If you need a few ideas on how to update your winter wardrobe, why don’t you give these a go.

1) Try Wearing Checks
I picked out this checkered shirt a few months ago and I have been wearing it non stop since – but this is the first time it’s made a debut on my blog!

As its colour is black and white, I find that I can throw it over *anything*, coloured jeans or an animal print skirt or over another print top, for some print on print action.

It’s my best winter buy so far!!

Outfit: Check shirt (from YesStyle), white tee (from CiaoBellaTravel), khaki JBrand jeans (from my-wardrobe.com), wool coat (Witchery old), black boots (from Betts).

2) Try Olive and Khaki Colours
If you’re used to wearing black, white, grey and a neutral palette… khaki is a very easy colour to wear and add to the mix. It’s not too loud or bright and it goes with lots of skin colours.

Whether it’s a khaki jacket, pants or top… you’ll find that it’ll match with lots of things you own and give your wardrobe a fresh rework for the new season.

3) Try a Shirtdress
A shirtdresses might sound scary (voluminous, shapeless and unflattering), but whatever shape or size you are, you have to go TRY one on. You’ll be surprised!

Some tips for finding a great shirtdress – Make sure you wear it with a belt. Go for a neutral colour like black, navy, charcoal or cream. And always try to go for better quality fabric.

Outfit: Shirtdress (AL&ALICIA), jacket (from YesStyle), belt (from Morrison), suede boots (by Tony Bianco at The Iconic).

4) Try a Citrus Coloured Jumper
If you’re like me, you probably own a lot of dark coloured jackets and coats (black, brown, grey, navy or beige). Try adding a splash of colour by layering up with a citrus coloured knit.

A predominant colour in the latest Sass and Bide collection is this electric orange (pictured left), which I have fallen in love with. But it’s a bit out of my budget for this winter, so I will be settling for this –more affordable – knit by Blue Juice, pictured in the middle!

Left to right: Sass and Bide Knit (new season $290), Blue Juice Knit ($89.95) and Ladakh($99.95)

I do have a little treat for my readers!

Special Discount Code for The Iconic

If you shop at The Iconic, I have TWO special discount codes that will save you heaps! Not to mention there is currently a 50% off Selected Sale at The Iconic .

20% off ALL items, minimum spend of $59
Code: ZAN20CM

$10 off ALL items, minimum spend of $49
Code: ZAN10SW

These codes are valid till 10 June 2013. It includes ALL items, including sale items!

Enjoy your weekend!

( 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.

Rugged, slouchy, relaxed… this jacket completely describes my current staple look.

I’m a sucker for the flowing lines of the jacket, mixed up with a whole lot of fleecy warmth and rock and roll leather. It gives a small nod to Rick Owens drapery, which I’m a fan of.

I also love that the jacket is a bit rough on the edges.

This glam grunge look in monochrome is just too easy to put together – a crisp white tee, some faded black jeans, a vintage belt, some leather sneakers, the standout jacket… and a hint of colour from my oxblood Pradas.

Outfit:
Shearling jacket from YesStyle
Black jeans by Nobody
Leather sneakers by 45SEVEN
Vintage belt, thrifted
White tee from Country Road
Sunglasses by Prada (Sunglasses Shop)

( 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.

I’ve been a long-time fan of fashion label, AL&ALICIA.

I adore their effortlessly gorgeous clothes, the strong boy-meets-girl style and their countless wardrobe staples with fresh details. You’ve probably noticed that I wear and style their items all the time!

I had the pleasure of picking out a few items to review, style and share with my readers… from their latest Spring/Summer 13 collection – La La Land.

The team at AL&ALICIA are also offering my readers a 15% storewide discount, please scroll below for details.

This is the Lolita Shirt. It is lovely, light and sheer, with a short vest layer which suitably covers view of your undergarments.

At first I wasn’t so sure if I would like this top. Maybe a bit too boyish tuxedo like? Too boxy? Maybe too floral? But after pairing it with cropped pants, jeans, and other skirts in my wardrobe, I realised that this was a winner. It brings a fresh, “smart yet feminine” look to my and outfits and I like it :)

I’m wearing this top in a size 0. Shorts and accessories are my own.

Asymmetrical skirts are all the rage for the new season. And this Tuula Skirt featuring a peplum skirt and asymmetrical ends, stands out with a kind of effortless cool.

Its colour is sublte and feminine, its draping is soft, while its tailoring is smart and boyish. The combination of these elements makes this skirt wonderfully unique to wear.

Again, I’m wearing size 0. The top and accessories are my own.

Aaah and lastly, these two dresses are simply lovely.

On the left is the Claire Dress, in the same subtle, gold shimmer fabric as the Tuula Skirt.

This dress has no zips or buttons, you just pop it over your head – I had to cover the makeup on my face with a scarf, so I didn’t get makeup on the collar, but other than that, it was easy and comfortable to wear and it fits very well. The skirt height is perfect for me too.

I’ll be wearing this dress out on a girls-night-out this weekend!

The dress on the right is Talulah Dress, so so so pretty and simple! It has delicate soft colours, feminine florals, yet mixed with boyish details like a high collar and button down pleats.

It is actually made of two layers of sheer material and it feels very nice and soft on my skin.

Do check out all the dresses here and rest of the collection on the website.

Enjoy 15% of regular priced merchandise online at AL&ALICIA.
Simply enter the code “KARENCHENG15″ at the checkout. Valid until 5th May, Sunday (midnight, UTC+8).

Happy shopping!

( 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.

Peep Toe Shoes sent over a few pairs of shoes for me to play with!

They are having their Warehouse Sale with up to 75% off – and then with another extra 30% off.

There’s only a few more days left, so do pop over to take a peek.

These aqua colour heels were $62.30 – down from $249!

They are soo luxurious to wear, I felt like a leggy giraffe (in a good, tall way). And they add a fabulous splash of colour to any outfit.

I thought they went perfectly with my coral and mint dress (from ClubCouture).

This silver pair with a mid wedge heel was also $62.30 – down from $249!

They are lovely, so comfortable and in such a versatile and classic style. I will be keeping this pair as I’m sure I’ll wear it out a lot. I have lots of high heels, but not so many mid-heel shoes.

Here I wore it out on a lunch date with my girlfriend, with my super soft Splendid top (from Shopbop), white Fendi jeans and Diva earrings.

Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend!

( 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.

Ok if you don’t already get their updates, ASOS are having a massive mid season sale on their site, with up to 70% off items.

I recently bought a couple of items that I’m sooo happy with!

You see, I have a wedding to attend in July and I wanted a fun, party dress to wear.

So I bought this PETITE Lasercut Dress, and it’s gorgeous!

The big, flared, circle skirt makes the dress fun and feminine. The red is bold and eye-catching. The laser-cut layer is unique and almost lace-like.

And I love the back of the dress. I’ve fallen in love with backless dresses after wearing this backless Eileen Kirby lace dress to the WA Fashion Awards earlier this year.

I also bought these Pointed Heels, with ankle strap and a mid heel. They have a suede/velvet like fabric and they are nice and affordable for an on-trend shoe, and for those on a budget.

These Jewel Bauble Earrings look so pretty and they would match lots of black outfits. They would also add a bit of sparkle, bling and a touch of colour to any outfit… even a white tee and black jeans?

I didn’t actually buy this Love Moschino Owl Shoulder Bag but I felt that this little style board needed a clutch to complete the outfit, and this one looked like a perfect match :)

Do you have a fancy occasion coming up? What are you wearing?

Hope you find something fabulous!
xx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I want to introduce a new online boutique that I have come across, tested out and now recommend :)

Beginning Boutique is a cool online shop that stocks a great selection of dresses, tops and bottoms. They have familiar brands like One Teaspoon, Stylestalker, Finders Keepers – but they mix it up with affordable brands too, so you can also buy a great party dress for $55.

They update their stock often, have heaps of styles and sizes available, have free shipping throughout Australia… and most importantly, their customer service is superb.

I was very impressed with the range of colourful skirts and styles they offered.

So I picked out a Stylestalker Skirt to try out – and it’s gorgeous! I’m a fan of the brand Stylestalker as they have some pretty bold (yet wearable) styles and their basic items always have a cool bit of detail on it that lifts up the whole garment. View the rest of Stylestalker items.

The skirt is pretty versatile and feminine. You can wear the skirt with a white, grey or black top. Or a clashing colour, like yellow?! You can wear it with a flowing, loose top, or a tight fitting body top.

Outfit details: Top by In Good Company, Stylestalker Skirt, Colette Dinnigan x Lovisa necklace from The Iconic, Dorothy Perkins heels.

Unfortunately this particular style is out of stock, but here are a couple of other skirts that I had my eye on. Check out the whole collection of skirts here.

Also the range of dresses is pretty good too. As I said before, the price range is $39 – $179 for a dress. And there are heaps of items on sale that are also listed in the dress section here.

What I like most about the shopping experience at Beginning Boutique, is that when you “view all the dresses”, all the dresses are listed WITH some little boxes that show what sizes are available, so you know straight away whether they have your size.

Most of the time, you have to select your size, then it takes a few seconds to filter, then (sometimes) only 3 or 4 items are listed in that size and – well – that’s a bit boring because you don’t actually get to see the rest of the stuff the shop offers and you don’t feel like you’ve seen a good representation of what the shop has for sale.

Basically it offers you an excellent “window shopping inspiration” experience too haha!

Special Discount Code
Use the code “TENNER” at the checkout and you can enjoy 10% off your order when you spend $70 or over.

Anyway, I hope you like it and hope you enjoy a touch of online shopping.

Enjoy xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I picked out two new ‘premium’ dresses from online boutique ClubCouture… and oh my goodness, they are just stunning!!

This first dress is the Patterned Banded Bodycon Dress (very Herve Leger!) and it is absolutely gorgeous to wear.

I wore it recently to a launch at Tiffanys where I met Ewan McGregor, so I’ve now started to call it my Ewan dress haha.

It is quite an unusual dress, because if you look closely, the bandages have a print on them. And some nude panels are completely sheer. But the fabric is strong, firm and stretchy, a bit like a corset. So it just hugs you and tucks you in, in all the right places.

It’s unique, eye catching, I adore the neutral colour palette and it looks amazing… I realllly like it :)

As for sizing, I’m wearing a Size UK6 in this dress, and to be honest, it’s a *little tiny bit tight* for what I’m used to. I had to hold my breath in order to zip it up! I’m usually a good standard size and I can pretty much fit anything that is labelled UK6. So if you’re more of an UK8, then I’d choose the UK8 for this dress.

So even though it is a bit tight, the dress is stretchy enough that it feels quite comfortable to wear. I happily wore it for 5 hours one evening. It didn’t ride up my legs, or suffocate me, or pinch me in funny places. It was all good and I totally recommend it to those looking for a sexy dress that’s a bit different.

This dress is the Silk Watercolour Dress. And yes I adore this one too!

Its style is a lot more grown up and sophisticated, with its high neckline and knee length skirt. The fabric is silky and smooth. The print is colourful, vibrant, very pleasing to the eye and looks modern.

It’s not trying to be too fashiony or too look-at-me. It’s just lovely, classy and lady like. I wore it to an evening corporate event and I felt so intelligent, graceful and like I was the first lady or something!

It is perfect for work. Wearing to weddings. Wearing out to day time or night time functions. It’s a very versatile dress.

You can check out their full collection of dresses here (starting prices at $26) or view their Premium Range here (starting prices at $49).

There are a lot of great dresses and good stuff, enjoy!!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’ve been really enjoying the process of mixing my sporty gear with my luxe gear. Sport has been a big theme in my life this year (so far) and it’s been nice to reflect it in the rest of my wardrobe.

The “sporty luxe” trend is a tricky style to wear. Usually the winning combination is to wear a luxe top, with a sporty style bottom (think jersey skirts and slouchy trousers or shorts) and pop on a blazer to up the look.

Or you can try a sporty/simple style top with some bottoms that are extra special – patterned jeans, sequin skirts, silky tailored trousers.

I picked up yet another jacket win from Korean brand Sarah. A baseball jacket with quilted fabric and leatherette panels. It has a nice and boofy structure, so it’s a bit different to the other jackets I own. It’s wonderfully casual and lightweight too.

When I wear it, I feel like I’m off to coach baseball, and any minute I could jump up and shout STRRRRRR-IIIIKKE!

I’m wearing:

Sarah Bomber jacket from Yesstyle

Sacha Drake White 2-Way Cap Sleeve Top from Ciao Bella Travel.

Snake print jeans from Sportsgirl (Find similar styles here)

Nude patent shoes from ASOS

( 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.

Tee hee, how cute and playful are these cat studs by Marc Jacobs!?

I went a bit crazy at the Shopbop Sale and I picked up a few bits and pieces.

Aaah their sale prices make it close to impossible to resist!

I’ve been thinking that I need to refresh my accessories anyway, as I’ve been wearing the same stuff for months now. I’ve been very attracted to really quirky, but small-sized items.

So these are just perfect :)

Enjoy your weekend everyone xx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

My gorgeous sponsors, Ciao Bella Travel, have asked me to put together my BEST EVER LIST of travel clothes.

This has come at a very appropriate time, because I’m off travelling in a few months time :)

Great travel clothes are really just normal clothes that are:
1) comfortable
2) easy to wash
3) no ironing required
4) a simple style that is versatile for different occasions
5) look great
6) be of good quality
7) AND be reasonably priced for all those things

I don’t travel enough to justify a wardrobe dedicated to travel, but I just love these clothes below because they have proven time and time again to be all of the above.

By the way, Ciao Bella are offering 15% off the ENTIRE SITE to all my readers, please see below for details.

Here goes. These are my Top 4 Travel Clothes…

This dress is the Iris Sleeveless by Sacha Drake. Made from a textured jersey, the fabric of this dress is strong, stretchy, thick and lightweight. I don’t have to iron it. I can roll it up, pop it into my bag, then slip it on and it will still look amazing. The fabric makes the dress feel robust, like I could wear it all day and I won’t ruin it.

The stretchiness makes it fit snug in all the right places. It sits beautifully on the waist and skims over the hips perfectly, the fabric panels slim the body, and it is very comfortable to wear.

The straps are nice and thick so I can wear a normal bra underneath. And the fabric is also thick enough that I can wear my nana knickers and still can’t see any panty lines haha :)

I love the square neckline. I think it looks much more polished and sophisticated than a regular scoop neckline dress (which looks like a casual tank dress).

This style works well for the office, after dinner drinks, or you can wear it to formal occasions like a cocktail party or an evening function.

I’ve also included a close up photograph of the fabric. It’s textured and very lightweight.

It is definitely one of the Top 10 Dresses in my wardrobe!

(I am wearing the size 8 dress size.)

Next is this 2 Way Cap Sleeve Top by Sacha Drake.

It retails for $99, but with a 15% discount it will be $84.15, which is a bargain for such a luxe top. It’s by Sacha Drake, so you can be sure that the quality of the fabric is top notch – soft, stretchy,  strong, smooth and pill resistant.

Wear it as a regular scoop neck top or turn it around to wear it as a boat neck top.

It’s so simple and versatile. Wear it with jeans, pants and a blazer, a pencil skirt, a floral skirt, a mini skirt and a statement necklace, a maxi skirt and a scarf, shorts, bermudas… the list is endless.

(I’m wearing size 8 here.)

Ok you can’t get anymore basic than this. A black 3/4 sleeve top, called the Bamboo Body Above Elbow Scoop.

If you don’t own one… quick, go get one now! This one is $49.95 ($42.45 with the discount) and it is made from organic bamboo viscose and organic cotton. Environmentally friendly material that is soft, strong and smooth. It is lovely to wear, as it feels luxurious – I can’t believe it costs under $50.

Plus it actually stays in shape after a few washes.

The tummy area of this top is a little loose. It falls nicely and it doesn’t cling tightly to your tummy, which is fab :)

What I love about the classic black top, is that I can wear it on it’s own in summer. And during the winter, it also gets worn a lot, layered under my cardigans, jumpers and jackets.

Perfect for travelling.

(I’m wearing a size XS top.)

Lastly, these are luxe Bamboo Body 3/4 Leggings.

They are made from gorgeously soft organic bamboo, organic cotton and a touch of spandex. These sit nicely on my waist and hips, and fit in a “relaxed and comfortable” kind of way…  because they don’t squeeze tightly and cling, like regular active wear leggings.

So far they don’t seem to pill either.

They are so comfy, breathable and luxe, that I just wear them all day, to the gym and then slouching around the house.

(Ok sorry, my photos are a bit misleading. I don’t actually go to the gym and slouch around the house with fabulous hair :P)

The 3/4 length and the full length leggings are both $49.95, but on sale they are $42.45.

(These leggings are size XS.)

Enjoy 15% off everything on Ciao Bella Travel for all my readers!

Enter the code KARENCHENG (with no spaces) to receive 15% OFF the entire website from 19th March – 6th of April.

Happy shopping!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Fashion Valet is a huge online store (think ASOS) based in Malaysia, that offers customers everything from clothes, accessories, beauty, shoes, handbags, designer collaborations and soon to be launched – kids and maternity wear.

If you’re looking for something a bit different to all the mass marketed global brands out there, do check this site out… especially their dresses, skirts and necklaces section.

As for me, I picked out these 2 fab dresses…

A bustier, Sara studded dress with satiny drapes by LUVELUXE.

How great is this dress?! It looks good, fits well, and is really affordable. It has a really nice balance of sexy and classy, which I really like.

I like the shape of the bustier too, which is called a “sweetheart shape” as the top looks like a love heart. Usually this shape looks very feminine and pretty, but it is balanced off by the tough, square studs, corset-like trim and the black satin shine (that has a certain leather look).

Spikes and studs are BIG in this new season. Wear them on your shoulders, your shoes, your wrist, your hat. Or bust?

I wore this dress out the other night. No jacket, no coat, no vest.

Just me, the dress, some earrings and a pair of shoes. Oh how I love being on rooftop bars, sitting outside in the warm evenings. I’m going to miss dining outside when the weather changes.

I also wore this dress out the other week, to a fancy lunch date with some girlfriends.

It is the Satin Dress in Flower Creme by Spotlight (a Malaysian label) but I think this particular design is sold out now. There’s another darker version here.

It’s an easy-to-throw-on, stylish-looking print dress to wear during the day. It’s also a super affordable dress at $30. The material is thin and light, perfect for the warm weather.

I wore it with a belt around my waist, hitched it up a bit and it looked like a playsuit. Bonus :)

Happy browsing or shopping!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Sven Tan and Kane Tan, both former designers at internationally successful, Singaporean label Alldressedup, have recently launched their new label, In Good Company.

Rather than follow catwalk trends, the label focuses on delivering affordable, modern classics with a twist and quality basics to fashion lovers. Their direction is understated style, effortless chic, with fluid and feminine shapes.

I was given the pleasure of sampling a few items (that I chose) from their very first capsule. And yes, I was very excited because I have been a huge fan the duo’s past work.

They also have kindly offered my readers a special discount code, so please scroll down for the details.

This is the GAIA Peep Shoulder Dress, described as a “modern approach to the quintessential sundress for the city girl.”

Firstly, I don’t usually wear plain black dresses anymore. Secondly, I don’t usually wear shapeless dresses (with no waist).

But OH MY, I looooved this dress. I felt sexy, effortless, exotic, and like I wasn’t trying too hard and just being myself.

The off-shoulder ruffles and the shoe-string straps make this dress sexy. But it was brilliantly balanced out by the shapeless cut and the light (but robust) material.

This is definitely one of my Top 10 favourite dresses. And I can’t believe how affordable it is.

This is the CHIANTI Strappy Camisole.

Again this top feels effortlessly stylish, with a touch of sexiness and a little twist to the classic camisole (the shoe string straps do a criss-cross at the back). I really liked it.

The material feels deliciously fluid and thick enough to not be see-through. There is a bit of elastic at the back, so it is comfortable and easy to wear. And the neckline is high enough (and sits on your chest nicely) that it won’t “fall open” if you bend over.

I think this top is perfect as part of a working wardrobe, worn with a blazer, tailored pants, or a pencil skirt.

It’s a very nice and luxe basic to own… and will go with lots of things in my wardrobe (formal and casual).

This is the HANNAH Camisole Top, another luxe staple.

Aaah, the fabric of this top is really lovely. It feels like soft, light, silky suede. The shoe-string straps are gorgeously unique. And it really does ooze casual-cool chic.

I paired it with some leather jeans and hehe, I was in fashion outfit heaven – totally effortless, understated and yet so stylish.

I’m so so happy with these items from In Good Company. I’m pinching myself that I get to keep them and have them as part of my everyday wardrobe. Now I’m pouring through the rest of the website (again!) to see if there are any other pieces that might purchase for myself – because I’m a die hard fan now.

AND LASTLY.

The other reason I’ve fallen for this brand…

If you happen to have a stylish little girl in tow, check out In Good Company’s Mini Me Capsule!

(These dresses and tops are the miniature versions of the dresses/tops I tried on!)

One-third of their collections feature both ‘mini-me’ versions of its key looks – for girls aged from 3 to 8 years of age.

Oh how I wish I had a girl!!

*SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE*

In Good Company have kindly offered all my readers $10 OFF the cost of shipping. Please use the code “fashion&life” in the discount code box at the checkout.

Do check out the rest of their collection!

They also sell shoes, accessories and special edition accessories born from artist and designer collaborations. Prices start from $89 for tops, $89 for shorts, $109 for pants, $179 for dresses and $39 for accessories.

(By the way, for sizing… I’m wearing the size XS for all garments and I’m usually a size AUS6/UK6.)

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

The lovely team from online boutique, LOEF, gave me the opportunity to pick out a few items from their new collection to feature on my blog.

I chose some good looking WHITE items, that would freshen up anyone’s existing wardrobe.

1) Simple lace dress.

This dress is a fantastic little, lace dress… especially for its price.

It’s made from a thick cotton jersey, with a layer of crochet-lace over the top. Because the material is slightly thick, it feels very secure, comfortable and stretchy. So it’s easy to move around in, sit down in and it doesn’t feel tight or restricting.

It is slightly padded at the bust and is slightly elasticised at the back – so it doesn’t feel like it’s going to fall off you if you breathe in!

For a very casual weekend look, you can throw over a denim shirt, wear a straw hat and some tan sandals. Or as I have in the photos, wear it plain, but glammed up with a faux fur coat and statement shoes.

Or team it with some colourful accessories for a fun party look.

2) The White Blazer

This is definitely a must-have item for a modern working girl’s wardrobe. It just smartens up a colourful dress, coloured or patterned pants, or lifts an all-black outfit.

You might have noticed that I wear my white blazer very often – like, here, here and here.

You can buy gorgeous white blazers for $150+, but I have been trying to find one priced $50 – $100 to share on my blog. I have tested 4-5 in that price range (from different online sources), but their quality were bad. They felt very cheap, they were see through, or the fabric was linen-like and really rough on the skin, or the stitching was very poor.

THIS Suede Cotton Blazer is brilliant for SG$36! It is a simple and classic design. It feels lovely and light. It is properly lined, lightly padded at the shoulder. And its fabric and make, has more quality than its price suggests.

The sleeves were a little bit long for me, but I rolled it up twice for the photos above and it still looked great.

Note: I now have 3 white blazers. One waterfall-front blazer from Korea, one classic tuxedo blazer from Bardot and now this LOEF one!

3) Chiffon Waterfall Jacket

This is listed as a Chiffon Blazer, but I think it’s more of a “jacket” or a “chiffon cardigan”.

I think it’s a great little jacket that works well as office wear. Thrown over a shift dress, or a pencil skirt and blouse… it keeps the air conditioning chill off your shoulders and it looks smart and professional (much more than a woolly cardigan).

But I also think it works for casual outfits too, worn over a sun dress, or jeans and a tank top, or your swimwear.

LOEF stocks clothes with a “low and affordable” price point. I won’t say “cheap” because the quality of some of their clothes is actually really good (especially their LOEF Label items) and match the standards of regular high-street stores like Zara, H&M, Forever21.

I can’t vouch for the quality of ALL their stock items, but these items that I have tested and chosen to feature, are excellent for their price. And I will definitely be happy to wear them, mixed up with my high end, high street and vintage/thrifted stuff.

Enjoy your shopping!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Last week, due to an annoying email glitch, I found out – at the last minute – that I was attending a formal, black-tie FASHION AWARDS NIGHT! AAAKK!

Well, when I say “last minute” it was actually 11 days.

So if you think about it, I actually did have enough time to find something to wear. However I left it really late. So of course, I found myself… 3 days before the event, with nothing to wear!

And in those 3 days, I had full schedule of work, mummy duties, meetings, and lunch dates… and no time to visit any boutiques to find a dress.

All I can say is this – THANK GOODNESS FOR ONLINE SHOPPING.

If you find a small online boutique with impeccable customer service, my tip: Stick With Them!

If they answer their emails within 24hours, specially pull an item out of their stock for you, and mail it to you in an express postbag, and YOU RECEIVE IT THE NEXT DAY… then omg you know you’ve found gold.

One of my favourite online stores is Frockaholics. They stock hundreds of designer mini dresses, knee length dresses, cocktail dresses, maxi, gowns and much more.

