DIY dream

I was asked by one of my readers the other day if I like to DIY when it comes to fashion and the resounding answer was YES!

I absolutely love to customise my style as much as possible, from simply changing over buttons, to reconstructing an oversized vintage bargain.

This is one of my favourite DIY outfits. I absolutely fell in love with the print of this (what was oversized) vintage dress, so I brought in the seams and customised the hem-line.

Inspired by this fabulous Louboutin DIY, courtesy of the wonderful ...love Megan, I also had a field day DIY(ing) these Target stilettos and finally, the belt, a left-over piece of chiffon.

I'm wearing:
Dress: Vintage
Shoes: Target - DIY

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Here comes the bride

My good friend and woman behind the wonderful designs of Ouma walks down the isle this weekend and what a stunning bride she will be - kisses!

Here is a sneak peak of the second collaboration between Monique and the exceptionally talented photographer, Galaxie Andrews.

Amazing weekend to you all!
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P.S. The winner of the We Love Colors giveaway is Fashion Cappuccino - Congratulations!
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Flower power

As mentioned in my last post, I picked up these great sandals and pretty floral dress from my favourite shopping spot in Hanoi, Hang Ngon, both for less than $20.

In addition to magnificent food, friendly people and a beautiful geography, Vietnam has some really good shopping, particularly if you know where to look. I’ve picked up so many of my now favourite pieces: shoes, dresses and accessories during my stay here, and fear that I’m going to be way over my luggage weight allowance.

I have only three more weeks left to enjoy Vietnam, before heading back to Australia for a week to visit friends and family and then I’m off to explore again! First on the itinerary: Singapore, Barcelona and Portugal.

I’m wearing:
Dress – Hang Ngon, Hanoi
Shoes – Hang Ngon, Hanoi
Vintage charms – Markets (New York)

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From Vietnam with love

With temperatures in the 30’s (degrees) and 85% humidity, keeping cool in Vietnam is definitely somewhat of a challenge.

This last week I’ve spent much of my down-time, acclimatising by sipping coconuts, enjoying exotic tropical fruits and exploring the Old Quarter – street after street of sidewalk merchants selling everything from textiles to crafts, shoes, jewellery, silk and herbs to name but a few.

Hanoi is an absolutely beautiful city and the people are incredibly friendly. The traffic takes a bit of getting used to though, organised chaos is the best way to describe it.

I look forward to sharing more of my Vietnam adventure and fashion with you.

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Goodbye London, hello Hong Kong

After a brief stop-over in London, and a tiring 12 hour flight, yesterday we arrived in a drizzly Hong Kong.

London was a beautiful city, we had just enough time to catch a glimpse of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, the Thames and Tate Modern, all equally as amazing as the next. Just as impressive would have to be said of London shopping - fabulous! I picked up these gorgeous boots, from a small boutique just off the incredible Portobello Road (these are some of the best fashion markets I've visited) and I can't wait to return to London for a longer visit later in the year (UK girls, stay tuned, I'd love to meet up along my travels).

So where to from here? Well after a couple of nights exploring Hong Kong, I will be moving to live in Vietnam for the next three months. I'm really looking forward to the adventure as well as the challenges of living in a new country. I also have some exciting new projects I will be working on - so be sure to stay tuned, more details to follow.

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Up town girl

Yesterday we made the move up town, to New York's Upper West Side. I am totally blown away by this city - it is truly an amazing place, with so many cultures, attractions and the most fabulous sense of style. From riding boots to trench coats, three piece suits to leather mini skirts - New York has it all.

Over the weekend, I also had the pleasure of meeting up with the fabulous Gemma, of Fade to Black. We caught up over a delicious brunch, then spent the remainder of the afternoon thrifting - a gorgeous girl, and a great day.

I've got another few nights of New York to enjoy, before heading off to London. Hopefully flights to Europe are back to normal by the end of the week.

I'm wearing:

Vintage blazer
Jumpsuit - seen here (worn as shirt)
Pants - Urban Outfitters
Glasses - Forever 21

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New York, New York

21 cities and 8000 miles later, we reach our final stop on our North American adventure - New York City. We arrived this afternoon in Times Square, and I am already blown away by this amazing place. The next 10 days will be filled with sightseeing and shopping. I also hope to catch up with some fabulous New York fashion bloggers, then, off to London, followed by a brief stop-over in Hong Kong.

Travelling across the United States by car has been the adventure of a life-time. I have visited so many great cities and met some amazing people. The last week or so we experienced some great highlights. I absolutely loved Florida - The Keys were spectacular, a picture perfect tropical backdrop and Miami was the perfect place to enjoy some serious fun in the sun!

The Kennedy Space Centre was one of the best attractions I've ever visited and a definite must-see, Myrtle Beach in North Carolina had a great beach culture and Georgetown was a Washington highlight - great food and shopping.

