Thursday 30 July 2015

Happy 1st Birthday to Buttonmefancy!




Buttonmefancy is a year old and what an experience it's been! 

She was born late on a Saturday night after packing laundry. Her name popped into my head as I folded the last item of clothing and the rest is history! I must have seen lots of buttons *giggle*

My inspiration comes from my passion for fashion design and the Style Network. I knew those many hours in front of the TV watching Fashion Week, Style Star, How do I Look, America's Nest Top Model and my favorite among many others, Project Runway would come in handy! Like seriously...many hours! Lol

I put in a lot of time deciding on topics, finding pictures and creating content that you'll love and your appreciation has made it worthwhile! To date, Buttonmefancy is getting love from 250 newsletter subscribers, 330 followers on Twitter, 351 on Instagram and 157 on Pinterest. 

In case you were wondering about my social media platforms - Dial into Twitter for original motivational quotes and fashion and style retweets from my fashion icons. See Instagram for Style education, Snapshots of my life, Inspiration, and pretty things and see Pinterest for the looks I love.

Apart from blogging, I am enthusiastically working on the launch of my blouse line! There have been many obstacles including steep learning curves. At this stage, I'v immersed myself in finding the the best fabric and the best hands to help me bring you something special! 

Everything is coming together in its own time and although challenging, your support has been inspiring!

Thank you for the emails, the comments, the follows, the shares and the love. I look forward to keeping you company through life!

xoxo

"Every birthday should be a celebration of the special moments you've enjoyed and the hard moments you've overcome. It's a time to be thankful." - Buttonmefancy

Thursday 23 July 2015

The "busy people" exercise regime




A big part of style is confidence and feeling amazing in what you wear! Ladies, there's no way around it, exercise does the trick!

Our biggest mistake is letting our long to-do list distract us from taking care of ourselves. Why can't we have it all, right?!

I want you to try the Max Capacity workout by Samy Peyrez. It's interval training that is believed to turn your body into a fat melting machine! 16 minute sessions three times a week for the next 12 weeks, perfect for busy women looking for a quick and effective workout!

To make it even easier, there's an app to take you through every 16 minute session per week and keeps track of your progress!
Some advice, do it at your own pace. If you're not at your fittest, I recommend doing each week's exercises twice until your fitness improves. Don't get into it guns blazing, you may injure yourself. All great progress is done over time, so be kind to yourself and do your personal best.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, take it one week at a time. Getting a regular exercise regime going is never easy...but it's always worth it!

Here's to taking out time in your busy life to keep fit and look great! After all, you deserve it!

"I regret that workout" said no-one ever!

Enjoy and stay stylish!

Thursday 16 July 2015

A different way to wear your pashmina




If you love bows, this style video is for you!

It's always fun to try different scarf styles. This style is especially great with round necklines when you're not in the mood to accessorise. Although simple, it adds a chic and contemporary touch to an otherwise plain outfit. 



Enjoy and stay stylish!

Thursday 9 July 2015

Accessories




Let your accessories breathe new life into your existing wardrobe! It's amazing how accessories can make the same outfit look completely different. The best part is that a new outfit can be born with simple accessories!

The accessories I'll be talking about are probably things you already own, so I thought I would share a few new ways you could wear them to spice up your wardrobe! First up, belts!

BELTS

It is an unwritten rule that an outfit looks best when a belt and bag compliment each other. Changing up these too will instantly change your look, especially if they are bold in color and design. A few different ways you could wear your belt - wear 2-3 belts at the same time, wear them over blazers, swap your coat belt for a leather one, tie them differently or go bold and big!


HATS

Hats are amazing, but sadly I don't see them worn very often. When you're wearing the right hat, you'll definitely get the right kind of attention. Apart from adding some mystery, they can be super stylish. A great hair cut helps too!


SCARVES

Need I say more! Scarves are the most popular accessory. It's the most versatile and most impactful. There is a scarf for every reason and season, I always say. The awesome thing about scarves is that it's always one size fits all and they can be styled in every way imaginable. Try put a leather cuff on your scarf, wear a belt over it, use it as a belt,or try a different style around your neck!


STOCKINGS

Instead of wearing black or nude stockings, try patterned or colored stockings. I personally own too many to count, checkered, hounds tooth and leopard print, just to list a few! They might sound crazy but they compliment a little black dress perfectly. There's so many options, you're bound to find a pair that suits your style!


JEWELLERY

Last, but absolutely not least, jewellery! An eye catching necklace elevates any outfit. Wearing a plain white or black t-shirt with a bold chunky necklace, a black blazer, skinny jeans, pumps and large tote bag is a classic outfit that never dates. If chunky and bold aren't your style, layering dainty necklaces with a simple design is also very stylish. When layering jewelry, be it necklaces, bracelets or rings, be sure to keep the pieces complimentary in design and color. Here are few that I love!



Of course all of these accessories I mentioned can be worn together, but remember not to over do it and stick to one accessory being the stand out piece e.g. if you're wearing a bold hat or printed stockings, remember to keep the rest of your outfit simple.

Happy accessorising!

Thursday 2 July 2015

Layering



I love layering, it not only adds interest to an outfit, it makes the most of the clothing you already have. I layer quite often! The most popular layering season is winter, especially if you don't have a lot of warm clothing and you're trying to save!

A common misconception about layering, is that it makes you look larger than you really are. If styled correctly, layering can be very slimming and effortlessly stylish. Also, it's comfortable and especially great when you feel like wearing pj's all day! 

To help you get started, I've put together a few tips you can try!

CHOOSE YOUR LAYERS


The number of layers can range from 2 - 5 depending on your style. The items you need to have in your wardrobe are items you may already own - Longer length vests, t-shirts, shirts (white or denim), cardigans, jerseys, leather jackets, blazers and coats. I see scarves as a layer too and I love to to add them. Layering doesn't have to be with pants, it also goes well with dresses and skirts.

Remember to keep the layers simple in color and design. If you want to wear color and print, the safest way to do it is to have one bold layer and keep the other layers neutral in black, white, denim or nude.

HOW TO LAYER


Regardless of the number of layers, make sure that you wear your most fitted item as the bottom layer and the largest item, your top most layer.  If done wrong, your layers will look bulky and unflattering. You'll notice, trust me! If you're worried about looking bigger than you are, stay away from bulky jerseys and thick items. Stick to slimming shirts, coats and clothing that keep close to the body and slims down the silhouette.

The key to layering is to make sure that each layer is seen. Layer items with different necklines, different lengths and tops that zip/button down. Each layer will add a different texture to the outfit and create a slimming look.

Happy layering!