Tiara King's Blog: Jewel Divas Style, page 73

TODAY’S LIFESTYLE: RSL Art Union Draw 324 is now open

The new RSL Art Union Draw 324 is now open and this time it’s at gorgeous Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Apartment number 2 features amazing sea views since it’s right on the beach, alfresco dining, three bedrooms with walk in or built in closets, two bathrooms and open plan lounge/kitchen/dining. 

Tickets are $5 and open to overseas buyers and as usual all furnishings come with the prize along with rates, water and body corp paid for 12 months.

MY STYLE: Kmart and Millers

OUTFIT #1

TANK: Kmart for $10 from 2013
PANTS: Millers from about 2004 for $5
SHOES: Rivers in 2013
JEWELS: Jewel Divas Dark Bead set and Lovisa rings and bangle

OUTFIT #2

TANK: Kmart for $6 in 2014
PANTS: Millers, $18 in 2014
SHOES: Kmart, $19 in 2014
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Beadie Bot necklace, eBay bracelets, Lovisa earrings.

MY PERSONAL COLLECTION: New Green and Yellow clothes and jewels

Regardless of the fact I started stripping my closet bare of all old clothes, these are newer pieces I’ve recently bought, and fantastic they are too.

Missoni for Target came to Australia last year but sadly, not at my local Target. While my area probably has a good few hundred thousand people living here the head honchos clearly didn’t deem us “Missoni worthy” and didn’t bother having the clothes in store. Only recently have they bothered with linen and crockery, but not clothes. 

So, when I saw them drastically reduced in their online store I had to buy some. 60% off was a big drop and I decided to buy three pieces in my favourite colours and styles, hoping they’d fit. Buying online can be an issue due to not trying them on, but luckily Target realises this and sends you a return receipt for putting on the envelope you send them back in, alternatively, you can return them instore.

I bought the overcoat, top and a kaftan (right) which I loved on the screen, but sadly, when I saw it in real life the colour did not suit my colouring so back it went.

I also got a fabulous tropical print tank from Millers for $10. The Missoni pieces suit me better because of the teal colouring. The top is so lightweight but needs a slip tank underneath and the overcoat is knitted and silky but lightweight as well. They also go together as a set. The top was $35 on sale and the coat $40, down from $119.

Now onto gold clothes and the only bargain that’s worth mentioning (but also the only piece I bought). On the way home from the skin cancer clinic last year we stopped at the local Salvation Army and I found a gold coat. It wasn’t until I got home and mum was looking through the pockets that she found the original price tag. Check out the original price, and I got it for $10.25, talk about bargain.

Now onto jewellery. The green bracelet was $5 on sale from a new store to my area called Paper, Scissors. With a name like that I thought it was going to be a stationery shop but it’s a clothing store. The yellow earrings are from Lovisa and was $5, the ring from Lovisa as well for $3.33.

Next up is the set I made over summer. It took awhile while I was waiting on each lot of findings and charms so I made bits and pieces as they came in. I bought 6 pineapple pendant necklaces and they are huge. I bought plastic chain bracelets which I pulled apart and then remade into a necklace and two bracelets. I also found small gold charms from Lovisa for $1 each and a couple of pairs of earrings for $3.33 each. I raided my bead containers and made up the  bracelets while waiting for the necklaces to come in.

As you can see below I added three of the pendants to the necklace and left one as a single because it was meant to go onto the bracelet set but was too big and too heavy to swing around. I made the big earrings and then had a smaller pair left over which I added beads to to make them longer so I had a smaller, lighter pair to wear as the big pineapples are too heavy to wear for too long. The other pair was put on the chain bracelets and the smaller charms on the beaded bracelets. As you can see the whole set goes perfectly well with the top which I bought from Crossroads for $24.95 last year. The iridescent colours of the crystals shimmy in the light for an extra shiny effect.

I love making jewels to go with clothes I buy, next will be an owl set for myself as I made one for mum years ago but late last year bought myself an owl top so stay tuned for that.

ACCESSORY STYLE: American Awards Season’s dismal turn out in jewellery, and why the #askhermore campaign will result in no more freebies for celebrities.

I love jewellery as we all know by now and one thing I never get is why when it comes to awards nights the women never go all out with jewels. They bother with the dress and shoes, always making sure they get the best from the best designers (although sometimes that leaves a lot to be desired), but they never seem to be able to get it right with jewels. 

Personally, I think a BIG blingy piece is warranted, especially a necklace and especially if you have a low cut and plunging neckline that does nothing but show bare skin. At the Golden Globes this year there were necklaces on show, rather plain boring ones in my view, and a few earrings. The best, being Emily Blunt’s, striking out from the plain Jane’s by being blue.

I think best on show over all was Helen Mirren. 

