10 reasons why I love this Alena Akhmadullina Trench

Worn with Marc Jacobs ruffled bow flats, Chloe Silverado bag & leggings

Let me count the ways:

1. I purchased this Alena Akhmadullina moments after purchasing my Akira Isowaga wedding dress at Melbourne's GPO (2 years ago - which is when this photo was taken)
2. I purchased it on sale (heavily reduced from $1600, yikes! Couldn't believe my luck...)
3. I love the gorgeous oversized wooden buttons
4. The over-puffy sleeves (which at first made me apprehensive about purchasing the coat)
5. The polka-dot lining that peaks at the back (and I'm not usually a polka-dot kinda gal)
6. The lining is removable! And can be worn as a long vest (not that I've ever done it, but the option's there)
7. The leather buckles on the belt and sleeves.
8. The dusky rose colour - transports me to a wooden porch on a rocking chair overlooking a field of wild flowers
9. This picture was taken minutes before I entered the Victorian Museum, and spotted the wedding dress I had just purchased, as part of the exhibition (as mentioned and pictured in this earlier post - Akira: My wedding dress) .
10. Ok, another reason not coat-related, but the Marc Jacobs green bow flats I'm wearing (R.I.P)...how I miss them! I wore them (literally) to death (wore a hole through the sole, teaches me to re-sole my favourite shoes earlier). They have since been replaced with MJ's more recent gold version, but sadly, they're not the same (nor as comfy)

(ooh, very bad lighting, the lining is actually white!)

I don't like how the sleeves look so baggy, so I always push mine up. Thank goodness it didn't come with that 'wolf' head (or what is that animal?) as shown on the runway.

Alena Akhmadullina is a Russian fashion designer from St Petersburg, and showed her first seasonal pret-a-porter collection during the Paris Fashion Week in Autumn 2005. She has since shown her collections in Paris every season, combining Russian audacity with a Paris sense of style. This trench is from one of her first collections shown in Paris, and I was incredibly lucky to get my hands on it, as the store I bought it from was shutting down that same day.

Akira - My Wedding Dress (Part Deux)

It's been a while since I promised a lovely reader that I'd post more shots of my wedding dress. I posted a few pictures in one of my first posts: Akira - My Wedding Dress, so here they are:

I cannot believe how relaxed I was on the day...

This was moments before I walked down the aisle...

Even on my wedding day I felt awkward in front of the camera...I'm just not photogenic, hope my dress is!

Trying hard not to laugh, as I'm feeling cheesy.

It is by absolute chance that my sisters' bridesmaids dresses matched the bottom of my dress. I had bought the BM dresses almost a year before I found this dress (2 months before my wedding, replacing the Monique L'Huillier dress I had first bought as my wedding dress). Serendipity...

Shoe shot! My wedding shoes were Yves Saint Laurent Dada Semi-Wedges in Platino. My sisters' bridesmaid shoes were Franco Burrone, with removable Swarovski clips.

Recent Dries Van Noten outfits

Dries Van Noten has been my favourite designer for as long as I can remember.  His clothes speak of a timeless beauty, and evokes emotion in every piece, at least to me.  I find his pieces to be effortless and beautiful, even in the simplest piece, be it the cut or the fabric, he shows such attention to detail, and favours gorgeous prints & fabrics (often ethnic), colours, and layerings.  Stepping into his store in Paris transports you into an era gone-by, yet current, reflecting his designs.  It is the most beautiful store I have ever set foot in, so gorgeous with clothes displayed in an old bookstore full of character.  Dries Van Noten, how I love thee!  

Dress: Dries Van Noten beaded & sequined shirtdress

Jacket: Navy silk chiffon Claude Maus hoodie 

Shoes: Marni patent wedges

(click to view close up of the beading & sequencing)

(click to enlarge - isn't the hippo stool cute?)

Top: Silk Dries Van Noten top (for better runway pic click here) 

Shorts: Draped Garcons Comme Boy (don't think it's an actual brand, found this on ebay, and couldn't resist the draping on these shorts)

Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons

Dress: Dries Van Noten floral dress

Shoes: Dior Extreme Pythons (was struggling to keep 'afloat' on the mulch)

(www.firstview.com)

Thought I'd include a better picture of the dress, as mine didn't do it justice

I'm a Genie in a Bottle - Harem Pants?

In my mind, the 'return of the Harem pants' started last year with Marc Jacobs' SS07 collection, and his billowy pants:

(www.style.com)

It seems this 'trend' was not as transient as most believed it would be, making more than one appearance in the 2008/2009 shows, including Phi, Michael Kors, Vera Wang, Max Azria, Giorgio Armani, and Diane Von Furstenberg (to name a few), each giving their own 'stamp' to this 'look':

(www.style.com)

As an admirer of all things drapey, I am drawn to its 'easy-factor', comfortable appearance, flowy & drapey nature. I recently purchased a pair, hoping they would hide a multitude of sins, alas, I look nothing like Alexandra Elbim (pictured below in her YSL jumpsuit), and now wonder whether (like everything else) these pants only suit the long and lithe in figure:

(www.jakandjil.com)

I'd love to read your thoughts on 'drapey/harem' pants!

My Sass & Bide Harem Draped Pants

Favourite Shopping Spots

Confucius say: "He who will not economize will have to agonize"

Favourite shopping spots:

Melbourne (AUS) - QV at Albert Coates Lane: Cactus Jam International (as well as on Glenferrie Rd., including the Vanessa Bruno store, Cose Ipanema, Zambesi, Belinda, Akira at GPO, Marais, Christine for accessories.

Sydney (AUS) - Poepke, The Corner Shop, Orson & Blake, Kirrily Johnston, Scanlan & Theodore, Akira, Vanessa Bruno, Robby Ingham.

Brisbane/Byron Bay (AUS) - Blonde Venus, Pompidou (Byron Bay).

Adelaide (AUS) - Platinum & Francesca (clothes), Bauhaus (jewellery).

London (UK) - Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Liberty, Matches, Browns, little shops in Notting Hill, Convent Garden, Dover Street Markets, and all the 'big shots'.

Sao Paulo (BRA)- Morumbi Shopping, Daslu, Osklen, Agua de Cheiro.

Cyberspace: I could be here forever, top 3: net-a-porter, brownsfashion, matchesfashion.

Drape me up, drape me down

Rachel Roy Layla dress
Sportsgirl silk chiffon embroidered shrug
Dior Extreme Pythons in Brown heels (will have to post better pictures of these shoes, they deserve a post on their own!)


PS. I warned you I'm not at all photogenic! Please excuse the horrible hair, it was in a messy bun which fell apart seconds before the picture was taken.


At the risk of sounding like a broken record, I simply adore draped pieces, and have done so for as long as I can remember. I love how the fabric drapes and flows with your body, exuding effortless glamour; and especially the fact that one needn't be tall nor slim to carry it off (I am neither), flattering any shape or size.

East meets West with Dries Van Noten

I apologise for the terribly botched up polyvore picture (as you can probably tell, it's my first go, and I have yet to learn how to use it).  I was trying to hide the fact that my picture itself is pretty bad.  I hope I can 'upgrade' this photo soon.

I LOVE these Dries Van Noten shoes!  Dries Van Noten is one of my favourite designers, for both his amazing clothes AND shoes, but that's another post altogether, as is my love for kimonos.

Outfit: Vintage silk Haori Kimono, Burberry patent quilted belt, DVN shoes.

(www.style.com)

Dries Van Noten SS07

Close-up photo of the Dries Van Noten shoes