Q : I have a function coming up and would love a “smart casual” dress that I can layer with tights, leggings and boots. I’m an 18, D cup with a tummy.

All of our classic bamboo fabric dresses are winners in our wardrobe because we can do so much with them. The Freya Cobalt Bamboo Batwing Dress is a great option because we can layer; we have a wide batwing shape sleeve and what we can do is layer it with tights or footless tights with boots and then, later on, wear it with sandals or trainers as we come into summer.

The Liesl Navy Stripe Linen Dress has a babydoll shape with a ¾ sleeve, a charcoal almost-black colour and great texture. You can wear it with footless tights.

The Catherine Rust Bamboo Dress is stunning! If it’s cold, add a slimline bamboo top underneath as it has a beautiful length. Again, you can add black tights with it and if you want to add some fun try the Chill Snake Ankle Boot - how fabulous is that outfit! If you are wanting to layer it with a jacket, you could put on a longline cardigan and a great belt. If those boots are too over the top, just go with a classic black boot.

In a similar colourway but a different shape, we have the Stevie Red Bamboo Dress which has long sleeves and a round neck. The seam sits at the hip and it has a ruffle effect at the bottom. It’s quite fluid which gives it a different shape. Again, black tights, striped tights or navy. A navy tight with the Chill Snake Ankle Boot would look stunning! It’s great to have some statement pieces to add on to what you’re wearing.

If you’re looking for something darker, you could try the Freya Black Bamboo Batwing Dress with a black tight and wear the Chill Snake Ankle Boot as the hero piece or the Salt Blush Embossed Boot if that’s too much.

Make your wardrobe work for you by thinking about how you could dress your pieces up or down for various events and functions. And don’t be afraid of hero or statement pieces to add some fun and personality to your outfits!

Last but not least, the Winnie Black Colour Block Knit Dress. It has a neutral colourway at the bottom, a black colourway on top - it would look so chic.

Now for layering - a lot of our basics can add a little bit of warmth and something different if you choose to wear a print such as the Susie Tan Spot Asymmetrical Bamboo Top under a black dress.

*Update: the Susie Tan Spot Asymmetrical Bamboo Top showcased in the Live is now sold out - we have included a similar alternative, the Tara Black Stripe Bamboo Top. The Liesl Navy Stripe Linen Dress is now sold out - we have included a similar alternative, the Asta Blue Pinstripe Cotton Poplin Tier Dress. The Filo Black Ankle Boot is now sold out - we have included a similar alternative, the Chill Black Ankle Boot.

Q: Is the Freya Bamboo Batwing Dress suitable for shorties?

Absolutely! Our stylist Dan is 5’2 and wears it all the time. The reason why it works so well is that even though there is a lot of fabric at the top, it becomes quite narrow at the bottom and it is quite straight, which balances out everything from our legs to our torso. You see skin through the arms, which is why batwing tops work for shorties. You can add tights and boots but keep everything quite minimal and streamlined to elongate your legs.

Q :  I have both colours in the Rooney shirt dress, I’m on the curvy side and 5’2 but I’ve never worn pink and I’m struggling to pair it with coloured heels or boots.

If you are wanting to layer it, any of our basics would work - just roll up the sleeves.

As for legs, you can wear any basic black legging paired with the Ernest Black Laser Cut Elastic Boot for a casual look. If you want to dress it up, go a little bit more sophisticated and sleek with the Filo Black Mid Ankle Boot which have a dressier shape. Or, if you want to add fun, try a printed boot such as the Chill Snake Ankle Boot - even though there is no pink, the textures work together really well. How fun is that!

Another option would be to wear it as a top rather than a dress. Our stylist, Dan, loves pink with grey! The Reed Grey Stretch Cotton Pant lets the pink be the main focus of what you’re wearing and they almost look like tights as they are quite straight. As for shoes, you can go back to the snakeskin ankle boots if you’re dressing up or you could do a trainer, which would look super fun, or a tan or blush boot for a softer palette. You can pop on a denim jacket or a beautiful woollen longline cardigan for some warmth.

