New Season Lust List

Now that the summer sales are over all the stores are filling up with new season goodies enticing you to part with your money. It's the perfect time to invest in a winter coat, new boots or cosy knitwear. While I will be hitting the high street for my new season buys here is a list of what I would purchase if I had a money tree.

I'll start with the accessories. These Isabel Marant boots are perfection. I adore the gommet detail, the wrapped leather and side tie. They'd work perfectly with both jeans and a skirt.

Aubrey Boots £845 Isabel Marant from www.mytheresa.com

Jil Sander Navy has put a dotty spin on these lace up shoes. I live in flat shoes and these would be a fun edition to my shoe cupboard.

Shoes £285 Jil Sander Navy from www.matchesfashion.com

I'm on the search for a cross-body bag and this offering from Saint Laurent would make me so happy.

Cross-Body Bag £1,110 Saint Laurent from www.matchesfashion.com

Fur is massive for A/W. I will be buying into the trend with a faux fur coat or scarf. I am in LOVE with the coats from Shrimps, plus they have the cutest website. They also sell gorgeous scarves in fantastic colour combinations. I love the pink and red combo but am also lusting after the blue and orange.

Ivana scarf £175 Shrimps

Navy and black is a favourite colour combination of mine and this wool fedora will add interest to my winter outfits.

Fedora £118 Hat Attack from www.mytheresa.com

Now for the clothes. A coat is an item of clothing you should invest in and this cape version (capes are a must buy for Autumn) in two-tone grey would be a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

Cape coat £1000 Richard Nicoll from www.matchesfashion.com

Tailored wide leg trousers are another strong trend for Autumn and one I will definitely be buying into. This version by JW Anderson have a flattering high waist and I adore the quirky oversized ankle detail. I'd wear these with some trainers during the day and with a strappy sandal for evening.

Wide leg trousers £430 JW Anderson from www.net-a-porter.com

I love mixing textures and fabrics and colder weather lends itself to this. I'd wear this leather midi-skirt in merlot (a major colour trend for the new season) with a navy chunky knit and those Isabel Marant boots.

Skirt £1650 Pedro del Hierro Madrid from www.net-a-porter.com

The love of logo tops continues into autumn and I am coveting this oversized version by Acne Studios.

Sweater £220 Acne Studios www.mytheresa.com

You can never have too many LBD's in your wardrobe and this duchess satin dress with a fringe hem is perfect. I love the high collar, short sleeves and loose cut. I'm crossing my fingers a similar version will turn up in a sample sale somewhere!

Dress £1795 by Stella McCartney from www.matchesfashion.com

What's on your shopping list for the new season?

Images: www.matchesfashion.com, www.net-a-porter.com, www.mytheresa.com

Staying In Sydney

As you know I have just spent most of August in Sydney but as most of my time was spent working I didn't get to explore too much. However here's a quick round up of what I saw, ate and shopped.

To Stay

I stayed in The Sheraton on the Park which was centrally located, with great shopping nearby and within walking distance of major tourist attractions.

The bed was super comfy and the gym and pool meant my triathlon training wasn't neglected.

The Sheraton On The Park

The comfiest bed with the best pillows

The rooftop swimming pool

To See & Do

I managed to squeeze in some of Sydney's major tourist attractions including the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the Botanical Gardens and Bondi Beach. But my top tip is to pack a map and just wander. Sydney's a large city but very easy to get around. 

The Harbour Bridge...I was last here in 2004 on New Year's Eve

The stunning Opera House

The view from the Botanical Gardens

The Botanical Gardens, perfect on a sunny day

Inside out teddy bears at The Contemporary Museum of Art

Bondi Beach, sadly it was stormy the day I visited

The Iceberg pool at Bondi, I was dying to swim in there but sadly the weather was against me

To Eat

Sydney has so many wonderful eateries from cute cafes to snazzy restaurants. Here are a few I got to sample.

Lox, Stock & Barrel is the perfect brunch spot. Delicious breads, eggs and chai lattes in a cosy setting. Be prepared to queue.

Lox, Stock & Barrel 

In the trendy Surrey Hills area is Cook & Archie's. This gem of a cafe serves incredible salads, cakes and smoothies.

Cook & Archie's

Super healthy salads and smoothies...and chips, well life is about balance isn't it?

If you like burgers you'll like Grill'd. As a burger loving vegetarian it was refreshing to be offered a variety of options plus they serve fantastic sweet potato fries. If they had served milkshakes I would have been in heaven.

I love veggie burgers!

Sydney is full of great Asian restaurants, but Miss G's came highly recommended. With a great interior where the walls are decorated in old Rolling Stone covers, the cocktails are yummy and the food is incredible.

