DIY ZIP JEANS

These amazing zip jeans by Avelon being worn by Sabrina of Afterdrk  inspire me to DIY. Time to commence the zip hunt!

TRANS-SEASONAL UNIFORM

How good are these bright red J Brand jeans? They fit pretty well - on the bum and into my trans-seasonal wardrobe. They're a light cotton twill so are perfect for the 'sorta autumn' we'll be having here in the next couple of months. Paired with one of my thrifted nautical tees and basic black flats:  Hello trans-seasonal uniform! And I'll wack on a khaki parker for any chilly days. Done and done.

What are your key trans-seasonal pieces?

WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

I have to admit I'm addicted to the iphone app instagram This picture-based equivalent of twitter - where you take and post pics - has me busy snapping everything around me. It's such a good way to capture the constant flow of DIY inspiration I see in everyday life. And Hong Kong streets are always so interesting to photograph!

Are you addicted to it too? Be sure to look me up, my user name is APAIRANDASPARE. These are a few pics I have taken recently.

SYDNEY IN PICTURES

Holiday snaps of my trip to Sydney in April (better late than never). Every time I hang out there I think to myself - why don't I live here? It really is one of the most beautiful and fun cities in the world. I'm looking forward to spending a few days there in a couple of weeks time.

Left to right top to bottom -

Corn fritters with bacon at Lemon in Surrey Hills, the Ivy Pool Bar

Espresso Martinis at Pizza e Birra in Surrey Hills, Sydney Harbour Bridge

On Manley Beach (promise I'm wearing a bikini top!), Breakfast at Bitton Cafe in Alexandria, walking off a big lunch on the streets of Surrey Hills

Crown Street in Surrey Hills, Coogee Beach, Flowers at a friends wedding

Sydney Opera House, terrace houses in Surrey Hills

Me with some ladies of the night at The Ivy, Manly Beach

I know this is supposed to be a fashion blog, but I can't help but throw in a few travel snaps and other ramblings. I hope you don't mind!

LOVING - COLLAR NECKLACES

Collars have been having a moment. For a looong while now.  Remember my collar DIYs here and here? Seems like an eternity ago. I absolutely loved this colourful post over at Frockshop's blog, and it's clear that now its all about the statement collar necklace. I recently bought this black beaded one from a local Hong Kong designer - and I've hardly taken it off!

 

Wearing: Beaded collar necklace, A Pair & A Spare silk tank, A Pair & A Spare knitted high-waisted shorts, Anniel ballet flats.

Psst... You might be seeing a little DIY collar necklace here in the coming weeks!

Images: Top collage images sourced from here.

DIY AUTUMN

Ok so I recognise that in some places in the world, the weather is starting to cool down a bit. I won't say 'the grass is always greener' or anything because its lame but I sort of miss the bittersweet Autumn days in temperate cities - when the leaves start to turn golden and you know that summer is on its way out. I know for some places its been a pretty horrible summer - the most sun my London friends have seen has been on their annual trip to Ibiza ('eye-beefa'), and for that I should be grateful for the long hot sunny days in Hong Kong (and clear skin as a result of sauna style temperatures and the resulting sweatiness! Oh and did I mention crazy frizzy hair?). In an effort to emulate this whole 'four seasons' thing I have picked some of my favourite Autumnal flavoured DIYs. These will come in handy for me in say, um, December - but then again the aircon is pretty cold in my office - maybe I can prance around indoors in a cape?

1.See by Chloe Tartan Cape

2. Isabel Marant Feather Necklace

3.Cobra Society Boots

4. Junya Wanatambe Plaid Shirt Dress

btdubs - how good are the Cobra Society boots????

Shanghai In Pictures

Found a few pictures I haven't posted of my recent whirlwind trip to Shanghai. Delicious dim sum in Xintiandi, discovering the leafy French Concession and all its little alleyways, stumbling upon a 5 storey sunday flea and antiques market, devouring three courses of Peking duck and walking the bund were just a few of the things we go up to when we were there. It absolutely pissed down with rain for much of the trip but we managed to make the most of it. Make sure to put Shanghai on your list if you are ever in the neighborhood.

