Casual Friday feat. Margiela

1. Maison Martin Margiela Wool-blend felt coat, 2. Rag & Bone Dakota Tee, 3. Bailey Leather-like Bralet, 4. Vero Moda Slim Fit Jeans, 5. Proenza Shouler Diamond-Embossed PS11 Mini Classic, 5. Giuseppe Zanotti Cutout Sandals (Sale)

Am I the only one that has fallen head over heels for Maison Martin Margiela? The bags were my first love (naturally) however this grey boyfriend coat is looking like a good buy for this winter, the MM6 range is worth taking a minute or two to drool over as well...

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Happy Shopping!

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Houndstooth

Keeping it short and sweet this time as I temporarily ignore the joys of undergraduate life and the stress of the end of semester (yay for exams, said no one ever). As a distraction to the 12 weeks worth of cramming I need to do, lets talk printed shirts…

Photo Credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram) 

Ive mentioned this fixation of mine previously and finding this classic houndstooth print from Shieke was a sign (I believe) that I need to be on the lookout for more. My love for black/white/grey outfits is no secret, and definitely obvious from previous blog posts, however the monotony of monochrome is a problem...this is where prints come in. For a more daring look, try clashing the print of the top to the bottoms, this could be a shirt/pants combo or the ever-popular crop top/midi skirt silhouette, if you keep both pieces in the same colour family with clashing prints, I guarantee you'll be surprised at how beautifully it will work. The white leather jacket is an easy alternative to the typical black and the trusty coated jeans are out again once more.

Jacket: Asos (similar) 

Shirt: Shieke

Coated Jeans: Cotton On

Shoes: Asos

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Pastel...

Apologies for the lack of outfit posts lately, miserable weather and the never-ending mountain of uni work has made shooting impossible, however I am back with some more, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed writing them!

One of my biggest downfalls, as far as style is concerned, is my tendency to stick to 'safe' and 'easy' trends; monochrome and black on black are the main offenders-in-question, and I bet I'm not the only one guilty of this. What better way to dip your toes into the world of colour than to give this season's pastel shades a go? These pastel colours are proving to be huge this year, being featured on every item of clothing for AW14 including tailored pants, jumpers and winter coats.

If wearing blush-toned pinks and powder blues seems uncomfortably girly to you, try incorporating them into a more 'grown up' silhouette. I chose a satin camisole for this, but a long sleeved shirt will also work. Avoid cotton T-shirts or long sleeved basic tops in these shades; wearing these could bring back memories of those awkward pre-teen years *cringe*.

Finally, I paired the with some coated jeans from...you'll never guess... Cotton On! I usually like to invest a bit in denim and pants as I seem to prefer these to skirts and dresses for most of the year, my favourites so far are by Lee, Neon Blonde and Bettina Liano. Denim-snob that I am, I normally wouldn't head towards cheaper options, however, Cotton On has really outdone themselves this year and I would highly recommend checking out their coated denim/leather-look range, it is right on the money in terms of style, fit and durability. A long-line white blazer to offset the blue was all that was needed to finish this off, and of course my new bag!

Photo credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Blazer: (Forever new - sold out) (similar J. Crew) (similar (Oracle - affordable)

Camisole (Bardot)

Coated Jeans (Cotton On)

Bag (Alexander Wang)

Necklace (Tiffany & Co.)

Shoes (Steve Madden - sold out) (similar Siren) (similar River Island)

Happy Shopping!

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H&M Australia

Biker Jacket

The opening of H&M in Australia at Melbourne's GPO building on the 5th of April should not be news to anyone, word on the street has been out for what feels like ages and when sustainability, affordability and up-to-the-minute trends are in question, there definitely won't be anything stopping me!

Here are my picks from the online site for this season, you'll notice that they're pretty much wardrobe basics for autumn/winter (except maybe the corset):

Draped skirt

Leather skirt

Imitation leather trousers

Super Skinny Super Low Jeans

Denim shirt

Coat in a wool blend

Corset top

Knitted jumper

Court shoes with pointed toes

Happy Shopping! 

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Dressy leather

As promised, here is the dressier look featuring that favourite leather pencil skirt of mine, I hope you're not sick of hearing me rave about leather, if something works, make it work hard right?

Photo credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Leather Pencil skirt (Bardot- sold out) (similar Bardot) (similar Oasis)

Shirt (Cameo the Label - sold out) (similar Cameo the Label) (similar Equipment) (similar Equipment)

Shoes (Windsor Smith) (similar Therapy) 

Neck plate (Bardot - sold out) 

To say a long-sleeved white shirt is an essential, is a huge understatement. I bent this rule a little bit here and opted for a nude/blush toned chiffon shirt by Cameo the Label with an interesting double-layered cut; going for an ivory or cream shade would have also worked well to avoid looking too 'corporate'. You'll notice that the links to shirts are a bit on the pricey side, however, as shirts like these are the definition of a wardrobe staple, it's not worth wasting money on shirts that will just deteriorate after a few uses; Equipment and Cameo shirts have a stellar reputation for being not only exceptionally good quality, but also an exceptionally good fit. Teamed with my favourite Gillie heels from Windsor Smith and a neck plate from Bardot, this is definitely date-night-appropriate; swap the seductive heels for refined pumps and the neck plate for a simple chain and you might even be ready to meet the parents.

