Online Shopping Aussie Style

Since arriving in Australia almost 18 months ago, I've really embraced online shopping. Perhaps it's my loyalty to the Dundrum Town Centre that keeps me out of the Westfield Malls, but I think it has more to do with not wanting to miss the glorious sunshine at the weekends, and the fact that there's only one evening of late night shopping a week in Sydney. I've been a fan of SaboSkirt since before I made the move to the other side of the world; but I've discovered a few more gems over the past year. Here are my picks for fantastic online shopping in Oz - with casual & night out outfits covered.

www.saboskirt.com

Bright colours, gorgeous prints, cute dresses & shorts, as well as nice tailored blazers, SaboSkirt is the perfect place to update your Summer wardrobe. They deliver internationally too.

www.shilla.com.au

Cool seperates in great fabrics, minimalistic shift dresses & a brilliant sale every few months, the majority of dresses in my wardrobe are from Shilla. I'll more than likely be wearing one out in Dublin town this weekend! They also ship internationally.

www.mintymeetsmunt.com

Minty Meets Munt is a like a combination of the above two online stores. I love their prints & simple shapes; with jackets & playsuits being their forté. My favourite shoes are also from MMM - their footwear selection is funky yet glam. They only ship within Australia at present.

www.zeitgeistsydney.com

Lovely seperates that can be combined as suits, and statement items such as jackets & smart trousers, Zeitgeist provides stand out wardrobe staples with a twist. Love their selection of skirts too. They deliver worldwide.

Of course, there will always be a huge place in my heart (and bank account) for ASOS, but I'm a big fan of unique, boutique buys, as I'm sure you will be too.

Enjoy the online shops, ladies!

Rachel x

The Cup of Truth

I bought a few things in the coolest stationary/gift shop called Typo yesterday, and as I'd spent over $25, I got a free cup! So of course... I had to pick this one :)

Check out Typo's website to see the cute and funky items that they have: http://shop.cottonon.com/shop/typo/

Rachel x

YSL Got It In One...

Rachel xxx

Summer Conferences, an excuse for a Whole New Wardrobe?!

I recently attended a conference in the South of Italy, which is such a beautiful place & obviously has a warmer climate than dreary old Dublin! And I'm going to Japan soon, which is going to be significantly warmer than Ireland too. So this posed a bit of a wardrobe problem for me...all of my conference type clothes are wintery & dark, as I can get away with them all year round in Ireland. But for a warm climate, these heavy, lined trousers & long sleeve black/grey caridgans I have just won't cut it. So I decided to invest in some key pieces that will translate from conference to night out, and also to recycle some of the clothes I already have in my wardrobe, that I once would never have considered to be suitable to wear to work or work based events!

Zara have the most amazing work wear tops & skirts that can also be worn out at the weekend. Similarly, Topshop, ASOS and FCUK all have minimal pieces that aren't too revealing or eye catching, and so can double up as dressy/casual Sunday best, or office/meeting attire. Just change smart, skinny leg trousers for skinny jeans, or a blouse/shirt for a sheer loose vest, and you have a recycled work outfit that is suitable for many occasions! Rachel Bilson looks gorgeous in a white shirt & navy trousers that can be worn both at meetings, and also while shopping (right).

Now if only my feet didn't hurt so much, I'd so wear my 5 inch Aldo heels in the lab... ;)

Rachel xxx

Full Length & Fabulous!

So many beautiful full length dresses were adorning the stars this week, my favourites are Gisele's Oscar de la Renta, Rosie's Stella McCartney & Kate's Jenny Packham, all stunning! If only we all had red carpet events to go to, sigh...



Let me know which one is your favourite!

Rachel xxx

Who Wears The Trousers?

