hanging by a chain.......

 Shirt: Vintage Wrangler / Jeans: Dotti / Sunglasses and Chains: ASOS

Accessories have, for me, always been ornamental. Extras, toppings, things that don't offer much more then something sparkly or shiny or nice to look at. And most days I struggle to do much more then wear a watch and the earrings that are seemingly melded to my ears. And even then, once I start tapping away at this keyboard I'm at right now, the watch gets booted and I'm down to the earrings.

I know Coco said we should always take one thing off before leaving the house, she was clearly opposed to the over accessorising movement, (I'm looking at you arm party), but surely my non ornamental look is taking it a bit too far. If I have to take one thing off, I'd be likely heading out sans pants.   

But I think I've finally found an accessory that meets both the aforementioned criteria, shiny and nice to look at, and somehow gets around my apparent aversion.

Sunglasses chains. Or as I like to call them, Nana chains. Cause, you know, my Nan wears them. I'm hooked, another pair are on their way to me now. And I'm scoping out optometrists to score a clear plastic pair. Which reads so much weirder then it sounds in my head.

At first I tried to pass off my chains as a kind of retro throwback, but then it dawned on me why I've been able to jump that hurdle of aversion and embrace the chains. They're useful. Yes, they serve a purpose. More then any arm party or knuckle ring ever could.

Accessories with purpose, that is my kind of fashion.

xx

how i'd wear: the leather tee.......

Is there anything that encapsulates both a too cool for school nonchalance and a slightly scary sexiness like leather? Or more to the point, the leather tee? Perhaps the most modern of iterations, the leather tee takes what is a wardrobe staple and turns it into a wardrobe hero.

Hence today's rendering of How I'd Wear features this most wondrous example of the leather tee courtesy of a Mr Lim. This 3.1 Phillip Lim tee is quite close to being perfect, in my own humble opinion.

Take it's slightly slouchy fit, that's a nod to menswear in my book and anything that nods in the general direction of the boys department is a winner. It features slightly elongated sleeves which I appreciate because of the inherent versatility hence provided. It's a summer leather and a winter leather, see?

And it's got that quilted thing happening. Quilted leather. Surely any more words after those last two are simply unnecessary.

But the questions remains, how would I wear said tee. Well like this of course.

/ Dress: Dolce & Gabbana / Shoes: Nike / Sunglasses: Illesteva / 

/ Bag: Cambridge Satchel Company /

Does it get more nineties then floral and layers? With Nike's? No, I didn't think so either. The juxtaposition of the floral and leather is a well worn one, but when it works it works. The Nike's, while keeping us grounded in 1998, also bring a little sports-luxe to the ensemble, and combined with the mirrored sunnglasses ensure we look inspired by the nineties and not transported directly from the nineties.

 / Ring: Lanvin / Shorts: Kenzo / Shoes: ASOS / 

/ Clutch: Mcq by Alexander McQueen / Sunglasses: Quay /

It's the cool look. As if I could resist, just like I can't resist those Lanvin rings and necklaces that are starting to drop. I mean surely if you're wearing it, it must be true. Aside from being cool, you could also make a case for referring to it as Gold......ilocks maybe? Goldie, goldfinger, goldmember - too far right. And sure while the gold makes a case for itself here, the main focus is those Kenzo shorts with the outside pockets. Am I right?

/ Shoes: Sophia Webster / Denim Jacket: R13 / Tote: Reason /

/ Jeans: Joe's Jeans / Sunglasses: ASOS /

Leather and denim. It's match made in heaven. And then you have double denim and leather, and there simply aren't enough words in the English language to describe the brilliance of that. Instead, let's talk about those shoes. Sophia Webster has the great knack of being able to create shoes that are at once ridiculous and covetable, my favourite kind. These ones might be from last season, but I'm still coveting.

Thoughts??

xx

currently crushing: beanie style........

Remember that old wives tale about losing most of your body heat through your head? It’s total crap, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t rock a beanie when the wind chill drops ridiculously low. Like it did today in Melbourne. Because beanies rock, it’s that simple.

Wearing a beanie fits in with my theory about the warmth of certain items being all upstairs, remember scarves? We think we’re warmer, therefore we are. Right? It’s not a theory I’ve spend a great deal of time extrapolating but being that it is a theory I can probably continue to have absolutely no facts to back it up.

What I do have is some killer streetstyle to reinforce my assertion that beanies rock. In all sorts of colours and shapes, some even sporting pom poms, now that is rad.

Of course being a currently crushing post I simply couldn’t leave you with a simple mash up of streetstyle shots, I must also show you some fabulous beanies you could have in your hot little hands or on your cold head in no time. So here they are!