In my search for something to wear, I found this gorgeous dress by Australian designer, Eileen Kirby:

I loved the lace and tulle. And I LOVED the back of the dress!

I wanted to get the long version of the dress, but I knew that – me being very short – I probably would need to alter it and take the hem up, so it wouldn’t drag on the floor as I walked. And since I didn’t have much time to spare… the short dress it was.

(Not to mention, if i show off a bit of leg, I tend to look taller.)

The dress arrived in 1.5 days! And oh my goodness it was utterly gorgeous and it fit perfectly.

I slipped it on and felt all gushy and like I needed to make a teary Oscar speech haha.

Because it was backless, I had to wear an adhesive sticky bra for some ahem, support.

Ah what can I say… I felt sexy and amazing in it.

Check out the other pretty dresses by Eileen Kirby.

Thank you Frockalholics!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

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Check out more of my favourite online shops in my

I was given the opportunity to road test the latest shoe from FitFlop, called Dué.

It’s a ballerina pump – so it looks like a ballet flat, but it has this incredibly cushioned sole. It also has a bit of height and made from top notch materials and leather.

They come in black leather, black patent, cherry red patent and ink blue patent.

I chose the Black Patent Due, because I wanted to try a very, very versatile shoe. One that you could wear for school drop offs, lunch dates, and working in an office. They are retailed at $199.95 for patent and $219.95 for leather, so you do want them to be versatile and last a long time.

When I received them I thought they looked a bit chunky. I’m used to my ballet flats, being VERY flat! And I admit they looked a bit plain. I’m used to wearing “statement flats” with leopard print, or studs or beige snakeskin! But I find that I don’t wear these statement flats when I know I will be walking on pavement/rough paths, because I don’t want them to wear out.

Anyway I gave the  Dués a good go. I wore them around for a week or so, and holy cow, they are really comfortable.

One day, I walked 2km in them to take my children to school, then I did some grocery shopping, went to the library, sat in a cafe for lunch, did some chores at home, then walked 2kms again to pick up my children… and I never took them off!

In fact, several people commented on them and asked me where I got them from. And I also found myself standing in the school yard, surrounded by a bunch of mums getting excited about my shoes haha. Women who spent all day on their feet, seemed to “get it”.

Best thing about them – Comfortable and they look great.

I put together 3 looks to show how the Dué can be styled to suit different occasions.

1) With Jeans
Whether you’re wearing your favourite slouchy blue jeans, or skinny statement red jeans… this ballet flat is made for jeans.

2) Sporty
Walking, doing errands, zipping in and out of the car. The comfort and quality of this shoe makes you feel like you could go all day in them.

3) Evening
The patent finish makes this shoe look smart and polished. It looks very cute paired with a simple dress, or a nice skirt and top,

4) Work – not pictured
Of course, you can’t go wrong wearing pants, blouse and classic ballet flats at the office. Or if you are working on your feet all day – these are just perfect.

Yes I’m a fan of them now! I recommend them for someone who wants a high quality flat and are on their feet a lot.

The Dué is on sale right now. Check the FitFlop Website for stockists and where to buy.

( 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.

I went out on a dinner date with my husband and I wore my new Splendid top. It’s actually a tank top with a sparkly, lurex mesh layer that floats around and looks lovely. The arms a slightly wide too, so it has a kimono feel to it.

I adore jersey tops from Splendid, as they are always so wonderfully soft and easy to wear. They are one of my favourite go-to brands for everyday jersey tops, with a touch of luxe.

I bought this one from my-wardrobe.com but you can also buy the brand from The Outnet or Shopbop.

Be sure to keep an eye out for sales too… I picked up this top at 80% off for $20 (was $100) yay!

Also I’m wearing my new Shell Pendant from luxury jewellers, Kailis. I received this as a gift (inside the take home gift bag) when I went to their VIP Princess party in November last year. I can’t seem to find this pendant anywhere on their website, so I assume this is a limited edition, corporate gift?

The shape of the pendant is an Australian South Sea pearl shell. But I particularly like it because it has a “K” on it. Obviously K for Kailis, but in my case, K for Karen.

Other Outfit Details:
Faux Leather skirt from YesStyle
Shoes from GlamRockChic
Bracelet by Forin Jewellery
Clutch from Airflex

( 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.

How amazing is this Faux-Leather Maxi Skirt by Korean brand Sarah, that I got for $72?!

I thought it deserved its own “3 Ways” blog post, because I want to wear it with everything I own.

Since it’s a long black skirt, it pretty much goes with everything. Wear it tops that are coral, mint, silver, printed, striped, or just plain black.

1) Simple tank and a crisp white blazer, for a slick and polished look. I love this!

White blazer: Bardot (on sale) from The Iconic
Top: Rick Owens from The Outnet
Shoes: ASOS

2) Play with textures. A black furry vest (faux) notches up a modern-gothic glam look. Try wearing leather skirt with other textures like lace, beads details, embroidery, jacquard, tweed, or even feathers.

Fur vest: From YesStyle
Top: Rick Owens from The Outnet
Shoes: GlamRockChic

3) Simple tee and a cropped jacket. Nothing says effortless style like a simple white tee.

White Tee: Abi and Joseph
Blue faux leather jacket: Redopin (old)
Shoes: ASOS

( 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.

Just wanted to share my new palazzo pants I wore the other day.

I love the print on these pants, they remind me of beautiful batik sarongs that my mother used to wear.

They make my legs feel so long, and when I walk, I feel so sooo tall!

(I’m only 160cm.)

They swish beautifully like a maxi skirt, but I think they definitely ooze a bit more style :)

Because they are so long and there is so much pattern, I wore a simple black, jersey, tube top to balance my outfit and to show a bit of skin. A white tank top would be equally nice with these pants.

These pants are by Chic Yamada, from FashionValet.

This design is not in stock anymore, but there are heaps of other cool palazzo pants, prices ranging from USD$19 – $60. It’s definitely an affordable place to try buying palazzo pants, if you’re keen.

( 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.

So the other day I bought two new things. A pair of shorts and some shoes.

Two *totally* separate purchases. For two *totally* different functions.

I wasn’t supposed to actually wear them together. But by haphazard accident (or laziness), I did.

And the result was a very relaxed, effortless, “Sporty Luxe” look… which was so much fun to wear.

Bonds Summer Shorts – Lemon

I was walking through Big W to buy my son a lunch box. I spotted these cute, drawstring cotton shorts (RRP $34.90, but these were on sale for $20) and grabbed one in size 8. I needed some soft, slouchy shorts to wear around the house or when I go for a run or walk. Most of my shorts are denim, tailored with cuffs or formal looking.

They turned out to be soooo comfy that I just wore them all day! I wore them while walking my boys to school. Then I put on a cardigan while going to the shops to buy apples (I get cold in the air conditioning). Then I realised we were going out for lunch with my parents and of their friends (in the fancy part of town) so I QUICKLY grabbed a blazer to throw on top and changed my shoes.

Yep, so it turned out that the sporty luxe look is AWESOME, and I’ll definitely be doing more of it :)

Nine West Leather Wedge Sandals

I’m completely in love with these sandals. I love the design, the leather, the mid heel, and the fact that they were on sale.

They are a gorgeous pair of shoes… especially because they give my everyday outfits a nice stylish omph.

This style is called “Play FWD” and I’m wearing a size 5.

Buy Nine West from The Iconic
(Enjoy 20% off, min spend $59, only full price with discount coupon code – COMF20GW)

Buy Nine West from Amazon

( 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.

I want to introduce everyone to one of my new sponsors!

Forin is a new fashion jewellery store that lets you create your own bracelet (or necklace) using beads and charms.

You’ve probably seen the concept before – think Pandora and Swarovski Chamilia. But Forin offers a more affordable price point, while still using high quality sterling silver alloys (and not silver plating over lesser metals).

If you’re not familiar with the details… Pandora and Swarovski also use high quality sterling silver for the majority of their beads and charms.

Ok, so…

…when the team at Forin asked whether I would like to try out some of their products, I was really hesitant.

Firstly, I am a lazy. I like to buy something that someone else has already designed. I don’t want to spend time thinking up a design for myself. Sigh, who has the time for that?

Secondly, I didn’t think all those charms and beads were quite my style. I always gravitate towards classic designs, or funky-bold statement jewellery.

Thirdly, I’m not that sentimental with my jewellery. I will wear something everyday for months and love it. Then I find something new, and stop wearing the old stuff. I move on. Quickly.

However, I figured… hey why not, these “Design Your Own Jewellery Concepts” are really popular, I’ll give it a try and see how I go.

I was really honest with the Forin founder. I said to her – “I am not a fan sorry!”
I even tried to make plans with her on how I was going to send the samples back to her!

Anyway, I picked out a few bracelets, charms, glass beads and Swarovski Crystal beads. They arrived beautifully packaged in a velvet case.

I sat there for a good length of time, playing with different design variations, trying them on my wrist, feeling them jangle about.

This clustered variation (pictured above) had most of the beads and charms that I chose from the website. It looked quite cool!

I discovered that I liked the “busy clustered” look, rather than just “one or two beads” on a bracelet chain.

I also realised that I chose too many “blue and turquoise colours” and should have chosen more blacks and silvers – which is a bit more of my style.

So this is me wearing my clustered bracelet, stacked up with my other daily wrist wear. Looked pretty good.

I wore my Forin bracelet everyday for a week or so. I changed the designs every 3 days. Tweaking it to how I like.

I made so many mental notes!

“I really like the Paw Print Charm, it’s so cute! I must get myself another one.”

“I’d like to get a few more black Swarovski Crystal beads, so I can alternate them with the silver charms. More black!”

“There needs to be more repetition in the pattern, to make it look a bit more balanced.”

“I’d be so nice if I could wear a charm that reminds me of each of my children.”

Yes, I was designing my own bracelet. And yes, it was quite fun.

This was another variation that I liked. I wore it like this for a while. It was very easy to wear with my daily outfits.

In fact, this was my favourite design and bead arrangement.

(Although I’d like to swap all the blue crystal beads with black crystal beads.)

And this is yet another variation. This time I bunched up 5 charms and beads together, with no separators, showing off more of the bracelet chain. This design was nice too. I’d like to try a bracelet full of charms and beads all the way around!

Anyway…

During my “testing phase”… can you believe it, I walked into a Pandora and a Swarovski store to compare the quality of the beads and charms. My bracelet passed with flying colours. Its charms were just as bright and shiny. Its crystals were just as glittery and sparkly. Its weight and the sound it made when it jangled… was just as nice. (That’s right, I like to listen to my jewellery, don’t you? :P)

And so I walked out, being very pleased with my Forin products.

I emailed Jace (Forin’s founder) and told her how happy I was with her products, that yes, I would love to do a review, and yes, I think I’m a fan now!

I’ve realise that after wearing it for a few weeks, I adore my little bracelet. I really, really like that all the little elements in its design was chosen by ME. I have become quite attached to it!

So I guess I’m not so lazy… I guess that beads and charms can suit me… And I guess that I can be a bit sentimental with my jewellery after all :)

I’m now happily planning away at how I’m going to add to it. A few more black crystal beads. A few more cute charms. And some charms that remind me of each of my children.

I’m looking forward to wearing it after I’ve *really* personalised it.

The Forin website is very easy to use. Pick a bracelet. Choose some beads. Some charms. Add some stoppers and clips. And you’re good to go! Or you can check out their ready-to-wear collection.

Check out all the whole collection of beads here and all the charms here.

Special Discount!
Forin has offered a S$10 discount for every purchase that is over S$100. Just use the discount code “10OFF” at the last step of the checkout process to enjoy this discount.

This promotion is valid till the end of next month, 28 Feb 2013.

Enjoy a browse and I hope you find something you like!

xxx

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

It’s Friday and I’m very excited about sharing some new bits and pieces I have!

I bought some Current/Elliott Red, Skinny Snakeskin jeans. Ahh I love them so much. They are just the right mix of effortless rock and roll statement, bold colour, with a cool pattern that I am drawn to :)

They are insanely comfortable, and soooo soft and stretchy in all the right places. I could slip them on in the morning, wear them all day, lounge around on the couch in the evening, then slip them off at night, so I can have a shower before bed. In fact I did that for 2 days straight (I know, it’s a bit gross)… and I would have gone longer still, but the weather got too hot for wearing jeans during the day :P

I’m wearing a size 25 and they fit perfectly around my thighs. I do have to wear a belt, to make sure that they don’t ride too low and show off my daggy knickers. But I prefer to wear belts with my jeans anyway, so no loss there. Or maybe I should just wear nicer knickers? Maybe not.

I’m now lusting after another Current/Elliott pair from Shopbop, namely the “Stiletto Jeans” which are still on sale!!

ALSO.

My 7 year old son made a colourful, wooden, bead bracelet for me. I’m showing it off in the photo above.

Basically he got really bored one day, so he decided to – secretly – crack open my craft box. He strung together a pretty little gift for me, wrapped it up and made a card. No occasion. Just because! What a sweetie!

I’ve been trying to wear it with the rest of my arm swag whenever I go out. And it looks so cute!

Look at this jewellery haul!

The other day, I walked into a Diva shop and discovered that they were having a closing down sale – where everything was selling for $8, $6 or $4. Bargains galore!

(Top) Turquoise and gold spike necklace was $30, but I got it for $8.
(Bottom Right) Statement Diamante Necklace was $35, now $8. Diamante Ring was $15, now $6. Rhinestone earrings were $10, now $4.

Now the other two items, were not from Diva.
(Bottom left) Stunning choker by Collette Dinnigan for Lovisa – on sale!
(Also bottom left) Yellow flower earrings from Pigeonhole.

Lastly I was given a pair of these cute thongs from My Honeybees.

They are a company striving to raise awareness of the Australian honeybees, while selling these stylish thongs. For every pair they sell, they donate $2 towards research into keeping bee populations happy and healthy.

They have lots of pretty and vibrant colours to choose from – including aqua, lilac, hot pink, lime and champagne. I like them a lot!

Ok, that’s all for now. Hope you have wonderful weekend!

xxx

( 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.

Prints are still on trend for this season and the next.

Especially mirrored digital prints and prints with a “grungey” and “moody” edge. For example prints with dark colours, black and white prints that are geometric or messy… and angry/angsty images – like wild animals! Think wolves, bears, tigers, owls, bulldogs, sharks.

I found this cool, Retro Style Dress (from Romwe) with a scarf-style print and a very 60′s mod shapeless style.

I’m actually not sure what the picture is? A flower? An astronomical chart? An ink blot for a psychological test? No idea, but it looks nice and not too in-your-face.

It was great quality for the price I paid. It had a nice weight to it and the material had some quality to it. But when I tried it on, it was really short. It’s like a big t-shirt – a very different shape to the other dresses I own.

So I wore it out with little black shorts underneath and felt much better about wearing such a short dress! I really like it. I’ll be wearing and layering it up with leather pants or leggings in winter.

Actually, there’s some pretty amazing printed clothes over at Romwe. Tshirts, blouses, jumpers, jackets, skirts, leggings. All very affordable and with prints that I’ve never seen in the shops or other online stores before. Worth a look! I did a search so here’s a quick link to the clothes with prints results. Enjoy!

( 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.

Club Couture have launched their new Flair collection, showcasing only black and white pieces, that oozes modern chic.

Featuring halter necks, racer backs, clean lines and crisp tailoring… I really took a shine to them.

This top is the Contrast Racerback Tunic.

Usually I’m not a fan of shapeless tops, but this one has a seriously sexy racerback back (see photo here) and it seems to fall and flow really nicely. I’m wearing a singlet underneath, which is visible at the back. It’s just a very sporty and sexy look, in a very effortless (but still smart) kind of way.

It’d look fab with a long grey cardigan thrown over the top, or a black blazer, denim jacket, or wool coat.

I’m wearing it with leather pants, leopard print heels and a cluster of metal necklaces. It’s quite refreshing to be wearing such a simple and monochromatic outfit!

This Sleeveless Contrast Dress also caught my eye when I saw it on the website. I really liked how preppy it looked. And it turned out to be lovely to wear. Easy, comfortable and it looked great.

The full circle skirt, the contrast collar and button down… they all make it a very classy and smart dress. I’d say it’s perfect for work or weekend.

There is another similar dress, but with 3/4 sleeves, which is also very nice!

Here are few more items from the collection. As I said, very modern and chic.

You can check out the rest of the Flair Collection or their New Arrivals.

Happy shopping!

( 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.

One of the best ways to freshen up your wardrobe is to invest in a statement skirt.

A bold, eye-catching skirt design can go a long way with all the tops, tanks, tees, shirts and jackets that you currently own.

Many months ago, I spotted this geometric sequin skirt from Forever New. I saw it and immediately wanted it, but it was $120 (I think!). I tried it on, and stood in the change room umming and ahhing over it. I couldn’t justify the price at the time, so I reluctantly put it back.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I saw it heavily discounted to $40!! I think it wasn’t a very popular item because there were three size 6′s and eight size 8′s and a gazillion size 10′s on the racks. Big win for meee!

I wore it to a small fashion store launch and a total of 6 people walked up to me and asked me where I got it from. Haha at first I was a bit shy to admit that I got it for close to nothing, but after a while, it was such a great conversation topic in the end (ie. discussing all the fabulous fashion items we bought for mere pennies!)

So I put together 3 different ways to wear a sequin skirt. Of course you can try it with any kind of statement skirt. Enjoy!

1) With a Printed Tee
My very rad Zoe Karssen t-shirt is from The Iconic
Suede ankle booties are from YesStyle
Vintage belt

2) Tank and Sharp Blazer
Semi-sheer, polka dot top is from AL&ALICIA
White blazer is from Bardot
Leopard print heels are from ModaBella

3) With a Slouchy Shirt
Denim shirt is by Beige (from Korea) – similar designs at ASOS
Studded ankle booties are from YesStyle

( 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.

Last month I got to pick out a few items from YesStyle, and they arrived a day after Christmas.

It was Christmas all over again! For me anyway :)

The Stud and Buckle Boots are pretty awesome! They are by high-street Korean fashion label Redopin, and yes they are inspired by a similar Chloe boot which is really popular right now. The boot style is actually a few years old and have since spawned a plethora of look-a-likes by Jeffery Cambell, TopShop, Zu Shoes, just to name a few.

I picked out the Black Shoulder Bag because it channelled a bit of Prada, without the Prada price tag. You see, I needed a black carry bag to hold ALL MY CAMERA GEAR, when I go out to events (I don’t like using camera bags)! So the bag had to be genuine leather, simple design, stylish, no top flaps, had to have a couple of handy zip pockets, and it had to be under $100! You’d be surprised how hard it was to find a bag like that.

But this one ticked all the boxes and it is a great purchase for my very “functional” needs.

Lastly, I chose this lovely Crochet Lace Skirt in a gorgeous coffee-camel colour. It is a really simple and elegant skirt, which fits me so well. I can’t wait to style it and wear it out.

( 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.

A few weeks ago, I picked out two dresses to wear to my Christmas and New Year celebrations.

These are from Beauties Closet, an online shop specialising in popular fashion styles from Korea.

I reviewed this online shop a few months ago in this blog post, and I share a few tips on Korean fashion and the best ways to shop on the site.

I also have a special 15% off discount code for all my readers that will help out with the shipping cost. Scroll below for details.

Anyway, here are the dresses. They are so pretty!

This Sequin Feminine Dress is really adorable. In real life, wearing the dress to a candlelit dinner party, surrounded by sparkling fairy lights, I seriously felt like a twinkly angel.

It is a well made, nicely tailored dress, but I have to admit, the sequins are a little delicate. And yeah ok it’s a little pricey too, but I would definitely wear it more than once.

However, considering that most people would buy a $160 dress from a department store to wear to an event, this price is not far off, for a dress that’s a little bit different.

It’s a pretty, floaty dress, great for spring and summer.

I’d wear it to dinner parties, outdoor summer evening events, a day and night wedding reception etc etc.

This Elbow Sleeves Lace Dress is romantic and a true classic.

Yes the dress style is quite common, but what I like about this dress is that the material is soft and stretchy. There is no zip, I just slip it on and it fits wonderfully. It’s always really nice to wear such a simple dress, because I feel so comfortable in it. It doesn’t ride up when I walk, or create static, or scrunch when I sit, or scratch my skin and make me itchy.

The dress comes in a black or white… and the styling possibilities are endless.

I have worn nude shoes, with black crystal earrings and a watermelon clutch to add a bit of colour and contrast. But you can wear the dress with bright blues, or yellows, or reds. It’s a nice way to show off your statement accessories, or your brightly coloured trench coat or your classic leather tote.

Again, this is a lovely dress that I’m very happy to add to my wardrobe. I love my Korean fashion! (Hmm, I’m tempted to get the black one now…)

*Special Discount Code*

Use the code “BCKC15″ at the checkout to receive 15% OFF your order. This offer starts 21 December and will end on 31 December 2012, 11:59 GMT8+.

And if you’d like to keep up to date with new arrivals, check out the Beauties Closet Facebook Page.

Have a fun shopping!

( 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.

Texture mixing is big in this new season.

If you love playing with new styles, try combinations of textures such as: faux fur, metallic embroidery, lace, faux snake and crocodile skins, leathers, feathers, jewelled fabrics, beads and crystals. Mix with jewel tones and metallic colours (I’m loving bronze and rose gold at the moment).

I chose a couple of items from YesStyle, and they arrived in the mail a few days ago.

I was so excited to wear them straight away and share on the blog, because they are totally rad!

This faux crocodile skin bag (by Korean brand Redopin), is hot!

It has a great structured shape, good quality weight to it, made from lovely materials, it has some cool hardware, a nice long strap, as well as a decorative chain that can be a smaller handle too.

I will definitely use it as my quick, go-to evening bag… whenever I’m wearing black (which is quite often).

The weather has been a bit crazy here in Perth, with bouts of rain, storms and cool nights.

But this meant I was so so happy to take this SARAH Faux-fur Cropped Jacket out its first night out.

I’ve got a white faux fur jacket, which feels sophisticated and elegant. But black fur feels so much more edgy, moody, glam and a bit gothic. I LOVE! I think it’s one of my best wardrobe additions (in the jacket department) in a long time.

For the rest of my outfit, I’m wearing…
Sparkle Knit Top by Stylestalker from The Iconic
Faux Leather Pants from Topshop
Patent Leather shoes by GlamRockChic
Sunglasses by Chloe

Have fun!

( 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.

This Christmas, one of my favourite online boutiques Birdsnest.com.au has partnered with a wonderful UK charity Smalls For All to donate Christmas gifts to women in Africa that many of us take for granted – UNDERWEAR!

Birdsnest is helping this cause by offering a special new “lucky dip” Surprise Gift worth $29.95.

For each gift purchased, Birdsnest will donate 3 new pairs of knickers to Smalls For All.

Their target is 10,000 pairs of knickers! And I was wondering if you would like to help?

Buy a Birdsnest Surprise Gift here.

The cute and fun thing about this gift, is that it is a complete surprise. Each gift is categorised by the kind of fashion “personality” that you or your girlfriend/sister/mother/aunty are. And you get to choose from:
- Classic Woman
- Party Mood
- Corporate Girl
- Yummy Mummy
- Designer Attitude
- Study Girl
- Naturally Active

I managed to get my hands on TWO Surprise Gift packs.

For the first gift, I chose “Classic Woman” and this is what I received in the mail a few days later.

Each gift is wrapped and presented beautifully!

I got a lovely scarf. It’s so pretty! It’s the perfect colour for my wardrobe of classic blacks, whites, camels and stripes. It will definitely get a lot of wear.

Secondly I chose “Party Mood“.

And this is what I received! How gorgeous is that colour? It has already found its way to my nails. I love Butter colours!

But of course, you might be getting something different, or maybe the same? Who knows, because it’s a surprise!

These gift packs are such a lovely idea for a Christmas gift – knowing that you’re giving a little bit to charity at the same time.

You can find out more about the Birdsnest X Smalls For All collaboration here.

Or head on over to the Birdsnest site to order a Surprise Gift here.

Happy shopping :)

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

This time of year, I’m always so attracted to fun party dresses to wear during the festive season.

But when the TIME ACTUALLY ARRIVES for me to dress up, I usually wished I bought clothes which were a bit more sensible and practical :)

You see, we get invited to a lot of casual family events such as… a picnic in the park, or a beach-side barbecue dinner, or a casual family pot luck dinner. I just want to look smart and casual. I don’t want to turn up looking like I’m going to a bar for some drinking and dancing!

So I found a few items from Stephie’s Shop, a cute boutique with stylish and playful clothes at affordable prices.

This is the Dipped Hem Dress in Crimson. I adore the classic and ladylike style of the dress. It has a high boat neckline, a fitted waist and a slightly longer hem at the back giving the skirt a nice flare.

It’s made from a heavy cotton so it’s comfortable and it hardly needed any ironing. It’s fab.

I’m wearing a size SMALL, and I’m usually a UK6, AUD 6 or XS.

See more Dresses from Stephie’s Shop.

The second item I chose, was a sheer sleeveless blouse, called the Buenos Aires Top.

