Reception

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Dress: Anthea Crawford taffeta

Wrap: Gift

Platform Heels: Target glitter

Bag: Vera May

Necklace: Samantha Willis

Bangle: Autograph

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Finally posting pictures of what I wore to attend a formal reception with my overseas friend the day after he arrived in the country & before we had traversed land & sea to experience the some of the best that Brisbane & the surrounding area has to offer. 

A formal occasion such as this called for a flattering dress in a luxurious fabric & this Anthea Crawford number fit the bill. The platinum taffeta had an amazing sheen that changed colour under the lights & made that satisfying taffeta "swoosh" sound when I moved. I know that some people don't like taffeta for that very reason, but to me, it whispers sophistication. I mean, how often does a person get the chance to don their formal wear? I like it to be special... 

Even better, the dress had built-in jewellery in the form of a striking chrome & diamante brooch at the waistline half-bow - pictured in detail above - which provided me with a jumping off point (so to speak) for the rest of the ensemble's accessories. To "play up" the brooch, I added a chunky chrome ball necklace & large chrome bangle, worn half-way up the arm for something a little bit different. It was important to wear large or chunky accessories in a darker metal so that they really "showed up" against the dress, as lighter metals such as silver or gold would be lost in its shine. 

To anchor the look, black accessories were added in the form of high glitter platforms & an Art Deco style handbag which "tied" the look together, owing to its silver detailing & almost marble-like silver & chrome semi-circle effect on the front. What was also brilliant about taking a larger - yet no less formal! - handbag to an event such as this was the space I had to store things: in most formal bags or clutches, there's barely room for a tube of lipstick!

The perfect finishing touch to the ensemble was this stunning velvet & chiffon wrap, yet another lovely gift from my visiting friend. The grey & black pattern toned in perfectly with platinum shine of the dress & the chrome, black & silver accessories, while the texture added visual interest. See below for a close-up of the gorgeous pattern & some final shots of the outfit as a whole: