By The Beach #2

Ready for more holiday snapshots? Of course you are!

Scroll down to see more; I have so much to share with you...

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Dress: Kindah Khalidy x Gorman cotton jersey

Gaucho Pants: Kindah Khalidy x Gorman linen blend

Sneakers: Wittner leather

Bag: Homestore Ashgrove cane, vinyl

Bracelets: Gone Dotti lava bead, carved stone, tassels

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Nothing better than a morning trek over the Greenmount Hill walking trail wearing a vibrant "Holiday" printed t-shirt & wide-legged gaucho pants from the collaboration between artist Kindah Khalidy & Australian fashion stalwart Gorman, a partnership that I would describe as Ken Done & Jenny Kee for a new generation. The "fresh, colourful chaos" of the green printed pieces worked well in the lush, beachy setting & was the epitome of comfort-meeting-style, particularly when worn with a pair of white leather sneakers from Wittner & white cane crossbody bag with vinyl strap that I picked up from a little boutique called Homestore Ashgrove & expect to be rocking all summer long. The funky nature of the print rendered further embellishment unnecessary, save for a pair of black lava beaded bracelets with carved stone buddha pendants, silver angels wings & twine tassels from Gone Dotti, my all-time favourite stall from the weekend markets at Southbank Parklands.

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Swimming Togs: Millers Fashion lycra

Top: Ava Ruby via Fiera Boutique cotton, lace

Anklet: Sabah Lifestyle twine, shell, beads

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It wouldn't be a beach holiday without the obligatory swimwear shots, now would it? After many years of shying away from photographing myself in a swimsuit (never thin enough, tall enough, flat-chested enough for my liking) I decided to make a radical change & accept myself the way I am... which was a lot easier to do in this gorgeous mint green & peach floral one-piece from Millers Fashion, which has a little skirt to elongate my frame & thicker straps to support my bustline without the need for restrictive underwire. In order to protect my skin from the harsh Queensland sun, I wore a gorgeous floaty white cotton blouse trimmed with lace that I found at the beautiful Fiera Boutique in Bulimba as a stylish & girly cover-up. Finally, I donned a shell, bead & twine anklet from a boutique called Sabah Lifestyle in The Strand at Coolangatta for that touch of bohemian whimsy that avid readers will know that I am quite partial to.

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Filling up on delicious cuisine from Thai Ruby at Coolangatta. If you are ever in the area, it comes HIGHLY RECOMMENDED; we probably ate it four or five times in the two weeks we were away & it was utterly mouthwatering every. single. time.

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Dress: Pashin linen, embroidery, embellishment

Sneakers: Wittner leather

Bag: Homestore Ashgrove cane, vinyl

Bracelets: Emmala by Emma wood beads, silver charms, tassels

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Walks to Kirra in the late afternoon have got to be up there with some of life's greatest "simple" pleasures. There's just something magical about how the blue of the ocean meets the sparkling golden sand as the sun begins to set. I'm enjoying the view from the historical Kirra Pavilion - which also affords me prime views of the Iron Eagle, a sculpture that stands on the lookout searching for the return of Kirra Beach's famous wavebreaks - wearing a funky, Hmong-style navy linen mini dress with red woven embroidery & embellishment that I found in a little store called Pashin in Burleigh Heads, comfortable white leather sneakers from Wittner, white cane crossbody bag with vinyl strap from Homestore Ashgrove & a pair of wooden beaded bracelets with silver charms & twine tassels from Emmala by Emma, purchased from the Coolangatta Markets a few years ago now. 

Instantly #10

For those of you who don't follow me on Instagram, here are some of the fashion moments you've been missing... and if you change your mind & want to join in the fun, click on the Instagram button on the right hand side of the screen...

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Dress: River Island neoprene

Jacket: City Chic faux leather

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Clutch: Adorne patent

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Bangle & Charms: Pandora silver & onyx

Ring: Pandora silver & onyx

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Heading out in a bright orange neoprene dress that I bought in the River Island store on Oxford Street 3 years ago during a family trip to Europe. Many fashion pundits said that neoprene was just a "fad" & wouldn't last but as the new season collections would attest, it is still going strong! 

The dress itself is pretty edgy, so to capitalise on that, I chose a funky black leather bolero from City Chic & patent accessories including a pair of black patent platforms from Emerson @ Big W & Grand Prix "checked" clutch from Adorne. Finishing the look was a chunky, silver hinged bangle from Wallace Bishop & matching Pandora charm bangle & ring set.

