Trendspotting: One shouldered maxi gowns

As a devoted lover of impractical fashion trends, I am always on the look out for the next wave in eveningwear.

I don't have much opportunity to get glammed up in a full length gown (neither in my current role and I'm guessing it's probably even less likely in my next one) but that doesn't stop me looking out for divine inspiration...

This season, many designers seem to be doing the one shouldered maxi. Now I am a massive fan of the maxi dress. I find it slimming and stylish on most people and practical for most wardrobes. You can dress it up or down, layer it for winter or throw on some sparkly or statement earrings and you have perfectly acceptable evening attire.

When I first came across the trend, I have to say that the one shoulder threw me somewhat. It's certainly more formal than the average maxi dress, which is why I am referring to them as maxi gowns.

Here are some of my favourites:

Divine number from Marchesa at Net-a-Porter.

Love the colour of this one - again Halston Heritage from Net-a-Porter.

Fabulous colour from the goddess of dresses, Leona Edmiston.


Classic black with texture for interest, from Leona Edmiston.

The frill and beading makes for an interesting contrast. Marc Bouwer Glamit! from Neiman Marcus.

And this dress is a stunner - love the waterfall bow detailing and the colour is gorgeous. Robert Rodriguez Black Label from Neiman Marcus. Wouldn't it go well with these jewels from Rox in the Strand Arcade?
Hmmm. Maybe I might just have to invest in a one shouldered maxi!

Kitty

20% off Leona Edmiston Online!

To celebrate the 9th birthday of the label, Leona Edmiston is offering 20% off purchases online. I just bought a Monica dress - pictured below. It's one of my all time favourites, so flattering and classic, and it was so reduced it was practically a steal. A crime not to buy it. They basically gave it away.


Thanks Leona. And I hope you have a truly happy birthday. I know I enjoyed my present!

Kitty x

Treading water

Does anyone else feel like this occasionally? Like no matter what you do or which way you turn, the status quo never changes. At the moment I feel like this in so many areas of my life - at work, where I have 5 or so weeks to go before finishing up and I don't feel it's particularly my place to start any new projects; at home, where we are on another iteration of plans for the renovation (although I have been reliable informed that we are now really really close); on the baby front where we are constantly waiting waiting waiting...

I just want something to happen! It's really frustrating when you really feel like there is nothing you can do to make things move forward in any area of your life. And for someone who always likes to be busy and productive, it's the worst kind of place to be.

So - I have made a decision. Instead of waiting for things to happen to me, I am going to try and make them happen. My first project combines two areas of my life - job and home. Once I finish up here, my project is going to be working on the renovations pretty much full time. A kind of project manager, if you will (but without the technical expertise and ability). I'll work on materials, finishes and budgets with sign off from Mr Kitty. I'm hoping it's going to be fun and I know it's going to be a really steep learning curve, but I am okay with that. After 14 years of doing essentially the same thing, I am ready for a new challenge, and who knows, this might be a new addition to Miss Kitty's repetoire. A new string to my bow. A new chapter in my book. Yadda yadda.

At least it will keep me off the streets. And make me feel like I am moving forward in a few areas of my life!

Kitty xx

Hmmmm....

Can't work out if these are hot or hideous.


They might be cutting edge fashion. Or they could be drag queen shoes. It's a very fine line. Either way, I don't think they are for me. Sad, because I usually love everything Miu Miu does.

They are available from Neiman Marcus, if you are interested.

Kitty

Wednesday: Three things I want...

Hello chickens!

A brief post this Wednesday. Here are three things I really want right now and have put on my list of items to covet:

A Tiffany Key

I have wanted one of these since they came out. I was close to buying one last year when I was in the US but they didn't have the exact chain I wanted and I was hesitant to buy it without seeing it on the chain first. So I didn't. Now I am going back to the US I want to buy one. It's much cheaper to buy over there than in Australia.

Some people might think they are fashionable rather than classic, but I get a lot of wear out of my other Tiffany jewellery so it's something I think is a worthwhile investment. For me anyway. I am planning to put it on an uber long chain. Swishy.

A silver handbag

A disclaimer - I actually already have a silver handbag but it's so pretty I feel I need another. I also didn't take care of the first one very well because I used it every day and the silver leather marks far easier than regular black leather so it's starting to look a bit worn. It's a silver leather Furla Bowling Bag and it is Fabulous. This time I want a slouchy shoulder bag, I think.

I think metallics are the new nude. So versatile.

I like this bag:It's a Burberry Prorsum Bag, available from Net-a-Porter (my shopping Mecca). And I love that it has little fringes - the texture is really cute. Pity about the price (it's a bit more than I wanted to spend right now) but I will keep looking I think... You never know.

Halston Heritage dress


How HOT is this dress? It is AMAZING. Chic chic! Tis very Talitha Getty. I'm SURE Rachael Zoe would approve. It's from Net-a-Porter.

Unfortunately this is the one thing on the list that I want but I probably won't get - although it would very much suit my imagined dream of "a lady who lunches" which I hope to enact once my retirement comes about, I don't think it's particularly practical. Not for cleaning out cupboards and meeting with builders anyway. It's more a cocktail by the pool with friends look.

