Quirky

I have just discovered Etsy and my first potential purchase:

It's a Lie Detector necklace! So cute...I can't believe that it's handmade!

It's not too pricey and you won't see someone else wearing the same thing (because we all hate it when we see someone else wearing exactly the same thing as we are!)

If you want some unique handmade jewelry that you can't find in the shops, you should check Etsy out - I promise that you won't be disappointed!

I will report back if I end up getting the necklace =)

Preppy

Sigh.

My browse around French Connection was not successful at all - I tried on the Zip Dress in a size 6 and it was still too big (which reminded me of the reason why I don't shop at FCUK).

Why can't Australian stores stop with the vanity sizing and bring back some consistency - I'm usually the smallest size for each brand (which nowadays is anywhere from a size 4/XXS to a size 8/S) and I'm sick of being unable to find clothes that fit me properly because the 'smallest' is not small enough =(

Anyway, back to FCUK - I did like the Corker Check Skirt but had to think about whether I really needed it and luckily for me, in the next store that I went to I found a cheaper version (with pockets!):


Subtitled 'Love Exists' Skirt

Here's what it looks like on me:

It's kind of sheer (no lining) so I wore another skirt underneath as a slip, which I had bought at the same place as the check skirt - the 2nd skirt was technically free because it was a buy 1 get 1 free offer!

Here's what the 2nd skirt looks like on its own:



It's meant to be a blue highwaisted bandage skirt and it's actually a size too big for me, but if I hike it up and wear a top over it, you can't tell, right? =)

f c u k

I don't usually shop at French Connection (home of those 'witty' shirts) but I had a look around their website today and was pleasantly surprised by what I saw.

Let's just say that they seem to be housing all the clothes that I've been wanting these last few blogs posts...

Exhibit 1: Zip Dress


'Sound of Spring' Dress, $99.95

Exhibit 2: Rose Print Skirt
T-Osaka Rose Skirt, $49.95

Exhibit 3: Check Skirt
(OK not strictly something I've been blogging about, but it's cute!)

Corker Check Skirt, $59.95

The Zip Dress looks gorgeous, it has a flattering cut and sleeves AND a waist defining belt. Sounds like a winner to me!

The Rose Print Skirt looks a little long, but I can't really tell from the picture. (That's why I never buy anything online! I need to try things on first because sometimes what looks good on the mannequin/model doesn't translate so well on me.)

The Check Skirt reminds me of my schoolgirl days...but the colour scheme is a little too dark.

I will definitely be heading into French Connection to have a look around in real life tomorrow!

Oh, and I also found this on the website:


Black Satchel, $59.95

What a nice looking bag for that price! I might get it for my mum if I end up seeing it in store tomorrow =)

Zip it

Lately I've been drawn to clothes with exposed zips. I'm a bit late to the trend, they have been around for awhile now!

I've been looking for a dress or skirt with a zip down the length of it, but haven't been able to find a flattering one. I don't want to spend too much on this either because I know that it's just another trend, so it's lucky that the chainstores have been flooded with these clothes lately and now I'm kind of spoilt for choice!

Here's an option that I was considering from my online window shopping:


VG black zip skirt, $29.95

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get to a VG store (their stores have been rebranded and VG is no longer located in places that are easy for me to get to! Boo.)

So instead today I made this impulse buy to satisfy my exposed zip craving temporarily:

The top is a size 8, but it's still a little big for me as you can see by the unsightly bulging at the waist where I attempted to tuck it into my skirt...

So I added a belt to give it more definition

Now I'm contemplating whether to get it in red with black stripes as well, which has a more punky vibe, so that I keep to my resolution to wear more colour...

I can't decide! Should I buy the tee in red too?

Lazy Sunday

Here's a peek at what I wore today for a quick shopping trip. It was relatively nice weather today (compared to the non-stop rain these past few days), so I took the chance to get out of my usual boots into some open-toed shoes!

I was feeling uninspired and kind of lazy, so I just put together a simple but cosy outfit.

Note to self: wear more colour!

Sportsgirl grey cowl neck knit
Nudie tight long johns
Black patent belt from Myer
Marc Jacobs patent heels

Hope that everyone had a lovely weekend!

XXI

I think that if I ever got the chance to go to the US, I could probably spend a whole day in Forever 21. It seems that the Australian fast fashion stores can't compare to their huge range which has a surprisingly decent amount of nice clothes for bargain prices.

