how to rock : purple haze

Today is Purple Day. The international awareness day for epilepsy.

Epilepsy is "a neurological disorder marked by sudden reccurrent episodes assosciated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain" (google) and affects 1 in 26 people around the world. Sparked by her own battles with the disorder, Cassidy Megan founded the annual event in 2008 with the goal to "get people talking about epilepsy in an effort to dispel myths and inform those with seizures that they are not alone.” The day encourages the public to wear an item of purple to share their awareness for this disorder.

Purple has also been a major trend on our fashion runways lately, mainly in the beauty department, and is one we are seeing more frequently as we move into the cooler months. To help you master both how to incorporate this trend into everyday life and to show support for a worthy cause I've decided to share my style advice on the trend "Purple Haze".

PURPLE EYES
Purple is the most universal and flattering colour to use on the eyes. Brown, green or blue eyes, brunette or blonde, it doesn't matter purple will still make you're eyes pop and is the an exciting colour to play around with! Another great thing about purple on the eyes is that it can easily be taken from day to night.

If you are looking to start incorporating colour into your makeup routine, eyeshadow is a great way to start, and why not choose a shade thats not only universally flattering but is a supportive colour of such a great organisation.

How To: 

If you want to go bold and daring look,  a full on purple smokey eye is the way to go. Have a play with a bright violet or lavender all over the lid and under the lashes for an intense night time look. Alternately incorporate a deep purple into the outer v and crease for a deeper smokey look that is still acceptable to wear throughout the day. 

Minimalistic gals should look at placing a purple shadow under the lash line using a purple eyeliner either on the waterline or on the lid to create a unique purple cat-eye look.

Perfect products to achieve any of these looks include the Nars eyeshadow duo "Jolie Poupee" or the shade "Urban" from the Urban Decay Electric Palette which you can find at mecca.com.au.

BOLD LIPS.
Bold lips, as always in the winter months, are a huge trend for the coming season. Not only is it a trend that is easy to pull off but it's simple, quick and can be perfected in under 5 minutes! Moving into Autumn we start to steer away from bright oranges and hot pinks and begin bringing out bolder, darker shades including burgundies and deep purples.

Rocking a purple lip is an easy way to show your support for purple day whilst still looking on trend and fabulous.

How To: 

For those of you still holding onto summer, reaching for a bright violet or blue based purple is the perfect route for you! Go for shades like "Gangsta Rap" from Australis or "Gemma" by Stila.

If you are more of a winter soul, go right ahead and pull out those deeper hues of purples, violets and indigoes. Perfect shades include Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in "Train Blue" or Mac "Cyber".

PURPLE CLOTHES

Purple clothing is perhaps the most obvious way to incorporate the colour into our everyday lives. Surprisingly though, it is not the biggest trend when it comes to fashion. Acting as more of a vintage hue, a true purple is only rarely seen on our streets through celebrities or on runways at international fashion events. 

These days we most commonly see pastel purples take hold of the fashion scene. The shade was a huge trend last season and one that I personally would be happy to see come back through again. So if you're a vintage dreamer and love to incorporate old pieces with the new, breaking all the current fashion rules then the purple clothing route is the ideal match for you.

How To:

If you are a true fashionista and are ready to take a bold move, go for a  vibrant violet or deep purple 2 piece or dress. Its the perfect colour to make a statement and show your support for epilepsy in style. Perfect products for you include the T by Alexander Wang leather top or the Sister Jane Purple Flow Flower dress from Topshop.

For those of you wanting to keep the purple soft and relevant, stick to the pastel hues. This trend is still current leading into the winter months and it makes for a perfect time to pull out last seasons pastel pieces. The absolute go-to piece to pull off this look is a pale lavender overcoat. Think along the lines of this gorgeous over-sized cocoon coat from Misguided or this snug violet cardigan from ROMWE.com.

PURPLE SHOES
My final way to rock purple hues is though killer shoes. Its the perfect way to continue to keep your work attire professional and appropriate through monochromatic tones whilst still giving off a subtle hint of colour and totally rocking the purple trend.

 Its also a great way to go from day-to-night or office-to-playground without needing to bring another pair of heels.

I also think purple footwear is the most beautiful way to share your support for purple day as it reinforces Cassidy's goal, to empower those who live with epilepsy and to ensure them they are not alone and walk together with many in this world.


How To:
If you are looking to rock this trend in a more corporate setting opting for a
classic pair of purple pumps or heels is the perfect way to go. If you can hunt down the Aquazzura lace-up purple shoes (pictured above) then these would be the most amazing shoes for you!

