Recently I visited some of our family members in New Zealand.  I have been there before but each time I go I am reminded of what a lovely place it is.

My husbands family are in New Zealand and so is my sister so it was wonderful to be able to see them again.

We travelled from Auckland to  Thames then Napier, then back to Auckland to Whangarei then back to the Whangaparaoa on the North Shore.  We toured a lot of the North Island which is known for its spectacular scenery.

This is taken at Coromandel.    There was nothing but clean, gorgeous beach for as far as you could see.

We also had a stop at Taupo  which is very pretty, especially the lake.  It is a volcanic area and it was volcanic action which caused the lake to be created thousands of years ago.   We were lucky enough to see the mountain while it was snow-capped.  Doesn’t it look almost magical?

We had a lovely time in New Zealand.  If you would like to see more photos, especially those with the family, have a look at our Facebook page where we have posted some.

Have you been to New Zealand?  What parts did you visit?

By guest author, Imogen Lamport.

Shopping for clothes, shoes and accessories for some is a joy, and others a nightmare. Many people tell me they love doing it, but find it completely frustrating – nothing ever fits, they can’t find anything they like, or they’re just not sure something is right for them, and are not prepared to part with their hard earned money for a potential mistake.

An image consultation can really help you beat many of these problems as we discover your clothing personality and style, and you understand about your body shape and proportions – so you have a much better idea of what to take into the change rooms.

I know that fit is always a difficult master – in fact one of my favourite sayings is that you never feel fat in shoes or jewellery. So I’ve come up with some tips to help you shop more strategically

When trying on clothes, stand at a distance from the mirror so that you can check the garment from top to bottom, front and back views. Start at the top and work your way down. Is there anything that particularly stands out on the garment? Is it drawing attention to a part of the body I’m happy with or would rather people didn’t notice?

*Am I wearing the colour or is it wearing me ? Close your eyes and open them, see if your eye is drawn to the garment or to your face. Does the colour make you look healthy and alive, or dull or washed out?

*Is the neckline the right shape for my face? Does it sit properly? Are the shoulders right – do they make me look balanced?

*Does the garment hang correctly or does it pull, gape or bunch over any areas. Try a larger size or smaller size – remember, clothing tags are on the inside of a garment – only you can see them and what size you’re wearing – nobody else needs to know and properly fitting clothes make you look smaller. Clothes that are too tight make you look like you’ve put on weight (and also cheapen your look).

*How is the waistline, does it flatter or does it draw attention to my bad points.

*Sit down in the outfit to see if it rides up, gapes, rubs or creases.

*What’s the texture and fabric like for me? Is it flattering or does it make me look bulkier? There are lots of big bulky knitted styles out in the shops for this winter – beware – they’re only for the very slim, on everyone else they make you look much bigger than you are. Go for layers of fine knits to keep out the cold (or consider thermal underwear).

*Scrunch a handful of the fabric – does it crease or does it fall back to what it was? If it creases – am I prepared to spend lots of time ironing it?

*Does it go with at least 3 other items in my wardrobe or would I have to buy something to go with it.

*Do I love it? Does it make me feel good? Does it suit my lifestyle? Do I feel comfortable wearing it or does it make me feel like someone else? If it doesn’t feel like you chances are you won’t wear it and it will sit in your wardrobe unworn. If it’s too formal for your lifestyle – don’t buy it as you’re unlikely to wear it. Invest your money in clothing that you’ll wear every day.

*Are you shopping with a friend? Friends may not be the best judge of what suits you – generally they’re looking at clothing and saying whether they like them for themselves, not necessarily you.

*Don’t let a shop assistant talk you into buying anything. They’re paid to make sales – unless you know you can trust them and that they give you honest advice, assume that they’re not your best source of advice.

© Imogen Lamport 2005 Bespoke Image

It is your last chance to get this lovely bag for yourself.  We have only one left.  We have been pleasantly surprised at how well our beautiful retro bags are selling.  We know they are gorgeous but it is really hard to show just HOW gorgeous they are in a photo.

