Get The Alexa Chung Look

The Savvy Girl's Guide To…
Alexa Chung's Style

Ask any fashion blogger to rate her favourite style icons and Alexa Chung's name will surely list as one of the top choices. This DJing, modeling, socializing, tv presenting half-British half-Chinese beauty has uniquely carved a niche in the fashion world, where everything she wears turns to gold. She wavers from feminine to tomboy style with a snap of perfectly manicured fingernail. Alexa lists sixties actress Jane Birkin as her style inspiration, who provides her with 'the confidence to dress like a boy but act like a girl'. This It-Girl values comfort over trends, which is refreshing to see in an A-list society that produces one carbon copy after the other.

What I like about Alexa's style is that she steers away from the norm. Instead of fussy dresses, caked makeup, rigidly sprayed hair and ankle-breaking heels, Alexa prefers messy tresses with a fresh natural face, preppy layers with a decisive 60's vibe about it and she almost always wears flats on the red carpet. How many other celebrities would have the courage to do that?

Alexa's Closet Essentials

I was inspired to compile this post after seeing Cindy Mangomini's fantastic illustration of all the 'Alexa Essentials'.

How To Get The Alexa Chung Look

This is my guide on how to get Alexa Chung's effortlessly chic street style in a few simple key sets. If you have these essentials in your closet, you will easily be able to recreate Alexa's coveted style, adding your own spin to it. Her outfits are quite formulaic, she has perfected how to dress exceptionally and this is how…

Floral Dresses

Alexa's summer staple are feminine and floaty floral dresses in eye-catching prints and colours that are paired with basket or sling bags, flat strappy sandals and shades.

The Breton Striped Top

Season after season, we have seen Alexa wear a classic black and white or red Breton striped top. She has casually teamed it with denim cut-off shorts, skinny jeans, sneakers and boots. She has also worn a dress version of this linear print.

Skirts & Sweaters 

The key to this It-Girl's semi formal style is pairing a chic knit sweater with a patterned skirt, either fitted or flaired. She has reused this fashion template time and time again with stellar results. Black pointy flats, Peter Pan collars and coats accompany her sweater & skirt sets.

Boho Chic

Alexa rules the festival scene with her fabulous range of layered indie chic outfits. She favors cropped lace tops, fedoras, denim shorts, khaki parkas, Converse sneakers & Hunter boots.

The Denim Dungaree

The 30-year-old maintains a youthful style stance by wearing denim dungarees, cropped, long and in dress form. She keeps it simple with trench coats, lace-up espadrilles and buttoned shirts.

Get Alexa's Casual Daytime Look

Cream fluffy sweater £12 Jane Norman. Floral pleated skirt £30 House of Fraser.com Black flat sandals £7 Asos. Breton striped top £25 John Lewis.com. Straw bag £25 H&M. Hunter Boots $148. Lace cropped top £15 H&M. Denim shorts £19 H&M. L'oreal Texture Expert True Grip $15. Wella Ocean Spritz Sea Salt Spray £8.50. Converse Chuck Taylor sneakers £55. Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupté $35. Floral print dress $27 Chicnova.com. Black tie-up espadrilles $50 Theiconic.com.au. Grey fedora £22 Miss Selfridge

Glimmer Girl

Whilst Alexa doesn't lean towards the flashy and flamboyant, she does occasionally wear high gloss metallics, which she combines with more low key pieces to casually balance it out.

Little Black Dresses

I love that Alexa can rock a designer Valentino or Carven little black dress on the red carpet with flat shoes and unkempt tresses. Winged Eyeko liner add defined to her eyes, whilst she blends Chanel Sublimage cream to her cheeks for a subtle sheen.

Leopardess

This socialites signature style would be incomplete if I didn't mention leopard print. Her fondness for this animalistic trend extends to coats, ankle boots and bags. Alexa pairs her leopardess looks with basic white, white and grey.

Leather Loving

Adding to her edgy androgynous style is sleek black leather, in the form of sexy mini skirts and shorts. Alexa always keeps her styling sophisticated with a fleecy jumper or prim white shirt.

Get Alexa's Glam Look

Little Black Dress $55 Modcloth.com. Alexa eye liner $19 Eyeko. Chanel Sublimage Cream $390. Black top handle bag $38 Nastygal.com. Leather mini skirt £50 Mango.com. Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats £465. Leopard print coat £85 Topshop. White button-up shirt £55 French Connection. Chelsea boots by Michael Kors. Chanel Rouge Allure 97 $35. Eye Do Mascara $26 Eyeko. Navy blue cable knit jumper £20 Mango. Gold sequined pencil skirt £30 H&M.

