My own

Hullo!

I finally bought myself a pair of black shoe booties. I wasn't sure if I would need them, but I decided on a whim two weeks ago that they would go with the rest of my wardrobe, so I got them.

Not the best picture, but whatever.

Gratitude

I'm probably considered a ho since I don't respond to your comments, but I actually really appreciate them. Your comments are all so lovely. So thanks guys, hope this blog can continue to be entertaining to you!

Military or marching band?

Okay, hmm, you know what, I'm super-excited about this cardigan that I just bought today, but now I'm confused as to how to describe it exactly. I thought I could call it 'military-inspired cardigan', but I think the politically-correct term would have to be 'marching band-inspired cardigan'. What do you think?

Anyway, I love the fact that it's navy-blue and has got cream piping. It's classic colour combo, thank you.

It is on!

As some of you may know, I'm obsessed with Alexa's sartorial choices (and the girl too, of course), and her wardrobe on her show It's On With Alexa Chung has so far been pretty good. Not all of them blow me away, but then again, the girl carries herself in such a way that you just can't help but love her. And her fierce Chanel pumps.

Yep, that collage I made shows just how obsessed I am, but whatever, I've been having no life whatsoever...

(Images courtesy of mtv.com)

Bag me a dress

I bought this bag from Topshop online two nights ago. Impulse buying at its worst or best I'm still not sure, but I do like the bag very much. And it's 100% leather so it's another plus point. It's also my first online purchase so I hope I'm doing the right thing.

Also, today I bought an LBD to wear to my friend's wedding. I'm actually quite happy with it because not only it fits me well but it's also versatile enough to wear during the day as well as during the night. I can actually see myself wear the dress with the satchel bag above. I'm excited♥

(Image courtesy of topshop.com)

Spread the A.P.C. love

I probably would consider A.P.C. as the French answer to Topshop, and as any respectful fashionistas would not argue against France's chic tag, I am stoked to know A.P.C. is opening its first Australian store in Melbourne. And to make it even better, it's supposed to open this month!

The location is still under wraps; but I promise you, once it opens, I'm probably there on the first day or at least, on the second. This is - to me - almost as fantastic as a trip to France itself. This is probably the most over-the-top statement I'll ever make in my whole life, but it is just so, so, so exciting to add another European flavour to this wonderful city that is Melbourne (I really am smiling when I'm writing this).

(Images courtesy of apc.fr)

Latest expedition

I went on a shopping trip last Thursday. It was supposed to be just for finding a present for a friend from work, but Brunswick Street turned out to be even more evil than I've always known it to be.

I bought an antique ring, brown loafers (which I've been living in since) and a $20 skirt. I also bought a Marc by Marc Jacobs T-shirt on sale at DJ in the city, so that sort of completed the look. But basically it was an evil shopping trip. It really was.

Star style: Jamie Hince

It's the men's turn now.

Jamie Hince from The Kills is probably one of the most stylish rockstars I've seen. His stage persona is written all over the skinny jeans, boots and leather jackets. Yeah, yeah, we've all seen them before. But somehow he adds that extra panache with that tasteful drape of the patterned scarf, colourful vests peeking underneath, the jewellery and the gold-button detailing.

I saw The Kills play live at the V Festival almost three months ago and instead of looking around for Kate Moss (which would have been unfruitful since she didn't come along for that tour after all), I was mesmerised by his stage presence - and sartorial choice, of course.

(Images courtesy of contactmusic.com, davebenett.com and rexfeatures.com)

Label crush

I'm loving this A/W 09 collection by LA-based Wren. Whimsical, quirky but still absolutely wearable.

There seems to be a pattern going on here: fashion journalists/editorial stylists end up becoming established fashion designers and coming up with some of the most fantastic designs you've seen this decade. This label was founded in 2007 by Melissa Coker, who used to do editorials for Vogue and W.

Editorials might not be able to convince you to wear them, but doesn't this collection just make you wanna go out and buy a pair of pink tights?



(Images courtesy of wren-clothing.com)

These boots are made for...working?

Ever since I've been stimulated $900 by K Rudd, I've been shopping for my sartorial needs. And these black boots were essentially some of my best buys. They're reworked vintage, so they're not as cheap as seconds but not as expensive as brand-new, either.

Either way, I love the way they are; classic round toes with no zips! Funnily enough though, I've been wearing them to nowhere else but work. But it's cold outside so it's justified.

I'd like to show you my growing jacket/coat collection next, but since one of them is being dry-cleaned as we speak, I'll have to postpone the entry till another day. But I'm really excited about them as I've been delaying buying coats for almost 3 years now. Go figure, hey?

Anyway, in the meantime, please admire my beautiful black leather boots again. Thank you and good night.

See by Chloé

Loving these pieces by See by Chloé

(Images courtesy of net-a-porter.com)

Someone has to put an end to this lust

Is it crazy if I want to get the Mulberry Bayswater bag?

I'm seriously keen to buy it for myself as a birthday present in October. Which means that I'll need to save up around AUD$2,000 in the next 6 months...

Look at that gorgeous design. Doesn't it just scream at you to buy it right away?

(Image courtesy of mulberry.com)

(Wo)men in tights

Got the first batch of my coloured tights for winter~!

Sauntered into American Apparel store on Chapel Street today - while I was supposed to be present-shopping for my best friend, boo - and found their range of coloured tights. I got myself the asphalt-grey and dark-green! I'm so excited to have got the dark-green; it's such a rare colour but complements an outfit so well.

