Happy New Year Everyone!  Thank you all for supporting Silk Purse, Oily Rag in it’s early months of being, the latter half of 2017.  It has been a wonderful journey so far, and I am looking forward to exciting new things in 2018.

But I must send out an extra special thanks to all of the wonderful stylish ladies who have given up their time and put themselves forward for the blog.  It takes courage to put yourself “out there” and I am very grateful for that.

Here I have chosen “just a few” of my favourite images for you to enjoy and share.  I could have posted many more…

Sonya xxx

Hello Silk Purse Oily Rag’ers, and a belated Merry Christmas to you all (eeek.. sorry about that!)  So I must begin with a big fat apology for “stepping off the bus” unannounced over Christmas.

To be quite honest Christmas just jumped on me and took over.  You know, like a big furry cat that keeps on wanting your attention?  And I got so entwined that, once my own wonderful parents had arrived to celebrate the Christmas period with us, I just couldn’t extract myself enough to sit in front of the computer and write.   I hope you’ll forgive me.

And advance apologies for random postings over the next wee while.  They will be a bit intermittant until I settle back into a work routine.

However, all that said, I have had some time to read my public library borrowed fashion magazines and peruse Pinterest over this time, so I am feeling suitably inspired and refreshed for the New Year ahead.  I hope you are too.

Look out for some exciting new projects and style musings as the Season unfolds.  And thank you all for your support so far.

Sonya xx

Style can be found within all price ranges, as Catherine shows us this week in her inexpensive chainstore shop dress that she bought ‘by accident’…

“I was just waiting around while my teenage daughters were trying on this and that.  And I was leaning on a rack that had this dress on it.  And then I noticed it and thought, ‘oh I’ll try it on just for fun’.  And it turned out to be rather beautiful, one of my favourites.  It’s a Forever New dress. My shoes are Overland shoes.   It’s true that I do usually go for the higher quality labels, but I don’t think that defines my style.  And I think that style is much more than that anyway.  The details of how we present ourselves, like make-up and perfume and hair?  They are also very important.  Shea from Ursula Harris Hair did my cut and colour.  The scent I am wearing is Stercus perfume from World, and my lippy is Russian Red Mac lipstick.  Yes, strong lippy is a bit of a signature of mine.

Hayley and Sonya met at a Shine fashion show, where Hayley launched her jewellery label Kami & Kindred.  Sonya was struck by Hayley’s model-like looks and comtemporary but earthy style…

“I believe in slow-fashion, owning pieces that will stand the test of time and remain in my wardrobe for years to come.  Linens, stripes, and neutrals, they are things I can easilly match together and wear time and time again. Like this linen tee-shirt that I have had forever. I’ll also happily pay a heavy price tag for something that will last for ages.  The dress is actually a New Zealand label Miss Crabb, and I was lucky to pick it up second hand.  My shoes are Moochi and my bag was bought overseas.  Yes, my earrings are from my own label.  I make everything myself, using natural media like ceramic, wood and silk fibre.  I value things that are handmade like these bangles which are not my own but imported”.

Kate’s style is a curious blend of tomboy, rock-star and fashionista.  She’s bold and completely comfortable in her skin, and this confidence shines through in every look she presents…

“My Mum is going to realise I raided her wardrobe again, when she sees these pictures!  The bag, shoes and jewellery are all hers, although she has given me the shoes.  They are Beau Coops for Karen Walker.  I didn’t conciously coordinate the bag tassles with the shoe tassles, but I did choose the bag to coordinate with the warm tones in the shoes.  And the necklace.  My dungarees are new.  I love dungarees, they are so easy to wear and cool and yeah… I bought them from Trouble & Fox.

Paula is one of the most resourceful women I know, finding value and potential in things where-ever she goes.  This week her outfit was a blend of old and new,  handmade and chain-store bought, upcycled and original…

“The top was actually a cheap dress that I bought, and I shortened it to this length.  I liked the fabric.  I am often drawn to fabrics, and so that’s my starting point.  I will buy things new from K-Mart or where-ever because I like the fabric and then I will change something to make it my own. The jeans are oldies I have had for probably ten years or so, and the belt was picked up on Trade Me.  I bought the silver pendant at The Christmas Market and the leather and pony-skin cuff was from The Beehive.   I have imported these bags from Bali, they are so beautiful and handmade too”.

Shannon modelled for Sonya on a fashion shoot some years back and revealed a passion for fashion, the desire be more involved in the fashion industry, and of course, great personal style…

“My mother had a fashion shop, and so growing up we were surrounded by fashion and clothes.  So I have always had a strong sense of fashion and what I like.  Although that said, music is my number 1 passion in life!   I have a radio show on Fresh FM dedicated to New Zealand music.  But there is a strong connection between fashion and music as image is very important in the industry.  In my day-job I mostly work in an office environment, so what I wear has to fit with that.  My dress is from Max and my shoes by Isabella Anselmi from Overland.  My bag is by Michael Kors and my necklace is by Nelson jewellery designer Ash Hilton”.

Tessa and Sonya agree that winter’s wardrobe has many more options than summer’s does.  In her style story Tessa shares how she takes a more ‘uniform’ approach to dressing when it’s hot…

“I don’t have so much variety in what I wear over the summer months.  I mean, I tend to wear a lot of loose-fitting linen or cotton tops, mostly white, and that’s about it really.  I like loose and baggy tunics too.  But I always wear lots of jewellery.  There was a trend a few years back in layering up lots of jewellery.  I have always done that and I still do.  The heart pendant was a gift from my daughter.  My top is Noa Noa and I bought it from Palm.  It is one of my favourites and I wear it out a lot in the summer to BBQs and that sort of thing.  I have others that are similar.  It’s a look I love and it works well for me”.

There is much more to Maria’s sense of style than her clothes.  For her, part of the whole ‘package’ of image is health, self-care and personal appearance…

“Sometimes people comment on my body and my look, as if to say that I’m lucky or something.  But let me tell you, I work damn hard to stay strong and slim and I really look after my skin and my appearance.  I think that to a certain extent you get out what you put in.  Yes, some people are lucky.  But for the most part, people who look good in their older years do so because they take care.  They invest in themselves.  I invest in myself, because it’s important to me.  And I’m not going to wait until I’m ‘old’ to do something about it”.

One of the things I love about Judi’s style is her spirit of rebellion.  Her look is one that embraces unfinished edges, details that are industrial in character, anti-pretty silhouettes, and of course, black…

“Yes I do like graffiti.  I’ve always found it very interesting.  This graffiti is quite happy though isn’t it?  It’s not typical.  Yes I think that for whatever reason I am drawn to things that aren’t “pretty”.  I like strong things.  My son Ty bought my shoes in Melbourne for me.  And the bag is by Jude by Design, which I bought in the Fitzroy area.  There is a lot of what I love in that part of Melbourne, like this dress that was also bought there.  It’s ESS Laboratory and it wasn’t cheap, but I got it on sale.  The necklace is a rubber piece that I bought locally in Richmond.  Carol Drummond made it, yes she is a very clever lady”.