s t y l e o v e r d o s e

Revival

2010-01-22T15:35:00.003+11:00

Happy 2010 everyone!

I'm so sorry for neglecting this blog for so long but now that it is a new year, I think that it is time for a fresh start (or restart) and I will try my best to regularly update =)

I was pretty surprised (and slightly guilty) to see that even though I haven't updated in a few months that I'm still getting some hits so thanks to those readers who have been coming back to check on styleoverdose!

I was feeling a bit uninspired in the last few months so I didn't feel as though I had anything worth updating with but I have just come back from a fabulous trip in Hong Kong and have many amazing purchases to share with you all so stay tuned =)

My favourite store in HK

I will also be writing up a guide to shopping in Hong Kong while everything is still fresh in my mind for those who plan to travel there soon.

Lover.

2009-09-29T20:25:00.006+10:00

I've always loved the effortless look of high waisted denim skirts with buttons down the front but I could never manage to find one that would actually suit me...until I stumbled upon this gorgeous skirt from Lover from their Electric Ladyland collection (A/W08):

It is so versatile and pretty - received mine in the mail today and I can't wait to wear it when the weather decides to actually act like it's Spring =)

Oh my pictures don't do it justice =( I need a better camera...

Diamonds in the Rough

2009-09-16T21:14:00.005+10:00

Firstly, apologies again for the lack of updates, but I haven't been doing many blogworthy things lately because I've had exams and assignments to do =(

Luckily today I did something more interesting - I wandered into the renovated PaperScissors store (it used to be Temt) to kill some time during my lunch break and I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw - some decent items amongst all the cheap, generally tacky/nasty clothes.

Here are my beautifully constructed bargain finds:

White/Black Spots Chiffon Tulip Skirt with Black Grosgrain Waist Bow
$29.95

Surprisingly, it fits like a dream and is very well made. I can see myself wearing this to everything from days out with the girls to fancy dinners =)

Next up:

Grey, champagne and black satin detail tee
$29.95

I love the look of this tee, I usually wear very plain tops but the detailing on this is very subtle and classy.

Moral of my little story is that you shouldn't look down on stores with a certain reputation because you never know what you'll find there - at a very reasonable price too! So keep an open mind when shopping and you may just end up with some pieces that you and your wallet will love =)

Bandage Me Up

2009-09-02T19:26:00.007+10:00

Isn't it strange how when you are actively looking for a certain something, you will never find it? Yet when you've given up looking, it falls right into your lap when you least expect it...

My latest obsession is with bandage dresses (or just more fitted dresses) after wearing flowy, floaty dresses for the past few seasons due to the comfort factor. But now, I feel like it's time to embrace my curves and make the most of them...but the shops are not cooperating with me and I can't find many fitted dresses.

The bandage dress trend started awhile ago with Herve Leger:

Now this look has been translated for the Australian masses by Bardot:
Spliced bandage dress on sale for $29.95
Wave bandage dress, on sale for $29.95

Unfortunately, both these dresses had sold out in my size so I had to look at Bardot's other offerings and in the end, I walked out of the store with this:

Origami dress, $89.95

While it isn't a bandage dress, it is fitted enough while still having gorgeous pleat detailing that gives it a more sophisticated vibe.

A Taste of Harlow

2009-08-18T17:07:00.006+10:00

I've always loved Nicole Richie's style but I didn't really pay much attention when she launched her jewellery line House of Harlow because I thought it would be ridiculously priced but recently I discovered that she actually designed very pretty, quality jewellery for a very reasonable price.

I browsed around www.miijo.com and found this gorgeous ring and just had to have it:Antique Rose Gold Stack Ring (thin)

I love it because it is simple but not boring, it is made of rose gold (much prettier than ordinary yellow gold!) and last but not least, it was only $29!

I received this in the mail today (2 days after I ordered it) and it was beautifully packaged, making me feel like a lucky girl at Christmas time =)

I highly recommend miijo.com for their fabulous selection of celebrity related jewellery and clothes, and their great customer service.

Also props to Nicole Richie for designing affordable but gorgeous jewellery!

Miijo currently has a code for 20% off at checkout: STYLEHUNTER, which is valid until 31st August 2009.

Happy online shopping everyone! xo

Patience is a Virtue

2009-08-16T13:13:00.004+10:00

Now that I've finally gotten over my fear of buying things online, I've decided to take the plunge and buy a cute spring dress now that the weather is heating up...

CKM Cream Crotchet Detail Dress

Can't wait until it arrives...that's the worst part of buying things online - you don't get the satisfaction of having it in your hands straight away. But then again there is the thrill of getting a package in the post containing your brand new dress to look forward to =)

And the winner is...

2009-08-12T19:34:00.005+10:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway, I enjoyed reading through your comments and will do my best to make them happen =)

Now, without further ado here is the winner of the Giveaway...