Another idea would be to layer it with the Reed Navy Stretch Cotton Pant or with jeans - pink and denim looks beautiful! It’s not as heavy as black and gives it a softer mood. If you want to layer, you can add a navy long sleeve top underneath and a blush boot.

You could do wool tights or white tights and layer with a denim jacket and white trainers for a casual look.

*Update: the Ernest Black Laser Cut Elastic Boot showcased in the Live is now sold out - we have included a similar alternative, the Calgary Black Mid Ankle Boot. The Filo Black Ankle Boot is now sold out - we have included a similar alternative, the Chill Black Ankle Boot.

Q: Can you show me how to tie the Fran Leather Knot Belt?

Click here to watch Dan demonstrate how to tie this one-of-a-kind belt - at 21:00 minutes.

Q: Best styles for ladies in their late fifties?

Anything that we stock at Blue Bungalow would work; the dresses, jeans and longline ruched skirts all sit beautifully on any body shape, whatever your age. You can wear anything! The dress that Dan wears in this live would look amazing; the Becker Black Maxi Dress worn with the Rooney Stretch Buckle Belt is easy to wear as it sits perfectly in place and flat on the body.

Whether you're a rectangle, a pear shape or an hourglass - it doesn’t matter as long as you love and feel amazing in what you’re wearing! If you’re not a belt wearer, just remove it, the dress itself has a great seam that adds shape.

If you’re in Brisbane, come see us in store, we’d love to help you! Or book in for a phone or online styling session.

*Update: the Becker Black Maxi Dress is now sold out - we have included an alternative, the Black Bamboo Batwing Maxi Dress.  

Q : What blazers do you have this season? Looking for something smart to add to my winter wardrobe.

Our stylist, Dan, loves a blazer as it can really dress up what you’re wearing and also add personality. We love a denim jacket - the fit of the Nico Denim Jacket is amazing because it stops at the hip bone.

We also have the Brennan Blue Double Knit Jacket which is a denim-look blazer and has some stretch and fabulous detailing through the arm. Paired with the Reed Grey Stretch Cotton Pant, it makes for a great look which is dressier than if you were to just wear a basic denim jacket.

The Olivia Deep Red Cotton Collared Cotton Blazer is made out of a velvet-like fabric and it also comes in a beautiful navy. Try layering a long sleeve basic top under the red blazer with fun statement boots to look like an absolute rockstar! But if that red is too vibrant for you, go for the navy and pop on the snakeskin or blush boots.

We have the Stephanie Khaki Velvet Blazer Jacket which is a bit more casual but has some fabulous silver detailing on the sleeve and an unfinished, cool detailing around the seams and pockets. You can wear this type of jacket really casually with a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. The Voss White Leather Slip On Sneaker make for the perfect finishing touch or, if you’re going out for drinks with friends, swap them out for a blush or black boot. 

For the ladies out there that like some colour, we have the Millie Pink Linen Blazer which also looks absolutely fabulous with jeans and a white t-shirt or with light grey pants.

*Update: the Millie Pink Linen Blazer showcased in the Live is now sold out - we have included an alternative, the Karen Mint Marle Jacket. 

Q: How do you make white pants flattering on a larger leg and shorter pear shape?

You have to make sure that the cut is right - we know that the Reed cut is really, really good because it comes up a little bit higher, is straight-through and has an elastic waist which works. If the white is too much for you, you could try the Reed in a light grey.

The Logan White Denim Jean is more of a classic white jean, with a high waist, zip, button and a straight leg which should work for your body. You have to make sure that the shape is right, so you want a mid-rise and a straight leg, not too skinny, to elongate your leg. And make sure that the pocket placement is good; you do want them to have pockets as it gives your butt more of a curve rather than making it look flat.