Now onto the Critics Choice Awards which was the night after. Sadly, it was much of the same. Not a lot of jewellery except for some cuffs and a few earrings, rather boring dresses and hairstyles. Best on Show was Emily Blunt and probably the only one in more than one piece.

Now, onto the Oscars. There were only four decent statement necklaces in the whole bunch. Margot Robbie wore the Zip Antique by Van Cleef and Arpels originally crafted for the Duchess of Windsor, Laura Dern sported a massive pendant, Scarlett Johansson swamped herself and added mismatched earrings, and Cate Blanchett wore a Tiffany and Co turquoise stunner that you could see a mile away.

The only decent statement earrings for the night were Gwynyth Paltrow’s best on show stunners, Anna Hu’s Fire Phoenix earrings valued at $425,000. America Ferrera opted for oblong as did Octavia Spencer, and Oprah rounded out the shoulder duster brigade by matching the colour to her dress and making sure her boobs also has a night out.

I’m really disappointed in awards nights this year. Now it’s all about #askhermore campaign and asking women more poignant questions about their work.

I get it, I do. Women want to be recognised for their work in these movies. Well duh! That’s why you’re bloody there. Because YOU HAVE been recognised for your movie and the work you did in it. If you hadn’t been YOU WOULDN’T BE THERE!

Face it girls, awards night for women have always been about getting to pick from a batch of free dresses and jewels to wear so you can look your best, and in return the designer asks that you tell everyone who it’s by. If you don’t like playing the game and telling the world who you’re wearing as part of the freebie deal then wear your own damn clothes and stop taking the free stuff.

Stop complaining or stop going, simple as that. Stop complaining and wear rags so the focus turns to your work. Stop complaining or the designers will revolt and turn against you and then you will never get freebies again.

Refusing to mention who you’re wearing could mean less attention for the designer, less money coming in, less jobs. Stars wearing freebies keep companies in business and people in jobs and themselves in free clothes. Next time you want to be taken seriously, don’t wear designer frocks and jewels, wear your own damn clothes.

MY STYLE:

OUTFIT
TOP: Kmart blue studded tank from 2013 for $15
PANTS: Millers tropical leaf from 2014 for $18
SHOES: Spendless Shoes studded sandals from 2014 for $30
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas necklace and bead bracelets, Lovisa everything else.

MY PERSONAL COLLECTION: The fantastic blue clothes and jewels I bought over the holidays.

I bought so many clothes last year it’s almost disgusting. I said almost….lol.

But because I’ve had a cleanout it’s okay, I threw out almost as many I had bought, and here are the blue ones I did buy.

Most of it’s from millers, but then what else is new. The top tank tops were $15 and $10, the dress was $10 and kaftan top on the bottom which I also mentioned Wednesday was $35. The tropical print onesie came from Kmart on sale at $7, and the kimono from ebay for $5.37, but I’m not sure I’m keeping this.

Now onto the jewels.

The top bracelet came from a store here call Paper Scissors for $4.95, the rings from Lovisa and Equip were $$3.33 and $7. The bottom bracelet from Equip as well and $7.

Below are the creations I have made over summer. This next necklace I bought the pendant from Equip but thought it looked rather lonely on it’s own. So after buying some plastic chain on ebay, I pulled it apart, put it back together and voila! The total cost, $20.24.

This next bracelet stack I made to match my top. That’s the beauty of being a jewellery designer, we can make stuff to go with our clothes. I bought the zodiac charms from eBay and used beads already in my box. With a mixture of turquoise, pearls and crystals I think it turned out well. Now, I just need to get around to wearing the top….. The total cost, $5.10. Bargain!

As the first of my personal collection posts for the year where I show you what I buy, it also shows you that you can get great stuff at great bargain prices. There’s no need to buy full price any more and there’s certainly no need to pay exorbitant prices when you can get great bargains for great prices in most stores. And waiting for all the sales makes it even better because you can get anywhere up to ten things for $10.

But if you want to have a go at making your own jewellery, beware, the cost of buying the goods can make it expensive, but if you don’t care, go for it.

FASHION STYLE: How I’m fast becoming The Kaftan King

The name says it all really, a play and my own surname of King, and since I’m fast becoming a buyer of kaftans, tops and dresses, I figured I may as well use the moniker.

As I started buying from Millers I didn’t really connect with the fact they were kaftan tops. To me, they were just blouses. But for some reason over the xmas/new year break when I was clearing out my wardrobe and I realised I wanted more pretty clothes, I somehow became addicted to kaftans and bought two 3/4 length dresses on ebay, just scraping in to the last shop of 2014.

This will have to be the first post about the kaftans I own as there are more coming every day and there will be even more next month so you will need to stay tuned. This post was going to be about kaftans and kimonos but they will get their own post.

The gorgeous tops you see next were all bought from Millers for relatively low prices. Ranging from $12 to $35 and bought over the period of 2013-2014. The blue bottom left is still available here.

