Bondi, Bondi, Bondi

GOOD THINGS COME IN THREE'S

It's no secret to anyone if you've caught my recent updates on Instagram and Twitter that I'm relocating to the beauty that is Australia in the next ten weeks and four days - you know, not that i'm counting or anything. So in between planning everything and making bucket lists of the things I'm going to do as soon as I get there, i've been searching for new fashion and lifestyle brands that I want to involve myself with. It's true when people say that good things come in three's, because that's exactly the case for this post - and each one has something to do with Bondi/Sydney.

Photo credit: VDM instagram - @marialitiziaxo

The first one I want to rave about is Warpaint. In case you've been living under a rock for the past few months, charcoal has risen from the ashes - mind the pun - and into girls beauty cabinets everywhere. The activated properties in it prove amazing for not only your skin, but your teeth as well. And that's where Warpaint comes in. This little black pot is going to become your saviour for the remainder of time; especially if you're an avid coffee drinker like myself. I've only been using the product for five days now, but even from the first use I could tell my teeth seemed a lot brighter and felt surprisingly clean. Any annoying little stains I had on my teeth are now practically gone, so I can't wait to watch them get whiter the longer I use this product! 

So how do you use it? Well the charcoal is in a loose form within the tub; you take a wet toothbrush, dip the bristle tips into the powder and brush your teeth in circular motions for two minutes. Then spit carefully (it gets EVERYWHERE) rinse and that's you done. You can use it as often as you like (i've stuck to twice daily - morning and night) and there's no need for additional toothpaste as the charcoal has properties which strengthen enamel, get rid of bacteria and balances the ph in your mouth. The charcoal is tasteless, so if you're like me and like that fresh minty taste after brushing your teeth just use some mouthwash afterwards. The cost is $55 AUSD which works out about £29 or there abouts, but shipping is free and this is going to last you months, so it's definitely worth it. 

Photo: VDM instagram @marialitiziaxo

Next in my little trio of perfection is Bondi Sands. If you're a pale little ghost like myself, then you'll understand the absolute struggle of wanting to be tanned and lovely but burning to a crisp if you try sunbeds/sunbathing. Or you know, if you live in England where warm weather in nothing but a myth these days. Self tanner seems to be your only option, but they either make you smell like a digestive biscuit, or leave you looking like you've had a fight with some orange paint and the paint won. Well fear no more, because I've found the holy grail. Bondi Sands is the tanning range that dreams are made of. You can choose a lotion, mist or foam in either light/medium or dark and wash it off in as little as an hour if you're really in a hurry. I chose to try the light/medium foam, just because 1) foam is SO much easier to apply and dry and 2) I'm extremely pale and didn't want to go straight to dark in case it didn't mix well with me. After applying one coat, I had a bit of a dance around to Drake in my bedroom for 30 minutes and applied a second coat. My initial thoughts were that the product smelled of coconuts and was amazing. Like, seriously good. My flatmate/best friend even walked into the room and asked what I had just sprayed because she wanted some. After applying the foam I let it dry for another 40 minutes and went to bed to catch up on some beauty sleep. Eight hours later I wake up and can't get over how tanned I look - but not in an obvious 'oh she's just put fake tan on' kind of way. This really did look browner than any other foam i've tried so Bondi Sands was getting serious brownie points by this point. I also noticed that it still smelled amazing, even after developing. One other thing I noticed was that the tan on my hands looked as natural as self tanner can get, and wasn't clinging to my knuckles or wrists the way that other tans tend to do with me - no matter how much I moisturise prior to application. All in all, i've decided that this product is going to be my favourite thing for the remainder of time and I'm just so glad that it's now available in Superdrug in the UK so that I can pop into town whenever I run out. For £14.99 I can't get enough of it.

