No matter what size your wardrobe is, we are always capable of filling it, or even overfilling into other closets. Extra storage is a luxury these days, with many people living in apartments, so making the most of your space is a must.

A good clean out of your wardrobe, could see you rediscovering favourite items you had forgotten about, but more likely, finding items you should never have purchased.

With the change of season here, it’s a great time to organise your wardrobe and create more space.

Here are our 5 top tricks to create more space in your wardrobe.

1.     Clear it out. The key way to create more space is to de-clutter. Give yourself a weekend to clean out your wardrobe and sort your clothes. If you haven’t worn an item in over 18 months, you’re most likely not going to wear it again. There are some great options available for getting rid of unwanted clothes; sell them in an online garage sale, donate them to charity or arrange a swap party with friends.

Image Credit: Idea Bottle

2.    Cascade your coat hangers. This is where a coat hanger hangs off another coat hanger, effectively giving you twice the  hanging space without crumpling your clothes. You can create a DIY version by using a soda can ring to double up your hangers. Alternatively you can purchase cascade hooks, or coat hangers from a variety of stores. This is a great way to store your dresses, although we do recommend evening dresses are stored in a garment bag before hanging.

3.    Use the back of your door. Unless you have sliding doors, the back of your wardrobe door is a great place to store accessories. Not only does this area give you added space but you can display your belts, scarves, ties and even necklaces, which gives you easy access, especially for those items you wear regularly. No more digging through a box or draw for that scarf.

4.    Utilize the floor. Floor space in a wardrobe is perfect for adding low lying storage boxes or cubbies. If you have the space to go vertical, you can stack on top of each other, for extra space. Shoes are a great item to store in cubbies; it keeps them neat, but on display for easy access.

5.    Space Bags. The name says it all! Space Bags are a faultless way for storing clothes, which you do not need for the season. They are easily stacked and can be stored at the top of your wardrobe, or even store them under your bed. This is especially great for removing bulky items like coats and jackets in summer.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

There it is; that chill in the air. Autumn is here and the anticipation of winter is building. The change of season is an exciting time; the chance to change up your wardrobe, bring out the layers, cosy fabrics, jackets, boots and scarves. What’s not to love about winter fashion, there are so many wonderful fabrics and fashions to choose from.

To help you, we have found five essential items for your 2015 winter wardrobe. These essentials can be mixed and matched together to create some fabulous, on trend outfits, for Autumn/Winter:

1.     Colour Jeans. Denim is undoubtedly a wardrobe essential twelve months of the year. So what styles are trending in 2015? Go with grey, burgundy or cobalt blue jeans this Autumn/Winter. Match with a neutral knit or black blazer to really make the colour pop!

2.     Basic Knits. You can’t go wrong in both style and comfort by adding some soft knits to your wardrobe. Oversized knit cardigans and sweaters are on trend this season and look amazing when layered, which is a plus for extra warmth. Cashmere is a must for a luxurious look and feel. Classic stripes and neutral tones are the go to for knits this year.

3.     Midi Skirts. This trend was originally popular in the 70’s and has recently come back in fashion. The classic look is staying around from Spring/Summer and can be brought into the Autumn/Winter season by pairing with some tights and a gorgeous knit top or tailored jacket. The Midi Skirt is classically a mid-calf length but there are now a variety of lengths and shapes to choose from, so there is a shape to suit everyone. Try different materials like leather or suede for some extra detail to your outfit.

4.     Tailored Blazer. This is a must have item this Autumn/Winter season. AND the good news is; it is so versatile. Teamed with a Midi Skirt or a dress like our silver seaweed dress or amethyst borealis dress, it creates the perfect office ensemble. Add some killer high heels, with a blazer and colour jeans and you have a sophisticated outfit for a night out or weekend outing. A black blazer will suit many outfits and adds sophistication especially when impeccably tailored. If you are feeling adventurous, an animal print blazer is definitely a 2015 must have.

5.     Ankle Boots. Are THE accessory this Autumn/Winter season. There are so many great styles available: wedge, heel, flat, laced, buckled. The trick to wearing ankle boots is to elongate the leg. If wearing them with jeans, cuff the hem to show off some ankle, or add them to a dress which sits just above the knee. Military, Taupe and Black are this seasons go to style and colours.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

You will find no item more versatile in your wardrobe than the little black dress (LBD). But because of its versatility, you can often feel the pressure when it comes to choosing the right LBD for you. What texture, style and design do you choose after all to cater for so many different occasions and make it still fashionable in years to come?

