Tulle is Cool

I was the quintessential wannabe princess in my early years when I would don my princess dresses, tulle skirts and tiaras whilst dancing to the dreamy tunes of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. Never mind whether I was playing in my bedroom or walking up to the coffee shop with mum; a full skirt with the corresponding jewellery, bags, wands and glittering tiaras would always be in order. And apparently you can never take the princess out of the girl (minus the magic wand and tiara) as full tulle skirts and fabulous accessories are exactly what I want to be wearing nowadays too.

The tulle skirt has made a comeback since Autumn 2015 on the streets with fabulous results. The femininity of the skirt can be contrasted with leather to create a tough-girl look, matched with wool and knits to cater for winter, and worn with denim to downplay the formality of tulle to offer a day-appropriate outfit. No longer should it be aligned with tiaras and sparkling bodices, because the opportunities for versatility don’t solely resign it for wear at a royal ball. The tulle skirt, as of recently, has been unleashed.

I found a relatively inexpensive one at a chain store and thought ‘why not?’ It resurrected so many childhood memories. On a day out in the city I wore it with a simple black and white stripped sleeveless top, a vintage leather choker and a contemporary clutch bag my sister bought for me on her travels in Europe. Oh, and a new haircut I recently coerced myself into having.

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With my newly-short hair, princess skirt and continued love for Disney musical scores, it almost feels like I haven’t grown up. But I suppose my previous career plans to become a princess and marry Aladdin have changed dramatically.

Skirt: Ice

Top: Witchery

Shoes: Forever New

Bag: Atmosphere

Sunglasses: Chloe

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Top 10 Serena Van der Woodsen Dream Dresses

It has been a little late, but I just finished watching the entire series of Gossip Girl in the space of about three months. I was pretty into it and not because of the superb acting or completely realistic drama plots, but due to the amazing fashion I was exposed to in every episode. Although they may not have been great people, Serena Van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf were the ultimate style queens who I most definitely bowed down to. With their Chanel this and Prada that, those ladies tossed me into a great big pool of green envy I would never be able to escape from. And there is no doubt that Serena Van der Woodsen was the object of the majority of that envy from girls around the world.  So to demonstrate my appreciation of her unwavering beauty and formidable fashion, I compiled a top ten list of my favourite formal fashion she wore through-out the entire series. You may acknowledge that it was not an easy task to undertake. So, in no particular order:

  1. gold dress s 1

The dress that made Dan Humphrey fall in love with Serena Van der Woodsen. She established herself as the golden girl in Pamela Dennis couture, and undoubtedly the best dressed at that ball.

2.de8ca6a3652b3d57d916c87481fc6dee

Looking like an ethereal rockstar with the waist embellishment and tulle skirt with the varied length.

3.

peach orange dress

Grecian gowns will always be in fashion, particularly with the modern twist of the thigh split and grey sandal heels. Oh S, why were you such a grecian goddess?

4.

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You can never put a foot wrong when wearing a black, sleeveless long gown with a hint of sparkles. Instant class and seduction.

5.

ellie saab grey dress

Zuhair Murad created a masterpiece with this transparent grey lace dress. The satin sash provides a unique and elegant touch which perfectly balances out the intricate lace.

6.

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Fierce and fresh gown by Jenny Packham. That aquamarine beading is on point. At first I found the peek-a-boo at the front slightly distasteful, but eventually I decided that it compliments the long sleeves and the entire visual of the dress is gorgeous.

7.

maid of honour dress s

Perhaps even overshadowing the bride herself, Serena looked like a high-class couture model in this ivory pink chiffon gown as a maid of honour. That one-shoulder touch practically makes the gown.

8.

blue dress s

Is there a colour she can’t wear? This periwinkle blue gown looks fairytale-esque with the frilled bottom of the transparent skirt and blue flowers decorating the bust and waist area.

9.

So simple, yet so elegant with the subtle lace and faced yellow. The belt offers a modern touch to a feminine gown.

10.

