How to look "expensive"

So I've been watching Season 1 of the 90's "Beverly Hills 90210"... bear with me... and I have to say that it's pretty addictive. Not to mention that it's giving me flashbacks to my USA trip last year - wish I could go again right now! Anyway, I digress... in one episode Brenda is lamenting not having as much money to spend on clothes as her friend Kelly (First World problems huh). However, she admits that the clothes don't necessarily look expensive, they just are expensive. It reminded me of an interview with Alex Perry that I saw on the Morning Show the other day (oh yes, 90s teen dramas AND daytime TV... the thrilling life of a new mum) where he was giving advice on "how to look expensive". His list was full of revolutions such as "don't buy 20 cheap bags, buy a Chanel instead" or "splurge on jewellery"... umm, Alex, I think the point was to look expensive WITHOUT the Beverly Hills budget. 

This is something that I've had to consider lately, since adding baby costs to bills and mortgage, without my usual income... but my approach is a little different:

1.  Always buy on sale - that way, you get better quality for the same price tag.

2.  Pair cheap basics with a designer piece - e.g. Dotti knit with Karla Spetic skirt. If the designer piece is printed, it will draw the focus.

3.  Minimal accessories - often my engagement/ wedding ring and Michael Kors watch are enough. Otherwise, a statement ring or necklace are a good option - local handmade versions are great as they are unique and often cheap, especially fabric or wood crafted necklaces.

4.  Steer away from recognisable styles or brands. Shop online or in local boutiques to source pieces that people probably won't have seen before. If you do shop at popular chain stores, buy generic styles to pair with your printed pieces.

5.  Leather shoes are good, even better if there is a unique detail or unexpected colour.

6.  If outdoors, a pair of sunglasses in a style that suit you will really add to an outfit.

H&M knit (pink), Sportsgirl sunglasses, Zara knit, Michael Kors watch, Karen Walker pants, Topshop leather brogues, Josh Goot skirt

I know that many people would argue that it is better to splurge on basics and accessories, but I think it's important to stay true to your style. If I buy printed pieces that I love, I know that I will wear them for years to come.

Welcome to the world, little one

It's hard to believe, after a long, long... long 9 months of waiting, that our little girl is here and almost a month old already. The (somewhat traumatic) birth is fast becoming a distant memory, albeit brought back with sickening force if I happen to catch sight of a pair of silver salad servers... I won't explain.

My days and nights have become a blur of feeding, nappy changes and swaddling. That said, I have made an effort to get out and about, if not once a day, at least every second day. The weather has been far too gorgeous for me to be chained to the couch. An outing could involve something as simple as trip to the grocery store or a little walk around the block, although there have been more exciting ventures as well. I look forward to a time when I am confident enough to feed in public and don't have to do a mad dash out immediately following one feed, ensuring to be back in time for the next (which, incidentally, is never more than a few hours).

For the moment, the sweetest things include watching her splash in the bath, then quickly bundling her in a towel before her little face turns red from screaming; watching my husband's loving gaze as she curls up koala-like on his chest;  looking down on her as she sleeps peacefully in her bassinet; laughing at her funny little stretches and facial expressions; and thinking with wonder that I have created this tiny creature. At the moment I feel as though I am simply keeping her alive, but look forward to (hopefully) soon being rewarded with smiles, kisses and, ultimately, love.

Nesting: Tick!

Now all we need is a baby...

Luxe to... Less?

I had been umming and ahhing over these Mimco brogues for some time. To be honest, I was waiting for further reductions, because as much as I advocate the quality of Mimco shoes, they do tend do come down in price a bit during sale time. Plus, baby budget... So when I saw that Topshop were having free shipping, I had a quick browse of their sale section. Underwhelming, EXCEPT for these cute mint coloured brogues. I have had no experience with the quality or fit of Topshop shoes, but for $AU15 and free shipping, I thought it was worth a try. Perhaps they will get the Mimco version off my mind.

Meanwhile, I can't stop looking at bags lately. My "dream on" favourite is the Chloe Paraty, medium sized in this gorgeous peacock colour. At $1800 unfortunately it won't be mine any time soon. Next up, almost $1000 cheaper, but still a bit much for me at $890 is the Alexander Wang Emile, small size in Mercury/ rose gold. And finally, the humble (ahem, $230) Catia hip bag from Country Road in a lovely lilac colour. I have always found Country Road bags to be a little boring and overpriced, but their new season bright colours and textured leathers are somewhat tempting. This bargain price doesn't quite instill quite the same reckless abandon as $15 shoes, however, so for now I'll keep dreaming... if only I hadn't already spent my tax return on a boring car service.

I'll leave you with a final cheapie purchase: Spearmint knit from Dotti, on sale for $30. I forsee some cute Spring outfits, paired with my Topshop brogues, with any luck. Pictured with Karla Spetic leather-backed skirt, Antipodium skirt, Lover shorts.

 

Lover Persona SH

 

 

 

I have been a long time fan of Lover and I especially like that their looks seem to be "growing up" as I do. The 'Persona' collection seems to mix a sophisticated edge with their usual relaxed style. The above looks are my favourites, even though most of them are not ideal for "new mummy" style. I think I'll need to narrow it down to a couple of special pieces only. Which do you like best?

Love Karen Walker Eyewear

Karen Walker Anwhere, Number One, Anytime, Number Six and Helter Skelter

I have the bottom two pairs, the first oversized and the second a nice small fit. Together, they pretty much cover all bases. But a black pair wouldn't go astray. And just check out their Fantastique Limited Edition Eyewear Collection (coming in September). The frames come in gold or black filigree. Amazing! 

