Cherry Legs

My mobile phone barely three weeks old has died and I'm really annoyed because I've lost all my contacts, photos and notes. They're gone! Mr Sony Xperia's death and then a roughish day meant a trip to Brunswick, an inner city neighbourhood yuppies have coined onto, for a kebab to perk up. Yes I heart kebabs but only from one establishment called Tiba's on Sydney Road. While others sulk, drink or shop their worries away, I almost always walk out niggling issues to this multicultural neighbourhood with a True Love magazine tucked under my arm for one. Only a lamb kebab with extra pickles and a small tub of tabouli for later could've cheered me up. Funny how my precious contacts, photos and style notes all became mush as I took my first bite. 

I'd planned to come straight home, dissect what Giovanna Battaglia, a demi fashion goddess, is wearing in all of Scott Schumann's shots on The Sartorialist and research new developments in the marketplace. Had planned to brush up on my product knowledge because while many of you think I know a lot about fashion, the truth is I know only a slither about the industry. There's always new designer. There's always a new retailer. There's always a slightly different cut and an increased use of new fabrics. What's comforting is that even the greatest creative forces never stop learning. 

Thought I'd unload some of my Tuesday drama, confess that I heart kebabs and share what I wore today.

 Coat - DVF

Top - Dotti

Skirt - ZARA

Scarf - Hermes

Bag - Louis Vuitton

Tights - Columbine 

Shoes - Yves Saint Laurent

Jewellery - Hikari Earrings + Swatch watch + 

Georg Jensen and BVLGARI rings

*Pssssst----> nail colour is OPI  Charged Up Cherry

I can't keep up with Melbourne's changing temperatures so I've decided that wearing lightweight coloured opaques might just be the way to go. Thought I'd wear them today with a basic top, yet another pleated skirt from ZARA, a coat I almost wrestled someone for in an underground sample sale and YSL booties I spent weeks hunting down. These booties had me calling stalking a Korean friend who I needed to call a store in Seoul for my size and staying up at odd hours waiting for retailers around the world to commence trading. I finally found the booties and only because of them, I know world time zones.

How about you? Have you ever had your eye on a particular item you moved heaven and earth to find?  Do share in the comments or on Twitter if you tweet!

xxx

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

Fat Day 101

I caught up with a girlfriend for what was supposed to be Lunch-slash-Gallery Day but we never made it past Table 18. A good part of this working day was spent flirting with the idea of checking out the exhibition we'd come to see, taunting an American waiter and discussing happenings on Planet Relationship in Dave Chapelle's Rick James voices. While we ate very little food, copious amounts of wine were involved on this Harare-Mbama-Feeling-Fat Day.

I'm convinced there isn't a single woman who doesn't have a couple of fat days every month. These are the days when loose tops debut, diets go out the window, treadmills are distant memories and loved ones + lovers are on the receiving end of irrationality. For me, these are the days I also pull out some reggae music that makes me laugh out loud like no one else in this building or cry like I've just been dumped. Yes this is a fashion blog but its important you all know that I'm real. I'm a real woman with real issues. Got days when zits appear out of nowhere, when I just want to chill  in my pyjamas all day and eat a whole flattened chicken, when I'm frazzled after an old boyfriend gets in touch, when I hiss my teeth at some teenage girl in her micro mini and when I put Monica's Don't Take It Personal on repeat until I master her every murmur.

These fat days are the days wide leg pants and a silk scarf come out to play. I thought I'd keep it casual with a singlet, some bangles from H&M and a Harare street vendor and throw in a little high fashion in the form of Louis pumps I adore. As expected, the weather turned and I wore a cardigan that can be worn several ways.  

Top - Supre

Pants - DKNY

Cardigan - DKNY

Scarf - from Beijing market

Shoes - Louis Vuitton

Bag - Barneys New York

Jewellery - Hikari earrings + Georg Jensen watch + 

H&M bangles + wooden bangles 

from a street vendor

 xxx

Tantalizing Tuesday

There's nothing like popping into your old university just before the lunch rush and waiting around to meet a man you've exchanged close to twenty emails with over a three day period, The Short Course Enrolment Guru. I decided to stop blaming an old IT lecturer, my temperamental notebook and the patchy network in my area for my technological shortcomings and brave the students to enrol in a short course with the guru's help. May is indeed Self Development Month! Watch this space.

Melbourne's weather has been sensational over the last couple of days so I've been able to wear garments I can easily layer should the weather suddenly turn. It's really a fours-seasons-in-one day city where hosiery, not a diamond, is a girl's best friend. Although I've started stocking up on heavy duty hosiery, I'm determined to 'bare leg it' for as long as I can. This is what I wore yesterday, Tuesday.   

Top - Dotti

Skirt - ZARA

Bag - Chanel

Shoes - Miu Miu

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - Georg Jensen watch + ring 

+ BVLGARI bracelet + earrings

xxx

A Change Is Gonna Come

Happy Friday everyone! 

I had a crazy day dealing with urgent tasks and preparing for a meeting with someone who needs a little help with their wardrobe. Busy busy Friday but I couldn't help drifting off into my own little world and reflecting on a friend's question about five fashion mistakes I've made. I've made so many in the past and still make many now. I can admit that I've been in denial of my true size when it comes to underwear and have developed a thong-related muffin top. Deep down I suspect it's somehow Thong Song related [cringe].

I'm so thankful to Kuka, one half of the talented Diasporan Darlings, for asking me a question that has led to self-improvement. This morning, I woke up earlier than usual determined to fix the fixable noting where I've gone wrong underwear-wise and what I'm in desperate need of. I've started a list of the essentials and researching the non-essentials that can a man howl. Yes ladies howl! Nothing like shirt dress and four inches to quick start great change. This is what I wore today. 

Dress - Elie Tahari

Bag - Louis Vuitton

Shoes - Alexander McQueen

Sunglasses - Ray Ban

Jewellery - Sportsgirl cuff + 

Georg Jensen watch + Hikari pearl studs

 

xxx

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