Luxury Accessories ON SALE

Luxury on SALE
I have always aimed to experience the best things in life. This of course is defined differently by everybody, but I define it as having STANDARDS and that comes down to personal taste. It takes time to work out what you like to wear and what suits you as well as the look that makes you feel confident in yourself. I read about fashion and I enjoy looking at fashion but what someone is wearing today will already be out of fashion on the other side of the world. I think that it's more about knowing yourself and being honest about who you are. Do you want to be noticed by being outrageous? or would you prefer to be elegant and remembered as someone who makes the appropriate choices? There are a few simple choices you need to make before investing in a lifestyle. Will this piece be a classical piece? Will it keep it's shape and always look good?


Handbags are an essential accessory in a girl's wardrobe, but there are a myriad of possible choices depending on how much you want to invest and what purpose it will serve. My first choice is LEATHER of course and colour, then size. QVB in Sydney has an abundance of choices to offer women of all ages. At Oroton from Christmas Eve about 4pm almost all items are 50% off. You can sign up to the Oroton Club online and get the latest news first.
I have chosen the Metropolis Black patent range as my first suggestion. A patent brief case at $295, a matching clutch at $170 and a wallet at $90 will give me great versatility and take me from home to office to drinks or dinner. Your wardrobe is an investment and choosing appropriate pieces that you rally love is important. you may have to make some New Year's Resolutions and cull some of your previous choices which you may regret.

Some of you will love this classical look and it will never be out of fashion. It is fairly easy to look after and comes with it's own cover bag. The same designs may suit some of you in plain black leather and you'll need to take more care over the fingermarks but you could mix and match a leather wallet and a patent handbag. If you want to step it up and be more "in fashion" then you could consider their Zebra or leopard clutch at $245 or a zebra or leopard wallet at $145 which is gorgeous, but will not be always in fashion. 

                   


If you want to add a POP of colour for an evening clutch to have at work, then maybe consider PINK with your black outfit and the anouk is on sale at $195 or the flore mini bag is cute. The mesh jacquard across body small evening bags are not yet on sale and they are currently $245. 

All of these choices are handbags that will keep their shape and continue to look stylish. The BIG hobo handbags are still in fashion but they do not look quite as sleek. Do we really need everything that we carry in our handbags? I've recently culled my makeup bag down to lipgloss and mascara and a small parfum spray. Want some colour in your capsule wardrobe? Well, it could be a handbag or you can POP your colour with your shoe choice. If you want that RED colour in your options, the venice soft tote is quite striking at $345 or if you prefer a tote for work and weekends, the Henrosa shopper tote is $245. I'd pick up a few accessories whilst they're on sale and this fashion harm hair elastic at $20 come come in handy when you need to rush out the door and it's available in 3 colourways.

If you went with the Black story and you still yearn for the animal print, then a less expensive option could be the scarf at $45. If you plan ahead to have girlfriends' birthdays organised, then there are some cute chroma charm keyfobs at $25 or even nail polish at $10 for dare I say, Kris Kringle 2012.
Truly, now is the time to buy those birthday presents and tick them off the list. Everything kicks back to full price for the same thing after the january sales ad then your well earned money will not stretch so far.



 I find that if I am serious about putting my next season wardrobe together at this time of year, I need to sit down with a coffee and think about the big picture and how much I want to achieve in one day. Coffee shops abound in QVB and there are options on all floors. 
Refreshed, I have to head for the shoe boutiques and I love MIMCO shoes. I've already picked them out online and I want to look at the patent black shoes to go with the Metropolis Oroton range.
Just to cover all occasions, I will need heels $135.20 kitten heels $95.20 and flats $111.20 and $79.20.
By adding the pancake colour, it will extend my capsule wardrobe and add a day to evening option.
I love the slip bags provided by Mimco. The boxes are gold and I can use them to store Christmas decorations but I will store the shoes in pinklily shoe boxes. I am pleased with this selection and they will be comfortable for all occasions. 