Whether you need to update your look or are yet to find the perfect LBD, here are four takes on the LBD to give you a little shopping inspiration.

Add a bright splash of colour

Just because the occasion demands an LBD, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add our own personal touch. A contrasting colour on the bodice will certainly take you out of the boring zone. Add some matching accessories and you will certainly add some spice to your LBD.

If you’re stuck for choice or haven’t the time to traipse from store to store, then our Evening Sky cocktail dress is an excellent choice and takes all the hassle out of shopping.

The vibrant aubergine pure silk contrast at the neckline and bust gives a fabulous burst of colour and the sequined skirt makes it ideal for that special occasion or evening function.

Experiment with textures

If you want to stay with an all black LBD then do a variation on the fabric. A textured fabric or lace detail or overlay in black, will also add a different dimension to your outfit and ensure you still stand out.

Our silk Black Opal knee length dress is designed with this concept in mind. The black polyester microgette ruffled sleeves are ideal for those steamy summer nights and easy to cover with a shawl for the cooler autumn and winter months. The easy wear and care for fabric will ensure you look your best throughout the day or night.

A quick word of advice though, when wearing patterned fabrics keep shoes and accessories simple so you don’t look overdone.

Be brave and go bold

If you don’t want to blend into the crowd go for a bold patterns and textures in black and white or another contrasting colour of your choice.

For the really brave, add a third contrasting colour like a bright waistband and you could be setting future fashion trends! To give you some ideas, have a look at our Solar Eclipse Black and White dress with sequins. It has a third contrasting colour on the sleeves and bodice for the confident woman who loves her unique individuality.

Opt for soft and floaty

For a softer look you may want to opt for a longer floaty or layered dress. You can even add a wide belt or sash to accentuate your waist to ensure that you don’t get lost in the fabric of the dress.

The Black Resort dress is the perfect example of this with elbow length sleeves, black sequin detail at the neckline, and shirred waistline, it comes in a three quarter length with gorgeous horizontal contrast fabric detail.

How do you do your LBD?

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

There is no question that white is still a popular colour this season, particularly in formal wear. But if you are like most people you are somewhat reserved about wearing it in case you look like a bride turning up for her wedding.

Before you give up on that dream of being a gorgeous white vision, here are five tips on how to wear white without looking like a bride.

1. Use accessories

One of the quickest and easiest ways to ditch the bridal look is through your accessories. Depending on your dress and personal style you could opt for bright or deep colours for your shoes, clutch, jacket or wrap, or metallic for a slightly subtler party look.

You can also differentiate through your jewellery by being a little bolder in your design choices or go the opposite way with no jewellery for a simple, fresh look.

2. Choose modern styles

Look for embellishments, fabrics and dress designs that stand out from the normal wedding gown look. High low dresses, paneling, cutouts, stiffer textures, and sharp angles can make the perfect non-bridal white dress.

3. Mix your colours

Adding a splash of colour to your white dress can also do the trick. It could be subtly on the hemline, piping or paneling, or more obvious with the bodice or skirt in the different colour.  A great example of this is our Lightning Ridge dress that uses patterned paneling to add colour and flair.

4. Avoid lace and ruffles

Wedding gowns are often associated with lots of lace and ruffles, so it is best to stay away from these styles. If you do have your heart set on something lacey, look for a shorter length or a broderie anglaise style that is not typically worn by brides.

5. Opt for white that’s not quite white

To avoid the bridal look completely why not go for an ivory, off-white or cream outfit, you may even find one of these colours will compliment your complexion more than white. Our Cream and Ivory Vintage knee length dress is a great example of this. It still gives you the white look without the bridal feel and what’s more the dress is easy to accessorise and wear again and again.

Do you like wearing white formal wear? What are your top tips for avoiding the bridal look?

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Your formal is one of the most exciting highlights of your school year. It’s highly anticipated and discussions of your dress and accessories can dominate your thoughts and conversations particularly as the date draws near.

To ensure your formal is everything you want it to be and you look ever so stunning, here are five tips to help you choose the perfect formal dress.

1. Shop early

Shopping early has many advantages when it comes to buying your formal dress. The main advantage is you will have more options when it comes to styles and colours to choose from. There is nothing worse than leaving it until the last minute and having to choose from limited dresses and sizes.

If you do buy your dress early in the year, remember to try it on again a few weeks out in case any adjustments need to be made to make it more comfortable for you.

