In the Shades


DSCF1609_2DSCF1611DSCF1612_2Blouse: Princess Highway (remixed)

Cardigan: Eugenie Cashmere

Skirt: Vintage via Bombshell Vintage

Shoes: Chie Mihara

I know, I know. Sunglasses inside. It automatically makes you look like a try-hard. But, look, it’s been two weeks and I still have a black eye. Nowhere near the shiner it was last week, but enough to draw attention and comments wherever I go.

I’ve been walking with my head down, making sure not to make eye contact with people on the street. I haven’t spotted my reflection in a window for days. I barely recognise my face with the black eye. And, oh my God, I’m so sick of having to explain to people how I got it fainting onto a cement floor. And no I wasn’t drunk. Or pregnant.

Good news is, I’ve had a full and thorough check-up, and it looks like it was Just One Of Those Things. Maybe a little bit of stress; the last few weeks have been challenging, to say the least.

But something really exciting and wonderful happened yesterday…179734_10151594761632171_782937047_nEarlier this year I was selected to be one of a new group of bloggers who will be contributing to the Guardian newspaper’s fashion pages.

I couldn’t quite believe it when they contacted me, and I’ll be honest with you; my introductory post is up and I STILL can’t quite believe it. Me. On the front page of the Guardian’s fashion pages. It just doesn’t seem real.

Thank you to all long-time my readers – I wouldn’t be here without you guys – and thank you and welcome to my new readers too! I hope you enjoy the blog. If you’re looking for some older posts to start with, here are a few of my favourites:

It’s Grand to be Grande

Perfect Girls Need Not Apply 

Remix: Dress to Skirt

Rest assured, this new and exciting blogging opportunity doesn’t mean things will change here at F&FF. I’m going to endeavour to write original posts at the Guardian, but I will link back here when they go up, so you can check them out if you’re interested.

It’s quite cool and rainy in Melbourne at the moment, and I’m doing my usual trans-seasonal thing of realising that I’ve “retired” the bulk of last year’s winter wardrobe and everything I own is too thin/short/summery for the chilly days. Coupled with the fact that I want comfort, and really I can’t go past my navy blue cashmere cardigan (sewn up the front like my favourite remixed blouse so that it’s more of a sweater). It’s warm and snuggly and soft on my skin. A cuddle in clothes form.

I’ve teamed it today with the probably-home-made skirt that I bought last year at Bombshell Vintage. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I haven’t yet made it in to their new home at the Lost and Found Market, um, twenty minutes walk from my front door.

This skirt’s a fave, but it’s pretty tight, especially around the legs (there’s no slit in the back to facilitate striding) so I usually try to reserve it for days when I know I won’t be doing a lot of walking.

Wouldn’t want to take another tumble, would we?

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Soft Sparkles & Short Cuts

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Cardigan: Eugenie CashmereRemixed

Top: Gorman

Skirt: DIY

Shoes: Forever New

I’m quite lazy when it comes to my beauty routine, and I always try to find shortcuts when I can.

I wear BB Cream, because it works as a moisturiser, an  SPF30+suncream, and a foundation (this one’s my favourite). I got laser hair removal because I was sick of shaving my legs every day. And I’m incapable of finding a mascara that doing end up all over my cheekbones within an hour. So I get my eyelashes tinted.

Since I moved away from the CBD I needed to find a new salon locally that did eyelash tinting so I was thrilled to discover a placed called “Play: Brow and Lash Bar” just around the corner. While I was there I decided to have my eyebrows “threaded” as well.

You don’t see them much, because of my fringe, but my eyebrows are naturally quite sparse, especially at the edges where they lose all definition.

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Me. Before I discovered tweezers. That baby is allowed to drink and vote now. That tells you how long ago it was!

When I didn’t have the fringe I got them professionally shaped and tinted (because, lazy) but since growing the fringe in I’ve been kind of taking care of them myself. Which of course, meant that they were a bit of a disaster zone.

The girls at Play were really friendly and attentive, and explained very patiently to me where I was going wrong in my technique. One eyebrow was arched, the other curved, the gap between them was too wide for my face, and they were a bit uneven. They gave me a game plan for upkeep, and then tidied them up for me.

I don’t know if any of you have tried threading, but I can give it the two thumbs up. It’s not quite as quick at waxing; but it’s more precise, not nearly as messy, and you don’t end up with two angry splodges of red on your forehead for the rest of the day.

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My eyelash tint was seamless too, and my consultant was very attentive, making careful sure that the dye hadn’t seeped into my eyes and wasn’t stinging.

Play’s been around for less than a year in both South Yarra and Fitzroy, but I’ll definitely be back, and I thoroughly recommend it for anyone locally looking for lash and brow services in a friendly, laid-back, non-pretentious environment.

Today’s outfit was all soft and gold and cuddly and discreetly glittery.

I wore the draped wool skirt that I made for myself a couple of years ago. I teamed it with my remixed cashmere cardigan with the sequinned elbow patches and a t-shirt from Gorman with gold polkadots.

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My most OTT bit of bling was this amazing rhinestone collar that I bought ages ago from Lovisa, and have never had the courage to wear before.DSCF1142_2The fabric of this necklace is actually quite a soft cotton, and it ties up at the back with a tatty bit of chiffon fabric. There’s a bit of faded glamour about it that appeals to me, but I haven’t been able to find the outfit that it works with yet.

This is OK, but still not perfect. How would you wear it?