Savvy Style

Fabulous in Flats

2012-03-12T18:52:00.000+08:00

For us, spring trends have arrived gift wrapped in one handy little package. So we invented a simple rhyme to prove it: Pastels, Brights, Florals, Whites. Seriously, stick to this and you can’t go wrong!

This week, we’re applying it to the wonderful world of shoes and are showcasing the very best picks from this season’s flats.

Pay attention to the part at the end when we tell you how to take care of them, though. With Hong Kong’s weather showering more moisture over us than England could in one year, you’ll be needing every tip!

Just LOOK at this sherbet-y array of patent flats. They’re good enough to eat. This season, Office is shouting about: “Athletic Aesthetic. Clean lines and architectural forms typify this trend with futuristic finishes and neon flashes”. So have fun with colour and add a bit of candy to your springtime outfit.

Office

For a crisp, fresh backdrop to your entire colourful spring dress collection, make sure you have at least one pair of white leather flats or canvas espadrilles. Shop online at Topshop for these beautifully crafted cut-outs and enjoy style and comfort.

Topshop

Marc Jacobs combines no less than three of this season’s top styles to create these cute bow front flats. With the feminine lace, gorgeous floral design and bright red colour, these are a favourite to pair with white jeans or a dress.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Now, if you’re like us and love a good fashion magazine, you’ve probably noticed our next pick on your jaunts; they are a hit everywhere. These bright BB Pixel flats are guaranteed to liven up any outfit and put a spring in your step. They’re available at our very own Lane Crawford in the IFC Mall, so what are you waiting for?!

Repetto

We’ll leave you with one stellar word of advice. If you’re investing in shoes that you just love, you need to invest in a way to keep them in the state you first found them. This is achievable by making one simple choice: when buying a shoe tree, opt for unvarnished cedar wood.

Jeffrey Westbrook

As soon as you take off you shoes, pop the cedar wood shoe tree in and leave it to work its magic. Not only will the tree restore shape to your shoes but it will also draw out any unwanted moisture due to rain, humidity and perspiration. This will leave your shoes dry, odour free and ready to be enjoyed again and again.

Have fun shoe shopping and stay Savvy!

Spring Scarves

2012-02-25T12:59:00.002+08:00

Colour Me Beautiful

With the print trend really taking off this season, we thought that there was no better time to make the of scarves.

The best way to jazz up your staple pieces and make old outfits new is to follow the season’s trends in the form of a scarf.

Florals are all the rage this spring so go pretty in pastel or bold in geometric shapes and get to work making beautiful shapes.

We’ve found this incredibly useful video by Wendy’s Lookbook that we just had to share. It showcases 25 different ways to wear your scarf, all of which we love. To make things easier though, we’ve picked our favourites and brought you some inspirational colours and prints to give you some ideas of what to wear and how to wear it:

The Classic Drape: Easy and effortless. This style will elongate your body with its waterfall-style length whilst showing off the print on your scarf in all its colourful glory!

Roberto Cavalli

The Turtleneck: With an almost choker-like feel, this look is perfect at drawing all the attention up to your collar bones, neck and face. Bringing all the colour up around your neck will offset beautifully shadowed eyes perfectly!

Alexander McQueen

The Infinity: Genius! This nifty little trick gives you two scarves in one. By tying the ends and looping the scarf, you are creating the illusion of length and material without feeling too hot in the spring sun.

The Toss: This age-old style is great because it adds interest to the back of your outfit, as well as the front. It will elongate and break up a single coloured outfit from the back. Don’t forget the 360 degree view other people have of you!

The Wrap: Perfect for those spring evenings when the classic ‘jacket dilemma’ comes into play. Now you don’t need to worry about the evening leaving you feeling chilled in your spring dress – just wrap your scarf around you for instant elegance and warmth!

The Fake Knot: In-keeping with the androgynous trend, this scarf trick creates the look of a tie and would look super sleek with a blazer and dark jeans.

Bindya

The Decoration: A favourite for spring style. You can experiment by attaching flowers and marine coloured jewel broaches which will really bring your outfit into the here and now.

If it’s all too confusing, watch the video again and pause over your favourites to get the tips.

There are so many ways to play about with what we think is the most versatile accessory. So have fun and stay Savvy!

Wardrobe me Stylish

2012-02-21T16:28:00.000+08:00

Spring into action to make your wardrobe continue to work for you this season.

With the first signs of spring beginning to show in the shops, it is important to accommodate for these new styles and colours at home. Working out a system of storage and care is surprisingly useful for looking great and feeling confident with the outfit choice you make on a day-to-day basis.

It might be that you find yourself rushed and flustered in the morning because you can’t find certain items. Or maybe you are guilty of repeating that common phrase ‘I have NOTHING to wear!’ in exasperation. Perhaps you are happy with the contents of your wardrobe and just want to look after your lovely pieces. If so, this is for you. The good news is, there are some simple, quick and effective tricks to transforming both the look of your wardrobe and the way you see it.

