MY MOST FAVOURITE OUTFITS OF 2023

 Hello my dear readers, hope this post finds you well.

Although there is still a week and a bit until we farewell 2023, this is my last post of this year so let's sum it up.

I can't speak on behalf of you, but for me it went too fast for my liking.  I heard people saying it all the time but this year I really feel it and frankly, I don't like it.  But I should not complain even despite the fact that I had two more cancer spots on my face that needed to be removed, the one on my nose that I had in August was particularly problematic and still has not fully healed.

The biggest event that happened this year was my husband's 70th birthday that we celebrated in style by having 7 course seasonal festive dinner at Oncore run by 3-Michelin Star London renowned chef Clair Smyth followed by a big bash for our extended family and friends.

Also, this year we made our first overseas trip since 2019.  However, while in the past we would spent four to five weeks visiting several overseas destinations, this time it was just one stop trip to Bali, our all time favourite spot that we go to for a blissful time of total relaxation.

Other then that, it was business as usual: work, looking after grandchildren, going to the gym, movies, theatre, dining out etc, etc, etc.

So without further ado, let me bring up my and some of you, my dear readers, most favourite outfits of 2023:

This summer it was all about wearing a stripe shirt over white linen and this outfit was featured as the most favourite look on #WOWWEDNESDAY link-up party hosted by Gail from Is This Mutton fashion blog

I dare not to remember how many years these square checked pants have been dormant in my wardrobe until one day I decided to bring them back to life and believe or not but they scored the most favourite look of the week on #WOWWEDNEDAY link-up party hosted by Gail from Is This Mutton fashion blog.

I fell in love with this oversized jumper from Reiss in tangerine colour that featured as a favorite on #WOWWEDNESDAY link-up party hosted by Gail from Is This Mutton fashion blog

One of my most favourite purchases of 2023 was this dress from Marcs in deep pink colour that was featured on #ChickandStylish #Link-up hosted by Jacquie from Mummabstylish

In my last outfit of 2023, I raised the question of whether the women of certain vintage should wear short skirts and my answer was "YES"👍

On this high note, I would like to wish you all a very 

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!!!

See you all in 2024

Anna

xoxoxo

MY NEW RED BLAZER AND A-SHAPE SHORT SKIRT OUTFIT

Hello my dear friends, hope you are all ok.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you might recall my last post which was about the return of the  colour red back to the fashion radar and if you missed it, you can catch up here.

It seems that I got caught red handed (pun not intended) as this post is also about wearing red but this time it is a blazer and mini skirt combo.  As previously, both were spotted and purchased from David Jones, proudly Australian luxury department store but from two different brands.

It started with the blazer from David Lawrence.  How can anyone miss such a bright bold crimson colour?  Definitely, not me.  Besides that, I like its flattering slim silhouette and contrasting black buttons at the front fastening and along the cuffs.  There was an option to buy a pair of pants made of the same fabric but having so many various colours and styles of pants and trousers at home, I chose to skip it.

My next stop was at Marcs (the same brand from which I got my latest dress, seen here), only this time I was after a skirt.  After scanning their racks, I found what I was looking for - an A-line mini skirt in gingham check of peachy orange and dark red that potentially would be a perfect match for my newly acquired blazer and when I put them on together and checked my image in the mirror, I knew I was right. 

I was contemplating wearing my new black Mary Janes shoes seen hear but thought that a pair of black chunky loafers are more suitable to wear with the A-line skirt and would complement the sharp silhouette of the blazer. 

Then it dawned on me that since I turned 60 three years ago, I have been often seen wearing skirts and dresses that were well above my knees and on the short side that some people would describe as age-inappropriate.   This hot topic has been discussed in the blogosphere by older women for years, trying to bring awareness that growing older does not necessarily equate to wearing dark boring dresses well blow your knees, thick shapeless cardigans, lipstick and make-up free and never set your foot in fitness club or a hair and nail salon.  

Yes, I am fully aware that with age our knees sag and the skin wrinkles but this could be easily rectified by wearing stockings and if you have nicely shaped legs, then why not? Some of us are genetically blessed with good legs, while for others it is a hard work to keep them in shape.  There is ever more reason not to hide them.

