Now that's a giveaway!

Wow, wow, wowsy, wow - now that's a giveaway!  The incredible Roxy over at Effortless Anthropologie is holding a generous giveaway - $250 Anthro Card!  Now, quick quick, go follow and enter!!!!

Dressing Down (OOTD)

Had a lovely night out with Hubs, drinks then off to a movie.  

Those with kids would realise that a great babysitter is worth her weight in gold - and I think we may have found our gold statue!  It was a great night with an ok movie - Knight and Day.  Unfortunatley Tom's couch-jumping and crazy talk may have killed my enjoyment of his movies, if you could suspend any thought of realism - this movie was fun, with Cameron Diaz delivering some hysterical one-liners.  I love this dress and originally purchased it to wear to my son's baptism with a pair or sky high stiletto's.  However, I haven't worn it since then, always feeling like it was a little too dressy for everyday wear.  This is my attempt to start making my wardrone work for it's living ;)  While it is definately a summer-weight dress, I winterised (is that even a word?!?) it using thick 120denier stockings and woollen cardigan.  Hopefully the flats have dressed it down making the outfit on a whole much more user friendly.

Dress - Leona Edmiston

Stockings - Levante (seriously the BEST stockings I have come across)

Cardigan - The Works

Shoes - Annapelle

Hairband - Water Lily Alice Band by Mimco (no longer available)

Grey on Grey, Knit on Knit

Off to classes today, then home early to look after my daughter who has had several days off school sick.  I have been a bit blah lately - a mixture of no sleep and feeling like a cold may be creeping on my way - so this cardigan always comes out whenever I feel like being snugly and comfy :)  In my eyes, this dress has a geometric pattern of both blue and light grey, however my husband disagrees.  Anyhow, trying to keep to the grey theme, I added a pair of cable knit stockings in the same colour (which wound up taking forever to put on ad I become progressively more obsessed with the straightness of the cable lines)  All in all, warm and comfortable all day long!

Dress:   Country Road

Cardi: Ruffled Waves by Jaqui-E

Stockings:  David Jones

Boots: Joanne Mercer

Fitting Room Reviews

After loving the fitting room reviews of so many bloggers, I thought I might as well start putting my own Australian ones up here.  I already take fitting room photo's along with the a picture of the tag, so that I can dither in private as to whether I really do like or dislike the outfit.  Plus I use the photo's to make a shopping mall 'wishlist' complete with clothing photograph and the numbers and sale amount :)  Without further ado, here are some recent trips:

Witchery Fitting Room Review

When I saw the Ruffled Drape Skirt ($99.95) on the hanger, I wasn't really expecting much, but boy was I wrong!  It is a beautiful shell colour that would blend in with most wardrobe colour schemes and I found that this skirt runs TTS (this is a size AUS14).  Online it does come in both the shell and black, but I could only find the shell instore  and unfortunately is dry-clean only but you might if careful, get away with a gently handwash.the layers are unusual because they actually loop down and back up to a central flat back panel, while sitting over a fairly straight skirt which is exposed on the hip area.  So while it may appear to have pockets, this is actually the straight skirt underneath.  Would also work well on a windy day - no problems here!  love, love, love - the shell is top of my spring must-haves, (and even considering getting the black online!)

The Printed Silk Cap Sleeve Shirt on the other hand, was a total let down.  I tried the flesh print (also comes in midnight) which was a gorgeous nude with a darker flesh tone subtle pebble print - the material is a pure silk that is just lovely to touch.  But it completely washed me out and when not tucked into the skirt it hit me awkwardly dead on my hips.  If I had a tan and another 6 inches of height - I'd be adding this in a heart beat, but won't be coming home with me :(

Jacqui-E  Fitting Room Review

Another suprising find, the Barbara Shirt Dress is such a figure flattering dress for us curvy gals :)  I couldn't pop the online catalogue photo on here, but it can be seen on the link above.  Made in a cotton/elastane blend, it is both stretchy and structured, and sits fairly high waisted - between an empire and a natural waist - with a wellmade belt covered in the same fabric.  An inverted pleat falls from the waist (which has a flattening (and flattering!) illusion on the lower tummy area.  Length wise is dead on the knee's and skirt is fully lined. Up top, three button and a cap sleeve finish the dress off.  I really loved this dress, but the style wasn't for me at the moment - it had a much more of a work/corporate-casual feel to it.  But might be wishlisted come sale time!

