Changing the proportions is one of the biggest differences you can make to an outfit. There are certain proportions that look interesting or exciting and others that look boring or even chaotic. The principle of proportion is based on the Golden Mean (or golden ratio) and applies to art and design, nature and mathematics as well as other stuff. Find out how to apply this to what you wear here.

You may have heard that for the first time since Pantone begun releasing their Colour of the Year (in 2000) that they have declared a pairing of two colours to be ‘Colour’ of The Year. And, they’re pastels… Take a look here.

Black is strong, rich and dramatic. Black is easy to coordinate with and can sometimes give the impression that an item is better quality than it is. So it’s easy to see why it appeals to so many women. Because of its increasing ubiquity, however, black – in Melbourne particularly – is at risk of losing its impact.

I thoroughly enjoy Iris Apfel’s refusal to fade away, as sadly so many women past a certain age do. Those who read my last blog post: Iris, part 1 will know this. It was reinforced when I recently saw ‘Iris‘ – the documentary by the late Albert Maysles. She succeeds in making a confident and colourful statement because she is not concerned with being ‘pretty’ or obsessed with trying to appear young, which often results in looking sad and dissatisfied with life.

I finally took myself to the cinema to see ‘Iris‘ – the documentary by the late Albert Maysles about colourful, creative and quick-witted Iris Apfel.At 94, Iris Apfel has simply incredible energy levels and insight. If you’re not familiar with her, check her out online – her eclectic sartorial style is definitely worth being aware of, whether you love it or hate it.

I’ve admired Helen Mirren from a distance for some considerable time now. I like the way she handles herself and the way she appears to engage with others. She oozes authenticity which, as many people know, is one of my favourite things. An article published in The Guardian enabled me to list numerous reasons Helen Mirren is a great role model for many contemporary women. Find out more here.

I have it on good authority that many women swoon* as they look at a pair of stilettos. But I’ve never understood this as all I see is pain, rounded shoulders, hunched over backs, clunky, clompy, clumsy walking styles to keep from toppling and a reminder of having broken my leg in three places and not walking for five months. But the Powerhouse Museum's exhibition Recollect: Shoes did make me swoon.

The photo is actually a shot of all the clothes I quickly threw together for a 10-day road trip up the east coast of Australia. Despite having plenty of space in the car for my stuff, I still wanted to ensure every item could be worn together so I didn’t have to think about what became dirty and what was still clean – anything I picked up to wear any day co-ordinated. Find out how to use the colour wheel and other colour facts to help you pack a capsule wardrobe that coordinates.

Colour lesson 101: colour is relative. Whether I’m conducting a personal colour analysis or talking to groups about how colour works, this is the first thing I like to emphasise. And this is absolutely why there was so much debate about whether the dress chosen by Scottish mother of the bride, Cecilia Bleasdale, was gold and white or black and blue.

Dr Sean Ryan of RMIT fashion school presented a fabulous talk on the history of the stripe as part of the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibition at NGV. He covered numerous angles but the focus that intrigued me was the less glamorous origin of the stripe in clothing