Berrybow is an online store for women, based in Malaysia, specilising in fashion made in Korea.

In my opinion, most of the collection is perfect for work in an office environment, with elegant details, at a good price.

There is a large selection of blouses (with lovely details on the collars, shoulders and cuffs) and lots of skirts (in office styles, peplum, pencils, tulips, flares). Nothing too showy or eye-raisingly “young”.

These details (especially the embellished collars) are quite on-trend at the moment, and it all has a very vintage, sophisticated “Madmen” 50′s style.

There’s lots of mixing and matching to be done there!

Check out the New Arrivals Section.

There is also lot of opportunity use the pieces in a non-office environment as well, which is great, because a good wardrobe is versatile.

This is a woven fitted dress in maroon. It fits me SO well (UK6). I’m so happy I picked it. In fact, it probably ranks as one of my current favourite dresses to wear. It’s hot!

It’s got a good stretch, the material is like a heavy wool-blend and it has lining. It’s comfy, easy to move around in and a good length for my [short] height. It’s got a bit of a sparkle in the fabric too.

Great dress to wear on a night out in the town! Unfortunately it’s sold out, but there’s another in navy.

Next up is a cool metallic skirt. It’s a full circle skirt, so it’s tight at the waist and puffs out at the bottom, a bit like a ballerina tutu. It’s very cute.

Pair it with a camisole or singlet top for a party look.

Or with a luxe silk top and a blazer for a more glam daytime event.

Lastly, I chose these scallop hemmed navy shorts – as I said earlier, well-made, simple item with a very nice detail. It’s sold out in navy, but available in blush.

I also tried something new… I have a vintage silk scarf (not Hermes!) and turned it into a handkerchief top. Yes it’s just a square scarf, and it wrapped around perfectly (didn’t show my bra) plus it went well with the shorts. Super cute!

International shipping rates are reasonable, considering that the price of the clothing is affordable and the quality is good.

The maroon dress was A$42.70 + A$12.50 = A$55.20 … very worth it! You’d pay A$79 -$99 for something like that in TopShop or Zara.

The skirt was A$39.63 + A$12.50 = $52.13. Again something similar in the high-street stores would cost more.

Current promotion
Berrybow have a promotion on right now, if you sign up to be a member, you can receive a RM30 (USD$9) shopping voucher and 20% off on your birthday month.

Enjoy shopping everyone!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

My 6 year old and I made these pancakes on the weekend! Haha they were not very healthy, but they were *a very yummy treat* for the kids on a Sunday morning.

They were the best and easiest berry + pancake recipe I’ve tried to date.

I’ve modified it to suit my own taste, of course!

Blueberry Pancakes with Ice Cream

1 egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
1.5 cups of milk (or 375ml)
2 cups of self raising flour
¼ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
1 cup of blueberries, or raspberries, or mixed berries
1 knob of butter for frying

1) Whisk together egg, vanilla essence and milk.
2) In another bowl, sift flour and bicarb soda.
3) Pour egg and milk mixture into flour mixture. Then add berries.
4) Stir until *just combined*
5) Heat butter in the pan, and fry up until golden brown on both sides.

Makes about 12 (when each pancake is about 10cm across)

If you eat it with ice cream, you definitely don’t need any sugar added to the mixture.

But if like to eat them by themselves, then add ¼ cup of sugar.

Thursday evening was the night of nights for the West Australian fashion industry!

Several hundred designers, models, sponsors, retailers, media and fashionistas hit the GPO Building in the city and celebrated in style!

Those affiliated with the Perth Fashion Festival were able to peer-vote for the year’s most innovative designer, best runway model, accessory designer, best fashion creative, best boutique, best fashion blogger and more.

Usually, this annual event is a sit-down dinner, ball style, where everyone sits in tables of 10. But this year was a bit different, as they decorated the venue in lovely French chic style, with antique furniture, chandeliers, birdcages, roses, velvets and fur rugs. It was very pretty and unusual.

The whole floor was set up with little lounge areas, where people could hang out and mingle.

Some people commented that the setting was too informal for such an important occasion, but I REALLY liked it. I think it made for a more enjoyable time. It allowed us to move around and mingle A LOT.

I actually had a bit of wardrobe drama over this event.

In my heart of hearts I wanted to wear something by a local designer, or buy something from a local boutique to support the WA industry. But I was so bloody busy leading up to the event that I didn’t have time to find one.

As a backup, I was going to wear a FABULOUS designer dress I had ordered online, but it didn’t arrive on time!! I was pacing around my house in the late afternoon before the event, thinking that maybe the postman might just be running late?! But he never showed up!

ARGH! Thankfully I had a “backup backup” dress!

