5 essential pairs of jeans

I wear jeans a lot; ok so pretty much everyday; but I do mix them up and I now seem to have accumulated quite a few pairs over the years. I love them mainly because they are comfortable, but also because they can dressed up or down accordingly. 

Given my jeans repertoire I thought I'd share with you the 5 pairs that I wear regularly and form the basis of my closet....

{1} Black skinny jeans. So classic and very chic. Need I say more?

Favourite picks: Zara; J Brand, Current Elliot.

{2} Boyfriend jeans. I admit I was apprehensive at first about Boyfriend jeans, but after I tried on my first pair I was hooked because they are so incredibly comfortable. They are perfect for running around on the weekend, but they can easily be dressed up with heels for a more glam look.

Favourite picks: 7 For All Mankind; Current Elliot; J Brand.

{3} White jeans. Parisian Chic cites white jeans as being an essential wardrobe item + confirms they should definitely not be limited to summer. In the cooler months pair them with a navy sweater + ballet flats for a classic, yet ultra chic look.

Favourite picks: Frame Denim; Citizens of Humanity; Blank Denim.

{4} Straight blue dark jeans. A good classic pair of straight dark blue jeans will take you everywhere. Pair with a blazer for a more tailored look or wear more casually with a t-shirt or sweater.

Favourite picks: Zara; J Brand; DL 1961.

{5} Distressed denim jeans. Another favourite of mine that are currently in high-rotation at the moment. I love taking style cues from Emmanulle Alt who looks fabulous in her distressed jeans, pairing them with a tailored blazer + t-shirt.

Favourite picks: Mother; Rag + Bone; Citizens of Humanity.

Am I alone in with my jeans obsession? How many pairs do you own? 

Rachel xo 

Image sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

Most coveted

A round up of everything I'm loving right now...

{1} How lovely are these My Chatelles loafers? You can create your own perfect loafer on their site and choose your preferred colour and details. Hop on over at take a peek.

{2} I love the piping down the side of these fabulous Isabel Marrant jeans.

{3}Being such a fan of monochrome I couldn't resist this gorgeous Claire Vivier clutch.

{4} This green onyx necklace with navy silk necklace designed by Leah Alexandra is such a timeless piece I know I would wear again and again.

{5} Jennifer's blog, The Daily Connoisseur is one of my daily reads, so her new book is top of my wish list.

{6} How charming are these zebra trays? Love.

{7} Polka dot + gold? Yes please!

Happy hump day lovelies,

Rachel xo

Runway to Red Carpet :: Emma Stone wears Burberry

To be honest I've not paid much attention to Emma Stone's style before, but that was until she caught my eye wearing Burberry to the recent the CDFA Awards. 

I adore the peplum top, and the glittering forest green pencil skirt is glamorous yet  so perfectly chic, don't you think?

Are you a fan of Emma Stone's style ?

Rachel xo



Image credit

Thought for a new week :: success is not final

Welcome to a new week lovelies, I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful weekend! The weather has been so warm and sunny here, you can tell that Summer is on its way. 

This quote by Churchill is such a lovely reminder that really, at the end of the day, being able to keep on going is the only true measure of success.

Wishing you a wonderful week ahead,

Rachel xo



Image credit: Quality Magazine, Germany via Pretty Stuff

Happy weekend!

Wow, it's the last weekend in November of the year, can you believe it? I'm looking forward to catching some summer rays this weekend + catching up on a few unread books I've been meaning to read including Joy Cho's Blog Inc; plus I need to start on my Christmas shopping - have you started yours yet?

Here are few of my favourites from this week...

+ This Fig & Ricotta Crostini recipe looks divine.

+ If you're like me and into all things monochrome right now you need to see this incredibly stylish home.

+ Serena (whose blog Pretty Fluffy turned 2 this week!) shared these spot on 10 tips for blogging.

+  Manolo Blahnik was announced as the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement award at this Years' British Fashion Awards (being held on Tuesday).

+ Erin Gates has launched a new {and fabulous} collection with Jill Rosenwald. I am seriously crushing over that black + white lamp.

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And given this weekend is one of the biggest sales events of the year, here are a few Black Friday + Cyber Monday deals too good not to share...

