le rainy day

2010-08-12T12:26:00.001+10:00

Oliver Barrett IV ...

I've been really excited about this post for a few reasons. As a product of both work and curiosity, I've been extremely interested in men's fashion lately - I'd even go as far as to say that I've been more interested in men's fashion than women's fashion ... I know, I never thought I'd see the day. I'm constantly amazed at how minor adjustments of cut and structure can make traditional prints and patterns different and new.

So, whilst flipping through the September issue of Details Magazine the other day, I came across this editorial spread by Dan Martensen and I was absolutely smitten. Entitled "The Best Clothes for Fall Weekends", the spread is inspired by the film Love Story {which I just so happened to watch the other week with my sister} and it totally captures the trendy meets trad vibe of the late 70s.

This photograph makes me swoon. He is perfectly dressed.

Apparently Ali MacGraw's wardrobe spawned a cult following and I can totally see why - I loved her many coats ...

Behold the genuine 70s stylings of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O'Neal:

And I can't help but feel that I was born about five decades too late. Le sigh.

Images via: Details Magazine, Google Images

2010-06-13T15:46:00.001+10:00

oh goodness ...

Wow, I've been incredibly neglectful. I do happen to have a few very exciting/legitimate excuses ... excuses aside, I'm so happy to be feeling creative and constructive again.

With that being said, here are some lovely photographs from the new Missoni campaign - clearly, I'm obsessed. They're the work of Juergen Teller and I'm all about the laid back, family-centric vibe. I couldn't help but fall in love with the Missoni clan in all its glory. Enjoy!

Look at those sandals

Marghertia Missoni is stunning

There just so happens to be a M by Missoni sample sale on Ideeli ... unfortunately {and by unfortunately I really mean that I'm overjoyed} I just signed a lease and will be lacking in discretionary income for a while ... here's to chevron dreams.

Images via: Fashion Addict Diary

2010-05-04T11:08:00.004+10:00

kelly dreaming ...

The beachy before, un petit yawn ...

($12.50, Old Navy)

The after, featuring some vintage gold buttons:

These shorts make me want to groove to Blondie whilst eating fondue. I'm continually amazed by the big differences seemingly tiny accents can make.

Images via nymag.com

2010-04-30T08:07:00.002+10:00

patina is for champions...

This morning I ventured out to an estate sale ... I was seriously overwhelmed at first and just about to leave when I spotted a table stacked to the rafters with jewelry. I took some time to sift through the piles and managed to match together some awesome pairs of earrings. Antibacterial soap was in serious order to say the least.

I don't normally like red, but I loved this bracelet:

My favorite find:

I also re-discovered my grandmother's antique tin collection, some of which I'm hoping to incorporate in my new apartment:

Hello, Don Draper! I think that this will make for a lovely little jewelry box:

This could be a pretty stationery box:

I love the detailing:

To clean or not to clean?

2010-04-29T05:05:00.001+10:00

Brown Sugar Walnut {possibly any nut} Torte ...

My Grandmother Jean was not only an artist but a very skilled baker. She had a knack for expertly crafting swiss roll cakes {my sister and I attempted a Buche de Noel two years ago which resulted in a chocolate mousse explosion} but her Brown Sugar Walnut Torte was and still is everyone's favorite.

It's very simple but delicious and graces the table at every single holiday, from Thanksgiving, to Passover to Chinese New Year {we celebrate all three}. We experimented with toasted almonds instead of walnuts, and I think we may be onto something ...

The egg white beating process continually amazes me ...

Normally, I would post the recipe here but it's a prized family secret.

2010-04-29T04:14:00.002+10:00

Tosca Delfino ...

My friend, Tosca, is incredibly talented. She lived all over the world, went to fashion school in Milan, interned for Missoni {too jealous for words} and lived down the road from me in Bondi! She is a swimwear designer and will soon debut her collection at Sydney Fashion Week. Her designs are 70's inspired and embody a great balance of style, practicality {including a sunbathing hood on one piece} and quirk. Here are some preliminary images from her upcoming look-book:

I love her custom prints and cannot wait to get a new swimsuit for the summer ...

Her talent extends well beyond the realms of swimwear - here's a dress that she made for me and it's just about my favorite thing in the world {and by world I mean my closet}:

Her website will be up and running soon, you can check it out here.

Images via www.toscadelfino.com

2010-04-23T04:27:00.006+10:00

carb of choice ...

Banana bread is just the best ... ever. It's so simple to make, it starts smelling insanely good after about 15 minutes in the oven and you can even delude yourself into thinking that it isn't that bad for you. Molly Wizenberg's recipe for Banana Bread With Chocolate and Cinnamon Sugar slaughters that delusion with one fell swoop {well, technically two} of chocolate chips, but it is indescribably good!

Some very ugly bananas

The addition of dry ingredients

Taking form ...

A sprinkle of chocolate chips and cinnamon sugar

Voila!

