Monday 28 November 2016

The Life Authentic









It has taken me quite some time to post the pictures from the "Authentic Personal Branding" event that I was lucky enough to attend at Cloudland in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley with my best friend one fateful Saturday morning. I suppose it's because I was struggling to find the words to describe the utter magic that happens when a room full of seemingly "successful" women truly let their guards down & admit that they still harbor serious fears & insecurities, regardless of their social status, power, intelligence, personal wealth etc. Quite honestly, we started out as perfect strangers & within three hours, it was as though we were friends & confidants. And yes, tears were involved. Seriously powerful stuff, all facilitated by the amazingly honest & intuitive Colette Werden. Yes, she's s stylist; yes, she's an image consultant; yes, she's a life coach but simple platitudes can't really do her justice. I would recommend that if you're lucky enough to have the chance to see her in person, for goodness sake take it... or for the next best thing, check out her website or Instagram feed for a daily dose of inspiration.



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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey & brocade
Jacket: Portmans leather
Heels: Wittner suede & elastic
Bag: Nine West vinyl with chrome hardware
Ring: Disney Couture silver & suede

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For such a special occasion, I decided to an outfit that I would consider to be quintessentially me (pretty with edge; elegant with a twist) starting with this amazing dress from Anthea Crawford with its black jersey v-neck bodice & paneled rose-printed jacquard skirt with tulle underlay; mixed with a cropped black leather jacket from Portmans (my best friend in the cooler months); black suede & elastic "ballerina inspired" heels from Wittner; red vinyl handbag with chrome hardware from Nine West (a birthday present from my parents) & to finish it off, a funky Mad Hatter ring from Disney Couture's "Alice in Wonderland" collection. Minimal pieces; maximum impact.

Keep scrolling to see a few more pictures from the celebrated venue...
I'm not ashamed to say that I was absolutely IN LOVE with its quirky & eclectic decor!









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Thursday 24 November 2016

Double Figures







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Dress: Anthea Crawford cotton & horsehair
Sandals: Novo leather
Bag: Gift, mesh & beads
Bangles: Tree of Life plastic & thread
Bracelet: Geeta Indian Enterprises (McWhirters) bead & bells

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Spent a wonderful Saturday attending the self-proclaimed "Lolly Extravaganza" tenth birthday party of a dear friend's daughter, candy-obsessed Olivia, complete with old-fashioned games (corners, pass-the-parcel, musk-lifesaver relay, smarties-with-a-straw to name a few...) as well as a jumping castle, lolly shop, pinata & birthday cake that any self-respecting "sweet tooth" would covet!


For a special occasion on a rather stifling hot Queensland morning, I decided on one of my all-time favourite dresses - this amazing floral cotton, cap-sleeved, fit-to-flare, waist-paneled beauty from Anthea Crawford with horsehair in the hemline for added kick! Strappy sandals were THE way to go, so I donned this black leather option from Novo with a chunky heel for stability, matching them to the black mesh of this funky handmade (market stall) bag with colourful beaded flowers that I was gifted for Christmas last year. 

Keeping the theme going, I piled colourful plastic & thread bracelets in a variety of shapes & widths from Tree of Life on one forearm & stretched a rainbow beaded bracelet with fringed bells that I picked up from a store called Geeta Indian Enterprises, situated in McWhirters in Fortitude Valley. Go there if you love colourful ethnic goods & are willing to have a rummage; they have so much stuff for reasonable prices!

Scroll down for a peek at our present...




Keep scrolling for a look at the festivities...



With the Birthday Girl!





What time is it? Time for candy, that's what!




Ah, teenagers!


Opening presents...




Pinata time!


Big-sister-turned-photographer...



That smile... & that cake!

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Tuesday 22 November 2016

Off & Racing

Finally posting all of my outfit photographs from the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival!
While it's true, I didn't fly down to Melbourne for the occasion, I styled up four gorgeous ensembles for events in my hometown of Brisbane that wouldn't have been out-of-place in the celebrated "Birdcage." Scroll down to see each look in detail; they just might provide you wish some inspiration for festive season outfitting... omitting the rather outre headpieces, of course!