Make everyday life that bit easier by caring for your clothes in the following ways (and in the following order!):

Spring clean: It’s not hard work and is very therapeutic so just get stuck in! Take everything out of your wardrobe and drawers, wash dust and vacuum. You could even open up all the windows and burn some incense – whatever you think is necessary to get everything ready for this season’s clothes.

Reduce, renew, recycle: This may sound like a recycling game, and it almost is! Be ruthless when looking at your old clothes. Ask yourself when you wore it last, if it still works with your staple items and whether or not it is right for the current season. Have a friend over to swap items, sell it online, or give it to charity. Remember: a new thing in = an old thing out.

Seasonal storage: Get rid of bulkier items from winter that you know can’t wear this season. Your wool sweaters need to be washed, folded and protected from moths. You'll find that the time spent on storing your clothes properly will reward you the next time you get them out of storage. Avoid using the dryer for your knitwear, lay it horizontally to dry to avoid shrinking or stretching.

Hangers: Buying large wooden slip-proof hangers will not only make your wardrobe look like a boutique but will mean your garments are all level and a lot easier to see. They will also keep your clothes well and avoid any unwanted bumps or stretching. Make sure you give each garment ‘breathing’ room in your closet, too. A crushed up closet makes for crushed up and creased clothes.

Style grouping: The morning can be the worst time to be making decisions about what breakfast food to eat, never mind deciding on the outfit that will affect the rest of your day. By grouping your similar items together, you not only make this choice easier but you will also be maximising your entire wardrobe and are more likely to make a successful outfit. Keep similar cuts in the same section. If you know exactly where to find all your long sleeved blouses that you want to pair with the smart pants you have on, then you can go straight to them and pick a suitable colour and material depending on your mood and the season.

Vintage repairs and upkeep: Looking good is all about the small finishing touches. Missing buttons, broken zips, droopy hems, or clothes have grown too big or too small need to be altered and repaired. Don't leave anything in the wardrobe that needs something doing to it, it won’t mend itself and it will never be worn again. Once you’re done, you’ll feel like you’re just back from a shopping trip, too!

Style: Have a friend over or employ our stylist services to up date your existing wardrobe. A fresh eye will put different items together for a new look this season.

Think of your wardrobe makeover as a style gift to yourself and enjoy reaping the rewards.

Stay Savvy!

Love Yourself in Red

2012-02-11T12:48:00.000+08:00

The world’s most romantic day of the year is on its way, which means date night (whether with your best friend or partner) is near. Therefore, we think there is no better time to take a serious look at what makes one look work.

With Carey Mulligan as our fashion inspiration, let’s take an up close and personal look at your wardrobe to identify some of your best outfits.

Carey’s stunning red dress works for a whole lot of reasons that we can learn from:

Carey Mulligan in Roland Mouret

Number One: It is red. The striking colour sets off her porcelain skin tone, creating a dramatic and sophisticated look. Find the right red for you and work it!

Number Two: It nips in at the waist, accentuating her petit hourglass curves. There is even has a small fold over the tummy to skim over the bits we want to hide from the camera.

Number Three: It finishes at the most flattering part of her legs. All that’s left are her slender ankles but still enough leg to give the illusion that her pins go on for miles.

NB: Find your own perfect skirt length with our mirror trick: drape a scarf in front of your legs, starting from the highest part of your thighs (mimicking the shortest skirt you would care to wear). Then slowly lower the scarf down the length of your legs and stop where your legs look their longest, slenderest and best. You’ve found your perfect length. It’s that simple!

Number Four: The halter-neck collar detail is not only in style right now but it also draws attention to Carey’s beautiful neck, jaw line and face. To draw the eye up to your best features (again, creating the illusion of length) focus on necklaces, collars and scarves.

Number Five: The structured sleeves of this dress add length horizontally over Carey’s shoulders. If you are a pear shape, it is worthwhile adding extra volume at the top of your body to balance out your shape and create the illusion of an hourglass figure.

Number Six: Carey’s simple and flawless make-up means that she can carry darker eyes without looking over done. It is important to tailor your make-up look to your outfit because it’s all part of the package.

Number Seven: By adding fun and fresh features to her outfit, like these stunning blue suede shoes and the striking white print on the dress, Carey has made her outfit relevant for the season. You can do the same with a simple scarf, bag, pair of shoes, or statement jewelry. Keep following our blog to stay up to date with all the small ways you can keep your look fresh.

Honestly, we’d love to go on but think that these tips leave you plenty to go on for finding your perfect outfit this Valentines.

So whether you’re stepping out for a special evening or entertaining friends at home, don’t forget this simple tick list of style tips that will leave you looking and feeling great.

Have fun and stay Savvy!

Transitional Dressing

2012-02-04T12:33:00.000+08:00

It’s that time of year when we begin to feel the chill easing but still start every day with an internal debate over your coat. Is it wholly necessary when you have on that sweater too? The answer is probably not. The key to fitting your wardrobe to this kind of seasonal period is to wear something that we will call a ‘gradient outfit’.

