We very much admire Ishna’s non-fashion approach to style.  There’s nothing mainstream about her aesthetic, but it’s still uncannilly cool and fashion relevant…

“I think of fashion more broadly than the fashion of clothes.  Like, I’m influenced by colour trends within design more generally as in interior design, furniture and products.  And I am a sponge to great design of all things, art architecture, pottery.  Yes, all of these things have a ‘fashion’ and I absorb it all.  So no, I don’t follow fashion directly, but it influences me for sure.  My outfit is by Lela Jacobs and they are pieces from her zero pattern waste collection.  Yes, she has designed them to reduce the waste associated with cutting down to the absolute minimum”.

Taking a minimalist approach to style is not about paring a look back to the most simple of pieces, but choosing simple pieces and combining them with care and restraint so that they shine.  Shannon shows us how this is done…

“My working style is influenced by my time working in the highly corporate world of government in Wellington.  Here in Nelson we get to wear what we like at work, but I still like to look professional, corporate.  But there’s a touch of Audrey Hepburn’s classic style in there too. I do wear a lot of neutrals and simple things, like this top from Max.  A lot of what I wear is from Max, it’s my go-to place for staples.  My bag is Marcs and I brought it on the way to the Silver Scrolls music awards in Auckland.  My shoes are from Taylors Shoes.  I actually wore them for a fashion shoot and liked them so much I ended up buying them”.

One of the most refreshing things about Annabelle’s approach to style is her complete indifference to brand, label or source of clothing.  She wears what she loves, no matter…

“I bought this dress from Savemart, because it’s a bit vintage-y and I like vintage frocks.  But no, it is not actually vintage at all.  It’s quite a new one I think, and not even a flash label.  But I liked it.  My hat is one purchased in Wellington, somewhere off Cuba Street, when I was living there as a student.  I don’t wear hats so much now that I am in Nelson, for whatever reason, I’m not entirely sure.  You will have seen these shoes before, they really are one of my favourites.  This jacket is a bit of a score though, given to me by a very stylish and fashion-loving woman.  I’m not entirely sure why she gave it away, but am pretty pleased she did”.

Personal style, as opposed to being fashionable, is one of my pet topics!  And in this audio I attempt to describe key attributes of personal style through my observations of women who have “it”.

Sonya xx

Leanne’s style has a grace that comes with age.  It is studied and chic, but it’s still easy and not over-done, which conveys an air of confidence and self assurance…

“I am very hands-on as a designer and spend a lot of time on my feet.  These slides are very comfortable and easy to wear, but they look good too.  I design things that I like to wear myself so this dress from the summer collection is also very easy to wear and comfortable.  The bra-strap that you noticed is smart, and yes, it was an intentional detail of the overall look.  The bra is by Stella McCartney.  I really like the brand and I buy them all of the time.  For whatever reason they just seem to work well for my body and they are very comfortable.  The cardi? Oh it’s just a cheapie from Ezibuy!  You wouldn’t know but it’s such a versatile piece that really fits well with the dress design, sitting high on the back.  I actually wear it a lot”.

Catherine and Sonya share off-duty style anxiety, commonly termed ODSA.  This disorder has a tendancy to affect fashion-loving working women who don’t know what to wear when when they’re not dressed up…

“This is my holiday dress.  I am not really a jeans and t-shirt kind-of-a-girl, so this is what I will wear when I am out and about when we are over in the Bay.  To be honest I don’t really know what my off-duty style is. I envy women who look good when they’re not dressed up but I don’t really know what my relaxed style is, you know?  I like this dress because its cool and easy to wear and it suits my shape.  The 1950s silhouette is a good shape for my body.  But I still feel like I don’t quite have it mastered when it comes to being casual.  I guess I’m a bit all or nothing.  Either dressed up for work or whatever, or completely off duty and not caring so much.  But then you don’t feel that great about how you look if you have to go out where people will see you.  You are like that too?”

Kellie had forgotten about the scheduled photoshoot, and had dressed without thought to being photographed.  We think this makes her look even more cool by virtue of it’s authenticity…

“It slipped my mind that we were due to shoot today when I dressed for work this morning.  I was in a bit of a rush, with the kids and all, so I’m not sure it’s my best look.  And I didn’t really accessorise.  But then I guess that’s what you’re looking for with the blog isn’t it?  The real stuff.  I just grabbed this bag on the way out, and although I do often mix prints, I am not sure that I would have normally paired these two prints together.  They clash just a bit too much.  I’m glad you find them interesting though!  I do often wear vintage frocks like this one.  This is one of those up-cycled ones.  You like my socks? Did you just call them ‘socklets’?”.

There’s something about Amy.  More than her natural beauty and elegance, there’s a style nous that sees her pair a bright orange and white silk scarf with a sheer black top, jeans and sneakers. And so she looks both sophisticated and at ease as she pushes baby Isla in the buggy from home and into town…

“My scarf goes with the orange on the baby buggy, but I can assure you I didn’t plan it that way.  And no you cannot photograph me with it, it’s a bit tired looking!  I had to wear sneakers of course, walking into town kind-of made that a requirement.  My top is by Libertine and my scarf is by Liberati, but that was coincidental as well.  Yes, I think a silk scarf really makes the difference and so I often wear scarves.   The bra I am wearing is a bandeau style and it’s perfect with this sheer top. I have a few of them, as they’re great for my body and lots of the things I wear.  My jewellery is by Black Matter, the cuff and ship’s helm pendant. My earrings are by Benjamin Black too”.

It is wonderful to be able to start 2018 with the pure fabulousness of Maria.  And does it get any more fabulous than a necklace with matching bracelet set made from real scarab beetles?

“When people ask me about the necklace and I tell them that it is made from real scarab beetles, many people are put off.  But isn’t that what makes the necklace so amazing?  That it’s real?  Yes, it was an extraordinary find.  I bought it at an estate sale in Riwaka, from the granddaughter of the lady who originally owned it.  It is from the 1920s, when it was very fashionable to be exotic and wear things made from animals, including bugs apparently.  No, I don’t know much more about it sadly.  My other jewellery is citrine and it is all vintage, collected over the years.  It’s true, I don’t often wear my hair out.  It takes a bit of effort to get it to look like this.  Yes, it is a little bit Morticia from the Adams Family!  Goes with the dead bugs maybe?”

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