WHAT I WORE FOR MY HUSBAND'S BIRTHDAY

Hello everyone, hope your Easter break was enjoyable.

We had a lovely break filled with all kinds of activities, you can catch up on the full report here.

Now, that this is over, the next important event on our calendars was my husband’s birthday at the end of the month.   Traditionally, we love to go out to celebrate and this year I was more determined than ever to do just that but with a slight difference.  Instead of booking one of our favourite restaurants, I booked us a dinner with Secret Foodies, culinary event creators specialising in organising themed dinners at secret locations as well as designing unique corporate and private events, from intimate dinners to lavish parties with over 500 guests.   

I subscribe to their newsletter and when the Secret Dinner themed “From Paris with Love” invite landed in my Inbox, I decided to give it a go and bought us tickets. The reason it’s called Secret Dinner means that you have no idea where or to what restaurant you would be going.  

The invite stipulates the cuisine (French, Mexican etc), the offer (cocktails on arrival, unlimited drinks) and the vague name of the area where we will be going.  The name of the restaurant and its exact address are revealed to diners just two hours prior.  I was slightly worried about the whole idea.  It’s a first time we ever done something like that and I don’t know what to expect.  On the other hand, it had a sense of adventure and challenged us to get outside the box and it was quite exciting.

And here is the most important question of all - what should I wear?  Since the dinner is called from “Paris with Love", it is safe to assume it will be at the French restaurant which are known for its delicious food, immaculate service and extensive wine list and thus attracts a certain type of patrons.  Besides, my husband always says that it's better to be overdressed then underdressed and I agree with his view on dress-code so that settled my choice of a dress for the evening.

It has been quite a while since we went out to a classy restaurant for dinner: between both of us being sick with COVID, then recovering from it, my husband’s radiotherapy and other unpredictable hurdles, we were not up to it but now, despite my trepidation, I was really looking forward to the night.

The dress that I chose to wear was purchased back in December during the big sales.   I was walking past the Ted Baker shop windows minding my own business when I saw a dress that I immediately liked.  To paraphrase Julius Caesar "I saw, I tried it on, I bought it".  The End.  And that’s what I was going to wear for our dinner date.

It’s made of super soft jersey with catchy abstract tie dye print that provides an ample opportunity for dressing it up yet its slinky silhouette makes it feel very light and comfortable.  I like its mock neck, it’s not too high for wearing long dangling earrings yet high enough to hide a few wrinkles around my neck 😊.

I decided to forgo comfort for glamour and thus I dusted off my high heels 👠 and put them on.  I felt strange walking in them and my first couple of steps were shaky but then I tighten my core (thank you Pilates) and strode along with confidence 👍.  

The dinner was taking place in a newly opened French restaurant called Loulou.  As promised we were greeted by the glass of bubbly on arrival and after warming up to the atmosphere, were asked to take the seats and the three course meal followed.  Both of us love French food and were thoroughly enjoying each course.  

The wine never stopped pouring so in the end I was quite tipsy.  Luckily for me, my husband chose to be a designated driver for the night and was mindful of not going over the limit and let me enjoy myself which is funny because he was a birthday boy and meant to have fun but being a true gentleman as he is, he left the fun part to me.

Now that we know exactly what to expect, we will be keeping an eye on their next secret dinner destination.

What you try something like that and trust your evening to total strangers? Do please let me know.

Outfit details:  Dress - Ted Baker, shoes - Balli (old), handbag - Furla (old), jewellery -Tiffany Bone Cuff

Until then

Anna

xoxo

 

WHAT I WOULD WEAR TO THE OPERA

 Hello dear friends,

Oops, I did it again, stole this idea from my UK fellow bloggers led by Emma of Style Splash where they all got dressed up with nowhere to go.  The moment I saw their posts, I realised how many women, present company included, are dreaming of the day when they can do their hair and make-up, dust off a pair of killer hills, get dressed in their "Sunday best" and attend a fabulous party, a night at the opera or some special occasion and have a fabulous time without looking over their shoulders without a worry in the world.  

So here is my contribution to the future where we will be free to do what we like.  The dress which I am wearing, has been in my wardrobe for a few years but I never grow tired of wearing it.  It is made of very fine silk, has a rather deep V-cut and with so called "fishtail" (apparently this style was very popular during Victorian era and that is where this name originates).

It's one of the outfits that in my wardrobe classified as "to go the Opera" look and that's probably why you have not seen it yet😎.  Because the dress has low V-cut, my favourite accessory to go with it is a long string of pearls knotted and strategically placed on the bottom of the cut 😎.

I have modelled my Louis Vuitton patent shoes before as well as this Bec + Bridge black coat.  My Chanel Mini Butterfly bag has been with me for many years but remains one of mine old faithful.

Until then,

Anna

xoxo

This post was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.