Banana Bread With Chocolate and Cinnamon Sugar

From Molly Wizenberg's Orangette

Ingredients

3 very ripe bananas

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups flour (for you, Uncle Dean)

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

For topping:

2 tbsp. granulated sugar

1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

1.) Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter or spray an 8" square pan.

2.) In a medium mixing bowl, mash the bananas well with a fork or potato masher. Add the eggs and stir well to combine. Add the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and vanilla, and stir to mix. Add 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips, and stir briefly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and set aside.

3.) In a small bowl, stir together the topping ingredients. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the batter in the pan, and top with the remaining 1/4 cup chocolate chips.

4.) Bake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

* * * * *

As for my weekend plans:

"There are two places in the world I wouldn't want my daughter to be ... Vietnam and Colgate during Spring Party Weekend." -- Walter Cronkite, 1972

Ohh man ... this banana bread is going to be our sustenance ... can't wait to see you, Macocs!

2010-04-22T14:26:00.003+10:00

some loveliness ...

Peonies are the prettiest.

Images via weheartit.com

2010-04-22T13:39:00.000+10:00

slightly hazy ...

There's nothing like a collaging shindig via skype. Especially when top secret information transpires ... ohh man.

2010-04-20T08:49:00.002+10:00

oh, how i love thee ...

Francoise Hardy

These photographs have inspired me to find a perfect trench, knit dresses and stripes ... lots of them.

Images via weheartit.com

2010-04-18T06:05:00.000+10:00

everything is better when it's mini ...

Pleated Silk-Twill Skirt, Narcisco Rodriguez - $1,395

Crepe Pearl-Embellished Skirt, Moschino - $895

Silk-Chiffon Pleat-Knot Skirt, Jason Wu - $1,105

Juntas Cutout Mini Skirt, Diane Von Furstenberg - $345

Color-Block Cotton-Blend Skirt, See By Chloe - $290

Crepe Flared Skirt, Miu Miu - $775

2010-04-18T02:20:00.002+10:00

Pencey ...

Pencey is an awesome New York brand famous for their edgy, feminine pieces. Incidentally, it's also the name of the prep school in my favorite novel. Here are some of my favorite looks from their Spring 2010 collection which are available for purchase on Shopbop.

This flirty top is adorable:

The kind of blazer I want:

Sweetest little white dress:

By far the coolest hoodie I've ever seen:

p.s. Word on the street is that Temple St. Clair and Tucker by Gaby Basora are the next GO International lines set to hit Target in September!

Images via pencey.com

2010-04-16T12:25:00.003+10:00

bellissimo ...

Wow, it's been a little while ... things have been pretty hectic and I've been having total blogging withdrawl. So happy to be back!

Even happier that high fashion has dictated the imminent resurgencere of flares. Not to badmouth my tried and true skinny jeans, but I've been growing ever-so-slightly tired of them in these few past weeks. While flares might not tuck inside of boots as neatly, they're generally more flattering on everyone {longer, leaner legs} and they can even hide my disproportionately large feet ... two birds, one stone. Here are some inspirational pairs:

Behnaz Sarafpour

Balmain

{My goodness, I love Abby Lee}

Prada

Phillip Lim

Hanneli Mustaparta

And a few for le quasi-budget-conscious {I'd still classify these as splurges}...

Seven For All Mankind

Dojo Jeans

Current/Elliott

The Low Bell Jeans

Paige

Laurel Canyon Flare Jeans

Do I sense a total 70's revival? Well, I can dream. In fact, it just so happens that my last California purchase was a pair of flared Joe's Jeans which are incredibly soft ... they're being hemmed as I post! {Note to self: still need to muster the courage to debut my crazy Acne high-waisted flares.} So many flares, so little time.

Images via style.com & shopbop.com

2010-04-11T10:08:00.005+10:00

badass ballerina ...

These embellished slippers are perfect for spring:
{1} Chloe, Leather Ballet Flats
{2} Capezio, Studded Ballet Flats
{3} Kimchi Blue, Swiss Dot Oxfords
{4} J. Crew, Rainy Day Ballet Flats

Images via weheartit.com

2010-04-11T02:54:00.001+10:00

fashion stake ...

Fashion Stake is an exciting and innovative new concept: customers can browse the website for up and coming designers - customers can support designers by buying $50 stakes in their companies and in return the customer receives a clothing credit or even an invitation to a fashion show.

Customers can also contribute creatively by voting on which pieces designers include in their collections. I can't wait to see this new concept in action.

In other news, blogging celebrities / lovebirds Scott Schuman and Garance Doré are producing their own TV show! It's all happening ...

Images & info via nymag.com

2010-04-08T01:43:00.005+10:00

all packed up ...

Tonight my sister and I are flying home to New York, "Bubble" in tow! I've been loving Southern California, but I'm also pretty excited about going back. Not to mention, my sister and I will get some bonding time in the city - we haven't had that in about four years!

I guess I'm also moving on to life after school, or to put it frankly, reality ... so many things to figure out! It's all a bit intimidating, but I couldn't be more excited - these next few weeks should be interesting!

