What would you do?

About once a fortnight I walk down to the post office early in the morning before work to pick up any packages that may have arrived for me.  I was waiting for a couple of copies of September magazines which are usually too thick to fit in the post office box so needed to be picked up, so I made the trekk on Wednesday morning, continuing onto the tram and onto my usual journey to work. 


So here I am trodding down the road carrying my bag, my lunch, my gym bag and 4-5 magazines and packages.  The area around the post office and the tram stop can be described by some as "scary".  In the early hours of a morning you will find working girls and guys who haven't slept, eaten or washed for days weeks.  But honestly after dealing with them for 3.5 years you get immune to the sight (and the smell).  Some of them even remember me and smile and wave.  They're harmless, I promise.

Anyway, so I'm walking down the street and there's a girl standing on the side walk ahead of me.  The first thing I notice is the STUPID shoes she's wearing.  Then I see she's shaking, twitching, fidgeting and looks flustered and upset.  Suddenly she tumbles.  It was the shoes fault, I swear.  They were ridiculous.

At least 10 people walked past her before I approached her, turning their heads, playing on their phone....  Ignoring a person on the ground unable to get up.  As I reached the girl I held out my hand and helped her to her feet.  She was so thankful and appreciative of my gesture.  Her face lit up.  I was floored by how much it meant to her that someone held out their hand and acknowledged her existance.  It was such a small gesture, yet one that so many passers by decided was beneath them.  It didn't take an effort, it didn't make you late, it was free.  So why not help?

I think it's a sad sign of our times that helping a stranger is something we have to think twice about.  Whether they're a troubled person or not, they deserve respect.  You never know what circumstances led the person down that path...

“How shall we learn to know ourselves? By reflection? Never; but only through action. Strive to do thy duty; then you shall know what is in thee.”  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Last night I purchased a gym bag.  Why?  Who cares?  Well I do.  Not having a gym bag has recently become a really good and convenient reason not to go to the gym.  As I'm heading out the door in the morning I have nothing to pack my gear into (except a plastic bag), which means the gear stays at home and my butt doesn't end up in a spin class.  Now that my gear is waiting, packed by the door I have no reason not to take it with me, and since I'm taking it with me, I have no reason not to go to the gym.  Talk about setting up a trap for oneself...

And boy do I need that gym, since somehow over the past week, I've ended up with two new bikinis... despite the fact there's no sunshine of sunshine.  Now all I need is for somebody to pay for a tropical holiday... blog sponsors, are you out there?? I promise a glowing review!

C&M swim 

Seafolly

The upcoming season is all Stella and Phoebe... sleek minimal lines, structured camel coats, classic pumps.  It's all about being a lady.  But I wonder how long this trend will last?  Is it a trend that will actually be embraced by the young generation...? I suppose when you are in your 20's you can get away with experimenting a bit more, leaving the sleek and minimal for your 30's and beyond.

Reading through my Vogue this week, the Andrew Marc FW 2010/2011 campaign caught my eye, reigniting my love affair with Emmanuelle Alt's style all over again.

I'm officially coveting those leather trousers... beginning NOW.

Giveaway winner!

Random number generator has picked SEMI EXPAT to be the winner of the US Vogue giveaway.

Yes it's taken me a while to announce the winner, but that's because I hadn't received the prize! (or so I thought, but all along it was hiding out at the post office, I even went as far as accusing them of stealing my mail HAHAH oooops!)


Congrats to SE! xo

Gossip Girl - so good to have you back!

I was even more pleased that the first episode of the new season was almost entirely set in Paris!  The fashion is almost as theatrical as SATC!

I NEED the jumpsuit Blake is wearing!

Spring cleaning my life!

Thank you for all your lovely words and well wishes.  You're all way too sweet :)

I was born an autumn baby and while living in Europe my birthday usually marked the first day/week back at school.  Shopping for new books and stationery and clothes (no school uniforms!).  In Australia, my birthday marks spring and the onset of some sunny days (although Melbourne isn't following the rules at the moment).  I am well and truly sick of all my winter clothes and sick of the weather requiring them to be worn, more than anything else!

At the moment, my apartment is resembling a war zone.  B and I have been looking for a home for the past year and nothing has caught our eye or ticked the boxes.  And believe me, not much is required to tick the boxes either!  We just want a nice, light and bright place with lots of sunlight.  It's amazing how poorly so many homes are designed.  Why have a tiny window facing the court yard?  Why not maximise the sunlight and let some warm rays in?

To be honest, at this stage of the game, we'd be happy with even some POTENTIAL for sunlight to be allowed in, but nope, it's not to be just yet.

via tumblr

I guess an upside of all this is that we will most likely spend the summer where we are, a stone throw from the beach (a location we haven't really utilised the past few summers we've been in our place) and walking distance from our favourite cafe! 

So back to the flat we currently call home and my urge to begin to declutter at 9pm on a Monday night.  The sheer lack of storage space is driving me mad! And when you have nowhere to store things, you need to get rid of them.  By the end of the weekend, I plan to have decluttered every draw, every shelf and every cupboard.  I will dust every corner, clean every nook and clean the tiny bit of carpet that magically becomes filthy far too quickly... all ready for summer.

I've found a new throw for the bed and will finally frame the paintings from New York, just to freshen things up a little bit. 

Birthday and the onset of spring is like the new year - a chance to start fresh and be organised!  And some cute new stuff from Kikki K always comes in handy to help plan out my day.  There's just something really rewarding in ticking things off a to do list. 

via kikki-k.com

"Between the fear that something would happen and the hope that still it wouldn't, there is much more space than one thinks. On that narrow, hard, bare and dark space a lot of us spend their lives." Ivo Andric

As I mentioned in a previous post, for years and years I haven't marked my birthday whatsoever.  Something always happened in the lead up and this year was no different, but I'm so glad that I organised to see my dear friends and mark the occasion!  Life is too precious and too short.

