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.

Early Bloomer

It’s not even spring but the flowers on this street are in full force already. Perfect for twirling under in drop waist dresses like this great marble print one that’s made of silk and a dream to float about. My last week was so messy and I think its because I didn’t work out properly thus my schedule became completely off kilter. So! A new week begins and its time to start everything up again and make it a stellar one.

//Dress: Country Road / Booties: Forever New //

Shelfie

Did you know bookshelves say a lot about a person? Take the bookshelf test here and then share your shelfie with me! I am a bit OCD with my Ikea expedit shelves; I need them to be their aesthetic self but at the same time, I need them to be functional and hold as much junk as possible. Here are my tips!

ONE: Collect a bunch of boxes and magazine holders to store the unattractive bits. You can also buy very cheap binders and decorate them like I have done here a la Kate Spade.

TWO: Hold onto those champagne bottles, glass candles and jars and fill them with fresh, dead or fake flowers.

THREE: Display your favourite accessories that you never seem to get to use. For me, these are my quirky clutches and my cat flats which have died a bit.

FOUR: Let it go. Its basically impossible for your shelf to resemble a Pinterest shelf so don’t worry too much. Have fun, switch it out regularly and inject as much personality into your bookcase as possible. Magazines, gift bags, candles, travel memorabilia and picture frames are all great space fillers. Try stacking stuff sideways and if all else fails, shove it in a storage bin and try again tomorrow!

Varsi-Prep

The rest of the garden is brown, wet and sad but then there are these lovely hot pink camellias in the dead of autumn. Always look on the sunnier side kids. Oh, and always wear your clothes back to front because if T-Swizzle is doing it (exhibit a, b, c, etc.), we should all do it too. Pictured here is a very much loved sweatshirt worn back to front, my chiffon collared shirt, the only pair of jeans I really wear, white cons and my good old ray-bans. They call it varsi-prep*. Well at least that’s what I call it! Thank God Its Friday (tomorrow) and have a great weekend!

*As in a cross between varsity and preppy, shoutout to Adela for the inspo x 

JAC

I flung loosely / into that world / I stayed heavily / I’ll be a Jacaranda Tree – Josh Garrels ‘Jacaranda Tree’

If you live in Sydney, I am sure you’re familiar with my new bf. I have a sickly adorable pet name for him and it’s Jac. Maybe you know him as Jacaranda? He’s native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central America, South America, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica and the Bahama so you know he’s really really smoking’ hot and foreign. Mmm.

I’m totally smitten and on warm spring days I like to deck out in my favourite kind of bow backed summer dress for our dates. In a lilac of course, to complement his colour palette. He’s a tough one to impress, causing people of all ages to swoon and take pictures. No worries though, I’m not the jealous type 😉 Have a lovely weekend!

All From Sheinside: Black Criss Cross Back Bowknot Pleated Dress // Blue Criss Cross Backless Bow Pleated Dress // Mint Green Spaghetti Strap Backless Bow Dress //  Purple Short Sleeve Hollow Floral Crochet Pleated Dress