If you like Asian food visit Miss G's

Top Juice became a regular for me to get my daily dose of fruit and veg. Loads of tasty juice combinations or you can blend your own should you desire.

Getting my 5 a day at Top Juice

Saving the best until last is Gelato Messina. This place is a Sydney institution and people get a happy look in their eyes at it's mention. There's always a queue but that's fine as you'll need a while to decide what flavours to choose. I wish there was a Gelato Messina in London.

The daily specials at Gelato Messina

Oh jeez, how fantastic does this look?!?

To Shop

Wandering along Oxford Street and Paddington is a must as the area is full of fashion boutiques and homeware stores. Opus and Zaffero were stocked with interesting interiors.

Opus is great for quirky interiors

Zaffero is full of vintage treasures

Kikki K is a stationary lovers dream, full of pretty notebooks, pens and greetings cards.

Cute party supplies 

Stylish colour combinations at Kikki K

Lincraft is a massive haberdashery store filled with a random selection of things you don't really need but want, such as glitter and pom poms. Definitely worth a browse if you find one.

Styrofoam heads at Lincraft

Every shade of paint you could want at Lincaft

The department store David Jones is worth a wander, stocking international designers such as Celine and Victoria Beckham through to Aussie brands like Witchery and Saba.

Some Australian fashion brands to check out include Seed, Witchery, Saba, Scalan Theodore and Willow.

Tubs of espadrilles at Seed

Thanks for a great time Sydney, fingers crossed I'll come back one day.

Images: au.smallbusiness.yahoo.com, camerasandcuisines.com, broadsheet.com.au

Life Lately

I'm finally back home after a fantastic work trip in Sydney and on Wednesday will be sharing what I got up to while I was there.

Flying home above the clouds

As a treat to myself for my hard work and to spend some time with my neglected boyfriend I have booked a trip to Ibiza and can't wait to go on Wednesday!!!

Ibiza I can't wait to see you again!

With my triathlon only two weeks away I ordered some new trainers, Saucony Kinvara 3 and 4's, (they come highly recommended by the super fit boyfriend, he ran from London to Brighton in them without a blister in sight) and tested them out this weekend. 

We also loaded our bikes onto the car and headed to Boxhill for a 50km bike ride on Saturday where the views were spectacular.

People enjoying the views at Boxhill

Taking an Instagram break at the top of Boxhill.
Bike Bianchi, Trainers Saucony, Tri-Suit Orca c/o SimplySwim

Surprisingly I was still able to walk after the bike ride so on Sunday we ventured to Nottinghill Carnival where we drank Red Stripe and ate plantain. I've been coming to carnival for almost 20 years, visiting Norman Jay's Good Times bus to dance to the happy music and his absence was sorely missed this year.

Taking a dancing break amongst the carnival filth!
Dress COS, Trainers Adidas, Sunglasses RayBan

Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend and a good week!

Images: firstchoice.co.uk

Oz Outfits

I'm back from a successful work trip to Australia and am so excited to be reacquainted with my wardrobe! I was supposed to be in Australia for 12 days but it turned into 20 so I clearly hadn't packed enough. Add to this the fact that the weather was much colder and wetter than I anticipated (the locals kept apologising for the horrible weather!) and my wardrobe became severely limited.

So not enough stuff for 20 days in Sydney

I packed a range of separates in a neutral colour palette of white, black, grey and blue so items were interchangeable. As I would be on my feet for long days at work I only packed comfortable flats including my Birkenstocks (oh how I love thee) and 2 pairs of trainers. My trusty monogramed Louis Vuitton Speedy was my bag of choice along with an animal print across body bag from Marks & Spencer for the days when I was prepping and needed to be hands free. 

Here are a selection of the outfits I wore in Sydney.

Coat H&M, T-shirt Gap, Trousers Topshop, Trainers Adidas

Sweater Zoe Karssen, Skirt Topshop, Trainers Miu Miu

Coat H&M, T-shirt J. Crew, Trousers Zara, Sandals Birkenstock

Blazer Zara, Shirt Gap, Jeans Topshop, Trainers Adidas, Bag Louis Vuitton

 

Jacket Gap, Dress Zara, Bag Marks & Spencer, Trainers Miu Miu 

Jumpsuit Topshop, Sandals Birkenstock, Bag Louis Vuitton

Jumper Uniqlo, Trouser ASOS, Trainers Adidas

Coat H&M, Sweater Peter Pilotto for Target, Jeans Topshop, Trainers Adidas

Jumper Zoe Karssen, Jeans Topshop, Trainers Miu Miu, Bag Marks & Spencer

Coat H&M, Shirt and trousers Zara, Sweater Whistles, Trainers Adidas

I plan on not wearing any other these clothes for a while now that I'm back and I can't wait to go shopping for new things!