Basically I was looking for a simple top that looked dressy and smart, that I could wear in the warm weather, and that could be worn with the ZILLIONS of colourful skirts, shorts, pants and jeans that I own.

This one was perfect! I consider it to be one of those brilliant items that instantly refreshes my whole wardrobe.

On the left is a Classic Playsuit specially designed by the team at Stephie’s Shop. It also comes in a lovely deep blue.

You can’t really go wrong with a black romper, especially one as cute as this. It is a button down (like a shirt) and has a drawstring so you can fit it to your waist.

It looks great for day to night casual party wear, as it is easy to dress up or down.

On the right is the Alabama Top in Black.

I chose this top because it was a bit more “on trend” with it’s peplum hem and brocade print. And I particularly chose it because the shine looked a bit like leather and it had a bit of texture to it… which are all features for the new season :)

So there you have it, 4 great items that went straight into my wardrobe, which I’ve started to wear and are now on weekly rotation!

Hope you find something you like too!

xxx

( 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.

There’s nothing like slipping on a BRIGHT YELLOW dress to cheer yourself up :)

To start the week of Christmas parties, I received this fabulous dress from Gosh Celebrity Fashion.

It’s a strapless peplum dress, with origami kind of folds.

It fits me perfectly, it’s easy to wear, comfortable, affordable and most of all I feel great in it :)

Check out more party dresses at Gosh.

So whenever I wear colourful accessories, I don’t like to be TOO MATCHY-MATCHY.

I think TWO matching accessories is the most you should put together in any one outfit. For example, you can match your earrings and shoes. Or belt and shoes. Or earrings and clutch.

But DON’T try to match your earrings, bag, belt AND shoes! It just looks like you’re 12 :)

Clutch from Kookai
Watch by Guess
Leather and stud wrap by Wanderlust + Co
Bangles from Sportsgirl
Shoes by Gorge

( 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.

(Above: Wearing Multi-stud wrap bracelet in silver and nude)

Wanderlust + Co is an online shop – one of my favourites! – with a gorgeous range of wristwear, rings, necklaces, earrings and clutches.

Their pieces are on-trend and affordable. And their collections suit a huge range of tastes – from trendy streetwear, to timeless classics, to pretty crystal bling, to edgy and quirky designs.

**(I have a special discount code to share with everyone. Please scroll down to view the details!)

Anyway, the team at Wanderlust + Co and I have collaborated to bring an exclusive competition to my wonderful readers….

You can win a USD$300 giftcard to spend at the online store!

- This competition is now closed! -

Here’s a bit of arm party inspiration for you, based on my favourite Wanderlust + Co bracelets.

Wearing Stud & Buckle Wrap in nude, and  Chain Triple-Wrap Bracelet in gold and green.

Wearing XL Buckle Up Leather Bracelet in tan.

Here are a few tips for your arm party entry photos:

1) Use Instagram on your smart phone. Play with filters and colours.

2) Choose a fashion theme. Try a tough, rock-chick theme. Or a pretty pastel theme. Or a bright summer theme with neon and loud colours.

3) Find a cool backdrop for your photo. Your favourite beach with an old wooden jetty. A park covered with autumn leaves. A hidden alleyway with amazing urban street art.

4) Find some gorgeous props. A birdcage! Your pet rabbit! A beautiful, old, black and white wedding photo of your grandparents.\

5) Most of all, have fun!

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE

And lastly, I have another special treat for all my readers!

Enjoy a 20% off ALL stock (including sale items). Enter the code word “karen20” at the checkout. Valid until 30 Nov 2012.

Happy shopping and snapping!!

( 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.

The other day I indulged in a bit of fashion-girl fun.

The team at Frockaholics Online sent over a huge box of goodies for me to feature on my blog. So I had the pleasure of road testing a stack of awesome party dresses for the festive season!

They also want to offer all my readers 20% off all stock as part of Vogue’s Online Shopping Night on the 26 November. Scroll down for details!

These were my favourite picks and how I would wear them.

(Left) This pink and white dress is by designer Talulah. And oh how I adore this label. It captures feminine silhouettes, with great prints and slightly edgy details. And it has a touch of sexiness, with a cool, street style spin.

This dress was super easy. I just zipped it up, it fit perfectly, it was easy to wear, it had a good comfortable stretch and it looked great!

Check out the Talulah collection here.

(Right) The next dress is by Rachel Gilbert. I am amazed by how she continues to create collection after collection of sublime and stunning dresses. This one is a heavily sequin/beaded dress with a sheer panel neck.

I could feel how luxurious and high quality the garment was by its weight. It was divine to wear.

Check out the Rachel Gilbert collection here.

(Left) This cute day time dress is by Sara Philips. Known for her playful styles that are a bit quirky-cool, I have always enjoyed Sara’s garments (especially her prints).

This dress has cross back straps, and the back was a bit low, so I couldn’t wear a bra. But it fell nicely and the colours looked very unique and cool.

Check out the rest of the collection by Sara Philips.

(Right) Ok I think this dress was the winner for me! It was the first time I’ve tried a dress by Watson X Watson and I loved it!

It is made of bright blue lace with neon trim, with a high neckline and short skirt. I like the slightly sporty luxe look mixed with the feminine lace. And also, it felt very comfortable to wear and it fit me sooo well.

I love the prints in the rest of the collection! Check out Watson X Watson here.

(Left) This was my second favourite item. I really, really liked this top by LIFEwithBird. I wished I could have kept it! It would have slipped right into my wardrobe and I would have worn it with every bottom-piece I own. Leather pants, maxi skirt, sequin skirt, denim shorts, leopard jeans… everything!

It has a knit front, with a silk underlay, so it’s slightly sheer. LOVE it.

Check out the rest of items by LIFEwithBIRD.

I wore it with my own shorts and booties.

(Right) And lastly, this is a top by Magdalena Velevska. At first I thought it looked a bit weird, because it was bright neon lime (same colour as my hi-vis cycling jersey haha) and it had these fuzzy circle shapes that look like cut up tennis balls?!

But as I styled it and wore it, I realised that I wanted to match it with heaps of things in my waredrobe. It’s look great with leather pants, slim pencil skirt, white blazer, white jeans, a bright floral skirt etc. It just looked so eye-poppingly unique.

So in the end I thought it was pretty damn cool and I wouldn’t mind having it in my wardrobe either!

Check out the Magdalena Velevska collection here.

*SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE!

As part of Vogue’s Online Shopping Night, Frockaholics will offer 20% off all stock.

Use Code VOSN20 at checkout. Only valid on 26 Nov 2012.

Also!

I’m letting you know that there’s a secret 12-hour Flash Sale on the 26 November.

Starting at 12pm all items will be priced at $49, $79, $99 and $149. First 40 customers will receive a FREE Totem bag with purchase.
Sign up to the mailing list and receive a $30 VOUCHER to use on your next Frockaholics purchase PLUS automatic entry into the draw to WIN a $500 Shopping Voucher.

Just head on over to the Frockaholics Online website and follow the big banner :)

Terms and conditions: Free express shipping on all orders; Other offers cannot be used on Flash Sale purchases; All Flash Sale purchases are final; Flash Sale ends at 11:59pm 26 November 2012; $500 Voucher will be drawn 28 November 2012 and winner will be notified via email; Vouchers can only be used on full price stock.

Happy shopping!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

In celebration of AL&ALICIA’s 3rd anniversary, the team have collaborated with The J.Myers Co to create an exclusive beautiful leather cuff.

It is a gorgeous double wrap leather cuff made entirely out of genuine python skin and leather and available in 3 colors – black, grey and red.

It’s simple, stylish, a bit edgy, and oozing boyish chic appeal. I’m thrilled to be adding it to my wrist wear collection.

There are only a limited number available (60 in fact!) and they can be purchased online from the AL&ALICIA site, from November 18th.

This is how I wore the cuff on the weekend.

I wore my denim shirt, J Brand khaki jeans, leopard print flats, a chunky black watch and a colourful jumble of bracelets.

Love love love it :)

So here’s your chance to win yourself one cuff!

In any colour you like! All you have to do is to join the AL&ALICIA mailing list from Facebook.

How To Enter
1) Pop over to the AL&ALICIA facebook page and LIKE it.

2) Along the top horizontal menu, click on the “Mailing List” button. It’s mint colour with a pic of an envelope! (No need to load any Facebook Apps)

3) Fill in your Name and Email Address. You’ll receive an email, which you’ll have to click to confirm.

That’s it!

The winner will be drawn randomly and contacted via email.

This competition is open worldwide.

Competition dates – From 12 Nov – 19 Nov 2012.

All the best!

xxx

( 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.

With several seasons of eye-popping colour and dazzling neons, the fashion world is now slowly headed back to the glorious world of BLACK AND WHITE. Yay finally!

But my story starts a couple of months ago. I was itching to find and wear some sexy, black heels to fashion week. However I left it too late (as always) and I didn’t have enough time to buy myself a new pair of shoes.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago, the divine designer from GlamRockChic emailed me and wanted to send me a few pairs of shoes and ask me what I thought of them. Hell yeah, send them over!

This is the luxury label’s 4th collection. And I love that they are a collection of mostly BLACK heels.

The first pair of shoes I picked out was called, Modern II.

If you look at the product page, you can see the side on view and it looks HOT! There are little asymmetric, angled cut outs and wide top straps with chunky silver hardware. It’s patent leather, so it has a very sleek, modern, sexy look to it. It’s fierce, but still chic.

I wore it with my Topshop faux leather pants, Wessex Sequin top, and Bardot white blazer.

And Berrybow maroon, tweed, mini dress.

My favourite feature of this shoe is the wide top strap and the cut outs.

Tthey were really comfortable too!

This next shoe is called, Venus.

Ok these shoes have taken the idea of a “comfortable designer shoe” to a whole new level for me. Its upper and inner are 100% soft sheepskin, and oh my, I feel like I’m wearing a velvety glove on my feet. The inside lining of the shoes are buttery soft and I can stand for HOURS in them :)

If you have been following me via instagram (@karenlycheng) you’ll notice that last week I went out to 3 events, 3 evenings in a row. And for each of those events I wore these Venus shoes, with 3 different dresses, of course. And for each evening, I must have walked 1km in them and stood around in them for 3-4 hours.

Verdict: No blisters, no red marks, no sore ankles, or toes. Very, very comfortable. I even drove home in them. Didn’t have to take them off in the car.

Its price is really affordable, considering the quality, the luxe materials and the design. Definitely a worthy shoe investment!

It’s almost a classic “fierce” shoe design. Edgy, sexy, a bit of rock and roll, yet still polished. They are my new favourite shoes tee hee.

I wore it with my Nobody black jeans, Kookai tee and Styleberry suede jacket.

And with my silk cocktail dress by Aurelio Costarella.

And lastly, GlamRockChic have launched their first flat shoe, called the Modern Petite.

With luxurious materials, sleek design, it is very similar to the first shoe I talked about, the Modern II (but it doesn’t have the asymmetric cut out bit). I love the wide straps and the silver buckle, it looks modern and smart.

It’s a little different to your standard flat sandal, in that the sides are slightly raised which continues to the back of the shoe. You might have to take a peek at the product page to get a proper look.

It took me a while to get used to it, but after wearing it for a day, I realised they were really comfy, and they made my feet look really nice – slim, clean, and it just covered up my (possibly dirty) soles, and the dry skin on my heels!

GlamRockChic are known for their comfortable, yet high-fashion designs, and these shoes certainly did not disappoint.

I have a special discount code for anyone interested in purchasing a pair (or two) site wide!

Apply the discount code “XMAS20” to receive 20% off with every purchase of 2 shoes from GlamRockChic in a single shipment.

Promotion duration : 9 Nov to 16 Nov 2012.

Enjoy!!!

( 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.

I had lots of great feedback when I posted about the Romwe online shop a few months ago.

So I thought I’d do another shout out about a sale they are having -  an Up to 30% Off Buyer’s Pick Sale

There are lots of cute knits and blouses on sale. How cute is that little puppy knit?

Faux leather skirts and galaxy prints are really popular too.

There’s some Sass & Bide inspired leggings, cool jacquard trousers, and lots of accessories on sale!

The sale goes from 2nd – 8th November.

No need a special code, just head on over to the Buyer’s Pick Sale Page

Enjoy!

( 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.

The other day I was in Target, looking for some shorts for my son, when I stumbled across a bikini top with a really cute pattern (a bit Missoni-esque perhaps?). It was a crochet design in pretty rainbow colours… and it was reduced to $18.

I snatched it up in a size 8 and went to try it on in the change room – but *gasp* the cut of the size 8 was … um a bit TOO revealing! So I went up to a size 10 and then 12, which weren’t any better. No wonder they were on sale :P I eventually bought the size 14 top and matching briefs… and just tied the bikini strings a little tighter haha!

I’m pretty happy about the price. To think my last swimsuit cost around $120.

Wore this outfit to the beach on the weekend. Boots and sand? Because I can.

Stripe shirt – Ben Sherman

Lace shorts – Stephie’s Shop

Boots – Isabel Marant inspired booties by Midnight Coco (c/o YesStyle)

( 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.

With the arrival of warm weather, I worked out that I can’t wear black sandals with coloured jeans.

To me, black strappy sandals have a very “gladiator” or “tough” look to them. And I just can’t slip them on while I’m wearing my sunshine yellow jeans. The contrast of colour and look… just looks a bit wrong.

So I took it upon myself to source out some affordable sandals that would go great with coloured jeans :)

Metallic sandals look fab with sunshine yellow!

This pair is from Novo.

Nude, beige and tan sandals are a no-brainer. The neutral, muted tones work perfectly for pastels outfits.

These are nude sandals with a touch of gold, from Romwe.

Snakeskin or zebra print sandals add lots of visual interest to an outfit, and keeps the colours and tones tied together.

These genuine leather babies are by Moonbasa, via YesStyle.

Have a lovely weekend 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.

Yep I have been shopping again – much to my husband’s dismay.

I wore this outfit to an event last week. And took a few quick snaps to show off the bits and pieces…

1) I love the cool, rock styles of Amsterdam label Zoe Karssen… which you can buy from various online luxury boutiques.

I fell in love with their printed tees, and I found this RAD tee on The Iconic.

The material is 50% Cotton 50% Modal, the cut is effortlessly gorgeous, the neckline is not too low. It’s just a great, luxe, simple tee, with a cool print haha. See more tees from Zoe Karssen

I also bought it with a special coupon code – so I got 20% off!

Or you can head over to access The Iconic Up to 70% Sale here.

2) Next I bought the a pair of faux leather pants from Topshop. And they look fricking awesome.

The fashion girl in me has lusted after a pair of real leather pants for years – the biggest obstacle being the price. But I’m completely satisfied to say that these Topshop pants fit so amazing well and look sooo cool, that I have ended my search :)

3) I’ve had the white fur coat for a while now.

It’s by a very cool Korean brand called GUSET, which is stocked in YesStyle.

Hoping to find a similar fur coat in black for next winter!

4) My silver necklace was from Equip!

I don’t usually buy from Equip, because most times their jewellery looks cheap, and they use poor materials. But this necklace looked great, it had a really good weight to it and it looked well made.

It was also on sale, from was something like $20, but I got it for $3. That fact alone made me inspect it inside and out, to find out what was wrong with it. But there was nothing wrong with it, and it was a great buy! Haha it pays to look.

5) My shoes are by designer label GlamRockChic.

Hee hee I have been wearing these everywhere! It’s because they make any outfit look great, they look a bit different to your standard pump heel, and they are super duper comfortable.

That’s all for now, have a fabulous weekend!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

My kind sponsors at YesStyle gave me the opportunity to pick out a couple of items for me to review. As autumn and winter arrives in the northern hemisphere, there are heaps of new styles and new sales on the site.

This is what I chose!

(I actually picked out a third item, but I didn’t think much of it… so it won’t get a review here.)

The first is a cotton khaki jacket with contrast leatherette sleeves. It’s a cool and unique look, possibly influenced by the college varsity jackets, but a bit more grown up, especially with the leather.

This new season is all about mixing textures and two tones. So this is a fab way to update your wardrobe.

This jacket is by a Korean brand, Norang Gomusin, and it’s on sale at the moment.

Check out the jacket’s product page here. The Korean model makes the jacket look gorgeous… and I’m happy to say that it looks and feels as good as it looks on the website. The garment has a good weight to it, so it feels like a good quality item for its price. I don’t think you can get a jacket like this for this price in Australia :P

It also comes in a tan colour too.

I really like the style of Norang Gomusin’s latest collection, full of light knits, light tops, jackets, jeans and booties. They are classic casual designs, in easy-to-wear colours, but still looks on trend, good quality clothes and very affordable.

Outfit: Jacket by Norang Gomusin, White tee from Country Road, Aztec skirt from Beauties Closet, Leather booties from ASOS.

I adore this slouchy green jacket. It’s a real Throw Over Anything kind of jacket. It has big batwing sleeves, so you can easily layer up with a top, cardigan, jumper and still slip this jacket on top with lots of room in its sleeves.

This jacket is by popular Korean brand Redopin, and if you take a peek at the product page, there’s something about Korean models and styling that looks so pretty and street cool!

Again the jacket is a pretty good quality, and it’s a nice trans-seasonal item to have in your wardrobe. It’s lightweight but it needs a good iron before you wear it (as it arrives folded up and quite creased).

Outfit: Jacket by Redopin, stripe top by J.Crew, leather skirt by Urban Outfitters, flats from FashionJunkee.

( 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.

With the warm weather approaching, I’ve noticed that I have lots of casual wear that are great for being a sloppy bum by the beach or pool (tanks, tees and denim shorts), but very few items that are stylish for everyday CASUAL WEAR.

So I’ve been looking to find a loose, white, long sleeved top for the new season. And I found these!! Casual but still a bit dressy.

Top left: Living Doll Dazzling Blouse from Birdsnest

Top right: Ladakh Dance Away Top from Birdsnest

Bottom left: Wish Sadie Blouse from Birdsnest

Bottom right: Pink Stitch Moroccan Dreams Top from Birdsnest

Then I can wear the white blouse with some tailored shorts for a bit of grown-up casual-ness.

Alldressedup Chelsea Silk Shorts from ShopTheMag

Chloe Cotton and silk-blend Twill Shorts from The Outnet

Stretch Linen Shorts from Witchery

And when I just don’t feel like wearing sandals and showing off my toes… these are some classic casual flats that will look great with the white shirt and tailored shorts combo.

Converse All Star Light Plimsolls from my-wardrobe.com

Blowfish Smara Espadrille Loafers from The Iconic

ASOS LANTERN Ballet Flats from ASOS

( 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.

Every year the Perth Fashion Festival seems to get bigger and better! It is always packed with a lot of fun and enjoyable fashion events, making the city come alive, and it’s just a great way for me to support and see the latest collections by fashion designers from my hometown.

Having said that, it is completely out of step from my reality = Domestic mum with cooking and cleaning duties, to then slapping on some makeup, throwing on a frock and then sitting front row and tweeting instagram photos to thousands of people! Haha! It’s so surreal sometimes. In moments like these, I always pinch myself, sit back and feel so thankful and grateful for the opportunity.

Anyway, this year I REALLY enjoyed myself.

I only went to a few shows this time, but for me, it was just the right number of events for me to cram into 6 days. I’ll be posting about the actual events, collections and clothes in separate posts. Right now I just want to share what I wore!

This is me and the lovely Sussan, at the VIP Closing Night Event.

I’m wearing my emerald Genevieve dress from Pia Gladys Perey! I did a review of the dress in this post here, where I was considering whether to keep the coral, lilac or green dress. I wasn’t sure about the green dress because the colour was a bit unusual (in a Kermit the Frog kind of way) and my children hated the colour and were pressuring me to get the coral dress.

In the end, I did choose the green… and it was such a great choice!! Sooo many people walked up to me and complimented me on it, took photos, and lots of people asked who it was by. So I consider that a total win haha!

But I thought I would share with you the rather traumatic day I had getting this outfit together.

First, although I knew I was going to wear this dress to the event and I wanted to have the dress slightly altered, one thing and another led me to be BADLY under prepared.

So I ended up really desperate to find a tailor who could have the alterations done THAT AFTERNOON. So I went to the first tailor that I could find and used some evil tactics – battering my eyelids, being all smiley and sweetly chirpy at him. He did it for me in a few hours, yay. But then he also asked me whether I was married, and let me know that he had a son who was single! ERRR OOPS NO SORRY, HAPPILY MARRIED THANKS!

I had the length shortened (for $40) and the halter neck strap taken up (for $25).

Second, the event was also a masquerade cocktail party, so I raided my sister’s dress up box and found a pretty sequined feathered mask for my outfit. But, the mask was over 10 years old and was falling apart. Also, it had a tacky elastic strap that held it on…and I didn’t like that.

So an hour before the event, I asked my my wonderful husband if he could help me out.

First, he suggested that rather than wear my sister’s mask, I should try wearing the LEGO HEAD HELMET that we made a few weeks back . When I declined, he super-glued my sister’s mask sequins back in place, and he also hot-glued a chopstick to the back of the mask… so I could carry it in an elegant way.

Finally ready to go out, I was saying goodbye to my sons, who were all sitting around eating dinner. And then my seven year old son stared at me and said “Mum, are you wearing anything under that dress?…because it’s got a big hole in the front!”

I looked down and released he was referring to the split in the front of my dress.

I was rather stunned to be told by my own son , who is in primary school, that I might be indecently dressed. In fact, I had a flashback moment to when I was 17 and my mother said something similar to me. And my response was the same…yes, I was going out “dressed like that”.

This was my whole outfit for the night!  Photo was taken by the always delightful Matt Jelonek for The West Australian newspaper.

Moving along. This is what I wore to the Ae’lkemi Show on a different night.

I was invited by Ae’lkemi’s designer, Alvin Fernandez, to come into his showroom for a private pre-show viewing of his brand new collection. My eyes bugged out as I saw all his amazing gowns up close!

He also organised for me to borrow a gown to wear for the show and for me to sit front row – Oooh la la, I was in fashion girl heaven! I won’t lie, I felt so very honoured, pampered and special tee hee.

I won’t say too much else about the dress, because I have another post coming up, dedicated to this dress and the Ae’lkemi collection!

However, I  also found myself in the newspaper a few days later… and wondered if Alvin organised that too?

PR people are so clever.

Then I wore this gorgeous chartreuse cocktail dress to the Flannel show.

It is an Aurelio Costarella silk dress, which I bought on mega sale. I’m not sure what the original price was (I think it was somewhere between $600-$500) but I bought it for $150. It has silky soft pleats and the hem actually has a slight bubble to it, giving it a lovely shape that was wonderful to wear.

The neckline was lovely too, but it was quite low and deep. I wore a black strapless bra, and I used a bit of fashion tape (double sided tape) on my chest to keep the dress in place.

I dressed it up with simple – but chunky – gold accessories.
Gold tassel earrings are by Mezi from Frockaholics
Chain bracelet is by House of Baluch from The-Dreamery.

I did wear some other outfits to the fashion festival (courtesy of my-wardrobe)!

But I have already shown them in a previous post… so if you would like to read about them, view them here in this post.

( 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.

Last month, I decided that I have too many bright coloured jeans, and I just need a pair of everyday skinny khakis.

So I bought myself a pair of Khaki J-Brand jeans from The Iconic – on sale! They were $275, down to $165, then with an extra 25% off coupon, I paid $123 for them! I’m so happy with them. Such a win purchase.

They are super-soft, good length, great stretch, lovely colour, I like the zip details and they fit perfectly.

I’ve worn them lots of times casually (as shown here) and also I wore them dressed up (with a sheer, black sequin top and high heels).

Tshirt: Rebecca Minkoff tee from Shopbop
Belt: Sportsgirl
Wristwear: Wanderlust + Co
Shoes: Habbot

Sooo…….. The Iconic are having their Mid-Season sale right now, with up to 50% off hundreds of items (including Sass & Bide, Finders Keepers, Talulah and heaps more).

Or you can head over to access The Iconic Mid-Season Sale here!! I’m not sure how long this sale goes on for, but my guess is: a few weeks?

Enjoy!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Yep just a friendly reminder for all those interested – you can win a $1000 voucher to spend at my-wardrobe!

This giveaway is open worldwide, and will end on Thursday, 27 September 2012, 11.59pm (GMT +8).

Go to my giveaway post for more details and to enter.

The lovely team at my-wardrobe sent me a few dresses to review on my blog, and for me to wear to the recent fashion week!

They were such gorgeous dresses and I was terrified that I would spill food, drink, get lipstick marks on them. Thankfully I didn’t!

This first dress is by ACNE (one of my favourite designers!) and the design is exclusive to my-wardrobe.

It’s pretty much a big silky t-shirt dress, with a high round neck and cut-out back. It has some really nice drapes and layers too. You can wear it on it’s own, or with leggings, tucked into jeans, or as I have, belted at the waist.

Because it had a cut-out at the back, I didn’t want my bra to be exposed, so I wore a black camisole underneath and I was snug and warm all night.

I wore it with a rose gold belt from Sportsgirl and green heels from GlamRockChic (which completely lifted the whole outfit!)

Secondly I wore this Just Cavalli dress – which was soooo cool! I love the crazy angry wolf print!

