The Wearable Culotte

To think its been more than two months since I last blogged is ludicrous, after a long break I'm back to it with some looks that you would have seen if you are following FWTN on Instagram.

Culottes: Dorothy Perkins (Sale!) | Crop top: Asos | Blazer: Bardot (similar) | Shoes: Novo | Watch: Daniel Wellington

In the Spring Essentials series I mentioned my preference for culotte shorts, not only for the comfort-factor but also because they are easily integrated into a casual spring/summer wardrobe. That said, I had the nagging urge to experiment with the popular longer culotte, I found this light-weight style to be less intimidating to wear than their more structured counterparts. All-white is a strong look this season, and rest assured, after trying it a few times, its not as high-maintenance as it seems (napkins and waterproofing spray!). While relaxed-fit silhouettes have been big for a while, I found that balancing with a fitted crop and blazer was more flattering, also a heel is key, unfortunately this style has limited lengthening properties.

Photo Credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Happy shopping!

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Spring Essentials #3: The Timepiece

1. Larsson & Jennings, 2. Daniel Wellington, 3. Daniel Wellington, 4. Mimco, 5. Marc by Marc Jacobs

Super simple wrist-wear has been a refreshing change from the 'arm candy'/'more is more' phase that we've seen over the past few seasons. Stacking bangles and bracelets over heavy chronograph watches was both tedious and impractical. Nowadays, I keep it to one or two thin bracelets and I alternate between my gold Jag and rose gold Mimco 'Timepeace' as they cleverly call it. Since Spring time is synonymous with embracing the new, I thought it was only fitting that you meet my new love...

Daniel Wellington Sheffield

If you're a fan of the minimalist aesthetic then these clean-cut watches are for you. A classic leather strap will be a nice change after wearing heavy metal links for so long. If you struggle with large dials (35mm+) like I do, the Daniel Wellington Sheffield and the Larsson & Jennings Liten were made for you with 25mm and 33mm dials respectively.

I can't wait to style this watch with this season's silhouettes but the best part is that this style will last a lifetime (no, really!) Stay tuned for more soon.

Happy Shopping!

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Spring Essentials #2: Camisoles and Midi-Skirts

Nothing says Spring like a pop of colour, and for me, nothing works better than my favourite shade of royal blue. As a creature of habit, I usually gravitate towards monochrome or one-toned outfits. This blue is the exception; my friends and family have named it 'Eresha-blue' since it has made itself a permanent feature of my wardrobe. 

This camisole has been in my wardrobe for more than 3 years however has not dated in the slightest, while t-shirts are the more common casual-equivalent, theres no reason why this couldn't be paired with black/white jeans and slides for the daytime as well. This is the same rationale I use each time I buy a new camisole, safe to say my love for these strappy silk singlets won't wane any time soon...all the more reason to stock up and try a few other colours right? While this particular style and colour is no longer available, check out the other camisoles available this season from Bardot, this wouldn't be the first time I've mentioned the exceptional fit, quality and the reasonable price point.

While the floaty pleated midi skirts that have been huge as of late look exceptionally playful and girly, I have the nagging feeling that this trend just won't stand the test of time. Personally, I think the fitted midi in the pencil-silhoutte is an exceptionally flattering and versatile piece both in terms of season and occasion (can you say elongating!) Wear it with a thick boyfriend coat and ankle boots in the cooler months or a camisole and strappy heels for spring, no regrets with this one! This look fits the latter description, and since there was a pop of colour happening, I kept the rest tonal with white, grey and black.

Photography: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Camisole: Bardot (old season) (Other - Bardot)

Midi Skirt: Bardot (similar - Bardot)

Boyfriend Coat: Princess Polly

Shoes: Asos

Watch: Mimco

Pouch: Mimco

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Happy Shopping!

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Spring Essentials #1: Culotte Shorts

So "florals in Spring" doesn't have to be the rule, for those of you who prefer basics, this one will be a treat...

With the return of the relaxed-fit trend in tailoring over the past couple of seasons, it's no surprise that knee-length culottes are suddenly flooding our social media feeds. However, for those of you, like me, who are  a little unsure as to how flattering the knee-length style will be, (especially if you're not blessed with a 5'10" frame) culotte shorts are the answer. They are comfortable, versatile and on-trend-but-timeless...they also don't cut off the figure at an awkward length...win! Check out the selection at ASOS, very affordable if you're keen on experimenting with this style.

I paired the culotte shorts with a figure-hugging top to balance my proportions and slides for the daytime, however, these would work with a boxy-crop and pumps for the evening as well. On a side note, if you're curious about slides, check out my product review here, hands down, simplest shoe choice of the season.

Photography: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Stay tuned for more key pieces for SS15, definitely some colour next time... 