Images via weheartit.com

2010-04-07T01:54:00.001+10:00

"i have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany" ...

There are few things {debatably nothing} that I enjoy more than aimlessly reading for hours and hours on end. I saw these clothbound Penguin Classics in Borders last Christmas and I was instantly enamored. I imagined the whole collection on shelves in my future apartment - something along the lines of this:

So I gave in and bought myself a Christmas present, Wuthering Heights {which, beautiful cover aside, was a truly amazing story}.

Here are some of the other available titles:

They are available for purchase on Amazon or Anthropologie.

Images via anthropologie.com & apartmenttherapy.com

2010-04-06T12:28:00.002+10:00

chuckles ...

I found this through Beautiful Decay Magazine and it made me laugh. I couldn't help but post about it - enjoy!

2010-04-06T05:13:00.002+10:00

well, speak of the devil ...

J. Crew recently debuted its Fall 2010 collection, and no surprise here, its been the subject of some stellar reviews. Jenna Lyons, how do you do what you do?

I especially love the shoes and outerwear this season - here are my favorite looks:

Must find a way to get those desert boots ... and a faux-fur vest ...

Images via www.style.com

2010-04-05T03:12:00.002+10:00

big bijoux ...

J. Crew is one of my favorite brands, if not my favorite. In the past two years, creative director, Jenna Lyons has totally revamped its image and popularity - their collections are consistently swoon-worthy, and they've even begun to step outside of their previously preppy confines, case and point:

Fenton / Fallon for J. Crew

Carrington Collar Necklace

Carrington Center Fringe Necklace

Carrington Crystal Chains Necklace

I'm fascinated by anything / anyone remotely related to MTV's "The City". It's a sick addiction, but what can you do? Therefore, I'm obliged to include Olivia Palermo's recent collaboration with Roberta Freymann in this post:

Roberta Freymann by Olivia Palermo

Tribeca Necklace

Mitte Necklace

Le Marais Necklace

Hopefully this summer will continue to bring more interesting collaborations ...

2010-04-03T02:31:00.002+11:00

ode de burger ...

Having grown up on the East Coast I never had the opportunity to experience In-N-Out Burger - it was a fabled happy place, made slightly familiar through cameos on The OC.

As mentioned in some earlier posts, I'm spending time in Southern California with my older sister, my brother and law and my incredibly adorable niece ... who likes to wake up at 5 am. Over the past two weeks I've actually come to embrace this ultra-early rise mentality, but breakfast at around 5:30 relegates lunch to breakfast's former hour.

So this is how we found ourselves at In-N-Out Burger at approximately 10:10 am on Thursday, ready to inhale our #2s (cheeseburger, fries and a diet coke). This was not only my first In-N-Out experience, but my very first cheeseburger. Crazy, I know.

This is a "Double Double" meal - I was intimidated by it.

I've never really been a big fan of burgers, especially fast food burgers, but this was seriously the best burger I've ever had before. I also didn't really feel like I was giving myself a coronary which was comforting. I love the simplicity of In-N-Out and the fact that they only have three items on their menu, not to mention the fact that they have a quasi-secret menu:

So I've decided to learn a bit more about my beloved burger's history:

{My sister's recommendation}

I just read a completely braindead book which was preceded by terribly traumatic book - I figure this will be neither braindead nor traumatic, just yummy.

In other news, Jen is here, as in Jen the Hippie, as in daughter of David and Florence Ella Marie Ferriola. It's all happening.

Images via www.in-n-out.com & www.amazon.com

2010-04-02T02:55:00.003+11:00

electric candlelight ...

The name of this game is effervescence.

This collage includes a picture of Sofia Coppola {my favorite director} working on a Miss Dior Cherie ad, as well as pieces from the Missoni Capsule Collection and an awesome Rebecca Minkoff cuff in citron! The girl perched on top of the cuff reminds me of Natalie Hughes' illustrations.

2010-04-01T08:42:00.006+11:00

bliss blanc ...

I love little white dresses far more than their black counterparts.

Maybe this is due to the fact that they're harbingers of warm weather. I like to think it's because they epitomize femininity and grace.

These beautiful photographs are from an editorial entitled "Soft Focus" in the April issue of Vogue Australia. Nicole Bentley is the photographer, and the stunning model, Rosie Tupper, also graces the cover.

Apologies for my poor page-tearing skills.

p.s. I got a pair of these today! I've been wanting them for a while and they finally went on sale!

My pair is gold with a cream colored flower.

2010-03-30T02:43:00.003+11:00

foreign find, vicariously found ...

I received an email from my little sister this morning that read:

"Oh boy, do I have something blog-worthy waiting for you in Athens."

Way too excited to wait until I get to Athens, I emailed her back immediately and heard all about Stavros Melissinos, aka The Poet Sandalmaker. She just so happened to run into him this past weekend.

