There’s no two ways about it, a power suit in preppy pastel is destined to turn heads. Imagine my Elle Woods exuberance when I first laid eyes on this barbie hued set from Australian label, Mossman. This particular two piece highlights the essence of Mossman’s aesthetic, “bold silhouettes, effortless staples and a confident personality”. When I’m donning this ensemble, I feel my most feminine self, ready to #werkprayslay from 9 – 5, followed by slipping into crystal adorned Steve Madden heels for cocktails and conversations.
What I love about this power suit is the versatility of styling as separates. I’m planning on elevating a pair of boyfriend jeans with the blazer grazing my shoulders in the cooler months and pairing down the pants with a romantic, puff sleeved blouse for lunch with the ladies.
Have you crowned yourself the corporate queen by styling a power suit? Let me know your top styling tips or suiting tricks in the comments below! x
If you’re familiar with my gram you’ll already know that last month I enjoyed a staycation in Sydney, courtesy of Marcs (more on that subject soon!) With my best friend in tow, we wined, dined, ferried and frolicked around Sydney, documenting our favourite stops along the way. Presenting my highlights of Sydney’s best below!
Stays @ The Urban Newtown
I’ve stayed inner city many a time, but my favourite digs to date is The Urban Newtown in Newtown. What I loved about this suburb is it’s eclectic little collection of cafes, bistros, op shops, boutiques and striking street art. The boutique hotel itself was a super cool sanctuary with its industrial interiors, modern furnishings and lush green courtyard. My suite was generous and stocked with a free minibar (#spoilt), a point of difference and luxury, that The Urban Newtown offers to all guests upon booking.
The staff were incredibly friendly, offering stellar recommendations for local dining and cheeky nightcaps. I actually had the best pasta of my life at a little hole in the wall called The Italian Bowl, recommended by the friendly gent on reception.
The Urban Newtown is home to this spectacular street art by Fintan Magee. Coincidently his fox mural also displays in my blog’s header pic.
The Grounds of Alexandria
Europe or Sydney? I certainly felt as though I was transported into a dreamy Parisian scene, surrounded by endless florals, petite dessert carts and quaint lemonade stands, in Sydney’s Instagrammable haven, The Grounds of Alexandria. While we didn’t get a chance to dine at the cafe, we certainly indulged in a few sweets, including the house-made donuts….Delightful!
There’s no greater feeling then a healthy dose of Vitamin D and the ferry ride to Manly is very picturesque, as it passes by the iconic Harbour Bridge & Opera House. I definitely recommend having a wander throughout Manly and stopping along the waterfront for brunch.
Again, another handy little suggestion from The Urban Newtown front desk. The Cow & The Moon boasts an incredible selection of desserts, known for their award winning artisan gelato bar. My picks? 1 part Roasted Coconut, 1 part Strawberry!
So much in Sydney, so little time! I’de love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on other fabulous spots in Sydney. Please leave me comment below!
Also, my darling friends over at NA-KD.com are giving all TBS readers a special little discount of 20% off purchases + free shipping worldwide. Use the code ‘ashleigh20’ to redeem. Happy shopping!
Remember my recent puff piece on Winter’s coolest staple, the Puffer Vest? Get ready to layer up girlfriends, I’m sharing my 4 top tips to styling this bad boy below.
1. Team with a fitted number. Perhaps the most important rule when styling a puffer, is to team it with a tailored or fitted basic. Why you ask? The fit of a puffer is generally oversized and to highlight excess fabric, will not be flattering on any figure – that’s why I’ve opted for a fitted mini dress.
2. Style with a bold print. The best part of working with a neutral colour like khaki, is being able to build upon it with bolder detail – like the horizontal stripe of this monochrome dress. Not to mention, the puffer vest will add a little edge to girly patterns – think polka dots, stripes, animal print etc.
3. Emphasis clean lines.Layering done right means clean lines for total chicness – crisp fabrics, symmetrical edges and simplistic designs. Now’s not the time to team your puffer with garments that feature rouging, ruffles and ornate structure. Remember the saying: keep it simple, sweetie!
4. Make your accessories matter. Classic not cluttered, leave the arm candy at home and instead opt for staple accessories. As for me, I’ll choose my leather band watch and a statement ring over bulky bling.
What are your tips for wearing a puffer vest – let me know in the comments below and if you haven’t already make sure you sign up for my fortnightly style guide in the top menu for sneak peeks and other fabulous things!
It doesn’t take a genius to spot that I have a bit of an obsession with neutrals at the moment, particularly within the “off white” category. With ivory, off white & cream outfits on high rotation, I’m finding the warmer tones more flattering on my fair skin than stark white – a realisation most porcelain beauties can relate to.
When it comes to the basics, I cannot go past a versatile skirt with a fitted form, and this Wish Focus Skirt definitely ticks the right boxes. To help out my lady friends, I’ve done a style comparison, finding some great alternatives to this piece, in slightly different cuts, patterns and pricing. I recommend this asymmetrical skirt, horizontal stripe split skirt, and this pencil skirt.
Because I love uniformity, I’m teaming my striped skirt with an ivory top to create a matched set. I’m loving the revival of fringing and have added three fringed finds to the wish list, courtesy of Shopbop: J.O.A. Fringe Crop, Emma Cook Mia Top, Rebecca Taylor Silk Fringe Crop Top.
For ivory, off white & cream outfits, I always accessorise with a deeper colour, and find the combination of rose gold and black leather, as seen in this Eminence Collection Timepiece a perfect choice. On my other wrist, I’ve added a bold, monochrome anchor bracelet, also from Eminence Collection, which introduces a subtle nautical theme. Keeping the rest of my jewellery simple, I’ve gone with a delicate Samantha Wills circular pendant, matched with rose gold studs.
Do you have a little tip for when styling ivory, off white & cream outfits? If so I’de love to hear it in the comments below. Here’s to an exciting summer ahead! x
