We Love European Winters: Faux Fur and 'All White Everything'.

 

It's that time of the year again, when a chill in the air tells us that Winter is close by! We all long to perfect that European Winter style with lavish fur jackets and trench coats, but here in Australia the weather sadly doesn't always permit us to do so.

 

My solution? Faux fur vests (cue love heart eyes).

 

Fur vests can emulate that classic European style without making you pass out from heat exhaustion (Now, that's always a bonus). You'll be speaking Italian in no time. Bellissimo!

 

  

 

 

 

 I'm loving crisp, white and cream shades paired together. There once was a day when pairing 'white on white' was seen as a fashion fail, but that day is not today! A prime example of this season's 'neutrals' trend is the recent Cameo the Label collection which was showcased at the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. If you haven't already had a peek at this collection, I would highly recommend that you do! 

 

 

I'm a bit of a softie when it comes to sheer materials, so I completely fell for this sheer blouse from Bardot. Clean, white blouse's are a popular trend at current and we don't have to guess why. A simple, sleek blouse can speak elegance, professionalism, femininity and street style combined. Who wouldn't want to give off those vibes?

Browns and deep, rustic tones can add warmth to a neutral inspired outfit. Use these colours to give your 'endless white' attire a balanced feel and create contrast without turning the outfit into monochrome mania. A bright colour on the nails and lips also never hurt anyone! (I love bright pinks and reds but darker colours like crimson or deep purple can also have the same bold effect).

 

 

Anyone else super excited to watch the Logies tonight? For those of you not familiar with the Australian TV Week Logie Awards, they're basically the biggest Aussie TV awards of the year! For most of us, they're also a forum to check out the most stunning dresses by all of Australia's biggest designers. You may even catch my review of the red carpet glamour from tonight's event up on the blog in the next few weeks.

That's all from me for today. Don't forget to check out the Instagram page for daily details! http://instagram.com/thecrystalcollar#

Ciao!

Mads
x

Brands and Stores:
Sunglasses: Mink Pink (http://minkpink.com/au)
Sheer blouse: 'Pussy Bow Shirt' from Bardot (http://www.bardot.com.au/Home.aspx)
Skirt: Similar Mink Pink 'White Wistow skirt' is available from (http://shopmarkethq.com/products/white-wistow-skirt)
Vest: Ice Designs (no longer available - similar design available here http://www.gluestore.com.au/luluandrose-giulia-fur-gilet-in-brown.html)
Shoes: Windsor Smith (http://www.windsorsmith.com.au/)

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Barefoot Bliss: A Sun-Soaked Easter Sunday by the Beach

 

What a wonderful Easter weekend it was! I spent Easter Sunday soaking up the sun amongst the rock pools of Pearl Beach on the Central Coast of Australia. I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did exploring the beach and sandstone cliffs with my family (and eating too much chocolate - Phew, time to put those joggers on!)

 

Inspired by the cool, blue shades of the seaside, I thought it was appropriate to

head to the beach wearing my baby blue blouse from United Colours of Benetton. This lightweight, frilled blouse is perfect for a sunny Autumn day, either buttoned at the wrists for a traditional 'boyfriend' look, or rolled to the elbow to create comfy three-quarter sleeves - a more casual look that I prefer to wear.

 

 

And the 'Panama Harriet' hat is back! Yes, as you have probably noticed from my previous post, I love this little black hat to death. It can turn a dull, plain outfit into the epitome of style. (It took my greatest efforts however, to battle against the sea winds and keep it on my head throughout the day. I came far too close to losing it in the waves - Talk about tragedy!)

Another of my favourites are these Le Specs 'Cat Eye' sunglasses. Their feminine shape is slightly retro but also super chic and glamorous AND they take sun safety into consideration (so you can feel responsible while wearing them). They suit just about any face shape, and I know we all sacrifice comfort for fashion, but with these babies you don't have to. They're nice and comfy, unlike some other sunglasses which can cut into the ridge of your nose and leave you with awful red lines.
#1 sunnies of the year in my book!

