Rachel Roy - Beautiful draping...

This is one of my current favourite outfits, having used it three times in the last month or so, as it is so easy to throw on and so comfortable...

Dress: Rachel Roy Viola wrap dress (looks much better on the model, of course) - am grateful for the stretchy waistband
Shoes: Christian Dior Extreme Python sandals
Bag: Chloe lambskin bracelet bag
Bracelet: Tom Binns Faux Real

What first made me fall in love with Rachel Roy's designs were her beautiful drapey pieces...Her debut Spring/Summer 2007 collection of hers is still my favourite, especially the draped yellow strapless dress (which was my first purchase of hers):





firstview.com

Some other gorgeous pieces of hers I love...






style.com

My Birthday with Roksanda Ilincic, Lanvin & Tom Binns

Birthday celebrations started early, the night before the actual date, when hubby asked me to pick a movie at the DVD store. On my return, the lights were off, but there were little candles on the kitchen table around the bouquet of Oriental Lillies I had received earlier in the day from my sister-in-law. Soft jazz was playing, a bottle of Bollinger chilling in the champagne bucket, and a big bright & shiny present waiting for me...It was such a beautiful start to the celebrations that were to follow...

Confit duck and lentil tortellini with persian fetta and radicchio, caramelised pear & hazelnut oil

I love sugar cubes!

Look at that gorgeous card with vintage Dior heels (contained a book voucher), the other present contained the below:

Kissi Stones (aka Soapstone) hearts - how cute are these?

Plenty of more champagne...

Black suede rose ring with freshwater pearls from Bauhaus


Birthday Outfit:

Roksanda Ilincic silk draped dress with Swarovski Crystals (I posted on this dress recently here)
Burberry black patent belt
Lanvin bicolour patent pumps with metal heel
Tom Binns Faux Real bracelet
Bauhaus suede rosette ring with freshwater pearls

It is hard to get the colour right for these shoes! The pink is gorgeous deep rasberry...Love the metal heel on these!

closeup from www.style.com

And the bride wore white...

Last Saturday I got to revisit the magical place I was married in, as my cousin had her wedding in the exact same beautiful spot.

My cousin was the most beautiful bride ever, in a stunning drapey grecian goddess gown by Australian designer Collette Dinnigan. My pictures don't do justice to the incredibly stunning crystal detailing on her ivory silk satin one-shoulder drape gown...

(style.com & elle.com)

Collette Dinnigan SS08

My gorgeous mom, visiting from Brazil, wearing a silk Perri Cutten coat dress over my Empire Rose silk dress, and Fendi Forever Mini Boston bag (a gift from my mother-in-law). Also, not pictured, she wore the shoes I wore as a bridesmaid to my sister's wedding (one size too big for her, remedied with 'Party Feet'). I wore my YSL wedding shoes...

Willow draped silk dress
Yves Saint Laurent Dada semi-wedges in Platino Dries Van Noten clutch
Tom Binns Faux Real cuff
Swarovski 'tennis bracelet' (30th b'day present from my sister)
Sportsgirl acrylic ring (bought this years ago for $1.50!)

YSL Dada semi-wedges - my wedding shoes
Bridesmaid shoes

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

Obrigada e Ate Logo!

Muito obrigada (thank you very much)!

I recently received two 'blog awards' from two incredible bloggers, and feel totally unworthy, but incredibly flattered & thankful! I'm relatively new to blogging, and even newer to awards:

This award is from the lovely Madame Dior who has an amazing blog with celebrity style (and most importantly), detailing where to purchase the amazing pieces they wear. Thank you so much MD!

I would love to pass this award to (sorry I only picked one, as it was taking me too long to figure out who, of my favourite bloggers, didn't already have one):

Capture the Castle

The lovely Songy of Style Discovery (love her blog!) passed me this 'I Love your Blog' award (sometimes I see this pic & think it's a bird, haha!) I pass this award on to:

1. Dress your day with dreams
   
2. i.d.
3. Grazi at For Fashion's Sake
4. Romeika at A Room of One's Own
5. Rebecca at The Clothes Horse

Ate Logo (see you soon)!

This will be my last post from Australia in 2008, as I leave tomorrow for Buenos Aires & Brasil (am so incredibly excited! I will be away for 4 weeks). However, I have a few scheduled posts up my sleeve, hope they work. I won't be bringing my laptop with me, but I'm sure I will be able to read your comments (although I may not have time to reply to them, love reading them, so keep 'em coming!). Please feel free to comment in any post, I'll read them! I will certainly miss visiting many of your gorgeous blogs while I'm away, and hope I get some time to post some unscheduled posts for a quick update. Shopping in Buenos Aires should be amazing, thanks for everyone's tips!

Wishing you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FELIZ NATAL E ANO NOVO!

(www.style.com)

Dress: Zac Posen Picnic dress (one of my favourite dresses)
Cuff: Tom Binns Faux Real
Shoes: Mauve-pink suede sandals with perspex slim wedge heel, bought in Brazil 8 years ago (still love them!)