Le Blog de Sushi

Chinababy II

2012-05-27T22:58:00.002+10:00

This is the last set of photos my mum helped me take when I visited on my last trip. Still loving my little book clutch! I usually don't wear skirts that are longer than mid-thigh, but this knee length faux leather skirt from Chic Wish is the perfect colour and material for cooler weather and I love how it looks with chunky heels.

P.S. I now have Instagram, which I've been updating nearly every day, so come follow me if you're interested in snippets of my everyday life! My username is leblogdesushi.

Topshop cable knit sweater | Forever New belt | faux leather skirt C/O Chic Wish | Wuthering Heights book clutch via eBay | Wildfox Couture deer head ring | Windsor Smith chinababy booties

May shopping list

2012-05-22T11:06:00.001+10:00

So far this month I've found myself drawn to soft, neutral shades of cream, nude, chocolate and chestnut plus black, black, black (living in Melbourne does that to you!). While I still love pretty, feminine things, I've moved away from the super sweet girly faze I went through at the end of last year. After putting together this month's shopping list, I noticed how it really reflects this change, as well as my new found love of vintage-inspired designer lingerie!

Elle Macpherson dentelle bra | Elle Macpherson dentelle culotte | Jeffrey Campbell miller oxfords | Chicwish chocolate felt satchel | Modcloth gold leaf dessert dress | BB Dakota dip hem skirt | Modcloth fox mug | Gossard superboost lace suspender | Sportsgirl block fashion boots | Modcloth heart knee patch stockings

Koogul.com review

2012-05-19T21:14:00.004+10:00

Tonight I will be reviewing an online store called Koogul, which is similar to stores such as Romwe and Chic Wish but specialises in pretty, feminine styles. Also, the Mother's Day giveaway is ending tomorrow evening, so you have one more day to enter if you haven't already!

Koogul is a Hong Kong based online store that sells cute and feminine clothing, shoes and accessories. Their price point is a bit higher than similar stores as they claim to only sell good quality products. Koogul accept payment via PayPal, Credit Card or Western Union and offer a 7 day refund policy if you're not satisfied with your purchase.

When browsing the store, I noticed that many of the products used stock photos from other sites such as Asos. Each product page features fabric info and measurements for each size, which is lucky, as I soon realised that a lot of the dresses were too short for me. I'm only 166cm tall but the website's sizing is small, catering for petite Asian girls below 160cm, so if you are used to western sizing Koogul recommends picking a size M or larger.

The shipping methods to choose from are Regular Airmail (7-30 working days delivery time), EMS, DHL China or DHL Hong Kong (3-7 working days). As Regular Airmail was only $5-$10 cheaper than Express, I chose to have my order shipped via DHL Hong Kong for $36.50. Once shipped, I was sent a tracking number and my order was delivered very quickly in three days. Each item came wrapped in plastic inside a large DHL post pack. I ordered a total of three items; two dresses and a light coat.

Fashion sleeveless black dress USD $24.99 | item page

This dress was as described and pictured on the site. I ordered a size M because I was worried an S wouldn't fit comfortably over my hips. I found the M to best suit a size S and the length and measurements were pretty spot on. The dress had the same collar and keyhole detailing as in the stock photos. The one thing I found disappointing about this dress was that the fabric felt very 'soapy' to the touch and looked a bit cheap. The dress was branded and swing tagged with the label Yigelila but had no inner label with care instructions or fabric content.

Overall rating 8/10

Stylish empire waist backless orange dress USD $33.99 | item page

The first thing I noticed when taking this dress out of the packaging, was that it was a very, very bright orange and that the bust and underarm area were unusually large. There were no measurements provided for this item so I ordered a size S. I found the waist fitted well but the underarm area of the dress gaped a couple of inches on each side and was far too big for a standard size S. The dress was also by Yigelila and had no inner label. The fabric had a nice texture to it and didn't feel as synthetic as the first dress, plus all the hems and zip detailing were nicely finished.

