BLACK, READ AND BLUE - CHAMBRAY COAT (LOOK #2)

Hi everyone,

Previously on Looking Fabulous @ 50 I was showing you my new chambray dress that I wore it as a coat over my summer outfit of cropped linen pants and a tee (Look #1).  However, lately I discovered that it looks as good with darker, heavier fabrics which means a few extra outfit combos.

Someone made an interesting observation the other day: "Weekends are precious, "Two glorious days devoid of responsibility and overflowing with possibility". My sentiment entirely provided that I know or at least have a slightest idea of what u want to do, where I would like to go, what would I want to see and what kind of food I feel like eating, otherwise I am in tatters and every member of my household is keeping as far away from me as it is physically possible.

I don’t think I have ever been spontaneous, I belong to a group of people who like to plan their holidays, meals and weekends well in advance. I can’t just wake up on a Saturday morning not knowing what to do and just “go with the flow” and it definitely does not work for me when someone suggests that I should just "veg”, I need to be somewhere doing something. Could it be that I am suffering from some kind of FOMO syndrome?

Anyhow, that how I was feeling last Saturday. We didn’t have any plans for the day, there was nothing to see at the movies and I couldn’t make up my mind about what I would like to have for lunch and so my husband suggested that we should get dressed and get out of the house and be spontaneous. Besides, we had no food in a house so we were forced to go out to eat anyway. So as you can imagine, it didn’t go very will with me and thus my mood remained in the dark.

Studies show that our outfit choices are made to reflect the mood we are in at the moment and my clothes on that Saturday morning was a living proof of this statement – black pants, black jumper, and black shoes and, you guessed it, black coat. Of course, the situation was not that bad, I guess I was a bit of drama queen but we are allowed to act like one sometimes, right?

Then the phone rang, did I hear someone just said "saved by the bell"? It was a dear friend of ours who just returned from the trip interstate asking us to join him and his latest lady-friend for lunch at the local bistro. Had it been someone else, I would’ve said “no” but I was very curious to meet his latest conquest, besides spending time with him is always a lot of fun. Oh well, that changed everything, almost. My mood immediately soared and so should my outfit.

Since I was already dressed, I didn’t want to change my clothes, however I was well aware that my look was quite sombre and in dire need of injection of some fun. And what could be an easier way of doing it? By wearing some bold and colourful accessories, what else?

Few years ago my daughter, knowing my penchant for statement pieces of jewellery, brought me a very funky multi-coloured necklace that was exactly what I needed. Its brightly coloured pieces looked even more strikingly against my black Cos jumper. Ever since this brand has opened its doors in my local shopping centre few months ago, I’ve become a regular visitor to it. I already bought a dress that I find myself wearing quite often (worn here) and this jumper is my latest acquisition.

But I didn’t stop there. Some people say less is more and some, others, like the stylist to the celebrities Rachel Zoe for example, say more is more. Today was the day for the latter. I discarded my black shoes and handbag and instead put on lace up flats in red patent leather that I bought many years ago at Gallery Lafayette in Paris and added a matching colour LV bag.

When I checked my outfit in the mirror, I thought the pants looked rather long, so I rolled up the cuffs and that added a relaxed feel to my outfit. Once again, my new chambray coat came as a perfect addition to my casual look.

Needless to say, to my husband’s greatest relief, I left home with a big smile on my face and, as I hoped, the four of us had a ball.

The moral of the story:  take it easy, go with the flow and be spontaneous.

Linking up with High Latitude Style, Elegantly Dressed and Stylish, Fashion Should be Fun, Sydney Fashion Hunter, Style Nudge, Fine Whatever, Not Dressed as Lamb

MY ANNIVERSARY PRESENT AND WHAT I WORE FOR DINNER AT QUAY

Hi everyone,

When my husband and I went to a gallery to view a new collection of South African artist Michael Taylor few weeks ago (more about it in this post "What I wore for a gallery opening), there were, like in every art gallery, the works of other artists on display a few of them which we really liked.  Particularly the one, depicting a very strange looking cat, totally got my attention.  Knowing that we are not hunting for any artwork at the time, I jokingly pointed out to my husband saying that it would be nice if we get it as a gift for our upcoming wedding anniversary, which is on the 29 of July.  

