This year I decided to do away with tote bags for university, and instead placed the pressure of 8kg books on my shoulders with a new backpack. Although totes are pretty, I discovered after a three hour-long marathon of a search that backpacks can be just as pretty and provide further convenience.
Asos Backpack
I purchased this Men’s backpack on Asos which is covered in a black snakeskin pattern and basically can fit in everything, including my record player. Most importantly, it can carry all those bothersome law books that cost approximately as much as a new woollen coat.
I took my new backpack out on an adventure and wore my prized gilet dress from Witchery which I doubled as a long vest on this occasion. I paired it with Mum’s old burnt orange pencil skirt to deliver a pop of colour, and balanced it out with a nude singlet top to place the emphasis on the colour of the skirt and the gilet dress. Mum’s wardrobe has honestly given me more than my favourite shops could ever offer me. Thanks Mum for saving me a whole lot of money!
Backpack: Asos
Gilet dress: Witchery
Top: Target
Skirt: Vintage
Shoes: Witchery
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Another fashion week in Melbourne has been and gone, and I am so glad I could find some time to squeeze in a fashion show amidst my hectic uni schedule. Virgin Australia Fashion Festival is the highlight of the fashion calendar in Melbourne due to the stellar line-ups and sophisticated festival atmosphere. I brought my sister and friend along for their first Virgin Australia fashion week, and we had an absolute blast. Nothing beats having a glass of champagne on a balmy summer’s night before heading in to view some beautiful fashion.
The line-up was Alex Perry, Ginger & Smart, Carla Zampatti, Martin Grant, Yeojin Bae and Dion Lee. Martin Grant incorporated plenty of metallic silver into his clothes much to my agreement. Alex Perry popularised mustard yellow, bright orange and bishop sleeves. Dion Lee demonstrated winter wear with woolly coats and to-die-for maroon silk pieces. Carla Zampatti paraded cut-out dresses, tweed and fringed skirts. Ginger & Smart opted for 7/8 length dresses with japanese-style prints. Yeojin Bae showed us class with off-the-shoulder dresses and pencil skirts below the knee. Generally there was a fusion with contemporary fashion and fashion of the 1970’s and 1940’s with stunning results. There were plenty of vibrant colours shown, but also the autumn/winter classics such as khaki, maroon and black.
What I wore: Pre show
Black, white and flecks of silver.
At the Festival
Feeling all ‘tough girl’ in my leather jacket. Leather is one of the best ways to toughen up a feminine look, and even compliments tulle nicely with a tough-girls-can-be-princesses kind of way.
Skirt: Ice
Bandeau: Target
Jacket: Muubaa
Shoes: Diana Ferrari
Bag: Nine West
Necklace: Forever New
And there you have it! More to come soon about the top trends from Virgin Australia fashion week and what to expect on the streets this season!
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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:
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.
Looking like an ethereal rockstar with the waist embellishment and tulle skirt with the varied length.
3.
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.
You can never put a foot wrong when wearing a black, sleeveless long gown with a hint of sparkles. Instant class and seduction.
5.
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.
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.
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.
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.
….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!
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.
Top: Kookai
Skirt: H&M
Shoes: Lipstik
Necklace: Lovisa
Bag: ?
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I cannot say no to a playsuit, particularly if it’s white and lacy. So when I made a promise to myself that I would refrain from any sort of shopping on a recent trip to the Gold Coast, I did not imagine that I would crack on day 2. But once you start envisioning yourself in an ethereal white lace playsuit (complimented by a well anticipated tan) and furthermore justify it with the fact that you would not encounter anything like it in my hometown of Melbourne, you almost pity the helplessness in my situation. Surely we have all been in that situation, right?
Playsuit: Mia
Shoes: Novo
Sunglasses: Chloe
Not certain how shopping could be managed after the hectic mayhem of Christmas, but somehow us shopaholics can always find a reason.
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Happy Friday! Metallic silver is my favourite tone of the season as it provides a modern touch to any outfit and, as a neutral tone, can be worn with practically anything. I’ve invested in a silver bag and silver slip-on sandals, and have discovered that they can be added to almost everything sitting in my closet which perfectly suits my laziness.
I also bought this Batman tank top on my recent trip to Movie World in the Gold Coast. Typically I am opposed to purchasing items from theme parks due to their excessive prices and lack of need, but I bought it anyway because a) Batman is cute, and b) the top is cute. I matched it with the most comfortable pants from Witchery and threw in some metallic shine.
Top: DC Comics Originals
Pants: Witchery
Bag: Nine West
Shoes: Witchery
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There is something exciting about discovering an item of clothing that once belonged to someone else and reclaiming it for yourself to give it a second life. Because after all, one woman’s trash is another woman’s treasure right? How this Australian-designed Rebecca Valance lace dress came to be someone’s trash is beyond me, but I’m not complaining. This is one of the rare occurrences where you happen to stumble upon a unique and gorgeous item of clothing in an op shop that also manages to fit perfectly *applause all round*. And its soooo pretty.
It was my boyfriend’s birthday on Saturday and the weather was glorious, so naturally I decided on donning this silver number. I wore a matching silver bag from Nine West which was a recent christmas present from my beautiful grandparents, and white Forever New sandals to compliment the white slip I was wearing underneath the lace. We travelled down to St Andrew’s beach in Victoria and enjoyed a lovely afternoon in the sunshine, and most notably, savoured a delicious meal with family and friends.
