lingering bohemian

Love Sam top, Zara ripped boyfriend jeans, Aldo heels, Comme des garcons clutch, Karen Walker sunglasses

This might be the epitome of cliches, but holidays to distant (or not-so-distant) lands will change you. My style in the past few weeks Post-Bali is proof of this fact. Pre-Bali Karen would have wanted to wear this flowy bohemian top with something sleeker (i.e. a leather pencil skirt) whilst Post-Bali Karen wants nothing more than to wear it with comfy ripped jeans, and then layer on the colours: bright pink tassel necklace, check, colourful heels, check and irredescent clutch, check and check. 

x karen

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weekend blues

Ellery Escapade top, Rag & Bone jeans, Chanel Paris/Moscow scarf, Comme Des Garcon clutch, Chloe Susanne boots

There's nothing more disappointing than planning and anticipating for the weekend, only to find it miserable and rainy. It's even more bitter when Monday wakes to a bright and sunny morning. I mean, I live in Sydney, how dare the sun not shine on the weekend? 

Somehow my despair at the weather inadvertently translated itself in my wardrobe; blacks, grey and navy. There wasn't a dark shade that I didn't not want to wear that Saturday morning. But my inner-fashion-girl knew that I needed a pop of red and a timeless silk Chanel scarf (stolen from my mum's wardrobe) to brighten up the look. Plus, it's hard to be upset when you're decked out in Chanel.  

x karen

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leopard essential

Equipment leopard shirt, J Brand jeans, Stuart Weitzman heels & Comme des garcon clutch

I have yet to meet a leopard print which I don't like. Traditionally the print of choice for grannies and Miss Fran Fine, leopard print has definitely made the jump to mainstream fashion. It's the sartorial equivalent of leaving the abyss commonly known as the friend-zone. Show me an outfit that is lacking an omph! and I'll show you 50 ways that a spot of leopard (bad pun intended) can make it infinitely better. 

But, leopard print should always be used wisely. Just like how you wouldn't marinate yourself in your Chanel No. 5, you shouldn't wallpaper yourself in leopard print - unless you're a Kardashian. Then that's pretty much a prerequisite. So if I'm wearing as much leopard as I am already, it was necessary to keep the rest of my outfit unbelievably simple, which only a small pop of colour being my clutch.

After all, I live in Sydney and not Flushing, Queens. 

x karen

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those skorts

Zara denim shirt | Zara skorts | Chloe boots | Comme des garcons clutch

No doubt, you're probably sick of seeing these skorts on every other blogger. And I myself never thought I'd even be wearing skorts, now that I no longer need to run around the playground and hang upside down on the monkey bars; not that I ever could, I'm really not the most athletic person around...ever. But these Zara variation of the childhood skort, which only ever brings back memories of ugly school sport's uniforms that consisted of large royal blue skorts, have a certain panache that is hard to turn your back to.

At first instance of trying these on, you're left with an overwhelming love for the fun structural element but its dampened by the feeling of wearing a skirt that's just a little bit too short. A friend assured me that it was alright because I was really wearing shorts. Except no one will know until you turn around. So I sized up to avoid any Britney Spears connotations from floating around in people's minds, or leaving chauffeured cars ... in people's minds. Although, really, surely wearing a pair of shorts that look like a too-short skirt isn't nearly as bad as girls who prance around two sizes too small One Teaspoon shorts from are cut up so high on the sides that I can see their kidneys?

Or maybe I'm just getting old and this is what happens. A slow descend into what will evidently be eloquent madness and longer hemlines. 

Except that sizing up didn't really make these skorts any longer, it only meant that there was more room for my to eat. But that I blame on the upcoming winter.

And the nonsense that was my post? I blame on humpday wednesdays. The last time you enjoyed a weekend was a whole 2 days ago and the next time you will enjoy you in a whole 2 days ahead. You're essentially in no man's land. Except not really, you're surrounded by the enemy that I like to call weekdays and you're weekend comrades are equally as far away. 

