I Spy: Eyelet Details

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Eyelets have long been a functional part of clothing but over the past couple of seasons we’ve seen them come to the fore as a decorative measure. Take Proenza Schouler’s Fall/Winter 2015 Ready-to-Wear, Sportmax’s Spring/Summer 2016 RTW, and Ellery’s Spring 2016 RTW collections for example. While the oversized eyelets evoke a sense of corsetry, the garments themselves appear to be far less restrictive. I don’t think I could ever pull off an edgy Proenza Schouler look but these are a few eyelet-embellished pieces that I could easily incorporate into my day-to-day wardrobe.

1. House of Cards eyelet midi dress from their ‘Body Shop’ collection
2. Joseph eyelet-embellished tee
3. Lover ‘Rover’ culottes (also available as a skirt and romper)
4. Staple the Label wrap top
5. House of Cards ‘Max’ mini skirt from their ‘Femme’ collection

New Year, New (Blog) Look

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Hello there! Happy New Year! I hope 2017 is treating you well so far. To kick things off around here I thought I’d treat the blog to a bit of a makeover. Fresh starts and all that. It’s nothing too drastic but the main change is that the blog is now (should be) responsive on mobile devices. If you’re reading this on your phone or tablet then you’ve probably already noticed the change. Yep, I’m finally getting with the times. I’m still working out a few things but if you notice any glitches please let me know. I was waning with the blog posts the past couple of months but I’m looking forward to getting back into the groove of things this year. Here’s to an excellent twelve months ahead!

Last Minute Xmas Shopping in Brisbane

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Who else is panicking that Christmas is this Sunday? As in only a few days away Sunday. If you’re a leave-it-to-the-last-minute kind of person when it comes to present shopping, and you live in Brisbane, then don’t worry because I’ve got you covered. Avoid the madness of the big shopping centres and support these smaller stores instead.

Avid Reader
193 Boundary St, West End
What’s in store: books on books on books on books. Grab a gift for the bookworm in your life and some summer reading material for yourself.

The Botanist
Shop 5, Bakery Lane, 694 Ann St, Fortitude Valley
What’s in store: all of the plant things! Think potted plants, planters, cut flowers, vases, and an assortment of decorative bits and bobs.

Flower Lovers
11 Hynes St, Fortitude Valley & 385 Sherwood Rd, Rocklea
What’s in store: more flowers than you can poke a stick (or branch) at. Give the gift of flowers this Christmas or pick up some greenery for last minute table decorations.

The Happy Cabin
58 Vulture St, West End
What’s in store: an edited selection of men’s and women’s clothing, accessories, and gifts. They stock brands such as House of cards, Kester Black, Status Anxiety, and Saltwater Sandals. If you can’t decide what to buy then you could always try one of their lucky dip prizes.

Molten Store
Shop 1, 49 James St, Fortitude Valley & Shop1070C, Ground Floor, Westfield Carindale
What’s in store: a glittering trove of jewellery and precious trinkets. Think celestial-inspired earrings, delicate rings, and ornate hair accessories. If you’re after a bit of Christmas sparkle, then this is the place to go.

Nook
19 Browning St, West End
What’s in store: if you’ve ever attended the Finders Keepers Markets then Nook stocks the kind of stuff you’d find there, only you can shop it all year round. Think fun jewellery, handmade ceramics, colourful accessories, and quirky greeting cards. If you’re lucky you’ll also encounter a shop cat.

Showroom
104 Edward St, Brisbane City (above Le Bon Choix)
What’s in store: a thoughtfully curated selection of keepsakes for the home. Falcon Enamelware, PF Co Candles, Once Was Lost, Fog Linen, and Bondi Wash are just a few examples of brands you’ll find adorning the shelves of this very beautiful store.

Sunday Social
5d Winn St, Fortitude Valley
What’s in store: modern and vintage clothing, funky jewellery, and colourful accessories. It may be small in size, but this shop is brimming with goodies.

Violent Green
1/105 Albert St, Brisbane City
What’s in store: men’s and women’s streetwear, shoes, and accessories. You’ll also find things like prints by local artists, a range of pins and patches (including some favourites of mine by Georgia Perry and Coucou Suzette), Lomography cameras and accessories, and more.

