The FiFi Report 363

Thanks for all the fabulous feedback FiFi Report readers! Bless! Last week I was asking what you prefer in the shopping section: did you want to know about one single piece from lots of shops or a few pieces going from shop to shop? I was so thrilled to get all those comments and emails! Made my day! Judging by the feedback the majority of you want to know about 2 to 3 pieces in each store. Sounds good to me!
By the way I had a few comments asking about dressing for over 30 and 40. Helloooo: Don’t you know who I am? Everything I choose in The FiFi Report is really what I would want to wear (give or take a few serious fashion pieces). When I am out shopping I always think “Would I wear that?”. So please be assured that the pieces chosen here are for any age. I think a lot of women are dressing too old because they are so worried about look mutton dressed as lamb.

The only thing to remember about age appropriate dressing is the length of a skirt (not too short) and showing too much skin or should I say cleavage. Otherwise if you stick to the FiFi fashion rules, most of the clothes I show here can be worn by any age. The things that are aging that you should run away from screaming ? Florals, small prints, wide scoop necks, frills and bright cheap, colours. Think about Elle MacPherson. True, she has a model figure but do you see her ever wearing bright floral dresses, wide scoop necklines? Tacky, bright colours? Nope! She wears jeans, blazers and cool tops with ballet flats. Chic, sharp and age appropriate. Any age can look cool: An 80 year old could wear skinny dark jeans, a stripe tee and a stone trench with ballet flats. As you can see on my makeover piece  that I did on Channel 7’s Sunrise ( for Westfield Bondi Junction) : the grandma was wearing skinny jeans, a stripe tee and a chic blazer! Shut up! The thing to remember is classics never go out of fashion. That’s why they are called classics.
Now let’s get shopping….

Trenery
Love the new pieces arriving instore for spring summer: My picks are:

• The divine brown leather skirt : so very Celine as you can see below. It’s so right and gets all the ticks: Trans-seasonal: tick. Delicious choc brown: tick. The new groove longer length: tick. Wear it as Celine showed with with a blue shirt tucked in or try it with a navy tee from Trenery. Wear it right now in da cold weather with a crop military peacoat. You need something short. A long jacket will have the wrong proportion. Whatever you wear on top has to stop at the waist. $299.
• My other pick is the navy tunic dress with two zips and a chic V neck neckline. It’s not something to wear now unless you are off to St Tropez but it will work later when it’s warm. Simple chic non?
• As I predicted there are stripes everywhere for summer and I could not be happier. (Florals are big news for next season so be afraid). Love the stripe dress with the linen patch pockets above; Yes, so very Celine inspired ( what good taste the designers at Trenery have. BTW You can find the exact same dress in Arther Galan but with black leather patch pockets and in a knit. ) Again it’s not something to wear now but it’s great for later warmer weather. You should know the straight shape is very flattering. Will look fabulous with wedges.
• On sale: the suede and leather jackets are now all on sale for $199. Woo Hoo! If you have been drooling over the blush suede drape jacket then hit the website toute suite.

Cotton on:
You can’t go past Cotton On for great cheap but chic pieces. It’s not just for the young: if you are clever you can find some great pieces to buy and thrash for weekend dressing. My picks ?

• Love the sheer chiffon sleeveless blouse. It has two patch pockets and epaulettes. You can get black or taupe and, of course, you need to wear a singlet top under it.  I do like it tucked into a pencil skirt or high waist pants. This will work under a blazer as well and back with jeans. And look at the price: it’s $29. Outrageous!
• Also check out the stripe long sleeve cotton tops; They are now $10! Whaaaaaat? Buy 3! The hig h neckline is the best or buy the scoop neck and wear it back wards under a blazer. I see these tops are $5 on the website: um, er is that legal to sell anything under $10!!? Then it’s $10 shipping. Whatever!
• Also I love the menswear here and I am always snooping around at the knits and the shirts. But this week I was inspired by the shot of Garance Dore (from last year I think ) where she is wearing her boyfriend Mr Sartorialist’s shorts. Cool! Love the whole look don’t you ? The loose baggy shorts with heels, the shirt hanging out form under the blazer and the sleeves pushed up. SO I suggest you try on the men’s shorts in Cotton On for $49: Get longer if you want to cover more of your legs. Worn back with a chic tailored blazer and heels it’s chic de la chic.