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A SIMPLE LBD WORN TWO WAYS

I have great news our dining table is finally here but that is not all.  Two days later our new couch, that was due to be delivered in mid-February, also arrived so our living/dining room transformation has been completed and we all are loving the new look.  The table arrived on Saturday afternoon, just in time to have dinner with our friends that same evening.  For me, one of its best features is the surface that does not leave any marks nor scratches which means that I don't need to cover it with a tablecloth for protection and my Ecology dinner plates and serving platters from my beloved Wonki Ware look really nice against its charcoal colour.  

As you can see from the images, it was not a good idea to try and match the wood of new dining chairs to am old table, hence we took a different approach and bought a new table in a contrasting colour.  If you missed the beginning of my chairs/table saga, you can read it here.

But enough of that.  This is a fashion blog so let's talk about clothes.  I can't it about everyone but for many fashion bloggers that I follow, present company included, there is one criterion that they follow when shopping for a new item of clothing, it's diversity and versatility.  Case in point, my new summer sleeveless dress with a V-neckline and cross-over hem from Nana Judy which colour, quite coincidentally, is very similar to the colour of our new dining table. 😊😊😊

Its design is quite simple. it is made, the dress not the table, of a blend of cotton and elastane and is wrinkle-free which makes it ideal for travelling, besides its simple style and solid colour provide endless possibilities for layering and accessorising. depending on the time of day, activitiy or just your mood.  It looks equally lovely when worn casually with some flat sandals or sneaker,s or with some upscale accessories, high heel shoes and an evening handbag.  

I like that the pearls look luminous against the dark colour of the dress and give the whole look a feel of elegance and sophistication.  The chunky silver chain will work well too in keeping with the monochromatic look.  The other option is to contrast the cool grey hues with warm colours such as pink, yellow or orange in your accessories.

I decided to change the way to position the accompanying images and instead of placing them one underneath the other separated by the text, I placed then in juxtaposition of casual and formal styles.  I think it does help to illustrate my point without saying too much, or as the saying goes "One picture is worth a thousand words".  What do you think?

WHITE SHORTS - TWO LOOKS

Hi everyone, hope you are all well

These images were taken when it was still summer in Australia but I never was able to come around and blog about them until now.  The weather is so bad that taking photos outside is almost impossible so I dug deep into my archives and found these ones.

You have seen me wearing these shirts multiple times, primarily with a t-shirt or light summer top.  Today I am exploring the possibility of wearing them in cooler months with something more stylish than just a pair of sneakers.

In my first, daytime, look I am wearing my shirt with an extra long blue and white stripy buttonless blouse from Zara and white Converse sneakers with a pair of lacy navy socks underneath:  fun, casual just with a touch of sophistication.

THEN I ASKED MYSELF, IS IT POSSIBLE TO TRANSFORM THIS LOOK INTO SOMETHING RATHER MORE ELEGANT AND EVENING APPROPRIATE?

As a general rule of thumb, accessories play a pivotal role in the transformation and for me there is nothing more important than the right pair of shoes.  You can get away by being dressed in a t-shirt, jeans and killer shoes but no matter how glamorous your dress is - pair it with the wrong footwear and your outfit will be drab.

So first thing first, I kicked off my sneakers and reached for an open toe Miu Miu high heel shoes in a dusty blue.  The moment I put them on, the vibe of my look shifted a gear.

Next step - jewellery.  Since the shirt has pearl cuff links, it helped me to decided what accessories to choose for my upscale look.  After all, nothing speaks style like a string of pearls.  The ones that you see me wearing were bought in Havana at Almacenes San Jose Artisan's Market during our holiday last year. 

My last touch was an evening clutch from Ferragamo with gold trimmings and a chain which might be a tad too heavy for a daytime casual outfit but works perfectly for a night out.

And that is it.  To be totally honest, I don't think I would implement this look into real life, it was purely an "editorial" exercise, so to speak.  It's just proves once again how important it is for us to understand the power of accessories, even for something as casual as a pair of white shorts.

And that is it.  Happy Friday, my dear friends and enjoy your weekend

Anna
xoxo

SIMPLE BLACK SLIP DRESS TWO WAYS

Hello dear friends,

I have an interesting confession to make.  Throughout my life I have owned quite a few LBDs and LBD (long) and all of them were either intricately constructed or made out of either fine expensive fabric or had some kind of decorative embellishment but never just a simple cotton black dress.

Well, that was about to change when my husband and I stepped inside Natalie Alamein boutique store in Bondi Beach.  Although this shop has been opened for a while and I happen to pass its windows at least three times a week on my regular runs, I have never been inside it.  Somehow, I always perceived that her clothes are meant for a younger crowd.

At a glance, my first impression of the clothes was confirmed: lots of short skirts and crop tops and body hugging dresses and the only thing I liked were the fabrics and the patterns.  Then I spotted a "Sale" rack and decided to take a closer look.

 

To my surprise, the selection was more to my taste and I chose two linen skirts, a wide sleeve blouse and a black slip-on dress and took them into a dressing room.  To my surprise, all items were reasonably priced, fitted well and I ended up buying all of what I had originally selected.