Photo credit: B O N D I V E N U S instagram - @bondivenus

Lastly, a Bondi piece inspired by foreign shores. Bondi Venus is the Aussie swimwear brand that I've been lusting over ever since I planned the move down under a few months ago. From the models they choose for shoots, to the location and the one piece/bikinis on offer, everything about the brand is sexy, stylish and everything I would want in a swimwear brand. There were so many styles to choose from, but in the end I went for the black (obviously) MIAMI one piece, which has super low V back/sides. I don't normally wear a one piece if i'm on holiday etc, but I fell in love when I saw this and thought that it would look really great as part of an outfit as well as just something to wear to the beach. It's priced at $49, with a $22 shipping charge to the UK, but if you use the promo code CHEERS at checkout it should take off $25 for you; so you are effectively getting free shipping a little extra off the price too. I can already tell that I'm going to have so much fun with this little number already - and probably other pieces that I'll undoubtedly be buying.

Wolves

YEEZY | WOLVES

Photo Credit: www.upscalehype.com

Okay, can we just talk about NYFW for a second here. Well, when I say that I really just mean Kanye West and the song he just dropped during the Yeezy|Adidas show. I get that there is such a huge love/hate relationship with Kanye, but I can't help but love every song he's dropped so far this year; and I think that Wolves might be my fave to date. With every one of his songs there's always that one line that you keep singing over and over again, and with this one, it's "i'm just bad, bad bad for you". 

The collection and show itself though was conceptual, and very Kanye. Celebrity studded with Kylie Kardashian walking the runway. The clothes themselves weren't really clothes as such; second skin body suits and oversized camo jackets lead the way, with the new Yeezy Adidas Boost adorning the models feet. It was urban, and even if you didn't like the clothes you still wanted to look.

There obviously isn't an official video released for Wolves yet, but if you want to listen to it as badly as I do then this audio recording from the fashion show itself will suffice. Enjoy.

Yohji Yamamoto | Adidas

Y-3 RETRO BOOST

After getting my hands on a pair of Roshe Run Palm Print Nike's in the past week, i've been on a complete sneaker hype and am subsequently on the look out for my next target(s). I love a good high heel as much as the next girl, but if there's a stylish black and white running shoe out there then i'm all over it. So after scrolling through my Twitter feed yesterday I came across the new high fashion colour way for the Y-3 Retro Boost over on HypeBeast. 

What I love about the style is the sole - it's simple, its clean, it's not constructed with a bunch of little air pockets which ruin the sleek appearance; but it's still a decent runner. Fashion with substance, who knew that could happen. I also love the black and white colour scheme, with the speckled midsole and classic Adidas stripe across the heel. It just looks contemporary and most of all, sexy. 

They became available over at Feature from the 28th of this month and are retailing at $350. Obviously a style like these sold out within hours of becoming available, and I can see why; I don't just want these in my life I feel as though I need them, and it seems the rest of the internet does too.

 

Photo Credit: HypeBeast

 

SRSLY

SRSLY.

Image is my own via IG: @marialetiziaxo

What is life. No, I don't mean it in a deep philosophical way, I mean it in the most basic 21st century way of saying what is going on. I feel as though my life has gone from one extreme to the other, and all within the space of around 10 weeks. So allow me to gather my series of post it notes (it seems like any idea I have is written on one these days) and fill you in on the chaos that is my life.

Let's go back 10 weeks and see where it all started; first of all I was seeing boy. Yes. A real life, human boy. And he was wonderful - is wonderful - but he was moving to Australia. If you've read my previous few posts you'll notice a general theme of Australia in them and that was because I was so inspired by his move. I think I ended up looking into it more than he did, and he was the one moving. But anyway, he was moving and it was just a little bit heart breaking. Typical luck to finally find someone that you feel that you could potentially be with, only for them to then leave you alone and crying in a corner. Well, the last part was an exaggeration, but it wasn't a nice feeling. So this is what triggered the next chapter - we decided to stay together to see how it would work out, but then I got my friend on board and we booked visa's and one way flights for Sydney (18/6/2015). Ok, I know what you're thinking, "you're moving across the world to be with a boy ARE YOU INSANE?!". I might be? Maybe? Who knows! The fact is I always said that after university I would move to America or Australia. So maybe his move did edge my decision towards the Aussie coast a little more in the end, but at least I'm doing something that isn't exactly a new idea to me. I'm setting up my own life and not depending on anyone else, so it is perfectly acceptable. And anyway, you have to take some risks in life, otherwise you're stuck in the same position twenty five years down the line, wishing you had done something differently. I really trust my impulsiveness; it hasn't lead me astray just yet - and without sounding too nauseating he's a keeper. I can feel it.

