I Feel Like...

...Mademoiselle Coco just looking at this Knitted Crochet Tinsel Jacket from Topshop. You know that if Mademoiselle Coco was still alive she'd definitely approve of it and if Karl Lagerfield decided not to be a snob he'd also say that it looked very chic and 'Chanely'. This cute little jacket is machine washable and would set you back a mere £70 which is chump change for something that looks so chic and parisian. Do you think Audrey Hepburn would be happy to wear this?
Image from Topshop.com

Nobody Does It Like...

...Freida Pinto. This girl is chic without even trying; i must say her stylist is doing quite a good job at it. It look oh-so effortless and i'm totally digging her skirt and clutch.

Image via Justjared.com

Move Over Amazon...

...because i have found Australia's answer to Amazon.co.uk and it is none other than Fishpond! I'm a sucker for buying books and NLP audio books and i usually had to result to ordering them online from Amazon because most bookshops here didn't carry stuff like those. Although Amazon is a bit cheaper because i can get lots of second hand copies, the whole shipping issue and the drama of having all my international purchases leading to me having to pay custom charges - which hasn't ever happened but i'm really scared of - usually means that i have to schedule my purchases so it doesn't look like i never shop in Australia. But they have everything i want including Grand Designs, Pride & Prejudice, French Women Don't Sleep Alone. Plus you get free shipping on orders over $49!!! They even say on their site that they are better than Amazon!!! Well, i'll be the judge of that as i'll soon be ordering a few items from them....
Image via Bookoffers.com.au

Corporately Chic..

Here's a picture of Cameron Diaz on the set of her new movie, The Green Hornet. She looks impeccably chic and very much reminds me of my mum. My mum believes in dressing the part whenever she goes to work and every year she manages to win the award for best dressed teacher/lecturer. Even though she's 47, she still manages to outshine the younger ones because she always used to say to me: 'Whether you're fat, skinny or inbetween just dress like you're going to run into your worst enemy. Plus you never know when you'll meet someone who would recommend you for the best job of your life'. Her dream job is to be the Commissioner of Education for my state.
Image via Justjared.com

Mischa Oh Mischa

I must admit that i've never really been a fan of Mischa Barton or her outfits. So this is a rare occasion for me to actually like EVERYTHING she's got going from the scarves and rings to her boots.

Her boots are really cute and i'm tempted to actually find something that looks like it eventhough i can't walk in stilettos. I also love the acid wash denim she's got on. If this was Rihanna, i can bet you my entire wardrobe that she's have paired it with red lips and over ripped jeans just to prove to us that she's tough and stylish. Riri's style is beginning to gross me out so let's not even go there...

I love the fact that she's got 2 scarves on and they both complement her jacket. I REALLY love that blazer she's got on and it'll be perfect for the winter weather here in NSW as i like to believe that it doesn't get as cold as the UK. Maybe i can find myself something that looks like it. This is the first time ever that i'm actually interested in copying Mischa's entire outfit sans the bag.

Doesn't she just look chic?

Source: Photo

Your Autumn & Winter Wardrobe

Before i talk about the cold weather wardrobe essentials, might i just say that the MID SEASON SALE in Australia has begun. If you've always wanted to buy something or happen to have a wishlist like i do, this is the time to head into the shops. I'm telling you people...i went into Myer yesterday and i had to leave quickly because the sale prices are ridic.....30% off some items from Basque...all bags from Basque were $75 yesterday at Myer wollongong....i wanted to punch myself in the face. Seriously!!!! I swear the recession is leading to great sale prices so better head down to your local shopping centre and shop WISELY!!!! No unneccessary purchases people! You need to tighten the belt ok??? If your belt doesn't have a buckle or any fastening holes then now is the time to invest in one.

I'm currently preparing for my autumn and winter wardrobe update and i usually make a list of items that i need to replenish my wardrobe for the cold season. Sure, Australia's winter is like Autumn or Spring in some countries but the cold season happens to be my favourite season off all. It is also an excuse for me to play dress up because you can afford to wear thicker clothes and more layers compared to summer where you might be contemplating peeling your skin off due to excruciating heat! During the week, i talked about recession shopping and i've just found a couple of fab deals to make you look scrumptious during the autumn and winter without creating a major dent in your wardrobe. My advice would be to spend this Easter break evaluating the items you have in your wardrobe and creating a list of new possible additions to complement what you already have. Don't go spending money on flimsy unneccessary purchases in these hard times.