This dress was definitely a loose fit dress, in a shift style. However, I think it was a bit too loose for me. The photo on the left shows the dress as is, it looked a bit shapeless to what I’m used to. But on the photo on the right, I pinned the dress back and it looked much more fitted and flattering for my shape and petiteness.

But really, I loved the print so I would still purchase it and I would get the dress slightly altered.

I received heaps of compliments for both dresses. They were really eye catching and different.

Anyway, all the best to everyone for the giveaway – hope you win, if not, there’s always next time :)

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Most of my working career was spent in advertising or digital media companies. And because I was in the creative department, my dress code was usually “relaxed and casual”. Which meant everyone dressed like urban hipsters, or bohemian artists.

But I always loved the corporate professional look. And I hankered to put on a sharp suit, tailored pants, classic button downs and pencil skirts. So in the end, I dressed somewhere in between, and I kind of looked like I was part of the marketing team haha.

Anyway, my fashion eye is always attracted to that “creative corporate” look… so I thought I’d put together some outfits on how to update a working wardrobe with some on-trend key pieces.

1) THE WHITE PENCIL SKIRT

While most of us have black, grey, navy, camel pencil skirts for work… a crisp white pencil skirt will go a really long way. It’ll slip innocently into your wardrobe and GO WITH EVERYTHING from all your usual neutral or coloured tops, as well as the new season patterned prints.

My lovely white pencil skirt with zip detail is from Korean boutique, Beauties Closet.

Navy button down shirt from DKNY.

Beige trench coat by Mersh, from YesStyle.

Beige heels are by Habbot.

2) THE FLORAL PRINT SHIRT

Most people feel that floral prints should be kept for the weekend. But with a gorgeous print (that’s not so busy) and teamed with classic white pants and a black blazer, it’s not hard to get your style on.

Classic blazer by ClubCouture

Floral Silk Shirt by Antipodium, from Frockaholics

White pants by Fendi

Heels from ASOS

3) MONO PRINTED PANTS
Inject a bit of style into your work wardrobe with some black/white printed goodness. Wear it with structured top and jacket, to keep the look smart and polished. Wear it with neutrals so the pattern is not so LOUD!

These pants are no longer on sale online. But I am totally in love with these Black and white Leopard print pants from ASOS. Or Lola Vs harper Pants from The Iconic.

T-shirt is from Country Road

Jacket is from a Korean brand called Ode.

Necklace is by Lovisa, from The Iconic

Beige heels are by Habbot

( 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.

Earlier this year, I reviewed a glamorous navy “Bea Dress” by designer Pia Gladys Perey. It turned out to be a stunning and sophisticated dress that was easy to wear and made from a delicious silky and slinky jersey fabric… I just love wearing it!

Well the team from Gosh Celebrity Fashion offered for me to review another dress (actually, three) from PGP’s current collection, AND they are offering all Karen Cheng readers a special discount… 15% OFF on full priced PGP dresses. (Scroll below for details and the code.)

I was terribly excited, because I already adored PGP’s designs… and after a looong time of careful deliberation, I chose these 3 dresses to review.

They also kindly offered that I could keep one as a “gift”… so I had the very difficult task of choosing my favourite of the lot.

Here goes!

This is the Esme Dress in Coral. It is a one shoulder maxi dress with rouching on one side and a side split.

The colour is gorgeous and I chose it because it’s so happy, vibrant, and not a typical evening gown colour (which is usually black, red, navy or silver).

It would be perfect as a cocktail dress or a red carpet dress.

The price is mid-ranged, but still very affordable for an evening gown, considering the quality, design, flattering cut for my body shape… and just how good I feel when I wear it!

I really liked this dress style because it’s very versatile… you can dress it plainly or dress it up to the max.

I was thinking that I could wear this to a wedding (my cousin is getting married in December!), a daytime event, a fancy ball, a special function or event… anything really.

I would have to take up the hem (can you see the puddle of fabric at my feet? I’m so short!) but that’s easily done… and I shouldn’t really let my height (or lack of) determine the dress I select.

(The dress also comes in champagne and navy.)

Ooh this dress had me at LILAC!

I was totally in love with this colour!! It’s different and sweet, peaceful, calming, pretty, magical, and soothing.

This dress is the Mikaela Dress in Lilac. It’s a little more affordable than the maxi dresses, retailing at AUD$218 (with 15% off it’s only $185.30!!!)

The dress fits like a dream. I just slipped it on and it just felt GREAT. Comfortable, flattering, modest, sensual, pretty, elegant, classy. It’s a simple dress but still with interesting rouching detail that really flatters your body shape. The material is the same soft, slinky, stretchy jersey that has some weight to it.

It has good sized shoulder straps, so you can just wear your regular bra with it. Big plus!

I don’t think I would wear it to a fashion event or a black tie function. But I would definitely wear it to more semi-formal occasions like a wedding ceremony and reception, a daytime luncheon, a garden party, a stage show, an elegant dinner with friends.

The length of the dress is lovely on me – I wouldn’t have to get the dress altered. Another plus!

I was really tempted to choose this dress, because I would get a lot of wears from it and… it would be perfect for me to wear to my cousin’s wedding coming up.

(The dress also comes in turquoise and navy.)

Aaand finally… THIS is the dress I finally chose!!

It is the Genevieve Dress in Emerald (also comes in a navy colour).

I picked this one because it is just STUNNING! It has a long maxi skirt, halter neck style, deep V neckline, with a front split. Combined with the very vibrant green colour, it is bold, dramatic, fun, dazzling and sexy.

Not to mention, the silky stretchy jersey makes it fabulous and comfortable to wear. So it’s not everyday when you find a dress design that ticks all the boxes.

Ok even I’ll admit that the colour green is very bright. Almost like Kermit the Frog? But it’s unusual and it’s bold. And I really like that.

The dress is pretty much backless, and because of the low neckline, I had to wear an adhesive bra, as well as sticky lifty adhesives (both of which I don’t really like to wear) but hey – it looks good, end of story.

I’ll also need to get it hemmed up and with all that leftover fabric I could probably make myself a mini skirt (or a lot of scrunchies) haha.

This is without doubt a formal, black tie, red carpet dress. So I don’t think I’ll wear this to the wedding. It’s definitely one for fashion events and fancy formal functions. Yay I’m very happy!

*Special Discount Code*

Gosh has kindly offered all Karen Cheng readers a 15% discount on full priced Pia Gladys Perey dresses. Just use the code ‘springracing’ at the checkout. Valid from 4 – 14th September 2012.

Free delivery for Australia. And they have worldwide shipping and hassle free returns.

If you’re interested, you can still buy the “Bea Dress” from Gosh Celebrity Fashion. I have it in a navy colour, but it also comes in ash, latte, lilac, silver, red, or purple. It retails for AUD$239 (with 15% off it’s only $203.150!!)

For all the PGP dresses, I was wearing Size 6.

ENJOY your shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’d love to introduce you to a lovely online boutique that I’m quite taken with… it’s called Stephie’s Shop.

Their clothes are stylish, understated, sophisticated and polished, yet still with playful and fashion forward details. The garments are of a good quality, yet very affordable.

You can find lots of stylish work dresses, tops that are perfect for going out or for the weekend, nice skirts for mixing and matching, and some great accessories.

The boutique has been around for 4 years, they are very popular, they add new stock items every day… and they have recently launched their own label, specially designed for their boutique.

For the outfit above, I’m wearing little Cream Lace Shorts from Stephie’s Shop. Unfortunately they are sold out now. You have to get in quick :)

(Blouse is from Frockaholics.)

I also chose this top and skirt.

The top is the Floral Vivid Imagery Top, with a flattering cut, V neck and puffy sleeves. I really like it because it’s so simple, yet looks great with all kinds of different bottoms (shorts, skirts, jeans and pants)

I styled up the top in a FLORAL ON FLORAL outfit. As crazy as it looks, it was such a fun and loud combination to wear! Loved it!

I also wore it with my lemon yellow jeans and nude heels.

The next item was the Perfect Peplum Skirt. And yes it was quite perfect!

A twist on a pencil skirt, the peplum creates a gorgeous hourglass silhouette and adds a fun, flirty detail to an otherwise plain outfit.

The skirt is made from a heavy, thick material, but still soft and stretchy. It has a zip at the back and a slight stretch to the waistband, which made it very comfortable, fitted and not constricting. It fit me very nicely. The length was great too.

They have international shipping and a super friendly customer care team, to deal with any returns or issues you might have.

Do check out their New Arrivals section, as they are always adding new items to the collection. They are definitely one of my new favourite online shops!

Enjoy browsing or shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

If you are a bit of a fashionista, and you love to experiment with new styles AND you love a bargain – you’ll love this online store.

It’s called Romwe, you might have heard of it, it’s really popular amongst fashion bloggers.

It’s full of the latest trends and street styles, the prices are very affordable, new arrivals come in frequently , there is always lots of stock and sizes, and they have free worldwide shipping!

Here are a few of my very fashiony picks.

Leatherette Skater Dress $45.50

Pattern Sleeve Contrast Blouse $33.99

Leopard Round Sunglasses $12.50

Metallic Strappy Sandals $45.90

Starry Night Print Leggings $24.99

Dip Dye Blazer $74.99

Bird Chiffon Pattern Blouse $22.99

Leatherette Blank Pants $60.99

Triangle Pendant Necklace $12.50

Point Rivets Flats $84.99

I bought a few items to test out, to check the quality, sizing issues and the customer service.

This is the Feminine Bowknot Shirt, in cream. It is a light, loose-fit blouse that flares out at the bottom, with a ribbon wrapped around the collar.

I bought it because it looked really versatile. It can be worn with the ribbon in a bow (and it looks really sweet), or with the ribbon like a tie, or worn on it’s own, with NO ribbon.

The top can also be worn loose or tucked into jeans, shorts, skirts – to create very different looks. You can check out the product page for a few more styling ideas. It was OK quality for the price too. I liked it.

The next item I bought was this Anomalous Hem Vest Top, where the hem looks a bit like a skirt and is longer at the back. It looked a bit like a peplum top, but different. It also has silver rivets at the shoulders, but you can’t really see them in this photo.

The material was a soft cotton jersey, that flowed very nicely. It’s a really nice casual item that goes well with jeans and skinny pants.

20% Off Coupon

If you sign up for a new Romwe account (you have to sign up in order to purchase something anyway) you get 20% off your first order. Just follow the steps.

The big WIN is that there is free worldwide shipping, with no minimum purchase.

And if you’re not 100% satisfied with your order, they allow a full refund within 365 days of purchase. But you need to pay the return’s shipping fee.

The Romwe site is pretty big, with lots and lots of items. It’s fun to browse and discover cool, new products.

Hope you find something you like!

( 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.

Army greens, military details, camouflage prints and parkas are set to be a bit hit for the new season.

I’m not a fan of the camouflage, but I love the colour khaki. I have a lot of it in my wardrobe!

I wore this the other day – my khaki field jacket, white jeans and a few new items.

Jacket: 10 year old field jacket from Just Jeans
Top: New khaki tank top from Koo
Jeans: White skinny jeans by Fendi
Shoes: New and absolutely divine heels from Habbot – currently on sale!

I also ordered this new fur-trim parka and it has been my staple, go-to, every-day jacket during these cold wintery days.

I just wake up in the morning, put on a top, sweater, throw the jacket on and head out the door to drop the kids off at school. Best jacket ever!

The funniest thing about it is… that I had one very similar when I was 17 years old. And wearing this new jacket now, reminds me so much of my high school bogan days.

So I put together this outfit in honor of my inner bogan.

Jacket: Fur-trim Parka by Tokyo Fashion (via YesStyle)
Shirt: Button down from Cotton On
Tank: White tee from Country Road
Shorts: Black denim shorts from Zara
Stockings: Polka dot stockings from Forever New
Shoes: Black suede heels from Betts

Have a fantastic weekend!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

If you’re a fan of stylish, on-trend Korean fashion you’ll love this new online store.

It’s called Beauties Closet, and they are very proud of the fact that all their stock ships directly from Korea. Orders take about 2 weeks to deliver, but it’s worth the wait considering the good price and quality.

If you’re not familiar with Korean high-street fashion, I’d say that the quality and styles of the clothes match that of Topshop, Zara or Sportsgirl.

They have lots of stock. Lots of great pictures (with Korean models and pretty styling) and they also have plenty of new arrivals that come in periodically, sometimes 50-100 pieces in each new collection.

As usual, the team allowed me to “go shopping” and pick out some samples to review.

The first sample I chose was this simple, black maxi dress with a very sexy split! It fit really well and I loved it because it’s simple, easy to wear, and had high-impact.

The material is cotton jersey (so yes, it’s just a cotton tank dress) but it’s better quality than what you would buy from Cotton On or Forever21.

The sizing for this dress is “Free Size” and it would fit someone who is XS-S (US2 – 4).

The second dress I chose was this Scarf Combo dress. The colour and print combination is lovely, classy and striking, especially with the bright yellow skirt.

The top half of the dress is cotton, so it feels like a fitted tee – which is nice because it’s very comfortable to wear. The skirt is a light, silky and airy like a scarf.

The sizing for this dress is also “Free Size” and it would fit someone who is XS-S (US2 – 4).

As pictured, the dress also comes in a navy blue skirt version.

Lastly, I had to share these cool print skirts. View the whole skirt collection here! Gorgeous colours, great prints, good looking fabrics… all at very affordable, high-street fashion prices too.

I’m wearing the Ikat Skirt, in size small.

Pictured right is the Mini Floral Skirt and the Paisley Skirt.

The great thing about shopping for Korean fashion, is that the measurements of the garment are always given. So where most international sites say a dress is just “Size US2”, Korean brands will give a size and list the waist, hip, hem, length measurements of that particular item too. Very handy.

Be aware that sometimes the measurements are made when the garment is lying flat (so the waist might be 33cm, meaning you have to be around 66cm around the waist).

Also please be aware that Beauties Closet will only do a return and exchange for a wrong shipment or defective item. And they can’t offer returns for wrong sizes or if you change your mind. It’s just how they roll.

The few items I chose (above), turned out great and I was really happy with the sizing and fit.

Here’s a tip if you want to buy Korean skinny jeans (in my experience) – go one size bigger (unless you have teeny tiny thighs). In US/UK/Australia I usually buy jeans in Size 25 or 26. But whenever I buy any Korean brand of skinny jeans, I can’t fit the thighs in 25 or 26. I have to go with size 27.

I guess you have to be handy with a tape measure and double check the numbers. If you are too uncertain, drop them an email, or just opt out this time.

Special Discount: 10% Off Store-wide

If you’re keen to make a purchase, and would like 10% off your order… use the code “KCFAL10″ at the checkout.
Code is valid for 2 weeks until 28 August.

Happy Shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’ve been feeling very lazy and sluggish these last few days… and this is how I feel like dressing.

Knit sweaters and skinny jeans. Jumper and shorts. It’s easy, lazy and effortless. (I can’t even be bothered to wear colour anymore!)

I found these outfit looks on The Iconic which *perfectly* embodies my mood.

And you know what? I’m loving it.

Bring on khakis, bronze and leather – I say!

Do check out their Massive Sale Section.

Enjoy!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I was approached by an online boutique called Asia Fashion Inc, which specialises in a multitude of labels and brands from Asia.

They are based in Asia, but they have free worldwide shipping – which is great!

I enjoyed browsing through their store, looking at all the fun, unique, edgy and cool clothes. It’s a refreshing change to all the same-same looks from the massive global brands. I selected a few items to borrow, test out and feature on my site.

This blue-green floral dress above really caught my eye.

It is from a label called AI by Ashley Isham, known for his high-octane glamour and contemporary styling. He was also the official designer at the 2004 BAFTAs and boasts high-profile celebrity (and British royalty) clientele.

When selecting it, I definitely had “dresses to wear to a wedding” on my mind! I loved the floaty feel of the dress. It was simple, easy to wear, very pretty and the long skirt tail was just lovely. The belt is detachable too.

The dress is made in London, it’s amazingly designed and constructed. It is priced at USD$474 but it’s currently on sale for 50% OFF at the moment!!

This Fuchsia Toga Dress was equally pretty. I would definitely wear something like this to a wedding, or special occasion. The print is unique, pretty and eye catching. It looks feminine and flirty and has a sense of happiness and fun. The cut and fit were fantastic too – ahh it is such a nice dress!

It’s also at 50% off at the moment!

Here are some other pieces that caught my eye from the AI by Ashley Isham collection.

The next label that made me go OOOH was Jousse.

I tried out their Black Polka Dot Lace Tee, which was so, so cute. On the product photo on the site, the polka dots looks quite “filled out” and solid, but it actually is more lacey and holey (like crochet). It has a soft nude lining and very easy to wear. Definitely a new wardrobe staple – will look great with jeans and cropped pants.

You must check out the whole Jousse collection! It’s full of smart, preppy looks with strong and crisp tailoring. And affordable prices too. Here’s a sample below.

SPECIAL Promotion Discount

Receive an additional 10% off your order and free worldwide shipping.

Use the code “KARENCHENG” at the check out.

Hope you have a fun time shopping (or browsing)!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Clothes in the colour mint have been in the shops for a few months now. In fact the whole spectrum of pastel colours are very popular at the moment – pale lemon, dusty pink, light apricot, baby blue and lilac.

Personally I adore the mint and lilac the most. But that’s just me.

Anyway I thought I‘d put some outfits together for a bit of minty inspiration, especially just using neutral colours – black, white, nude, creams, light grey, dark grey.

Outfit 1
Mint Skirt is actually a dress from ClubCouture.
Floral Top from Zara
Heels in cream patent leather from Dorothy Perkins

Outfit 2
Knit sweater from Country Road
Singlet top from Rick Owens (unseen)
Mint Jeans from YesStyle
Oxfords from Habbot Studios

Outfit 3
Mint Blouse with cut out sleeves from Redopin (via YesStyle)
White shorts from Zara
Nude patent heels from ASOS

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’ve been wearing clothes from ClubCouture for almost a year now, and I am continually impressed by the quality of the clothes, the affordable prices, and each new collection that they launch – oh their dresses are just lovely!

They sell stylish and pretty jewellery and cute bags too.

I chose these dresses a few months ago, and have been itching to show them off on my blog!

This Black Dress (above left) is a fantastic, classic, strapless bandage dress. I adore this one! It’s made in a bandage style, with strong, thick, firm, stretchy fabric… and it is like wearing shape-wear. It pulls you in and holds you up at all the right places! A great wardrobe investment, in my opinion.

I’m wearing a size UK6 and it *just fit* me. If you’re on the bigger side of a size, you should probably buy a size up, as it’s a very snug fit.

This White Holly Dress (above right) is a very cute and simple white lace dress with a soft nude lining. It is a lovely mini dress and I’m very happy to have it in my wardrobe for the summer ahead.

This Black Cross Bandage Dress looked and felt amazing. It was quite tricky to put it on (I put my head in all the wrong places!) but ahhh I loved it!

The Pink and Turquoise Dress was cute and unique too. The turquoise neckline actually continued into a deep V on the back of the dress. I liked the bandages on the chest, giving it a subtle texture. Again the dress was made from a thick, strong and stretchy fabric.

The quality of these bandages dresses are definitely comparable to designer items $300 and above.

They are both very Herve Ledger inspired!

Unfortunately these two dresses were pretty popular and are now sold out on the site.

But do check their Premium Range for dresses that are suited for functions and special occasions.

You might have remembered a dress I wrote about a few weeks ago? It was a one I called the “Garden Party Dress”.

It is actually called the Floral Printed Sheath Dress and I was told that it is now back in stock!

Special Discount Promotion: Buy 2 for 20% Off

ClubCouture are currently having a promotion, where you can buy any 2 items and receive 20% your total order. No code needed, just add TWO items to you cart and they will take care of the rest!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Adore Beauty online beauty store has been around for a looooong time.

They sell lots of products (skin care, makeup, hair care, fragrance) and lots of popular brands, they have lots of great sales, promotions, and excellent customer service, including price matching and free samples in every order.

They are based in Australia, and they have international shipping.

They stock brands such as Aesop, Benefit, Biotherm, Clarins, Lancome, Laura Mercier, L’Occitane, Napoleon, SK-II, and sooo much more.

I picked out a few items to test… and these were so good that I had to share!

The Exclusive  Serum Sampler for only $29!!! OMG is it such a good deal!

Ok they are only small sample bottles, but nonetheless, you get to try some of the market’s best and most popular serums before you buy the full bottle.

You get:
1) SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
2) Lancôme Genifique Youth Activator
3) Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster
4) Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant Plus
5) Alpha-H Liquid Gold Prep and Prime
6) Subtle Energies Facial Blend

The pack also contains a code that gives you 10% OFF the price of the full-sized, full-priced version of the serums in the pack.

It’s winter here in Australia, and the cold, dry air makes my skin SO DRY. I’ve had to throw my whole suncream + moisturiser + makeup routine out the window… because the skin on my cheeks and jaw was getting scaly – gross!

I needed a high-performance moisturiser that was NOT greasy. So I picked out Hope in a Jar, by Philosophy.

I’ve used a number of Philosophy products. And I’ve heard good things about this moisturiser.

After two weeks of use – so far, so good!

It’s lovely to use, light-weight, it absorbs really well into my skin, there’s no greasiness, and it seems to make my skin smooth and bright. The smell is lovely and unique too (a lavender and herbal smell).

I also picked out an Essie Nail Colour called Absolutely Shore (mint green, shown in the foreground).

With a base coat, and two coats of colour, it’s pretty good for a mid-priced nail polish ($19).

It completes my pastel colour range, all by different brands (seen in the background).

Show Me The Best…

The Adore Beauty site also has this neat tab button called “Show Me the Best…” where it recommends products, under a certain category that you select, such as:

1) Best Anti-aging Moisturisers
2) Oil Control Clenasers
3) Intensive Exfoliators
4) Dark Circles Eye Care
5) Refining & Brightening Cleansers
6) Tinted Sunscreen – Face

(and there are categories for makeup and hair care too).

It’s just a really nice way to browse for products and compare different brands and prices.

Enjoy your beauty shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Gosh Celebrity Fashion asked me to check out their latest collection for review :)

I had a really good browse in the store and the best thing about it… is their fab collection of dresses. And their prices were good – low to middle of the range!

I found lots of pieces featuring new colours, cool trends and lovely, statement styles. They also have FREE  shipping Australia wide and hassle-free returns, which is nice. Of course, they also ship internationally.

I selected a few items, but these 2 dresses were my favourite of the lot.

The Peplum Dress

The peplum is one of this season’s hottest trends. A peplum is a little “skirt” that sits on the waist of a skirt, dress or along the bottom hem of a top. It’s fun, flirty and very feminine. You have to try it! It transforms your silhouette, accentuating the waist, making you look like you’ve got sexy curves, and a hot hourglass figure.

I really like the peplum style. As long as the peplum is not too ruffly, I think it really suits short and petite women.

You can even buy skirts or dresses with removable peplums. So you can wear it from day time to night time.

This white strapless dress is called the Shutterbug Peplum Dress by Keepsake. I LOVE the clean lines and minimal detail. It is polished, sexy, and a perfect party dress for a night out!

The fit was nice and snug on the waist. The length was great on me. The fabric felt nice. If anything, I didn’t have enough boob mass to fill the bust area to it’s *fullest potential*… ahem.

But it looked good on, so I would still wear it.

The Print Dress

Finding a nice print dress that works well for both work and play can be tricky, especially if you want to find something that is colourful but not TOO colourful!

I really liked this Silk Dress by Honey and Beau. The print is so lovely – like a water themed oil painting by an Impressionist masters. The drapes and pleats are lovely too.

It features a tulip skirt, and a drape collar which have little drawstrings. On the left I loosened the drawstrings and the collar fell like silky ruffles on a deep V neckline. On the right I tightened the drawstrings and it gave the dress a higher and more modest neckline.

The website said that it was a “mini” dress. But for short ol’ me, the dress ended mid-thigh – which was perfect in my opinion!

Do check out the rest of the Honey and Beau items, as there are lots of nice stuff available!

Happy Shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Independent fashion label Dresstronomy sent me a few items to review from their Fall 2012 Collection, titled Boys and Girls Come Out to Play. It combines masculine/boyish and feminine shapes, with an air of whimsical playfulness.

I found some very nice garments which were effortless and easy to wear.

These are the Hansel Shorts in Deep Purple. They are SHORT shorts, almost like running shorts, with a turned-up, tailored hem, so they have a nice structure and they look smart. The fabric is lovely. It’s made from shantung silk and it looks luxurious, yet it feels robust to wear.

The waistband is a stretchy fold-over band, so it’s comfy to wear. The band sits high up the waist, meaning you don’t have to worry about flashing your midriff. And the band acts like a kind of tummy shaping Spanx for your belly too haha!

I definitely recommend them if you’re looking for some smart looking shorts. They also come in black.

There was an issue with the sizing for these particular shorts, though. It’s best that you buy a size up (I am usually a size UK6, but I had to order a size UK8 – which fit me perfectly.)

This is the Tanker Dress in Navy. I liked the subtle contrast from the navy and black panels (a bit hard to see in this photo), which added a unique look to the dress.