2. Choose a dress that suits the occasion or theme

Keep in mind both the venue and your school’s policy on length, splits and open midriffs. Generally speaking glamorous, classic or vintage style dresses are ideal for your school formal. Also talk to your friends to get an indication of the style and dress others will be wearing.

As much as you want to catch everyone’s eye you want to do it the right way and also feel comfortable, particularly at the after party.

3. Choose a style that is flattering to your body type

With many different body types it’s important to get a dress that will flatter your shape.  Your bust, waist, hip size and even height can determine what style will look best on you. Likewise your complexion can also impact what colour you choose so be sure to try on a few dresses in different styles and colour before you buy your dress, you might just be surprised with what you find looks great on you!

4. Find out how many dresses of that same style are available

There is nothing worse than finding the perfect dress and someone else is wearing it!  To avoid this, or at least limit your chances of this happening, find a dress that has a limited number of reproductions or purchase a dress at a boutique or online store instead of mainstream dress shops.

Again, you may want to talk to your friends and other girls in your grade about what they are wearing to ensure you will stand out from the crowd.

5. Find a dress you can wear again

A formal dress is what you call a wardrobe investment piece; it is one of the more expensive items you will buy so you want to be sure you could wear it again.

Some questions you may like to ask yourself are “Can the length be altered later for another event?” “Is the style, colour, pattern or texture likely to date?“ and “Can I change the look easily through changing my accessories?”

Need some formal dress inspiration? Check out our full collection for gorgeous dresses that are sure to be remembered long after the event.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Every bride wants the opportunity to have a fairytale entrance to her wedding, but if you are like most, you also want to be able to kick up your heels and celebrate! If your dream wedding dress doesn’t give you the practicality of dancing the night away you might just want to look into the idea of having a different reception dress.

While it can be a great way to make two fashion statements, there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing the right dress for your wedding reception. Here’s our guide to creating the perfect second entrance to your wedding.

Fabrics

Don’t be afraid to use the same fabric as your wedding dress, if you wish to keep your theme carrying through.  Otherwise, you can go for alternative fabric options such as chiffon, georgette, lace, voile, cady, charmeuse and satin.  You can add touches of beads, diamantes and ruffles to add to the elegance.

Colours

You may be a traditional bride that wants to carry your dress colour through the evening, if so colours like white, cream and champagne are ideal.

However, if you are a bride that wishes to change the tempo at your reception with some bold statement colours, you might want to look at black, red, silver, blue or emerald green.

Lengths

For the formal wedding reception, keep with the long flowing gown.  But if you are planning to dance the night away, then mid-calf or cocktail length are the way to go.  Mid-calf and cocktail dresses provide ease of movement on the dance floor. The added advantage is you won’t need your wedding entourage to help you go to the toilet.

Style of dress

Depending on your body shape, there are some dress styles that will be more flattering to you and accentuate your best features.

For a Pear body shape – Wear a dress style that emphasises your waist and arms, along with adding volume to your upper body to minimise your hips.

For a Wedge body shape – Wear a dress that accentuates your lower body while giving a softer look to your upper body.

Rectangle body shape – Wear a dress that gives your body curves along while showing off your arms and legs.

Apple body shape – Wear a dress that shows off your legs, and elongates your torso.  Don’t be afraid to use fashion statement pieces to create illusions of your waist.

Hourglass body shape – Wear a dress that accentuates your curvy shape without going too overboard.

You want your guests talking about you for all the right reasons, so avoid dresses that are too short, see-through, overly revealing or that make you feel uncomfortable. When it comes to choosing the perfect wedding reception dress, it comes down to what makes you look and feel a million dollars.

Need some wedding reception dress inspiration? Browse our full collection.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

The wedding invitation is pinned to the fridge and you can feel the excitement building.  There’s just one problem – what are you meant to wear?

When it comes to choosing the right outfit to wear to a wedding there are a number of questions you should ask. For example, are you attending a day or evening wedding? Is the bride going all out traditional or opting for a more casual beach or garden party wedding?

What about the venue? Is it more upmarket and do they have a dress code on their website? To help you further we’ve put together the guest’s guide of what to wear to a wedding to ensure you don’t experience any last minute wardrobe regrets.

What to wear to a traditional wedding

A traditional wedding is formal. A long formal dress with black tie attire for your partner is appropriate for this occasion. You can expect a more elegant affair, which may begin with an afternoon church wedding and end at a sit down formal evening reception.

Go all out and spoil yourself, but be careful not to out shine the bridal couple. If you have chosen a block colour dress with a simple design you can dress it up with statement jewellery, shoes and a clutch.  If your dress is more vibrant, patterned or more intricate in design, opt for more simple accessories to keep your dress the focus.

