Hi Tea

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 Top: “Flower Patch My Drift Top” Modcloth

Skirt: Chitra’s Closet

Shoes: Wittner

A weekend or so ago I was incredibly lucky to be invited to attend a high tea and runway show celebrating the upcoming spring racing carnival and the delicious outfits that Chitra Mangma of Chitra’s Closet has developed for the season.

This lovely skirt is one of Chitra’s from a few years ago, and it’s a great favourite of mine. It exhibits all the usual elements that make the clothes from Chitra’s Closet such beautiful keepsake pieces: Exquisite textiles, impeccable workmanship, and little bonus details like a contrast lining, or the netting frill that peeks out of the hem of this skirt.

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I teamed it with one of the brand-new pieces that I’ve bought from Modcloth. This absolutely gorgeous embroidered “Flower Patch My Drift” blouse from the indie brand Moon Collection.

It’s got a wide sailor collar, and buttons elegantly down the spine, and the embroidery is a bold but intricate floral motif.

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It dresses up nicely, as you can see, but I’ve also worn it with jeans and a cardigan for a more casual look. Because of the boxy shape, it actually dresses down really well. The fabric’s a not particularly lovely polyester, but I suppose the bonus is it doesn’t crush in the slightest. I crammed this into my carry-on suitcase last time I went on an interstate business trip, and it came out the other end as fresh as a daisy.

DSCF2447_2 DSCF2449_2 Typically, the clothes coming down the runway at the fashion show were beautiful. A riot of colour and interesting details, classic silhouettes and ladylike styles. The suits above are perfect for the racing season. Elegant without being understated. And the fun this is you can wear the pieces separately for a completely different look. That green skirt with a fitted tee? Perfect.

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I love the combination of turquoise and buttercup yellow…

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…and the pleated feature back is divinity, and would be blissful on a stinking hot day.

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I’m becoming more and more attracted by voluminous, boxy tops this season. Theoretically they shouldn’t work on my busty frame, but I just recently bought a corker at Asos (which you’ll see as soon as I get around to taking some pictures) and it’s actually surprisingly flattering.

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 Thank you to Chitra for inviting me to attend the fashion show!

May(de): Pussy’s Bow

Cardigan: Friends Of Couture

Skirt: Chitra’s Closet

Tights: mesop

Shoes: Poetic Licence

 

This is the second of the three cardigans that I impulse bought during my pre-birthday cardigan-bender, and it might just be my favourite.

It’s almost a colour-block cardigan, with a navy blue shell, grey cuffs, an oatmeal coloured collar that merges into a killer ruby red pussy bow. It’s totally adorable, even though it’s got those annoying 3/4 length sleeves. (Seriously, it’s winter! Why would I want my wrists and forearms exposed?). It’s perfectly preppy done up, but looks equally cute undone with only the bow fastened loosely at the neck.

It matches splendidly with my Chitra’s Closet skirt, which is one of my favourite wardrobe items. Chitra just launched her Winter 2012 range, and there’s some GORGEOUS pieces on there. My favourite’s probably this amazing black and red coat, I love the swooping hemline and the contrasting shawl collar:

I can more or less squeeze into one of Chitra’s size 14’s because she cuts her clothing to encompass and enhance women’s curves, rather than pretending they don’t exist. Her clothes are always beautifully finished as well with contrasting lining, and little details that really make the piece.

In other news, a good friend of mine has started a blog called TENANT which profiles interesting Melburnites, and uncovers a little bit of what they love about this city.

It’s a great idea – especially since Melbourne is such a sneaky little town; all the best places are hidden away down unlikely alleyways and unmarked doors. Getting a local’s-eye view of where they eat, drink, shop and hang-out is essential for enjoying the city, and it’s nice to hear about other creative, innovative individuals in your neighbourhood. Community, man!

So, if you wanted a little sneak peek inside The Sophisticate and my inner-city pad, including a photo of smoochy Suki (she hasn’t appeared on here for aaages!) click through to my interview, and it’s well worth following TENANT on Tumblr too, for her snapshots of Melbourne.