Renzo Piano, Sydney by @dianakbui via VSCO

Around this same time I was also beginning to think about what I wanted to do with my career in fashion and which avenues I was going to go down. I didn't have a clue. For someone who normally has everything figured out, this was difficult for me to deal with. Not having a vision is truly fk@!ing terrifying. However now that I've been back at uni and diving into my final ever semester of my degree I have seen the light. And let me tell you, it's marvellous. It's glittering and brilliant and shaped like visual merchandising. I've always had a love for it, but now that i've been thinking about my final major project (FMP) i've decided that it really is the career path for me and the goal is now firmly in sight. So now i'm going to have three sketch books, a note pad and about 1000 post it notes in various colours to attract my attention whenever I walk by them. 

If you've ever done a degree in fashion, you'll realise just how chaotic life gets when you're thinking about the end result - what you're going to do for not only that, but what's going to happen when you leave the comfort that is university. It's funny how we look at it now as though riding a bike in the Sahara Desert would be an easier option, but I'm trying to slow down and savour every piece of it. I'm never going to get another first chance at it and afterwards I know i'm really going to miss this little bubble. So although i'm now the worlds biggest insomniac and I've swapped Newcastle's treble vodkas for triple shot latte's in the morning, this new level of determination and absolute will to succeed has got me both excited and scared. The latter isn't a bad thing though - if something doesn't scare you, then it isn't worth doing. True story.

The Minimalist Aesthetic

THE PERFECT MINIMALISM. 

Some things in life are just unexplainable; from falling in love, to thinking that you really ought to clean the skirting boards in your apartment before your visitors arrive over the weekend - that last one is something which, yes, I have just done and no, I can't quite explain why I deemed it necessary. Maybe I really am turning into my mother. Either way, it's all part of growing up and seeing things in a new light due to changing perspectives and priorities.

It was the above point about cleaning that has brought me to writing this post; i'm not going to be talking your head off about skirting boards and the likes, don't worry. Like I said above, when you start to get older your tastes change. When I was a teenager I liked all things black. Well, more than I do now. Ok so that's also a lie, but I wasn't very tactful with it like I am now. I was all over the place trying to find my personality and sense of self. I don't really think I've even found it now and i'm pushing twenty-four in a few months, but I've managed to shape my tastes into something a little more palatable and true to the person I see myself moulding into.

Everyone's tastes are different, and each are shaped by the situations we are faced with and the people we experience on a daily basis. When you are shown one thing, it often leads to discovering other things and so your ideals change. Like I said in my previous post this week (Wanderlust | Where Will IG Take You?) I have been discovering so many amazing Australian brands and places within the country that have inspired me enough to want to visit. This has been a result of having Australia placed in the forefront of my mind through people I know leaving to go out there this month, and I'm so glad it has happened. I never realised how relatable a lot of the big Australian brands are; and it doesn't just stop with fashion, it leaks into home interiors too.

Photo Credit: The Minimalist

In terms of home interiors, this one has been a result of my changing tastes; going from all black to a helluva lot of white. It's with none other than The Minimalist Store that I now crave everything in white and can't wait to be in a position where I can decorate everything in such a way. Scrolling through their instagram feed, you quickly realise that the price tag is going to be as chic as the layout with the store stocking a range of designer names from all over the globe. Maybe it's just me, but I get a strong female vibe due to the quotes on their IG feed; 'home is where the bra isn't' and 'getting real sick of underwear and responsibilities'. It's things like this that takes a retailer and turns them into a brand that people can relate to and want to be a part of - considering they are effectively a middle man between consumer and designer, this is a great thing to boast. They're located in Surry Hills, Sydney so if you're ever in the area i'd encourage you to go and have a look. Or you know, have a look at their website (link is under the above photo) slash instagram feed (@minimaliststyle) if you're like me and otherwise unable to make the round trip required.

