The Return of the Prodigal Outfit Post: Batik, Beading and Tapas

click to enlarge

Yes, it has been quite some time since I last posted an outfit post, apologies to you all who have written to say you have missed them...

Last night I went out for dinner with hubby and my cousin, who was visiting from interstate, and we went to one of my favourite restaurant for 'tapas' (not entirely traditional). The weather has warmed up all of a sudden (although it will drop by 15 Celsius from Monday to Tuesday), and in warmer weather I love wearing this Batik print vintage sarong (acquired from my mother's wardrobe, it is actually older than me!). Inspired by Dries Van Noten's latest collection, I decided to dress my batik sarong up a little:


Dress: Batik vintage sarong skirt
Vest: Dries Van Noten top worn back to front and open (it is actually meant to be worn under another printed top)
Shoes: Marni patent sandals
Bag: Chloe lambskin bracelet bag
Jewellery: Necklace from Bauhaus, Swarovski Nirvana ring

The actual 'front' of the top, I absolutely adore the beautiful beading...

I had planned to wear this outfit with my Topshop sequinned jacket, but it was just too warm when I left the house...I forgot to put my Bauhaus bracelet back on when after taking the jacket on.

TAPAS


We started dinner with a Pink Sangria: Brachetto, Aperol, Rosso Antico & Fresh Pink Grapefruit juice; and on the right: Ocean trout, mandarin jelly, mache & carrot (unfortunately this looked better than it tasted, and it did look too pretty to eat, we found it too sweet...)

Hervey Bay scallop, sweet corn polenta, popcorn & basil (absolutely delicious!)

Kingfish sashimi, sago, cucumber & mint

School prawns & saffron rouille

Hubby's favourite (he ordered another two just for himself as 'dessert' after we ate these): Mini wagyu burger with pancetta & beetroot chips

Duck, beetroot, cinnamon tea cake & chocolate (yes, you read right, chocolate! Another dish that sounded/looked more interesting than it tasted...)

Beef carpaccio, pickled mushrooms, wild rice & crispy egg (the crispy 'noodle' things around the runny egg was absolutely incredible...I quite enjoyed this dish).

Dessert: Chocolate fondant & pistachio ice cream

It was my dad's 60th yesterday (he is currently in Japan) and my little sister's b'day on Thursday (she and my other sister are in Marrakesh 'for the weekend', how unfair is that?). FELIZ ANIVERSARIO!!!

Hope you're all having a fabulous weekend...I am off to the beach.

Recent buys: High-low from Topshop to Stella McCartney

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied to my previous posts' questions, I am thoroughly enjoying reading your answers, and am taking note of the questions you are asking me. If you haven't written your questions, and would like to still, please feel free to do so here! I love getting to know more about you.

I will (hopefully) accumulate more questions from you so I can answer them all in one post. I will also work on trying to answer some of your requests (e.g. post of my 'interior design', a group bag shot, and figure out how to do a group shoe shot, haha, might have to break it down to a few groups...)

Quote Selena's response to a question: "i believe it's all about how you put an outfit together rather than being completely covered in labels." (uhm, by 'you' she was not referring to me but to 'someone')

I totally agree! Although my ratio of high to low has been changing as I distill my wardrobe down, and get older, I still thoroughly enjoy dressing high-low.


Recent buys:

Topshop matte square sequin blazer (close-up PIC)
Topshop black harem pant (I have used mine so much I need another for 'rougher' wear, or for lounging around the house in ultimate comfort)
Topshop grey cropped harem pant
Topshop draped tulip skirt with pockets (can you believe I accidentally ordered TWO of these? I sized up, as my size US2 friend, who bought a size US4 skirt and found it too small warned me their skirts ran small, so mine's a size 6 if anyone's interested...)
Swarovski Nirvana ring
Stella McCartney mesh sandals with lucite heel (close-up pic)

I have been searching for a red skirt for quite some time, and envision wearing it in a variety of outfits, including with my favourite look: nautical/stripes. Pictured is my Chloe striped & jewelled top (have yet to acquire a nice black boyfriend blazer, the one above is by Stella McCartney). Also pictured: Dries Van Noten buckle sandal, Swarovski Nirvana ring, and Chanel necklace (which I do not own).

