Summer sunshine

Happy Monday!!

Coming back down to the working week with a resounding *thump* after a busy social weekend that included:
- Pilates
- meeting with milliner (re. wedding headpiece - more on that later in the month)
- lunch at Tinderbox with my godparents and their daughters for a lovely, pre-wedding catch up
- late afternoon drinks with a friend who recently moved here from Sydney
- brunch on Sunday with my gorgeous mother and M

Phew! That was an absolute whirlwind - M and I spent the remainder of Sunday doing all the neglected chores from Saturday and both agreed: next weekend is going to be just us and the fat dog relaxing at home!

This week at work I'm continuing with rolling out the rebrand and finalising our corporate presentations for the end of the month and the next month. I don't have any formal meetings scheduled for this week so I'm actually happy to be a little informal for the office:

Top: Country Road
Jeans: Country Road
Jacket: Weekend Maxmara (at Matches)
Heels: Bally
Bag: Louis Vuitton

This jacket is a bit of a departure for me - it's so bright! Like a lot of redheads, I absorbed a lot of misinformation about what would, and (mostly) would not, look good with my hair. In particular, I was assured by various persons (teachers, mothers of school friends) that I could not, ever, under any circumstances, wear bright colours.  This affected all manner of style choices for me as an adolescent and early twenties female.  I embraced all black outfits and nude lip gloss. Consequently, I blended right into the background, thanks to ridiculous style 'rules' espoused by ignorant women to an impressionable teen.

Fortunately, I eventually discovered just how wrong these 'rules' against redheads are, against redheads wearing colour, being vibrant and embracing prints and other delights of the fashion cycle. I've started wearing red lipstick. I've been slowly introducing colour into my wardrobe over a couple of seasons. Now, when I look through my wardrobe, it's not an ocean of black. There's lightness and brightness, in pockets. I typically pair an ivory/white top over dark slim trousers.

This jacket is quite a leap, by my standards. The boxy cropped cut is unusual for me, I favour jackets that nip me in under the bust and define my waist. The colour is just so cheerful, I wanted it to brighten up my work days. It's made of a refined raffia weave and is light enough for me to wear right now in high summer, even on classic humid Brisbane days.

After a long day, I came home to the usual Monday night routine: exercise, walking the fat dog, unloading dishwashers and dinner. Except my dinner turned out a little bit fancy:

Smoked salmon slices drizzled with lemon and served on a bed of sautéed baby asparagus. I'm trying to mix up our protein a little and thought smoked salmon would be a good option. It's delicious and easy, all you have to do is prepare whatever veg you're having with it. This meal took a grand total of 10 minutes to prepare - very tempting to most of us who come home on a Monday night thoroughly exhausted!

I hope you all have great Mondays :) xo

Casual Thursday

It's a thing: casual Thursday, because I have no meetings for the rest of the week and I am going to be chilling in my office (with my gorgeous fresh flowers that actually have a scent - I didn't even know scented roses existed outside of your nanna's garden anymore?)

I couldn't sleep this morning so got up early and walked the fat dog. Then came home, downed a green smoothie in record time and got ready for work. As I suspected, navy skinnies, flats and an ivory tank were calling my name, but I wanted something else, something more. I've been moaning over the past couple of weeks about how hot it is and how I'm seriously lusting for some autumnal fashion. So, despite the temps outside, I decided to add a scarf to my outfit today:

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Flats: Jimmy Choo
Scarf: Gucci
Bag: Hermes

This scarf is a classic old Gucci in a light and dark blue that goes really well with a lot of my wardrobe staples.  Because I went sleeveless, the scarf is just perfect for keeping me comfortable in the office aircon.  The bag keeps the blue theme going and just looks awesome all the time anyway :)

I want to start getting better photos going - a bit less 'me-in-the-mirror-trying-to-look-photogenic-with-an-iPhone-smack-in-front-of-my-head'. I'll let you know how that works out...

It's nearly the weekend kids - a good couple of days to nail away the last tasks of the week before the fun social weekend ahead. xo

Hump day happiness!