Photo Credit: @jasminedowling

Jasmine Downling is another Aussie who has grabbed my attention via her minimalistic outlook. A fellow fashion blogger and graphic designer/typographer, her eye for appealing aesthetics is second to none. Although a fashion blogger and graphic designer by day, her blog has a rather attractive store attached selling her typography prints, soft home accessories and most popular her 2015 calendar. Limited to only 100 copies, the calendar is simple yet stylish and includes one of Jasmine's favourite prints which you can tear off and frame for your apartment. If you want to get your hands on one you can just skip on over to her website and grab one for yourself. She ships worldwide, so no worries if you aren't a local to her area.

Wanderlust | Where Will Instagram Take You?

WANDERLUST.

n. the wish to travel far away and to many different places.

I think it's safe to say that the above term describes me to a T at the moment. Maybe it's the cold, wet weather creeping through the apartment this afternoon, or the fact that everyone I know has been talking about traveling plans after graduation in 2015; all I know is that I'm bored of the same old sights of England and I want more. More sunshine, more heat and more adventure.

With everything I have going on at the minute, the only sense of adventure I've had has been spent scrolling through profile upon profile on Instagram. Type in one hashtag and the next minute you're on something completely irrelevant to your first search. It's kind of like when you're on one person's profile and the next minute you know their cousins boyfriend's aunt's cat's name. Talk about going off on a tangent.  But it's from doing this at 2am when i'm in the tight grip of my insomnia that I've discovered so many amazing brands and places that are now firmly on my bucket list of travel destinations.

Photo Credit: via @caitstadler

First up, the Rock Bar located within Bali's Ayana Resort and Spa. Situated literally on the rocks lining the sea, this bar boasts insanely stylish outdoor seating with a view that you'd give a kidney for.  There's nothing more calming for me than sitting at a seaside bar with a nice drink to one side, and a burning sunset to the other. And this is exactly what you would get here. Bali has always been somewhere that I've lusted after in the travel brochures, but now I've decided that it needs to happen if I am to ever find an inner sense of contentment. 

Photo Credit: @alexmarksphotography

Photo Credit: @photosbyjessieann

Next is a little cafe that speaks to me on so many levels. It's The Boathouse at Balmoral Beach, NSW. The location itself is beautiful situated right on the water, but its the interiors and rustic look of the place that has me wanting to visit for a spot of lunch. Surrounded by flowers, plants and wooden fixtures, this little cafe just oozes serenity for those interested in an artsy scene. Looking at their IG profile and website, you can expect anchors stencilled onto your afternoon cappuccino, or a berry smoothie served in the cutest bear-shaped glass i've ever seen. After having an array of fruit platters, croissants and eggs for breakfast, you can then move on to a selection of seafood dishes, salads or burgers from their lunch menu. There really is something to suit everyone's tastes and it all looks amazing. 

Ive come across quite a few places on my IG travels that I want to visit, however the above two have really hit the spot in terms of making me want to spontaneously book a ticket and go right away. Having explored what Sydney has to offer, I've been introduced to lots of new ideals, brands and aesthetics with a very clean, minimalistic feel to them but that is something for another post.

Current Lustings

DATE NIGHT LACE.

Photo Credit: Taken by myself (IG: @marialetiziaxo)

Lingerie is to me, what bags and shoes are to most other girls. I adore everything about it and how it can make you feel when wearing it. Put simply, it can make or break your day from the moment you put it on.

One such trend that I've been obsessing over, is the lacey-bikini look sets; featuring a minimalistic band and a few strategically placed pieces of lace detailing to cover the obvious. Effortlessly cool brand For Love And Lemons inspired me with their delicate floral lingerie pieces, however I just felt that - as a student - I couldn't justify the price. And from that moment, a new mission was born - to find a more affordable equivalent. 

In comes ASOS. I'll admit that I haven't really been spending too much on clothing as of late, but after scrolling through the #fashion tag on my IG feed, I've decided that a little browse on the ASOS app couldn't hurt anyone. And that's when I saw them. The most beautiful lingerie set i've seen in a while. The Vine Appliqué Triangle bra and panties come as separates but at just £24 combined (£16 for the bra, £8 for the panties), it's really not something that you need to ponder over for longer than 0.3 seconds to decide if you're going to buy it or not. 