This sparkle dress, which was already in my wardrobe.

This is myself and Zara Bryson, winner for the Best Dressed Boutique, standing under the stars outside the GPO Building alongside the red carpet.

We were the only two guests dressed head-to-knee in mega-bling sparkles… so we just *had* to take a photo together. I was a little scared that our dresses would merge into one big shimmer, and that we would be stuck together all night. Like braces?

I felt a *little* guilty for wearing this dress, because everyone else was wearing something far more expensive, fashionista-ish and designery. But holy crap, my dress looked AMAZING!!

So many people walked up to me, complimented me, took my photo and asked me where it was from, or who it was by. And everyone’s mouth dropped open when I saidASOS. Ha! I heart ASOS.

I didn’t get a chance to take photos with everyone I knew, because my camera battery went flat half way through the night. Silly me.

The evening was great! There were delicious martinis, flowing champagne, a free makeup touch-up service, a live band, tasty nibbles, and gushing award winners.

The only disappointment of the evening was when a couple of hunky firemen popped in (why HELLO there!), and all of us girls hooted with excitement, thinking they were part of the entertainment, and hoped they were about to strip off!

Alas, they were REAL firemen, here because a smoke machine from the stage show that had set off the fire alarm. They turned their backs on hundreds of excited women, and went off to save lives somewhere else. Talk about committed to the job!

This isn’t actually my drink I am holding. I passed my camera to my friend to take this photo, and she handed me her drink to hold (thanks Lisa!). I was driving, and thus NOT drinking. But I was still intoxicated by the fab night and the company of a whole bunch of gorgeous fashion friends! xxx

I’ve been doing lots of cycling. Lots of getting up at 5:30am and leaving the house at 6am.

I go 2 or 3 times a week now.

The world is so different – and beautiful – at that time of day.

It’s funny.

I used to call myself a night owl.

Always preferring to work late into the night. Always reveling in the stillness and silence of 2am. I was energized by it.

But now I’m not so sure.

There’s something about dawn… that makes me feel alive.

Really, truly alive.

Whoa! The-Dreamery is one helluva online shop, well-stocked for uber-current Australian designer labels. From Camilla, to Ellery, Aurelio Costarella, Gary Bigeni, Sara Phillips, Therese Rawsthorne, Josh Goot, Megan Park, Limedrop… and more.

There’s an Up To 70% Sale on at the moment – full of spring summer styles. And a $50 Sale Rack for those who like to nab a bargain. Do check it out.

Wanted to share some new items I picked out!!

This mint blouse by Gary Bigeni is just gorgeous – especially the colour. The fabric is lovely too.

The blouse has a boyfriend-ish, loose cut. Perfect for wearing open over a singlet top and shorts, in a casual outfit.

But here I was dressing it up a little and wore it cropped, knotted and low cut!

The dusty pink pencil skirt is by Sara Phillips and it is perfect for work, or play. It’s made from silk but it has this jersey-robust tailoring to it, making it comfy, easy to wear and move around in. It was also 70% off.

Cuff is by Rachael Ruddick.

Rings are my own.

And I had to I just had to wear both items with my denim shirt by Beige. I loved the colour combination!

This is another beauty by Sara Phillips – a jersey wrap dress, with shoulder pads that make the dress go bang! The colour is pretty hot, as is the sale price, at $96 (from $320).

Its so very comfy and easy to wear too.

Earrings by Mezi (their collection of designs are right up my alley)

Leopard print scarf is my own, by Redopin.

Competition – Win a $100 Voucher

If you’re interested, the-dreamery is running a competition… offering 5 lucky people the opportunity to win a $100 voucher each! Check out the details here!

Happy shopping (or browsing) everyone!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

Liam loves watching Thomas the Tank Engine on TV.

And if you’re not familiar with the children’s TV show… Thomas is a train who hangs with a bunch of his train friends, and there’s a big dude who looks after them all, called “The Fat Controller”.

He’s the station master, or manager, or something like that.

Liam, unfortunately, is terrified of The Fat Controller.

And when Liam is terrified, he often gets his tongue tied. He mispronounces things.

So whenever Thomas the Tank Engine is on TV… I guarantee that 5 minutes into the show, Liam will run out of the TV room, screaming – “TURN THE FUKINGTROLLER OFF!!

It used to be funny, but not anymore.

Now, I don’t bat an eye. I don’t chuckle. I just comply.

And hope that my mother is never around when he watches Thomas the Tank Engine.

I’m not addicted to beauty products as I am to clothes.

There are some people who buy 5-6 new products a week – well, that’s not me!

I like to stick with my usual moisturiser, my favourite foundation, my favourite eye liner and colour palette, my usual blush colours. I have a handful of lip colours, which I’ll update *every so often*.