"Aeolian II"

Melissinos, after serving in the Greek Army, became enamored with literature. His poems and essays are widely renowned (especially "The Rubiyat") and have been translated into English, French, German and Italian.

"Plato"

Melissinos also has a knack for hand-making sandals, despite his fame, he still chooses make sandals for celebrities and tourists alike in his small shop in Athens.

"Jackie Onassis"

In the late 50's and 60's Melissinos garnered a celebrity following, including The Beatles, Queen, Jackie O, Sophia Loren and Margo Fontaine. His designs and poetry are strongly influenced by ancient Greek Mythology - there are 32 styles available.

"Aeolian"

I love his simple, classic designs and the fact that they are handmade using authentic materials. I definitely plan on visiting The Poet Sandalmaker in person.

"Sophia Loren"

You can read up on Stavros and see all 32 styles right here!

Information and images via http://www.melissinos-poet.com/eng/index.html.

2010-03-28T15:31:00.002+11:00

be still my heart ...

How did I not know about these?

So it turns out that Missoni (my absolute favorite) collaborated with Converse last spring and made these awesome Chuck Taylor Hi Tops in their classic Chevron print. They will be sold in Missoni stores and a few other high end boutiques as of early April and will retail for $200. I'm in desperate need of casual sneakers (well, really any closed toe shoe for that matter) and I'm smitten with the pair on the right!

However, with limited availability and a painfully high retail price, I doubt that I'll have any luck on ebay ... fingers crossed for now ...

Images and info via lostinasupermarket.com

2010-03-27T06:46:00.002+11:00

le many faces of Bondi ...

I found this great photo application called Rollip. It's really easy to use - you can upload a photo and experiment with forty different filters. I tried it out with a picture of Bondi:

Does anyone know of a good polaroid application?

2010-03-27T04:40:00.001+11:00

funny find ...

Lucky used to be my all time favorite magazine but I was obliged to take a three year hiatus as it isn't available for purchase in Sydney. Yesterday I blissfully reunited with my long-lost love and came upon a feature on Sophie Blackall and her blog, Missed Connections. The Williamsburg resident illustrates and posts selections from Missed Connections on craigslist.com. Her hilarious / adorable drawings are up for sale on her Etsy shop.

More information on Sophie and a gallery of her other drawings and paintings can be found here.

2010-03-26T15:08:00.001+11:00

The Garden Collection by H&M ...

The Garden Collection by H&M is set to hit stores any day now and I'm loving the modern meets flower child vibe ...

Every piece in the collection is made from either recycled plastic bottles or sustainable materials like organic cotton, organic linen, recycled polyester and tencel.

On top of that, the collection is consistent with H&M's tradition of affordability - the price points max out at $49.95!

The collection also includes scarves, tote bags, ballet flats, and scrunchies (le cringe) - great finds for the budget and environmentally conscious.

p.s. Keenan just started a pretty sweet shop on Etsy!

2010-03-26T09:40:00.002+11:00

Mociun ...

Lately I've been really inspired by simple, bold prints, an art that Caitlin Mociun has mastered in her Spring 2010 collection. I first saw the collection via Lena Corwin's beautiful design blog.

Her Bauhaus inspired prints (whilst slightly reminiscent of The Cosby Show) are modern and wearable - enjoy!

This skirt is too cool:

She also does a few collections of quirky gems each season:

Mociun Website

Meanwhile I've been soaking up my Southern California bliss which consists mainly of: the cutest and cuddliest little person imaginable, endless sunshine, acai bowls and Yogurtland!

2010-03-23T06:27:00.013+11:00

dream dress ...

My friend, Keenan, just did an awesome post on Jackie O's style. Amongst the many beautiful photos was this shot from a 1989 issue of Vanity Fair:

I've always idolized Jackie O for her beauty, sophistication and style, and I cannot stop thinking about this dress. I would give up bagels and coffee for 3 years if I could have this dress. I must find a look alike somewhere - maybe Diane von Furstenberg?

*After paging through her Jackie O post I commented on this dress in particular - little did I know that she had already sent me an email saying that the dress reminded her of me!

also ...

Happy 35th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

2010-03-23T03:48:00.008+11:00

back stateside!

After an epic last week in Sydney I'm finally back stateside, spending some time with my favorite little person. San Diego is sunny and beautiful -currently posting poolside - and I've already enjoyed many of the perks (4 bagels in the span of 2 days) of being on U.S. soil. My sister and I went on a Target and Old Navy shopping spree yesterday and I may have gone nuts. Here are some highlights:

These floral ballet flats from Target:

Which are nearly identical to the J. Crew version (but 1/16 of the price):

And these sweet little notebooks which I plan to use while traveling:

(p.s. Liberty of London for Target is seriously adorable)

This Rodarte for Target raincoat was an ebay purchase from about two weeks ago:

These Old Navy boyfriend shorts in light blue (couldn't find a picture):

And a beachy sweater:

And an embellished cardigan, again, highly reminiscent of J. Crew:

The obsession with citron continues:

Must stop shopping ... and eating bagels ... and drinking giant cups of coffee. I'm so happy to be home, or at least halfway there!