Eileen Fisher

Too many bulky pieces will just make you hot and look bigger and one thin top underneath a big coat will achieve nothing either – you’ll just be too hot or too cold. There are three simple steps to get gradient savvy:

1. Blouse/tee/tunic dress

2. Cardigan/blazer/sweater

3. Scarf

The three layer gradient is both convenient and stylish. It also has all the benefits of streamlining your figure, drawing attention to those parts that are smallest and hiding away your least favourite places.

Here are two of the best cardigan designs out there, both in shades of blue that are perfect for transitional outfits. Everybody has their best blue.

First off, take the belted cardigan. This versatile garment can be worn in one of two ways. Tying at the front, it can accentuate any hourglass figure by highlighting the waist and skimming neatly over the hips. Leave it open, tying the cord at the back, and you have created a whole different look that focuses on whichever pretty print tee you choose to put underneath it. Untying it is also more casual and confident.

H&M

If you prefer a less chunky knit, you can achieve a lengthened body with a cascading wrap cardigan. Rosarini specializes in clothing suitable for layering.

Streamlined cuts will flatter all shapes and add length so make the most of them!

Rosarini

This deep purple long waistcoat is ideal for throwing on over a casual outfit and is perfect for travelling.

Ted Baker

The long-sleeved version, in beautiful periwinkle, will offset all colourings. It's a universal winner!

Remember to finish with a blue scarf in a shade to make your eyes pop and you’re good to go. Now you should be feeling comfortable and stylish enough to be able to shed your layers as soon as things start to heat up again.

Have fun layering and stay Savvy!

Out and About in Colour

2012-01-17T18:13:00.000+08:00

This week, we think the best way to show you how to wear colour in winter is to show you how everyone else is wowing in colour this winter!

We’ve been trawling street-wear snaps from Hong Kong, Florence, Paris, London, New York and back to bring you the very best examples and tips of how to let your fashion personality shine through the layers and layers of thermals this January.

It’s time to crawl out from your post-holiday stupor and the best way to dust off the cobwebs from your old and stuffy winter wear is to add a splash of colour when its least expected.

This is precisely what’s showcased below: wear a bright red tunic dress over tights and boots to bring a dark coat into the fashion limelight.

Fashionista

Resurrect your paisley dresses from autumn by layering them with tights and a cardigan. Throw on those faithful winter boots and an open faux fur coat to complete this snuggly style.

Wholesale576

Add a colourful beanie hat to keep out the draft and liven up your look. Choose a colour that really makes your eyes pop – electric blue or jade for blue/green eyes or a deep purple to offset dark brown.

Spotted

Oversized jumpers work just as well as dresses as a complete outfit if paired with leggings and ankle boots. You can go crazy with colour if you use your jumper as the statement piece. Don’t forget, colours can also correlate to your mood so if you’re feeling romantic, purples and softer hues are good. Brighter shades work if daring and confident is your thing.

Subtle pops of colour are what it’s all about from men this winter. Whether you’re dressing casual or for work, use accessories to brighten your look and showcase your fashion identity.

Pitti Uomo

A red neckerchief peeping through a navy suit jacket or coat oozes suave sophistication but also makes you stand out from the crowd.

Pitti Uomo

For a perfectly put together layered look, pair a plaid or checked shirt with a suede blazer and add a faux fur lined trench on top. Finish with a coloured beanie, tan leather satchel and gold watch and you’ve got it made. Scarves, gloves and shoes are all old faithfuls when it comes to accessorising and can make all the difference.

The Sartorialist

Keep your eyes peeled on the streets this winter; you’ll be surprised how much colour is out there! Take inspiration from all the little ways people splash about their style personality.

Have fun and stay Savvy!

Warm yourself Stylish

2012-01-07T11:12:00.001+08:00

As temperatures plummet, don’t let your mood go with them. A winter coat is a prerequisite at this time of year and with the trends hotting up for coats, trenches and jackets you have the perfect excuse to splash out on a new staple.

Take your inspiration from this winter’s catwalk warmers. Rodarte is the perfect example of how keeping it simple has never been more stylish. Thank goodness! Finally, a trend that isn’t over the top or hard to tailor to our wardrobes. Go for clean lines, non-bulky fabrics and muted colours to set off a naturally nude make-up look that’s very winter chic. This beautiful floor sweeping coat simply nips in at the waist and kicks out over the hips perfectly.


Rodarte

Recreate the open collar and shapely waist look but add a pop of colour with a classic red trench. Use a waist tie belt to create the perfect shape and add some on-season style with a faux fur collar or scarf for extra warmth.

Stylish Eve

Streamline capes are the best way to add an extra layer over an already layered look. Linear and sleek, they look great with a pair of leather gloves for a classier look than what you’d get from a pair of mitts. With a flash of tweed, tartan or plaid you’ll be trailblazing the traditional heritage trend and looking super slender.

Stylish Eve

For a bolt of colour to pick you up from the January blues, Zara have a stunning range of clean-cut, bold coloured coats. They are the perfect length to pair with tights and knee high boots and are still in keeping with the no-fuss trend.

