Here come the knits!

As we enter the last month of Summer, however questionable the term, and all the collections of SS 14/15 head to the sale racks, the anticipation for Autumn and Winter fashion mounts. Being a born and bred 'Melbournian', I am well and truly accustomed to the city's famous look. It is one that screams brooding and mysterious; dark colors, chunky knitwear, over-sized coats and the staple take-away coffee cup are practically synonymous with the country's fashion capital. However, although we dress for comfort and practicality with the ever-changing forecast blessed upon us, we are still a very fashionable bunch. This year a consistent crowd favorite has re-emerged making winter fashion just as 'cool' as ever before.

Skip to sophistication, without the obligatory hop and jump, with the classic turtle and cowl neck. Whether it's a top, jumper, tunic or dress, this neckline is all about femininity and can add a touch of class and modesty to any outfit. There are also an abundance of cropped varieties for the more daring of us. Choose pieces in a cable knit to add an element of texture and don't be afraid to experiment with color, no matter how safe, yet exceedingly amazing, monochrome ensembles may be. Channel your inner Margaret Zhang and step into these colder months as chic as chic can be with this wardrobe staple!

I have already started my own collection of turtle and cowl necks this year with two tops from Kookai and Seed Heritage being too tempting to pass up. These two new additions to my wardrobe are featured below along with a few other just as lust-inspiring pieces. Happy shopping!

Kookai - Lola Top

Also comes in 'Shadow' and 'Dan's Pink'

Seed Heritage - Cotton Roll Neck Knit

Sportsgirl - Halter Neck Knit

Witchery - Hi Lo Slouch Knit

Trend – Fringing

Cold nights spent staying in wearing layer upon layer, with style well and truly taking a back seat to comfort, are a thing of the past. Winter has come and gone, Spring is here and Summer is just on the horizon and just as the seasons continue to cycle so does the fashion. The phrase 'Here today, gone tomorrow' may be true of the fashion world but styles never really disappear completely.

This Spring fringing has seen a huge comeback. First making a name for itself in the 60s and 70s, the once forgotten fringe detailing has made its way onto fashion runways yet again. Fun and flirtatious, the trend makes wearing clothes more playful. Twirling around in skirts and dresses is a loved pastime of all women or maybe that's just me.. I definitely feel about five years old again without a care in the world! The pieces can also be quite edgy. By exchanging longer hemlines for a fringed finish, feminine pieces can have a sexy, more daring feel.

This look is definitely one to try if you want to be on trend this season!

Check out some of my favorite styles below.

Nasty Gal Fringe with Benefits Dress

Farrah Off Shoulder Dress

Haute Hippie Trapped Rayon Fringe Skirt with Leather

 

Trend – Pleats

Spring – typically associated with soft shades, flowing pieces and the (in)famous floral print – has taken on a much bolder and fashion forward persona this year. SS 14/15 collections everywhere have taken a daring turn with pieces being structured and boxier than ever before.

Pleats, especially the razor sharp knife pleat, have made their stamp across labels and women's wardrobes around the globe. Gone are the days where pleats were only worn by high school girls, in various shades of plaid to make the uniform staple all the more cringe-worthy. Whether they are seen in the form of a pleated skirt (the chic, adopted cousin of the plaid version of course) or as feature at the bottom of dresses, shirts or crops, this style trend has become a must-have for the warmer seasons.

Australian label, Dion Lee, has been a leader in this trending style with their 2014 fall collection including pieces in both black and powder pink. With the pleats already in next season's designs, it looks like they'll be a part of the fashion world for a while to come!

Work Wear; restocking staples

Working in fashion retail has its perks and is definitely a whole lot of fun but it can also be quite demanding. Today's gorgeous Melbourne sunshine and my comparatively dull outfit that I had put together for work made me realize that Spring and the new season's fashion had crept up on me and I was yet to update my wardrobe accordingly! Luckily, I love being given a reason to style and having a full proof justification to shop is really every woman's fantasy.

With an undeniable love for everything monochrome, I mapped out the shop floor at the Kookai Chapel Street store. I knew I wanted pieces of neutral tones to be able to easily interchange garments across different outfits. White was an obvious choice as, for me, it embodies spring; being crisp and fresh. The rest of the clothing I decided upon were grey marle and blue grey in colour. I chose to steer away from black because it is always my go-to choice plus these lighter shades complement white as opposed to bold black; forever the attention seeker.

I choose the fabrications based on my hopefulness for continued warmer weather which included cotton and linen. The cuts of the garments also welcome continued sun with mini and cropped variations. The styles of the skirt are also on-trend at the moment with full and peplum-bottom skirts seen in most Spring ranges.

The shoes I chose are from Nine West and Novo. I settled on these designs for both comfort and style reasons and not necessarily in that order. A wedge is practical but it is too stereotypical of the warmer seasons. I am also a fan of chunkier footwear and wanted it to contrast with the more feminine lines of the clothing.

I hope to purchase all these items tomorrow and will have posts of the outfits up soon. Stay tuned!

