Groovin

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Dress: Phase Eight silk

Sandals: Wittner metallic leather with gold buckles

Bag: Gift, Review vinyl with gold hardware

Bangle: D'Bar gold with ceramic disk

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Finally sharing all of the bright & sunny pictures from a day spent exploring North Lakes with two of my all-time favourite road-trippers! I'm sitting pretty outside this amazing restaurant called Groove Train which has one of THE best breakfast menus that I have ever laid eyes on... & has some of the biggest portion sizes I've ever come across, as you'll probably see when you scroll down further & spy the corn fritters with rocket, fresh smoked salmon, mushrooms & poached eggs... in an absolutely gorgeous & girly navy & white polka dot silk fit-to-flare dress with oversized bow detail from Phase Eight, a hue & print combination that just feels so summery, beachy & fresh! Rather than the traditional white, I decided to pair it with some metallic shine & a pop of bright colour in the form of a pair of comfortable gold metallic gladiator sandals with a million buckles (okay, okay, slight exaggeration) from Wittner & yellow textured vinyl handbag with gold hardware & sweet little bow of its own from Review, generously gifted to me for Christmas. With so much else "going on," I kept the jewellery simple: a handmade gold cuff with dainty blue & white painted ceramic disk in the centre, found at the little boutique behind Cafe D'Bar at Point Danger on the Gold Coast. 

Scroll down to see how the rest of the day unfolded...

Nothing better than a dip on a hot day...

Lady in Red

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Dress: Anthea Crawford brushed cotton

Sandals: Wittner metallic leather with gold buckles

Bag: Review vinyl with gold hardware

Bangles: Oxfam recycled sari, beads

Sunglasses: Witchery faux tortoiseshell

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Red is one of those colours that just makes you feel so alive, you know? There's absolutely nowhere to hide in a bright red dress. Once upon a time, back when I wore all black everything (yup, really) I would have been horrified at the very thought of wearing such a vibrant hue but these days, I embrace colour as part of my everyday wardrobe & would challenge everyone to try & do the same as it truly does make you feel powerful & in control, even if sometimes you're really not. I particularly love red in the summertime, probably because in Australia we celebrate Christmas when it is absolutely stifling hot rather than snowing so there's that kind of festive association. 

Cue this utterly gorgeous red brushed cotton "cold shoulder" dress with waterfall hemline from Anthea Crawford - the ideal choice for a morning spent in the city shopping up a storm before retiring to our new favourite dining obsession, Phat Elephant, for a delicious lunch. When it came to styling the look, eclectic was my watchword: a pair of gold metallic leather gladiator sandals with a myriad of buckles (far less fussy than you would think) from Wittner, a flesh tone vinyl handbag with gold clasp detailing from Aussie brand Review for that retro-ladylike-charm & a trio of upcycled/recycled pattern-mixed sari fabric bangles with intricate beading from Oxfam for a bohemian touch that echoed the seemingly incongruous choice of shoe. The finishing touch, of course, was a large pair of modified cat's eye sunglasses made of faux tortoiseshell from my local Witchery store to protect my eyes from the harsh glare of the Queensland sun.

Scroll down for more stunning outfit pictures...

Keep scrolling for a peek at the delicious lunchtime fare, washed down (of course) with a Thai Milk Tea...

Earning My Stripes

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Dress: Diana Ferrari twill

Heels: Wittner leather & suede

Clutch: Wittner beads, suede with chrome hardware

Bangle: Autograph Fashion chrome

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Finally posting again as this Australia Day long weekend draws to a close with some desk-to-dinner inspiration for you in the form of this black & white striped twill fit-to-flare dress from Diana Ferrari. No longer available on the website but still in stores & dramatically reduced due to administration, this monochrome marvel is ideal for the office with a pair of black heels & a blazer nipped in the waist but it's after dark that it really shines...

I decided to mix it with brighter accessories that were perfect for a summer evening in the River City - a gorgeous pair of vibrant orange leather & suede t-bar heels that leave most of the foot exposed to elongate the legs & a matching beaded clutch comprising of black & white stripes with a floral motif on top, picking up on the pops of orange inherent in the tropical flowers. Both items are from Wittner, my go-to place for amazing footwear & were UNDER $75 each (on sale), which is a massive bargain, considering the quality of the craftsmanship. When it came to jewellery, I kept it simple but statement-making due to scale, wearing one woven chrome bangle that I picked up a few years ago from Autograph Fashion for $3. Yes, really. If you are at the shops & have time on your hands, it pays to go into ALL the stores that are advertising sales/reductions on their products as you just don't know that you might find for an absolute rock-bottom price... there are hidden gems everywhere.

If you liked this look, then stay tuned - as the weather cools down (fingers crossed that it happens soon!) ankle boots, faux fur, textured tights & shiny patent leather will all come into play, showing the true versatility of classic horizontal stripes.

Choo Choo!

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Dress: Anthea Crawford brushed cotton

Sneakers: Wittner leather

Bag: Gift, Colette by Colette Hayman vinyl with gold hardware & tassel

Bangles: Tree of Life gold, bronze, silver

Hat: Decjuba straw with grosgrain ribbon

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Avid readers of this blog probably already know that my grandfather was a train driver who loved his job so much that he apparently "never worked a day in his life" & throughout my childhood my cousins, brother & I were lucky enough to be able to share his passion by riding on some of the old steam trains with him, so it would inevitably follow that all things locomotive would hold a special place in my heart. Therefore, when I heard that the son & grandson of some dear family friends was celebrating his third birthday with a visit to the Grandchester Model Railway, I was REALLY excited... & slightly concerned about the Queensland summer heat, if I'm honest, although that proved to be a complete non-issue thanks to some strategically-placed rotundas & a beautiful breeze. Truth be told, I had never heard that this particular place existed but after visiting once, I'm very much looking forward to returning. 

But I digress.

Here I am, posing in the beautiful bush surroundings under bright blue skies wearing a stunning red, black & blue floral printed brushed cotton dress from Anthea Crawford; it's little cap sleeves perfect for shading my upper arms & shoulders while the fit-to-flare shape was ideal for safeguarding my modesty when riding on the mini trains themselves. The mini railway rules state that closed-in footwear must be worn when riding the mini trains so my favourite white leather lace-up sneakers from Wittner were the order of the day, mixed with a white vinyl crossbody bag with gold hardware & oversized tassel from Colette by Colette Hayman, a thoughtful Christmas present from my cousin. To complete the look, I wore a trio of bronze, gold & silver studded bangles (both thick & thin) from Tree of Life for that bohemian touch & perched a white straw panama-style hat from Decjuba on my head. With sun protection & foot protection sorted, I was good to go...

Scroll down to see how the day celebrations unfolded...

The birthday boy & one of his big sisters ride the rails...

Taking a moment to explore by himself...

Mum & I take a turn...

Across the little bridge & back...

Taking a turn with Dad this time...

Godmother & Goddaughter

A cake fit for a very special three year old... & keeping to the theme of the day!

Tucking into the first cake...

Big sisters getting in one the act...

C-U-P-C-A-K-E-S

Having a final ride...

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY SILAS JACKSON!

May all your dreams come true...