This is my first food post on this blog and I cannot believe I am writing about Noma! This is one of those experiences that I must share. I have decided to split this up into two posts, mainly because there is so much to write about. I hope you find this ‘little’ post from Noma entertaining and inspiring.

Noma is run by René Redzepi, a 37-year-old Danish chef, and has been ranked as the best restaurant in the world for four out of the last five years. This was an exciting experience because I can truly say I have never eaten anything like this food before. René is all about New Nordic cooking and this new type of cuisine is truly distinct and fantastic.

The cuisine

So what is New Nordic cuisine? The New Nordic menu places a distinct emphasis on the use of local flowers and herbs. Floral flourishes show up in many dishes, both savoury and sweet. Acidic notes stick out more than traditional heavy fats. Creams and butters are typically accents rather than the basis for a dish. I love burnt and smokey flavours and they showed up in a lot as well.

Another hallmark of New Nordic cuisine is a much stronger focus on highlighting produce than on meat. This is where vegetables truly shine. At Noma, only 1 of 21 courses had meat (beef tartar). In New Nordic cooking, “local and seasonal” goes beyond marketing buzzwords and clichés. “Local” here means that somebody went foraging in the countryside this morning and picked the flowers you’re eating. The ingredients are uniquely Scandinavian (and mostly from Denmark) so much so that this is probably the only place where you will ever get to eat this kind of stuff.

The arrival and welcome

Located in Christianshavn at the end of a converted warehouse pier, there is no way you could even stumble upon Noma. The surrounding area has lots of construction work and no clear markings. In fact, we got a bit lost (and stressed!) before finally finding the noma sign outside a dimly lit warehouse.

I opened the door to Noma with butterflies in my stomach. I could not believe that I am finally here. The moment we walked through the doors, we were received by a group of smiling waitstaff and chefs. I have never experienced this sort of welcome in any other restaurant and was a bit shocked initially that I didn’t know how to react. We walked through the kitchen and said ‘hello’ to all the chefs there. It felt as though I was visiting a relative’s home during the holidays! There were smiles and laughter all round; it was an awesome beginning to what was yet to come. By the time I arrived at our table, I had a wide smile on my face and it did not subside for the next 4.5 hours.

The restaurant

The interior of the restaurant is simple, rustic and beautiful. Bare wooden tables, beautifully designed chairs with only a rustic fur blanket as decoration. The lighting is rather dim, and the restaurant cosy and warm, which helped make the large space feel more welcoming, almost like dining in an intimate Danish cottage. We got a reservation on the shared table so we were seated at a table for 16 in the private dining room upstairs. This way, we got to meet and eat with people from all around the world, some are local Danes, others on a foodie holiday and there were even 2 food critics next to us!

The service

The service is impeccable and appears effortless. What makes Noma even more unique is that the chefs serve as food runners. Having chefs bring out and describe each dish is so interesting (and often necessary due to the strange ingredients) and you really get the opportunity to understand the passion and process involved in creating each dish. Since there were 20+ courses and I was frantically trying to take as many photos as I could, I couldn't remember a lot of the explanation… I guess that’s where the Noma book comes in handy!

The appetisers

When you sit down, you are not initially given a menu (you get a copy at the end).  They simply tell you that the meal will begin with some snacks.  That is an understatement. The first 10 dishes are served in a quick succession of “snacks.” They are designed to capture the essence of Noma: clean, natural, fresh food; all in one bite.

1 Ingrid Marie and herbs: This is a chilled apple soup made with Danish apples called ‘Ingrid Marie.’ Light and smooth, a promising start to the meal!

2 Reindeer moss and cep mushrooms: Noma’s version of chips and mayonnaise. This is fried reindeer moss dusted lightly with mushroom powder, dipped into crème fraiche. It is crispy and wafer-light, kind of like eating thin little threads of crackling. Delicious!

3 Blackcurrant and rose petals: A crispy, toasty, tangy ball of blackcurrant with a creamy rose filling and wrapped in a tissue thin layer of delicate pickled rose petals. When you put it into your month, the outer shell liquefies into a dreamy purée of the tart little berry. One of my favourite dishes of the whole meal. It was interesting and deliciously textural.

4 Pickled and smoked quails eggs: The chef lifts the lid and smoke whisps away to reveal glistening quail eggs. “Please eat at once, in one bite, it’s still runny inside” chef says. As if I needed to be told twice. The egg explodes in my mouth and shows how delicious a single mouthful can be. It is sweet, lightly smokey, earthy, warm, and creamy. This was one of my favorite moments of the meal and one I wish I could repeat over and over again.