Have you been inspired by any of Alexa's styles? Which would you wear?

Apply Blush According to Your Face Shape

The Savvy Girl's Guide
How to Apply Blush For Your Face Shape

It was not so long ago that I used to dip a powder brush into my blush and swirled the cerise shaded hue across my cheeks like I was casually dusting the mantlepiece...pretty much all over the place. I'd like to say my blush sweeping skills have evolved since then, as I have learnt how to apply the right coloured rouge to suit my square face shape. These are some simple tips on how to apply blush in a way that will perfectly compliment your face shape.

Image via Listotic.com

How To Apply Blush If You Have:

A Long Face - Allude to a wider face shape by dusting blush onto the apples of your cheek, then blend sidewards in (almost) a straight line towards the ears.

A Heart Shaped Face - Balance out a narrower chin by blending blush just below the apples of your cheek. Sweep in an upwards direction towards the hairline.

A Square Face - Soften sharp angles by circulating your blush onto the apples of your cheeks.

A Round Face - Create the illusion of a slimmer face by contouring a darker hued blush applied at a 45 degree angle in a V shape.

An Oval Face - Start at the apples of your cheeks and sweep blush upwards towards your temples. In the beauty world, an Oval shaped face is regarded as most perfect and versatile.

Take this quiz to find out what's your face shape. 

Blushing Celebrities

Top: Olivia Wilde highlights her exquisite cheekbones and square frame beautifully. Sarah Jessica Parker displays how to achieve width on a longer face shape. Mila Kunis uses artful contouring to give a more angular appearance to her round face.
Bottom: Reese Witherspoon's heart shaped face is given a defining rosy tint. Alexa Chung uses a coral colour to shade in her symmetrical oval shaped face. Scarlett Johansson sculpts her diamond/triangular shaped face with a peachy bronze hue.


Blush Up With These Great Compacts

Top Row: IMAN Luxury Blushing Duo in Posh $10. Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush $30. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar $42.
Middle Row: Urban Decay Naked Flushed Bronzer, Highlighter & Blush Trio $30. Benefit Posie Tint Cheek Stain $30. Clinique Cheek Pop in Plum Pop $21.
Bottom Row: Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Pinched $13. L'Oreal Soufflé Cream Blush in Plume (Mauve) $13. Elf HD Cream Blush in Superstar $3. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Candy Coral $7. Tarte Cheek Stain in Fearless $30.

 First & last image found via Jill Stuart.

What face shape are you and have you tried these blush tricks?

The Savvy Girl's Guide to Frizz-Free Hair

The Savvy Girl's Guide To...
Fighting Frizz & Flyaway Hair

We all have those those days when your hair looks like you have been plugged in an electrical socket. Not a problem if you're going for that tumbleweed type of look, but there's a fine line between sultry out-of-bed hair and looking like a you're harboring a bird's nest in your tresses. Weather conditions are partly to blame for our electrifying hairstyles - Dry hot air leads to flyways, whilst humidity creates unwelcome frizz. However, over-processing, heat styling, bleaching and colouring also cause our hair to behave badly. These are my tried and tested frizz-busting tips for glossy locks.

Frizzified hair at Marc by Marc Jacobs FW13 

Tips to Get Rid of Frizz & Flyaway's

*Get your hair trimmed every six-eight weeks to get rid of dry split ends that create frizz.

* Resist the temptation to wash your hair every single day. Those natural oils from your scalp assist in coating the hair that's in need of moisture.

Sleek straight not-a-hair out of place at Rebecca Minkoff FW13

*Try a cold rinse after you wash and condition to seal off and smoothen down hair cuticles.

*Avoid rubbing your hair with a towel as this creates friction which leads to frizz. A microfiber towel is a better option, or if you don't have one, try patting and wrapping your hair dry with a soft, clean t-shirt.

These are some good serums, sprays and defrizzers to try out. Nope, that's not mascara, it's John Frieda's brilliant full repair touch-up frizz tamer. Perfect for on-the go and it fits into your handbag.

*A moisture-rich conditioner is the best remedy for dry hair. Apply to the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, then leave on for about 2 minutes after shampooing. Rinse off thereafter.

*Apply hair serums while your hair is still wet, as this is when your hair is easier to manage.

*When picking out a conditioner or hair serum at your beauty store, look for one that has added proteins and silicone. The ones that work best will usually be clear and in liquid form.