 

Maternity style

It took me a long time to come to terms with maternity style, and I seemed to be constantly re-evaluating it due to my changing shape and size. Here are my tips to help others to get through the 9 months:

1. BOTTOMS

• Jeans - Best purchase early on would be a pair or two of skinny (below-the-bump) maternity jeans. I recommend ASOS for well-fitting, cheap jeans. If you wait for a discount code, they are even better value. Until you find a pair, use your normal jeans and loop an elastic band through the button hole to allow a bit more room in the waist.
• Leggings - I never wore these until I was pregnant, but really, just embrace it. I bought non-maternity styles so that I can still wear them afterwards. These will go under anything from dresses (which will become increasingly short) to long tunic-style top. If you buy the ponti-style, they can even be worn with slightly shorter tops or blouses due to their pants-like appearance.
• Elastic waist pants - I prefer non-maternity styles. Most of these I already owned and I will continue to wear them all after I have the baby. I found this really helped me to stay true to my usual style.
• Skirts - I only found that skirts worked early on, when I was still trying to hide the pregnancy. I went for elasticated, slightly high waist styles. If I had a summer pregnancy, I probably would have persevered with stretchier styles in lieu of jeans or leggings. Again, you can definitely work with non-maternity styles here.

Sportsgirl, Country Road, ASOS

2. TOPS

•  Long singlet tops - Country Road seamless tanks work well, but I would invest in a few maternity styles, as these really come in handy for layering as you get bigger. ASOS are great and, again, cheap. I also bought some Lovable feeding tanks... weird as it feels to have the clip up flaps there when you don't need them yet, I'm sure they will come in handy once the baby is born. Plus I mainly used them for PJs and layering.
• Swing style blouses or tees - I went with non-maternity styles, and found Country Road and Sass & Bide particularly good. Some of these I already owned, and the rest were picked up on sale. The only problem is, as your bump gets bigger, these become too short, so I layered long singlets underneath.
• Maternity tees - invest in one or two, you honestly do need that extra length eventually - and I found the perfect Breton-style on ASOS.
• Long tunics/ knits - tight or ruched styles are particularly flattering. The ones I found were from Country Road. Layer these over skinny jeans or leggings and at least you know they won't ride up and expose your belly.
• Cropped knits - to layer over long singlets or loose long tees. I find wool jumpers stretch back into shape well with hand washing, so non-maternity is fine. I went with styles that I already owned.
• Blazers/ jackets - go with what you already have and wear it open. I think this looks best with tight styles underneath to avoid looking too big.

 

ASOS, Country Road, ASOS (similar), Sass & Bide, Country Road

 

 

Stella Mc Cartney for Target, Country Road, Karen Walker, Zara (all old)

3. DRESSES

• One or two maternity styles could come in handy, if you find something very similar to your normal style. I found that dresses with a seam just above the bump give the illusion of waisted-styles that I would normally wear. ASOS usually have quite a range of dresses, and get new styles in constantly.
• Loose tunics - best in silk so it flows smoothly over the bump and isn't bulky. Keep it fairly short and pair with leggings and flats. If you feel you still look too wide, try adding a belt above the bump.
• Maxi dresses - I found these worked well for me near the beginning, but as I got bigger they made me look as wide as I am tall! Again, a seam or belt just above the bump can help. As with all dresses, stick with your usual style or you won't feel comfortable.

Karen Walker, ASOS (similar), Karen Walker

4. ACCESSORIES

• Flat shoes - ballet flats or loafers are best as they are easy to slip on and off. The also highlight the ankle (if you don't have too much swelling). Some people change foot size during pregnancy; I did not and thus I stuck with shoes I already owned.
• Belts - for above the bump. I mostly used this during the middle phase when there was a bump, but if attention wasn't drawn to it, people might just think I was a bit chubby. It can look a bit cliche.
• Long or chunky necklaces - to balance out the bump/ draw attention away from the boobs.
• Light handbag - you have enough extra weight to carry around, although make sure there is still room for some snacks!
• Make-up - I started to wear more make-up, as my outfits were often more plain. Also, pregnancy was not kind to my skin.

5. GENERAL NOTES

• Stick to your usual style - I wasted quite a bit of money on cheap clothes, whose main virtue was that they actually fit me. Most have already been thrown out, worn a handful of times max. Many of these were perfectly stylish clothes, that look great on others, but are just not styles that I would normally wear. Where possible, go with items that you already own or can wear again (non-maternity where possible). You will not feel comfortable if you compromise your personal style (in the same way, some items on my list of must-haves may not suit you at all, so be true to yourself).
• People will give you clothes ("I found some big tops that I thought would fit you"... Umm, thanks...?) They are just excited for you and trying to be nice, also they may have bought these pieces for themselves but want an excuse to get rid of them. Best to politely accept and feel free to throw out later. 
• Don't buy too much. And if you want to splurge, make it on something that you can wear after the baby is born too. Maternity clothes can be purchased quite cheaply.
• I honestly have no affiliation with ASOS... but it's pretty much the only place that I found that have stylish maternity clothes, for cheap prices. They constantly have sales and discount codes, as well as free shipping. 
• Keep re-evaluating your wardrobe - your body will constantly change, and the way in which it does this will differ for everyone. What looks nice one week will look frumpy the next, and what looks amazing on other pregnant ladies will not necessarily suit you (oh how I wish I looked glowing in a maxi dress). This is just another reason to be mindful not to buy too much - take the purchases slow and find out what works for you.
• Everyone else comments on how quickly your pregnancy has flown by... but trust me, 9 MONTHS IS A LONG TIME. You will get very sick of wearing the same thing over and over, so there will probably be some things that you will be ready to never look at again by the end. Have a big wardrobe cull - it feels great. Right now, I am very excited by the prospect of having greater choice of clothing styles again, very soon.