New York, New York

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJuly 25, 2015July 30, 2015

I can’t possibly explain how excited I was to experience New York for myself, rather than looking with admiration through a TV screen. As a capital city of fashion and entertainment I was certain that it would be remarkable, and it truly exceeded my expectations.

We resided on Times Square which was relatively overwhelming to begin with. The sheer amount of people and the blazing lights were unlike anything I’ve witnessed before. In fact, it probably took me a couple of days to not be overwhelmed by Times Square. It also made me want to go to literally every show that was plastered against the walls in bright lights.

Naturally we decided to take a tour in order to experience what we could in a short frame of time. Unfortunately we decided on a not-so-crash-hot tour bus company, which we didn’t realise until later in our first day when it took 45 minutes for the bus to come as opposed to the predicted 10 minutes. It really went downhill from there, so if anyone wants to know which tourist tour to most definitely avoid, then I am the gal. However, we did see some fantastic and worthy sites such as the imposing Statue of Liberty, the haunting former site of the Twin Tours, the Empire State and Central Park. We even took a fun bike ride around the place, which was a highlight of the trip despite my lack of brakes. On the topic of dangerous things, riding in a taxi in New York city was more often than not terrifying.

Next best thing was undoubtedly attending a broadway show. In the four days we were in New York we managed to see two outstanding performances. In Melbourne we have fantastic musicals and shows of high quality, but when in New York, one must experience the novelty and professionalism of a broadway show. We saw Chicago and Jersey Boys which were absolutely phenomenal.

Other highlights included shopping down Fifth Avenue, viewing the city on foot and visiting the Museum of Natural history. Unfortunately we didn’t have the time to go shopping in the Soho District, and basically we had little time to shop at all. It would have been tragic but we were already seeing so much and travelling to so many places that shopping became secondary. Of course, we missed out on seeing a lot but it really is impossible to do New York in a meagre four days.

So I guess I will just have to come back one day soon! It made such an impression on me that I would have been content with spending the rest of my American trip there, although with less of the tourist’s agenda as I can imagine that there would be worlds more to that amazing city.

Feel free to follow me here on my blog and on Instagram! All photography is by me unless specifically stated. x

Sights in Santa Monica

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJuly 8, 2015

First stop: Santa Monica! Honestly we only planned to go here first because we wanted to relax for a couple of days to recuperate from our tiresome journey from Australia. Being a stranger to the States, most of my expectations were built from what I had witnessed in American television- which we have a lot of by the way. I was particularly eager to see the Santa Monica Pier and to experience a 4th of July in America because I was sure that would signify plenty of celebrations. And it really did-until 6 in the morning actually, when I finally fell asleep.

Despite the impressive 4th July shenanigans I enjoyed, my preferred experience in Santa Monica was walking down the main street at night at an outdoor mall area. I was lured in by the shop signs stating brands I had only seen online, and found myself continually stopping to admire the beautiful street performers. Not to mention the wonderful smells coming from the restaurants. Everyone was so friendly to us, and I don’t know whether it was because we were so conspicuously foreign and never appeared as though we had our bearings. The atmosphere was buzzing and the environment was incredibly pleasant- and so clean! Unfortunately it wasn’t as warm as we anticipated it would be, as we found it a tad cool for beach weather, but we established that there are more interesting sites to experience rather than just the Santa Monica Beach.

Two days was not nearly enough, and I wasn’t able to spend enough time taking photos of all the pretty sights because I had left my camera’s memory card at home (not clever, I finally found one at Target). I was able to however get over the jet lag and build up my strength for New York, but I will elaborate in the next blog post. I wish we had more time in Santa Monica, but I’m happy to have personally experienced for the short duration it as it had an extremely unique and cool atmosphere.

Stay tuned for more updates and photos. Also feel free to follow me on insta at ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x

I’m Off To ‘merica!

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJuly 3, 2015July 3, 2015

I am excited to share with you that I am leaving for America tomorrow! I am travelling to LA, New York and Vegas for both business and leisure purposes and am absolutely bursting with joy over being able to experience this country for the first time. I will arrive in LA for the 4th July celebrations which I am hoping will include lots and lots of pretty fireworks, and naturally I am looking forward to personally witnessing American fashion and street style. Oh, and the shopping should be fun too.

Please stay tuned as I will be aiming to blog regularly, and also follow me on Instagram at ilikeyourshirt_blog for more updates! x

Going Boho

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJune 29, 2015

Boho-chic has been prevalent in fashion to varying degrees for the last 20 years. There is something about the flowy designs, pretty prints and casual femininity which designers and celebrities alike continue to resort back to. Coachella is practically the yearly celebration of boho-chic. This season pays tribute to the 70’s boho look with flared pants, wide-sleeves, maxi-dresses and fringing.

Emilio Pucci Spring/Summer RTW 2015. 70's vibes are strong. — Emilio Pucci Spring/Summer RTW 2015. 70’s vibes are strong.