Happy shopping!
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Denim/Leather Mix

Now that the weather is starting to cool down, its time to start thinking about long pants and layering and the easiest options are, by far, denim and leather. The first combination that comes to mind is a pair of jeans in a classic blue wash and a leather jacket that will see you through the entire season. This is all very well, but if you're up for trying something a bit more interesting, why not turn this on its head? I was ecstatic when I found a pair of white leather or "jeather" Bettina Liano pants on sale earlier this year and they are definitely proving to be a highly used-and-abused wardrobe staple. The practicality factor was a big motivator for this particular purchase; white pants in other, more 'high maintenance', materials such as silk are beautiful but not viable for the uncoordinated and accident-prone such as yours truly. This tougher denim/leather mix has the advantage of being resistant to stains (no one will know when you've spilled a drink) and machine washable; I am in no way organised enough to visit the dry cleaners on a weekly basis so this is just as well. Pair it back with a casual denim shirt and dress it up with a pair of heels and statement jewellery to keep it from looking bland and you're set. 

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Photo credit: Jude Newton (Facebook, Instagram)

Denim Shirt - ASOS

Leather Pants - Bettina Liano (sold out) (Similar ASOS) (Similar Lover)

Shoes - Siren (sold out) (Similar Giuseppe Zanotti)

Necklace - Lovisa (sold out)

Chadstone AW14 Runway - 13/3/14

What better way to end a hectic 8 hour day at uni than with canapés and champagne at Chadstone's Autum-Winter 2014 Runway Show (I have been counting down the days for this!) I really admire the ease with which looks from higher end designers (Manning Cartell, Coach, Sass & Bide and the like) were matched with equally impressive looks from 'high street' designers (Dotti, Bardot and Kookai were standouts). Trends that are definitely here to stay include leather, stripes and monochrome which should be good news to those that have already stocked up on these last season and even better news to those that plan on treating themselves this season. The Gentlemen's Club and Sports Luxe styles also reigned strong and if you're looking to invest in some colour after two or three seasons of monochrome and black-on-black, navy and shades of plum are smart buys. Apologies for the amateur iPhone photography, I definitely should have dragged my photographer friend along to the show.

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Laser Cuts and Leather-on-Leather

I know what you’re thinking, since when do I hang out in graffitied alleyways that conveniently bring out the colour of my shoes? Well location-hunting in the Melbourne would not have been the same if I hadn’t checked out Hosier lane, if you haven’t been here before, it’s worth a trip, street art really doesn’t get as much credit as it deserves…

Photo credits to Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Leather Skirt (similar) (similar) (similar)
Laser Cut Top (similar) (similar) (similar)

Leather Bralet - Sportsgirl

Shoes - Tony Bianco (on sale!)

This look is a bit edgier than my usual, prim-and-proper style of dressing, however, I’ll admit, trying out new ways to wear things I already have, is actually entertaining. It's no secret that I live in this Bardot leather skirt, I can proudly say that I have worn it countless times during the Spring and Summer and plan on wearing it just as frequently until it falls to pieces. For those of you that haven’t tried to incorporate a leather skirt into your wardrobe (either in a pencil or skater style), I can guarantee that this will be, by far, one of the most versatile pieces you’ll own. The pencil skirt shape has always been a favourite of mine; its high-waisted style has an elongating effect, which is fortunate for those, like me, who are a bit vertically challenged. Also, keep it at a modest length; this will keep it edgy rather than trashy.

The laser cut tank was also bought from Bardot; it is definitely one of my go-to stores for mid-range clothing options. The quality is above-average for the average price tag, also, their silk camisoles are DIVINE, I have to restrain myself from buying one every time I’m there. This laser cut tank could be worn with a plain singlet underneath or a bandeau top but I chose to layer it with a leather bralet from Sportsgirl to keep it interesting; another option is to wear a sheer cotton or transparent chiffon shirt (like this one by Ladakh) over the bralet if the tank is too grungy for you. Pair the mostly-monochrome look with a pair of interesting shoes and you're done, I’ve chosen heels here for the sake of styling but coloured flats would work well for a more laid-back look. Lastly, don't underestimate the transeasonality of this look, this was shot on a perfect 25 degree day however, adding stockings, ankle boots and a denim jacket would make this very autumn-appropriate.

Stay tuned for a dressier take on this look coming soon...

Happy Shopping!

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Uniform

Top: Mink Pink (similar, similar)

Pants: Cotton on (these were a bargain!) (similar, similar)

Shoes: Dune London (similar, similar)

Apologies for the non-DSLR quality photo, this was an impromptu outfit post idea. As you can see, the only pop of colour happening here is from the bright yellow callipers on my friend's car...

 I find myself being asked often why I'm never seen in track pants or looking 'undone', the poor soul that was kind enough to give me a compliment is usually then faced with a 30 minute review on wardrobe staples and why monochrome works all day, everyday and with everything (I promise this won't be that long or tedious). It would not be a stretch to say that, monochrome and black on black are my most worn and loved trends and have effectively adapted themselves into a uniform of sorts.

This, somewhat intuitive, idea of sticking to the simplest shapes, styles and colours that suit ones self best, seemed boring and restrictive at first; it was not until I saw Harper and Harley, the brilliant blog by the eternally stylish Sara Donaldson, that this idea grew on me. I adapted this theory a little to develop a game plan for future shopping trips that involved not necessarily jumping on every trend that comes my way, but rather picking and choosing items that can multitask. Generally, save up and invest in pieces that are neutral in colour and style (i.e. will not date quickly) and look for affordable options if you like a passing trend. If you follow me on Instagram and Pinterest, you'll know that I have a little fixation on monochrome and anything black, leather or both so I will happily spend a little more on these sorts of clothes, shoes, bags and the like. Stay tuned for a proper outfit post soon!