Feeding my obsessions

As you all know, I can't walk past a striped top. So imagine my joy when this festive little number with gold foiled stars from French Connection landed in my inbox last night.



So cute! It reminds me of something out of PopSister. Naturally, I had to go in this morning to buy it. And while I was there, this caught my eye:



I've had a leopard scarf on my wishlist for a while but I haven't found the right one. This one with its subdued colours is just about perfect.

It seems that I'm trying to make sure I have every item of clothing in leopard print. At last count, I had the scarf, my beret (thanks so much Ish!), a pair of Mickey-shaped earmuffs from Tokyo Disney, my sadly worn out ballet flats, and as of last weekend, this cardigan:



This is the Nala cardigan by Review. I got it on sale as it's from their AW collection, so if you want one I suggest you hightail it to the shops immediately. Again, I like its subdued colour - it's almost a snow leopard.

I think I had better call it quits on the leopard stuff for now (unless I find a replacement pair of ballet flats, which is totally acceptable.) If you see me buying leopard shorts, call the police, or at least a fashion psychiatrist. I'm turning into a Versace monster.

-Hayley xoxo

Portmans Attack

I was attacked I tell you. I walked into Portmans to find a belt and instead I walk away with 4 items! Thank goodness they had 20% off storewide otherwise my credit card would be battered beyond repair. And, I didn’t even get a belt. I can’t remember the last time I bought four items from one store at the same time, it was a brutal attack. I can’t even remember the last thing I bought from Portmans, so this attack was totally unprovoked and unexpected. And as outrageous as it sounds, I want to go back for more! Either my style and tastes have changed or Portmans have really hit the nail on the head with their latest collection.

So let us have a look at what I got, round 1


I thought I should try an inject some colour into my summer wardrobe, considering it is summer and all.


I love this design, I love the corset shape and the sheer fabric. Really love! The only thing is, I don’t know what to wear it with? I tried jeans and heels but it just looked daggy, maybe I need to buy some nicer jeans?


This dress is pretty simple, but I just love it on. I don’t even really know why, I just do! I originally thought I could wear it to work but it looks quite casual on me. A perfect summer dress to throw on when you just can’t be bothered!


So pretty, so soft, so flowy!

This is what I want to go back for, round 2


The one I saw in store was navy and white, it’s a simple print but a nice design. Great summer top to throw on with….


These! I can’t remember how long I have wanted a white pair of denim shorts! I haven’t actually tried them on, I saw them on my way out of the shop after buying all the other stuff. So fingers crossed they look good!

I guess I had a bit of a splurge over the weekend. I think it had been building up because I haven’t had one for a while. I also picked up a few more things but I need to take pictures of them and we all know how I am with that… L.A.Z.Y. I’m feeling pretty good about my summer wardrobe at the moment, I don’t think there is too much more I need. Mind you, I did say a couple of weeks ago that I didn’t need to buy anything. So who knows what the future will bring!

Ishia

Stella McCartney for Target

UPDATED: See bottom of post.

Hi all! I have finally done a spot of shopping, for the first time in what feels like forever. To break the drought, I picked up a couple of pieces from the new Stella McCartney for Target collaboration. I enjoyed the last collection she did for them, so I was really looking forwards to this one, as I'd heard it was more everyday-wearable than the last one. Is it just my imagination, or are designer collaborations becoming more and more indistinguishable from the main line? I'm not complaining. I'm dribbling over the Lanvin for H&M one coming up. But this is about Stella.

First impressions - Ms McCartney does not design for anyone with more than a hint of a chest. It bothers me that designers tend to be lazy this way - more and more women these days have curves, and I don't mean that as a euphemism for fat, just that the hourglass figure is definitely still a thing - and it's harder work to make clothes that look good on bigger boobs. So most designers don't. (I learned that from Tim Gunn, so it must be true.) Some of the designs looked good on me, but others just didn't fit right - what fit well on my shoulders was way too tight in the bust, and the next size up hung off my shoulders like I was a ten-year old stealing from my mum's wardrobe.

The other thing that is definitely worth noting, should you be thinking about picking some of this collection up on eBay, is that the sizes run smaller than regular Target sizing, and it doesn't seem to be totally consistent between tops and bottoms. I'm usually a 12 (Australian) by Target's estimations, and a 12 in the tulip skirt fit me a-ok. The lace tshirt, however, was ludicrously small in 12. I got it (we'll get to that in a minute) in a 14 but frankly a 16 might have been better. The top-bottom discrepancy seemed to be true for all the pieces I tried on - dresses fitted me particularly badly, as what was right up top was swimming around my waist and hips. And the trench coat - oh, the trench coat. OK, let's start with the review.

What I bought

In the end I got the lace tee in black, and the frame clutch, also in black. Photo time!



(I put a pillowcase inside the shirt so you can see the lace better - it's totally sheer in person.)





They pack your clothes up in this special edition bag. It looks sort of cheap, but much nicer than a regular Target plastic bag. I appreciate the effort, if not the execution.

My salesgirl threw in the hanger for the top, too, but the quality is pretty wretched so it won't be going into my wardrobe.

So the tee. The lace tee is apparently the most popular item of this collection, so I was feeling pretty chuffed to snag one. The lace itself feels pretty good quality, and the neck detail makes it feel pretty classy. It has some small darts to add bust definition, but frankly, it's not much help above a B cup. I plan to have it tailored a little, but overall it is a versatile piece and I'm happy to welcome it to the exclusive club that is my wardrobe.

The clutch was a bit of an impulse buy but I'm happier with it every time I look at it. I like the art deco-like simplicity of the frame. The fabric it's made from is satiny, so I'll have to be careful not to snag it, but again, this is a very versatile piece.

Versatility seems to have been the theme of the collection. Here's my impressions of some of the other pieces, which can all be seen at the capsule website here.