Jessica Biel - from the frizzable to the fantastic.

*Sleeping on a satin pillowcase will reduce friction and hair breakage.

*If you have to use one - a flat iron will instantly smoothen down hair cuticles and lock in shine, but don't forget to use a heat-protecting product beforehand.

Image via Free People

*Try an apple cider vinegar rinse for a more natural approach. Pour half a cup over your mane after shampooing, leave in for a minute, then rinse out with cold water. Condition as usual.

*Onto more kitchen essentials, whip up an egg with a tablespoon of water or almond oil, the yolks help to make a protein-enriched hair mask. Apply half an hour before washing your hair. 

*Mash up an avocado with some olive oil for a nourishing, easy, at-home hair treatment.

*We often turn to serums when trying to tame flyaways, but this usually sits in a film on top of your hair, whilst oils are absorbed into your hair. Try coconut oil (yes, it does smells quite coconutty) or use olive oil instead. Coconut oil usually solidifies, so hold the bottle under warm water until it dissolves into a liquid. Massage into hair & scalp, wear a shower cap and leave on for an hour or overnight. Wash out with a good clarifying shampoo & conditioner.

*Another good defrizzing trick is to try kiddies detangling spray...and on the plus side your hair will smell of strawberries.

*Swap your current hairdryer for an ionic one, as it adds ions to your hair and neutralizes the electric charge that causes static hair.

*When blow-drying wavy and curly hair, use the diffuser (it's that alien shower-head-like attachment that came with your hairdryer).

*Don't point the end of the blow dryer upwards at your hair from the bottom, as this will split hair follicles and amplify the frizz factor. Rather angle the nozzle down in the direction of the hair shaft. Set with a blast of cold hair to close off the hair cuticles.

*Run a dryer sheet (it can be found in the detergent section of your grocery store) across your hair to remove static.

*Use brushes made of rubber or wood with natural bristles. Plastic brushes produce static.

*Use a wide-tooth comb on damp or wet hair, tugging at knots with a brush leads to breakage.

*Buy a spare toothbrush and spray a little hairspray on it to comb down those pesky flyaways at your hairline. Ensure that your hairspray is alcohol free, as this ingredient dries hair out.

Blake Lively's unruly flyaway's are perfectly primped for a red carpet appearance.

*This has happened to me countless of times -  After trying on clothes in a store changing room, my hair becomes a hyper-static mess. Before leaving, take some hand cream and rub a little between your palms, then lightly go over your hair with your hands.

*And if all these ideas fail (and I hope they don't)...grab a wide-brimmed hat, silk scarf or hoodie to hide those gravity-defying flyaways.

What is your best advice for fighting frizz & flyaways?

Make Your Own Floral Crown

The Savvy Girl's Guide To

Making a Floral Crown

When I first saw floral crowns blossom into trend, I knew it would be the perfect idea for a DIY. I, unfortunately don't share the same crafting streak that so many other inventive bloggers do. So I asked my dear web friend Kacie Cone from the blog Shy Girl Loud Voice to share her artistry with us and demonstrate the simplest way to make a floral headband.

Californian-raised, Portland-based Kacie is a talented singer/songwriter with a knack for bohemian style and a genius on the guitar. I hope it won't be long before we see her debut album in stores, or if not that first, a Free People campaign is most certainly in her near future. I will now leave you in the creative hands of the lovely Kacie. 

Take it Away Kacie...

It'd be pretty hard to miss this summers new trend of flower crowns, but not so hard to miss some of those steep prices retailers try to sell them for. I was able to make about seven or eight flower crowns for under $15 using only materials from the dollar store. Not only will this DIY save you some money but it will also save you some time, seeing as making these flower crowns is way less time consuming then shopping for the perfect find. The best part is being able to put your own personal touch on something you create...so lets get started!

You Will Need: 

All you are going to need for this DIY is some flowers, a headband of any kind that you wish, 

a pair of scissors and a hot glue gun. 

Step 1:

The first thing you are going to need to do is pull the flowers off their stems. 

They should slide off very easily!

Step 2:

The next step is to cut off the small stem but beware because that small stem will fly across the room if your not careful!

Step 3:

Lastly hot glue your flower directly on to the headband and make sure to hold it in place for a couple seconds to ensure it sticks.

All Done!

And that's it! As you can see from the pictures shown above, the possibilities for your flower crowns are endless, so be creative and have fun!

