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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graduation

Ellery dress, Valentino heels (seen here), Celine clutch (seen here & here)

This is probably one of the hardest blog posts I've ever had to write. There is such expectation that comes with the thought of Graduation. It's the culmination of five and a half long years of studying. It's the last indication that you're really growing up and about to become an "adult". I want to be inspirational and talk of how much I've learnt and grown in the past few years; or lament that it's an end of a era and, essentially, my childhood. I expected emotional farewells to the campus, lecturers and students. What I did not expect was the dull ache of knowing that I should be feeling more emotions than I actually was. 

The Graduation Ceremony itself occurs almost a full semester after my last class/exam/assessment and in the meantime, I've completed the College of Law course, eased from part-time to full-time work at a law firm and, as of today, handed in my application for Admission as a Solicitor. University, with its lectures, missed classes and long lunchtimes seems simultaneously only yesterday and so so far away. It was rather surreal, and belated, to go back to campus to officially graduate when so much has occurred in between. I'm still waiting for that feeling to wash over me that my undergraduate career is well and truly over. 

However, I can honestly say in my almost six years at university; I have met some amazing people, made friendships that I know will last forever and beyond (i.e. BFFs!), I've truly played with the the limits of sleep deprivation and caffeine addiction, I've learnt to play Poker and consequently learnt too much from "boy talk", I've spent summer holidays almost exclusively at the Beach and I've perfected the art of online shopping whilst simultaneously listening during Lectures. 

And what I learnt from the Graduation Ceremony itself?

1. Hearing all the people who are graduating with honours etc. does almost make me wish I worked harder. Almost.
2. Even if your dress looks like a normal and socially acceptable length, with the addition of the long ceremonial gown- it will look like you are only wearing a top.
3. It will require considerable manpower to carry flowers, coat, belongings etc around campus to get all the photos taken. Friends should be bribed so that they don't only take photos of themselves. 
4. Coffee is your friend. Embrace it for the long ceremony itself. 
5. When someone goes up to receive their doctorate; you will torn between determination to add a "Dr." in front of your name and jealousy over her Manolos. Your inner fashion blogger will always win over the inner Academic. 

xx

 x karen

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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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@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

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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jacaranda blooms

Ellery 'the wicker man' apron skirt // Rodarte 'rohearte' t-shirt // Prada bag // Alexander Wang 'joan' pump // Karen Walker 'deep freeze' sunglasses (in tortoise)

One of the best things about spring in Sydney is the abundance of

jacaranda trees everywhere you go. So when I saw this giant patch of

purple at Paddington, I couldn't resist jumping down to take photos.

This Ellery skirt proved to be the bane of my existence that day.

It will most likely be the first and only time I deal with

peplum in such an exaggerated manner. As much as I like the 

mock shirt-tail bottom, when I get wrinkled- it ain't pretty. 

But with a casual grey tee, it's the perfect blend of casual chic

and office wear. 

x karen

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teaser

Ellery 'the wicker man' apron skirt // Rodarte 'rohearte' t-shirt // Prada bag 

I don't normally do teasers but here's a little preview of an upcoming

post. Everything is a bit delayed at the moment, I have the most hectic few

days coming up and so this will have to do for now.

As you're reading this, I will hopefully be tanning at Palm Beach.

x karen

black & gold

Zara leather singlet // Ellery Wei Wei skirt in gold // Rag & Bone Portobello shorts // Neon Hart gold sequinned tank

This is the result of a rainy day stuck indoors and intense euphoria in finding the last leather singlet from Zara in Sydney.  I love the contrasting texture of the delicate gold fabric/sequin with the buttery soft leather of the singlet and shorts. Perhaps not the most everyday outfits but that's what makes it special. 

x k

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MBFW ROUND 2.

For those of you who aren't in Sydney at the moment, or are in Sydney but invitation got lost in the mail (because I'm pretty sure that's what happened to my invitations)- fret not, you can always live vicariously online. If you follow me on instagram you'd know I recently uploaded a photo with a quote; never let the things you want make you forget the things you have. As apt as that quote is, during the frenzy of new collections being shown and your credit cards wanting to escape the confines of your wallet, what is the purpose of fashion week if you can't virtually plan a shopping list for the coming season with an unlimited budget of course. 

This was one of my most anticipated collections, Ellery always has such a charm in her designs and use of colour. The first outfit with the silver shorts and animals ears on another designer might make you question if it's Mickey Mouse's distant futuristic relation but with Ellery, she makes you want to wear them and not take them off. They two jackets are such a stunning display of the syncronicity between the cut of the jacket, the colour and the material texture. 

Watson x Watson so recently came onto my radar, but I fell in love instantly. It's such a chic mix of Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant influences. Those khaki military shorts are definitely going onto my list- duck face optional. 

I really enjoy the playful quality in Alice McCall's collection. Everything from the colour pallette, to the cutouts and the prints was all so fun. It definitely wasn't a collection that took itself too seriously, and it was a nice break from all the impending winter gloom.

Now, Michael Lo Sordo's collection was definitely one that made me want to rip off my clothes and run after those long limbed models. The clothes may not fit, but perfection motivation for the gym right? I love the mirrored digital prints and adore that red dress. Granted, every woman needs the perfect LBD but sometimes there's situations where only the LRD (little red dress) would do. 

What's on your list?  You know what they say, it's not over until your virtual basket is overflowing!

xx
karen

p.s. promise there will be an outfit post before the next MBFW round up. All this fashion juices flying around in the air here, I'm more motivated to stay behind my computer and virtual stalk rather than play in my wardrobe. patience :)

MBFW

Day 2 of MBFW in Australia is well under way; as much as I adore Australian designers and the sight of new collections leaves my heart aflutter, I am much more interested in what people are wearing off the runway. Here's a round up of some of my favourite looks so far. 

credit: Harper's Bazaar, Vogue

There was a lot of layering going on and more Australian designs being paraded around than you could throw a boomerang at. I'm loving the Ellery Wei Wei skirt in the last picture, considering in investing in one in the green. It's not shopping when you're investing right? Hah. And that Josh Goot jacket, ah-mazing. Can't wait to see more photos, or maybe I should drag my lazy ass out there and do some real life stalking...

credit: popsugar

Being a woman lady blogger means that there's inevitably a crapload of tabs open on my browser right now. I'm in the search for the perfect peplum top; in a not as much as I want this Ellery jacket but my life would be much more complete way. The Ellery Imperials Top may or may not be the answer to all my prayers. In my mind the fabric was a lot less metallic and the sleeves were a lot more there, to cover my lunch lady arms. 

But in my head I also sort-of kind-of look like Jodi Gordon at the Maticevski show. Maybe, yes. 

xx
karen


p.s. yes, i know i used Ellery as an example way more than any one blog entry should allow. But, the heart wants what the heart wants, okay?!