Zara

Have fun shopping for your perfect winter warmer and always keep in mind three golden rules: single breasted buttons are best for hourglass figures; knee length cuts with high boots will give extra height; remembering to include colour by using a scarf of shirt if your coat is of a lighter hue is essential.

Have a happy new year and stay Savvy!

Dress it Right

2011-12-22T10:36:00.001+08:00

Whatever the style inspiration, whatever your age and whatever the event, finding the perfect combo of dress, hair and make-up is no easy feat. The age-old dilemma is back to haunt us: if I wear the shorter one, is something on top necessary? If I wear the necklace should I leave off the red lips?! Deliberate no more, we are here to help!

Cocktail Party

It’s all about satin, velvet and lace this holiday period. There should be pretty little details about your cocktail dress. Make it feminine with pleats, folds or ruffles. One shoulder dresses are also playful and flirty. Add metallic heels if you’re going somewhere really glam or stick to suede or leather for more casual affairs. Your make-up base should be barely there, use our Peach and Melon eye shadows to create a beautifully soft look. Pop a Pink Shell gloss or red Mulberry lipstick on for a finishing ‘night out’ touch.

Karen Millen

Office Party

Festive parties with your colleagues scream danger zone for many women but just because you should dress ‘appropriately’ doesn’t mean you should sap the fun out of your outfit. Red is a great colour for the holiday season and will make you stand out from the dreary office crowd. Little details like cap sleeves, wrap V-necks and nipped in waists will bring out your femininity and style. You can also throw a blazer or scarf on over the top for the journey. Change your look from natural to dramatic by simply transforming long wavy hair into a sweeping up-do. Darken your eyes with our Midnight eye shadow and Aubergine eye pencil for striking eyes – they won’t recognise you!

ASOS

Black tie Party

Susan Sarandon has gone for a highly elegant sweeping neck bodycon dress in luxurious purple. Note what she’s done up top: her hair is up but casually messy; she has used natural looking shades of eye shadow and has no more than a pale orangey pink on her lips. She is beautifully balanced with simple jewellery which lets her dress do all the talking. Use these techniques and you’ll steal the thunder from his tux at a black tie event. Get her look with our warm Salmon blush, Golden Honey eye shadow and finish with our silky smooth lip gloss in Cantaloupe.

Susan Sarandon

Get these looks and more on our Savvy Style website. We have all the products and advice you need to dress your party outfit right. Either call and book a consultation or order right off our site.

Be the envy of the party and stay Savvy!

Your Holiday, Your Show

2011-12-17T13:19:00.000+08:00

It’s time to stop dressing for the mannequin and start thinking about number one. Get up close and personal with your own fashion needs and quit all that useless wishful wardrobing. Dressing for your style personality is what to focus on this shopping season so we’ve got some tips on which holiday trends to go for that will best suit your individual personality. So ditch the outfits of Christmas past (that really belong in the wardrobe of your neighbour) and get to grips with what suits you. If you follow our tips we can guarantee that this time next year will see you looking back over holiday snaps and thinking, ‘wow, I really got it right that year’.

Dramatic

You love a show-stopping number, follow the bright lights of parties and are a sucker for ‘look at me’ glam. Well it’s your lucky day – the shops are just oozing with treasure chest treats to drape yourself in this party season. Go for cuffs, collars, studs and sequins in gold, pearl and red. Dress up - your party pieces should be emerald, cobalt or purple to really make them go ‘wow’ at that holiday bash. An up-do will highlight cheekbones for a dramatic look. Cap it all off with an oversized vintage ring and red nails.

Maggie Cheung

Romantic

Pretty in pink is just the beginning for what we like to call our romantic women. Wavy hair, lace trims, skirts with a kick and pastel shades have you looking your best. A little sugar is all you need to brighten up the dark days of winter: a lilac, mint green or lemon sherbet pale satin top will look super feminine teamed with a lace tunic at a Christmas dinner or office cocktail get-together. A feathered clutch bag and metallic cuff will finish your look perfectly.

Taylor Swift

ASOS

Classic

It doesn’t really matter how fast the fashion world evolves for our elegant classics. You ladies have got it down with your own self assured and effortlessly smart look. Look for some simple alternative accessories to give your tailored looks a bit of variety for the holidays, try encrusted earrings. A classic satin clutch will add elegance for the party look.

Kate Middleton

Natural

Straight up and relaxed, we know what we’re getting with our naturals. That doesn’t mean to say that the simplicity of your look should be any less exciting, though. It’s the small things that will make you shine: for a comfy, no fuss look that stays stylish, velvet tunics are the perfect solution and are effortlessly glam. A quick lick of nude or pastel lip gloss and you’re good to go.

Fearne Cotton

Chic

You’re stylish, polished and living in the fashion moment. Well done you! When it comes to trends, your finger is on the pulse and you’re most likely wearing tuxedo style party dresses and the sheer fabrics of the season under a sequined blazer. Don’t lose sight of your shape in all that shopping excitement, though. Remember your shoulders, your waist and your legs when buying and pull every look together with a crystal cuff choker, belt or bag in that sophisticated style you’re used to.