Traditionally, on the 29th day of every month my husband spoils me with a gift to mark the day.  It could be a pair of earrings or a voucher to the beauty salon or a coffee table book or anything he could think I would like to have.   Then, on the actual day of our wedding anniversary, he presents me with some lavish gift:  either an expensive piece of jewellery or a fancy handbag or a pair of gorgeous shoes.  That does not mean that I have to wait for the whole year if I need a pair of shoes but those gifts are not what I need nor even want, it is my husband’s and I quote "To spoil me rotten".  I have no objection to it, except occasional pang of guilt that the gifts should be for both of us, not just for myself but it does not bother him in the slightest.  We also celebrated this day by going out in the evening to one of the top notch restaurants in Sydney.

Anyhow, back to the story.  The time went on, I totally forgot about the cat but as the day of our anniversary grew closer, I started thinking more and more about what gift would I get this year or what restaurant we would go on the night.  My husband was keeping the plans close to his chest except for asking me to be ready by 7 pm.  Clearly, I had no idea about the surprise that he had in store for me, I did, however, felt slightly puzzled when I returned home after doing a school run and found no gift waiting for me.

As the day wore off, my puzzlement grew and with it came some disappointment.  Then, as if on cue, someone buzzed our security phone.  By the time I came downstairs to see who that might be, I found my husband standing in the middle of our dining room staring at the wall.  I followed his gaze and there, leaning against the wall, was the painting of a cat I had seen at the gallery.

Turned out, it was not just a picture of a cat, it was a cat called Behemoths, a character from the novel by a Russian author Michail Bulgakov, "Master and Margarita" painted by a talented Australian artist Jody Clark.  When my husband saw me looking at the painting, he quietly made an inquiry about its provenance and when he learned about its Russian connection, he decided to buy it for me.

We both absolutely love it.  If you take a closer look, you will be able to see that the letters on the door are Russians and so is the coin in cat's paw.

Technically, it was a gift for both of us but deep down I know that he bought it for me to honour my Russian roots and for that I am forever grateful to him.

When the time came for me to get ready, even not knowing where we were going for our anniversary dinner date, I thought my gold metallic pleated top with tuxedo pants and matching high heel shoes would rise to the occasion.  I found this shimmering top in Zara, Cape Town, when we were there earlier this year.  It was just hanging off the rack on its own as if someone left it there in a hurry.  I have always loved the tops with boat necks, not too high and not too low just, enough to show off your collar bone.   Besides, metallics and pleats are very hot right now and this top has it all.

My pants were also purchased on the same trip but this time it was in Lisbon.  I like the silk stripes running along the length of the leg and around the waist like a real tuxedo style making them look rather special.

And last but not least, the shoes.  I am sure it is not the first time I am stressing about an  absolute power which this accessory possesses over an outfit and its ability to make or break it. With that in mind, tonight I am wearing my newly acquired Louis Vuitton black shoes called Betty pump "accessorised with tone-on-tone resin marbles engraved with the LV initials".  Believe it or not, they were also purchased on the same trip but this time in Athens

All was left for me to do is to grab my mini Chanel purse and put on my coat and we were off.

 

As we were about to leave the house, my husband finally revealed to me our destination, a dinner at Quay.  It is Australian's most awarded restaurant and one of only two Australian restaurants on the prestigious S Pellegrino World's Top 50 list and to get a table there, one must book at least 6 months in advance.  You are not going to Quay for just dinner, you are going there to have a whole new experience of culinary world.  Situated in the historic district called The Rocks, Quay is not only famous for its unique food but its position offers the most breathtaking harbour views in the city:  over the Harbour Bridge on one side and the Sydney Opera House right across from it.  When it comes to food,  I quote "At Quay, our passion is to deliver a truly unique dining experience, one which is completely removed from the everyday".  Which they did with utmost excellence.