2010-03-22T07:18:00.001+11:00

goodbye oz ...

It's impossible for me to describe how amazing my last few weeks in Sydney were, so here's a photo collage which just about sums it up ...

Apparently I just missed one of the most amazing sunsets in Bondi. Le massive sigh.

Image via www.aquabumps.com

2010-03-19T12:40:00.004+11:00

Dace ...

I first heard about Dace through one of my favorite fashion blogs about six months ago. Unfortunately I haven't been able to see her pieces in person (Dace is a boutique Canadian brand) but I absolutely adore them online, and imagine that the fit and construction would be nothing short of perfect. All of her pieces embody a structured sense of femininity -they are simple and beautiful.

Here are some beautiful shots from her Spring 2010 campaign:

And some of my favorite pieces from the spring collection:

I wish that I could pull off these pants

Danny Pants

Dian Jacket

Joelle Blouse

I am in love with this dress!

Lucie Dress

And here she is ...

The very talented Dace Moore

The Dace Website

2010-03-18T12:15:00.005+11:00

my my my my my boogie shoes ...

Yesterday at Puf N' Stuff, I tried on the perfect pair of vintage light blue huarache sandals (envision light-washed denim with little bits of yellow and white embroidery) - they channeled my inner hippie and prepster simultaneously - unreal, I know. However, these feet are certainly not made for size 6 1/2 shoes ... my heart hurt as I placed them back on the shelf ... so did my toes.

I've attempted to soften the blow by partaking in some imaginative retail therapy - here are my similar (in terms of hippie / preppy fusion) finds:

Diane von Furstenberg

Kamala Slash Toe Ring Sandals

Loeffler Randall

Idris Navajo Puzzle Sandals

See by Chloe

Flat Sandals with Chain Detail

Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent

Frisco Whipstitch Flat Sandals

House of Harlow 1960

Meryl Woven Plug Flat Moccasins

Dolce Vita

Gold Amos Sandal

More on this stupendously epic week to come!

2010-03-16T13:27:00.003+11:00

Bondi FM ...

Last night I finally made it to Bondi FM, cafe / wine bar / home of Bondi's local radio station ...

Where you can watch DJs spin ...

Or sit in crazy mismatched seats and play board games ...

Or leave your mark on one of their many murals ...

Bondi FM was bursting with musical and artistic inspiration, so I felt compelled to make you:

un petit playlist

a.k.a. selections from my ipod's current top 25

"Valerie" - Mark Ronson featuring Amy Winehouse

"Sweet Jane" - The Velvet Underground

"Soma" - The Strokes

"Does This Mean You're Moving On?" - The Airborne Toxic Event

"Young Americans" - David Bowie

"Sometime Around Midnight" - The Airborne Toxic Event

"The Black Keys Work (DJ - Kicks)" - Erlend Øye

"Mr. Blue Sky" - Electric Light Orchestra

"Something New" - The Airborne Toxic Event

"Interplanetary Music" - Mickey Moonlight

"What Ever Happened?" - The Strokes

Images via www.flickr.com/photos/iidesne ; www.smh.com.au

2010-03-14T22:17:00.000+11:00

attraversiamo!

I just found these stunning images of Susan Eldridge in Vogue Deustch via Le Blog de Sushi.

These photographs were taken on the Amalfi Coast in Positano, where I'll be in mid May!

These photographs encapsulate so many wonderful and incredible feelings. I am enamored with 60's style and they definitely embody the sophisticated glamour characteristic of those wonderful years.

I wish that I had all of her clothing (and her hair) - in fact I've just cleaned my closet of the mediocre in order to make room for only those clothes that I looove.

I can't even describe how excited these pictures make me for future adventures in Italia!

I plan on lounging in a little yellow boat just like this one ... with that sweater ... and those pigtails ... actually the pigtails may be a bit too out of control ...

I just can't help myself from squealing!

2010-03-14T19:47:00.008+11:00

surf's up!

This weekend, the world's best surfers converged in Bondi for the Boost Mobile Surfshow. It was pretty amazing to watch Kelly Slater, Taj Burrow (Pipeline champion) and Jordy Smith surf 500 feet from my front door.

Here are some pictures I took today, apologies for the poor quality (I'm no Eugene Tan - action shots scare me to death).

After watching the finals, I browsed around the markets for a while - a perfect lazy Sunday!

2010-03-14T19:26:00.001+11:00

dress up ...

The vintage shops on Crown Street are definitely one of my favorite things about Sydney. Yesterday we spent a few hours rummaging through racks and racks of pre-loved goodness. Of the many vintage gold mines, the highlight was most definitely Grandma Takes A Trip (branches both in Surry Hills and Bondi) where we indulged in a bit of dress up ... and laughs, lots of them.

