Archive for the ‘Our Collections’ Category
May 19
Five Tips to Make Your Occasional Wear Last
A beautiful occasional dress like this one is an investment piece for your wardrobe.Post-party, hang it up as soon as you undress, to prevent added marks and creases.
With formal and occasional wear being investment pieces for your wardrobe, you want to make sure you do everything to make them last, giving you the opportunity to wear them again and again.
So, to ensure you get a good return on your wardrobe investment, here are five tips to help you extend the life of your occasional wear.
1. Address any stains immediately There is nothing more frustrating than getting a stain on your new or favourite dress. To ensure it isn’t permanent, rinse the stain immediately in cold water.
When you get home treat the spot with a solution of bleach-free stain remover mixed with cold water and hand wash gently until the stain comes out. Then rinse with cold water and hang it up to dry.
2. Hang up your occasional wear as soon as you undress Before you step into the shower to wash off your make up or remove the hairspray from your hair, take a moment to hang up your outfit.
While you can be tired after a big day or night, resisting the urge to leave your dress on the floor will prevent added dirt marks, stains and creases.
3. Don’t wash too frequently Now obviously we don’t recommend you go out in a dirty, smelly outfit! But it is good to keep in mind that every time your outfit is washed it causes additional wear and tear.
Depending on where you wear it, the temperature, time of day and how long you wear it for, you may be able to get a couple of wears out of your outfit before you need to wash or dry clean it.
Always follow the care instructions! A beautiful, delicate, pure silk dress like this one needs to be cleaned with care.
4. Follow the washing directions When it comes to prolonging the life of your occasional wear it is vitally important you follow the washing directions.
While it can be tempting to take shortcuts to save time, it can damage and drastically reduce the lifespan of your outfit. To ensure you get the enjoyment from wearing your dress again and again, hand wash or dry clean as instructed – and never, ever use the dryer.
5. Be mindful of where you store it Unfortunately, we can’t get dressed up all the time. In fact quite a lot of time can pass before you need your occasional wear again, so how you store it is of the utmost importance.
If you know it will be going away for a while, have it cleaned first. Also make sure it is stored in a dry, dark place, away from the reach of children or pets. If this isn’t possible, as your wardrobe is the go-to hide-and-seek place, we suggest you use the added protection of a garment bag.
It is also wise to have mothballs in your wardrobe – or for a nicer, more natural alternative, lavender – to keep moths away.
Do you have any tips or questions for taking care of formal wear?
Time to replace your worn down occasional wear? Check out our collection for inspiration.
Copyright © 2014 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…
DO YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this text copy in its entirety: Do you have a special occasion coming up and need a special outfit? Stokes Thompson Design has a range to suit many occasions. Click here to view our Our Collections.
May 05
Five Timeless Occasional Looks That Will Ensure Eyes are on You
While movie stars have the luxury of wearing an outfit to only one event, when us mere mortals buy an item of clothing, particularly formal or occasional wear, we want to be able to wear it to multiple occasions for at least a couple of years, if not more.
But to do that the outfit you choose needs to be timeless, multipurpose and have the ability to be updated and changed with accessories. Sound like a big ask? It really doesn’t have to be.
To help you, here are five timeless formal looks borrowed from our collection that you can wear again and again to turn heads.
Outfit #1 – The shimmery party dress This versatile short, sleeveless silk sequined Amethyst Borealis dress (left) is ideal for cocktail parties, weddings, or a special evening out. Designed in a timeless block colour the slight sequined detail is perfect for giving you a shimmering evening look, yet still subtle enough to not make you feel like you’re moonlighting as a disco ball!
The pleating detail just below the sequined bodice adds definition to your waistline and attracts the eyes upward (perfect if you want to distract from other areas like your hips or thighs). Of coursen no shimmery party dress is complete without statement earrings and a gorgeous pair of stilettos.
Outfit #2 – The soft, feminine, free flowing dress This soft, elegant Nude Champagne silk chiffon dress (right) is ideal for weddings, cocktail functions, race wear and special occasion wear. The gathered bodice and full flowing skirt exude feminine appeal, and the silk satin obi tie up belt adds shape and definition to your waistline, ensuring you are not lost in a sea of loose material.
Light and comfortable, the elbow length bodice also offers the convenience of more warmth on colder evenings and a little more sun protection when out on the field at the races. To add to the elegance opt for tan stilettos (close to your skin tone) to elongate your legs and accessorise with pearls.
Outfit #3 – The patterned day dress A gorgeous patterned dress is a must in every woman’s wardrobe, though choosing timeless colours and patterns is the key. This short sleeved Cerise Slate silk cotton dress (left – also available in sage green and cobalt) offers a simple yet striking pattern that won’t result in it being tucked at the back of your wardrobe next season.
Providing a glamorous, yet conservative look, this dress is ideal for weddings, resort wear and day functions like luncheons and charity events. The light, breathable material is ideal for warm days and the short sleeves offer slightly more sun protection if you are at a garden party or wedding. To make your outfit really pop match your shoes and clutch with the most prominent colour in your pattern (in this case, cerise).
Outfit #4 – The striking yet simple cocktail dress There is nothing like a striking bright colour to turn heads at an event and this Cobalt Borealis dress (below, right) is the perfect colour for both a personal and professional setting.
From weddings and cocktail parties or an evening out dancing with the girls, through to a more formal work dinner or networking event, this simple yet striking dress is the perfect choice. Giving you the opportunity to dress it up or down with your accessories, you can go with extravagant statement jewellery and heels for a party, or make it simple and stylish with understated accessories and a tailored dressy jacket for a work event. This versatility also makes it the perfect dress to wear if you have to head to a wedding or party straight after work, allowing you to be professional by day and party diva by night.
