We've put together a quick guide, (complete with a video!) to ensure you measure yours correctly. It will be very useful when talking to our experienced customer service team and you will also be able to quickly check our size charts on all our stock for the best fit!

We recommend standing in front of a full length mirror in underwear for the most accurate measuring. Always make sure the tape measure isn't twisted around the body. 

Bust

Hold the measuring tape around the fullest part of your breast/chest. The tape should go under your arms. Keep your bra on and wear a bra that provides good shape and support; and preferably, not is padded. Stand up straight with your arms beside you. Round it to the nearest whole number. This will be your bust measurement. 

Image of mmstarconstruction Staff member or model measuring with the new mmstarconstruction tape 

Waist

Place the tape around your middle, just above the belly button. Wrap it firmly but not too tightly. Breathe normally and then measure. Round the measurement to the nearest number. 

Image of a person measuring the waist

Hips

Find the widest part of the hips. Stand with your feet together and toes pointing forward. Wrap the tape around your body. When the tape meets, that will be your hips measurement. 

Keep a record somewhere safe and refer back to it and the online size guide to work out the best size for you. 

Haven't got a tape? 

mmstarconstruction now offers a handy retractable tape measure on the website. Click here to purchase. 

Click here to view Stacey's Measuring Video Tutorial

So, why wear a belt? How could such a small feature elevate my outfit?
Here at mmstarconstruction, we can show you just how many great benefits there are to adding a belt to an outfit, no matter what your body type is.

• You can make sure the colour of your belt aligns with another piece of your outfit to tie colours together
• They can help accentuate the best features of your figure at your waist in an outfit otherwise lacking shape to emphasise your curves
• They can assist in balancing body proportions, drawing the eyes away from broader shoulders or hips, to create an hourglass figure
• Break up an outfit - monochrome outfits work well with a contrasting belt to show off your curvy figure

What’s your body type?

A belt can accentuate, and/or detract from a body shape so the key is to know what shape you are and what your proportions are so can work out the look you are trying to achieve.

Add an image of each body shape

Hourglass. Rectangle. Triangle. (Inverted Triangle), Apple. Pear.

Pear shapes. Usually the hips are wider than the waist and shoulders.  Use belts on the waist to give the impression of more volume in the upper body.
Image of an pear wearing a belt - possibly pants

Apple shapes. Typically thicker through the hips, waist and bust. Belts are the perfect accessory for an apple shape.  Make sure you belt at the waist, not on the hips, the aim is to create an illusion of a waist.

Image of an apple body shape in a wrap tie belt - contrasting colour to the outfit to create the illusion of a waist

Inverted triangle. Shoulders are broader than the hips and waist.  The aim is to gain more on your hips so you can balance them with your shoulders. A belt will help with this. Especially good for those with a shorter stature.
Image of a inverted triangle with a belt - draw triangle

Rectangles. The same width in the shoulders, waist and hips.  Adding a belt and doing it up tightly will break up the line between the shoulders and the hips. Cinching in the belt will give you the illusion of a narrower waist. Rectangular figures can wear a contrasting belt to give shape to the frame.

Image of a rectangle shape with a belt - cinch in the belt and belt contrasting colour or brighter than the outfit - draw rectangle

Hourglass.  A well defined waist with hips and shoulders approximately the same width. Adding a belt on the hourglass waist will accentuate the small waist and adding a belt on the hips will also make the waist look narrower.
Hourglass can be same colour or difference - draw X shape over the image

Choosing a curved belt is the best option for all as it hugs the body and prevents slacking or gaps around the waist.

For a long waist, wide belts like the wrap tie belt are worn at the narrower part of the waist to enhance the hourglass or X figure. Whilst a shorter waist generally calls for a thinner belt so the torso does not look shorter.

6 ways to tie a Wrap Tie Belt: (photo of each tie):

1. Twist at the back and tie at the front
2. Twist at the back and tie in a bow at the front
3. Turn the belt around and place the widest part of the fabric at the back and tie a simple knot at the back
4. Same as 3 but a bow at the back
5. Put in slot to tie
6. Twist belt to make a sideways U shape
Then step by step photo of the most common way to tie the wrap help.

Also Include link to Emma video

Need help choosing a belt? Contact mmstarconstruction Customer Service and we can help. [email protected]

What Makes This Silhouette Special?

This silhouette has been carefully crafted with two layers, giving the illusion of a top and skirt combo. The overlay skims the body, accentuating the curves and adding a touch of drama. It scoops down longer at the back, providing extra coverage while simultaneously creating an interesting silhouette.

The Underlay: A Simple Sheath Pencil Skirt

Beneath the overlay lies the underlay, a simple sheath pencil skirt. This understated piece extends smoothly to the knee, creating a clean and polished look. The simplicity of the underlay allows the overlay to take center stage, while still maintaining a sense of sophistication.

The Comfort of Jersey Fabric

Comfort is key when it comes to fashion, and this silhouette delivers. The jersey fabric used in its construction is stretchy, ensuring an easy and comfortable fit. It moves with the body, allowing for freedom of movement without sacrificing style. Additionally, the fabric is naturally wrinkle-resistant, making it a breeze to look polished and put together at all times.

Whether you're attending a glamorous event or simply want to elevate your everyday style, this sleek and simple silhouette is the perfect choice. It effortlessly combines modern trends with timeless elegance, creating a look that is both sophisticated and exclusive. Embrace the balance between modern and timeless style and make a statement with this unique silhouette.