Needless to say, the food was sublime, the service - excellent, and the reflection of sparkling lights on the Harbour Bridge dancing in our wine glasses was absolute magic.   I couldn't wish for more.

HOW I MADE A CHAMBRAY DRESS INTO A COAT (LOOK #1)

Hi everyone,

When it comes to clothes, the one thing that really makes me happy is the knowledge that the items in my wardrobe are worn to their full capacity.  As you know, versatility in clothes combined with an ability to mix and match them, results in a significant increase in the number of outfits in your wardrobe which in turn leads to saving clothet space and money.

Of course, you cannot wear a ball gown to do your grocery shopping and jeans and a tank top will always be what they are no matter how gorgeous the shoes that you wear with them are but certainly, there are some pieces in your wardrobe that would fit multiple purposes or weather seasons: a polo neck under a cami dress to keep that effortless everyday edge in cooler months or if you are facing a day-night scenario, you could wear a jersey tee under a sequin slip dress during the day and easily get rid of it for a night out. 

EVEN SMALL ACCESSORIES LIKE SCARVES, SHAWLS AND TIES WORN 

DIFFERENTLY COULD BE ALL YOU NEED TO NAIL YOUR OUTFIT OF THE DAY

As I mentioned previously, my shopping mantra for clothes is to buy them from the places where I can easily get a refund if I change my mind, so when I bring a new piece of clothing home, I try to figure out how it will fit in with my existing wardrobe and how many potential new outfits I can get out of it.  By following this rule, I have managed to avoid many disappointments and save myself a small fortune on otherwise unreturned and unwanted items.

This method, clearly, is not applicable when I travel, here I have to take a chance and hope for the best.

A case in point is my new chambray button down dress.  If you read my previous post, (A Chambray Dress for Stroll in the Park) I mentioned that I bought it in such haste that I didn’t even have time to think what I was going to wear it with and it took me a couple of months to finally put it on.

Now that I feel comfortable wearing it, I started thinking what else can I do with it.  The answer came sooner than I expected.  I was getting ready to meet our out-of-town friends to take them to one of my most favourite places in Sydney, Parsley Bay, when it occurred to me that the jacket that I was planning to wear over a t-shirt had been borrowed by my daughter and was not in sight.  It was also a possibility that I might never even see it again (if you live with a teenager, you probably know what I am talking about, right?  I was running out of time and started panicking when I my eyes set on the chambray dress, so I just grabbed it and headed for the door hoping that it would work.

 My outfit on that day was white cropped linen pants and a yellow t-shirt and multi-coloured open-toe shoes – very bright and summery.  I was carrying a messenger bag in muted blues and greys but it looked like it needed an injection of bright colours too, so what did I do?  I grabbed my skinny scarf in yellows, pinks and blues and tied it up around the bag.  It looked much better now. 

The day was sunny and quite warm but as the sun began to set, I felt a slight chill in the air and I put on the chambray dress, or shall I call it a coat now? Surprisingly, it seemed to match my outfit quite well.

To make it more cohesive (and to illustrate the point that I was making earlier), I used the same thin scarf but this time rather than wrapping it around my neck as you do with a tie, I just threaded it through the top button hole of the coat.  This unexpected accessory was just what I needed to give my outfit the desired twist.

Do you follow any rules when clothes shopping? Would like to hear your thoughts on the subject

Until then,

.

A CHAMBRAY DRESS FOR A STROLL IN THE PARK

Hello everyone,

Although I bought this chambray dress a couple of months ago on our last day in Lisbon or should I rather say during our last few hours before leaving for the airport to catch a flight to Madeira, today is the first time that I wore it.  

During our years of travelling my husband and I have established a peculiar custom:  we always save one place that we had on our “to do list” till the last day when we are about to leave and we call it “saving the best for last”.  It could be anything:  a visit to Buckingham Palace or a walk through beautifully landscaped garden in Kyoto or discovering the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore and I have to tell you, we never have been disappointed.

In keeping with that tradition, we left a visit to the of Castle of St George till our last day in Lisbon.  We also planned to visit a shop called A Vida Portuguesa, “a boutique that pays homage to the products of traditional Portuguese designers and artisans” that my older daughter had strongly recommended for us to see.  And so we went.

