Oamaru Easter Weekend

Paul and I visited my folks in Oamaru this Easter weekend. We just snuck in before the cold weather started so it was cool and fresh - a welcome respite from Auckland humidity.

Oamaru is about an hour and a half drive north of Dunedin. An arty town, huge limestone buildings adorn the streets, many having benefited from recent restoration projects such as the Opera House. It's the Steampunk capital of the Southern Hemisphere and boasts a picturesque harbour.

Photo opportunities abound, starting with my hanging with the toadstools at Oamaru Public Gardens...

 Top: Saint James | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Superga | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red'

The town itself is very pretty and quirky.

On Saturday afternoon we drove out to Elephant Rocks, an incredible natural earthwork.

 Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Superga | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

On Sunday we met my brother and his partner and went for a walk around the harbour.

 Jacket: New Look | Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Country Road | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

And of course, Mum and I indulged in a little retail therapy (her lovely scarf was a purchase that day!).

On Mum (Val) Jeans: Postie | Scarf: Sababa from Waitaki Interiors | Top: Zara | Shoes: Number One Shoes

On me: Jacket: New Look | Cashmere Jumper: Equipment | Jeans: Citizens of Humanity | Shoes: Country Road | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: 'Deep Freeze' by Karen Walker | Bangle and Ring: Country Road | Nails: Essie 'Really Red' 

All photos by Paul D.

Khaki and White

Tee: Juliette Hogan | Pants: Zara | Shoes: Superga | Bracelet and Ring: Country Road | Earrings: (from Need Supply Co.) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Stripes and Skinnies

   

Top: Country Road | Jeans: Country Road | Shoes: Superga | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Casual Stroll

Jeans: Zara | Jumper: Country Road | Sneakers: Superga | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Earrings: Found | Bracelet: Veronica B | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' in Black

All Images © Copyright Sara Mole

Happy New Year!

I hope you all have a lovely start to 2014. Thanks for visiting my little blog over the past year. I'm having lots of fun bringing you ideas and inspiration and proving that fashion does not end at forty! xx

Dress: Silence Was | Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' | Bracelet: Charlotte Penman | Shoes: Superga

Photo by Paul D. Durham Lane, Auckland CBD

Shopbop 25% Off Sale

Shopbop does this only a couple of times a year so this time I was determined not to miss out! I managed to score several items I'd been eyeing up for months. Everything has arrived and it's all good! Here's a snapshot of my haul...

Citizens of Humanity Avedon Skinny Jeans

I was nervous ordering these in case they were too small. Size 32 is usually the largest offering for designer jeans. These are a PERFECT fit. Beautiful soft denim, flattering on the rear, a perfect mid-blue wash and I'm stoked I can now fit designer jeans!

Joomi Lim Spike Bangle

A gift from Paul! This is my 'don't mess with me' bangle. I plan to wear this with a plain black outfit. Look out for this in a starring role in a future photo shoot.

Superga Cotu Classic Sneakers

If it aint broke, don't fix it. My replacement pair when my current ones get too skanky. 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Black Skinny Logo Bangle

I love my gold and white one and this black and silver version is just as chic.

Karen Walker Deep Freeze 'Crazy Tort' Sunglasses
I adore my black Deep Freeze and I love these just as much.

Tricky Trend: Denim + Denim

Now, the idea of wearing denim on top and denim on the bottom has been around for a couple of years. The way to avoid looking like your mother circa 1976? Tailoring, tone and fabric.

I find that denim shirts bulk me out so I have cheated slightly. The shirt I'm wearing is actually cotton voile. As it's dyed a rich shade of indigo, it gives the appearance of denim or chambray but is softer and more tailored. The following pictures show a very casual weekend look, but I also plan to style this baby up with:

- My black Trenery skinny jeans and black Sambag ballet flats.
- My Lonely Hearts black and white cotton pants with Superga sneakers.
- My black Zara shorts, a white tank and Superga sneakers.

Indigo Cotton Shirt: Country Road $109 | Jeans: French Connection | Sneakers: Superga | Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze' | Bracelet: Moochi

A Taste Of Spring

A nice mild day in Auckland today. Time to try out my new Lonely Hearts printed trousers. This is a funky local label and a new discovery for me. My trousers are a size 12 but fit my size 14 body comfortably. A great alternative to jeans when the weather warms up...

