Shopaholic strikes again!

I'm at it again. Buying things I don't need. Buuut... sale. So why not? Here are my latest purchases:

Kookai dress - $40

Kookai top - $50

Guess dress - $149.95 (I had 20% off)

Guess top - $79.95 (I had 20% off)

Flannel shorts - $150

Today I actually spent my time packing up some clothes and shoes and transporting it into my storage unit... only to refill the space I made with these new purchases. Go figure. Here's some pictures from Snapchat of my day (follow me! "luvrin"):

Melbourne Central VIP Haul - Summer Tops

The fruits of my spoil today at the Melbourne Central shopping festival. All items purchased were 25% off from Guess and 20% off from Superdry. I intended to buy just one top that I was waiting for to go on sale but of course, once you pop, you can't stop ;)

GUESS Hot Legs swing tank - AUD $49.95

GUESS Asymmetrical Sharkbite tank - AUD $69.95

GUESS Instinct tee - AUD $49.95

GUESS Printed Snake Top camisole (coral multi) - AUD $49.95

SUPERDRY Grey Cross Stitch crop cami - AUD $44.95

SUPERDRY Blue Cross Stitch crop cami - AUD $44.95

GUESS  Military Denim crop top (rockdale wash) - AUD $ 99.95

Jimmy Choo style on a budget

Feel like stepping out in some Jimmy Choo shoes, except you can't afford to?  Don't worry, you're not alone - I feel your pain.  Boy do I feel your pain!  And so does ZU.  Thankfully they've made some affordable "Jimmy Choos" of their own, so us paupers can step out in style as well.  Hooray!

Jimmy Choo "Kani"

ZU "Ornate"

Jimmy Choo "Vamp"

ZU "Violeta Evening"

Jimmy Choo "Kiki"

ZU "Bahraini"

While the Jimmy Choo heels range in price from $700 - $2,200 AUD, the ZU heels are very reasonably priced at under $140 AUD.  And when they have their sales, you can save even more! Just so you know, the Bahraini and Violeta Evening are currently on sale... yippee!  Check out their website and grab yourself a bargain.

By the way, I'm not affiliated with ZU in any way.  I just love Jimmy Choo shoes but can't afford them and happened to stumble upon ZU's knockoffs and got all excited :)  Now we can all step out in Jimmy Choo style!

*Jimmy Choo shoe images are from www.jimmychoo.com and ZU shoe images are from www.zushoe.com.au

Latest Australian designer lusts...

I have recently become obsessed with Australian designers.  There's something very fun and eye catching about brands such as Zimmermann and Alannah Hill.  While I'm no stranger to these brands, I've never paid them much attention for one sole reason: their prices are beyond my means.

I think I may have grown up a little and decided that dressing trashy no longer suits me.  Not that I was majorly trashy or anything, but I'm pretty sure that if I was on that show Snog, Marry, Avoid I'd have been seen as the type to avoid.  Or at least snog, then avoid!

Anyway I just wanted to show you my latest fashion lusts from some Australian designers.  The top three bikinis are all from zimmermannwear.com.  They are high in quality and look different to any other bikini I own and am seeing on the current market.  The price range is above the $200 AUD mark but if they ever go on sale, you might be able to snag it for half price.  Which I plan to do!

How gorgeous are these two dresses?  Again, they're from zimmermannwear.com.  These two are prime examples of my fashion taste gravitating towards non-trashy.  Anything that came even close to covering my knees used to be scoffed at by me, now I understand that long dresses are very good when your knees start to get fat.  I actually saw the pink dress in store and if they had had it in my size, I would've bought it then and there - groceries for the week be damned!  Both the dresses are over the $400 AUD mark but the darker one is on sale for $275 AUD (original price $550 AUD)... run, don't walk!

I like to think of Kookai is an affordable Australian label.  While they may not be up there along with the other aussie designers, they do produce some great designs and when they go on sale, it's well worth it to have a look around.  They do great basics and stunning dresses.  The two dresses above I have tried on and fallen in love with.  They're $130 AUD and $190 AUD respectively.  And while Kookai are currently having a massive sale on right now, those two aren't on sale just yet.  Hurry up, please!  I wish to own them very soon.

This dress is $590 AUD from sassandbide.com.  Ouchies!  But look how unique it is.  You can never go wrong with black and gold.  It's long, but still sexy.  It's pretty much everything a dress needs to be: classic yet modern, different and I bet it looks good on too... on me.  LOL :)  Sass and Bide also do some great unique looking accessories.  Their price is definitely high but at least you'll know you're unlikely to bump into someone wearing the same outfit as you at a party.

