Top 10… Clothing staples!

I often see articles in magazines that profess to have the definitive top 10 must have lists. 10 items you can’t live without this winter! Seven key pieces for fall! Eight must have shoes for summer! Despite claiming to be classic lists, often these articles are more trend driven than anything, and are designed to sell advertisers current season stock (well duh, Miss Kitty…) which does annoy me somewhat. I am more what you would call a classic dresser – not really focussed on the must have jean for the season (I look silly in skinnies) or the latest gladiator sandal.

For me, a clothing staple list must be trans-seasonal and also trans-trend. It’s not about the latest skirt length or shape (mid thigh and tulip apparently for this year, just in case you were wondering). It has to contain things you would wear to multiple occasions, preferably over multiple years. For me, dressing means I look classy, smart and age appropriate. Practical, perhaps, but I rarely feel inappropriately dressed for an occasion.

A note of warning – classic dressing does not necessarily equal investment dressing. There is something to be said for investment dressing, i.e. spending the maximum amount you can afford on a piece of classic clothing in order to make sure it lasts as long as possible, but for me, it’s a separate discussion altogether. Whilst I think this is often true with accessories (the more money invested in staples the longer they will last) I don’t always feel the same way about clothing. I think you should invest good money in coats, if you can, but often I find some of my best cheap buys last as long as some of my more expensive ones. It’s often about cut, fit and fabric more than price.

So here is my list of top 10 clothing staples.

A good black dress: This will take you absolutely anywhere if it's good enough quality. I think you need one for winter and one for summer. If you are only going to invest in one, try and make sure the shape is as neutral and classic as possible while still showing off your figure. A good black dress will take you from the office to dinner with no more than a change of accessories. Some of my favourite black dresses come from Leona Edmiston (pictured below), Diane Von Furstenberg, Banana Republic, Target, Mela Purdie, Sportscraft and Cue. If you find a good black dress that really suits you, buy two. You won’t regret it.

A crisp white shirt: generally white shirts are hard to wear for those of us who are - shall we say - bustier than the average? A fact of life is that it does make it difficult to buy shirts that don't gape. My answer is to buy shirts that are made from poplin with a bit of stretch in them, which is a bit more forgiving. I buy mine (or have them made for me) by Bespoke by Ganton or at Thomas Pink in the UK where the cut of the shirts seems to suit my figure better. Mr Rose also makes good shirts in varying cup sizes but personally for $300 odd dollars a shirt, I’d get mine custom made.

A classic trench: I sometimes struggle to find a classic trench that suits my somewhat curvy figure, but I have found a few that are better than average. I have a fabulous trench from Cue that I bought last winter - the collar is quite a bit deeper than the average and the "skirt" is more flared so it gives curvy girls a great shape. I have mine in black - goes with everything! Also - make sure the quality of the material is good - cut is super important but material quality is equally as important. A good option for this season is Sportscraft – pictured. I have also bought trenches and coats from Dorothy Perkins in the UK and have been very happy with their quality.

A good jacket: It doesn't need to be a suit jacket (personally I hate them and think they make me look boring) but it's important to have a smart looking jacket of some description, particularly as we move into winter. In the past I have bought mine in a heavy stretch ponti from Mela Purdie - the collar is often a bit different so it makes it look up to date without being dated and it goes over everything from a black dress to jeans and a t-shirt. Good buys usually come from Cue and Veronika Maine, but it's definitely important to buy one that is flattering and classic rather than trendy. I personally don't think a suit is necessary (I don't wear them in my line of work) but if you do, get one that is cut well and made from good fabric. Nothing trendy that you will regret next winter! Other purveyors of good quality coats include Dorothy Perkins and Boden (both available online from the UK), Charlie Brown and Country Road. I have also invested in a couple of good coats from Gerard Darel while shopping in Paris. Both of them were leopard print and will last me a lifetime.

Good black trousers: having said that I don't think a suit is a good buy (for me anyway) I think it's important to have a pair of well cut black trousers in a good quality fabric that suit your figure. Doesn’t matter what the cut is – bootleg, wide, skinny – so long as they suit you. I have bought well fitting bootleg and wideleg trousers from Saba, Sussan (yes, really!) and Target. My current ones that I love are Target - $30 and they fit really well. Go figure.

Jeans that suit your figure: Here is where I definitely don't spend money - I buy jeans from Target. Yes really. I rarely wear them so for me buying really expensive jeans is an absolute waste of money. I buy a pair per year and they set me back $32. They are dark navy blue and do exactly what I need so I don't feel it's important for me to be a spendthrift here. I also buy Gap jeans - that's a real luxury for me at $60... And mine are always bootcut.

