Et tu, ETRO?

Etro is one of those labels that flies under the radar.

A theme contradictory to their bold design style.

Founder Gimmo Etro established the Etro label in 1968.  

As a leading designer of high-end textiles, Etro supplied couture houses including Armani & Lacroix before 

expanding into ready-to-wear in the 1990s. 

The Etro Family

Today Etro remains a family run business 

upholding its well-earned reputation for 

rich colorful fabrics, wild prints & signature bohemian style.

Love it or hate it. Where do you stand?

Printed Stretch Silk Dress at Net-a-Porter

Silk Patterned Dress at My Theresa

Sleeveless Panelled Dress at FarFetch

Silk Dress with Ruching at MyTheresa

Floral Print Stretch Twill Coat at Net-a-Porter

Ethnic Pattern Shift Dress at MyTheresa

Paisley Print Long Dress at FarFetch

____________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Unexpected *SALE* Haul

Shopping locally for me is pricey and I rarely 
find things I love for prices I'm willing to pay.  

Instead, I stock up when traveling, on trips home to LA, 
and I'm a Master Online Shopper.
Really. I could win awards.

So when sprinting through my local mall doing errands, 
a clearance sign tucked into the back of a department store was a siren call. 
They tried their best to camouflage it, disguise its wares and keep it from the prying eyes of potential shoppers—but my eagle eye for sales, 
my sniffer of discounts led me straight in!

I cannot do the math for how much these pieces were reduced. 
It was 50% off of 50% with an additional 75%.
Any mathematicians out there? All I know is...Whoop! Whoop!

I'm a terrible photographer, but trust me...these rings are to die for. 

A triangle-shaped blue lapis stone (reflection!), 

a blue-ish grey round glass stone with intricate band, 

and the ring furthest to the right is a rose carved in matt black stone set in sterling. 

Each ring was $5AU or less and although my photos suck, 

I'm beyond thrilled with the yummy quality.

Here are the necklaces I scored:

The stones on the two outside necklaces are a smoky quartz. 

They are similar to each other and I couldn't decide, 
the price convinced me to buy both! 

The center necklace has a bronze finish with deco vintage-inspired glass beadwork. 

I likely would've paid full price for this, but to pick it up for $10—I'm still in awe!

 The grand total for all six pieces? 
I got change from a $50?!

Giddy with my new purchases I texted my man who said: 

JOIN ME, I'M AT A BOOKSTORE CLOSE DOWN SALE

  What? I'm there...

Those of you who are kind enough to visit my blog may know I'm a sucker for books. 

We nearly filled a trolley with our finds, we bought so many in this 80% off haul!! 
For anyone who buys books in Australia, you know how special this is. 

These are the fash-related babies I scored.

Aren't they fab?
 Look for upcoming reviews!

Last but NOT least:

Can you believe it? I picked these up for $3 each?! 

This was the best unexpected sale haul EVER! 
A late birthday present, or an early Xmas.

Either way....I love it!

What do you think? How did I do?

What's your favourite *uber-sale* find?

_______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Dress of the Week: Karen Walker...or Flannel?

Try as I might I could not decide. 

So, this time it is Dressology HQ's DRESSES of The Week.

Perhaps we can vote? Which dress do you choose?

First up we have this lovely Karen Walker Dress. 

Check out its gorgeous ruffled collar and hem detailing 

and the delicious red & white print. Cherrylicious!

Karen Walker's Betsy Cherry Dress $215NZ

Next up...Ordinarily I'm not a big fan of blue—or bows—but 

this sophisticated midnight blue hammered silk dress from Flannel with that amazing oversized bow has convinced me I've been wrong all along! Elegante!

Karen Walker Extract Dress $320

I love hearing from you all. It's such a pleasure!

Please tell me which you would choose 

in the comments section below. 

And if you're new to my blog, please follow, leave your details and I'll be certain to follow you back!

_________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Fairytales for Fashionistas & Vintage Vixens

This post began as a book review but evolved into something else once the research began. If interested in vintage fashion history or design education, this post is a must-read. About a month ago I stumbled upon a gorgeous not-for-profit used bookstore. Inside sitting on as shelf as if it knew I was coming, was this book, Dreaming of Chanel. How I didn't know about author Charlotte Smith, her two books or the fascinating story surrounding The Darnell Collection, is a mystery. But now that I know, I must share! 

BookVu: Dreaming of Chanel

Author Charlotte Smith

Illustrator Grant Cowan

Publisher HarperCollins, 292 pages

This gorgeous little book reminds me of a Hemingway novel with its breezy, vintage 
feel and dreamy stories about international diplomats, 
designers & socialites—and their clothes. 

Photo: HarperCollins

To give this book perspective requires a bit of background. 
Author Charlotte Smith inherited a vast collection of 
more than 5000 vintage pieces from her godmother Doris Darnell. 
The Darnell Collection as it’s known includes Dior, Chanel, Givenchy and 
countless other originals dating from 1790-1995. 
The Collection toured for many years with its original owner as a live “fashion talk.” 
The video below tells the story, but ends abruptly.

Author Charlotte Smith

Upon inheriting the collection, Smith found a catalogue of its history and presented this unique fashion perspective in her first book, Dreaming of Dior. 