This bag is stunning.  The beadwork is magical.  The colours are reminiscent of autumn with their gold and rust tones.   it is very intricately designed and the work that has gone into making this piece is incredible.

It comes with a short and long chain strap so you can alter the length to suit the occasion or your outfit.

Don’t wait because this will be snapped up shortly.

Do you use Facebook or Twitter? 

We use both Facebook and Twitter to keep you up to date with what we are doing.  If you use those sites we would love it if you dropped in to say hello.

Facebook and Twitter allow us to talk to you directly so that we can answer any questions that you might have.  You can give us direct feedback which we can learn from.

If you don’t use social media you can still connect with us by leaving comments here on our blog or by emailing us.  We would love to talk with you so get typing!

Grey is such a wearable colour, isn’t it?  Good for hot weather or cold, won’t show stains easily and suits most people.

We took a grey tee shirt and turned it into a flower patch with hot pink and pale pink flowers appliqued across the body.  

The top has lovely little ruffled cap sleeves that have been trimmed in a matching pink.

This top would look lovely with one of our pretty pink skirts but would look just as good when worn with jeans.

This great top is very versatile and is priced at only $19.95.  It comes in sizes 3-4 through to 14-15.

If you have purchased some of our gorgeous products we would love it if you could send us in a little testimonial.  You can use our contact page or even leave a comment here at the end of the post.

Testimonials are important for businesses like ours because our reputation is built by word of mouth.  Once you see our products you can’t help but talk about them - their quality and style is unique.   When you talk about how good we are, others become interested.  It is true, isn’t it?   Aren’t you more likely to buy from someone that has been recommended to you?  I know I am.

We rely on our customers to give us feedback on what is good or not so good about our business.  That is how we improve and grow.  Help our business to grow by sharing your feedback with us and with others.

The vintage style of fashion does not suit everyone so if you are looking for something more modern how about visiting Pram Rock?

Pram Rock stock punk, street and funk baby gear like this great tee that says “Croozin’ for a Snoozin’ .”

My heart belongs to vintage and retro but for parents who prefer the modern touch you can’t go past Pram Rock.

After looking at the 1950’s dresses that girls had to wear I looked again at the fashions of today.  Today’s clothes are so much more comfortable to wear, aren’t they?

This lovely dress is floaty and feminine, made of cotton and chiffon.  In some ways it matches the 1950’s style.  The neckline is high and the hemline is quite modest.

It is the materials and the lack of starchy undergarments that make this dress look so different.  It is also far more comfortable to wear.  The material moves with the body and the soft chiffon floats around the knees instead of being starched to stand firm.

This pretty dress is only $29.99 and is available from our store.

I love to look back at the fashions of earlier generations.  The changes in fashion reflect the changes in our lifestyle over the years.  The 1950’s has always appealed to me, probably because of the many US television shows of that era that made their way onto Australian TV.

The 1950’s were formal years, weren’t they?  The dresses were restricting with high necks, below knee hemlines and starchy petticoats.

This illustration is from Fiftiesweb.com where the writer talks of how she used to dress at that time, having lived through it as a teenager.

The look is very crisp and elegant, isnt it?  The grooming is impeccable from hair to pointed toe shoes. 

“Party dresses were just lovely. Fanciful and romantic, they allowed a girl to feel like princess.  Though never enough, parents did try to schedule events, dances and the like which would allow their little darlings to act like the ladies and gentleman they were expected to be.

While I love looking at these beautiful and stylish garments I am very glad that I don’t have to wear them.  The softer, more relaxed styles and fabrics of todays clothes are far better suited to the life I lead.  Mind you, I may never look this good!

I found this site today and love it.  It stocks ballerina tutu’s, wings, wands and headbands that are totally gorgeous.  The site is called Ballerina Bells.

They make tutu’s to order so that means you can get them in your choice of colour.  Not everyone wants the traditional pink or white.  You can create your own colour combinations and have them made.

Have a look at the Build a Tutu page. I think this is a very clever idea.

If you have a little ballerina in the house you will now be able to have her dressed to suit.