What to wear to a beach wedding

An elegant lightweight outfit, like a shorter cocktail dress or elegant sundress will be your best option for a beach wedding. Keep in mind that some beach weddings can be quite dressy, so it is safer to opt for a more elegant design.

Be mindful that standing on the sand in the heat with a long lined formal outfit and high shoes will be uncomfortable. If you are going to wear a long dress, opt for a hemline on or above your ankles to avoid stepping on your dress or tripping.

A beach wedding really is the perfect opportunity to accessorise. Add a gorgeous wide brimmed hat, statement jewellery and elegant ballet flats to show your own unique style.

India Gown

What to wear to a contemporary wedding

A contemporary wedding is often more classified as a Semi-Formal, After Five affair, making a formal dress or cocktail dress with a shorter hemline ideal.   A block colour dress with bolder accessories tends to be favoured on these occasions.

Again though, make sure you don’t detract from the bridal couple and where possible try to find out the colour of the bridesmaid dresses in order to avoid looking the same. Also keep in mind that you will most likely be in air conditioning, so finding a light jacket or shawl that would complement your outfit will be a wise idea.

If you are still unsure on what to wear, ask the bride. You will at the very least bring a smile to her face that you want to make sure her day is special.

Copyright © 2016 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

Pantone has just released their Spring/Summer 2015 colour collection with the inspiration of this season’s colours coming straight from Mother Nature herself – and we love it! Soft cool hues blended together with subtle warm tones that inspire us to take a step back, breath in and just relax from the bustle and business of life.

Gone are the bright and bold and in its place are the dreamy colours of Aquamarine, Lavender Herb, Toasted Almond, Glacier Grey and Strawberry Ice, just to name a few!

It is the perfect summer colour palette bringing to mind images of picnics in the woods, surf, sand and ice cream cones – and just like ice cream flavours there’s a colour to suit every taste and every skin tone.

Wondering how to incorporate this seasons colours into your summer wardrobe for upcoming parties and weddings? We’ve looked through our Collection to give you a few ideas.

A Dreamy Occasion

The lead colour in this gorgeous array is the dreamy Aquamarine.  Cool and calming it conjures up a vision of the wide expansive cooling ocean – ideal for our summer days.

It is a stunning colour choice for a summer beach wedding, or any wedding for that matter, and perfect for a feminine design like our Mozelle Hanni. The flattering sweetheart neckline and long floating skirt is ideal for different body shapes and both long and short hairstyles, also giving you the opportunity to accentuate the dress further with statement jewellery accessories.

Prefer the Classics?

Looking for a classic formal look? Whether it is for a bridesmaid dress or other formal occasion nothing beats the timeless beauty of classic grey. Quietly confident this colour stands alone for a formal occasion or it can be the beautiful backdrop for a pure white bride.

Our Diva Hanni is the perfect outfit if you’re a fan of Pantone’s Glacier Gray. The wider straps on the neckline give great support for the bustier figure yet the detailing also serves to draw attention away from the smaller bust.

Love your Colours!

If you secretly love your bright colours but don’t want to stand out with something too bright, a concession may be to combine this seasons colours in one dress. Our Swains Reef design is ideal. While it incorporates cool shades, it is vibrant enough to make a splash of colour without screaming out too loudly.

Short and Sweet

If you have a preference for the shorter style our Nude Champagne silk chiffon dress is ideal. This gorgeous floaty dress incorporates the colours Sandstone with a touch of Roasted Almond. This versatile dress, ideal for any occasion, has the added benefit of half-length sleeves allowing you to get more wear out of it in between seasons.

Southern Aurora Dress

A Vintage Creation

If your planning a vintage style wedding or beach resort style wedding, may we suggest the Southern Aurora design for your special occasion. It combines the new seasons colour tones of Lavender Herb and Toasted Almond. This silk dupion creation has sequined details at the bodice with a silk georgette draped bow at the front. Not in the wedding party?  Don’t worry; this dress will suit as a wedding guest outfit too.

With one of the above outfits, you wont go wrong incorporating this seasons gorgeous colours and tones.  So get out there ladies, spring into summer and enjoy yourself with the calming beauty of nature’s wonderful hues!

Copyright © 2015 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

The wedding of a son or daughter is a major event for parents, particularly the mother of the bride and mother of the groom. Though as exciting as it can be, it can also cause of much apprehension, particularly over what to wear.