Recently, I've had such a thing for trousers. I can't get enough of them, especially on nights out! They're stylish, versatile, comfortable, keep you warm, and are quite sexy yet also understated. Trousers can double up as work wear too, which eliminates some of the guilt from purchasing! There are plenty of versions on the high street in all colours & cuts; my favourite are silky/satin pairs with skinny or straight legs in neutral colours (greys, browns, nudes, black). Teamed with a tucked in loose sheer top & a classic blazer, this look will never get old! Abstract prints are huge at the minute, with palazzo pants also being a top trend, I prefer a sleeker finish but floral patterns & wide legs are perfect for the summer. I've attached a few of my favourites from the high street below (left to right: River Island, Topshop, ASOS). Happy shopping!

Rachel xxx

Oscars 2011

So the stars were out in force last night at the 83rd Academy awards. My favourite part of the ceremony by far is the red carpet, who's wearing what, who looks great, and who looks not so great. This year, the top 3 dressed ladies in my opinion were:

3. Cate Blanchett in Givenchy

2. Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Haute Couture

1. Michelle Williams in Chanel Haute Couture

Who were your favourites & disappointments?

Rachel xxx

Stella McCartney Blazer

Blazers are perfect cover ups for any time of year, smart, sexy & sophisticated, they can dress up an outfit or play down a party dress. The most amazing designer blazers have to be Stella McCartney's, they're impeccably tailored & cut, plus the colours are fabulous; nudes, whites, blacks & greys. Every stylish celeb has one, see the photos below.

As Stella McCartney is out of my price range, I've had my eye on a nice blazer that looks similar on the high street. And this weekend I was in luck, I snapped up this fabulous jacket from H&M.

http://shop.hm.com/gb/shoppingwindow?dept=DAM_YTT_KAV&shoptype=S

Designer style on a high street budget, now that's my kind of shopping!

Rachel xxx

My Latest Obsession...House of Harlow 1960

Accessories are a girls best friend (and one of my favourite things to shop for), and in particular, I have a new found fondness for jewellery. I plan on recycling a lot of last years Xmas dresses as I'm on a budget at the minutes, plus I've only worn a few of the outfits once! Lanvin, YSL, & Chanel all have beautiful accessories that would be amazing with any Xmas party season outfit, but since I haven't won the lotto recently, I've had my eye on some House of Harlow 1960 pieces (designed by Nicole Richie). They're a little expensive but so worth it, really gorgeous bracelets, earrings & chains.

Available online at http://www.shopthetrendboutique.com/ and http://www.asos.com/ (ASOS have a selection of pieces on sale), also in the Design Centre in the Powerscourt Centre, Dublin 2.

Rachel xxx

Winter Warmers

So the clocks have gone back which means it's darker in the evenings & also a lot colder! I quite like winter though, and it's easier to be working in the lab when it's miserable outside, sunny weather when stuck indoors is just too depressing. I've put together a list of a few of my favourite winter accessories that are vital for keeping warm yet looking cool. All are from the high street and should suit every budget. In particular I love the red fluffy snood from Topshop, it looks so warm & comfy, plus red is a fabulous colour for Winter. Good accessories are the best value-for money buys as they can be worn so often, plus they can brighten up an outfit. We should all be saving for Xmas, but it's ok to spend on warm woolies that we really need, and it's also fine to get several colours and styles, coz we'll get lots of wear out of them, right?! Ah the compulsive shopper always finds a way to rationalise every single spend ;)

Rachel xxx

Power Dressing/Dresses

Being a scientist means working in a lab for most of the day and therefore wearing a labcoat. So not only is it a bit pointless wearing nice outfits, it's also important to make sure what you're wearing is comfortable, as you need to be free to stretch from the incubator to the fridge etc.

However, there are times when us science girls can embrace our stylish sides, such as presentations, meetings and conferences (and those reading & writing only days). Recently, I found some lovely dresses in Dunnes (www.dunnesstores.ie) that were really reasonably priced (between €18-€25) and perfect for work. They're to the knee or below the knee shift dresses available in a range of colours and all with fabulous shoulder details-see the pics below. The shape of each is super flattering and the high neckline makes them sophisticated yet still slightly sexy. I can't wait to wear them at a conference this weekend, and I'm hoping they can double up for a few nights out coming up to Christmas!

Other high street shops that stock nice work wear lines include New Look, Penney's, Zara & Oasis. Opaque tights, suede wedges or embellished pumps, and light cardigans/long sheer waistcoats finish the look nicely.

