Post Christmas (no) sales

Today I went to Paddington again with my Mum! But this time... I didn't buy a thing! Sure, there were so many clothes that I would give my left and right arm/leg for. Like a dress we saw from a Norwegian brand called Fin that was made from bamboo (!), or the sensational Opening Ceremony collection at Land's End in 5 Ways. Or the hundreds of shoes in Zomp, the Isabel Marant collection in Parlour X and the dresses in Willow. Not to mention the Romance Was Born Pop-up store, which was down a little alleyway and was like an underwater fashion-theme park!

Top: Uniqlo Thermo-top (!)

Embroidered vest: From a flea market in Tokyo, around $6!

Jeans: Roy Jeans, Melbourne $50, from $220

Necklace: Glebe Markets

Shoes: Vintage Italian shoes circa 1980s from The Wardrobe Store $60

Bag: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, bought in Boxing Day Sale 2005, David Jones $60 from $250

Top: Banana Republic $25

Bag: Pleats Please by Issey Miyake $50!

Jacket: from Isetan Shinjuku

Jeans: from Japan

Sunglasses: Oroton

Yes, I would happily give away my body parts to own these things, but for some reason, I wasn't in the buying mood. You know how sometimes, as much as you see so many things you want and have the capacity to buy, you just dont' feel like buying them at the end of the day?

I was happy just to admire, drool, and ah, drool some more. Plus Mum and I had lots of fun messing around with my camera. Ala The Sartorialist. To be honest, it actually felt good not buying anything. I just haven't found the post Christmas sales to be that good this year. I even checked out David Jones in the city on Boxing Day, and it was underwhelming to say the least. Too crowded, overpriced and just. not. worth. it. So until something really catches my eye, I'm going cold turkey! Although, whenever I have a bit of a dry spell, I tend to go on a bit of a psycho spending spree soon afterwards...

Naked romance

N-U-D-I-T-Y.

Well, to be more precise- nude, soft pink hue coloured clothing and accessories. It's a (lack of) colour trend that has been rumbling for a while now on the runways, and some of you more fashion-forward girls might be already on it. But it's only now that the trend is starting to hit the shops. The nude vision is unique, for depending on the fabric chosen and how the piece is structured, wearing a nude garment can evoke two opposingly distinct images.

1) Sweepingly feminine, romantic and delicate

2) Provocative, down-right sexy and body-tight.

Either way, it's been hailed "The Return of Romance". And I'm definately in love with it.

XXX

Op Shops

The other day, I spent the day Op Shopping around Glebe, Newtown and Enmore. I had to help my bf find the pieces for his Frank En Furter costume from The Rocky Horror Picture Show for a 21st. The theme was "A" or "F'. I dressed as a Feline. a.k.a. cat. I'll post a pic once I find one.

It was super duper hot, so I thought I'd throw together a summer look. I've got to say I'm not usually one to wear shorties as I feel quite self-conscious in them, but I'm trying to be more adventurous these days...

Top: Chic Collections (bought it around 4 years ago on sale from $120 to $35)
Shorties: $15 from cheap clothing shop in Maroubra

Bag: $30 from bag shop in Japan

I promise I was trying being a good helper... but I couldn't help but get sidetracked to look at stuff for me, as I ADORE op shopping.

I scored this beautiful dress, at the Red Cross Op Shop at the beginning of Enmore Road for only $14! It's by the Australian label Alibi which I think is now defunct.

I really have a penchant for cute, feminine floral dresses. I just love the shape, and that it ties as a bow in the back.

I'll keep you posted (I still have a lot of entries to catch up on)!

Have a lovely day x

It's a love triangle with Fashion, Tea, and me.

Today was my Mum's Birthday!! What better way to celebrate than High Tea at the Observatory Hotel?

After starting our day by going to yoga, we took some photos in front of the beautifully gorgeous Swarovski Crystal Christmas tree in the QVB. (Apparently it's the largest Swarovski tree in the world) We probably looked like Japanese tourists hahah! Say Fuji!