Keenan had been obsessed with trying on fur stoles and leather jackets all day, here's the cream of the Crown Street crop, oh so glamorous:

If that wasn't out of control to begin with, here's the stole with the most adorable vintage nightie (she was a bit loopy by this point, just too much vintage goodness):

Keenan made me try on this handmade dress from the 50's - this almost killed me, as the only thing I despise more than asymmetrical hems is ruched velvour - this little number ticked both boxes:

But I couldn't help but love the top of the dress, it was perfectly constructed and the navy lace was beautiful - for a second I considered buying it and chopping off the bottom, that was until I looked at the price tag:

However, I did have a bit of luck! I found this secondhand Fendi bag:

I'm loving cross body bags lately, I think this will be perfect for traveling!

Images compliments of Keenan Evans

2010-03-12T17:51:00.002+11:00

Mamak ...

Last night Keenan and I ventured out to an amazing art opening which featured a collection of 365 paintings of consecutive sunsets (post about the artist / exhibition to come). After being overwhelmed by artistic talent and a lack of food, we had the best Malaysian food at a Sydney institution called Mamak.

When we arrived there was a line of about 15 people waiting to be seated, mesmerized by the roti making process. Roti is a traditional Malaysian bread served either with curry dips or with fruit as a dessert. Here is the roti master in action - I could've watched him work for hours ...

We also had teh tarik, a hot, sweetened Malaysian tea that is "stretched" to create foam, le art of stretching pictured below:

And then there was the maggi goreng and chicken satay. Food coma and art are a wonderful combination.

Over the past few years I've developed a bit of an obsession with laksa, but had been a bit scared to venture out - I'm so glad that I did as this was the best Malaysian food I've ever had! It's listed in the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide and very modestly priced - definitely worth a visit!

Images via www.mamak.com.au

2010-03-12T14:44:00.003+11:00

Happy Birthday, Jillie!

I hope that you're having a wonderful / relaxing day, complete with lots of these:

And a few of these:

And hopefully none of these:

I love you so much and can't wait to see you guys!

p.s. you're the _ _ _ _ _ .

Images via goolgeimages

2010-03-11T17:21:00.012+11:00

things i learned in the great barrier reef ...

Water really can be turquoise!

Herbal anti-seasickness medication is completely ineffective.

It may torrentially downpour in the wet season, but it can also be quite nice.

The Queen Mary 2 is very big.

Blackcurrant Snakebite is the best after a hard day's snorkel.

Food coma is not the best.

Sunburned lips are a slow and excruciatingly painful death.

Golf carts are the best mode of transport.

The Whitsundays are the most beautiful place I've ever been.

2010-03-10T21:14:00.002+11:00

meant to be, la la la ...

It was only yesterday that I posted about these Janna Conner charm earrings which so perfectly resemble my long lost favorite pair.

Today, we ventured out to the best bead store in Sydney and I just so happened to find these charms! Are they not a nearly identical match?! I guess I was just destined to get them back in some form ...

So I bought some earring backs and recreated my favorite pair:

I also found another set of rose charms which I just couldn't resist:

And could not contain myself after finding this really beautiful locket:

In a few weeks I'll be traveling around Europe with my younger sister. I'm going to fill this locket with a memory of our time there- I bought one for her as well!

2010-03-09T18:45:00.003+11:00

le life of luxe ...

I used to work with a lovely woman at Tiffany & Co. who had been with the company for many years and used to be the personal shopper at the flagship store in the 60's. Once over lunch she told me about a very loyal customer who used to call her on a monthly basis to pick out gifts for his wife. One day, on a whim of spontaneity, she decided to find the most outrageous thing in the store to see what he thought - what she found was a giant tulipiere, a vase with multiple openings, each meant to hold one or two stems of flowers. While I couldn't find any images of a Tiffany tulipiere, I always imagined that it would look something like this:

He absolutely loved it, and so did his wife.

With nothing to do this past Sunday, Keenan (check out her awesome post here) and I meandered around Sydney's luxury retail stores and took in all of the lavishly unnecessary beauty of luxury goods.

One of the first stops was Cartier where this funky / beautiful little ring lives:

There was also this cute, delicate necklace in their Love Collection - I love the mini interlocked Love Rings:

The next stop was Hermes where everything, and I mean everything (even the pocket-sized puzzle) exuded luxury and sophistication. I've never been partial to scarves, however, after seeing them in person and learning about the incredibly intricate silk-screening process, I can definitely see why Hermes scarves are so coveted.

This is their oldest design, Brides de Gala, originally made in 1957:

All of their scarves feature amazing detail - we saw one which featured a collage of chapel ceilings from all around the world. Here's an astrology chart:

There were lots of everyday luxuries, from incredibly soft baby blankets, to beach towels:

And of course, there were enameled bangles - lots of them:

In both classic designs and colors (pictured above) and funky, incredibly detailed prints:

While I have no intention / desire to deck myself out in luxury goods (well, maybe in Missoni, but I maintain that I will never ever be able to justify the price of a Birkin Bag) sometimes it's nice to simply marvel at their incredibly detailed construction.