Australian Made

Supporting local businesses is not only trendy but also essential for our economy. Our Gianna Pants are proudly Australian made, ensuring the highest quality and craftsmanship. By choosing our pants, you are not only investing in a fashionable piece but also supporting Australian business.

3 Leg Lengths - Petite, Regular and Tall

We understand that everyone has different body types and preferences. That's why our Gianna Pants come in three different leg lengths - petite, regular, and tall. No matter your height, you can find the perfect fit that flatters your figure and makes you feel confident.

Elasticized waist - for easy fit

Comfort is key when it comes to clothing, and our Gianna Pants deliver just that. With an elasticised waistband, these pants provide a comfortable and easy fit. Say goodbye to restrictive waistbands and hello to all-day comfort.

Poly/Jersey fabric - no ironing, easy care

We know how valuable your time is, which is why our Gianna Pants are made from a poly/jersey fabric. This fabric blend not only ensures a soft and luxurious feel but also eliminates the need for ironing. Say goodbye to wrinkles and hello to effortless style.

Perfect for travel

Are you a jetsetter or simply love exploring new places? Our Gianna Pants are the perfect travel companion. Lightweight and wrinkle-resistant, these pants can be easily packed into your suitcase without taking up much space. Stay stylish and comfortable wherever your adventures take you.

Price!

Who said fashion had to break the bank? Our Gianna Pants are priced at an affordable €49.95, making them accessible to everyone. Don't compromise on style or quality when you can have it all at an affordable price.

In conclusion, our Gianna Pants are a fashion lover's dream come true. From being Australian made to offering three leg lengths, an elasticized waist, and easy-care fabric, these pants have it all. Whether you're traveling or simply going about your daily activities, our Gianna Pants will keep you looking stylish and feeling comfortable. Don't wait any longer - upgrade your wardrobe with our Gianna Pants today!

So you've bought a style and it's pre-crinkled.  Don't you love it?  No more ironing!  We have lots of cotton dresses and casual tops in summer that use this process. The big question now of course is how do you keep the crinkle in it.

Thankfully it's not that hard.  Here's our tips.

1. Hand wash in cold/warm water.  Check the washing instructions for the correct temperature.  We recommend hand washing so that you're not agitating it too much and can preserve as much of the prewash crinkle as possible.

3. Wring as much of the excess water out as you can.  Another tip is to lay out a towel, place your item on the towel and then roll it up into a long sausage and twist it to absorb as much of the excess water as you can.

4. Finally, twist one end of your item clockwise and the other end anti clockwise to form a long twisted sausage shape.  Once it's firmly twisted, secure the ends with rubber bands.  Some people like to leave the roll out of the sun on a table to dry.  Some people like to secure both ends to the clothes line and let it hang in that shape so it will dry faster.

Once dry, unroll it and give it a shake and it's good to go.  (We do know that some of our customers like to leave it twisted up once dry, and then they shake them out just prior to wearing)

Easy peasy.

See our range of crinkled styles HERE

After a few years or lots of wear, you may notice your clothing starting to “pill”. Pilling is the term used for when your fabric starts to develop little firm, fuzzy balls of lint on the surface. This can happen to your women and ladies clothing including dresses, skirts, tops, pants and other items. While they can seem like a hassle and are often unsightly, thankfully there are a few ways you can remove pilling from clothing, and even prevent them from forming to begin with. So instead of throwing away your clothes, read on to learn more.

What Causes pilling on clothes and fabric?

This pesky pilling is the result of normal wear and tear, everyday friction and fabric rubbing against itself as well as agitation from washing and drying. When broken clothing fibres on the surface become tangled and over time clump together, forming these little balls.

How do you prevent pilling?

We stress our clothes every time we wear them, therefore with most fabrics, some degree of pilling can be inevitable. But luckily there are a few handy tips to help prevent pilling from forming or becoming worse.

1. Check the care label.

Firstly, you should always check the care label for washing and drying instructions. Following the manufacturer’s specific fabric label is a great start to keeping your clothing in good shape.

2. Avoid excess friction when wearing your clothing.

Trying to avoid or reducing the friction your clothes experience day-to-day can help. This could include avoiding wearing a backpack with your favourite top, or holding your handbag in your hand instead of on your shoulder where it hangs and can rub against your side. Reducing the amount of layers you wear at one time can also help prevent fabrics from rubbing.

3. When washing, seperate clothing and turn inside out.

To reduce abrasion, try to seperate and wash clothes with similar fabric types. For example, washing heavy items like jeans with a lightweight sweater or shirt, can result in pilling. We also suggest turning your clothes inside out, which can help prevent direct rubbing on the surface of the item.

4. Use a washing detergent with enzymes, on a gentle wash.

To reduce the likelihood of the fibres knotting, we suggest using an enzyme-based detergent. Adding a fabric softener, as well as washing on a gentle cold wash can also help keep the fibres from becoming rough and breaking. Washing clothing in hot water doesn’t directly cause fabric to pill, but it can make clothing more susceptible to pilling. Did you know that even if your hot water is not connected to your washing machine, and warm wash has been selected, your machine will still warm the water up itself during the cycle. So try to always select a cold wash!

5. Air dry your clothing

Pilling can form from the friction of items tumbling against each other in the dryer, so we always like to suggest drying your items on the line instead, or laying them out flat on a surface.

How to remove pilling on your clothing?