Two of my purchases I am absolutely ecstatic about, because I have been wanting them for ages. The Swarovski ring I have been literally eyeing for years, since it first appeared on net-a-porter under the label 'Swarovski Rocks',. In the last few years I have been hinting terribly to hubby that I would love that ring, and it would be so much nicer to receive it as a meaningful token (e.g. anniversary) than for me to buy it for myself. Alas, I finally gave up and got it myself, haha, love it (it is my upgrade from one of my favourite rings, I call it my 'ice cube' ring, which I bought from Sportsgirl for $1.50 and have worn to death the last 5 years or so). I also really want in 'Jet' (black).

www.swarovski.com

H of Pret-a-Porter just pointed me towards a stunning editorial from Vogue September's Issue, featuring this ring. Love the editorial not only because is it an homage to Tina Chow, but it was the story was styled by Melanie Huynh (love her work). The ring on Tao's fourth finger (right hand) looks like an expensive version of my $1.50 ring, I must take a close-up of it sometime...

www.models.com

The other purchase I am ecstatic about is the Stella McCartney nude mesh & lucite sandals. Ever since I saw these worn on the runway October last year, I was obsessed with finding them, and that exact combination in my size was hard to find. But all's well that ends well...

www.style.com

I plan to wear these a lot with the upcoming warmer weather. There's something about the nude combined with the lucite that I love. The stiletto version in black is hot too...

London 'High Tea' Style - Feliz Aniversario J!

Happy Birthday J!

For those who saw my previous post with the gorgeous Aqua Green silk frilled Burberry Prorsum dress (worn by Agyness Deyn), you may have guessed that the 'mystery girl' is non other than...my gorgeous sister (we'll call her E)! She and my little sister J went for High Tea at Kensington Palace to kick-off a week of celebrations (it's J's b'day today: HAPPY BIRTHDAY J!)

I asked E to take some shots and hinted that I might post them here (my sisters don't really check my blog unless I ask them to, eg. when I said I posted pics of the shoes they gave me for my birthday). E asked whether they'd have to 'do silly poses also'. I told her "No, and if I looked like you & J, I wouldn't have to either!". Aren't they gorgeous ? Nothing like being comfortable in your own skin (wish I had their confidence and photogenicness) Miss them terribly!

J wears:

Dress: Burberry Prorsum (this is from my favourite ever collection by Christopher Bailey)
Coat: Burberry bell-sleeve tweed
Shoes: Miu Miu sueded Tie-Dye Pumps
Clutch: Topshop Sueded Tie-Dye (I found this for her when I went for a 36hr visit to London in March)

I've asked my sister what those pink 'marshmallows' are in her hair, so cute! (p.s. I just found out they're silk rosettes!)

E wears:

Dress: I asked last night what this was, she bought it in NYC and can't remember who it's by, but I'm pretty sure it's by Tracy Reese (love the lace!)

Jacket: Burberry (Prorsum, I think)

Gloves: Burberry (leather - they gave me a gorgeous pair in orange that I love)

Bag: Patent Wine Burberry clutch/bag (so cute!)

Shoes: Robert Robert

Bracelet: I just spotted the bracelet I gave her for her birthday this year by Swarovski, it's stunning! It has several semi-precious stones with gold/crystal trimming, without being blingy...

Better picture of the Burberry Prorsum dress my sister wore under the coat in the pic above

I'm so in love with this dress, I absolutely loved all the gorgeous prints Christopher Bailey used for that Spring collection, and I didn't even like floral prints that much then! Shame the flash washed out the dress, but I just had to add this photo, how I'd love to be in that dress in such lush surroundings, and next to my sister (she can wear something else, haha!).

PS. I can't believe how brown my sister is, and she said it snowed in London! She's browner than me! Guess it's all those trips to Amalfi, Greek Islands, etc...Ah, life's so unfair!

Later that night they partied at Westbourne House...J tied her long Maxi dress so she wouldn't trip and fall whilst dancing. Good thinking Ninety-Nine! She never remembers the name of the designer of this dress (she bought 2 other dresses from this same designer, and everytime I ask her who it's by, she forgets the name), love the red bow at the waist!

Love how E 'punked' the Burberry Prorsum dress up with the studded belt, she also wore these gorgeous Chloe studded sandals with them...Must ask E who that clutch is by, love the dangling crystals! *sigh* I just had another look at that dress, it's just gorgeous. (n.b. Just asked E., the clutch is DKNY, purchased in NYC)

Funnily, before my sisters moved to London, they used to 'pay me out' for having a designer-filled wardrobe (they weren't much into International designers then). Moving to London has afforded them access to so many designers & stores from which to choose from (whereas I rely mostly on the internet). When I went to visit last year, E was showing me recent purchases (something I miss doing since we lived in the same city), and showed me a Hussein Chalayan top she bought for £10! AND...she didn't even know who Hussein Chalayan was! I'm SO living in the wrong city! Living in London not only provides more to choose from fashion-wise, but also more opportunities to wear amazing clothes, as there is amazing fashion everywhere you turn, in every style! I have learnt to 'subdue' my fashion in order to 'fit' into my surroundings, something I'm trying to revert...

Needless to say with so many amazing shops, department stores, labels & sales, my sisters' wardrobes have far surpassed mine (they used to envy mine, and now, how the tables have turned!). They should be the ones blogging, not I! Except they don't have the interest nor time to do so...