Sha-de Style Icon November – Marcia Cross

Marcia Cross is November’s Sha-de Style Icon for her casual look and her love of wearing hats. As we head into summer in Australia, it becomes more and more important to keeping ourselves protected from the sun, especially between 10am and 4pm.

The recent news of cricketer Richie Benaud’s skin cancer diagnosis brought home this point to me. During his time playing world class cricket, he never wore a hat. In a TV interview the other evening, he was asked if he could change on thing about his life, what it would be. He said he would have worn a hat every time he stepped out onto the field.

Summer

Pictured here grabbing a coffee in the first photo, Marcia has chosen a high-necked long sleeve tee in a dark colour, great for keeping the sun off her shoulders and chest. Dark colours tend to block more UV rays than light colours. This navy long sleeve t-shirt provides better coverage than a white cotton version would.

In the other photo’s, Marcia is wearing light cotton shirts. Although providing good skin coverage, the loose weave of the fabric allows more UV to penetrate the shirt and reach the skin. A tighter woven fabric, such as our Sha-de bamboo, provides better protection as the fabric is specially woven to block UV rays from reaching the skin. Click here to read more about our BambooLuxe fabric.

The hats Marcia is wearing in the photo’s above provide good coverage. If you are looking to buy a hat this summer, we suggest looking for a wide-brimmed hat that is made from tightly woven straw or fabric to provide the most protection. A good way of checking this is to hold the hat up to the light. If the sunlight comes through the hat, this means UV rays are coming through, so you want to find one that only lets a minimal amount sunlight through.

One of our favourite brands is My Red Lippy.  We would suggest the Panama Hat in Classic White for Marcia. The Panama has a wider brim for more coverage of the face and neck and the black band matches well with the blue colour pallet and stripes she is seen so often wearing. Click here to shop the Panama Hat in Classic White.

My Red Lippy Panama Hat in Classic White Click here to view online.

What Sha-de garment would we like to see Marcia in?

Marcia has a penchant for wearing stripes, so the Tamarama Dolman in Cream/Indigo would be a great option for her. The long sleeves and high neck coverage combined with the high UPF rating, would give Marcia peace of mind when she is out in the sun. Click here to shop the Tamarama Dolman.

My Red Lippy White Panama Hat, Sha-de Tamarama Dolman in Cream/Indigo and Sha-de Lorn Skirt in Indigo/Cream.

We hope you have a great weekend and enjoy the warm weather (and don’t forget your hat)!

Sonia xx

 

My Red Lippy hats are all handmade in Ecuador and can be purchased straight from the My Red Lippy online store. Click here to view the range.

If you liked this post, click here to read some of our favourites.

Style your kids Sun Smart

Out and About

Whether you are down at the park, heading to the cafe by scooter or going to a friends house for a play date, it’s still vitally important to make sure your kids skin is protected from the sun. The skin begins to burn after fifteen minutes, so before you walk out the door, remember to apply sunscreen or dress your kids in sun protective clothing (including a hat).

Creating a ritual is habit forming…. for some.

Creating little rituals can set up great habits for later in life. My nephew, for instance, believes there are three steps to going to play in the backyard: Shoes, sunscreen and hat. He has just turned five and (with a little help) puts on his own sunscreen from the pump bottle sitting next to the shoe rack in the entrance hall.

The only problem is my three-year-old niece, she has no interest and just wants to run straight outside; no shoes, no hat and definitely no sunscreen.

For Christmas, she is receiving a Handstand Undertop in Aquamarine and the Mr Wolf Jumpsuit in Chambray (she hates pink and her favourite item of clothing is a green camouflage jacket).

I can’t do much about the shoe problem, but this way at least my sister-in-law doesn’t have to chase her around with the sunscreen bottle and use fruit pouches as bargaining chips.

 

 At the beach

When I take my daughter to the beach, I see a plethora of rash vests with matching bucket hats running around building sandcastles and chasing seagulls.

I’m lucky enough that my daughter gets really cold at the beach and she spends most of summer in a full length wetsuit. When she’s not impersonating a seal in her black neoprene, I chase her around with the sunscreen, which eventually gets dropped in the sand and is followed by a flat refusal to put it on because it now has sand all through it. If my daughter was a couple of years younger (she’s thirteen and I have lost all control of her wardrobe ), I would have gone with the outfit below:

The Hide and Seek Hoodie because it’s comfortable, breezy and has a hood to cover the neck, back and ears. I would have slipped the hoodie straight over my daughter’s bathers (once she had toweled herself off). A couple of squirts of sunscreen on the arms, her favourite hat and she would have been ready to build her sandcastle and walk along the beach collecting shells.