Top: Kookai

Culotte Shorts: Jorge (Stockists here) (similar ASOS)

Slides: Just Because Luxor

Bag: Alexander Wang (similar - rose gold hardware)

Happy Shopping,

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Play

Espadrilles: TopShop (similar), Playsuit: Zimmerman, Bucket Bag: Lauren Merkin

A few days of 20+ degrees of sunshine have made me hopeful for a quick end to Winter; what better way to celebrate than to start planning Spring/Summer essentials? Playsuits/rompers are sparse in my wardrobe and this season I will be on the hunt to fill this gap. Other than the cute-factor and also the beautiful prints around this season, the relative ease with which a playsuit can take you from shorts/t-shirt-esque to well-put-together makes a strong case. I will be on the hunt for styles with cinched waists as I find these are the most flattering, I can't wait to team them with a pair of espadrilles and a bucket bag, here's to never having to coordinate a top with a bottom this Spring...

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Happy Shopping!

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Slide

Sol Sana 'Jobe'

There are a few reasons why there are quite a few posts on shoe trends on FWTN, the most important being, the ease with which a pair of shoes can keep an outfit on trend whilst allowing you to make the most of clothing you already have without looking dated. Let's keep it real, more money to save and splurge on a new investment bag right? If you're new to the blog and haven't seen the It-Bag rundown make sure you check it out here.

My newest purchase is a pair of slides (keep an eye out on Instagram for their arrival), a simple pair of flat black sandals for the warmer months is a necessity and these are an alternative to the Birkenstock-trend (and maybe a little easier on the eyes?) I can't wait to pair these with camisoles, white denim and shorts during the spring/summer, check out the links to some of my favourites below.

Windsor Smith 'Prim' (Pre-Order)

Just Because 'Luxor'

Tony Bianco 'Indiana'

Spurr 'Brooke' Slides

Happy Shopping!

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Grown-Up Sneaker Style

Bag: Philip Lim, Camisole: Miss Selfridge, Jeans: J Brand, Shoes: Converse Taylor

A fresh pair of white Converse Chucks are the perfect way to dress down white denim and a camisole, and conversely (sorry couldn't hold that one back), the white jeans and dressy camisole stop this from looking overly 'tween'-appropriate. Lazy days in flats never looked so appealing...

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Girl Boss # 3: The White Shirt (and Jeans for Genes)

A corporate wear series would not be complete without mentioning the humble white shirt. It has taken me years to find one in a crisp material in the right fit...when I found one that was affordable as well as the right fit from ASOS (thank goodness for petite sizing), I had no hesitations whatsoever.

Instead of pairing the white shirt with a pencil skirt or slacks like I would for the office, I went for a white-on-white ensemble. While head-to-toe white can look (and feel) a little high-maintenance and fussy, it is a refreshing change from the all-black uniform towards which I tend to gravitate. This Shilla bomber jacket of mine is the answer to this little qualm, being the perfect piece to dress-down my usually-dressy outfits. Also, bold jewellery is a fun way to add a little 'oomph' to a streamlined and simple silhouette. 

Lastly white denim is an often-overlooked wardrobe staple and let me assure you, once you invest in a pair, you will find yourself living in them. I have gone through a few pairs of white jeans in the past but have never been completely happy with the fit, this was until I discovered Siwy Denim available on ShopBop. Apart from the perfect fit and length, (no altering necessary, who would have thought!) these jeans are quite reasonably priced considering just how good the quality is. 

Also don't forget Jeans for Genes Day on August 1st 2014; why not support research into genetically inherited disorders and treatments in a white pair of jeans? This charity is very close to my heart being a genetics major and I will definitely be reppin' my white denim and donating generously, if you'd like more information click here. 

White Shirt: Asos, White Jeans: Siwy, Bomber Jacket: Shilla (sold out) (similar), Necklace: Lovisa, Shoes: Asos (similar), Bag: Alexander Wang

Photo Credit: Thilina Appa (Facebook)

This brings me to the end of the Girl Boss series, I hope it has been a useful tool to direct your shopping endeavours, stay tuned for more outfit/beauty posts soon.

Happy Shopping!

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Girl Boss #2: The (Midi-) Pencil Skirt

The pencil skirt reigns as the one of the few universally flattering, multi-occasion appropriate pieces in my wardrobe...which is exactly why I did not hesitate at all when adding this midi to my collection. Whilst a black pencil skirt is corporate-/professional-wear by convention, the makeshift leg slit formed by the asymmetric cut makes this skirt a little more flexible in my wardrobe of casual wear and made an interesting combination with a printed shirt (also featured here) and a knit in a pretty pastel blue to break up the monochrome. Also, I can't rave enough about the elongating properties of the midi silhouette, us petite girls have struck gold with this one, I'm 5'2", enough said.