+ Lemon + Lavender is offering a 10% discount on her gorgeous range of stationery and cards with code SENDLOVE (23th-25th Nov)

+ Gaby is offering 15% off everything in her etsy shop with code BLACKFRIDAY (ends 26th Nov)

+ Made by Girl is offering 20% off store wide with code TURKEY20 (23rd-26th Nov)

+ The Zush is offering store wide savings; enter code HOLIDAYS2012 to get an extra 15% off your order. (23rd-26th Nov)

+ Design Darling is offering 15% off all orders over $100 with code EARLYBIRD.

+ J.Crew has 40% off everything, plus an extra 15% for orders over $100 off with code GIVEANDGET (ends 25th Nov)

+ The twice annual {and always amazing} Net-a-Porter sale is on with savings of up to 50%. Definitely worth a look!

+ Shopbop's Big Event has savings starting from 20% off when you spend $250 or more with code BIGEVENT12 (ends 26th Nov)

To all of my US friends I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend and are eating yourselves silly!

Rachel xo

Image credit: Taylor Swift for US Harper's Bazaar, December 2012

Monochromatic style musings

There is something about monochromatic style that I can never get enough of. I love how each of these ladies have shown that monochromatic doesn't necessarily translate to boring. In fact, I think it quite the opposite - would you agree?

If only these pieces would find there way into my closet...Especially those fabulous booties!

1. Alexander Wang Pelican Satchel // 2. Phillip Lim trousers //  3. Tibi shirt // 4. Lizard dot print scarf // 5. Tibi block tank // 6. Kenneth Jay Lane ring // 7. Nicholas Kirkwood boots

Happy Thursday lovelies!

Rachel xo

Image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

An afternoon at Harrods

I'm going to skip a bit ahead in my travel adventures so I can tell you about a fun afternoon of shopping I had at Harrods in London and a couple of splurges I made.

I had high hopes for my first-ever trip to Harrods; it was one of those shopping destinations that I had heard so many people talking about over the years and after seeing the infamous Harrods bag carried by many a stylish lady, I was determined to be let in on the secret of the world's most beautiful department store.

It was even more important for me to visit the store given my family history: my late grandmother was a senior fashion buyer for Harrods in the 1930s, where she had worked her way up from being a Clerk at the age of 14. It was through working at Harrods that she met my grandfather, who was in the rag trade business and was selling his pieces to Harrods.

They say fashion comes full circle and in this case I think it very much does. 

I had planned to make a few splurge purchases on my trip and knew that Harrods would be the perfect place to make them. Not only do they stock every major designer label a seasoned shopper could wish for {including the likes of Chloe, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney + Mulberry} the store itself is luxurious and everything from the overly helpful staff, the decadent bathrooms {complete with perfume for you to use}, and the plush decor made my shopping experience everything I could have hoped for...and then some.

Wearing Zara jeans; Paul & Joe t-shirt; Helmut Lang Blazer; Jimmy Choo pumps; Mulberry del rey bag.

The Blazer

I wear blazers all the time - to work, on the weekend, shopping, out with friends - what I love most about them is their versatility. So investing in a timeless blazer that would never date was high on my list. I tried on several but kept coming back to this perfect-fitting Helmut Lang blazer. 

The Classic Pump

I found myself in shoe heaven after discovering the both the custom designed Manolo Blahnik + Christian Louboutin shoe boutiques on the first floor at Harrods. I was tossing up between a stunning pair of Mary-Jane Manolo's {yes, just like the one's Carrie lusted after in the Vogue shoe closet}; Louboutin pumps or a pair of Jimmy Choo patent pumps. I decided to go with the Jimmy Choo's as they are such a versatile shoe that I knew I could easily wear with jeans, a suit or a cocktail dress, plus they are super comfortable {if that is even possible?}.

I have to say that since I have gotten home I have worn the blazer on numerous occasions; so even though it was expensive I know the cost per wear will be very low. The shoes I haven't worn quite as regularly, but I know have a classic pair of pumps to pull out on any given occasion.

If you are ever in London I highly recommend visiting Harrods; it truly is a beautiful place to shop; and if not, well their online store is only a click away!


