WHAT I WORE FOR A "NUDE" EXHIBITION AT THE ART GALLERY

Hello, my dear readers and fellow bloggers,

Last week my husband and I went to the National Gallery to view the “Nude” exhibition from London’s Tate Modern museum.  I was not very keen to see it but, when we were in London, we didn’t go to the Tate but since, allegorically speaking, the mountain has come to Mohammad, I thought: "Why not?"

The day was fresh and rather windy (as you can see from the images taken outside the Gallery) but somehow I ended up wearing a double-split maxi skirt that I bought and wore in Bali, topped with a long sleeve top.

When I picked up my hand bag on the way out, I saw a bright yellow scarf that I had left there from the day before.  Not giving it too much thought, I just added a yellow bracelet that I bought on our trip to Madeira earlier this year and a pair of black and yellow earrings for a matching trifecta.

My pink thick sole sandals have the same provenance as the skirt, ie also purchased in Bali, so I thought they could keep each other company.

As I feared, I didn’t enjoy the exhibition.  I am not a prude but somehow all those nude bodies taken out of their original place in a museum and jammed packed together felt like being out of the context and rather too much of exposed flesh for one day.

Sadly, we were not allowed to take any photographs, so the closest I have come to capturing the moment was a replica of the famous “Kiss” by Auguste Rodin made out of sand and placed on display at Bondi Beach in anticipation of the upcoming exhibition.

And that, my friends, is a wrap.  I am taking a time-off from and temporarily disappearing from the bloggersphere.

Wishing you all a very Marry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

See you all in 2017!!!

Linking up with Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Altitude Style, Fashion Should be Fun, Shelbee on the Edge, Not Dead Yet Style

WIDE LEG WHITE PANTS TWO WAYS

Hi everyone,

Last week a work friend of mine and I went to attend the “2016 Designers Fair’ not far away from my home.  I like this type of events for a number of reasons.  First and foremost, it is a great opportunity to meet and learn from cutting edge designers, media gurus and the like, to hear them talking about upcoming trends in design and interior styling whether it is about colours, shapes or new materials.  It is also a great creative hub where you can find interesting ideas for your own home.  

There were plenty of stalls dedicated to fashion and all sorts of accessories so normally it is a full on affair and a place to see and be seen.  We all too familiar with the saying “Do not judge a book by its cover” and yet first impressions count as people, more often then not, perceive you by the way you are dressed way before they can form an opinion about what kind of person you are.

Knowing this only too well, I decided to put some thought into my outfit.  For quite some time I was on the hunt for a pair of white pants for the upcoming spring and summer but couldn’t find anything that I liked.   All I saw where two extremes:  skinny jeans or wide-legged pants and at the moment I am not crazy about both.  I already have the former, as for the latter, every pair I’ve tried; the legs were so exaggeratedly wide and totally unpractical to wear.   I am guessing that this trend will not be around for long and I wanted something more classic.

Then one day I stepped inside “Maison Scotch” store and the first item I saw was a pair of white wide -leg pants with thin black and a little bit wider, light blue stripes.  I loved them immediately.  Not believing it was my lucky day, I took a pair into a dressing room but even before I checked myself in the mirror, I knew that they were made for me.

The weather that day the fair was held was coolish and sunny, perfect for my new purchase.  I didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard to make an impression and since it was a day-time affair, nor did I want to look too serious but yet stylish.  So as a top, I chose a plain black button down shirt.  We all know that it is almost impossible to go wrong with black and white combo.  For fun, I chose a long string of faux pearls that went around my neck a la Chanel style. 

When deciding what to put on my feet, I had to compromise style for comfort, hence my flat sandals.

We had a great time, but true to my word (read here), I was very good and stayed away from the temptation just enjoying the creative atmosphere around us.  My friend, on the other hand, indulged herself to the fullest.

I couldn't resist the temptation to take this photo next to this cute red Vespa

Next day for a casual lunch and a stroll around the park, I wore the same pants paired with a white loose-fit top and white Converse shoes.  Very casual, very relaxed, that is a Sunday for me.

Linking up with The Pleated Poppy, Beauty 101 by Lisa, Fashionista Momma, My New Happy, The Blended Blog, Posh Classy Mom, Fine Whatever, Style Nudge

WHO SAID YOU CAN'T WEAR RIPPED DENIM TO THE OFFICE?

Hello, my dear followers and fellow bloggers,

I remember the days when I used to work in an corporate environment and had to wear a so called "corporate uniform" five days a week because the "Casual Friday" policy didn't exist back then.

I am sure that the corporate dress code still dominates the majority of offices but not for me anymore. A few years ago I quit my boring office job and joined the throes of creative unconventional thinking individuals doing something I always wanted to do but never before had the chance to do it.   And although the environment I am working in now is a polar difference to the one I used to work in, in almost every aspect and a lot of the boundaries are very vague, yet I still cannot bring myself to wear raw hemmed jeans or sneakers to the office.  Partially because the habit of differentiating between my Monday to Friday and weekend wardrobes has been instilled into me quite deeply or because my jeans are almost torn in half around both of my knees and could be a bit too much even in a hip environment such as mine.

I did, however, venture as far as wearing a ragged denim skirt to work the other day.  I was very cautious in selecting the other items of clothes and accessories for this outfit so I would not be mistaken for going to a picnic rather than to the office.

First, I selected a white crisp shirt.  This classic wardrobe staple is an absolute bullet proof and
always looks right, besides the white colour adds some luminosity to the skin and thus makes women my age look younger.   