Let's kick if off with the Topshop Fairisle Beanie, orange Homies goodness from Reasons, boyfriend stripes from ASOS, killer cat ears from Sportsgirl, slouchy knits from Market HQ, Topshop colour block, brilliant blue from Evan-Evina, emerald green by Glassons and some studded grey from ASOS.

Feel free to go ahead and snap up any of the bargains above and there are some great ones there, but if you're looking for something a little more extravagant, you could try this embellished wool and cashmere blend from Lanvin, just slightly pricier but oh so pretty. Or even this tiara-esque beanie from Markus Lupfer.

Frankly it doesn't matter where you're getting your beanie action from as long as you're getting it. Now that's a tale that ain't crap.

Thoughts??

xx

how i'd wear: white chunky heel......

After featuring these white Wittner babes in last weeks Currently Crushing they kept popping into my mind in a few different ensembles so I figured that meant they were destined for a little How I'd Wear action. 

Frankly I've never been a huge fan of white shoes, if a bride wasn't wearing them I always found them cheap and nasty, wow that really sounds harsh! But somehow over the past few months they seem to have crept into my good books and I now find myself a huge fan. Ahh the fickle nature of fashion, it's why we keep coming back, just never know what she's going to throw at us next.

This particular white babe, who goes by the name Ralex, is ticking quite a few boxes making her so hot right now. Chunky heel, yep and at a comfortable 8.5cm too, check. Single sole, see the revolt against platforms, check. Those ever so perfectly placed straps in a creamy white finish, check. Oh and did I mention the velcro strap, no? Well if you weren't sold before surely you are now!

Anyway enough of this chat, I put my Stylist hat on and this is what I came up with.

/ Pant: Etro / Shirt: BLK DNM / Bag: ASOS / Sunglasses: Quay Eyewear / Necklace: ASOS /

I'm calling this look Grunge meets South of France Beach, that makes sense right? Yellow stretch crepe flared pants with gold jewellery and a denim shirt, because how can I do anything without a denim shirt?  

/ Skirt: Topshop / Dress: Forever New / Jacket: Mango / Clutch: Acne /

Skirts over dresses, it's layering at it's best. Even better when you pair a paisley-esque printed shift with a bright tube skirt. Topshop believes this skirt is red, I say orange, either way it works. The linen blazer keeps things cool, literally. Added that Acne clutch again, because I'm just a little obsessed with it.

 / Bustier: Balmain / Shorts: Topshop / Anorak: Forever New /

/ Sunglasses: Quay Eyewear / Cuff: Edie Borgo /

And now for my favourite. Stamp print high waisted shorts and a Balmain leather bustier, now that is a winning combination. It's an easy way for those stomach conscious ones among us to rock the crop top look, of course eye catching print on the bottom is not absolutely necessery but comes highly reccomended.

Thoughts??

xx

how i'd wear: the embellished dress........

Versatile. Perhaps not a word you'd often associate with your sartorial choices. And maybe not even a word you'd use to describe this Topshop dress.  

But isn't the best thing about any great acquisition it's ability to coexist happily in your wardrobe?

Living the life I do as a twenty something student with two jobs, yes I'm insane, there just isn't a great deal of occasions that traditionally call for a bedazzler of a dress like this. So I though I'd put my stylist hat on and show you How I'd Wear such an embellished number, with a more casual vibe.

Yes flats, green leopard print ones from Florsheim at that. Flats are the key to dressing down such a sultry shift. And of course the perennial favourite, a denim vest, this gem is from from Topshop. A simple black cross body bag from ASOS and some killer tortoise shell Bailey Nelson shades and you're set for what I imagine will be either of the following;
- An afternoon spent trawling outdoor vintage markets, flats are key here;
- Or a brunch hangout with your crew.
Both excellent ways to pass the time. 

Again with the flats, but this time they have a sporty connotation with these 410 black trainers from New Balance. Ditto for the Rag & Bone laser cut leather skater skirt and the Topshop slouchy denim shirt. Obviously you'd rip open those buttons and show the world your sparkly chest. Topped it off with a little leopard and leather in the form of a crazy good Minkpink clutch.
Skirt over dress is a look I'm very much in favour of. It's the old versatility thing again.
Side note how great are the New Balance trainers??
Last but certainly not least, a little simpler, a little more grown up, a little more dressy but still dressed down. Throw on a short sleeved Rick Owens winged jacket, black Senso booties, gold arm cuff by St Xavier and emerald green bag from Niclaire, it is the colour of the year after all.

Now that you've scrolled down to the final How I'd Wear picture, you'd have noticed that any form of heel is noticeably absent. This is not a mistake my friends, but a deliberate choice.
Taking such a dress and adding heels kind of, read does, negate the whole idea of making it more versatile and casual.
However, add a stunning pair of heels to any one of these looks and you've got an instant hit the town look. Such is the versatility of the embellished dress.

You have to be sick of that word by now!

Thoughts??

xx