My first time visiting the Honey Birdette boutique – other than not being able to buy I wanted, it was a surprisingly pleasant experience

Call it whatever you will. Upmarket lingerie boutique. Overpriced copycat pieces made cheap in China but sold at exorbitant Western prices to maximise profit. Exploitative workplace. Demeaning and objectifying women. Whitewashing. The Honey Birdette brand and it’s boutique has sure attracted its share of controversy unlike any other lingerie brands. And given It has attracted an unusual amount of controversy compared to other lingerie brands meant the controversy and allegations are probably all true.

For me, I have never been interested in the lingerie (or toys for that matter) at Honey Birdette. Until, of course, I came across the Kukoro lingerie set while window shopping online looking for something to spice up the bedroom for my husband when he comes home (he is one of the many fly-in fly-out Western Australian workers). For some reason, it looked really sensual and sexy. And also very overpriced for a normal wage earner like myself who is not married to an Oligarch or an investment banker.

So like everyone else these days, I consulted friends and also on social media. Everyone seems to agree 2 things about Honey Birdette: one that the lingerie is overpriced, and two that the sales assistants are snooty and condescending and store environment is hostile to women – and that is just customers to start with, not staff.

So I hesitated.

Over the weekend, however, I came across Honey Birdette’s flash sale event.

Ok, I have to admit I didn’t came across it. Honey Birdette’s Facebook advertising actually worked. And the Kukoro lingerie set I have been eyeing is now 30% off it’s usual full price from $369 for the set to $260. It still isn’t cheap but at least I am saving over $109, which I can put into my loan repayment for the investment property. Or a new CUE skirt. Or a new blouse for the office. Or a couple of Thai and Chinese take-away dinners.

With the sale on instore and online, I decided to pay a visit to the Honey Birdette boutique despite the poor feedback. I hate online shopping, and I want to see the lingerie set myself.

So today was my first time visiting the Honey Birdette boutique – and it was surprisingly pleasant. Well the lingerie is still overpriced, but the sales assistants are not snooty nor condescending, in fact they were really helpful and nice. Perhaps the only let down was the parent company i.e. head office of Honey Birdette – they have NO Kukoru sets in store at all. While their website says both the green and pink sets are available to buy, the boutiques do not hold any stock. None whatsoever. Not in the green, not in the pink. So while I was already prepared to go in store to spend my $245 and walk out with the lingerie, I can’t. Because they don’t have it in store for me to buy!

The sales assistants advised it was online only. Ok, great. Except I have dragged me ass out of the house to a store expecting to buy it only to have to drag my ass back home to do it online. Which I may or may not when I get around to finding the time. So I guess a learning experience for any brand/ store: when the advert says sale instore and online, the customer expects the sale to be instore AND online, not instore OR online. And if it’s not available either online or instore, say so because the store could have taken my $245 this afternoon and made its profit, except that it hadn’t because it couldn’t sell the customer the product that was advertised as available which wasn’t actually available. In the end it was a lost sale for the store, and a waste of the customer’s time.

So I walked across to Myer instead, and tried on Dita Von Tease lingerie which was actually available to buy in store…

Xoxo

Natalie

OOTD Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress to the office and new car test drive – Peugeot 3008 (take 2)

There is something alluring about the French. The language, the cuisine, the capital (if not for Australia’s policy of banning Australians from leaving the country, I would have gone on honeymoon to Paris which was the original intention) – and now I am discovering French cars too.

The first time I drove the new Peugeot 3008 I was smitten by its interior beauty. Pricey, you are paying for a 2 wheel drive at (premium) 4 wheel drive prices, I needed to go away and think if the car was indeed worth is asking price. Given lending interest rates are at all time low in Australia currently, I figured even if something exceeding my original budget does work its way into my heart, I’ll just take out a bigger car loan to get it.

With the new year – traditionally the time for car dealerships offering discounts as the car has aged one more year- I figured I had to go back for a second test drive after I finished work in the afternoon today.

I am after all more a fashion blogger than a car girl, so I figured if I am to blog about my car test driving, I might as well show what I am wearing. With an important meeting at work this morning and then a schedule of inspecting the properties we manage at lunchtime, I needed a dress to both look professional and also to impress both my clients and work colleagues. I decided to get dressed in one of my classy and elegant Karen Millen dresses: my (near) new Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress which I wore today fully buttoned up to my neck, and matched with a pair of matching colour brown leather stiletto heels from Novo and my lilac set of Pleasure State matching satin bra and g-string set underneath – there is nothing more empowering from a confidence boost of knowing I am wearing nice lingerie under my work outfit for a young woman like myself working in the cut-throat real estate corporate environment.

