5 Tips to shop and prepare for Spring

Happy Friday lovelies!

We’re more thank halfway through August; Woman’s month and also my birthday month. The warmer days have been peppered in between the last of the Winter days, reminding us that Spring is on it’s way. The flowers have bloomed as if they too are impatient to make their appearance. 

I love Spring, I love nature and flowers, there’s a sense of renewal and rejuvenation in the air that can be tangibly felt. One can even feel it by shedding the heavy layers of clothing, even though it may happen sporadically, and in a flash we’ll find ourselves back in Winter and reaching for those coats and boots. It is time to do a seasonal stock take and get the wardrobe ready for the season ahead. As winter started, I did a post on getting the wardrobe Winter ready, and tips on organising the wardrobe.  (Read the post here). With Spring, I think it is essential to lighten the wardrobe, ie start shedding those unworn pieces, and donating, selling or repurposing them. 

As I have mentioned previously, I do a seasonal clearance- it gives me a good idea of what I have in the wardrobe, what I never wear, what doesn’t fit and what needs to kept and stored for sentimental reasons. Read my post here for tips on the ’stock take’process, which can be followed to organise the wardrobe for Spring and Summer.

Here are 5 tips on how I shop and prepare my wardrobe for the next season:

1. As the Winter sales are now in full swing, it would be a good idea to keep any eye out for good quality classic pieces that won’t date and will transcend into next Winter. Leather boots and good coats and knits are usually the most costly so now would be the best time to cash in on those sales.
2. I would already have had a look at the spring/summer trends abroad, in terms of fashion in the northern hemisphere as they are now exiting the warmer seasons. It gives me a good idea of what will be coming into stores for our upcoming season.
3. These trends will be woven into my current Spring/Summer wardrobe with my trusty classics, and I would identify a few key pieces I would like to have; to transcend into the new season with my own take on the latest trends and fashions.
4. I specifically keep an eye on modest fashion influencers to keep the inspirational juices flowing, I particularly enjoy styling my pieces in new and different ways.
5. If I am able, and the costs aren’t too excessive I will purchase some of the upcoming seasons pieces at the sales happening in the online stores abroad (I frequent Asos.com, Newlook.co.uk, ebay.com and neimanmarcus.com for specific brands). When purchasing in foreign currency though, please be mindful of the exchange rates, the lead time for a product to arrive (anything from 8 weeks and longer) and very importantly the customs duties to take into account (maximum of 54% of the value of the item as well as handling fees etc.). There are some sites which calculate customs duties upfront, so look out for those.

Today’s OOTD features a sequin t-shirt which I purchased earlier in the year from NewLook.com at a steal! It took really long to arrive, around 3 months but I didn’t need it for Winter so I was happy to wait. I paired it with a boyfriend jeans and blazer for an evening event which required a touch of glam.

Outfit details:

Hat from hubby’s closet

Country Road blazer

New Look sequin t-shirt

Woolworths boyfriend jeans

River Island (Dubai) earrings

Rebecca Minkhoff bag

Vince Camuto iridiscent heels

Caio for now, 

RuBe xoxo

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Spring Tulle and Anticipation

Welcome Readers,

I have realised that today marks exactly one month before I embark on my very own ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ journey. Except that it’s not for months (more like two weeks), and I’m not on my own (travelling with my sister) and I’m not really looking to find myself. Ok, so it may not be quite like “Eat, Pray, Love” but we’ll be two gals travelling to beautiful Malaysia and Bali for a much needed R&R. I find that the anticipation of a holiday is one of the better parts of the actual break, but obviously the experience itself is ultimate!

With my kids so busy and we find ourselves at the mercy of their insane schedules all year, the only time I can even consider a trip is December and as much as I crave Europe and London, I just don’t want to do those Winters in a hurry. This year marks our 20th Wedding anniversary, and my darling hubby and best friend, has graciously agreed to me taking a well deserved break where I have to take care of nobody else but myself. Any mum knows that holidays (abroad or locally) still involves work,  in fact, it means one is even more occupied. The need to take care of everyone’s passports and travelling papers, the drama of packing suitcases, ensuring kids have taken vitamins and where neccesary, prescription meds taken along (last trip my second born landed in the hopsital for asthma due to the climate change). When travelling for our annual New Year Break, I need to ensure the food is sorted, motion sickness tablets taken, each kid has packed their own pillow (very important!) - the list is endless.

And this brings me back to the joy of looking forward to a leave from mommy life, and whilst I am dreading it at the same time - I am sure that when I am on that plane, my mind will be on a tropical beach. It’s been 6 years since I last left my entire family behind, and this time around they are older and have social lives of their own, so missing Mom may only be for laundry, meals and chauffeur duties!

Today’s look was worn for a chilled morning brunch, and I’ve had this tulle skirt in my wardrobe for more than two years now. I paired it with sandals from last year, and new t-shirt and handbag from H & M.

The tulle skirt has been a huge trend this season, and it seems likely to be around for a while, this particular one though has pleats in the tulle which gives it a unique finish.

Outfit:

H & M South Africa sequin t-shirt and fringe bag

Tulle skirt (old) from PerryBook Store

Zando Heels

Witchery linen scarf and cuff

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