Unfortunately even if you’ve taken every precaution to avoid pilling, some degree of pilling on certain fabrics in often inevitable. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to remove pilling from clothes.

1. Remove fuzz with a lint roller or tape.

Lint rollers and standard sticky tape that you may have at home is quick and easy ways to pull looser pills from fabric. All you need to do is press the sticky side of the tape down on the item and pull off to remove.

2. Remove pills with a ‘Sweater Stone’.

Easily found online, a Sweater stone is a natural pumice like stone, and is an effective way to remove pilling. Gently rub it along the surface of an item and you’ll quickly see results.

3. Use a Fabric Shaver to remove pilling.

A very handy item to have at home, fabric shavers or sweater shavers can also be great to help remove pilling and fuzz from clothing and other fabric. We do recommend to please use caution with fabric shavers, as applying too much pressure can shave away more of the fabric than you want. Again, these can easily be found online.

Wedding guest

Can never go wrong with silk when it comes to a wedding. La Strada is our favourite for a silk number and provides many different styles like the Isabella, Margo and Loira. The Loira Silk Dress in Pink Floral is the embodiment of spring and summer for special occasions. 

Dinner for Two
Make a statement for date night in the Kaia Dress from La Strada. With an exaggerated sleeve and under bust gather detail it’s the perfect dress for dining as the style of the dress will allow for extra room for dessert!

Trip to the races
When it comes to the races it is the perfect time to embrace colour and print. The Lucile Midi Dress in Midnight Jungle is the perfect choice for a bright print, midi length and flared style. 

Night at the theatre 
You want to feel comfortable, but you also want to look your best for the theatre. Either a smart casual top and nice dress pants or a midi dress are a great choice. The Fleur Dress will have you ready for a night out at the theatre with the detachable drawstring 

Don't forget to finish your style with the perfect accessories.  A necklace or shoes can make all the difference.

Kaftans for beach days and chiffon jackets for dressing up, make packing for your next beach holiday a breeze.  Make the most of your accessories to change your style and hats and bags are a must!

1. Keep your suitcase light. Jamming your case will leave your clothes looking as tired as you are after your long trip. Clothes become wrinkled almost as soon as you close the top of your bag. The easiest things to leave behind? Anything that most hotels and hostels always have such a hair dryers.  You honestly don't need to pack one.

2. Think plastic. If you remember only one word while you're packing, this is the one.  Friction causes wrinkles, plastic reduces friction. It's that easy. The best way to utilise this basic plastic physics is with dry-cleaner or garment bags. All hanger items should be packed in individual bags (one outfit per dry-cleaner bag). Clothes arrive in a perfectly preserved state. Really! Another great plastic tip: zip-top plastic bags. Use these for dirty shoes, shampoo bottles, or anything else you want to isolate from your good clothes.

3. Rolling, rolling and rolling. You have two options for items that you're not hanging: folding or rolling. Rolling is a great space-saving and wrinkle-reducing choice for jeans and T-shirts. Here's how you do it: take a pair of jeans and fold them lengthwise so that the legs are stacked on top of each other. Starting from the cuff, roll your way up. For T-shirts, place face down, fold arms back (you should now have a long rectangle), fold lengthwise, and roll up.

4. For your underwear, pick up inexpensive mesh laundry bags; they're made of nylon and are lightweight. Put your delicates in here. An added bonus: if your bag is inspected, no one need touch your underwear since an inspector will be able to see into the bag. Socks, by the way, should be rolled up and placed inside shoes or used to fill gaps in your bag (see below).

5. Fold it. For jumpers and other non-T tops, the square fold is the way to go. But remember, button all the buttons and lay shirts face down on a bed or flat surface. Smooth away wrinkles. Fold material in at the shoulders and lay arms flat along the body so that you create a roughly two-inch overlap of material on both sides. Now fold up a third of the material from the bottom and overlap a third from the top.

6. Pack it away. Take all your tidily arranged garments and put them outside your bag. Your goal is to place everything in the bag so that no empty spaces remain and items won't shift, remember your bag probably gets thrown around a lot in the planes. Lay your bag flat and put folded clothes in piles down the centre. Put your toiletries kit at the bottom of your bag when it's standing (this should now be the heaviest item in your bag; in this position it won't crush other items). Rolled clothes fit into the spaces around the stacked clothes. Single shoes should be tucked into remaining openings (remember, shoes aren't friends; they don't need to travel right up next to each other). Socks fill in remaining holes. Voila! You are now a wrinkle-free traveller!

 A few tips for buying jeans:

Be prepared to try a few pairs and compare sizes. Sizes vary massively; this is due to the stretch in the denim, along with different washes and fit styles. It’s always best to buy jeans slightly on the tight side, as denim has a habit of giving a little, and after a few wears and washes they tend to fit perfectly.  Avoid the costly mistake of buying them when they fit perfectly, only to find a few wears later they are too big.

Also look for pocket size and positioning on your bottom. If pockets are not in the right place or they are too small, they can make your bottom look really long or a funny shape.

Everyone should have at least two pairs of jeans, one for day time, casual and a pair you can dress up for the evening. Dark or black denim looks great for evenings.

 Happy jeans shopping ladies.

Women come in all shapes and sizes but let's try and keep it down to 5 key shapes.

Generally they are referred to below.  Try and think about your shape and where you might fit.