Basically it is a simple, button-down dress, with a loose cut style and a modest length. It also features a racer back style, which felt sleek and a bit sexy when wearing it.

The last item I chose, was this dress is called Alan’s Tailcoat in Pink, inspired by tailcoat jackets worn by gentlemen in the 1800s.

I was told that British actress and model, Tallulah Harlech wore this same dress to the opening of the Singapore Fashion Trade Show earlier this year, and was featured in the press etc.

Yep, a long, sleeveless, shirt dress just oozes effortless cool. It’s the kind of thing off-duty models wear while walking along the street, with it flowing around their long legs. But how did it look on a shorty like me?

I think it looked quite cool. I know it is supposed to be loose fitting, flowy and effortless… but I think it might look nicer on me if I sewed it in at the underarms, so it is a *little more fitting* for me. But I liked the length and the details of the dress. And I liked the easy feel of it.

And here, I hitched up the dress up over the belt to create a waist line. Looked good, and this is a nice technique for transitioning from day time to night time.

This dress grew on me in the end and I really liked it. I’m glad I got to experiment with this style, because I would never have chosen it to buy otherwise.

I chose the dress in the dusty rose pink, which looks very unique to wear. But perhaps I should have chosen it in a black, so it would be a more versatile item for my wardrobe. The dress also comes in mustard colour.

Do pop over to the Dresstronomy website and check out the rest of their collection.

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

As always, there are plenty of fun new fashion trends this season.

But I have particularly fallen head over heels with the bright coloured jewellery trend.

(Photo by ImaxTree via stylebistro.com)

Seen last year at London Fashion Week 2012, Sass and Bide styled their spring collection with these amazingly vibrant neckpieces with intricate almost tribal details.

I love that they can be worn with blacks and neutral colours (of which my wardrobe is full of).

It can be worn with neutral or colourful patterned or print outfits (which is also on trend).

And it can go with outfits featuring big blocks of colour. Colour on colour!

These coloured rhinestone bib necklaces are just so pretty! The style is much more delicate and “everyday” as opposed to the Sass and Bide ones, which are very bold, edgy and large!

These babies are by designer Adia Kibur and are only $56 from Shopbop.

The amazing necklace on the left is by Tom Binns (via net-a-porter.com), hand painted Swarovski crystal necklace for £1,410.

It’s very obvious that this necklace would totally transform any outfit!! A simple black dress, white silk blouse, coloured tank, a nude dress.

If you do an image search for Tom Binns necklaces, you’ll find heaps of DIY images by crafty fashionistas too.

Apparently you can buy a $30 rhinestone necklace and use nail polish to paint the stones however you want. It looks so easy I was tempted to have a go myself – but alas I don’t have the time to do it.

And if you want to make something similar to those Sass and Bide necklaces, you can just buy an affordable stone, pearl, or jewelled necklace and then spray paint it a neon colour to create your own statement neon necklace.

The necklace top right is also by Adia Kibur (Shopbop) and the bottom one is by Etro (net-a-porter.com). I love the slightly tribal, edgy and glam look.

And if you lean more towards a classic, timeless look… but still want some colour in your jewels, these might be the way to go.

Left is Kenneth Jay Lane (Shopbop) and right is by Adia Kibur (Shopbop).

Happy shopping!

( 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.

The team at Habbot Studios loaned me a few shoes from their Autumn Winter 12 collection.

Their shoes encapsulate French inspired details, mixed with fresh Australian style, and all their shoes are handmade in Italy, from fine Italian leathers.

I love their fresh modern designs, with a hint of trend. And I especially love the amazing quality of the shoes – especially when they are having a SPECIAL END-OF-SEASON SALE!

Please scroll down for the sale details (including prizes and further reductions).

These classic pointed toe pump are just gorgeous! Not to mention they are extremely comfortable, the Italian leather feels like *luxury* on my feet… and they are on sale :)

I love the turquoise and the magenta – as they are fabulous way to add a burst of colour to my outfit. If I had to choose between them, I would choose the turquoise, because I already have hot pink heels and the turquoise suede is so vibrant and unique.

The black heel is an absolute classic. I have 3 versions of this “pointed-toe pump style” in my shoe cupboard haha. The heel height makes for good work shoes too.

With bright colours very much in fashion at the moment… I found these coloured flats to be so, so delightful. They go well with both coloured and neutral jeans. I would wear them very often indeed.

I’m wearing the ballet flats called “Trampoline” in Magenta. Also shown on the top, right hand set of shoes.

Pictured middle are the oxford flats called, “Unicycle” also in magenta. I really adore the mix of suede and woven textile. They would look great with pastel coloured jeans.

Bottom pair are the “Trampoline” in Grey (with a hint of blue suede).

And as a contrast to all the bright colours, I can feel part of myself going back to classic black. Focusing on textures and silhouettes.

I tested out these “Highwire” Boots in black. It has a wood block heel, that is nice and elegant (not too chunky) and a slim pull-on style, which is great for wearing over skinny pants, slim jeans or tights. I could live all day in these!

I also picked out a few other black pairs of shoes in the collection.

Top pair are the flats “Tramoline” in black. Would love to have these in my wardrobe.

Middle are the oxford style shoes called “Unicycle” in black (these were my favourite)

And “Juggler” is the oh-so smart ankle boot with brogue detail.

The Habbot’s Thank You Sale is their way of saying ‘thanks’ for all the overwhelming supportover the past year.

In addiction to the sale discount, there will be a heap of Facebook activities including giveaways and prizes, flash shoe sales by “colour” (even further discounts!), and they will be selling one-off styles and press samples for ridiculous prices via the website!

Head on over to the Habbot Facebook page and LIKE!

Good luck and happy shopping! xx

( 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.

I had the delightful opportunity to pick a few items to feature on my site, courtesy of ASOS.

And I wanted to share… ASOS is having an Up to 50% Off right now!

I chose a selection of BRIGHT, HAPPY COLOURS + PRINTS… and had soooo much fun putting them together.

Firstly, I chose these Geometric High Waist Shorts by Motel. They are soooo cool and so fun – I like them so much! They seemed to instantly lift my mood… and make me want to hit the beach.

I ordered a size 6, and when they arrived they looked too small. But they fit perfectly… as they have a really good stretch. They almost feel like swimmers. So they are really comfortable and perfect for summery weather.

The high waist is really nice, the stretch holds my tummy in, and the short-shorts makes my legs look really long!

Yellow Heels are also from ASOS
Necklace from Lovisa (via The Iconic)
Top from AL&ALICIA

This White Blouse is a lovely light, simple, sleeveless shirt. A very versatile and neutral item, great for wearing with neons and bright coloured skirts, jeans or shorts. Very affordable too.

I was surprised by how affordable thisPhotographic Floral Print Pencil Skirt was too. Made from a stretch jersey, it’s comfortable and very easy to wear. Big on visual impact, looks elegant yet unique. Fantastic buy.

Necklace by Lovisa (via The Iconic)
Heels by Betts

Lastly I chose this sheer button down ASOS Shirt with a Bug Print. Made from sheer chiffon material, easy cut, easy to wear and style in different ways. I thought it was a great buy too.

(And it’s on sale at the moment!)

Blue jeans by Jbrand (via my-wardrobe.com)
Heels by Sachi (old).

Happy shopping and I hope you find something you like!

( 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.

Recently I was given a delightful opportunity visit the YesStyle site and go “shopping”, courtesy of YesStyle.

The site has lots of popular brands from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and literally hundreds of items for sale. So I spent a considerable time picking out a few items.

These are my picks:

Lilac coloured jeans, by Secret BB (Korean brand). These are more like jeggings than jeans. I love the colour!! I also like that they have a good stretch, and they were only $55.

Korean sizing is a bit different, so you have to make sure that you check all the measurements carefully. I’m usually a size 25 or 26 for jeans, but these were 27… and I was very nervous that they wouldn’t fit me.

But yay they fit me fine. In fact maybe the thigh width was still a tiny bit tight for me. I wouldn’t dare try a 26. Korean girls must be teeny tiny and don’t do any cycling :P

Secret BB is very girly and feminine. It offers lots of cute tops and shorts, and nice swimsuits!

I also bought the version in MINT!

Lilac tee by MoDn (Korean brand). This tee comes in 14 different colours, and in 3 shades of purple. I’m loving the purple ones and the blue-green one.

This top is a simple cotton tee, with a nice slim fit. It’s a good length (not annoyingly long or weirdly short). And good value for $18. I haven’t put it through the wash yet, but it feels pretty robust.

Faux Leather Biker Jacket by Catworld. I really like this jacket – I’m very happy with it. It’s definitely of the same quality as a faux-leather jacket from Topshop, ASOS or Sportsgirl. It has a nice, simple and casual design, with a nice texture too. Unfortunately this particular one is sold out.

Catworld is a Taiwanese brand, with a very romantic, youthful, girly, easy-wearing range. There is a huge range and all items are at an affordable price. Apparently it’s one of YesStyle’s best selling brands.

I thought I would experiment and purchase something a bit more fun and trendy (and something I wasn’t planning to   buy)… like these tiny Floral Print Shorts by Pippin.

They actually turned out better than I expected. The print, make and feel are all pretty good value.

I felt really summery, cute and YOUNG when I put them on!! Haha I might leave these for summer time, while hanging around the pool or beach.

These are the size SMALL, I’m usually a size 6 and they fit perfectly.

Pippin is a Korean brand that has a lot more street wear and fashionable casual wear. They have a large range and most of it is quite nice.

Lastly, I chose these Cut Out Sandals by Koo.

I actually ordered them in a separate order many weeks ago (they still haven’t arrived yet). So the photo above is not of me wearing them, they are from the YesStyle site.

I was looking for some sandals with a skinny toe strap and found these. Yeah, they were a *little* expensive, considering that they were not made from real leather. But I thought these looked really cool, with the thick ankle strap and the chunky mirror heel.

Then LATER I discovered that they were inspired by these Celine heels (shown above, photos from Celine website). Oh well, I’m still looking forward to trying them on.

Anyway, the brand Koo, is a Korean brand, has lot more on-trend street wear, that’s a little more edgy and cool. I really like this brand. Do check it out if you have time.

As for the rest of the YesStyle site, if you enjoy your Asian fashion shopping, you might like to know that there are currently sales on for PUFFY and Tokyo Fashion!

Hope you enjoy browsing and shopping!

xxx

( 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.

When I put on this dress to go out the other day… I thought of a lovely garden party with white table cloths, roses, fine china tea cups, high tea nibbles, sunshine, fluffy clouds, white hats, birds, butterflies, cupcakes and confetti!

It was such a lovely image and feeling to embrace!

This mirror print floral dress was given to me courtesy of ClubCouture.

It’s so graceful, sophisticated and gorgeous. It’s perfect for a more grown-up, feminine style. It is fully lined, has a satiny smooth finish and it comes with a black silky belt.

Perfect for garden weddings, daytime luncheons, and just general walking around in the sunshine feeling fabulous!!

My silver necklace is courtesy of Lovisa.

You can buy Lovisa jewellery from The Iconic… who are offering a new discount 20% off your order (min spend $50). Use code “20AFFMOpW6″. Valid until 11 July 2012. Click here to use the code.

Two tone teal heels with metal sequins, by Gorge Shoes.

Silver Cuff by Wanderlust + Co.

( 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.

A few weeks ago, I published a photo of myself wearing a red evening gown. I received so many emails from people asking me: WHERE DID YOU GET IT??

It is a Sweetheart Shaped Dress is by US based fashion house, FashionJunkee, who ship internationally of course.

That red dress is one of my favourite dresses, because –
1) It’s a simple tube dress.
2) It’s figure hugging and flattering. And looks great on.
3) It has lots of rouching so you can pull it up or down (to suit your height) and it disguises any bumps and lumps.
4) The fabric is robust, yet soft and slinky. It might need a little swipe with an iron along the bottom of the dress, but other than that, you can roll it up and bundle it into a suitcase. I love dresses like that.
5) It’s really affordable ($48!!)

The dress comes in lots of different colous: black, white, red, cobalt blue, dusty pink, purple and leopard print!

You can even get them in a short version, in black, white, red and blue.

The team at FashionJunkee sent me a few colour variations (that I chose) and a few other items for me to try out!

This is me showing off the purple evening gown. I was going to style it with a neon accessories – a yellow belt, big neon statement necklace and shoes… which would have looked fab!

But I chose to go with the dark, vamp look, with black jewelled accessories. I loved it! My husband really liked it too :)

And this is the Dusty Pink version of the dress. It’s such a lovely pastel colour. I could have gone crazy with white gold bling, but I went with a simpler choice of accessories – with my woven pearl necklace and fur coat.

The website suggests that this style of dress (in long and short) is a great choice for bridesmaids looking for a more affordable alternative.

For sizing, I’m a size UK6, and I’m wearing a listed size SMALL. It’s a really good fit on me and a bit tight so it stays in place!

And check out this new dress! I chose it from the site because it just looked so CRAZY YELLOW and sexy at the same time (I didn’t fancy looking big and frumpy like Big Bird).

As I took it out of the box, I thought, WAYHEY – THAT is pretty damn yellow! Even I felt a bit shy… thinking… am I really brave enough to wear this in public??? It’s backless too, so you need a stick-on bra, or to go bra-less.

My verdict? It is a very cool dress and I felt fantastic in it!! Yes I would wear it… but it’s a tiny bit big under the arms for me. I’m wearing the listed size SMALL, but I feel it would fit a size 8 person better.

I think I’ll take it to my tailor to get it taken in a little bit – so I can wear it :)

There are other colours of this dress too: white, red, blue or leopard print (if yellow doesn’t agree with you).

For my shoes, I’m wearing the Orange Suede Heels, which are pretty comfortable for platform heels.

And I’m holding the Quilted Purse in Blue-Green – LOVE the colour and the cross body strap. You can also get it in burgundy, mustard, grey and black.

Hope you find something you like! Happy shopping!

( 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.

The Iconic is a fairly new online fashion store – and it is HUGE. MASSIVE I tell ya!

It sells lots of on-trend fashion products and lots of different high-end to low-end brands. It’s like a great big clothing department store, and you can filter by size, colour, brand etc.

It’s really well laid out, easy to navigate, the photographs of the products are very good, and there are lots of different sizes and colour options, AND there seems to be a good amount of stock of each item.

They also sell LOTS of shoes, sportswear, surf and skate brands, lots of accessories, and they are moving into beauty products and homewares too.

On the weekend, I finally got around to browsing the whole store… I looked around for ages! I was very impressed… it gets FIVE stars from me, for easy and enjoyable shopping!! And yes I did buy something…

(By the way, The Iconic is offering 20% off your order (min spend $50). Use code 20AFFMOpW6. Valid until 11 July 2012 Click here to use the code.

This is what I bought. A Stylestalker Top in Blush , on sale from $89 to $61. It’s a simple knit top with a semi-metallic thread. It arrived in a few days… and I LOVE IT!!

(And I wore it 2 different ways, in a casual outfit and a party outfit.)

THE BEST THING about the Iconic

1) It is HUGE!

2) Free shipping within Australia – Yep, nothing beats free shipping. They also do free over-night shipping Australia-wide, meaning you’ll get your package the next day in most big cities.

3) Free Returns within Australia – According to the website, you just fill out a form. Print off a label, the label is postage paid, drop it off at the post office and you’re done!

I was thinking that I could “purchase” a whole heap of items for my husband … and the items he doesn’t like, we can just ship it back for free. My husband and I hardly get to go shopping together… and I buy a lot of clothes for him, but I always get the sizing wrong! Mens clothes shopping is impossible!

ANYWAY… I organised my “want” list from The Iconic site into some categories. Enjoy!

What to Wear to a Wedding

Pastel muted florals, soft flowing drapes, just add a bit of bling and I’ve got a perfect wedding outfit.

Abyss Belted Dress by Cooper St

Tokonoma Assymetry Dress By Cooper St

Bedlam Dress by WISH

Building a Casual Winter Wardrobe

I’m looking for a few simple additions to my winter wardrobe.

Sherpa Jacket by Mimosa

Olivia Ruffle Blouse by Blue Juice

Cascade Blazer by Blue Juice

Must Have Sandals

Lizzy Sandal Heels by Verali

Bettina Sandals by Rebecca Minkoff

Gladys Calf Leather Sandals by Rachel Zoe

Lusting After

Wallpaper Skirt by Manning Cartell

The Big Deal by Sass and Bide

Mid Rise Skinny Jeans by JBrand

Very Affordable Heels!

Elise in Yellow patent by Verali ($59.95)

Elise in Pink Patent by Verali ($59.95)

Rocha Nude Heels by Nine West ($149.95)

( 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.

Yep, the sale silly season is upon us!

Frockaholics are having an amazing sale, with up to 60% off clothing and accessories. Scroll down for details.

The team at Frockaholics sent over a huge box of sale items for me to borrow and style. I picked out my absolute favourites – things I would buy to add into my wardrobe (if I had the money)!

This Gold Willamina Dress by Rachel Gilbert is just gorgeous! It is glamorous, striking and sophisticated. Its style is simple, classic and oh-so flattering!

I would definitely pick this dress to wear to a glamorous event, or a fancy party. After wearing it 3-4 times, I’d keep it in my wardrobe for a few years and then bring it out again for a new lease of life. Good long term investment.

Gah the dresses by Rachel Gilbert are stunning! See more items by Rachel Gilbert

When I first saw this Magdalena Velevska Embroidered Top, I thought it was “interesting and unique” – which is my other way of saying “MAYBE A BIT TOO WEIRD”.

But once I put it on and looked in the mirror, I feel in love with it! It’s so INTERESTING AND UNIQUE!!

It’s funky and cheeky, mysterious and bold, colourful and fun – and a real statement. It goes great with dark jeans, black pants, a pencil skirt and other dark coloured bottoms (which I have a lot of in my wardrobe).

I picked this top because it’s perfect for work, play and the weekends.

See more items by Magdalena Velevska

Ok this next top is goooorgeous! It’s a sheer silk shirt by Antipodium.

The print is unique and colourful. The colours are a bit muted. It’s one of those shirts that can be for work, for day time outings, evenings, worn tied into a knot, worn open, tucked in, worn loose.

Would go well with a pencil skirt, shorts, skinny jeans, wide leg pants and more.

The jeans I am wearing are Jegging Jeans by Red Valentino. Admittedly it is the first time I’ve ever worn jeggings… because I am of the view that you either wear JEAN or LEGGINGS thank you very much.

But OMG I am kicking myself now… because they are so so SO FRICKING amazing and comfortable and lush and soft and firm and… possible the nicest pair of skinny jeans that I’ve ever worn… that now I have changed my view on jeggings :)

Sigh I wish I could afford them.

Lastly, I really liked this dress by White Suede. I liked the cut-outs and the deep red colour. It’s a simple and understated shift dress, with a bit of a twist. It was lovely and easy to wear too.

With a blazer and heels it’d be great for work. Then a quick shoe swap would make it perfect for after work drinks and cocktails too.

View all the Frockaholics Sale Items

Happy shopping and hope you find something you love!!

( 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.

The team at GlamRockChic sent over a few pairs of shoes for me to get excited about.

(Also you can receive “$100 off when you spend $300”!! Scroll down for details.)

What I love love love about this brand is their dedication to making glamorous-looking shoes that are comfortable (and affordable).

These shoes are called “Wrapped Up” and it are an absolute delight to wear. They feel so soft, smooth and comfortable. They have a mid heel and… I can wear them all day – for work and play.

They are especially great for wearing in countries with warm weather, since they feature open toe and open sections for the foot to breathe. But really, I wear them in cold weather too :)

AND they come in three different looks. Behold!

This is the Black Wrapped Up shoe, with a dash of zebra print! Very edgy glamour, but still chic.

Made from sheepskin + zebra printed calfskin hair… this is definitely more striking than your normal peep toe black pumps. This design would be the most versatile shoe, since they are black and white, and will match and compliment many different outfits and looks.

I styled this shoe in two outfits. One being a very classic, simple and chic look (in all neutral colours) – black jeans, grey top and black blazer. My staple outfit. The shoes added just a touch of extra style and statement. I love!

The other outfit was a bit more fun and flirty. A party look, that is still simple and not too over the top. The shoe looks great for both outfits!

This is the Beige Wrapped Up shoe. I love the colour combinations of beige, tan and leopard print.

It is described as “a different twist to your standard nude pump”. I’d say they would be great for the office (if you can wear open toed shoes).

When I saw it I instantly thought of wearing it with blue jeans and a crisp white shirt. Or white pants and a coral coloured top. Or navy cropped pants and a nude top. The possibilities are endless with this shoe, especially when worn with whites, creams, nudes, tans, navy, reds and oranges.

Again I put together a neutral coloured outfit (all-white!) and the shoe looked fabulous with it.

And I also to prove that it can be worn at night time, I wore a more party-ish outfit – you can’t get more party-ish than a body con dress and fur coat!

Lastly, this is the Fuchsia Wrapped Up shoe.

I’ve had this pair for quite a few months and I can say for *certain* that they are super comfortable and lovely to wear.

I’ve worn them quite a few times and they have been great for colour blocking. I’ve worn them with a tangerine dress, an aqua dress, a silver sequin dress, a lime top and black jeans. Excellent shoes to wear with colourful outfits.

The outfit on the left shows that yes, the fuchsia shoes can look great with a simple neutral coloured, semi-casual outfit.

Most times when you have a “very colourful” dress, you tend to wear neutral coloured shoes (black, white, nude, grey, silver). But these fuchsia shoes go with heaps of different colours. A really nice buy!

**SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE**

Get $100 off when you spend $300!!

With any purchase of shoes worth USD300 and above on GlamRockChic’s website (does not include shipping), apply the code PAMPER100 to get USD100 off the total bill.

Then select ‘Postal Shipping’ at checkout and we will upgrade it to Courier Shipping (which is faster and more secure!)

Code: PAMPER100 (big caps all the way)

Promotion duration: 12 – 26 JUNE 2012

Happy shoe shopping my dears!!

( 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.

Here are a few new additions to my wardrobe!!

These were a recent purchase. Aren’t they gorgeous?!

They are 100% leather, handmade in Australia. They are a beautiful colour, the print is awesome, they have a soft pony-hair texture and amazing craftsmanship.

No they are not Louboutin’s, but hey, they are pretty damn close. They are by a brand called BellaModa, who are no longer in business… so they had a massive clearance. I bought them for $40 people!!

Floral sheer blouse from Zara.

The hem has an elastic all the way around, which gives the top a nice bubble look. I like it because it gives it a bit more structure, as chiffon can look very loose and shapeless. And the sleeves are 3/4 so they don’t look too long on my (short) arms.

This print is very pretty! And I can’t wait to wear it with jeans and ankle boots.

I picked out this sheer yellow shirt courtesy of YesStyle.

Again, this blouse is made from a lovely sheer chiffon, which I’m very into at the moment. It’s light, breezy, effortless, and slouchy.

And I’m currently WANTING to buy -

Classic leather pointed-toe pumps by Steve Madden ($89.95)

I’ve been looking for a classic pump in a blush colour, that didn’t break my credit card. These look perfect!

Strappy flat sandals in lemon by Ralph Lauren (only $59)

I can’t wait for the warmer weather to come back! Brights and neon accessories are hot on-trend at the moment!

Turquiose Cross Shoulder Bag by Rebecca Minkoff

I’d really like a brightly-coloured, casual-looking, mid-sized handbag… and I have my eye on this bag. I’m a big fan of Rebecca Minkoff too.

Also these Lilac Skinny Jeans from ASOS!

Happy weekend everyone! xxx

( 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.

The team at LOEF sent over a heap of samples for me to play with and feature on my site.

The LOEF eboutique specialises in very affordable fashion items – mostly dresses, tops and bottoms, with a price range of $24 – $52. They are based in Singapore with international shipping.

These were my favourites:

This Grecian Evening Dress is pretty cool. It looks like a big sock when laid flat… but once you put it on, it drapes in all the right places and it looks quite stunning.

The quality of the jersey is much like a dress you would buy from Cotton On or ASOS. The fabric is lovely, light, drapey and not clingy. It’s very nice to swish in.

I found the length to be just right on me (I’m 160cms). And apparently you can turn it into a short bubble-style dress by taking the hem of the dress and hitching it up on your waist.

The royal blue dress is out of stock at the moment, but the black version is available.

This Mint Midi Dress wasn’t quite my usual style. But after wearing it, it grew on me and I really liked it in the end.

Designed with lovely tailored pleats, an A line style skirt, this dress is fully lined, easy to wear and suggests an understated, preppy style seen from labels such as Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger, and also has the details of 50s Madmen style.

It’d make a great office outfit or a casual day dress.

Love the colour!

Lastly, this Leopard Print Chiffon Top is great for casual wearing, or throwing over your bikinis by the pool.

It’s light, sheer, loose and airy – perfect for warm weather.

Do check out the rest of the dresses on offer, and hope you find something you like!

Happy shopping!

( 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.

The team from Betts sent me an amazing pair of glitter heels and set me on a challenge to style it in 5 different ways.

Yup, they are very glitzy, glamorous and great for a special occasion.