Paired with my surprisingly-comfy-for-a-4-inch-heel mules, I must say the ASOS end of season sale served me well...not surprisingly, this isn't all I picked up, stay tuned for the next instalment of the Girl Boss series for more.

Jumper: ASOS, Shirt: Sheike, Skirt: ASOS (Sale), Mules: ASOS (Sale), Bag: Alexander Wang (similar - rose gold hardware) (similar - black hardware)

Photo Credit: Thilina Appa (Facebook)

Happy Shopping!

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Girl Boss: #1 Trousers

First of all apologies for the lack of outfit posts as of late, blame exams and work but back to it now!

One of the biggest misconceptions about 'finding your sense of style' is that it involves limiting yourself to a few trends that arise and spending copious amounts of time and money investing in these select few styles.  Personally, I find that one of the most compelling things about the fashion industry is that it not only presents new trends but also allows you to adapt these trends to your stage of life and evolve as you evolve. For example, as a uni student, my day to day wear is casual, however, now that I've stocked up on plenty of casual wear, excessively hoarding more just doesn't seem like a smart move. For this reason, I've resolved to slowly add more 'corporate-appropriate' pieces into my wardrobe and integrate these pieces into my existing collection of casual wear. 

The idea of experimenting with corporate styles and silhouettes requires the breakdown of a few key pieces and for this reason, I bring you the Girl Boss series (inspired by the brilliant novel of course). First up, trousers...it's easy to become complacent wearing denim every day and this makes it hard to try anything different but there's something sophisticated and versatile about a pair of black, ankle cropped peg-leg trousers that makes me want to start styling them with more and more of my jumpers, shirts and tees. The wide leg is also huge this season (no pun intended) and let's all brace ourselves for the inevitable return of flared pants, I admit, I don't cringe as much as I used to thinking about these, perhaps this is a sign...

On a side note, grey was never a colour that I wore very often but I have well and truly committed to finding more and more pieces in various hues, theres nothing boring about a layered grey look or adding a bit of grey to break up a monochrome/black-on-black look, more on this soon!

Pants: Forever New, Jumper: Seed (Sale), Coat:Princess Polly, Shoes: Steve Madden (Sold out), Bag: Michael Kors

Photo Credit: Thilina Appa (Facebook)

Peg Leg/Slim Trousers: , ASOS, Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney

Wide Leg/Flared Trousers: ASOS, ASOS, Dion Lee, Michael Kors, DKNY

Grey Jumper: , Mink Pink, Missguided

Coat/Long Line Blazer: , ASOS, MM6 Maison Martin Margiela, Trenery (sale), DNKY (sale), 

Shoes: Steve Madden (sold out), River Island, Tony Bianco (sale), Jimmy Choo, Gianvito Rossi (sale), 

Bag: Michael Kors

Happy Shopping!

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90s Moment: The Mule

ASOS Harvey Heeled Sandal

Since we're embracing overalls and denim and denim, here's to the revival of the 90s classic, the mule...

 In keeping with the 'high fashion brought down to Earth theme', something that I look for in a trend is whether it can be easily integrated with staple pieces that I already own, not to worry in this case, team them with midi skirts, boyfriend denim, leather pants, coated jeans, trousers...the list is endless and I no longer feel like an excessive shoe hoarder wanting more...no, this is versatile, I promise! This is, however, a passing trend so I decided to take advantage of the current ASOS Sale and grab a pair. This post is my way of keeping myself occupied as I eagerly await their arrival, make sure you keep an eye on Instagram and this blog for outfit posts soon! Until then, styling inspiration can be found at FWTN on Pinterest.

Spend:

Gianvito Rossi

Miu Miu

Moderate:

Nine West

Tony Bianco

Tony Bianco

Save:

ASOS

Aldo

Happy Shopping!

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AXP Season

Tis the season to be jolly...AXP season that is!

Exam time came and wreaked havoc on my stress levels and sleep cycle, however now that we're all done and dusted I have been scouring the internet and local boutiques for a last minute AXP dress, check out my picks from Esther Boutique and Asos. Lots of lace and mesh this season to bring out your inner girly-girl and note the mostly monochrome picks...even club-worthy dresses don't look tacky in black and white!

Perry Two-Piece

Lane Lace Dress

Esther Boutique:

Leighton Dress

Cameo Spellbound Dress

Daphne Playsuit

Fashion Union Bodycon Scuba Dress With Mesh Panels

Jarlo Arabella Midi Strapless Dress in Lace

ASOS:

ASOS Premium Cutwork Dress

Solace London Stone Mini Dress With Cut Out Back

ASOS TALL Mesh Insert Bodycon Dress

River Island Midi Cami Dress

ASOS Embellished Cage Shift Dress

All images sourced from retailer website.


