OOTD | Not a Newspaper

Red Anorak - Barkins / I Heart NY Shirt - Gift / Black High-Waisted Shorts - thrifted / Holographic 'Foreal' Flatforms - Wittner / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl / High Impact 12 Red-y to Wear Lipstick - Clinique / Raspberry Nail Polish - Barry M

Who didn't want an 'I heart NY' shirt after the Olsen twin's sassy adventure flick "New York Minute." In a recent wardrobe clean out I rediscovered this bright anorak and thought they'd make a super duo. Embarrassingly, I have never actually been to New York but it was purchased by a super great friend on a trip she took there in high school. 

OOTD | Rising To The Occasion

Cream Sleeveless Blouse - Thrifted / Black A-Line Skirt - Barkins / Black Waist Belt - American Apparel / Giffee Heels - Aldo Rise via Aldo / Choker - Vintage

Hold up! Yes, I am in heels. Yes, this is the first pair (not flatforms) I've been seen in on the blog. It's taken me far too long to figure an outfit for these beauties which can often be the case with such eclectically patterned and coloured shoes. I feel they definitely hold their own and require showcasing alongside a classic and polished outfit. 

I laid eyes upon these shoes about a year and a half ago in Aldo. I had recently made the decision that my shoes were all too boring and I needed to splurge on more interesting shoes when I found one-off statement pieces. I think I hesitated for two days before I ran back in store to claim these. In all honesty, I have not worn these out of the house. They're white and incredibly dainty; can you blame me?! I'm terrified of scuffing their shiny heels. This is my dream outfit for whenever the perfect occasion arises to wear them (preferably driven to and from a seated event). 

As stated, the rest of my get-up is very understated. The simple cream silk blouse I found thrifting one day. You can never have too many of these so I always try to snap them up in any colour I find. The skirt has been featured so many times on the blog as it the perfect staple a-line skirt. I pinched the belt from Jess as she fortunately had it with her while we were taking these photographs. I have a similar one but it sits much better on my hips as opposed to my waist. 

My second favourite item in this outfit, aside from the shoes, is the choker you see around my neck. I scored this in a tiny ghostly vintage store. I spent several hours in this particular store and walked out over loaded in amazing goodies. The next time I ventured back to this local store it had disappeared as though it were never there. So sad to lose such an amazing treasure trove. 

Have you splurged on any extravagant items of late? Or ages ago and are still waiting for the 'perfect occasion'?

Hope you're all getting through your Wednesday; mine is dragging on to no end. 
Erin xx

OOTD | Sea Me Horsing Around

Blue Seahorse Embroidered Blouse - Thrifted / Pink A-Line Skirt - Barkins / Brown Belt - Thrifted / White Bobby Socks - eBay / Brown Loafers - Shag Vintage / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl

How I wish I was horsing around at this time of the week. This shirt is one of those garments you discover, fall in love with, can't live without but hardly ever wear. When I found this piece in one of my most rummaged thrift stores I could not let it go. The fabric is beautifully soft, light and well made. The embroidery is equally as stunning with what looks to be delicate beads that have lasted quite well (although, I haven't worn it a whole lot). Also, the buttons down the front are gorgeous gold seashells tying the marine theme of the item together very nicely. 

OOTD Tourist Tees, Socks and Sandals

Tourist Tee - Kathmandu, Nepal (gift), Amethyst chain - Corky Saint Clare, "Erin" in Farsi necklace - Gift, Other necklace - Gift, Belt - Thrifted, Ring - Thrifted, Black A-Line Skirt - Barkins, Black ELKA Sandals - Wittner, Basic White Socks - Bonds

If you asked friends of mine this OOTD could easily be classified as my most worn outfit of the month. I have a very limited wardrobe at the moment (travelling = limitations) and after piecing this together have done several repeats of it. What is new, however, are the cute sandals you see featured in the last photo. I found these beauties at Wittner's Direct Factory Outlet store at a fairly cheap price along with another pair of sandals - you'll see both properly unboxed in a few days. 