Over the past 6 or so weeks I've had my very first experience of snow, endured rain and hail, sizzled in the the scorching Miami heat and bathed in the glowing Californian sunshine. I have to tell you, packing an accommodating suitcase has been a real challenge.

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Friend in Fashion turns 1

Having just arrived in Dallas, Texas, I noticed that Friend in Fashion has reached the one year mark. I'd like to thank each and every one of my fabulous followers, and everyone who has supported me by visiting, commenting or emailing me.

I thought I'd take this opportunity to share some of my favourites with you.

I've had a great time over the past year sharing with you some of my fashion and adventures. I have been inspired and met some amazing bloggers, online and through my travels and have been fortunate enough to have worked with some incredible emerging designers and photographers.

Thank you again, and I look forward to sharing more Friend in Fashion.

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What happens in Vegas

We left Las Vegas today, to hit the road for the Grand Canyon. We made an impromptu stop over on the four hour drive to grab a few shots of my latest dress purchase. I picked up this floral treat for only $16. I teamed this dress with a vintage black blazer, tights and bow hair piece for a night on the town.

Las Vegas was an absolutely crazy city to visit! To summarise: bright lights, glitz, gambling, and outlet shopping. The highlight of our Vegas visit would have to be an amazing French meal at Daniel Boulud followed by a spectacular Cirque du Soleil produced, Le Reve.

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Be my Valentine

This striking silk skirt is the work of Victorian designer Krista Hochwallner .

I love sharing fabulous emerging designers with my readers and Krista Hochwallner is just that. I first came across Krista’s classic designs a couple of months ago, and instantly fell in love with her modern take on 50’s and 60’s design.

Feminine lines, pretty detailing, fun and glamour underpin Krista’s collections, and is one of the reasons I’m such a big fan.

Lovers of beautifully crafted, lady-like fashion must check out Krista’s current collection at kristahochwallner.com.au.

Krista also has a beautiful blog - The Days of Glamour.

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P.S. I was absolutely spoilt for Valentines Day, with long stem red roses, a day at the salon followed by a romantic dinner! How did you celebrate?

Luxe vintage

I reworked this gorgeous vintage dress which i picked up from a local thrift store for just $6 and am thrilled with the results. Vintage dresses are my fashion weakness and I adore the beautiful detail and craftsmanship in this piece, from the lace, to the gilded flower, to the tulle petticoat!

It's less than 3 weeks until I start the first leg of my overseas travels. My first stop - Santa Monica. I have two months to see the sights of North America, before heading off to Hong Kong, Vietnam and then Europe - I can't wait! Please keep sending through your amazing suggestions, I look forward to meeting up with as many bloggers on my travels as possible.

Now on to more important matters, the lucky winner of the Hayley Kate design is the beautiful
Diamonds and Champagne congratulations and thank you to everyone who entered.

Have a great week!

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Summer lovin'

I won this gorgeous swimsuit, courtesy of the lovely girls at Ivana and Katerina.
I really love one piece bathers, not only because they are super comfortable, but they also look great worn as a body suit. The stripe and ruffle detailing is my favourite!

Over the weekend, we headed out into the sunshine, to test out my latest swimwear addition. My darling fiancé did a great job capturing the beautiful bright blue sky and ocean in these photos.

I'm wearing:
Ivana and Katerina one-piece swimsuit
Vintage crop top
Target acid wash shorts
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P.S. Don't forget, this is the last week to enter my fashion giveaway to win a beautiful Hayley Kate design. Spread the word to increase you chances of winning.

Good luck, giveaway closes on Monday 1 February.
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Fashion giveaway - Hayley Kate

Due the overwhelming response to my last post, the gorgeous Hayley Kate has teamed up with Friend in Fashion to give my fabulous readers the chance of winning your own Hayley Kate design.

This backless beauty, with ruffle and pearl detailing is Hayley Kate’s signature look and can be all yours.

To enter, simply:

1. Follow Friend in Fashion with Google Friend Connect
2. Comment on this post with your contact details and links for additional entries

Increase your chances of winning:

1. Blog, twitter or facebook the giveaway for 1 additional entry.

2. Add Hayley Kate as a friend on facebook for 1 additional entry

Entries close 5pm EST, Monday 1 February 2010. Good luck!
The competition is open to all of my beautiful readers

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New year, new adventure

Happy new year everybody!

Here are a few happy snaps from our new years eve celebration. We endured a scorching day of 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), so this cotton dress, which i picked up from a designer sample sale for only $20, was perfect for the warm evening.

This week has been a bit manic for me, apart from all of the celebrations, my fiance and I have also been busy packing in preparation for our round the world holiday.

Our first stop will be the United States, arriving in Los Angeles on March 2. We are planning to stay in either Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, but can't decide? I would happily welcome any suggestions.