5 Caramelised milk and monkfish liver: Frozen and shaved monkfish liver served on caramelized milk crackers and topped with seaweed salt. The monkfish was almost frozen and melted in my mouth like pate. To be honest, I didn’t really care for this dish. I found the monkfish liver too salty and fishy.

6 Beef tartar and ants: Beef tartar served with a generous topping of big black freeze-dried ants. Why? There is no citrus that grows locally in Denmark…that’s where the ants come in with their formic acid. This doesn’t taste nearly as weird as it looks or sounds. In fact, I totally enjoyed the dish. The steak is cut into thin strips and seasoned perfectly and the ants add some crunch, a touch of acidity and an intense citrus zing. 

7 White cabbage and samphire: A sandwich of sorts. This is samphire (a green plant) sandwiched between crispy, paper-thin, translucent dried cabbage. The cabbage had a bitterness to it and I felt at times overpowered the dish. 

8 Æbleskiver and greens: A savoury take on a traditional Danish Christmas sweet treat. It is like donut dough, cooked in salty beef fat which enriched it a lot, brushed with a sauce of fermented grasshopper (just because) and filled with parsley and spinach. Super yummy!

9 Cucumber and scallop: More ants, this time, on a ‘log’! It is charred baby cucumber, with parsley flowers and ants paired with a fudge of dehydrated scallop. Those are words I would never have imagined in the same sentence let alone being things I would be putting into my mouth at the same time. Another example of the nonsensical genius of Noma.

10 Sea urchin toast and duck: Sea urchins served on grilled bread. I must admit that I found this appetizer a bit challenging. The sea urchins were very rich and too overwhelming for me. The duck ‘skin’ on top was a lot more enjoyable. The ‘skin’ is actually made from dried duck stock. Its texture is deliciously crispy and the flavour is sweet and rich.

11 Burnt onion and walnut oil: This is one of the very few seemingly familiar dishes on the menu. Onion is charred on the outside and soft and sweet on the inside. A lovely but not a very memorable dish.

Next, an intermission between the appetisers and the bigger dishes of the tasting menu… stay tuned for Part 2 of the Noma experience!

Talk soon!

:)

It didn't feel right to study in Copenhagen and not see more of Denmark. So I recently went on a student trip around Denmark and it was a fun way to explore Denmark and meet more international students. Denmark is a small country so we managed to see a lot in one weekend! Have a look at the map above to get oriented :)

First, we travelled to Grenen which is the northernmost point of Denmark. Denmark is a very windy country and the coastline was very exposed. From the photos, you can sort of see the top layer of sand being picked up by the wind and moving across the beach (and getting into my eyes, ears, hair and mouth!). Grenen is the point where the North Sea meets the Baltic Sea. It was a windy and stormy day so we could see the two seas clash at the meeting point!

Then we travelled to Rabjerg Mile which is the largest moving sand dune in Northern Europe. It was again incredibly windy. At some point, I struggled to just stand still. After this, most of us have had enough of the sand for a while…On the way to Aalborg, we had a short stop at a viking graveyard in Nørrsundby. Aalborg is a student town and is famous for its Jomfru Ane Gade, which is the longest street of restaurants and bars in Denmark.

The next day, we travelled to Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen) and my favourite part of the trip. There was an informative guided tour but I loved exploring the town slowly and aimlessly afterwards. It was a sunny Saturday and there was a great atmosphere in the centre. There were families out and about, markets and a cake competition (with free cakes afterward!) and the cutest shop fronts featuring pumpkins and apples. Every shop had free apples to give out and one store had an amazing warm apple/cinnamon drink on offer – talk about great service!

Next, we went to ARoS, Aarhus Museum of Modern Art. There were several exhibitions, some of which were quite interactive and fun but there were a few that I just didn't quite get. The highlight was probably the rainbow panorama at the rooftop of the museum. This permanent work of art is a circular glass walkway and offers 360 deg views of the city in all the colours of the rainbow. The other eye-catching artwork is one very big 'boy' (by an Australian artist incidently!). The crouching figure was 4.5m tall and super-realistic! 

We spent our last day in Odense, the third largest city in Denmark and the birthplace of Hans Christian Anderson. The whole town is pretty much dedicated to the famous writer with many statues and figures of the author and characters from his stories. Ironically, Hans Christian Anderson was not proud of his humble beginnings in Odense and spent most of life in Copenhagen. We visited his childhood home and museum and got lots of unexpected and interesting snippets of his life and eccentric personality... I will let some of the quotes below and the rope speak for themselves ;)

So that's a quick summary of the major cities in Denmark! For more updates on what I am up to in Copenhagen, follow me on instagram: @_naomip.

Until next time!