Alexa Chung

Creative

Vintage, colour and fabric are the three buzz words associated with this look. You are one of a kind and not afraid to show it. An orange eye-catching blouse is perfect as a shimmery statement when out and about at this time of year. On trend details like ruffles, flounces and faux fur collars are hot for you right now and are a perfect extra layer for your party outfit.

Kirsten Dunst

Have fun with shoes no matter what your style. The glitter doesn’t have to stop at the waist, let your feet lead the way to the dance floor in sequined ballet pumps, metallic platforms or glitter clad stilettos!

Holidays are the time to resurrect your fun side. Remember, once you’ve got the invite, the first thing to figure out is what is best for you…the fashion compliments at the party will follow.

Have fun and stay Savvy!

Five Reasons to Choose Tights

2011-12-10T10:21:00.002+08:00

1. Fashion: It goes without saying that as style consultants, we want you to be stylish! What easier way is there than slipping into a pair of this season’s must-haves in on-trend colours like orange, wine, grey or off-white? With layering so popular right now, tights will also provide the perfect starting point for you to add more colours and fabrics on top.

Fendi

2. Length: Lengthen those pins by wearing opaque tights in the same colour as your skirt or dress. If you can continue with the same, or at least similar, colour for your shoes then you’re on to a winner! If you’re wearing a heavy weight skirt, don’t wear tights below 30 denier; this will chop up your outfit too much and leave you looking like you have shorter body proportions. Keep an eye out for vertically ribbed tights that can elongate your legs.

Charnos

3. Warmth: Still not ready to pack away your bright skirts and dresses for next summer? You don’t have to. Tights are the perfect accessory to aid your transition from fall to winter. Pick your brightest colours and add textured woollen tights for a really wintry but vibrant outfit.

Oroblu

4. Colour: If you’ve reached saturation when it comes to black tights (we know we have), then you’re in luck! As mentioned, the colour palette this season is screaming cosy-sophisticated. Think mulled wine, Christmas trees and all things warm. Grey is a particularly useful alternative to black; paired with a grey office skirt and green or berry red top, you can create an instantly slimming and colourful look.

Jonathan Aston

Try this in reverse if you need to jazz up office outfits:

Trasperenze

5. Thrifty Fun: Who said fun had to come with a hefty price tag? Textured or print tights will add a playful twist to any outfit without you needing to start from scratch to bag a new look. Don’t forget, animal prints and quirky patterns are everywhere this season so you’ll have no problem finding fun tights in almost every local store.

Charnos Fairisle

Have fun and stay Savvy!

Our Style hot off the Press

2011-12-06T08:14:00.000+08:00

Get festive with our newest fashion news, as featured in the South China Morning Post. Read here about what makes this season so stylish and how to get the look. Eve is interviewed on how fashion has featured in her holidays over the years and how to make this one count when it comes to your wardrobe.

Happy reading and happy holidays!

Classic with a Twist

2011-11-26T11:18:00.037+08:00

Are you looking for a fresh take on the classic suit? Let’s look at how to take that tired work outfit and give it a new lease of life.

Ever wonder if you can stand another day in ‘that suit’? Now you don’t have to worry about hefty price tags or the stress of finding a new staple office set that fits you quite like your old faithful. Instead, make small changes to what you already have and watch your classic work wear transform into something more individual, exciting and stylish.

Banana Republic

Add a bit of quirkiness simply by turning up the sleeves on a blazer to reveal a bit of colour or silk underneath. Or wear a 7/8 length as opposed to the predictable boot leg to reveal a trendier you. This can also draw attention to the smaller parts of your body (wrists and ankles) and have a slimming effect – bonus!

Boden

AK Anne Klein

Bored of being too matchy-matchy with your jacket/pant combo? Tweed is here to help you out. One of the biggest trends this season, tweed is just perfect because it can be done in small doses or to excess and still tick the ‘fashionable’ box. A country-living style tweed blazer in grey, brown or navy will give your one-tone trousers the life they’ve been looking for.

Theory

Banana Republic

Massimi Dutti

Use Tweed as an accent piece – even if that just means adding a bag. These tweed and herringbone flats are the perfect playful way to add style to your look.

Johnstons of Elgin

Libby Edelman

Stay on-trend with wide-legged soft trousers. Available in an array of beautiful colours, these trousers will jazz up your blazer and add that feminine touch. Make sure your jacket is fitted and cuts in at the waist slightly, though. An A-line or straight cut will cause you to loose your shape and make you look bigger than you are.

Zara

A really easy way to make the most of your workplace blazer is to cut it free from the skirt or pant it’s usually attached to. Set it free at the weekends and pair it with coloured jeans and a simple top. You’ll look trendy even while you are running errands, doing the weekly food shop or meeting the girls for lunch.

Zara

Men can do it too. Pairing a traditional herringbone or tweed blazer with your more fun 'weekend pants' will bring your smart stuff down to earth. With a colourful shirt underneath, too, you can go from polo shirt caual to dinner date cool.

