Your Questions Answered: Alterations, colours and dress codes

Alterations in Melbourne

One of the things that we personal stylists stress to our clients is the importance of fit. No one can walk into any store and expect an item of clothing to fit them perfectly.

Jacket sleeves that are too long will make you look like you’re wearing someone else’s jacket (someone much bigger than you!) Jeans that are too long will only bunch at the ankle making your legs look shorter. Dresses that are too long will dwarf your frame- and so on.

That’s what alterations experts are for. They will turn something into the PERFECT fit.

Here are my tips for the best alterations experts in Melbourne who can do everything from shorten your jeans to altering an entire piece to suit your shape:

Rex Clothing – Nadir the tailor at Shop 23 Tivoli Arcade (off Burke St)

Marcella, Ladies Clothing Alterations- 2nd floor, room 4, 258 Little Collins St

LookSmart at Melbourne Central- see Dan the man – ground floor Melbourne Central

City Tailoring – Mel and Zeina Sadaka Room 6A, 6th floor, 125 Swanston St

Alterations Experts – Suite A, 1st floor Hub Arcade Melbourne

Advice on Colours

We, personal fashion stylists, get asked about colours A LOT. Clients want to know what colours suit them and what don’t. We are not colour consultants at Styled by Sally and we don’t claim to be.

Instead, our advice is simple and follows the mantra ‘look in the mirror and trust your instinct’.
Here are our tips on how to wear colour:

The most important thing with colour is to ensure the colour you wear closest to your face contrasts with your skin tone. Too little contrast will make your skin appear dull and washed out; too high contrast will drain the colour from your face.

You CAN wear every colour; it’s about choosing the shade of any colour that works for you.
For example: choose a red that balances your skin tone. This might be a blue-based, deep red rather than a bright, fire engine red.

If you don’t love a colour on you, if you don’t feel alive and fabulous in it, don’t wear it.

The right colours will:

• Make your eyes, skin and hair glow
• Reduce imperfections (e.g. dark eye circles, discolorations, pigmentation) meaning you need less makeup
• Make your face appear bright and alert

With the wrong colours:

• Your eyes, skin and hair can look dull
• Imperfections can be highlighted and can even created (e.g. double-chin, dark eye circles, yellow teeth)
• Your face can fade into the background

Cracking the Dress Code

BLACK TIE (any excuse to include a picture of JT)

Men: Tuxedo, white dinner shirt with black bow tie; accessories such as cufflinks and shirt studs add polish.
Women: Full or ankle-length gown in luxurious fabric, tiny clutch or jewelled purse, best jewellery, heels.

COCKTAIL

Men: Black suit with white shirt and necktie.
Women: Knee-length dress in luxurious fabric or with embellishment, can be strapless, in black, white, jewel tones or metallics, best bold jewellery, evening clutch and heels; alternatively, a tuxedo with silk blouse or bare beneath jacket; evening jumpsuit.

LOUNGE SUIT

Men: Suit in navy, blues, grey or taupe, vest optional, with shirt and tie, pochette.
Women: Chic, knee-length dress in less opulent or embellished fabrics, simple jewellery, clutch, heels.

SMART CASUAL

Men: Blazer or sports coat with trousers or chinos, collared shirt in pale colours, stripes or gingham, no tie required, pochette optional; no jeans.
Women: Separates such as blouse and pencil skirt or trousers or printed silk jumpsuit, heels, small chain-handled shoulder bag.