:)

Take a cobalt lake ringed by mountains of myth, add a well-preserved medieval Altstadt (Old Town), then sprinkle with covered bridges, sunny plazas, candy-coloured houses and waterfront promenades, and you have the quintessential Swiss city in Lucerne.

I highly recommend a boat trip on Lake Lucerne. It was 2 hours of endless postcard panorama. Truly. The sun was shining, the fresh air was soothing, the water was sparkling and the cruise was pure relaxation. It would be pretty easy to fall asleep if it wasn’t for the beautiful scenery!

By now, you know how obsessed I am with colourful houses and Lucerne did not disappoint. The Old Town had beautifully painted half-timber houses, lively cafes and markets and wonderful views of the lake and the iconic Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge). The Kapellbrücke is one of the oldest wooden bridges in Europe and connects, quite fittingly, the Old Town and the New Town. The bridge was actually destroyed by fire in 1993 but was faithfully restored to its original design thereafter.

I felt so nostalgic looking back at my Switzerland photos. Although Switzerland is a small country, the immense beauty of Switzerland is truly unforgettable. It is definitely a place I hope to visit again and again…

Thanks so much for reading. Have a great weekend!

:)

Hello everyone! I recently travelled to Switzerland and it’s truly an amazing place. I am literally ready to move to live there. Norway and Switzerland must be two of the most beautiful places on Earth and I feel so lucky to have experienced both :) Now, I don’t know how the next place I visit can top those two…

This was my first time to Switzerland and I headed into the Jungfrau region in central Switzerland. It is named after the famous mountain Jungfrau which is the highest peak in Europe. Not surprisingly, a trip to the ‘top of Europe’ is the main attraction in the region. A cogwheel train takes you up to the top and the journey itself offers wonderful views of the Swiss Alps. Once at the top, there is plenty to do – exploring the ice palace, sledging and snowboarding in the snow fun park, hiking across the glacier to the Mönchsjoch hut and drinking hot chocolate from one of the vantage terraces. We easily spent 3-4 hours at the top. On a clear day (which didn’t happen for us), you may be able to see France and Germany as well!

At the same time, I equally enjoyed hiking trails in the region to explore the mountains, lakes and villages at my own pace. There were so many scenes that felt like they came straight from a postcard. Wengen and Grindelwald were truly picture perfect. Along the way, I also met many musical and friendly Swiss cows with big cowbells! We had some cloudy days but leave it to Switzerland to create magic and mystery out of clouds, fogs and mist! At times, I felt like I was walking through clouds!

We stayed at Lauterbrunnen which means the valley of the waterfalls. It makes an excellent gateway to the Jungfrau region. Lauterbrunnen itself has 72 waterfalls, the largest one being the Staubbach (see the top photo) which plunges 300m down a cliff. Trümmelbach Falls is nearby and also worth a visit. The Trümmelbach Falls are 10 glacier waterfalls inside a mountain (yes, inside!) and carries water from the glaciers of Jungfrau down to the valley – at a rate of up to 20,000 L of water per second! Hear the thunder and roar here.

Finally, we couldn’t leave Switzerland without having some traditional Swiss food. The cheese fondue consisted of different varieties of melted cheese, white wine, garlic and spices. It is served in a ceramic pot on a little fire and eaten with little pieces of bread mounted on a long fork. We also had potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables to cook in the cheese (kind of reminiscent of Asian hotpot). The fondue can get quite heavy quickly so I recommend sharing a pot amongst a group and do it on a cold night! I also had rösti which is a Swiss potato dish and it is a cross between mashed potatoes and hash browns. It is often served with sausages and eggs on the side. We had dinner at the Oberland Hotel restaurant and had a great night - the staff was very friendly and helpful with the menu :)

Now I am off to start on those law readings and plan my next trip during my many study breaks...

Until next time :)

Last week, I visited western Norway. To be honest, Norway never really featured on my list of places to visit (Iceland - you're next) but it's truly one of the most beautiful and unspoilt places on Earth! These photos really don't do it justice so you need to visit to see it for yourself ;) Although Norway is not cheap, it's definitely worth it!

Here are my 5 favourite moments from the trip:

5. Colourful houses - Since arriving in Scandinavia, I have become obsessed with colourful buildings of all shapes and sizes. Øvre Holmegate is the most colourful street in Norway and is the country's own 'Notting Hill.' The street is filled with cosy cafes and shops and is a great place to unwind and eat.

4. Fjords cruises - Western Norway is famous for its fjords and mountains. What are fjords? Fjords are narrow and deep bodies of water between mountainsides or cliffs and were created during successive ice ages. During the cruise, I saw caves, seals and waterfalls (and also drank some water from the waterfall!). While the cruises are enjoyable, I believe that hiking up to the mountains is still the best way to see the fjords!

