941 Dannii My Style Extract
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28/09/2011 3:45:32 PM
STYLE
Dannii Minogue is a woman who is constantly on the move. The singer, businesswoman, fashion icon and mother-of-one divides her home and working life between Australia and Britain, so her wardrobe needs to be fit and ready no matter the place or the season. In her new book, My Style, Minogue reveals how she can change her look with the shrug of a coat, a dazzle of a necklace or the sparkle of a pair of earrings. Here she shares her wardrobe secrets. PHOTOGRAPHY: JONTY DAVIES
DANNII
HER STYLE October 2, 2011,
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THE SUNDAY TIMES, STM 17
28/09/2011 4:09:37 PM
MY
10 TOP
WARDROBE STAPLES
CURVY THIGHS: Steer clear of overly faded denim. Trade pale, washed-out and grey shades for indigo or black and choose a straight-legged style for an ultraslimming look. SKINNY LEGS: Don’t swamp your fabulous pins in jeans that don’t fit properly – flaunt them in a stretchlegging fit and chunk up your look with ankle boots. If stretch denim isn’t your thing, find a wide-leg, high-waisted style that fits snugly around the middle and flares out, ’70s-style. PETITE: Go for a cropped ankle and a higher waist to create the illusion of longer legs. Maximise the effect with nude or tan heels.
1 THE CLASSIC T-SHIRT
3 THE DAY DRESS
Fitted, slouchy or swing, off the shoulder, round or V-neck, there is a T-shirt cut, neckline and hemline to suit every figure – try a few to find a style that flatters. LARGE BUST: Opt for a deep round or deep V-neck T-shirt. SMALL BUST: You can carry off a higher neckline, but make sure it doesn’t swamp your shape. Go for something feminine that shows your collarbones. If you’ve got lovely toned arms, try rolling up your sleeves a couple of times to add some detail to the look. BIG ARMS: Choose a sleeve that ends just around your elbow. Keeping your forearms visible will keep the look flattering and feminine. BOYISH FIGURE: If you’re straight up and down at the waist, or have a muffin top you want to hide, go for an “A”-line T-shirt that fits at the bust and then flares out.
The day dresses I love are light, comfortable, easy to dress up or down, and look good if it gets chilly and I have to throw a jacket or pashmina over them. Invest in quality pieces that cost a little bit more. They will wash well and retain their shape and colour. Ideally, select items that you can care for at home – dry-cleaning is costly and can be inconvenient.
2 JEANS I love neat, skinny jeans that I can tuck into boots or a European cut I can wear with ballet flats or thongs. But shopping for jeans can be a nightmare. Seek out brands that retain their colour and shape after washing. Lee is a favourite. They don’t fade or go baggy after heavy washing.
WELL-FITTING WAISTBAND: You can make yourself look a whole size smaller if you wear well-fitting jeans instead of going for a size too small or a too-tight waistband. ATHLETIC BODY: Create a waist with jeans that cinch you in at the middle, smoothing out muffin top and any tummy bulges.
18 STM, THE SUNDAY TIMES,
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4 THE SUIT When you’re dressing for business you want to be professional while retaining your own personal style. I don’t wear suits often, so I did some serious research before I bought one – a timeless black Dolce & Gabbana jacket and pants with velvet lapels. If you’re wearing suits every day for work, you would probably want to have two or three so you can chop and change. Buying a jacket with matching pieces maximises the versatility of your work clothes.
5 THE COAT A coat is potentially one of the most expensive pieces you will ever buy so, above all, it should be functional. That means warm, and it means a cut and shape that suits you and goes with as many other pieces in your wardrobe as possible. Steer away from anything too wacky or trend-led unless you’re talking a “classic” trend such as military style that comes back season after season and still looks as good today as it did years ago. My favourite, a red cashmere Valentino coat, was expensive, but it has given me 13 great years already.
October 2, 2011
28/09/2011 3:46:36 PM
STYLE
6 THE JACKET Like a coat, a jacket can be a big investment, so it’s worth searching out something that’s stylish and functional. A good, lightweight jacket will go with everything from a little summer dress to jeans and boots, and will be roomy enough to pop some layers underneath for when the weather gets cold. My favourite is a cute little cropped leather number from Lisa Ho.
7 THE LONG CARDIGAN/ PONCHO Great for a lazy weekend, entertaining at home or maternity wear, a long cardigan or poncho is perfect teamed with jeans or leggings and is super cosy with a pair of Ugg boots.
8 THE CAPRI PANT With the right shoe I can do a narrow-fitting, three-quarter length Capri pant. I love J. Crew weekender pants rolled up with a white T-shirt, a wedge heel and a pair of oversized sunglasses.
9 THE MAXI DRESS Perfect for evening entertaining
at home or floating around a barbecue. The maxi dress is the ultimate in comfort dressing. I like to wear my maxi dresses with uber-high heels at night or with bejewelled thongs for a day event.
10. THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS A well-chosen LBD can last for seasons. Basic black is chameleonlike and can be transformed with the clever use of silver or gold jewellery, a colourful scarf or a statement clutch and shoes.