Personally I was not a fan of the 70’s fashion, and I may never be a fan of flared pants, but it did pave the way for intricate prints and feminine dress styles. They make me fantasise about dancing around in a field of daisies barefoot without a care to spare, which is sort-of how I imagine the 70’s decade to be honest. Here is a collection of some of my favourite new boho-chic dresses:

Glamorous fit and flare in geometric print — ‘Glamorous’ fit and flare in geometric print

So what do you think? Follow me here and on Instagram! x

Clashing Prints

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogJune 20, 2015June 21, 2015

For all the poor souls undergoing winter in the southern hemisphere, there is a risk that you should all take: clashing prints. It only takes a couple of mismatched stripes to render it as a failure, but a successful match can be magical.

It was seen across Milan, Paris, London and Barcelona Fall Fashion Week and has become a defining trend of 2015.

Custo at Barcelona Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2015. Getty Images

It can be quite the challenge, but makes fashion fun and exciting. Pairing different prints together have usually been a big no-no until recently, as designers and stylists have exposed the secrets to the creation of the clash.

To create the perfect clash, here are a few handy hints:

Matching colours: if you choose to wear diverse colours, ensure that they match and don’t look as though they have been put together by a clown. Using neutral shades accompanied by a bold colour works well, allowing the bold colour and print to stand out as demonstrated by Zendaya below.

Size of prints: You are destined to succeed if a small print is matched with a large print. It becomes too overwhelming if both are prominent and can potentially look as though a three-year old dressed you. Pairing a minimalistic print with a larger one causes the eye-catching print to stand out against a more plain type, and hence they compliment one another without clashing.

Marion Cotillard rocking the leopard print 'n' stripes. Getty Images — Marion Cotillard rocking the leopard print ‘n’ stripes. Getty Images

Two prints max: I would suggest no more than two different prints combined. If you delve into a third, there is a high risk of an unfortunate clash occurring.

Emma Stone looking sweet in polka dots and stripes. Getty Images — Emma Stone showing how it’s done in polka dots and stripes. Getty Images

These stylish ladies inspired me to have my own crack at it.

Cape: Atmosphere

Top: asos

Pants: Lovely Girl

Shoes: Doc Martens

Bag: House of Secrets

Let me know what you think about my own attempt at it! And while you’re at it, feel free to follow me on my blog and on Instagram! x

Embroidered delight

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMay 31, 2015

Remember back in the late 90s and early 2000’s when embroidered jeans and basically anything else containing embroidery were practically the coolest things ever? Well, that trend is still as stylish as ever – just check out Dolce and Gabbana’s recent collections. Embroidery takes me back to the childhood days of femininity and frivolity, and being able to wear a pink hat with green and yellow embroidered flowers just because I could.

Embroidered jackets most definitely hold the same groovy status, so I’ve taken to wearing both of my embroidered pieces together.

You see, you may think it’s just a classic leather jacket but there is actually a party going on in the back.

Jacket- Muubaa

Jeans- Nobody

Boots- Vanessa

Bag- Zara

Top- Cotton On

They look better than prints and not to mention they are fun to touch. I guess there is just something novel about artfully embroidered clothing.

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Top 5 Best Costume in Movies (in my most humble opinion)

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogApril 25, 2015April 25, 2015

Making films is an art. Making fashion is an art. Combining the two can often be ground-breaking. The following movies (in no particular order) are some of my favourite costume movies which have drawn out an inaudible sigh from my mouth before I fainted in awe:

Moulin Rouge!

In addition to having, in my opinion, one of the best costume designs, it is also one of the best musical movies of all time. Catherine Martin designed the costumes for this dazzling Baz Lurhmann film, so it really was a joint effort in making this film as visually appealing as it is.

There are Can Can skirts, sequinned corsets and magnificent head pieces. There are top hats, tinkerbell, and dangerous absinthe. I would not be able to pinpoint exactly which one of Satine’s outfits (played by Nicole Kidman) I love the most, so please don’t ask. However, if I had to suggest favourites, I would say the silver glittery outfit worn in ‘Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend’, and the Hindi wedding dress. Oh, how I long to play dress-ups with her costumes!

I even had a crack at one of her outfits for my last birthday!

The Great Gatsby

Another Baz Luhrmann creation accompanied by the enchanting costume powers of Catherine Martin. The Great Gatsby exudes a tasteful level of flamboyance and class with the amazing costume designs. The men looked dapper and the ladies were flappers, representing the economically prosperous and carefree times of the roaring 20’s.

Like Moulin Rouge, this film was a pleasure to watch for the costumes alone, and not just for Leo D’s breathtaking facial structure. Any costume with a dropped waist and intricate embroidery is a yes from me.

