Kate Dell’Aquila – CollegeFashionista

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Double Trouble

A dynamic duo will always catch the eye. Being part of a perfect pair is becoming increasingly important in fashion, and if by chance you're spotted donning your other half, ensure that you're part of a perfect fashion pair. Often, fashionable couples are best friends who complement each others' style or sisters who dress the same without even realising. They say if you spend a lot of time with someone you start to mimic their characteristics, mannerisms, speech and even style. Some of the most famous fashion pairings include Sass and Bide’s, Sarah-Jane Clarke & Heidi Middleton, Rodarte’s Laura and Kate Mulleavy and of course Dolce & Gabbana’s, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.

Today's Fashionistas are the yin and yang of one another and together, they are two parts of a whole. When walking down the street these two brighten up the sidewalks with their quirky fashion and miss match attire. In casual clothes with a flourish of fun, these Fashionistas play it cool in sneakers, hoodies and oversized T-shirts.

The Fashionista on the right, in her stripped knee-highs and baggy shorts, complements her friend’s striped tee and white denim jacket.

The Fashionista on the left, also in shorts, wears her stripes a little differently. In desert boots and black tights this Fashionista dons a more military style.

Hint: Dual dressing is not for the faint hearted. Styling for two must be done with confidence or not at all.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Electric Lady

Australian designers are going to great lengths to reinvent the shirt. So, move over boring old cotton shirts, hello sweet and sexy shirt dresses!

The shirt dress is one of many designs currently being tweeked and tucked, cut and cropped, lengthened and lowered by Aussie designers. Therese Rawsthorne has just released an elongated white collared cuff shirt perfect for spring/summer ’11. And, while most designers are keeping it simple, some are trying to reinvent the wheel.

Take Dion Lee for Cue, his electric blue shirtdress not only plays into the androgynous fashion trend we cant seem to shake, but adds a twist in design with cutouts and vibrant colours.

Wearing one of Lee’s creations, this Fashionista takes great strides to feminise her shirtdress with some fabulous boots. By Adding an art nouveau neckpiece to finish it off, this Fashionista embellishes her look with some eye candy on her neck, working her outfit to match her style.

Hint: This Fashionista has opted for a more casual look in leaving her shirt dress free-flowing. Dress this style up by cinching the waist with a belt. Keeping with the mannish trend, get a long belt and loop it into itself, this makes it look like you’ve grabbed your boyfriends belt and shirt, popped it on and ran out the door in an uber-chic, effortless outfit.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Ladies Who Lunch

Move over micro minis and modern maxis, relaxed colours, tailoring and dream weaves are, quite simply, the new chic. A revived respect for glamour and style has spread far and wide and we’ve begun to realise dressing for yourself is just as important as dressing for your friends. It is important to always look our best and the "ladies who lunch" look has a new relevance and youth.

The secret to this philanthropic look is to don basic cuts and a neutral palette making your outfit ultra-versatile and ready to wear. No juching required.

This Fashionista is a high society girl. Dressing in slacks and a loose fitting jumper she proves tailoring and femininity are a well-matched pair. Her secret garden jumper with clustered roses throughout, provide this Fashionista with a certain je ne sais quoi. With velvet shoes and a Louis Vuitton clutch she enhances the lush textures and tones she already wears.

Hint: Taking time to lunch with friends is an important part of university life. Keeping up to date not only keeps us sane, but also is a great distraction for the numerous papers we have due over the course of the semester. Dressing up for such occasions can be fun and therapeutic. Who said university was just about lectures and class?

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Wrap it Up

It’s autumn here in Oz and the only way to whip away those chilly winds is to wrap up in warm woollies.

Statement scarfs not only protect us from the cold, but they add a bit of cheer to otherwise drab days. Teamed with relaxed shirting and floating fabrics, scarfs provide a hint of glamour to the modern fashion aesthetic. And with the explosion of prints it’s hard not to clash, flash and mash all the colourful patterns that adorn our robes.

This Fashionista plays into the pattern and colour movement with her red tartan scarf and her leopard print skirt. Proving life is all about colour, this Fashionista has taken a canvas of black and added red, red, red. Red lipstick, red beanie, red scarf – amping up the volume with a triple treat of red. Ever the scarlet woman, this Fashionista brings sexy back with her sheer shirt and black bustier highlighting her ruby accessories.