3. Old town of Stavanger - This part of Stavanger has the largest surviving wooden house settlement in northern Europe - there are 150+ houses and they range from 100-300 years old! I loved strolling through the area of little white wooden houses bursting with flowers and plants. It felt like a glimpse into another world in another time...

2. Salmon, salmon and more salmon - I love salmon so Norway really knew the way to my heart. I recommend getting salmon from the fishmarket by the port and bread and cheese from the supermarkets for an easy diy lunch. What makes Norwegian salmon distinct is that fish in the cold Norwegian waters grow more slowly and their flesh is firmer and more flavoursome. Yes, you can really taste the difference! I pretty much had salmon at least twice a day and couldn't be happier! Oh the lobsters are worth a try too :)

1. Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) - This is one of the most famous attractions in Norway. It is a steep, virtually vertical, 604 m cliff above Lysefjorden. Incredibly, the top of the rock is an almost flat 25m x 25m square. The hike itself up to Preikestolen took 2 hours (one way) and had some very steep inclines where you're climbing over big boulders (no fun when you're battling rain and wind). But I saw people of all ages do it and some locals jog up to the rock and back down as part of their exercise routine... Although on the day I went, the weather was not the best, it didn't detract from the view or the experience. Once at the top, I was rewarded with breathtaking views over the fjords - it was amazing and I lingered at the top for more than an hour. Even though I am scared of heights, I couldn't leave without taking a photo of me sitting on the edge :) There are no barriers at all and people have fallen off Preikestolen. In fact, a helicopter comes by each day to check for casualties in the area - scary stuff!

As you can probably tell, Norway made quite an impression on me! It is one of those places you don't forget easily and I am already researching about the northern lights in Norway...

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Thank you so much for reading!

:)

It has been a bit over two weeks since I arrived in Copenhagen for my exchange semester! For those of you who know me, you know that going on exchange was not exactly a straight-forward decision for me (as usual, I over-analyse and over-think a lot of things). As I settle in, I have experienced excitement, apprehension and homesickness. Overall, I have got a good feeling about Copenhagen and think the next 4 months is going to fly by!

The past two weeks have in a way felt like a holiday since I have done lots of sightseeing and just felt very relaxed overall, but it also doesn’t because I have had to cook and clean for myself (sigh, adulthood). Things should kick up a gear next week as classes officially start and there are lots of orientation activities and social events planned!

The first sign that greeted me at the airport was ‘welcome to the world’s happiest nation’ which immediately put a smile on my face. Hopefully, I will learn all the Danes’ secrets to happiness ;) Here are some photos of how I saw Copenhagen…when I am not tripping over their cobblestones!

Some of my first impressions of Copenhagen:

Time: One of my favourite aspects of Copenhagen is that time here is more leisurely and I have rarely felt the need to keep up and move quickly.

It is almost impossible to get stressed going about my daily life. Traffic isn’t crazy and morning rush hour, if you can actually call it “rush” can be quite peaceful. There is just something very neat about seeing orderly lines of cyclists against a backdrop of parks and canals.

Perhaps it is because I am still in holiday mode but it is such a refreshing feeling to find that I can take the time to just breath and enjoy the moment without a nagging to-do list at the back of my mind. Let’s hope this feeling stays through the semester! 

Bikes: Going back to bikes, they are a huge part of the Danish lifestyle. The Danes often use their bikes to commute to work/uni and on the weekends too. It is no wonder they are so fit an toned. In addition, the cycling culture has contributed to reducing carbon emissions enormously and Copenhagen is one the greenest cities in the world. There are more bikes than people and bikes rule the roads. When crossing the road, look out for bikes, not cars, and don’t walk onto the bike lanes (easier said than done) if you don’t want to be on the receiving end of some severe eye rolling.

Colours: I was smitten with the streets and colours of Copenhagen from day one. I didn’t have to walk far to see how colourful Copenhagen was – this city takes colour blocking to the next level! For the biggest splash of colour, the place to be is Nyhavn. This is a 17th Century canal filled to the brim with cafes, restaurants and boats. I can't decide which view I like more: the view of the rows of colourful houses from the canals or the view of the red brick roofs amongst the canals from above. Either way, I highly recommend taking a canal tour and climbing to the top of the Church of Our Saviour if you visit Copenhagen!