For those of us who live in Australia, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must because the sun is ALWAYS shining here irrespective of the weather outside...talk about a sunny winter!!! And to coincide with the new season, Ray Ban has released a new must have sunglasses shape...it's called 'THE CAT' and it is a re-invention of a vintage classic and you'll soon see everyone who knows anything sporting them. But these bad boys are gonna set you back a whopping $300!!! Yup, $300! I'm sure you could replenish your wardrobe for that amount. Luckily, i've found two options to put a smile on your face that woulldn't break the bank. I'll be writing my wish shopping list at the end of this post and i'll include the sunglasses.

I also blogged about getting long gloves for winter and i've found TWO options...one of them is leather which is remarkably expensive - $130 - but they come in classic colours so could be considered an investment. But i also found a knit alternative for my long gloves which come in at $60 and these babies are so chic you could wear them from day to night without the need for the fashion police to put you behind bars. The best thing i love about fashion is that you could be someone else just by changing your ensemble. But remember three things: 1) Your accessories can make or break your look so accessorise wisely...purple and black are the colours of the season. 2) Shop smartly. This means spending more on classic pieces and colours and saving on the fads...think jodhur pants...you should spend the least amount possible on these as they're gonna die out of fashion soon. 3) If it takes you more than 5 minutes to decide if a look is hot on you or not, don't waist your time buying it as your instincts are always right.

So having said all that, let's get to the fun part....MY POTENTIAL SHOPPING LIST....
* Sunglasses: This pair from Oroton has the shape of the new 'CAT' sunnies from Ray Ban but costs less than half the price at $135 while these from Sportsgirl are even cheaper at $30. If your sunglasses don't come in a hardcase, it is worth investing in one as it means your sunnies are better protected when in your handbag.

* Gloves: These are pretty much a basic in any winter wardrobe and i usually like to have various options just to spice up my look once in a while. You can get a long knitted glove from Country Road in black, navy two toned and charcoal two toned for $60. You can also purchase a washed leather glove from Country Road for $130 in chestnut or black. For $30, you can get black leather gloves from Barkins.

I have to say that since i'm cutting down on my expenditure, the majority of my winter wish list is actually coming from Barkins and i have to say it's a pretty good deal. Here's what i have my eyes on...

Tuxedo Jacket , $80 OR Suit Jacket, $70

Lace detail tunic, $30

Longer lenth cardi, $40

Wide stripe cardi, $40

Cashmilon sweater dress , $30

Winter trilby, $25

Plaited knit scarf, $20

Zip legging, $20

If you're not interested in clothes shopping but are in desperate need of a pick-me-up, there's nothing better than a RED LIPSTICK to boost your mood and confidence. Just walk up to the Chanel/MAC/Shisiedo counter and tell them you're looking to purchase a red lipstick and they can make you over with various options and you don't even have to buy any when you're done. But if you really want to purchase one, might i suggest MAC's Ruby Woo or Russian Red??? These babies are on FIRE!!!

Source: Photo

Girl Crush, Shoe Obsessions & Rantings

When i saw these pictures of Gwyneth Paltrow on Just Jared, my chin hit the floor! I swear i could seriously turn lesbian just to have her to myself...yes you read that right! I could definately cross to the other side of the road. She's my idea of the ideal girl/woman, the kind i really want to be. She geeky but still sexy, beautiful, a mother and not too obvious. She's hot but not in an obvious way like Beyonce or some of the other ladies. She's the kind that has the 'cinderella factor'. For me the cinderella factor is when someone you usually wouldn't fall for slowly catches your heart without you realising until you're really deep in it and drowning.

After seeing these pictures of her in this dress and see how banging her body looks without having to show much skin, i've decided i'm definately going on a diet and fitness overhaul from next week! Seriously, you can't even begin to imagine how gaga i am over her pictures. Anyway, by the time i had the courage to look down from her face, i saw her beautiful Louboutin booties. Her whole ensemble for me is french chic at its best! its effortless chic without even trying hard, it just looks like she threw it on and left the house. So i would definately be saving up for this or looking for a replica of it.

Talking about cheap shoes and replicas, i have to say that Payless Shoes are definately a false economy. I entered the shop in Wollongong for the first time and my eyes caught some beautiful flats in sequins and animal prints for less than $50 bucks! In May, i'm certainly going to buy at least 4 different flats from the shop and they're gonna be my winter staples.