Good quality long-sleeved tops: I like something with a bit of stretch and I find that on me the neckline is one of the most important things in a well cut top. I like ones Esprit, Sussan and Giordano. In summer, I buy tank tops from Ojay and Giordano - usually 2 in black, one in white and one in burgundy. Maybe more.

A classic pencil skirt: All ladies should have a well fitting good quality pencil skirt. In the past I have bought mine from Witchery, Target and Country Road. They are really neutral and fit me well. Knee length on me is most versatile because I can wear it with ballet flats and a tank top on weekends and with a shirt during the week to work.

A good quality denim jacket: I would be lost without mine. I have an old favourite from Esprit but Sass and Bide make great ones too. Last year I bought an amazing one from Sportscraft (pictured) and I am hoping they repeat again this season because it was great. I’d happily invest in another. It dresses everything down just a little but still makes you look smart. Never - I repeat - Never wear your denim jacket with jeans. Double denim is a major fashion faux pas. Well, unless the objective is to look like Donna from Beverley Hills 90210 circa 1991. then, by all means do.

A good cardigan: Never underestimate the power of good knits. Over the past year I have invested time and energy as well as good money in finding fantastic cardigans. I tend to wear longer cardis, often reducing the need for a coat in the Sydney winter. I have a great red one from Banana Republic that I adore and Witchery also do good knits, as do CR, Cue and Veronika Maine. But the best ones without a doubt come from Sportscraft. I have three that are longer in the front and are more wrap style and they are fantastic. This season Oroton make a fabulous cashmere wrap cardigan that is both on trend and classic (pictured below). How marvellous! If you don’t think cardigans are for you, you could replace this with another knit, like a jumper. But I prefer the versatility of the cardigan.

So there is my list. Practical yet chic. Coming soon, I will share more of my must have lists – next will be accessories (including shoes and handbags) and the dreaded must have underwear list!

Have a wonderful Sunday, wherever you may be!

Kitty xx

Doing things I shouldn't be doing...

Like visiting the Leona Edmiston website whilst still on holidays. I felt like I needed a treat given I haven't bought much while in Phuket.

Someone please talk me out of buying these:



Unfortunately I think it's going to be one heck of an expensive winter...

Kitty

Phuket...

So here we are in lazy old Phuket... It's not a bad place to while away a week or so, but I have to admit it's not going to be somewhere we revisit anytime soon. Mr Kitty and I are rather fond of our trips to Bali, if only for the spectacular food and the good ceramics shopping at Jenggala amongst other things.

But we have really liked our trip so far. We were lucky enough to stay at an amazing resort for the first three nights of our trip - The Paresa at Kamala which was just breathtaking. We had a spectacular suite on the very top of a cliff with a private pool and sea views. Promise to post pictures later once I manage to get them off the camera!

This place gets a massive thumbs up from me. The rooms are divine, the food is spectacular and the service is second to none. if you do manage to make it to Phuket, I highly recommend you stay here. Sell things to stay here, people.

Our second villa, whilst still very nice, isn't quite as impressive as the first. Villa Zolitude is not beachfront (we knew that and were fine with it) but once you have stayed at the Paresa it's very hard to go anywhere else I think! Having said that, it's still pretty awesome - we have a hilltop villa with a private infinity pool and one of those massive egg shaped terrazzo baths. Bliss.

On the shopping front I have to say I have been thoroughly disappointed. Despite finding a couple of rather good shopping malls I still haven't bought anything close to my usual haul. The sum total of purchases to date includes some Christmas presents for relatives, a beach bag and sarong from Jim Thompson and a string of beautiful large egg shaped pearls that Mr Kitty bought me, kind man that he is. and not only did he buy them for me, he spent a full hour traipsing around one of those massive "wholesale" jewellery showrooms the size of a football field to find it with me. He really is a keeper.

Tonight we are off to The Boathouse for dinner, a restaurant that overlooks Kata Beach. I am looking forward to dinner and whilst I have had a nice time here on holidays, I am very much looking forward to getting home and seeing my kitties. no doubt gorgeous Millie will have grown and i'm sure Grumpy Max will be pleased to get back to his favourite sleeping place!

Will revert with photos of my escapade soon!