• Hourglass
• Inverted triangle
• Pear
• Rectangle
• Apple

Characteristics of the hourglass:

• Well defined waist
• Hip and bust tend to be similar.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR THE HOURGLASS BODY TYPE

Upper body

• A good bra is essential (this applies for almost everybody). Make sure you get a good supportive bra, it's amazing how many women don't get fitted properly.  V-shaped tops will be the most suitable. High necklines will just make your bust area too bulky.
• Look for dresses that fit your bust and accentuate your waist. They should fit snugly and follow your curves.
• If you have some weight around the tummy then make sure your buy your dress in supportive fabric or wear a body shaping dress underneath.
• T-shirts look best when they fit your waist.  Some extra shoulder detail is good too.
• When you buy a coat or jacket make sure that it highlights your waist.
• Wear single-breasted jackets that are tailored. They will often look best when left open to create a nice vertical line.
• Choose shirts that enhance your bustline and that have a nice open neckline.  Don't button up to the top.
• Tops that are pleated or gathered just below the bustline and are longer in length are flattering over pants.
• Slightly fitted jackets that shape over your bustline will look really good.
• Use scarves in the cooler months to cover your open neckline
• Wear darker colours on top to make your bust appear smaller (if you want to)

Lower body

• Straight skirts that fit well are best for the hourglass as they fit and flatter your curves
• Just make sure your skirts end around the knee
• Go for flat front pants in stretch fabrics, again to showcase your curves.
• Shoes like peep toes, open toes or highlighted with bows are also good.

What not to wear

• Don't add frills, you don't need the extra.
• Avoid voluminous styles for the same reason.
• Avoid belts and let your clothes do the talking.
• Flat lace-up shoes, but why would you?
• Be careful with casual clothes. The same rules still apply so don't wear baggy ones.

Characteristics of the inverted rectangle are:

• Shoulders are wider than the hip
• Bust tends to be proportionally large
• Hips are small

WHAT TO WEAR FOR THE INVERTED TRIANGLE

Upper body

• Create vertical lines with vertical stripes
• Open necklines and collars, like halternecks
• Wear soft feminine textures to soften the shoulder line
• Avoid extra width and wear single breasted tailored jackets
• Wear jackets open to create a vertical line
• Look for tops that will accentuate the waist, like tops with banding or nipping at the waist or wrap style tops
• Wear tops that accentuate a vertical line, so go for V-necks and keep your shirts unbuttoned
• Also find tops that balance the bust with your hips (if you have a large bust)
• Wear tops just below the hip bone
• Wear a darker colour on top
• Wear strapless gowns and tops
• Use belts to define your waist even more

Lower body

• Create more width below with A-line or full skirts
• Use bold textures to create more bulk
• Horizontal stripes will make the lower body wider,
• Fuller leg width in trousers, full or bootleg pants
• Have pockets or embelishments on your trousers or skirts
• Wear bold and eye catching shoes

What not to wear

• Avoid shoulder pads or anything that accentuates the shoulders
• Boat necks
• Horizontal lines on top
• Avoid oversized collars or lapels on jackets
• Tapered skirts

Characteristics of the rectangle are:

• No defined waist
• The hips tend to have a similar width as the shoulders
• You do not have a lot of curves
• Your bust tends to be small or average

This is one of the easier body types for dressing. Many models tend to have this body shape. Many clothes will usually suit you and fit you well, although some of the taller rectangles may have trouble finding clothes that fit properly. However, many rectangles will get extra weight around their tummies as they age (usually after menopause) which will make dressing a bit more of a challenge.

With your clothes you will mostly want to create more curves and a great silhouette. You can do this by defining the waist and creating curves on the bottom or top. On the other hand, you can also get away with a straight look and surrender the waist line altogether, which is a look that I’m quite fond of.

What not to wear?

• Avoid shapeless clothes
• If you want to add curves then avoid straight dresses, but you can also opt for the waistless look!

Which garments are good for a rectangle body shape?

Top

• Use strong blocks of colour to help define your body
• As for most body types, be sure to wear a good bra to define what bust you have
• Wear tops and jackets that emphasize the waist
• Choose a coat with a good waist or that is belted at the waist
• Any jacket tailored around the waist will look great
• You can use some shoulder padding (don’t overdo it though)
• Medium to high necklines usually work well, especially if you have s small bust and long neck
• If you like to create the illusion of bigger breasts, choose tops with pockets, rushes, pleating and other front details
• Halter necks will also give the appearance of a bigger bust and shows off your back
• Accessorize with belts around the waist. Heavy belts can be really good if you’re also long waisted
• Blouses can look really good if they are tucked in

Bottom

• A-line skirts work really well for this shape
• You can also go the other way and wear a tight skirt or pants to highlight the curves that you DO have
• You can wear almost any shape trousers but slightly flared trousers will look great on you as it will add more shape to your body
• A knee length pencil skirt that tapers in at the side will also add some curves and look good
• If you like the waistless look you can opt for straight skirts and shirt dresses

Characteristics of the pear:

• The hips are wider than the shoulder
• Fat tends to accumulated on the hips and buttocks

The aim of dressing for your body type is to achieve a flattering look that accentuates your strengths. In general you will want to achieve a nice hourglass shape. In order to achieve that you will accentuate the shoulders, draw attention to your upper body and waist and elongate the legs. Please note that these are some general guidelines as everybody is different.

How to dress for you pear body shape?

Pears tend to store their weight on their thigh and their legs may be heavy. Often they have a very good upper body which is why much on the emphasis in dressing is on the upper side of the body.