The Karen Millen shirtdress has pretty much became an instant favourite of mine since I got it – I think it is classy and elegant. I thought, with the weather warming up nicely, short sleeves will keep me cool during the commute to work and also in the office and at work with property management and inspection.

Even though this dress is one of a few items in my 2020 fashion wish-list, it is by no means part of Karen Millen’s 2020 collection. As I understand, the dress is quite a few seasons old (6 or 7 years old maybe? – someone can correct me). But for inexplicable reasons, Karen Millen military safari shirtdress has been incredibly sought after. Sold out almost everywhere, and on the dreaded eBay (I hate eBay, for more than a few reasons which I have previously detailed) even second hand/ worn dresses still command astronomical asking prices – mostly still about £100! (i.e. almost A$200!).

So it’s sought after status and high second hand prices continue to baffle me! (A hint for the savvy investor: why bother dabbling in real estate or the share market when the right Karen Millen dress will give you decent returns?). In any case I did well to secure an (allegedly) new unworn dress (hard to tell when one is buying online but it does look unworn when it arrived) which I spent a small fortune on buying it online and paying for it in British Pounds (I paid the £80 for a listed dress, £20 for global shipping, and roughly another £10 for tax.

All up it had cost me £110, or A$220 when it is all converted to our de- valued Australian dollars – courtesy of, you guessed it, the Australian government’s dumb-ass policy of starting a trade war with the country’s LARGEST trading partner China). Admittedly I’ve NEVER paid so much to buy anything online on eBay – the worst thing is the add on shipping cost and tax costs more than 30% of the actual dress itself. Ouch! Having it shipped to Australia at the height of closed borders also meant it really took its time to arrive!

Leaving my office, I returned to the Peugeot dealership again where I am offered an extended test drive of the Peugeot 3008 – of all colours in its signature orange.

The price is still high and the interior is still a work of art: Achingly beautiful with a blend of futuristic styling and (very) agree-able aesthetics.

But a few new insights today include:

• Noticing the TFT screen for instrument cluster display is customizable and allows sat nav to be displayed on the instrument cluster (albeit lagging behind Audi’s for sheer beauty and legibility)
• Being annoyed by interior trim rattle and squeaks (which I expected none of in a car of this price range)
• Having my fingers and hand burnt by the gear stick and push start button which heated up after the car had been left in the hot Western Australian sun.

Here are all my updated thoughts of the Peugeot 3008 at the end of my repeat test drive:

LIKES:

• Stylish and futuristic  customizable TFT screen for instrument cluster display (which I didn’t notice the first test drive)
• The interior is still a work of art. Achingly beautiful with a blend of futuristic styling and (very) agree-able aesthetics. Yes there are hard plastics (and in fact plenty of it – just look at the doors) but you don’t even notice it.
• Dark grey fabric matched with and satin silver highlights and switch-gear, Peugeot’s interior says ‘stylish’ and ‘classy’ (P.S. again a bit like me and dress sense I must add!)
• Sport seats with side bolsters: supportive and comfortable. Not something you usually find in an SUV (try cornering in a Subaru Forester and you’ll appreciate Peugeot’s sport seats and side bolsters).
• Handling (typically European).
• Keyless locking and unlocking that actually works EVERY TIME (compared to Toyotas).
• Just right dimensions and size – just wide enough to not feel small, but small enough to squeeze into city parking lots. This might just be the perfect sized car for me.
• Surround cameras, surround sensors, side mirrors that automatically dip when reversing.
• Gear stick – weird design but unexpectedly ergonomical.
• Steering wheel looks like a TIE fighter from Star Wars. I actually quite like the small flat, hexagonal steering wheels. The way Peugeot has positioned its steering wheel combined with the TFT screen for instrument cluster display gives this almost a fighter aircraft feel.