Outfit #5 – The little black dress Your little black dress (LBD) is perhaps the most versatile fashion item you can buy, but that doesn’t mean it has to be plain and simple. Look for elegant designs and unique features that will help you stand out in the crowd, like this Black Opal silk dress.
With a different take on the LBD, this silk dress is actually chocolate brown with a double layered black polyester microgette over the top for contrast and ruffled sleeves for dramatic effect, making it ideal for cocktail functions, parties, the races or a special night out.
You can add colour through your accessories or opt for a more elegant look with matching heels and either classic pearls, or gold or silver jewellery.
Which look is your favourite?
Copyright © 2014 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…
DO YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this text copy in its entirety: Do you have a special occasion coming up and need a special outfit? Stokes Thompson Design has a range to suit many occasions. Click here to view our Our Collections.
Apr 28
Your Style Guide on What to Wear to Every Occasion
This dress ticks all the cocktail sytle boxes – just add your favourite sparkly accessories and highest heels and enjoy the party!
There is nothing quite like the excitement of being invited to a lavish cocktail party, black tie event, business dinner or networking event. But that feeling can quickly fade when the dreaded question “what do I wear?” pops into your head.
If choosing the outfit itself wasn’t bad enough, you have to try and work out what is appropriate to wear in each different setting. To help you, we’ve put together a style guide on what to wear for every occasion, so whether you are attending a casual BBQ with friends through to an extravagant societal ball, we have you clothed.
1. Casual A casual dress code means that pretty much anything goes. Shorts, jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, and even thongs are perfectly fine for a casual affair.
If invited to a party or BBQ with a casual dress code, keep your hosts in mind. What do they usually wear and how might they determine what a casual dress code is? If they are people who tend to be more smartly dressed, take the same approach.
2. Smart Casual or Business Casual This dress code is actually quite deceiving, because when it comes to smart or business casual, there’s nothing casual about it. Jeans, shorts and t-shirts are definitely not appropriate, instead go for dressier pants or a skirt with a nice blouse, or a more elegant day dress teamed with heels or ballet flats.
Really, you only want to be slightly less dressy than what you would wear to work (in a corporate environment) to meet a client. Go for a relaxed professional or polished look.
3. Business Business dress is obviously very sharp and professional. Opt for tailored suits – either pants or skirts – with buttoned up blouses, or a tailored dress with a jacket, combined with closed in heels and elegant accessories. It doesn’t have to be the same black, grey, red, white or navy colour schemes though. You can add a little colour through your accessories, jackets and blouses, depending on your industry and work dress code.
Think along the lines of Michelle Obama, or, for a more fictional example, the television character Alicia Florrick in The Good Wife. Both have a very classy, polished, confident look that is indicative of a business dress code.
(For more ideas on dressing up your business style check out Four Style Tips To Take Your Work Wardrobe From Drab to Fab)
For black tie and formal events, have some fun with elegant, long dresses and gowns.
4. Cocktail, Semi-Formal or After Five This can be a rather confusing dress code, considering that a cocktail party can be anything from a glamorous societal affair to a quiet dinner with friends, so it is important to keep the audience in mind.
In a broader sense though, cocktail, semi-formal or after five style codes tend to demand shorter (just above or just below the knee) formal dresses. Your little black dress is often the best choice here, or a more glittery, patterned party dress made from satin, silk or another light fabric.
Of course, no cocktail dress would be complete without sparkly accessories and the highest heels you can manage to walk in.
5. Formal or Black Tie When it comes to a formal or black tie style code, think red carpet elegance with beautiful, long dresses and gowns or elegant evening separates. While you can get away with cocktail dresses at some events, you are always better to choose the more formal, longer style – plus it can be more fun!
When it comes to dressing appropriately for any occasion, the golden rule is that it is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Besides, if you do get really stuck on what to wear, clarify with the hosts of the event or ask a friend or colleague what they will be wearing.
Have an upcoming cocktail or black tie event? Check out our full collection for some outfit inspiration.
Copyright © 2014 Stokes Thompson. All Rights Reserved. Contact Stokes Thompson or phone +61 7 3268 7878. This article may not be used without the prior written consent from the author. See below for more details…
DO YOU WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this text copy in its entirety: Do you have a special occasion coming up and need a special outfit? Stokes Thompson Design has a range to suit many occasions. Click here to view our Spring Summer 2013 Collection.
Mar 06
Peche Argent French lace dress for the feminine look
Powder pink lace dress exclusive from Stokes Thompson
Our ‘Peche Argent’ dress in powder pink French lace and silk chiffon is one of our latest exclusive designs.
This dress is ideal for weddings and special occasions. Whether you are looking for a bridal dress, dresses for your bridesmaids or just want something to look stunning on that special occasion, this dress looks sensational and is easy to wear.
The powder pink silk chiffon feature at the neckline and back perfectly compliments the sensuality of the French lace.
Read more about this dress and order today.
Download PDF of our Spring Summer 2013 designer range
Sep 15
Wheatfields dress in pale lemon satin and lace
Wheatfields summer dress for that special occasion
Want a special dress for your special occasion? This pale lemon duchess satin dress with beige/biscuit coloured French silk lace overlay – part of the Stokes Thompson Spring Summer 2013 collection will look sensational.
This three quarter length dress is idea for a resort wedding, a vintage style bridesmaid’s dress or if you are a guest at a wedding. Whatever your special occasion, you’ll feel very special in this dress.
Find out more about this dress on our shopping page.
Download PDF of our Spring Summer 2013 designer range.