What I loved

The lace pieces in this collection are stunning. I really wanted to snap up the sleeveless lace top in French blue, the short sleeved lace dress in either black or blue, and the aforementioned tulip skirt, but in the end decided against them. The sleeveless top was a bit too cleaveage-tacular to be an everyday top, I already have plenty of dark blue and black dresses, and I really wanted the tulip skirt in ivory, which sadly was sold out at the Perth city store. I might trek to a couple other stores to see if they have it. I also liked the wide-leg trousers. I might just pick them up next time - I have a feeling these will be floating around for a while, like some of the pieces from the Zac Posen collab a few years ago.

What I wanted to love but was sold out so I didn't get to try on

The white suit, the ribbon-tie dress, the gathered silk dress, and the shirt with tie. I'll look for these at other stores, too.

What I wanted to love but couldn't no matter how many times I spun around in the changeroom

The tulip trench coat. Oh my. This is so beautiful. The front-on silouhette is stunning. I was oohing and ahhing when I had it on in the changeroom, but then I caught sight of my back - hunched like Quasimodo. There's a very generous pleated vent in the back of the coat, which, sadly, should you have used the front fabric to accommodate your ample chest, then opens out into a huge puff of fabric, destroying your nice lines. This is the piece that has me so steamed about clothes for big chests, because man, my credit card was already at the ready for this one. I'm tossing up whether I should buy it in a larger size and have it taken in everywhere else. Oh, and fyi, there are DOZENS of these left at the Perth city store, perhaps due to the cut, but more likely due to our scorching weather here lately, so anybody who tells you they're sold out nationwide is fibbing.

What else didn't tickle my goat

The big chunky bracelets. I have very small, slim hands and wrists. I could not get my hands into these bangles. Am I doing it wrong? Have I forgotten how bangles work? I also wasn't big on the 70s style jeans. I don't think front patch pockets suit many women, as they can make you look a big saddlebags-y. Be warned. And the other handbags looked a bit cheap, too. My fashion rule is Never Let It Look Cheap, Even When It Is, so I was not very impressed with them.

Overall, the collaboration is very nice. It seems to be not as in demand as the previous Stella for Target, but that works in my favour (and yours!) so I'm not complaining. Head on into a Target to see it for yourself (but be sure to check their website, as not all stores carry it.)

-Hayley xoxo

PS Am I the only one who thinks the model on the website looks completely unhappy with her job? She doesn't really sell the clothes to me, that's for sure.

UPDATE

I went to Innaloo Target this evening to see what I could see of the things that were sold out in the Perth store. Quick blow by blow account:

-Ribbon tie dress would look fabulous on someone tall and slender. Sort of sack-like on me, though. Fabric is divine.
-Gathered silk dress is BEAUTIFUL. It's frothy perfection, and the fabric is soft and light like a dream. Decided against it due to a slightly weird fit issue (seemed to sag a bit on one side, oddly) but I really do recommend you try it if you've been eyeing it off. It's truly lovely.
-Wide leg pants are quality. 100% wool, good fit. Long in the leg. If you buy them (like I did) then chances are pretty high you'll need to have them taken up. This is a small sacrifice, because they are fabulous, even without the designer label. I would have paid more for 100% wool trousers that fit like this even if they came from Joe's Discount Slack Shack. I got them in black, but the navy would be equally versatile.
-Sweater dress is made from very heavy fabric but the weave is open. You'll need to wear something underneath. The one I tried on had a lot of snagging already, so I'm not sure this is a keep-it-forever kind of piece.
-Tulip trenchcoat still has the hunchback issues even when two sizes too big. I'd be interested to know what any flat-chested girls out there who have tried it think.

If you live North of the river, Innaloo still have an awful lot of stock - pretty much one of every size in every colour. The only thing that I couldn't find bigger than a size 6 was the tie-front shirt. Happy shopping!

SW Spell

My love affair with Samantha Wills jewellery continues. The latest addition to my small, but growing, collection is this gorgeous petite fleur ring.



As soon as I laid eyes on this piece I knew that I had to have it. The striking turquoise stone and the beautiful intricate flower detailing is a match made in heaven. I just wished it was bigger so the whole world could see it when I wear it. It would have to be bigger than the moon, but I’m not complaining, I’d be more than happy to live in space inside a giant flower ring.

There are a zillion more pieces from her current ‘Le Marche D’epice’ collection that I must have. If anyone needs Christmas present ideas I would love the ‘Butter Bangle Set’ or the ‘Palace Guard Necklace’. If you need more ideas I also really like the ‘Rock Candy Ring – Whisky’. But beware, if you go onto her website you may come away a whole lot poorer than you already were. I guarantee you will fall in love with numerous pieces and the Samantha Wills spell will be well and truly cast on you, forever.

Somebody please please buy me more…

Ishia
xox

Maxi Goodness

Just a short post as a follow up from my last, I mentioned that I was going to try on a maxi dress. I went and had a look and tried it on, I didn’t want to get my hopes up because I’ve tried on a zillion maxi dresses and they’re always quite unflattering on my body. They tend to flow out from under my bust and make me look 6 months pregnant, which is not a good look, unless you are actually 6 months pregnant.

This dress came as a refreshing surprise, it fits nicely and the design is quite flattering. Because of the ruching, (or whatever you want to call it) it sits firm on my top part then starts to gently flow out from my waist. The back straps actually extend into a tie which you wrap around your waist a couple of times, cinching it in. The back of it is my favourite part, the detail is almost grecian-like, it adds a nice twist to what would have been a simple design. It’s a bit long to wear with flat sandals so I will either have to always wear it with heels or make it a tad shorter. I would like to make it slightly shorter but I’m so lazy when it comes to altering things. I’ll probably get around to it in about a year or two, and by that time I probably won’t even like it anymore. So it’s probably staying long.



I spent last weekend in Adelaide catching up with some of my husband’s family. I had a short look around at some shops, nothing really that exciting. I did find quite a few nice boutiques along this one street but everything was super expensive and I was in a bit of a rush. I did find this bag, I was drawn to the tribal pattern. It’s quite funky, and I love the strong shape of it. At the time I had been carrying around a smallish bag and I was thinking how good it felt not to be dragging around a gigantic sack. So I’m quite excited to be adding this smaller bag to my collection.



That's about all for now!

