Weekend Wears: Easy Breezy

Nothing says "lead up to Australia Day" like a weekend full of stifling temperatures & rising humidity, culminating in... well, a sprinkle of rain. Yep, nothing more than a sprinkle! To beat the heat, I styled up a succession of easy breezy ensembles perfect for the extreme Summertime weather experienced in this "sunburnt country."

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LOOK #1

Dress: Vintage Bobbie Brooks

Sandals: Novo vinyl

Clutch: Smoked Til Sunday calico

Necklace: Tree of Life silver & semi-precious agate

Cuff: Gift, silver & semi-precious agate

Faux Tattoo: Sportsgirl

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"Purple Haze" was the name of the game on Saturday, beginning with this floaty, vintage Bobbie Brooks 1970s cotton smock that I picked up from The Gold Coast Antique Centre in Miami during my beach holiday in September. What I particularly love about this style is the gathered v-neckline with hand-knitted yoke detail, leaving some of the back & decolletage exposed to the elements.

To keep things light, I donned a pair of dove-grey vinyl sandals with woven wedge heels from the Novo sale & carried an oversized, printed calico envelope clutch from Smoked Til Sunday (purchased from one of the pop-up stores at DFO Jindalee) covered in a "saturated" photo-realistic tropical palm tree scene.

This casual, bohemian vibe continued with the chunky tribal jewellery - a silver necklace from Tree of Life with an oversized pendant covered in pieces of coloured agate & a chunky silver vintage Indian cuff (gifted by a dear friend who currently lives over there) covered with similar, albeit larger, pieces of agate. That's what can be so wonderful about fashion; when two items are found in entirely different sources yet seem MEANT to be together & can be united in one eclectic ensemble. 

Rather than just posting these images on Instagram, here are pictures of the "outfit planning flatlay" that I create as a stylist's trick when putting an ensemble together. Truth be told, it doesn't work in every instance, but it often helps to get the correct "tone" for a look & ensure a sense (however tenuous) of cohesion... 

#flatlay #lifeofablogger

"Peace comes from within. 

Do not seek it without."

Buddha

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LOOK #2

Dress: H&M stretch lace

Sandals: Novo leather lace-up gladiators

Bag: Colette by Colette Hayman vinyl

Scarf: Gift, chiffon (from Singapore)

Hinged Bangle: Lillee Fashions bronze & faceted bead

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"True (Primary) Colours" were the way to go for some leisurely window shopping on Sunday morning, starting with this drop-waisted stretch lace smock from H&M (my first-ever purchase at the newly-arrived megastore in Mt Gravatt) with its relaxed shape, circle-cut hemline & vibrant cobalt hue.

Black accessories seemed almost too stark with this look, so tan alternatives were found in the form of these leather lace-up gladiator sandals from Novo & boxy vinyl handbag with bronze hardware from Colette by Colette Hayman to fit in all the essentials. Tied around the handle was a striking red paisley patterned chiffon scarf that some dear friends had brought back from a recent trip to Singapore, adding another primary colour to the mix.

Jewellery was kept to a minimum - a chunky bronze hinged bangle with red faceted beads creating the shape of a rose that I picked up from Lillee Fashions at Yamanto in early December & a whimsical ring in the shape of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland that some friends gave me for Christmas.

As with the first look, I created a flatlay to plan the ensemble, pictured below:

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