So essentially, weekdays suck but at least it means more blog posts flying around the internet. Enjoy!

 x karen

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the smell of eucalyptus

Bassike tee | Zimmermann blazer | Insight shorts | Comme des garcons clutch| Chloe sandals

I've been so caught up with trying to keep up with MBFW, currently in Sydney, that I'd forgotten that 
somewhere out there, in a dusty dinky corner of the internet I had my own like space and blog. 
I kid, of course, how could I ever forget my baby? 

These shorts are ridiculously comfortable, if denim shorts were capable of being more comfortable
than they already are. It's such a lightweight fabric and rather than a floral design, it's more of
a foliage. It reminds me of warm Australian summers and the smell of eucalyptus trees.

p.s. I'm not sure if anyone else has been trying to keep up with MBFW but I can already see that 
my wallet will be feeling the effects of this in a year's time. 

x karen

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Indian summer

Witchery romper | Comme des garcon clutch | Celine new audreys | Saint Laurent arty ring 

The only logical thing to do when hit with an unseasonal heatwave is to scale back to minimal clothing, you may choose

to push the boundaries of decency but please leave that line uncrossed, and carry only your essentials. I managed to 

find this silk ditsy floral print romper in the back of my closet, a practical fossil from the '00s of this century. I chose to

carry only my essentials; sunglasses and a clutch enclosing my phone and credit cards, if only so that I can carry a drink

on one hand and ice cream on the other. 

Finding this jumpsuit also got me thinking about the lifespan of my wardrobe. I dream about having a French lady's 

wardrobe, in which everything is a timeless staple that will weather the harsh realities of ever-changing fashion and trend. 

I dream of being able to reach into my wardrobe and grab any items at random and find myself with an enviably

chic outfit. I've decided to slowly work myself in that direction, even if it means throwing (and by throwing I mean

ebaying) away any unnecessary clutter and buying only the timeless pieces that I will wear over and over again.

And by that I mean, not necessarily the standard classics but the classics that will fit into my life; I mean, I never wear

my Burberry trench as much as I wear my khaki jackets (see here & here) and whilst my Lover lace shorts 

might not be a wardrobe staple for most, but it definitely is for me.

Now comes the hard part, tooth-combing through my wardrobe and wish list to actually identify the classics

and not get distracted by things that I think I will wear but really, who am I fooling?

x karen

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simple reasoning

Bassike tee | Ellery skirt (similar here) | Topshop boots | Comme des Garcons clutch | Celine 'New Audrey' sunglasses

Sometimes all you need is a really awesome skirt (Ellery is always a fine choice for unique structure
and material) and a simple grey tee to spend a sunny Sunday in. I love statement pieces that 
allow you to downplay the rest of your outfit i.e. the no-brainers. 

This laziness is the exact reasoning behind my recent acquisition of this amazing Kenzo skirt. 
Cannot wait until I have this in my hands. Anticipation is the best part of online shopping, no?

x karen

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la dolce vita

Dolce Vita dress| Senso 'Bertina' boots | Comme des garcon clutch | Karen Walker sunglasses| Jennifer Zeuner necklaces

Basically all of Australia's eastern coastline has been under siege by the Rainman (and I don't mean Dustin Hoffman)

so it felt almost rude to post photos of anything but the sunshine. There isn't a more perfect way to get over the rainy weekend

blues (I'm still feeling the lethargic effects) than to reminisce about what a great summer we had. 

I can't wait for the sunshine in Thailand- not sure if I can survive the humidity though.

x karen

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thechicndamned on instagram

1/ Christmas shopping (for myself)

Saint James tee | Nicholas leather skirt | Converse sneakers | Miu Miu clutch

2/ I love spending summer by the beach with ice cream in hand

3/ Christmas present from my awesome bf

4/ Shakuhachi skirt & Zimmermann sandals

5/ Brunch @ The Grounds of Alexandria with my mum

6/ New Year's Eve with my girls <3

6/ Fresh peonies for my mum

Alexander Wang boots (seen here, here & here)

If only blogging was as easy as Instagram, find me on @thechicndamned for more updates

x karen

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