Ishia

Wishing and hoping, Santa

So, only a month or so after I posted about my desire for more frivolity, I'm back to my other mode. Typical. I'm quite schizophrenic in my shopping tastes. I think it has to do with living in my quite Euro-elegant apartment (photos soon - still waiting on my coffee table to arrive from Melbourne, and the place looks quite incomplete without it.) Anyway, since we moved in, I've already felt the pull back towards expensive and classy goods, specifically of the shoe and handbag variety. So if Santa were to bring me any of these, I would be ecstatically happy. (In FACT, I think if I had these two bags in my collection I would be almost entirely sated on the bag front, save the occasional sighing over a BV knot clutch. And I'd like something in brown leather as well. Oh, and I need something summery, too, like a Kate Spade wicker bag. So, ALMOST. But I digress. Santa would still be amply rewarded for these.)

A Louis Vuitton/Sofia Coppola collaboration bag, in suede asphalt



Oh, I love this bag so desperately. It's so cool. It has the very desirable LV shape without screaming "I AM AN LV BAAAAG!!!" - I like the basic Speedy, but it's just so endlessly ripped off these days that I assume they are all fake, even the real ones. (Yes, even the ones in the window at LV, haha.) (Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good fake bag as much as the next girl, but a) they tend to not last long, due to cheap workmanship; and b) if I were going to spend LV money, I wouldn't spend it on something I myself think looks like I paid $15 for it.)

A Chanel 2.55



Yeah yeah, I've mentioned this before. But I still want it bad. So classic. So ladylike. So never, ever going out of style. I have a pink inspired version that I got at Misch Masch in Fukuoka (um, I think?) but not the real deal. I'd like the version with the burgundy interior and black exterior, but I wouldn't kick an all-black version out of bed for eating crackers, if you know what I mean.

YSL Tribute sandals in brown



Le sigh le sigh. All so French, all so perfect. So many brands did knock-offs of these last year - the best, IMHO, were Steve Madden and Country Road - but I was too slow on the uptake to get them. I scour eBay quite regularly but so far no dice. Cultstatus has these in, and given that I walk by King St every day, it's taking a lot of my willpower not to go buy them.

So, dear Santa, that's my shopping list to the tune of about $7k. But you have elves that make these things, right? So it'll be no problem at all. Bisou bisou!

We've been b-b-b-b-bad...

It’s been a while since any of us have posted, over a month! Our sincere apologies! We have all been quite busy with travelling, moving house, working, eating and just being generally lazy, I speak for myself when I say eating and being lazy.

I did go away, I had a wonderful midyear tropical getaway, I got out of the Perth cold and spent 10 days in humidity heaven (apart from the frizzy hair). Looking back, it now seems like a lifetime ago. I’m well and truly back into the swing of normal life and am more than hanging out for my next holiday, sigh.

The weather has warmed up considerably in Perth, is been delightful. I’ve been spending my lunch hour most days sitting on the foreshore basking in the sunlight. Hopefully this marks the end of leggings and coats because I was really getting a bit over it! I’m more of a summer girl than a winter one so I’m so happy to just be able to wear a t-shirt!

Unfortunately, I’ve put on a bit of weight this year so I’m feeling incredibly frumpy in almost everything. Now that the weather is warming up that means less layers and less clothing to hide myself. Until I lose weight, which will probably take a while because I’m utterly hopeless when it comes to dieting, I need something to make me feel a bit better about my situation. My solution for the time being, a pair of jeans that actually fit and don’t take a small team of people to peel them off each time I wear them. And, a pair of killer wedges to make my legs look longer and slimmer. I’ve been putting off buying a new pair of jeans because I’m forever telling myself that I’ll lose weight and then they won’t fit so I’ll have to buy another pair. I decided to go with a cheapish pair from Jeanswest for now, mind you, apart from being a bit too big in the waist, the overall cut of them are probably better than any pair I’ve had for a while. (BTW, that is not me in the picture, sigh).






I’ve had my eye on these wedges from Wittner for about a month now, they also come in a pale pinkish/purple colour and I originally wanted that colour. I decided to go with the black mainly for two reasons. The first is that apart from a pair of peep toe pumps and boots I don’t really have any other black heels, and I have two pairs of lighter coloured wedges/casual heels already and I also have a tan pair of wedges on my wishlist. I ended up having to buy these on the net because both shops I went to had sold out, pretty annoying because I had to pay an extra $15 for postage, but at least I didn’t miss out. I really think Australian sites should have free postage within Australia for any order over $100, don’t you think? These are now officially my new favourite pair of shoes, they are quite the find if you ask me. They are pretty high to wear casually, but because they are a wedge they are not too hard to walk in, thankfully. And, the higher the shoe the slimmer the legs. If only I could find a pair of 6 foot wedges? My legs would look like toothpicks.

I think I might buy a maxi dress too to try hide myself for a while. I’m really loving khaki at the moment and I saw a khaki maxi dress in Bardot I might go try on. Maxi dresses don’t seem to like my body shape so it may or may not be a winner.

On another note, Samantha Wills has released her new collection and it’s all I can really think about these days. I’ve already told my husband that’s all I want for Christmas, boxes of Samantha Wills jewellery, but I don’t know if I can wait that long. I have my eyes on a turquoise and silver ring, I think I may have a bit of a credit card accident soon? Ssshhhhhh…

Once again, apologies for there not being much action on here for a while. I’ll try hard to not be so lazy in the future.

Ishia
XoX

Sasa haul!

I made an order from Sasa a couple weeks ago and it arrived today, which is a good thing because I've had a wretched week but now I'm all giddily excited. Here's my stuff!



These three are all Love Bath brand. The top thing is a hair-drying towel cap - it's microfibre and apparently sucks the water out of your hair after you wash it. Fun! (The link goes to the one sized for medium length hair, but mine is for long hair and there's also a short one.) I'm super excited to use this - I'll try it out tomorrow morning. (My hair-washing is a fine schedule - Monday night, Wednesday night, Saturday morning. Is that weird and neurotic, or do other people have schedules too?)

