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.

For me, following the fashion shows around the world is always such a fun, spectator sport!

I can sit in the comfort of my own home, eat home-cooked meals, get my husband to massage my feet… and watch thousands of images and videos of fashion creations pour through my computer screen. Technology and social media is a very cool thing indeed :)

So I must say, I’ve never been as excited for the new season to arrive as this. I adore so many of the new trends coming out.

These are my favourite looks and trends from the 2013 Fall runway.

Theyskens’s Theory Fall 2013 – tailored boxy jackets, textured fabrics with voluminous structure, quilting, hounds-tooth, wool shorts, and tall leather boots.

Marchesa Fall 2013 – Gorgeous flowing gowns, drapes in jewel tones, lots of deep reds and purples, ornate floral embroidery in a baroque style.

Anna Sui Fall 2013 – Cute 60s inspired shapes, jewel tones, tweed crop jackets, long velvet jackets, geometric prints, texture mixing, patterned shift dresses and pea coats.

Proenza Schouler Fall 2013 – Black and white palate with a touch of apricot and mint, boxy and voluminous jackets, a-line shapes, bouclé yarns, monochrome tweed, hounds-tooth, lovely texture and fabric mixing.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Fall 2013 – lovely 70s inspired prints and silhouettes, colourful geometric prints, deep reds, blues and greens, andhigh necklines.

All photos from NY Times

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.

For months, I’ve been trying to find a table lamp for my house, so I can light up a particularly dark corner of my living room.

And at last, I found this very pretty (and well priced) lamp from Freedom – it’s perfect for my little table.

I really like the shape of the lamp, size of the lampshade, the pattern on the base, and how the glaze-wash over the ceramic is messy and puddled a bit here and there.

Oh and it matches my paintings. I painted about 12 abstract landscapes (oil paint on stretched canvas) in 2007, when I was part of a group art exhibition. I managed to sell some, but the rest are not for sale. I can’t part with the remaining few. Instead they are dotted all around my house :)

This painting is actually 1 of 4 square canvases (a quadtych?) inspired by my scuba diving days and swimming in the deep ocean. The sea sponge and driftwood were found objects from our beach holidays. The white vase and tea light holder were gifts. And the silver reindeer figurine is from my Christmas decoration-collection, that I decided not to pack away.

You know, I LOVE flipping through interior design magazines. I sigh at all the stunning rooms and beautiful objects, and I appreciate fine design and craftsmanship… but being a one income family, we simply can’t justify spending thousands (or hundreds!) of dollars on pretty furniture.

So… alas most times I make and restore things myself. I find secondhand furniture and objects (from the tip or thrift shops) , I clean them up, give them a bit of paint, or sand them back to create an antique look that I adore.

And this lamp… is the first homewares item I’ve bought in a loooong time!

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.

Over the last couple of months, I’ve been running some cool giveaways and competitions on my blog.

One giveaway was a $1000 gift card to spend at my-wardrobe … won by a very lucky, Suzzane C.

After she received her prize, I checked up on her to see if everything went OK. And she sent me these exciting photos!

She chose two gorgeous designer bags – perfect for everyday use.

One from See by Chloe and the other from Marc by Marc Jacobs.

Great choices! I’m very envious :)

my-wardrobe is currently offering FREE SHIPPING and FREE RETURNS on all orders to Australia. No trip to the post office required!

Also to celebrate Australia Day, enjoy 20% Off (New season items only) just enter the code AUSTRALIADAY20 at the check out. Promotion ends 28 Jan 2013.

Enjoy!

*If you’re interested in being notified of more of my upcoming competitions and giveaways, please sign up for my newsletter. The sign-up box is on the top right of this page. Thanks for your support!

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.

I picked out a few beauty items that I’ve been itching to try, courtesy of Adore Beauty.