Its been a pretty emotional week for me; the stress of uni has slowly started pilling up and i've also started feeling lonely and alienated and real estate agents certainly don't help these issues either. And with the economy in a recession, it has become increasingly difficult to create happiness and elevate my mood as that's usually done with the arrival or purchase of a new item! So i'm hoping that when my dVb sunglasses arrive, it would be just what the retail doctor prescribed for me....medicine to my soul. Right now i'm in need of lots of love so if you can share that with me, that would be extremely great. I've always wondered why no one has come up with a non-chemical-anti-deppressant-medicinal way of giving love and happiness? Especially in this 21st century of ours where almost anything can be created...you know genetically modified plants, aliens, why not genetically modified love, happiness and companionship? Why can't i walk into my local Coles or Woolies and purchase it? Why can't i get love from the counter for $50 bucks?

By the way, someone needs to tell Valentino to lay off the tan because he's beginning to look like corugated cardboard paper!

Source: Photos

New MAC Studio Sculpt And DVB Sunglasses

The weekend has been stressful for me and ended up leading to a stressful beginning to the new week. But when the going gets tough, the tough go shopping!!! Yes i know its a stupid mantra but its my blog so i can say it...hehe. It's just Tuesday but i'm already stressed out of my mind with assignments and house hunting. So you can only imagine my excitement when i headed over to JMC's blog only to find out that she's got the inner scoop on the DVB sunglasses i've been dying to get designed by none other than Victoria Beckham herself. yes they are on sale and i have ALREADY ordered one. I wasn't waiting for the sun to shine to decide on whether i should get them. I'm totally going to rock these babies even if it means i have to starve for the next month!!!

As for MAC, they've finally gotten round to release a waterproof concealer and foundation - the foundation is a creamy gel texture. You know what? It's about bloody time they did this! Their competitors have been making long wearing and water-resistant makeup and in this Australian heat that some people refer to as MILD, it is a very refreshing change! I soooo cannot wait to get the foundation and concealer and i'll certainly be reviewing them here so you guys have an idea of what it's like. But before i get ahead of myself, i certainly have to find an apartment to move into if not i'll become a HOMELESS girl in a foreign country! For those who are interested in purchasing them, the products are Studio Sculpt Concealer and Studio Sculpt SPF15 Foundation.

call me picky but when are makeup companies going to start releasing foundations and concealers with SPF 30? Those who live in a harsh climate like Australia's would certainly understand where i'm coming from. It would reduce the need to wear layers of creams and potions just to protect your skin. Please do not even bother mentioning MAC's SPF50 primer! I'll save you time and money and let you know that it is absolutely crap! It felt like i had paint on my skin and just made the whole thing worse instead of better! My MAC foundation didn't stick to my skin at all, you're better off buying Napoleon Perdis' primer or NARS. In my opinion, NARS is the better one out of both of them but i do admit it is expensive!

Source: MAC, Photo, Napoleon Perdis, Mecca Cosmetica

Movie Inspiration: Emily And Andrea in 'The devil Wears Prada'

I seriously cannot begin to explain to you how much i love Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt's characters in 'The Devil Wears Prada'. If i had supernatural powers, i'd make my skin as pale as Emily's so i can dye my hair fire-engine red because i have an absolute obsession with redheads. Don't ask me why but i absolutely love it and when i come across a redhead guy, he's got the ticket to my heart without having to work hard for it.

Anyway, style wise i love what their characters in the movie wear. Anne's character Andrea dresses in a very chic parisian/french way which i absolutely love as it isn't out there but it definately gets your attention. I love Emily's character mainly for how all her outfits were accessorised in the movie so i'm definately using both of them as inspirations for my new wardrobe. I haven't even started window shopping yet but i can tell you that my list is already growing long.

I'll leave you with a quote from Coco Chanel. She once said that "in order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different". Have a nice night everyone.

Source: Photo

My New Wardrobe

If you've been reading my blog then you'll know that i've decided to give my wardrobe a new start. It is always advisable that when building a new wardrobe, you should try and do it slowly as opposed to delegating just a few days to it. You need to start with the basic wardrobe essentials before moving to other items that wouldn't be worn as often. this is one of the reasons why i've put myself on a clothes shopping ban till May because that way i can decide on what things i want to get and also how i'm going to approach it. I'm a big believer in quality over quantity and in situations where i can afford a better quality, i tend to do just that.