Rachel xxx

Festival Essentials

I've never been to a festival before, so I'm trés excited about going to Electric Picnic next weekend, the weather forecast says there's little or no chance of rain, the line-up just keeps getting better and better, and I've already practised putting up my tent; it wasn't as difficult as I imagined (granted I had some help from the family but it still went up in one piece)!!

Now comes the tricky part though...what to wear & what to bring with me. As the Irish weather is so notoriously unpredictable, I guess it's better to be safe than sorry. At the same time, I don't want to over pack and have too many options...that just makes it's more difficult to decide what to wear! So I've made a list of what I imagine to be festival staples, but I'd appreciate input to let me know if there's anything I'm forgetting or anything that more practical than what I have!

1. Straw trilby hat - great to cover up unwashed hair, may be robbed by overzealous boys and could blow away in a gust, but I think the benefits outweigh the costs here.

2. Denim shorts - perfect festival attire, although the forecast said it's going to be a chilly 10 degrees, so maybe tights to wear under them would be handy, or just jeans which would be warmer altogether?! Hmm...

3. Wellies - even if it's not raining I think I'll just wear them for the whole weekend!

4. Rain jacket.

5. Oversized sunglasses - protect eyes from the sun & hide tired/red/hungover eyeballs ;)

6. My favourite scarf, as scarves are the most versatile accessory on the planet.

7. An big hoody for warmth.

8. A bumbag/small across body bag to keep essentials in.

The picture below shows what's in my 'Definitely Bringing Pile'.

I'm getting excited now just thinking about packing! The scientist in me really wants to make an itinerary so I know exactly which band I want to see, where they're playing and when, but I won't (way too geeky ha)...I guess you can take the girl out of the lab but never the other way around!

Rachel xxx

Nail Paints by BarryM, Fashion at your Fingertips...

For me, fashion doesn't just mean clothes and shoes. It encompasses everything you're presenting to the world, to help describe yourself & how you're feeling. It can therefore include accessories (such as bags, shoes & jewellery), a hairstyle, or even a particular shade of nail varnish.

Speaking of which, I have a soft spot for BarryM Nail Paint, it's cheap, the colours are fabulous, and it dries really fast! I've attached a picture of all the BarryM varnishes I have at the minute, the newest & my favourite is Mushroom (far left) - THE nail colour of the year. Plums, reds and greys will all be big in the coming Autumn/Winter 2010 season, but pastels or brights can lift an outfit on an otherwise dreary Dublin day in Winter.

What are your favourites? Is there any other brand out there that can challenge BarryM for the 'Best Varnish' title? He'll be hard to beat!

Rachel xxx

Top 5 Shoes-Designer & High Street

I had a bad PhD day today (we've all been there); my experiment worked, however I don't have enough of my sample...so instead of letting my head explode with stress & calculations all evening - I've decided to have some relaxing down time & to browse through pretty shoes to make myself feel better!

My favourite's at the minute are super high platforms or wedges in nudes, tans and blacks, perfect for wearing with skirts, dresses, jeans or shorts - shoes need to be multifunctional or else it's not worth splashing out in my opinion.

I've put together a list of my top 5 shoes at the minute: High Street & Designer. Let me know if you like them, if you agree or disagree with the order they're in, or if you have any favourites that I may have overlooked. If I can afford to buy one of the High Street pairs in the next 3 months I'll be delighted! And the designer pairs will be mine one day...even if I have to sell my car to get them ha ;)

PS. Topshop's new shoe collection is absolutely amazing...

