Another One

The weather has been nothing short of sweltering these past few weeks... Despite the first week of September rollin' on out. Hopefully some fall-like temperatures are on their way because I'm desperately in the mood to throw on a leather jacket and not feel like my skin is melting off. I've been really into this 70's skirt trend with the buttons at the front. I already own a camel corduroy one from Topshop and thought that adding a denim one to the collection would be a great idea. Now it's not news to anyone that denim is probably one of the most versatile things ever so I can totally envision see this skirt perfectly transitioning into my fall wardrobe with some tights and boots.  

I'm bringing in those Western vibes that have been inspiring me lately through the addition of the concho belt. I've been wearing this belt with everything since I've bought it, from jeans to shorts to a skirt, like how I've styled here. It's the perfect throw-on piece and can jazz up a simple outfit. Instead of going for my usual ankle boots that I always wear I went for my burgundy suede ones to help bring some more colour and texture into this outfit. This is one of my fav blouses that despite being 3/4 sleeves is exceptionally breezy since it's chiffon and I tucked it in to show off the belt in all its beautiful glory. 

I've been working everyday for the past 7 days and doing a lot of other stuff in between, so that means a ton of long bus rides to and fro which also means a lot of music listening, but I don't mind one bit. I actually thoroughly enjoy taking the bus for that reason. You get to have some quality "me" time and just indulge in some good tunes. I've had Mac Demarco's, Another One, on repeat since its been released and even went out to purchase the vinyl earlier this week, so I can have it for my own at-home listening pleasure. Another One is a more personal album for Mac where he laments about a girl throughout. But the songs on here are just so damn good. Definitely give it a listen if you ever get the chance, lot's of his signature twangy guitar sprinkled everywhere!  

  

The Way You'd Love Her - Mac Demarco 

Time Festival

Time Festival rolled around two Saturday's ago and I had the pleasure of attending. The lineup was short but sweet, including a few greats, making this one worth hitting up. The day was sweltering to the point where by the time I waited in line to get my ticket scanned and let into the festival, I was already all sweaty and dying of thirst. But I trudged through because DIIV was about to hit the stage.  

DIIV hails from NYC and is fronted by Zachary Cole Smith, linked to Sky Ferreira (I love her to death). I'd seen DIIV once before, at a festival in Montreal two summers prior and at that time they had just released their debut, Oshin. This time around, they hadn't released a new album since then, but with a new one set to drop in the very near future (October 2015), via inclinations made from a many a tweets thanks to Smith's Twitter. The set included a few songs from Oshin and a ton of new, unreleased ones. It was great to be able to hear them for the first time in a live setting, heightening my anticipation for the new album. The new songs had their quintessential shoe gaze / dream pop element, but I did notice that these set of songs were definitely more vocal heavy than the last. I guess that's what we can expect for the next album then, to move in a more vocal direction as opposed to letting the musical atmospheric elements take over.   

I think it is better... and definitely more Instagram-able.

I tried Hawaiian pizza for the first time and it's become a new fav!

Ariel Pink went on before Mac Demarco hit the stage and he played a crazy set, equipped with rambunctious hand motions and movements. But once Mac went on, it started to get crowded. This is my third time seeing Mac now and he always puts on a good show. He and his bandmates are the men of the hour, cracking out jokes and just plain absurdities in between songs in the set, making the entire crowd laugh. With the release of Another One, he opened with a track from there, then, moving onto the crowd favourite, "Salad Days". This time around he mostly played songs from his new EP, but in keeping with the usual additions to his set including: "Cooking Up Something Good", "Freaking Out The Neighbourhood", "Ode To Viceroy" (personal fav), "Let My Baby Stay", "The Stars Keep On Calling My Name" and finally, ending the show as he always does with, "Still Together". I had a really fun time, dancing and singing along to all the songs and it was great seeing Mac play in a festival-type setting again. Now here's to the next time I get to see him because I'm sure there will be more times in the future to come!  

Bohemia

Summer's coming to a close but the temperatures want to stay and I'm cool with that because I get to sport more of my summer wardrobe. I opted for the classic maxi skirt and crop top combo but turned the knobs all the way up to the highest notch of bohemia. And it's all in the accessories. But... before I get to that, let's discuss the foundation pieces that make up this outfit since you gotta start somewhere.  

I'm currently on that blue and white kick and clearly taking cues from yesterday's jumpsuit outfit post. Something about blue and white is so fresh and crisp. The colours not only remind me of Santorini but also of the beach, the hues of blue from the water and the grainy white sand. I also love the button detailing all the way down the front of the skirt. It totally gives this skirt a definite vintage 70's vibe that of course, I'm totally digging. The white crop top was obviously a no brainer.  

