Out with the old, in with the new

I recently had a huge wardrobe cull (could have been "nesting"?) and it feels much better to see everything in my wardrobe clearly. I imagine that I will revisit it again in a couple of months when I have a better sense of my shape and can see what items fit/ suit me. The prospect of having my waist back is pretty exciting and I feel like celebrating with some new purchases, plus the sales are just getting more and more tempting, as pieces I couldn't even consider at the start of the season are now massively reduced and will soon fit me. Being on a baby budget, I shouldn't even be considering this... but maybe if I get some culled items up on ebay we could come to some kind of arrangement...

These I have already purchased (sneaky!) and I think they'll mostly be quite suitable for the new lifestyle.  All pieces are Karen Walker, from Vanity Flair (use code SALE20 for a further 20% off) and karenwalker.com, except for the jeans which are Current/ Elliott from Shopbop. I predict that white jeans will be a must-have for Spring.

These ones are still on my wish list (clockwise from left): Karla Spetic silk and wool dress; Equipment yellow and teal blouses; Lover dress; Mimco brogues; Karen Walker skirt (but the short version); Lover blouse.  

I'm holding off because I think most of them may be impractical with children... but then there's the pretty factor... Most likely purchases are the shoes, skirt and one dress (to be decided). 

I'm also considering a pair of either floral or pastel jeans from J Brand or Current Elliott. Do you think these trends will be around for awhile?

Lover "The White Serpent"

So Lover finally showed at RAFW again, this time in celebration of their 10 year anniversary. Well congratulations, Lover: on the anniversary and a fantastic collection. Lover planned to give tribute to their 10 years of work, whilst taking the label in a fresh direction, which personally, I believe they achieved. The collection interprets older fabrics or styles in a way that seems, fittingly, more mature. I look back on some of Lover's older collections and think that some of the pieces seem too young for me, but many pieces from this collection are just right. Of course, there are also many pieces that are just not to my taste (red is not my most flattering colour).

Here are my top picks:

Very similar to the Modernist dress, which I already own in khaki, but it is oh-so-wearable, and I do like this new length

Love the cut of these sleeves!

Now take your pick of the lace dresses (sure, they're all gorgeous, but I only need one)
Nude, black, ivory and red:

I know I said red's not my colour, but I still think this one is my favourite

How many Lover lace dresses is too many?

Winter lace

This Lover blouse and Sretsis dress (though in pink/ peachy tones) will be in my wardrobe soon. Here's what I'd love to pair them with: Mimco hat, Wittner shoes, Chloe bag, Karen Walker belt.

You win some, you lose some... journey of an online shopper(holic)

I received a package today from Shopbop, a beautiful dress by Lover that had been reduced to 70% off. I sized up because my size was unavailable, but unfortunately it rather swamps me, so I'll have to return or resell. Such as the risk one takes when online shopping, I suppose.

Then again, other times everything goes oh-so-right. I bought this Lover blouse, from the same collection, from ebay for a bargain price. In my actual size this time, and it fits perfectly! (worn with a Karen Walker skirt, bought many years ago before I had discovered the joys... and disappointments... of online shopping)

So what's on my online shopping wishlist now?

Pants from ASOS

Karen Walker blouse, from Maximillia


Wouldn't these look great together?

White Swan, Black Swan

I saw Black Swan a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure I enjoyed it at the time (is it really the sort of movie that you can enjoy?) yet I couldn't stop thinking about it. I think it grew on me over time. Natalie Portman is incredibly creepy. Some people said that they found her mother creepy, but I kind of felt sorry for her and felt that she was just trying to prevent her daughters' self-destructive behaviour. Nevertheless, I somehow identified with Natalie's character's struggle to unleash the black swan within herself. Sometimes I wish I could be more of a black swan too.

Close-up of the print on my new Emma Cook dress

Emma Cook dress, Tony Bianco shoes

Lover dress

Sretsis dress, Nine West shoes, metal and bead necklace

Once upon a postie

Playing with my new things that the postie brought this week. I don't usually receive much in the mail, but this has been a particularly good week after some online-sale shopping. Wedges from Tony Bianco and Lover dress from Shopbop. The sleeves on the dress are so flattering and it can be worn looser and higher on the waist with some skinny jeans as a top. The wedges will go with so much, from my Karen Walker shorts to my ochre and olive Lover dresses.

I don't think there will be such a happy ending for me and my Lover lace Muse dress. As beautiful as it is, I think perhaps I should have sized up for greater coverage at the back. Suddenly I sympathise with the ugly stepsisters from Cinderella. sigh. I suppose I have been kind of wicked when it comes to my spending. So I guess it's up on ebay with this ethereal dress and some other little pretties from my closet. You never know, maybe my fairy godmother will be kind to me and grant me a size 10.

Christmas has come early... and so have the SALES!

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been a little indulgent with the self-gifting this Christmas. Lover's "Untitled" collection has been a particular weakness. A couple more pieces arrived in the post this week.

Lover silk dress, $290 from ebay

Lover lace dress... very expensive but lovely ;)

Many online retailers have started their sales early, which is exciting and daunting at the same time. Here's what's on my post-Christmas wishlist:

Shoes, $99 and Headband, $25 from Mimco

Wedges, $80 and $60 from Tony Bianco

Lover velvet pants, $180, silk dress, $220 and silk slouch shorts, $150 from Shopbop

Now the vital question: Do I really like these? Or am I just getting sucked in because they're on sale? A savings is really a loss if you didn't want/ need the item in the first place. I have several items in my closet or on their way to the op-shop that I hardly/ never wore and mostly because I got sucked in by a sale. But I think most of the above are the real deal. Opinions? I can't afford all of these, so would love some help in narrowing it down!

A little game...

I was attempting a massive wardrobe clean-out today and decided to play a little game.


WARNING: Lover overload in this post.

Dress: Lover; Bag: gift; Sandals: Mimco

Added: Blazer: Lover

Minus dress, add hat from Country Road and shorts by Kloset

Minus blazer, add blouse by... Lover

Minus shorts, add skirt from Sretsis

This game could go on indefinitely - I have way too many clothes!

Meanwhile, a package arrived in the mail today from... you guessed it!

A cute t-shirt with this print, purchased from the online store flash sale.

Naughty or nice?

Ok, so I list some dresses on ebay and it's like I have a new license to go crazy with the spending. Plus, there's the birthday present to self, Christmas present to self... Yes, I think Santa knows I've been naughty.

But I did get this Sass & Bide skirt for only $50 from their warehouse sale (down from $240!) Let's not even talk about the cost of this Lover blazer... BUT it wonderfully versatile and I think we'll be seeing a lot of each other. Pics of my other new clothes coming soon.


P.S. Thanks to my hairdresser - loving the new colour.