But having said that...items like t-shirts, leggings and tank tops are things that i'm always ready to pay a cheap price for, except it's a vintage rock t-shirt but lets not even go down that road. I've decided to start a brand new wish list for all the items i'm interested in purchasing. Last night, i reluctantly ripped my wish list in pieces and started a new one. I'm taking inspirations from Thandie Newton and the Olsen twins. They always seem to have a way of personalising their outfits without looking like they've tried too hard or spent ages delibrating what accessory would best fit the ensemble. I've also continued reading 'Two Lipsticks And A Lover' and i was up till about 2am last night reading it. You'd have thought that as a university student i'd deligate my time more wisely. But from the few pages i read last night, i realised that it isn't really about what you're wearing or how much you spent on it but how you wear it....how you put it together and how you accessorise it. It could be just with a lipstick or even with killer heels.

A New Start

So, after my drama last week of looking for an ensemble to wear to my friend's do, i decided to give my wardrobe a look over to see exactly what i have. I do admit that i have quite a few clothes and the majority of them don't actually fit. Not only do i have lots of clothes in varying sizes, i don't have any ensemble that is appropriate for casual outings in the evening. My wardrobe is filled with t-shirts, leggings and two pairs of jeans; one of which isn't my size. Just imagine the irony: i happen to love fashion but my wardrobe doesn't do the job of satisfying my daily need of an outfit to wear. My wardrobe is meant to be the one place in the world that can transfer me to another planet of love, joy and excitement whenever i open it but what i get is 'I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!'


With the state of the economy in Australia and other countries around the world, i have to update my wardrobe on a student-friendly recession budget. This means spending on the items that i'll get the most wear out of and saving on those that wouldn't see daylight often. Items like tights, leggings and tank tops i always classify as false economy because no matter how cheap you purchase them for, they can always look good on you as far as you take care of them in the best way possible. For me, this usually means washing them by hand. I know most of you would cringe reading that i do handwash on most of my clothes but for me it means that they last much longer than they would if i chucked them in the washing machine.


But before i even decide to start going shopping, i need to choose the kind of look/style i'm trying to cultivate. I belive that what you wear on a daily basis is an outward expression of yourself. Think of it as a silent communication to the public about who you are and what you're about. So i've decided to put myself on a wardrobe shopping ban from now till the first week of May until i decide what kind of look i'm going for. I've always been interested in the parisian look and how chic they always seem to come across. I love how they pull off simple looks and make it come off very appealing.


I've always love Thandie Newton and the effortless manner in which she wears her clothes....whether its simple, sexy or funky. I think this is actually a good time for me as well to re-evaluate myself and my wardrobe because its my birthday in May as well. This would also give me a chance to finally finish reading 'Two Lipsticks And A Lover'. From now on, i would be blogging about the clothes i see that i love and also the items i'll be interested in purchasing. Where possible, i'll also blog about celebrity outfits and how you can get them for less.


Source: Photo and Photo

French Chic: Skincare

So this is the beginning of my french series for this week. I just started reading the book 'Two Lipsticks and a Lover' and i have to say it is quite interesting and engaging and i absolutely love how it is written. but the most important thing is that it is about french women and their way of life. You can purchase it either from the UK, US or even here in Australia. I would like to point out that the US version is actually called 'All You Need To Be Impossibly French'.

The very first thing i picked up is that you have to take care of your skin religiously. I first realised this after a french girl i met years ago, Charlotte, raved about her skincare regime and investing time daily to take care of her skin. Before meeting her, all i knew was washing your face with soap and slapping some body lotion on to stop your skin looking dry. But i have to say that after i met her, things changed for me in regards to my skincare. I'm still not as diligent as her - i still fall asleep sometimes in my makeup - but i can definately say that i have come a long way since my pre-Charlotte days.

So i was very excited when i read in the book that you have to relgiously take care of your skin. The main things that are noted in the book are these:

You need to have a daytime moisturiser with SPF and a separate night time
moisturiser. A makeup remover, face wash, toner and eye cream

I have to say i'm not really an eye cream person eventhough i've got my fair share of dark circles so that's definately something that i plan on investing on in the future. From now on, i'm also going to try and cleanse and moisturise my skin day and night. At the moment, i tend to just do it once a day when i have a shower in the morning but it'll be interesting to see how this would have an effect on my skin. It is usually advised that you should wait 28 days before expecting to see a noticable change in how your skin looks and feels so the countdown for this starts tomorrow.

Later this week or next week, i'll be blogging about the skincare products i use for those who might be interested. I'll also comment on the change (if any) in my skin after 28 days.