Oh no she didn't!

I promise I didn't!  I didn't purposefully set out to buy the outfit on the cover of Elle UK Sep'08. After months of oggling the Stella McCartney wooden wedges, it was only after I bought the Burberry Prorsum coat (which I spotted when it reappeared in the Dec '08 Elle UK, but not on the cover I had been staring at for months), that I realized it was the same coat (the coat never registered in my mind, despite loving it, as my eyes were always drawn to the shoes first).

Love that 2nd shot!

Took these pics in a hurry, so I'm sorry they don't do the coat nor the shoes justice (took this pic in a hurry when I got home from work):

Coat: Burberry Prorsum military blue coat

(under it: Cue bubble hemmed black pinafore & Alannah Hill 3/4 sleeved turtleneck speckled white knit)

Leona Emiston Pins in Onyx

Stella McCartney wood wedge patent heels

This coat is very cocoon-shaped, especially from the side, will make a good maternity coat someday...

Burberry Manor bag in red

I was told these shoes run 1/2 a size bigger, so I followed the advice to buy these 1/2 a size bigger, turns out they must run TTS (or large), 'cause I need insoles & heel grips to pad them up!

Off topic, but I'll be adding this Sass & Bide 'All you need is Love' black trench coat with white piping, to my 'shop' it has an interesting print on the inside of the coat (which you can't see when it's on), it has epaulettes on the shoulder, and little belts on the sleeve, and buttons engraved with 'Sass and Bide'. (white spots are from the camera, and not the coat), 100% thick cotton twill, labelled an AUS 10, US 6 (fits a size up or down).

Yep, the print is meant to look like that...

Dries Van Noten and Harem pants

Quick outfit pic before I head out for dinner (Thai, my favourite):

Dries Van Noten silk top SS'06
Sass & Bide Harem pants
Dries Van Noten cognac & black leather sandals FW'08

(www.firstview.com)

How I'd love to have the matching skirt and obi...

Feliz Pascoa!

Having exceeded my internet download/upload limit, I am now 'punished' with snail pace internet! Oh, the agony!  Wore this Sass & Bide tee on Good Friday (bought this years ago, couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it):

Happy Easter everyone!

(www.style.com)

Louis Vuitton FW09

Thakoon Peony Petal Blouse & Toni Maticevski

Top: Thakoon silk petal blouse
Skirt: Toni Maticevski silk tulle tea-stained layered skirt
Shoes: Chanel ballet pump stiletto heels
Belt: Anna Sui rhinestone gold belt

Top: Thakoon petal silk blouse
Pants: Sass & Bide Harem pants
Belt: Alannah Hill floral silk belt
Shoes: Mauve-pink suede perspex wedge sandals I bought in Brazil 8 years ago
Bracelet: Tom Binns Faux Real cuff

This Thakoon silk top has been sitting in my wardrobe since last year and has never been used. Everytime I would try it on, I felt 'too girly' in it. If only I lived in Alix's (The Cherry Blossom Girl) magical world, I would wear it with a flower tiara and the outfit pictured here.

Instead, I have decided to bite the bullet, and bring it with me to Melbourne this weekend (I am off first thing tomorrow morning). I will wear it in my not-so-girly outfit with my trusty (& comfy) S&B Harem pants. Even though I am going there to attend the Australian Open (tennis), I will try to squeeze some shopping in if possible.

(www.firstview.com)

I love this silk tulle skirt by Australian designer Toni Maticevski, this being from my favourite (and earlier) collection of his. I love the tea-stained colouring, the multi-layer light-as-air silk, and delicate pleating.

Also, I have been a fan of Thakoon Panichgul (Thai-born American designer) since seeing his first collection in 2004, in particular his jackets. In this Spring 2007 collection, featuring this peony-inspired blouse, the collection displayed simple shapes but with incredible ruffles & pleating, which I just loved.

For those in Australia, hope you have a great long weekend, hip hip hooray for Australia Day!

It's getting hot in here...

The weather has been in the high 30's and sometimes 40's (ie. around 100 Fahrenheit) since I returned from my South American holiday, which means I've been trying to chill by the pool or at the beach, or indoors whenever possible...

Wore this to my friends' 3-year old's birthday party (which was great fun!):

T-shirt: Sass & Bide 'A little peace' Jagger tee
Shorts: Stella McCartney
Belt: Alice McCall silk crystal bow belt
Bag: Burberry patent clutch
Shoes: Stella McCartney black pumps (shown below)
Jewellery: Crystal bracelet from Bauhaus

Burberry patent clutch:



As a large-bag fan, I've always resisted clutches as I can barely fit anything in them, but I thought it was time for my first 'proper' clutch, and got it last December.