Now let's move onto the fun stuff, the accessories. I piled on the jewels. I went for my favourite statement necklace, the gold one with the jangly coins, that's been featured a many a times on this blog. As for my arms, I was having a party and decided to go to town because life's too short to not drown in jewels and adorn your body with all things pretty. I got some different coloured beaded coin bracelets, a gold cuff, some basic gold bangles, a charm bracelet with some cool charms and some embroidered patterned bracelets I got from Mexico. Some of the bangles were a bit too big for my wrists, as they kept slipping out every time I put my arm down. But I decided that they shouldn't go to waste and I slid them a little higher up until they created a makeshift arm band. I felt like this was a totally ingenious idea and a good way to make use of a bracelet that might be too big for the wrists. I went for my usual cluster of rings and a turquoise beaded ankle bracelet (unfortunately not pictured, as it got lost amongst the layers of maxi fabric) that I also picked up in Mexico.   

Santorini Dreams

The weather's been sweltering these past few days and I couldn't be happier. I'll take this heat over the dreaded winter that's soon to come any day. In the midst of all this I've been keeping pretty busy as well. Working, writing, doing school work and just plain living! This summer's been a blast and I'm still riding that vacation high! I decided to keep it simple in this outfit and one piece can do the trick sometimes.  

I got this patterned jumpsuit from a little shop in Mexico and I love it to pieces. The blue and white colour scheme reminds me of the multitude of landscape pics I've seen of dreamy Santorini. But the pattern on this one piece speaks for itself. It's so vibrant and full of life, full of summer fun. And not to mention, it's loose silhouette has helped me combat the summer heat. I love a good pattern and anything that's billow-y so this piece is a must in my summer wardrobe. I can't wait to get a couple more wears out of it before it's time to tuck it away until next year! 

Maxi Heaven

Quite honestly I think that: maxi dresses, giant floppy hats and beach vacations go hand in hand. Thus when I was on my vacation I knew that I had to wear this outfit at least once!

I got this beautiful navy maxi dress from Zara when they were having their summer sale and  I was instantly drawn to the intricate bead detailing on the front. I love the colours used, white and turquoise being some of my fav's. This outfit was so breezy and perfect for a dinner by the beach after a day spent in the sun (please note my heinous and blotchy sun burn... pale people problems?!?! LOL). The long train blowing in the wind and walking barefoot in the sand was probably one of my favourite things!

I let the beauty of the dress speak for itself and toned it down on the jewelry, keeping it to just a few rings and a hat. 

Beach Bum

I felt like I was totally beach bummin' it in Mexico. And I was in and by the ocean so much I think I transformed into a mermaid. This was one of the outfits I wore whilst I did a little shopping and then headed to the beach afterwards. I'm in love with this off the shoulder top! I think it's one of my favourite tops I own! The off the shoulder trend is so hot right now and rightfully so. I think some collarbone and shoulder action is always super flattering, feminine and pretty! I love the laser cut out detailing throughout the top and how flowy and flouncy it is. 

What better way to ring in a summer vacation than with a pair of white shorts. You can honestly pair any top with a pair of white shorts and have it instantaneously give off the ultimate summer vibe! But I also love white shorts for so many reasons, they're fresh, clean and crisp and brightening up any outfit and I think they're super beach appropriate! I like my shorts high-waisted and distressed and this pair fits that quota. The button fly was a nice touch and gives them a more vintage flair.

If I don't accessorize to the point of insanity I honestly feel naked and like a part of my being has gone missing. So I went out on all fronts - bracelets, rings and a statement necklace! I even tied this little piece of black suede I got one year at a festival that has feathers on either end of it to my wrist, creating a makeshift bracelet! 

Being that close to the beach on a daily basis was invigorating. Feeling the wind in my hair and waves crashing on my toes as I walked along the shore gave me life and totally re-energized my body, creating the ultimate paradise within myself. Sometimes it's good to get away from the hustle and bustle of daily life and escape to a place that is so unlike what you are familiar with, some place practically unknown, some place that seemed as if it could have only been created within the wildest corners of your imagination. It made me feel totally free!  

Pastel & Ethereal

Sporting one of my favourite looks on this blog to date is this pastel number. This outfit screams, ethereal-summer-fairytale-princess to me. From the drape-y-ness of it, to the floral pattern on the kimono, to the muted pastel colour palette, everything about it makes me feel utterly ethereal. There's also something that is so romantic about the combination of florals and pastels, something that transports me back to a time that includes knights in shining armour and maidens with long flowing hair. 

To offset the pastels I went for one of my favourite brown fringe bucket bags that I got whilst vacationing in NYC one summer. I love the coloured, red and blue beading on it and feather detailing on the side. To make the bag more my own, I tied an old dream catcher necklace I had to it that I purchased from a Native American street vendor and I think it adds a little something to the bag. I love adorning items with little trinkets and pins or anything that will make it quintessentially my own, while still holding personal meaning and value. Personal style is all about making things your own and staying true to who you are as a person and in essence it should reflect your inner spirit. So don't be afraid to be who you are and showcase what you like through what you wear. Trends come and go but your style is forever! So live and let live! 

Elegant Design

I'm currently sporting shorter locks thanks to a haircut. Even though I was reluctant (to the point of tears) it was much needed so I could have some body and dimension back into my hair and it could hold the wave better. I had completely forgotten I had ordered this top and then one day it just showed up in the mail and I could not have been happier. It's always a nice surprise to receive something in the mail (that's not bills to pay) especially when it's something you had completely forgotten about.  