Happy Shopping!

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Planning Ahead - Spring Wishlist

1. River Island Black leather full midi skirt, 2. Jane Norman Asymmetric Quilted Pencil Skirt, 3.Boohoo Daisy Mesh Hem Midi Bodycon Skirt, 4. Dorothy Perkins Blue Crepe Soft Peg Leg, 5. Larsson & Jennings CM silver-plated watch, 6. Chloé Elsie medium textured-leather shoulder bag, 7. Alexander Wang Glossed-leather mules  

So I went a little crazy and stocked up on knitwear for winter and now I can't stop thinking about spring wardrobe investments... more midi-skirts, trousers and new accessories are on the radar.

Happy Shopping!

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End of Season Sales!

Trying to save for a handbag during end of season sales wasn't a good idea...my inbox is filled up daily with sales notifications. In a desperate I-can't-take-it-anymore moment, I thought I'd better share some of my favourites... because someone should have it...

Swarovski Boutique Chadstone - Up to 50% off

Esther Boutique

Sass & Bide

Gucci

Forward by Elyse Walker

Shop Bop

Jeanswest - 40% off

BNKR (The Fashion Bunker)

Green With Envy

Witchery - Up to 50% off

Shilla - Up to 70% off

Tony Bianco

The Iconic - Up to 50% off

Asos - Up to 70% off

Viktoria and Woods

Lola vs Harper - 70% off

Style Tread

Bardot
Seed

Enjoy!

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Bag envy

1. Givenchy Antigona Shopper, 2. Givenchy Antigona, Prada Saffiano Leather Double Zip Executive Tote,
4. Gucci Soho Chain Shoulder Bag, 5. Celine Luggage Bag, 6. Salvatore Ferragamo Classic Logo Tote (sale),
7. Fendi 3Jours Textured-Leather Shopper, 8. Proenza Shouler PS11 Mini, 9. Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel (sale)

They say theres no going back after your first investment bag...apparently theres no stopping either.

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Happy Shopping,

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Casual Friday feat. Margiela

1. Maison Martin Margiela Wool-blend felt coat, 2. Rag & Bone Dakota Tee, 3. Bailey Leather-like Bralet, 4. Vero Moda Slim Fit Jeans, 5. Proenza Shouler Diamond-Embossed PS11 Mini Classic, 5. Giuseppe Zanotti Cutout Sandals (Sale)

Am I the only one that has fallen head over heels for Maison Martin Margiela? The bags were my first love (naturally) however this grey boyfriend coat is looking like a good buy for this winter, the MM6 range is worth taking a minute or two to drool over as well...

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Happy Shopping!

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Houndstooth

Keeping it short and sweet this time as I temporarily ignore the joys of undergraduate life and the stress of the end of semester (yay for exams, said no one ever). As a distraction to the 12 weeks worth of cramming I need to do, lets talk printed shirts…

Photo Credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram) 

Ive mentioned this fixation of mine previously and finding this classic houndstooth print from Shieke was a sign (I believe) that I need to be on the lookout for more. My love for black/white/grey outfits is no secret, and definitely obvious from previous blog posts, however the monotony of monochrome is a problem...this is where prints come in. For a more daring look, try clashing the print of the top to the bottoms, this could be a shirt/pants combo or the ever-popular crop top/midi skirt silhouette, if you keep both pieces in the same colour family with clashing prints, I guarantee you'll be surprised at how beautifully it will work. The white leather jacket is an easy alternative to the typical black and the trusty coated jeans are out again once more.

Jacket: Asos (similar) 

Shirt: Shieke

Coated Jeans: Cotton On

Shoes: Asos

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Happy Shopping!

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The Crop Continued...

My love for high quality, basic wardrobe staples is no secret; versatility and reliability are perhaps my two favourite words when it comes to investment pieces, however, when it comes to trendier purchases, these terms aren’t always applicable. This Zara cropped jumper has proven to be an exception to the rule...

Layered with a T-shirt for uni and now with a printed blouse for a dressier outing, the cropped-jumper trend gets two thumbs up from yours truly, and a whole lot of late nights spent scouring the internet for more (I think I need one in a pastel blue shade...restrain is a highly overrated commodity it seems).

Printed shirts are definitely starting to take over my wardrobe in favour of cotton basics, there's something a little bit more 'grown up' and polished about them, at the ripe old age of 21, I figure it's not a bad time to start building my collection.

Photo Credit: Jude Newton (Facebook) (Instagram)

Cropped Jumper (Zara - In store only)

Leopard Print Blouse (Bardot) (similar - Equipment) 

Jeans (Dr Denim)

Ankle Boots (Jo Mercer)

Bag (Alexander Wang)

Happy Shopping!

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