SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE SHOES

I have been talking (whinging) about my spending ban over the last month or so, I will admit to a tiny break in it. I purchased a kids pink retro looking Adidas t-shirt from a thrift store the other week, based on my previous spending habits I am still feeling pretty impressed with myself.  

 

The spending ban will be continuing but I can now share with you the reason behind it, after 8 years in Melbourne I am moving back to the place I have always called home, Newcastle. I officially resigned from my role at the head office for Converse today, it was a really difficult decision to make as I really love my job and moving back to Newcastle will mean no fashion head office roles will be available to me.

 

Over the last few years, after each trip to Newcastle I have found it harder and harder to come back to Melbourne. I miss my family, I miss my friends, I miss the beach and the general life style up there.

I have discussed many times with my best friend about moving home and the conversation would always end in the same way, me saying that I wasn't done with Melbourne. I could never really come up with a reason as to what exactly that meant, it was just a feeling. Like I said I love my job and that was a big thing keeping me here and of course there is the amazing friends I have made down here but it was something more. I started to realise that maybe It wasn't that there was something keeping me here but rather there wasn't a good enough reason to move home. I have recently had an amazing person come into my life who provided that good reason to move, he inspires and motivates me more than anyone I have ever met and I am really looking forward to the future and the adventures to be had. If I get a bit slack with my posts over the next month it is because I am huge ball of stress, in packing hell. I am parting with some things in my wardrobe which you can check out on instagram at @hbhbcloset., this is the first time I have ever sold clothing and it has been quite an overwhelming and emotional process for me.  

 

Into this weeks outfit post, hope you didn't miss me too much last week hehe :) First outfit for Summer had to be filled with gingham. Gingham would have to be my most favourite summer print.xo

 

 Gingham Hair Bow - Sportgirl - Grabbed this in Black/White and Pink/White, super cute and have wire inside of the fabric so no effort to get a cute bow

Deborah Harry Badge - Found this in an old jewelley box when I was cleaning things out, have no idea where it came from.

 

Enamel Skull Earrings - Lovisa

Heart Shaped Vintage Lamb Ring - Hipbones & Heartbreak

Pink quilted knit top - Dotti

 

 

 

Pink Gingham Skirt - Ebay I did contact the seller I purchased this skirt off to see if they had anymore stock as a few babes on Instagram were interested in it, unfortunately I had no luck and they were completely sold out. This also came in a mint and a lilac and I am seriously regretting not getting every colour way.

 

Stripe Knee High Socks in White/Pretty in Pink - American Apparel

ASOS Samba T-Bar Heels 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TROPIC HAZE, PINEAPPLE SKY

There has started to be some absolutely magnificent days on the weekend, even getting up to 27 degrees! I am so excited to start wearing my Spring/Summer clothing again! Unfortunately during the week it has still been dropping right down with that awful icy Melbourne wind, so not quite time to pack away the coats. 

 I've been in a bit of a rut with my sewing lately and I am hoping the warmer weather will start getting me inspired again to make some pretty summer dresses in cute prints. Stay tuned xo

Rib Crop Tee - Top Shop - I got this in a pastel pink as well, really reasonably priced and cute colourways. 

Flamingo Necklace - Lovisa

Pastel Friendship Bracelet - Made by my lovely sister

Vanuatu Sarong/Skirt - I walked into my local thrift store recently and they had a basket labelled dress ups. I guess they put the things in there that they thought were a bit out there for casual wear. It was pretty much a goldmine for me! I walked away with this tropical cutie and a few more pieces I am sure you will see over Summer :)

 Papaya Platforms - ASOS - these are on sale at the moment!

SOMETHING'S COME ALONG AND IT'S BURST OUR BUBBLE

Cone Knitted Jumper – WND.LND – I have entered a couple of competitions on Instagram but I am pretty selective and it needs to be something that really takes my fancy.  When one of my favourite labels WND.LND (You may remember my post recently about their Ice Cream collection)  offered the opportunity to win a “Cone Knitted Jumper” I couldn't resist!

 I actually squealed with excitement when I was picked as the winner of this gorgeous jumper and was elated when it arrived a few days later. The quality is divine, it is soft and toasty warm, it leaves room for layering but still has a flattering cut.  I am often lured into cheap knit wear because of cute prints and colour ways and I accept when making the purchase it will be a one season piece but there really is nothing more luxurious than beautiful knitwear.  A  good quality knit is a great investment piece and if stored and washed properly, really does stand the test of time.

 The jumper isn't a colour I would usually be drawn to, my wardrobe is a whirlwind of colour and prints and seriously lacks basics and neutral tones.  The jumper is available in a pretty pastel pink and if I had of been purchasing it, I would have predictably  gone for that option but I was actually pleasantly surprised with how well it seems to work back with such a large variety of pieces in my wardrobe.

Eadie White Chunky Sandals - Lipstick Shoes  (Note to self: need more sandals for showing off cute socks!) Unif Cat Dye Socks - Nasty Gal
Skin Tone Tights - Cheapies from Coles

Vintage Tropical Button Up - I thrifted this from a salvo's on Bridge Road in Hawthorn
Flamingo Necklace - Lovisa

Nagsia PVC Mini Skirt - Missguided 

Just a note on this skirt: it did arrive with an almost fishy smell that was pretty unpleasant. I sprayed it down with a bunch of perfume, popped it on the drying rack in front of the fan on full blast and voila! Stinky free :) 

Thank you so much to WND.LND and for anyone who hasn't checked out their gorgeous range, jump on their website and prepare to fall in love xo 

DO IT YOURSELF

I've recently rekindled my love for sewing. I think sometimes with creative passions you end up in ruts and need to take a little break but it's always such a wonderful feeling to be excited about it again. Over the last year I have done simple alterations or taken in a vintage piece but I haven’t dreamt up a piece and made it come to life. I struggle with winter fashion because I really feel the cold and I find it so difficult to find cute pieces that are actually warm. This time last year I released a capsule collection of two printed sweaters to fulfill this hole in my wardrobe but this year I haven’t had the time to put into it or the funds to invest and have put it on hold for now. I started to daydream about my perfect sweater and put together this pastel, mermaid crew neck. My sewing skills are a little rusty and this was the first time I had ever worked with the fabric used on the sleeves (not something I am in a rush to do again). I had initially planned on putting together a tutorial with a beginner sewer in mind but it just isn’t the right fabric for a beginner to be working with and I wouldn’t want to leave you feeling as frustrated as I was hehe. So here is the final product and an outfit themed around DIY. 

Pastel Mermaid Crew Neck - DIY

Pastel Heart Skirt - DIY - This was initial a kids tee that I wore once (the below is the only before shot I have) that I decided would get more wear out of as a skirt.

Pastel Bracelet - I admired this DIY bracelet on a lovely lady that works at my local supermarket and the next time I came in, she had made me one :)

Pastel Rainbow Necklace - Lovisa

 Lilac Knee High Socks - ASOS

Converse Pink Platforms - Authentics

Keeping in the spirit of DIY I took a trip out to Spotlight on the weekend. This is always a solo mission because I have a tendency to fall into a time warp and spend hours wandering the aisles and day dreaming about various projects I want to do. The problem is by the time I get home I have had such a sensory overload that i have forgotten nearly everything I have seen. I have set a very strict rule for myself that I am not allowed to purchase fabric unless I have a specific project in mind because I have a tiny little dollhouse of an apartment that already has a blanket box full of hoarded fabric. I am sharing a little photo log of some of the things that inspired me and also as a reminder to myself of upcoming DIY projects.

And a few little cute things I saw on the way home :) xo