haircut // edwards & co

evo mister fantastic texture spray, evo haze styling powder

I finally had the chance to go and get a much needed haircut, especially just in time for summer. It was my first time getting my hair done at Edwards & Co, and it was a great experience. Jaye was a fantastic wealth of information in helping me articulate the style that I wanted. All I knew was that I wanted to go shorter and lighter for summer. We added some balayage effects into my hair which is great for giving the look and feel of movement and texture. I have a very thick mane of hair which makes it hard to retain volume of any kind. Which is why I came home with the styling powder and the texture spray, which is basically extra duty sea salt spray. 

Hopefully, when I try the products myself later, I can recreate the miracle that Jaye Edwards did. 

 x karen

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helmut lang hem

Witchery knit top, Rag & Bone leather shorts (seen here, here & here), Zara leopard sneakers & bag, Ray-ban aviators

I love wearing a clean, lightweight knit- even in the midst of summer, although its technically still spring in Sydney. This time of the year is always stunning in Sydney- everywhere you look, there are bougainvillea, jacaranda and honeysuckles in bloom. It seems only right to wear a clean and minimalistic outfit when nature is putting on such a show. Plus, we all know how much I love wearing white. 

 x karen

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chambray with a twist of lime

Sportsgirl chambray shirt, t by Alexander Wang skirt, Converse, Alexander Wang Rocco bag, Karen Walker sunglasses

It's been awhile since I've worn this much Alexander Wang in one outfit; although mathematicians will tell you that in the grand scheme of things, 2 really isn't all that many. As much of an Alexander Wang fan as I am (in all his variations, as Alexander Wang, as t by Alexander Wang, as Balenciaga's hottest new thing or as uncle of the coolest tot in fashion) I always find myself mass purchasing his pieces and then regretting them. I know, the blasphemy!

I have this skirt in two colours; this very summer-appropriate shade of lime and the stain-magnet choice of white. In theory, it's everything I want in a casual skirt. It's simple but with a twist - literally. It's the perfect thing to wear with any top thrown over it, even an oversized chambray top, that's so oversized I don't know whether to tuck it in or to simply tie it Daisy Duke style. 

But all hell breaks lose when I try to walk in this skirt. My damn modesty gets in the way. See the high point of the intersection of the twist? It rides up everytime I walk. So with every step that I take, I'm in the perpetual state of not knowing if I'm accidentenally chucking a Britney (read: vag flash). It's anxiety like that, that I really don't need in my life. I thought I could solve the problem by turning the skirt so that the twist lies on one leg (inspired by all things Helmut Lang and the thigh split) alas, somehow it keep returning to its original state. 

Any suggestions? 

 x karen

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summer knit

Supre knit top, Watson x Watson shorts, Isabel Marant Dicker boots, Mulberry Alexa clutch, Lovisa necklace, Karen Walker sunglasses

It's always an amazing feeling when you find something you like from an unexpected place i.e. this knit top which I found hidden within the racks of Supre. I can't really explain what I was doing in Supre, except that I was with my friends after a day at the beach and we wanted to find some cheap thrills for hopefully more days spent at the beach. 

I love wearing white in summer, especially paired with these silky shorts by Watson x Watson in this colourful summery print. I can already imagine the rest of my summer being spent in a array of different shorts with variations of the same white tops. 

 x karen

p.s. not sure if anymore else noticed, or if I'm just shattering everyone's glass, but my hand is just perpetually in my pocket. This is what happens when I wear anything with pockets, hands are always always just in my pockets. 

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believe in pink

Even though the weather is heating up and winter clothing should be the last thing on my mind, I can't seem to get over this coat in the most bubblegum mixed with fuchsia shade of pink. It would be the perfect pink-cherry-on-my-already-mentally-overpacked-suitcase for Europe in late January. I know, I'm willingly exposing my Australian self, who believes winter means an extra oversized sweater over a skirt or denim shorts, to minus degrees weather and constant snowfall. But then again, it's Europe. How could I resist? It's a whirlwind 2 week trip to London, Paris and Stockholm- that's if I don't die of frostbite first.

But I digress, I was meant to wax on about how I adore these Jason Wu boots, but you can clearly see for yourself why I'm in love- and once you see the price tag, you'll see why I'll only be admiring from a distance. This Whistles skirt could potentially fill the hole in my heart that I thought could only fit Stella McCartney, but I love it when I'm wrong like that.

And lastly, something a tad more realistic. I need fun, colourful and flirty Ellery sunglasses for summer, because we all know I pretty much only wear One Teaspoon denim shorts and white Bassike tees in summer. I need accessories that won't scorch in the sun and leave me branded, like these sunglasses. 

See? Everything can be justified.

 x karen

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cropped, my way.

Zara cropped top & sunglasses, 3.1 Phillip Lim skirt, Saba fur vest, Senso bertina boots, Dannijo vala necklace, Hermes watch, Celine clutch

I think over the years, the most important thing I've learnt (sartorially speaking anyways) is the need to steer away from trends that do not suit my body shape. It's one of those things that you need to be brutally honest about, because there's nothing worse than wearing something that's ill-fitted or show off the parts that you'd rather remain hidden. As much as I am for self-love and empowerment, I fail to see how that can be achieved if I'm wearing something that I'm uncomfortable in.

Which leads me to the topic of the latest trend that I've been avoiding like the plague- cropped top. I've never felt the need to flaunt my abdomen, so I've avoided crop tops as much as they've avoided me. But the more I see them, the more I want to hop onto the bandwagon. I found this beauty in Zara and could not resist, the long sleeves add a casual "tee" element of the top, not to mention it's in my favourite print-stripes, and it's perfect paired with a high-waited skirt. (This leather 3.1 Philip Lim dress deserves a post on its own, one of the most amazing leather pieces that I own!)

 x karen

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take me to the seaside

Bondi Beach, Sydney.

There is nothing I love more than spending my day by the beach with good company. That's the best thing about spring, the weather isn't so unbearably hot that you can't even fathom the idea of wearing anything except loose muscle tanks and whisper thin skirts but you can start to lose the layers that have somehow become an inherent part of who you are over the winter. It's always great to leave the office and all responsibilities behind and just to relax by the beach with good food and good friends. 

 x karen

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