Dressing a Bump

During pregnancy I haven't wanted to waste money on bump-friendly maternity clothes that would only last a couple of weeks (I've preferred to waste money on impractical baby clothes and accessories that will be covered in poop and vomit in no time!). I have however bought a few key pieces that have really got me through.

Topshop Maternity Jeans: Topshop Maternity Jeans are fabulous. I grabbed two pairs - Jamie and Leigh styles - both over the bump and super comfortable. I found my normal size was fine as they have lots of stretch. They looked just like my old jeans that no one know I was even in maternity jeans and some of my friends thought they looked so good that they were even eyeing them up! It will be very hard to go back to normal jeans.

Midi Tube Skirts: Whilst I would never have dreamed to wear a tight tube skirt pre-pregnancy, I have found them perfect for pregnancy as they hit my leg at the thinnest part and hugged in the expanding belly and bum.

Cos Shirts: Cos has become my new best friend. I've found their pieces, even in my pre-pregnancy size, not only flattered a growing bump but I'll be able to wear them once (if) my waistline reappears.

Fancy Flats: Gone are the days of wearing high heels (I still sneak a few in sometimes) and in came the flats. I found a few statement flats really elevated my wardrobe. I have worn my Valentino rock studs to death (and while pricy my cost per wear is right down) but I also wore a lot of ASOS flats that were $28 or less.

Maternity Tees: I have lived in maternity teas that I've simply warn with jeans/trousers (and a fancy pair of flats) or knotted above my bump with a tube skirt. I didn't spend a fortune - ASOS had 3 packs for $30 and they've seen me through 9 months.

Pineapple Pants

The second I saw these Gorman pineapple print trousers I knew I had to get my hands on them. I did wonder if I'd wear them enough, however I've worn them with other prints, stripes, plain tees and I even wear them to the office - probably not appropriate but I wear ice cream print shirts so perhaps it's not unexpected of me. Anyway, I've certainly had my money's worth.  They're currently half price so get yourself a pair.

Gorman pants | Gorman tank (also half price) | Zara flats (old) | Mulberry Bag

Floral Shirt

Well I have had a  week like no other but have somehow kept my head above water. Thank God it's the weekend - I'm catching up with old friends, lunching with mum and shopping for a week away next week.  Wearing this out tonight for dinner. 

Zara Shirt | Zara Trousers | J.Crew Heels | Mulberry Bag

I Scream for Ice Cream

This fun ice cream print shirt has been on serious rotation all summer. Probably not entirely work appropriate but very me so I wear it into the office anyway.  I discovered it on Sheinside, a very new to me website that I wasn't sure to trust given the too good to be true prices (this shirt was $23 less 15% discount for signing up to the website). Yes my order took over a month to get to me from China, and the quality isn't fabulous, but for fun cheap fashion I'll shop from them again.

Sheinside Shirt | Vintage Skirt | Canape 770 Heels  | Mulberry Bag

A Little Leopard

Sportsgirl Tank (on sale) | Vintage Skirt | Balenciaga Bag | Zara Flats | Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Ridiculously hot in Melbourne, sleepless nights, swims down the beach and not much else going on this week.

I'm Back

Hello lovelies, or anyone that is still reading since I haven't done a post in over 2 months!! Apologies but I needed a little break from taking my outfit photos, from taking photos of my food before I eat it, from life in general really. I had a minor health scare (all good now) and my father is very ill which has and continues to knock me for six. So I just spent some time close to home doing not too much at all. I don't think I've really spoken of my father's illness as I try to keep it light on here but he has dementia and has no idea who I am anymore. At 63 he's far too young and the sadness of seeing him vanish into dementia has been heartbreaking for me and my family. The loss of love has been unbearable, I was his favourite person, and he mine, we were extremely close and I miss him everyday. I'm often scared I can't remember what he used to be like - his laugh, the sound of his voice, his smell, so I've adored spending time with mum, drinking wine, cooking food I don't photograph (although there has been the odd instagram snap...I can't help myself), crying, laughing and talking about how he used to be. Anyway, I'm back and I promise to post more regularly.

So anyways, above is a photo I used to enter the recent Red Magazine Denim Challenge with the hope to win two pairs of jeans for me and a friend at Selfridges Denim Studio. Was my first foray into boyfriend jeans - wasn't sure how they'd go with my short legs - but my friend pushed me into the purchase and at $39 on sale at Zara I wasn't too concerned if they didn't see light of day.

Zara Top | Zara Boyfriend Jeans | J Crew Everly Heels | Vintage clutch

Blue Vintage Dress

This dress is an old favourite and it was a steal on eBay at $15 - no wonder it's a favourite.  I get asked a lot how I always seem to find 'good' vintage dresses so here are my thoughts/tips:

1. Know what you like, and more importantly, what suits you. (I gravitate toward 'knee-length' styles that nip in at the waist and 'pleated skirts'). Key words will definitely help when shopping online; refine a search and save you time.

2. If looking online, take note of the model's measurements (and don't be afraid to ask if they're not listed) as vintage sizing can be very different to today's sizing.  I find working with a model's measurements is a much better guide.  