Benefit Boi-ing Lemon Aid Eyelid Primer/Concealer Duo Set

I’ve heard lots of positive reviews about the Boi-ing primer and Lemon Aid concealer, and I thought this was a great way to try them both. My biggest concern is… will they suit my Asian skin tone?

I have combination skin. A few dry patches here, and a few oily spots there. My skin is not sensitive, nor does it suffer from unusual oiliness or dryness. So…

When I first used the concealer, I thought it was fantastic. I used it under my eyes, and it blended so well. The colour was ok. It was a bit lighter than I expected, but after a bit more dabbing it looked fine. I stepped back from the mirror, and saw that my dark patches and blemishes were lightened and my eyes seemed brighter. I also used it around my nose and on my chin.

Same goes for the primer. I thought they worked really well on me. They both had a very nice consistency and felt smooth and easy to apply.

I layered up with suncream and a touch of foundation, and the results were excellent. I really liked the two products a lot!

But then I went on holidays and I got a bit tanned and my skin went a bit dry.

So I’m now finding that the concealer is a bit too light for my tanned skin!! I also find that because my skin is a bit dry, the concealer doesn’t seem to “melt away” as well as before. The more I try to apply, the more whitish it looks. Damn! I’m a bit grumpy, because I really liked it. I guess I’ll have to get the next shade up.

The Lemon Aid primer still looks good and works well though :)

I rate it 4/5 stars.

Benefit Watt’s Up! Soft Focus Highlighter

I’m a big fan of blush and bronzers. I believe they are the underrated secret to a radiant face! I never leave the house without a swipe of blush. It totally lifts your face and complexion.

So being such an avid user of blush, I have always wanted to try using a highlighter.

I used Benefits Watt’s Up on my cheekbones and it looked pretty good. I just applied a *tiny* little bit, blended it in with my fingertips and it gave a nice glow to my cheeks. The faint sparkle and champagne colour was nice.

But I also tried it on my brow bones and the outer corners of my eyes, and it looked weird. It just made my skin look patchy white, and looked like I wasn’t using the right colour foundation or something.

I don’t think I’ll use this every day. Just when I go out and want to look a bit more polished.

I rate it 3/5 stars.

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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.

I had the pleasure of testing out the brand new Nikon S800C camera for few weeks.

It is the first compact camera to be built with an android platform, meaning that you can connect it to your wifi and instantly share your photos and videos across your social media networks.

I’m delighted by how slim it is. It is practically the same size as my smartphone (iphone 4S) but it’s just a bit thicker in the body. And this is fabulous for me, as it fits nicely into my handbag – to make room for all my other girl stuff.

As a compact camera, it is just like a standard Nikon Coolpix. Easy to use, full of auto functions, auto focus, zoom, good for low light situations, and it takes a nice clean hi-res photo.

It’s a great camera for just pointing and shooting.

It definitely takes better photos than my smartphone. Especially when trying to shoot in places with low lighting, like restaurants and bars. So hey, you can look forward to seeing sharper photos of my drunken dancing in bars on Facebook haha! Ok maybe not.

It also zooms into the frame much better, and takes a clearer photo than my smartphone.

When you switch modes from “Camera Mode” to the “Home Menu“, you can connect to your wifi and connect to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more. You can even install your favourite apps, photo filters, music, games, manage your files, etc etc. It’s pretty nifty. Just like an Android smartphone.

However, if you’re out and about the camera can’t *directly* connect to the internet, so you still have to find a wifi source, or use your smartphone to act as a hotspot.

Some of the features are not quite integrated yet. For example if you are in Twitter and you want to Tweet a photo, it doesn’t automatically activate the camera. You have to switch the mode to “Shooting Mode”, then take a photo, and then go back to “Home Mode”, go to the Twitter app, then upload the photo.

It was a bit clunky at first, but in a way, when I thought about it, that’s how I use my smartphone.

I prefer to take a whole heap of photos on my smartphone, carefully review all my photos, select the best one, spend some time doing a bit of cropping and brightening, THEN I upload it.