Topshop Unique Spring 2015 RTW

Fashion, to me, is a daily inspiration. It has the ability to compose me and also throw me into an unruly frenzy; these mood states being interchangeable without a second's notice. When asked what is it about the field, the garments, the styles that draws such a wide array of emotion from me, I have finally narrowed it down to the versatility and inconsistency which are both constants in the world of fashion. It is never stagnant and is forever eager to evolve and outdo itself.

The most recent Topshop Unique runway for London Fashion week definitely awoke the giddy fashion lover in me. I came across the first look modeled by Jourdan Dunn in one of my many daily scrolls of Instagram. Dunn, one of fashion's most prominent It-girls of the moment, wore slim pants in black, featuring a glossy sheen and cut with a high waist. On top, she wore a sleeveless sweater top with a high neck line and bold red, white and black color blocking. The ensemble was completed by a thick belt, in comparatively darker crimson hues, to cinch in the supermodel's waist. So simplistic, yet highly effective. I fell immediately into a deep lust!

This outfit was only one of my many exciting runway moments that came together to showcase Topshop's newest season looks. The show boasted two quite distinctive styles. Firstly, there were the sporty pieces. Femininity met masculinity as tennis skirts and strappy heels were paired with over-sized varsity-style sweaters. The designs featured primary colours and had a notable retro feel; London circa 1960. The label then unveiled its more luxurious range. Models adorned slips in sheer fabrics with subtle sequin embellishments. The color palate was a mix of neutral tones; largely black and nude. Other pieces included off-the-shoulder bandeau tops and flowing pleated skirts which provided pops of metallic to contrast with the line's overall characteristics of soft and delicate.

I have posted my favourite looks of the show below but the entire runway can be viewed here. Take a look. Trust me your eyes thank you for it!

Playsuits; Be on-trend with ease!

Over the weekend, I bought my first playsuit for 2015's Spring/Summer. Working at Kookai, half my wardrobe has become dedicated to the popular and rapidly expanding Australian label. Naturally, this is partly due to the very generous staff discount but, even prior to working with the company, I was a loyal follower of the brand. Firstly, the label uses premium fabrics, including leather, modal silk and 100% Merino wool,  which give the product a luxurious look and feel. The choice of material also allows the pieces to be loved long-term and customers commonly boast that their clothing has lasted for x amount of years! Secondly, they are dedicated to being innovative and leaders in Australian and global fashion. The prints used by the brand are numerous and unique, unlike anything produced by its competitors in the fashion market.

My newest purchase is called the Tonic Playsuit which can be seen and purchased here. I chose to buy it in white but it also comes in black and navy with a variety of other colors dropping in stores soon including red which will definitely become an addition to my already extensive Kookai collection! The playsuit is made from a scuba material which is a combination of nylon and elastane, which allows the piece to boast a certain amount of stretch. The piece is quite structured, fitting snugly around the bust and comparatively looser in the legs. It features pleats and front pockets, a deep V in both the front and back of the garment and a gold, exposed zip.

I am keen advocate of playsuits as they are so easy to wear. Like a dress, they can be worn alone as an entire look, accompanied by a just few accessories. Its best friend is the belt as the two things are basically inseparable. The use of a belt breaks up the garment and cinches in the waist to give the ultimate feminine shape.

The playsuit is fast becoming a wardrobe staple, especially for those time-poor fashionistas as it easily transitions from day to night with a simple change in footwear! I have trolled the internet and found some other playsuits by a few of my favourite labels. I have included pictures and links of where to buy these stunning pieces below. Happy shopping!

Shakuhachi Spring Flare Playsuit Pop Rain

Shop here.

Alice McCall Florence Playsuit Jet Black

Shop here.

Zimmermann Writer Scarf Halter Playsuit

Shop here.

Dion Lee SS14/15

As of late, I was feeling uninspired, lost in the hustle and bustle that is the modern world. At the ripe, young age of 23, I am plagued by questions; What are you doing with yourself? Where is this all heading? Cue a huge black hole and me hurling myself into it! BUT as "they" say your 20's are your selfish years; the decade to cement your identity by changing your mind constantly and making a million mistakes without remorse or rationality. For me, I'm lucky enough to have one stable thing in my life (besides food says the head of Over eaters Anonymous) and that's fashion. My passion for clothing is insatiable. I can't go a day without trolling the web for the latest looks and trends. I touch everything when I shop and provide a running commentary, injecting with well-placed 'oh's' and 'ah's', with or without the presence of an audience. So, why not start a blog? I'm doing it in my mind anyway!
When deciding on the subject matter for my first post, the decision was unanimous. I've had a love-love relationship with Dion Lee ever since I was introduced to the amazing label. Their clothing just speaks to me. It's structured lines and use of bold color combine to provide effortless looks, yet; the label continues to innovate and remains a leader in the competitive jungle, that is the fashion world. 

Dion Lee's take on spring fashion week featured denim, crisp whites, pale blues and even some splashes of crimson were thrown into the mix. The fit across garments was largely flowing, typical of Spring ranges. However, the runway was not amiss of bold blacks, boxier pieces and racier cuts, synonymous with the label's renowned style.

Below is a cross-section of the most recent runway. To see the full collection in all its glory, visit 
http://www.elle.com.au/runway/aus-fash-week/ss14-15/2014/4/dion-lee-ii-ss14-15/