Please excuse the terrible hair day

Out for drinks at a local pub with friends, was in a 'Resort' mood:

Top: Tigerlily white&red striped with lace straps halterneck worn under
Blouse: Vanessa Bruno cotton-voile top (better pic here)
Shorts: Stella McCartney
Belt: Dries Van Noten
Bag: Burberry Manor
Shoes: White buckle shoes with red heel (purchased 5 years ago in Brazil, still love these, and had to buy them twice, as they were stolen the first time, minutes after I bought it!)

Sunday drinks with friends (was happy chilling at home, but had my arm 'twisted' to come out to a nearby bar for way too much French bubbly...I had 5 minutes, so added some accessories to my comfy 'lounge at home' outfit)

Top: Sportsgirl beaded silk camisole (used to be a dress, but I didn't like the asymmetrical hem and so 'altered' it)
Dress: Ilana Moses silk dress (it's actually a gorgeous deep purple colour)
Belt: Calibre (men's) belt
Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons
Jewellery: Tom Binns Faux Real cuff & large stone ring from Buenos Aires
Bag: Chloe large brown leather bracelet bag

Dries Van Noten & Mickey Mouse - Monochromatic & Sequinned

Head-to-toe in Dries Van Noten - not from the same collection, so it's ok :)

DVN Black sheer knit top with sequinned band (black Metallicus top under it for modesty)

DVN Black skirt with white waistband and stripe down the side

DVN Black buckle sandals

Jewellery: Many Swarovski crystal bracelets (my aunt from NYC got these for all the 'girls' at a family Christmas get-together in the US a few years ago, as a memento of our 'reunion', so sweet), my 'Ice Cube' ring from Sportsgirl (bought this years ago for $1.50 on sale), crystal bracelet from Bauhaus (love this)

Top: Sass & Bide - "A Little Peace" Jagger Tee (love Mickey Mouse, and he's giving a peace sign, too cute!)

Pants: Sass & Bide Harem Pants

Tuxedo Blazer: Costume National brushed velvet with matte lapel & gold-trim button (love this jacket, and wear it with everything)

Shoes: Gucci Silver Stilettos

Remember these ad campaigns for Gucci from a few years back (Spring 2003)?

How I miss Tom Ford for Gucci! This was my favourite collection of his, I still long for the blue silk pleated embroidered kimono, it was a work of art!

(www.style.com)

Packing for '4 Seasons in a Day' - Weekend away!

Tonight I pack my bags and leave for a weekend of shopping and food (Hooray! Two of my favourite things). I had semi-packed last night, but as I check the weather forecast for Melbourne, I come across a dilemma: How does one pack for 4-seasons in a day? The forecast predicts possible storms & showers, and I had packed a Willow silk coat-dress, but now am thinking a raincoat (and umbrella) may come in handy. Layering will be key. Also, my suitcase is substantially smaller than the drawing above (it was my sister's laptop bag), so that I can carry it on-board, which means I am limited for space. I also try to pack as little as possible, especially if it's a 'shopping trip', as I'm bound to find/buy something that I can wear as soon as I get back to the hotel room).  I usually dress for comfort over anything else, but this trip I'm trying for a bit of style.

My usual fashion staples for a weekend away are:

Jeans: Usually worn on the plane to reduce baggage weight, and for comfort. As I no longer fit any of my jeans (a staple in any weekend trip), this item will have to be replaced by my trusty Sass & Bide Harem pants (is there anything more comfortable?)

Sandals/Thongs: As much as I love heels, I cannot wear them as I do my shopping, as I cover a lot of ground, walking here there and everywhere. Therefore, I'm usually daggiest when shopping, often carrying a pair of heels in my bag just in case (I once got followed around in Louis Vuitton by the security guard, and I suspect it was due to me looking daggy in my Havaianas). So with me will come a pair of Havaianas (I have these in so many colours it's crazy, this trip they will be...dark silver), am now thinking of bringing these Stella McCartney for Adidas Asheni flats as it's going to rain.

Shoes: I've limited myself to one pair of heels this time, and they're the Dries Van Noten buckle sandals (chunkier heel means that I will be able to do some limited walking if required, my pain tolerance in heels is embarassing)

Bag: I usually cart a Chloe bag with me, as they're understated and very roomy. As the shoes I'll be toting in them are so bulky, I have to resort to a larger bag this time, and so I will bring my very roomy Burberry Manor (which I usually use everyday for work, as it fits...my life in it). Not quite understated, and being fire-engine red, will definitely provide a pop of colour to any outfit I wear (a definite change from my usual bag of choice for shopping).

