Today I’m sharing the wisdom of stylist and mother of three, Amelia McFarlane. We discuss the dilemmas that many of us experience after having a baby and share lots fun yet playground-practical wardrobe tips.
It’s not uncommon to slip into a style rut post-pregnancy and many feel overwhelmed at the prospect of trying on clothes or simply lose interest in fashion altogether. Sound familiar?
Amelia’s passion for fashion and an in-depth understanding of colour theory led her to start her own business, Colour Me In Styling. “I love working with women to help them achieve a sense of harmony and balance through colour and teaching them how to apply this when styling an outfit.”
In keeping with Minty’s ‘be bold’ theme, Issue 13 features a shoot ‘Colour Me Happy’ styled by Amelia, showcasing her natural affinity with colour as she transforms a Mum of two from the dark side (wearing black all-day, everyday!) and demonstrates the powerful impact of colour.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Amelia, and she shares her top wardrobe tips for regaining a sense of self post-baby. Colour plays an integral part in affecting mood, so you can easily elevate your ‘Mum-on-Duty’ look with these simple tricks!
PUT YOURSELF FIRST
We all know that getting out of the house can be a task within itself. No doubt your new baby has a tonne of cute outfits, so be sure to carve out some time to make yourself feel and look good too! Amelia adds “Even if that means getting your clothes out the night before, this is so important.”
UNDERSTAND YOUR ASSETS
“Get into the right headspace and ask yourself ‘what do I still like about my body?’ Don’t focus on the things you don’t like – focus on the positives!” says Amelia. Once you have identified the parts of your body that you love, concentrate on accentuating that area/feature. For example, a pair of high-waisted jeans in a dark wash are such a flattering style and can hold you in at all the right places! A blazer is another wardrobe staple that gives you such a nice shape, emphasizing the waist, or for a feminine look try a wrap dress in a floaty fabric.
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“Don’t underestimate the communicative element of colour and the personal impact of colour. Colour can communicate many different things.”
COLOUR CODE
One simple yet effective way to introduce colour is to colour block, Amelia suggests that you combine a key colour with neutrals while you experiment, “If someone suits a beautiful sunny yellow, they might default to pairing it with black, however I would advise going with white pants which gives you that crisp, fresh look and it allows that yellow to really work its magic.”
Winter is a great time to experiment with colour and tap into how it can affect your mood. Try layering a long-line cardigan, a colourful scarf and a woollen coat, as seen below. Pastels such as pale pink or blue can bring a calming, nurturing effect whereas emerald green can be fresh and uplifting or if you are feeling confident try red!
COUNTRY ROAD – WOOL CARDIGAN
$139.00
GORMAN – TETRIS EFFECT SCARF
$129.00
MARCS – LANI WOOL JACKET
$289.95
Playground Practical
While it can be tempting to throw on your activewear, big sunnies and a baggy jumper to do the playground / coffee run, there is plenty of fun yet affordable pieces that will inject some colour into your wardrobe. “This can be a real trap for Mums – but try to get out of your activewear by midday!” One exception that Amelia makes is for colourful trainers – Amelia adds “It’s easy to justify a few pairs that you can wear with jeans or even a dress. A new pair of sunnies in a different shape is another fun and affordable way to update your look.”
Amelia is running a colour workshop, Colour Blocking Magic on Sunday 28th July 2019. For more info click here
Stylist: Amelia McFarlane Colour Me In Styling @colourmeinstyling
Check out Minty Issue 13 for the full story “Colour Me Happy” as Amelia McFarlane brings the bold back to our wardrobes! Click below to to purchase your copy.
