The 'Hot Vimto' Blog
You may be wondering where the title for our blog, 'Hot Vimto' comes from so we thought we'd tell a little story.
During the war my Bisnonno (Great Grandpa) Tognarelli was interned in the Isle of Man after having set up Tognarelli’s Ice Cream Bar and Cafe in Kendal, Lake District. It quickly became the place to be not just for their delicious Ice Cream but for it's Italian spirit.
Italian's are all about welcoming people into their community and being one big family. Something that I want our Reli community to feel when they shop with us and Tognarelli’s quickly became famous for their signature drink - Hot Vimto hence the name for the blog!
How to elevate your outfit using the Rule of Thirds.
Using this rule of thirds is instantly more flattering for all body shapes and sizes and can elevate your outfit by creating a visually balanced look. Sounds like a win to me!
Think of your body as being divided into three parts instead of just two halves. These three parts include:
1. The head and shoulders / chest
2. The hips
3. The legs
At some point throughout these three sections you need to create a visual break. This can be done by having one third at the top, followed by a visual break and then two thirds at the bottom or you can reverse this to two thirds on top and one third on the bottom.
Making sure every outfit is split into these proportions will ensure you always look chic and polished and avoid looking frumpy.
Let’s take a simple high waisted jean and regular length t-shirt outfit. Wearing the t-shirt hanging out over your jeans will cut your body in half at your hips. However, if you tuck your t-shirt into your high waisted jeans and add a belt it will create the illusion of one third on top and two thirds on the bottom which is much more flattering and visually balanced.
Splitting the outfit to create a visual break can be done using accessories such as a belt or simply the bottom of one piece of clothing and the top of another, such as where an over-sized shirt ends and your jeans start.
Next time you’re getting dressed think about this and see how much it elevates your outfit and flatters the body. Feel free to share your photos with us we’d love to see them by tagging us #alessandrarelistyle on your socials.
BONUS TIP: Mamma’s number one fashion faux pas or should I say ‘passo falso della moda’ is wearing trousers with belt loops but not wearing a belt. I see this all the time and it immediately makes an outfit look unfinished - you’d never see an Italian woman like this! The quickest and easiest way to a polished look is to add a belt.
Love Ali x
A story of a thousand words…
These trousers aren’t just a pair of trousers, they tell a story.
These are my Mamma’s Armani trousers that she’s had for years, the quality is impeccable and now they’ve been passed down to me and I hope to wear them for many years to come too.
When I wear them I feel invincible, I feel confident and I feel happy. I want to be kind to others, I want to chat to strangers in the street, I radiate my happiness onto others.
When I wear these trousers, I am reminded of my Mamma and what an elegant and beautiful lady she is. They bring back happy memories of times when I was younger and we would go on shopping trips together and she’d ask for my input.
Clothes shouldn’t just be clothes, they should tell a story of a thousand words.
Alessandra Reli’s aim is to bring meaning back to our clothes, to create memories in them with the people we love and to pass them down through the generations. We would love to hear your stories, share them with us on social media using the hashtag #MyAlessandraReliStory
Love Ali x
Where does our name Alessandra Reli come from?
My Mamma's side of the family is Italian and their family name is Tognarelli. The most important thing in the world to me is family, friends and human connection, so ensuring the brand has strong ties to my family, is super important to me.
During the war my Bisnonno (Great Grandpa) Tognarelli was interned in the Isle of Man after having set up Tognarelli’s Ice Cream Bar and Cafe in Kendal, Lake District. Interestingly, the people of Kendal set up a petition to overturn this decision and bring him back to England, in particular Kendal so that he could continue running Tognarelli’s, because he and the cafe were much loved all around the town, and incredibly, the petition was a success!
Even now, to this day if you ask anyone of my parents age, they will know about and have fond memories of Tognarelli’s, particularly their famous HOT VIMTO. Apparently it was the place to be day and night!
There’s so many reasons why I want the brand to have strong connections to my Italian heritage and this is a big one. Tognarelli’s was a small family run business, where people came to socialise, have fun and spend quality time with their loved ones.
I also love that setting up small businesses runs in my family and I’d love for the world to go back to a place where there were only small businesses to buy from and trade with.
And lastly, the Italian style - well, this speaks for itself. Who doesn’t want to dress as chic and elegant as an Italian woman!
Love Ali x