I had SO much fun styling them. They really added a pop of glam to each of the outfits.

Each time I changed into a new outfit, I stopped and imagined wearing a pair of plain black shoes.. then instantly thought “Gosh that’s a bit safe and boring”. But with the silver glitter shoes, haha I felt like dancing and strutting around. Shoes really do transformeth an outfit and mood.

And the silver colour of the shoes made them very versatile to match lots of different looks.

Here are close ups of the outfits and a breakdown of what I’m wearing!

Right
Red Dress: Fashionjunkee
Necklace: Sportsgirl
Ring and bracelet: Wanderlust + Co

Left
Black and White Bandage Dress: ClubCouture

Right
White blazer: SOL
Lilac Camisole Top: Prada
Black Crop Pants: AL&ALICIA

Left
Faux Fur Coat: Guset (via YesStyle)
Mint blouse: Redopin (via YesStyle)
Leather Skirt: Sarah (via YesStyle)

Dot Top: AL&ALICIA
FloralPants:ASOS

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend xx!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I have some fabulous new updates from Abi and Joseph to share with you today!

I have a special discount code for all my wonderful readers –
Get FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING and receive 10% off your order!
Yippee! Scroll below for details.

First I want to talk about this cool Supplex Mesh Bomber Jacket.

The “Sports Luxe” look is one of the hottest looks of the season… and this graphite and yellow jacket is absolutely swoon worthy.

It is made from Supplex Mesh which has breathable, flexible and moisture wicking qualities. It’s perfect for throwing over your gym clothes when you head out to the gym. And also looks great when worn with everyday outfits (jeans or shorts)

I love it because it’s light to wear, it’s a great cover-up before and after workouts and it looks awesome! Love that yellow trim – matches my shoes!

Here’s a close up of the jacket. And what it looks like zipped up.

I’m also wearing a yellow Pilates and Yoga Bra, made from luxe Italian Lycra, with a comfy T-back style (so you can wear it with racer back tops). Comes in black, navy, coffee, purple, pink and yellow.

This is the Cotton Bomber Jacket, in Pink.

This jacket is made in Australia, made from 100% cotton, so it’s super comfy and feels really nice to wear. It’s great for yoga, pilates, working out, travel and everyday wear.

I like the vibrant pink and the design is eye catching!

Again here’s a close up and what it looks like zipped up.

It’s a good fit for me, snug and close to the body, not baggy. I’m wearing the XS for both jackets.

THIS is the Hooded Vuelta Zip Jacket!

It is pretty amazing – made from Italian Vuelta (soft, comfy, warm, lightweight, breathable, pilling resistant, thermal protection, and anti-bacterial!). It has a classic and simple design, perfect worn for weekend, gym or travel wear.

It’s gorgeous! I love that it’s warm (kind of like a light fleece lining) yet breathable. And it has a lovely sheen on the fabric making it look a little more sophisticated than an average “casual” cotton jacket.

It’s also an XS, but its fit is a little more relaxed.

And here are some super cool coloured tops available from Abi and Joseph. They are all super luxe, super soft, comfortable, high quality, stretchy, thick and strong fabric.

I like them because I can just wear a sports bra underneath and the fabric is not see-through at all. I can layer them easily, they don’t have loud/tacky logos, and I can wear them as everyday wear.

AND I love them because… after I hand wash them and dry them flat, I don’t need to iron them. I just pop them on and the creases just stretch out (haha I mean, who wants to iron workout gear??).

(And remember you can get 10% off with my discount code!)

From left –

MINT Body Top 3/4 Sleeve
This is a gorgeous colour! You could wear this to the gym or throw on some jeans or a pretty skirt and wear it out as everyday wear. Comes in heaps of different colours too.

This is a XS, but I found that it was a little roomy (a tiny bit big at the underarms). I’m a size 6, so I think this style in XS would fit someone who is a size 8 better.

YELLOW Cap Sleeve Tee
This tee is a XS and it fits me perfectly. It’s got an amazing stretch and I love wearing it. I already have a grey and white tee in this style.

TANGERINE Viscose Hoody
I already have this Hoody in a Graphite colour and it’s my favourite go-to workout top to throw on when the weather is slightly cool. This tangerine colour is a hot new season colour and it’s so vibrant and delicious!

BLUE Viscose Hoody
This blue hoody is also a new colour in the range. You can also get it in Mint, Pistachio, Lilac and Graphite.

**SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE**

The team at Abi and Joseph are offering my readers a 10% discount and free worldwide shipping until 30 June 2012. Including all new items and clearance items.

To activate this code, you MUST enter the promo code ‘karencheng’ in the top navigation bar.

Happy shopping everyone!!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Here are 2 pairs of shoes that I will be wearing constantly this new season :)

I fell in love with the YELLOW when I saw them online on ASOS.

They make the fashiony girl in me go – HELLO SUNSHINE!!

Do check out the awesome outlet sales from ASOS Australia.

And the equally awesome outlet sales fromASOS Asia.

These cool leopard booties are from the current Betts A/W 2012 collection.

They will definitely add a pop of fabulousness when worn with cold-weather attire – namely leggings, skinny jeans, or a long black maxi tube skirt.

Betts are having their Mid-Season 30-50% Off Sale now.

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I realise that a lot of my fashion posts feature a lot of “going out” or “formal” outfits.

So I put together a few of my “everyday” outfits, stuff that I actually wear and have worn during the week.

This week the theme is YELLOW!

LEFT

Stripe top- Alexander Wang from The Outnet
I am in love with basic luxe tees. Their slouchy look is just perfect with jeans, cropped pants, skirts or shorts.

Yellow jeans – YesStyle
These are just cheap and cheerful jeans from a Korean brand, Bengirl. The yellow colour is just how I like it – not too dull, not too bright.

Shoes – Habbot
Ah I wear these oxfords 3-4 times a week! Best shoe investment ever.

MIDDLE

Black knit – YesStyle
This knit is from a Korean brand called JCStyle, which has a fantastic range of smart casual clothes with a stylish and polished look. I’ve gotten a few knits from this brand, but this knit is my favourite because it’s lightweight, has batwing sleeves and a boat-neck neckline which makes for a very slouchy but polished look (ha!).

Neon top – J Crew
I bought this yellow top online and it’s VERY neon. Almost like what construction road workers wear in the rain! I have worn it under layers of black and navy knits and coats, but I’ve never worn it on it’s own yet!

Black skinny jeans – Vivianne Westwood
My black skinnies are a wardrobe staple.

Leopard heels – Nude Shoes
I love these shoes because of their very low heels. I usually wear them when I’m wearing a plain outfit, just to give a bit of fun detail.

RIGHT

Cream top – AL&ALICIA
A gorgeously simple, sleeveless top. Again perfect for everyday wear

Stripe skirt – YesStyle
This is from another Korean brand called J-ANN. It’s called a “Glitter Stripe Skirt” but it’s actually not very glittery at all. It’s a simple tube skirt made from a thick knit, so I’m sure it’ll see me into the cold weather – with tights and boots!

Yellow heels – ASOS
These are a very recent acquisition from ASOS. They are so much fun to wear and I adore them sooo much!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

For all you who had missed out on my last giveaway – here’s another awesome one to try!

If you have been a long-time follower of my blog, you might have noticed that I’m a fan of AL&ALICA. I’ve done many features of their collections, I have LOTS of clothes from this label and many of them are my wardrobe staples :)

Their designs are a wonderful mix of flirty + feminine, with a masculine edge. It’s kind of boy meets girl, and oozing with understated cool. Best of all, the clothes are comfortable, using high quality fabrics, with exceptional tailoring.

Well to celebrate their latest collection, the team from AL&ALICA are offering my readers a special giveaway.

Win any 2 items from the AL&ALICA website, of your choice!

Please scroll down for details!

The team sent me a few goodies to review, from the Spring Summer 2012 collection – Time to Pretend.

This first dress is the Kite Dress in Blossom colour. It’s probably more of a tunic or a mini dress, with pretty double layer drape at the front. It’s made from such a light, silky and luxurious fabric that you can wear it tucked into skirts or pants.

It’s perfect for warm weather, and those hot days when you still want to look stylish, yet effortless!

This is the Spellbound Jellybean Dress – another effortless dress that is pretty and colourful. I absolutely adored this one!

I’ve already worn it twice… and I got so many compliments :) I think it’s so eye catching because of its combination of pretty print and gorgeous tailoring.

The dress looks great with a blazer or denim jacket too!

Here I’m wearing a few items.

Emma Frost Top in Whipped Cream colour, which has the CUTEST polka dot bubble sheer things on it. It is sooooOOOooo cool!

This is my favourite piece in the whole collection. It combines *perfectly* with everything in my wardrobe (jeans, skirts, shorts, cropped pants) and gives each outfit a new breath of freshness that’s quirky and fun.

Yellow shorts are the Super Shorts in Buttercup colour. It is a relaxed tailored cut, with pleats, made from super soft tencel, with full lining. It’s lovely to wear. I felt very… luxuriousl, yet casual in it!

Lastly, in the outfit with my bright blue J Brand jeans, I’m wearing a Slouchy Jacket in Powder Puff colour. This is also made from super soft tencel and it’s soooo nice to wear. It’s a double breasted jacket with a relaxed fit.

You can check out the whole “Time To Pretend” collection at the Al & Alicia website!

………………………………………………………………..

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Who Can Enter:
It’s open to all readers WORLDWIDE, over the age of 18 years.

What You Win:
One lucky winner will get to pick 2 items of his/her choice, across all AL&ALICIA collections (including sale items), subject to stock availability.

Giveaway Ends:
The giveaway will last 10 days, from May 1st to May 10th, 5pm (GMT +8)

This giveaway is now closed!

The winner will be randomly selected and contacted via Facebook messages.

If the selected winner doesn’t respond in 48 hours, then I will have to redraw. I will announce the winner as soon as possible on my blog and my Facebook Page (please pop over and LIKE my page, if you haven’t already).

I will also be posting a reminder on my blog and Facebook Page, before the end of the giveaway.

Good luck!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

You’ve probably seen the trend of stacking multiple bracelets and bangles on your wrists, which are called “arm parties”.

It’s wonderfully fun to wear and gives your outfit a sexy, playful edge. Well the team from Wanderlust + Co asked me to share how I put my arms parties together.

They have also given all my readers a special 20% discount code! Please scroll down for details.

Honestly, there is no rule for arm parties – just stack heaps of your favourite bangles and bracelets together – whatever best reflects your personality and mood at the moment!

However sometimes – even I can admit – that the haphazard stacking can look a bit crazy and messy (which is fine when you are in a “crazy and messy mood”).

But when you want to look a bit more “put together”…. here are a few visual design tips.

1) Try just one large chunky item – your favourite watch, a big-colourful bangle, a sparkly-spiky bracelet.

2) Team it with one statement piece that compliments (or boldly contrasts) your outfit. If you’re wearing black, try a bold orange or neon piece!

3) Select 2-3 smaller bracelets that each compliment at least one other item already chosen!

4) Stick to one metallic tone for all pieces. Eg gold, silver, rose gold.

5) Stock up on white, black, nudes and neutral bracelets, because they are so versatile!

6) Experiment and be playful with you colour combinations!

Here some arm party inspirations, featuring pieces from the mouth-watering wrist collection from Wanderlust + Co.

Top – Redophin; Skirt – LClothes; Shoes – Gucci replicas.

Wanderlust + Co Sunburst Navy Leather Wrap, Snake cuff from Forever New, Multi-stud Silver Nude Wrap, Watch from Guess, Blue Chain Toggle Bracelet.

Top – Alexander Wang; Leather skirt – YesStyle; Shoes – ASOS.

Wanderlust + Co Multi-Stud Silver Nude Wrap, White Cuff from Sportsgirl, Multi-Bar Gold Camel Bracelet, Sunburst Navy Leather Wrap.

Top – Prada; Pants – ASOS; Heels – Sportsgirl.

Silver Braid Cuff – Sportsgirl, Wanderlust + Co XL DLink Gold Turquoise Bracelet, Rainbow Braid from Dressonomy, Multi-bar Gold Camel Bracelet.

The W+Co team is offering all my readers a discount code of 20% everything!

Just use the code “karen20” at check out. Valid for 5 days, until the end of 14 April.

Hope you find something you love!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

These are some fab items I picked up from YesStyle.

I’m getting ready for the cool weather with this gorgeous yellow wool pea coat.

I thought a yellow would be a nice way to inject some colour and sunshine into dreary cold days. It’s a bit different to your regular black, grey, navy and camel coloured coats, and it certainly makes a happy statement.

This jacket is by Angel Love, a label full of feminine lace skirts, chiffon blouses , pleated skirts, and crocheted tops.

This chiffon mint shirt, with cut-out shoulders, is super hot! I can’t wait to style it soon. It’s breezy and easy, effortless and sexy – I really like a lot!

It’s from one of my favourite Korean labels, Redopin. They have some really cool mint / light green items (tops, jackets, knits) in their latest release, if you want to check it out.

I’ve been wanting a pair of yellow jeans for ages! And now I’ve already been wearing these to death :)
(Unfortunately these have been sold out.)

Oh and these are some labels I wanted to mention, as they currently have some great stuff on sale.

Stylementor from Korea has a really simple and stylish look. Nice knits, on-trend office pieces (sheer blouses, printed shirts, pleated skirts, colourful blazers) that can be easily worn from work to play.

Puffy has some really nice polka dot dresses at the moment, pretty chiffon tops and stripe tops too. Worth a look if you haven’t browsed already.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xxx

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a bunch of gorgeous evening dresses :)

I picked out 4 dresses from ClubCouture and each one made me squeal with delight!

This first dress is the One Shoulder Banded Bodycon Dress from the Premium range.

Its quality and construction is fantastic (much better than bandage dresses from Topshop, Zara, or ASOS). The fabric is wonderfully thick, firm and stretchy.

Personally, I feel that this dress totally rates as a high-end designer dress (without the whopping price tag).

The one shoulder style made it feel a bit more elegant for a special occasion. I wore it out to my 10th anniversary dinner with my husband and I felt amazing!!

And here is this very similar (but different) second dress. It felt so comfortable, so balanced, so perfectly snug on my whole body… I felt like I could last a whole day and evening in it.

It is called the Monochrome Banded Bodycon Dress and again it is from the Premium collection.

I think this dress looks  gorgeous, in a more classic, accentuates-your-curves, safe-but-sexy way!

Again the quality and construction of this dress is great. The firm fabric and fit feels a bit like shape-wear that pulls all your curves into place :)

I can’t choose which dress I prefer. Which is to say, I love both of them!

But wait, there are more!!

The black dress is called the Satin and Lace Prom Dress.

It’s $59 dollars and it’s such a cute, simple and high-impact dress! The bodice has a simple elastic at the back and it’s easy and comfortable to wear. It nips in nice and tight at the waist, and puffs out into a full circle mini skirt. It’s fun and very flirty.

The aqua dress is the Teal Bodycon Dress, just $59. This one is also a nice, simple, easy to wear dress, that you can easily dress up or down. I really liked the colour too.

The material is of a lesser quality than the first 2 bandage dresses, but it matches the quality of clothes from ASOS. Definitely a great, affordable dress.

I’m liking the whole collection at ClubCouture for their affordable clothes. There are hundreds of dress styles there. And plenty of on-trend tops – from lovely blouses to casual jersey drape tops.

Hope you find something you like!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

PeepToe Shoes are having a massive Online Warehouse Sale!!

There are a huge range of shoes, ballet flats, bags and jewellery that are all up to 75% off. You can pick up some statement high heels from $49, clutches from $29, and kick-ass, on-trend jewellery from $10.

The team sent me a few sale samples (which I have to send back) and deary me, it’s cruel I tell you. This bracelet above is $25. The rock and rock bracelet (with skulls) were $79, now $25.

The aqua suede shoes were $279, now only $99!

These ballet flats I’m wearing were $199, now $79. Next to them are Mushroom heels also were $199, now $79.

Limited time only, don’t miss it.

There’s heaps more on the sale site, so please go check it out!!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

www.peeptoeshoes.com.au

I want to introduce to you a new line of clothes from Ciao Bella Travel, called Bamboo Body, which is all about versatile travel wear and casual everyday wear.

The clothes are made from bamboo viscose and organic cotton. They are super-soft, smooth, thick and strong, and environmentally friendly.

Ciao Bella are offering 15% off the ENTIRE SITE to all my readers, please see below for details.

I had the pleasure of testing out a few pieces, and here are my favourites!

This Henley Tank Dress is fabulous as a casual, everyday dress with a very relaxed style. You just throw it on as is, or you can play with the ruching on the sides to make it shorter or longer.

I wore it 3 ways.

1) Worn long, with a slight side ruche. Nice and simple.

2) Worn with a belt. I pulled some fabric over the belt to make the dress even shorter.

3) And I felt like such a clever chicken here! I gathered up one side to create a very high split. I wore a sparkly, black tank top and tied a knot on one side. I popped a crisp white jacket over the top. Slipped on some heels and VIOLA! A completely different kind of outfit for a smoking night out!!

Just a few sizing tips (if you’re small like me). I’m usually a size AUS 6, and this dress was labelled “Extra Small” which translates to a size AUS 8. So it was a tiny bit big on me. It would fit a size AUS or UK 8 (US 4) perfectly. Check out the sizing chart on the site!

The dress also comes in black, brown and nautical navy + white stripes! You can see the items here.

Speaking of nautical stripes – I loved this Bamboo Body Swing Top. It’s so soft and comfy. I also tucked it into some colours jeans and threw a blazer over the top for a smarter look.

Again the size “Extra Small” would suit a size AU 8 better, but ah, that won’t stop me from wearing it!

And lastly, this Scandi Dress is lovely and simple. I adore the bright colour, the flattering cut, and the ruched details. It’s a great summer dress and perfect for lounging around the pool too.

You can check out their whole range of Bamboo Body items here.

The kind team at Ciao Bella have given my readers a really special discount off EVERYTHING in their store. You can pick up some great yoga/travel wear from Abi and Joseph, dresses by Sacha Drake, super-handy travel cloth bags for intimate wear and more.

15% off everything on Ciao Bella Travel for all my readers!
Valid until 31 March 2012. Enter promo code KAREN CHENG in the promo code box at the check-out.

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

About 5-6 weeks ago (yes it was ages ago!) I bought these AMAZING flower print pants from ASOS!

I am just so in love with the crazy, bold, colourful print! I’ve already worn them a few times, but it’s the first time I’ve shown them on my blog.

Haha they are an absolute eye-catcher. They seriously make people look at your legs and bum.

Which yes, as a result, I was asking my husband several times in the evening, DOES THIS MAKE MY ASS LOOK BIG? How about at this angle? Or this?

He assured me that while where was a lot of trippy, flower-action happening, no, my ass did not look bigger than normal. Phew.

50% off 50 Sale at ASOS

ASOS are having a fabulous 50% off Sale on 50 items – full of flowers, bright colours and happy patterns! There is a bright tangerine bowling bags for under $30, pastel knitted jumpers for $28, sequin dress for $40, and playsuits for $29!

Be quick the sale ends tomorrow evening!

Check out the ASOS Australia Sale

Check out the ASOS Asia Sale

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Let me introduce you to a new online shop and fashion label called, Dresstronomy.

Based in Singapore, the store offers a unique selection of simple, elegant dresses at a affordable prices.  Quite a few of them caught my eye :)

Check out their collection of dresses here.

I tested out this lovely dress, called Pin Up Girl.

I was completely smitten by its shape – the drapey top, with a v-neck and the long, straight skirt, with a mega split! It looked fantastic on!

The dress is priced at about US$120 which is quite good for an elegant evening gown that’s a bit different.

It’s the most expensive piece in the collection, and the rest of the dresses are priced from US$38 to US$90 (they are currently having a sale).

Here, I am trying out this leatherette-with-studs clutch with some of  my own clothes.  I chose this particular clutch because it seems like it could go with a lot of outfit variations in my wardrobe. Fast, easy, reliable, versatile.

Take a look at all the Bags and Clutches at Dresstronomy.

They have free shipping within Singapore, and flat rate international shipping which is about US$30.

Do check out the rest of the site!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’m very excited to introduce my readers to an online shop called, FashionValet.

Perhaps many of my readers will have already heard of this store, but for those who haven’t… FashionValet is a very popular online shop based in Malaysia, offering a MASSIVE collection of ready-to-wear local designer clothes.

They have 60+ labels, about 80% of them are Malaysian designers and labels (Radzuan Radziwill, Tom Abang Saufi, Gallo, Azorias, Jas C, PU3 to name a few) and the rest are brands from the Asian region.

What hooked me in about this site… is that they celebrate their local designers, making fashion accessible to a wide range of tastes… and there is a strong “local fashion flavour” that is quite exciting for me to experiment and style with.

I’m wearing a ready-to-wear kaftan by Radzuan Radziwill, one of the most established designers in Malaysia, honoured and awarded for his contributions towards fashion in Malaysia.

Kaftans are very popular in Malaysia, and there’s a strong trend for young women to wear kaftans to glamorous events and weddings.

As you can see from Radziwill’s very large collection, kaftans come in lots of bright colours and lovely, long, flowing drapes!

I’ve always wanted a dressy kaftan, so I chose a leopard print sheer kaftan and wore my own black slip underneath. It is a one size fits all, so I pinned it along the bottom and pinned it at the back, so it hugs my figure a little. I will definitely take it to my tailor.

It is just gorgeous!! I feel very floaty and elegant.

This is a long tunic top by label TAS Iman by Tom Abang Saufi, another prominent Malaysian label.

I loved the drape of this top, the colours, and the combination of chiffon and jersey. Plus I really like it that I haven’t seen anything like this before – very unique!

I styled the top in two ways – worn long with leather leggings and tucked into leather shorts. I could also wrap a belt over it, or just wear it as a mini dress.

Lastly this top is a sheer blouse with embellished details at the collar. Sheer blouses are hot at the moment, and this one is pretty much perfect – including a pretty collar detail and 3/4 sleeves.

It is by a Malaysian ready-to-wear label called, Jas C, who has a really nice collection of affordable, on-trend fashion (check out the maroon pussybow playsuit!)

Again I styled it in two ways. Worn over a bra and with a sequin gold skirt. And worn with a singlet camisole and camel pants.

It’s a pretty big site, so if you’re not sure where to start, try the What’s New section.

Or try some browsing some of these brands:
Azorias
Quirky Brown Cow
Loushkii
Janelle

These are their shipping details:
Malaysia – Free for all orders
Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia – RM30 (US$10) flat rate. If the order is above RM 500 (US$165) then shipping is free.
Australia – RM 50 (AU$15) flat rate for all orders.

*Special Worldwide Discount for Karen Cheng Readers!!*
20% off EVERYTHING, including sale items.
Coupon Code: TEHTARIK
Last day to redeem is 12th of March.

Collect Loyalty Points
Oh and I’ve been told there’s a special Loyalty Programme where you can collect points when you shop and those points can be redeemed into cash for your future orders. Head on over to check it out!

Happy shopping!!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I got to choose a few statement accessories from my-wardrobe.com to style and wear out, but alas, they had to be returned.

This choker is just gorgeous! It looks and feels amazing to wear, and it definitely adds a sexy-tough edge to any outfit. I wanted to wear it with a blazer and pants, a maxi corset dress, a mini bodycon dress and more!

Gold and Silver Likanis Choker By Malene Birger.

If you check out the product page,  it’s been styled in some really nice outfits – worn with white + palazzo pants, a drape dress, crop pants +  cardigan, a blazer, and a jumpsuit.

This Natural Marano Sea Snake Clutch by Anya Hindmarch is just beautiful. It oozes timeless glamour and luxury. I was just gazing at it all night… because it was so pretty and because I didn’t want anyone to steal it!

I also wore this V-Knot Amber Ring by Wanderlust and Co.

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I was sent a few shoes from Gorge (short for Gorgeous) and they asked me to see what I think, and give them a bit of a test drive.

They certainly are bold, sexy and uniquely designed shoes made from lovely materials – great for girls who want to make a statement. They are eye-catching and comfortable too.

The shoes are priced around $250 – $350.

But they are currently having a 50% off the whole collection, so they are now $120 – $175 which is quite cool if you’re looking for high quality statement shoes.

Also international shipping and delivery is FREE.

This is ENVY – two toned leather heels, with teal suede and metal embellishments.

Obviously these shoes are very “look at me” and they will go with bold, brightly coloured outfits. But they can look great with a simple outfit too – worn with a simple black cocktail dress, or a plain white party dress.

So if you want to perk up some of the dresses in your wardrobe into a fresh outfit… statement shoes and accessories are a great way to go.

I’m wearing PINK SPICE – all leather, with a sexy chrome anklet chain and a little jewel detail on the heel.

These were comfortable too. I wore them for 5 hours straight without any complaints.

They felt very minimal, which was nice, but still had enough bling to make my feet feel sexy and girly.

Lastly, these white loafers SIGNORINA, are a little different to the rest of the collection, but still look fresh, smart and stylish.

Loafers are very popular at the moment, and I think this style (with added pleats details and the silver buckle) will last for many seasons.

They were a *tiny* bit big, but I slipped in an insertable shoe sole and it was all good.