Her second book, Dreaming of Chanel, is a follow-up that reveals additional snapshots of fashion stories that read like fairytales for fashionistas. 


Each page is a complete story, in 200 words or fewer, based on a person or an event with the clothing taking center stage. 

Grant Cowan Illustration from
Dreaming of Dior

The illustrations by Grant Cowan are undeniably amazing, and contribute greatly to this being not only a book on fashion, design and history, but also an art book.


If you are left like myself wanting to see actual photos of the collection though, pay a visit to the Darnell Collection blog for a peek. It would take years of work, but I would love to see the entire collection photographed with as much detail and information given as is available regarding designers, materials, value—online like a living gallery and design resource. So the world can see and appreciate it. 


I firmly believe a book should stand on its own and this one left me a bit confused at first, but always entertained. It was only after some research that I realized the gem I'd discovered in that little bookstore. 


This would be a lovely book club selection—seeing who selected which story as their favourite?! I can also see exquisitely fun dinner party based on its theme!


This is an absolutely enjoyable and delightful read with fascinating historical fashion value. Have a look at the blogs and video above and see if you agree.

Photo: The Darnell Collection

Photo: The Darnell Collection

1960's Pucci Shift Dress. Photo: Bertie Smith, The Darnell Collection

Vintage Chanel Suit. Photo: The Darnell Collection

Sleeve embellishment of a 1930's dress. Photo: Bertie Smith

_______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

WGSN Global Fashion Awards

In a long list of benefits the internet provides, one is the globalization of fashion. 

Never before have we had such immediate access 

to information, people, ideas, materials, cultures, product and design.

WGSN is a London-based trend forecasting agency that embraces 
the ever-shrinking world and debuted The WGSN Global Fashion Awards last year. 

The awards honoured notables such as Opening Ceremony, 
Levi's, Asos among numerous others.

This year's awards take place in New York on October 20, 2011.
The nominees were announced recently and the magic of social media  
helped spread the word at meteroric rates.


Here are some of the nominees. What do you think?

Global Brand or Retailer
Abercrombie & Fitch
Asos
Desigual
Forever 21
H&M
Karen Millen
Kate Spade
Mango
Reiss
Topshop

Best E-tailer
Asos
Far Fetch
Gilt Groupe
HauteLook
John Lewis
My Wardrobe
Net-a-Porter
Rue La La
The Corner
Vente-Privee

2011 Nominee Mimco. Photo: RagTrader

Most Influential Designer, Womenswear
Christopher Bailey, Burberry
Erdem
Jonathan Saunders
Marc Jacobs
Miuccia Prada, Prada
Phoebe Philo, Celine


Most Influential Design Team
Animale
Club Monaco
Diesel
Fred Bare
H&M
Mango
Rag & Bone
TopShop


 Would you consider this a "global" event? Do you agree with the shortlist? 
Who would you vote for on the lists above? Or has anyone been left out in your opinion? 

And what would YOU wear to the awards?

As an aside, I think WGSN should include the country of origin for each nominee.

_______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Ode to Orange

Halston Heritage at Net-a-Porter

I love orange. Orange is bright & happy. 

It's fresh & surprisingly neutral. 

I like orange because it refuses to rhyme.

It's the rebel of color.

DVG Bairly Louche Dress at ShopBop

Tory Burch Blythe Dress

JS Boutique One-shoulder Chiffon Dress at Nordstrom

Ruffle Gauze Dress at Old Navy

Sporty Orange Birki's from FootShopping.com

DV by Dolce Vita Tami Wedge on Sale as Asos

Rachel Comey Interlaken at Opening Ceremony 

Crossette Sandals from Anthropologie

Fossil Embossed Leather Satchel at Macy's

Balenciaga Work RH at Cult Status

Wayuu Taya Foundation Susu Bag at ShopBop

Spitfire Orange Sunglasses from ShoRoom

Eau de Cartier Essence d'Orange

______________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Dress of the Week: Forever 21

How cute is this? 

Peaches & cream polka dot print 

with a partial peplum & kick-pleat on the pencil skirt.

Try saying that 3 times fast! 

Ruffled Pencil Dress from Forever 21, $25US

_____________________________________ Why not look your best every day?

Brunch with my Peeps

I recently had coffee with a friend and we realized that it was more than a year since we'd seen each other! She lives nearby, but busy lives unforgivably kept us apart.

This got me thinking....how many other girlfriends had I not cuaght up with? 

That night I sat down with my calendar and texted, emailed or facebooked several friends I hadn't seen face-to-face in TOO long.

After setting the date & planning the menu came the best part. 

What to wear... Sophisticated & sexy? Fun & funky? Floral & fantastic??? 

Which of these best says "Brunch" to you?

Manoush Sequined Dress at The Outlet

Emamo Flamingo Kaftan at Net-a-Porter

Jil Sander on Browns London

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Dryad Checked Dress at My Wardrobe

Under the Canopy Dress at ModCloth

Elise Grace Kelly Dress at Birdsnest

I bought the last one—the Grace Kelly.
Because...well, how could I not?

________________________________ Why not look your best every day?