Hint: Knee-high sock s are a great way to keep warm without keeping your legs completely hidden under full leg black opaque stockings. But it’s not all about comfort. Knee-highs cheer up outfits by making them pretty and chic.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Be Iconic

In fine fabrics, soft palettes, delicate details and pretty pastels – romance is born. Taking inspiration from fairytales and old films, fashion has moved into the world of fantasy and flight.

Some of the great love affairs in film have been made iconic through fashion: Marilyn Monroe’s white halter dress in The Seven Year Itch, Audrey Hepburn’s black Givenchy in Breakfast at Tiffany’s and, who could forget, Jessica Rabbit’s red strapless number in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? When it comes to films of the heart, fashion plays a signature role.

Reviving the romance of fashion is not a casual affair. Designers are turning to vintage films to remind themselves about what it means to be feminine. And, while we cannot always embrace lace and gloves and old school glamour; luxurious fabrics, soft colours and a fabulous pair of boots allow us to modernize classically ladylike attire.

This Fashionista looks de rigueur in pretty pink and matching purple. Her skirt, crafted from the finest, softest fabric, flows with the wind, flutters with the breeze and flatters the figure.

Keeping the slate clean, and choosing to stick to one colour palette, this Fashionista has redefined “all that glitters” and keeps it simple and chic.

Hint: With bare legs and ankle boots, this Fashionista keeps her look modern. Tan suede ankle boots are a sound investment simply because of their versatility and wearability. Primp them up in pretty hues, or wear them grungy with oversized pieces and black, black, black.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Denim Delights

It is amazing how far denim has come. From Levi's 501 Jeans, inky blue denim has evolved, changed and moulded, so much so that we are wearing it in a multitude of ways. Dressed up denim is currently rocking the catwalks with designers like Céline, Chloé and Marc Jacobs tailoring and crafting denim into polished suiting.

We’ve tried denim on denim. Twice. We’ve had denim skirts, shirts, dresses, shoes, shorts, jackets and the list goes on. Realistically, it is not a stretch to say that it is hard to don denim in new and refreshing ways.

This Fashionista is a bit of an "it" girl. She really has put together a very now outfit. In desert boots (with points mind you) an oversized shirt and tailored jacket, this Fashionista looks smashing in her true blue jeans. Sporting two tones of denim in one pair of jeans is innovative and chic. With patches of lighter denim on the knees this Fashionista creates an ensemble perfect for campus life – comfortable, clean, classy.

Her black leather oversized bag is perfect for classes; it can be carried on the arm or over the shoulder and can fit a load of books for those cramming sessions we all fear.

Hint: An oversized shirt is a great investment for autumn/winter 2011. It can be worn with a belt around the waist, it can be tucked into a skirt or high-waisted pants, you can throw over a knitted jumper/vest or wear it underneath a tailored jacket, like this Fashionista has.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Girl Meets Boy. Boy Meets Girl.

Androgyny. Sexual ambiguity. Masculine and feminine. His and Hers. Unisex style has continuously dominated fashion. But fashion is not just about the clothes we wear, it’s about how we present ourselves to the world – Our hair, the colour of the polish on our nails, our makeup and even the scent we spray as we walk out the door. These small, and some would say insignificant traits, say a lot about who we are and where our fashion tastes lie.

Androgenous fashion is all about you. The individual. Rather than playing to specific gender types, unisex style exhibits your personality. It shows off who you are.

The ’80s and ’90s was the height of androgenous style, mixing feminine and masculine qualities was chic and extreme; think Prince, David Bowie, Boy George and Robert Smith from the Cure.

And although high fashion has evolved in the last 20 years, you could say, street fashion has come full circle.

Walking through the back alleyways of Melbourne, past the chic cafes and vintage clothing stores, it is clear street-fashion continues embrace unisex style.

This Fashionista panders to androgenous fashion. In skinny jeans, Wayfarer, and Dr. Martens, she effortlessly exudes that girl/boy style.