Edited extract from Dannii: My Style, by Dannii Minogue, Simon and Schuster, $37.99.
g n i c a R g Sprin 2011
WARDROBE FASHION
MT LAWLEY APPLECROSS JOONDALUP BUNBURY
www.thewardrobe.com.au October 2, 2011, THE SUNDAY TIMES, STM 19 Freecall 1800 700 024
STG20111002__Spread016-019.indd 19
28/09/2011 3:46:50 PM
28/09/2011 3:45:32 PM
STYLE
Dannii Minogue is a woman who is constantly on the move. The singer, businesswoman, fashion icon and mother-of-one divides her home and working life between Australia and Britain, so her wardrobe needs to be fit and ready no matter the place or the season. In her new book, My Style, Minogue reveals how she can change her look with the shrug of a coat, a dazzle of a necklace or the sparkle of a pair of earrings. Here she shares her wardrobe secrets. PHOTOGRAPHY: JONTY DAVIES
DANNII
HER STYLE October 2, 2011,
STG20111002__Spread016-019.indd 17
THE SUNDAY TIMES, STM 17
28/09/2011 4:09:37 PM
MY
10 TOP
WARDROBE STAPLES
CURVY THIGHS: Steer clear of overly faded denim. Trade pale, washed-out and grey shades for indigo or black and choose a straight-legged style for an ultraslimming look. SKINNY LEGS: Don’t swamp your fabulous pins in jeans that don’t fit properly – flaunt them in a stretchlegging fit and chunk up your look with ankle boots. If stretch denim isn’t your thing, find a wide-leg, high-waisted style that fits snugly around the middle and flares out, ’70s-style. PETITE: Go for a cropped ankle and a higher waist to create the illusion of longer legs. Maximise the effect with nude or tan heels.
1 THE CLASSIC T-SHIRT
3 THE DAY DRESS
Fitted, slouchy or swing, off the shoulder, round or V-neck, there is a T-shirt cut, neckline and hemline to suit every figure – try a few to find a style that flatters. LARGE BUST: Opt for a deep round or deep V-neck T-shirt. SMALL BUST: You can carry off a higher neckline, but make sure it doesn’t swamp your shape. Go for something feminine that shows your collarbones. If you’ve got lovely toned arms, try rolling up your sleeves a couple of times to add some detail to the look. BIG ARMS: Choose a sleeve that ends just around your elbow. Keeping your forearms visible will keep the look flattering and feminine. BOYISH FIGURE: If you’re straight up and down at the waist, or have a muffin top you want to hide, go for an “A”-line T-shirt that fits at the bust and then flares out.
The day dresses I love are light, comfortable, easy to dress up or down, and look good if it gets chilly and I have to throw a jacket or pashmina over them. Invest in quality pieces that cost a little bit more. They will wash well and retain their shape and colour. Ideally, select items that you can care for at home – dry-cleaning is costly and can be inconvenient.
2 JEANS I love neat, skinny jeans that I can tuck into boots or a European cut I can wear with ballet flats or thongs. But shopping for jeans can be a nightmare. Seek out brands that retain their colour and shape after washing. Lee is a favourite. They don’t fade or go baggy after heavy washing.
WELL-FITTING WAISTBAND: You can make yourself look a whole size smaller if you wear well-fitting jeans instead of going for a size too small or a too-tight waistband. ATHLETIC BODY: Create a waist with jeans that cinch you in at the middle, smoothing out muffin top and any tummy bulges.
18 STM, THE SUNDAY TIMES,
STG20111002__Spread016-019.indd 18
4 THE SUIT When you’re dressing for business you want to be professional while retaining your own personal style. I don’t wear suits often, so I did some serious research before I bought one – a timeless black Dolce & Gabbana jacket and pants with velvet lapels. If you’re wearing suits every day for work, you would probably want to have two or three so you can chop and change. Buying a jacket with matching pieces maximises the versatility of your work clothes.
5 THE COAT A coat is potentially one of the most expensive pieces you will ever buy so, above all, it should be functional. That means warm, and it means a cut and shape that suits you and goes with as many other pieces in your wardrobe as possible. Steer away from anything too wacky or trend-led unless you’re talking a “classic” trend such as military style that comes back season after season and still looks as good today as it did years ago. My favourite, a red cashmere Valentino coat, was expensive, but it has given me 13 great years already.
October 2, 2011
28/09/2011 3:46:36 PM
STYLE
6 THE JACKET Like a coat, a jacket can be a big investment, so it’s worth searching out something that’s stylish and functional. A good, lightweight jacket will go with everything from a little summer dress to jeans and boots, and will be roomy enough to pop some layers underneath for when the weather gets cold. My favourite is a cute little cropped leather number from Lisa Ho.
7 THE LONG CARDIGAN/ PONCHO Great for a lazy weekend, entertaining at home or maternity wear, a long cardigan or poncho is perfect teamed with jeans or leggings and is super cosy with a pair of Ugg boots.
8 THE CAPRI PANT With the right shoe I can do a narrow-fitting, three-quarter length Capri pant. I love J. Crew weekender pants rolled up with a white T-shirt, a wedge heel and a pair of oversized sunglasses.
9 THE MAXI DRESS Perfect for evening entertaining
at home or floating around a barbecue. The maxi dress is the ultimate in comfort dressing. I like to wear my maxi dresses with uber-high heels at night or with bejewelled thongs for a day event.
10. THE LITTLE BLACK DRESS A well-chosen LBD can last for seasons. Basic black is chameleonlike and can be transformed with the clever use of silver or gold jewellery, a colourful scarf or a statement clutch and shoes.
Edited extract from Dannii: My Style, by Dannii Minogue, Simon and Schuster, $37.99.
g n i c a R g Sprin 2011
WARDROBE FASHION
MT LAWLEY APPLECROSS JOONDALUP BUNBURY
www.thewardrobe.com.au October 2, 2011, THE SUNDAY TIMES, STM 19 Freecall 1800 700 024
STG20111002__Spread016-019.indd 19
28/09/2011 3:46:50 PM