Isn't it nice when we decide to make a change and we actually manage to keep it up? Ok, so fresh flowers for the office is hardly life-changing, but still, they're making my office look and feel fabulous, like an aesthetically-pleasing space I actually enjoy spending time in. Go me.

I am spending the rest of the week putting together a series of presentations we are giving later in the month to key stakeholders on the consumer side of our business. To be honest, I've been slightly procrastinating over it and, well, there's really no time for that! It's the old story: when you get so caught up in wanting to do a thing perfectly, you become frozen and can't move forward. I finally seem to have made it into a great productive headspace over it and things are now going ahead to plan. I put it down to the flowers :)

So given that I'm in creative-mode rather than business-mode, I'll be slightly more relaxed, outfit-wise, for the final two days at work and you know what that means: Jimmy Choo flats, come at me!

I've had a number of little pieces of deliciousness appear at work this week and I thought I'd share a little happiness around for Hump-day:

1. Tom Ford Plum Japonais

Ooooooh. Looks like someone got a bit fancy.

So I posted about my search for a 'date-night' fragrance and haven't had a great deal of luck, although I have found some really lovely perfumes. They simply haven't been quite...what I'm after.  This one has sufficient depth and smokiness to show promise. We're off to dinner on Friday night and then drinks on Saturday, so I shall be testing this one out on M.  I'll keep you posted, politely of course ;)

2. Stripes and slogans

Iris and Ink and Zoe Karssen 

Who doesn't love a Breton tee? When it comes with saffron stripes, it's like a unicorn made out of sunshine. If that was a thing.

The slogan top just made me giggle. Not everything has to be an outfit for work, these are two I can see fitting very nicely into my relaxed-weekend wardrobe.

3. Nude sandals

This bit hardly needs any content at all, just enjoy the glamour shots :)

Come to mumma...

I love a suede shoe and these strappy sandals are making me excited about dressing up weekend outfits that little bit more than usual. So much more fun than flats, no?

4. Streamlined accessories

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Heels: Bally
Bag: Louis Vuitton

Camel and taupe - delicious!

Sigh. This bag is a lesson in understatement. The colour is quite hard to describe (ok, it's probably not hard to describe for someone who actually knows the correct names for colours - I'm just not that person) but it goes with my outfits seamlessly.

Secret? I fell for this bag the moment I spotted Christine Lagarde carrying one at a recent forum on the Greek debt crisis. I'm such an economics nerd :)

Here she is hanging out in my office looking quite the professional:

Well, all those little things certainly cheered me up - I hope everyone is having good weeks - it's a sleigh ride now to Friday :) xo

Working week: black, white and beige

Top: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania
Pants: Vince (available here)
Heels: Bally
Bag: Louis Vuitton

Work is so busy at the moment and still so hot! I'm eagerly scanning northern hemisphere blogs for coats and boots and scarves and generally feeling a bit put out that I have to slather sunscreen on every morning just to walk the dog. I know I shouldn't complain, the sunshine is good for general cheeriness, but still: maintaining one's chic while sweating profusely is no mean feat. 

Last night I went to a Pilates class and it was really tough but a good finish to a busy work day. I had one of those days where I started at 7am, left the office at 6:30pm and although I cleared loads off my desk, took phone calls and returned dozens of emails, I still didn't feel like I achieved all that much. 

Whenever I get like this, I try to shake it off (thanks Tay) with some loud music and some natural endorphins. Not pot brownies (I'm not that natural) but natural endorphins from exercise. I'm trying to go to Pilates twice a week. I'd really recommend it for anyone with a mostly sedentary job as it's great for core muscle strength and keeping your back strong (and pain-free!)

I got home around 8pm and was in the mood for some comfort food so I made a variation of my chicken noodle soup by subbing in frozen corn for zucchini and shallots, with loads of mushrooms and fresh chives from our herb garden:

This is quite a quick dinner to whip up and it's nicely low cal, especially if you choose to leave the egg noodles out. Obviously, I didn't: it was late, girl was hungry, bring me all the noodles!! 