Overall rating 7/10

Stylish skirt style waist band slim wind coat USD $48.99 | item page

This coat was my favourite item out of the three. It arrived a bit crumpled, but after a good ironing it looked exactly like the photos on the website, with the material feeling nice and crisp to the touch and not too synthetic. I ordered a size S and found that it would best fit a size XS as it fitted me perfectly. The belt is adjustable and clips/unclips by pushing the clasp on the back side. The dress can be worn with the sleeves rolled up and fastened by a button or left down. I loved the flattering cut of this dress/coat, it gave me a really feminine shape by nipping in at the waist and flaring out over the hips.

overall rating 10/10

♥ Reasonable quality for the price and clothing is true to photos

♥ Measurements provided are quite accurate
♥ Fast, trackable postage worldwide
♥ New customers can get 10% off their first order by registering on the site

- Sizing runs small so make sure you size up unless you are very petite
- Postage runs on the expensive side

- Fabric used for some items feels and looks a bit cheap

- No fabric/care instructions makes it difficult to know how to wash the items correctly

Overall my experience with Koogul was a positive one and I would purchase from them again. In future I would only purchase products with some natural fibre content to avoid the cheap, synthetic look, and would be sure to check the measurements before purchasing to avoid receiving an item that's too short or small. If you have any other questions about buying from Koogul that I haven't addressed, please leave a comment.

Shades of autumn

2012-05-14T22:16:00.005+10:00

This is probably my favourite set of photos taken on my Easter trip that my mum helped me snap. The sun was starting to set and it was freezing (again!) but the light was really pretty and presented the perfect opportunity to capture a few photos. The dress was kindly sent to me by Romwe and I'm in love with the elegant, backless design. ~~Unfortunately, it's currently sold out but hopefully they'll restock it soon.~~ It's now back in stock!

P.S. You can still enter the Mother's Day giveaway for your chance to win an $80.00 Romwe gift voucher or prize pack from She Inside.

Romwe backless nude shift dress | French Kitty long-line cardigan | Crystal necklace C/O Market HQ | YSL inspired ring via eBay | Soles lingering dream boots

Last night I spent a few hours updating my blog shop, which is now full of tasty new things. If you see anything that catches your fancy, remember you can access a 15% off discount code by visiting the Storenvy tab on my facebook page!

Mother's Day giveaway CLOSED

2012-05-10T22:46:00.007+10:00

I thought I'd host a short and sweet surprise giveaway over Mother's Day this year as it's been a while since the last one! Up for grabs are two prize packs, one from Romwe and one from She Inside. Scroll on down to view the goodies up for grabs...

On the subject of Mother's Day, although it has turned into a commercialised affair, the sentiment behind it is still important and worth celebrating. I know my own mother doesn't think much of it herself, so instead of buying flowers or trinkets, I'd just like to say thank you mum for being there for me through the rough times these past few months.

Romwe is offering a prize pack of an $80.00 gift voucher to spend on anything your heart desires on their online store plus a pair of sunglasses (picked randomly). Above are a few of my favourite items currently on their site. Also, shipping is free worldwide and you can get 20% off your first purchase by signing up!

She Inside is offering a prize pack of two cute sweaters valued at $70.00. Both are free size and would best fit size S/M. She Inside also offer free shipping worldwide and new customers can get 15% off their first purchase just by signing up!

♥ Sign up on the Romwe website and follow them on Twitter OR Pintrest.

♥ Like She Inside on Twitter OR Facebook.

♥ Comment on this post with the same email you use for your Facebook/Twitter/Pintrest/Romwe sign up.

♥ BONUS ENTRY! To receive a second entry into the draw, follow me on Twitter and tweet this exact message:

Just entered the @leblogdesushi Mother's Day giveaway! You can also enter to win 1 of 2 prize packs at http://www.leblogdesushi.com

Don't forget to leave a second comment on this post with a link to your tweet to receive a second entry.

