Shoes.
We love them.
We adore them.
We have been known to stare at them for hours.
We have known to drool over them for days.
We want to kiss them when George Clooney isn’t around.
We spend days searching for the right pair.
We feel fabulous every time we find a new pair.
We get palpitations and an adrenaline rush just thinking about getting them home.
But what happens this season when you walk into a store and peruse the shoe department? Let me guess. You look around and all you see are outrageous heels and crazy tie me up, tie me down shoes. You (try really hard to) frown. You pick them up. You wonder how to get into them without a step ladder and an oxygen mask. You wonder how you could walk in them let alone run, as you normally do, like a maniac in Manolos. They will kill me, you mumble to yourself. They will torture me.  I will stagger around like a performer from Cirque du Soleil and need a Zimmer frame just to get to the car.
But there is good news.
This season we see the return of the wedge. Woo Hoo! This means you can quickly slide into your shoes without needing a PhD and in-depth instructions. This means you can walk while your feet are in an almost horizontal position. This means you can get the all important leg lengthening properties of heels without enduring ongoing pain and numbness. This means taking less Nurofen plus. This means less frowning. This means less Botox. This means you can spend more money on shoes. This means you will look fabulous.
This means you can smile as you skip into store to try on that pretty Review dress.
This means Love.

Yours fashionably,

FiFi
www.FiFi.com.au

Fellow fashionistas: are you sick of this election? Who can work out what the candidates stand for and what they actually believe in? It seems, though, that they are ignoring one major issue. The issue that, some say, could be the moral challenge of our times. The issue is this: What to wear to an election night party? It’s a huge decision that could affect generations for years to come.
So Fashionistas it’s time for change: Change of outfits (and probably shoes too).
Let’s start with The Greens election night party. It’s most important to wear something recycled. I suggest setting up a trading scheme with your mother and grab her chic YSL Smoking jacket. Otherwise go for something sustainable such as last season’s fabulous Review tailored blazer. Stick to natural fabrics. It could be a Mink chubby or your new fabulous Celine leather skirt. Tip: In keeping with The Greens’ philosophy use organic products on your blow dry, facial, manicure and fillers.
So that’s The Greens but what the Liberal election night party? This is about a grownup wardrobe. A wardrobe that shouldn’t change as the years go by. You want a 50’s Chanel tweed suit. Pearls. Cute little Prada kitten heels. An Hermes bag. My tip: Toss on a “Stop the Yachts” Tee shirt for a modern twist to a classic look. (Don’t worry no-one will stare except Julie Bishop.)
For a Labor election night party choosing what to wear could have been one of the great significance. Now I suggest simply organising a community decision to discuss the best outfit. That way, going forward, getting dressed will be easy. If that doesn’t tally I suggest mining your own wardrobe. Still can’t decide? Just go out and spend! Spend! Spend! (Or throw on a red wig and walk out the door).
So what are FiFi’s personal preferences? My policy is this: Always wear Review. My vote goes to a divine brocade Review dress. It’s chic, enduring and always right whatever your sartorial agenda. Wear Review: Yes, You will.
Vote One Review! Vote One FiFi! Vote One Fashion!

Yours fashionably,

FiFi
www.FiFi.com.au

The good news? This season fashion rules are meant to be broken….

Wearing navy and black together is a No No.
Wrong! Right now wearing navy and black together is a Yes, Yes! It was all over the runways from Lanvin to Celine and it’s hot hot! Chic and understated it’s a great way to break up all your black (without going crazy with pops of bright colour).

Always match shoes and bags.
Oh please, this rule is so over it’s actually back in fashion again. Don’t worry about matching shoes and bags: add a red bag with animal print heels, orange shoes with a tan brown bag, or a purple bag with red heels. It’s the quickest way to add a little personal, eclectic ‘oomph’ to any outfit.

Don’t mix your metals.
What?! With all the gold, bronze and silver around this season why limit half your wardrobe because you are afraid of mixing it up? Go for gold! Go for silver! Go for bronze! Try throwing on a silver necklace with a gold chain bag. Mixing metals means modern.

Wear sequins only at night
So last century! As I mentioned months ago fashion now is all about mixing it up: Daytime fabrics in the evening and evening fabrics in the day. A sequin top looks so right with a trench and jeans for day. Remember shine is fine for day.

Don’t do Denim on Denim.
We thought this was so Britney. We thought this was so eighties. We thought this was so Charlene. Then we saw it on the Chloe runway and suddenly denim on denim looked right. Casual cool.

Never mix spots and stripes.
Ignore this please! For summer it’s all about clashing prints together. Head into Review right now and you’ll start seeing spots. You’ll see gorgeous spot skirts tossed back with simple stripe Tees. It’s unexpected. It’s fun. It’s new. You might be seeing spots before your eyes but at least you’ll be giddy. Giddy with shopping pleasure. We know that’s a fashion rule that can never be broken.

Yours fashionably,

FiFi
www.FiFi.com.au

Photos courtesy of Style.com and JAK & JIL

What: The black lace Tee.

Which: You need, want and must have a black lace tee this season. It should have a round neckline and short sleeves. It should be in chic black lace. It could be in white. It should be in a neat shape so that it skims rather than clings. You want it to skip over the bits but be small enough to wear easily under a jacket. It could be see through but you shouldn’t wear it that way.

Why: Because lace was one of the big trends on the runway (Lanvin ! Celine ! Givenchy ! ) for this season and next. Meaning? You can invest in this look now and still wear it with confidence next year. Because black lace will add a pretty, feminine touch to serious suiting. Because lace is a great way to add an edge to classic pieces. Because it’s a great way to add a little maximalism to the new minimalism. Because we love the contrast of the simple, casual shape of a Tee reworked in a luxurious, unexpected fabric. Because we love fashion and this is the hot piece of the season !

Wear: Don’t think of lace as an evening wear look. Think outside the box. It’s about wearing luxury fabrics in the day. Wear a lace Tee with your favourite 50’s skirt and nipped in jacket. (See Carine Roitfleld below).  Wear with your old boyfriend jeans and a chic blazer. Wear layered over a white tee with stone chinos and a trench. Wear with a leather skirt and heels and finish the look with a chic clutch. For evenings try a lace tee under a tuxedo jacket a la Gwyneth ( with pants) or just throw it back with a long velvet skirt and a chic, little cashmere knit. You could even try it with a red lace bra under a la fashion editor Anna dello Russo. If you dare.

Where: $129 at Review of course!

Yours fashionably,

FiFi
www.FiFi.com.au

Photos courtesy of Style.com and JAK & JIL