To see the full range of Sha-de for Girls clothing, click here.

It’s Friday and my husband and I are off the Wilson’s Prom for the weekend. Hopefully the weather will be beautiful and I will be able to share some great photo’s on instagram with you (if you’re not following us, you can check out our profile @sha_de_sun or our kids profile @sha_de_sun_kids).

Have a great weekend!

Sonia xx

 

Bangkok – Part 2

I have made an amazing discovery. I have found the perfect evening dress for the tropics. For those in the north of Australia or anyone who travels to tropical climates you will understand the dilemma I am about to detail.

You see, I lived in Darwin for a year some years ago. Working in fashion, I found it a constant struggle to find a wardrobe of clothing that suited the humid conditions as well as the heavily air conditioned buildings you moved in and out of.

Labels from cooler climates use polyester chiffon as it seems light weight and cool, however its synthetic and traps the heat. Cotton is another popular fabric, but it is very hot. Rayon is also widely used, but it creases and is often fashioned into garments that make me look like a hippy backpacker (not really my style). I tried silk as I heard this worked well but it was expensive and also tended to cling when you sweat.

I had put together a little outfit before I left on holidays but I did not realise how it would change my world.

The Noosa Dress was the perfect mix of style, comfort and sophistication. The fabric is the perfect weight to drape the body but not cling, the styling was perfect for a dining Haute Cuising, noting popping out or riding up. The fabric is breathable and does not cling when you do break out in a tropical sweat. I could not get enough of how it felt and looked. Before I left home I had styled it with a hat and sunnies. No need on this occasion.

Sha-de Noosa Dress in Indigo, combined with an array of turquoise jewellery I have collected over the years, my Prada sunglasses and my wide brim panama-style hat.

A quick photo before our night out in Bangkok in my Sha-de Noosa Dress (RRP $129).

The Speakeasy- Muse Hotel Bangkok

We started the evening at a bar called Speakeasy in the Muse hotel. I felt like I had stepped back in time as I entered the bar. The atmosphere and decor made me feel like I had walked straight into a scene from the Great Gatsby. We were lucky enough to find a couple of empty bar stools that looked straight out over the city. We had a couple of cocktails as we stared out over Bangkok and soaked up the sounds of the bustling bar and the streets below.

We then went onto Gaggan, a progressive Indian restaurant also named in the top 50 in the world. It was outstanding. You MUST go!

The front entrance to Gagan.

The next stop on our honeymoon is Six Senses Samui, I look forward to sharing our favourite destination in Thailand with you!

Julia xx

(if you missed the first posts click here to catch up).

Bangkok- Part 1

Ahhh! Finally on our honey moon.

The first part of our two week relaxation is a few days in Bangkok to wind down and get into the holiday mood. We have booked in at The Metropolitan. The rooms are spacious and combine the tropics and the city with elegance. The pool is big and stylish and you wake up to the most amazing, fresh, organic breakfasts (Glow). Their restaurant, Nahm, is in the top 50 restaurants in the world.

Nahm also happens to be conveniently positioned next to Banyan Tree hotel which boasts the most amazing rooftop bars; Vertigo and Moon Bar on the 61st floor. It is so surreal to be above the noise of Bangkok. Nahm and Vertigo combined to make for the best date night ever!

Moon Bar – Banyan Tree Bangkok

Vertigo- Banyan Tree Bangkok

I personally don’t think that you wedding day should be the only day you wear a white dress and to get the most mileage out of my perfect fake tan and pre-wedding diet. I have planned to pull out a favourite white and silver dress and combine it with an Indigo Bilgola Kimono to keep the chill off at 61 floors up.

Sha-de Bilgola Kimono, my favourite white and silver dress, burnt orange leather clutch, an array of gold bangles (to match my necklace) and beaded sandals (perfect for the humid conditions here).

I have also packed my wedding shoes; a pair of Blue strappy Jimmy Choo’s that I LOVE! My clear, beaded flats will also work perfectly with this outfit, which I have styled with a super-luxe beaded necklace I picked up at Zara in Dubai last year. I wear this necklace whenever I get the chance because it is so amazing.

