Melbourne Mood

Hi there! I know, I know it's been a while since my last post...every day life just sometimes gets in the way! I'm still slowly finding my rhythm to balancing a full time job and blogging, but I'm getting there! In time, you will hopefully see a regular post from me.

So, how have you been?

Not too long ago I travelled to vibrant Melbourne for a few nights. I love visiting Melbourne! It's such a diverse city of wonderful strangeness that you'll never know what to expect! Like there's always a thrilling discovery of something new in a laneway or an arcade. It is a city of ever changing reflections, colours and patterns that it's like looking through a kalaidescope. Definitely not lacking in personality, Melbourne is rich in entertainment with lots of cool bars (love the roof top bars), restaurants and galleries. The weather though, I wasn't expecting it to be that cold at 12 degrees at the beginning of Spring!

My first night kicked off with Melbourne Fashion Week's closing runway show where it brought together 5 of some of Australia's most revered labels who are setting the pace for fashion designers globally. I knew I wanted to wear an outfit that was neutral-toned, simple and chic. My top and skirt is from Bec & Bridge (another loved Australian label, whose clothes are made in Australia and are affordable compared to other Australian made labels). My initial plan was to leave it at that, but because it was so cold in Melbourne I needed a coat (yes, a coat!) Luckily I had just bought this beautiful soft wool and cashmere blend long wrap coat from Ted Baker which I had been eyeing for the longest time! It completely elevated the chic factor of my look, taking it to the next level with the camel colour and the funnel neckline. Plus it had the added benefit of being so warm and comfy! Oh I forgot to mention, my top is also reversible - I'm a sucker for hidden surprises! On the other side is a maroon colour, which would of also worked nicely with my ensemble.

Melbourne Fashion Week ended on a high note! Melbourne Town Hall was a full house that night and the runway was beautifully decorated with metre high ice blocks with frozen floral arrangements inside - a nod to the changing seasons. Farewell to winter, and an open arm welcome to colourful Spring!

Opening the night was Scanlan & Theodore with a stunning feminine collection. The Spring time feel was definitely in the air with a lineup of stunning flowing dresses, floral prints & embroidered flowers, and delicate sheer lace. My favourite look was the pleated rib polo dress in vibrant red paired with emerald cross front stilettos - what a statement piece! (peek here) I went to Scanlan & Theodore the next day at Emporium and thought about buying this dress...but unfortunately this design is only for the svelte fittest like the model that night or the store clerk that day! I however bought another stunning piece, their floral cocoon sleeve dress which I absolutely adore!

Sister duo, McGraw was up next with their more transeasonal collection. They sent down the runway woollen jumpers and pants for the colder days alongside mini skirts and long sleeved dresses. It was a vintage vibe, showcasing head scarfs of the 1960's and jumpsuits of the 1970's. Like this era, the collection was feminine but with a bit of edge. 2 standout pieces for me was their biz dress in ivory lace (peek here) and their symphony skirt in pink with the matching baguette blouse (peek here) - divine!

Bianca Spender's collection didn't fail to amaze with the oversized and signature drape collection. Some pieces also saw the return of the accentuated waistline, creating an hourglass figure. One of Bianca Spender's jaw dropping ensemble for the night was her crepe sleeveless jacket in a memorable cobalt blue with matching wide leg pants. (Peek here).

Of course everyone loves Dion Lee, who never seems to disappoint sending down the runway a collection of predominantly blue and green, solid and bold pieces. And a lot of velvet. My favourite would have to be the two-toned laced velvet slip dress (peek here) and the silk velvet flight bomber (peek here) #want #need.

Ending the show with an explosion of colour was Romance was Born. It was a very eclectic collection with over-the-top embellishments, sequins, stars, beads and brightly dyed tassel fringes featuring every colour in the crayon box! All pieces had a black base, allowing the colour details to shine even brighter! It left me stunned for sure but such a great way to end a great night filled with incredible Australian talent!

Follow @Melbournefashionweek on Instagram to check out all the amazing designs and styles.

The second reason for my trip was to of course check out the House of Dior Exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, honouring 70 years of Haute Couture. It's an unmissable event, so if you haven't already, GO - it finishes up on the 7th of November. I was very happy these two events conveniently coincided!

The NGV first of all is a beautiful venue, loved the stained glass ceiling. I noticed a lot of people just hanging out, lounging on the couches mesmerised by the ceiling. The exhibition was thoughtfully curated. The House of Dior explores the story of the fashion house through a series of themes, featuring work by the 7 designers who have played a key role in shaping Dior's renowned fashionable silhouette between 1947 and 2017. The 7 designers were: Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferre, John Galliano, Raf Simons and the current head designer + first female head designer, Maria Grazia Chiuri. NGV really did an amazing job, very elegant in its approach just like the 140 garments they displayed by Christian Dior Couture.