The lower two packets are bath salts (3 sachets per pack). The left one is "Chapter of Dating" (three days til you can be beautiful for your date!) and the right one is "Chapter of Sweat" (which, uh, I can't really explain in depth, and it's gone from the Sasa website right now. Sweating makes you thinner. I'll get to that next photo.)



This photo is sort of awful. Sorry. Anyway, these are sweat-promoting bath salts from Bison, and a moisturising Q10 mask from Kokubo. The Bison ones are, in no real order, Rose Champagne, Royal Honey Milk, 7 Hot Spices, Ginger Lemon, and Hot Ginger.

So why a sweat bath? They're very popular in Japan as a method of weight loss - in fact, a lot of girls' magazines recommend taking a bath for at least half an hour every night as part of an overall weight loss program. This is for two reasons - firstly, because a hot bath increases your metabolism, but more importantly, because sweating expels toxins. If you have a lot of toxins in your system, then your body needs to retain water in order to dilute them. Get rid of the toxins, and you can get rid of a lot of your excess water. Of course, too much sweating can dehydrate you, so it's important to take a cool drink with you to sip while bathing.

So anyhow, I have a lot of bath salts to choose from! Sadly we still haven't moved house, so I don't have a bath to use them in yet. But within a month I will be able to test them out and report back.



This is the fangirl section. I've got the super-quick hair bun pin that Cheesie blogged about earlier this year; the Essential Nuance Airy treatment that Xiaxue is sponsored by, and DOLLY WINK HECK YES. (Except all the lashes were sold out, so I got the lash case, lash glue... and then a random pair of non-Dolly lashes.) I'm so excited about the Dolly Wink stuff. I tried to get some last time we were in Japan but EVERYTHING was sold out EVERYWHERE. I'd really like to get their liquid eyeliner too - next time!

So that's my untouched haul. I'll post again when I've tried the products to review them! Until then!

-Hayley xoxo

Fast fashion fix

So last weekend, I went shopping for a couple of hours. I was tired of spending all my money on house things and nothing on me. But I didn't want to spend too much, because a) house things still need to be bought, and that stuff is not cheap, and b) I'm losing a bit of weight right now, so I didn't want to buy anything too expensive that won't fit me a few months from now. So where to for a fast fashion fix? Two places, in my case - Forever New, and Ally.

I only picked up one thing at Forever New, a pale pink version of a hoodie Ruthie bought a few weeks ago. (And I got it on sale. Sorry Ruffus.)



I LOVE it. The fur lining is so snuggly on these cold mornings we've been having recently, and it's got enough cute details to make it feel like it's not just a regular slobby hoodie.

Then onto Ally, where I picked up four items for a grand total of $60. Yup. Here they are:



This ribbon-patterned cardigan. It looks bulgy around the middle in this photo but I assure you that it fits snug and cute.



This super-cute back-detailed dress. This is the back view, obviously. The front is scoop-necked. I was a bit worried about how to hide my bra while wearing this, but it turns out that the loop around the middle of the second bow is big enough to thread a bra strap through. It does require a bit of contortionism to get it all done up but it's well worth it. Wore this to work today but spent almost all day with a jacket over the top because my office is damn cold.

If anyone reads my tumblr (haha, I know that literally nobody does) then they'd know that I have a crush on this outfit:



So I've decided to build the components of it (I think they're all pretty versatile individually too) and found this kicky lace skirt for $10. Yay for cheap thrills!



And finally, this t-shirt:



I needed another t-shirt for work, and this one fit the bill fine. Apparently ribbons are my thing now.

So that's that. This shopping trip was definitely more 109 gyaru style than the previous outings I've shown on this blog, which was really fun to buy. Until next time!

- Hayley xoxo

Latest Shopping News

Guess what? You will never believe this… I bought my first piece of red clothing, as in ever. Well, first piece of clothing that I have wanted to wear. My primary school uniform was red and I think I had a red cardigan when I was 6 which my Mum knitted, but they are the only times I can remember owning red clothing. And now that I think about it, I’m probably not attracted to red because I wore it 5 days a week for 8 years.

I don’t really have anything against red clothing, I think it looks great when I see it on other people, I just don’t really like it on me. I even feel a bit self conscious when I wear red nail polish, and it’s not because it’s bright, I feel perfectly normal wearing fluro pink on my nails. It’s just one of those weird things I guess, maybe I have a red phobia? Come to think of it, I never used to wear black either, the first time I wore a lot of black in one outfit was probably 4 or 5 years ago. I even remember the first black top I bought, I still have it! Anyway, yeah, I’m weird.

I have had a small breakthrough, I bought something red! It’s mixed with white so it’s not entirely red, but at least we’re half way there. Well, red is more dominant on this piece of clothing, so I’d say we’re almost there!



It’s kind of like a kimono shape, isn’t it pretty? It’s very floaty and feminine, I’m really looking forward to wearing this. I hope the weather warms up fast so I can. I’m going to Singapore in a couple of days so it’ll get its first wear then. Yippeeee, warm weather! I’m not quite sure what to wear it with though, maybe a pair of denim shorts and sandals? Or even over a dress? The picture on the Sportsgirl website has the model wearing it with a pair of army green skinny cargo pants, which works, but I don’t think I can pull of a pair of skinny cargo pants. So if you have suggestions, let me know!

While I’m here I guess I’ll also show you a bag I also bought. I was on the prowl for this, not this one in particular, but a cream leather duffel bag. Kind of funny that I found it only weeks after thinking that I wanted one. And I wasn’t really on the prowl, I just saw this while looking for nothing in particular. It was about 50% off, so that was pretty awesome! It’s not a real Balenciaga (I wish), it’s from Witchery.



I actually started writing the above comments a couple of weeks ago, yes, I’ve been very lazy with blogging! I have a couple more things that I have bought in the mean time. I am trying to get as much shopping in as possible, because in a couple of weeks, when I get back from holidays, it’s serious saving time! We really need to do a few things around the house, and we need to start saving for our next holiday, so no more crazy splurging from me for a while. But we all know I’m not good with keeping shopping promises!