As the days grew warmer the dress became one of my most popular go-to outfits.  It was just a matter of slipping it over my head, slip on a pair of Havaianas (hugely popular footwear in Australia and worn all year around and not just to the beach) and set off to do my errands.

"WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT A SIMPLE BLACK DRESS
 COULD BE SO VERSATILE"

After wearing it for a couple of weeks, I decided to try and extend its functionality from just being plain casual outfit into something more elegant and stylish.  I often talk about the importance of accessories and their power to make or break an outfit.

SIMPLE BLACK SLIP DRESS TWO WAYS

The opportunity presented itself when I was getting ready for a lunch date. First I ditched the thongs and put on a pair of chunky sandals.  Then I added a long silver chain around my neck, clasped a silver cuff around my wrist and grabbed a leather day bag.  The transformation was complete.

Then one day we were going out to dinner and I was going through my wardrobe trying to decide what to wear when I spotted a silver sequined sparkly top I hadn't worn for a while.  As I was dressed in the black dress, I just slipped the top over it and checked in the mirror.  I liked the result, so it was just a matter of choosing the right accessories that would help me to transform a day dress into evening outfit. 

Who would've thought that a simple black dress could be so versatile?  Just imagine that it is a blank canvas and your jewellery, shoes, handbags and other accessories are the tubes of paint of different colours.  And all you need to do is to let your imagination run wild and let it create as many paintings (in our case outfits) as possible. 

I am wearing dress from Natalie Alamein, sandals from Gorman, court shoes and old handbag are from Louis Vuitton, cuff - Georg Jensen. 

Have a great weekend

Anna
xoxo

MY CAPSULE WARDROBE

Hi everyone,

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you would recall my telling you that my husband and I are great aficionados of classical music and quite often spend our Saturday evenings at the Sydney Opera House attending a concert, an opera or the ballet.   We always looking forward to these evenings when you can leave the real world behind and just relax and enjoy the music and let it work its magic.

We have tremendous respect for art and in a tribute art and the people who make it possible for us to enjoy, we always make an effort to dress for the occasion to the point that, if during our travels, we plan to attend a concert, we pack appropriate attire just for that.  Call me a snob but I cringe when I see people wearing shorts and sandals inside the opera house or a concert hall.

You would not believe me but I spend far less time choosing what I will wear to the Opera than to the gym, I am kidding, of course.  On a serious note, I know exactly what I am going to wear on the night.  The secret to this phenomenon is the presence of what I call "A capsule wardrobe" consisting of pieces of clothing that are not subject to a current trend or fab and don't belong to any particular style or era but to quote Susie Faux who first coined this phrase: "A collection of a few essential items of clothing that don't go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces".

Think about a classic black tuxedo jacket, a white silk blouse or a simple but oh so chic LBD or simple black cashmere sweater.  As for accessories, a string of white natural or faux pearls is all you need.

"

A CAPSULE WARDROBE IS A COLLECTION OF A FEW ESSENTIAL ITEMS OF CLOTHING THAT DON'T GO OUT OF FASHION

"

It is worth investing in a pair of good quality black pants, preferably with a straight or slightly slim leg shape that you can wear time and time again without ever looking out of style.

Add to the list, a classical jacket or blazer in black or navy.  Quite a while ago I bought myself a navy jacket with silk lapels from Zara which I have worn numerous times to all sorts of events and it always looks good.

If you click on this link, you will see me wearing it to the Opera House few months ago paired with  a lace black top and the pair of black pants which I mentioned earlier.

A black slim cut or pencil skirt is another great staple to have in your wardrobe.  Not only does it look very elegant but it can be worn with almost any kind of a shirt, blouse or cami, a pencil skirt tends to make us look a few inches slimmer and a few inches taller, more so when worn with heels, which is great, right?

And that brings me to the last but definitely not least item on my list, shoes.  In fact, I should have made them item number one.  As I always say, never underestimate the power of shoes, they will either make your outfit or break it.

If you only want to spend money on one good pair of shoes, I suggest a pair of black elegant shoes which will let you get away with almost anything you wear.   Sometimes, if I feel like wearing black from head to toe is too much I would wear shoes in some other colour.

You don't have to have all of the above, invest in pieces that you would enjoy wearing time and time again and in which you look your best and feel comfortable.  It is so much easier to come up with a good outfit when you already have the key elements in your wardrobe.  Certainly, you don't have to have them all, choose the pieces that you suit you best and that you would feel comfortable wearing time and time again.

I am wearing:  skirt - Alexander Wang, sweater - Cos, shoes - Bali, coat - Beck&Bridge, jewellery - Georg Jensen

Do you own a capsule wardrobe and if yes, what it is consist of?

Anna
XO

Linking up with Posh Classy Mom, Fashion Should be Fun, Nancy's Fashion Style, Tina Spink Friday, Not Dead Yet Style