Trousers: Lonely Hearts | Top: Seduce | Shoes: Superga | Leather Cuff: Dyberg Kern | Ring: Oroton | Sunglasses:  Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze'

Photos by Paul D.

Sandshoes for Grown Ups

For most of my thirties I always had a pair of white Converse Chuck Taylors in my closet. At the time, they were the perfect casual weekend shoe when it got too cold for sandals and too wet for ballet flats. Recently, I discovered some great alternatives to this style. I live in my Superga shoes at the moment. You still get the great casual look, but it's just a bit more polished. If it's time for an upgrade in your life, try these for starters...

 

Superga Cofu Classic  |  Shopbop.com  |  Around NZ$80.00

 



 

  Bensimon Shoes (Range)  |  Shopbop.com  | Around NZ$70



Cheap Monday Base Low-top Sneaker  |  Shopbop.com  | Around $NZ90.00

Interpretations: Designer to Wardrobe

Recently, I bought my first-ever Kate Sylvester piece. I have admired KS designs for some time. Now I can actually fit some of her pieces, I decided to take a closer look and see how Winter 2013 stacks up for the 40+ woman. KS is a real mix of influences: retro glamour, secretary chic, tough girl... the potential for different looks is endless. As usual with these types of collections, you need to look past the 12 year-old size 4 model and work out how key pieces might fit into your own wardrobe. Here are my top five picks and how I would style them:

Nautical Top | $185 | XS - L

 

 

Avoid matchy-matchy unless you want to look like a jailbird from a 1950s movie. I wear my top with black skinny jeans and heels for an easy casual Friday look. This top would also look great teamed with a black pencil skirt, heels and a chunky necklace. Size guide: my size L is a generous NZ 14.



Shanghai Fox Collection Tee (Price and Sizing Not Yet Available)



The older I get, the more I appreciate a tee with an interesting print. I think the safest thing to do is avoid cheaper tees with some kind of image or phrase printed on them (bound to look cheap/offend someone) and go up-market. This tee is great in the above look which is exactly how I'd wear it. But if skinnies aren't your thing, try tucking this into shaped sweat pants and team with plain white sand shoes for a comfy but stylish weekend look.

Suska Skirt | $265.00 | XS - L





 

Pencil skirts are the only skirt for my boyish frame. This skirt has a bold pattern and sexy shape, but its length is still conservative enough for the office. Do as KS has done here and team this skirt with a block-colour top in a similar hue, classic pumps and minimal jewellery.

Shanghai Fox Collection Blouse (Price and Sizing Not Yet Available) 

I like the idea of sheer, floaty blouses but always end up looking twice my actual size and 20 years older. This Autumn, I'm looking for a blouse in a floaty fabric, but with tailoring. This one is in a floaty fabric but is not billowy and the sleeves and neckline keep it modern.

Shanghai Fox Collection Cardigan (Price and Sizing Not Yet Available)

See? Cardis can be sexy. It's all in the way you wear them. Modernise by choosing a shorter, fitted style in a good-quality fabric, then tuck into a pair of plain black pants or structured skirt. A little cami underneath means you can undo another button without feeling exposed.

Tricky Trend: What The Tuck?

Noticed a bit of this happening in fashion shots and apparel retailers' marketing?

Photo: J Crew

Photo: Country Road

The art of tucking a small part of your top into your jeans, trousers, shorts or skirt is trickier than it looks. Add to that a tummy and the heightened risk of camel toe and I don't blame you for approaching with caution, friends. As I have less of a tummy these days I am finally able to wear my skinnies with tops that don't necessarily cover my nether regions. So, I have tackled the tuck and come up with my own take on this trend. In these photos, I have taken a simple grey tee and tucked in a tiny amount of the hem into my jeans, then pulled it out slightly to create some excess fabric:

 

 

Tee: Country Road; Jeans: French Connection; Sunglasses: Karen Walker 'Deep Freeze'; Bracelet: Moochi; Shoes: Superga

Photos by Paul D

Floral Pants

I've been thinking about trying the floral trend but without looking like 1970s upholstery. I tried on these satin tapered-leg pants today with my white Superga sneakers and a grey marle tee from Country Road. A nice alternative to jeans. Will keep you posted if I purchase. Incidentally, if you want to move on from Converse Chuck Taylors to something more feminine, yet retain that chic/casual look, I recommend Superga Cotu Classic sneakers. Get them from Fabric stores in Auckland for $125.00.