Over many years of experimenting with products, I think I’ve found all my favourites.

Recently, I ran out of a few items and had restock.

And coincidentally, my most of my recent beauty products were all Chanel…

Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation – I bought this bottle from Strawberry.net.

Nail Colour – Lily Beige from David Jones. One of my favourite everyday nail colours. The colour that I use when I’m not wearing bright nail colours.

Le Crayon Khol, Noir – I love this eye liner. It’s so smooth, intense and lots of pigment. I bought this from YesStyle Beauty.

Here are my foodie highlights of the week.

Monday
Growing up as a kid, drinking chocolate milk shakes on a hot day after school – was such a treat!

So – on hot days – I love doing the same thing with my boys. Usually we experiment with berries, bananas, mango smoothies.

But you can’t beat a chocolate milk shake, with extra ice, so they turn out more like chocolate slushies, with Milo sprinkled on top. It’s heaven :)

Tuesday
We eat spaghetti bolognese once a week. On special occasions, my husband makes a special family treasure Maltese bolognese recipe (passed down from his Scottish mother!) – which he makes precisely and unwaveringly as stated in the recipe. And of course it turns out *perfect* every time.

But for me, I like to mix things up a bit. I don’t use recipes. I just throw in a little bit of this and that, whatever is in the fridge. It’s an amazing surprise all the time :)

This week was SNEAKY spag bog – it had lentils, cabbage, mushrooms and spinach hidden inside.

No one seemed to complain. Or even notice!

Wednesday
I made multi-grain rolls for dinner, which turned out really well.

But it took me HOURS to knead, wait, knead, wait, knead – and then to finally bake. Sure they were delicious, lovely and fresh – but ugh! To think you can buy a packet of buns for $3 at a supermarket.

Thursday
Today, I was having a BAD day. So I brought my toddler out to my favourite Asian food cafe and treated myself to an indulgent lunch treat – chicken feet noodles.

We shared it. It felt so nice to see my toddler enjoying it as much as I was. Of course, he didn’t know it was chicken feet.

The very best part? My husband (and my other kids) were not there to turn pale at the sight of me spitting out the chicken feet bones!

I bought some Surface to Air silk shorts from ASOS, and they arrived this week!

I’m totally in love with them :)

I love the tailoring, the cut, the fit, the lush silk, and I dig the print of palm trees, flamingos and speckles!!

They were $324, but I got them on sale for $81.

Surface to Air are a Paris-based creative group producing award-winning collaborations (with musicians, artists, filmmakers) and acclaimed for their ready to wear collections. I’ve been loving their edgy designs, I’ve kept an eye on their recent collections, and I was stoked when ASOS was having a sale.

I also discovered that ASOS stocks brands like:

~ Sonia Rykiel – super cute, bold, colourful designs with a French flavour
~ Wheels and Dollbaby – a cult Australian rock-luxe label – I interviewed the designer, she’s from my hometown!
~ Spanx - haha everyone needs a bit of body shaping!
~ Elle Macpherson Intimates – so much cheaper and more range than the department stores
~ There’s always a great range of swimwear that is always well priced.
~ And you have to love the OUTLET 70% off section!

……………………………………………………………………………….

Oh oh oh! ASOS have some special deals!

1) I have something SUPER-SPECIAL for my Singapore readers!
Go to the ASOS Singapore Site and get 20% off your shopping cart by using this code – KAREN20

(Limit to one use per customer, maximum spend of £500, excludes sale items, Singapore deliveries only.)
Valid from 7 Feb to 12 Feb 2012.

2) For my Australian readers
Click here to access Womenswear: Sale now on. Up to 70% off

3) And for my readers in the rest of the world
Click here for Final clearance! 50% – 70% off womenswear

Happy Shopping!!

Outfit Details
Shorts – Surface to Air via ASOS
Button down – Witchery
Knit – Sportgirl
Bag – Alldressedup via ShopTheMag
Booties – Habbot Studios

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

Check out more of my favourite online shops in my Women’s Online Fashion Shopping Guide.

We watched *yet another* Chinese Dragon Dance this week.

My kids just love them. The drums. The dragons. The costumes. The buff kung-fu guys dancing around. It’s all very cool for them.

But for me? I get a little bored.

Don’t get me wrong. I like a bit of dragon dancing action. It’s just that I’ve seen it a LOT of them since I was a kid.

So I found myself wondering (and my mind wandering)… yawn, how could this be more interesting?

AH HA!

It would keep my attention a lot longer if the dancing guys were wearing a lot less clothes.

Do you think the idea will take off? Is that un-Chinese of me?