Conservative Trending

Top / Jeans / Belt / Bandana / Watch (c/o) / Flats / Bag / Nails

I’ll always go to the clearance section of any store before I even glance at the new arrivals. Further 50 percent off emails and banners make my hands sweat with excitement. Pricing an online store from lowest to highest gives my great satisfaction. Lets face it, I’m not the biggest fan of spending money on trends. Its easy to see what’s going to go out of style and what to invest in. I like the whole 70s thing that every chainstore is shoving down our throats but not enough to commit to a pair of flared jeans for more than a month. Instead, I add a red bandana and brown cross body both stolen from my mum’s wardrobe and I don’t have to spend a dime.

That’s not to say I don’t like to splurge on the finer things. Timepieces are something I thoroughly enjoy and this year I have managed to acquire quite a few unintentionally. One of which includes this Rumba Time piece. The beautifully cut edges reflect light and create the prettiest rainbow effect on your walls. Unfortunately Rumba Time’s website only ships to certain places. However, you can buy this exact style on ShopBop which I recommend because the shipping is crazy fast even if you live in Australia.

So save those dollars and invest in lasting pieces that your children can steal from you down the road. Or put it towards that holiday you’ve been meaning to take yourself on. Experiences are always greater than material things. Period.

Edit: I have decided to update my sign off with a more personalised touch. Writing Christmas cards and gift tags helped me come up with a new way of spelling out ‘much love karen’. Let me know what you think of it and thank you so much for reading.

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The Real Middle Earth

I have returned from the real middle earth, hair slightly still smelling like the sulphurous hot springs of Rotarua and sleep deprived with enough photographs to share with you but not too many because I was trying to see stuff outside of my camera lens. The Hobbtion Movie Set was one of the attractions that I was most excited to see and it was a wonderful little half day adventure that took around 4 hours in total and $110 NZD. It is located in Matamata which is an hour’s drive from the city centre of Rotarua and there’s a big tour bus which takes you from the souvenir gift store to the movie set. Once you start seeing the rolling green hills dotted with sheep, you’re almost there! Our tour guide and bus driver were wonderful and very knowledgeable about the films (they shared a lot of filming secrets) and at the end they shouted us drinks in the Green Dragon Inn. In the future, I would love to go back and do an evening tour because seeing the sun set and tip toeing around the hills with lanterns sounds like the most magical experience! There’s not much else to say so I’ll let the photographs do the talking and I’ll be back with some festive blog posts next Monday!

November 2015

November was an exam month so not much happened before the nineteenth. Highlight of the month was definitely the 1989 concert!!! I’ve been waiting for this day since I was 12 and first heard Love Story on the radio in the supermarket carpark. I guess you could call that love at first note. What an event! With a 76 000 strong crowd (the biggest crowd she’ll play to this whole tour!!!), there was really something magical about being in a confined space with so many people who all know the lyrics to your favourite songs. Visually, How You Get The Girl was my favourite with the floating street lamps and light up dress but I think I danced the hardest to Out Of The Woods and I Knew You Were Trouble. The flashing wristbands were such a neat idea because they pulsed to the music (see above) and I’m glad they still work after the concert because it makes for a nice memento. I’m so glad this was the concert that was filmed for the DVD because I’ll have to get it just to relive the night :’)

Bite Beauty in Glace / Top Shop Beauty in Perplex / Rumba Time in Madison (c/o)  or via Shopbop/ Seed Marble Phone Case 

I have been looking for an affordable marble phone case for over a year and I finally found this one from Seed when they were doing 20% off storewide at VOSN for under $10. I was looking to find a Kylie Jenner-esque colour lip pencil and this one sadly misses the spot but is still quite pretty as you can see me wearing in ‘Paint Me Like … By Your French Door.’ Finally, I have a new time piece from Rumba Time in my life that is less glitzy than my MK one because there aren’t any crystals but its still very shiny because of they way the edges are cut. 

Topshop opened their second store in Sydney (took their time am I right?) and its kitted out with a Doughnut Time. On the opening day they gave away 500 doughnuts and I scored two – ‘The Cereal Killer’ and ‘Oreo’. These artisan doughnuts are hand dipped and so scrumptious.

There are only a few weeks until Christmas and then its the new year and 2016 will be upon us :0 I’ve put up the trees in my house including this new baby tree from Bed Bath n Table. Its a bit underdressed right now but I’m hoping to add a few homemade ornaments when I get back from my holiday.

Did you get the Memo(bottle)?

As a business student, I have looked a lot into start-up businesses this year, in particular, the importance of crowd funding and how it has changed the landscape of entrepreneurs in the last decade … Mind you, the word crowdfunding really only emerged in 2006 so technically speaking not even a decade ago but lets not dwell on examinable details like this because ITS SUMMER TIME! Oh golly I am so excited because I’m going on two trips and I’m decking the halls tomorrow!!!!