Channelling Janelle Monea, this Fashionista’s hair completes her look. Her shaved head and funky quiff show off her personality, her individual style.

Hint: Hair, glorious hair, funky, fun, fabulous hair. They say your eyes are the windows to your soul, so maybe hair is a symbol of your persona. Rocking a stylish haircut is an important part of fashioning a look. It is worth finding a hairdresser who understands your personality and is willing to work with you to complete your overall style. Sometimes the pay off at the end of a haircut is worth the expense it takes to get there.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Smart Leathering

Think of the staples in your wardrobe. Jeans, white t-shirt, black cami. Now, add a leather piece to that list. The sum of these pieces equals a completely chic closet.

Working in retail, quite often women ask how they can incorporate leather into their wardrobe, the answer is a simple, anyway. Leather is the jewel in the crown this season, the one must have. And if you think of it as you would a piece of denim then you’ll have no trouble sporting it with aplomb.

Leather comes in all shapes and sizes, quite literally. This season you are sure to find dresses, jackets, shirts, skirts, vests, t-shirts and shorts in leather. We have taken leathering to a whole new level.

Cue in collaboration with acclaimed Australian designer Dion Lee have created a leather ensemble: shirt, skirt, dress and jacket. To be worn together or as separates.

This Fashionista has chosen a pair of leather shorts, found in a vintage store in Sydney, these shorts are chic and seriously cool. What is so wonderful about leather is it’s versatility, whether it’s summer or winter or somewhere in between, leather can be worn with stylish ease. But this Fashionista creates a package, with her sheer khaki shirt, clogs and retro sunglasses she makes her vintage shorts look like they were current season stock.

Hint: Leather is delicate especially if the leather has been hand dyed, to protect your investment it is worth sealing the leather so the dye doesn’t run. You can water proof your leather with a protecting cream or spray available in most shoe stores.

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Fabulous, Forbidden, Fun, Faux, Fur

Fabulous, forbidden, fun or faux, it would seem fur has crept back onto the fashion radar. Last fall’s runways showcased a hint of fury delights, from fun furry collars, to boots lined with fur – designers were subtly suggesting we channel the animal deep within.

But, this year fur has exploded onto everything and anything fashion and, instead of hinting at fur, designers are creating collections based solely around it. From aviator jackets with their sheep wool lining, to all over fur vests, blazers, bags and boots – frolicking with fuzz is no longer a faux par.

This streetwise Fashionista mismatches her fur. In an oversized polka dot tee and mini grey shorts she dresses up her casual attire with a fabulous fur vest. Keeping it cool in shades of grey and blue, she capitalises on the winter weather by making the fashion statement – fur = unlimited fun.

Keeping with her all over colour scheme, this Fashionsita pulls out her winter woollies and dons a pair of grey leggings, perfect for that ever-confusing summer-winter wardrobe transition.

Hint: A small shout out to Louis Vuitton. Although not all of us can afford such a delightful designer handbag, it doesn’t hurt to make mention of this Fashionista’s carrier. Perhaps some of us will spend our lifetime saving for our favourite Louis piece, but you can’t go wrong with the bag that goes with any outfit, at any time of day. Louis, Louis, Louis, ohhh, how we love Louis!

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Solid Gold

Extra! Extra! In fashion’s fanciest colour, walk tall, strike a pose and bedazzle. Gold, glorious gold, that warm, beautiful, metallic gold is moving from our wrists, fingers, necks and ears and onto our bodies. And, the only way to wear this high octane colour is to be dripping in gold all over. The more gold the better. Warning: economistas are not welcome here.

As this Fashionista shows, the only way to wear gold is to load up or up load this precious metal. From head to toe she has embellished her passion for lustre. What she has created here is an optical feast fit for a king; by mixing textures and tones this Fashionista sparkles in the sunlight and dares to dazzle us with her brilliance.

From her sparkly striped tee and gold gypsy pants to her flashy shades and rock-star-studded flats, this Fashionista knows how to baroque 'n’ roll.

Hint: The trick to wearing gold is to clash textures, patterns, even tones and to top it all off add a splash of colour – red lipstick, an orange bangle, even purple shoes. The bigger the accessory, the better. And, the more extreme the colour the more brilliant the Fashionista.