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Purchases for the month of May. The above image, or lack thereof of my personal purchases, should be a hint at how little restraint I appear to have had this month. One "small" Topshop order, and one Ashley Fogel sale were where most of the damage (in terms of numbers) was made. After this month, I've finally realised that I'm not the type of person who can just 'stop shopping', no matter how much I wish I was, as it appears to be just wishful thinking.

It will probably come as no surprise that I have little inclination to share the total number of purchases, although it could be argued for the sake of continuity that I should. It's had me contemplating the necessity of some, if not all my purchases, and the resilience to refrain from spending in what is essentially a consumer-driven world.

Some of my purchases, were things I had been keeping an eye out for, either for the purpose of wearing it over winter, or because I had missed out on it when it was in the stores. Others serve more as a novelty, injecting some extra colour or interesting prints to the generally muted palette in my wardrobe. I was also forced to once again pull from the depths of my wardrobe garments that I did not often wear, or was on the fence about, to sell so that I could make up some (or hopefully all) of the cost of my purchases.

It is times like these that I genuinely admire those who seldom buy things, or are extremely careful in their choices, considering all other options before finally pulling the trigger. This isn't to say that I regret buying the things that I did, but I do wish that I didn't want so much. I suppose you can't have everything!

 

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Kain silk tank, T by Alexander Wang top, T by Alexander Wang jumper, Aubin & Wills blazer, Miu Miu sandals, A.P.C tote bag, Alice & Olivia skirt, Karl shorts, Isabel Marant Sandals
Net-a-Porter wishlist. I always look forward to receiving that email from Net-a-Porter, letting me know that their twice-yearly sale has begun. It generally involves me quickly opening the site in another tab to see if anything in my wishlist is on sale, and at a slightly more wallet-friendly price.

I managed to pick up a couple of things, one of which is this slouchy black jumper from T by Alexander Wang, which I've had my eye on for a wee while. If I had the cash to splurge, I'd probably pick up some of the above items on my wishlist, as I imagine the Alice + Olivia metallic skirt would be perfect for a night on the town paired with a simple silk tank by Kain and a pair of strappy Miu Miu heels. For a more casual look, I love the idea of this Aubin and Wills blazer, worn with a slouchy T by Alexander Wang linen top, Karl sequined shorts, Isabel Marant Merry sandals and an A.P.C cotton tote bag slung over the shoulder. And the best thing about these pieces? The large number of potential combinations since the colour scheme is that good. Guess it's a good thing that dreams are free!

 

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Isabel Marant Etoile jumper, Karen Walker blouse, Storm faux leather leggings (similar), Topshop heels (similar)
Wrapped up. On freezing cold days, like we had this weekend, I find the perfect remedy is an oversized jumper, that engulfs you in its warmth. This Isabel Marant Etoile jumper does exactly that, as well as injecting a little much needed brightness. I'm sure it goes without saying that every year, come winter, I rug myself up in my winter woolies - scarves, jumpers, beanies, you name it. Lately, this has also extended to wearing merino wool tops underneath dresses, for the added layer of warmth, and in an attempt to winter-ise my summer pieces.

Today marks the launch of Woolmark's "Wrapped in Merino" campaign, which aims to create a record for the World's Longest Social Scarf. Best part is, that by participating you automatically go in the draw to win one of eight fashion prize packs, including prizes such as Net-a-Porter vouchers and merino wool scarves. Participating is easy - just go to the "Wrapped in Merino" site, pick a photo and create your scarf!

 

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Karen Walker blouse & cardigan, 3.1 by Phillip Lim skirt, Zara suede heels

pale shades. Stumbled across these photo's from earlier in the year when the weather was still kind of sunny. It's interesting going back to see the types of things that you gravitate towards as the seasons change. In the summer, it was mostly pale greys and blush tones, and as we move into winter, navy and blacks play a major role in the overall colour scheme. I suppose there's no reason why I couldn't just add tights and a pair of boots to this look...

 

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Proenza Schouler top (similar), Karen Walker skirt, 'Ally-Jean' sunglasses c/o AM Eyewear, Gorjana bracelet, ASOS belt (similar)

Essentials. I'd say it's pretty undeniable that sunglasses are an essential piece in anyone's wardrobe. While they may get a bit more face-time in the summer, they are just as necessary in the winter months to protect our eyes from the sun.

The lovely folks over at AM Eyewear were kind enough to send me a pair of sunglasses from their latest collection, Riviera Rebellion. Not only are they designed by hand, but they are crafted by hand in a process that can take up to 14 hours, using Mazzachelli acetate - a material that molds to the face and allows for a bespoke fit. This kind of commitment to quality is something that I both admire and appreciate, as it is an indication of a well-made product.

I tend to favor classic shapes and cuts in interesting prints above all else, and these sunglasses in tortoise shell fit the bill perfectly. With my European adventure a month or so off, it's good to know that I can tick off the sunglasses box on my packing list.

 

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image source
White Magick. Since I first stumbled upon lover some 9 years ago, it's been a label that I have highly coveted, in particular the beautiful lace pieces. Lover's White Magick capsule collection ressurects a number of lace dresses from previous collections, some of which have had a little bit of a makeover.