♥ The giveaway is open to WORLDWIDE readers!
♥ Entry is limited to two entries per person. Each entrant must follow the above steps to qualify plus be a follower of Le Blog de Sushi via Google Friend Connect, Facebook or Twitter.

♥ Giveaway closes 20th May and the winners will be picked randomly. Good luck to everyone!

Kendra Spears for Exit A/W 2011

2012-05-05T20:17:00.005+10:00

It's that time of year again to pull out the chunky knits, warm socks and outerwear from the back of the closet. Autumn has always been my favourite season and this year I've developed a growing obsession in pretty, vintage inspired lingerie; the perfect contrast to thick, luxe layers. So when I found this gorgeous editorial featuring both, I just had to post it!

P.S. Is anyone else having issues with leaving comments? A reader emailed me to say they weren't able to comment (thank you!), so if anyone else is having the same problem please tweet or facebook me and let me know so I can try to get it fixed.

Images courtesy of fashiongonerogue.com

The places we used to go

2012-04-30T21:24:00.005+10:00

Here's another set of photos taken by my mum after our afternoon coffee in a little nearby cafe. These were taken next to the park I used to go to a lot when I was really young, and the hall where I used to practice ballet. Sometimes I do wish I had kept it up.

I'm wearing my new lace dress from Romwe here. It has a really cute cut-out back trimmed in faux leather but it was too cold that day not to wear a cardigan. The only down side to it is that the lining is very short, so if you're on the taller side tights may be required!

French Kitty cardigan | Romwe cut-out back lace dress | Forever New belt | Witchery amalie satchel | Oroton de lucchi bow cuff | Oroton bow ballet flats

I ♥ your look: Anouska

2012-04-24T19:50:00.003+10:00

Here's a lovely autumn look I stumbled across on lookbook.nu from Irish-based blogger Anouska of Anouska Proetta Brandon. I really love the finishing touch of the spiked headband and think it's time I found one to add to my own collection!

Images courtesy of anouskaproettabrandon.com

I found some really decently priced pieces while looking around for similar items to recreate this look. The gorgeous sequin skirt from Romwe is only $45, the spike headband from Storets is $18 and the cute Modcloth booties are also $45.

Romwe lace chiffon blouse | Modcloth timed race clock necklace | Topshop 80 denier tights | Storets spiked headband | Romwe square sequin skirt | Modcloth unpredictable ending booties

Obsession du jour: book clutches

2012-04-20T22:14:00.000+10:00

Over a year ago I wrote a blog post about the adorable Olympia Le-Tan book clutches, first snapped by popular street style blogs. Since then, book clutches have been popping up all over the internet and are now available from a number of online stores, Etsy sellers and on eBay. My favourite is still the original 'Lolita' title by Olypia Le-Tan, as seen in these photos from Alix's blog.

Images courtesy of thecherryblossomgirl.com

After scouring high and low for a book clutch of my own (as the Olypia Le-Tan originals are a bi out of my price range at $1500!), I decided on the 'Wuthering Heights' book clutch from eBay for the much more manageable price of $50. The only issue I have is that it didn't come with a clasp to keep it closed, but I'm planning on attaching one myself. Below are some of the other book clutches I came across on my search.

Wuthering Heights book clutch | Kate Spade 'Emma' clutch | The Picture of Dorian Grey e-reader case | Greyhound Original zippered purse | Modcloth notebook shoulder bag | Olympia Le-Tan 'Alcoholics Anonymous' clutch

Bobbles & book clutches

2012-04-16T22:38:00.004+10:00

I took quite a few outfit photos while I was away for Easter, trying out the camera on my new iPhone instead of the usual Canon camera and tripod setup. These photos were taken as the sun was setting and it was absolutely freezing and windy (as you can probably tell from my messy hair and pained expression!). The light was good though and my mother managed to get some nice shots so it was worth it. Thanks mum!

I'm in love with this jumper (which is very warm and cuddly) and Wuthering Heights book clutch at the moment. The sweater was a gift from the kind team over at Chic Wish and I found the book clutch on eBay after months of trawling the internet for an affordable version of the precious Olympia Le-Tan book clutches.