High Street

1. TopShop: Willow Stripy Wedges in Off White (Image above)

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&langId=-1&storeId=12556&catalogId=33057&parent_category_rn=208542&categoryId=209958&productId=1848397

2. Next: Mink Platform Court Shoes

http://www.next.co.uk/shopping/women/shoesandboots/39/1?extra=sch&n=women&pid=706-928&exclude=00E00|00ED00&returnurl=/shop/attheel-heel-gattgender-women-cat-shoes-cat-boots-0%3fx%3d1%26nxti%3d0%26nxtv%3d0&bct=%26quot;Shop%20By%20Product%26quot;%26nbsp;%26gt;%26nbsp;Heel%26nbsp;%26gt;%26nbsp;Women%26nbsp;%26gt;%26nbsp;Shoes%26nbsp;%26gt;%26nbsp;Boots

3. River Island: Platform Caged Sandal in Black

http://xml.riverisland.com/flash/content.php Women: Footwear: heels/wedges/clogs Item 17

4. TopShop: Wisteria Chiffon Tie Wedges in Black

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&categoryId=209958&parent_category_rn=208542&productId=1637870&langId=-1

5. TopShop: Pancho Cut-Out Peep Toe Sandals in Tan

http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=true&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&categoryId=209958&parent_category_rn=208542&productId=1827673&langId=-1

Designer

1. Brian Atwood: Farrah

http://www.brianatwood.com/collection/index.html

2. Christian Louboutin: Fortita in Black Silk with Black Lace

http://www.christianlouboutin.com/#/the_collection/Spring%20Summer%202010

3. Jimmy Choo: Aston in Powder

http://www.jimmychoo.com/sandals/aston/invt/104astonnap/

4. YvesSaintLaurent: 105mm Sandal Gold Metallic Leather

http://ysl.com/us/en/index.aspx Collections: Women: Accessories: Shoes

5. Christian Louboutin: Studio in Black Leather and Silver Studs

http://www.christianlouboutin.com/#/the_collection/Spring%20Summer%202010

Rachel xxx

Mulberry's Amazing Handbag Collection

Looking through Look Magazine this week...my favourite page has to be ALL THE DRESSES from the Mulberry party in LA, everyone looks amazing, I wish I could fill my wardrobe with Mulberry pieces! Dresses, skirts, tops; everything made with beautiful luxe fabrics and in flattering understated colours. And as for the new it handbag 'The Neely', well I haven't gotten over my lust for 'The Alexa' or 'The Lily' yet...right now I'd settle for any of the above! A girl can dream...

Rachel xxx

PS I have the links attached for my favourite handbags on the Mulberry site below.

http://www.mulberry.com/#/storefront/c5484/4299/category/ -Alexa Handbag

http://www.mulberry.com/#/storefront/c5484/4782/category/ -Lily Handbag

http://www.mulberry.com/#/storefront/c5484/4776/category/ -Neely Handbag

Urban Outfitters Sale

I'm not a huge fan of sale shopping as it's usually too crowded & manic, but I absolutely love a bargain!
The Urban Outfitters sale is fantastic-so many fabulous things reduced to at least half price, if not further.
I got 2 cardigans today-both draped and lose; one a pale grey & the other a black leopard print. I also got a beautiful blue/purple/grey long chiffon blouse for €24.99 which I can't wait to wear out this weekend-I'm thinking of teaming it with dark denim shorts & huge tan chunky heels (weather permitting of course)!
My best find of the day, however, was a gorgeous navy waist belt with a lovely big gold clasp on the front...for €7! Waist belts are my absolute favourite accessory, they can totally change an outfit and are super flattering.
Let me know if you've gotten any great deals in the sales, and get yourself down to Urban Outfitters pronto, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Rachel xxx

My first post...

Hi!

So I was watching The City this morning and it got me thinking...I love to shop, and I love clothes, so why not write about both! Except...I know what I like to wear...but that's about it.

What I do know a lot about is science (specifically haemostasis with a dash of biochemistry)...but I don't think I fancy writing much about that, when we can all go onto pubmed and various other websites to do our reading and research!

I'd love to create a community where girls in science can chat about clothes and fashion, plus the ups and downs of day-to-day lab life. Perhaps these two things don't really go hand in hand, but for me they do; so I'd love to find other like minded ladies who feel the same way.

Not all scientists are nerds, although it helps to have a nerdy side. Science is amazing...but so is shopping! ;)

Please feel free to comment or write anything at all that you feel is relevant.

Rachel xxx