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~♪

Hi-tops, baby

I want a pair of these, thank you very much.

For some reason, all I can see myself wearing next autumn is my new beige trench coat from Mango with a pair of these exact blue Chuck Taylors.

(Image courtesy of converse.com)

Star style: Nicole Richie

So now, on to the Hollywood rich bitch.

I've been secretly admiring Nicole Richie's style for quite some time now. Although in the beginning, I didn't really wanna admit that I like her sartorial choices. But now I really don't care and just like seeing what she wears whenever she's featured in tabloids. She's gone to become really mature in her fashion sense and it's clear that she now likes classic, statement pieces with still that touch of boho. Casual glamour is still her forte but now she does it with more flair. Love it.

(Images courtesy of nicolerichie.nu)

Star style: Julia Restoin-Roitfeld

So I've decided to do a bunch of star style files, since I've got so many pictures saved on my computer.

The first batch is of Julia Restoin-Roitfeld.

There's something about how this girl puts her outfits together. The vibe I get from her is sometimes drab, sometimes stylish, but altogether makes her a very real character and not at all styled by some Rachel Zoe (don't get me wrong, I think Rachel is grool and I love her show The Rachel Zoe Project but authenticity is my point at this moment).

To me, Julia is lady-like, French-chic and still manages to maintain her cool as a young executive in her 20s.

(Images courtesy of thefashionspot.com)

Market-trawling

I got myself a maxi-dress from my trip to Camberwell Market yesterday. It was actually my second choice, because there was another that I saw that was equally gorgeous; a chlorine-green print dress and it's got strings attached so I can either make it as a halter neck or plain tube dress with a bow.

But anyhow, the purple dress makes me feel so ethereal and actually like a woman. If that makes sense at all.

Along with the dress, I also got 3 scarves - for the price of $10! One of them is - I'd like to believe - vintage Celine.

I wanna go again next week.

Jump for jumpsuit!

Another item off my Christmas wishlist. Yay!

Flat out

I feel like taking a picture of my outfit today.
I don't know whether I'll do this on a regular basis, but I thought I'd keep track of what I wear that I actually like. I'm very perfectionist when it comes to clothes - there are countless occasions where I'll be spending three hours on an outfit then three seconds after stepping out of the door I'll hate the outfit.

Anyway, the highlight of the day is the fact that I got these babies!
My beautiful pair of Quilt black flats with patent toe from French Sole. I love it~

Let's talk French (Sole)

I've just realised how adorable the French Sole ballet flats collection is! And the best thing is, today I just found the boutique that stocks them in Melbourne!





How cute are they?

I'm definitely getting the classic black pair for now, but there are so many styles in one colour to choose from. There's the Quilt, the India (classic, non-quilted style) and there's the Henrietta (also classic style but with a deeper front to show more toe cleavage).

Which one, which one, which one?!

(Images courtesy of frenchsole.com)

More MK

Loving these looks of MK from the past year. I guess I won't ever wear things like these, but these outfits just come off so well on camera.




(Images courtesy of olsen-files.com)