Sparkle, Baby!

Am mad for all things sequinned or glittered right now - day or night - which I suppose is just as well considering New Year's Eve seems to be the accepted time to go crazy with that sort of thing... Clearly, time is running out to get organised for the night in question, so I've pulled together 3 of my favourite "sparkly" looks in order to choose which one I'll wear to usher in 2015...

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LOOK #1

Dress: Charlie Brown chiffon & sequins

Heels: Target glitter

Clutch: Fairmart vinyl

Necklace: Adorne chrome, beading & diamante

Bangles: Autograph chrome

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This stunning Charlie Brown number is a firm favourite, with the "pop" of pink adding visual interest to a predominantly black ensemble. I love the tight, black sequinned skirt & floaty top for summer in the city, mixed with sky-high black glittered peeptoe platforms & a quirky Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's clutch.

Statement jewellery was then added - a chrome necklace with large clear crystal & black faceted beads in a flower formation & a pair of chunky chrome bangles. 

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LOOK #2

Dress: Asos sequins & mesh

Heels: Target glitter

Bag: Unknown satin (from Navie's Jewellers, Ipswich)

Headband: Chemist Warehouse mesh

Hinged Bangle: Miki silver & diamante

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This all-over-sequinned Asos option is something a little bit different - a stunning shade of cobalt blue with contrasting black mesh neckline & a relaxed cut with a drop-waist, almost paper-bag-like waist detail for contrast. Deciding on Art Deco styling, a black satin drawstring evening bag with silver satin 3D flowers was added in addition to the ultra-high black glitter platforms on my feet. 

The "full-on" dress meant that most pieces of jewellery would be rendered superfluous, so a single item was chosen - a hinged silver bangle in the shape of a rose with diamante detail. 

Completing the 1920s look was a black mesh headband, shown below:

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LOOK #3

Dress: City Chic chiffon & sequins

Heels: Target glitter

Bag: Adorne vinyl & chrome

Necklace: Adorne silver

Chunky Bangle: Autograph chrome

Thin Bangle: Tree of Life silver

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This City Chic alternative is certainly the "funkiest" of the bunch, with a black, gold & silver zig-zag sequinned skirt a prominent design feature. Black accessories were utilised to "anchor" the look - a pair of glitter platforms & a black textured vinyl suitcase-shaped handbag. 

Hard-edged jewellery was required to finish the ensemble - a sculptural arrow-shaped necklace & a pair of mismatched bangles in silver & chrome.

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Well, all that's left to say is:

HAPPY NEW YEAR 

to all of my amazing readers & supporters!

I'm not one for New Year's Resolutions, but I am determined to spend 2015 living by this quote:

Flying Trapeze

Trapeze style dresses, particularly those in a vibrant chiffon fabric, are amazing in the warmer months - floaty & cool in the sweltering heat & humidity - but more than that, they have an insouciant air about them that simultaneously allows the wearer to look eminently "put together" while truly capturing that carefree Australian summer spirit.

Here are 3 of my favourites...

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LOOK #1

Dress: Mr K chiffon

Sandals: Rivers patent

Bag: Novo patent

Necklace: TS silver & crystal

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

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CREATIVE CAMOUFLAGE

A sophisticated take on "camo" print, this chiffon number from Mr K is perfect for a myriad of summertime outings. Although originally marketed as an evening-wear option, I believe it works equally well during the day with smart-casual accessories - a pair of patent, colour-blocked sandals with oversized buckles & a large black patent handbag. 

Such a busy print requires simple accessories: in this case, a long, thick silver chain necklace with teardrop crystal pendant - versatile as it allows you to clip it together anywhere along the chain, meaning it works with a multitude of necklines - & a chunky silver hinged bangle.

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LOOK #2

Dress: Mr K chiffon (from Figure 8 Fashion)

Sandals: Betts for Her patent

Bag: Novo patent

Scarf with Charm: Cute2Boot silk/cotton

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

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SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

The marbled, "smoky" effect of this chiffon print is visually arresting & lends itself to a litany of black, grey & silver jewellery & accessories, beginning with the usual black patent gladiator-style sandals & matching handbag, pictured in detail below:

Jewellery choices were obvious in this instance: my favourite chunky silver cuff with inscription (All You Need Is Love) & a gorgeous summer silk/cotton scarf with teardrop-shaped silver & grey-speckled charm, replete with tiny diamantes for that touch of sparkle. The perfect summer weight, the scarf functions almost as a necklace-made-of-fabric & adds another dimension to the dress' high, draped neckline. 

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LOOK #3

Dress: Flirt by Mr K chiffon (from Figure 8 Fashion)

Sandals: Betts for Her patent

Bag: Novo patent

Necklace: Adorne beaded

Bangle: Adorne beaded

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LARGER-THAN-LIFE LEPIDOPTERA*

Seeing as butterflies are my favourite insects, it made sense that this printed chiffon option from Flirt by Mr K - featuring an extreme close-up of butterfly wings - would soon be winging its way into MY closet... 

In fact, it appears that in the picture below I myself am attempting to take flight...

But I digress.