Fairytales: A post about Copenhagen would not be complete without mentioning Hans Christian Andersen. The fairytale is kept alive today in Copenhagen with its many castles and palaces (hello Princess Mary!), cobblestone narrow streets (perfect reason to ditch the heels) and a certain sculpture of a little mermaid. I think I can see why the Danes are so content here…

I know I haven't blogged in a while so I hope this somewhat lengthy post makes up for it! I will try to blog more often about my experiences in Copenhagen and beyond (follow me on instagram for more live updates). A lot of my posts will be photo-heavy – perfect for those of you who are impatient/visual learners/anti-reading/not really interested in my ramblings (no hard-feelings)! 

Until next time :)

Hi everyone! Just a quick post to share my favourite photos of Vivid 2014. Vivid is an annual light festival that brightens up the whole city during winter. Although it has been on for 5 years, this is actually the first time I have visited. To make up for this, I actually went twice - once to circular quay to see the opera house and the harbour (can you spot the rabbits?), then a second time to blues point reserve to see the other side of the harbour bridge that has been lighted up.

This was my first time doing night time photography on my new camera. Trust me, bringing your DSLR and tripod, claiming your piece of territory at the popular vantage points and trying to remember everything you have learnt about exposure settings make it so much fun :)

Seriously, I am so in love with Sydney. Don't know how I could ever leave this city... let me know in the comments if you have been to Vivid! I highly recommend it.

Photos taken with Canon 70D with 18-55mm IS STM Single Lens Kit

:)

Hello everyone! So time has really flown by since my last post. I have spent a month in Hong Kong and have been back at uni for three weeks already.

I did an internship in Hong Kong in February and if you follow my instagram, you would see that there were lots of #foodstagram moments. Anything to power me through a 60 hour working week eh? I never knew I could actually work that hard, it was strangely satisfying and unexpectedly rewarding ;-). Though being chained to my Blackberry is definitely not something I will miss!

Did you know that almost 70% of Hong Kong's total area is countryside and mountains? That statistics was pretty unbelievable to me as I was working in Central, the bustling heart of the city. But one weekend, R and I ventured to Lantau Island and went on the Ngong Ping cable car ride. This was by far my favourite place in Hong Kong on this trip, because I saw an unexpectedly and incredibly serene and natural side of Hong Kong. The cable car ride offered spectacular views of the sea, mountains, sandy beaches and planes landing and taking off from the airport. Although R and I were a bit scared of heights, the ride went way too quickly and I would consider it a must-do activity for visitors to Hong Kong. The second item on my list? Going up to the Peak! It is amazing how contrast is never far away in this city. Hopefully, I can go back to Hong Kong on a holiday to discover other sides of this city!

Upon my return to Sydney, I was immediately plunged back into the world of 8am meetings, endless law readings and procrastinating (hello again, candy crush). At least this is my final year... #almostthere! I guess this explains those panda eyes... On Friday, I escaped from my to-do lists and enjoyed a walk and some 'me-time' in a park. It sounds so simple but being outdoors is really nature's own stress-buster. Reviewing these photos again just made me feel more relaxed and rejuvenated, or maybe it is just the floral crown, which never fails to bring a smile to my face :) I only wish I can wear it more often!

Outfit: Kisforkani floral crown (also worn here), Sportsgirl playsuit, Marcs sandals

Thanks so much for reading! I hope this long-ish post somewhat makes up for my absence over the past months. 

Have a happy weekend everyone! Remember to take a moment out of your busy life to relax and smell the roses.

:)

Hello everyone and happy belated new year! My sincere apologies for the hiatus. Between end of semester exams and a whirlwind month in London (check out the best instagram moments here), it has taken me some time to put together something for the blog. To kick things off, this outfit features new purchases from alice McCALL, an Australian brand I have lusted after for a long time. The brand has a drool-worthy collection of maxi and party dresses. However I opted for a pair of printed short (or is it a skirt..?) and a necklace with two adorable swans to pair with other wardrobe separates. This way, I can get more wear out of them (it's all about the cost per wear ratio)!

Coming back to Sydney and the Australian summer, I have realised how much I have taken this city for granted. It is so easy to forget how beautiful something is when it is right on your doorstep. So in 2014, I want to explore Sydney more, going off paths and discovering new things. I have been to Darling Harbour several times (mostly to eat) but in this post, I strolled through the various walkways away from the restaurants and bars and found secluded piers and hidden sandstone walls. Hope you enjoy these photos, and let me know by leaving a comment below (I read and love every single comment)!

Outfit: Marcs basic tee (here), alice McCALL casiterite short (here), Marcs wedges (also shown here), alice McCALL tsavorite necklace (here)

Thank you so much for reading! See you next time.

:)

Do you play tourist in your own city?