Kitty xx

Holidays

Those who read this blog and know me well will attest to the fact that I live for my holidays. I try to eke out as much annual leave every year as I can. I attach weeks to public holidays and try and make them go as far as possible. I often take leave without pay to take the holidays I love.

Over the last few years Mr Kitty and I have had some marvelous jaunts. Some spectacular trips. In 2006 we did the east coast of the US during Autumn and did some leaf peeping (beautiful). We also visited New York, the place I consider my spiritual home, Washington, Boston, Philadelphia, Montreal and Quebec City amongst other places. In 2007 we did South Africa, which I adored, with a stop over in Hong Kong.

In 2008 and 2009, our trips were to Europe. In 2008 we took a 3 month trip around the continent for our honeymoon (how very E.M. Forster of us!) taking in many different countries, including UK, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Finland before finishing up in the US (Las Vegas, Yosemite, Napa and San Francisco) for 2 weeks. Last year it was 5 weeks in Europe, mostly in France, with a stop off in London on the way over and Singapore on the way home.

In addition to these trips we have also had week-10 day long jaunts to Margaret River and Bali - twice. I really do love my holidays.

This year will be no exception. And given I have resigned and won't be working for a little while, we can go on as many trips as we like (well, so long as we can get the kitties babysat)!

With that in mind, the holiday planning for 2010 has begun. We are heading off shortly to Phuket for 10 days and in late April we are skipping off to the US for 3 weeks.

Phuket, for me, will consist of a lot of sitting and relaxing, a few massages and loads and loads of beautiful food. I plan on reading and swimming in our private pool. It will be Bliss.

Our US trip will be a lot of fun. Mr Kitty has work to do (boo!) but we'll still make time for some fun as well. We plan to visit LA, New York and Las Vegas on our travels. We made most of the bookings over the weekend (flights, majority of hotels and some of the car rentals). I am looking forward to Disneyland and a fun and exciting week in New York. I cannot wait.

But for the meantime, the Phuket trip will have to sustain me. If anyone has any shopping, eating or relaxation tips for Phuket, please let me know!

Kitty

Miss Kitty is excited!

For all you readers who aren't my friends on facebook and who don't know me off the interwebs, Miss Kitty has news.

I resigned last week.

A little bit of background on the situation: I have been working at the same company for almost five years. I like what I do, but I've been in the same industry for 14 years, without ever giving much thought to what I REALLY want to do. Do I want to go back to Uni? Do I want to work with small animals? Do I want to cook? What is it that makes Miss Kitty tick?

So in the usual way I mulled it over, thought about it and considered my situation. I did this for about 5 months with no result. Well, I came to one conclusion: that unless I forced myself to take a leap of faith I would never leave. Ever. The company I work for is dynamic, a market leader, fast paced. I have an interesting job. It's just that after 5 years, it's not the job I want to do anymore. I needed to take some time out to work out what I do want to do and I can't think about it when my mind is totally focused on doing the job here.

So after lengthy discussions with Mr Kitty and anyone else who would listen to my whining, I decided to hand in my resignation. For the first time in my life I don't have a job to go to. Part of me is just a little scared about it (and occasionally nauseous), but for the most part, the thought of a break really excites and thrills me. Some time off to navel gaze and ponder my existence for a little while. To indulge my love of baking and food. To get fitter (although points two and three really don't go hand in hand). But most of all, I am looking forward to having some time off to invest in myself and my relationships. To stop being a cranky wife and start being a better, more available friend. Leaving my job gives me the freedom to discover who I am and decide who I want to be. And for that reason I am really excited about what 2010 holds for me.

So if anyone is interested in being a PR Manager for a large multi-national company, let me know! Plenty of perks and you occasionally even get to be on TV...

Kitty

Melbourne

Why is it that I always come home from Melbourne needing a massive holiday?

Maybe it's the fact I try to jam far too much into a weekend or that I run around like a headless chook trying to see too many people. I don't know, but whatever I have done a weekend in Melbourne I end up feeling like I have been hit by a truck.

This weekend was no different. A relatively pain free flight down (if you set aside the one hour delay on the tarmac in Sydney) and a quick ride into our apartment in South Yarra meant that we could get out to dinner on time. Instead of trekking to Malvern to have dinner, my parents opted for something a little closer to home. We dined at the fabulous Kagu Ra Zaka on Toorak Road and had the most delicious and fresh sushi, good gyoza (could have been slightly less cabbagey and a bit more gingery but was still good), wonderful endamame and awesome nasu dengaku (deep-fried half eggplant with miso sauce). It was silky heaven. The highlight of our evening. The mains were slightly less successful - the tonkatsu was fried in slightly old oil so that was the lasting impression and the overwhelming flavour. The Teriyaki beef was fine, if somewhat generic, but the really annoying thing was the preparation of the beef. It was so soft it was spongey. It had the consistency of a wettex. It wasn't offensive or bad, it was just an inferior cut of beef that had been marinated in bicarb to tenderise it. I like my meat with a bit of give or resistance when you chew it and this didn't need to be chewed at all. Other than that the meal was good.

