Thursday 27 February 2014

PLANNING AHEAD: autumn.

Untitled #25


Autumn is very much on the horizon for those of us living in Sydney; the leaves are starting to turn a golden hue, there's a slight chill in the air when you drag yourself out of the bed in the morning and the sun doesn't turn it up every weekend to necessitate baking for endless hours at the beach. The phenomenon with Sydney weather is this - autumn (and spring) always past in such a blur that you question its very existence and before you know it, you're rugging up for winter in thick knits and leather everything. 

It's essential to take advantage of the few, truly Autumn days because every year, without fail, I earmark outfits for this season and before I know it - bam! winter. But I really shouldn't complain, winter in Sydney is hardly anything to compare to the freeze I felt in Europe. Perhaps this year, now that I've experienced a real winter, I can drag my "Autumn designed 'fits" well into winter? And I know exactly what I'm going to be wearing when the mercury drops (and hopefully stays down because I can almost smell an Indian summer heading our way, I'm normally also for a prolonged summer but there are some pieces that I'm dying to wear):

1. Leather jacket I currently own three leather jackets; my bulky Acne Rita and two thinner versions from Saba and Mister Zimi. I don't foresee myself investing in another leather jacket piece this A/W period but I guess if this BLK Denim piece goes on sale, although it's probably time I ventured away from the tried and tested colour of black for a leather jacket. 

2. Longline knitted coat At the end of the last winter season, I snatched up this beauty when I was shopping at Paddington with the lovely Oh, my gilded! and it's going to be the perfect go-with-everything jacket. It adds instant polish to an outfit whilst the fact that it's knitted keeps it Sydney-casual. The length of the coat really help to elongate your body because we can't all be 180cm models but we can give the illusion, non? 

3. Tall boots The Stuart Weitzman 'Reserve' boots has found itself right into the forefront of my Birthday wishlist. We all know how obsessed with boots I am and for the past two years, not one pair has creeped past my lower calf - not since the disaster that was a pair of black suede thigh-high boots, disaster because somehow I was convinced that they would be good sans heels. The 'Reserve' boots have a slightly higher heel than the 50/50 and a slightly more tailored ankle without losing that chic (and cheeky!) height of being just above your knee and not hitting true thigh height. 

4. Shorts Why have over-the-knee boots and not wear them with a pair of amazing Willow shorts. The loose design of the shorts paired with these boots will guarantee instant model legs. Now you can skip the gym and indulge in one last summer sunset over Bondi Beach with a glass of white. 

5. Oversized scarf Preferably in a variety that can double as a picnic rug for an impromptu picnic involving cheese, crackers and strawberries. Autumn really is a fantastic time to go outdoors and stay there without freezing your limbs off or sweating yourself into dehydration. Whilst outdoors, allow yourself one instagram photo before shutting off technology and just enjoy life. I, myself, plan to steal my mum's Jac + Jack wool shawl, it would be a pity not to get the most amount of wear out of this amazing ikat print as possible. 

And you thought this was going to be purely a wishlist of the things that I want. Nope, it's all about shopping from your own closet! I've been on a rampage trying to whittle down my wardrobe to a more manageable amount of clothes, now things are just starting to pile into a huge for-sale-on-ebay pile. Hopefully I can try and tackle it this weekend. 

x karen

Monday 24 February 2014

Work.

Zimmermann silk top, Willow silk shorts, Willow 'Work' boots, Chanel Boy Bag, Celine sunglasses, Jennifer Zeuner necklaces

To be afforded the opportunity to travel is always a blessing and I still can't wrap my mind around the places that I've been able to travel to this past month. However, if there's one thing (besides a home cooked meal for once) that I've missed during my tenure of living-out-of-my-suitcase is my wardrobe, or namely my shoes. I've always had an unhealthy obsession with shoes and there's nothing more that I love splurging on - except bags, or maybe clothing - maybe I just have a shopping problem?

After landing in Sydney from Bali on Wednesday, it was straight into work the next two days which meant the wardrobe that I've missed was still eluding me. So when Saturday rolled in, I was not going to let it go by without decking out in some of my favourite Australian designers to go with my recent Paris splurge. These Willow boots have barely left my feet ever since I bought them almost a year ago. 

Best Investment Ever.

x karen

Friday 21 February 2014

shimmer shimmer.


Bec & Bridge jumper

Practicability never really played a strong role in my outfit choices, but then again, I rarely had to contend for snowy Stockholm weather either. Practical would be bundling myself in layers of cashmere and leather; but my version of practical is wearing a half-sheer jumper that has just the right amount of shimmer in the low-lit bar next to Berns. 

x karen

Friday 7 February 2014

Le Boy

 
Nothing very bad could happen to you there. How Holly Golightly feels about Tiffany & Co is exactly how I feel about Chanel. Sure, it's nothing but an expensive delusion (or pretension)- but my theory is that you haven't lived until you splurge on something so obscenely expensive that your hands shake as you're handing over your credit card. Or is that too #sh!tfashiongirlssay to live by? 

Diamonds might be forever, but so is the Chanel Boy Bag. A modern and slightly more masculine take on the classic 2.55, it was hard to resist, especially when you're standing inside of the Chanel boutique on Rue Cambon and you're being informed that there is less a handful left in Paris. When luck is on your side, to have arrived within days of the lastest drop at Chanel, who am I to spit in the face of Lady Luck and not purchase Le Boy?


So, the second addition to my Chanel collection has proven so far to be much more versatile than my Jumbo 2.55 in Raspberry (a colour that I still love after all these seasons). The Boy has been something that I've been lusting over since it was first introduced, and to have it in my arms and call it my own? My range of emotions really weren't built for it- because after the euphoria of purchasing it wore off, all that was left was a numbing sense of disbelief. Quite akin to when I saw the Eiffel Tower for the first time or that one time I squeezed into  a pair size 24 J Brand jeans (what the hey!). 

But once that sense of guilt, disbelief and vague dislocation lifts away; you're still left with the most perfect bag this side of creation. Which really is a win on any day of the week. 

x karen

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Orange Mod.

Hellooooo?

Is there still anyone out there? 

First of all, just an explanation as to why my blog has been so decidedly inactive for the past 2 weeks; or to be honest, lacking in posts since before Christmas. Well, if you follow me on instagram (as you all should!) for the past 2 weeks, I've been traipsing all over Europe. By all over; I mean London, Paris & Stockholm. It was a wonderful trip with an equal mixture of touristy cliches & business meetings (more on that later). 

In the meantime, here's a long overdue post that I meant to post before I left. Something to keep you entertained whilst I go through the plethora of photos that I took in Europe!

Tuchuzy silk tee, Rag & Bone Bomber skirt, Senso Qimat boots, Alexander Wang bag & Ray-Ban aviators

White is always an easy to go to option for pairing with anything bright or printed i.e. anything that you wouldn't ordinarily find in my wardrobe. This white silk tee from Tuchuzy is absolutely perfect, it adds a hint of luxury with the cool silk and criss-cross back. The perfect choice to wear with my new favourite Rag & Bone skirt (definitely regretted not bringing this to Europe!)- can't wear to wear it with different sweaters and jackets once the temperature drops. 


x karen