The Devil Wears Prada

The most satisfying part of this film is watching Andrea undergo her style transformation, and it is satisfying for several reasons. First we realise that under her cerulean-jumper-wearing-grandma-skirt-loving self, she finally succumbs to the wraths of the fashion industry and is smart enough to take advantage of the designer-filled wardrobe available to her. She also looks super hot. Then she learns what an eye-lash curler is under embarrassing circumstances, and the audience acknowledges that this is the beginning of some pretty fabulous outfits. Who doesn’t love the scene where it shows her in different outfits as she cooly struts to work in the mornings?

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Set in the London prior to World War II, a somewhat destitute governess, Miss Pettigrew stumbles into the tempestuous world of high society. Wealth, the 1930’s, and romance equals classic fashion. Amy Adams shines in her role as a singer-actress and appears admirably elegant through-out the movie. She showed me that matching hats and gloves are the ultimate way to achieve style.

Cinderella

Unfortunately I wasn’t a fan of the movie itself, but I appreciated the costume designs immensely. It was colourful, flamboyant and exciting to look at. Cate Blanchett looked flawless in every scene and Cinderella’s ball scene almost made me cry with anticipation. The men’s distractingly tight pants brought some giggles. If it wasn’t for the overload of corniness, I would have fallen in love with the film. If I could rock a poofy blue dress as well as she could, I most definitely would.

So, what are you favourite costume movies? I’m really eager to know!

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Shabby Chic

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogApril 11, 2015April 11, 2015

I always talk about class and elegance, but sometimes it doesn’t need to be achieved. Sometimes we need to lie back and watch how those who walk down the street, shopping for groceries on a Saturday morning, dress. It’s simple-not necessarily ‘in style’- but caters for the weather the day brings. Comfort is obviously the key, but it doesn’t mean you need to look boring when venturing out to the shops. Especially if you happen to bump into people you know, which personally is inevitable.

I was inspired by the elderly ladies I see walking down the street who wear oversized, dark-toned coats, and thick opaque stockings to battle the winter cold, and decided to get my own winter over-sized coat. I settled on this Asos number, which will hopefully protect me from the Melbourne winter. I feel like it’s a coat that a homeless man used to wander in that can be found in the dark depths of an op shop-and has remained in amazingly excellent condition. It looks a little vintage, and can be spruced up with some necessary winter accessories.

This is my summer hat, but now it’s become my winter hat. Mid-brimmed felt hats have become all the rage, and look fantastic with a killer coat and boots. Obviously they serve for sun protection in winter too.

This clutch was a gift from my mum when she went to China- thanks mum!

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Coat- Asos

Skirt- Nobody

Top- Asos

Boots- Vanessa

Clutch- somewhere in China

Fit for a Princess

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMarch 28, 2015March 28, 2015

The release of the new Cinderella movie has made me become reminiscent of the days when I used to run around in my princess dress, draped in all the costume jewellery I could find and in my little matching heels. Years later I haven’t lost my love for dressing up in sparkly, jewel-encrusted things, so I decided to dedicate this post to pretty shoes. After all, shoes are a girl’s best friend.

The shoes designed in honour of the new Cinderella movie:

Jimmy Choo metro.co.uk — Jimmy Choo
metro.co.uk

These shoes make me want to run around in my princess dresses yet again. Needless to say, I would not leave my shoe behind if I was privileged to wear one of these creations.

And my less extravagant/expensive picks:

They don’t have to be worn to a ball. Dress them down with boyfriend jeans or any matter of denim and match them with a leather jacket if you prefer the tough-princess type. Just don’t overload on the jewellery, in order to allow the shoes to do the talking.

Follow me here and on Instagram! Laura x

Last Glimpse of Sunshine

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMarch 21, 2015

Last week I travelled to the sunny Gold Coast for work-related affairs, and essentially brought half of my summer wardrobe with me. I took this as an opportunity, considering I haven’t had much of a chance to air them out since Melbourne’s summer refused to happen. Happily, it was warm enough to put my clothes into good use, and with my last glimpse of sunshine I decided to throw in some colour into my outfits.

So I know that this is one of the most mainstream looks out (definitely around where I live) with the crop top and pencil skirt, but I like it. And hey, both items were around 70% off so I couldn’t go wrong. It beats the hey-check-out-my-bum-cheeks denim shorts trend, and the pencil skirt instantly implies that there’s some class happening. I matched the outfit with a non-mainstream necklace, which is basically made out of rubber and gives the impression of a tattoo. I cannot for the life of me remember the brand, but I purchased it from a closing-down store for a ridiculously cheap price. Actually now that I think about it, every item being worn in the photos was at least 50% off.

Friends, you only need to pay full price if it is really necessary.

Unique, statement necklaces are a fantastic investment-I have a few-specifically for when you need to spice up a plain outfit. Never underestimate the power of jewellery, because although the phrase ‘too much is never enough’ does not apply, too little can be boring and say ‘meh’. I have some fairly outrageous ones, but they are a delightful and simple addition to a plain black dress or jeans and shirt combination.

Top- Bardot

Skirt- Sportsgirl

Shoes- Forever New

Sunglasses- ASOS

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