Of course, there are plenty of small businesses that you could support in Brisbane (and as I’m wrapping up this list many more are coming to mind) but these are just the few that I frequent. And if you’re not in Brisbane, go out and support small businesses in your area anyway, no matter where in the world you are.

Scented Candles Vs. Diffusers

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ECOYA review
I can’t resist a good scented candle and I’ve been building a bit of a collection lately. Maybe it’s because I’m becoming more of a homebody or maybe I’m just turning into a crazed candle hoarder (my aunty collected novelty candles so it’s in the genes). However, while chatting with friends the other day one of them half-joked that she didn’t use candles because she didn’t want to burn her house down. We all laughed but of course she has a point. No candle is 100% safe and any open flame requires constant supervision. Which is why I was pretty keen to see how reed diffusers stacked up against their candle counterparts. Enter: this Ecoya scented candle and reed diffuser gift set.
I hadn’t previously used diffusers but they seem like the ideal solution for the candle-adverse out there. You simply pour the oil into the decanter, pop the reeds in, and let the fragrance envelop the room. I had trouble pouring the oil into the decanter at first – I tried tipping the bottle at an angle but found that oil would trickle down the side. The best technique was to tip the bottle upright, covering the neck of the decanter completely to avoid any leaking.
Scent-wise, the candle and diffuser are basically the same. They have a similar intensity and there’s no noticeable variations in scent. If you fill up the glass decanter completely, it’s supposed to last you around one and a half months – so you have to be pretty committed to a scent – as opposed to a candle where you can control the burn time.
Overall, I think diffusers are handy if you want a long-lasting scent (unless you only use a little bit of oil at a time). I prefer being able to switch up my scents on the reg which is why I’ll probably always be more of a candle gal. Of course, if you can’t choose between the two you could always take the Â¿porque no los dos? approach with a gift set like this Ecoya one. 
ECOYA review

ECOYA review
[This Ecoya set was a gift from RY.com.au; all content is my own]

Australian-Made Swimwear

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Summer is officially here in Australia and what better way to celebrate than shining a spotlight on some Australian-made swimwear labels? While some people dread swimsuit shopping, I am not one of them. All I can think about right now is how to best maximise my beach/pool time over the coming months. Gimme all of the lycra!  We’re pretty spoilt for choice here in Australia when it comes to swimwear and several new and noteworthy labels keep popping up each year. For this post I’ve decided to focus on labels that, to the best of my knowledge, manufacture their garments in Australia and partake in ethical practices. These are the local Aussie swimwear brands that I’ve got my eyes on this summer.

BAABY is an Australian swimwear label designed and made in Melbourne. All the designing and sampling is done in-house in Melbourne and every style is tested on various body types to ensure an ideal fit. All pieces are ethically and locally manufactured, and created using regenerated and sustainable luxury Italian lycra.
Camp Cove Swim is an Australian designed and made swimwear label founded by Katherine Hampton. The label is known for its fun prints and retro styling, with designs to suit a range of body types. All garments are ethically manufactured on the South Coast of New South Wales. All fabrics are printed in Sydney and recycled fabrics are incorporated into the lining of swimsuits.
Good Studios is a sustainable clothing and homewares label founded in 2012 by Anny Duff. The label focuses on ethical values and embraces sustainable practices wherever possible. The swimwear range is made from a mix of up-cycled or recycled nylon and extra life lycra and all garments are ethically manufactured in Adelaide.
If you’re after pared-back swimwear in classic, timeless cuts then this is the label for you. Founded by Tuyen Nguyen and Michael Lim in 2013, this Sydney based label is well on its way to becoming a cult Aussie favourite. Every piece is made and designed in Australia using the highest quality European fabric and many of the styles are made from recycled lycra.
Vege Threads is a low impact menswear and womenswear label founded by Amy Roberts. Their eco swimwear range comprises of a range of basic designs and is made using a mix of recycled nylon and extra life lycra. All of their Australian-made products have accreditation from Ethical Clothing Australia.

[Images, clockwise from top left: Baaby, Camp Cove Swim, Vege Threads, Good Studios, Her.]

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