Because of the shape and design of the lingerie, I feel as though it's something that could either be worn as outer wear, or indeed just covered up and left to be seen by that special person of your choice. For me personally, I think I'm going to style the set as part of my outfit, in a sort of peek-a-boo way. I have a double date planned for this Friday, so I've decided to show you how I plan on wearing the lingerie for that.

The check curved hem shirt and ripped Jamie jeans are both from Topshop, and are recent purchases of mine. Incase you haven't heard, there's currently 20% off for students at the minute, so um, yeah. Get on that. I made it half way out the store with those before I came across an oversized black coat and decided that I needed that as well. But that's a story for another post.

Like the photo suggests, I'm planning on wearing the shirt fastened by a couple buttons at the bottom, leaving the top open and showing off the bra in small doses. A leather jacket and black strappy heels just finishes off the outfit and gives it enough edge to be dressy enough for dinner and drinks.

Will you be indulging in the lace trend this season?

All Black Summer

#ALLBLACKEVERYTHING

When you're an avid lover of all things black Summer can prove difficult. Don't get me wrong, the constant sunshine, rising temperatures and days laying on the Quayside Seaside (that's Newcastle's manmade beach for those out of the loop) are doing wonders for one's mood and general outlook; but dressing for these occasions is just a nightmare. If, like me, you prefer wearing a black tee and skinny jeans, then you'll know how annoying this is when the sun is reaching 30 degrees most days. Black just soaks in the sunlight and raises your body temperature above tolerable. It's not big and it's not clever, but what else can you do. Summer for me is just my Winter wardrobe but with the leather jacket sleeves and jeans rolled up.

So how do you dress for the weather, but keep your love of black intact? God forbid we would ever wear colour, i'm not going that far. But I am going to suggest some outfit combo's with the help of All Saints. If there was ever a brand to sum me up, it's them.

For links to each item, click here.

Everything from the above image is up to date and current on the All Saints UK website (bar the aviators). What I have been tending to do with my outfits, is team high waisted skinny jeans or shorts with crop tops and or a bikini. The bikini obviously more for the days when I go to the beach or am lounging around the apartment - which faces the quayside/sunrise and attracts more heat than the surface of the sun. No exaggeration in that statement at all.

Although I haven't been wearing much colour other than the occasional blue, I have been wearing a lot of white and opting for white jeans instead of black. I'm still getting to wear my trusted jean shape, but they're helping to reflect the light a little bit, and they look a lot more Summery than the black. I've gone for the printed loose tops from All Saints, because although they are silk, they're loose fitting and will give a bit of a breeze. They're also on trend and help to dress up an outfit day or night. Lastly, there's a leather jacket just because I can't deal without one. That and it's going to rain a few times in amongst the UK sunshine, so we'll need something to cover up with and it may as well be leather. The one I've chosen however, is cropped so it won't give too much heat on your back and the zips up the sleeves allow for rolling them up if you get too warm.

So that's just some variations on outfits I've been having in my own Summer wardrobe, but I'd love to know how you're dealing with black in the seasonal heat in the comments below!

Photo Credit: All Saints UK & Polyvore.

Fit Fashion

FIT FASHION.

Just as the obesity epidemic has increased in figures in the last few years, the same has been happening with sports/activewear. Obviously this seems a touch contradictory - unless obese people everywhere have created a new trend of eating McDonald's in some Nike Dri-FIT - but the activewear market has seen a rise of about 7%; with regular apparel only seeing an increase of 1%. Developers and designers everywhere are seeing this gap in the market, and boy are they making money from it.

It isn't just an exponential interest in activewear that's taking the industry by storm, but the interest in fashionable and aesthetically pleasing pieces that we can all wear and cause envy in the hearts of those next to us in our mid-afternoon Spin class. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr in particular, are bringing images of colourful, attractive activewear to our attention and making it seem 'trendy', or 'fashionable' to be fit, healthy and conscious of what we put into, and engage our bodies in on a daily basis. 