I met with my first group of friends after work for some drinks.  I probably haven't been 'out' all year! Hmmm.  We had a lovely booth at a bar with lots of drinks and some nibblies to share.

On Saturday, my actual birthday I spent the day with B in South Melbourne, visiting an endless amount of shops, bookstores, antique furniture stores, drinking too many soy lattes and lunching on the most amazing fruit toast with home made jam at St Ali.  It was such a lovely, warm-ish early spring day, spent doing my favourite things with my favourite person!

Today I was joined by some other friends for a long lunch at St Kilda beach, including my newest friend, baby A!  I can't get enough of him and will be so sad when he moves away with his mummy (who is one of my closes friends) so they can finally be together with his daddy in Adelaide.  

And tonight B and I had a wonderful, romantic dinner at Donovan's. It's such a lovely, warm and intimate restaurant with an open fire place, serving hearty, wholesome and rustic food.

Thank you to each and everyone of my wonderful friends for making it such a wonderful, memorable birthday.

And of course the gifts, which have been trickling in all week!

My friend D, surprised me with a package at work.  The lip balms are brilliant, and there's enough for each hand bag no more dry lips when forgetting one in another bag.  Brilliant.  And anything Aesop I love!  Am yet to try and moisturising oils.  Thanks babe! 

Now, B knew how much I wanted a remote for my camera, and he was more than happy to oblige so that he'd also be relieved that he would no longer have to take photos of me!  Little did I expect something from Chanel too!  He went early in the morning to get a hair cut, came home, yet there was no hair cut! Only a gift from Chanel =D

It's a lovely, elegant, crystal pendant...

The Chanel birthday continued, thanks to my sister in law!

My friend D totally spoilt me with a gorgeous bow clutch, 4 mini Essie polishes and a bottle of the new Gucci Guilt fragrance!  

And my friend A and baby A got me some stunning jewellery.

Everyone knows my tastes far too well!  Thanks guys!  I'd be nothing with you all! xo

Olivia Palermo Style Copy Pt 2

About a year ago, a series of photos of Olivia Palermo emerged, in which she was wearing a pair of pointy brogues.  I believe hers were Sergio Rossi or Topshop.  I resigned myself to thinking that I would never be able to find a pair... and suddenly I find them and I can't decide if I should buy them? 

I think they would be great for summer teamed with black and neutrals... Should I?

google images

Salvios street jazz brogues - AUD120

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”

Tomorrow morning, I'm going to leap out of bed...

Do my hair AND my make up...

Put on something fabulous...

And meet my friends after work for a drink to reflect and actually celebrate my birthday.  Something I haven't done for many years...

Trans-sseasonal dressing

I sit in the corner of our open plan office, next to a large floor to ceiling window overlooking the office tennis court.  This morning, the sun is shining very bright, reflecting the green faux grass of our tennis court and making me feel a little bit happy.  I can't wait for the sunlight to stick around after 5pm, so I can make use of my neglected tennis racquet after work. 

In a few weeks I plan to do a wardrobe swap - woolies into the spare room --> summer brights into the main bedroom.  Similar to what I did back in April when the winter stuff came out of hibernation.  Melbourne is one of those places however that pretty much just has two seasons - a cold, long winter and a short summer often interrupted by odd winter-weather-like days.  Trans-seasonal pieces are vital.  It's taken me 3 years here to figure that out.

The first item is something a bit cheap and cheerful... from dear old asos.com... Long sleeve mini dresses & blazers will love this edition I think! (before I buy anything else I better check what I have in the spare room, eh?)

Henry Holland tights from ASOS

Wishful Wednesday

As you've read on my blog a thousand times over, I've had a pretty hard time of late accepting life and all of the things that it has dealt me.  Making mistakes, learning, moving forward is sometimes more difficult than it seems.  Dishing advice is a lot easier than receiving it.

So today I wish for self acceptance of the past.  Maybe, just maybe all those things did happen for a reason, and one of these days it will become obvious whyyyy.

At least a couple of reasons to smile...

My desk to magically declutter itself.

And I really wish that summer would hurry up, so I can go for a long drive, a swim and a glass of champagne by the ocean...

images via tumblr

Nan Goldin for Scanlan & Theodore

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Scanlan & Theodore.  So much so, that I wear at least an item of S&T 6 out of 7 days a week!

My love affair began about 6 years ago while I was working as a temp data entry clerk during the summer break at university.  The job was boring. I was paid for 8 hours a day, but my job required me to work about 45 minutes.  It's true.  Boring job meant hours surfing on the internet, and usually buying a lot of things.  I have that job to thank for my first pair of Chloe heels from NAP and my first Marc Jacobs dress... and my long and expensive relationship with S&T.

Gary Theodore, the man behind the label and the whole S&T team are immensely private.  No interviews, no parades, no advertising.  Just private shows for their most valued customers and staff at the beginning of a new season.  I still wear every single of my S&T items.  They don't go out of style.  They're seasons and seasons ahead most of the time.  I'm more than happy to pay a little more, especially since 90% of the clothing is made in Australia. And they know a thing or two about amazing service and flexibility.

“Our designs exist to reflect the integrity of a woman and resonate her unique individualism” says Gary Theodore.  Totally out of the box to use a 'messy' Erin Wasson for their spring/summer lookbook. 

“We thought it time to communicate how we were feeling, and looking at Nan’s work we felt we had similar values, being uncompromising, extremely considered and sometimes complex, yet having ideals of simplicity and honesty,” explains Gary. “When you look at Nan’s work, it’s simplistic at first glance but after a while the more you look the more you see, there’s a lot going on, emotionally.”

scanlantheodore.com.au