Dee

Dee, please email me at the.vanilla.aurora@gmail.com so that I can send your prize to you =)

I promise more posts will be coming up soon, I've just been completely overwhelmed with life lately and haven't had the time nor energy to blog.

Giveaway! (Because Sharing is Caring)

2009-08-04T20:25:00.011+10:00

The blogger world has been full of giveaways lately and I love the idea because it rewards the blog's loyal readers so I decided to do a little giveaway of my own as a thank you to those who have been supporting my fledgling blog. =)

Here are the treasures up for grabs:

1. Turquoise Shell and Bead Bracelet - very boho!

2. Silver Fan Drop Earrings

3. Dark Silver Butterfly Drop Earrings

HOW TO ENTER: Simply comment with your name and email, stating what is your favourite part of s t y l e o v e r d o s e and what you would like to see more of =)
*Note: This giveaway is only open to Australian readers.

The winner will win all 3 items and be chosen based on their comment.

The winner will be announced on 12th August 2009!

Comment away =)

P.S. I am selling some cosmetics that I have no use for at bargain prices on the Vogue Forums , check it out if you are interested!

Busy Bee

2009-07-31T20:17:00.004+10:00

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, I have been overrun with work of various kinds and have not had the time to blog.

I haven't been all that inspired lately either, but a new purchase always gives me some sort of boost in that department even if it is only a small accessory purchase - like these two tone tights:

Front

Side

Back

I like that they are a quirky twist on the usual grey or black opaques and are good for people like me who aren't quite brave enough to venture into bright coloured or patterned tights but are bored of plain opaques.

These would elongate the leg when paired with the Nine West dove grey Kimbell Oxfords I wanted awhile back, but alas I never got them =(

Artsy

2009-07-22T20:21:00.007+10:00

I've only been back home for a few days, but the bargains are still everywhere and I stumbled across a dress that I had wanted a month ago, last one left in my size and drastically reduced - score!

Presenting my new all-purpose silk dress - to be worn for dressy dinners, birthday parties and random special occasions:
Source: sportsgirl.com.au

It features a beautifully draped tulip skirt and batwing sleeves which are so comfy and sophisticated but unfortunately they overwhelm my petite frame so I think I will be altering them as shown in the last photo below.

It has an elasticated waist, but it still feels and looks too baggy for my liking so I will be cinching it with my trusty belts.

The dress by itself in all its baggy glory

Cinched

With folded up sleeves

Chasing Waterfalls

2009-07-18T15:06:00.009+10:00

I'm back from my relaxing and refreshing holiday and ready to get back into my life as I left it, which includes this blog, of course =)

One thing about traveling that really got to me was the feeling of living out of a suitcase - no matter how cleverly you think you packed for your trip, you will always feel as though you don't have enough clothes or you didn't pack the right clothes for the various situations that will inevitably pop up during your vacation.

Having access to my full wardrobe was one of the nicest things about coming back home and I definitely intend to make up for all the lost time, by wearing some fabulous outfits to ease myself back into my usual lifestyle.

One of my favourite pieces of clothing at the moment is the Drape Cardigan (a.k.a. Waterfall or Wrap cardigan), which is a subtle yet gorgeously girly update on the humble cardigan that has become a staple of many wardrobes (including mine) over the past few seasons.

Here are the ones that have caught my eye in a few different price ranges:

Witchery Solid Wrap Cardigan $149.95

Bardot Waterfall Cardigan in Melon $59.95

Valleygirl Shrug Cardigan $29.95

I personally prefer my drape cardigans to be made of more lightweight fabrics such as viscose and jersey to give it that floaty look and feeling but a thin knit would also work for a warmer alternative.

I recently bought mine in a black jersey material and love how it adds a touch of frilly goodness to my outfits without being too over the top. I think that it looks best with skinny jeans (since the drapes conveniently hide my winter saddlebags!) and heels, like this:

I adore how it also comes with a thin belt so I can play around with tying it at the waist or at the back to create different silhouettes and also to keep it in place. Can't wait to try it out with other outfits =)

Travel Bug

2009-07-09T21:07:00.011+10:00

I'm going to be on a lovely holiday for the next week or so and in the spirit of things I've decided to blog about the most practical yet stylish things to take with you on your travels because it's so very hard to stay chic when you don't have access to your full wardrobe...

Here are some of my picks to make things a bit easier:

1. The Bag - Longchamp Le Pliage

waterproof so that you won't have to worry about getting it wet or dirty
foldable so that you can pack it up into your luggage when you don't need it without taking up too much room or put it into another bag as a portable extra bag for when you've done a lot of shopping and need something to hold your new purchases!
spacious so it can carry all your travel essentials
colourful, to brighten up your trip and outfit
designer, because everyone wants to exude a bit of glamour when holidaying...