While I lust for these items, it's highly unlikely that I'll ever get to add them to my wardrobe so I've written this post especially for me to look back on and drool at.  Are you drooling too?  To see more of the fashion that I love, have a peek at my pinterest.  I've only just started but there will be plenty more pretty things to see!  xoxo

Trials and Tribulations of a Wedding Guest + Possible Outfits

Exactly one month from now, I will be attending an asian wedding reception. This is a big deal to me, as I rarely get invited to anything (be it family BBQs, weddings, hen's night etc).  I suppose that has something to do with me being the black sheep of the family, which really deserves its own post.  But anyway, back to this wedding... 

If I were a celebrity, this family friend's wedding would be the equivalent of being invited to attend a major award show, such as the Golden Globe Awards or the Grammys (Grammies?).  Weeks in advance I would work on my body, losing weight so I can look hot in the outfit that I planned and picked out well before the event. My nails would be trimmed ahead of time, so that they'll have enough time to grow to the perfect length on the night.  Manicure and pedicure would follow.  My skin would be buffed and polished to as near perfection as possible.  Peach fuzz will be tackled, hair coiffed meticulously.

I suppose for the average person, a wedding reception is just like a night out: you decide on an outfit a few days beforehand and you do your hair and makeup on the night.  For the average Jolene, it's a great night to eat, socialise and look pretty.  For me?  It's a big fucking deal. Attending an asian wedding reception further compounds this as in my experience I find that asians tend to be very judgemental.  High regard is given to those with the most expensive car, the more exclusive brands of attire, whichever high end logo your clutch embodies.  Failing that, they judge you for your looks.

In the next coming weeks you will see many "getting ready for the wedding" related posts.  This is just the first of many.  Before what I deem a "major event", I like to plan it all out.  Since I won't be rocking up in a Porche or wearing high end couture, I will have to work on ME.  I know that in order to feel good about myself at this wedding, I need other people to look at me and be impressed with what they see.

Yes, I'm superficial.

Let's be real.  If I don't feel good about myself on the night, I will have a shit time.  I'll avoid talking to people. I'll try to sit in the dark, far off corner so no one can see me.  Is that how I want to remembered?  Something akin to a shadow?  Hell no!  I want to have a good time like everyone else!  And in order to achieve that, I need to look great.

Possible outfits that will make me feel great
Before I can decide on how to fix myself up for the night, I need to know what I'm going to wear.  Here are a few possible outfits I'm thinking of.  All the styles are similar.  That is because I already own one of the dresses featured (just in a different colour) and I like how it looks on me.  All the dresses are from Pilgrim and all the shoes are from ZU.  I prefer ZU shoes because most of their styles are more comfy than others that are of similar style but from a different store.

Outfit #1

Pilgrim dress: direct link
Zu shoes: direct link

Outfit #2

Pilgrim dress: direct link
Zu shoes: direct link

Outfit #3

Pilgrim dress: direct link
Zu shoes: direct link

Outfit #4

Pilgrim dress: direct link
Zu shoes: direct link

What do you think?  Do you like the look that I'm going for?  Is there a standout dress/shoe combo that you particularly admire?  Let me know so I can make a decision!

Halloween FOTN & OOTN

I forgot to charge my camera, so my photos from the phone are really quite poor in quality, but I still want to show you my oh-so-original outfit for halloween. Wings with a little black dress, how awesome am I? LOL. It was very last minute, I wasn't even sure if I could go out anyway!  Thankfully my mum was able to take the kiddies.  At the time the photos were taken, I wasn't sure what shoes to wear with it, but just before I left the house I decided to wear my black Louboutin pumps, to go with the red and black theme. Smart, eh? Should have worn boots though, because it was quite cold that night!  So perhaps not so smart after all.

Wings I've had for a very long time, since 2005 which was from Bras'n'Things.  Dress by Guess.

It's no secret anymore... YES I am 4 months pregnant.  LOL, jokes!  I just have a fat belly from popping out kids :(

The shoes I wore.  Whoever said Christian Louboutin heels are comfy was a LIAR!  Yes I had to put those things on the soles to make it more cushy, but it still hurt like a b*tch.

My makeup was my typical smokey eye.  What a surprise.  However, it was my first time using Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre (Epatant) and OMG I am in LOVE!  All the hype on that product is true.  I want all the other colours now!  Several hours later, after many tipsy shenanigans, my eyeshadow still looked the same as it did when I first left the house.  In fact, my whole face still looked about the same as when I left, so I'm very pleased with all the products I used.  Especially since there were no touch ups at all, nor did I have to blot my face!  (Or maybe I wasn't drunk enough to ruin my makeup like I usually do, ha).

Eyeshadow from the side.  FYI: I never do my brows, even though I should.  I'm just too lazy, and I always scratch my eyebrows when I'm nervous so I would've looked like a mess by the end of the night.

