Top Picks For The New Year

There’s nothing quite like the ending of one year and the beginning of another, is there?

A fresh start. A new beginning. Another chapter.

It’s also the perfect opportunity to take stock of your wardrobe and breathe new life into it by identifying the gaps and adding some gorgeous new pieces.

Case in point: the dress.

This season, there are 3 must own dresses every woman should have hanging in her wardrobe:

1 | The Little Black Dress (otherwise known as the LBD)

The LBD is perfect for any occasion that requires a bit of dressing up. Classic, timeless and elegant, all the LBD needs is some simple and beautiful accessories and you are good to go. Opt for accents of silver, beading and black for a sophisticated and sexy look.

Shop LBD | Shop Clutch | Shop Earrings | Shop Bracelets

2 | The Striped Number

The striped dress is a sassy little option, perfect for a BBQ or drinks at the pub. Add some pops of colour in the form of earrings and a satchel bag and tie in natural elements in the form of a wooden cuff. Cute and casual!

Shop Stripe Dress | Shop Cross Body Bag | Shop Earrings | Shop Bangle

3 | The Showstopper

The showstopper needs no introduction. It’s the dress you turn to when you want to make a statement. Let the dress do all the talking and keep accessories simple with muted metallics and a complementary pop of colour. This is the dress to turn heads this summer.

Shop Bracelet | Shop Earrings | Shop Bag | Shop Dress

Remember, a dress is an instant outfit that needs only a little bit of styling in the form of accessories.

Have a few perfect frocks hanging in your wardrobe and you’ll never be at a loss for what to wear.

Visit Sonia Styling here

3 Outfits for Christmas Day

I can’t believe Christmas is almost here! Where the heck did the time go?

Hopefully by now, the wreath is on the front door and all the gifts have been bought, wrapped and placed underneath the Christmas tree.

So that just leaves one more thing to check off the list – an outfit for Christmas Day!

I’ve long had a tradition where I treat myself to something new to wear for Christmas. It makes me feel special and happy and is a lovely self-gift (something we don’t tend to do often enough as women).

There are some key considerations when choosing the perfect outfit for a day where it’s all about eating, drinking and being merry, and I’ve managed to put together 3 outfits from Katies that are comfortable, stylish and perfect for Christmas Day.

The Shift Dress

The shift dress is a simple and easy ensemble that is classic and gorgeous. If you are a little on the curvy side, like me, go up a size to ensure a comfortable fit across the hips. It’s meant to look relaxed and effortless (and allow for an extra serve of ham).

Shop | The Shift Dress

The Soft Pant & Relaxed Fit Top

Repeat after me: an elasticised waist is my friend! These satin pants are a great way to add a touch of luxe while maintaining a relaxed fit. Pair them with a lovely loose fitting top and you have a fabulous outfit that effortlessly mixes glam with comfort.

Shop | Satin Soft Pant

The Ruffle Front Dress

Another beautiful dress option features the ultimate camouflage detail – the ruffle front. Pretty, flowy and a great way to add a pop of colour to your outfit. This dress slips on and off easily and is versatile enough to be worn casually during the day or glammed up for night.

Shop | Ruffle Front Dress

Wishing you a fabulous and fashionable Katies Christmas!

Visit Sonia Styling here

Summer Shoe Edit with Sonia

 Shoes are the full stop to an outfit’s sentence.

The right pair of shoes can elevate an outfit from good to great (and that has absolutely nothing to do with the heel height, either!).

There are 3 shoe trends we should all be running towards this Summer – 

the slide, the wedge and the block heel – and they suit just about everyone.

Here’s how to rock them with confidence and with Katies…

The Slide

Slides are the hot weather must have sandal this season.

They’re cute and comfortable and look great styled casually with a shorter length dress (think knee length or above) or with tailored shorts and flowy top.

To amp up the glam factor, go for a metallic finish in silver or gold.

SHOP YOKE SHIFT DRESS | SHOP OMBRE TOP 

White Dress available in selected stores

The Wedge

This season, the wedge heel is back in a big way.

And what’s not to love? You get the extra height with extra support!

Rock the boho look with a maxi dress and wedges or go for effortless cool by pairing them with printed pants/soft pants and a tank.

SHOP HANKY HEM SKIRT | SHOP ULTIMATE SHORT

Ruffle Dress available in selected stores

The Block Heel

Pop those skinny stiletto heels away for another day; the bulkier block heel is here to stay!

A cool, edgy and modern take on the high heel, the sturdier block heel offers an inch or two of height without sacrificing comfort, blending practicality and polish.

The block heel looks great with just about anything – denim shorts, dresses, skirts, pants – the works!

What shoe trends will you be dipping your toe into this Summer?

SHOP PALM PANT | SHOP SPLICED DRESS

Soft Pant available in selected stores

View Sonia Styling's Blog here

GUEST EDIT: Dogs Are A Girls Best Friend with Sonia

They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but I beg to differ.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a diamond as much as the next girl, however there’s something else that shines much brighter in my life.

Our dog, Amalfi.

A little ball of fluff with a big personality, he has brought so much joy and love to our lives, we just couldn’t imagine our world without him.

It’s especially lovely to come home from work and see that little face, so excited to see you. And no matter how crappy a day I’ve had, I always feel instantly better the minute I cuddle Amalfi.