3. I've mentioned before (see here) and I cannot recommend it enough, get a good tailor. Then you won't be too discouraged if you find something in a beautiful print that may be a size too big or too long as a good tailor can make anything work for your shape.

4. Give yourself time to look.  I can trawl ebay and etsy for hours on end to find a hidden gem. If shopping in stores, don't think you'll find something immediately, or even every visit - allow both time to sift through the racks and to try things on.
   

Vintage Dress | Sportsgirl Belt | Madewell Heels | Balenciaga Bag

Very Berry Blue

The gorgeous Judith from Anna Vie recently launched her own collection of silk blouses. I immediately snapped one up and here I am wearing the Very Berry Original Shirt. The fit is perfectly feminine and the silk fabric so luxuriously soft that it's become both a work and weekend staple. Now I've got my eye on the sea green version.

Also sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've had a crazy couple of weeks at work and home. I'm off now for dinner but hope to be back to somewhat regular posting again next week for any of you that do check back for updates!

Anna Vie Shirt | Zara Trousers | J.Crew Heels | Mulberry Bag | Michael Kors Watch

Fruity Prints

It’s no secret  I love a bold print. So no surprises that I’ve got my eye on most of Gorman’s latest fruity prints. I’ll probably wear some double fruits (yep I will) but I also think I can incorporate these prints easily into my wardrobe as separates. Of course the trend isn’t new – fruit featured heavily in designer Stella McCartney’s 2011 Spring/Summer collection - it’s just got a little more affordable for the masses.

1 Gorman I Like Pina Colada Tank $189

2 Dolce & Gabbana Floral and Fruit Print Bikini $493  

3 Gorman Yellow Melon Mini Skirt $169

4 Chip Chop! Watermelon Clutch $89 

5 Madewell The French Knot Pointer Skimmer $98

6 Gorman Pink Melon Tank $189

Sunday Brunch

The boy and I went for brunch on Sunday (zucchini fritters with salmon and poached eggs for me, poached eggs with avocado for him), followed by a drive down the beach, and later that evening we went out for Thai. I love a cruisy Sunday together that revolves around food.

Also, my package finally arrived from the US and it was well worth the wait for this vintage dress (the Saint Laurent Skirt is also A-mazing and will be worn this week). I love a vintage dress and seem to have a knack of finding great ones that suit my shape and are in near perfect condition (much to my girlfriends' annoyance).  This one has an adorable cockatiel print and will be on serious rotation this summer.

p.s I mixed up the background with this wall down the side of my house.

Vintage Dress | Kimchi Blue Heels | Mulberry Bag | Toms Sunglasses

Leopard & Stripes

My two favourite patterns are leopard and stripes, so in my book when worn together it's double happiness. I reach for these Zara leopard print trousers more than any pair I own and they seem to go with anything and everything (my partner may not agree with me here, but I think that's just a boy thing).

Forever 21 Top | Zara Trousers | Madewell Heels | J.Crew Necklace | Mulberry Bag | Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Splurge vs Steal: Watermelon Clutch

In summer, I hate carrying a heavy bag so favour a clutch to hold my phone, wallet, keys, lippy and the like. I’ve got all the neutrals and blacks covered so this season I’m after something fun and these quirky watermelon clutches are just the thing. My budget doesn’t stretch to the Charlotte Olympia version, particularly for something fun and faddy, so this Chip Chop! one is perfect.

Charlotte Olympia vs Chip Chop! 

Leopard + Peplum

Leopard print has always been (and continues to be), one of my favourite prints. Like stripes and polka dots, it always makes me happy. I could never have a blah or boring day when I wear these pants.

ASOS Peplum Top | Zara Leopard Print Trousers | Madewell Heels | J.Crew Necklace | Unbranded Clutch

Confetti Dress

I wore this to a show last week while the weather was a little warmer. I don't tend to wear a lot of black as I feel it's very ageing when worn close to my face, but I loved the little 'confetti' print on this too much to pass it up.

On another note, loving that Sons of Anarchy and Boardwalk Empire are back on TV. I always find Boardwalk a little slower to get into but Sons left me more shocked (disturbed) than normal - the school shooting, the Marshal doing that weird naked dancing in the mirror after shooting up and Jax landing in bed with that old madame. I'm not sure where it can all go from here? It's also at a point where I spend more time looking into my hands asking 'can I look now?' than watching the screen!

Also, I've only just realised that GFC is still working on blogger (I'm such a novice). I shut mine down but it's back on the sidebar if you wish to follow via blogger.

Alpha 60 Dress | Madewell Heels | Balenciaga Bag 

Aqua Skirt

The start of this week saw some really warm weather which meant I could ditch the tights and bare my legs.  Sadly the sunshine only lasted a couple of days but it gave me a taste of things to come. This vintage aqua skirt was a steal on etsy and is a firm favourite which I can't believe hasn't appeared on the blog before now. I buy a fair bit on etsy as I'm partial to a vintage dress but one of my recent purchases from the US has gone missing in the post. Devastated as it contains a vintage YSL pencil skirt which I'm hoping fits as nice as this one. It's been just over a month since it was shipped, so here's hoping it finally arrives this week. Has anyone else had a parcel go missing that eventually turned up? Also, must mention that my hair looks extremely blonde in this photo - it must be the light as it doesn't look this peroxide in person.

