SHAKUHACHI LUST LIST

The Shakuhachi Cruise Collection  was one that I absolutely lusted over at MBFWA almost a year ago now. It was an explosion of print perfection in a fresh spin on cuts that weren't entirely predictable - structured yet exceedingly feminine with bustier tops and wispy skirts, clean shifts and subtle cut-outs. Don't even get me started on the sunglasses.

It was love at first sight.

The Winter 2014 collection builds on this in similar florals except with a darker, edgier feel - a bit of street-meets-ladylike glamour - and this organza skirted piece has just shot straight to the top of my lust list. Sinful indulgence.

Wearing Shakuhachi dress and sunglasses, Tony Bianco heels, Jolie & Deen necklace

Photography by Thomas Lo

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#OWNIT

#OWNIT.

Confidence, summed up in one nifty hashtag.

Over the past week I have met and come to learn more about three creative individuals, each enthusiastic and passionate about their work, each with a vision - be it to provide the ultimate new & cool casual dining experience, to create images that gives justice to the saying 'a picture speaks a thousand words', or to explore the endless possibilities of interactive design in within our modern landscape. What inspires me and motivates me most is their curiosity and initiative to create something new, something different. 

I have also come to the realisation that despite being in a relative progressive cultural environment such as Melbourne where artistic collaborations abound and one-off cultural events are a seemingly weekly occurrence, that there are always two sides to a story. Two sides to every brilliantly conceived and executed idea. And really, you cannot afford to try to please everyone involved. 

In a similar fashion (pun clearly intended), not everyone is going to agree with exaggerated pointy-toed patents (my dear sister said they looked like chilli), transparent clutches, houndstooth prints, or  ridiculously round and reflective sunnies that came only with half a frame.

But they worked well for me so, backed up by Boohoo's latest campaign, I say, #OWNIT. 

Wearing: Boohoo Dress, Shakuhachi sunnies, Her Fashion Box clutch, Zara shoes

Photography by Thomas Lo

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Houndstooth

Every so often I pick myself (and a suitcase or two) up, jet off to the other side of the world, hop around a couple of cities, get busy discovering and rediscovering new places, and fall off the blogging bandwagon for longer than I ever intended to. Tonight I was at Boohoo's AW Collection launch (free shipping to Australia, ladies), caught up with some familiar blogger faces over platefuls of Capricciosa and Margherita, and was instantly enveloped not only by their genuine passion for fashion, but also reminded of their commitment to blogging as more than just a mere side project - which, in all honesty, commands respect and re-inspired me to get off my lazy, inarticulate backside and get things happening again.

So here I am, in a breezy houndstooth dress that worked like a charm in Singapore's humidity, and proved that a print clash with floor tiles does make for a weirdly appealing Instagram post that works as a trippy optical illusion or something. Houndstooth on the other hand was never really something I instantly considered 'appealing' - something about it seemed jarring and kind of hazardous, but hey as long as they don't come in bright neon colour ways they're pretty alright. Almost versatile even, I'd say.

Wearing: Boohoo Dress, Steve Madden Sandals, Coach bag

Photography by Thomas Lo

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RIVERSIDE

Loft coat and jumper, Nobody jeans, Tony Bianco knee-high boots

Meandering through the streets of West Village and Greenwich Village, where we, admittedly, got a little lost, brought us to the Hudson River, one of the rare places in NYC where we weren't greeted by swarms of tourists. Or, anyone at all, really. Perhaps it was due to the fact that the wind chill had brought the mercury down into the negatives and we were the only ones silly enough to think that a Starbucks Hot Chocolate would have sufficed as a hand warmer.. 

Photography by Thomas Lo

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