Longchamp Le Pliage
2. Comfortable Walking Shoes

Cold climate - Black flat leather boots like Steve Madden's 'Swoop' because black goes with everything and the boots will keep you warm and protected against snow or rain.

Warm climate - tan leather ballet flats to elongate the legs (since you won't be able to wear heels!) while still being comfortable enough to walk around all day if you've already worn them in (don't wear stiff new shoes, they WILL give you blisters!)

If you want to splash out on these, try Marni's gorgeous and simple leather ballet flats with an elasticated trim to make sure that the flats stay on and fit properly.

3. Multi-purpose scarf/pashmina - for the chilly plane airconditioning and also to make into various pieces of clothing for any occasion that might pop up unexpectedly. My favourite would be the American Apparel Circle Scarf (which I had previously expressed my love for) for its amazing versatility:

Happy travels everyone! =)

True Lust

2009-07-04T18:56:00.007+10:00

Here's a heads up to any Aussie girls (and overseas online shoppers) out there who have seen the lovely Betty of leblogdebetty.com rocking these awesome gold studded ankle booties and like me, wished that they could get their hands on them:

I think Betty said that hers are from Oasis, which is a brand that ASOS stocks, but I have found the exact same ones on the Zimmermann website retailing for $250 (down from $500)!
I saw them in store today and debated whether to get them or not because they are absolutely gorgeous and would glam up any outfit...but I'll have to sleep on it since I already have some ankle boots now and if I get these, then I won't get as much wear out of the boots I already have!

If I can't get them out of my head by tomorrow...I think I'll cave in and buy them ><

Bewitching

2009-06-30T22:26:00.012+10:00

Just when I thought that I was all shopped out, another gorgeous piece of clothing finds its way into my line of sight. Luckily, this time around it wasn't just an impulse purchase but something that I've been wanting for awhile:

Witchery Sheer Silk Floral Top

I love how soft and floaty it is...despite its sheerness, when layered over a 3/4 sleeve top it is surprisingly warm enough to wear indoors in winter, which means I'll be getting some wear out of this even before the weather heats up again.

I adore how it pretties up any outfit with its dreamy (and slightly hippie) lavender floral print. I definitely do not have something like this in my wardrobe yet so I'm very excited about the possibilities of teaming it with the more boring clothes I have...

Here's an idea of how I'm going to wear it when spring comes around:

With my new Siren lace-ups and DIY Levi's cutoff shorts

But for now since we're in the middle of winter, I think I'll just add a pair of stockings until the weather decides to warm up again!

Loving all the bargains during the end of financial year sales!

Siren Call

2009-06-27T21:47:00.008+10:00

I think I may have jinxed myself in my last post because Nine West had actually sold out of my size in the Grey Kimbell Oxfords =( (If you're a size 7+ then you're in luck, head down there and grab a pair for yourself, they're gorgeous!)

I tried on the Black Kimbells in my size but thought they were a bit too boring so I left and in my disappointment I wandered into Wanted Shoes and found these quirky Siren Oxfords as a consolation prize:

They're an interesting shade of brown ('Brandy') that can tide me over from winter to spring and autumn and have an awesome cone-shaped stacked heel that will be impervious to the damage I will be inflicting on them (I hate leather covered heels because I always scuff them and the rips in the leather look horrible!)

Although I still prefer grey leather, these were calling out to me to buy them and how can I resist a good bargain?!

Here's how they look on me:

Looking forward to trying these out with some outfits soon!

Do any of you lovelies have any tips on how to prevent the heel scuffing problem?

Wanted: Ankle Boots

2009-06-24T22:56:00.005+10:00

I have been searching high and low since last winter for the perfect ankle boots - something low cut (to elongate the legs) and slightly unconventional since ankle boots are everywhere these days.

I was thinking of a nice dove grey pair, but it is difficult to find this shade but look what's on sale at the moment:

Nine West 'Kimbell' Lace Up Oxford Platform Heels - $89.50

They come in a (safe) black too, but almost all of my winter shoes are black...so I was hoping to get a different colour to change things up a bit. I'm not too keen on the lace up detail (I prefer zips, buttons, studs as embellishment etc.) but these are pretty cute and I'm sick of searching!

I'll be checking these babies out tomorrow at a Nine West store (fingers crossed they still have my size!) and if the grey doesn't make me look too stumpy, these will be mine at last! =)

These are a few of my favourite things...

2009-06-21T14:36:00.005+10:00

Classic style
Short beige trenches with dark buttons paired with hot Christian Louboutin stilettos and killer legs...

Gorgeous ad for the Miss Dior Cherie L'eau perfume
The whimsical pastel coloured balloons and sky...