Images via www.manorhg.com, www.cartier.com, www.hermes.com

2010-03-09T11:49:00.002+11:00

master of statement simplicity ...

My younger sister has a very special ring that she's worn everyday since high school. Its design is timeless and I can't help but try it on my own finger on a weekly basis, it's just that pretty!

Gold Large Teardrop Ring

(She owns the version with the peach-colored stone)

It's a great ring because it's substantial both in weight and appearance yet simple and understated. I've come to learn that Janna Conner, of Janna Conner Designs, strikes this balance in all of her beautiful pieces. Many thanks to my sister for telling me about her new arrivals!

While I'm normally opposed to initial necklaces, I cannot help but love these fun, jewel-toned versions. I love the imperfect cursive scribble as it looks genuinely handwritten, not to mention, the enamel is available in 17 different colors:

Gold Enamel Coin Charm Necklace

I love the vintage feel of these earrings, they would stand out beautifully against a little black dress:

Gold Plated Starburst Charm Earrings

I used to have studs just like these but I lost one at the beach! Perhaps a replacement is in order:

Gold Plated Rose Charm Earrings

This is a beautiful, vintage take on hoop earrings - I think they may be my favorite of the group:

Gold Nila Earrings

These are so fun and are an affordable alternative to the Hermes bangles I was swooning over last weekend (shall be posting about Hermes and all its exquisite / unattainable beauty):

Gold Medium Charm Bangle

2010-03-07T22:41:00.013+11:00

hereditary neuroses ...

My family prides itself on our penchant for outrageous baked goods. My mom, the ringleader, has a pretty extensive repertoire - case and point, one of her many traditional Thanksgiving desserts:

Rice Krispy Turkey

We were very lucky to have grown up with homemade seven-layer ice cream cakes and Rice Krispy Castles for our birthdays. Although I must admit, sometimes we do worry about her - like the time she covered an apple pie with a collage of leaves and vines made from leftover dough.

As you can imagine, my mother is a bit of a detail-obsessed baker. I distinctly remember receiving a lecture on the importance of proper flour-leveling at age 6. But I've come to learn that perfection really is the key to proper baking. It's also the key to avoiding near-death experiences in the kitchen - my older sister learned this the hard way when she started a fire by doubling the intended amount of baking soda ... rookie mistake. Since then she has blossomed into nothing short of a kitchen goddess.

Today I found a recipe for Almond & Cinnamon Biscotti. Biscotti are particularly wonderful because they necessitate a cup of coffee, and in my opinion anything that necessitates a cup of coffee is a good thing, maybe even the best of things.

Some chopped almonds pre-toasting

I also love the biscotti-making process because it's a bit more involved than a normal cookie-making process. Biscotti means "twice baked" in italian, so you make the dough, roll it into a log and bake it on a high heat. After the log cools, you lower the temperature, cut it into slices and bake them for a second time.

Greater involvement = greater bonding between me and the baked good. By the time they were finished I almost felt too guilty to try one ... as you can imagine, that guilt dissipated almost instantaneously.

Biscotti dough is significantly drier than normal cookie dough, so if you don't own a "heavy-duty electric mixer" as the recipes requires, it can be a bit of an upper-arm workout

Here's the log before the first round of baking - I brushed the top with an egg wash and sprinkled it with cinnamon and sugar for prettier / yummier biscotti

The prettiness / yumminess factor increased exponentially with the addition of dark chocolate

They're sort of cute ... like little, chocolate-dipped soldiers

Dark Chocolate Dipped Almond & Cinnamon Biscotti

adapted from Bon Appetit

Ingredients

3 large eggs

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon almond extract (I used vanilla extract again instead)

3 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped toasted almonds

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 18" x 12" x 1" baking sheet. Combine first four ingredients in bowl of heavy-duty electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment (you can also opt to rough it as I did). Beat until well blended. Mix flour, almonds, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Gradually add to egg mixture, beating until blended (dough will be soft).

2.) Turn dough out onto floured surface and gather together. Roll dough between palms and work surface into 16" long log. Transfer to prepared sheet. Flatten log to 1" thickness. At this point I brushed the dough with 1 beaten egg and sprinkled extra cinnamon and sugar on top. Bake until light brown and cracked on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack; cool log 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.

3.) Transfer warm log to work surface. Using serrated knife, cut log on sharp diagonal into 1/4" to 1/2" thick slices. Arrange on baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes per side. Transfer to racks and cool (biscotti harden while cooling).

2010-03-04T22:53:00.008+11:00

love for le grandpa sweater ...

I am well and truly obsessed with grandpa sweaters - really any oversized male sweater for that matter, I don't discriminate! While it may appear that they are an easy out for putting together a real outfit, I actually think they embody a sense of chic confidence.

About 95% of the time you can find me running around in a grandpa sweater with either skinny jeans or denim shorts. For some reason I just feel my best in that beloved little uniform. Now that I think about it, I actually feel most feminine when wearing the aforementioned combinations ... perhaps I'm deluding myself in my quest for comfort.