I can't carry anything more and I need a Silver service cab to take me home to watch the New Year's Eve Fireworks. Chin Chin! Happy New Year for 2012!
It is important to enjoy your purchases but also on a practical issue, I bought Luxury accessories on sale. 
Enjoy GJB

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Eleven Days to CHRISTMAS

Lists, Lists and MORE LISTS.
List 1 THE MENU What's on the menu?
In Sydney it is somewhat governed by the weather as well as family. It has been unusual weather in Sydney to put it mildly. No more time to ponder, it'll be great weather and I'm going for Seafood. It's all that more enjoyable if you plan well in advance. I've looked up the opening times of the Sydney Fish Market from December 17th to January 2nd  and there are many options. I found this article which is also worth reading about buying seafood at Christmas. Decide what you and your guests enjoy. Does anybody have any allergies? Worthwhile checking this before you start. How many courses will be enjoyable? Time for a coffee to write down some initial ideas for the menu, Cocktails? Oysters? Prawns? Smoked Salmon? Moreton Bay Bugs? Whole Fish? Lobster? Pudding? Christmas Cake? Gingerbread? Chocolates? Champagne? Wine? Liqueurs? Coffee?

Harrods A Celebration of Christmas

Some of Harrods Christmas items are available from David Jones stores, but there are some great patisserie stores which sell delicious Christmas fare. My favourites are Sweet Infinity in the Strand Arcade for Christmas puddings and mince tarts, Becasse also for puddings in the city and Jean Marc Patisserie at Pyrmont for Christmas cakes, mince pies and gingerbread men.

Enjoy Lighting Votive Candles

Enjoy Lighting Silver Candles

Waterford 2011 Bell

Wedgwood Dolphins

   

List 2 The Table

I love to decorate the table and it's a joy to create your own "masterpiece" that will be special on this important festive day. If it's seafood, then choose a dinner set that will allow the seafood to be "showcased" when you serve this to your guests. White always works and then the colours of the seafood are the feature. For those of you to love fine dining, Wedgwood has some great designs including the Vera Wang ranges. I have chosen to layer the table with a pale blue table cloth below a white linen and lace edged tablecloth and napkins to complement a white dinner set delicately decorated with pale blue shells and dolphins. This will look great with white linen napkins, silver cutlery, fine Stuart Glassware and silver and white Christmas Bon Bons. Ironing is not at the top of my favourite things to do but if nobody else is available to do it for you, linens need to be pressed at least the day before. The flowers will need to be simple and maybe some christmas decorations with a green sprig and silver baubles to decorate the Christmas pudding. If it is going to be hot, then maybe consider some faux flowers from Florabelle Before the guests arrive, I like to layer each setting on the table so that it is beautiful with and without the festive food. To complete the ambience, you'll need a selection of a variety of Christmas background music and of course Enjoy Lighting Candles in different sizes place around the entertaining space. If I can get this all done before I go to bed on Christmas Eve, then Christmas day will be much easier. Waterford have a gorgeous dinner bell to call everyone to the table when you are ready to sit down to your Christmas lunch.                                

Vera Wang Grosgrain Inspired by the subtle romantic touches that renowned New York designer Vera Wang uses to trim her world-famous bridal gowns, the Grosgrain Collection showcases beautiful fine bone china characterized by elegant and graceful design details. This 5-Piece Place Setting includes everything needed for one guest's full dinner service; three beautiful fine china plates and a cup with saucer; all decorated with lustrous platinum border trims reminiscent of delicate needle lace; bringing sophistication and sensual elegance to any dining occasion.

