Fashion Musings

JUMPERS!

It's cold. You need a nice jumper.

So it took me aaaaaaaaages to find the right one but I finally picked one up from Cue on sale for $42. I'm quite the bargain hunter. Anyway, I've done the hard work for you and because I'm so super helpful, I've sorted them into price ranges. Go me.

Super Cheap:

ASOS

Nordstrom

Low:

ASOS

Princess Polly

Dotti

Mid:

Princess Polly

Sportsgirl

High:

Netaporter

Cue

ASOS

Nordstrom

Only in my dreams (yes, that is actually a category):

And my personal favourite (mostly because I just like winning things)...

Is it too early to pick my Christmas present now?

Brighter than a Highlighter:

This is your inspiration:

JUST KIDDING. Although carrots are rich in  dietary fibre, antioxidants, andminerals...which I suppose, is quite inspiring. Furthermore, according to the Stabilo website, the Stabilo Boss highlighter is the 'unchallenged market leader' and 'available in nine attractive colours'...which is also...inspirational.

Speaking of attractive, here is the inspiration that is actually relevant to fashion:

The Versace Spring 2012 Couture show was just jam-packed with fluorescent shades, without being reminiscent of a tacky rave party. As you know, I am colour mad and I could not be happier about this new trend!

According to Wiki, carrots get their bright orange colour from β-carotene, an organic compound which chemically is classified as a hydrocarbon ...SNOOZE.

Well, um, you can just get some bright orange colour from..the shops (but if you can get ahold of some B-carotene, then by all means, go crazy):

DRESSES:

And my personal favourite...

Although it pains me a little that I got this dress full-price and it is now on sale, I have no regrets. It is a truly wonderful creature. No seriously, aside from the fantastic colour, it is made out of the nicest material. It is so soft and smooth! I wish there were some way I could convey the amazing material of the dress via internet! JUST GO TO YOUR NEAREST BARDOT AND TOUCH IT (WITHOUT BEING CREEPY)!

BLOUSES:

BAGS:

I also currently possess this bag (a present from my lovely sister)...

And possess these bags in my dreams...

Don't look so smug, fluorescent bags - it's almost my birthday...you'll be mine soon!

Obviously this trend has got me a little too excited.

Peace-out.

- Jessica

PS. I know I said 'peace-out' but I was only saying that to sound cool and I wasn't really finished. I just wanted to tell you to buy organic carrots whenever possible because I was reading a copy of Good Health magazine while waiting in the dentist's waiting-room (they didn't have Vogue, okay?!) and normal carrots absorb pesticides or something. Anyhoo, it seemed important at the time - just be wary of those evil carrots!

Peace-out (fo real).

Cookie Cutter Cuteness:

Now I thought the Peter Pan collar would be the cutest trend of the year, hands down...

However, it appears to have some competition! How cute is the scalloped cut!

This trend has been around for yoinks, which just goes to show how cyclical fashion is! Trends (unless they are really awful ie: booty shorts) always seem to come back, appropriated for a new generation:

* a magazine article from the 1960s

And I know this is too pricey and I shouldn't even be looking at it, but isn't it lovely?

I am going to use my powers of mind control to make this dress come on sale. Chant with me and maybe it will work - SALE! SALE! SALE!

Now looking at the title of this post, I'm getting a little HUNGRRRY. OM NOM NOM.

C is for cookie, indeed.

- Jessica

Who said mullets were a faux pas?

Think mullet.

...

Is this what comes to mind?

*Barfs slightly on the inside*

So naturally, this is the image I prefer to conjure to conjure up when, God forbid, I'm forced to think about the worst hair invention cut 'style' thing ever:

Hmmmm she doesn't look too happy there, which is weird because her Oscar de la Renta dress is b-e-a-utiful...

Oh! That's better. :)

As it's (kind of) summer, which means it's (definitely) time for dresses, what better time is there to unleash a little bravery, style and ankle-showing off that we like to call the mullet dress.

Even though it's not quite De la Renta, I do think this lovely detailed and super layered Princess Polly dress is realllllyy nice:

And here are a few more from Princess Polly:

I'm also really liking the pink-black sort of combination here!

Unfortunatetly I'm not really sure if I would ever be able to pull a mullet dress off, I mean if you have the height for it then by all means, go ahead. In the meantime I guess i'll just have to stick with mullet jumpers, and mullet shirts, and mullet skirts... See you really can have a whole mullet-y wardrobe.

Also I just thought of what else comes to mind when I think of a mullet:

Anyway I'll just leave you with a much more pleasant image of my personal favourite mullet dress from Princess Polly:

Drooooooolllllllllllll :)

- Varsh

Day for Daniel:

I'm sure you all heard about the very tragic abduction of Daniel Morcombe back in 2003. It is just one of those things which make me feel so sad =(

You may already know that his wonderful parents are very actively involved in promoting child safety. Every year they organise a 'Day for Daniel', where everyone is encouraged to have a 'red-themed' day to raise awareness about child safety. This year it will be held on Friday the 28th of October.

