Editor’s Picks: Fab Autumn Fashion Finds

Editor’s Picks: Fab Autumn Fashion Finds

I thought I had the weather outsmarted.

Two weeks ago it had gotten quite cold and grey. It rained every day and I’d come to the conclusion that summer was over. In my enthusiasm I pulled everything out of the wardrobe, packed away all my summer clothes and did the usual opshop run. I could hardly wait to get my hands on cute new autumn fashions.

Then the sun came out again. *Sigh*

The benefit of being a bit ahead of the season is that I’m already well into shopping for great new finds to supplement my autumn winter looks.

As you might imagine, I’m constantly on the lookout for cool vintage inspired cardigans and accessories to freshen up my wardrobe staples. You also know how much time that can take, wading through massive online shops to uncover a few knockout pieces.

Knowing that one of my favourite online stores often has such gems, I did the hard yards for you and put together this selection of my favorite vintage-inspired finds.

Check out these fun, inexpensive pieces to kick off your own autumn fashion fantasies!

Editor’s Picks: Autumn Knitwear

vintage style cardigans knitwearTop Row, Left to Right: Swallow Print Cardigan / Pointelle Cardigan   

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Pussy Bow Knit Top / Dot Patterned Deer Cardigan 

Editor’s Picks: Autumn Hats

PicMonkey CollageLeft to Right: Fedoras in various colourways / Beautiful veiled black hat / Rosette Beret 

Editor’s Picks: Autumn Accessories

Pretty New Hair accessoriesTop Row, Left to Right: French Bulldog bow band / Scissor hair clip 

Bottom Row, Left to Right: Rhinestone Stars Headband / Classic Bow hairpin

macaroon pieces

Left to Right: Macaron Luggage Tag / Macaron Parasol Umbrella

These picks are just the tip of the iceberg, of course. Do yourself a favor and visit Yesstyle, but be forewarned: it’s a massive site, so have a cuppa or glass of savvy B on hand when you browse the virtual racks.

As you know, I only recommend products and services I believe in, trust and/or use myself. Clicking on the Yesstyle links in this post not only takes you to fantastic fashion, but you’ll also help support our blog and community. Happy shopping! 

Daily Outfit – Western Wear

Daily Outfit – Western Wear

I am well and truly back in the saddle with this week’s outfit. Two of my favourite Las Vegas purchases have found yet another way to be worn.

Whenever I go to Las Vegas (not that it is every year, it’s a long trip!) I always head to Boot Barn on the outside end of the strip. It is nothing like anything I’ve seen here in Australia and has the ability to make me come over all crazy cowgirl, even though I don’t ride. I adore vintage western wear but it isn’t easy to work the more full on ensembles into an everyday suburbanite lifestyle, so this is my modern take on a look I love.

If you wear cowboy boots you’ll know just how heavy they are, so buying these at the beginning of my last trip was quite a commitment. Not only did it mean I had to wear them every time I had to catch another flight, it also meant I had to take them off at every airport security check! I had to carry a wooden boot remover in my handbag so I could get them off in a hurry in those nasty queues. Trying to wear the boots, the shirt, a hat (so it didn’t get squished) and still look like myself was quite the challenge; until I decided to pair them up with a dress like this. Hence, a new favourite western look was born.

Outfit Details

Rose embroidered western shirt – Scully

Red & white “bubble” dress – Savers find

Fancy embroidered and Swarovski boots – Boot Barn (a splurge at the sale price of $399)

Vintage horse shoe necklace – Etsy

Diamonte and gold horse shoe earrings – Lovissa

Lip Colour – MAC Russian Red

Red velveteen hair flower –  Bexterity

Do you have a secret fashion style you love but just can’t seem to work into your daily looks?

Spill and maybe we can all help each other!

How to make Chorizo & Prawn Tagliatelle

How to make Chorizo & Prawn Tagliatelle

When I dine out, I love to explore the menu to find something I either haven’t tried before or would never be bothered cooking at home. I like to experience new tastes, combinations and be inspired by presentation. And from this, I can add these new ideas to my home menu. A recent outing had me ordering a dish with Chorizo and prawn. A combination I definitely wouldn’t have thought of putting together plus, I love both those ingredients immensely.

I never take notes nor do I poke around in my dish when I receive it. I take mental notes while enjoying my dish, so it’s never obvious and I can remain in the social moment of dining out. But I will announce whether a dish going on the home menu – and the Chorizo and prawn dish was a definite keeper!

Chorizo is a Spanish sausage, pronounced Chor-ee-tho. Yes, it feels weird saying it with a ‘th’ when you are used to saying it with a ‘z’! This meal can be made with either tagliatelle, the wider pappardelle or thinner pastas such as fettuccine or linguine. Tagliatelle is a nice in-between width to use.