DISLIKES:

• Interior trim rattle and squeaks – I expect none of this in a car of this price range.
• Weirdly designed but unexpectedly ergonomical gear stick heats up in the hot sun (didn’t notice it the first time).
• Push start button is a little annoying: requires you to actually hold the button down for a few seconds before the car will start, and like the weird gear stick, it has a tendency of finger burning after heating up in the hot Western Australian sun.
• Key fob is unnecessarily heavier and chunkier than competitors (eg Toyota).
• Unsettled over potholes.
• Really does not like cornering.
• Audio system is ok if it is put in a $20,000 Hyundai, but for a car twice the price, expectations are higher and I must say the 3008’s audio sounds pretty low-end.
• Looks like a 4 wheel drive, but isn’t. You are paying 2 for a 2 wheel drive at (premium) 4 wheel drive prices.

CONCLUSION: Still can’t get over nor forget the Peugeot’s gorgeous interior. But also still can’t get over the high price and poor value compared to the competitors (i.e. Japanese 4 wheel drives). The 3008 is still in my shortlist, if only I could justify the asking price…

Occasion: Office & new car test drive – Peugeot 3008 again

Wearing:

Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress

Novo brown leather stiletto heels

Pleasure State satin bra and g-string panties – matching set in lilac

Nude hosiery from Target

Xoxo

Natalie

OOTD – Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress to the office

With an important meeting at work this morning and then a schedule of inspecting properties we manage at lunchtime, I needed a dress to both look professional and also to impress both my clients and work colleagues. I decided to get dressed in one of my classy and elegant Karen Millen dresses: my (near) new Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress which I wore today fully buttoned up to my neck, and matched with a pair of matching colour brown leather stiletto heels from Novo and my lilac set of Pleasure State matching satin bra and g-string set underneath – there is nothing more empowering from a confidence boost of knowing I am wearing nice lingerie under my work outfit for a young woman like myself working in the cut-throat real estate corporate environment.

Wearing:

Karen Millen Military Safari Shirt Dress

Novo brown leather stiletto heels

Pleasure State satin bra and g-string panties – matching set in lilac

Nude hosiery from Target

Xoxo

Natalie

OOTD: Head to toe in CUE for work and GP appointment for repeat prescription for the oral birth control contraceptive pill

After a ridiculously hot 2 days, temperatures today are back to a comparatively cool 24 degrees celcius maximum. I decided to get dressed head to toe in CUE for work – a long sleeved fitted CUE camel front yoke button up blouse matched with a CUE floral satin pencil skirt – as summer approaches with a vengeance this might be the last time I am wearing this long sleeved CUE blouse until the temperature cools down months later after the southern hemisphere summer months.

I previously took Yasmin as my birth control pill, and the past few months I stopped taking it. Yasmin is not one of the subsidised birth control pill contraceptive pills, which means I had to pay full price for it – about $90 a month if I recalled correctly how much the prescription cost me to fill the last time – and I figured there was little chance I could fall pregnant as Western Australia state borders remained closed and the Eastern States (Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra) went into COVID-19 lockdown.

With the announcement that New South Wales has come out of lockdown, I decided that going back on the oral birth control pill now might be a good idea as I am expecting open state borders, which means more travel and also less likely for hubby to be quarantined and stuck somewhere, so I figured I’d rather be safe than sorry. Although admittedly, lately it seems the longer with time the less likely the Western Australia regime is going to move on like the rest of the world – but then nonetheless I can only be hopeful right? And besides, unlike my sister, I am not really ready for children just yet.

I was previously on Yasmin oral birth control contraceptive pill and I did consider switching the pill to something that cost less, but I decided instead I am better off to stay on the same as Yasmin had worked well for me all this while. So I made an appointment and sneaked out of my office at today to go to my GP for the first time in months for a new prescription. And I am surprised to see much has changed.

Firstly, there are little green dots on the floor to show where one should stand and where one shouldn’t…

Secondly, the ledge next to the window in the GP practice is now bare: there is not a single trashy outdated women’s magazine to be seen – in fact it has no magazines at all!

A quick enquiry with the medical receptionist: apparently COVID-19 has ended that because apparently magazines are a risk for the disease spreading. Really? I thought the only disease trashy outdated women’s magazines is mis-information…

In the end I got my prescription but not the pleasure of filling up on mis-information from trashy outdated women’s magazines, and a quick trip to the dodgy but cheap Chemist Warehouse later I got my box of oral birth control contraceptive pill ready to go!

