Vegas Views

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogAugust 3, 2015

Next stop: Las Vegas!

As a non-gambler I predicted that Vegas would probably not be one of my preferred locations in ‘Murica. I thought that I had learnt everything I needed to know from The Hangover and even then I wouldn’t be able to replicate a fraction of the fun (stupidity) they experienced, as I’m not even at a legal drinking age. Darn Vegas.

Surprisingly, I had an absolute blast. One of the highlights of the trip was going hotel-hopping. It is an understatement to say that the hotels I have seen/stayed in do not measure up to Vegas standards. Vegas was a fantasy land and each hotel was like being transported to another country. With a giant casino area within each of those mini nations where people are accompanied by mini pooches. I found it astonishing to see little children walking through the casino in their bathers and floaties in order to get to the pool while they are surrounded by downcast adults continuously pressing the buttons on the pretty machines. It really is a surreal city to be in.

All the stunning artwork was first painted on canvases and then plastered on the ceiling

Note: I did not stay in every one of these hotels-I merely wandered about in each of them. There were countless occasions when I just wanted to sit down and take it all in with a drink, but alas, I am merely an infant in this perplexing city.

Exuberant flower arrangements decorated every inch of that hotel. It was one of my favourites.

Honestly I would not under any circumstances desire to reside there for an extended period of time. It is a pretty ridiculous place. BUT I did have a brilliant time and would probably/most definitely drag my friends here for a hectic and outrageous party week.

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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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Prancing in the Park

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMay 13, 2015

It was actually quite delightful the other day, with the lovely sun showing off for one last time and the unusually warm temperature encouraging everyone to explore outside. It was one of those days where you would be happy to wake up to it every morning. Quite a contrast to today, where the rain is pelting down and the wind is louder than my typing while I am sick in bed writing this. Winter has arrived and it’s still autumn. I want summer back.

To outlive Melbourne’s sunshine’s final existence, I wore red lippy on navy blue-my favourite. It’s a bold combination for all seasons, and both compliment each other really well. Orange and navy also have the same effect. I wore my favourite pair of pants which are light and silky- perfect for warmer temperatures but not some much for the incoming winter. I usually reject the idea of wearing navy and black together because I don’t believe that they are compatible together, however I felt like there was enough white in the pants to allow it to mesh with the navy blue top. Otherwise as a general rule: navy blue and black are not great pals.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

The adorable brooch was from my sister when she returned from Europe. It kinda matches the lippy, dontcha think?

Pants: Ice

Top: Cotton On

Shoes: Forever New

Bag: Guess

What are your favourite colour combos??

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The Turtleneck, Polo Neck, Skivvy, or whatever ya call them

by ilikeyourshirtfashionblogMay 3, 2015

Turtlenecks are like, super cool this winter. It has finally been deemed that it’s both chic and practical, as who really wants to walk around with a bare neck in freezing temperatures?

The style of a turtleneck usually means that a scarf is unnecessary. Olivia Palermo shows how this is not the case. popsugar.com

There is so much variety when it comes to the ol’ turtleneck. They come in tops, jumpers, and dresses as exemplified by myself below. It keeps me so warm that I even took off my coat midway through. How’s that for practical fashion.

Throw on an oversized-coat with your turtleneck. The coat de-feminises my dress to achieve the ‘shapeless’ look- a current winter trend. It also happens to be very comfortable. I cannot say that I am a fan of potato-sack-looking dresses on the other hand, which is why i have stuck to a tight-fitting turtleneck for a touch of sophistication.

Dress- Bardot

Coat- Asos

Shoes- Diana Ferrari

So invest in one, or a few, and stay warm this winter.

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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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