Okay, I’m not sure if you read my post a few weeks ago about the frenzy I was in over the new Mimco collection? Anyway, I have calmed down considerable since then, hallelujah! And I have only bought one item! Which is a bit boring considering I was ready to buy a Mimco franchise, but it is good for my bank balance. However, I have been secretly waiting until I get to Singapore, I’m really wishing it’s cheaper over there, but I don’t think it will be. I will be on holidays though, so that will justify any amount of Mimco purchases.

I got these gold hoop earrings, an item to cross of my wishlist! I love Mimco earrings, I think I have 4 pairs now. You can’t really see in the picture but the crystals are a pale pink, sort of champagne colour and they’re very sparkly. I really love them and I’m so happy that I now have a pair of hold earrings! My gold jewellery collection is slowly building.



My next purchase is also an item from my wishlist… The clog! You either love them or you despise them, I happen to love them and are happily embracing their revival. I decided to go with a peep toe style, so I can wear them all summer long baby! I’m thinking I should wear them to death this summer because next year they will probably be really uncool. They’re probably one of those fashion fads where you look back at in a few years and think ‘what the heck was I thinking?’. I’m going to have fun with them this season, and at least in a couple of years I’ll have something to laugh at, fashion is fun! I’m now recalling a pair of foam platform sneakers I had, I got them when the Spice Girls we’re big, I loved them. Oh golly, if only I had taken some pictures I could post them for your entertainment. And we all remember Jelly’s, I had a blue pair and a clear glitter pair, my sister had a pink glitter pair which I wanted, she was the tom boy so I don’t know how she ended up with the pink pair? So unfair.

Anyway, I’ll show you my new clogs!



I’m going to sign off now because I really need to get back to work. I’m going away tomorrow, I’m so darn excited! I should come back with some things to blog about (possibly even a Miu Miu bag, but not getting my hopes up!) so I’ll touch base in a couple of weeks!!

Buy Buy for now,
Ishia

Signature style

I've been thinking for a long time now about signature style, be it a whole look or a signature piece. There are certain combinations that call to mind a specific person - a bob and dark sunglasses? That's Anna Wintour. Ponytail, suit and leather gloves? Kaiser Karl Lagerfeld. There are hundreds of other examples, but the bottom line is that these people have found a look that defines them, and for better or worse, stuck with it.

This is something I just can't do right now, though I've played with the notion before. The reason I can't do it is that I vacillate wildly between styles based on mood and season. Sometimes I want to be Very Serious And Wealthy Eurochic (often in the colder months), and then other times, like now, I'm leaning more towards cute, vaguely gyaru looks, as typified by Xiaxue, Cheesie and Jenny. And these two things are crazily incompatible as far as I can tell - sure, there will be various Euro collections that are cute (the Louis Vuitton-Murakami collaboration springs to mind) but by almost by definition, cute fashion is not French chic. The crossover is, I suppose, motte-kei style as seen in CanCam magazine, but it's not something I always feel like.

So basically, I haven't settled on a signature style for life. And that's OK - it just means I need clothes to indulge both styles. So that's what I'm working towards once I get back to shopping - clothes from both styles, with some pieces that can overlap the two, like a cute ruffled trenchcoat or similar.

I do feel that I should point out, though, that the other two lovelies who run this blog have particular styles that, to me, are very easy to see. Sometimes I'll be shopping and find something that I know Tris would love, and occasionally if I'm shopping with Ant, even he will point something out as "just like something Ish would buy". So maybe I do have a style that other people can categorize, but I can't? Perhaps it's an external thing. I hope if I do, that it's not too unflattering.

Now, off to YesStyle for some window shopping.

Wishful thinking…

I felt like writing a little post to hopefully cheer me up. I thought that maybe if I talk through my dilemma with you I may feel a bit better at the end, kind of like therapy I guess. So, this is the problem eating at me….

Mimco are starting to release items from their new season collection, I think you now know where this is going? I’ve seen about 15 new pieces… And from those 15 pieces guess how many I NEED to have….?? Yes, you guessed it, 15! I’ll name a few just from the top of my head, about 3 bags, a scarf, a pair of sunglasses (yes, Mimco are now making sunglasses), a cuff, a couple of pairs of earrings, etc, etc, etc… Oh and shoes, etc, etc…. My head feels like it’s going to explode with all these thoughts and images of me decked out in all this new Mimco gear.

Their new collection is titled ‘An Unpredictable Revolution’. It’s not very unpredictable if you ask me, I already knew every piece was going to be great and totally awesome. Gosh Mimco, maybe you should make really dumb stuff, that would be unpredictable, and then my problem would be resolved. My heart wouldn’t be racing and my head wouldn’t be exploding at the thought of all these new pieces. On a more serious note, the title does actually fit with a lot their new pieces. Some of them are actually unpredictable, I’ve oooooooooo’d at the pictures in surprise. They still have the Mimco signature look and feel but they are different in a way. And did I mention, AMAZING?

Maybe Mimco should compensate me in a way, all this stress they’re causing me. It’s going to take me days, even possibly weeks to decided on which item to buy first, and it’s literally all I will think about in that time. I’m going to go have a look at what they have in store so far, then maybe I’ll write a list so I don’t forget it all. It would be tragedy to miss out on something. Maybe I’ll post my list and you can help me decide on what to get first? Better idea, maybe I could sell a dog or my car so I can afford to buy them all? Or better yet, maybe I should buy a Mimco shop, in the long run it will probably work out cheaper. Oh wait, I already have a Mimco shop in my wardrobe.

I’m now going to curl up under my desk and weep about all the Mimco things I don’t have.

Ishia

Recent addition

Hello out there! I said I was away because I've been buying house things, and indeed I have:



I just ordered this. That's it in the showroom, not my house, but seeing as how it won't arrive for a fortnight, that's the best photo I have so far. I'm pretty thrilled - it was half the price of anything similar I've seen anywhere, and I've been looking longer than we've even had the house. I'd like to upholster it in a smoky purple velvet, so if anyone knows a good upholsterer in Perth who doesn't charge the earth, let me know!