Now all I have to do is to remember to take it every day…

Occasion: Office & GP appointment

Wearing:

CUE long sleeved fitted camel front yoke button up blouse

CUE floral satin pencil skirt

Salvatore Ferragamo slingback high heeled pumps

Nude hosiery from Target

Xoxo

Natalie

OOTD: office and ice cream run in my pink TED BAKER Gemisa Encyclopaedia floral pleated dress

Hubby is jetting off for work again and I am driving him to the airport this morning to drop him off before heading to the office, where I have a few important meetings – you know the sort with potential five figure sales commissions at stake. As I have said before it is starting to become apparent to me the entire real estate industry is nothing more than scam and giant Ponzi scheme, so the art of the scam is in smooth talking and appearances: real estate agents well cut suits, elegant dresses, driving luxury cars.

So that I would look my best today, I braved the ridiculously hot 40 degrees celcius day yesterday and got out of the house to juggle a last minute hair dresser and a beautician’s waxing and threading appointment. And yes I sweated like an ape. This morning, I picked out my gorgeous TED BAKER Gemisa Encyclopaedia floral pleated dress in nude pink colour to get dressed in, taking the trouble to match both the pink colour of my Pleasure State lingerie I am wearing underneath to the pink colour of the Ted Baker dress and wearing my new Heidi Klum intimates Sun Kissed Rose Dust suspender belt.

Yeah, I know it is still hot today with a temperature already 32 degrees by 9 am this morning, but I am willing to sweat like an ape again just to look elegant and professional for the meeting by throwing on my favourite CUE CITY Black Revere Collar Blazer over the TED BAKER dress.

My go to Salvatore Ferragamo slingback high heeled pumps, nude hosiery, my usual earrings, pearl necklace and pearl bracelet set complete my look this morning. I checked my look in the mirror before I left home: A tasteful dress combined with recently done hair and a beautician visit and light make-up, I feel confident, empowered, and feminine – definitely ready to convince the clients I am worth their five figure sales commissions.

But as I drove back from the airport after dropping hubby off I was already starting to sweat like an ape, despite having my air conditioning on maximum chill. I decided this is a day that calls for ice cream for breakfast– not just any ice cream, but Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

Therein lies the problem with Australia – have a look at Haagen-Dazs’ Australian website and compare it with the British website and you can see the difference: in the UK Haagen-Dazs offers 20 flavours (including the delicious sounding Irish Whisky and Chocolate Waffle and Belgian Chocolate and Hazelnut flavours) whereas here in Australia only 9 boring flavours are available… this country is starting more and more to look and feel like a third world country really.

Stopping at the supermarket, I managed to find just one last tub of this Chocolate Frappe Barista Collection flavour – right at the back of the refrigerator hidden by all the other tubs of more mundane flavours.

In any case I was happy with my Haagen-Dazs Chocolate Frappe Barista Collection flavour ice cream –

and I must admit I was truly satisfied with my Haagen-Dazs ice cream for breakfast this morning.

Occasion: office, and ice cream run on a 32 degrees celcius morning

Wearing:

Dress: TED BAKER Gemisa Encyclopaedia floral pleated dress (size 2)

Blazer: CUE Black Revere Collar Wool Blazer (size 8)

Belt: CUE (size 8)

Pumps: Salvatore Ferragamo slingback high heeled pump

Lingerie:

Pleasure State White Label satin bra & satin g-string knickers (Matching set in pink)

Heidi Klum intimates Sun Kissed Rose Dust/ Beetroot purple suspender belt

Hosiery: nude stay-up stockings from Target

Xoxo

Natalie

What I really want … (but obviously can’t afford!) & recapping my new car buying journey to date

Came across this in a magazine this morning…

And while being driven home today came across the real deal in metal…

I just had to look up the price in Porsche’s website – that Porsche is whopping over 13 times the price of my Toyota Yaris! Reminding myself that firstly, wish and reality is quite far apart (what I really want is obviously something I can’t afford) And secondly, why did I not marry a rich husband?

I was thinking if I could afford the car, I might as well have the model’s outfit too: I kinda like both the car and what she is wearing!

In any case back to reality in my quest to buy a new car: This reminds me I should probably take stock of and think about all the cars I have test driven to date so that I have a clear idea in my head which ones I’d consider buying, and which ones I won’t. My intention was to buy something in time for the 30^th June end of financial year sales, but unfortunately it had become a long drawn process given repeated COVID-19 ‘lock-downs’ and restrictions. Not to mention car prices have gone bonkers – what used to be $20,000 cars are now $30,000!