Here are some of my picks from their website:

Rose print skirt, $15.80

I'm liking floral patterns at the moment, and it would be easy to wear despite the busy pattern because it has a monochromatic colour scheme. But, if you prefer something a bit more colourful...

Floral blend elastic skirt, $14.80

This skirt would add a nice pop of colour to any outfit and the fuschia, purple and splashes of red in the palette doesn't look garish at all.

Hooded colourblock open cardigan, $11.99

I really like the look of open front cardigans this season because it's a refreshing update on the cardigan which has become an everyday essential for me and you can always cinch it closed with a nice belt. This cardigan also comes with a hood which is oh so practical for windy or rainy days when you just can't be bothered to pull out your umbrella!

'Adria' grey linen skirt, $19.80

Simple and classic, I can see this becoming a staple in my wardrobe - I have been on the lookout for a pretty grey A-line skirt for awhile but I still haven't found the perfect one yet.

Sigh.

Does anyone know if Australian equivalents of these items exist? I will be eternally grateful if you can point me in the right direction of where to look!

Check

It is that time of the year when the weather becomes a bit bipolar - chilly and blustery in the mornings, oddly warm and sunny in the afternoon and back to freezing and windy once the sun goes down...

This usually means that it's time to go shopping for some toasty but chic winter coats to keep you protected from the elements.

I have a fairly large collection of trench coats in different colours fabrics and cuts (I'm a bit obsessed, they are just such a beautiful item of clothing, eternally stylish and yet so functional!) but they are mostly made of light cotton or a waterproof material rather than anything substantially thick.

So my goal this year was to find a coat that was different from the rest of the coats in my wardrobe - I wanted it to be made of a thicker fabric and patterned (most of mine are plain colours).

Fortunately for me, I did find a coat that fit my vision of my perfect coat (I'm notoriously picky when I get an idea of what I want) and at a decent price too.

Presenting the 'Fletcher Coat' from Wish in Ash Check


Apologies for the bad photo - I don't have very good lighting in my house and I had to play around on Photoshop to get the details to come out clearer. It's not very easy to see from the photo but the pattern is a nice classic check in grey, white and flecks of black, which will be very easy to integrate into my wardrobe.

Here's a cheaper alternative I found that is fairly similar:
Valleygirl Checked Coat, $69.95

Happy winter coat shopping!

Ethereal

I'm not usually a jewelry person because I generally only have a few minutes before I need to dash out the door in the mornings so I only manage to accessorise with a pair of earrings most days.

But lately I've been wanting to find a new ring...something dainty, but edgy at the same time.

So I did some window shopping online and narrowed it down to these styles:

Source: GSOL Jewelry

The Korcula Laura Ring

The problem with these rings was that I was afraid that such a wide ring would overwhelm my petite hands, since all the previous rings that I owned were a more traditional thin single band with various decorations.

I thought that perhaps my wish for a different kind of a ring would remain unfulfilled, until I encountered this ring during a recent shopping expedition:

The ring on my small hands

It is quite difficult to get a proper close up of the detailing on the ring, but it is a kind of swirly flowery print that is reminiscent of decorative prints on metal armour. Everytime I look at this ring, I am reminded of Lord of the Rings...

Back of the ring

I'm pretty happy with my purchase, because it combines elements of both the rings I was interested in online and adds a touch of etherealness that is its own.

But I'm still getting used to seeing such a thick ring on my finger...although it's so gorgeous that I don't really care if it looks too big for me =)

Any guesses which Australian chainstore I bought this at?

Thoughts on style

My philosophy about fashion is that it is not the brand or the cost of the clothes that makes an outfit look fabulous, but whether the outfit has 'style'.

So what is style?

It is something intangible and hard to put into words...but unmistakable once you see it for yourself.

It is not about trends, but rather wearing what suits you and highlights your best features...

It is when you see someone put together an incredible outfit and you realise that they are all chain store items but it looks like something straight out of an editorial.

Most importantly, it is when someone looks comfortable in what they are wearing and also knows that they look amazing.

I admire the people that have this elusive quality and hope that someday I will be able to exude it too. My style inspirations...

Audrey Hepburn

Nicole Richie


Rachel Bilson

What do you think style means?