Having owned a couple of these dresses pictured above, I can attest to their beauty, and have rekindled my desire for a couple I never managed to get my hands on. It's a shame this collection is exclusive to their Strand Arcade store, otherwise I could envision myself hunting the far reaches of the internet for them.

 

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Various necklaces from Mimco & Karen Walker & F21, Rings from Meadowlark & Karen Walker & YSL, Earrings from Marc by Marc Jacobs & Madame Fancy Pants

Jewellery has never been at the forefront of my mind when getting ready in the morning. I hate to admit, that it is usually an afterthought, or as a result of noticing a certain necklace or pair of earrings as I'm about to rush out the door. Depending on how loud or subdued my outfit is, I will alternate between delicate pieces and chunkier tougher looking statement pieces.

I imagine it is already clear that I subconsciously play favourites with my jewellery, with the Mimco bib necklace currently in favour. I love how it sparks up an outfit when you are hardly trying. Most other days, I tend to have one of Karen Walker's fine jewellery pieces around my neck, or a simple silver necklace from Corpus Christi worn with a gold chain bracelet, a 21st birthday present from a friend, which is a permanent fixture on my left wrist.

 

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Proenza Schouler top (similar), Karen Walker cardigan, Topshop jeans, Mimco necklace, Isabel Marant boots (similar)

Simplicity. Lately, I've been placing a greater emphasis on clean, simple pieces, with a statement necklace. Or alternatively loud prints with fine jewellery. I'd say it's likely this is something that I have been doing all along, but have only yet realised. Keeps things unfussy.

I spent part of the weekend staying over at my parents place, as they leave to spend the next five or so months in Greece. It was slightly nostalgic, lying in front of the fire with my mum while watching movies, something that we used to do on a regular basis. We also grabbed Sunday brunch (well, more like lunch), at the Larder - you cannot go past their home-cut potato fries. The best!

 

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Equipment silk blouse, Helmut Lang blazer, Lover 'deetz' skirt, Mimco necklace (similar)

If you've been following me on Instagram, it's likely that you have seen this skirt a couple of times already. It's quickly become a piece that I love to wear. This is probably beacause wearing it makes me feel a lot like Cher, in Clueless, especially when paired with a crisp silk blouse and a blazer. I almost feel like I'm back in school again. I can only imagine the 90's style possibilities I would have if I also owned the matching motorcycle jacket, with black sleeves.

 

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Beauty. I got asked by a reader if I would do a post on make-up, and the types of products that I use, so I thought I would expand a little on my beauty regime. It may not appear so, but I have incredibly sensitive skin. It wasn't until my mid to late teens that I began to develop eczema and dermatitis, which makes my skin quite sensitive to a number of products. A couple of years back, a friend asked me to be a bridesmaid for her wedding, and of course with that comes getting your make up done. While the make-up artist was confident that the foundation and products she was putting on my face were dermatalogically tested, I ended up breaking out and getting a mild rash for the week following the wedding, so as you can tell, I have to be incredibly careful about the types of products that I use. I generally avoid most creamy skin products, and I remain loyal to the products that I do use.

In the mornings I wash my face with an exfoilating scrub, I like St Ives, and then in the evenings I use an oil-free Neutrogena make-up remover and water to clean my face. I think it probably helps that I drink a LOT of water, and the majority of my diet is filled with fresh fruit and vegetables. Going to the gym fairly reguarly, on average three to four times a week, I prefer to keep my make-up light on those days, mostly out of convenience.

Currently my make-up bag is filled with a heap of MAC products, as I stocked up when I was in the US as it was considerably cheaper over there, although I am always open to trying out new brands. I generally will sweep my face and neck with bronzer, followed by some highlighter on my cheeks. For my eyes, I like to use a shimmery creamy coloured shadow in the corners, and underneath my eyes, to brighten them up a little, then I generally will sweep some darker shadows in the corners. I love a thick eyeliner across the eyelid, and have become incredibly fond of using MAC fluidliner, although I will say it does take a little getting used to. If I'm going out, I will use a kohl pencil in the bottom outside corners to darken them up a little, with a colour that complements or matches the eyeshadow I have on. This is followed by mascara. I for one love Lancome for mascaras, and I also have a great dark brown one from Clinique.

So there you have it. My routine is pretty simple, and I tend to like to accentuate my eyes. I avoid products like toners, or anything with too many chemicals in it as I don't like the idea of putting that on my skin. Oh, and I'll add that occasionally I'll wear a little bit of lippie to, but it's still a rather new thing to me and is quite often forgotten.

 

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T by Alexander Wang shirt dress, Karen Walker blazer, Vintage boots, Proenza Schouler bag
Shirt dresses have always held a little bit of a soft spot with me. I'm not sure if it had something to do with Home and Away style envy of their school dresses when I was younger - although I don't think that could possibly be it, considering my uniform bore a stark resemblance to theirs, yet ill-fitting rather than shaped to my form. I get the feeling that the perfect one is as difficult to hunt down as the elusive white t-shirt.

This T by A Wang number has been tiding me over in this department, following the cull of my beloved Lover version after the silk faded from some spot cleaning. It's always the favourites that inevitably seem to get ruined..