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Dress: Dorothy Perkins neoprene & lace

Bolero: Martini fur

Wedges: Betts for Her suede

Clutch: Gift, vinyl

Bangle: Gift, silver & resin

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Wearing neoprene again, this time embellished with black lace & this time from the Dorothy Perkins store on Oxford Street in London. I call this my "Gothic Ballerina" look due to the side placement of the lace, low v-neckline & lace-up suede wedges from Betts for Her. Cooler temperatures meant that a further layer was required & the fur bolero from Martini was perfect; providing warmth without covering up the waistline of the dress. 

Edging up the look was this epic monochrome "magazine cover" decoupage clutch that was a thoughtful 31st birthday present from a dear family friend. Check it out in detail below, as well as the wide black & silver hinged bangle that was another birthday present from another good friend, another year...

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Dress: Vintage, silk

Slip: TS elastane

Kimono: Now @ Kmart poly-blend

Jacket: Lyla & Co faux fur

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Clutch: Gift, vinyl

Bangle with Charms: Pandora silver & onyx

Ring: Pandora silver & onyx

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Monochrome Monday madness strikes again with this "trippy" layered look, beginning with a vintage white & black spotted silk shift with buttoned-down pussy-bow neckline. The sheerness of the material meant that a slip was required & my trusty, straight cut version from TS really did the trick; keeping things streamlined while adding warmth. Further layers were then added in the form of a floral poly-blend kimono - with fringed hemline - from Now @ Kmart & furry white jacket from Lyla & Co @ Big W. 

Black patent platforms from Emerson @ Big W & the aforementioned "magazine cover" decoupage clutch completed the look, as well as a matching Pandora charm bangle & ring set. Scroll down to take a look at the obligatory Instagram flat lay...

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Dress: Pins & Needles silk & satin

Trench: Katies poly-blend

Vest: Lee Cooper @ Big W faux fur

Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene

Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier

Bag: Leona Edmiston vinyl

Bangle: Disney Couture gold & resin

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After all of the structured neoprene dresses, a floaty, bias cut option was a a nice change of pace. This stunning blush pink & mauve floral silk tiered dress from Pins & Needles, with its short sleeve & cowl neckline has a distinct Art Deco vibe, particularly when matched with a pair of suede & neoprene Corelli @ Williams booties, a rather prim, black vinyl handbag with gold hardware from Leona Edmiston & a thick pink resin Disney Couture bangle with gold "Alice in Wonderland" charms. 

If Winter in Queensland means one thing, that thing must certainly be "layers" & they were central to this look. The soft, beige trench coat from Katies & sleeveless faux fur vest from Lee Cooper @ Big W provided warmth, visual interest & choice, as I could change the outfit into different "versions" during the day - just the trench coat over the dress, just the faux fur vest over the dress or just the dress itself if the weather warmed up substantially.

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Kaftan: Vintage, crepe

Cape: Sportsgirl knit

Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene

Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier

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It was a Meditation Class kind-of-morning in a vintage, navy crepe maxi kaftan with stunning gold edging detail; the floaty shape & wide wingspan providing movement. 

As usual, black accessories "anchored" the look - this time a pair of black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli @ Williams & matte 40 denier Razzamatazz tights - while a navy & white striped knit cape from Sportsgirl (with fringing!) kept me "toasty" & added to the bohemian vibe of the occasion.

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Dress: Millers devore

Cardigan: Millers devore

Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene

Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier

Bag: Novo patent

Scarf: Gift, handmade wool

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A "cold snap" in the Sunshine State meant that it was time to pull out some of my heavier fabrics & layers - particularly this floral devore tunic & cardigan from my local Millers store. Once again, black accessories were the "go" in the form of a pair of black suede & neoprene Corelli heeled booties, 40 denier tights from Razzamatazz & a boxy, patent Novo handbag.  

Finishing the look was a thick knitted scarf in a vibrant shade of blue that I was a given as a present from a family friend many years ago & haven't had much chance to wear due to recent unseasonably warm Winters. The "pop" of colour really served to brighten up the entire ensemble, evidenced below:

Late night shopping meant a quick change into something EVEN WARMER was required, so the heeled booties were exchanged for a chunkier pair of Corelli @ Williams lace-ups & I swapped the scarf for an incredibly warm Nepalese woven wool poncho from Tree of Life with a fringed, handkerchief hemline, front pocket & hood!

The clashing of patterns may be daunting for some, but the fact that many of the hues in the tunic were repeated in the poncho meant that the look worked well. The beauty of the "mix" can be seen below:

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