Special guest Sarah from Styling Mrs Oliver with her hardtofind picks for an ‘escape the winter’ holiday and a date night with your significant other – plus the chance to win a personal styling session.

Win a one-to-one session with Styling Mrs Oliver

Is your look boring you to tears? At a loss to even find a ‘look’, or has a job or lifestyle change – hello, baby – meant that your wardrobe literally and figuratively no longer fit?

Never fear. Send an email to competitions@hardtofind.com.au telling us why your wardrobe needs a wake-up call and you could win a consultation with Sarah from Styling Mrs Oliver.

What you’ll win:

For entrants who live within Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the Styling Mrs Oliver package (worth $600) is up for grabs. Over 4.5 hours, Sarah will visit your home, do a wardrobe edit, then you’ll enjoy a personal shopping session where she’ll show you pieces that complement and update your current wardrobe, as well as adding in new basics and must-have highlights for the new season. You and your wardrobe will feel thoroughly refreshed.

For entrants who live anywhere else in Sydney, or live interstate, you’ll win a 30 minute Styling Mrs Oliver phone consultation plus a customised post-session package (worth $500) including inspiration, visual style guides and links to items from fashion sites that Sarah has handpicked for you.

Enter now! Entries close Friday 10 July 2015.
See our terms and conditions

About Sarah

Sarah Calvert is the stylist behind the consultancy, Styling Mrs Oliver to which she brings 20 years’ experience as a womenswear fashion designer in London, Hong Kong and Sydney. She worked as an assistant stylist with Marie Claire magazine in London for a year after finishing her fashion degree and then went on to design for many high street stores, including five years as a Senior Designer at David Lawrence here in Sydney.

Styling Mrs Oliver provides a personal styling service, style guides and inspiration for women. The Styling Mrs Oliver woman is ageless, she is driven by style and quality rather than trends. Her wardrobe never really dates and can be easily refreshed each season.

Building on the basics – Sarah’s one-key-piece picks from hardtofind

Escape the winter: holiday basics

These black leather thongs with brightly painted coral toes will get you in the mood for your holiday. Wear with grey marl track pants and soft organic cotton shirt for a relaxed chic travel outfit. The navy wrap is a must for keeping you warm on the plane! On arrival, slip into the lovely white cotton kaftan and make your way to the pool. Dress up the kaftan with pom pom scarf and thongs and go shopping. I love the embroidered boho voile shirt too…..another must-have for a holiday to wear with jeans or shorts.

We're all going on a... summer holiday. (Or wish we were.) — We’re all going on a… summer holiday. (Or wish we were.)

Silk/cotton pom pom scarf, $75 – this looks great with white. Wear it with your white shirt or kaftan.
Organic slouch pants, $86.25 down from $115 – perfect for lounging or dress them up with shirt and thongs.
Large hammered hoop studs, $109 – dress up your basics with these classic hoop earrings.
To Rome with Love tote, $90.97 down from $139.95 – essential item for the beach and shopping.
Summer tank, $15 – great for layering.
Cotton kaftan, $60 down from $120 – throw it over your swimmers, dress it up for lunch.
Black thongs, $89.95 – these are so simple but very chic.
Coral nail polish, $18 – a great way to introduce a pop of colour. Love this vibrant coral next to neutral palettes.
Bella top, $69 – this is a super relaxed and versatile white shirt. Wear it all the year round.
Hilda top boho voile blouse, $59.40 down from $99 – lovely cover-up in the sun.

Date night/date lunch: easy dress-up basics

Transform your basic items into something a little bit glam. Everyone seems to lead a hectic life and sometimes the concept of getting dressed up to go out feels way too hard. Having some versatile basic items in your wardrobe makes things much easier. Here are some ideas of how to get out of your comfort zone and take yourself out to lunch in style.

For the pants look, the metallic silver jewellery pieces are modern and yet still delicate. Wear the boho blouse with pretty black lace underwear or a black cami. If you’re not in the mood for heels, try with metallic flats and a gorgeous silver leather bag for a relaxed luxe look.
For the black dress, this is such an easy outfit to put together, whether it’s for lunch in the sun or a night out. Try this laid-back look with rose gold accessories for a bit of a 70’s vibe, or layer it with a neat cotton cardigan for cooler evenings.

Saturday night's alright for dining. — Saturday night’s alright for dining.

Starstruck necklace, $159 – delicate and very pretty.
French sandals in silver, $135 – perfect sandals that would also look great with jeans or a dress.
Rose gold coin drop earrings, $27 down from $54 – these are a lovely way to add some sparkle.
Levuka boho cotton voile blouse, $125 – this is a pretty, versatile, feminine blouse.
Pull-on pant in jersey with drape pocket, $149 – this is in a draped jersey fabric with a lovely pocket detail. Comfortable to wear for casual days and easy to dress up.
Silver leather tote, $229 – this is just gorgeous and will give any outfit an edge.
Broadway tote in nude, $139.95 – elegant carry-all that goes with any colour.
Rose gold choker, $59 – a classic design with a circa Studio 54 feel… think Bianca Jagger.
Duri nail polish in Bedroom Talk, $18 – dress up your toes in this lovely classic nude.
Lolita heels in black, $112.46 down from $149.95 – for extra va-va-va-voom, paint your toes scarlet red and go for it.
Organic cotton neat cardigan jacket, $120 – this neat little shape is perfect for a cover-up and will work back with so many other outfits.
Silver laurel leaf earrings, $69 – these are such a beautiful design.
Long fringed cardigan, $100 – I love the uneven hemline, another great layering piece.
Black cotton maxi dress, $99 – this is a ‘one size fits all’ easy pull-on dress – a great staple to run around in during the day and dress up when you dine out.

Terms & conditions: 1. Information on how to enter forms part of the terms and conditions of entry. Participation in this promotion is deemed acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. 2. Entry is open to permanent residents of Australia. 3. To enter, email why your wardrobe needs a wake-up call to competitions@hardtofind.com.au. They must be your original words. 4. This is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner. Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. The most creative and original entry as determined by a panel of judges at hardtofind will win. Each entry shall be individually judged based on originality and creative merit. Prizes cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash. 5. The competition opens Tuesday 23 June. The competition closes at noon on Friday, 10 July, 2015. 6. The promoter reserves the right to request winners to provide proof of identity and proof of residency at the nominated prize-fulfilment address. Identification considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of the promoter. 7. Prize winners are advised that tax implications may arise from their prize winnings and they should seek independent financial advice prior to the acceptance of the prize. 8. Employees and their immediate families of hardtofind and their agencies and companies associated with the promotion are ineligible. 9. The winners will be notified via email. Winners will need to provide address and or phone details to receive their prize. 10. The promoter shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including but not limited to direct or consequential loss) or for any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with any prize/s, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law. 11. All entries become the property of hardtofind. By entering the competition, the entrant irrevocably assigns the copyright in their entry to hardtofind. All entries will be entered into a database. hardtofind may use any entry and/or any entrant’s name and email and the winner’s name, email and photographs for future promotional, marketing and publicity purposes in any media worldwide without notice and without any fee being paid. hardtofind may also use any entry without attribution. Entrants have the right not to have their photo published if they so advise hardtofind. Entrants will not be contacted by the third party, unless they have opted in to do so. 12. The prize includes either a Styling Mrs Oliver personal styling package worth $600 or a Styling Mrs Oliver phone consultation and inspiration package worth $500, dependent on the winner’s location . There is one (1) prize available. Total prize pool value is up to AU$600. 13. The promoter is: Hardtofind Pty Limited (ABN 13 132 954 039).