Bobble sweater C/O Chicwish | Forever New natalie skirt | Forever New tights | Glassons wedge booties | Wildfox Couture deer head ring | Wuthering Heights book clutch via eBay

Easter day

2012-04-10T22:00:00.005+10:00

Here are some photos from Easter day, mostly from the delicious dessert and easter egg hunt after lunch. I included a few photos of my sister's outfit too! I hope everyone had a lovely day. Also, just a reminder that there is 25% off everything on my blog shop until the 12th April.

Princess Highway duffle coat | Paper Heart floral dress | Forever New waist belt | 50 denier opaques | Soles lingering dream boots | Sportsgirl rings

Vintage cardigan, cropped jumper & boots | Target scarf | Levi's high-waisted jeans | DIY bell earring

The Girl with Seven Horses

2012-04-06T20:19:00.000+10:00

I came across this beautiful photography project from the talented photographer and illustrator Ulrika Kestere. You can see more of her work over at her blog, Ulicam. This series of photos is called The Girl with Seven Horses and has a little story that goes with it...

Once upon a time there was a girl who had seven invisible horses. People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had seven imaginary horses, but this was not the case. When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them. Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fierceful winds grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they obviously didn't weigh much). The girl was devastated and spent all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes.

Images courtesy of ulicam.blogspot.com.au

April wishlist

2012-04-03T19:29:00.001+10:00

HI spent most of today packing because I'm flying home tomorrow for a week to spend Easteur with my family. It's my favourite time of the year at the moment, and there are so many pretty things popping up in the shops that I keep adding to my wish list! These are my favourites, some of which I have already snapped up.

While I'm away I'll continue blogging and leave my blog shop up and running so that you can make the best of the 25% off special that will be valid until the 12th April. Just use the discount code 'easterbunny' at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase. Happy Easter lovelies!

Sportsgirl floaty bobble sweater | Wildfox Couture deer head ring | Romwe backless nude dress | Oroton de lucchi bow bracelet | Marc Jacobs bag | Dotti andro leather look pants | Modcloth swan print dress | Soles lingering dream boots | Romwe lace cut-out back dress | Marc Jacobs bowery bag | Sportsgirl key bracelet

Kirsten Dunst for Vogue Italia

2012-03-31T21:30:00.001+11:00

Some pretty photos for the weekend of Kirsten Dunst for Vogue Italia. I love the choice of scenery and the use of natural lighting in this photo shoot. Have a lovely weekend!

Images courtesy of fashiongonerogue.com

Wrapped up in books

2012-03-27T18:44:00.003+11:00

Here's a quick outfit post from one of my days off. Unfortunately the light was quite poor when I took these so the picture quality isn't the bes. I wore this to go to the library to get my uni books and readings sorted and run a few other errands. I have a crazy amount of readings that I'm trying to get up to date with at the moment!

Romwe sailor blouse (similar available here, here & here) | Romwe boucle mini shorts | Collier de Chien inspired cuff | Forever New Miranda satchel | 50 denier opaques

Also, I'm currently having a big easter sale on my blog shop at the moment! You can get 25% off everything with the code 'easterbunny' until the 12th April. Here are a few of the newest items that have been added...

I ♥ your look: Eve Delf

2012-03-20T19:14:00.005+11:00

Usually I feature bloggers in the 'I love your look' posts but these photos of British model Eve Delf snapped after the Ruffian A/W show by Vanessa Jackman really caught my eye. The more I look at the details, the more inspiring I find Eve's outfit and makeup to be. I have a sudden urge to find myself the perfect red lipstick! Vanessa Jackman commented that Eve reminded her of a modern day snow white, which I think captures this look perfectly.

Images courtesy of vanessajackman.blogspot.com.au

P.S. I have just updated my blog shop tonight, so there's now over 30 items up for sale. You can use the code 'easterbunny' to get 25% off your order for the next two weeks!