The house itself is coming along well. We're painting this weekend, and then I'm going to go to IKEA and get my new wardrobe. Finally! I've been waiting so long, I could weep that it's finally happening. In fact, whenever I get a bit despondent about how various house things are taking longer/costing more than I thought they would, I sketch the wardrobe again. YEP. I've never, ever had a wardrobe that wasn't a catastrophe in space usage, so I'm salivating over the prospect of finally, FINALLY having one. I present a short recap of the wardrobes of my life.

Ages 0-11: A melanine kiddie affair with pink highlights. One hanging rod. Two wide drawers. I don't have the mental acuity to put things away, so once mum stops doing it for me, everything ends up on the floor.
12-20: Built in! One rod, one shelf that I never grew tall enough to reach. Most clothes lived on the floor due to shelf inaccesibility.
1st house post-marriage: Enormous footprint - when combined with bed, bedroom is almost completely full. Smelt like cigarettes. Drawers and rod, but basically unusable due to unconquerable smell. Clothes again spend most of their time in what little floorspace there is.
2nd house: Built in. Three times the size of that in my teenage years but configuration almost identical. Guess the outcome.
3rd house: Stupidly huge - the entire length of enormous bedroom wall. I hide in here for an hour with a magazine the day we move and nobody notices/misses me. Comes with, again, a single rod and a high shelf. We 'invest' in some nasty plastic drawers from Red Dot or similar. Clothes are humiliated but at least not on floor.
4th house: Built in. Good size and configuration, with both rod and a number of easily accessible shelves - but space is much, much larger than the doors and so a large percentage is entirely inaccessible. Clothes are cramped and poorly organized.

Which brings me to the planned new wardrobe. I will not rest until I have a place for everything, and everything in its place. And that's where the Pax/Komplement systems at IKEA come into play. I'll have more to say about this in a few weeks, so watch this space. Until then!

-Hayley xoxo

Jewels...

Just a quick one to show off my new jewels…

These two pieces are AMAZING, both are by Samantha Wills. I tell you what, we must be long lost sisters because I love every single piece she has designed. It literally took me a couple of weeks to finally decide on these two pieces, because I want EVERYTHING! It’s taking every tiny gram of self control I have not to purchase more things… I’m praying I find some money on the way home tonight because I’ll be back on her website ordering more in a milli-second!

This cuff, I honestly cannot stop looking at it. The colours are stunning, the pink stones go perfectly with the aqua. I think it’s very summery, but I won’t be waiting until summer to wear this gem. It’s absolutely perfection! I think I could almost eat it…



This ring is very glamorous! It’s a lot bigger than I thought it would be, but the bigger the better I say! I love a big statement ring so this one is welcomed in my collection with opened arms.



I love you Samantha Wills.

Ishia

P.S - Samantha, if you’re reading this, can I work for you so I can have all you’re jewellery for free, because I can’t afford to buy every piece, and I need to have every piece, please....

Bargains Galore

Hello there!!

I finally have some exciting things to blog about! It’s been a bit quiet on here lately, but hopefully that’s all about to change because it’s sale season! I’ve managed to pick up a few great bargains, and hopefully Hayley and Trista will too!

Let’s start with a favourite, Mimco. Oh Mimco, I am so in love with all your beautiful and wonderful things. To my delight, they were having a sale so I had to drop in to have a bit of a looksy. I could have bought so much, like at least 10 things. But, I had to control myself and I ended up walking away with only 3 things. Yes, only 3 things, it hardly seems worth it doesn’t it?! I’ll give you a bit of a squiz…





I’ve already worn/used all the items and I love them all, which is not a surprise because Mimco does not disappoint. Sometimes when I know I’m going to look in a Mimco store I have to make sure I’m not wearing too many Mimco items, otherwise I feel a bit over the top and a tad obsessed. Once I went into a store and I think I had a bag, shoes and a pair of earrings, the shop assistant was like ‘nice bag, oh and shoes, oh and earrings’. I felt a bit silly! So back to my things, I can’t believe how long it’s taken me to buy a brown bag, it goes with everything, I mean everything! This bag will definitely be getting a lot of use. The sparkly ball earrings, which are quite large and heavy, I saw a while back and have wanted to get them ever since. I’m glad I waited it out, $130 down to $55! The necklace, which I was actually going to get in black and gold but changed my mind at the last minute, and so glad I did, was like $170 or something down to $50! Major bargains!

Let’s move onto something just as exciting as jewellery and bags….. SHOES!





The blue heels are just a pair of cheapies from Rubi Shoes, $20! I don’t expect them to last me a long time but I thought they would be nice to wear every now and then to brighten an outfit and add a pop of colour.

The black heels, absolutely love love! I saw them and fell in love instantly. I didn’t buy them straight away, I wanted to make sure I really did love them and wasn’t just lust. After a couple of days I couldn’t get them out of my head so I knew it was love. I wore them on the weekend and I couldn’t stop looking at them, if they weren’t so high I would be wearing them every day!

I’ve been looking at my wardrobe lately and it’s looking very dark, lots of black and grey. I felt I needed to lighten the mood of it a bit. I get a lot of inspiration from magazines, I often see things in them I like then try find similar items. I’ve been wanting something leather for a while now, and I didn’t want to buy just the typical black leather jacket. I have a fake leather one that does the job just fine! I saw a light beige coloured jacket in a magazine a while ago, I think it was on Beyonce! Anyway, it stuck in my mind and thought it would be great if I could find something similar.

I wasn’t really looking for one or anything in particular when I came across this, so it was a bit of a nice surprise! I feel I haven’t really had any big buys for a while. I tried it on and I really liked it, it surprised me that it fit so well because most things in Forever New seem to be made for non-human bodies and never fit properly. I was a bit hesitant to buy it because of the price, I know leather isn’t cheap but I wasn’t quite expecting to spend that much money that day. I think I was in the change room for about half an hour trying to decide. I wanted to sleep on it but it was the last one in my size. I decided to take the plunge and just go for it, and turns out I made the right choice, it scanned up at about 45% off! I thought that the girl may have made a mistake because it didn’t have a discount sticker and had no indication that it was discounted. I felt like the lady in those funny Ikea adds, the one where she thinks they make a mistake at the register and runs out the store screaming at her husband to drive!