What not to wear?

• Skinny jeans (can be worn with some tunics or A line long tops)
• Pencil skirts
• Bias cut skirts
• Very short skirts

Which garments are good for a pear body shape?

• Since your hips are a lot wider than your shoulders you want to emphasize the shoulders and widen them. So it’s actually good for pears when shoulder pads are back in fashion!  Puffy shoulders will work too. Always make sure that the shoulders are properly fitted.
• To give the impression of longer legs and a shorter torso you can wear a a few layered tops with one very short, like a short jacket. This well break up your enlongated torso and give the illusion of longer legs. You can see an example of this in the left image at the top.
• Wear trousers that are not too tight or light. Boot leg trousers are very good for pears.
• Wear something catchy on top. Either a catchy colour or some nice detail on your top.
• Use accessories to further emphasize the top
• Waist belts will look good on you as they emphasize your small waist
• Make sure that your trousers or skirt are the darkest part of your outfit.
• Wear structured A shaped coats of knee length
• Wear a good bra
• A line dresses will always look good on you. See middle and right picture above. The dress on the right is particularly good as it has clearly defined shoulders and a good a line.
• V line tops will draw further attention to your upper half
• High boots are very flattering for your legs
• Be careful with high shoes or shoes with ankle straps as they will shorten your legs
• Wear heals with a bit of height to further elongate the legs

Characteristics of the apple

• No defined waist
• Weight tends to form on the stomach
• Average bust size

This is a body shape that often develops after 40 when you start to experiences symptoms of (peri) menopause where many women experience the gain of weight around their waist.

To be honest this is not the easiest body shape to dress as many women with this shape will be well aware of. Some women tend to cover it all up with lose garments, which in most cases is not the right thing to do. But the fact is that you can look extremely good if you are wearing the right clothes! What you DO want to do is create the illusion of a waist and a silhouette, highlight your cleavage and create nice vertical lines.

Below are some rough guidelines what will and will not work for many apple shaped women over 40.

What not to wear?

• Big puffa jackets
• Big shapeless garments that don’t show any waist
• Bulky trousers with lots of pockets and zippers at the front
• High necklines
• Tight clingy T-shirts
• Avoid wearing everything in one solid colour. Better to mix colour with a texture

Tops

• First of all, since a lot of attention is going to be drawn to the top part of your body, get yourself a good fitting bra.
• Tops that highlight your body at the slimmest point which is often just underneath your bust. They should have enough space for your belly but not be too wide.
• Buy t-shirts that are ruched in the middle. This will confuse the eye and you can’t tell that there’s a big tummy underneath.
• Get Tops with a V-neck to break up the size of your chest and create a lean line.
• Look for tops with a thicker texture that don’t cling so much. Woven tops can be great.
• Patterns tend to look very good on a apple shape body as they flatter and camouflage.
• Tops should cover the whole belly area and end just below the hip bone.
• Shirts look nicest when they are tight just underneath the boobs and then go out. Also try to get the v shape with your shirts.
• Choose tailored jackets that have a nice v shape at the top.
• Having a tie at the waist is great as it highlights the waist and hides the belly.
• A straight duster coat that ends just above the knee will create a nice long silhouette.
• Make sure that the jacket fits the shoulder perfectly, so choose the size for your shoulders, not your belly. If you can’t close the jacket, you can always use a scarf to fill the gap if you like.
• Dresses should have their waistline just below the bust.
• It’s always good to have some detailing on the tummy area for camouflage.

Bottoms

• Get pants that have zippers at the side to avoid adding extra bumps on the front.
• Pants should be wide or straight and not cling to tummy or thighs.
• Also choose jeans that are tailored and wide legged.
• It’s best to get pants with some stretch for extra comfort and a good fit.
• Choose skirts that have their zippers at the side.
• Make sure that any pleats of skirts start below the tummy to avoid adding extra volume.
• From under the tummy skirts should hang straight.

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All About Bra's

 Organise Your Wardrobe

It't so difficult to find one that is comfortable to wear all day long, and looks great too.

It’s a fact that 80% of women wear the wrong bra size, 70% wear them too small, and 10% too big. This can affect us in many ways.

1. It can ruin the look of a favourite top, causing lumps, bumps and unsightly bulges.

2. It's bad for our health. An ill-fitting bra can cause many health issues including, headaches, back pain, shoulder pain, indigestion, poor posture, abrasions and breast pain.

It is really important to go and be measured by a specialist fitter when purchasing new bras. Most big department stores will have qualified staff to help you. Our biggest tip; allow time, you will probably have to try many on before you get the right one for you. Don’t be shy either, the fitters have seen it all before and should make you feel really comfortable.

Here are some of the tell tale signs your bra isn’t fitting you well: 

1. It’s uncomfortable.

2. The centre panel doesn’t fit snugly against your skin.

3. You’ve got several small boobs bulging out, or you end up with a one big                   boob in the middle – aka the mono boob!

4. The cups wrinkle and there’s space between the cup and your boob.

5. The straps dig in, or fall off the shoulder.

6. If you’ve had the same bra years, you probably need a new one, as the bra will be stretched and there’s every chance your shape will have changed too.

If you are top heavy and slightly chunky around the waist, you can look a bit like a barrel shape, just by having a bra fitting and wearing the correct bra, will separate your boobs from you belly and give you the waist you have always dreamed off, without stepping foot in the gym! So ladies, our advice is go and get fitted; then when you buy your beautiful new mmstarconstruction dresses and tops, they’ll hang perfectly on your body, showing you and your clothes at their best.