Lastly,  I grabbed the Jerri Utility Skirt ($129.00) in stone along with a top that isn't listed online but I think that it may be the asymetrical bib top ($59.95).  The fit of the skirt may run a little large, if you are in-between, I would definately size down.  The hem hit my kneecaps and was a stretchy and soft cotton/elastane blend which I have a feeling would wear really well throughout the day.  But, nothing about the skirt really jumped out at me.  I will have to revisit this one during saletime.

Also, have to say, I had a wonderful SA who was so helpful, even pulling out stock that hadn't been put out yet.  Plenty more reviews to come.  Along with a few OOTD that I am behind on, and are starting to pile up on my camera/iphone.





 
 

Lady Liberty, how do I love thee ...

This one goes out to all my american friends - 

Happy 4th of July!

  In honour of your special day, I themed my outfit all around you (lets face it - who doesn't love dress ups?) Yep, I have it all - red, white and blue.  

Oh and did I mention corn?  For whatever reason, when I think of the good ole US, I think of southern plantations, Lady Liberty, fireworks and corn - and not necessarily in that order :p   

We had corn on the cob by the boatload - smothered in butter and garlic salt YUM!

 

I actually had a different top on to start with, but the day was starting to really warm up - you know those days - I just couldn't decide, I spent ten minutes dithering, but in the end I headed out sans top. 

But after seeing the photo's, I'll have to do the first version again some time.  I love how it completely changed the dress into a skirt.

Here is both the before and after :)

Top - Giordano
Cardigan - Jacqui E
Dress - Laura Ashley
Belt - Jacqui E
Shoes - Steven Madden

   Bracelet - Diva Necklace wrapped                             

Working Girl Style

I had a day of educational experience (ie who wants a free assistant for the next eleven hours?), to finalise the end of my prac time for a school module.  So off I trotted nice and early with all the other worker bee's ...

and boy, do I have detail shots today :)

  

       

how awesome is this belt?!?!  (thanks mum!)

 I heart these shoes - they give amazing height :)  Which is never a bad thing when you're 5ft nothing :) 

Oddly enough they are super comfortable to walk in.

Top - Witchery 

Skirt - Belted Floral Full Skirt by Jacqui-E

Belt - Leather Peonie Belt by Queenspark

Shoes - Steve Madden

Earrings - Tulip Romance by Mimco

Gloves - Swirling Roses by Tea4Two for Myer

oops ... nearly forgot, I have an outtake before I took my gloves off but after my jacket - even the gloves followed the floral theme today :)

tea

"Sorry guys, she may be my wife but I still can't keep her quiet ..."

This was my loving husbands comment to the group of guys behind us at a local rugby game.


My husband is a bona-fide irishman - so what else were we to do when the national Irish Rugby Team, came to our home town, then watch the game in the irish supporters stand.  One little problem though .. I am an out and proud aussie - and playing on our home soil.

I may have stood out a little in the estimated 19,000 irish supporters (out of a game total of 27,000)  with my bright gold wallabies scarf in the sea of green, and if I didn't at the beginning - I sure as hell did when I enthusiastically cheered my boys on home to DECIMATE the irish 34 - 8!  By the way, I may not look overly patriotic without the team kit-out but I don't do the whole football jersey thing. Ever.

                             

 Knit Top - Witchery 

Jeans - Portmans

Boots - Joanne Mercer

Earrings - Sportsgirl

Jacket - Ben Sherman 

Scarf - Wallabies Supporter Store

 P.S - I have no idea why I look so awkward in these photo's :)