Then we cabbed it to the Observatory Hotel. I was such a dork. When I put my foot out of the car, my heel got caught on the inside of my dress. So there I was, hopping on one foot, trying to untangle myself. Once I did, you'd think that would be the end of it. Not with dorky me. I was re-enacting to my Mum what happened, and then my foot got caught again! All in front of the door men. I am one classy lady.

We were ushered into the absolutely devine Globe Bar, which is stylised to look like a library in an Old English Manor. For our choice of tea, I chose a "first flush finest quality Assam" and Mum chose the Darjeeling. We were then presented with the oh-so-difficult task of devouring *mini* creme caramels, quiche lorraines, chocolate cakes, cheese cakes, panna cotta, plain and fruit scones with home-made strawberry jam and cream and 4 kinds of sandwiches. Oh. My. God. D.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s. The scones were my tied favourite with the creme caramel. We've already planned a return visit!

In continuing with the total classiness, we just had to take some pictures in the bathroom... I mean, lavatory.

And of course, we had to get dressed up for the occassion! (Pictures below in Martin Place)


I decided to wear a grey Metalicus cross-over dress, with a white Portmans floral singlet underneath, and my black and white bow Nine West heels. My bag is from a department store in Japan I bought as part of some special promotion they were having in wchih all these Italian leather bags were down from around $300 to $120. For accessories I wore the diamond earrings from Arpege my Mum gave me for my birthday this year, and a heart-lock silver bracelet from a jewellery stall next to the Opera House my mum gave me last year for Christmas.

Mum wore my black floral dress I bought in Maroubra for $20, my purple diamond ball necklace, heels from Isetan in Malaysia, and a bag from Ginza Kanematsu (Japanese designer shoe brand).

So Happy Birthday Mum! You are the most wonderful mum in the world. I love you!

Hypothetical purchases...

Let me pose a hypothetical: Say you just bought two skirts- would it be wrong to buy another two? But change the you to I. Given this is all hypothetical- it is truly amazing that I managed to capture these purchases in photographic form.

Skirt: Uniqlo ($20)

Singlet Top: Uniqlo ($10)

Necklace: UTECH Time Team ($3.50)

The skirts are from my Mum and my favourite Japanese brand Uniqlo. It's like a Japanese Topshop/H&M. But cheaper, more innovative, unique and ah, Japanese. They were $20 each. I can definately utilise these skirts as the weather gets warmer, and they are oh so sweet I think! (n.b. utilise is a very handy verb for justifying shopping).

I also got two lace singlet tops in a beautiful bright fuchia and electric purple. They were only $10 each. They look great tucked into skirts.

Belted with: Romance Was Born Scarf

(ah, um. $80. Ok, I realise that it cost more than the total amount of these clothes. But it is a work of art - literally- using the print of Australian Artist Del Kathryn Barton)

My mum bought them online- and had them shipped over. We're crazy like that. They were bought 2 or so months ago. So it's not really like I just bought 4 skirts in a row. There was a break people!

But we really should remember this is all hypothetical...

Hippie hippie shake

The hippy era- a time of free love, protest and collective movements. But it was also a time when tie dye fashion reigned supreme. Loosely draped bright, psychadelic prints were the go, and comfort clothes was not a concept to be shunned at. But like trends for most eras, tie die fashions slipped into the periphery...

Until now. Yes- tie die is back. Well, at least I think it will be! According to the runways, fashion editors and my own observations, tie die is the next big trend. And it's going to go off.

(Title image- Stella McCartney dégradé skinny jean, $355, available at www.net-a-porter.com, Images 1-2: William Tempest F/W 2009, Images 3-5 Costume National Resort 2010, Images 6-7 Beradi)

Chainstores have even started to get in on the trend- as can be seen with Sportsgirl's newest collection One le Blue:

I have to admit last year I probably couldn't imagine wearing tie dye (although I do remember wearing it for a period as a kid), but now I'm warming to the trend. I think if the dying is executed well- and it doesn't look like a 8 year old kid made it- it can be a very fresh look. I think the key to wearing this trend will be to balance tie dye piece with a neutral item/s. It definately has the potential to bring a bit of vivaciousness into the fashion scene, which will be especially welcome after the dull and sombre colours we often pull out in winter.