As soon as I pulled this top out of its packing I was instantly in love! It's a lightweight chiffon material cut in a babydoll style with this really cool and intricate paisley design all over. It's oversized and effortless and I feel like I can pair this with any sort of bottoms. It's super flowy and makes me want to just get up and dance and twirl around. I'm a lover of flares anywhere I can get them and the sleeves on this are just perfect because they're super billowy and have a bell-like quality to them. I want to wear this top everyday! I paired it with some white denim shorts, a little change from the usual blue. I think theres something so fresh and cool about white denim, something unexpected, and not to mention they practically scream s-u-m-m-e-r. 

I feel like I'm all about the hats lately. I got this concho boater recently and I've already worn it twice (now a third)! The crystals in the middle of the conchos are so cool because they change colour in accordance to the light! I feel like this hat adds a little southwestern vibe to any outfit too, something I'm all about! To keep with the crystal theme I piled on two of my favourite crystal necklaces as well as my Egyptian Ankh one.  

I'm currently wishing I was attending Splendour in the Grass this year. It seems as if every year the lineup is great, with this years including some of my all time fav's: Tame Impala, POND and The Babe Rainbow. And the little market booths that they set up with Australian labels and designers seem so cool, even including Spell and the Gypsy Collective. I know one day I'll be able to make the trek onto the other side of the world and experience Splendour in all it's blissful splendour. But for now I'll live vicariously through the exceeding amount of Australian clothing brands, bloggers, and bands I follow on Instagram and pretend I'm there! 

Have a great weekend everyone and soak up that summer sun!

Reality In Motion

Calling all pilgrims! I feel like a total pilgrim in this get-up. I think it's the long-sleeved, semi-high neckline + hat combo that's totally giving off that vibe... Regardless I love it! I scooped up this cute lil dress before work one day when I was having a browse around the shops. Something about it struck me, I think it might've been the babydoll silhouette and the beautiful repeated patterning throughout and the fact that it's long sleeved and would actually be practical in the fall and winter months. Or that's what I tell myself at least until the temperatures go down to the negative forties and fleece lined tights under jeans are a necessity.    

I'm totally into the sunglasses + hat combo too. There's nothing like a giant pair of round sunnies that encompass your entire face, I feel like a total bug. I'm channeling some hardcore Janis vibes again. That woman could dress like no other. 

I'm realizing more and more that life's about the fun moments and that the fun moments are the important ones. Those are the moments that you remember when you're old and wrinkly and sitting on a porch, recounting stories of your youth to your grandkids. The fun moments aren't always the perfectly planned ones either, they're the ones where things stray from the plan and shit happens. It's important to laugh and be in good company, because if you aren't you're doing yourself a huge injustice. Lately I've also been feeling that it's really important to seize the moment (carpe diem, if you will) and take a leap of faith, try something new even if you're scared or worried or anxious, because you never know what might come of it. Regardless of the outcome however, it'll be a definite learning experience. Life and reality are in a constant state of motion and because of this you must move with them too or else they'll just pass you by.    

Blurry pictures because life is too short not to publicly share the moments when you were laughing your head off.

Psychic Chasms

So all of the summer sales are happening right now so of course I had a browse around the shops and of course I made a sneaky little online purchase. Zara is having their "everything is $39.99" sale and some things I'd been lusting after went on super sale so I had to snatch them up before they were gone forever. I finally got my hands on this amazing floral velvet fringe kimono. This thing totally screams summer of love and I feel like I'm letting my inner Janis out or like I should be a fortune teller, enclosed in a booth at one of those traveling fairs. All I need is a crystal ball so I can gaze into the future or a tarot deck to read your cards. I love the way the fringe sways in the wind as I walk and when I raise my hands to the heavens it feels like a total sleeve party. 

To let the kimono do the talking I decided to keep the rest of the outfit pretty simple, a black slouchy tee messy tucked into some high-waisted denim cut offs. Some rings piled high, oversized sunnies and my signature black ankle boots and I'm good to go. Also, this necklace, making its appearance on the blog yet again... I'm sure it's total overkill at this point and everyone (in real life) is probably sick of me wearing it but I love it! I find it's the piece I always gravitate toward when I have to make an outfit sing and give it its own little musical soundtrack accompaniment, it's totally perfect! I can't promise you won't ever see it again, only that you'll probably see it more.  

Now let's throw it back to 2009 when I was first discovering music of the "indie" variety. I stumbled across this little band called Neon Indian. Not going to lie, what struck me at first was the name of the band, (super cool right?) and it instantly painted this image in my head, one filled with bright colours and that was all cool. Then I found the album Psychic Chasms. It's filled with electronic beats and vivid abstract colours, as the album artwork would suggest, making this album feel like a total trip (and not to make mention to songs entitled, "Should Have Taken Acid With You" and "Laughing Gas" haha). I recently started listening to it again and I fell re-in-love with it. Apparently they're set to release a new album this year with the dropping of their single, "Annie" so I'm excited to hear what that album has in store. But if I had to say, I feel as if this is Neon Indian at its finest, in all its messy experimental psychedelic glory.  

Local Joke by Neon Indian