So really, I found it quite normal and have accepted that I’M THE ONE who is a bit clunky :)

Overall, it’s a good little compact camera with handy connectivity features.

I’m a little sad to say goodbye to it (it was a demo loan model), because I would have loved to take it on holiday with me!

My mum and dad gave me a pretty new watch. It was both a Christmas present and thank you present (for looking after their chickens while they were away).

It is a Guess Sporty Watch (Rose Gold), and it’s really nice to wear. I’ve been wearing it non stop!

My 7yo son made me a book for Christmas! It was so clever and cute, that I promised to take a photo of it and show it off on my blog :)

He was inspired by the book “Press Here” by Herve Tullet. It’s a very simple, engaging and fun book, that is “interactive”, using only flat printed pages. It is perfect for kids with big imaginations, and my 7yo certainly loves it.

My son thought up and drew up 8 pages of brand new interesting and hilarious things to do with a flat surface and some coloured dots. Such a clever and funny kid!

And lastly, I bought this for myself, as um, a Christmas present… a Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac Clutch.

I love the size, the simple design, the gold hardware and that it’s perfect to take anywhere, day or night.

It also comes in 10 different colours (I’m stalking the almond colour one next!).

(Ok I did get a few more things this Christmas, but I’ll take photos of them some other time!)

To celebrate the launch of the new Airflex Online Shop, the Airflex team are offering 5 of my readers the chance to win a free pair of shoes! Please scroll down for details.

They also sent me a pair of shoes (that I chose) and gave me a challenge: to style the shoes in a day time and a night time outfit.

I gladly accepted the challenge and I selected the Cochella Sandals (yes they are named after the famous music festival).

I could have chosen a pair of nude patent leather pumps to style from Day to Night – but that would have been too easy :)

I was keen for a styling challenge! And sandals are a bit tricky!

Can you really wear sandals from day to night? Sandals to the beach, music festival, cafe lunch, yes yes yes. But to an evening cocktail party? After work drinks at a bar? Hmmm.

Anyway, I chose this pair because they were a bit different to the typical horizontal-strap sandals. And I also hoped that the silver made them more suitable for a night time event.

This is what I came up with!

For Day, I went for a more “smart casual outfit” and wore something that I’d be happy to wear while doing a bit of shopping in the city, or going out for lunch.

I’m wearing a cotton tank from Cotton On, a khaki mini skirt from Sportsgirl, leather jacket from Nabi.

For Night, I wore a slinky one-shoulder dress and channeled a bit of Grecian goddess. The shoes felt very right with the dress. I think it looked pretty good, especially when I matched it with silver accessories.

I would definitely wear these sandals with a dress to a bar/restaurant in summer. And I certainly would wear them from day to night because they are very comfortable and soft.

Best thing about the Airflex shoe brand – quality materials (leather uppers and linings), the shoes are designed for comfort and the price is quite affordable (for leather shoes).

They also have a nice range of fashionable styles and colours, for work and play.

Ok here are the competition details.

WIN 1 x PAIR OF SHOES FROM AIRFLEX

What do you win?
Each winner will get to choose the exact Airflex style, colour and size that they want. You have two options… you can either make your selection online and Airflex will arrange to send them to you, or if you wish, you can visit one Airflex store to choose their pair.

How to enter?
1) Go to the Airflex Online Shop, scroll to the bottom and sign up to the Airflex Newletter.
2) LIKE the Airflex Facebook page
3) Send an email to me at airflex@karencheng.com.au and let me know your full name and your contact email address.

I will be selecting 5 winners randomly using a random number generator. And will be contacting all the winners by email.

Who can enter:
Only Australian and New Zealand residents over the age of 14.
(Sorry to all my international readers!)

Giveaway Ends:
Giveaway runs for 14 days and closes: Thursday, 10 January 2013, 5pm AEST

Good luck to everyone!

xxx

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 )

…

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 )

…

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