Winter Winds

Trying to deal with this seemingly everlasting winter weather can be tiring. Fortunately, hunting for items that will protect you from the cold serves as a great distraction. This furry jumper was found in a dilapidated area of Savers in Frankston. So. Fluffy. Feels like you’re wearing a cat.

*New Camera. Very very excited because now I feel like a profesh photographer. Just don’t actually compare me to one.

Jumper: Savers  Skirt: Target  Tights: Voodoo  Shoes: Inniu  Jewelry: Random Boutiques  Bag: My Mother’s closet

Put a Sequin on It

Or a few, because there is no denying that sequins are the greatest things since melted cheese. They’re  shiny, outrageous and bold, so of course I wanted to own a sequin covered something. To join in on the sequin spirit, I purchased a green sequined asos skirt. Sequins can be tricky because they’re not appropriate for all occasions, but they absolutely have their place at parties, formal events and at the more ‘special’ outings. I most recently wore my skirt to a Lady Gaga concert. It fit the Gaga criteria and you can never not have a great time in a sequined skirt.

skirt- ASOS jacket- mother’s wardrobe top- Cotton On stockings- ? shoes- Inniu
Me and Stephanie

 My gorgeous sister Stephanie and I in all our Gaga glory, coincidentally both wearing sequined skirts.

Good-quality sequins can come with pricey tags. Here are a few less costly items I spotted:

Read or Dead heart top $38
bankfashion.co.uk 
MOTO hotpants $53
topshop.com 
tfnc Paris dress $84
tfnclondon.com
Aftershock Vonnie leggings $53
houseoffraser.co.uk
Tutu skirt $33.50
lipsy.co.uk
Envelope clutch $26
forever21.com
Tulle jacket $34
piperlime.gap.com

Schoolgirl Meets le Weekend

Over-the-knee and knee-high socks reminded me of all-girls’ schools, old men who have a preference for shorts with high socks and St Trinians. They still remind me of those sentimental things, however, now I find that they are not limited to the realms of suggestive schoolgirls and bingo-playing oldies.

Lately these garments have been making a considerable impact as the weather grows colder as they are replacing pants, being worn over stockings, tights and leggings and are acceptable when  paired up with moderately short skirts and shorts. They assist in keeping your legs warm and are actually a lot of fun to play around with because there are so many irresistible and creative styles and patterns available. They can be worn with diversity when accompanied with heels, converse, ankle boots, over-the-knee and knee-high boots and sandals.

They may not be suitable for all occasions, but now that they are recognised for their swankiness (and there are SO MANY to choose from), they apply to casual wear, party wear, sleepwear and I-just-want-pineapples-on-my-socks kind of wear.

Excuse me whilst I purchase some cat-printed socks.

Dress: Amnesia Denim Shirt: Wish Top: Sussan Socks: ASOS Shoes: Guess Bag: Some shop in Paris

Getcho’ Velvet On

The fabric on everyone’s fingertips is…velvet! Velvet originated from Baghdad thousands of years ago, when Egypt became the largest producer of the fabric. Originally, the prized texture symbolized wealth and power and was predominantly exclusive to royalty and elite persons. Thousands of years later, velvet has become an affordable fabric that is complete cuteness and class. Here is a collection of some of the more recent styles:

Alexa Chung

Alexa modelling for the Chopard Happy Mickey Collection

Angelina Jolie in Versace

Angelina stepped her way into the best dressed list for this year’s Academy Awards

Elizabeth Olsen

Svelte in a maroon velvet suit

Paul Smith Womenswear A/W ’12

How very hot it must be in there indeed.

Velvet Blazer- Zara, Top- Bardot, Skirt- Valleygirl, Shoes- Windsor Smith

Just some things that are on my wishlist…

Evil Twin Skater Dress $80
Lucy In The Sky skirt $39
asos Peg Pants $28.90
Sportsgirl Blazer $149.95
Velvet Pouch Bag (General Pants) 39.95
Alice in the Eve shorts $30

Every wardrobe requires a velvet piece this winter, whether it be a blazer, dress, skirt or onesie. However, velvet can be difficult to wear as it can appear heavy-looking, so try pairing it with lighter materials such as soft cotton, silk and lace to balance out the look. Incorporate tights or knee-high/over-the-knee socks when wearing shorts, dresses or skirts. Simplicity usually works best with velvet to maintain the elegance and class it provides!

Imprinting on Prints

Leopard, Aztec, floral, Hawaiian, chain, zebra, houndstooth, waterblend, ikat, tie-die, cats…and that’s not even the end of them. Prints are dominating the catwalk and streets this season with plenty of pretty and quirky designs that I bet you never even knew existed.