The stunning Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf in Gossip Girl - she looks fabulous as a brunette!

I've been busy studying for finals, will try to update with outfit posts as soon as it is all over! xoxo

The Amazing American Apparel Circle Scarf

2009-06-16T14:08:00.010+10:00

I must have been living under a rock or something because I've only just heard about this fantastic piece of clothing that you can wear in so many ways - a real multitasker and value for money priced at $47 for something that can be worn as...well...pretty much anything you want! I'm liking the shawl and hooded shawl (but with hood down!)

Usually I would be pretty skeptical about things like this actually living up to the hype but here are some real life examples of stylish girls working it:

niquita, looking gorgeous in AA Circle Scarf Dress
(I wonder how she got it to sit that way...)
Source: Chictopia

My favourite style that I would definitely be trying to recreate:

Rowena aka fashion_lover wearing the AA circle scarf as skirt
Source: Chictopia

Can you even tell that it's a scarf?

I love the way that it drapes on her, and it seems to fit perfectly!

Can't wait to get my hands on one...but there are so many colour choices I don't know which one I should get!

I was thinking navy, charcoal (I think that's what Rowena has) or a lighter greyish blue (Slate).

What do you lovely readers think?

Paperbag

2009-06-10T19:45:00.004+10:00

As promised, an outfit post with one of my new purchases:

Tokito Silver/Charcoal Floral Print Skirt, $69.95

Among all the clothes on sale at Myer...this full priced skirt called out to me and I couldn't resist.

It ticks all my boxes - highwaisted, mid-thigh length, subtle floral print (I've been wanting one for ages!) and with a paperbag tie waist.

I added my DIY chain necklace to see how it looked together...but felt that it looked too prim and proper!

I think that the skirt makes enough of a statement on its own, so I'll probably be toning down the jewellry when I wear it again.

I Love Snail Mail

2009-06-08T15:07:00.008+10:00

It's a little belated - but my Lie Detector Necklace came in the post a couple of days ago!!

I'm so relieved that my first online purchase went so smoothly, I think that I'm brave enough to try more online shopping soon =)

Here's some photos of the lovely packaging that it came in:

The necklace and the little card:

The necklace on me:

Unfortunately my photography skills aren't good enough to get a picture of the details on the necklace to show up, but rest assured that it looks exactly like the picture on the Etsy shop that I posted before.

Hmmm...I seem to be having a jewelry overload lately, so I'll be doing some outfit posts with my new clothes purchases soon to balance things out!

DIY: Pearl, Black Ribbon and Silver Multi-Row Chain Necklace

2009-06-06T14:36:00.008+10:00

I was browsing the sales in my area the other day and I spotted some nice necklaces that looked a lot like this one:

Source: ASOS

They seem to be everywhere these days and I like how a simple necklace can add some flair to a boring outfit. So I was planning to buy one, when suddenly inspiration struck me - I realised that I already had all the ingredients for making such a necklace myself.

1. Old pearl necklace that someone had gifted to me when I was just a kid and thought pearls were too old lady
2. A metre of thin black ribbon - from wearing ribbons in high school in my hair
3. Silver chain originally for a cross body bag that I never use

What I did was just weave the ribbon through the clasps of the necklace and the silver chain and then tie double knots to hold them in place. I left some extra ribbon at each end to use to tie the necklace together with a bow, like the in the ASOS necklace picture above.

5 minutes later:

My very own handmade pearl, black ribbon and silver multi-row necklace!

I'm feeling very resourceful using up these random items that I had just lying around my room that never got any wear and I love the idea of making my own stuff.

I can't wait to wear this out!

Cinch

2009-06-03T20:19:00.006+10:00

As you may have noticed by now, I love the waist-defining abilities of belts. They can make clothes that are too big for you suddenly fit perfectly and can even change the whole vibe of an outfit.

I tried this out with a couple of belts over my new watermelon coloured chiffon ruffle dress
(yes, I'm wearing colour!):

Dress by itself

Dress with Studded Belt

I think that the belt makes the plain dress much more fun...

Dress with Cream and Tan Belt

I can definitely see myself wearing this exact outfit when summer comes around again!

The beauty of this is that belts are fairly cheap and yet they have the power to transform an outfit - so if you're getting bored of wearing the same old clothes, try investing in a few good statement belts to revive your wardrobe!

Quirky

2009-05-31T13:33:00.003+10:00

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

2009-05-28T13:22:00.011+10:00

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

2009-05-26T21:02:00.011+10:00

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

2009-05-25T14:25:00.010+10:00

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

2009-05-24T19:53:00.005+10:00

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

2009-05-23T22:21:00.009+10:00

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

2009-05-22T21:04:00.006+10:00

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

2009-05-19T20:37:00.011+10:00

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

2009-05-17T17:15:00.017+10:00

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?