He’s also great for getting us out of the house for a walk to the park, where he can catch up with his other 4-legged friends and burn off some of that seemingly never-ending energy.

Amalfi is a hit with other dogs and people, and is quite well known in our neighbourhood.

I’ve always joked that we should get him into dog modeling (if such an industry exists) and so it’s kind of cool that he gets to make his modeling debut here on the Katies blog!

He makes a pretty cute accessory, don’t you think?

Yep, I’ve got my diamonds – and I love them – but Amalfi really is my best friend.

Shop Sonia's Look | Strappy Lace Trim Dress 

Shop Sonia's Look | Pleated Dress

visit soniastyling.com here

GUEST EDIT: Update Your Look with Sonia Styling

“I’ve got nothing to wear!”

Probably the most common phrase uttered by women everywhere before heading out to dinner,
a party, coffee with friends, work…

But what we really mean by this universal statement is that we have nothing NEW to wear.

Which, if money were no object, we could rectify by shopping for clothes and shoes on a weekly basis like we do our groceries. However, this isn’t realistic for most of us. Food (and bills) have to come first.

So how can we update our outfits without breaking the bank?

Accessories!

A necklace, set of bracelets or pair of earrings can go a long way in changing up the look of a dress, jeans and t-shirt or corporate attire.

They are inexpensive, add a pop of colour and can transform an outfit from casual to dressy.

The latest jewellery collection from Katies features a range of gorgeous elements including shells, wood, resin and beads. Neutral palettes appear alongside jewel tones – both colour schemes bang on trend for Spring/Summer. And the best part? Prices start from as little as $14.95.

An easy (and affordable) way to update your favourite looks this season.

Shop Jewellery     |     visit soniastyling.com

Blue & green should definitely be seen!

Remember that old saying, “blue and green should never be seen without a colour in between”?

Well, I say phooey to that. It’s time to throw out the fashion rule book and embrace this dynamic colour duo!

Jewel tones are a huge trend for Spring/Summer and the hottest hues right now are definitely green and blue. A colour combination that’s perfect for warm Summer days spent by the ocean or swimming pool, enjoying BBQs, sipping on cocktails and dancing the night away with friends.

Enter Katies’ latest collection – Blue Lagoon.

The colour palette for this collection consists of the ever fashionable monochrome tones of black

and white with pops of blue and green for freshness, as well as Ikat and Paisley prints.

The key features of the Blue Lagoon collection are soft and feminine shapes with layering and proportion play, which make the pieces modern and fashionable. Tops are shorter, wide leg pants are cropped and dresses are layered to give a stylish edge to these easy to wear pieces.

My favourite items in this collection are definitely the tops and dresses. In my opinion, you can
never have too many of either! Tops are a simple and affordable way to update your wardrobe
and can be worn with your favourite jeans.

Dresses are an instant outfit and an easy solution for the age old question every woman
asks herself before heading out – “what am I going to wear?”

So here’s to wearing blue and green, because this Summer they should definitely be seen!

Shop the Edit

Sonia joins the Katies Collective

Tell us a bit about yourself 

My name is Sonia and I live in South Australia with my husband and our puppy, Amalfi. I work in admin by day and I’m a blogger every other second of the day and night. I love fashion, writing and connecting on social media. I’m an avid bargain hunter – I truly believe you can find amazing fashion anywhere; you’ve just got to be open minded. I’m also a chronic over sharer, which is probably a good thing I’m a blogger!

How did the ‘Sonia Styling’ blog journey begin?

I’m a writer at heart and I wanted a place of my own on the internet to communicate and connect, so I created Sonia Styling in October 2013. I wanted it to be a place where I can share my feelings, thoughts and finds. I’m incredibly lucky because I have the most amazing community of people who read what I write and leave such thoughtful comments. I also love helping people, so I get ridiculously excited when I receive a reader request.

What is a typical day in your life? (How do you balance blogging & work etc)

I wake up and the first thing I do is check my phone – tragic but essential! I work full time, so I use my early mornings, lunch-breaks and evenings to check in on social media, promote my posts and answer any questions or comments. I have a notebook with me at all times to write down any ideas that pop into my head and after dinner, I’ll sit down with the laptop and write my blog posts. Basically, I fit my blog into any spare time I might have. I’m still trying to get the balance right, but I think if you’re really passionate about something like I am about my blog, you make time for it.

What is the message behind Sonia Styling and how do you hope it’ll touch the lives of your readers?

I like to think of Sonia Styling as a cool little place to hang out and talk about everything from fashion to life, from the light and fluffy to the deep and serious. Having said all of that, I hope that anyone and everyone feels like Sonia Styling is a blog for them and sees me as their trusted online bestie – the one who loves to help and will always give their honest opinion.

Where do you go for fashion news & inspiration?

I love checking out fabulous Australian blogs (gosh we have so much talent!) and what people are wearing on social media, particularly Instagram and Pinterest. I’m inspired by everyday women and how they put their outfits together – much more attainable and relatable than catwalk models! I also like seeing what my favourite brands are sharing on their Facebook pages.

Do you ever have that girly moment when you simply think ‘I have nothing to wear?’

Every. Single. Day. Doesn’t every woman?!

If you could give our readers one bit of fashion advice what would it be? 

Stay true to your personal style: dress for your body shape, personality and lifestyle. Also, have fun with fashion – it’s not rocket surgery!

Visit SONIA STYLING blog here