Chorizo & Prawn Tagliatelle Recipe

Ingredients (serves 4):

2 Chorizo sausages, sliced
300g King prawns, tails left on
1 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
100g rocket leaves
1 large red onion, sliced
salt & pepper
olive oil
300g tagliatelle egg pasta

Method:

1. Put water to boil for the pasta and cook for recommended tome on packet once boiled.
2. In a wok, caramelise the red onion slices in olive oil. Set aside in a medium sized bowl.
3. Wok fry the sliced Chorizo for 2-3 min, then add the king prawns and fry for an extra 1-2 min.
4. Toss the Chorizo & prawn mixture in with the caramelised red onions.
5. Split the Kalamata olives in half and toss into the same bowl.
6. Once the pasta has cooked, drain and add to the same bowl with the Chorizo & prawn mixture.
7. Add the rocket leaves, drizzle extra olive oil and then mix until coated well.

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan (optional).

Enjoy!

Have you ever eaten out somewhere and enjoyed it so much you had to make the same dish at home? If so, share what this special dish was in the comments below!

Styling notes:
Bowl with yellow design – Mozi

Daily Outfit – Wicked

Daily Outfit – Wicked

Last night was a Mother’s Day night out treat for my Mum and I. We headed into the city early for some delicious Pho and green tea ice cream before the rest of of evening spectacular began, and it certainly was spectacular!

I wish you could have all been with me at the Regent theatre last night to see the pure perfection that was the Australian production of Wicked. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a show so thoroughly that I was already planning my next visit before the curtain had fallen.

I’d heard all the songs, and had a little idea about the story, but I’d decided not to really research the show before seeing it so I could be properly enthralled. If I could describe this show to you in a nutshell, it is this;

Wicked is like the best of Harry Potter meets Legally Blonde, all wrapped up in the delicious bright Disney style of musicality. The short of show from which Fandoms are made.

I wanted every costume, every sparkle and to sing every song with the intensity of the day when you feel you are truly winning. It is sharp, witty and perfectly executed by each and every actor. In this age of technology, it is so easy to forget the intricacies of live theatre; the pressure on every member, seen and unseen, to get it just right. The occasional glimpse of the conductors head bobbing in the orchestra pit, reminds you that what your seeing is living art, and I can’t wait to bring both of my girls into this thrilling picture!

Although the theme for this “green carpet” event was indeed, green; I opted instead for something warm and autumnal that could handle a wet city street. My fabulous long, sweeping skirt is an old Ralph Lauren favourite that has been in my wardrobe earning it’s keep for almost ten years, and still going strong.

 

Outfit Details

Red and black plaid woollen skirt – Ralph Lauren

Jewellery – Lovisa 1960’s styled collection

Cashmere shrug – Op shop find

Black top – Luca and Marc

Evening bag – Black velveteen 1950’s vintage

Shoes – J Maskrey for Melissa collection

Lips – MAC Russian Red

If you fancy enjoying Wicked in Oz for yourself, I have an exclusive pre sale code for you here, available only until Midnight tonight, so hurry!

Daily Outfit – Polka Dot Vintage Dress Day

Daily Outfit – Polka Dot Vintage Dress Day

It may be Autumn in Melbourne already, but we are lucky to sneak in a few lovely days here and there. Provided you bring a cardi, you can enjoy a bit of a brunch in the sun.

The fabulous ladies at Trashy Diva, who I met while last in New Orleans, kindly sent me this wonderful polka dot version of my favourite Trixie Dress the other day. It’s rare that I go down the polka dot vintage dress road, but for Trixie my wardrobe door is always open. This is without a doubt, my absolute favourite dress block in the range they make. I have it in about seven different prints and fabrics, and that still isn’t enough!

The halter neck and shirred sides make it easily adjustable and very forgiving if you don’t fit a ‘perfect’ size. The folded style bust line is super flattering both on larger and smaller busts. In fact I can comfortably say, that if I were only allowed to have one dress style in my wardrobe, this would be it!

The Trixie Dress in Polka Dot and cropped green cardigan from Trashy Diva.

(this is the inadvertent “oops, my head piece is sliding out” pose)

I’m planning on packing all my Trixie dresses for an upcoming tropical jaunt, as not only do they look the business, but they hardly weigh a thing and fold up tiny. This means lots of extra room for all the shopping I plan on doing. And speaking of shopping, if you fancy adding this gorgeous dress or any other of the multitude of spectacular treats from Trashy Diva to your wardrobe, I have a special discount code for you!

Simply enter the code:  Kawaii10  in the checkout to get 10% off any orders until the end of May.

Pour yourself a cup of tea and have a little look around their store. Let the love affair begin!

Outfit Details

Dress – Big Polka in ‘Trixie’ by Trashy Diva

Cardigan – from Trashy Diva

Bangles – Op Shop find

Fruity head piece – A DIY project of mine

Shoes – Vivienne Westwood for Melissa “Lady Cherry”

Lips – MAC Russian Red