We all have our 'Senior moments', we forget a word, can't find our keys or can't recall a familiar name.  

Memory changes are common, but the good news is that there are plenty of things we can do to keep our brains active and keep those annoying memory lapses at bay.

There's good basic health habits we can practice.

• staying physically active
• making sure we're getting enough sleep
• don't smoke
• maintain social interactions
• limit alcohol to one drink a day
• eat a balanced diet low in saturated and trans fats.

There's also fun things we can do, like crossword puzzles and sudoku. 

We read this great tip that said to turn all of your hangers around the wrong way.  Then each time you wear something put it back in the right way.  At the end of 6 months, whatever you haven't worn, get rid of!  This sounds like a great idea but maybe remember the season and just do it for that season.  Otherwise you'll be throwing out your good jackets because you haven't worn them over the summer!

Donate or bin:

Clothes that have stains or rips - White shirts and cotton clothing after one or two seasons, because they go yellow and loose the crispness they had when new. We know a lady that buys 3 cotton shirts every season for this reason.
 
Clothes that you bought because they were 'practical' but you never really loved and haven’t really worn.
Odd pieces that don't match anything

 Also, if you haven’t worn it in the last 3 years you are never going to wear it.

Hang on to:

High quality staple items like cashmere or wool, or your favourite jeans that fit like a glove.
Classic styles. For example, a classic trench or coat is always in style.
Any item you love that makes you feel wonderful!

Store away: (somewhere other than in your closet. Get a bag and label it, 'One day')

Anything that was really expensive or is a sentimental favourite 

Finally, NEVER hold onto clothes thinking they will come back in style again. Yes, a fashion trend may come back eight years later, but you can be sure it will still be different enough to date your old items. (We hope frilly neck pirate blouses will never come back!)  We heard another great line that said if you are old enough to have worn the style once then you should not wear it the 2nd time around.  Think Eighties neon tracksuits!

Once you've done all of this, make sure your wardrobe makes sense how you have it hanging.  Starting left to right group your items together.  Hang all of you t-shirts or tops, then all of your blouses.  Move on to skirts, then pants, then dresses.  Finally hang your jackets and anything long or hardly used right at the end.  Some of us even colour code within each group, light to dark....too far?

You'll feel great when you've done this and might find you start to wear a few more of your clothes that you'd forgotten you had.

mmstarconstruction xx

Looking back on your family photos for the day, you look forlornly at the image of yourself staring back and wonder why you didn’t take more care.

Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be hard.  A little forward planning and you’ll be all good to go.  First, you need to think about your role on the day.  If you’re the host then you might want to think about loose comfortable clothing for the morning while your buzzing about attending to last minute preparations, however, be sure to allocate yourself a little time before the guests are due to arrive to get yourself ready.

If your relatives are anything like mine, they’ll be early, so remember to factor this in.

Experience also tells me that if you don’t want your makeup to resemble something from the Barnum Brothers, then steer clear of pre-drinks before the guests arrive!

When I think about the perfect outfit, I’m always mindful of things I might be doing once we’re all together celebrating.  If there’s grandchildren or young children in the mix, then you could well be down on the floor, handing out presents, shoes off and getting stuck in to it.  In this case a crisp pair of white capri’s and an easy fit casual top is the way to go.  Play around with your colours and add some glamour jewellery to spice up your look.  Finish the look with some casual sandals that are easy to slip in and out of.

If your family celebrations are more formal and you’ll get the chance to just sit back and relax, then a lovely soft floral dress would be the way to go.  This season sees some lovely botanical prints in both maxi and midi lengths.  Think understated elegance and you can’t go wrong.  Pair with a comfortable heel.

Fashion never has to be boring.  With some planning ahead, you can make sure your look this season is both organised and on trend. 

And finally……don’t forget to get the photo this time, you’ll be happy you did.

At this time of year when we begin to wrangle the fairy lights, thumb through the Women’s Weekly with newfound determination, and wonder what exactly verjuice is (Maggie Beer could not be reached for comment), creating a Christmas menu can be a daunting prospect. 

Remembering a few key tricks when planning your feast, however, might just keep the stress at bay and get us one step closer to being Nigella for a day.

Let location be your guide

Christmas at home brings with it the confidence of knowing the quirks of your cooktop, the available fridge real estate, and how many appliances you can run simultaneously without courting a state-wide blackout. But if you’re heading to an outdoor or unfamiliar venue for Christmas, banish uncertainty by focusing on simple dishes that can be prepared or cooked in advanced, transported easily, or served cold, lest you encounter a dodgy oven and deflated pav.

Don’t be afraid to delegate

Missing a classic catch in the backyard test because you’re stuck at the stove is no fun at all. Whether you visit, Skype, or Facebook your fellow diners before December 25, get together as early as you can to create your complete menu and negotiate the to-do list, so everyone has a chance to bat on the day (or sip champagne with their feet up). Remember that Christmas is a team effort, and you can never have too much ice.

Stock up on nibbles

Pigs in blankets? Devils on horseback? Wombats in track pants? Ok, that last one is possibly made up, but there’s no reason not to get creative and invent some nifty new nibblies to tide the hungry crowd over, with the help of kids or grandkids at your table. When in doubt, nuts, antipasto, and seasonal fruits, are easy and delicious options that never fail.