Vintage Skirt | Zara Tank | Banana Republic Cardigan | Urban Outfitters Heels | Mulberry Bag 

Hello Spring

Ah, September! Such a lovely month as we start feeling the promise of summer and long sunny days. We've been spoilt in Melbourne the last few days with temps already hitting 26 degrees, so I've added the following to my ever-growing most wanted shopping list for Spring/Summer...

1 Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray - In summer I put away the curling iron (although this will be hard this year given my Movida obsession) and simply spray a little salt spray through freshly washed hair and let it air dry. I use a number of sprays to get texture but this one is my fave. A cheaper alternative is Fudge Salt Spray.

2 J.Crew Crystal Wildflowers Necklace - Wildflowers are perfect for springtime and it just wouldn't be a wishlist without a J.Crew crystal necklace.  

3 Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick - I don't wear a lot of make-up, particularly in summer, but a dusting of this shimmery highlighter on the tops of cheekbones and temples looks lovely on tanned skin.

4 Ray-Ban Sunglasses - Timeless and tortoise shell sunglasses - I won't be able to keep them off my face.

5 Zimmermann Stardust Sunray Playsuit - Perfect for throwing on over your bikini or dressed up at night with some heels and a clutch.

6 Essie Watermelon Nail Polish - A refreshing raspberry red perfect for fingernails and toes.

7 Zimmermann Celestial Frill Bikini -  Loving the cut and floral print of this skimpy little number.

8 Sambag Leather Sandals - Can't go past a pair of tan sandals - they go with almost everything in your wardrobe.

Clash

Another busy week, I got the flu, I cut my hair (this photo was taken the day before but I will have a photo shortly) and celebrated my 34th birthday. I'm still enjoying my birthday weekend - I make it the whole weekend these days and milk it's for all it's worth so this is a short post just to check in...I have to get back to everyone doting on me for the final few hours I can actually say 'it's my birthday weekend'.

Marks & Spencer knit | J.Crew trousers | J.Crew heels | H&M necklace (old) | Mulberry Bag

Breton Stripes

Most of my friends know I’m obsessed with Breton stripe tops – it’s seriously an addiction with my pile of tops growing weekly. They are a wardrobe staple, season after season – from the classic long sleeve to t-shirts and even different colour combinations. I usually buy J.Crew and Saint James but while looking for another new one recently I came across a few other online options.

1 Witchery Breton Stripe Top $49.95

2 Sportsgirl Poppy Long Sleeve Top $29.95

3 J.Crew Engineered Striped Cotton Top $70

4 J.Crew Drapey Sailor Tee $71.50

5 Saint James Meridien Striped Top $85

6 J.Crew Striped Cotton Top $70

7 A.P.C. Atelier Production et Création's Striped Top $192

8 Armor-Lux White & Red Striped Breton Top £45

9 Comme des Garçons Play Striped Top $162

Polka Dots

I’ve had such a lovely lazy weekend. I didn’t get out of my pyjamas until after lunch on Saturday and I spent most of Sunday curled up on the couch drinking tea and stuffing my face with biscuits while looking through my blog roll. Reading through all my favourite blogs I quickly realised that I’ve adopted aspects of those I really like and mashed them all together – I’m a little bit fashion, a little bit food, a little bit home and DIY, but I don’t really have a niche.

This got me thinking about why I started the blog in the first place as I definitely struggle with how self indulgent having it is – taking photos of myself posing in front of my garage seems so vain and explaining the concept to family and friends is always amusing. I’m well aware most are thinking ‘what’s the point?’. I started the blog to share my fashion finds, to help with the ‘where did you get that?’ and to make creative layouts in Photoshop (something I wish I could do full time) and I guess it’s become a hobby.

Given I don’t have children and can afford the time - although it is very hard to create content and take photos with a full time job – maybe self indulgent is okay. So, for now, I will continue posing in front of my garage door and who knows, maybe I’ll venture out into the street for a photo one of these days...

Zara Shirt (old) | Madewell Jeans | Madewell Heels | Coach Bag | Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Purple Haze

Marks & Spencers Jumper | J.Crew Trousers | J.Crew Heels | J.Crew Necklace | Mulberry Bag

I'm not one to shy away from colour and I'm sure people think I've been smoking something when I wear this outfit, but it's one of my favourites and is on serious rotation for work in winter. I've had the J.Crew trousers for over 2 years and they still look brand new, making them one of my better buys. Given how great these have been, I've bought a few of J.Crew's wool cafe capri trousers but I've had to return them as they're just not the same quality - the material is so thin you can see the pockets and they just seem a bit 'off'. I believe I may have lucked out on these ones or perhaps they have changed the material?

I also just realised that 1 August is the blog's first birthday so to celebrate I'm going to have a little giveaway. I just have to figure out what I'll actually be giving away...watch this space.