I'm super sore today but it's the best kind of soreness - happy hump day, everyone :) xo

Tuesdays - something old, new and blue

Ballet flats because I'm doing lots of walking. Birkin because...Birkin.

I kind of love Tuesdays. Mondays are usually a bit hectic but by Tuesday, you've put out whatever small fires may have arisen over the weekend as well as delegated tasks to colleagues as necessary, the remainder of the week is settling down and you know what you have to do and have a timeframe for you and your team to clear everything by Friday.

The weather is still quite warm and I'm doing a lot of running around at work at the moment, so I thought I'd pair some slim-line print pants with an ivory tank and black peplum jacket:

Top: Witchery
Pants: Country Road
Jacket: Ralph Lauren
Heels: Jimmy Choo
Bag: Hermes

Eagle-eyes may have spotted that we have a new addition: I have to introduce my new-to-me 2006 Hermes Birkin 35 in beautiful Blue Jean clemence leather with palladium (silver) hardware. Sigh. The beauty, no?

I went to Hermes a little while ago to discuss bags and the store manager mentioned that they are discontinuing the colour Blue Jean. It's a very classic Hermes colour and I have always wanted something in it that is iconic of the design house. I find it to be more relaxed than the black, which is absolutely a work bag and always looks like one to me. The blue seems potentially more transitional, able to move more seamlessly to weekend outfits and occasions.

Coincidentally, I spotted this bag in a lovely consignment store about a few weeks later and after a couple of lengthy inspections and some thought, I decided I would buy it. It was a very good price, in superb condition and of course, entirely authentic. I'm loving her with my work outfits so far, it's nice to have that pop of colour against the basic blacks and neutrals that make up such a large part of my wardrobe. I'm looking forward to taking her to the beach at the weekend - assuming the weather isn't awful.

While I do buy new bags etc, I am by no means snobbish about pre-loved purchases when the quality and price is right. My father always taught me that most items (cars, clothes, bags, watches) lose at least 50% of their value the moment they walk out the shop door. So there is a huge mark-up that we pay just for the retail experience. I also love the idea of giving new life to a bag or piece of jewellery that someone has grown tired of. It's kind of romantic to me, recycling in the chicest sense :)

Prepare for landing

So Monday morning looked like this as the pilots carefully brought us down into Brisbane:

Best. Travel. Handbag. EVER.

Noise-cancelling headphones - a must, even in business

It's been a big week, mostly because work doesn't really stop just because you're not in the office.  My in-tray was plenty full when I walked in on Tuesday morning and it's been a big effort to get things slightly back to under control.  I've been extremely tired all week and I can't tell if it's due to jet lag or just because there is a lot going on and I'd be tired whether I'd been overseas or not.

Friday is even more welcome than usual and I thought it would be a good idea to bust out my lovely new Jimmy Choo flats:

Top: LK Bennett
Jeans: Country Road
Jacket: L'Agence
Flats: Jimmy Choo
Bag: Chloe

Finding a polished office-friendly pair of flats is something of a challenge. Frankly, heels add authority to any work-look, so flats that still make you look like you own the corner office, instead of a student doing a summer internship, are more rare than one might think. Black patent with a pointed toe are extremely transitional and make any more relaxed outfit look smart.  I used to have a couple of pairs of Christian Louboutin Pigalle flats but they got tossed in the great wardrobe edit (after many, many years of good wear, I should add) so these were a timely addition to my wardrobe.

I'm looking forward to a fairly busy, but fun social weekend. It's M's and my Christmas party on Saturday night so Saturday will be a flurry of early Pilates, grocery shopping, house-cleaning and cooking before welcoming our guests for a night of great conversation and (hopefully) great food.