DIY: heart shaped elbow patches

2012-03-15T21:40:00.001+11:00

It's been a long time since I've done or featured a DIY, which is something I definitely miss having on my blog. Making heart shaped elbow patches to update a few of my old cardigans and jumpers is something I've been planning to try out for a while now.

I found two great tutorials on how to do this kind of DIY from other bloggers; a more advanced one from Erica for those who are more crafty, and a simpler version from Bonnie, which looks just as nice. And there's always the option of just purchasing a ready made heart elbow patch jumper if you scroll down to the bottom of this post!

You’ll need:
♥ a wool sweater
♥ a 36 gauge felting needle
♥ a piece of dense foam cut to size or needle mat
♥ some wool roving
♥ a 3″ heart cookie cutter
♥ an iron

With the sweater on, place a piece of tape about half an inch below the elbow. Do the same with the opposite elbow. Remove the sweater and insert the foam block into one of the sleeves.

Align and center the bottom of the cookie cutter along the top of the tape. Pinch off a few tufts of wool roving.

Fill the cutter, spreading out the wool fibers evenly.

At the base of all felting needles are tiny, sharp burrs, which grab and interlock the wool fibers. While holding the needle vertically, repeatedly stab it into the wool roving and through the sweater. Work around the outer perimeter of the cutter first and then work my way inwards. Important tip: To prevent breaking the needle, always keep the needle upright and never at an angle.

Remove the cutter and use the tip of the needle to reign in any stray fibers. Don’t worry about the holes as they will be fixed later. Patch up any bare or uneven spots by adding more wool roving where needed.

Carefully peel the sweater away from the foam. Notice that the fibers have transferred through to the backside of the sweater. To smooth and set the patch, spritz with water and press with an iron on the wool setting.

Repeat the same steps on the other sleeve and you're done!

Images and DIY steps courtesy of honestlywtf.com/diy/diy-elbow-patch

You’ll need:

♥ a wool sweater
♥ 1/2 yard of felt (any color you want)

♥ a pair of sharp scissors
♥ a needle, thread, sewing chalk and sewing pins

Mark the place on each elbow where you want the patch to be with tape or a pin. Take the piece and fold it in half. Put a pin at 7 inches (half the width of the sleeve) to ensure you don't cut the heart wider than the sleeve is.

Use sewing chalk to draw half a heart onto the felt with the center at the fold, then cut out. This half heart method ensures both sides are perfectly even.

Trace around the first heart onto the remaining felt fabric and then cut. Place one of the heart patches over the sleeve of the sweater to make sure it's a good size for the sleeve. Next, use the sewing pins to pin the heart patches onto the elbow marks you made earlier. To make sure the patches are even on both sides, measure from the bottom of the heart to the end of the sleeve.

Thread your needle and sew around the edges of the heart patch, securing it to the sleeve. Repeat on the other side.

And the finished product!

Images courtesy of bonnielovescake.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/diy-heart-shaped-elbow-pads.html

For those who are short on time or not a DIY enthusiast, there's this cute option available from Asos. It comes in black with tan elbow patches or cream with pink elbow patches and is $57.00.

ASOS Jumper With Heart Elbow Patch $57.00 | available here

Cream & mustard

2012-03-08T21:55:00.002+11:00

Here's a work outfit post I took photos of a few weeks ago before my blogging break. I was joined in the car park by this cute cat, who was very shy at first but then insisted in wrapping itself around my legs while I took photos. I'm also happy to see a new collection being launched at Forever New this week because I've been making do with two work outfits for the past couple of weeks and am thoroughly sick of both of them now! Favourite picks from the new collection are to come.

Forever New Helena sweater | Forever New Alicia dress | Forever New belt | YSL inspired ring via eBay | Forever New Ollie mini backpack | Cotton On ankle socks | Rubi Seega booties

Goodbye, February

2012-03-06T20:05:00.003+11:00

I'm back from my hiatus. Things are a bit different than before but I'm returning to blogging because it's something positive and creative for me to concentrate on. Since I've been gone, I've upgraded my camera to a Canon EOS 450D and am in the process of learning how to use it. I've also gone back to studying part time, having started a Master of Fashion and Textiles as of last week!

