Kate Middleton's Fashions in Australia & NZ

As some of you know I am a huge fan of the Duchess of Cambridge, or Kate Middleton, lovely wife of Prince William.  I was one of those who was glued to the television set watching their wedding three years ago, and again last year I was excited awaiting the arrival of Prince George who was born, as it happens, on my birthday!  I was besides myself with excitement!

So needless to say I am also a huge fan of the Duchess's fashion choices and always keep a keen eye on what she's wearing where.  Naturally I've been following her trip with Wills & baby George in Australia and New Zealand recently, and I've been wowed by her fashion choices.  She manages to look graceful and elegant yet fashion-savvy on all occasions.  And when attending the casual boat racing events she manages to look trendy yet appropriate.  She really is a class act, and I love seeing what she will come up with next.  I love her color choices, wearing reds, greens and blues to full effect.

Take a look at some of Kate's looks while on her tour of Oz and NZ and see how you can look this classy and chic too!

How to wear Capri pants or Leggings...

Capri pants or leggings....this is the time of year when lots of people like to wear these, but the truth is that a lot of people get it wrong.  There's a myth that you can just throw a pair of capris on and you're set to go, but the fact is that not everyone looks good in this style of pant and therefore should know how to wear them.

Just to clarify, capris are longer than Bermuda shorts (some people get confused between the two believe it or not!) and come down to the mid-calf or ankles.  You can get the capri legging and the capri pant, and yes there is a difference!

Capri leggings are a thin legging that come to the mid-calf.  To be worn with a long top or tunic and wedges or flats.  NO HOSE!!

Shoes with straps tend not to work well with capris (and they always accentuate a thick ankle if that is something that concerns you).  However, the nude color blends with skin tone and looks better than black if you want to wear a sandal with a strap.

Be aware of your leg shape. If you have wide or thick knees then stick to a capri pant as opposed to the legging which will only accentuate the thickness of your knees.  Pale legs?  Slap on some tanning lotion to get a nice golden glow.  Nothing worse than seeing someone wear white capri pants or leggings with milk bottle white legs - UGH!

For a dressier look, choose a longer capri with a nice closed toe pump.  Add an embellished flowy tunic and you will look fabulous!  I'll let you in on one of my secrets.  I have a number of beach cover ups that I wear as tunics and I love them!  You can get them in a multitude of colors and textures, with sequins or beading, & bold prints....for the sheer ones you just need to wear a cami underneath.  I love this look with capris and a great wedge heel sandal!

So, take a look at how to rock the capri look this summer.....

Hat season is upon us!

One of my favorite things about the start of Spring is that it's when all the spring/summer events start happening such as weddings and showers and fancy outdoor events....which for us Brits means - HATS & FASCINATORS!!! 

I love my hats and headpieces and love planning an outfit around what headpiece I'm going to wear!  This year I have at least two weddings to plan for - and I'm already thinking about how I'm going to put everything together!  As far as hats go for me, the bigger the better!!!  And I love an intricately designed fascinator.  You can make a bold statement with the right hat or fascinator, and I love that! Remember all the amazing headpieces at Kate & William's wedding a couple of years ago?  I loved the creativity (even though some got it wrong, like Princess Eugenie!), and think there's nothing classier than a great hat matched with a beautiful outfit for a wedding or special occasion. 

Unfortunately it's hard to get a good selection of hats & fascinators here in Pittsburgh, so I usually go online to find a unique piece.  There are many different online stores where you can find anything you might be looking for, from something very simple and low-key to something over-the-top and intricate!  No prizes for guessing which I go for!

So, check out some of these looks and start planning your look now....