I’m wearing size 36 for all these shoes. I’m usually a EU 35.5 – 36, or size AUS & US 5 – 6 or UK 3.

You can check out their whole collection on the Gorge Website.

Happy Shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

This new season, printed pants have become very popular. I reckon it’s an awesome trend, because it’s so bold, daring and FUN!!

Check these babies out! They are floral pants from ASOS, and they scream SPRIIIING!!

Pants: ASOS
Tank: Rick Owens from The Outnet
Ring: Diva and Wanderlust and Co
Shoes: ASOS

I’ve had these skinny leopard print pants for a while now (since last August?). They kind of got lost in my wardrobe, and I recently rediscovered them again. Looking forward to giving them a better run around when the weather cools down.

Pants: Yesstyle
Tee: T by Alexander Wang from shopbop.com
Shoes: Sportsgirl

I also dug up another treasure!

I bought a lilac Prada silk top age while ago from ebay, I wore it a few times, but then it got lost beneath my brighter coloured tops.

I pulled it out again, because I wanted to wear it with my rose pink tulip skirt.

Camisole: Prada
Skirt: Forever New
Rings: Wanderlust and Co
Snake bracelet: Forever New
Leopard shoes: Nude

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

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.

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.

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 )

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

This week, I’ve been a bit spoiled! My social life has exploded, I’ve been out and about every day and every evening! Not to mention, it was also Chinese New Year and Australia Day this week. So we have had a lot of food, fun, family and friends!

The other night, I went out to dinner with good friends. We ate at a restaurant overlooking the beach. I watched the sky turn pink and the sun set over the Indian Ocean, while eating marron (local freshwater crayfish/lobster) and slow cooked pork belly. It was bliss!

I sat opposite a huge mirror and just had to take a photo!

I wore my black and lime, patterned tulip dress from Birdsnest, fuchsia heels, and a swag of arm candy.

The next night, I went out to dinner with some girlfriends and again, I had such a fantastic time. Great friends, great food and great conversations – a magical combination indeed.

I wore my Sass and Bide singlet top, mustard skirt from Mersh (YesStyle) and again my fuchsia heels and arm party gear.

OK so here are the fuchsia suede heels that I’ve been wearing all week, from GlamRockChic :)

Gorgeous, striking, bold and super comfy!

And here’s my very Chinese New Year looking Marc Jacobs clutch in RED AND GOLD!!

I’m going to a huge Chinese New Year gala ball tomorrow, so I’ll post photos next week! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

xxx

( 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.

I bought two tops from The Outnet last week – from two of my favourite labels.

Marni is an Italian label that always seems to catch my eye at fashion shows around the world. I love her (Consuelo Castiglioni) bold, colourful, quirky, off-beat style.

While I wouldn’t actually wear most of the quirky-bold pieces in her collections, there are always some sleek designs that I drool after, and her accessories are just gorgeous.

Top by Marni, denim shorts by Acne, shoes by Habbot Studios.

Anyway, I was looking for some casual tops, that still looked a bit dressy. Something that I could wear to a summer time dinner and drinks, and to a nice afternoon event.

I bought this simple, cotton camisole top by Marni – with flowers, mainly because I already have a good stock of plain tops and thought I’d try something different.

It arrived in 5 days, and it’s absolutely lovely! Light, simple, feminine, and very sweet, without being too sweet.

I also threw on some coloured cropped pants and a dressy skirt, just to play with the versatility of the top.

It’d go great with lots of other bottoms – maxi skirts, pencil skirts, wide leg pants, work pieces, and of course, your favourite pair of jeans :)

The next top is a Polka Dot Tank by Sonia by Sonia Rykiel.

Sonia Rykiel is an uber iconic French designer, first popular in the 70s. The label’s style is gorgeous, flirty, French, chic, ultra-feminine – full of bold colours, pink, stripes, and polka dots. It has a very unique and timeless style, but it’s very playful and cheeky too.

The top is a very simple tank, made from deliciously soft jersey, but not see-through.

While I think I will actually be wearing it more with casual shorts and skirts… I paired it with a leather skirt and pony hair heels, and it looked fab! Very French glamour!!

( 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.

Patterned tank, by Sass and Bide.

Light denim shorts in a casual boyfriend style, by Acne.

I LOVE!

Silver crinkle tee, from Topshop.com.

(I actually bought this 2 months ago and wore it here)

( 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.

With all the bright, bold colours, crazy prints and sparkly, glitter textures swirling around in the media, magazines, my screen, and my wardrobe… it’s a nice change to turn your nose up to it all and come back to black on black.

I recently found a classic, biker styled, leather jacket by Nabi, courtesy of YesStyle.

I have been looking for one for the looongest time.

Here’s a bit of fashion pop-culture history for you.

Leather jackets were worn in the early 1900s by people in aviation and the military.

The black motorcycle leather jacket was first made popular by Marlon Brando in The Wild One (1953). His jacket style was called the “Perfecto motorcycle jacket”, which was actually first designed in 1928, and cost $5.50.

Since then, the Perfecto has made it onto the big screen again and again, worn by John Travolta in Grease (1978), Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing (1987), Johnny Depp in Cry-Baby (1990), and Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator 2 (1991).

And also rock stars like Blondie, The Ramones, and The Sex Pistols, wore their jackets all the time.

Of course, the one I have has been evolved a little – slight shoulder pads, epaulettes on the shoulders, no waist-band belt.

It’s buttery soft, faux leather, with lining. It has a lovely heavy feel, and just the right amount of embellishments and garment detail to my liking (and it is affordable). It’ll slip into my wardrobe *perfectly* and ooze understated badass-ness :)

Jacket: Nabi

Top: Marc Jacobs

Jeans: Vivienne Westwood

Heels: Nude

( 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.

Last week I mentioned that I hit the shops to explore some of the post new year sales.

I spotted this aqua knit top from Sportsgirl and I fell in love with the quirky, bold colour! I feel like a happy peppermint.

I’ve already worn it a couple of times. Once with leopard skirt, then with a black leather skirt, and then with black skinny jeans.

I think I might pair it with white shorts, or some maroon cropped pants (worn here), or maybe my bright blue jeans (worn here)?

Leopard print skirt from Miss Selfridge, I bought a few seasons ago.

Blush patent leather heel are from Dorothy Perkins, also a few seasons old.

( 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.

The team at my-wardrobe sent over a few J Brand jeans for me to play with. In super bright colours!

These are currently 30-50% OFF on the my-wardrobe site – which is pretty amazing!

They feel so comfortable, soft and stretchy. And they look gorgeous!

With these outfits, I styled them with simple blacks, whites and greys…. because I figured everyone has those neutral colours in their wardrobe.

I thought that maybe the orange or green wouldn’t look good with my skin tone, but I reckon they look great. If I had to choose a favourite…

I’d say that the bright blue was my favourite! (But the pink was so cool. And the orange looked great too. Tough call.)

I’m wearing size 26s here… and usually when I buy 26s, I have to cut 5cms off the bottom and sew them up to make them fit on my legs – because I’m short. But for these… they are at a perfect leg length. When wearing heels, I can wear them as is. When I’m wearing flats, I can just scrunch them up a bit at the knees, or turn them up once.

Oh and please don’t forget to enter my AMAZING EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY – a voucher worth AUD$1000 to spend at my-wardrobe!!

Head on over to my giveaway post and enter.

All the best! xxx

( 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.

A few weeks ago, I was asked to test out a Pia Gladys Perey dress from Gosh Celebrity Fashion. I didn’t know anything about the emerging Australia designer, yet I oohed and ahhed and then chose a short, navy drape dress, called Bea (size 6).

It arrived in the mail and OMG it felt AMAZING to wear.

The fabric is soft and slinky, yet strong, stretchy and heavy. It feels like a high quality garment. It’s so comfortable and easy to wear and move in. It falls, scrunches and drapes in all the right places. Quick you must go out and buy one now!
You won’t regret it!

In fact, I’d say that it rates as one of the Top 10 dresses I own!

I suspect for most people, if you’re going to a fancy end-of-year ball, or a special gala function, or an important awards night, or you’re maid of honour at a girl friend’s wedding… you’d probably go out and buy a $200 – $300 dress? If you’re lucky you might get a nice one for $150. Quite normal right?

Well I can not believe how well priced these dresses are.

I am a big fan of slinky jersey type dresses. And believe me, I have tested out lots of them! From over $500 jersey dresses and $30 jersey dresses… there is probably a time a place for each of them.

But to hit that sweet spot in the middle ground (of price for quality), this collection of slinky jersey dresses have done very, very well.

You can get different floor length gowns, and elegant short dresses. Each style comes in lots of different colours. They also look gorgeous as bridesmaids dresses!

Pia’s dresses are stocked online at Gosh Celebrity Fashion, currently there are about 43 styles you can buy.

Gosh has offered all Karen Cheng readers a 15% discount on full priced Pia Gladys Perey dresses. Just use the code ‘karencheng’ at checkout. Valid untill 30th January 2012.

Free delivery for Australia. And they have worldwide shipping.

They are also stocked in USA, Singapore, Philippines and Dubai, but you’ll have to contact the PGP team from their website.

(Oh and apparently Angelina Jolie wears Pia’s dresses.)

( 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.

I wanted to share a few bluey outfits that I’ve been wearing recently and match them up to a few sales happening around the internet.

ASOS just started their mega sale at the moment – up to 50% off items! Click here for ASOS Australia, ASOS Asia and ASOS Rest of the World.

Isn’t this dress so PRETTY?! Glittery, glamorous, short, simple but high impact! I love the two tone blue zigzag. It’s a great skirt length for me too.

Speaking about skirt lengths. Here’s a funny story.

After my post last week, where I featured 6 dresses from Birdsnest Online, I received several comments/emails from my readers, along the lines of – “Dear Karen, you look great in the dresses, but I wonder what they would look like on NORMAL SHORT PEOPLE LIKE ME??”

It’s hilarious, because I am reeeeeeally short! I’m 160cm tall. That’s 5’2”. I can buy clothes from the KIDS section. I’m so short that when I stand next to some of my friends, I am looking at their belly buttons.

Maybe I just look tall in my photos? Maybe the way I angle my camera makes me look taller on screen?

I do cheat a little, because I tend to sew up the hems of my skirts, dresses, pants and jeans, so they fit my height and look better on me.

But with this sparkly ASOS dress, I didn’t do any sewing. Nor would I even attempt it, given all the sequins.

The blue suede heels are also from ASOS.

I’m so in love with this top. It’s a gradient knit top from YesStyle, which is just so deliciously slouchy and easy to wear.

The tank by Rick Owens, shorts from Zara, shoes from Ecco, bag from FashionJunkee.

YesStyle is having a beauty sale, with up to 40% off items. You can pick up items from SK-II, Shu Uemura, Shiseido, and more (I think these brands are 15% off though). Also there are heaps of other fashion items that are up to 60% off.

Frockaholics a having a sale which includes up to 40% off summer styles, including Josh Goot, Dion Lee, Manning Cartell, Ginger and Smart, Life with Bird, Antipodium, Camilla and Marc, Bec & Bridge and many more.

Here I’m wearing a very cool Rachel Gilbert skirt (from Frockaholics), tee by Country Road, blazer by Dodo, booties by Tony Bianco, sunnies by Rayban.

Happy Shopping!

( 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.

The team at Birdsnest Online Store have been very busy this season! With a site FULL of gorgeous clothes for real women, they have been selling literally thousands of dresses (and other things) to a lot of very happy customers.

You can seriously get lost in online shopping heaven on this site :)

They recently launched their Summer Catalogue, with lots of inspiration to browse through. And for those who are keen for a bit of styling help, the team has put together a beautiful Style Guide that you can personalise to suit your body type and personal style.

Well they let me go crazy on the site, and I picked my favourite dresses to have a play. Behold!

This is the Zulu Dance dress by Ladakh, which includes the skinny pink belt. I picked it because I loved the pattern (with specks of lime), and it looked really versatile for work, and for dressing up or down.

It felt lovely to wear, it fit perfectly, hung nicely, not too tight, very comfortable to move in. I could spend all day in it, and just change my jacket. I really liked this one.

I’m also wearing a white blazer from YesStyle and blue suede heels from ASOS.

This stunning dress is called Moroccan Heatwave by Seduce. I LOVE the aqua colour – so vibrant and bright! I really like the layers and the asymmetric hem, making it short at the front and long at the back. And the sweetheart neckline is gorgeous too.

I’ve worn it with a pink belt from Dotti and purple suede shoes from Betts.

This dress is coincidently also called the Moroccan High Low Dress, by Living Doll. I felt like such a Grecian goddess! Again it has the asymmetric hem that I like. It is made up of a short slip (opaque) and the outer slip, which is sheer and floaty.

I’m wearing necklace and belt by ASOS and gold and orange shoes by GlamRockChic.

Polka Dots! I wasn’t sure about this dress when I saw it and chose it on the site, but after wearing it, it felt like such a great, simple, little dress.

Perfect for AM to PM wear, or just worn casually as a summer daytime dress. Good for short people too, like me. It’s called the Try Your Luck Dress by MinkPink.

Clutch from ALDO, belt (gift), red suede shoes from Betts.

Ooh this is the cutest summery dress ever! It only cost $49 too. Pretty print, beautiful colours, easy to wear, comfy and stretchy – I love it! It’s called the Rivers of Babylon Dress by MinkPink.

Would also love a maxi dress version of it too.

Hat from Sportsgirl, belt from LOEF, gladiator sandals from Zu Shoes.

Rough Hearts Dress by Ladakh, in yellow! As you can tell, my curls fell out after several hours, but I love the beachy hair look! Very fitting for this dress. Simple, bright, cute, summery, light, comfortable and so sweet.

I don’t think I’ve ever worn an all-yellow dress before. I think it looks OK on me, I like it!

I’m holding a vintage envelope clutch and wearing tan strappy heels by Betts.

Right now you can head on over to the Birdsnest website and look at the Spring Clean Sale items (and search by size!).

But stay tuned for a Boxing Day sale too. You can sign up to their newsletter or Facebook page to be kept in the loop about sales and special promotion.

Enjoy!!!

( 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.

If you can remember some months back, I featured a shoe brand called Habbot Studios.

They are a shoe brand with French inspired details, fresh Australian style, and all their shoes are handmade in Italy, from fine Italian leathers. I currently own 2 pairs, and they are simply exquisite to wear! So soft and comfortable. The leather wraps around my feet like a gentle warm hug. The quality is totally worth the investment.

Well I have some exciting news!

Habbot Studios will be holding a 20% off Summer Sale in January, but they are offering ALL MY READERS first choice of the sale stock with a… 3 day 25% off SECRET SALE! Exclusive to my readers only!

This discount applies across the entire website (including the remaining pairs of already 50% reduced winter stock too!). More details below.

Ok lets have a look at their Spring Summer Collection (apparently all the styles have been named after a master French pastry chef). These are my picks.

Made from soft Italian suede and glove leather… these peep-toe, sling backs, Torres, are the prettiest pair of the whole collection! I could prance around in them all day.

I love them in bright red. They look fabulous when paired with other bright colours of the season. Not to mention they looked perfect with my summery-glam outfit!

This is proof that gladiator sandals don’t have to look fierce and nasty. This pair has a gorgeous soft and cool edge to them, but still has a bold and strong look. I love that it is slightly different!

They are called Lenotre, and also come in red, beige and tan.

And I totally fell in love with these oxford styled shoes, called Careme. They look soooo sophisticated and minimal and understated and neat and smart. I would love to own one in every colour they come in!

I wore them for a few hours and being quality leather, they didn’t give my feet blisters, hurt my ankle, or feel stuffy or sweaty. They were amaaazing!

Don’t forget to check out the previous Winter Collection from the Sale Page.

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SECRET SALE for Karen Cheng Readers

25% off everything for 3 days only from Habbot Studios.

Sale starts today, Monday 5th Dec – Thursday 8th Dec 2011 (finishing midnight 11:59pm AEST on the 8th).

This discount applies across the entire website (including the remaining pairs of already 50% reduced winter stock too!).

Please enter “discount code” at the checkout: karencheng25

Hope you grab yourself a bargain!

xxx

( 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.

Many, many months ago, I did a review of an online shop called “Kind of Wonderful”, which sold lots of great clothes at fab prices.

Well they have recently re-branded and they are now called FLAUNT.

They might have a new name and site, but they still have their fantastic collection of clothes and accessories at very affordable prices – everything is priced around US$20 to $30.

And of course, they are the same friendly and helpful team!

Here I’m wearing a pretty Sweatheart Flare Dress in deep red. It’s in a very classic style, with figure-hugging cut and a gorgeous flowy skirt, so it won’t go out of style. It’s the perfect dress to wear to a wedding, out to dinner, a summer party, or even during the day. I thoroughly enjoyed twirling and whirling around in it.

My favourite thing about their store is… their super collection of dresses. There are so many cute, simple, pretty, classic styles.

Check out these pastels dresses and bright dresses. Niiiice.

They bring in new designs (up to 20 of them!) every week, so it’s quite fun to check out all the new stock.

They also sell bags and shoes. And they ship internationally. Do check them out!

Hope you find something you like – happy shopping!

xxx

( 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.

I’ve been feeling quite adventurous lately. Quite possibly it is the change in weather, stirring me to get out and have a bit of fun. I love the way it has made me more adventurous towards what I put on in the mornings.

The other day I threw together… a bit of yellow, with a bit of green, tossed with some pattern clashing, and a vintage belt. I loved it! It totally matched my mood.

I was happily walking down the street with a big smile on my face.

Pants: YesStyle
Tank: Sportsgirl (modified by me)
Belt: Vintage
Jacket: Miu Miu
Wedges: YesStyle

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

On the weekend, I got to play with a few pairs of shoes from PeepToe Shoes, who are launching their brand new collection, Copacabana!

Me doing my flamingo pose in a coral Miss Muse, and popping electric blue with the Miss Spirit.

I can’t believe how bright and stunning these shoes are. They are oh-so comfortable too.

My favourite pair is the Miss Muse, as they are pretty much *the perfect peep-toe shoe*. Simple, elegant and classic. The heel is at a great height (not too high and not too short), it is well made (inner and outer leather), and very comfortable.

They come in 6 different colours, black, nude, navy, pink nude, mushroom and coral. Definitely worth the investment.

I toned down the colours in my outfits, to combine the shoes with a more corporate and timeless look.

I love the little splashes of colour the shoes bring!

I’m wearing the Miss Tango Shoes, in light tan and lemon lime. And again, the Miss Muse in Coral.

Check out the PeepToe Shoes Collections and look for their great competitions.

Enjoy!!

( 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.

I had so much fun styling up some bags this weekend!

These beauties are from Shoulder It – an online shop offering a really lovely collection of bags. I hope you get to check them out. They have genuine leather bags and non-leather bags, all in great styles at affordable prices.

What I like most about the site is that the styles are actually practical, stylish (but not overly trendy), and the quality of the genuine leather is excellent.

All my readers can enjoy a 15% discount from Shoulder It, details are below!

This Snake Skin Clutch in lime green is very cool! Citrus colours are very popular at the moment, and this clutch certainly adds a colourful pop to my outfit.

I love this colour combination of blue, green and white. Made me so happy :)

I think this Adara Bag was my favourite, mainly because of the colour – a gorgeous deep green. I adore the satchel style and it’s a great size to fit a lot of stuff. The leather is nice and soft too.

I felt so luxurious and mysterious in this outfit, sporting all these deep colours and leopard print.

See all Leather Bags from Shoulder It.

And lastly, the perfect bag for a casual weekend. This Orange Carrie Bag is just so cute, relaxed and practical. I really enjoyed throwing all my stuff into the bag and carrying it around, hobo style.

The kind team at Shoulder It are offering all my readers an exclusive 15% off everything discount!

Coupon code: KARENCHENG15
Valid until: 15th November 2011
Valid for: All in stock Full and Sale items
Conditions: One coupon code per customer. Cannot be applied in conjunction with any other coupons.

Do take a peek at the whole collection at Shoulder It.

The store has free shipping for all Australian orders, and a flat rate for all international orders.

Happy shopping!

( 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.

I love the idea behind GlamRockChic – shoes for the women who want statement, designer heels, made from quality materials, that are comfortable, and most importantly… affordable!

I also love their brand new range online, behold!

How hot do these look!? They are definitely a pair of knock-out, statement heels!

They are called Super Diva Mustard – with mustard yellow, zebra print, studs, and cool diagonal lines, you can’t really go wrong with them. They will just look great with a multitude of outfits – skirts, pants, jeans.

They come in a black version too – which is probably a more versatile investment.

This shoe was my favourite because of their design. Interestingly it doesn’t look like a “trendy statement” shoe that will quickly go out of fashion. I feel they look “classic statement” in that they will always look glamorous and stand out… if you get what I mean. I will be rocking them and loving them for a long time indeed.

These shoes are called Vamp, in grey. A most excellent alternative to boring black heels! I love the texture and colour!

Believe it or not, but they have been specially designed with comfort in mind. I was wearing them for 7 – 8 hours straight during fashion week and didn’t get a blister or sore feet. I didn’t even notice the time of night… until my girlfriends were walking more slowly and sitting down every 10 minutes.

Another shoe designed with comfort and style in mind is the Lifesaver.

It’s a more posh chic, for an effortless cool look. They’re soooo comfortable to wear. When I slip them on it’s like they are giving my feet a snugly hug.

Sarah, the designer behind the brand tells on her blog some fascinating stories of how she developed her shoes, testing them herself, using quality materials, pushing her manufacturers. It’s very interesting to discover how shoe designers work.

Do check out the whole GlamRockChic collection online!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

How gorgeous are these Bella Skirts from AL&ALICIA! This kind of skirt is called a full skirt, and I think I’ve found my fave-fave-favourite item for the new season.

Super cute, super flirty, it gathers at the waist and puffs out at the hips. I’m loving the new silhouette for my wardrobe – worn with simple tops for an effortlessly cool look.

On the left I’m wearing Small Dot Bella Skirt – it has little polka dots on them (very cute!). And the top is the Chinadoll Shirt Dress, worn tucked in.

The right is the Striped Bella Skirt which I wore with my Rebecca Minkoff Slouchy Top, and Betts Suede Heels.

I tried the skirts with all my favourite tops in my wardrobe, and I liked this slightly contrasting look with my denim shirt, suede boots and a Stacey Spotted Coat (from AL&ALICA). More spots!

Then on the right, I’m wearing it with my Jigsaw red top, Habbot Gold shoes, and Lace Trimmed Blazer (from AL&ALICA).

They are just fab for the warm weather, because they don’t cling to your legs. They just puff out and I walk around feeling fabulous – like prancing and dancing!

Check out the whole new collection from AL&ALICIA.

Enjoy!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Club Couture is an online boutique which has a nice, big collection of affordable, wearable clothes. It’s definitely a great place to check out for some online shopping (or browsing).

You can buy a nice dress for under $50, tops for under $35. Actually I found some great pieces in their range of tops – button down shirts, sheer cardigans, jersey pieces and pullovers.

They also have a Premium Collection – with some good looking dresses.

Here I’m wearing the Draped Back Blazer from the Premium collection. It’s a nice, simple, easy to wear blazer. It’s looks fitted and tailored, so it looks smart, but it’s also loose-fitting (probably because it’s slightly draped at the back) so it feels relaxed and not constricted.

I like it that it’s light, breathable, and good for hot weather.

I’m wearing it with lime tank (Sportsgirl), leather shorts (Yesstyle) and suede pumps (Betts). I loved this look!

I chose this Floral Chiffon Dress because I wanted something floral to wear for the Spring Carnival that was bright and cheerful! I’m usually not a floral person, but this dress looked quite nice, possibly good for end of year Christmas parties?

I’m wearing a ring (Wanderlust + Co) and red suede heels (Betts).

Anyway, there’s a lot on the site, so I hope you find something you like!

( 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.

Whenever I go to a cocktail party or wedding, I always tend to put a lot of thought (and money!) into the dress that I am wearing.

But for some reason, I usually don’t put a lot of thought into accessorising, and I often leave it to the last minute. Which often results in me, running out to the shops the day before the event to quickly buy something cheap, generic and mainstream. And I always regret it.

Anyway, I just wanted to share this new couture collection from Wanderlust + Co with all you girls out there, who share this bad habit of mine. No more excuses for cheap, mainstream jewellery!

The collection is called Cocktail Hour, and you *must* have a look at their lookbook.

I don’t usually get excited about “pretty” jewellery, but these style shots from the lookbook made my girly-side perk up and go “Ooooooh!”

The jewellery style is extremely feminine, elegant and very pretty indeed.

What I love about the collection is that so many of the pieces match each other. But not in an obvious matchy-matchy way.

Each piece is unique and gorgeous, you can wear them as a statement piece, or you can wear them together, and you just can’t go wrong.

And the prices are very good too. Not mind-blowingly expensive, not discount-bin cheap. Nice and affordable.

Here I’m wearing the Jumbo Dome Ring, V-Knot Amber Ring and in the first photo, I am wearing Butterfly Drop Gem earrings in Apricot.

These are the large Teardrop Onyx earrings. They also come in apricot crystal and peridot (olive green gem).