To date, I have so far test driven 14 cars:

4 hatch

4 sedans

6 SUV

Out of the 14 cars:

4 Used

2 Demonstrator

8 New

With prices ranging from $17,475 (used 2017 Hyundai Accent) to $46,990 (new Subaru Forester).

Out of which:

9 No (the ones I won’t consider buying)

5 Yes (the ones I’d consider buying)

So here goes, a listing of all the cars I have test driven to date, whether I’d consider buying, and the reason.

Mini Cooper (used): No

I’ve always loved Minis: it looks good and I feel good being seen in one. However, it seems no more refined than my current Toyota Yaris – both are just as noisy and bumpy. Combined with the price and the fact that I am getting a used car rather than a new one, it just doesn’t add up.

Holden Astra (used – 2017 model): Yes

Rather nice to drive: Quite, comfortable, solid feeling and a premium looking interior. Also quite spacious on the inside, despite the hatch layout. If only they were cheaper and if I can still buy them new…

Hyundai Accent (used – 2017 model): No

I am not entirely moved by this Hyundai. Product is no different from my current Toyota Yaris: just as

noisy and unrefined (So why bother changing my car?)

Kia Cerato (demonstrator – 2019 model): Yes

Spacious, surprisingly decent drive and handling, well screwed together, comfortable.

Toyota Corolla hatch (new 2021): No

Expensive! Does everything satisfactorily, but nothing outstanding. I though a Corolla was a low $20,000 car, but I was quoted a price just a shy under $29,000 – that makes it a $30,000 price point car!

Toyota Corolla hybrid sedan (new 2021): No

Does everything satisfactorily, but nothing outstanding. Not as quiet, refined, or solid feeling compared to the Holden/ Vauxhall/ Opel Astra, and also rather expensive! I though the Toyota Corolla was a low $20,000 car, but I was quoted a price just over $30,000! And $30,000 brings me onto different cars at a different price point (for example ever popular SUVs).

Hyundai Kona SUV (new 2021): No, no and no.

Hard plastic galore – both inside and out. But the deal breaker was the cruise control – it doesn’t work! So I took it out onto the motorway and set the speed to 110km/hr. The car will go anywhere from 97km/hr to 122 km/hr! So what typically happens is on uphill the speed drops, and drops, and keeps dropping until it goes below 100km/hr (bearing in mind I set it at 110km/hr), and when it goes to roughly 97km/hr the engine then kicks in, and overdoes it, not stopping until it is well over 120km/hr! I have never driven a car with such useless cruise control!

Mazda CX-3 SUV (new 2021): Yes, but…

Its petite size is a drawback, letting down an otherwise decent handling and well put together car. If only it were a little bigger…

Nissan X-Trail SUV (new 2021): Maybe…

It’s strangely – ok. Outdated though: interior is a throwback to the early 2000s – not in a good way I must add (especially comparing among the newer competitors) and reversing camera display is truly small. At the end of the day though, I can’t see why a city girl like myself would need such a big car. With a tailgate that is impossible to close. But the $34,500 price is rather attractive for a car if I wanted something this big…

Subaru Forester SUV (new 2021): No

Ticks all the boxes on paper: 4 wheel drive, SUV, Subaru badge. Well equipped, but mediocre in drive and handling – lacks confident: Is it reeally 4 wheel drive? Apparently ALL Subarus are 4 wheel drives, but the drive and handling does not inspire confidence like a 4 wheel drive should – steering feels woolly, tyres lose grip easily, and did I mention the  truly atrocious body roll around corners?

Mitsubishi Outlander SUV (used – 2008 model): No

Ok, I am going to be straight up this one – it was NOT my idea. So hubby dragged me off to test drive this used Mitsubishi on his days off (he is one of those increasingly common in Western Australia fly-in fly-out workers). Really mediocre. But could be due to the car’s age. Clearly not something I am looking for.

Peugeot 3008 SUV (new 2021): Yes

The interior is a work of art. Achingly beautiful with a blend of futuristic styling and (very) agree-able aesthetics. Sport seats with side bolsters: supportive and comfortable. Typically European handling. Just right dimensions and size – just wide enough to not feel small, but small enough to squeeze into city parking lots: This might just be the perfect sized car for me. If only the price was more agreeable….