Once again the black patent gladiator-style sandals & bag "anchor" the trapeze shape - this time in a slightly longer cut, as Flirt by Mr K dresses tend to be - while the fresh, predominantly green hue, interspersed with touches of purple, lemon & blue provides the perfect base to begin layering densely beaded jewellery pieces. In this case, I have chosen purple as the colour du jour & finished the look with a long, bulky beaded necklace & a matching 7 row beaded bracelet on my right wrist - the shape of the beads mirroring the dress print & giving off an overall organic, "botanical" feel...

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Larger Than Life Lepidoptera: 

Butterflies are part of the class of insects in the order Lepidoptera, a term coined by Linneaus in 1735 from the Ancient Greek words for "scale" & "wing." Characterised by the flattened "hairs" or "scales" covering the bodies & wings, responsible for the extensive & extraordinary variety of colours & patterns they are known for, the order comprises of an estimated 174 250 species, including butterflies & moths. 

Boxing Clever

Boxing Day 

noun 

1. A holiday traditionally celebrated on December 26, traced back to England in the 1830s when postmen, errand boys & servants of various kinds would expect to receive a gift known as a "Christmas Box" from their employers. The term, "Christmas Box" however, can be traced back even further - mentioned by famous Naval Administrator & Member of (British) Parliament Samuel Pepys in his diary entry for December 29, 1663 - & refers to a present or gratuity given at Christmastime, either gifts, money or leftover food. Seeing as servants were required to work for their wealthy employers (who were often entertaining guests or hosting lavish parties) on December 25, they were permitted to visit their families for their own meagre celebrations the following day. 

2. The first retail shopping day after Christmas & the biggest shopping day of the year in Australia when many retailers discount items up to 80%, parking lots become battlegrounds, a vast majority of self-confessed "bargain hunters" start to take leave of their senses - pushing & shoving as though they have forgotten how to act in social situations & were never taught any manners by their parents & teetotal shop assistants feel tempted to take a liiiiiitle drink at the end of the day...

I HATE crowds. Really hate them. So much so that I avoid them if I can - watching the ANZAC Day parade on television instead of travelling to the city only to jostle my way to a somewhat decent vantage point NEAR the front in order to have some hope of actually catching a glimpse of the parade, going to the EKKA on one of the last days when most people have already lost interest, catching the bus & train either before or after peak hour... the list goes on... So there was NO WAY that I was going to fight the crowds on Boxing Day for a few measly retail savings, right? 

Well, sort of. 

I spent the ACTUAL day - while everyone else seemed to be lining up outside of either Myer or David Jones or similar from the crack of dawn, waiting for their chance to fill their arms with copious amounts of napery or shoes or queuing to beg sales assistants to allow them to return unwanted Christmas gifts sans reciept - playing board games & watching Christmas movies with the family before enjoying afternoon tea with friends...

The sales shopping I left until the 28th. 

Less crowds, same bargains. Truth be told, it was still busy (due to the wet weather) & there were some individuals acting C.R.A.Z.Y but it wasn't as fervent as the the preceding two days seemed to be... According to the nightly news coverage, anyway...

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LOOK #1: AFTERNOON TEA

Dress: Anthea Crawford textured jacquard

Wedges: Novo suede & rattan

Bag with Scarf: Unknown (Christmas Gift from Louise)

Necklace: Portmans gold & faux pearl

Hinged Bangle: Adorne

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Vibrant lime textured jacquard was the idea "spirit lifter" for the day when you realise that there is ONE WHOLE YEAR until the next time you celebrate Christmas Day. Instead of mixing this sumptuous hue with the usual white or tan accessories, I decided to go a more unexpected route: black suede & rattan wedges with thin ankle straps & a yellow bag with black edging. To tie the colour palette together, a teal, yellow, brown & white clock printed silk scarf was wrapped around the bag's handle, tied with a large bow at one end. (Thanks for doing that, Louise!)

Jewellery was chosen to both match with the shoes & add a metal element to the ensembles "yellow" tones - a chunky gold & black corrugated-look hinged bangle & a gold choker with black faux pearl ends, the latter elongating my decolletage by sitting at the top of the low v-neckline. Scroll down for a closer look:

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LOOK #2: SUPER SHOPPER

Dress: Anthea Crawford textured pique

Wedges: Novo suede & rattan

Bag with Scarf: Unknown (Christmas Gift from Louise)

Necklace: Dissh silver

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Ring: Sistaco silver & stone (Christmas Gift from Susan)

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An emerald green, bateau neck dress was the order of day for braving the "Boxing Day Sales" crowds. A calming hue with a sophisticated high neckline & below-the-knee hemline meant that bending down to try on shoes or reaching over to find my size on sales rack was not a problem... And the zip-up back was a God-send when trying things on as it meant that I avoided the dreaded messing up of the hair & make-up!

Once again, my black suede & rattan wedges with ankle strap were buckled up & ready to go, along with my new yellow handbag with black piping. This time, the teal & yellow clock print of the silk scarf wrapped around the handle toned in with the dress' emerald hue, creating a cohesive look.

Silver jewellery was chosen to match the dress' "cool" tone - a chunky long necklace that sat perfectly flat against the square neckline to create a point of interest, a silver hinged bangle & a silver & teal stone ring that was a Christmas gift from my Aunt. 

And now to the most important part - the HAUL...

Pairs of shoes

One sparkly belt

A couple of dresses

Some bangles made of recycled paper

Bars of Fair Trade chocolate

Lingerie

How did you do?

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