Ready for a great night out !

Enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail 61 floors above Bangkok!

I can’t wait to share the next part of my honeymoon with you. If you have just joined us now, click here to catch-up on our previous posts.

Until next time!

Julia xx

Travelling in Style with Sha-de

Travel in Comfort

Our new Resort collection came out just in time for Julia’s honeymoon to Thailand. On the flight over, Julia wore the Tamarama Dolman in Cream/Indigo, Shelly Leggings in Indigo and carried a Truffle Wrap with her.

Why wear Sha-de on a plane?

Bamboo is very soft and moves with your body, making it very comfortable – a much better option than a pair of jeans!

Julia enjoying a glass of champagne ready for take off – wearing a Tamarama Dolman (click here to view in store). 

Bamboo also has unique properties to make the flight that little bit more comfortable; it breathes really well and creates a micro climate, keeping you warm in the cool air conditioning on the plane and warm when the thermostat starts to rise.

Julia relaxing on the flight in a pair of Shelly Leggings, great for keeping your feet warm without the need to break out the airline socks (click here to view in store). 

Bamboo is also anti-microbial, which means that it prevents odours developing, so you will walk of the plane feeling fresh and ready to start your holiday or face the boardroom.

Julia arriving at Bangkok Airport, ready to start her holiday.

So if you are travelling overseas for business or on holiday, Sha-de is not only a great option to shade your skin from the sun; our garments make great travel outfits!

If you liked this post, click here to read about our five handbag must have’s for summer holidays.

Spring Racing with Sha-de

Spring is here and it’s time to enjoy the sunshine, a glass of bubbles and the Spring Racing Carnival.

With two weeks to go until the Melbourne Cup, you’ve probably thought about the dress you will wear, what shoes you have to match and where you will go to buy a matching fascinator.

Have you spared a second to think about about how you will stop getting sunburnt on the day? We have a few tips for you whether you are making the pilgrimage to Flemington, meeting friends for lunch or going to an outdoor Melbourne Cup party.

Race day at Flemington

The Melbourne Cup is a great day out… and a long day, so it’s important to ensure you are prepared. We have chosen the Garbo dress from Reiss in Navy for a classic fit and a little structure to assist with holding everything exactly where it should be. Shoes are always a bone of contention and after many trips to the races, I still say a great pair of heels are worth a little pain. The pair we have chosen have a mesh lining covered with beading, this will provide airflow throughout the day.

A Sha-de Wrap is a great addition to your handbag. Melbourne weather can be very unpredictable, so the Wrap will keep the sun off your shoulders during the day or keep the chill off if the weather turns on you. We also recommend a small tube of sunscreen to allow you to top up during the day. Click here to view the Sha-de Truffle Wrap in our store.

 Cup Day with Friends

If you are going to spend Cup Day in a more relaxed setting, we have some great options for you. I’m not going to the Cup this year, my friend Nicole has invited me to her place for a BBQ.

I am planning to wear a new addition to my wardrobe: the Noosa Dress in Indigo. I love this dress for its flexibility: I’ve coupled it with some high heels and a jacket to wear to a dinner at my daughter’s school and I’ve dressed it down for afternoon drinks with friends.

On the day, I have a pair of wedges I previously purchased from Nine West that will elevate the dress and keep my toes comfortable for the day. It wouldn’t be Melbourne Cup without some form of hat. I haven’t decided on this part of the outfit yet, but if I had my way, it would be the Gucci Fedora pictured below (a girl can dream). I will add bit of bling with wood and silver bracelets (similar to the ones pictured below that I picked up in Manly a few years back).

This outfit will keep my shoulders, arms and back from getting burnt and allow me to enjoy the day.

All I need now is a hot tip….. any suggestions?

To view the Noosa Dress and our full collection, click here.

 

Enjoy cup day and remember to put on your sunscreen before you leave the house.

 

Sonia xx

 

What to wear…. on your honeymoon!

We have been busy working on the new range and now that we have turned to packaging up our little bundles of joy for you all it is time to shift my focus for a couple of weeks.

First of all I would like to tell you all that I am getting married…… This weekend in fact – talk about jamming a few major events into a short amount of time.