DIY Crop It - Inspired by Blushing Ambition

The gorgeous Annabel of Blushing Ambition seriously knows how to dress. She always looks simple and chic, and her style has a timelessness that I absolutely love. I had to show you this cute crop top she wore recently, because as soon as I saw it I thought 'ding ding ding! DIY!' (no joke). Do you want to make a similar style? Take a thick strap, loose singlet and cut it off a few inches below the bottom of your bra line. Annabel shows us that sleeveless and loose is a great way to wear the crop top trend - and pairing it with a pleated high waisted skirt means you can show off a little bit of skin but not too much. Perfect.

Images from here

DIY In Colour

This is such an amazing shoot by the gorgeous Zanita and friends. Every single picture has me drooling, and the mix of grey and pops of colour is perfection. What especially caught my eye was the gorgeous perspex and rope jewellery and belts. So. Cool. The jewellery is by Alexandra Blak - I have to thank Zanita for introducing me to this amazing designer! You know what I love most about this post? The eye for DIY detail is impressive - often stylists make the best DIYers!

Loving this top made out of two pieces of fabric.

Amazing neon chain (spray paint your own) and a DIY one shoulder top from made out of jersey fabric.

Knotted rope necklace. Amazing!

Neon tipped sunglasses - pick up a similar style from ebay and add your own neon tips using paint.

Neon rope + carabiner = coolest belt ever!

Images: Zanita Zanita

Can you count the number of times I used the word 'amazing' in this post? Clearly need to find a few more descriptive words....

DIY Dress Inspiration

Am busy planning a dress for another wedding in Aus in September - when you spend most of your money flying about going to weddings you often have to make your own dress, haha. I am completely taken with this style of dress - mini at the front and maxi at the back. Definite inspiration for the upcoming project....

Btw how gorgeous did Sara (Harper & Harley) and Nicole (Gary Pepper Vintage) look at the Cosmopolitan Awards?  The amazing sequin blush dress is by Aussie designers AJE.

Images:  Harper & Harley / Anna Della Russo via Style.com

A DIY week in pictures

Heading out to the islands on a junk
DIY bronze cuffs

Swarovski Hello Kitty Launch

DIY cactus terranium

Vintage floor tiles

Coloured Lanterns in a boutique in Hong Kong

Wide leg trousers via Elle

Vintage straw visa and fan

Late night beach party

Cropped Missoni via Elle

DIY Lace Trimmed Denim Shorts

Cut a pair of denim shorts into teeny weeny - then add cotton lace trim around the hem.

Image: Knight Cat

DIY Gold Ankle Cuffs

These ankle cuffs are so incredibly cool - I'm on a mission to make a pair of my own. I would make sure they were detachable from the shoe so that I could wear them with all different heels. I'm sure there would be something in my local plumbing store that would work... Stay tuned!

Images: Nobody Knows Marc

DIY LBD #4 - Florence and the Machine at Glastonbury

Topshop designed the costumes for Florence of Florence and the Machine's performance at Glastonbury on the John Peel Stage in 2009. I was lucky enough to be in the audience and loved  the ethereal and haunting costumes (almost as much as the music). Who wouldn't fall for fringing, caped sleeves and feathers? These illustrations of the designs have inspired the 4th in my DIY little black dress series, which I am in the middle of creating. Can't wait to show you!

Image via Inside Out - Topshop Blog

Woops, it was 2009 not 2010 as I first thought. Clearly once you've been to a few it becomes a bit of a blur!

DIY Inspiration - Balmain Resort

The Balmain 2012 Resort collection was filled with DIY inspiration - draped chains, embellished jackets, thigh high split skirts, and boots with gold embellished points. I have a million ideas about little DIYs to do based on these gorgeous pieces.

Thailand in Pictures

A week spent in Thailand was heaven - it really is the perfect place to relax. I wasn't interested in the Patong party scene (pretty feral) so we stayed in Surin Beach which is a few beaches north, and utterly gorgeous. Early morning swims, lazing by the pool, getting massages (not the happy ending type), trawling night markets, eating absolutely delicious food and reading novels somehow took up a whole week! It's amazing how tired you get doing nothing. I'm not used to these types holidays - in the past when traveling I have usually found myself in Europe dashing from city to city trying to fit everything in. It makes you appreciate a relaxing holiday. It was monsoon season there and I was worried it would rain every day, but it was almost perfect weather - and low season which meant it was completely deserted. So good!

It's yet another beach holiday spent in a place that was badly affected by the Tsunami a few years ago (we stayed in Hikkadua in Sri Lanka over Christmas and heard some horrific stores) and the blue Tsunami evacuation route signs are a pretty clear reminder of how much the area has suffered, but has also bounced back.