Saturday morning saw me getting up early for a hair appointment with the lovely Kristianna from Shibui. Curly haired goddesses: pay attention! She is the supreme queen of curly locks. She is the Ringlet specialist. Yes I go all the way to Melbourne to have my hair cut and it's WORTH IT. Run and make a booking NOW!

After my blissful session with Kristianna, I met the Divine Miss J for coffee and breakfast at Harveys. We both had the avocado on sourdough with grilled pancetta and chilli jam and it was fantastic. The coffee and gossip were also amazing.

After such a wonderful morning I did wonder if the afternoon could live up to expectations. It did. I went to visit My friend C and her lovely baby L (who is so divine I could just eat her). C organised lunch boxes from Cafe Vue that were absolutely fantastic. They contained a cous cous tabbouleh salad, mini ocean trout brioche rolls, lamb rillette with croutons and a marvelous rhubarb cheesecake pudding. Awesome. My little sister came to meet me at C's for lunch and then we headed off shopping for the afternoon.

My shopping trip on Saturday was not overly successful. I had a list (which is a good thing) but didn't manage to find anything on it. Nevermind.

Dinner on Saturday, however, was absolutely sensational. I think Red Spice Road could be one of my favourite restaurants ever. It is reason alone to move to Melbourne. We had the most amazing food. We started with corn and chive fritters with tamarind caramel and asian coleslaw and steamed beef, shitake and ginger dumplings. For mains we had shredded chicken salad with pomelo, coconut and herbs and minced wagyu beef stir fried with thick rice noodles. The highlight of the evening however was the Pork Belly with chilli caramel, black vinegar, cabbage and mint. It is the best pork dish I have ever eaten. It's in my top 10 wonderful food moments. Of all time. It is really that good. It is sweet and hot and sour and salty and refreshing all at once. The pork belly is cooked twice rendering most of the fat out of it. I'm not saying it's lean but it doesn't have that flabby quality that some pork bellies tend to have. Divine. There is nothing more to be said. If you haven't been I urge to to go now. And if you are not in Melbourne, book a flight. It's worth it.

Sunday was far more productive on the shopping front. After having no luck at all in the purchasing stakes, I conned my parents and sister into taking me out to Chadstone shopping centre for a whip around the shops. It was precision shopping. Lightening speed. I managed to find 2 bathing suits, a cashmere wrap cardigan and a white kaftanny shirt thing for over my bathers all in the space of a little over an hour and a half. Nice work. I am now ready for Thailand.

The afternoon was spent with my brother and his kids out at Chesterfield Farm. The kids were really cute - they loved feeding the animals and milking the cows and riding the ponies. Apart from the fact is was baking hot, we all had fun and it was so nice to see them.

After a brisk ride out to the airport, it seems my brief trip to Melbourne was at an end. After recounting the trip I now know why I was exhausted - I managed to jam so much into the weekend!

Le sigh. I can't wait to go back...

Kitty

Old Blighty...

As part of my usual (weekly) trawl of etsy, I came across this seller of whimsy and frou frou. Helkat Designs manufactures cushions fashioned with heraldic designs and flags, inspired by the British Empire. Being the fan I am of everything British (afternoon tea, shortbread, Harry Potter and tiaras are just some examples), the cushions in this store are therefore crying out to be bought and come and live in my house. With me.

There are three issues with the above statement.

1. I live in a 1970's house that is brown. With beige and tan accents. So none of it would work. I know it's hard to imagine but it is sadly true.

2. We are about to knock down aforementioned house and rebuild hence the purchase of homewares has been restricted until we have a theme. For the colours. And the design. Actually just final plans would be a start. I could live with plans.

3. Millie's objective in life is to eat and scratch anything fluffy and soft (especially cushions), so these would basically be $50 snacks for the cat. I like to think that I am reasonably openminded in terms of how much things cost but even I shudder at that thought.

So for the moment these have been bookmarked for a later stage when I have the house sorted. Le sigh.

Kitty