Do it your way

Every Christmas is as unique as every family, and as in fashion, there are no hard and fast rules. Whether you have your heart set on a seafood buffet, vegetarian smorgasbord, or five-course pudding degustation, what truly makes Christmas special is sharing the experience with those we love.

Things may not always go to plan, but never forget there are few dishes that can’t be salvaged with a generous application of gravy (or custard), and a culinary disaster usually makes for a good story at next year’s Christmas.

With the menu taking shape, it’s time to choose your Christmas outfit! Check out our new arrivals for chic and comfortable looks to have you feeling fabulous this festive season.

Do you have any tips, tricks, recipes, or holiday hacks to recommend? We’d love to hear them!

mmstarconstruction x

• Apply a heavier than normal moisturizer all over the night before you travel and carry a small tub with you in your hand luggage.
• Always travel with a large wrap or pashmina, there’s nothing worse than being cold on a plane.
• Lots of snacks are essential, not everyone loves plane food. Mints are a must for your companions!

TOP TRAVEL ESSENTIALS – TIPS 

• Take a suitcase that is extra light in weight to start with; this then gives you more baggage allowance.
• Decant everything from toiletries to make up into small tubs and bottles, they are cheap to buy and always handy to have once you return home, whether for your gym bag or an overnight stay somewhere.
• Take clothes that you can mix & match, a beautiful kaftan for instance can be worn for the beach, but dressed up for the evening by adding jewelry, and statement sandals or wedges.
• Roll your clothes in your suitcase instead of folding.  Trust us, they arrive in better condition, just a quick shake and then hang them up.  It's also easier to pack when you do it this way.
• Don't forget to pop a laundry bag or some plastic bags in there, to keep your dirty clothes separate.  You'd be surprised how easy it is to find a laundrette somewhere during your stay where you can drop your laundry bag in and collect it the next morning, at a fraction of the price of hotel laundry.

Hello Ladies,

Welcome to February. By now your children, grandchildren, and neighbors’ children should all be back at school. Calm is restored.  I think we could all do with an “I survived the holidays!” reward. Get shopping ladies and see what’s new.

Award season is here and I absolutely love it. Unfortunately for me, I think we live in an era where really dressing up doesn’t seem to happen any more. So it's great to see the glitz and glamour at it's finest on the red carpets.

I thought it would be great to play fashion police, please feel free to email in your thoughts and comments.

The stand out winner for me in the best dressed stakes, was Jennifer Lawrence, or JLaw as she’s known (no relation by the way!). She wowed in a floor length eye catching red Dior gown with side cut outs, teamed with a sparkling diamond Chopard choker. Her hair was simple in an elegant up do, and a red lip to add to the Hollywood glamour.  She also took home the award for the best actress in a motion picture, so a win all round for JLAW.

My vote for worst dressed, goes to Kate Hudson. She wore a barely-there sequin ensemble from  Michael Kors.  We all know that Kate has a smoking hot body with abs to die for, but for me there’s just a little too much skin on show and in some lights she looks like she’s not wearing anything at all.  I feel her outfit is more suited to an award show that’s a bit more edgy, maybe the MTV music awards.  It doesn’t cut it for me in the glamour stakes.

On the whole I think most of the celebs nailed it, make up was kept simple and jewellery was kept to a minimum. I can’t wait for the Oscars and to see what delights the celebs, designers and stylist’s are going to wow us with.

What style tips can we take away from such a lavish event? I think the answer is, a statement necklace. What makes Jennifer's outfit so amazing (besides the squillian dollar price tag!) is the choker. This is something you and I can do quite easily and it really doesn’t have to break the bank. The best way to wear a statement necklace is to take clothing that looks quite boring, i.e. a casual dress or T shirt, pop on the necklace and hey presto, a totally new, glamorous look. Colour wise, anything will go with black, white, greys and denims. But for something different and eye catching, pair a pink outfit with orange accessories, and vice versa, and blue with yellow. Just remember, there’s no rules so play with your looks.

Happy shopping Ladies. See you next month.

 Deb x

Follow me on instagram and check out what I’ve been wearing lately.

@stylebedeblaw

This week it's an exotic beach destination - Bali.

We can picture ourselves languishing by the pool in a beaded kaftan while we're served cocktails.

Our perfect day would go like this.  Wake up and go for a stroll along the beach.  Nothing heavy, this is a holiday after all. 

Wander to the restaurant for breakfast, preferably a buffet where we can pretend to nibble a few healthy options whilst indulging in whatever takes our fancy. 

Back to our gorgeous room and make an outfit change, you can never have too many gorgeous outfits on a beach holiday! 

Then we'd find a local business for a massage, if it can be whilst lying in the shade of some palm trees on the beach then even better.  Maybe a visit to some local shops, find some trinkets to take home and maybe another kaftan or two!  Wander back for lunch, we're not too hungry so just a nibble and of course a cocktail.  We're thinking Mai Thai sounds good about now. 

We could do a short tour in the afternoon.  Visit a temple or pat some Elephants.  Back to the hotel in time for happy hour at the swim up bar.  Sip half price cocktails, we're thinking Long Island Iced Tea, and sit in the pool and chat to other travelers.  Swap stories and every now and again take a leisurely paddle around the pool.  Then back to the room for a nap, it's been tough so far so we need a rest.

