Next Friday 150odd bloggers will gather together, from around the nation, in a hotel in Melbourne. We will network, some of us will be meeting for the first time and some for the first time in a while. We will hear from some fantastic bloggers, learn and share and be introduced into some brands too. It’s going to be a lot of fun!

One of the main topics of conversation about next Friday centers around what everyone is going to wear. I can appreciate this, last year the conference was on my birthday and I nabbed a last minute ticket and used my birthday as an excuse to get my hair done and buy a new outfit. I was nervous, that’s for sure.

What I very quickly realised when I arrived was that noone could give two hoots what I was wearing. I certainly can’t remember what anyone else was wearing! What I do remember is that the beautiful Sarah had made over 100 cupcakes in different flavors, though we’d never met, simply because it was my birthday and she is totally lovely. I remember meeting Tina Grey for the first time after chatting online for years. I remember meeting Veronica and Kim and feeling immediately welcomed by their genuine kindness and warmth. I remember meeting Kelly and her effusive enthusiasm and authenticity, traits I have come to increasingly admire over the past 12 months, and having the most fabulous lunchtime conversation with Cath.

Gosh it was fantastic to be in a room with other bloggers – people who “get it” – just fabulous.

I am really looking forward to the different events happening next place for that very same reason – catching up with so many beautiful women in person for a change! (Not to mention 2 nights in a hotel room, away from my beautiful but restless children overnight!)

What will I be wearing? Clothes. As much as I am loving a bit of fashion at the moment, there’s no part of me that is worried about “impressing” next Friday, this conference is just really not about that.

How about we make a deal – I promise not to show up in the nude if you promise the same?

Hands up if you stress about what you wear to events?
How do you deal with it?

p.s. Just before I went to publish this post I found Bianca’s latest blog post The Human Yo-Yo. If you’re feeling nervous about next week and how you look, please head over to her blog and hear her wise and honest words.

 

 

You may have noticed an increase in the number of photos and posts about fashion and beauty from me recently. This isn’t purely an exercise in narcissism and the superficial. I prefer to think of it as a belated embracing of my body, my self and my sense of style.

I’m 31 and I want to enjoy life! For me, that means feeling good about the way I present myself. Not purely in pursuit of vanity (though to deny that a focus on external beauty is a bit vain would be, well vain) but because I am tired of buying into the idea that beauty and fashion are only for those who wear a size 10, that feeling an looking good is something I need to “hold off on” until I “lose a bit more weight”.

Bah Humbug!

It’s very convenient that this revelation has come at a time when the colours and styles in store feel very “me”.

Truth me told, I have always had a love-hate relationship with fashion. The hate part being, jumping on the bandwagon of the latest fad, the love part being finding clothes I adore that actually fit and suit me . At the moment I love what’s “in” – the colours, the styles – all of it. I know that for many the latest trends are actually just the look they’ve been wearing for years…the gorgeous boho, vintage style with the cute hair and if you can really pull it off (or need to rather), the glasses. I don’t know if I could pull it off but I really love it. And now, after years of watching trendy friends wear trendy clothes, finally, they can be found in places other than op-shops; in sizes I can wear and I’m excited!

I would never wear all these items, but I love them none-the-less!

 

The Architect said to me last week that when I first came to Melbourne nothing I wore matched – it looked like I had just put on my favourite things.

Since doing a major cull of my wardrobe last year and another one just recently, I have been gradually buying pieces that I simply love. I highly recommend it! Now, it’s so much easier to get dressed as my wardrobe is made up of clothes I love and that fit me well.

I’ve also started paying more attention to accessories have now have a growing number of fun scarves and necklaces and even earrings! Recently I’ve added some great pieces to my “collection” if it can be called that – I love them all!

1. Elk Necklace    2. Saltwater Sandals    3. Blue Illusion scarf    4.Emily Green earrings

My 20s are over, my 30s have just arrived and I’m not going to waste them worrying about what “could” be when what “is” is just so darn fantastic!

Do you like the way you dress? Do you feel fun/sexy/confident? If not, what’s holding you back?

 

Incoming search terms:

• makeup brushes

Last week I started writing a post about wanting a make over. I was feeling in a rut about my “look” and wondered what do to…

Then I realised something, the secret to fashion is confidence. Change it up, embrace wearing the things you want to wear and be confident. So I did, and it was great!

Simple, right?

I’ve had the same hair for years…and years…and years…so I set myself a little challenge: to wear my hair in pigtails everyday for a week. The first day it felt really strange, but after a few days it felt good, fun, normal!

It’s also helped me make a big hair decision…I’m excited.

Oh, and I’m also embracing pink lipstick.

 

What makes you feel fashionable? What would make you feel more confident about how you look?