We thoroughly enjoyed the visit to the Castle and thus spent quite a bit of time there, leaving far less time then we had planned for the shop.  As we were briskly walking to our next destination, another shop, called Stradivarius caught my attention.  Usually, I can easily guess what type of clothing and for what age group the shop stocks by just by checking out the shop window and if I see the mannequins dressed in minuscule skirts and midriff tops, I walk away.  This shop was of a similar calibre except for a chambray dress on one of the mannequins that I have wanted to buy for myself for quite some time but couldn’t find one that I really liked.  So, I dragged my poor husband inside the store, grabbed the dress off the rack and rushed to the change room. 

I was such in a great rush that I could barely see myself in the mirror.  It looked ok and my husband was so relieved that I didn’t want to try anything else that he paid the price without even looking.  We left the shop in great haste, luckily A Vida Portuguesa was just around the corner and, as it turned out, the shop was rather small so it did not took us to long to visit.   By that time we were so late that we gave up on the idea of having a nice farewell lunch at one of the myriads of cafes and instead bought two pies and ate them while walking back to the hotel.

When I did try the dress on properly, I quiet liked it.  It is very casual day dress that can be effortlessly worn with shoes, sandals, sneakers or boots, ideal for the days when you don’t feel like making an effort but still want to look nice. 

And today is just one of these days.  After a few intense hours behind our computer screens, my husband suggested we take a break and just go down to a local shop for a cup of strong coffee and a short stroll along the beach afterwards.   It sounded like a good idea and so without too much thought, I just belted my new denim dress over the plain white t-shirt which I was wearing and was ready to go. My new metallic brogues (bought on the same holiday but from Athens) and matching socks completed my very comfortable look.  I grabbed the bag that I was carrying the night before and to my great relief found a pair of aviator shades that I needed for the walk.

What would you grab when you want to take it easy?  What is your take it easy outfit that you would just put on and be off?

WHAT I WORE TO A GALLERY OPENING

Hi there,

A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail containing an invitation to view a new collection at the art gallery called .M Contemporary.  I had no idea of how they came in possession of my e-mail address but the invitation sounded rather nice, snippets of the artist’s work looked rather promising and even though we were not hunting for any art at the moment, we thought it would do us no harm to attend.

The work was of a South African artist, Michael Taylor, and my husband who is also from Cape Town was quite interested to see his painting and so we accepted.

I cannot say that I have been to many openings during my life and have never circulated in art circles but somehow I felt that some sort of an unwritten dress code was expected from the attendees. Due to my lack of exposure to this world, I was not quite sure what dress-code is required for such an occasion but I had a hunch that staying away from denim and sneakers would be a good idea.  I also didn’t want to look like I was trying too hard and so I opted for the world best known, all-time favourite, “cannot do wrong” every respectable woman’s staple – a black dress.

Ever since my daughter came from holiday in Europe and showed me some clothes she had bought from the store called Cos, I wanted to have some of it.  A quick visit to their web site revealed that unfortunately they were not shipping to Australia.  Until one day, they just came over to OZ and opened their store first in the Sydney CBD and later on in our local Westfield Shopping Centre.

Their clothes remind me a little bit of a Calvin Klein style:  minimalistic, monochromatic with clean simple lines and understated elegance.  And because of its “simplicity”, almost every piece on the rack is boundlessly versatile and with a little help from certain accessories can be easily transformed from the office attire into a night-out outfit.

My first purchase from them was the above mentioned black tunic dress. It looked quite simple when I picked it up off the rack with very little detailing except for two hidden side pockets and a thin white trim running along the seams but that is what attracted me to it.

Having such a simple silhouette as a blank canvas presents a lot of options on how this dress can be worn, depending on the occasion, the time of the day and the style of my look.  And once that is established, all it takes is to choose the right shoes, handbag and accessories.