Now, I'm not sure if many of you know this, but when it comes to sourcing those perfect yoga pants or sports bra, you don't actually have to shop at Nike or Lululemon. I know, major shock. Believe me, I was the same when I made the discovery. But with more designers seeing an opportunity in sportswear, new brands are coming to the forefront of our Tumblrs and blogs and getting us psyched for hitting the gym ASAP.

1. Alala // 2. Without Walls  // 3. Koral Activewear  // 4. Without Walls  // 5. Tully Lou

I've come across quite a few brands on my research for this post, however I thought I'd condense it down to about three or four for now. First up is Alala. Founded by NYC triathlete Denise Lee, the brand was created to answer the main issues that women face on a daily basis - clothes that just don't fit well for their purpose, and clothes that do it all; making you look cute enough to run from the gym to the office -  and not wishing the ground would swallow you up whole because of how you looked if you met 'the one' on the commute. The collection is very simple in terms of colour and pattern, but the devil is definitely in the details with each piece. I mean, they even have sports bras with zippers up the back so that you can actually get out of the thing post-workout. Genius. My favourite is the Got Your Back Tank, and at $85/£50 it's around the same price point as Nike. 

Next, Tully Lou. As TL is an Australian brand, I can't kept but just get why the collections are so bloody stylish. The Aussie's seem to get most things right when it comes to fashion - think Triangl and Sabo Skirt - and Tully Lou is no exception to that. Although the website is basic in all aspects, the collections are very colourful and slightly futuristic. Actually, it reminds me on Triangl with the linear concepts and bright block colours. The price point is similar to Alala, and they ship Internationally (obviously just need to watch out for customs tax), so it's worth having a look. 

Then there's Koral Activewear. What I loved most about this brand (other than the fact that they were based in LA), was that it's sports bras actually looked like bikini tops, and not something that a child would wear. They're known for their use of high quality materials which shape and contour the female body, whilst providing support in every way possible. It's stylish workout gear with a difference, and I'm 100% a fan.

And lastly, Without Walls. If the name doesn't entice you in, then how about the fact that their website gives you everything you'd need to live a healthy lifestyle. Not only do they stock their own collections, but they offer activewear from other designers, too. And you can buy your yoga mat and protein shaker at the same time. It's just convenience at its best. I loved how their collection features a lot of mesh and little hints of pattern. It's sports luxe but with practicality. Fab.

Where do you usually shop for your gym clothes?

Photo Credit: Tumblr (top image), Tully Lou, Koral Activewear, Without Walls & Alala websites.

Reppin' | 304#

304#CLOTHING | WE CAME TO PARTY.

I don't know if it was the attractive models used in the lookbook or what, but 304# are a clothing brand that have had me taking notice this week. Born in the Summer of 2012, 304# began when three friends decided to create handmade vests; and as they put it, it was from this that their journey began. From what I gather from the brands twitter account (@304_revolution), website and blog, love tends to be the common theme and they try to keep to this theme integral to the brands core values.

Although the brand started off creating vests, their online store now stocks: jumpers, tshirts, bags, headgear, joggers, jackets and even watches and socks. The designs are simple, yet stylish and are perfect for both men and women. The only female-orientated thing on the website is a crop top, but to be honest, if you're a male and it's your thing then by all means, go for it. Who am I to judge?

There's something about the brand that has an almost Hollister vibe to it; mostly due to the fact that the products are presented with a wooden background, and there are some California/USA beach-y images on their blog. These factors definitely lend a relaxed and fresh take for the brand, and I genuinely hope to see it grow and expand further in the future. To me, it has the potential to become more than just a 'tshirt start-up' - which is a difficult thing to say when these sort of 'brands' are popping up here, there and everywhere. 304# have a story and a purpose, and this is why they'll go far.

These are just a few of my favourite looks off the website, but I recommend checking them out and choosing your own favourites. With the t-shirts only costing £20, trust me, it won't be difficult.

(Left to right)

No Skinny Dipping Tee // SAY YES Tee // Real Eyes Realize Tee // 304# Bag

Photo Credit: www.304clothing.com