What are some of the things you are after, my pretties?

Kitty xx

Oscars Fashion

Ahhh - the Academy Awards. How I love a good red carpet frock, and this year's Oscars were certainly up to par with previous occasions. There were some stunners and shockers and a lot of in between.

So, in true Kitty tradition, who do I think were the best and the worst dressed? This is by no means an exhaustive list - in fact I have limited myself to 5 of each, which was a real struggle.

The best of the best

Cameron Diaz



I'm not normally a huge fan of Le Cameron, but tonight she is definitely one of the most stunning women on the red carpet. Her hair, her divine Oscar de la Renta dress, her simple accessories all worked beautifully. She shimmers like the golden girl she is. The message is not lost on us Rachel Zoe.


Carey Mulligan



I recently saw An Education on a plane. It was the best film I have seen in a very long time (better than Avatar, even). And Carey was miraculous in the film - truly stunning. Her Oscars look really represents who she is - her style is truly her own and it is fabulous. the prada dress is quirky yet stylish and fun. She is one to watch for the future, ladies.

Helen Mirren


This woman doesn't do bad red carpet. She always looks amazing, and age appropriate. Her hair is always immaculate, her makeup understated. She is magnificent.

Vera Farmigia



This dress had mixed reviews from the pundits. I loved it. It's interesting, colourful and I adore the texture. It's a brave choice and it pays off. She let the dress speak and kept the accessories minimal. The colour and shape reminds me of the Galliano dress that Cameron Diaz wore to the Costume Institute Gala. Marchesa is usually a safe bet for red carpet.

Mariska Hargitay



This is one seriously under-rated red carpet dresser. Her look is always polished and classic, whilst still retaining that sexy edge. Her hair is perfect, her jewellery minimal. It's all good. and she deserves a place on this list, if only for repeat services rendered to the red carpet over a number of years.



I did toy with putting Tina Fey in the number 5 position on this list, but i really think that she under-did the accessories just a fraction... It's a very fine line. Some people have said she lost her nerve after the reaction to her dress at the golden Globes, but I think she was just playing it a bit safer - the Oscars are a more formal occasion after all.

People who need help

J-Lo


Are you serious? I wonder about the mirrors at this lady's house, I really do. In what universe does a padded dress seem appropriate for a woman with a booty? Massive fail - worst dress of the night. Easily. Hair bad too.

Charlize Theron


In essence, this isn't a bad dress. It's just the tacky detailing that makes this one a no for me. Sad because the colour is pretty and frankly she would look good in a garbage bag. It's more disappointment from me because she can do so much better.

Zoe Saldana


I don't care what the Na'vi wear, this is hideous. the seams aren't flat, the ruffles are prom dress circa 1984 and the less said about the rhinestones the better. it's like the designer (Givenchy, if you are interested) threw together all the elements he knew from red carpet dressing into the one dress. Clumsy and ugly.

Deborah Ann Woll


I don't really know who this actress is (I looked her up and she is in True blood) but she sure made an impact on me, and not for the right reasons. This dress is all kinds of wrong - it makes her round shouldered and the colour is truly bad on her. It makes her look flat chested. The pleating is bad. Just all bad. It hurts my eyes. The less said about the make-up the better.

Chanel Couture



My last entrant in the worst dressed category is actually a tie between Diane Kruger and Sarah Jessica Parker. They both wore Chanel Couture so I think it's appropriate. both women are better dressers than this and their choices were disappointing. SJP's dress had absolutely no shape and the colour was all wrong on her. She wore too much eye make up. Diane's dress was too frilly in the wrong places which made it very unflattering to her toosh and she didn't wear enough make up to carry off the light colour. Her hair was too flat. Sad but true. Get a stylist girls - you might not think you need one but these pictures would disagree.

So those are my picks. Do you agree? Disagree? who were your faves and fails?

Kitty xx

Pictures courtesy of smh.com.au and news.com.au

Anniversary

Today is our second wedding anniversary. It's kind of strange for us, not only because the time has flown so quickly but also because we don't really tend to celebrate our wedding anniversaries as such - we have been together almost 6 years and we celebrate our dating anniversary instead. For us, it's the more relevant one.

We went through a lot together prior to getting married so it seems odd that we wouldn't include that time when thinking about our relationship together. With that in mind, celebrating the actual day we got married isn't as significant to us as it might be to other people - because we felt married long before we actually tied the knot. The wedding ceremony was a formality for us and cemented what we already knew in our hearts. It was a day for us to publicly acknowledge our love and respect for each other in front of our friends and family.

Having said that we had such a lovely wedding day. We were blessed with very good weather everything pretty much ran to plan. It was a lovely day and we look back on it very fondly.

We aren't really doing much tonight - We'll make dinner together, maybe open a bottle of wine. Maybe we'll dig out the wedding album and look at our photos from the day. But most importantly we'll spend the evening together, the same way we plan to spend the rest of our lives.

Happy Anniversary Bunny.

Here are just a few of my favourite shots from our wedding day.




Kitty xxx