Another post coming soon involving faux fur and "all white everything". Stay tuned for an ultra glamorous, chic look that breaks all the rules of white on white (ooh, anyone feeling rebellious?) You can follow me on Instagram at TheCrystalCollar for fast-tracked photo posts and more insights into my interpretations of style.

Remember to always wear that lovely smile no matter where you're headed today!

Mads
x

Brands and Stores:
Hat: Sportsgirl (http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/)
Sunglasses: Le Specs (http://lespecs.com.au/)
Blouse: United Colours of Benetton (http://www.benetton.com/)
Skirt: Dotti (http://www.dotti.com.au/shop/en/dotti)
Lipstick: 'Eros' by Napoleon Perdis. (http://napoleonperdis.com/)
Necklace and Bracelet: Tiffany&Co. (http://www.tiffany.com.au/)

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Autumn Antics

Happy, happy, happy.
I don't think there's any other way to describe today's vibe. Happy Friday, happy long weekend and a very happy start to the two week semester break for all those mentally drained and relieved Uni students like me (Although my holidays will still be filled with work on assignments due straight after break, ugh!). With this being said, I think today is a perfect day to share my first post with you all, so welcome to The Crystal Collar! 

Monochrome, gold and denim. I'm loving this combination almost as much as the new show I recently discovered called 'Super Tiny Animals' (You should check it out. It has only intensified my unhealthy obsession with teacup sized animals - uh oh), especially for that awkward Autumn weather that just can't decide whether it wants to be warm or bitterly cold.

I couldn't resist pairing this number with a little gem I found recently in Sportsgirl, my black 'Harriet Panama' floppy hat. I had spent weeks searching top to tail for a Winter statement hat that was suitable for everyday wear, so as I walked through Sportsgirl's doors just the other day, it's safe to say that I almost shed a few tears of happiness. Hats of all different colours and sizes were stacked across the shelves, rich maroons, smoky greys, wide brims and caps. If you're looking for a hat to keep up with the current headwear trend, Sportsgirl is the place to start your search. From beanies to panamas, hats are definitely a hot trend for the winter season! (Plus, they're a handy tool for lazy "I can't be bothered to do my hair" days - Can I hear a hell yeah?)

Pairing monochrome with gold accessories is a simple and subtle way to speak the language of street glamour. Add trashed denim to the scene and you have yourself an edgy 'street style' outfit with a dash of class and a teaspoon of character. I have combined various textures to keep the eye busy, contrasting the currently popular black and white striped tee with a transparent black lace blouse to add sophistication to a trending look.

Three quarter length and boyfriend style jeans are another big staple trend for this Autumn. Pair them with ankle boots for an everyday look, or heeled boots and chunky, statement accessories for a night out. The high-waist on these versatile 'Ziggy Denim' jeans from Glue Store is such a flattering cut, it can make any outfit look exceptional. These denim baby's are probably the most worn item in my wardrobe at the moment!

Hope you're all making the most of this flawless, sunny weather today. Let's hope it hangs around for the rest of the long weekend! Have a safe and relaxing Easter with your family and friends, and don't listen to anyone who tells you not to eat too much chocolate (Come on, it's Easter, we can do what we want). Look out for my next post, coming soon.


Mads
x


Brands and Stores:
Hat - Sportsgirl (http://www.sportsgirl.com.au/)
Necklace and watch - Lovisa (http://www.lovisa.com.au/)
Tee - Mink
Lace Blouse - Ladakh (Purchased from http://www.gluestore.com.au/)
Jeans - Ziggy Denim, Sticks & Bones Jeans in Vintage Trashed Denim (http://www.gluestore.com.au/)
Boots - Lipstik shoes

I also taught myself how to fish-tail braid thanks to a wonderful invention called YouTube. I followed an easy, five minute tutorial by Luxy Hair at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTrE-lrStGA.  Check out her channel for more simple and flattering hairstyles!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black and Gold Details and Lacework

       

Looking for another way to style your jeans and ankle boots? Here's an example I prepared.

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