Celebrity Inspired Floral Crowns

Celebrities have been paving the flower path with many different and endearing floral looks. You can customize the size and colours of a DIY floral crown to your personal specifications. Go dainty like Alexa Chung, Katy Perry and Kirsten Dunst. Try white daisies for an indie summertime look, as seen on Aly Michalka and Vanessa Hudgens. Or if you're particularly enamored by the trend, go big with romantic rose wreathes in pretty shades as Pixie Lott, Delta Goodrem and Lana Del Dey did.

Thanks so much to Kacie for doing this fabulous DIY. I hope you are also inspired to create your own unique floral fascinator using her easy-to-follow steps.


*All Kacie's images are copyrighted to her blog. 

The Savvy Girls Guide to Vintage Style

I have always admired vintage style, but knew little about it achieving it. That's when I decided to get some expert advice in the form of a dear blog friend and vintage virtuoso, Nicole Danielle Warr.

Nicole is the creator of South Africa's first ever online vintage magazine, Vintage Lifestyle, which highlights everything from fashion to decor, travel, literature, music, art and design. 
This dynamic 22-year-old has a passion for all things vintage, as well as fashion and drinking lots of tea. Nicole's magazine attains a perfect balance, featuring good quality, affordable labels and also luxury vintage inspired brands. This virtual publication looks at how vintage elements enhance our modern lifestyles - the old with the new - all culminating in a unique look and experience. Amidst running a successful magazine, compiling articles & styling and organizing exquisite photo shoots, Nicole also impressively finds time in between to run her own blog, Diamonds & Dust. And to guest post for Frills & Thrills. Take it away Nicole....

Nicole's Essential Vintage Items

The High-Waisted Skirt

High-waisted skirts look best with a well-fitted blouse or a jersey and a statement waist belt. Popular vintage colours at the moment are ivory white, mint green, dusty pink and maroon. Good news is that they work well for the fuller figure too, and if worn in a darker shade, such as black or navy blue, it will compliment the shape in more ways than one.

The 50's Style Dress

Floral print never seems to go out of fashion. One could put together images of people wearing floral from every decade. For the vintage look however, it has to be the 50's style floral dress. Conservative top, a cinched waist and a wide knee-length skirt (the bigger the skirt, the better!). Remember when wearing floral not to overdo it. My advice would be to wear one floral item at a time and to refrain from mixing florals with other patterns such as stripes and polka dots. It’s best to pair your dress with a cardigan for those chilly evenings out.

The LBD or “Little Black Dress”

This is yy absolute favourite item of clothing. The origins of this dress date back to 1920's designs of Coco Chanel. I’m sure you all know by now that a LBD is an essential to have. If you’re standing in front of your cupboard one day and you have absolutely no clue as of what to wear, take out your LBD, put on some heels and you’re good to go. What’s also great about wearing a plain black dress is that you have the option of accessorizing however you like, and with whatever colour you like. The classic LBD is a look that works for many women time and time again. For those chilly evenings out, pair your LBD with a classic beige trench coat.

Vintage-Style Sunglasses

Some of the greatest vintage-style sunglasses have to be wayfarers, aviators, Jackie O’s and cat’s eye. You might have thought that these styles are modern, but fashions have a way of resurfacing. Remember Audrey Hepburn’s wayfarer style sunglasses in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Tom Cruise’s aviator sunglasses in Top Gun? Jackie Onassis wearing her signature oversized, round sunglasses (this style was named after her), and the cat’s eye sunglasses worn by every housewife in the 50s and 60s?

Vintage-Style Earrings

I have a pair of clip-on earrings that are very dear to me. They belonged to my grandmother and anyone who knows me knows that I wear them all the time. What I love about them is that they compliment any outfit. If you can’t get hold of your grandmother’s vintage clip-on’s, don’t worry too much as many of the vintage stores and markets still sell them. If you want to go for a more classic style, try vintage pearl earrings with a matching necklace.

Mary Jane Shoes or Classic Round Pumps

Shoes have a way of rounding off a look. When it comes to vintage, a pair of Mary Jane’s or classic round pumps will do just that. My advice would be to start off with a neutral colour, such as tan, black, navy blue or ivory white. This is to ensure that they’ll match with all your outfits and then, when you’re ready, perhaps start experimenting with bold colours and prints.


Vintage Hair & Make-Up

Personally, when it comes to hair and make-up, I always keep it simple.

Delicate, wavy hair, with a winged liner on the eyes and a nude lip. 