When I was young, I attended a ballet school that helped me to define the muscles and shape my legs but that was over fifty years ago!!!  Since then, I've invested a lot of time and effort to keep my legs in shape:  I go to the gym at least three or four times a week, I don't work on the machines but prefer group exercises like Power Yoga, Pilates, Barre and Les Mills Shape and Body Balance classes (I am a member of Fitness First club and the names and the routine of these classes are trademarked by it).  I used to run three times a week but lately was advised against running so now I go for a long power walks three times a week instead.

And let not forget to mention that a body positivity mindset and self-confidence play an important role in determining the answer to the question of what we should and should not wear.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below 💖.

Blazer - David Lawrence 

Skirt - Marks

Shoes - Neutralizer (similar)

Belt - Hermes

Have a great week.  Until then

Anna

xoxoxo

HOW I STYLED MARCS CAITLYN SHIRT DRESS

Hello dear friends, hope you are all well

Here is an interesting coincidence.  While we in Australia are stocking our wardrobes with summer clothes, the Northern Hemisphere is bracing itself for the cold months ahead but what makes us united is the fashion forecast for the trend colour of the upcoming summer/winter season (depends in what part of the world you are living) and it is RED.  We are saying good bye to Barbie pink, (to be honest, I wasn't into that one anyway) but am very happy to welcome the strong bold red colour into our wardrobes.

Every time the fashion wheel turns over and puts LRD (little red dress) back on a radar, it reminds me of our 2007 European honeymoon.  One day while exploring Rome, we came across a museum called Ara Pasis.  

Neither of us ever heard of it nor it was on our to do list but what caught our attention was a giant cube in red coloured glass with a white rectangular plinth underneath with the words Valentino A Roma plastered over one side of it,  placed in front of the museum's entrance.   Inside the cube we could see a mannequin clad in a beautiful red dress. Still not knowing what to make out of it but thoroughly intrigued, we bought the tickets and went inside.

As we stepped inside the museum, we were faced with a row of mannequins draped in white dresses flanked by two groups wearing red, Valentino's favourite colour. 

Further on we saw a group of mannequins wearing black and further on the last group were in multi-coloured dresses.  I have never seen anything more beautiful than this collection of sublime high-couture dresses. I was fascinated by the design, shape, the masterful skill of draping that Valentino is renowned for, the sheer elegance of every exhibit and his genius vision that he so artfully was able to transform into these marvelous creations.  I think I can honestly say that it was my first fashion moment.  If you have a moment, please read the whole account of this event covered in The New York Times Magazine .

Sixteen years ago there were no iPhones nor iCloud storage options, all the photos that I took,  had to be downloaded from my Canon camera into my PC.  Since then I have changed my PC twice but always made sure that I backed-up all my photos onto the hard-drive first, they are very precious to me and bring back such sweet memories.

Speaking of red dresses, let me tell you about mine.  I was in David Jones department store browsing through the dresses when I reached the Marcs section and saw it.  The first thing that draw my attention to this dress was its rich, bright and deep crimson hue.  I  also liked the shape of the softly puffed sleeves and the snap button front fastening.  The fabric belt helps to create a definition of the waist while an above the knee A-shape skirt visually slims the hips and elongates your legs.  The moment I put it on, I fell in love with its gorgeousness, it felt like it was meant for me.

On the way back to my place, I started thinking of what kind of shoes I should wear with it.  I definitely didn't want to try it with sneakers as I knew they will make it look too casual.  I needed the shoes that will complement the dress without taking away its centre stage.

  

In the ended I settled with a pair of low heels updated version of the classic Mary Jane style black suede shoes with a cup patent toe by Edward Meller.  They have quite an unusual detail -  the strap does not have a clasp and is made of two pieces - most of its length is leather with a short piece of elastic attached to it which allows you to slip the shoe on or off effortlessly.  The elastic is hidden behind a large faux pearl that adds to the shoe that instant uplift like a cherry on the cake🍒.

My accessories are quit simple: black hoop earrings and a ring and I chose to carry an off-white handbag rather than black one as I didn't want them to be too matchy-matchy.  

What is your take on a red dress.  I know that the prime red is not everyone's cup of team, however there are so many different shades of red that it is just a matter of  choosing the right hue that suites your skin tone, body shape or hair colour but most importantly is to stay true to your taste and aesthetic and look fabulous.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR CASUAL OUTFIT FOR THE OFFICE

Hello my dear friends, trust you are all well.