Subaru Liberty sedan (demonstrator – 2020): Yes

A decent package with a drive that induces confidence like a 4 wheel drive ought to. I actually quite like it.

Toyota Camry sedan (new 2021): No

Actually a decent car: Quiet, refined, and rides quite plush really. Even the drive and handling is reasonably good. But the Camry is wayyyy too big for me – overly unsuitably big for a city girl like me, and besides its reputation and memory of Toyota Camrys are marred by one too many rides in dirty and poorly maintained taxis driven by abusive Australian taxi drivers…

Time to plot my next move of my new car buying journey…

Xoxo

Natalie

Unfamiliar territory

I must admit I am in totally unfamiliar territory.

I have NEVER set foot in a baby store until today. And when I say NEVER, I mean NEVER EVER in my life. And what a revelation: it is basically a supermarket for babies – everything one might need for a newborn or a child from strollers to cots to baby clothes to nappies to soft toys to baby toys, all under one roof and at somewhat uncompetitive prices.

Before speculation and rumours spread like wildfire, I wish to firstly declare I am NOT pregnant.

I am here in a baby store with my sister, who is finally pregnant and expecting her first child with her hubby! How exciting for her!

With her first trimester ultrasound scan last week confirming her pregnancy is going well, she broke the news to both friends and family. And thus now began a 7 month journey of accumulating baby clothes, nappies, soft toys, a stroller, a cot, and tins of baby formula. Which is where I come in: to provide company and support for her as she browsed the two dozen or so different baby strollers and cots on display.

Some women go all clucky with the news of baby and all that, but I admit for me it’s all a mix of daunting and boring. I soon find those cuddly soft toys more interesting than cots and strollers.

And nappies for that matter.

Admittedly unlike my sister, I am not really ready for children just yet. Which reminds me, I should probably make an appointment with my GP for a prescription for my birth control pill: I previously took Yasmin as my birth control pill but I stopped taking it the past few months. Yasmin is not one of the subsidised birth control pill contraceptive pills, which means I had to pay full price for it – about $90 a month if I recalled correctly how much the prescription cost me to fill the last time – and I figured there was little chance I could fall pregnant as Western Australia state borders remained closed and the Eastern States (Victoria, New South Wales, and Canberra) went into COVID-19 lockdown. With the announcement that New South Wales has come out of lockdown, I decided that going back on the oral birth control pill now might be a good idea as I am expecting open state borders, which means more travel and also less likely for hubby to be quarantined and stuck somewhere, so I figured I’d rather be safe than sorry.

Xoxo

Natalie

OOTD: business trip to Albany Western Australia (Day 8)

The last of my delayed blog post to continue my recent business trip to Albany Western Australia – the final day of this business trip. As you know it’s really hard to hold down and fulltime job and blog at the same time, hence the reason I only have time to do this properly now.

Day 8 started with a realisation: I am running out of clothes to wear.

We were initially actually scheduled to fly back to Perth today, but there has been a change of plans. The past 2 days had been incredibly busy for me from a work point of view. There was so much to do and we couldn’t fit it all in the past 2 days, so my boss decided instead of flying out on the morning flight we should have our flights postponed to this afternoon so that we can schedule a few more meetings during the day.

It turns out, as it usually the case, it costs more to change our flights than to buy a complete new set of tickets – so no prizes there for guessing what my boss chose to do. He decided we ought to stay another night in Albany and fly back to Perth tomorrow on a completely new ticket.

Thus a problem is created: I have only brought enough clothes for 7 days, not 8, and I found myself running out of clothes to wear. But it’s not entirely my fault: Flying Regional Express from Perth to Albany on their antiquated turbo-prop planes, I discovered first hand just how useless is their check luggage policy – only 15kgs! And trust me, you can hardly pack enough for a week on a 15kg luggage allowance. And my boss only advised me of his change of plans late yesterday evening, after all the dry cleaners in town had closed.

The only dress I am left with to wear is my red Karen Millen satin fold mini dress (which I had pack in my luggage in case I needed something nice) I wore to dinner with my boss and his family.

I suppose the dress, however over glammed, is still a better choice than turning up to business meetings in T shirt and jeans…

Starting the day early, we stopped for lunch at local café Gourmandise and Co., where I had to try their renowned croissant and also had very satisfying coffee.