I hope you all have wonderful weekends :) xo

Red, navy and Hermes

I have meetings early this morning but after that I'm just clearing work and running some errands before my flight on Saturday - getting some scripts filled, getting some USD. I needed a bit of a boost so I went with this bright blouse that always makes me feel cheerful :) 

Top: LK Bennett
Jeans: Country Road
Heels: Bally
Bag: Chloe
Scarf: Hermes

Only two more days!! xo

Summer office dressing

It is 30+ degrees today, which for those of you in northern climes basically makes it impossible to dress in a traditional 'office-professional' way/full wool-crepe suit without your makeup sliding off your face 2 minutes after you walk out the door.

Since starting this blog and reading more from various style writers on the web, I've become more comfortable in developing my office wear to embrace the practical requirements of the climate I live in. I've posted previously about the cognitive disconnect from the editorial we see that is largely based on people living in cool climates and the realities of life in sub-tropical Brisbane.  Sometimes it can feel next to impossible to come up with an outfit that hits the trifecta: is comfortable/practical, makes you feel elegant and is suitable for the office.

But I think I managed it today and I'm pretty happy with it:

Top: Witchery
Pants: Country Road
Heels: Bally
Bag: Chloe

This ivory tank is a few seasons old but I still love it.  The perforated detail at the yoke adds an element of interest, though the tendency of the top to crease is frustrating - I didn't realise it was quite as crumply as that when I put it on!

The pants from Country Road are a definite warm weather staple for me. I'm not a shorts girl, I prefer my legs to be well covered and protected from sun. This leaves me heavily reliant on jeans, which can present their own challenge on really warm days! A light pair of pants is an absolute life-saver and if they're flattering and make you feel confident, then all the more reason to cheer!

This is not an outfit I would wear if I had meetings. Instead, it's something comfortable but still smart and suitable for a day spent clearing my desk :) xo

Red and ready

I made it back to work!!! *applause*

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Heels: Bally
Belt: YSL
Bag: Chloe

I needed something bright to perk myself up in the office and this Tilly blouse (the very same blouse from yesterday's OOTD but in the delicious red) was exactly right.  I love the strictness of all-black accessories, it allowed the red to just shout.

Probably mostly to do with my palette being a bit off due to illness, but I downed my usual green smoothie this morning and did not enjoy it.  I've decided to give myself a break from all the mad exercise and dieting and just go with the flow a bit for this week - hard for a control-freak like myself, but hey some relaxation is what I need right now. That calls for tuna pie and long walks with M and the dog tonight :) xo

Tan loafers

My cold is determined to linger but I must say, after several sleepless nights and loads of general self-pity, I think I might be on the mend. I have a sore throat now but I'm gargling (isn't that lovely?)

So I've taken the last two days virtually at home, in that I popped into the office to go through post, do a couple of things, talk to my team and I have my emails and remote access to working documents at home, but apart from that...I can rest if I need to. It is interesting, but for me, having remote access and being able to access emails etc actually makes it feel easier for me to have a sick day. I don't know why, perhaps because if you are actually fully absent from the office things can blow up without you knowing about them and get a bit out of hand, whereas if you're aware as things develop, you can start dealing with them or at least not come in the following day to a bloated inbox and a paper explosion on your desk, not knowing where to start...

So because I am feeling a little bit more human and a bit less like a sad tellytubby, I put this little number on today:

Top: LK Bennett
Jeans: JBrand
Loafers: Tods
Bag: Prada

This is a more casual outfit than I would normally wear if I was having just a typical working from home day - because I'm still unwell and just want to be really comfortable I thought this sort of preppy look would be fine.  Well, it's my version of a preppy look. The blouse is actually black, it's the Tilly blouse by LK Bennett and it comes in a fabulous bright red and yes, in usual style, I have both.

So I'm off to have some soup for lunch and after that I'll probably have a rest, unless something urgent comes up for work :) xo

Monday Meetings

Monday mornings after spectacular weekends are always a bit blah, am I right? Sunday looked like this:

Yes, I know, life is hard...

So how could Monday possibly compare?