Sounds fun! This is what I would do if I were you:

1) Give someone a red velvet cupcake because they are delicioso. I've heard Varsh's mother makes some yummy red velvet cupcakes (yes Varsh, that is a subtle hint that I am expecting cupcakes).

OMNOMNOM.

I had one the other day from Cupcakes on Pitt...best $2.50 I have ever spent.

2) Look at Rihanna...seriously, she's so purdeee...naww...

I'm a little sad that she's gotten rid of the red hair. Like Rihanna's music, the red really grew on me over time.

3) Read something red.

Oh wait, that kind of sounds like I'm encouraging you to read the Communist Manifesto, which isn't really what I had in mind.

This is more what I was thinking of:

BEST.BOOK.EVER.

4) Paint your nails red because it is one of the best colours ever:

5) Wear something red. Yes, this is actually a fashion-related post. I am actually capable of being relevant.

An online store that I only recently stumbled upon is Market HQ and they have some very cute red pieces from brands such as Mink Pink and Motel:

But you know what? Even if the only item of red clothing you own is you own is a Guadalajara poncho...

just wear it because this is a wonderful cause!

Remember the date - Friday the 28th of October!! DO NOT FORGET!!

To make sure you don't forget, I am going to write in an unreasonably large font.

28th. October. FRIDAY. FRIDAY. FRIDAY.

Hold on, I just want to really reeeeeeeeeally make sure you remember. Now, as far as I know, there is not song about the 28th of October...but I'm pretty sure there is a song about Friday.

So as well as having to wear red, you're going to have to remember to 'get down' and 'party'.

I'm not sure what I'll wear at this stage...I'll have to do a rumage through my wardrobe. What will you be wearing?

SPREAD THE WORD!!!

- Jes

PS. For more info, just click the link http://www.danielmorcombe.com.au/DFD_Poster_2011.pdf

Cutest dress out? I think so. :)

Ahh the buttoned up dress. The shirt dress. The farmer girl dress. Whatever you want to call it, it's adorable, just as the title suggests. Once upon a time, the only instance we would be blessed with these dresses would be on a skinny model with purple hair featured on an indie music video clip set in some kind of idyllic meadow.

This, my friends, is no longer the case. I am incredibly (you have no idea how much, actually) pleased to say that they are FINALLY becoming a staple in every wardrobe. Or should be, at least. :D

I don't care if people say that they're a little hill billy, I LOVE them and believe that you should all spend the next thirty seconds of your lives being graced with glorius images of these dresses which are appearing in two of my favourite stores, General Pants Co. and Princess Polly.

Actually I don't really shop at General Pants, to be honest, but I find that they randomly have these amazing clothes and where I'm like, dayum, why is it that I do not own that?? So here we go, the first of the buttoned up dresses...

See what I mean??? THEY'RE JUST SO CUTE!!!! As if you wouldn't want one of these!!! The first dress by The Cassette Society, it probably my favourite, just because it seems to be tailored quite well and pleats fall very nicely. Do you want to hear a very random, but very fun fact? When I was about five, I always though 'very' was spelt with two r's. As in: verry. How verry strange.

Sorry about that.

Now if you're thinking, well those dresses are lovely and classy and multiple-venue-slash-people-appropriate BUT they seem to be lacking a little colour, never fear, Princess Polly is here! :D Well, as you'll see, I guess Princess Polly is really only offering one other colour but meh, the dresses are still lovely.

A bit short (mostly the first one) but these models are probably seven billion metres tall so it shouldn't affect us midgets too badly.

Now, for the mother of all buttoned up dresses. We've actually already featured this dress on Fashion-Musings before, but I solemly believe that it deserves to be showcased one more time with its very own over-dramatized pre-caption. Here comes, the Bella Mia Pleat Maxi Dress...

Drrrroooooollllll. Good lord, that is a very very very very very nice dress. Oh it's from good old Sportsgirl by the way. And as if I couldn't get any more jealous of anyone out there who owns this dress (obviously not me, damn being short!) it comes in cobalt as well. I do hope that my humble dream for the buttoned up dress to sweep the nation this Spring comes true. And when it does, I'll buy a couple more and be quiet, how about it? :P

- Varsh

Blazer + Jeans = ♥-liness

Much like Kate and William, a blazer and a good pair of jeans are a match made in heaven.

Seriously, it's casual but also extremely sophisticated. I think 'casual chic' is the fancy term I want to use to describe this trend.

And it's not just royalty getting in on this trend:

Wow...Emma Stone gets really dressed up to go grocery shopping. When I go grocery shopping, I am practically in my PJs (shh, don't tell anyone!). Seriously, it's not as if I have anyone taking photos of me while I'm choosing between pink ladies and granny smiths (I usually choose pink ladies). Oh the perks of not being famous.

I love this trend because the weather is still absolutely teeth-chatteringly freeeeeeeezing most days, so you can't really leave the house without a jacket of some sort anyway. You might as well wear a nice one - like one of these lovely numbers:

The blue blazer is now on sale for $50, which is pretty exciting. YAY I LOVE SALES!

