Europe Summer travel wadrobe

Dresses I'm packing includes a Cream cotton Tuscan style dress perfect for the Italian leg of the trip, Thurley dress for Polo in the Park and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, Asymetrical Chiffon Maxi for Barcelona nights and a couple of beach dresses to wear around Positano and Lake Como.

 Tops include: Cotton On multicolour empire line spaghetti strap, Orange sequinned Halter top, Forever New Dusty Pink Cutout top, and a selection of fun print Tees.

 Denim bolero studded jacket, Northface hoodie, Dotti Macrame back vest.

 Sussan roll-up shorts in grey, Rip Curl beach short shorts, Linen Khaki shorts, and Supre khaki maxi skirt

Marks & Spencer bikini in black, Mis-matched Rip Curl bikini.

What else may I need for my trip? I'd have to pack a few pieces for work interviews that I may have, but those can double up as chic wear in the cities I will be visiting outside of London i.e. Milan, Madrid and Barcelona.

Trying to pack accessories that will take me from the Italian coast to High street Milan/London this summer can prove challenging, but I assembled the following (fairly similar) set on Polyvore to remind me of what to take.

Summer travel accessories by happy-e-after featuring flip flop sandals, Embellished sandals, $99 / Ballerina shoes, $44 / IPANEMA flip flop sandals, $32 / Tiffany & Co. / Kate Spade jewelry / Stone jewelry / Orange jewelry, $12 / Alexander McQueen scarve / Coach mirrored sunglasses, $175 / Paul Smith belt / Banana Republic / Longchamp Carry-On Duffel Bag



On top of that I have to bring Mr HEA his Nespresso Machine, pack cosmetics, toiletries, underwear, beach towels, Interview documents. Aaahhh!! Will I forget something?

Wadrobe Cull/ Ebay sale

Hello, Wadrobe culls seem to be quite the trend nowadays. I don't have a lot of designer clothing, most my designer items are bags, but I thought the following pieces might be of interest to someone else as they never got many wears when I had them and actually would form some nice basic pieces for someone else's wadrobe.


Click on the link to go to where all the items are listed!

Louis Vuitton Epi clutch

Pink FCUK mid-length sleeve top

Wrangler Jeans Size 10

FCUK white singlet

FCUK Jeans Size 10

Bright Orange Kookai empire line top

Morgan de Toi halter top

Christian Dior heels

FCUK T-shirt

Rory Beca Lace blazer

MNG white pencil Skirt Eur Size 38

Zara Basics dress

Bebe faded jeans Size 10

If you are interested and don't have an ebay account, please contact me on happyeverafterbride@gmail.com

Bespoke Summit

I work in the world of conferences and so it was logical for work to pay for my attendance to AFR's bespoke summit. Whilst we don't sell fashion or luxury, we did have a world-class brand and a keen mind for business, the place I work for. So I eagerly adorned myself this morning and made my way to the Sydney Opera House, not realising that I was in for quite such an entertaining program.
I expected to learn something, but I didn't expect to learn so much.

I learnt the power of a good story; building a good story that is uniquely yours and one that inspires those that listened. A full day of people of success and great stories that were original and honest, all flown in to this stage to collaborate in leading the business of luxury and defining what makes luxury. From the humble jean and surf to the elite runways and integrated resorts, the history of candle and perfume and the rise of the cultural and digital evolution of our present retail climate, nothing was left unaddressed. Everything that epitomises bespoke luxury was laid out raw and bare for us to scrutinise.

But it has always been that hasn't it? Luxury was pure industry, laborious craftsmanship creating well loved products/ services that brought with it great experiences. Touhami of Cire Trudon explains the purchase of luxury as the exchange of time. My time spent earning money in exchange for the time you spent on making the product. All that money and success and they never took away his ability to still call a spade a spade and to laugh at himself. Hats off to him (If I wore a hat).