And this is the Amber Crystal bangle, which is elegant and timeless.

I also like that the jewellery pieces have some substance to them. They don’t feel light, cheap, made of plastic. They feel heavy, high quality and look amazing.

The Cocktail Hour Couture pieces are made with crystals from Swarovski Elements, and 14-karat rhodium-plating.

Shop all Cocktail Hour Colleciton

Happy shopping!

( 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.

Berry Bow is a new online store specialising in quality fashion made in Korea – at really good prices.

I believe their quality matches that of the high-street fashion chain stores, such as Topshop, Zara, Forever New, Country Road, Sportsgirl.

While their collection is smaller than most boutiques, I feel they offer a nice (and well edited) choice of trendy, classic and smart-casual pieces. The brand definitely targets young women with a sophisticated style. I like it!

Polka dots are making an appearance in the new fashion season, so I thought I’d try out this cute polka-dot dress from their Dresses section of the site.

It was a very nice dress to wear, it fit beautifully, and the material + lining was lightweight, soft and smooth. Not to mention I pulled it out of the box and it didn’t even need an iron.

I thought it was possibly a bit too “girly and pretty” for my style – but a friend convinced me that with the right accessories, I could wear it to the Spring racing carnival coming up, and I think she might be right!

This deep green dress is part of their Premium Collection, it also comes in cream and black. It’s a simple dress that sits and falls very nicely, and it comfortable and easy to wear. You could easily wear it to a formal evening function, and it’s quite a bargain at US$70.

Lastly, this was my favourite dress. I considered it to be one of “those awesome versatile dresses” you find yourself accidentally wearing all the time.

Throw it on with some tan sandals and a straw hat for day time wear. Wear it tucked into blue jeans to run to the shops. Tuck it into black skinny jeans and wear them to dinner. Put a belt around its waist and wear it as a party dress. Heck wear it to the beach or to lounge beside the pool.

A fabulous buy!

Also… the online store stocks accessories from House of Harlow 1960 (by Nicole Richie) – which are very cool (not to mention popular too). View the collection here.

Do have a look around the Berry Bow website, and I hope you find something you like!

( 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.

I’d like to introduce you all to an online boutique I’ve discovered recently – Hula Hut.

It’s a stylish website with a great collection of dresses, tops and jackets from familiar Australian brands like Honey & Beau, Cooper St, Anise, Ladakh, MinkPink, Living Doll and more.

Best thing about this website: Prices range from very affordable to medium. There are lots of regular new arrivals. And you can nab an excellent bargain in their sale section.

Again I was given the pleasure of choosing some clothes to borrow and review.

Above I’m wearing a lovely Indulge Mini Dress with a Brooklyn Trench coat, both by Honey & Beau.

I adored this trench! Not too heavy, not too light. It felt so soft, smooth, light and the tailoring details gave it a nice feminine touch. Actually the whole outfit was very pretty, and felt great to wear.

See more items by Honey & Beau.

This super sexy, black dress is by Cooper St. It is soft, slinky and stretchy, with lots of rouching, and a cool looking back.

See more items by Cooper St.

As I was saying, they have a good collection of pretty dresses – these are some that caught my eye.

And these are some jackets I really liked from the site – by Anise, Sass and Fate.

Don’t forget to visit their New Arrivals page and their Sale page.

Hope you find something you like!

xxx

( 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.

So the other day I went to an Op Shop and found these AWESOME cropped pants, in my size, in perfect condition, in the craziest colour!

I also found a stack of other goodies, and I was suddenly all inspired to wear some crazy colours out and about.

Top: YesStyle
Pants: Thrifted
Bag: All Dressed Up from ShopTheMag
Wrist: Gifts, and made it myself.
Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters
Shoes: ASOS

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I talk about YesStyle quite often – a huge online shop specialising in high-street fashion from Asia.

If you’ve ever been to the site, maybe you’ve been a bit overwhelmed by all the brands available. Because they stock a lot of brands from Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan.

So I wanted to feature a few of my favourite brands from there.

1) LCLOTHES

The clothes in this brand is bold, cool, relaxed, but still with a modern edge, which I really like. There are lots of jersey items, slouchy tees, tank dresses, chiffon skirts, cropped pants, denim shirts…

and THIS – a leopard print playsuit! It’s silky, effortless, yet polished. I am so in love with it!

2) Ode’

I’m wearing it with a white blazer (which I have worn SO many times) from a brand called ode’.

Their clothes are a more grown-up sophisticated, yet feminine and modern. The quality from this brand is really good too.

3) M.E.R.S.H

Another very modern, polished, and high quality label from Korea. That have lots of smart, casual workwear-styles, that are great for wearing from day-to-night. I particularly like their tops and blouses.

I own a beige trench coat and a few tops from this brand.

4) Redopin

This brand is full of trendy, street-style clothes, that are just very cool. Great looking drape tops, tank dresses, shirts, jackets, cardigans and more.

I own quite a few items of clothes from this label!

5) StyleKelly

This brand has some really nice pieces, lots of elegant basics like jackets, tops, and cropped pants.

6) PUFFY
Lots of stuff to see. Affordable, fun, flirty, trendy pieces, with a feminine edge.

( 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.

Earlier this year I wrote on my blog about a luxury footwear label called, GlamRockChic.

I tried out a shoe style called Heart and Soul (Black) – and I raved about how comfortable they were.

Added to that, I wore them during Australian Fashion Week this year, and spent up to 7 hours one day walking around in them. The result was magic. No sore ankles, no blisters, nothing!

Anyway, the team at GlamRockChic remembered that I initially wanted to try the beige pair, and they recently sent a pair over for me to try. Apparently they are the season’s best sellers!

I adore everything about this beige pair. The nude colour, the gold accents, the red heel (the red heel!), the heart shape cut-out, the heel height, and they are also sooooo comfortable.

So here is the Heart and Soul (Beige) and the  Heart and Soul (Black).

I’ve been told that since my last review, they have been sold out, and a lot of my readers had requested for them. So we’re letting you know that new stock is in and they now are available in size 36 and 37!

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I received this pair of Silhouette Heels from the Betts team the other day, and all I can say is – HELLOOOOO RED!

Ok even I have to admit, the height of the heels are crazy-high but, they look soooo cool :)

Green Kimono Top from ASOS
Jeans by Vivienne Westwood
Sunnies by Ray Ban
Bracelets mixed brands
Silhouette Shoes by Betts

I just love the way they make my outfits go BANG with colour!

Top from YesStyle
Blue pants from ASOS
Silhouette Shoes by Betts

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I am SO excited to tell you all about this new online boutique!

ShopTheMag is a luxury fashion boutique that features the top labels from ASIA. Think Net-a-Porter but with designs from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, India, and Thailand.

The best bit is – a strong and luxurious collection of refreshing designs, that are DIFFERENT.

I’d say that it is perfect for women who love affordable luxury items, who love to experiment with styles, searching for statement pieces to wear and talk about, and who dare to stand out a little.

The lovely team let me choose a few items that caught my eye, to borrow, to style, to review and to write what I think.

1. Top: Burgundy – a Singaporean label well-known for its timeless and elegant designs. Their recent collection features a lot of luxurious silks and lovely draping.

I’m wearing the Cross Over Silk Bodysuit. I’ve never really liked bodysuits, but I really (REALLY) liked this one, mainly because it was so functional. I love the way I can wear the top “tucked in” with pencils skirts, pants and jeans… and it STAYS tucked in, and just drapes *beautifully*.

You can definitely wear it with an office ensemble layered with a cardigan or a jacket, or with a statement skirt for an evening function, etc. It would go very far in my wardrobe… and I believe this would be the first item I’d buy from this shop :)

See the whole collection from Burgundy.

2. Shorts: Aperçu – a Singaporean label also full of classic pieces, but with a modern yet elegant edge.

I’m wearing the Tailored Silk Wool Shorts. I think the print is so cool and I love the idea of wearing shorts with a blazer. It’d also be great with a lux tee.

See the whole collection from Aperçu.

3. Bag: Alldressedup – described as the brand that put Singapore on the map in the global fashion arena, alldressedup is known for it’s quirky and bold designs. The label is now stocked internationally, and often featured in fashion magazines around the world.

The bag I’m carrying is the ATRIA bag, which I chose because it looked awesome, which subsequently became a gift to me from the ShopTheMag team. It’s wonderfully big (but not too big), it adds a lux-edgy-look to every outfit I carry it with, and it’s robust enough for me to drag around everywhere. LOVE.

Apparently it is made from a special fabric that is water and stain resistant, it was made in the same factory as comme des garcon, and it also comes in a dusty pink colour.

See the whole collection from alldressedup (apparel and acccessories).

4. Cuff: Frank – This is the Double Wrap Leather Cuff and ah what can I say… it looks so very cool and I wish I owned it!!

(Blazer and shoes are my own)

6. Dress: Disaya - is a label from Thailand with a big string of celebrity fans. Youthful, quirky, fun and sexy are words I’d used to describe their style.

This Colour Bloack Balloon dress is so relaxed and summery. I love it! It’s so yellow and happy!

(Shirt, shoes and hat are my own)

Here’s a designer that I’m very happy to have discovered since browsing the site. I’m quite keen to keep an eye on his work.

7. Dress: Khoon Hooi is a Malaysian designer with a neat list of awards after his name. His collection is full of gorgeous drapes, eye-catching cuts, bold colours and details, with a strong feminine edge.

I’m wearing the very sexy and bold, One-Shoulder Draped Silk Dress. The quality of the fabric is superb and way it is designed and sewn together is very impressive and comfortable to wear. The lace bandeau adds a very sexy touch to the dress too.

It’s definitely a perfect dress to wear to a cocktail party, wedding party, or day time event.

See the whole collection from Khoon Hooi.

(Shoes and bracelet are my own)

Lastly, this dress is the Silk Tunic Dress with Drape by Burgundy.

I chose it because I wanted to see how these “silky dresses” really fall over a body.

And I wanted to see if I could hitch it up and wear it as a top too.

At first, as you can see from the photo on the left…

That it is totally shapeless and I thought – Ewww, I look like an aunty! Lovely silk and drape and all, but not for me.

Then of course, when something is shapeless, you should always try it again with a belt.

Results are below.

Below Left: I wore it with a wide studded leather belt and it looked hot!

Add some killer heels and a bit of bling, it completely transformed into a great party dress.

In fact, the material is so luxurious it could definitely be worn to an evening  cocktail party or a day time event.

Right: Then I tried dressing it for the daytime or office by wearing a light cardigan, and tan accessories. And it still looked great. A blazer would also do the trick.

As for whether it could double as a top… I did tuck a little bit of the front into some black jeans. It looked like a long, billowy top. But I probably wouldn’t tuck it ALL into jeans or pants, as it is a bit long and I wouldn’t want to scrunch up such a fine material. Plus it would look too bulky.

Funny enough, I adored this dress so much in the end, that I decided that this would be he second item I would buy from the shop!

So if you haven’t already, do pop on over to and ShopTheMag take a peek.

There is flat rate global delivery, free shipping to Singapore, and weekly updates (new arrivals, trend updates and sale alerts) from their newsletter.

Happy shopping or browsing!!

xxx

( 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.

Online fashion store Lilies of eField launch a new collection (of over 20 new items) each week. And it’s always such fun to receive their email newsletters and then pop in to see what’s on offer. Ok… sometimes it can get distracting when I’m supposed to be “working”.

A few weeks ago, they kindly let me pick out a few items, and sent them over as gifts. These are the 3 items I decided to style and feature – they are all SUPER BRIGHT colours, which are very on-trend in this new season.

Yeah I chose this LIME Ruffle Dress. Just for fun of course. I didn’t think I’d be able to pull it off. But it actually looks rather cool with my dark grey blazer and black suede booties.

I usually don’t like dresses that are too ruffley. But here I think the ruffles break up the lime colour quite well and give the dress some shadow and texture. You know, so I don’t look like a glow stick.

The material is stretch jersey, and it’s pretty good for it’s price. I really like it!

(The bag is a surprise for my next week’s shopping review. Stay tuned!)

This Green Oversized Shirt is surprisingly lovely to wear. It falls very nicely in that relaxed-chic, effortless and sexy kind of way.

The colour is actually a little more dull in real life. But it’s still vibrant, bright and definitely unique. It’ll go fab with a high waisted pencil skirt.

I like the cut so much, I’m going to ask whether they stock it in different colours.

And check out this ORANGE MINI SKIRT! DON’T PARK HERE!

The colour of the skirt here is exactly the same in real life! BRIGHT! Excuse my funny expression – I was momentarily blinded by all the white.

I don’t think I’d wear the skirt with black… it might make me look like a bee, or a cement truck. But if you pair it with white and grey (light and dark grey) it will look awesome.

If you’re not as daring (or crazy), then it also comes in a black version.

The LOEF website has lots (LOTS) of other items… that are not in crazy bright colours.

Such as these I picked out, which look great: a green Zara inspired top (which come in a couple of colours), a black pleated sheer blouse and a coral pleated tiered top.

Happy shopping y’all!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I’d love to introduce you all to a new online boutique, The Dreamery.

It features an amazing collection of carefully-selected Australian labels, such as Arnsdorf, Aurelio Costarella, Ellery, Fernando Frisoni, Gary Bigeni, Jayson Brunsdon, Megan Park, Sara Phillips, and Therese Rawsthorne. And it is just full of gorgeous clothes, accessories, beauty and homewares.

Launched late 2010, the boutique already has 16,000+ fans on Facebook – which is pretty impressive if you ask me. It is run by a lovely and ambitious Sarah, whom I met during Australian Fashion Week. She asked if I’d like to review some items – and I said SURE!

But I had been so busy that I didn’t have time to select items for myself, so I asked her to STYLE ME. She sent me a whole box full of samples to play with (I think 30 items in total) and I was in designer clothes heaven. So much good stuff!

From there I chose several items which I adored the most, and created these outfits below.

By the way, my readers can get an additional 10% OFF ALL Autumn Winter Stock (full priced and sale items) see below for details.

Outfit 1: This dress looked like a fluffy, deflated balloon when I pulled it out of the bag!

But when I tried it on, it *fell* in the most amazing way. I usually try to stay away from big shapeless dresses, and I would never have picked it out in a shop… but wearing it has definitely made me think again about “shapeless” dresses.

The subtle leopard print is cool. The fabric is lovely and slightly sheer. I wore it with a belt and some booties and it just looked great as a winter outfit.

Loved it and wished I could have kept it. Five, big gold stars from me.

This dress is called Out-In-The-Wild Fall by Limedrop – a hot, emerging Australian label. I’m wearing a Size Au 0 / 6.

Then I popped on this furry vest and oooh I was on my way to a real winter outfit. Big black wool coat, black leggings and I’d be all set.

The Faux Hair Cropped Vest is by Arnsdorf – another very, very cool Australian / New York label. I’m a big fan of their stuff.

(Btw the vest is on sale 50% off!)

Outfit 2: I’m wearing a little black dress by a label called Harvey. And yes, I know I have a zillion black dresses, but as I stomped around in it in my studio… I realised that it could *actually* be the perfect little black dress.

It has these structured panels that squeezes in at the waist, sits sexily on your hips, and makes your boobs and butt look fantastic. It’s also a mini skirt length so it makes your legs look long. The thick jersey fabric is wonderfully firm and comfortable.

I was *this* close to emailing Sarah to tell her that I’d like to buy it. But sigh, I seriously can’t, as I’m saving up for something else (ha!).

You can see more details about the dress here: Black Print Panelled Structured Dress by Harvey.

It’s also on sale.

The Lace Jacket is by Little Joe.

And how amazing is this clutch by Rachel Ruddick??

Pendant and necklace by Rachael Ruddick

Bracelet by House of Baulch

Lastly, I’m wearing two shirt dresses. Left is a Pin Tuck Dress by Therese Rawsthorne (on sale!) and…

On the right is an Army Green Dress by Little Joe.

I never wear shirt dresses! I always believed they would make me look short, boxy and boyish. And well, I like to look the exact opposite – taller, curvier and more feminine.

But there you go. I love them! They are so, so cute and relaxed.

If I had to chose between them, hmm, I think I’d go for the Therese Rawsthorne one, because I could pop a skirt over it and easily wear the dress as a top. And the pattern makes it just a bit more unique.

I also am holding a pretty Leather Bag, also by Rachel Ruddick.

The shoes are my own, Suede Wedge Booties by Tony Bianco.

Ah… there were many, many other dreamy items that caught my eye.

The selection of Evening Dresses is pretty amazing.

And you can check out all Sale Items here.

*Special Discount Code*
So the team at The Dreamery are giving all my readers an additional 10% OFF ALL Autumn Winter Stock (full priced and sale items) .

Just enter “KarenCheng” in the promotions code box at checkout. Valid for until 31 July for 10% off everything in store.

Enjoy shopping! Or browsing!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

Lots of people seemed to enjoy my post about Casual Winter Outfits that I wrote a few weeks ago, so here are some more.

I was determined to wear my new checked shirt – in a classic and polished way, while still looking modern – and not looking like I was going to milk a cow!

I actually wore a navy trench coat over this outfit – for extra warmth, and to bring together all the colours.

You can’t go wrong with a slouchy jumper and fitted pants. I loved this outfit! I had a smile on my face all day.

Shirt: Cotton On
Knit top: Yes Style
Camisole: Abi and Joseph (who are having an online clearance!)
Jeans: Country Road
Boots: Betts
Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters

Then I was determined to wear my checked Burberry scarf, in a slightly more modern way.

I can’t believe I put together the whole outfit based around a scarf, I’m so lame. But it was fun.

I was so rugged up on top that I didn’t seem to notice the cold on my legs. Noting like a bit of winter sun to inspire some shorts-wearing.

Trench: Star Mimi
Shirt: Yes Style
T-shirt: Rebecca Minkoff from ShopBop
Scarf: Burberry
Leather shorts: Popo
Shoes: Betts

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

I received a couple of new rings from Wanderlust and Co, an online boutique with very cool jewellery. I can’t stop wearing them!

I have the Oval-Moonstone Charcoal Ring, from their latest collection, “Fly Me To The Moon”.

Pictured here from the top : Oval-Moonstone Turquoise Rings

Middle: The Grasp-Stone Slate Rings in Hunter Green and Slate.

Bottom: And the Double-Gem Pink Stack Rings.

Enjoy!

( 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.

The other day I was talking about some clothes I bought recently, all the clothing sales (online and offline) that were popping up everywhere, and how I was wincing from the pain the temptation was causing me.

Well, behold, here’s another sale to get excited (or scared) about…

Up to 50% off at My-Wardrobe!!

I was given a special opportunity to pop over to the site… and choose a few items to review!

First up, where do I start? Everything was completely drool worthy.

I looked at my own wardrobe and knew that I had lots of basics and classic pieces. So I was looking for something that made a bit of a statement.

I loved the look of this black and white Helmut Lang Maxi Skirt. I thought both the cut and the print were very cool. Suffice to say, in real life, it was very cool indeed.

Will it sound tragic if I said my heart skipped a beat when I put it on? Oh well, it’s been said. Don’t judge me. I think I just found my perfect skirt.

The print is just gorgeous. It looks dark and edgy, almost like an xray of bones. But then you look again and it looks like tropical, black and white palm leaves.

It’s made from soft, sheer jersey. It has two layers that wrap over each other on the side into a cool ruche. And I love the split! It’s like a mini skirt, with an asymmetric hem.

The second item I chose was this ACNE Snakeprint Dress. It’s a racer back dress with some wide pleats at the front.

It’s such a versatile dress. It can be worn to work, to an evening function, or worn casually.

As you can see, I even tucked into some jeans, and it worked as a top. It was really lovely.

And lastly, I chose an item that was very (very!) affordable, yet versatile. This ACNE Tube Dress is really one huge stretchy tube.

It can be worn as a long maxi dress, and you can probably scrunch it up and make it a mid or mini dress. But I suspect it is most useful as a slip, worn under drapey layers. As the ACNE collection contains a lot of billowy sheer dresses.

So yes, I did have a lot of fun choosing, receiving, styling, wearing and reviewing the clothes, but alas I had to return them.

I also made a list of other items I had my heart set on. Enjoy!

And happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )
…

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

I picked out a few items from Kind of Wonderful, a fab online fashion boutique, and I had so much fun styling them up into outfits to wear.

First up, I love a great blazer – and Kind of Wonderful have this awesome Wonder Boyfriend Jacket for AUD$28 and it comes in black, cream, red and white.

Great item for what you pay!

They also have this pretty Wonder Wrap & Drape Dress in Coral, Pink, Mustard and I’m wearing it in Turquoise.

This aqua colour is stunning. It goes so nicely with black, whites and golds. I think I’d like to get my hands on a coral version too.

And lastly, I chose this very pretty Accordion Maxi Dress. It’s see-through at the top, so I’m just wearing a black bandeau underneath.

The prices are really affordable at this shop – most dresses, tops and jackets cost between AUD$40 – $20. And they have a new collection of stock every week.

Happy shopping!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

While I love to dress up, play with trends and put together outfits when I go out and on my blog, when it comes to my “daily mummy duties” I prefer to dress a little more… conservatively.

Meaning – when I’m dropping my kids off at school and going to toddler gym, I most certainly WON’T be “experimenting with layered textures” and wearing sequined leggings with a fur jacket. I’m not a hardcore fashionista… I like to dress appropriately.

During my “mummy duties”, I like to wear simple, classic-styled outfits which make me feel comfortable and happy.

So today I thought I’d share a few winter outfits.

Outfit: Trench by Mersh, Cotton blue shirt from YesStyle, Striped top by J.Crew, Jeans by Sass and Bide, Wedge boots by Betts.

I love these tan boots by Ecco – they are so, so, so comfy! They are definitely a staple for many winter outfits for years to come.

The stripe jumper was a new purchase. I already have a few stripey tops/jumpers, but the style of it – slouchy cut, bat wing arms, and a slightly cropped front and 100% wool… it was an irresistible buy. Not to mention it was on sale.

Outfit: Black camisole by Abi and Joseph, Stripe jumper by Country Road, Jersey scarf from Sportsgirl, Camel coat from Gap, Jeans by Vivienne Westwood, Tan boots by Ecco.

Ok maybe this outfit isn’t so conservative for “mummy duties”… but hey, my day also consisted of “lunching with girlfriend duties”.

I recently acquired a blue leather jacket from YesStyle. I adored it so much that I had to wear it that day. And I paired it with a pair of velvet pants that I bought when I was 17.

Outfit: Blue leather jacket from YesStyle, White t-shirt by Country Road, Velvet pants no brand, Satin heels from ASOS.

And this outfit was a bit of a cheat from the previous outfit, because I decided that I wasn’t going to walk into my son’s classroom and speak to his teacher, while wearing a blue leather jacket.

So I popped on this stone coloured blazer from Al & Alicia, and loved how it looked!

( See all my Daily Outfits here )

…

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

So the other day I was thinking what I could wear to a wedding.

And in particular, what jacket could I wear, that looked formal enough, and a bit more interesting than “a black dinner jacket”.

Because hey, that was the part where I always fail at weddings.

I would find a gorgeous dress to wear, but most of the night, I would hide inside my husband’s black dinner jacket, because my own jacket wasn’t warm enough ha!

And I’m not talking about an outdoor wedding, this is for inside a restaurant or ball room! Because I always find the air conditioning too cold even if I’m just sitting having dinner.

So I thought I’d put together some formal jackets and coats, to see if I can look relatively stylish while I sit and eat at a formal event.

I started with a lovely blue dress I own (from ASOS). And then tried to find some coats that would match.

But really, these coats would match many different styles of formal outfits.

Fur jackets. Whether you’re a fur lover or a faux fur lover… the look of fur is a classic one, and it will always add a splash of glamour to your outfit. Halston Heritage Faux fur coat (my-wardrobe.com), Liska mink shawl (farfetch.com).

Sequin jackets. A tasteful sequin jacket can be a very pretty addition to an outfit. They are nice to wear all night long during the evening, especially to take the bite out of the crazy-cold air conditioning.  And ok, maybe you’ll need an extra coat! Antik Batik cardigan (stylebop.com), Milly bolero (net-a-porter).

Satin jackets. These are particularly nice for day time formal events. They pair well with floral and pastel outfits.  Philip Lim satin jacket and Maje Efi white blazer (net-a-porter).

Shawls or Pashminas. I’m actually not a fan of either. When I wear a shawl, I always feel like an “aunty”. But who knows, I might change my mind as I get older.

All these jackets are fairly classic in their styles, meaning they will always look stylish, and will last for seasons. They are pretty much investment pieces for any wardrobe. If you have any two of them, you’re set for dozens of formal winter events.

As for what I wore – I chose to wear a cream faux fur crop jacket with my blue dress. And yes, I was snug as a bug.

( 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.

I bought this fuzzy jumper from Sportsgirl – and I just looooove it.

It’s a large knit jumper with big holes so you can see what is worn underneath. It’s slouchy, has lots of texture, looks casual yet kind of sophisticated.

The knit has feather bits in it, so it feels as soft as cashmere and from afar, it looks like cashmere. I like wearing it over bright coloured tops and skinny black jeans.