Happy Friday everyone! This is a quick update showing you the leather skirt I discussed earlier. I was quite happy with the fit and quality of it, given the price of only $43. It has been a while since I bought anything in AU6 from ASOS (I am usually a AU4 in the petite range) so the skirt is not as snug around the waist as I would like but it is great for tucking in knitwear. The leather is soft though surprisingly heavy (partly because of the volume) so I sometimes feel kind of weighed down by it. All in all, I am glad I have a black leather skirt in my wardrobe now and can't wait to pair it with tees and silk shirts for the warmer months!

Outfit
Top: Country Road (also here)
Bottom: ASOS (here)
Belt: Marcs (here)
Shoes: Gorman

The Sydney mid-season sales are in full swing now. I took advantage of the mark downs to buy more leather items: a tan leather belt ($39 reduced to $19 from Marcs, worn as shown) and black biker boots ($249 reduced to $127 from Country Road, below) . Both items are much-needed additions to my wardrobe; I think I will be wearing the boots to death during my upcoming trip to London!

As always, thank you so much for reading! 

:) 

I haven't ASOS-ed for a while but I couldn't help clicking through one of its emails on the latest sale. And so I treated myself to a bit of shopping during my 15 mins study break (which turned into 1 hour thanks to pinterest...oops!). An affordable leather skirt has been on my wishlist for a while and this one from ASOS is a steal. It's reduced to $49 from $163 and the code "WOW10" gives you a further 10% off. In comparison, basic genuine leather skirts from Sydney high street brands tend to start at $200. I have never bought from the ASOS Premium range so fingers crossed for the quality and fit! Let me know in the comment below if you're interested in a review when I receive it.

If, like me, you're a bit unsure of the whole leather thing, here are some inspiration to get you into the swing of things!

Source: here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. 

Now I better get back to my law readings. Have a great week ahead everyone! 

:) 

I love my pants and slouchy pants (loose at the top, but tapered at the bottom) are the most comfortable option (they almost feel like sweatpants but look uber stylish and have side pockets...what's not to love?). They don't cling like jeans do, making them weather appropriate all year round. I love the effortless nonchalant vibe the drapes and slouchy silhouette create. There are many options to choose from - geometric, bold colours, delicate pastel or fun animal prints. My personal favourite are the fun print from Seed's animal pants (#7) and the cool elegance of 3.1 Phillip Lim's draped trousers (#6). 

My latest slouchy pant obsession is the Witchery navy/white check pants - so chic and classic. I can pair them with a plain tee for a casual day out or a ruffle blouse for a smart casual look for the office (which I have done here). For reference, I am 160 cm tall and had to take the hem up by 6 cm. They are also on sale now and there are still a few floating around in store!

To complete the casual Friday outfit, I have my trusty leather tote from Kikki-k (perfect for carrying my laptop and papers between uni and work) and the Ferragamo Vara pumps (give me a bit of height but still easy to walk and commute in).

Outfit
Top: Saba
Bottom: Witchery
Accessories: Mimco Circles in the Sand Choker (shown here), Kikkik-k tote, Ferragamo Vara Pumps (here)

Thanks for reading and have a good weekend everyone! 

:) 

 Readers - Are slouchy pants a wardrobe staple for you?

Hi everyone! I have been feeling a bit under the weather lately and this polka dot cozy knit has been a great staple for those days when I am rushing to throw together an outfit. This knit caught my eye when it first came out but sold out quickly. Luckily, Country Road restocked it twice (or three times even, and in different colours) and I managed to grab one in my size. I thought the XXS was a good relaxed fit, though a bit long. The material is a mixture of wool, cotton and nylon - unfortunately these fibres tend to pill and I have found some balls of fuzz developing in the area where my backpack rub against the knit.

  Outfit
Top: Country Road Intarsia Spot Knit (available in B&W here), Marcs jacket (reviewed here)
Bottom: Sportsgirl dress worn as skirt, Country Road Roma-mid heels (here, reviewed here)

I am so happy that the weather is warming up now! Enjoy the rest of your week!  Thanks so much for reading!

:) 

Hi everyone! I think this outfit really exemplifies my everyday style - pairing neutral and comfortable pieces with few colour accents. It also features one of my wardrobe favourites - this caramel paperbag pants from Forever New. In fact I loved it so much that I got the same style in black as well! I got them 2-3 years ago and they are still going (surprisingly) strong! I have had a bit of a love affair with the paperbag style and the relaxed and comfy vibe it exudes. They are the reason I have pretty much given up on jeans - I practically live in these pants during autumn/winter!