Jacket: As it gets cold quick at night in Melbourne (and usually quite windy/breezy), a warm jacket is a must, cue Burberry navy leather jacket (I lightened the picture a little). I will also bring the Willow silk cobalt blue coat/dress as a light alternative, which I hope to pair with dresses (I'm bringing my beaded/sequinned Dries Van Noten shirt-dress), over pants, or zipped up on its own as a dress on its own (love versatile pieces).

Tops: I usually bring Sass & Bide t-shirts, but this time will opt for actual tops (probably this Dries Van Noten & a Jaclin Chouchana racerback black/grey blouse. Have decided to add this wool jersey top by Vanessa Bruno for warmth.

Accessories: I usually bring necklaces & earrings, but this time I'm only bringing one piece: the Tom Binns Faux Real cuff.

I should be good to go. Did I forget anything? Luckily I still have a few hours to go...Have a great weekend everyone! Hopefully will have some purchases I can report on when I get back.

By the by, what do you pack for a weekend away?

Zac Posen Splash Print Pleated Evening Jacket

Shoes: Dries Van Noten, Pants: Sass & Bide, Singlet: SABA, Watch: Calvin Klein, Jacket: Zac Posen (eek! I do have a neck, I promise!)

As I was tidying my wardrobe, this Zac Posen silk bolero caught my eye. It has been sitting in my wardrobe for a year or so, feeling unloved, unworn & neglected, as it still has its tags attached to it.  

When I first saw it I fell in love with its vivid colours and subtle gold streaks through it, its soft pleated silk, and the fact that it seemed so artistic, with its bold splashes of 'paint' & dramatic design (visions of 'Dynasty' flash through my mind).  Every time I reached for it I realised I was not daring enough: fears of looking like a clown or a matador restrained me from wearing it.  

Perhaps pairing it with Harem pants would not help the 'looking like a clown' situation, and I always envisioned wearing it with distressed jeans and white tank top.  Seeing I no longer fit any of my jeans, these will have to do for now (I just happened to be wearing the black outfit under the bolero today).  I think I may just bite the bullet and wear it out (time to cut off those tags)...

I'm curious: How would you wear this jacket/bolero?

A Hot Cat Sitting on a Tin Roof - 3-way Harem Pants

This past long weekend I decided to bite the bullet and try out the Sass & Bide Harem pants I recently purchased. I had tried them on at home, and pretty much decided they weren't for me, but the comfort-factor was so great, I thought I'd give it a try, before making a final decision.  Please excuse the horrid 'Fee fi fo fum' poses, wish I had a mannequin or model to dress instead (further proof I'm so not photogenic)...

So I first wore the pants out wine tasting

Shoes: Dries Van Noten sandals (as requested by a lovely reader, I have attached a close-up pic...ugh! Please excuse my hideous feet, I have since ordered a Ped Egg...)

Pants: Sass & Bide Harem pants (love the little buttons at the bottom)

T-shirt: Sass & Bide - A Hot Cat Sitting on a Tin Roof

Jacket: Burberry Washed Navy Leather jacket (bought this in Barcelona, and was photographed with my sisters outside the Burberry store for Spanish newspaper El Periodico moments after, we laughed like crazy the next day when we spotted ourselves in the newspaper, with our little 'interview'!).

I then had 5 minutes to change to go out for dinner when we got back, so I wore them again.

Shoes: Gucci Patent studded stiletto heels (these are my fave Tom Ford for Gucci stilettos, I loved these so much I got them both in the Black and Ivory)

Pants: Sass & Bide Harem pants
Blouse: Bora Aksu silk top (have included a better picture of this top by this London-based Turkish Designer)
Jewellery: from Bauhaus, with the exception of the pendant, it's a Christmas ornament from Orson & Blake in Sydney.

(www.firstview.com)

The following day I had 5 minutes to get ready for a luncheon at a friend's place, so reached for these pants again:

Shoes: Stella McCartney patent pumps in Lead (fell in love with these as soon as I saw them on the runway, and have them in Lead, Black & Red (am now wishing I got the Fuschia Satin pair too)

Pants: Sass & Bide Harem pants
Blouse: Wool jersey & Satin Vanessa Bruno top
Jewellery: Black charm bracelet (birthday present from my gorgeous little sister), 2 hematite bracelets from Brazil, one golden bracelet from Topshop London.
Belt: Chloe silk scarf belt with brass & amber buckle (I didn't tie it properly for this picture, and fixed it after, looks terrible here!)

(www.firstview.com)

A close-up of Anouk Lepere wearing the Chloe belt on the runway (absolutely love the buckle, so I have this belt in black leather as well), wish I knew how to tie it as they did on the runway!

(www.firstview.com)