Frenchconnection.
You can find some cool pieces here. My picks are :

• The fabulous black, sleeveless heavy nylon/cotton dress with a deep V neckline and hidden shoulder pads under wide cap sleeves. LOVE!. As you can see it has a fitted top then flares out into a wide skirt. This is incredibly flattering and a winner for summer. Why? Because a flared skirt on a dress means you can wear flats as well as wedges. The V neck with the shoulder pads is better than plastic surgery. Will make your arms look slimmer and your neck longer. Yes, it may be a little short in length but I suggest buying some fabric - even leather- and having it sewn around the hem. It’s worth it. The best news? French Connection are now doing size 16. It’s a tight fit so you may have to go up a size. $149.
• Also check out the chic brown silk shirt dress. Love this for summer with wedges and sunglasses in the same nude colour. This is just easy dressing for summer. I like the brown because it works with black or cream or beige accessories. Hell, it even works with red or navy. Wear it undone and layer over a white tank ( get that white next to your face) then roll up the sleeves a bit more. You can add a black belt. Voila. $189
• Also you will see the one shoulder dress like this below is everywhere as it originally walked down the runway at Lanvin. Wear it with a caramel belt and wedges and you can channel that look. Red is great but be rest assured it comes in black too. Again the flare skirt is great for wearing with T bar flats. $199.

Aldo
Love to head here for great shoes: I took these shots with my iphone so excuse the quality…My picks for the shoes you need for summer:

• The fabulously easy to wear black or brown lace up wedges. They are perfect. They look a little ordinary on the shelf but they sex up once you try them on. Love these because they are comfortable and fashion. What?! Yes, love these with any flirty skirts, with a leather skirt from Trenery or with the French connection black dress. These shoes will love to be seen with wide leg, high waist jeans or you could rock them with skinny chinos. Rolled up of course. Go for brown. And the price is great. $119.
• Also check out the very YSL style heels with a platform and ankle strap. These are just right for going out : Love with rolled up jeans or chinos, or of course, with any dresses. The platform means they are not as high as you think. Truly ruly. For you . $149
• Also buy the cute flat sandals in the choc brown or tan with the chic buckle details on the front. Lovely for summer. I like them because they are not too gladiator ish so you can out down the sword and the toga. $99.

Sass and Bide:
It can get a bit too fashion here for me and a little too tricked up. Give me minimalism any day. But I was pleasantly surprised this week to find some chic knits here and simple Celine style tops.

• Love the oatmeal cashmere/merino wool drape sleeveless top : they call it a wrap. It’s so right for wearing right now and into summer. Love it over a white/cream blouse or on its own. You can do a few things with the neckline: Let the drape collar hang right down or you can pull it over a shoulder. Love it with stone chinos or skinny pants or with a khaki cotton skirt. Hey, You can even wear with a leather skirt too. $190
• You want the black (or red) asymmetrical, silk georgette with a top with boat neck and the mad long asymmetrical hem. It’s a 100 % silk. Love it as it’s not a boring Tee top. You could probably tie up the long drape bit anyway. It’s chic with a black/brown leather pencil or with jeans. The neckline is chic and it’s very trans seasonal to so wear it now under a blazer and let the bit hang down dude. $350.
• Also check out the grey cross over poly/cotton matte and shiny sweater. In fact it’s really just a long sleeve tee. Love the cross over details for a bit more interest. It’s just a great piece to layer under all your jackets. This would work with jeans or stone chinos. You know the drill. Not so good with anything with a bunched up waist: No! you want a flat front so the asymmetrical split works. Who would have thought it was Sass and Bide? $290.

Country Road
Always great pieces here for good prices. I see a lot of white but that makes me scared. Oh la la.  I mean it’s very on trend but I would get that dirty before I even took it out of the bag. Maybe a white blazer is worth investing in if you are not playing with toddlers or making blueberry jam donuts. My picks are:

• Love the black or cream sleeveless jacket. You know I have been blabbing on about sleeveless jackets for years. Yes, years. Since YSL showed a version in 2008. So stick with me honey and if you buy when I tell you at the start of the trend you can get years of wear. Fashion doesn’t move as fast as everyone craps on about. It takes years for the looks to filter down to GP. ( that’s general public). SO anyway invest in this jacket: it’s great to wear now over a long sleeve grey Tee or in summer over a tank. You get good muffin coverage wearing this type of thing in summer without dying of heat. It’s gives good shape.
• Love the cute multi colour top seen below with the short shorts (that I can never ever wear.Damn). But ditch the shorts for stone baggy chinos and you’ve got the look. I like the way the sweater kind of sits on the waist. It’s great for a casual look. Please take note of brown wedges and tan bag. Must haves for summer.
• Please buy the black silk jumpsuit if you don’t have one. By the way I would wear this. It’s not just for the models. Make sure you add heels. Why do I like this? You should know by now: Look at the way the top sits right across the shoulders to the base of the neck. This is what will make your neck look longer. Which is why I hate wide scoops neck: they reveal ugly bits. Also the V neck makes your neck look longer. The tie waist band is flattering because it’s not too tight and the silk shape of the pants skims over the bad bits. People get worried about pockets on the thighs but actually it hides the croissants sitting there. True. $249. You could wear a blazer over this and push up the sleeves.