To prepare me for another semester of four law subjects (still in denial), I did some shopping therapy and found some bargains at the end of season sales: 

1. Mimco Circles in the Sand Choker $49 (reduced from $179) - There are plenty of similar styles out there but I think the crispy white accents on this Mimco one makes it more interesting and special.

2. Trenery Crew Neck Knit $60 (reduced from $99)  - I have been looking for a basic white knit at a reasonable price for a long time now so I am very happy I found this! Its merino silk (80% wool, 20% silk) material means it is machine washable and dries easily. A definite wardrobe staple for me.

3.  Kookai Moroccan Clutch $10 (reduced from $120) - Until I can travel to Morocco, this clutch will do. I love a good-sized structured clutch and at $10, this is perfect for adding some colour accents.

4. Burberry Lip Velvet in Military Red $50 - This was a total splurge - indulge me for once, would you? Maybe wearing lipstick while doing law readings is the secret to getting HDs...

Outfit
Top: Trenery
Bottom: Forever New
Accessories: Mimco choker, Kookai clutch, Wittner shoes

Have a fantastic weekend everyone! 

For more updates, follow me on instagram or bloglovin'!

Sharing a winter outfit today that features two recent additions to my wardrobe. They are great petite-friendly items and I have been wearing them to death lately!

This winter, I have departed from wearing my long coats in favour of this cropped jacket from Marcs and I am pretty happy I made the switch. Here's a quick review -
Fit and style: Marcs is one of those brands I can rely on for generally consistent sizing and a good offering of smaller sizes. The size 4 was a very good fit for me, particularly around the shoulders and torso. It skims my body and allows me to wear 1-2 layers underneath. Ideally, the sleeves and the length of the jacket could be shorter by a few centimetres but it is by far the best fitting jacket I have got off the rack in Australia. The fact that it is a cropped style helped; it doesn’t swallow me and made me realised how bulky my long coats were.
Material and Quality: 80% wool and 20% polyamide; made in China (fabric made in Italy). This has definitely got you covered for a Sydney winter. I have been wearing this with a jumper underneath and a scarf to brave the winter chills in Sydney. I also like that it is quite lightweight - for some coats, they are very heavy to lift off the hangers and can just weigh you down. I have been wearing this a lot (3-4 times a week for the past 2 months), hence I think the colour has faded a bit and doesn't have the fresh/new look about it, hopefully dry cleaning will help give this coat some longevity.
Value: I bought this for $249 with Marcs’ $100 off coats offer which is ongoing. All in all, I think it is a good price point and this jacket is definitely a keeper for me!

I am always on the lookout for comfortable shoes that can accommodate my problematic feet (rant #1 here) and recently bought this pair of pumps from Country Road.
Fit: For those readers with small feet, this style comes in size 5 and 5.5. The size 5 was perfect in terms of length and I found the leather was soft enough to mould to the width of my feet. It is such a rarity for me to find shoes in small sizes and can accommodate my wide feet.
Style: Since it’s mid-heels, it strikes a good balance between comfort and giving me extra height. I think it's a great option for work! The colour I got is called “Oaks” (also comes in Black); it is not quite nude nor tan and seem quite close to my skin colour so I wasn’t quite sure about the colour. I didn’t want to get another pair of black heels so decided to give Oaks a go and it is growing on me, let me know what you think in the comments!
Material and Quality: 100% leather; made in Italy. The sole has a softness yet firmness to it, the heel is sturdy and the leather doesn't cut into my feet (even at the widest part), instead it moulds to the shape of my feet so my feet feels great and looks relatively slim in this. Oh and the breaking in period was pretty much non-existent! Winning!
Value : This retails for $149 and I got it with 25% off so $112 (Country Road has 25% off or Spend and Save once in a while). I felt this was a reasonable price and totally worth it for me because it is so hard for me to find shoes that fit!

Outfit
Top: Marcs Insert Lace Collar 3/4 Sleeve Tee (also shown here and here), Marcs Melton Epaulette Jacket
Bottom: French Connection Skirt
Shoes: Country Road Roma Mid Heels (here)

Thanks for reading everyone! Enjoy Friday and.. the weekend! 

:) 

  What have been your new or recycled winter staples this season?

This is a quick post showing you a simple maxi I wore on my Queensland holiday. I chose to bring this dress with me because it was easy to throw on and only cost me $15 so I wasn't afraid to let sand and salt water get on it! For those of you experiencing a chilly winter and snuggling under layers of clothing, let these pictures remind you that spring/summer is just (or almost) around the corner!

Outfit
Dress: Dotti
Accessories: Charles & Keith shoes (also shown here), Diva ring

Enjoy the rest of your week everyone! 

:) 

breathtaking: my first look at lady elliot island

finding my shadow

touched down on this slice of heaven...