Another European man today that inspired me today said these moving words in a beautiful Italian accent:

 “What I want to tell you in the end, after all this shouting, all these collaborations garner attention and make business sense ... It’s not charity, it’s just work. Thank you.” Simone Cipriani

Others who dazzled me today include the humble James Packer and his polished, quietly confident demeanour; Pallavi Sharda with her loyalty to her roots and the passion for her exuberant culture (making me vow to never cull my future children's eccentricity and affinity for a different culture when they are growing up, it might just become their identity); The Saturdays boys with their originality and boyish business acumen; Mr Net-a-Porter's clarity of comprehension of the male shopper preferences (made me wish he was married to my husband and so could explain him to me!). Also So sweet to see the husband and wife collaboration behind Coco Rocha and James Conran, to see so much love & protection from him of her brand.


All that in one jam packed day of information. A weaved collaboration of some of the best luxury players in the world to bring to Australia the ideas and insights of the industry. Now feast your eyes!

Premium catering by Matt Moran

Loved the eclectic introduction slides for Josh Goot

Fruit station for anytime you're in need of a snack

I go crazy for this trend of drinks in jars and strped paper straws

James Conran and wife Coco Rocha

Truly Sydney Panel

The brains and hearts of Sass & Bide

The man who encouraged us to not shy away from little digital experiments and to let your community build you

Selling their honest lifestyle, the Saturday boys lets their brand grow organically.

Things I wish I knew at 16

On beauty:

• That you'll develop your first awareness of wrinkles when you hit 28, but don't worry, after a year of a constant moisturising regime, their appearance will minimise. But gosh you should really be kinder to your eyes and neck.


• Freckles are the bain of your life. You do not discover this until you get to Australia two years later and lazily do not use sun screen for the first year of your life. From that point onwards, the damage could never be reversed. NEVER. Not even when you fraxeled them off for your wedding. Which by the way was a perfect waste of a thousand dollars.

 

On friendship:

• That 'bestie' you had at 16, isn't your bestie anymore now. In fact, you should never have moved in with her in Sydney.


• The friend that you judged all the time because you didn't understand her understands you better than you do her, and is so much better a person than you could ever hope to be. But never fear, you grow up to understand her better and she becomes your one true friend that is almost like your sister. Go easy on her, she deserves for you to be a better friend.

On fashion:

• The bags you buy, Don't obsess on the fashion items. They don't last in popularity for very long and you grow out of them too. And no they don't turn out to be the 'investment' pieces you expect them to be. Off-loading them is really hard and you don't get much money for them!


• That Gold jacket you will see in four year's time for $50. Leave it there. Don't even look at it another time. Walk away from it.


• You overobsessed with pink when you are 18. It will haunt you for a long time. Trust me.


• The harder you try to be different from everyone else, you'll one day grow up to want to be exactly like everyone else. So don't be too proud and too quick to judge.

On family and relationships:

• Love your brother more and be more patient with him when he needs you. One day, you won't be around anymore to guide him and he will be so lost without you, but I understand, you were lost yourself, even though you act like you've got it so together.



• Stop being so mean to your mum. She and you will have very little time together in two years time because you will leave Malaysia and you will hardly come home anymore.


• You'll end up marrying a guy that didn't meet any of the five criterion you listed out with your bestie the other day, but it's alright, he's the perfect man for you

• Don't be so tough on S when you're dating. Hold yourself together and be a kinder girlfriend to him, because he does change after marriage (despite all the things Mum told you were myths about men) and he is the kindest, most loving and understanding husband that hates to disappoint you. Hang in there until then.

I Wantz Cocktail Ring

I Wantz Cocktail Ring by happy-e-after featuring swarovski crystal jewelry

DANNIJO / Kenneth Jay Lane cushion diamond ring / Kenneth Jay Lane swarovski crystal jewelry / Michael Kors emerald cocktail ring / Givenchy / Fantasy Jewelry Box cushion diamond ring / Forever New stone ring, $18 / Miso cocktail ring, $3.18

