Endings & Beginnings

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

I'm back with my first post for 2013! My 2 weeks long hiatus turned into 4 weeks long...woops! Anyway, here I am now. Hope you've had a fun-filled holiday season! Mine was fun but so tiring, I feel like I need another holiday to recover from it!

Holidays are a chance to catch up on lost TV-time. As you all know by now (you better) that I'm a huge Gossip Girl fan. And as any fan would be, I was excited to see the Finale but sad at the same time that one of my favourite shows was coming to an end! While the Finale was a bit predictable (partly because some idiot posted on Facebook who GG was and somehow it showed up on my News Feed before I watched the show), the fashion as always was MIND BLOWING!

Spoiler Alert

Like Blair's gorgeous Elie Saab wedding dress in a Pale Blue (who would have thought!) was so...Blair! Elegant and appropriate but with a twist. Complete with a tiara-like head-band.

And Serena's Georges Chakra wedding gown, made me go waaah at first, but then it made sense, it was perfect for the "Golden Girl". And needless to say, Blake Lively owned it! (I am so biased towards her, aren't I? ;))

But just like when one year ends, a new one begins - now that Gossip Girl is over, fashion-fanatics like me will (hopefully) have a new show to drool over in The Carrie Diaries! Can't wait! Hope it lives up to the sky-high expectations being the prequel to an epic show and all. No pressure.

It's funny how the beginning of a new year makes us all so philosophical; looking back and analysing the year gone by and expectations of what lies ahead. 2012 was one hell of a roller-coaster for me. Some wonderful things happened in my professional and personal life, which I'm very thankful for. And hard as the journey was, it's the good-stuff that stands out when I think about the past year which is what one strives to achieve every year, I suppose. And of course, starting my Blog which has been such an enjoyable experience! Hope I can continue on this journey for a long, long time to come with your support...

I leave you now with these inspirational words from Maya Angelou to start your year with:
"My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humour and some style."

I heart Blake Lively

Warning: This post may read like a teenager gushing about their favourite celebrity - it's actually a person in their mid-twenties gushing about their favourite celebrity.

I've always been a huge fan of Blake Lively and her style and wanted to do a post on her for quite some time, so I thought what better day to write one than her Birthday! (I read once somewhere that her birthday was on the 25th of Aug. and I'm good at remembering dates, that's how I know. I'm not some psycho-stalker-fan. Just a regular-crazy-fan).

Posing for Vogue

So, Blake Lively - where to begin? Whether she's playing It-girl, Serena Van Der Woodsen on Gossip Girl.... 

Reed Krakoff Trench Coat;
Dior Shoes & Emily Cho Clutch

     

    Stella McCartney Sequin Knit Dress;
Jay Ahr Blazer; Annalena Bag &
 Lanvin Cutout Pumps

Vera Wang gown

...Getting Coffee in NYC....

 

Topshop Knitted Stripe Top

Outfit Unknown; Burberry Warrior Bag

...Or strutting her stuff on Red Carpets around the world...

Marchesa Dress; Lorraine Schwartz Jewels & Burberry Shoes

Left: Marchesa Fall 2011 at Cinemacon
Right: Marchesa Spring 2011 gown at BAFTA

Zuhair Murad at 'Savages' LA Premiere

Nonoo Lyons Blazer; Stella McCartney Thigh-high Boots
at Eric Daman's book launch party

Karl Lagerfeld's muse can do no wrong (fashion-wise), even without a stylist.

Chanel Spring Couture Blazer at Chanel Cruise Collection Party

It's no wonder then that she is a Chanel ambassador.

In the Chanel "Mademoiselle" Ad

And is always spotted Front Row at any major fashion gig.

With Anna Wintour at Fashion's Night Out in NYC wearing a Marchesa dress

She has quickly become a style icon in her own right. I love everything she wears!

And I especially love her long, thick, wavy hair...

Her signature hairstyle

...which is something we both have in common (and the fact that we were both born in 1987) - except her's is golden like sunshine and mine, dark as night. She gives me the confidence to wear my hair au natural and rock it, without feeling the need to always have it pin straight or meticulously curled.

She's always my first source of inspiration when trying to put together outfits. Can't wait to see what she wears next...

