Viva FASHIONOPOLIS!

On Saturday I had the pleasure of attending Nuffnang Fashionopolis, Australia's first ever fashion blogger networking event. If it wasn't for Miranda of Miranda's Inside Scoop, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to attend the all day affair and mingle with movers and shakers of the fashion blog sphere and fresh blogger talent looking to develop their skill sets.

Fashionopolis, sponsored by Sunglass Hut Inner Circle and Reward Style, was much more than I'd expected after having attended fashion related seminars and star-studded events in past years. Never before did I feel such positivity in a room and like I was in the company of new friends. Felt like I amongst like-minded people who see the beauty all sorts of little things be it stitching or a finish and who take fashion risks day in day out often sacrificing 'normal jobs' for their passion. I'm so thankful to my fashion blogger friend Miranda for making sure I snapped up a ticket before the online deadline. I'm so thankful to the organisers and my fellow bloggers. I'm motivated beyond measure.

Thought I'd share some random images with you and what I wore to the event.

Miranda of Miranda's Inside Scoop and  Nuffnang's Dave Krupp

Reward Style President Amber Venz 

Estelle La Mode's sister duo

Little J Girl whose Givenchy Nightgale I've coveted for the longest time

Miu Miu sunglasses on my wishlist

A force to be reckoned with

Top - Country Road

Pants - Gorman

Shoes - Chanel

Jewellery - Forever New earrings + 

H&M bangles +Georg Jensen watch

+ EA Drew ring

xxx

Special thanks to:
TeamAFRICA's Miranda's Inside Scoop @SaKhino + Estelle La Mode @Estelle_La_Mode
Phoebe Montage @LadyMelbourne
NuffNang @nuffnangAU
Sunglass Hut @sunglasshut and their amazing team
Reward Style @rewardStyle
Fashion Torque @fashiontorque
Steve Madden @stevemaddenAus
1000 Pound Bend @1000POUNDBEND  
Domain Flowers @DomainFlowers
Patty Huntington @pattyhuntington
Sarah Gale @sarahgaleAUS
Amber Venz @VENZedits
David Krupp @davekrupp
The Wonderful Jenny Banister @jennybFT
Philip Boon @PhilipBoon
Kyra Pybus@PybusPR
All the bloggers who braved the weather and attended Fashionopolis

Hearting D'Banj in Phillip Lim

Long day.

Long night. 

I'm so glad I'm home in one piece. So glad I remembered to check the letterbox for bills, digest the amounts owing and still write. Just had dinner with my girls and its another night I'm reminded that some things never change no matter how fun. The highlight of my night has to be hearing a snippet of D'Banj's Oliver Twist playing and seeing the naturally rhythmless hold their drinks up in the air and the one or two get down in style. I feel like African music is now transcending cultures and generations. I'm so proud. 

Thought I'd share what this I-Love-D'Banj-While-He's-Hot groupie wore today and shook her sugar in for a few hours tonight. 

 

Jumper - Country Road

Skort (skirt + short) - 3.1 Phillip Lim

Bag - Louis Vuitton

Shoes - Charles and Keith

Scarf - from a street vendor in Kuala Lumpur

Hosiery - Target

Jewellery - Georg Jensen watch + Diva + BVLGARI rings + earrings 

xxx

Patent Power

It's been a wet and miserable Anzac Day, a public holiday here in Australia, so it's been another excuse for good friends get to together, overeat and openly discuss their issues. Another day where we throng a family friendly establishment in different shifts and spend a good few hours talking over each other. Early lunch turned into late lunch for the strays so I decided to head out and go to the cinema for some me-time. I share my apartment, my sacred spaces and this city with so many people - I find myself yearning to be alone. 

This is what this social butterfly whose wings certainly need to be clipped wore today.

I have a weakness for all things patent and absolutely loved the booties' smooth and patent leather combination.