Boden

Last but not least (and if anything the most important), comes the blouse. This season has found a genius new approach for this staple item. We can now wear a deep-V secretary blouse that doubles as a blazer with a pastel tee underneath. A silk or chiffon wrap can slip smoothly under a blazer on colder days.


Sophie Theallet

Stella McCartney

Massimo Dutti

Take this catwalk Sophie Theallet silk blouse. Tone it down by getting rid of the less flattering sheen. Keep the brighter colour. Tuck it into a pair of work pants and watch the soft fabric work its magic over your shape. With a jacket over the top, you still won’t lose identity because your colour will shine through.

There you go… try a few of our tips for getting a bit more life out of those workwear outfits.

Have fun and stay Savvy!

Scarf Off

2011-11-20T23:29:00.000+08:00

Let’s take a look at this season’s scarf trends and see how each one can be worked into every style, shape and colour.

The choices are endless when it comes to scarves this season; this isn’t a bad thing, though. Make the most of the choices out there because let’s face it ladies, scarves are our most essential and flattering accessory.

Bring people’s eyes to your face by choosing a brightly coloured scarf wrapped a couple of times around your neck.

Our very own Colour Me Beautiful Pahminas

Getting all in a muddle with wrapping? Opt for an infinity scarf (or snood). These circular bundles are so quick, convenient and fun. You can wear them in the style of a collar or vary the length depending on the neck line of your top. Cover up the gap of your round scoop neck or elongate a high-necked top - so versatile, so easy, so snug.

Tarnih Infinity Scarf

Steve Madden Infinity Scarf

The above colours are great for those with light colouring who should reach for pewter, taupe and stone colours.

Feeling confident? Add a splash of colour. This can streamline your body in two ways. The accent colour will create a focus and draw the eye up. Also, hanging one of our pashmina once around your neck makes the loose and flowing fabric glide gracefully over anything you want to hide.

Lafayette

Ruffle Wrap Scarf

Sofia

Keep up with the hottest animal print trend of the moment and add a splash of safari to your look. We were inspired by this Michael Kors leopard print infinity scarf. So too was Banana Republic, it seems. This high street range caters for warmer and cooler days with light-weight and knitted versions of this must-have item. There’s even a more muted colour for those with cool and soft colouring!

Michael Kors

All Banana Republic (first: knit)

Wrap up warm with this season’s cable knit trend. The beauty of this one is that you don’t need to wear a big bulky sweater to look fashionable. Wear something smoother underneath to minimise lumps and bumps and simply add the chunkier scarf to draw all the attention to your beautiful face!

Gap

H&M

If you have soft or cool colouring, a striking blue or teal will lift your features and again, make people’s eyes dart straight to your fabulous facial features. Use this colour almost as a top to disguise the more tired looking pieces in your wardrobe.

Teal Pashmina

Missoni Casmere Scarf

The pashmina will never let you down and will even double as a shawl or wrap when you want your colour to stand out.

So chose one style or bag them all to mix and match. For a rule of thumb, though, pashminas will change your outfits from one day to the next. You will get much more wear from your wardrobe if you wear accessories. It’s that easy!

Stay Savvy!

Rusty Chic

2011-11-07T11:06:00.000+08:00

Take a walk on the wild side this month and be daring with orange. You can rediscover and play with this versatile colour whilst knowing your limits. Remember, it’s all about getting the proportions right so that you use just the right amount of orange for your body shape.

Bright and muted tones both work, so be as daring or subtle as you please. We want to show you how easy it is to work orange into any and every outfit, whether you have warm or cool colouring – just watch us work our magic!

Dries Van Noten

Take this sophisticated ensemble by Dries Van Noten, for example. Orange can be muted when paired with blacks and monotone prints. We doubt any of you are without black so there’s no excuse to dive straight in!

Suede skirts and tailored trousers with more rigid fabrics will sculpt even the plainest black tee into a completed look. Nip in at the waist with a belt to achieve professional and sexy, two-for-one! For once, you are allowed the pleasure of wearing the most versatile of all colours (black, of course!) without looking dull.

ASOS

ALDO

Splash your orange about to lift your outfit and compliment your skin tone. Throw on an orange and blue belt, grab an orange leather bag or toss a vibrant orange pashmina over your shoulder – it’ll work wonders!

Couple orange with a complementary colour such as purple or blue to bring out blue eyes and cooler skin tones; much like Michael van der Ham this autumn:

Michael van der Ham

To find out more about which shades of these colour trends suit you best, contact us for a consultation. A simple faux pas regarding the hues you choose can be the difference between an intriguing, rustic outfit and something that looks like it’s stepped straight out of a spooky Tim Burton film shoot.

In the meantime, trail the rails on the high street for an ingenious take on this trend. Skinny jeans for casual wear don’t need to stick to convention. Swap denim jeans for bright skinnies if you’re looking for the wow factor.

Zara (orange jeans)

Alternatively, stick to your trustworthy denim staples with add burnt orange knits instead. Or jazz up your jeans with suede ankle boots.