So, this is the jacket…..



I love the frill along the front, it adds softness and the shoulders are gathered which makes it look very cutesy. I feel it’s a girly leather jacket, most leather jackets can be really biker chick, which is fine if you’re in the mood but I like to mix it up and go for a more girly style sometimes.

So, I think I should stop buying jackets, shoes and anything Mimco for the time being because I have so many of each! I’m still thinking about all those other wonderful things I saw in Mimco….sigh.

I have a couple more things to show you so check back soon.

Buy Buy for now, don’t forget to check out the June sales!

Ishia
xoxox

Hello out there!

Hi all! It's been far too long since I posted but unfortunately I have been buying nothing but painting tools while we work on our new house. UGH. In a few weeks I will have a brand new wardrobe from IKEA as consolation, at least.

Anyway, I feel awful for dropping in just to ask this, but... could all of our darling readers please do us the favour of clicking the ad banner up in the top right? You won't regret that you did! Reebonz.com is another of my favourite secret e-shopping destinations - my heart did a little skip when I received the Nuffnang email to say they would be with us for the next couple of weeks. Reebonz.com is a super designer discounter. They sell little collections for just a few days at a time and they're always adding new things, so be sure to check back often! (And if you do, check back through out banner, heeeee.)

Right now they are selling kate spade, a collection of various designer sunglasses, and their "Vacation Issue" collection, which has bags from D&G and MiuMiu!! The MiuMius are sooo cute. Be sure to snap one up while you still can.

I promise to go clothes shopping VERY soon! I have my heart set on an Alannah Hill skirt.

-Hayley xoxo

Winter Wardrobe on a Budget

This may be come as a surprise to you, but one thing I don’t like buying are work clothes. I work in an office environment and I really dislike corporate clothes and would much, much rather spend my money on something more fun and something I’m in to. And due to the fact that I hate corporate clothes I find it challenging to find appropriate clothes to wear to work. I would rather die than be caught wearing a suit, unless of course it’s Chanel, and while you may think a suit is smart and very acceptable there is just something that makes me want to vomit when I see one. The same goes for collared shirts, just too corporate looking for me and I find them too uncomfortable, plus they always need ironing, and these days, I don’t have enough time to wash my hair let alone iron an ugly shirt?

Winter is approaching and I recently came to realise that I have no wintery work clothes and the thought of spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on a new winter wardrobe made my heart sink so low into my stomach that it actually made me feel ill. So, I had this idea, why not set myself a challenge to find a few outfits on a budget, which are appropriate for the office but still kind of fun and stylish.

Because I didn’t want to spend a small fortune on my new wardrobe, I thought I would try to transform clothes that I already have into office appropriate and maybe mix a few old pieces of clothing with new pieces and jazz them up with accessories. The key here is to have an open mind and be creative, look at every item in your wardrobe and think about it. Obviously, there will be a lot you can’t wear to work but there just may be a few things that you can transform or a few things that when worn with a pair of tailored pants or a pencil skirt can actually look quite smart. I also decided that I would look in stores I don’t usually shop in or stores that aren’t known for carrying corporate wear. And to try everything on, even if I’m not sure about it, there is no harm in trying it just to see what it’s like and how it fits.

There were a few items I had in mind which I really needed, a pair or two of pants as I have none and these are a must for winter, a cardigan for when it gets chilly inside and a pair of shoes. The shoes I have at the moment have seen way, way better days! I tend to go through work shoes so quickly, I could buy a leather pair for $200 and they will last me 3 months or buy a pair from K-mart and they will last me the same amount of time. My shoes must go trekking through the bush at night I think! So, I was prepared to skimp a bit on the shoes but I was prepared to pay a bit more for pants as you must get the fit right for these, and sometimes you have to pay a bit more for this. The rest, I was open to, maybe a skirt or a dress, a top or two, whatever I managed to find really!

After buying a few bits and pieces over the last couple of weeks this is what I have managed to put together....

Outfit 1
Black pants – Target $35
Stripe top – From wardrobe
Chain belt – Portmans $20
Necklace - From wardrobe



These black pants were a surprising find. I saw about a zillion pairs in Target but weren’t going to try any on because I didn’t think they would fit well. I remembered thinking that I would try things on regardless of what I thought, and to my surprise they fit really, really well. Stripes are everywhere this season so if you wanted to go for something different you could swap the striped top for a print or a bold colour, maybe a jewel toned purple or green.

Outfit 2
Check dress – Target $35
Belt – Portmans $25
Silver necklace - Forever New $30
Tights – From wardrobe
Shoes - Rubi $30



The check dress was a surprising find too from Target. If you have a good look and try things on you can actually find a few good pieces. And they are always having sales so you can always grab a good bargain.

Outfit 3
Wool skirt – Portmans $80
Black crop blazer – From wardrobe
Beige Top – Portmans $30
Necklace – From wardrobe
Shoes - Rubi $30 (also shown in outfit 2)



I am in LOVE with this skirt. It fits like a glove and the fabric has such beautiful colours. The picture doesn't quite portray it but it has a pastel pink and greens through the fabric.

Outfit 4
Black pants – Target $35 (also shown in outfit 1)
Lace top – From wardrobe
Grey cardigan – Target $35
Silver belt - From wardrobe
Silver necklace - Forever New $30 (also shown in outfit 2)



This grey cardigan actually had these cheap looking studs around the edges which I easily took off with no evidence of them ever existing. Now it looks much more classic and will easily go with almost any outfit. The lace top and metallic belt keeps this outfit from looking drab and old.

Outfit 5
Grey top – Portmans $60
Black skirt – From wardrobe
Scarf - From wardrobe
Belt - Portmans $25 (also shown in outfit 2)
Cuff - From wardrobe



If you don’t have a black skirt like this one you could easily work a pencil skirt or something similar into the look. Also, if you wanted to up the corporate factor on this outfit, wear a white collared shirt under the grey top and tie the scarf around your neck. I wanted to add a splash of colour with the pink animal print scarf, and the animal print also adds a bit of playfulness. To keep those pins warm add a pair of black tights.