To help you make the day a memorable one here are five tips to consider when choosing your mother of the bride or mother of the groom outfit.

1. Consult the bride

It goes without saying that the big day belongs to the bride, so be sure to discuss with her the theme, location and colours she has chosen. This will greatly influence the style and colour you will need to keep in mind.

Also clarify if it will be a formal or more informal wedding as this too will impact on your choice and can affect the style of your dress, particularly in the neck and hemline. The last thing a mother or mother-in-law-to-be would want to do is to outshine her daughter or daughter-in-law.

2. Choose the right colour

Once you know what the colour the bridesmaids will be, it’s quite within the bounds of etiquette to choose a similar colour, though it must be a different shade.

If you decide to go for a totally different colour then make sure you won’t clash and choose celebratory colours or solids particularly if it’s a formal wedding. You might want to keep away from white, black and some reds.

If you go for ivory, you may want to include a splash of colour that matches or compliments the theme. Colours that work well are lavender, silver, burgundy, blue and shades of green. When all else fails talk to the bride to see if she is happy with the colour and style.

3. Consult and complement mother of the groom

These days you don’t have to be a stickler for tradition, although it does pay to have an idea of what is considered proper etiquette. If you are the mother of the bride, it is considered a good idea to let the mother of the groom know what you will be wearing so you can both complement each other. It’s not a hard and fast rule, but it’s a good idea that the length of your dress is similar.

4. Dress for comfort as well as style

There is a long time between the getting ready photographs and saying goodbye to the bride and groom at the end of the reception. With this in mind you want to be comfortable as well as look great. So the material you wear, and the hemline and shoes you choose need to all be factored in.

5. It’s not all about the dress

Although the dress you choose will be a prominent feature, the accessories you choose, also play an important role. If you opt for a more simple dress design, then bring out your personality with your jewellery, shoes, and handbag. You could even add gloves or a hat or headpiece if the occasion calls for it.

Need a little outfit inspiration? Browse our full collection.

Copyright © 2015 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…

There is no greater excuse to organise your wardrobe and buy new clothes than a New Year, don’t you agree? So to help you make 2015 your most fashionable year yet, here are six New Year’s Resolutions for your wardrobe.

1. Clear out your cupboards

If you are like most women, then chances are you have a massive collection of clothes, but you aren’t wearing half of them. It could be because they don’t fit, are “so last season”, have been worn too many times, or they are those purchases that seemed like a good idea at the time, but in hindsight were anything but!

Whatever the reason the New Year is a great opportunity to clear out the old and make way for the new!

2. Organise a clothes-swapping party

Have some great fashionable items in good condition but just don’t want them any more? Get your friends together for a clothes-swapping party and exchange clothes and accessories. It’s a great girls night in and a cheap way to ‘mix up’ your wardrobe.

Have different tastes and sizes to friends? Why not try your hand at selling your items online on sites like eBay or Gumtree.

3. Make sure you have the right wardrobe foundations

When it comes to building a timeless wardrobe there are some essential items you must have. Among them should be black pants, a crisp white buttoned shirt, a good suit, a dressy jacket, a little black dress and a cocktail dress to name a few (see our full list of the 10 Wardrobe Essentials Every Woman Should Have)

Once you’ve gone through your wardrobe, identify which essentials you already have, and make a list of the ones you need to buy to complete your wardrobe.

4. Get the right underwear

It’s easy to neglect your underwear when it remains hidden underneath your outfit, but an ill fitted bra or pants can ruin the shape and line of even the most beautiful outfit. While you are going through your wardrobe also go through your underwear draw to see what you need to buy and replace.

5. Map out your plans

The beginning of the year is always a good time to look at what events you may attend throughout the year so you can be prepared and organised. For example, do you have a friend or family member getting married this year? Are you planning to go to the races? Will you be attending a formal, awards ceremony or gala ball?

By planning what you need, you can keep an eye out for potential outfits and get them on sale instead of last minute at full price.

6. Work out what investment pieces you want and need to buy

Investment pieces are those items of clothing that while expensive, provide you with extended use. Think leather jackets, a good black dress, ball gown, cocktail dress and a designer handbag or shoes.

Now that you know what is (and isn’t) in your wardrobe and what events you will potentially be attending, look at what investment pieces you may need to add to your wardrobe. Buying one to two investment pieces per year helps you spread out the cost, while still making steps towards a more fashionable wardrobe.

Do you have any wardrobe New Year’s Resolutions?

Copyright © 2015 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3369 5119. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…