Christian Louboutin

Remember - experiment and discover because no colour on the wheel is exclusive to one type of woman.

The Savvy Experience

2011-10-29T10:58:00.000+08:00

We're back and have even more style secrets up our sleeves! It’s been very busy over the summer and in the run-up to the festive season getting to know all our stylish clients and helping you colour yourselves beautiful. But we can’t keep quiet any longer. Now it’s time to share some of our wonderful feedback with everyone because we’ve had such fun making the magic happen and think this is a great way to show just what we’re about. Read on for a truly Savvy client experience:

Entering Eve’s world on a sunny Saturday afternoon, I had high hopes and but little else in the way of expectations. I had heard of her work through a friend of a friend who couldn’t give me much more than: ‘she said you simply must go’ (a must-have recommendation for all women alike or a personal referral for a particularly needy friend – you decide!)

It was clear from the start however, that I was in good hands. From the professional but friendly greeting right down to the small offerings, like refreshments, I knew that I was in the company of experience and more importantly, with someone who loved what they did. I was instantly relaxed and ready to be honest about all my little style faux pas (and this coming from a totally bare-skinned-and-ready-to-be-made-over face – wonders never cease!)

The Works kicked off with an introduction into colour and why it’s so important to the daily style choices we make. I was surprised that this was the first time I was learning about my colouring and what works best for me. Fashion and make-up are all about working with what you’ve got, so why had no-one enlightened me before now?!

Once I was clear on my skin tone, and how to really set my eyes off with the best shades of every colour of the rainbow, it was time to figure out my figure. Again, this was such an eye-opener and I can honestly say that Eve has saved me so much money for the future with her advice. With a helpful chart that helped me picture what clothes I needed the most of for my lifestyle, I could imagine myself having a serious spring clean when I got home – my wardrobe is now super organised and is working for me like never before.

Best of all was that Savvy Style not only put me at ease for the style choices of future but also relaxed me for the week ahead with a makeover. After being truly pampered with the best Murad skin products I watched Eve work her magic as she transformed my usually dull and boring makeup routine into an easy step-by-step guide to a natural but beautiful look. I was wearing eye shadow for the first time without looking like I was in drag! I’ve learnt so much and will take everything I was told into my daily routines.

There’s no slipping off the band-wagon either as I now carry my new fashion bible, the ‘Colour Me Beautiful’ book to refer to on my commute and the handy colour swatches accompany me in their stylish leather wallet on every shopping trip I venture on!

Thank you Savvy Style!

Catherine

How To: A Twist on the Trench

2011-02-14T10:42:00.002+08:00

After our last post on trench coats, we received some questions asking for some easy-to-wear styles to look out for, apart from your average classic camel styles. We pulled together a couple of examples for your consideration.

1. The Bright Trench - a trench like this is born to be brought out and shown off at night; it immediately brings any average "night on the town" dress up several notches and is bound to steal the spotlight from any other women so that all eyes remain on you!

2. The Printed Trench - this trench coat is best worn as a "statement" piece. Pair it with a casual tee, jeans and flats on the weekend or with an LBD and pumps for the work week, and let the coat speak for itself!

3. The Mixed-Media Trench - This is a truly modern take on a classic wardrobe staple. Look for a mix of materials such as cotton and silk, denim and wool, nylon and sequins or, such as the example below, poplin and leather. Any mix of textures is bound to easily update your look with a bit of edge while still remaining classically chic.

Images: Patrick Demarchelier

4. The Navy Blazer - A nice alternative to classic camel, this trench is classy and sophisticated without being predictable. It's so easy to dress up or down and fits seamlessly into any woman's wardrobe.

Image: Club Monaco

Stay Savvy!

Red Valentine's

2011-02-14T09:32:00.003+08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all our readers! In celebration of this day of love (and red, the colour of love), we bring you some inspiring ladies in some wonderfully red outfits. Red is undoubtedly the colour du jour so be inspired by these stylish women below and don your best crimson outfit this evening!

All Images: Alexi Lubomirski for Harper's Bazaar

Image: Splash News

Stay Savvy!

B&W

2011-02-12T18:25:00.003+08:00

When in doubt, go black and white. This seemed to be the adage at Olivier Theyskens' first line for Theory. The ex-Nina Ricci designer has taken a commercial twist in his design life and started a line for lower-priced workwear-classic brand, Theory. He showed updated blazers, luxe tees, and a decidedly more laid-back casual style for his SS '11 collaboration with the line, mostly done in black, white and the many shades of grey that come in between.

Don't be fooled: black and white doesn't have to look boring. The key to keeping this colour palette interesting is to mix textures; choose a satin blazer instead of a wool one, then mix in a cotton tee and dark denim trousers. Mixing textiles while sticking to one colour scheme never fails to look chic without going overboard.

Images: Theyskens' Theory @ NetAPorter.com

Stay Savvy!