Or, all my hair pulled back into a sleek bun with soft eyes and dark red lips. 

I’m also a huge fan of plaits or braids as they tend to soften a look quite nicely.

Nicole's Thrifting Tips

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• Always check the fabrics for holes and stains. Unless it's really worth sewing up or bleaching (if it's white), then don't buy it.
• Check the label. This gives you an indication of what it’s worth and whether the selling price is reasonable. If it’s Gucci, you’re going to pay a bit more.
• TRY THE ITEM ON! I’ve made the mistake before of not trying the item on and then going home and drowning in it.
• If you’re new to vintage, try and mix one vintage item with modern items. For example; wear your new shift dress with your vintage clutch bag.
• I recommend hand washing most vintage items, especially lace. Older fabrics may be damaged in very hot water.
• Have fun! Thrifting can soon become a great hobby of yours.

A Special Thanks to Nicole for taking the time to guest post and for defining 'Vintage Style'. 

I hope you have enjoyed her retro fashion tips and thrifting tricks as much as I have. 

Is 'Vintage' something you would try out?

*Images sourced via Tumblr, Polyvore and Nicole's blog, Diamonds & Dust.

How To Pack For A Holiday

I bid you all a fond farewell for the next two weeks, as I leave for vacation today. In the spirit of jet-setting and sightseeing, I thought it would be a good idea to share my tips on how to pack an ideally stylish and functional suitcase for traveling abroad. What you pack obviously depends on where you will be going, the climate, activities involved and type of vacation. These are the items that I usually pack for a spring/summer holiday away.

I start with adaptable pieces in neutral tones - basic t-shirts, skinny jeans and tights. Selecting fabrics that won't crease when folded is helpful for when you reach your destination. Looking back at former holiday snapshots, I realized that I have always packed a striped top, it can be repurposed in so many different ways. A shirtdress looks chic for both day and night, and travels well. It can be styled up with heels and dressed down with flat sandals. A 'little black dress' is a must if you intend on attending any formal evenings. For outerwear, I picked a classic trench, in case of rainy days, and an animal print cardigan, in case of chilly days.

Now that you have built up the basics, it's time to add some saturation. I usually pick one or two colours from my closet that work well with black, white, beiges and denim. Sticking to a similar colour scheme will also help cut down on accessories and allow for interchanging pieces. This holiday, my primary shade is coral. I picked skirts, blouses, a blazer, sweater and dresses in this shade, adding pink to spice it up, as well as hints of black, so that it will all cohesively blend into the contents of my suitcase.

I always find choosing the right type of shoes tricky. You never know what you will be in the mood to wear, and if there's a lot of walking and touring to be done, you have to ensure you carry a really comfy pair. Also, there may be occasions where you need to dress up and then you may require heels. I try to pick shoes and sandals that will match my travel wardrobe, dividing them into flats, trainers and heels. I don't ever take newly-bought-but-never-worn shoes with me - they may turn out to be feet assassins.

The most fun part of packing...is selecting co-ordinating accessories. I love vibrantly printed scarves for jazzing up a monotone look. I use a daytime bag that's big enough to fit all my travel essentials and also carry a easily foldable black clutch, for formal dressing. I keep jewellery simple with just 4 or 5 pieces in corresponding colours and metals. One or two skinny belts will reinvent that summer dress or shirt. A UV protectant pair of sunglasses and a sun hat is a necessity for me - They serve the purpose of shielding you from the scorching sun and also hide any sleepless nights and bad hair days you may have while on holiday.

I hope you will find my 'How To Pack' guide useful the next time you are planning a trip. I would love to hear any packing advice you may have for me too. 

I have prepared a few posts for while I am away, which will be wi-fi dependent. I will only be able to respond to comments when I get back in two weeks time, for this I apologize. I will miss my daily visits to your blogs and hope to catch up when I return.

Until Then...Have a wonderful Easter! I wish you all well and chat to you soon.

Ciao
Sam


*All images found via Polyvore.

The Savvy Girl's Guide to Spring Cleaning

It's that time of year again - a dreaded thought for some of us and a seasonal cleansing ritual for others. Spring signifies the start of something new, a time for planting new seeds of style, for cleaning out old habits...and wardrobes. This is my guide to surviving the closet crusade they call 'Spring Cleaning'. I share with you some of the ideas that have worked for me in the past and a few clever ones I sourced from magazines around the web.

1. Start Sorting

* You will probably need to set an entire day or weekend aside to sort out your closet. The easiest way to begin is to clear out everything. Remove all your clothes off their hangers, sweaters off their shelves and accessories from their drawers.