Here are some awesome vintage Etsy finds. If you purchase any of the following I will plot your death be truly jealous, but very happy for you and your wonderful purchase!

My favorite of the bunch

"Vintage Funfetti Boyfriend Sweater"

I despise myself in red, but this could work on all of you non-freaks

"Cream and Red Reindeer Knit Sweater"

Feminine take on the grandpa sweater - also who can resist something that's "nubby"?

"Neutral Nubby Fringe Collar Sweater"

I never thought I'd swoon over anything Eddie Bauer ... I fear that I may be getting frumpy in my old age

"No. 285 Eddie Bauer Sweater"

Perfectly white and classic

"1970's Cozy Alpine Knit Cable Sweater"

I hereby pledge my undying love for striped sweaters

"Buttons"

Gotta love the reindeer ... clearly I do ...

"Jantzen 40's Reindeer Sweater"

In fact, it just so happens that I'm wearing a wonderful pastel pink grandpa sweater at this very moment, compliments of Keens!

2010-03-04T16:15:00.002+11:00

newfound loves ...

There's so much to post and so little time! The Great Barrier reef was too awesome for words but I'm attempting to put it into words/pictures in a photo-intensive post that is soon to come ...

After arriving home in Sydney last night, I went to see the "late" showing of Tom Ford's debut film, A Single Man. It was by far the most aesthetically pleasing film I have ever seen before - like an hour and forty minutes of the most beautiful, intricately composed high-fashion ad.

Not to mention there was Matthew Goode ... who may or may not be #3 on my list ...

And crazy 60's hair and makeup

And heartbreakingly handsome boys in sweaters

And more awesome 60's hair

While I don't think it's a film that I could watch multiple times (partly because it's quite heavy), I definitely think it's worth seeing. I absolutely loved the way that Ford played around with color and sound to enhance the mood ... not to mention the incredible clothing, but what else would you expect? If you dream of living in Southern California in the early 60's - which I often do - then this is most definitely for you!

In other media ...

Not only did I go snorkeling for the first time ever last week, I also got to read two incredible books whilst lounging on the beach. Life is a drag, I know.

The first was City of Thieves by David Benioff and I can hardly describe how amazing this story is. It takes place during World War II and follows two young Russian soldiers on a hunt for a dozen eggs. It ranks among my top ten favorite books.

I know that I'm about two years behind on this one, but I finally got the chance to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson which was incredibly addictive to say the least. I finished the last page just as our plane pulled up to the gate in Sydney - impeccable timing, if I do say so myself. I can't wait to see the movie and read the other two books!

I'm gearing up for lots of travelling soon - any book recommendations would be so greatly appreciated!

Images via www.allmoviephotos.com

www.amazon.com

2010-02-24T15:58:00.004+11:00

i'll be here for the next week!

Whitsunday Islands in the Great Barrier Reef

Attempting to do this

Wearing this

(Apologies for the horrible quality, this does not do my new purchase justice)

Enjoying lots of these

Maybe hugging one of these?

... no, probably not, but they're the best (google dugong if you have not already had the pleasure of doing so)

I can't believe that I've lived in Australia for three years without ever having visited the Great Barrier Reef! I definitely should be doing laundry / packing right now instead of posting, but this is so much more fun.

I'm going to attempt to post over the next week, but I'm not sure how convenient internet access will be. I cannot wait to share pictures and stories!

Bring on the anti-seasickness medication! Woo!

Images via www.smh.com.au

www.nationalgeographic.com

2010-02-24T15:52:00.003+11:00

countdown

Tomorrow marks exactly two months until the release of Zac Posen's line for Target. Target is one of the things that I miss the most about the States; for some reason (and by some reason I mean innumerable, legitimate reasons) Target in Australia is tremendously inferior. For a start, it closes at 7 pm and personally, I find that the best Target shopping sprees take place between the hours of 9pm and 12 am.

If you haven't already seen them, here are some of the looks:

I really like these pieces, but I also think that most people - and I guess I can only really speak for myself here - would find the leather jacket priced at $199.99 to be a bit excessive

This is my favorite - I love the swimsuit and the top

This dress is so sweet

I love this skirt

I like that his pieces are quite eclectic yet somehow cohesive ... I can't wait to see them in person!

Images via www.fashionista.com

2010-02-23T10:39:00.003+11:00

swoooon

...ing over my new favorite blog, Canned Fashion. Natalie Hughes, (creator of Canned Fashion) is an online editor for Sheer Luxe Magazine and shares her adventures, outfits, illustrations and inspiration on her blog. I love all of her clothing, and her commentary (including frequent references to herself as a "headless chicken") makes me giggle.

She lives in London and exudes impossible yet lovable coolness.

Could that dress be any cooler? I think not.

Natalie with Olivia Palermo

One of her many awesome illustrations

And another

Canned Fashion is definitely worth a visit ... or 20!

Images via www.cannedfashion.com