Irrespective, there was no time for philosophical musings as I had to get ready for work. Monday is always busy. Always.  Even if you think you've locked everything away neat and tidy on Friday evening, and have kept an eye on your emails over the weekend, Monday morning will always come tearing into your office (or sometimes it can't even wait that long and your phone starts buzzing on your bedside table) at a million miles an hour.

I have big meetings today, which I feel confident about but know I have to be 100% on and present the very best case for my company. So I figured I should at least look sharp doing it:

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Blazer: Witchery
Heels: Bally
Bag: Hermes

This is one of the divine crepe tank tops from LK Bennett that I've been pretty much obsessed with since they arrived in the post. Sadly, the pretty pink colour is all sold out #sadface but the ivory/cream colour is still there. Divine under jackets, tucked in with pencil skirts and loose and relaxed over skinny jeans or soft silk trousers.

Have good weeks everyone :) xo

Thursday morning after tennis the night before...

Ok, so M and I are embracing fitness and exercise and healthy living and all that jazz.  It's just taking a bit longer for healthy living to really embrace us, if you know what I mean.

Specifically, we played tennis last night. We play tennis once a fortnight with friends from work. It's not serious, it's a bit of a rotating group and it's really fun. As a habit, it's been going on for just over 2 months. Now, normally I do high intensity spin sessions or I go running for about 40 minutes and I would do something like that 4 times a week minimum.  This is in addition to walking our fat dog twice a day. That has been my exercise regimen since pretty much the start of the year.

So theoretically I have been getting plenty of movement, plenty of incidental exercise as well as aerobic stuff.  Tennis though, for some reason, really uses muscles I barely know about and hopefully M doesn't ever read this but...I feel so. so. old the morning after tennis.

I'm not going to give up, I'm going to my first pilates class in about 5 years on Saturday (terrified by that, just a little bit). But I cannot wait until I feel like a lean, fit cheetah on the court.

I hope you all enjoyed that image :)

So this is my outfit this morning, slightly less cheetah-like and more like a gingerly-held-together sloth:

Top: Vivienne Westwood Anglomania
Skirt: Burberry
Shoes: Bally
Bag: Chanel

I really enjoyed my outfit yesterday, very spring-y and light. Today I kept the theme with this really lovely petrol-coloured skirt from Burberry which has ruching detail all over it, adding an extra element of interest on top of the divine colour. It's light and cool as well. I love the contrast of the petrol blue and the black - it really makes the colour pop.

Happy Thursday everyone :) xo

Crisp blue and ivory

The weather was definitely on my mind when I dressed this morning. Although I haven't worked in litigation for nearly 6 years, I still feel a bit naked going to work without a suit jacket. However, the reality is it is often far too hot to wear one (even in office air-conditioning).

It was quite a challenge to me when I first moved from a law firm to in-house counsel because the office dress code was much more casual. I think I've managed to find a happy medium where I can still pull together a very corporate look when I have meetings, but I also can look more relaxed/deconstructed when I'm just working in my office or from home.

This is a really fresh spring look for me:

Top: LK Bennett
Skirt: Dolce & Gabbana
Shoes: Kate Spade
Belt: YSL
Bag: Chanel

I love this top from LK Bennett. They sold out really quickly (sad face) but I did manage to snag two in ivory and one in a lovely blush-pink.  I had to get them tailored to add two darts at the back, as I bought a slightly bigger size so as to comfortably fit my bust, but I naturally ended up with quite billowy fabric around my waist.

Ivory, sleeveless, pops of blue, polished accessories - hello springtime, I say! xo

Black Tuesday

Happy new financial year everyone!! Let's all make it a good one :)

In celebration, I dressed very corporate today and I've gone back to my black bag:

Dress: DvF
Jacket: Ralph Lauren
Heels: Kate Spade
Bag: Hermes

I look like such a lawyer in this outfit!

Working week - Outfit mash-up!