If you ever have a moment to spare, go onto Kickstarter and have a look at some of the innovative ideas out there. There are some weird and wonderful ideas like the Folding Lamp & ONELID and something that personally interests me greatly: The Spark Planner but there are plenty others that have great potential. One of these ideas that has successfully made it off the site is Memobottle, a project that was launched back in May 2014 and backed by 6118 pledgers and $ 261 148 AUD. To learn more about their journey towards production and distribution, click here.

Memobottle is kind of a sick concept. I don’t know about you but when I used to be a basic beesh with a cylindrical drink bottle, sometimes I would walk around with this curved thing pressed against my spine … well Memobottle has solved that weird back rubbing for me. Its very slim and flat which means it’s the perfect shape to fit in those made to look battered messenger satchels and this season’s It bag, the Chloe Faye, so essentially its hipster and couture approved. I fit into neither of those demographics and after using it for a month I approve too and so do my secretly jealous friends haha. They’ve also just released an A6 size next to their original A5 bottles and you can learn more on their Site, Instagram, Pinterest, FB and Twitter. #ONEBOTTLEMOVEMENT

Paint Me Like .. By Your French Door

Originally, you guys weren’t going to get anything from me this week but then two weeks of straight up studying and the occasional episode of Friends had me a little burnt out so I thought I would put this up after my first exam of the period. 1 down,  4 to go! I L O V E this top because its made of my favourite fabric in the world and the silhouette and blush colour is just wonderful. Paired with some tailored pants, its also incredibly comfortable. Top it off with a felt hat, pointy flats and a watch and my grey, pink and black palette is complete. You can see how I styled this palette in Autumn Blooms if you’re looking for some autumnal inspiration.

Since we’re on the topic of all things French … it would be incredibly ignorant of me to ignore what a terribly tragic day it is. My heart goes out to everyone affected. ❤

// Top (c/0) / Bottom / Hat / Flats //

YEARBOOK ONE

STYLE SMORGASBORD turns ONE today! How crazy is that … ? I think its particularly crazy because I launched SS on the day after I finished my HSC Exams and a year later I’m celebrating its birthday on the day after I finish my first year of university.

Sometimes I get into a funk because I question what I’ve achieved in the past 12 months but then I look back and I realise you know what, I actually did a lot blogging and life wise. But more on life stuff on New Year’s Eve. Halloween is the day we look back on SS.

Thank you to everyone who has ever stumbled upon SS. Whether that stumble ever led to a backtrack and an oh hey! I always appreciate your eyeballing, liking and commenting. I also want to thank all the people I know in real life – family and friends, that creep on my blog and are always too nice to say no when I ask for them to take photos of me. Thanks for feeling awkward behind the lens and going with it anyway ❤

I would like to think that year one was more of a testing the waters type thing. Style Smorgasbord gained some traction as to the general way blog posts are formatted in the last month and I intend to continue with this format for the near future. Here are some of my favourite blog posts: DIY Marble Side Table / Sun Salutations / Stay Gold / Entertainment By The Sea / Varsi-Prep and where it all began: Style. 

Finally, I have some goals for year 2 that I’ve been debating whether or not to write down but if I never put them out in the open, I’ll never have any motivation to achieve them so here we go:

• Invest in a new camera
• Move to WP.org and become self-hosted
• Change my blog’s design
• Increase consistency and frequency
• Develop a more recognisable brand

Vitamin Sea

It’s almost that time of the year again … Not Christmas though … STUVAC is rolling in with one week left of uni. I almost didn’t write a blog post today because I thought I didn’t have anything to put up but then I realised I still had this draft sitting pretty since June just after I had wrapped up semester 1. One of the biggest motivators for me during STUVAC last semester was texting my study and workout buddy each morning with motivational quotes so I hope this post gives you a little inspiration to go out and tackle your finals head on. Don’t forget to get off your studying bum once in a while, stay hydrated, eat clean and get a lot of vitamin sea. Also, I thought I would include my 10 STUVAC Commandments:

1. Wake up and go to sleep early: a good night’s rest = clear mind; trumping last minute cramming = groggy mind
2. Stay active: an active body equals an active mind – go for a walk outside or do some Blogilates
3. Plan something to do outdoors after your exams: I like to go to the beach for some much needed vitamin sea
4. Find a study buddy: to cheer you on and keep you sane ❤
5. Beat unproductive days: with the Pomodoro Technique 
6. Be comfortable in: // Sweater: Old (similar here) Pants: Uniqlo / Sneakers: Nike //
7. Study in different places: you’ll be more likely to recall information in a foreign location come exam time
8. Clean: your bedroom and other studying spaces before everything starts to go crazy
9. Consider using a: bullet journal if you struggle with organisation or plan like me!
10. Use: Self Control 