Fancy Collar

2011-02-12T10:40:00.004+08:00

At Jason Wu's F/W '11 show, he showed joyously cheeky collars embellished with fanciful prints, decorated with sequins or covered in beading. What's so great about this trend? It eliminates the need to worry about neck jewelry, and it immediately livens up any plain white work shirt.

Images: Jason Wu @ Style.com

Stay Savvy!

Briefcases

2011-02-09T15:43:00.003+08:00

I remember, not so long ago, when you would rarely see a man without a briefcase; nowadays it's a rarity to see a man holding anything in his hands. It's a shame, because briefcases really add an extra flair of sophistication to an outfit and, of course, they keep you extra-organised!

Tommy Ton for GQ.com

The Sartorialist

Trust me, briefcases will be big this year!

Already, they're popping everywhere on the street, at the high-street shops and in Lane Crawford, at many different price-points, in a variety of colours, and in several reincarnations of material. The best-bet for the season is to find a briefcase from a young, new designer such as Ljung; this Scandinavian label has great classic shapes done in modern colours at great prices.

Ljung via StockholmStreetStyle

Stay Savvy!

Brights for Men!

2011-02-08T13:47:00.011+08:00

Men, don't think you've been left out of the trend for bright colours this coming SS '11 season! Michael Kors, Raf Simons at Jil Sander and Alber Ebaz at Lanvin all showed pops of colour at their shows.

Images (Clockwise, from Top Left): SS11 Michael Kors, SS11 Lanvin, SS11 Jil Sander

All Style.com

The easiest way to look on-trend this summer is to invest in a bright T-shirt or casual shorts. H&M has some great bright offerings already in stores now.

Images: H&M

Stay Savvy!

Brights

2011-02-07T15:11:00.004+08:00

For the coming Spring, bright colours such as cerulean, fuschia, tangerine and canary yellow are the hottest hues for the season. With so many different shades on offer, you're bound to find at least one to match your colouring. Take inspiration from the beautiful Rankin photograph below and dress head-to-toe in one hue, or let style-icon Olivia Palermo inspire you by breaking up a pop of tangerine with neutral separates.

(Image: Rankin)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Pieces are already available now at lower-priced stores such as H&M, who made this gorgeous bright printed dress below for only $199. The greatest thing about it? All materials used in their Sustainable Style collection are made with, you guessed it, sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, Tencel or recycled wool.

(Image: H&M)

(Image: Zara)

Come on, go bright for Spring '11!

Stay Savvy,

Easy Does It

2011-02-04T13:49:00.004+08:00

The SS '11 Zara campaign images for their woman's line immediately set our hearts aflutter. The key to doing sleek minimalism well is generally grounded in well-cut garments done in good quality fabrics. Usually, these are adjectives that aren't associated with high street stores; fortunately, however, Zara has decided that would not stop them. They've approached their SS '11 collection with a discerning eye and a light hand, producing clothes that we're sure millions of women across the world will be thrilled to see (and wear), after seasons of skin-tight leather and tiny cut-off shorts.

Images: Zara SS '11 Campaign

Aside from the wearability of this minimalist trend, the other thing we love about it is that the high street stores can't necessarily "knock-off" such designs. The embellished Balmain shirts and blazers with exaggerated shoulders were, interestingly, easier to imitate than the clean designs that Celine championed instead. It will be intriguing to see how various stores put their own spin on this trend and which ones will be most successful; we're betting Zara will come out on top.

Stay Savvy,

Year of the Rabbit

2011-02-02T19:48:00.015+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year and welcome to the year of the Rabbit.

Economically, the past few years have been good to China, and it seems like 2011 is poised to be a good year for Chinese fashion. Marc Jacobs showed Chinese-inspired gowns, cheongsams, jackets and accessories for his SS '11 Louis Vuitton show. Done in vivid purples, turquoises and reds, Marc sent out a gang of joyously over-the-top glamazons for his show in Paris.

Images: Style.com

Styled as Marc did for the LV show, it's hard to see how to actually translate this trend into a look that works for an everyday outfit, but it's really very easy to achieve. Head to Shanghai Tang to find classic Chinese pieces updated with modern cuts and textured fabrics, or head down to the Central street markets at Li Yuen Street East & West for budget finds. The freshest way to incorporate this trend into your wardrobe is to find a Chinese-style embroidered jacket and pair it with a plain dress or jeans and simple tee. The key is to make sure there isn't too much else going on to distract from your statement piece.

Images: Shanghai Tang

Men, this trend works for you, too! Next time you're searching for a piece of new outerwear, try a jacket with a Mao collar, instead of the traditional English lapel. This look is clean, sophisticated an oozing with unique style.

Image: Shanghai Tang

If you dare, by all means, go all-out! Wear an elegant Qipao instead of an LBD to your next dinner party, and you're sure to stand out from the crowd. Nicole Kidman always carries her Qipaos with enviable poise and grace. The key is to maintain your confidence and not let the dress wear you.

Images: Left, Chen Ma for Vogue China / Right, Australia

However you choose to interpret the trend, we wish you a fantastic Chinese New Year. Look forward to more posts from Savvy Style in the coming year. Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Stay Savvy!