Rachel xo

Thoughts for a new week :: start where you are

It's often easy to make up excuses about why something can't be done 'right now' or why the timing is ' just not the best'. I love this quote because all of these excuses we so often make are thrown right out the window. Such a simple, yet powerful message.

Happy Monday lovelies,

Rachel xo

Image // quote

Steal her style :: Peony Lim

1. Blazer  // 2. Boyfriend jeans // 3. Cap // 4. Oversized white shirt // 5. Black pumps // 6. Vest // 7. YSL lipstick // 8. Butter nail polish // 9. Clutch 

A look I'm been coveting lately is boyfriend jeans paired with heels and I thought the way Peony Lim rocked this outfit at Paris Fashion Week was flawless. The classic outfit with a distinct modern twist and stylish accessories, like the oversized red clutch and cap, complete the look.

Fabulous, yes? 

Rachel xo



Image credit: Vanessa Jackman

Healthy Living :: SuperFoods salad

Hi lovelies! I have been tossing up for a while now whether I should start introducing some healthy recipe and salad ideas onto the blog as I'm naturally interested in this and always love to discover healthy recipe suggestions. 

This became really prevalent for me whilst I was overseas - I found it extremely challenging in some places to find a salad or a healthy food option. On several occasions I ended up going to McDonalds and buying a salad + fruit simply because there were no other choices! For me, eating healthily isn't about dieting or losing weight, I just genuinely feel really good when I fuel myself the right kinds of foods, and as a bonus I know that my body appreciates it :)

So that's my spiel; I really hope you will enjoy more of this kind of content on the blog - I'd love to know what you think!

Moving on.... I was actually inspired to create this salad after visiting the coolest fast food restaurant in London called Leon, whose mission is to change the face of fast food by offering meals that are full natural ingredients + produce, with a focus on nutrition {they have a pretty cool site too, check it out here}

{SuperFoods Salad}

{Mix together}
+ 1 cup of cooked quinoa
+ 1 cup of garden peas
+ 1 cup of lightly steamed broccoli
+ 1 cucumber, cut up into thin strips
+ 1 small bunch of continental parsley
+ half an avocado sliced into small pieces
+ 100g feta {low-fat if possible}

{Dressing}
+ 1 lemon
+ 1.5 teaspoons Tahini {my favourite is this one}
+ cracked pepper to taste

Serves two.

Bon appétit!

Rachel xo

Portugal :: part two {lisbon}

{Rossio, which is one of the main squares in Lisbon}

Ahh Lisbon, definitely one my favourites of the places I visited on my trip. I fell in love with the beautiful architecture, the charming people and the chilled out vibe of the city.

It is big enough to feel like you are in a large city, but small enough for you to walk around in comfortably and not feel overwhelmed. After 3 days I felt like I knew the main areas really well, even though I'm sure there was still more of the city to explore.

I got to test this theory, when one morning (after a few too many mojitos), I went out in search of this charming cocktail bar / cupcakery discovered the previous night that I wanted to get pics of during daylight. And yes, it was as darling as I remembered it the night before (more on that later).

{View of the Rossio from the top of St George's Castle}

Even though when I was there it was technically Autumn, the weather was still incredibly warm with temperatures reaching the late 20's and early 30's - definitely t-shirt weather!

One of the highlights during my time in Lisbon was taking a walking tour through the city where our guide took us to some non-typical tourist places (I love these!) where we got to sample some traditional Portuguese delicacies like the famous Portuguese tarts, and other yummy pastries. Then there was cheese tasting, mixed with marmalade, which is not the sweet marmalade that you would normally have on toast, but rather an almost pate/jelly you would eat with cheese and port - it was a fabulous combination. 

Other highlights included catching a ferry across to the other side of Lisbon and eating a seafood feast (seafood is very big in Lisbon being on the coast);  seeing a traditional Fado show which is a very beautiful style of acoustic guitar and singing; and climbing to the top of St George's Castle and admiring the stunning view of the city.

It was in Portugal that I got hooked on espressos; I'm normally a flat white coffee drinker, but in Europe, everyone drinks espressos. Barista's would give me very strange looks when I asked for a Flat White, so I started ordering espressos instead - when in Rome! 

