Fridays fashion finds

[ Idea of a work dress that is found in my wardrobe ]

Work clothes seem to be the bane of my clothing existence at the best and worst of times, and I can't tell you how excited I get when I do actually find clothes that end up being suitable for work, but still have a little* bit of sass to them. I find this aforementioned task rather difficult sometimes as I do seem to be quite fussy specific with work wear and each piece must be inclusive of the following; respectful length, great cut, little bit of sass, great to transition from office hours in to evening functions as we attend a lot of after work events. Therein lies my problems.


I have many a life philosophy and one of my favourites is never complain about a situation - change it. Finding work clothes was not excluded from this philosophy and with the help of my gorgeous friend Deanne who has been sharing my passion for online shopping recently I have found the most perfect work dresses on Asos. They're all patiently sitting in my shopping bag waiting to be bought week by week until I own the lot.

[ Oasis Fit & Flare Dress $95.85 ]

[ Pencil dress with pussybow  $55.91 ]

[ Pencil dress with seam detail $63.90 ]

[ Pencil dress with tulip skirt $47.93 ]

[ Ponti pencil dress with pleat neck $71.89 ]

[ Ponti pencil dress with zip detail $71.89 ]

*Did I say little, I meant more than a little. I mean what's an outfit work or not without flattering cuts and great design?

What's on my Wednesday's mind

• Bullying.
• The word pricks everyone of my senses in my body.
• What incredibly devastating it effects it has on people.
• When did we as a society and race decide we weren’t going to let people, just be people.
• When did it become ok for kids as young as 12 to commit suicide because they felt that death was better than being bullied at school and online.
• Don’t say well I don’t think it’s ok, because if it’s not ok, and we as a whole society believed that collectively, why is it that it is still occurring? In fact, why is it getting worse? Why are we not doing more about it?
• It breaks my heart that humans questioning sexuality feel like lesser people because of nasty words said.
• It breaks my heart that young kids make themselves physically sick at schools because they want to be sent home so they’re not subjected to physical and psychological bullying in school yards.
• It breaks my heart that a young girl struggling with weight issues develops bulimia because kids decide to call her fat. For the fun of it.
• It breaks my heart that people can start to hate their jobs because they feel victimised or left out in the workplace.
• It breaks my heart that people are taking their lives daily because someone made a choice to bully them to the point they felt they had no choice.
• No really. When did it become ok for us to make anyone feel worthless and alone.
• It just breaks my hurt.
• Sigh.
• Everybody is different, to a lesser or bigger extent, but we’re human. We have choices. We have a choice to not say nasty and hurtful things.
• We have a choice to not hide behind veils of anonymity online and say things specifically for the purposes of bringing someone else down or making them feel terrible.
• I want to shake people awake and say STOP IT.
• Never participate in any forms of bullying. Online. School yard. Workplace.
• I wish more people would stop to think before they opened their mouth to bring someone else down.
• Stop it.
• What if that kid who channels their energy in to beating people up and saying nasty things at school, channelled it instead in to sport. Imagine the incredible achievements that could come of that.
• What if that girl who made herself feel better by saying nasty comments to friends and foe’s channelled that instead in to something she loved like music, or fashion or writing, and made herself feel better in positive ways.
• The world is an incredibly complex place.
• We don’t need to participate in it negatively though.
• Feeling sorry for someone who is suffering isn’t enough though. Doing something is.
• Smile at strangers more. Swap negative thoughts with positive ones. DON’T say bad things about people that are just simply not necessary.
• What might seem insignificant for you, may be hugely significant to others and break someone’s spirit, self esteem or worse.
• And if only for a day, change something you are going to say to someone negatively, in to something that is fantastic about them.
• And who knows.
• Maybe. Just maybe, we can all be responsible for a positive change in the world.

I hope.  

NOTE on today's post - It's ok! I'm ok, this hasn't been spurred on by being bullied myself. In my job however I see cases frequently where kids and adults (mostly kids though) are vehemently bullied and parents just don't know what to do about it. I am pushing for legislative changes nationally to make schools and workplaces more accountable should bullying be occurring under their care - but I think pushing the issue if only for a moment in to your mind today then that's a good thing.

Worst & Worst Dressed

Ok ok I know the title is a little harsh for what today's post is all about but I have to say, when you've been anticipating an event specifically for the red carpet fashion it’s more than disappointing when the event occurs and the dresses fall well below expectations and does nothing to ignite inspiration or awe.

The event I am referring to is the AFL’s Brownlow night. For those of you playing at home (i.e. Australian girls) you will know exactly what I am referring too however for those not playing at home (i.e. everybody else) in simple terms, the event is a sporting awards night for Football where by one player is selected as best player for the season. So why does that matter. Great question. It doesn’t. What I love about the event is the red carpet event before hand where all the wives and girlfriends are dolled up and can showcase their dresses and jewellery. What I love about it is that girls just like you and I, get to for one evening feel like super stars as they get dolled up in designer gowns and have hair and make up people running after them all day and walk down a red carpet (it's actually dubbed the Blue carpet) with photographers and TV crews.

Ordinarily there’s many stand out dresses and girls who shine, however this year I really wasn’t wowed by any dresses and nothing sparked inspiration in me. I’ll leave you to decide though, who would you pick as best & worst dressed? I made my own little note under the photo for my pick of best and worst dressed (Comments correlate to the photo above it).