If you are still keen to extend your study break (are you procrastinating on SS haha, check out some post exam inspo here ) / Photos by study buddy: Adela x Styliminal 

(Teal)quila Mockingbird

Tequila Mockingbird is an actual drink, I discovered it a few years ago when I was passing by the cocktail section of a bookstore and I looked at the title and thought how punny. Today we’re not talking about alcohol but er maybe we should because of the questionable hyper poses seen in this post. Instead we’re talking about my favourite colour: robin egg’s blue. It’s basically a more washed out version of teal, hence my clever double pun title hur hur. 🙂

If this was a traditional New England preppy sailing look, you would probably go for a navy dress, a cable knit sweater stolen from your hunk and some boat shoes. I modernised the whole thing with some lace up ballerinas and a pastel frock but made sure to add a statement with everybody’s favourite preppy summer fabric: seersucker! You can see how I styled this blazer with matching shorts in ‘A Style Tale of 2 Cities‘. These pictures were taken at different places and as Sarah Donaldson said, “never trust a blogger’s geotags.” The cute little palm tree coffees and striped umbrellas are from Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel where everything is teal even the toilets which give that whole under the sea vibe which is very cool. We actually went first thing in the morning when it was relatively empty but then we went again at 4 for iced coffees and the place was super packed so I don’t recommend Sunday arvos for coffee and chill there. Netflix and chill more like it am I right?

Recreate the look with this Brooks Brother blazer, Dotti dress, Lipstik flats and Essie polish 

22 Marine Pde.

Mid-sem break is sadly over but I’m trying to recover from my two days of school this week by having a slow Saturday morning. The rest of the weekend will be spent cramming for assignments and exams because its go go go up until the end of November when I sit my finals. I’m working on my laptop outside today with my huge cinnamon, pear and banana breakfast smoothie which was inspired by a similar drink I had at The Butcher’s Block a few months back. So delicious and easy you should whip one up yourself over the weekend. Just throw one banana, one pear, a handful of ice, a handful of oats, half a cup of milk and one teaspoon of cinnamon spice in the blender.

If you’re a Sydney sider I hope your long weekend was a brilliant one. Despite the crazy hot temperatures, it was lovely going to the beach for some palm tree caps (more on that in a future post) and Doyle’s fish and chips but my favourite was walking around all the streets and seeing the pretty beach houses. I must have sounded like a parrot because I spent the entire day cooing over how cute the pastel exteriors and nautical embellishments were.

As soon as I stopped off the pier, I spotted 22 Marine Pde. It was a few hundred metres away (and I have bad eyesight) but I heard my calling and I knew that was where I wanted to snap a few quick outfit pictures. I appropriately went with a very nautical palette on this fine Sunday and threw on a super lightweight trench that is a great transeasonal addition to any wardrobe. You can see how I styled it earlier in the fall in Red Lip Classic Thing. I also went with my royal blue shorts that are very loose and more flattering and sweat proof than denim cutoffs. You can see how I wore these shorts in Sandy Tops Sea Bottoms & China Blue x Moroccan Prints. 

Crochet + Coconut Palms

This is the first post of October which may be a strange thing to remark on but October is an important month for Style Smorgasbord because in a couple of weeks on the day of halloween, this baby turns one! Its becoming a toddler :’) and I thank y’all for watching it grow up with me. I’m going to put a stop on the analogies for now but I have some very cool things in store for SS to celebrate its birthday.

I am constantly floored by my unconscious creativity. Woah calm done kid, you’re not that g8. But seriously, I called this post Crochet + Coconut Palms purely because of my shirt and also the palm tree in the background. Then now, as I am writing out this blog post, I see that I resemble a coconut. Amazing. I always knew white and brown was a strange combination but I always figured it was more reminiscent of a chocolate ice cream sandwich or an Oreo. Its funny how I always manage to connect everything together … must be why I am such an excellent English essay writer or maybe it just means I can fertilise 12 fields with all the bull I used to put in my essays (joke credit courtesy of Yik Yak). Speaking of poor taste, has anyone been watching the Australian Bachelorette? Oh gosh it is good stuff … most of my crew watches it and we all agree that Sam is perfect, most of the guys are forgettable and its pretty obvious who the final 3 are already. I would also like to point out that the wallpaper in the Bachelorette house is beautiful, I think it has palm trees on it. Oh the things I do and do not notice!

Can you imagine the tan stencil you would be able to get if you lay out long enough in this top?! It would be so epic haha. If you’re interested in this top, just go for your normal size. I was worried it would run small so I ordered an M but its a little looser than I personally would like.

 

Top: Dresslink (c/0) / Skirt: Old (similar here) / Wristlet: Fossil

Photography: Matthew / Styling & Editing: Myself 🙂