Now all I need is maroon-red and berry. Woot!

Well, I never thought I'd see the day...

Posh in flip flops! Yes, you saw that right - Posh was spotted wearing flip flops while leaving Wembley Stadium on Monday night.

Oh, and just a random thought: isn't it funny that whenever I blog in text only no one seems to comment? Does that mean fashion blog readers isn't really literate?

(Image courtesy of justjared.com)

LMFF Runway 4: Presented by InStyle + Runway 5: Presented by Yen

So I went to the fashion shows two days ago. They were quite awesome, both for different reasons.

Runway 4
This show was presented by InStyle magazine, featuring Arabella Ramsay, Kate Sylvester, Manning Cartell, Thurley, Ginger & Smart, Lisa Ho, Nevenka and Obüs. While Arabella Ramsay's collection was a bit disappointing for me with the Western-influenced offering of fringe boots and lots of checks, Lisa Ho's collection was just divine. According to her, blue is going to grace our closet for seasons to come, with its wide range of the hue including cobalt, teal and navy.

Nevenka led the pack with the trend I so look forward to: patchwork. They teamed it with rich berry, and though it's not my favourite selection, I applaud them for their feminine take on sheer blousons and ladylike pussy-bow tops. Playing up on that femininity is Manning Cartell with its generous usage of sequins and sparkly, flirty pieces.

My favourite collection would have to be Obüs for its sublime collection of rich colours, particularly peacock-blue. Winter dressing is made effortlessly elegant with a mix of mustard, teal and lime-green.

One trend that I definitely see across all collection for that show is clashing textures. Whether it'd be lace with embroidered lining, ruffles, fin-like dresses and the arty layering of knitwear, they had it all. I'm so looking forward to winter thanks to this show...

Runway 5
This second show was the one shown later in the night and it was definitely something quite special. Though I don't like everything in it, but I still like the way a few pieces were real stand-outs.

The highlight of the show, for me, was definitely Antipodium's collection. Lots of gorgeous power-dressing pieces such as structured cigarette pants, blouses and sharp knitwear make for something rather different yet still accessible. Not to mention all the models were wearing ankle socks with skyscraper heels. So Alexa.

The second stunner was Friedrich Gray, and it was simply because of the piece that they showed midway through: that luscious black maxi-dress with white and blue asymmetrical, ruffled neckline. I wish I could provide a picture to prove how beautiful it is, but for the time being, let's just believe me when I say it's simply stunning.

Basically it was a great night, and I actually like what I wore to the shows. Any fashion enthusiast should know that makes a good night into a great night. And I'm now counting the days till the next fashion event: Melbourne Spring Fashion Week!

Let's hope this time I have better luck in getting into more shows rather than just two...

Recent purchases

So I'm thinking to wear one of them to the LMFF shows tomorrow night. Although I don't have appropriate shoes for either of them. I do, but at the same time, I don't.

Let's just wait what happens tomorrow night, shall we?

The countdown to Fashion Week

Okay, so the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is coming up. And I've been nothing but crazy and frantic, searching for clothes to wear to two shows happening on one night.

Anyway, I had the epiphany to wear clothes by the designers who will be showing that night. My choice fell on an Arabella Ramsay dress (first show) worn with some necklace from Alpha60 (second show). My plan fell short because the Arabella Ramsay dress didn't quite fit and I looked like a 21st-century milkmaid who isn't fat enough to fill out the dress, then drowned in a bowl of tragic purple dye.

So I went to a friend's shop and asked her if she stocked any Arabella Ramsay. She said no. I gave up and decided to look for things from other brands instead. Luckily I found a few good pieces so I quickly made up the outfit plan in my head. All I need is a good pair of shoes to go with it. I'm thinking to buy a new pair just for the sake of looking fierce at the shows.

Now you've all heard of the term 'bridezilla'. But I have a feeling I'm turning into this maniac that sounds more like what people will soon call 'fashion-tragedyzilla'.

I shall keep this blog updated with the progress or - dare I say! - downspiral.

Trend: Navaho

Ever since I saw this picture of Alexa Chung last September, I decided that Native American-inspired jewellery must be in for the next season.

So I've been kinda looking on and off for a similar necklace, but now I've decided I'm gonna actively search for it.

And if I can't find anything like it after that, I'm gonna make one instead. Ha!

(Images courtesy of thefashionspot.com and treadwaygallery.com)

A European tale

Thinking of the long winter in Europe...

Add a little bit of the swinging 60s with its exaggerated shapes found in the return of the bell bottoms and big hair ala Anne Bancroft in The Graduate. Mix in dark, monochrome colours of black and grey just like the Parisian chic modelled by the ethereal Charlotte Gainsborough, but not without the much-needed dash of colours like bright turquoise and raspberry beret (kudos to Pixie). Don't forget to master the art of layers - take many, many hints from Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart from The Kills and clash textures and patterns like you don't care about fashion. Finish with trusty old leather jacket and last winter's shoe booties, because these hard times call for the new-found habit of recycling.

(Images courtesy of thefashionspot.com, mirrors.co.uk and belstaff.com)

Shiny happy people

I bought myself a pair of shiny leggings 2 days ago. And I love it! They look like leather pants and give anything I wear that little something something.

Narcisst~♪