From LA, we have two months to visit the following US cities and sites - much of which we hope to do by car, so we'll have many more stops along the way:

San Diego
San Francisco
Yosemite
Las Vegas
Grand Canyon
Miami
New York

This will be our first time to the USA and I absolutely can't wait. My dear US friends, please feel free to share your suggestions on any must sees and do's. Or even better, if I stop by the city you live in, I'd love to catch up for a drink!

Finally a big thank you to Kaira from SWEET CALI4NIA who featured me as her blogger of the week - you can check out my interview here. I'm also working with a fabulous local designer at the moment, and I can't wait to share her gorgeous designs with you very soon. Be sure to stay tuned :)

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P.S. Thank you for your lovely comments, I love your feedback and will be visiting each of you very soon.

Hammer time

What a perfect Christmas - I've spent the last few days over indulging in the company of family and friends, which has been fabulous.

Even though it is quite hot here in Australia at the moment, I adore my MC Hammer pants, so I whipped them out for holiday drinks with my fiancé and good friends. My fiancé liked my outfit so much, that this afternoon, after a perfect day at the beach, we headed out into the sunshine for a quick shoot.

I hope you have all had a lovely festive season so far - I can't wait for New Year celebrations.

I'm wearing: DIY singlet, DIY shoes, handbag strap worn as belt, thrift leopard sunglasses.

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Clouds of cotton candy

I am absolutely head over heels for my new 'Clouds of Cotton Candy' dress - it sums up my style and personality perfectly. You know you’re on to a winner when your best friend, mother, fiancé and 17 year old brother all comment on your outfit!

I've spent the last week recovering from the removal of two wisdom teeth - not much fun at all, so as soon as I started feeling better, I couldn't wait to get out into the sunshine and take some photos of my dream dress.

The attention to detail in this piece, from the satin-wrapped corset boning, to the whimsical layer upon layer of the softest, hand-dyed tulle is simply perfect - I think i'm in love!

I hope you are all enjoying the festive season. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my family enjoying great food and even better company. I would love to wish all of my gorgeous readers a safe and very merry Christmas.

Dress: Ouma by Monique Martinez

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Sugar and spice and all things nice

Rarely do I spot a designer who truly takes my breath away, but that is exactly what happened when I first came across the incredibly beautiful designs of Arizona based, Monique Martinez.

Monique’s label, Ouma by Monique Martinez, is characterised by the unique blend of tulle and cotton, which create the perfect balance of fun, comfort and glamour. Monique’s love of ballet, graffiti and comic book art are all reflected in her stunning designs.

In addition to her collection of ready to wear pieces, Monique also creates custom orders, including wedding designs.

If you are a lover of beautiful design and photography (these images are thanks to the amazing Galaxie Andrews), I would encourage you to visit Monique's Etsy store.

You can also find Monique on facebook and twitter.

I am a huge fan of Monique's designs. They are playful, pretty and feminine and for me, are a modern take on all of the best parts of childhood dress-ups and ballet classes - what do you think?

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I love a sunburnt country

I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of drought and flooding rains,
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me.
Excerpt: I Love a Sunburnt Country, Dorothea MacKellar, 1906

I'm wearing: Vintage dress and DIY shoes, inspired by the fabulous ...love Maegan

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And the winner is.....

Thank you to everyone who entered my fashion giveaway. A big congratulations goes to Coco, of Not So Naked, who has won a custom made dress from the fabulously talented Alice Wark.





There is a story to these photos. I was leaving work, when I stumbled past this fabulous jacket in the window of my favourite vintage boutique - best of all I picked it up for only $10. I then headed home to find that my DSLR remote control had finally arrived. I was so excited to test it out, that I jumped straight in and out of the shower, threw on my beloved tube skirt, and snapped away (in the backyard, no makeup, and hair still wet!).

Also a big thankyou to June Paski, who sent an "Awesome Blogger" award my way. Here are 7 new things about me.

1. I play the piano and saxophone
2. I’m a huge foodie and love eating out at restaurants
3. I play tennis and was a state representative swimmer
4. I love to sing, but am terribly shy about it
5. I have a huge vintage dress collection
6. I love foreign and art house film
7. A dream of mine has been to travel the world (which will happen next year!)

I'd like to pass this award on to: Lulu Letty, Zanita, the Sydney Girl, Come Over to the Dark Side, KIRAFASHION and Style Sophisticate.

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Party time, excellent

As promised, a few happy snaps from my birthday celebration over the weekend. Despite the recent heatwave, it was a cold, wintery and windy night, but still great fun!

Apologies for the lack of outfit shots - I’m wearing a vintage black blazer and vintage dress (worn as a mini-skirt) from my recent ‘Fields of Gold’ post. I’m also wearing the most fabulous DIY shoes that I can’t wait to share with you in a separate post.

Finally, don’t forget that this is the last week to enter my fashion giveaway to win a custom made dress. Increase your chances of winning, by blogging, twittering or facebooking the competition. Entries close this Friday.

Good luck!

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