; true personal style that didn't necessarily look a particular way, but one that was diverse, interesting, colourful and unique.

I was not disappointed. 

New York is an inspirational colour palette that is unique in every way. Interestingly though, it was not what people were wearing that inspired me, rather the architecture, colour, food, side walk stalls... the windows, musicians in the park. The lifestyle....

There was more than enough room for everyone.... even the carbon copy - lets call it "borrowed style" because every now and then we just can't help but steal a look or two from the fashion set xo

Winter Warmers

Whether your style gravitates toward the simple, sleek and sophisticated, or you prefer to channel your inner rebel, this seasons offering of jackets is nothing less than fabulous; borrowed from the boyfriend, embellished to sparkle, warm & cosy, fur or faux, nipped at the waist, or a peplum pop, the choice is all yours and with most stores now offering end of season discounts, it's the perfect time for some retail therapy.

Some of my personal favourites... For a fur splurge, you cant go past Nancy Kings' Lana Racoon jacket in navy - divine! www.nancyking.com.au, Saba's Amelia Zip coat is nothing less than chic, www.saba.com.au and for great value, Top Shop's boyfriend blazer is a winner! www.topshop.com

Need inspiration? Cast your eyes on these winter warmers

xo

Ultimately Chic- The humble scarf....

No matter which side of the globe you are on right now, you will be experiencing a transition of seasons. Here in Australia we are moving into winter while my friends across Europe and the USA are anticipating the warm summer breeze.

Enter the humble scarf.... The perfect transitional and transeasonal accessory, and depending on your brand of choice, a relatively inexpensive piece which can transform your outfit and update your look.

From Hermes www.hermes.com to Zara, www.zara.com a world of colour and pattern choices await, along with countless ways to style.

This has to be the ultimate accessory.

Not sure how to style it? Check out my Pinterest board - "Style... How to" for some inspiration. www.pinterest.com/Jenni_Sellan/

Happy wrapping xo

The Beauty grab..

The Beauty grab.. by jennisellan featuring smashbox lip gloss

Nars cosmetic
$33 - liberty.co.uk

Smashbox lip gloss
beauty.com

Mac cosmetic
bloomingdales.com

Clarins beauty product
$45 - johnlewis.com

Just '4' easy pieces...

Just '4' easy pieces... by jennisellan featuring a woven shirt

Splendid woven shirt
$130 - jades24.com

Witchery
$135 - witchery.com.au

Chunky heels
$195 - wittner.com.au

Witchery
$310 - witchery.com.au

Stripes Eternal

From the launch of Coco Chanels' Nautical collection in 1917, to Audrey Hepburns' Breton stripe top in The 1956 feature film, "Funny Face", stripes have become an enduring stylish staple. Fast forward to the Spring/Summer 2013 collections and they continue to feature strikingly on the runway and designers such as Oscar De La Renta, Chloe, and Christian Dior inspire with their interpretations of the classic.

The good news is that this is a trend that is easily adapted from "runway to real" and the High Street Retailers have made it an affordable feature for our wardrobes.
Follow a few simple style guidelines, and you will be able to incorporate stripes successfully into your wardrobe. You will be amazed at how quickly they become one of your own iconic style-staples.

Stylish stripes guideline

1. Remember stripes will effect your silhouette. If you are wanting to promote long and lean, go vertical, if you want to break up your height and add some curves, its horizontal you are looking for.

2. Decide on the width of your stripe. Large, wide stripes will certainly make a bold statement, but they can also overpower, so always consider this aspect of the wider statement stripe. In general, narrower, smaller stripes, will be more flattering. They are also great for breaking up monochromatic pieces, and creating visual impact.

The width of the stripe can also play a part in determining the suitability of a piece for various occasions or environments; for example, pinstripes will generally lend themselves to the corporate/professional scene.

3. Always always, try on stripy garments before purchasing.

4. If you are struggling to find the right striped garment, consider the accessories on offer, like a fabulous scarf or ballet flat which will still allow you to incorporate the trend into your wardrobe.

It's time to get stripy!

Jen xo

Audrey Hepburn 1956 

Coco Chanel

Street Style

Sass & Bide Spring 2013

Oscar De La Renta Spring 2013

Marc Jacobs Spring 2013