Europe 2012 haul

Europe 2012 haul by happy-e-after featuring 

 Chanel earrings/ Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Apparence Holiday Makeup 2012/H&M beige sleeveless top/ H&M white jacket, $40/  Zara knit with shoulder embellishments/  H&M puffy jacket , $48 / H&M skinny fit jeans, $16 / Longchamp 'le Pliage' tote/ Maison Martin Margiela with H&M Fusion of two trousers/ Chanel leather GST / GAP 1969 oxblood skinny pants / GAP color block sweater /ALDO flat shoes / Anthropologie Ruched tops/ Mark & Spencer ankle Strap boots, $56 H&M print wrap dress, $19/ Michael Kors Tonne Pebbled Leather Hobo bag

I know it might not look like much but between travelling, fooding, souvenir shopping and seeing shows, I am still proud to have amassed these new items. My credit card bill however, is another story.

This year I bought

I always thought it was traditional to do a recap of all that has happened in the year. Reflect upon what was great this year and what I wow to do better next year. This post is dedicated to the loads of fun I have had self-indulging and blogging about this year. It was fun to resume my normal spending habits once there no longer was a looming big event that I had to save for (most of last year's purchases were wedding related), truth be told, there was a bulk of these items that came about because of the new lifestyle I began leading staying with my in-laws, with all that extra spare cash I now have.

First the beauty department:

 A mixture of luxury and non-luxury items. This doesn't even include the nail foils and falsies and freebies that I had gotten this year. Most the items were purchased from Priceline, Malaysia (still the cheapest place to buy cosmetics I find) and at beauty events.

Next up, the clothes:

 Labels featured here include Zara, Topshop, Kookai, Dotti, Sass, Cue, Zeitgeist, Sheike, Wayne Cooper, Forever New, Pleasure State, Witchery, etc, bought from the markets or retailers locally (Yes I still shop the brick and mortar variety). And yes the brands like Dolan, Marc Jacobs, Rory Beca and New Romantics, Tory Burch are courtesy of Shopbop whilst the capped toe wedges are Asos.

Other accessories I couldn't fit into the collage included booties, Mollini sky-high heels, two lust have bags (Rebecca Minkoff Quilted affair and 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli), Statement necklaces, Missoni scarf, Fendi frames, iPhone cover and iPhone 5, Gum boots, and earrings from Colette and MJ cushion cut studs:

Again a mix of store bought and e-tail. And a mix of high-end and cheapies.

Just another year that hasn't had too much else happening, but filled with so many moments of simple bliss in either opening a parcel or trying on the clothes as soon as I got home, I think it tided me through some tough times and many a fashion dillema of 'not-having-anything-to-wear'.

Happy New Year guys!

P.S. this post scarily doesn't include absolutely everything I bought this year. There were some I didn't save the pics of or I might have utterly miss. Also, as I collated this before my UK/ Europe trip, I really didn't truthfully have full disclosure here. Nevertheless, you know I'll do a haul post when I get back, and by then, it really counts as purchases for the New Year anyways. *wink*

Valentino exhibition at Somerset House

A New Exhibition at Somerset house, this display collates over 130 dresses from the fashion house's collections over the years. The journey begins with a collection of personal photographs, fashion show invitations and thank you notes from the various celeb clients Valentino has amassed over the years.
It then takes you to the Catwalk of these dresses on display, but get this, you're on the catwalk and the dresses are watching you walk. The dresses are best observed in a zigzag fashion following the numerals that explain each of the style and techniques for each garment. My favourites were one that was a White rebrode lace evening gown with pink degrade chiffon drape detailing, created for Mexican actress Maria Felix, and the stunning masterpiece of a wedding gown he created for Princess Marie-Chantal’s which took twenty-five of Valentino’s seamstresses to make, featured 12 kinds of lace and had a four and a half metre train. 

The rest of the show gives you a unique glimpse into the techniques employed to make these couture pieces, including Valentino's own insights via his virtual museum. Enjoy some of the sneak photos I managed to grab, but even more, make sure you head towards Somerset House if you ever are in London between now to the 3rd March 2013. It is open daily from 10.00 to 18.00 and costs GBP12.50 per entry. Closest tube station is Temple.