We are heading off to Thailand. It was not my first choice. We are both addicted to the snow (suits my pale skin just fine) but October in between seasons for snow in Northern and Southern hemisphere. My second choice was bike riding through France but again, it is a bit cold and wet.

I love Thailand, even though I am obviously not a ‘lie on the beach to get a tan’ kind of girl, it is an country of extremes: Busy cities, relaxing islands, amazing food, decadent restaurants, relaxing sleep by the pool time and all round I’m a million miles away from work and responsibility.

So what is a red head girl to wear on her honeymoon?

We are spending a few days in Bangkok then heading down to Luang Pranbang in Laos. Then up to spoil ourselves at Six Senses in Kou Samui. Hey it s a honeymoon so you have to make is special.

Six Senses Koh Samui

Well I sure am thanking my lucky stars that we have released our range just that little bit before we fly out as I have a full wardrobe perfect for semi tropical weather (click here to view the Sha-de Resort range).

From the flight over, dinner at some indulgent restaurants, cooking classes in Laos and general living it up in beautiful resorts I think I have it covered.

I have put together a few looks for you so you can see what I am going to wear and how I will combine my new Sha-de pieces with some on my favourites to look endlessly ‘amazing’ for my new husband and protect my super soft winter skin from the sun.

First outfit to think about is the flight over. I have flown a lot in my life, for work and holidays. Most people wear tracksuit pants or jeans (how uncomfortable). My go to garment for flying the last 2 years is my Sha-de cardigan. Bamboo is similar to merino in that it is moisture wicking, and creates its own micro-climate so if it is warm it cools you down and if you are cool it will trap the warmth to your body. You also finish your flight feeling fresh as the microbial benefits mean you don’t smell or feel clammy at the end of your fight (how often does this happen).

So this flight I am changing it up a bit. I have put together this cute outfit from the range. The Shelly leggings in indigo with their little foot covers will keep your toes warm and cozy. The Tamarama Doman in Cream Indigo will envelope you and allows for easy of movement (and bloating) and is not restrictive over the long flight. I will also take a truffle wrap to carry in my handbag at all times to wrap around my neck if it gets cool but also wrap around my shoulders once I get to Thailand if I get caught out in the sun.

Combine this with my favourite Prada sunglasses, my go to big red travel bag and I am ready for a celebratory champagne to start the holidays.

 Sha-de Tamarama Dolman in Cream/Indigo ($119.00), Sha-de Wrap in Truffle ($69.95), Sha-de Shelly Leggings ($69.00),my favourite red leather bag, silver ballet flats, chunky bangles and Prada sunglasses.  

That’s all for now, the next time you hear from me, I will be a married woman soaking up the delights of Bangkok!

Julia xx

August’s Sha-de Style Icon – Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore has been a guiding light of fashion and style, gracing the covers of Vogue and Vanity Fair on a regular basis. Renowned for her fiery auburn hair and flawless porcelain skin, Julianne is living proof that looking after your skin throughout your life pays dividends. We love her sun smart style and use of colour and shapes in her wardrobe. This is why Julianne is August’s Sha-de Style Icon.

We have compiled some of our favourite pictures of Julianne, showing how she continues to protect her skin from the sun with elegant, easy wear pieces.   

Say it with Colour

Julianne definitely knows how to wear colour, opting for vivid tones, such as emerald greens and scarlet reds. These vibrant colours compliment her auburn hair and highlight her flawless skin.

 

Covering up in Style

Julianne is the perfect example of how to protect your skin outside and looking amazing in the process. The pictures we have chosen below are from outdoor events she had attended. In both shots, she has chosen a long-sleeve dress with a high neckline to protect her chest, shoulders and arms. This is sun smart with style.

What Sha-de Garment would we recommend to Julianne?

Julianne would look fabulous in a Sha-de Hooded Dress from our soon-to-be-released Resort Collection. Replacing her beach outfit below with our Navy and Cream hooded dress would give her a comfortable and stylish look, knowing that she is also shading her skin from the sun with a high UPF rated garment.

Would you like to own one of our new Sha-de Resort Hooded Dresses or be the first to view our new Resort and Kids ranges? Click here to join our mailing list to be the first to see our new ranges. 

July’s Sha-de Style Icon – Kim Sears

Welcome to our new monthly post to provide a little inspiration and remind us that shading ourselves from the sun can be done in style.

