Retro Chic: Back to the Sixties, inspired by Bebe Sydney.

 A few weeks ago, Sydney Fashion Weekend opened its doors to hundreds of fashionistas hoping to take home designer clothes, accessories and make up all for a fraction of the price. I went along for my 3rd year at the event and loved every moment of it!

Held at the Royal Hall of Industries within Sydney's Entertainment Quarter, the bargains began on Thursday night and continued until 5pm Sunday. It consisted of stalls from over 100 brands, runway shows, a beauty bar by NP Set, a pop-up photography studio by The Photo Studio Glebe and so much more.

Just some of the designers showcased during the weekend were Nicola Finetti, Shakuhachi, Ginger and Smart, Wish, Bec & Bridge, Jamie Askkar and far too many more to name. Black and white was very much the trend for this years runway show.
 

 I managed to snatch up some bargains myself, my favourite being this retro, long-sleeved dress from one of my most loved brands Bebe Sydney (follow this link to check out more of their designs!).

 

 

I love the mesmerizing patterns in this dress. They caught my eye on the rack almost immediately.  This style of symmetrical patterns and optical illusions seems to be a constant trend, particularly for those of you in the northern hemisphere currently heading into summer. This dress has just the right amount of black and warm tones that it can be worn through autumn, into winter and even the start of the spring months.

 

 

 

 

 



 

The mural above is in Hunter Street Mall in my hometown of Newcastle. It backs onto an awesome little café called Honey which is owned and run by one of my good friends. They make an amazing mocha! If ever you're in or around the Newcastle area, stop in for a coffee, a bite to eat or even just a sneak peek at the amazing street art that fills the mall. 

 



Dress - Bebe Sydney.

Hat - 'Panama Harriet' from Sportsgirl

Shoes - Betts  

 

Until next time,

 

-  Mads x



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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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