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Dress: Certif Vintage via That Shop satin, tulle
Heels: Forever New vinyl with silver buckles
Bag: Forever New vinyl with silver hardware
Hinged Bangle: Heathergems silver & dyed heather (from Scotland)
Bracelets: Lovisa faux pearls
Headpiece: Lovisa satin, netting, feather

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For a luncheon celebrating the years of sartorial savoir faire & intrinsic elegance associated with the racing scene, it just had to be something ladylike & reminiscent of a by-gone era... Cue this stunning blue & white striped satin fit-to-flare "prom" dress with flower & flamingo print hemline & wide cummerbund-style belt from Certif Vintage (a lucky find from That Shop in Coolangatta), sky-high white vinyl heels with silver buckles & matching bag from Forever New (for that modern touch), an armful of faux pearl bracelets from Lovisa, silver & pink Heathergems hinged bangle (made from real, harvested heather that is then dried & dyed in a little town called Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands) & finally, an oversized white satin headpiece with mesh netting & large feather to complete the look while adhering to accepted convention.



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Dress: Wayne Cooper mesh, elastane, embroidery
Belt: That Shop patent, elastic
Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent
Clutch: Taking Shape mesh, resin
Cuff: Gian Paolo Maria via Lannah Dunn silver, semi-precious stones, crystal
Ring: Swarovski silver, crystal
Headpiece: Target wire, mesh, satin

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Decked out for Derby Day celebrations in a monochrome ensemble comprising of a white mesh & embroidered floral mullet-hem dress with black lining & exposed back zipper from Wayne Cooper (exclusive to Myer) with a patent cinch belt from That Shop for added shape, black patent platform heels from Emerson at Big W for height, chrome hard-mesh clutch with black resin clasp from Taking Shape for edge & an oversized black satin, mesh & wire fascinator from Target


Jewellery was minimal yet full of impact: a Gian Paolo Maria pewter cuff, handmade in Paris and studded with semi-precious stones & Swarovski crystals, given to me as a birthday present when I turned thirty & sourced from Lannah Dunn in Brisbane City & a matching Swarovski crystal ring.


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Dress: Anthea Crawford jacquard
Wrap: Gift, silk (from Laos)
Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent
Clutch: Wittner vinyl
Bangles: Gift, rose gold
Ring: Gift, rose gold
Headpiece: Tree of Life rose gold

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Rather than a traditional Melbourne Cup Day celebration, this year I attended a charity event called "Empty Cup" where all the money that would have been spent on gambling & purchasing alcoholic beverages goes to eradicating poverty both in Australia & developing countries around the world. For such a wonderful occasion - for a worthy cause - I donned a stunning jacquard v-neck dress with mullet hemline from Anthea Crawford. 

Scroll down to check it out in all its unencumbered glory:




When it came to accessories, I chose a pair of black patent platform heels from Emerson at Big W (for height, obviously) and a shiny silver envelope clutch with black leather strap from Wittner, both playing "second fiddle" (as they say) to this gorgeous woven silk wrap that my brother brought back from a recent trip to Laos.



 Rose gold accessories completed the look - a pair of dragon-headed bangles with matching ring (gifted by a dear friend) & a rose gold tribal headpiece from Tree of Life.



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Dress: Portmans Signature silk
Wrap: Gift, silk (from Laos)
Heels: Novo patent
Clutch: Anthea Crawford vinyl with gold hardware & pearl
Cuff: Gift, vintage rose gold & diamante
Watch: Guess rose gold & silver
Hat: Gift, vintage satin

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Crown Oaks Day is traditionally known as "Ladies Day" & is a time for delicate fabrics & prints as well as prim & proper details. It was the perfect time to wear this divine embroidered floral silk dress in blush tones from Portmans Signature with its deep v-neckline, exposed back zipper & mullet hem... replete with tulle! The subdued shade meant that I could introduce colour with this beautiful burgundy woven silk wrap that my brother brought home from a recent trip to Laos. Check out the workmanship in detail below:



When it came to accessories, I decided to "mix it up" a little - a pair of patent blush heeled sandals with an Art Deco t-bar feature from Novo, blush vinyl hard-case clutch with rose gold hardware & a faux pearl clasp from Anthea Crawford to carry all the essentials (well, pretty much only lipstick, a coin purse & a comb would fit in there, truth be told...), silver & rose gold watch with diamantes around the face from Guess & a vintage rose gold aluminum cuff with rainbow diamantes that a dear friend gifted me for Christmas one year.


And the final flourish? An absolutely stunning turban-style vintage 1950s hat in sumptuous thick red satin with "flower" shaped beading detail that I was given by a friend who lives overseas to wear to the Melbourne Cup last year. I was very happy to be able to give it another outing in 2016! That's the magic of vintage - it never goes out of style!


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