Images courtesy of weheartit.com/leblogdesushi

2012-02-18T08:12:00.005+11:00

Sometimes real life gets in the way.

True romantic

2012-02-11T20:00:00.007+11:00

This is the last set of photos I took for the Betts 5 Ways to Wear project, where I styled the Dixie wedges in five different looks. This one's quite sweet and romantic, so perfect timing for Valentines day! Speaking of which, I've created a Valentines day special for my blog shop so you can get 20% off everything until the 18th February with the code 'mypresent'.

Forever New plaited headband | Boater hat via eBay | Lover 'Lula' lace bustier romper | French kitty angora blend cardi | Betts 'Dixie' wedges in bone

Romwe favourites

2012-02-08T20:52:00.005+11:00

I just wanted to share some of my favourite things that I've received from Romwe, one of the lovely sponsors of my blog. Unfortunately, most of these are no longer available on their site as things sell out super quickly, but you can still buy the peter pan collar dress in the first photo!

Also, a quick thank you to Tuolomee and Cocorosa for featuring me on their blogs recently as part of their 5 blogs that I love and Top 10 fashion blogger website designs posts. I follow both of these girls myself and their blogs are definitely worth adding to your list if you're looking for new reading material.

Romwe peter pan collar dress | Romwe striped sun dress | Romwe giftbox keyring in rose gold | Romwe bobble ring | Romwe knitted snood & matching mittens | Romwe pearl collar | Romwe boucle shorts

Also, I've added more items to my blog shop today, including jewellery starting at $10.00!

Backpacker

2012-02-05T20:25:00.004+11:00

Eeek I just checked my blog and realised I hadn't updated in five days, whereas I thought it had only been two or three! Today some of our old furniture which was left back in Adelaide for the past year was delivered to us in Melbourne. It's so nice to have my dressing table again!

As for this outfit, the cute romper was a gift from Club Couture a while ago but I've only just found the time to wear it. I've also been using my new mustard backpack in place of my regular bag this week. It's a pain to get into when you need something in a hurry, but the straps are convertible so I can just turn it into a satchel when I've had enough back-packing.

Houndstooth romper C/O Club Couture | Forever New shirt | Forever New Ollie mini backpack | YSL inspired ring via eBay | Rubi Seega wedge booties

January shopping list

2012-01-31T09:40:00.004+11:00

Since returning from my trip to Adelaide, I've been sticking to my new years resolution of buying a lot less. I've also had a good look at the things that end up in the to sell/donate pile and have realised that the bulk of it is from online purchases that end up being the wrong size, colour, fabric, shape, etc.

So I've decided to cut down on my online purchasing and, wherever possible, to try on or at least see the item in store/on someone else before making the decision to buy. I've also unsubscribed from a lot of newsletters from online stores and deal sites such as Brands Exclusive as these often lead to impulse purchases!

Asos hand knitted mini scarf | Forever New Ollie mini backpack | French Connection raindrop mittens | Seafolly Sophia boyleg maillot | Modcloth All A-boat You bag | Forever New Helena sweater | Forever New Alicia dress (shown as skirt) | Romwe peter pan collar dress | Small bunny night lamp | Romwe pearl collar | Eggling mini plant in Lavender

P.S. I've added some new items to my blog shop!

Current/Elliott Spring 2012

2012-01-26T13:15:00.002+11:00

Having a lazy day off today and getting a bit of blog post organising done as well as adding some new items to my blog shop (check back later tonight!). I've also tweaked my blog layout to make the content section wider, something I've been thinking about doing for a while now. Did you notice the difference? Yay for more space and larger photos of the adorable Current/Elliott Spring 2012 photoshoot! Now excuse me while I go and hunt down a pair of saddle shoes...

Images courtesy of refinery29.com