I had my first taste of Zara Home in Lisbon and picked up the cutest pair of leopard slippers + matching eye mask. I could have easily taken a lot more home with me but had to restrain myself so early on in the trip ;)

If you ever travel to Lisbon there are a couple of places that I highly recommend you visit.

First is the cupcake/cocktail bar I mentioned, which is called Tease. It is run by the coolest British rocker dude who reminded me very much of Steve Tyler, who wore skinny jeans, an awesome fedora hat and the funkiest snakeskin boots I have ever seen.  

All of the cocktails are named after famous rockstars including the likes of Kurt Cobain, Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop. Imagine going out with the girls for coffee or tea + cupcakes, but being able to order cocktails at the same time, pure genius! The decor was equally as charming: think vintage art deco meets girly glamour. They had the sweetest velvet settees that you could sit back and enjoy with your cocktail; seriously this place was heaven!

The second place you must visit is the Eric Kayser bakery. When I first walked in and saw all of the delectable cakes, pastries, breads and cheeses, I was thinking to myself: 'I will take one of those and those and those and those'. Yes, there was a LOT of eating involved in my trip. 

So there you have it lovelies, I hope you enjoyed this little escape to Lisbon! If you are travelling to Lisbon anytime soon I'd be happy to answer any questions you have :)

Next up I think I will take you to Morocco....

Rachel xo


All photography my own.

Thoughts for a new week :: how far can one go?

Welcome to a new week lovelies. I have to admit I've been struggling to get into the groove of my blogging routine since I got home which became clear last week, which was also my first week back to work. I'm hoping that this week my holiday brain will have left - which, I have to say, is not being helped by the perfect spring weather and the longer days we are having here! So please excuse my absence, which I plan to make it up this week + share more of my travel pics with you.

P.S I loved this T.S Elliot quote because, really how do you know how far you can push yourself? The answer is you will never find out if you don't try. 

Happy Monday!

Rachel xo


Image credit

Portugal :: part one {coimbra}

Portugal was a highlight during my travels and is a country I would definitely love to visit again one day. I fell in love with the people, the food {one of the best meals I had on the whole trip was at a little restaurant here and only cost 10 Euros!} and the unassuming beauty of each of the cities I visited. 

Today I'm sharing some shots of the first city I visited, Coimbra....

Coimbra is a medieval town in the north of Portugal which is dominated by one of the largest universities in Europe. It is also where an ancient ruins site was discovered in the 1800's from the old Roman city which dates back to the 2nd Century A.D.

The town itself is characterised by charming cobblestone streets that have an old world feel about them; houses perched on hills; and winding roads that all lead back to the same place.

Yes, I do hope to return one day...I hope you enjoyed the first peek of my travels!

Rachel xo

All photography by me.

I'm back ... + some scenes from the weekend

Hello lovelies, I'm so happy to be back!! My travels flew past so quickly but I'm more than excited to get back to life, and of course this little blog!

I hope you enjoyed the company of the amazing guest bloggers who posted while I was away. A heart-filled thank you goes out to Natalia, Erika, Claudia, Lana, Alexa, Ada, Rachel, Dawn, Caterina, Gaby, Sam, Mollie, Serena, Natalie, Annie + Ashely; who, I think you would agree, put together a fabulous selection of posts!

To say my trip was incredible would be an understatement - I had an extraordinarily colourful experience, met some very special people and of course shopped up a storm! I have loads of photos to share, but I will spread them out over several posts so you don't get bored of them too quickly!

Before I do, I wanted to share a few pics from my brother's wedding on the weekend that was held down in the Adelaide Hills in an incredibly stunning 'garden' setting.

{My sister, Jess and I before the wedding}

The whole extended family flew down and we stayed at a charming B&B that was part of a winery. We had perfect spring weather, with warm sunny days and a cool breeze at night which was heavenly.

{wearing Fleur Wood maxi dress, Apex jewelled flats {old}, vintage clutch, Michael Kors watch, YSL ring}

The wedding was held at my sister-in-law's family estate,  a winery nestled in the Adelaide Hills, with absolutely breathtaking views.

One of my favourite touches of the day was this outdoor wash-basin for guests to use.

And my gorgeous nieces made two adorable flower girls on the day.

I hope you had a great weekend!

Rachel xo

{All photography by me except the first two taken by my dad!}