* Divide your clothes into three piles :

  The 'Things I Treasure' Pile

  The 'Things to Toss Out' Pile, and

  The Undecided Pile

* The 'Things I Treasure' Pile will usually consist of your much-loved closet pieces and everyday essentials. Hold on to items of clothing that you get great wear out of and that always look graceful on you... with the odd party dress or gravity-defying pair of heels thrown in, which you will insist is far too pretty to give away.

* The 'Things to Toss Out' Pile should include items of clothing that don't fit well nor flatter you, that are ripped or faded, & things that you haven't worn in over a year. Also consider adding ultra trendy pieces you know will only make a comeback when Lindsay Lohan does. Donate these pieces to charity, content knowing your clothes are going to a better cause.

* Now, the tricky part...How to decide on the 'Undecided Pile'. 

- The best trick in the book is to hang or fold these undetermined pieces of clothing inside out. As the months go by, you will have an idea of what you haven't worn & probably never will.

- Be reasonable with your decisions. If you can't think of any place or occasion that you could wear the garment or shoes, it probably means you should bid it farewell.

- Another good idea is to have a clothes swap party with your friends, bargaining with only the undecided pieces of clothing. That way, if you ever decide you want the clothes returned to your closet...all you have to do is swap it back.

2. Re-Packing

* Now that you have made some space in your closet for the new season's trends, it's time to store away your winter wear and repack.
* Before re-packing your wardrobe, line the shelves with scented drawer liners or organza bags filled with cinnamon sticks and dried flower petals.
* Separate clothing pieces by type - long pants, cropped pants, shorts, skirts, blazers, work shirts, weekend t-shirts, work & party dresses. Arrange them accordingly in your wardrobe.

* An easy way to identify your clothes is to arrange and hang them by colour. Not to mention it looks quite appealing too.

3. De-Cluttering Ideas

Image credits

1.  If your wardrobe space has ran out, why not purchase cute stand-alone drawer sets to store any extras. Not only do they jazz up your room, but they are ideal for storing socks, tights, shoes, hats or undergarments.
2. The shoe wheel is a great space-saving way to pack your heels and keep them in shape. 
3. When storing your winter knits and thicker sweaters, have them vacuum-packed in plastic bags so they take up less space. Deposit the bags on your top-most shelves or under the bed for next winter.
4. Try to keep your hangers identical and toss out bulky wooden ones for a sleeker set like these Huggable Hangers, which have a velvet covering that prevent clothes from falling off.

A functional and visually delightful way of storing those winter coats and boots are by packing them away in vintage suitcases. They look charming as part of your room decor and they serve a valuable storage purpose too. 

4. Organizing Accessories

1/2/3/4/5

1. Keep your precious pieces of jewellery in pretty little teacups and saucers or fancy bowls.
2. Buy or make shelf dividers to redistribute your space. Storing handbags this way will make them easy to find and keep them neat and upright.
3. Etsy and Amazon have a world of attractive jewellery organizers to choose from that also assist in keeping necklaces and bracelets from tangling.
4. Store your scarves and belts on silver towel hangers that you will be able to find at a low cost in any hardware store.
5. Another brilliant idea is to cut and use old PVC pipes to line your drawers and roll scarves, ties or tights into them for easy access.


5. Tips & Tricks

* If you like keeping your shoes in their original boxes, take a Polaroid of each pair and stick it to the front of the box for easy recognition.

* If you have an open shelf for your shoes, a smart idea is to place them one foot facing forwards and one backwards, this way you will be able to see the height of the heel.

* Store a few of your favourite colourful scarves in a glass vase or bowl on your dresser, it will look fantastic and be simpler to grab as you pop out the door.

* I store my earrings in clear plastic tackle boxes so the pairs don't get lost.

* The beginning of Spring is the ideal time to have the soles of your stilettos and summer sandals repaired and have the heels replaced if need be.

* If you have a miniature sized closet, purchase extra railings and shelving and have them set up alongside an empty wall in your room. Then hang up a curtain to drape and hide them away, while also adding some decorative drama to your boudoir. (As seen above).

For me the creative inspiration behind cleaning out and organizing my closet is to arrange my clothes and accessories as though they were displayed in a boutique. That way, wouldn't it be more fun to 'shop' your own closet everyday?

I hope some of these ideas will help you as you clean out your closet this Spring. 
I would love to hear some of your own Spring Cleaning tips.