ACCESSORIES HAVE THE POWER TO TRANSFORM YOUR LOOK DRASTICALLY WITH MINIMAL EFFORT

Going back to my story, I was after the style that could be described as subdued bohemian chic that I thought would quite suit the occasion and for that reason I chose a monochromatic black and white palette.   Using a scarf with huge black and white dots all over it as a necklace, I wrapped it around my neck so it looked like a collar and to match it, I put on an oversized cuff bracelet in white with a random black ink dots pattern (seen here).

Short blocked heel boots (seen here) added some edgy feel to my look and a long black coat completed the look but when I checked myself in the mirror, I felt that my outfit looked rather sombre for the occasion, so I decided to add an element of fun to it by mixing up different patterns and swapped the black coat for a knee high one in animal black and white print. 

Dress:  Cos

Boots:  Bianca Buccheri

Coat:  Jane Lamerton

Scarf:  High Tea with Mrs Woo

Cuff:  Dinosaur Designs

And so we went.  As quite often happens in life, when you don’t know what to expect, you end up having a great time.  We thoroughly enjoyed the exhibition, the hostess was most gracious, we met a bunch of interesting people and we felt like we belonged.   We also like a couple of artworks by the other artists on display and I have a feeling that my husband is planning to get one for our upcoming wedding anniversary.  Time will tell.  It is in July so I will keep you informed.

Have you experienced a similar situation when you were invited to an affair out of your usual environment?  And how did you handle it?

Until then.

WHAT I WORE FOR SUNDAY LUNCH

Hi everyone,

One of my most favourite Sunday lunch spots is Kingsleys Steak and Crab House in Sydney’s iconic Woolloomooloo’s Finger Wharf.  It has played an integral role in our rich history and just recently celebrated its 100^th birthday.  A wool and cargo dock in the past, it was left unused and forgotten for decades until the late 1990’s when it received a huge refurbish and overhaul and has emerged as one of Sydney’s most exclusive eating, drinking and marina addresses.  Fronted by a contemporary hotel, the Wharf is also a residential address for a range of exclusive apartments where Russell Crowe and Nicole Kidman were among its owners.

Its ideal location offers a picture-perfect view over the water and the city beyond.

It is absolutely magic to be here at night, looking at the bright blazing signs of the CBD with the skyscrapers acting as a back drop, listening to the water lapping at your feet, hearing the peels of laughter coming from the moored boats along the marina and the sounds of music from the apartments above while sampling good food and drinking good wine.

The Wharf boasts a number of world class restaurants, each of them showcasing delicious food and excellent wine lists and over time we have dined at almost all of them, yet somehow we always come back to Kingsleys.  Well, there is a very simple reason for it – we absolute love the house specialty – Salt and Pepper Mud Crab.

Our attraction to it extends to a point that whenever we have visitors from overseas, we make sure that we dine with them at Kingsleys.  This applies to our local friends too, especially to those who have never have eaten there before.  Case in point, our recent lunch with good friends Monica and Sam.

Although the restaurant serves high quality food and the service is impeccable, the atmosphere here is quite relaxed and while no particular dress code is required, people tend to dress casually yet with a sense of style and class.

My choice for this occasion was a pair of bootleg cropped pants in black and white stripes that I bought on my recent vacation in Lisbon’s airport, while waiting to change planes, together with a white V-neck loose fit blouse.  I wasn’t sure what kind of shoes to wear with these pants because I have quite slim ankles and sometimes feel conscious of not showing them too much.  While I appreciate their shape when I am wearing high heel shoes or slim-fit ankle-short pants, I am well aware that they might look a bit too skinny stuck underneath wide bottom pants.  I found the solution by putting on a pair of short blocked heel boots that covered my ankles and also gave an edgy feel to my outfit.  And to be on the fun side, I wore my silver metallic socks. 

Pants:  Pepe Jeans

Shirt:  Zara

Boots: Bianca Buccheri

Bag:  Louis Vuitton

The weather was perfect, the food that we washed down with a bottle of chilled white wine was scrumptious, the company - most enjoyable, a fabulous way to spend your Sunday and get recharged for the week ahead.

Do you have a favourite spot to eat that you come back to time and time again?