Here’s some of the ways I’ve styled them.

The next five are ones I’ve bought on ebay since Dec 30 2014. They are longer, landing at above/below knee to mid calf. Not full dresses so you can still wear tights, leggings or summer pants underneath if you don’t want to go free. I’ve only worn one at the moment as 40 degrees Celsius is way too hot to be going anywhere, let alone out. Prices range between $17.95 for the red one to $110 for the bottom right.

A word of advice about buying on ebay, as with everything you buy second hand, beware. The red one has issue which I had to resolve through Paypal, but more on that in another post. All the others are labelled as brand new with tags attached and have come that way.

I’ve gone for colours I love, multi coloured mainly. I have summer pants in most colours and can wear most with each kaftan. I do wear a strappy tank underneath though as many are see-through and you really need something to cover up. I don’t do chemises so tanks it is.

I certainly won’t stop wearing these in winter though. I can wear the bottom right with my forest green or navy blue leggings and boots, and add my black faux fur vest over it. And since I already layer underneath, there will be no problem.

My plan is to buy a couple of Camilla kaftans and capes for my birthday in May so I’ll take some inspiration from her and the way she wears them and work them into my own style. I also have a list ready to buy next month (it’s all about the credit card bill), and I’ll be including ankle length and drawstring kaftans into the wardrobe so stay tuned for that post.

Have you guys ever worn kaftans, long or short, or will you be incorporating them into your wardrobe for next summer?

MY STYLE: Millers, Millers and more Millers.

I haven’t posted any My Style pics since last year so I’m catching up now. I’m also doing things a little different this year, taking actual photos of me in my whole outfit. For me it’s all about the jewels and clothes though, not me, so the focus stays on those.

OUTFIT #1

TOP: Millers, $16.80 just before xmas, still available here.
PANTS: Millers, $18, last year.
SHOES: Kmart,  $19, last year.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas owls. I made this for mum years ago and since I’ve recently gotten an owl top, looks like the next step is to make my own. Chain store bangles and rings.

 

OUTFIT #2

KAFTAN TOP: Millers, $35, still available here.
PANTS: Op shop for $7 but originally from Millers.
SHOES: Rivers, from several years ago.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Floral Ensemble with ebay and chain store bangles and rings (right hand), chain store rings (left hand) and one chain store necklace.

 

OUTFIT #3

KAFTAN: Millers, $21, last year.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Bird and bracelet stacks, eBay rings.

 

OUTFIT #4

KAFTAN: Ebay, $50, just before new years.
PANTS: Millers, old.
SHOES: Rivers, old.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Australia Day set, chain store rings and bracelets (red and blue)

OUTFIT #5

TOP: Best & Less, $12, 2013.
PANTS: Millers snake print summer pant, last year.
SHOES: Kmart sandals, last year.
JEWELLERY: Lovisa earrings and bracelets.

OUTFIT #6

TOP: Millers paisley tank in aqua green, $15, 2015, still available here.
PANTS: Millers, $18, last year.
SHOES: Spendless Shoes sandals, $30, last year, still available here.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Mystery Mint bead set with ebay and chain store rings and bangles.

OUTFIT #7

TOP: Best & Less tank, $10 last year (xmas pressie from my sister)
PANTS: Op shop, originally from Big W.
SHOES: Spendless Shoes sandals, $30, last year, still available here.
JEWELLERY: Jewel Divas Animalia set, chain store bangle.

 OUTFIT #8

TOP: Millers for $5 last year
PANTS: Millers for $15 last year.
SANDALS: Rivers, old
JEWELLERY: Ebay bangle and flower ring, Equip turquoise ring, Lovisa earrings.

LUST HAVES: Kaftans, Kimonos and Gorgeous Clothes

In the lead up to showing off my ever growing kaftan and kimono collections I thought I’d show you some of the pieces I’m currently lusting after.

These pieces are amazing, bright, extremely colourful and a must have lust have on my shopping list for the year.

Top left: Camilla “Rites of Tropicana” cape.

Top middle: Camilla “Abyss” cape.

Bottom left: Ollie & Max resort wear dress in blue and pink.

Bottom middle: Lilly Pulitzer Coleman Maxi Dress. I have seen a few other of her dresses and kaftans tops and will probably add those to the list too. Sizing is an issue though.

Right: Colin Heaney kaftan dress. The colours say it all.

Have you got any kaftans or summer clothes on your shopping list for this year?

TODAY’S LIFESTYLE: RSL Art Union Draw 323

The RSL Art Union has a new draw for the year, #323 is open for ticket buying and it’s a beautie! 

You get your pick of either a Sydney 3 floor apartment on a tree lined street with amazing views of the city and harbour, or the equivalent in gold bullion.

1.57 million in gold bullion!

Nice!

I love the view but I’ll be taking the gold bullion!