Dusk

 

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Dress: Dream Sister Jane textured polyblend

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather

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In the midst of an Australian summer season, there's often no better time to be outside than when the heat of the day starts to dissipate & the cooler air comes in with the darkness at dusk. Sure, you may be eaten alive by mosquitos, but the beauty of the tropical atmosphere & the beginning twinkles of the stars above can be hard to beat. These are the moments that I want to remember in years to come; the impetus that led to these beautiful photographs, taken at dusk in my own backyard, showcasing this gorgeous light blue textured polyblend midi dress with puff sleeves & tiered hemline from whimsical British label Dream Sister Jane, worn with a pair of vibrant blue vegan leather art-deco-inspired heels from Kitten D'Amour for added height.

Checkmate

 

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Jumpsuit: Shein cotton/linen blend

Top: H&M jersey, cotton

Sandals: Birkenstock patent leather

Bag: French Connection vinyl with chrome hardware

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It's funny how life can come full circle sometimes. When I was in kindergarten, my outfit of choice was a pair of overalls with a matching top beneath & my absolute favourite was a black & white cotton number with indigenous artwork on it; very 1980s. This ensemble, styled up to run a few errands around town is very reminiscent of that particular look & fills me with the same type of happiness that I felt back then, which is something that we all need periodically in this uncertain, modern, mid/post pandemic world. The checked cotton/linen blend jumpsuit (that I'm wearing as a pair of overalls rather than on its own) is from online emporium Shein which is known for its less-than-perfect quality "knock offs" of designer styles in manmade fabrics but has another side in its simple silhouettes in natural fabrics which are surprisingly good quality and wash very well. I've popped a white jersey tee with oversized white cotton puffy sleeves from my local H&M store underneath for modesty purposes (they are absolutely killing it this summer season with a range of brilliant basics at unbelievable prices), a pair of shiny black patent leather Birkenstocks on my feet for that fusion of comfort & style & finally, packed my trusty boxy black vinyl handbag with chrome hardware & striped cotton crossbody strap from French Connection with all of the essentials (mask, gloves, hand sanitizer) to complete the look.

Organza

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford organza

Heels: Wittner leather, laces

Bag: Kitten D'Amour woven straw, black beads

Hinged Bangle: Precious Stones Jewellers silver

Cuff: Najo via Precious Stones Jewellers silver

Hat: Asos woven straw, grosgrain ribbon

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For anyone who reads this blog regularly, it's no secret that I love thick, sturdy fabrics that hold their shape & usually gravitate towards them for all of my dresses - jacquard, brocade, satin-backed crepe, guipure lace, heavy cotton or drill - but truth be told, I also adore the more diaphanous fabric options like tulle, silk/satin & organza. It seems to bring out my whimsical side... as you would notice in these gorgeous photographs, taken just before Christmas. I've styled up this utterly divine floral organza fit-to-flare dress with tie belt in the softest shade of pale blue from beloved Aussie designer Anthea Crawford & mixed it with edgier accessories for that "modern fairytale" aesthetic that I love so much including these black leather lace-up pointy-toed heels from Wittner, a natural woven handbag with black beaded handle from retro-inspired label Kitten D'Amour & a black woven straw sunhat with contrasting floral grosgrain ribbon tie from online fashion emporium Asos. When it came to accessories, I couldn't go past two of my all-time favourites - a chunky silver deco-style "wave" hinged bangle & circular silver tribal cuff (originally by Najo) from the delightful Precious Stones Jewellers to complete the look.

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Black & White

 

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Dress: Anthea Crawford embroidery, mesh, satin

Heels: Jo Mercer leather, laces

Bag: French Connection vinyl with chrome hardware

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver

Bangle: Dinosaur Designs resin

Ring: Dinosaur Designs resin

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There's always been something special about monochrome. Perhaps it's the very fact that each colour (or lack thereof, to be precise) is at the opposite end of the spectrum, so wearing them together seems iconoclastic somehow... Regardless of the reason, it's always had pride of place in my wardrobe despite my sartorial leanings towards bright & breezy patterns & prints, usually large-scale florals & one look at this gorgeous ensemble - worn to an event in the River City - & it's easy to see why. This stunning floral & bird embroidered mesh midi dress with black satin lining & fluted hemline from Aussie designer Anthea Crawford is like something from an art deco dream & looks the part when styled up with a pair of edgy black leather lace-up heels from Jo Mercer, a boxy black vinyl handbag with chrome hardware from French Connection to carry all the essentials (hand santizer, face mask), a chunky silver hinged bangle from Wallace Bishop & matching black resin wave bangle & rosette ring from the celebrated Dinosaur Designs to complete the look.

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