Trench - Ralph Lauren

Jumper - Country Road

Jeans - Levis

Clutch - Isabella Rossellini for BVLGARI

Booties - Giuseppe Zanotti

Jewellery - Thousand Things I Love earrings +

 BVLGARI ring

All I needed was a little sun.

xxx

I Heart Taxi Earrings

Having what I'd like to think are serious computer issues and waiting for a tech savvy friend to call back about where Saturday's post entitled Viva Celine! could've disappeared to. Its gone and I'm on the verge of having one of my classic meltdowns. A meltdown that involves a dinner fit for a king or a childless Miss Independent with credit, a pricey pair of shoes, a case of wine and tissue. I'd rather be down in the dumps with bloodshot eyes munching on a Wagyu beef knowing that a pair of Bawse Lady pumps and wine are on their way. 


While deleting photos on my camera earlier, I came across images of random things pinned to my vision board and things that have caught my eye over the last few days. Little things and places of significance that have me squealing with glee, seeking out new underground spots, researching homewares and listening to all kinds of sounds. Thought I'd share the only decent photos of what I wore to yesterday's not-so-boozy brunch and things that inspire and influence my fashion style. 

I bought these earrings from a stall at HIFA, Harare Festival of the Arts, nearly two years ago. I love fine jewellery but feel like no Harry Winston, De Beers, Cartier or even BVLGARI piece has anything on my taxi earrings. I don't wear them often for fear of losing them but when I do they make my heart sing.

Knit - Country Road

Cargo pants - J Brand

Shoes - Jil Sander

Bag - Bottega Veneta

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - EA Drew ring + HIFA stall earrings + 

bangles from a street vendor

Random inspirations...

 

I wonder what sort of things inspire you and your style. Do tell.

xxx

That I-Rep-263-For-Life DVF Dress

I stayed up all night participating in a fashion-related discussion on Twitter with some of my fellow Zimbabweans. I had chatted to Shona Vixen for close to three hours on the phone earlier in the night so I was already on a high. It had been so long since I'd had a good chat about life in general, fashion blogging and on a number of dicey individuals who call themselves fashion designers. I guess it had been ages since I voiced my opinions fearing no judgement. ['Ooooosa' moment] By the time Shona and I said our goodbyes I was haaaaaa-eye on laughter, sheer happiness and copious amounts of the finest Earl Grey my money these days can buy. I felt so good after our girly chat. Felt good in my core and just had to put on some old school jams from the 90s that made my knees weak and danced. There was absolutely no way I was going to go to bed and miss out on the first Twitter discussion about the development of Zimbabwe's fashion industry. No way.

The discussion was really uplifting. It was the first time a number of Twimbos had ever 'talked' so the discussion flowed and felt like although everyone was coming from different industries but we had the same passion - for there to be great change. I excused myself as things were winding down just after 6am Melbourne time. After all, I had brunch with friends at 11am.

I slept through all the calls, texts and irritating Whatsapp alerts from the girls. I woke up well after 1pm feeling rather foolish about the Twitter all-nighter and switched off my phone for the rest of the afternoon. Didn't need the panic stricken calls from one girlfriend in particular asking if I was still homesick and thats why I didn't turn up to brunch. Didn't need a text from another who would want to come round and hang out till dinner. So, I just put on my favourite dress, known as The Zimbabwe Leaf Dress, and took myself to late lunch. This is what I wore today.

A few years ago, I spotted the dress in the Nottinghill DVF store but I didn't have the money to buy it. I declined to put it on hold for a few days because I knew there was no way I could afford it. It also come in red but had quickly sold out. I walked away gutted. A couple of weeks later, I got a call from the shop confirming my size. Mr Man had managed to track down the last one which happened to be in my size. That Mr Man was (or is) a bloody good man.

 Dress - Diane Von Furstenberg's Zimbabwe Leaf Dress
Flats - Country Road
Bag - Hermes

Scarf - Hermes

Sunglasses - Alain Mikli

Jewellery - EA Drew and BVLGARI

 

xxx