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Epatant is such a pretty colour!  And I don't do my eyebrows because they're dark and thick anyway :)

Yep, I couldn't be bothered getting rid of the fall out of glitter on my face.  To me, it's the same as trying to remove glitter nail polish: impossible!

This was posted not only to show you my makeup, but is my little cry for help to any surgeon who can fix my ugly nose for free.  Please?  You'll be doing the world a lot of good, because no will have to be subjected to it anymore!

This is a shot of me once I got home several hours later.  Besides the lips, my makeup still looked practically the same as when I left the house.  No touch ups or blotting!  And yes, I am looking a little worse for wear because I am tipsy in this photo.  As if you couldn't tell!

Products used:

Eyes: Rimmel Colour Rush trio in Orion (light brown for crease, salmon colour for highlight) Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Epatant (all over lids, used wet with M.A.C. Fix + spray), NARS duo in Pandora (matte black for outer crease), Urban Decay 24/7  Glide on eye pencil in Zero, Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara in black.

Foundation: NARS Sheer Glow in Barcelona (applied with damp sponge to prevent oxidisation) and a dusting of Bare Minerals original powder in Golden Medium.
Concealer: M.A.C. Studio Sculpt NC30 (undereyes) & M.A.C. Studio Finish NC35 on blemishes.  (Rash is barely visible, thanks concealer!)

Contour: NARS Laguna bronzer

Blush: NARS Deep Throat 

Highlight: NARS Multiple in Luxor

Setting powder: M.A.C. Prep + Prime transparent finishing powder
Lips: NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Sex Machine (base), M.A.C. Viva Glam V lipstick 

Boring Brown OOTD

 

Ok, so the colours aren't all that spectacular, but it's not really a boring outfit.  I think it's quite interesting.  The top is a sheer fabric (hello, bra!) and is a bit short in the front, so you get flashes of skin here and there.  It has opalescent buttons, which I've matched to my shiny-ish snake patterned belt.  The jeans are your basic skinny leg dark wash denim, and the shoes (tan strappy platforms) match the top quite well.  Overall, a typical combo of mine for a casual night out (top, jeans, heels) but still a little different.  I will be wearing this to a dinner & movie :)  The sunnies are in case we go for a walk along the beach... (yeah, right!  Dream on!)

Top: Pilgrim

Belt: Fossil
Jeans: True Religion
Shoes: Zu
Sunglasses: Calvin Klein

Have You Ever Had a One Night Tan?

The Model Co One Night Tan is the best wash off tanning product ever!  Relatively inexpensive ($26 AUD for the bigger bottle, comes in a convenient travel size too) and smells delicious.  Not to mention how natural and bronzed your skin looks after application!  For some reason, I could not find it on the Model Co website, so I'm praying that it hasn't been discontinued.  I'm pretty sure that David Jones, Myer and Priceline still have these on their shelves, but to be honest, I haven't really been looking out for it as I have a backup in my cupboard already.

It is a very light-weight mousse that is easily rubbed in to create a gorgeous, natural looking bronze sheen on your skin.  You cannot mess it up!  One application gives you a light, natural brown colour with a touch of shimmer that can only be seen under bright light.  Two coats gives you a deeper colour.  The mousse can easily be layered to create the colour you desire.  Obviously, the more layers, the deeper the bronze glow.  If you apply this with your bare hands, you only need soap and warm water to wash it completely off your palms (I always need to double wash, though).  I prefer to use disposable gloves, because I'm lazy :)

One thing about this tanner is that is does not rub off at all.  I have tried a few other wash off tans and each one remains sticky feeling and ends up rubbing off against things, such as the car seat, bed sheets, clothing.  The Model Co One Night Tan does not come off, even if you sweat a bit, until you wash it off with soap and warm water.  That, and it's gorgeous chocolatey biscuit scent, is what makes me love the product so much.  Just check out how it looks:

My legs with no tanning product on.

Left leg with two coats of mousse.  Right leg bare.  See that gorgeous glow on my left leg?!

Both legs with two coats of mousse.  Very natural looking, is it not?

I like using the One Night Tan on a night out, or sometimes during the daytime in summer if my legs will be bare.  I have keratosis pilaris, which means my legs look rather spotty and bumpy.  When I use the Model Co One Night Tan, it masks my imperfections a little and gives my legs a smoother appearance, a bit like I'm wearing stockings.  Here's a look book image of me wearing the tan on my legs on a night out:

If anyone can confirm for me if this product is still available, that would be great!  I will be so sad if it has been discontinued :(  I have already emailed an enquiry to the company but so far, I have not received a response.  I love this product a lot, and have been using it for over a year now.  I don't want to have to go on a search for another holy grail wash off tan!  So... have you ever had a one night tan?  I think that every girl should have one every time she goes out!