Final season wedding dress

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….And she always remained the golden girl in Georges Chakra. It’s only fitting that she married the love of her life in gold, the colour that caught Dan’s heart. Yes that was cringingly corny, but so is the whole of Gossip Girl. After six seasons of fantastically bad drama it was sure to rub off on me. Ahh, that golden train. Probably constructed from real gold, too.

So, what are your thoughts on my top 10? Did I miss any staggeringly gorgeous S moments? Let me know in the comments below!

xoxo Laura

In-Between Weather Fashion

This summer in Melbourne has been odd to say the least, and definitely has not been warm enough to store away my jeans for three months. For those days that seemed more like autumn, 3/4 length jeans were the obvious choice. I usually align 3/4 length jeans with mums who do the school drop-off, but for occasions like these they are so practical and even (dare I say it) chic. This outfit was inspired by my struggle with those in-between temperatures, where it isn’t necessarily warm but still isn’t categorised as cold. Note the sleeveless turtleneck and picnic rug/vest, giving you maximal space to experience a nice breeze on your exposed skin but enough coverage to keep you from getting the goosebumps. The 3/4 length jeans also served the same purpose, enabling a part of my legs to breathe if there was a bit too much heat building up. Yes my descriptions come across as comical, but I’m sure you are familiar with those in-between temperatures and understand exactly where I’m coming from. You need that crucial balance which is easy to achieve with sleeveless items, cardigans, light maxi skirts, maxi dresses and shortened jeans.
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Vest: Cotton On

Top: Forever New

Jeans: Levi’s

Shoes: Betts

Clutch: House of Secrets

Want more fashion news and updates? Follow me here on my blog and on my Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog! x

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Clearly I think I nailed 17-19 degrees celsius fashion.

Classy Darling

About a month ago, I was in the Gold Coast and visited one of my favourite places on the coast for some afternoon tea: the visually stunning Palazzo Versace. The setting proved irresistible for photo-taking, especially with this white belted gilet I had recently purchased after christmas. I had my eye on this piece for a couple of months before I purchased it, but being the typical economically downcast student I forced myself to wait until it became half price.                                                             Poor student note: A good piece of advice is that everything will be on sale in due course, and if you don’t need it urgently then it is ALWAYS more satisfying to purchase it when the price tag is halved.

Being an exuberant fan of white clothing, I knew I needed this gilet despite not exactly knowing where I’d wear it. Its versatility allows you to wear it as a dress with a slip underneath (as seen below) or as a sleeveless summer jacket with the belt hanging loosely across your stomach or by your sides. Hence I justified buying it through all the ways I could wear it, and most importantly, by how refreshingly classy it makes me feel.

I wore it with light tan gladiator sandals, rose gold jewelry, a black Guess bag and I even threw in my Chloe sunglasses to make me feel as designer as the hotel.

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Belted Gilet: Witchery

Shoes: Lipstik

Bag: Guess

Sunglasses: Chloe 

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Playing Suits

If you’ve been following my fashion escapades, you would have been informed about my obsession with onesies. Playsuits, jumpsuits, pantsuits…they’re just so comfortable and cute. I purchased this particularly summery looking playsuit featuring pastel tones and complicated shoulder straps at Gearbox boutique in the Gold Coast, which is fundamentally my go-to store when I’m staying in the sunny state. The contemporary design with the thick straps, skort and neoprene material makes it one of the most unique while flattering playsuits I have discovered, which fortunately happens to fit like a glove.

On an outstandingly sunny Australia Day, I coordinated the playsuit with metallic silver shoes to emphasise the futuristic style which the playsuit brings. It was also perfect for playing some backyard cricket in.

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Playsuit: Ministry of Style

Shoes: Witchery

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Skirts & Stuff

Impulse buys are the best. About six months ago when I was in New York, I was shuffling through the racks and H&M and came across this skirt for an unbeatable $10. With bargains like that, you can’t think twice. I especially love the fitted waist and the flare at the hips, presenting a straight-then-curved silhouette which provides hip shape.

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Top: Kookai 

Skirt: H&M

Shoes: Lipstik 

Necklace: Lovisa 

Bag: ?

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