It’s a little hard to believe that three-quarters of the year have just slipped by. The holiday season to me always serves as a bit of a reminder to get back on track with any habits that may have fallen by the wayside, but it’s always a chance to start reflecting on the year that’s been. Coincidentally, today marks one year since I left my desk job to go freelance; probably one of the biggest risks and life changes I’ve ever made, and definitely a huge milestone worth being proud of.
Wearing Everlane cashmere sweater (this one has a similar look too), Levi’s wedgie straight jeans, Grana coat, Maje strappy sandals (old but similar here), Cuyana bag (affordable here), Isabel Marant belt
I don’t do this often enough, but I thought to kick off the new month, I’d share five things I’ve been loving in September. If we stretched it to six, you can bet my Nintendo DS/Switch would be making an appearance. Aside from my number one – reading – it’s been a great way for me to relax and unwind, especially now that Luke’s rather pre-occupied with the Rugby World Cup (2 November couldn’t come soon enough!).
01 | READING
I’m not sure if this is a hangover from my childhood (growing up as an only child effectively), but I’ve always found that I work best in silence. I’m more focused, less likely to fall prey to distraction, and it’s also a chance to be alone with my thoughts. I’m exactly the same when it comes to reading. If I’m on the train in a noisy carriage, I’ll often get up and move to the next one, so that my attention is focused on my book and not what’s happening around me. At home, I find I make my way through books more on the weekend while Luke is still snoozing or outside doing yard work than I could during a weekday while the TV is blaring. At any rate, the first thing that I’ve really enjoyed this month is getting myself back into reading regularly. I finally bit the bullet on five new books (I usually buy mine from Book Depository, in case you’re wondering), and have been slowly but steadily making my way through them.
Given I can be a bit of an anxious person by nature, getting stuck into a good book has always proven to be a great way for me to unwind and calm my mind. I’ve just recently finished reading ‘Normal People’ and ‘Mindful Money’, and am currently partway through ‘Everything I Know About Love’. I’ve got a steady stream of books on my ’to-read’ list (‘The Testaments’ is my next read), but welcome any recommendations you may have.
02 | GRLFRND DENIM LEATHER TROUSERS
Earlier this month I felt a renewed sense of clarity on the direction of my wardrobe. While I usually opt for classic, timeless staples, every now and then I find myself trying to break out of my comfort zone. Usually with little success. Part of this has felt a little driven by my aims to shop pre-loved more often than not, however I’ve found that I’ve occasionally used this as an excuse to purchase a gorgeous piece which doesn’t quite fit my style profile.
I probably stopped investing in my wardrobe in a big way around the time that Luke and I got married. My preferences have come full circle now though, as I’m doubling up on my efforts to buy fewer, better. I made a small list recently of the style pieces I felt my wardrobe was missing, and am trying to focus on finding high quality options for each. They might cost a little more, but I find that classic staples tend to have the longest staying power in my wardrobe.
Which brings me to this purchase: my GRLFRND Denim leather trousers (affordable option here). I’ve been on the hunt for a great part of leather pants for around five years now. I’ve previously owned leather leggings from Witchery (which are fab), and the J Brand version (which I found stretched out too much, and I didn’t love the zipper at the ankle), but neither had quite ticked all the boxes of what I was after.
The closest I’d spotted in the last 12 months were this faux leather pair from Stella McCartney, but the high price tag meant this was a *seriously* think about it kind of buy. So I was thrilled to stumble across the GRLFRND pair. Real leather, trouser style with zip up button closure, and a skinny slim fit through the leg. These look great both with flats and heels, and I’ve been making the most of them before it gets too warm here in Sydney.
03 | SLIP SKIRTS
Aside from wearing my leather pants on repeat (no, seriously), I’ve also been loving wearing slip skirts now that the weather is heating up a bit. The one I’ve found myself wearing the most is an affordable option from MVN the Label (old but similar here) in black, but I’ve also been making good use of my Realisation Par Naomi slip skirt. I’ve mentioned this on Instagram but with the latter, I’d go with a dupe any day of the week as the quality doesn’t stack up to the price tag. This one from AQUA has great reviews and looks really similar.
04 | PEACH-TONED BLUSH
A change in season usually means a shift in beauty routine, and I am all about those peach-toned cheeks at the moment. I’ve got a couple of blushes that I find really do the trick. The first is from Perricone MD; their No Makeup Blush. I talked about this in my August Beauty Edit, but I love how natural this looks on the cheek, giving a soft, healthy glow. It’s a pinky-peach hue, and has fast become my favourite to wear. I can imagine this looking gorgeous with a bit of a tan. If you prefer powder blush, my fave peachy number is NARS ‘Gina’.
05 | SCANDI-STYLE INSPIRATION
September/October is usually one of my favourite times of year to source style inspiration. In large part, it’s because the majority of the girls I follow on Instagram are based in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s ironic how much I love autumn fashion, given I don’t love the cold, but I’ve been “saving” down style imagery like crazy. My current favourite account is @anoukyve; Anouk has insanely good taste, and her effortless Scandi-chic outfits always give me a big dose of inspiration.