 ...to be greeted by this

my snooze spot

making new friends in the lagoon

coral and sea cucumber

snorkelling!

sunset from my hammock

rainforests on fraser island

dingo alert

freshwater lake on fraser island

a dip in the champagne pools...I think I can get drunk on this

Hello readers! I spent the last week on two islands in south Queensland for some much needed R&R.

Lady Elliot Island is the southernmost coral cay in the Great Barrier Reef and is known for its water clarity and rich marine life, making it a fantastic place to snorkel and dive. The water was so clear that I could spot manta rays, turtles and whales from the plane! Everyone was so welcoming and staff went out of their way to make sure our stay was enjoyable. The "welcoming party" waved at us on the airstrip when we landed and a personal guide showed us around the island - the warm hospitality really put a smile on my face :)

The time I spent on Lady Elliot Island was idyllic. The reef began right on the waters' edge so it was so easy to go on a snorkel, reef walk or feed the fish. The snorkelling was amazing - I have never seen so many brightly coloured fish. I have an aquarium tank at home so I was excited to finally visit the Great Barrier Reef and see my Nemo and Dory in their natural environment! The best part? I had no reception, no internet and no TV, so no distractions from pure bliss.

I also visited Fraser Island, the world's largest sand island and known for its freshwater lakes and rainforests. The water in the freshwater lakes are some of the cleanest in the world and are natural conditioners - they made my hair so soft! There were lots of creeks, lakes and pools to swim in so I had a great workout!

Alot of the tourists I met on the trip were from overseas and served as a reminder for me to explore more of what's in my own backyard. The islands were only 2 hour by plane from Sydney...so take me back anytime!

Hope you all had a relaxing weekend! 

:) 

Hello everyone! So a few weeks ago (before my semi-annual exam hibernation), I graduated from my first degree! I had a fantastic day celebrating with friends and taking photos around "Hogwarts". 

I  didn't plan on buying a dress for graduation but then I stumbled onto this Marcs dress on sale ($169, reduced from $279) and  in my size (*happy dance*). I love the combination of the classic style and bold stripes - making it a versatile piece for work and play. Let me know which pairing (below) you like best in the comment section!

PS Marcs is having their end of season now - go check it out! 

Outfit
Dress: Marcs
Jacket (L-R): Saba suit  (shown here), Uniqueen tweed (here, shown here), Burberry trench (shown here)
Shoes: Wittner

Have a fantastic weekend! I will leave you to ponder over this quote -  

Hello everyone! I can't believe it is the middle of autumn already in Sydney!  A recent trip to the Blue Mountains area reminded me how truly beautiful autumn is. My favourite part was walking (read: stomping) on all the crunchy leaves -  it was weirdly satisfying.

I also got to wear my Burberry trench (first investment item ever) which I bought one fateful day at Heathrow airport. I have lusted after a Burberry trench for a long time but I didn't get it in Sydney because - (i) The smallest size they stocked in the George St store was UK sz 4 which was too big for me and (ii) The AUD price had a significant mark-up. I never managed to track down a UK sz 2 (equivalent to US sz 0) when I was in London last year. By chance I had some time to kill while at Heathrow and popped by the Burberry store there and voila -  they had it in my size! It fitted me really well and as a bonus, the price excluded VAT. So after "thinking" over it for 2 seconds, I knew I "had" to buy it and I have never looked back since. It has brought so much warmth and joy to those chilly and gloomy days. For those interested, this is the Burberry London Kensington Trench in Honey (size UK 2/US 0).

Outfit
Dress  : Sheike
Jacket : Burberry Kensington Trench (here)
Accessories: French connection scarf (also shown here), Gorman Rope Heels (also shown here)

Thank you for reading my story on how my Burberry coat and I met! For those of you in Sydney - hope you are all enjoying some autumn colours!

:) 

Readers: What was (or is going to be) your first "investment" fashion item?

Outfit
Top: Marcs (also shown here) 
Bottom: Gorman
Accessories: Mimco heels, Longchamp le pliage backpack, French Connection scarf

Hello everyone! The past few weeks have really flown by with lots of assessments, procrastination, fine dining experiences and not-so-creative outfits. I have been wearing these Gorman pants to death ever since I got them for $19. Polka dots. On pants. Enough said.

Following this post, I have decided to stick with my longchamp le pliage bag for another year. It is such a good compact size for me and is super lightweight and durable. I always get comments on how small my bag is, but it actually fit alot in - well everything I need for a day at uni anyway (including my new 11" MBA)! See below - 

Enjoy the rest of the week everyone! For more updates, don't forget to follow me on instagram (@_naomip).

:)