Dress: Rebecca Vallance
Bag: Nine West
Shoes: Forever New
Sunglasses: Chloe
Hope everyone is enjoying their weekends! Follow me here and on Instagram @ilikeyourshirt_blog ! x
Ahh..the jumpsuit. Your comfortable and quirky friend that never fails to snatch a second look. You would assume that after their time in the spotlight in the 70’s that even males with a lack of knowledge in the fashion arena would be accustomed to the pants-and-top-in-one combination, however it still manages to stun and confuse people like my dear, unschooled boyfriend. It made an impressive comeback in 2015 and featured on many a red carpet and catwalk, with the style being preferred over the traditional dress for some.
Why do I love jumpsuits? Simply because they’re comfy and cute. For some people, wearing a jumpsuit may be perceived as risk, but there are so many varying designs out there that it is worth hunting around for a style that suits you. I found this one from Gingham & Heels at an absolute steal and knew that I needed to covet this piece of fabulousness. It resonates a 70’s disco/Florence Welch vibe, and you know that when you find something that magnificently fulfils that description that it must become yours. It does tend to gape around the cleavage area, and although I am typically a liberal person, I did think that it would be vastly more appropriate if I teamed it with a simple boob-tube. A white one would have been preferred in order to highlight the white pattern, but as I was strapped for time I made do with a black one.
Jumpsuit: Gingham & Heels
Shoes: Novo
Bag: Guess
Jewellery: Lovisa
So go on, jump in and take the plunge(-ing neckline) if you haven’t already!
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With 2015 coming to a close, there is no better time to reflect on the fashion heights and falls of the year that Marty McFly was meant to travel to.
Trends of the Year
The ‘Barely There’ Dress
Less is more clearly with this trend, which saw daring celebrities such as Kim K, Beyonce and Rihanna demonstrate how some transparent material and Swarovski sparklers can make a feminine and overtly sexy ensemble. Others raised their eyebrows over the dauntless fashion choice, with acclaimed designer Caroline Herrera describing the trend as ‘attention seeking’ and criticising modern fashion for being ‘counter-productive’. Although harsh, I do believe that some merit lies in her argument: how can something be described as fashion if nothing is being worn?
Sky-high slits
We then proceed to the next (bare) trend, being thigh high, or in some cases, hip high slits. Slits in in the middle of skirts and dresses dominated the spring 2015 catwalks, whereas hip high slits dominated the red carpets this year with many celebrities opting to displace their underwear and putting on display their cheeky area for the occasion. Gigi Hadid was most notably a fan of the trend to the point that I have created a collage of her leg-exposed glory. When you have pins like that, I say go for it. Just remember to put your knickers on.
Off-the-shoulder tops
There is just something about bare skin that has become a fashion trend in itself this year. Off-the-shoulder tops are feminine and versatile, in addition to having the advantage of being worn in both summer and winter. Long sleeve, short sleeve and hippie sleeve off-the-shoulder tops permeated celebrities’ Instagram accounts and also manifested themselves as dresses.
Jumpsuits
Why pay for a top and matching pants when you can wear a jumpsuit instead? Not only do they tend to offer the comfort factor, but they also appear remarkably flattering and cut a sleek silhouette when cinched in at the waist. This year saw many fashion-conscious individuals ‘jump’ on the bandwagon and don all-in-ones in a variety of styles and colours. Jumpsuits truly are the only uniforms women need to get some serious s**t done.
Fashion event of the year- Balmain x H&M
Sold out in a single hour after opening all of the world, the Balmain x H&M collection was one of the most anticipated collaborations of the year with queues forming outside of the flagship H&M stores days before the opening. With Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid and Jourdan Dunn leading the campaign, the collection that was overseen by Balmain head designer Olivier Rousteing acquired a massive following and proved to be wildly successful. Naturally I was one of those crazy people who eagerly lined up hours beforehand, just ’cause.
Model of the year – Gigi Hadid
You could tussle up between Gigi and Kendall for model of the year, but in my view it was undeniably Gigi. Not only did she dominate the catwalks in 2015 by walking for Balmain, Versace, Tommy Hilfiger and Giambattista Valli, but the blonde beauty also managed to achieve the much-coveted position of walking in the Victoria’s Secret show. She led highly acclaimed campaigns for Max Mara, Topshop and Tom Ford, and successfully took down body-haters with her parade of achievements.
Getty imagesSo there we go, an end of another year of documenting fashion’s finest and stalking Victoria’s Secret models’ Instagrams. In fashion there will always be faux pas and trends that will be looked on in 10 years time as disconcerting and ever so slightly humiliating, however it’s always plenty of fun. From the naked dress to pyjama-inspired jumpsuits, there is no end to the versatility of fashion and the ability to demonstrate your personal creativity through the way you dress yourself. Just always remember to wear underwear.
I wish everyone a safe and happy new year and a fabulous 2016! x
Thanks to the influx of sales at this time of the year, everyone can afford to look great this Christmas. Everyone raves about the Boxing Day sales but honestly, you can grab just as amazing bargains from November onwards because retailers are incessant to sell, sell, sell during the holidays. Keep your eyes peeled for some sale signs!
The corset & culottes ensemble I am sporting were both sales purchases (as indicative of my entire wardrobe) and both are versatile for the warm Australian weather. The culottes are made from a light fabric in contrast to my black ones, and hence are comfortable and easy to wear during the summer. Normally I automatically reject strapless tops because they are such a pain when they continuously slide down, but this top manages to stay up and can be matched with jeans and maxi or mini skirts. I am anticipating that the white will emphasise my future tan (hehe), and it can be worn for casual or dressy occasions depending on the bottoms and accessories.
Top: Bardot
Culottes: The Fifth
Necklace: Lovisa
Watch: Armani Exchange
Lipstick: Kiko
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Backpack: Asos
I Like Your Shirt 