MBFWA Day 3

Zimmermann silk tank, Willow skirt & 'Work' boots, Camilla & Marc coat, Chanel 'Boy' Bag

Fashion Week is always great for people watching, to see the mass of extremely well-dressed personalities in person rather than from a computer screen always gives me a buzz. To see either Margaret Zhang's layering prowess in live action or Christine Centenera's endless supply of perfectly tailored black blazers gives me such levels of excitement that only someone from #farshun can understand. 

Or to see the exquisite Camilla Freeman-Topper the day I wore my favourite knit coat from Camilla & Marc, I had to visibly stop myself from hurdling my way through the crowds towards her just to y'know, casually walk pass and share a glance of appreciation with her. I really dream big, don't I?

After all the anecdotes that I've recounted to my boyfriend, stories that were suitably interjected with squeals of excitement, he has come to the conclusion that I've been brainwashed by Celine and now repeatedly says "Hail Celine!" (Captain America style - Hail Hydra) whenever I prattle on. I'm just surprised he understands the goddess that is Phoebe and the importance of Celine. 

x karen

bloglovin  instagram shop

Work.

Zimmermann silk top, Willow silk shorts, Willow 'Work' boots, Chanel Boy Bag, Celine sunglasses, Jennifer Zeuner necklaces

To be afforded the opportunity to travel is always a blessing and I still can't wrap my mind around the places that I've been able to travel to this past month. However, if there's one thing (besides a home cooked meal for once) that I've missed during my tenure of living-out-of-my-suitcase is my wardrobe, or namely my shoes. I've always had an unhealthy obsession with shoes and there's nothing more that I love splurging on - except bags, or maybe clothing - maybe I just have a shopping problem?

After landing in Sydney from Bali on Wednesday, it was straight into work the next two days which meant the wardrobe that I've missed was still eluding me. So when Saturday rolled in, I was not going to let it go by without decking out in some of my favourite Australian designers to go with my recent Paris splurge. These Willow boots have barely left my feet ever since I bought them almost a year ago. 

Best Investment Ever.

x karen

bloglovin  instagram shop

2014!

Sass & Bide tank, Helmut Lang skirt, Zimmermann sandals, Celine clutch

Hello lovelies! 

It feels like years since I last posted anything, I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas/New Years and a nice break from work. I just wanted to drop by and check up on everyone and just remind everyone that (1) I'm not a (completely) terrible blogger, (2) I'm still alive and (3) I'm off to Europe in roughly two weeks! 

It does seem only right that my first post of 2014 is all about the monochrome, with a pop of colour from accessories. The combination of the hot weather and my holiday mood has made me an extremely lazy dresser. This asymmetrical Helmut Lang (and an endless supply of coconuts) has made life a lot easier, it's so easy to just pair it with a simple tank or tee. My instinct to reach for my leather jacket has been quashed by the hot weather but I do have it on standby for the moment the temperature even slightly drops. 

x karen

bloglovin  instagram shop

just a tad windy

Equipment silk shirt | Bec & Bridge skirt | Zimmermann lace-up heels (see here)| Alexander Wang Rocco bag

It's fun to be business on top and party on the feet. 

 x karen

bloglovin // twitter // instagram

@thechicndamned on instagram

 1/ Brunch date with the girls (and dudes)

 2/ Winter necessity- I've worn these so much already and still love them like the first day

 3/ Breakfast burrito @ Trio, Bondi Beach

 4/ Ellery pre-order, navy silk tee

  5/ Standard outfit for college of law last week

 6/ Brunch @ Bird & Bear

  7/ Succumbing to Shanghai food cravings

  8/ Monochrome is really taking over my winter wardrobe

  9/ Life changing cucumber mojito

 10/ Pumpkin soup @ Bread & Circus

brightside

Zimmermann 'brightside' dress & shoes | Chloe 'paraty' bag | Ray-Ban aviators

I pretty much spend autumn in perpetual fear of winter. As a season, fashion-wise, it an excellent opportunity

to layer up and indulge in thick knits and luxurious leather. But, as a human being who loves my bed in the morning,

the temperature dropping anything before 20 degrees Celsius gives me anxiety. Which is why, at the simplest 

indication of sunshine, I find myself back into my summer clothes like this gorgeous silk Zimmermann dress. 

Silk dresses are my absolute favourite for casual Sunday brunch, effortless dressing at its finest. 

x karen

bloglovin // twitter // instagram

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

bloglovin // twitter // instagram

tapestry

Kahlo shirt | Zimmermann shorts | Forever New straw clutch | Tony Bianco heels 

Speaking of the Zimmermann sale, in my last post, it only seemed right to continue in that tradition and show a few more

things that I picked up. These shorts feature an interesting print that's almost tapestry-like, it comes in this amazing 

wrap skirt but unfortunately it was too big for my non-hips but luckily these shorts fit! It's a tad loose but I love silk shorts

(and denim shorts) that are a tad big and sit low on the hips. Anything to gain the illusion of hips is welcome to me.

I paired the shorts with another favourite Australia brand of mine, a simple white Kahlo shirt which allows the silk 

shorts to take centre stage even though it's a simple and lightweight print. I like how the pastel Tony Bianco don't compete with

the print on the shorts whilst still bringing out the blue and purple in the print. As you can tell, I like how this whole

outfit came together as I got dressed very last minute. 

x karen

bloglovin // twitter // instagram

grey pastels

Kahlo tank top | Bardot shorts | Miu Miu 'coffer' bag | Zimmermann heels 

I scored big on these heels, so big that even a 'yo mamma' joke can be fashioned out of it. They're part of the Zimmermann Flip Side 2012 collection and they've always lingered at the back of my mind until I saw 
them again at the warehouse sale last week. They're the perfect summer alternative to the Alaia 
heels which I gushed about, except cheaper. Much, much cheaper.

The Zimmermann Warehouse Sale is one of those bi-annual events that you'd hate yourself for missing,
or even for not getting there the moment it opens. It's the perfect opportunity to stock up on their
delectable bikinis and sundresses (and occasionally splurge on a pair of heels that don't even require the
word 'splurge'). BUT I'm pretty sure it's only ever held in Sydney, I guess this is one of those only times 
where us Down Under-ers don't turn a nasty shade of green at the thought of all the warehouse sales we're
missing by not living in the US or Europe.

BUT if you took a note at all the talent currently happening at LMFF (that's in Melbourne, darling),
I'm pretty sure it's time to get all jelly at our proximity to Ellery, Dion Lee & Lover, amongst many others. 
Not that I wouldn't give my left arm to get into an Alexander Wang, Helmut Lang or Chanel sample 
sale (I need to keep my right arm to sign for my credit card of course).

x karen

bloglovin // twitter // instagram

red paisley

Forever 21 top | Alice + Olivia 'butterfly shorts' (seen here & here) | Zimmermann sandals | Forever New clutch | Karen Walker 'deep freeze' sunglasses

This top was one of the only things I bought from Forever 21 when I was in Japan. I don't know why I chose
to buy a thin chiffon top when the weather was anything but accommodating but I'm glad I did. It's the perfect pop
of colour I need to inject into my wardrobe, especially in consideration of my recent affair with white, grey and black.
The subtle paisley print reminds me of the Opening Ceremony wrapping paper, which I absolutely adore and my
Isabel Marant shorts (seen here) which I've gotten crazy wear out of. 

I love finding prints that are easy to match, even though I've only just worn it with a simple pair of white
tailored shorts here. But really, it's the perfect outfit to wear during autumn days when the weather still thinks 
its summer.

x karen

bloglovin // twitter // instagram