WORST DRESSED - Brynne Edelsten

WORST DRESSED (Equal First) - Julie Klein

BEST DRESSED - Nadia Coppolino

BEST DRESSED (Equal First) - Lynette Bolton ( You can't beat a head to toe white ensemble pulled off this well coupled with a beautiful pregnant glow! )

WORST DRESSED (Runner Up) - Renae Wauhop 

My current crushes

There is nothing like some time away from your city to make you realise how much you love home and everything and everyone that comes along with it. I've just gotten back from a work trip that kept me two weeks away from my cloud  bed, bf, cat, friends (not in that order) - and my little comforts that make Perth my favourite place to be. It's been so nice to get back in to my routine with friends over for boozy days and foody nights, bridge walks, lunch dates and of course couch time with Mr M. Something I didn't think I'd miss as much as I did was my office - It's far from being finished, but turns out I missed having my own work space so here is what I'm currently crushing inspired from new additions to my little office space. I promise to share the completed office once I have finished!

[ New York & London signs that are waiting to be hung up ]

[ 3 wise owls that sit under my window sill ]

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[ My finished inspiration board that hosts all things I love currently ]



[ My costume jewellery tree that is the latest addition to the office - it has it's own little table & all ]

Working & What I wear (Tues)

I have a simple belief in that we're all here in life to be involved and to make a mark on the world as small or as big as you wish it to be. I adore people with passion for anything they do and I think it's fantastic when people are living to work not working to live (you've heard that saying before I'm sure!). Its an odd saying sure, who would want to live to work? BUT, when it comes down to it, taking the average situation, we spend 5 out of 7 days working and most of our hours there so why would you not be striving to live to work. I think in that scenario as well you seek out roles that you love instead of roles that just get you by.

When it comes to my job, I still have bad days. Gosh I've had some really bad days. But I think going back to loving what you're doing, bad days are just that. You can get through them, and still feel challenged and passionate about what you're working for - don't get me wrong that big glass of red wine at the end of the day is a big help in getting through bad days also.

These snaps are taken from these past sitting weeks - functions in the evening, covering rallys out the front of parliament, crashing a petting zoo & holding a snake - I do work I swear and walking around the hallways to show off the art (parliament has art everywhere)

[ Myself & Colleagues - Jarrod & Amanda, at a work function ]

[ The aforementioned huge artwork - p.s this photo actually cuts half of it off ]

[ A zoo brought some Australian animals along to Parliament to talk about how some animals are at the risk of becoming endangered. I was walking past the event so went along & ended up holding a snake ] 

Working & What I wear

[ Pants - Bettina Liano, Top - Cotton On, Blazer - Cotton On ]

I wanted to share with you this week a massive part of my life that I love - Work. Yep, I consider myself really lucky as I love my job. I mean really love my job. I am not writing this in case the boss man ever happened to take interest in the blog either - his too busy anyway - it's because I really do appreciate that I get to do something every day that I love and work with some incredible people, and in the spirit of sharing what I love and inspires me, my job is a big part of that. So what is it that I do then? I work in politics for a Federal member of parliament. Whatttttt??? A boring politician!? I hear you all say in unison. Sure, that is the opinion of some but being involved in a world where the key decision making of Australia is made, I find it fascinating and exciting. I never wanted to get in to politics, my degree isn't in politics, and I have no aspirations to be a politician in the future, but right now it's one of the things that gets me up every morning, keeps my brain interested and is teaching me so many things I never dreamed possible.


One of the great opportunities I'm very grateful for is the travelling I get to do to Canberra for Parliamentary sittings. Sure it's cold, and yep the days are long but I love getting to listen to legislation being debated all day - call me crazy, the extra bit of urgency and stress that comes with any work over here and lots of little social coffee and dinner dates with other staffers and Members throughout the week - we've got to have a little fun after all right?

I thought this week, with me actually being over in Canberra for said Parliamentary sitting I would bring to you some highlights of the day and the outfits worn around Parliament house throughout the week as a bit of a sneak peak of my job!

[ Outside our office - there are 22km of hallways in Parliament house ]

[ Mucking around in Channel 9 studios - this is where they do live crosses on things like the Today show p.s I was very casual this day as it was Friday! Which means the house isn't sitting ]

[ Inside the chamber - you're allowed phones etc in there on days Parliament isn't sitting so I naturally had to act the tourist, whilst also being an employee ]



Fashion Finds - Erin Louise

I really don't think there is anything better than when you stumble across a designer who's clothes you immediately fall in love with and when purchased and worn make you feel like they were made and tailored just for you. I found that in a local NSW designer Erin Louise just over a year ago now, ( that I have mentioned here  and here before) and my love affair with her whimsical & gorgeous pieces grow as each season goes by. She is a fashion force to be reckoned with when it comes to her one off formal dresses (did I mention they're one off?) she does through her other label Ell, and her new Summer collection is incredible with clothes featuring bold patterns that still have her key flavour of what I think is like a romantic feel in each and every piece. She has a signature singlet range** that I constantly have to stop myself from buying every design from (all in good time) and even her headbands and accessories are stunning and give any outfit a statement look. Her latest collection from Ell has girls going crazy and this is the collection the photos are from today. The design idea for the shoot was dreamt up by the photographer Luisa Brimble and I feel she did Erin's collection incredible justice. I hope you enjoy these shots and beautiful, intricate designs as much as I do. All photos can be found here.

**I want to do a separate feature of her beautiful singlet range I mentioned above in a post soon so I can do the designs justice so stay tuned for that!

Photography: http://serendipitycornerblog.blogspot.com/
Make-up Artist: http://www.makeupbymegan.com.au/
Hair Stylist: http://www.julianamarcshair.com/ and Stacey Stasos
Models: Bronte Cincotta, Mary Gordon-Thomson, Shannon Lawson, Natasha Shoory
2nd Photographer: http://silktruffle.blogspot.com/
Photographer's Assistant: Alice Boshell
Flowers: http://www.clementineposy.blogspot.com/
Designer: Erin Louise for Ell collection