Flatlay: 50 shades of crimson

Growing up with ginger locks, there are certain things you'll hear a lot: "Are you on fire?" for instance. "Carrot top," "Annie..." The list is endless. And yet, something seemingly innocuous: "Redheads cannot wear red" stuck hard and fast for a few years. The premise that redheads shouldn't be wearing red was drilled into me by strangers. What was I thinking? It may not be my first go-to colour, but it's one we of the titian variety should be embracing!

There's no reason whatsoever not to go completely wild with reds. The deeper and richer the colour the better, but playing with different tones is a must! There's a reason my auburn locks fit with my naturally pale skin tone. Red fabric does too. It has been scientifically proven that seeing the colour red increases a viewer's metabolism, heart rate and respiration. So, to all you lovely redheads out there, be proud of your colour and play it up all you can. Wear redhead friendly colours that complement your scarlet tresses. 

I love this handmade dress I scored at the Salvos. It's the perfect blend of a-little-bit-retro and romanticism in one. It cinches at the waist and is so comfortable to wear. This week I paired it with that deep red cashmere knit and some skin coloured tights for an evening. The sunnies will be great for summer, but they've been carrying me through some of Perth's sunnier winter days too. Some great op shopping bargains here! How do you feel about wearing red?

The look:

Apple and Bee purse - Good Sammys - $3

Truworths tooled leather handbag - Salvos - $3.25

Heine red cashmere knit - Salvos - $1.25

Handmade polka dot dress - Salvos - $4.25

Love Tree red blouse - Save the Children - $1.50

Striped singlet - Salvos - $2.25

Heart sunnies - Salvos - 50 cents

Owl ring - Good Sammys - $2.25

Cellini Sport purse - Salvos - $2.50

What's on: National Op Shop Week (August 23 - 30)

Grab your diaries and pencil this in! Non-profit organisation Do Something has announced that National Op Shop Week 2015 will run from Sunday, August 23 to Sunday, August 30.

If you're a lover of cheap finds and one-off pieces, National Op Shop Week provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate your addiction to vintage scouring. The event supports your local op shops by encouraging shoppers to donate the wardrobe goodies that no longer see the light of day. Enjoy not only the pleasure of having more space in your closet, but that warm feeling of knowing you've helped someone else! There are endless charity stores listed on Do Something's website, so you can easily locate your closest op shop. It's perfect for those on a budget, lovers of eco-friendly behaviour and hipsters.

Network TEN newsreader Sandra Sully will support the event in her role as National Op Shop Week ambassador for 2015. She fronted the week when Do Something launched the event back in 2012. 

This year's campaign slogan is Op Till You Drop and celebrates the important and multi-faceted role of op shops in the community. The week applauds the voluntary staff who man these charities and the joy of bargain shopping, while also promoting re-use of material goods and reducing waste in landfills. 

But it's not all op-shop focused! This week will make it a lot easier for Australians to get involved in community volunteering and charity events. Where you come in: Just type in your postcode or suburb and find an opportunity near you. You'll be shown listings with information about how you can help or get involved in your local community. This year, the website has listings localised to 16,000 suburbs and 565 local councils. So no matter where you live in Australia, there'll be something you can do. Why not get started and see what's happening? 

For more info, visit the website here. If you have a story to share about your op shopping experience, post on the official National Op Shop Week platforms: Twitter - @OpShopWeek and Instagram @OpShopWeek.

How will you be getting involved this year? 

OOTD: A little splash of colour

On a cold winter day in Perth, it's easy to throw on a dark sweater and a pair of jeans. We've all been there. But I'd like to convince you that making the conscious decision to wear brighter colours on occasion has its own benefits. With this OOTD I teamed up this beautiful bird print dress (That Bird Label - a Birdsnest brand - Salvos) with a mustard yellow crop. Atop that, I threw on a fitted cream jacket (Good Sammys). Here's another example of using mustard in an outfit. This dress is just gorgeous. It's a fit and flare style, with a lovely full skirt that allows you to sway the day away. I've worn it to the races (minus the crop) in summer and in autumn with a little red cardigan. The looks you can pull off with this dress are endless because of the sheer amount of colour on the print! I love that the full skirt on this dress also falls gracefully over your hips.

I'm a firm believer that colours affect your mood. Naturally, we tend to have more positive reactions to brighter colours as opposed to dull colours. This outfit added a bit of colour to the cold surrounds on the day I shot these photos!

I also love the avian print on this dress. The lively colours and playful pattern turns the spotlight back onto delicacy and femininity. On the whole, this was a stellar purchase. It was brand new with tags when I picked it up at the Salvos and has given me plenty of lovely, bright trans-seasonal wear. Not a bad find!

What do you think about wearing bright colours through winter?

Today's look:
That Bird Label dress - Salvos - $6.25
Valleygirl mustard crop - Salvos - $3.25
Cream jacket (no label) - Good Sammys - $4
Green ring - Salvos - $2.25
Jane Debster pink heels - Vinnies - $4 (See my flatlay with these beauties)

Photos by Reg Vardy.