Recharged and caffeinated, I am looking forward to a busy schedule of meetings this afternoon.

Occasion: Business trip

Wearing:

Dress: red Karen Millen satin fold mini dress

Hosiery: nude stay-up stockings from Target

Pumps: NineWest ‘Mailin’ heeled point toe pumps

Xoxo

Natalie

#MyKM @karen_millen #myKM #Karenmillen

OOTD: business trip to Albany Western Australia (Day 7)

A delayed blog post of my recent business trip to Albany Western Australia – I am almost there I think! As you know it’s really hard to hold down and fulltime job and blog at the same time. So to continue :

What a busy 2 days it has been! We came to Albany last week and my boss planned to mix business with pleasure. We’d work Thursday and Friday last week, had Saturday and Sunday off, and then back to work again Monday morning and today. The last 2 days had been particularly busy – so much I didn’t have much time to blog. Which is also why it had taken me until now to post this…

Today I am wearing my CUE satin Zip Front Sleeveless Jacquard Dress again, the same dress I flew down to Albany almost a week ago now.

I recall when I first bought the dress I wasn’t sure if I would like it. It was the only one left on the rack in that design and I thought it was one size too small: when I tried it on it fitted snugly and I thought the dress was a little too short. And there was also the front zip dilemma like I explained previously- prone to go out of fashion. But I fell in love with the cut and the blue floral motifs, so I bought it anyway.

Buying it initially with wearing it to the office in mind, it ended becoming one of my favourite go-to dresses, not merely for the office but for going out on dates, a night out, or the weekends.  I can’t explain why and how it ended becoming one of my favourite go-to dresses, for all its flaws there was something quite lovely about it. Maybe it’s in the details: the blue floral motifs, little collar details, tiny little word ‘CUE’ embossed on the zipper tab. Maybe it is the breezy flared hem. Maybe it’s the flattering cut.

A dash of light make-up, a sensible pair of NineWest ‘Mailin’ heeled point toe pumps, nude hosiery, and my usual earrings, pearl necklace and pearl bracelet set complete the elegant and professional look and I am ready to head off another busy day meeting clients.

Occasion: Business trip

Wearing:

Dress: CUE Zip Front Sleeveless Jacquard Dress

Belt: CUE

Pumps: NineWest ‘Mailin’ heeled point toe pumps

Hosiery: nude stay-up stockings from Target

Xoxo

Natalie

#CueClothing

OOTD: business trip to Albany Western Australia (Day 6)

Yet another delayed blog post this one – as you know it’s really hard to hold down and fulltime job and blog at the same time. So to continue my recent business trip to Albany Western Australia:

I had a great weekend, spending it in Albany Western Australia. Officially I am on a business trip with my boss. My boss planned to mix business with pleasure. We’d arrived in Albany last week and we’d work tomorrow and Friday, then staying over the weekend (obviously not working on the Saturday and Sunday) and my boss arranged for his wife and kids to fly into Albany Friday afternoon and they’d spend the weekend with him, and then he’d drop his wife and kids off Monday morning and we continued to work early next week. So I basically had a weekend free to myself, in Albany on company expense.

I took the opportunity to take in the local sights, visiting the historic whaling station and the wind farm, and also exploring Mt Clarence/ Princess Fortress/ ANZAC centre.

With the weekend over, I am going to have to work again.

Today we had a busy and packed schedule of meetings with clients all day, so I needed to look my professional best. With the weather predicted to turn chilly and wet, I decided to dress warmly.

Going for failsafe the skirt suit look, I matched my favourite Rhodes & Beckett long-sleeved button-up fitted white blouse with my favourite CUE black pencil fluted hem skirt with waterfall ruffle and CUE wool blazer jacket. A dash of light make-up, a pair of sensible NineWest ‘Mailin’ heeled point toe pumps, nude hosiery, and my usual earrings, pearl necklace and pearl bracelet set complete the elegant and professional look.

Occasion: Business trip

Wearing:

Blazer: CUE wool blazer jacket

Blouse: Rhodes & Beckett long-sleeved button-up fitted white blouse

Skirt: CUE black pencil skirt with fluted hem and waterfall ruffle and exposed back zip

Pumps: NineWest ‘Mailin’ heeled point toe pumps

Hosiery: nude stay-up stockings from Target

Xoxo

Natalie