My goodness it's been a really busy week this week. I haven't posted since last Thursday (eeek!), so I thought I'd do a swift recap:

Top: Chelsea Flowers
Pants: Country Road
Blazer: Witchery
Heels: Kate Spade
Bag: Chloe

Top: Witchery
Skirt: Saint Laurent
Blazer: Witchery
Heels:Bally
Bag: Chloe

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Jacket: Ralph Lauren
Flats: Nine West
Bag: Chloe

I promise not to be so tardy in future :) xo

Tibi Thursday

Who loves Tibi? We do. We love Tibi:

Blouse: Tibi
Pants: Country Road
Jacket: L'Agence
Heels: Bally
Bag: Hermes

I find a lot of Tibi pieces really suit me, especially tops. This blouse is quite old but I love it. It's so flattering and the colour is absolutely gorgeous, a true petrol. I have gone for blue tone on tones today and swapped back to my Birkin - black accessories felt right this morning :)

Monochrome tailoring

I've been working pants really hard for the past few weeks. From the perspective of practicality, pants are such an easy choice: comfortable, warm and so suited to running around doing a million things in a day. However, I also love dresses and skirts and have some great pieces.  Not to mention, I've been watching House of Cards lately and I wanted to channel some Robin  Wright a la Claire Underwood at work today:

Blouse: MIH
Skirt: L'Wren Scott
Jacket: Country Road
Belt: YSL
Heels: Kate Spade
Bag: Chloe

This ivory silk blouse is so feminine and flattering for me. Being silk, it drapes softly over my curves and is cinched nicely at the waist by a classic black square buckle belt.

Cream and Leopard Print

Let me start by saying I adore Charlotte Olympia shoes. The whimsical designs, the quality and workmanship, the packaging - it all works.  I have bought a lot of shoes from different designers over the years and it's always disappointing when a premium price tag is not accompanied by a premium experience, be that uncomfortable design, poor workmanship, or cheap packaging that differs from high street shoe stores only by the name on the box (we all know who I'm talking about).

With Charlotte Olympia, it's all in the details: the gorgeous gold web on the sole; the sturdy box and careful inserts; the sweet blue-lace-top stockings with her wedding styles; the polaroid ready for sticking on the outside. I never feel nervous plunking down for Charlotte Olympia shoes, I know I'm getting a good thing.

Which brings me to my latest purchase. I have often been tempted by leopard print heels. Leopard print is a perennial style classic. It has stood the test of time.  However, it needs to be brought into each individual's wardrobe with care. Not everyone can pull off a leopard-print trench a la Angelina Jolie. The Louis Vuitton Leopard stole is certainly an option, but it's a little ubiquitous now, not to mention the weather here doesn't really allow for frequent wear, keeping that cost-per-wear high.

These leopard pumps by Charlotte Olympia ticked all the boxes for me:  classic print; design quirk with the black suede knot detail; great quality make and (best of all) scored for a steal from The Outnet:

Top: Witchery
Pants: Country Road
Heels: Charlotte Olympia
Bag: Chloe

With a statement heel like this, I prefer to keep the outfit simple in basic black, with my cream tote lightening the look overall. Yes, it's true - I haven't put this bag down since I got her :) xo

Red prints

Does anyone not love a multiple-buy when the chance arises?

Top: LK Bennett
Pants: Country Road
Blazer: Witchery
Heels: Bally
Bag: Chloe

This is the LK Bennett silk blouse in the red, I also have it in blue. Sale season has begun and I snapped this versatile print up!

M and I are working on a DIY project at home for our balcony - I'm hoping it will be finished by Friday night so I'll have lovely new pics to post :) xo

Black Friday...in grey and white

Chilly Friday morning so I'm working a casual-but-warm look rugged up in a charcoal sweater with white skinny jeans:

Top: Sportscraft
Pants: Country Road
Heels: Bally
Bag: Chloe

We're going out to dinner tonight at one of my favourite restaurants in  Brisbane. It's also where we are getting married next year, so this is a good opportunity to get a feel for the space and check out the seasonal menu.

I try not to be superstitious, but given that it IS Friday 13th, I'll probably be keeping an eye out for any black cats :) xo