I feel that I have to acknowledge the current situation which our world is currently facing a very dangerous disruption of peace and we are all holding our collective breath and praying that this crisis will soon be resolved with the least amount of loss of human lives.  I am not intending to use my blog as a political platform for a discussion about who is right and who is wrong I just think that we as human beings cannot stick our heads in the sand and pretend that nothing has happened. 

Having said that, let's talk about fashion.  With more and more people now returning back to their respective offices, it is becoming a big challenge for some of us to shed off our track pants and slippers and don a corporate uniform and uncomfortable shoes.  So today I would like to share with you my vision on how to make a simple casual look more office appropriate.

Luckily for employees, the post-Covid dress code rules are much more relaxed and lots of offices let people wear their casual outfits for work.  That said, it does not mean that your outfit should look sloppy and baggy but with a few little tweaks you can make your casual outfit look stylish and office appropriate.

My office also jumped on this band-wagon  and has fully embraced the casual dress code and I find myself liking it more and more.  In the beginning of the "return to the office" era,  I was reluctant to succumb to it, I was missing my office clothes and was desperate to shed off the lycra tights and running shoes but gradually I began to appreciate the appeal of  casual clothing, especially on the days when straight after work I drove to pick up my granddaughter from school and her little brother from day-care and stay with them until their parents came home from work.  And for that reason I decided to update my casual wardrobe and went and bought myself a new pair of Levi's 312 black jeans, and a couple of plain t-shirts in different colours from Zara that I can easily glam up with the help of good jewellery or an expensive silk scarf.  

I also would like to share with you my new Sullivan leather bag from Proenza Shouler from their White Label collection that was a birthday gift from my husband.  It has a classic bucket silhouette and is crafted from smooth leather and can be carried either in the hand or over the shoulder.  Despite its size (which comes handy when you need to bring some fruit and snacks for the kids) and metallic fixtures, it is very light and soft and I enjoy carrying it around.  

The last but not least addition to my wardrobe is a pair of thin three-strap mules with a curved block heel in mint green from Alohas. that I like to wear them paired with black jeans when I go to the office and with sneakers or slides on my days off.

I had never heard about this brand before.  I came across it while scrolling an on-line sale of Australia's most fashionable David Jones department store.  Apparently, the brand was founded in Hawaii, hence its name, and is known for its sustainable and artisanal approach to their range of women's shoes.

My accessories are also of different hues of green including my oversized antique pendant that can be worn as a brooch, earrings and a couple of bangles.

If you follow my blog, you might know that I love scarves and wear them all year round but the day when I was wearing this outfit was too hot for it but I definitely will wear it around the office if not for style but to keep myself warm from the chill blaze of the air-conditioner😄.

What is the dress code in your working environment?

Until then,

Anna

xoxoxo

ZODIAK ASTROLOGY STARS MOOD SILK BLOUSE TWO WAYS

Hello my dear readers, how are you all?

Today I am sharing with you my new Zodiac Astrology Stars Moon silk blouse from Zara.  

I was immediately attracted to the unusual print and the colour scheme.  I love the injection of turquoise blue over the black background with the different celestial bodies, stars and constellations spread all over it.  The other feature that appealed to me is the wide white and black border running along the cuffs and the bottom of the blouse creating an impression that all the images have been framed together.

What came as the surprise were two facts:  one the blouse was 100% pure silk and two - it had rather high price tag in comparison with other items I've purchased from this global brand over the years.  Yet, the price was still reasonably lower than if I was buying it from a more upmarket store, so I didn't mind😉.

It is obvious that this blouse will be the focal point of my outfit and all other elements will play second fiddle, hence I paired it with my recently purchased black slim pants from Reiss seen here and my long black coat.

However, not wanting my outfit to be too somber, I decided to wear my old Mary Jane style shoes in turquoise to highlight the print of the same hue on my shirt and make the outfit look more cohesive.

As for my accessories, I've chosen silver earrings and rings, and added my old cocktail blue ring from Swarovski.  

I was just about to press "Publish" button when my husband asked me to join him on his walk around the neighbourhood.  That gave me an idea to try and give this blouse a test of versatility and wear it with a pair of jeans and sneakers?  Turned out, it passed the test.  What do you think, my lovelies💖? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Until then,

Anna

xoxoxo