Bonsai Kitten

It is only fitting that my first post back in Australia features an Aussie designer - Bonsai Kitten, who are a Melbourne brand that specializes in pinup and retro clothing. Bonsai Kitten were very kind to send me this lovely and very warm top to get me ready for dressing for winter again, making the chilly foggy mornings we've been having a lot less harsh!

As you can probably tell, black and red is one of my favorite colour schemes lately. I think that this is because they are both strong, powerful colours and I always feel incredibly confident wearing them. This outfit in particular is my own take on the concept of power dressing - strong shoulders, defined lines and high heels, softened and made feminine with a bow on top and hearts on my toes.

This lovely pussybow top is an excellent winter wardrobe staple, made from a soft viscose-lycra mix it is warm for cold winter days, and extremely figure flattering with the way it compliments curves. The best thing of all is that the pussybow top comes in a wide range of colours and prints, making it an essential winter wardrobe piece that is easy to mix and match to create a variety of outfits - as well as coming in a short sleeve variety to wear in summer!

Top - courtesy of Bonsai Kitten

Trousers - Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes - Mel

Dark Lips at Dusk

My last blog post from beautiful Russia, as I am currently half way home to Australia, writing this post from a Hong Kong airport terminal where I have a ten hour layover. Although I blogged this dress when I first came to Russia, my grandfather made me another beautiful flower crown this week and I wanted to take some photos of it so it would not go to waste. I am going to miss the Russian countryside with its wild flowers and berries that are everywhere, but at the same time I am very much looking forward to being back in Australia.

We took these photos at dusk on a very gloomy afternoon so the photos turned out a little different to what I would normally would prefer, but I feel that perhaps the darkness works well with the new lipstick I'm wearing; MAC's Darkside. I had been wanting to try dark lips for a while but wasn't sure how well the color would work on me, so at first I bought a cheap Australis brand lipstick to try it out, and after liking it so much I decided to invest in an identical shade by MAC who are my favorite brand when it comes to lipsticks and blush.

Dress - Hell Bunny

Shoes - Forever New

Matryoshka Skirt by GracefullyVintage

For a very long time I have wanted something with a matryoshka print and I searched for a while, only to never find anything that came even close to what I was looking for. And then, one day, Kayla sent me a photo of a fabric that she found at Spotlight, that just so happened to be perfect in every way and exactly what I had been wanting for so long. Some of you might remember a post from earlier this year when I blogged a beautiful two piece set that Kayla made for me in yellow gingham. Kayla is an extremely talented seamstress and makes the best skirts that fit perfectly and are wonderfully flattering and comfortable to wear.

The original plan was to make a sundress, however with such a bold fabric we both came to the decision that a fifties style dress would be too overwhelming. Instead the fabric works beautifully as a skirt teamed with a plain tshirt that doesn't draw attention away from the skirt and works to balance out the vivid colour and print. The skirt was made to be worn in Russia and I have been wearing it a lot during my time here as it's become one of my favorite outfits to go out in. I love how elegant but altogether low key a simple tshirt can look with a fifties skirt, making it a great casual look that still has a vintage feel to it.

Top - Cotton On

Skirt - made by Kayla of GracefullyVintage

Shoes - Mel

Gingham and Freddies of Pinewood

This week I have been stung by nettle many times, eaten buckets of raspberries and found several kilos of mushrooms. I'm sure it's getting repetitive now, hearing about how many things I have found in the forest and eaten...but I swear that it is a totally normal thing here! Mushrooms in Russia come in a wide range of varieties and flavors, and can be fried and served with mash (which is how I like them) or pickled.

Something I always love about being here is that I can actually enjoy spending time outdoors. In Australia I would never just go for a walk in the bush like its no big deal, let alone walk in long grass - or even lie in it for that matter! Basically it's a good day when I have gone for a run in the park and haven't encountered a brown snake on the footpath.

Top - Cotton On

Jeans - Freddies of Pinewood

Shoes - Kmart

Daisy Crowns & Golden Fields

As I'm sure you've heard everyone else in Europe complain, it's very hot at the moment - and although it's still not nearly as hot by Australian standards, I've been staying out of the city all week to avoid the heat. It's lovely in the countryside at the moment and a lot of the days this week have been spent picking flowers with my grandfather. Some of you might have seen photos of his bouquets that I've posted on instagram and will already know that he has a great eye for composition when it comes to flowers!

He is also very good at making flower crowns and tried to teach me to make some - but I am absolutely useless at it, no good at all - so he was very kind to make me this one from the daisies and clover in the field near our house. I got a lot of strange looks wearing one out and about and one person even asked if I was getting married! Unfortunately flowers are very quick to wilt once they've been picked so the flower crown only lasted a few hours, but even so I thought it looked so much more lovelier than artificial ones, even if they are more practical.

Dress - Trashy Diva

Shoes - Forever New

The Dietrich Trench Coat

Getting dressed when you're living out of a suitcase can be a bit of a drag, and after being in Moscow for a whole month now to say that I am missing my wardrobe is an understatement! However, a glamorous trench coat makes getting dressed a little easier when travelling as it instantly makes one look elegant and put together.

The Dietrich coat by Collectif is perfect for summer, nice and light and has kept me warm and dry in the most drenching rain. It also doesn't crinkle easily making it perfect to pack in a suitcase and wear out all day.

Coat - Collectif

Shoes - Wittner
Sunglasses - Minkpink