I paired it with my navy tuxedo-looking blazer with black silk lapels that counter-balanced the frivolity of the skirt rather nicely.

The shoes that I chose to wear were a birthday gift from my husband that I haven't have a chance to model  to you yet.  Made by Salvatore Ferragamo, these mid heel pumps are simply adorable. What is particularly great about them is that they are extremely comfortable thanks to the low block heel, yet the spherical ornament and the detail on the heel make them look rather playful.

As for the accessories, while I settled for traditional white pearl set consisting of a pair of earrings and a ring to match my classic white crisp shirt, I tied a bright scarf around my neck to add some panache to the outfit.

Linking up with Shelbee on the Edge, Fine. Whatever, Sydney Fashion Hunter, Glam Adventure, The Pleated Poppy, Colour and Grace, Fashion Should be Fun

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WIDE SLEEVE BLOUSE| CARGO PANTS AND A RED BRICK WALL

Hello dear fellow bloggers,

This post is totally unintentional and what I am wearing here is just a random selection of whatever was closest to me to reach.  This post was not meant to be written at all.  The inspiration behind it is not clothes nor even the event to which I wore the clothes but rather red brick wall.  But let me start from the beginning.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful store called Country Trader, globally renowned as a Mecca for designers and discerning customers offering a cornucopia of furniture and home wares that are exceptional, vintage, quirky, eclectic and simply beautiful.  Its creative environment has always been a first call for inspiration among interior stylists and designer and if my clients were looking for something special either to add to their existing décor or to buy a special gift for someone, Country Trader was my first port of call and I it was very seldom that I left empty-handed.   Over the years, I also made quite a few purchases for my own home.  And now, after 34 years of trading, the time has come to say goodbye.

When shop of such reputation is having a major sale, you don’t want to miss it and so one afternoon my friend and I got in the car and went over there to see if we could score some bargains. 

As we entered the store, we didn’t know where to look first.  French furniture and dinner wear, huge ceramic pots, massive antique chandeliers, table linen and silver crockery, carefully curated Chinese porcelain vases and so much more – all  were marked down and ready to be snapped by some smart buyers. 

Sadly, since my husband and I recently agreed that we do not need to add anything else to the existing decore, I settled for buying few nice small items and beautiful Christmas decorations that I can give to my friends as gifts while my friend, on the other hand, fell in love with a silver framed gorgeous mirror and rushed to the cash register to pay for it before she changed her mind.

The staff was very he and they suggested that we bring my car to the section allocated for their customers only.  When we drove in and got out to collect her purchase, I noticed that the bricks of the back wall of the garage were painted in a rich red colour paint.  It was such a perfect background for a photo shoot that I couldn’t resist it.

So I asked my friend to take few photos of me so that I could decide later whether they are worth publishing or not.  Truth be told, the main reason that you are reading this is not only that the wall behind looked great but also due to the top which I was wearing, or its statement sleeves to be exact.  It is by a brand called Save the Queen and I bought in New York back in 2010.

I find it's quite ironic that the label that has the Queen's name in it, depicts one of the most iconic architectural structures of Manhattan, The Empire State Building.  Its made of semi sheer silky fabric and I used to wear it for going out.  I kind of forgot about it until now, when the statement sleeves are on the must-have list this season but this time I wear it whenever.  It is so easy to slip it on without too much thinking about what to pair it with.

Today, for example, my choice fell on a pair of cargo, also sometimes described as utility pants and a pair of ballet flats - effortless, a simple and comfortable outfit put together on the spur of the moment that sometimes can deliver better results then the fashioned ones.

My outfit details:  pants - J Brand, top - Save the Queen, shoes - Ralph Polo

Linking up with Not Dressed As Lamb, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, High Latitude Style, Pleated Poppy, Sydney Fashion Hunter

SPRING ESSENTIAL - A TRENCH COAT

Hi everyone,

It is official, spring has arrived (in Australia, that is) and with it the days are getting longer as the temperature starts to rise.  Although it is not hot enough to shed off all the layers we have been wearing for the past three months (the seasons in OZ are reversed) but the weather is just right for trench coats in light luxurious fabrics.  I bought mine last year from the  Witchery store and was very happy with it.  This spring is no exception, I am giving it a full run wearing it over pants, slacks and skirts.

This endlessly adaptable wardrobe staple with a seasonal twist is, in my opinion, one of the most important trans-seasonal essentials that we ladies should have in our wardrobes.  The key is in the fabric that shimmers slightly when in motion, in the softness of the folds and in the intricate detailing of the garment that makes it possible to bring style and function together and allows us to look chic and elegant at any time of the day.

My outfit details:  trench coat:  Witchery, slacks -  Zara, jumper:  Sloane Society, shoes: Country Road

As you may know from reading my earlier posts, that one of the criteria that I look for when shopping for clothes is its versatility.  I love mixing and matching old and new and whenever I buy a new outfit, I always make sure that it works with the clothes that already sit in my wardrobe, and the more different looks I can come up with, the happier I am.

And my new trench coat ticks all the boxes.

My outfit details:  trench coat - Witchery, pants - Sass & Bide, shoes - DVF and top - Country Road (all worn here and here)

My outfit details:  trench coat - Witchery, skirt - Witchery and shoes - Louis Vuitton (seen here)

Linking up with Sydney Fashion Hunter, Shelbee on the Edge, Fashion Should be Fun