Wimbledon is in full swing at the moment and summer is the perfect time to climb those concrete steps, sit back and enjoy a match. Andy Murray’s girlfriend, Kim Sears, is our Style Icon for July and we have chosen five of our favourite outfits that she has worn to watch her other half on the hallowed courts of the All England Club.

Attending a sporting event, such as a tennis match, usually means sitting out in the sun for hours at a time. Kim has managed to put together a range of outfits that provide great coverage, are comfortable and look fabulous.

Here are our top 5 looks and why we loved them.

  1. Adding a scarf for a pop of colour

 We loved the animal print with the stripe cardigan – adding a scarf allows you to protect the back of your neck and chest. The addition of the umbrella is great to keep the sun off whilst away from the court.  

   

2. Covering your shoulders with a wrap

 A versatile option for keeping the sun off your shoulders, arms and even legs. Kim has paired her black wrap with a bright melon dress to provide a burst of summer colour.

  3. Pairing a denim Jacket with a bright summer dress

 Casual style opitimised with this canary yellow dress matched with a denim jacket and finised with a pair of classic sunnies.

 

4. Wearing a great pair of printed pants

We love this look – printed pants are a great look for summer and provide that all-important thigh coverage when sitting in the stands. 

 

 5. Choosing a long sleeve in a natural fibre

Kim has chosen a bold cobalt colour, which will add to the uv protection of this garment. The choice of a natural fibre will keep her cool, even through she is wearing long sleeves.

Some great outfits and simple ideas to shade yourself from the sun at your next sporting or outdoor event. For all our friends in the Northern Hemisphere – enjoy the Summer sun!

Keep up to date with Sha-de and receive special offers by becoming a Sha-de VIP – click here. 

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Autumn with Sha-de

Autumn has arrived, but that doesn’t mean that it’s time to pack away the sunscreen and store your Sha-de. The sun is still strong in Autumn across Australia, especially between 11am and 4pm, and it’s a great time of year to get out and about and enjoy the cooler weather. Keeping this in mind, we thought we would give you some ideas on how to transition your Sha-de into your Autumn wardrobe.

Bamboo is a great fabric for changing weather conditions, keeping you cool when it’s hot and warm when it’s cool. If you are a Melbournian like us, layering is your best friend between April and September, and Sha-de’s are perfect for this.

Sha-de Cardigan

Combine your Sha-de Cardigan with a pair of dark jeans and some ankle boots for a day out with the girls. Add another layer of colour with a scarf and finish the look with a pair of great Category 3 sunglasses.

 

SHA-DE SCARLET CARDIGAN, TORY BURCH ANATOLIA SQUARE SCARF, KORAL 4 MONTH BLUE BLACK JEANS, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN TOTE BAG, SPURR RITA BIKER BOOTS, PRADA SUNGLASSES

Sha-de Shrug

The monochrome trend has been carried through this Autumn, so why not add a splash of colour to the look with your Sha-de. Cropped pants are back this season, with a focus on a relaxed fit, so be comfortable in style this Autumn.

SHA-DE BLUSH SHRUG, FRENCH CONNECTION CAPPED SLEEVE TOP, THE ICONIC TETRIS PANTS, SAINT LAURENT CLASSIC S123 SUNGLASSES, PHILLIP LIM PASHLI COLOURBLOCK SATCHEL BAG, GUCCI WOMEN’S INTERLOCKING G LEATHER STRAP WATCH, JC PENNY ANIMAL PRINT ENAMEL RING, DAVID YURMAN CABLE WRAP EARRINGS

 Sha-de Wrap

If you have a formal event on this Autumn, ward off the evening chill in the air with your Sha-de Wrap. We’ve paired it with a classic dress from Reiss and splurged with some gorgeous de le Renta shoes.

 

SHA-DE WRAP IN SCARLET, REISS VENICE FORMAL TAILORED DRESS, OSCAR DE LA RENTA BEADED MESH PUMPS, MICHAEL KORS WOMEN’S GOLD WATCH, SWAROVSKI GOLDEN SHADOW CRYSTAL PENDANT NECKLACE, ASPREY CURVED FRAME CLUTCH.

We’d love to hear (or see) how you’re transitioning your Sha-de this Autumn, so add a comment to this blog or why not post a pic on our Facebook page – we love seeing our customers wearing their Sha-de’s!