Noon by Noor Tuxedo Dress & Christian Louboutin Metallic Pumps

Happy Birthday, Blake Lively (even thought it's technically not 25th Aug in Australia anymore - it still is in the States)! xoxo

Winter Shopping Warm Up

What better way to end a looong work week than by SHOPPING! No better way, I say. And especially since its almost officially winter, one needs to warm up, rug up, work-out or do whatever it takes to be able to bear the chills. And boy does my wallet get a work-out when Forever New has...

BARGAIN ALERT: 40% off sale prices! *shrieks* 

So here's what I bought...

Kaelayn Pussy Bow Blouse
$89.99 down to $69.95 less 40% = $41.97

Nikki Beaded Cropped Jacket
$99.99 down to $69.95 less 40% = $41.97

Brooke Pocket Shirt
$79.99 down to $49.95 less 40% = $29.40

I had a gift card so actually didn't really fork out anything, although I had returned something in the past thanks to which I had the card, but it felt nice to buy such pretty things without having to pay up. The beaded jacket is much prettier and sparklier in real life. I've always wanted a statement jacket, although this isn't exactly what I've wanted, but its a really pretty start. What I want is more like this one...

...again my Gossip Girl influence. :)

Also, I desperately needed a black winter jacket. I know you'll think that a black winter coat wasn't on my A/W WIshlist but if you live in Melbourne, you'll know, a warm black jacket isn't a 'wish' or a 'want' its a 'need', a 'necessity'. Here's what I bought...

Portmans Arizona Contrast Sleeve Coat - As seen on Abbey Lee

$229 down to $99

BARGAIN ALERT: All coats at Portmans are $99 this weekend.

This was just a warm-up, my 2 favourite days are coming up next week.

BARGAIN ALERT: Chadstone VIP Night - 23rd May & Melbourne Central Shopping Festival - 24th May (one day only offers at all stores).

So if you are itching to buy something, just hold on till then (unless its already on sale at a great price ;)) Hope you have a fun weekend! :) Stay warm! xx

OMGG!

Gossip Girl (GG) is one of my FAVOURITE tv shows! And like the many million fans of this show, what attracts me most to it is the fashion and the brilliant styling. All hail, Eric Daman! The storyline is of secondary importance. Like most television dramas its a roller-coaster ride of sometimes intriguing, sometimes predictable and often annoyingly unrealistic plots. But 'fashion' is the constant star of the show! I rarely go back thinking 'I really want to see what happens next', mostly its 'I really want to see what they wear next'. 

Some of my favourite moments from the show...

Blair's (Leighton Meester) pretty, playful, girly yet sophisticated outfits & Serena's (Blake Lively) sexy, sassy, über chic looks:

Even the minions of the show like *Jenny (Taylor Momsen), *Vanessa (Jessica Szohr) and Ivy (Kaylee DeFer) had/have well-defined, individual styles...
* = characters no longer appearing on the show

Jenny Humphrey: Rock Chic

Vanessa Abrams: Boho Chic

Ivy Dickens: Wannabe Serena

I have to admit, I only watch GG around pay-day because every time I watch this show, it makes me want to go on a shopping spree and make myself look like Eric Daman styled me (on a tight budget, ofcourse). I can't resist things that look to me like "very Serena" or "very Blair" styles. 

IF Serena and Blair, fondly referred to as S & B, were to shop in Australian shopping malls on my budget (and that is a verrrrrrrrrrry BIG "IF"), I'd say their favourite places to shop would be categorised as follows:

"Very S & B" stores = Forever New, Portmans   

"Very S" stores = Bardot, Charcoal, Sportsgirl  

"Very B" stores = Dotti, Barkins, Myer Miss Shop

  

Recently, whilst watching the "It Girl Interrupted" episode I fell in love with Serena's look...

...and her skirt reminded me of one that I had seen at Forever New that I'd liked, but didn't realise how much until seeing S in something similar.

Siri Pleated Skirt

Lucky for me it was down from $59.99 to $49.99 less 40% off sale price and a further 20% off because the belt was broken (which is fine, I have many belts that go with it) and so I ended up paying $23.99 for the last one in my size! Patience pays. Now all I need is the perfect Bretton top and I'm all set.

You know you love it! XOXO, miss_pre.