Normally I am accepting of all designs, but I think Hawaiian palm trees should be kept on the beaches of Hawaii and on the shirts of eager tourists. But, you know, whatever floats your boat…

Just a few of the ones that caught my eye:

Zara medallion print blouse $57.80

 Collared shirt with a Givenchy/Versace-inspired print. 

River island animal scarf print jeans $66.30

   Print jeans have arrived with all of their awesomeness. Sometimes they can be a little too awesome and shout out ‘Hey! Look at me!’ so the trick is to keep the rest of the outfit simple and casual and let the jeans do the talking.

Freakin' fairy floss dress @ Lucyinthesky.com $45

 Print dresses are lovely for any casual appearance in any season.

silky printed blouse @ Urban Outfitters $57.20

    Print blouses are great with plain jeans and shorts.

Zara floral printed skirt $38.80

 I love this asymmetrical skirt because it is floral patterned, has a mixture of beautiful colours and looks as though  it would suit a flower garden in fairyland!

ASOS blazer in floral print $108

  Floral blazers make any outfit more interesting and complete. A loose fit and slight shoulder padding adds more style.

Evil Twin leopard print shorts $79.95 @ General Pants

 In my opinion, leopard print can look tacky if it’s cheap-looking or not placed together well. Plain colours such as black, white, orange and darker shades of green can work well with it. 

Lucinda wedge boot $49.95 @ Rubi Shoes
Vanessa Hudgens rocking tribal print with seemingly no pants on
nowmagazine.co.uk

 When you’re dealing with prints, keep your other clothing items simple. Prints are so unsimple and interesting, so don’t let anything else steal their thunder. Mixing prints (like a zebra print shirt matched with chain print shorts) can look too busy, whilst a leopard print top with matching pants can look a little too scary spice. Keep a balance and have fun exploring the wonderful variety!

Autumn/Winter ’12

As the days begin to have a hint of chill, leaves start falling and shop windows fill up with coats and boots, you know that winter’s coming -which is my favourite season for fashion. Coats, jackets, gloves, scarves, hats, boots, woollen socks and layering to beat the cold are all part of the autumn/winter fun.

I travelled to the Yarra Valley in Victoria on an exceedingly cold weekend and experienced the scenic views, tasty cheese and the lovely Sebel Heritage where I stayed. I frolicked through vineyards, stumbled through gardens, befriended some cool kangaroos and took a few photos in the process.

Jean Jacket (Westco), Vest (Just Jeans), Boots (Betts), scarf (?). Frolicking wasn't really involved much.

Impossible to be unhappy in a poncho. Poncho (Sportsgirl), skirt (Bardot), Shirt (Target), Boots (Siren), Scarf (?). Cheeky kangaroo sighting.

 

Dress (Ladakh), Tights (Forever New), Boots (Betts)

Cape jacket (Forever New), Jeans (Just Jeans), Boots (Windsor Smith), Accessories (?)

Fashion Musings: If I was a Rich Girl…

I would buy that, that and this.

But the great thing about fashion is that you don’t need to spend a heap of money to look amazing. Money may buy you clothes, but it doesn’t buy style. I always shop with the same philosophy in mind: Try to avoid paying full price when it’s possible, because eventually most things will end up on the SALE rack. Inevitably, there are some things that need to be bought immediately without a second thought. But the thing about buying clothes that are stylish yet affordable is that you need to be smart about it. Here’s some tips:

– Explore then compare. If it’s a really popular item for the season, then theres sure to be others around that will be less expensive.

– Op shopping. Although it takes skill, what you will find can be pretty valuable.

Online shopping. Online retail stores are booming due to their unique variety, affordable prices and more are introducing free shipping to your location. Only bummer is that you can’t try anything on.

Take advantage of mid and end of season sales. Sale racks can hold some pleasing stuff.

Don’t forget about your old clothes. Things that you used to wear years ago can surprisingly come back in fashion. Remember those fluorescent orange flared jeans you used to wear that are sheepishly sitting in the back of your wardrobe? Yeh forget about them. But don’t forget about that cropped mid-wash denim jacket you kept from the 90’s. Also, update old clothing by making a few alterations. Look in fashion magazines and stores to gain some inspiration.

Accessorise with stockings, socks, scarves, gloves, statement jewellery, hats, sunnies and bags. The little things can make an outfit look completely different and can often carry little price tags, and you don’t even need to buy a new skirt and top.

Buy quality basic clothing that you can easily incorporate into different outfits, wear often and won’t be out of fashion next season. A white collared shirt or a LBD for example are great because you can do so much with them with the handy assistance of other clothing and accessories.

Do your reasearch, do patiently wait for that gorgeous knitted cardigan to go down 20% and do use your creativity to the best of your ability!