Additional thoughts:

• My office is usually quite warm inside so my outfits aren’t overly wintery. To rug up when I go outside I would simply add a classic trench and a scarf.

• I usually wear the same pair of shoes to work every day because I don’t like to ruin my ‘weekend’ shoes. If you like to mix it up, you could easily wear a cute pair of booties with outfits 3 and 5 or even a pair of knee high boots.

I'm still going to keep my eyes open for a couple of more items, probably another pair of pants and the cute shoes I got from Rubi come in a variety of colours so I might get another pair, and for $30 why on earth not?! I'd also like to inject a bit more colour so a couple of bright tops or a jacket would work well. I'm pretty happy with what I have achieved so far, I love all 5 looks and I haven't spent a fortune. So, I would say.... great success!

Ishia

Long time, no see?

Hello Everyone,

It feels like I haven't seen you for a long time! You could say that it's been all quiet on the western front... Nobody has posted for 17 days??? So, of course I had to change that. I went on a small shopping trip, I only bought one thing so sorry to disappoint? But it is one very nice item, it's similar to something I have been looking for, well, similar in colour if anything!

This is my new winter mini skirt.....


It's so cute, it has zips! And they actually work, you can zip them both up and have huge, really strange looking slits up the front of your skirt. So, they're not practical zips, just for looks! I've wanted a pair of grey wooly shorts for a while and for some reason no-one, I mean no-one wants to make them this season? So the next best thing... A grey wooly looking mini skirt and... WITH ZIPS! So you could say it's even better than a pair of shorts. I get so sick of wearing jeans in winter so I'm trying to mix it up this time with mini skirts, dresses, tights and big coats! I got the skirt from Witchery, and you know what? Witchery has made me like (only slightly, but we're getting there) chunky knitwear! I usually think it's absolutely horrid but they have some very nice pieces.

Speaking of big coats, I don't feel I have enough. I need a long, wooly, possibly grey coat. Does anyone want to buy me one?

I'm keeping it short but sweet, so buy buy for now (get it, yeah I'm lame)!

Ishia

Lorna Jane Love

So, I'm in the process of moving but I'm taking a quick break to show you some Lorna Jane products I picked up yesterday, and also to tell you that it's the best of the best. I have recently been employed by Lorna Jane, and let me tell you I think I shall just be wearing gym gear all the time now! I am so sorry my camera is packed and pretty much not to be found and I will not have computer access for a bit, so downloaded pics off the net will have to do. Who seriously has the time to make stuff pretty these days? I love the gym and I love this top I found... It's a sleeveless hoodie which fits so well. When I saw it I fell in love with the colour and had to have it! There was only a xs so I thought I would have to squeeze into it but the cut is so well designed that it's perfect! Very comfortable. I would recommend it as everyday wear and you could even work out in it if you wanted to. I shall be wearing it to work on Monday, come see me for all your work out wear and I'll set you up!



Secondly I purchased a pair of tights. For all you girls out there who use weights you know what I'm talking about when I say that a good pair of tights is a must. There is nothing worse than the all-too-familiar whale tail at the gym. I live by weights, I am so thankful I was introduced to them and know its the only way to see results. So back to the pants... These are awesome. The length, the compression, the fabric is breathable so you can sweat all you want and they look so good on your butt! Sold! Seriously I wore them today and did a huge leg sesh and the compression is so good! And.. no butt crack at all! It even has a cute little blue band at the top for a little bit of higher support.



I know I am paid to sell the products now but I truly believe in the quality of Lorna Jane. I am proud to sell her products, and live by the message she promotes to young women regarding active living. Come down and see me and I will show you the hottest products you can buy! The gym is so fun, especially when you are looking cute.

Just thought I would do a quick post, now back to the mundane task of packing. Hope you are all out shopping!

xox

More wardrobe investing

I read an article that said that "investing" in your wardrobe is a load of rubbish, because clothes don't appreciate in value. (Except Birkins.) But that's rubbish, because if it enriches you then it's already an investment in your happiness. So with that in mind, here are some things I've bought.

So after my "I don't know what to put on my bottom half if it's not jeans" post, I went on a mission to find some other stuff to wear. I decided on one pair of pants and one skirt for starters. Yesterday, I found my pants.



They're from David Lawrence, which is fast becoming my go-to place for pants. My last three pairs of jeans have been from there too. They fit really, really well. (However, they're usually about 3cm too long in the leg. If you're reading this, David Lawrence designers, could you do me a solid and make a Slightly Shorter size? I'm tired of hemming pants.) The wide leg on these is very figure-flattering. They make me feel quite feminine because they're sort of masculine - they're my Katherine Hepburn pants. The fabric is a swishy herringbone pattern:



They came with a belt. Usually I find free belts with pants to be sort of lame, but this one I like quite a bit. I wore these to work today and they were quite widely admired. Win! (By the way, the way I arranged them in the photo makes it look like I have one leg shorter than the other. There is no basis to this rumour.)

My skirt purchase was, frankly, happenstance. I went in to Claremont this afternoon to pick up some shampoo from Mecca, and thought I would duck in to Laura Ashley to ogle their chandeliers while I waited for Ant to meet me. And wouldn't you know it, but just inside the door they had a rack of velvet skirts. Anyone who has been talking to me in the last fortnight knows that velvet skirts have been on my mind, um, a lot. I've tried on quite a few and the cut has been all wrong every time. But this one is different! It's a faux wrap, finishes just above knee, and is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s.



Velvet doesn't photograph well at all, because it sucks up all the light, so you'll have to take my word for it on the cut. It's luverly. And when I went to pay for it, the sales assistant threw in a cute spotty scarf for free! It's been a really stressful week so that was a nice surprise, and a great start to the weekend.

*****

I was telling Anthony today that since we started the blog, I feel like I'm making smarter purchases. I don't know if it's a coincidence, or perhaps that I've putting more thought into what I really need, or that I'm just ashamed to share bad shopping decisions with you, but I feel like my wardrobe is really filling out well. I don't know what my next purchase will be, but I'm sure it will be something I'm really pleased with. Until then!

-Hayley xoxo