So now we're ready for the evening.  We'd put on one of our gorgeous dresses, perfect for balmy evenings. Wander to one of the hotel restaurants, a cocktail at the bar first of course.  Sample the local cuisine for dinner and finish it all off with some dancing on the beach or being entertained with the evening show.  Fall in to bed for a deep relaxing sleep.

Tomorrow we would do it all again!

The stunning featured image is of Viceroy Hotel Pool in Bali.

We ventured out to the picturesque suburb of Samford in Brisbane to shoot some of the new images for our website today.  It always sounds so glamourous to people and while we love the final outcome, getting these gorgeous fashion photos is a bit light on the glamour!  It's one of the quirks of the fashion industry that we are in 30 degree heat taking photos of transeasonal and winter clothing.  Our beautiful model Deb is such a trooper.  She's in jeans, boots, ponchos and still remains cool and serene looking in every shot.  Not a complaint was made but she did request an ice-cream at the end!

We're looking forward to the fashion starting to change and hope you enjoy what we have to offer. 

My poor husband has to sit there while I road test the different outfits.  I say things like "Ok honey, this is for the first day.  This is for the dinner on the 2nd night" while I parade round the room insisting he tells me if I look too fat, too dowdy, too casual, too dressy, the list goes on and on.

It's for this reason that I usually feel pretty good about how I look when I'm on these trips.  I enjoy getting off the plane and getting to the taxi, testing out any reaction, all perceived mind you, to my outfit.  I'm absolutely certain no-one is looking at me!  As I tell my girlfriend who won't wear bathers and swim in the ocean with me, "No-one is looking at us, we are now the invisible age group.  They are looking at the gorgeous young things in the bikinis and we get to go unnoticed, we may as well enjoy life"  She's not convinced and still hasn't gone for a swim with me.

This leads me to recount another episode in my long, long running history of wardrobe malfunctions.  Why they happen to me in the most public places I do not know.  Probably karma for thinking I look good!  So here I am this fine Friday afternoon cutting a swathe through the crowds at Sydney airport to get home to Brisbane after a three day conference.

For today's events I have donned a silver double breasted knee length jacket, with a belt, that I am wearing as a dress with stockings and boots.  It's got a lovely stand up collar and laces up at the back and I think I look great.  I think others actually do too as heads turn as I stomp my way up the concourse.  Tyra Banks would be proud.

It's a long concourse in Sydney and as I make my way I can hear a woman running behind me and I feel sorry for her that she is late for her flight.  That is until her footsteps get closer and then stop as they reach me.  "Excuse me, excuse me, I had to catch up and let you know"  Let me know what, how great my outfit was?  NO.  "Your dress is all bunched up under your handbag"  Well, what she didn't say, too embarrassed for me probably, was that not only was it bunched up on the side and back under my handbag but it had ridden so far up that you could see my bum and undies, all squishy and encased by my stockings (I guess that's a small mercy, but I wish they were tights)

Needless to say I have never worn that outfit again.  I looked at it later and thought about the length and wondered what I was actually thinking.

But let this serve as a lesson to you all, well ok, it's a lesson just for me.  Handbags and dresses together are not my friends and if people's heads turn to check me out, I am afraid, very afraid.

Now as a 40+ woman I like to look and feel good.  Ok the body isn't what it was 20 years ago but I like to say that I keep up with the fashion.  For example, when I was 20 years old, I was a size ten and that was our biggest selling size in the shops.  One child later and I was a size twelve and by then size twelve was the most popular selling size in our dresses.  After child number two and then nearing 30 I was a size fourteen and what do you know? Our most popular selling size was a size fourteen!

Well now I'm 45.  I can no longer blame the kids, it's just me, my love of wine and the cheeses that make it taste better.  Guess what?  Yep, I'm a size sixteen and it's our most popular selling size.  That always brings me to think about just how fashionable I am, it's not easy to keep current like this!

But I digress, I just wanted you to have the mental picture of me, in this, the first episode of an embarrassing situation.

So a work colleague had mentioned to me the wonderful attributes of stay up stockings.  Had I tried them she asked?  No I hadn't but after hearing her extol their virtues I thought, how can I not.  It was all so perfect, I was to fly to Melbourne for a conference the next day so I rushed out and found myself a gorgeous pair to wear.

I felt quite sexy on the plane!  They had a lovely lacy top and these interesting silicone grips at the top to keep them up.  As I was sitting on the plane I could feel one of them starting to inch it's way down.  I spent most of the flight inconspicuously trying to pull it back in to place over the top of my dress.

I thought to myself, I'll go straight to the restroom when I get off and fix it all up.  Well as I was exiting the plane I could feel it really starting to slip.  Walking up the gangway I began to walk (as best I could) with my thighs pressed closely together.  No mean feat I tell you when you're trying to rock your fabulousness in killer dress and heels!

This did not work, I could feel it falling further, so I started to press my knees together.  I need to tell you this causes you to waddle!

I was halfway to the restroom, I could even see it, not much further I thought, when I started to trip.  I got confused, what had I tripped on?!  Yep, looking down, there was my stocking, the whole thing, bunched up around my ankle and now actually twisted up and over my shoe and around my heel!

To this day I still have visions of the security camera man having a good laugh at me as I took two steps to lean up against a post while I tried to casually remove the culprit and then sprint to the restroom! (ok ok, walk really fast, no-one's sprinting here)

Nothing ruins your mojo more than tripping in the middle of Melbourne Airport over your own stocking!

Check in next blog to see how I managed to have yet another malfunction, this time in the middle of Sydney Airport.

xx