Drape Necklaces from Topshop

Drape Necklaces from Topshop by happy-e-after featuring a box chain necklace

ASOS dress / Box chain necklace / Necklace / Beaded jewelry / Antique gold jewelry

Overlaying a revealing dress, do you think the jewelry replaces the need for a bolero with a more dramatic flair?

Outfit plans

What I am wearing to a week night wedding next week...

Outfit plans by happy-e-after featuring christian dior

Diane von Furstenberg sleeveless tie neck blouse, $285 / TIBI army coat, $265 / Ankle length skirt, $135 / ASOS pointy pumps/ Louis Vuitton clutch / Chanel black bangle / Cezanne tahitian pearl stud earrings / Miso bangle jewelry, $8.10 / Chanel lip makeup, $39 / Christian Dior perfume / Christian Dior / OPI beauty product

Am quite excited about putting together this outfit as I found this black skirt from Witchery whilst shopping at Bondi Westfield yesterday. I am waiting till the Black Book event this weekend to purchase it to get the best bang for my buck. You might want to check this out, 120 discounts, events and freebies with participating retailers for four days only. Put it in your black book.

Vogue fashion's night out 2012

This is my favorite annual city event. I have gone every year from when they first begun in the height of the GFC, and each year, the buzz just increases and more retailers and shoppers get involved each year.




This was my #vfno outfit, having decided on wearing nothing that was e-tail bought except for my Carvela booties from ASOS (well it completed the outfit), the Collette necklace,the Cue top, the Ally tweed jacket and the Zara petal print skirt were all items where I had touched, tried, pondered over, and lovingly exchanged for over a real cash counter. The real deal in shopping.

And so our night begun at Martin Place where the Vogue stage was all set up for a night of fashion, dance and fun.




We chanced upon the Palmolive freebies amongst these gorgeous flowers and fruit.




David Jones held catwalks with Rachel Finch as one of the hosts.




Retailers went all out with sweets galore: Lolly bars at Mimco, Ghermez Cupcakes at Ferragamo, pastel cake pops at T&Co, there were sparkling waters, wines and fizzy lemonades free flow too.




Every now and then we would chance upon a dressed up model/ immaculately dressed staff asking if we'd like to have our Polaroid taken. I collected from Forever New, Mimco, Mulberry and my favorite one at Gucci, where you get to try on Gucci's gorgeous merchandise for the Polaroid shoot and the lady that went after me politely asked if she could try on my necklace too for the shoot. lol! As if my cheapie necklace could ever compare with Gucci's luxury.

 
Peter Philips, Creative Director of CHANEL Makeup, created a new makeup collection exclusively for Vogue Fashion's Night Out. The Les Twin-Sets de Chanel is a collection of three beautiful matching lip and nail duos available exclusively on the night from the Chanel Makeup Studio in Myer Sydney.

The swatches from left to right:
Rouge Allure Velvet 'La Provocante' with Le Vernis 'Provocation' - the perfect Autumn plum colour combination.

Rouge Allure Velvet 'L'Infidèle' with Le Vernis 'Infidèle' - intense pink shades bursting with energy.

Rouge Allure Velvet 'La Délicate' with Le Vernis 'Délicatesse' - embodies sophistication and refinement in variations of beige.

Guess which one I bought? I was intrigued by the Provocation, as most the girls in there wore that, but I decided to go safe in the end, I chose the Delicate, my only purchase for the night.

Well, it might not be the last of it, I scored 20% off both ASOS and Shopbop. With the Ultimate Closet items, Shopbop managed to quench my longstanding desire to hold the Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel in real life and tried it before I go home to buy it. I am still swooning over the bag, but am choosing my priorities wisely and so have not immediately popped on and gone crazy on Shopbop. Don't worry, I will let you all know when I decide.

*Please excuse the crappity of the picture resolution. I have downgraded to the iphone 3 since Mr.HEA moved to London with my iphone 4. The plan is for me to await the iphone 5 release here and pounce on it then I will. Until then my dears, I am so sorry. *