There is so muc pressure on kids these days to look a certain way.  What do you think it does to them to put them on a catwalk like this?  Do you think it adds to the pressure that society and their peers are already placing on them?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Can you feel the seasons changing?  In Victoria we can feel Autumn sneaking up on us.  The mornings are quite cool and lead into lovely days. 

Now is the time when we start looking into our wardrobes for something to keep us warm in the mornings and it is also the time when you realise how much your kids have grown over the last 12 months.  Nothing fits!

If you are buying something to keep your child warm make sure you buy something that is timeless and versatile like our lovely black designer jacket? 

This look is sure to be popular with your daughter because she can dress it up or dress it down.  It suits this seasons fashion, which is full of black and shaped jackets.  This one is 100% cotton with silver coloured buttons as a feature.  The jacket is very well made.  Remember, a jacket is an essential part of anyones wardrobe but to a teenager it is a requisite!

I remember showing my children how to dress themselves.  It was funny and chaotic!  By the time they were able to dress themselves, or thought they could, I had seen funny looking outfits.

I found this lovely little book recently and it is called “Little Mouse Gets Ready” by Jeff Smith.  I love it.  It is in comic style with lovely illustrations.  It is the story of Little Mouse how has to get dressed so that he can go out to the barn with his family.

It cleverly shows the child reader how to get dressed from underpants on.  It tackles things like buttons, clips and even tail holes!  Well, he is a mouse, after all.  Imagine how hard it would be to get your long tail through that tiny hole?

The book is available from Amazon and I recommend it as a great read if you have toddlers.

The world of kids fashion is exploding.  Just as with women’s fashion, there are international fashion shows that specialise in children’s wear. 

Fashion magazine Olena has a preview of 2010 fashions for fall and they are stunning.  It shows us what is coming up for our own cold season.  What I loved is that it showed Rustic Future children’s fashion is spot on the trend. 

How gorgeous is this look?  I love the footwear! 

In our range we have tartan skirts and tartan trimmed jackets.  The jackets are shaped and elegant just like the styles in the photo here.  Our tartans are in blacks, white and pinks, too.  The skirts are pleated and swirly. 

Then there is the boys fashion.  Have a look at the cool jacket with trim.  Our version is reversible - silver on one side and black on the other.  We have taken the look and made it practical for daily wear.

Children’s fashion is fun and at Rustic Future you know you will find trendy retro  fashion that is built for today’s busy kids.

If you have looked through our range of children’s clothes you have probably noticed that the same models pop up time and time again.

These lovely models are my grandchildren.  Aren’t they gorgeous?  (The boys probably won’t like me calling them that.)  I often wonder what they future holds for them.  One of the most photographed models is Charlotte.  I think she seems to be a natural.   She just has that knack of being able to pose without seeming to be aware of the camera.  I hope that this confidence will carry her far in life.

As for the boys, what can I say?  They are active and busy, hating to be pinned down long enough to be photographed.

I want to thank my wonderful grandchildren for helping me build my business.  I could not have done it without them.

You may not know but we have ventured into the world of party plan and it is very exciting.

We love being able to talk directly to our customers.  We are very proud of our products and enjoy showing you their quality and style. 

The parties have been doing really well for our hostesses.  Our hostesses earn 10% of all sales and to make sales even easier, we offer a payment plan.  We allow customers to pay for their purchases on a fortnightly or monthly basis which means that no one has to miss out just because it isn’t pay week.

Would you like to book a party with us?  Just contact us and we will save you your preferred time.

I will let you in on a secret, too.  If you follow us on our Facebook page you will be able to take advantage of the special offers that we post.  Whether you are a hostess or a customer you might be surprised to see what we come up with.

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.

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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!