Blazers like this pink FOREVER NEW one below are super-handy because they can also be worn with formal-style dresses:

AND HOW I LOVE THIS MILITARY-STYLE BLAZER FROM MARCS:

I want need this blazer. So excuse me while I go pawn everything-in-my-line-of-sight in an attempt to get this ASAP. Adios, lamp. Or is that a little drastic?

Team with a pair of skinny jeans and you are good to go! The thing I love about this trend is that is involves two staples, so you'll get plenty of use out of both pieces, even if you aren't wearing them together all year round.

Blazers make you look incredibly sophisticated - the least you can do is take care of them! Always place your blazer on a hanger when you aren't wearing it (obviously, you can't place it on the hanger when you are wearing it...) as this will make sure the shape of the shoulders stays intact. Aren't I just full of useful tips? =)

- Jesie-A

Old Is New

So this is a bit of a debated topic in the fashion spectrum. Is it ok to wear recycled clothes? Sounds like a question for that Can of Worms show.

Anyway, Jesie-A and I are quite divided on this topic. While she is slightly obsessed with cleanliness (I'm sure she doesn't mind me saying this) and believes that clothes should be new, I, on the other hand, think that it is perfectly acceptable to purchase second hand clothing, or retro, vintage clothing, so long as it is in a suitable condition. I think that this is where you can find clothes with a bit of history, a bit more character... not a piece which you could find in every store.

Now, if you aren't one for trudging around contemp suburbs and sifting through dusty rows of grandpa vests, worn out shoes and sweat ridden jumpers in search of the perfect vintage item, vintage labels also give you the opportunity to purchase your goodies online. They also often let you choose the era you wish to your clothing  to be from, choose whether the clothing is designer or not, and sometimes even have negotiable prices.

My favourite vintage site at the moment is oh deer vintage, a vintage and retro label which imports second hand clothing from Europe and often hems or alters the pieces to give them a modern edge. You can visit the site at http://www.ohdeervintage.com/

These are some of my favourite pieces from the site:

The only issue, which is kind of a cool issue, is that there is usually only one piece of the clothing you are looking at, so you kind of have to get in quick!

And if you aren't totally into the idea of wearing something which someone else has already worn, and that is understandable, there are plenty of commercial bands and labels which showcase the retro look as well.

Brands such as Sportsgirl and Princess Polly have their own vintage collections, while labels such as Princess Highway, Dangerfield, Revival Clothing, Alice in the Eve and Urban Outfitters already have a retro-style to their collections.

These are just a few retro/vintage/second hand looks  for some inspiration from the above mentioned labels.

Black Friday:

Urban Outfitters:

Revival Clothing:

Princess Polly:

Happy browsing! :)

- Varsh

Putting Two and Two Together: Cropped Jumpers and Maxi Skirts

There are two things we've been seeing a lot of lately.

1) Cropped Jumpers

Glue:

Dotti:

2) Maxi Skirts

General Pants Co:

Ohhh so much colour!! :D

They really are everywhere, and I think they are really funky!! :) Lol, funky. :)

So many smilies today!!! :))))))

Moving on...

So, put them together...

And you get:

These lovely Princess Polly ensembles:

And these very bright, bold Sportsgirl looks:

ZARA's TRF line also featured their famous 'colorskirts:'

Even though the t-shirts aren't quite cropped jumpers, you still get the slightly mullety (in a good way) look with them being tucked in at the front.

The best bit it that it's likey you already have these wonderful items of clothing in your wardrobe!!

Pair it with with some chunky lace up heels from Wanted Shoes i.e:

And you're all set! :D Life's good.

It's too easy isn't it?

These looks have been very popular this winter, and even as the weather starts to warm up a bit (if it ever does),  i'm pretty sure it's a trend which will (and should) stick around for a little longer! I think the best part of this look, besides the other best part I already spoke about, is that you can really mix up textures and colours and prints etc, and there's nothing we love more than extra texture, extra colour (DEFINITELY extra colour) and extra prints. Extra prints?? I don't really know what that it to be honest. :)

- Varsh

Livening up a classic: Lace meets colour

We love the classics - LBDs, pearls and all that jazz. BUT WHAT WE REALLY LOVE (you can tell I'm excited because I'm using capital letters) is when designers take classic materials and pieces and turn them into something unexpected and (brace yourself for a fancy word) avant-garde and amazing on every level.

That's what a lot of designers have been doing lately with lace. We really love lace but it can get a little dull when all we see is black, white or cream (which is nice, but really isn't much more exciting than white). Designers like Issa, Christopher Kane and Elie Saab have been coupling the classic material with a pop of colour and it's a pretty harmonious marriage. Let's take a looksie shall we?

Unfortunately this trend hasn't hit most Aussie stores yet but I'm sure it will in time for formal season but I have managed to suss out a few lovely pieces from Princess Polly:

- Jesie-A