On the other hand if you're more of an edgy girl, opt for a pair of lace-up purple ankle boots. The laces will really satisfy you're rockstar flare whilst the purple will keep it looking on trend and give you a unique style that everyone will be wanting to get. These styles are hard to source, but trust me once you've trolled Ebay and Amazon you will find your perfect pair and fall in love.

Purple is such a fun and edgy colour to play around with and one that will always be present in a number of fashion outlets. To have a whole day dedicated to wearing this gorgeous colour is so amazing and it couldn't be for a better cause! 

For more information visit www.purpleday.org

Don't forget to throw on a bit of vintage purple today to show you're love and support.

from the street: autumn trends

Summer is over, the steamy sunshine has set for another year and the Autumn cool is soon to be upon us. This means it's time to push your summer essentials to the back of the closet and bring forward the best transitional pieces you own to continue looking fresh and feeling super stylish throughout the cooler months ahead. Personally, luscious layers, super snug knits and drinking hot chocolate by a flaring woodfire are my favourite things about this time of year but I also love discovering and experimenting with the upcoming trends and styles that we see emerge as the seasons change. 

This season's trends are currently being set on fashion week runways around the world however the runway is not where I typically look to find my inspiration, its the street. Street style is a huge inspiration for me and I love stalking street style bloggers and photographers to uncover the latest trends and discover how everyday fashion advocates style their favourite staple and statement pieces in a fashion-forward, unique yet wearable way.

In praise to the brave and bold global trend-setters from the streets of New York, London and Milan fashion weeks of 2015, here is my first showcase on this year's Autumn trends.

THAT 70'S SHOW.

Every season we see aspects from a past era take charge on the runway and become a major trend for the coming months. This Autumn its the free-spirited, peace praising decade of the 70's that has taken the cake and bought the hippie-like, care-free culture back to our streets. 

Immediately the first thing that comes to mind when I here "70's" is  peace signs, tie-dyed clothes and psychedelic print, but thankfully these aren't  the elements we will be incorporating into our everyday lives. This season, the stylers on the streets are giving a subtle nod to the 70's through minimal statement pieces and by incorporating shapes, fabrics and textures from the era into their attire. These vintage components, mixed with today's current trends create a modern-bohemian vibe and bring a unique and alternate style to the contemporary fashion world. 

Bottle blue jeans, bright and bold colour contrasts, classic overalls and flared pants are all back from the past with denim, fringe and wide-leg cuts being the stand out key components to achieve this season's vintage inspired look. 

If you love you're denim go hard (or go home) with breaking the denim on denim fashion rule because this season the rebellious trend is back and has become a huge game player in the 70's street style fashion. We are seeing it being incorporated and re-created in a number of both new and old ways; wide-leg jeans, classic overalls and midi or full lengths denim skirts are your ticket to denim perfection and provide you with a vintage take on the current bohemian trend. Mixing your denim overalls with last season's oversized denim jacket and a vintage suede or fur coat is a perfect combination to achieve this trend and allows you to combine key season pieces with your wardrobe staples and old school pieces.

  

On the flip, if you're not a denim lover and more of  a gypsy living, free-spririted boho babe this trend will also satisfy your fashion needs. I personally have a super soft spot for this style, so trust me I can relate.

Suede and knitted capes along with unique aztec patterns and bold colour clashes are your best friend this Autumn with fringe detailing taking full charge. Its another more subtle aspect from the 70's taking over the streets and is a rising trend amongst a number of different styles. I love it not only because it is versatile, super comfy and an easy detail to style but its one that EVERYONE from every fashion genre loves and an element that can be adapted to a number of different styles. 

My favourite way to incorporate fringe is through statement pieces such as a jacket, skirt or handbag, but don't be afraid to play around with smaller pieces and incorporate subtle hints on your shoes or accessories. Fringe is the perfect detail to add that slight 70's vibe to your Autumn ensemble whilst still keeping true to your bohemian spirit. 

By adding suede and knitted fabrics to this trend not only do you keep yourself super warm in the colder weather but you add another textural layer to your outfit and create more depth and interest to your attire.These elements paired with bold contrasting colours and braided, gem like accessories present a modern bohemian and grungy take on the typical 70's wardrobe and show off a unique style to the fashion world.

So if you're an obsessive-compulsive fashion hoarder or a rebellious rule breaker, this season is for you. It's a time to play with textures, patterns and vintage silhouettes and really experiment and push the boundaries of the contemporary, modern day fashion.

All images -  www.style.com ; www.elle.com