List 3 Decorating the Tree

I made a list of  everything that I would need before I started this and a colour scheme was the first decision that I had to make. I love RED and this will always be part of any Christmas decor, but you can only achieve this as a feature colour if  you have a separate dining room or if you clearly define the areas within an open space. I like to create a colour story for the tree and for me it's RED with Gold. You might want to choose silver and white or go for multi coloured bright colours? Once you've assembled the tree and it's placed in the best vantage place in the room, start with placing the small fairy lights towards the back of the branches so as to allow for the decorations to be hung on the end of the branches. Some people like clear or white lights but I've gone all out with red lights. Drape the Gold beading before starting your arrangement of the baubles. A box of gold baubles in all shapes and sizes is a good basic decoration to start with ad then spot the red decorations around the baubles. I have chosen a set of Red Santas in different sizes, a collection of red stars and a variety of Harrods Christmas Bears. Every year I buy a special ornament for the tree to add to the collection. My favourite purchases include a gorgeous tree skirt which adds that finishing touch to the tree and individual stockings from Harrods. The Topper is a gold star. Last night I watched a programme on Foxtel with Sarah Richardson on her decorating secrets for Christmas and it was inspirational. You don't have to copy her ideas, but it certainly sparked my creativity.
The menu is decided. The tree is decorated and I can envisage the table. Three things crossed off the list. The Harrods Christmas Organiser is on my wish list. It will look great on the entrance table.

Harrods Christmas Organiser

Enjoy! GJB Tweet

Take a Chance on Retail Shopping?

Retail Therapy or Online Success

Today, Sydney weather was looking more like London in a fog in the midst of winter but Peter Alexander was scheduled to be in the Pitt Street store at 1pm for a special event. The highlight was meeting Peter and the store was buzzing. With customers queuing around the store, the assistants were handing out bottles of water. I had checked the catalogue online and I knew what was on my list, a pink diamonte pair of cute bedroom slippers and a Rockin Robin Pink Chiffon Nightie. The gift boxes are gorgeous. The dream did not become a reality. The wait was going to be about 45 minutes and I gave up. The upside is that the same promotion is online just for today. 15% off for Thursday 8/12 online. You can have it delivered to work or home. Check out the website and join up for specials delivered to your email. There's a secret sale online with limited stock and 40% off.                                                               


Here's the link to the pdf of the current catalogue and you'll receive regular catalogues as a member.

One lovely aspect about the Peter Alexander stores is that they are colourful and it is a girly experience. Peter Alexander has the Glasshouse candle range which I wrote about in my last blog and they burn these beautifully fragranced candles in the store. This fragrance is DIVINE. 
That's three gifts and more options in the catalogue online. There are gifts for the man in your life.


All was not lost and I headed for The Victoria Tea Room in Westfield Pitt Street Mall. Get into the festive spirit and stop by The Victoria Room Tea Salon for a Christmas Scone. Made with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, chopped dates, orange zest and a dash of brandy, it's a scrumptious Chrissy treat best enjoyed with a cup of tea. Dine in - $6.50  
Festive Scone & Champagne Package  To celebrate the Christmas and New Year period The Victoria Room Tea Salon is treating shoppers to a Cheddar & Thyme Scone topped with Atlantic Salmon, Crème Fraiche and Dill, along with a glass of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose for the special price of $29. This offer is valid until 15th January 2012. 

The only way to conclude my quick trip in retail land was to go and see the Hello Kitty Christmas Decorations and the 2011 crystal decoration in the Swarovski store in the new Westfield .  The stars can be purchased  on a white ribbon for the tree or as an ornament on the stylish stand for an extra cost. Every year I buy a special Christmas decoration for the tree and this year I like the red Santa's Stocking.

A light-hearted symbol of the Christmas season is the Siam crystal Santa's Stocking. It has an upper edge and two dangling pompoms in Crystal Fabric. A pair of Crystal Moonlight stars are inserted on top as the ornament hangs from a white ribbon.
                                                                             

The Hello Kitty ornaments are also cute and gorgeous. I know that this is on the list of girls of all ages. I love the Pink one but the Red is very festive. Which one is your favourite?

I thought that for all the Hello Kitty fans, you might enjoy this fun clip ONLINE of course.

This is Harrods Crystal Christmas 2011. Hopefully, Sydney will open a Harrods store soon.

Louis Vuitton opened in Sydney last Friday and the windows are spectacular. Not in a Christmas theme, but with a rich padded red backdrop. The tourists are flocking to George Street to see the handbag stylised Kangaroo. That's one reason to go into the city to window shop. 
           


Think I'll stay with online shopping. Hope you get all your list completed. 17 Days to Christmas.
Enjoy! GJBTweet