An Enchanting Trip

I'd like to take this opportunity to introduce you to a close friend of Jess and I. Full of sass and style, this lady is part of the glue that holds us together. Her name is Honor and she is the third wheel on our tricycle. Note: I used the term tricycle because its not a tricycle without the essential third wheel and you'd probably fall off and hit your head - a lot like our lives would be without this amazing girl. Anyway, enough about her, you can just assume if she is friends with us she is probably awesome. She is spending the week with me in Melbourne and today we went on a pretty super road trip (and yes, we did listen to my playlist from Sunday).

Up on Arthur's Seat, down on the Mornington Peninsula, grows one of the most wonderful not-so-secret attractions. Hedge mazes. Enchanted hedge mazes. The Enchanted Maze Garden drew our attention last night and we could think of nothing more fun to do. If you think hedge mazes are for kids, you're right; they're for the kid stuck inside of all of us. 

We treasure hunted in hedge mazes, avoided sprinklers in a turf maze, and played snakes and ladders in a special maze for children (us, obviously). We even found a 'spooky' 3D maze with trippy holographic paint and statues. It was a lovely day outside and the hour long drive down was simply spectacular - the first and last photos are the view from an outlook point up the mountain.

The weather was only improving as the day continued so we left the hedge mazes (quite exhausted mind you) and drove to Heronswood Gardens and Cafe for a delicious light meal. We then continued into Mornington for a coffee at D.O.C. Gastronomia Italiana and a sneaky little thrift shopping session (you'll see our haul in my next post - it's pretty spiffy). 

Yes, I know this was a fairly indulgent post today but we had fun and I thought I'd recommend maze trips to everyone for a fun day. Also, we wanted to show Jess our day because we miss spending time as a trio.

Erin xx

PS. Who loves Honor's snappy new Lover The Label jacket? It's too snazzy for words. 

OOTD - Pretty in Pink and Shoulder Pads

Blouse - Thrifted, Skirt - Barkins, Shoes - Christian di Riccio, Nail Polish - Sportsgirl Nailit "Tomato"

There is something strangely enticing about a super femme looking shirt that decides to throw in a surprise pair of shoulder pads. I'm not keen on it everyday but on the days that I feel like my knocked-about boots are too much but I need something to tone down the girly-ness - I love shoulder pads. I found this top in Lifeline during a sneaky shop before last years Laneway Festival with Jess and our delightful friend Honor (who then purchased this top for me as a gift, bless her soul). I've never been quite sure what it was about the top that I had to have. I adore lace, intricate prints that aren't floral, and buttons make me gaga. Most other thrifted garments that come with shoulder pads I remove before I wear but this piece just wouldn't be the same. Not only does it tuck nicely into high-waisted skirts but it also falls really pleasantly over pants and fitted garments. The buttons are also a huge draw for me. The top one was missing when I got it so I dug into my huge thrifted button collection and thought the one you see at the top fitted the aesthetic nicely. 

Also in this OOTD I'm wear two of my all time favourite items. A) the hot pink skirt and B) my flatform sandals. For the last five years I worked at Barkins (an Australian retailer of fashionable women's corporate wear) and have to say it is definitely not my style. But every  now and again some garments would come in out of the blue that I just had to have - and it was conveniently cheap compared to other stores (plus a generous staff discount). This skirt was one of those items. It came in black and hot pink and I had to have both in my hands. I have plans to take them to a tailor and have it remade in every colour on the spectrum, I love it that much. 

The shoes are Christian di Riccio which I purchased from ZOMP in Brisbane partway through last year. I had been searching for a plain yet attractive pair of flatforms (and obviously well made) for quite sometime and hence I was willing to fork out the $140 that I did. They've been worn full-time almost all of Spring and Summer and I hope so much that they last me another few seasons because replacing them will be next to impossible. 

Erin xx