a fresh start

I am still too sick from strep throat and scarlet fever to really do anything to commemorate New Year's Eve this year so I thought I would put together a lovely collage for you all of my favourite looks from this year. I have some massive changes and surprises (all good!) planned next year for my blog and I truly hope these adjustments will all go smoothly! Be ready for another great year with my little fashion diary Views Of Now full of giveaways, outfit posts, musings, photo diaries and more! Here comes another thank you- I love you guys! I am going to have a movie marathon with my Grandma and recover from the annoyingly eventful week I have had. Enjoy however you like to celebrate!

winter solstice

These photos were taken during the winter solstice- the shortest (and coldest!) day of the year. The early afternoon sunset was so gorgeous! It just so happened this day was the one day I decided to be bold and go bare-legged, I thought I was going to get hypothermia- the things I do for fashion!
This is just a little apology for my lack of posts and neglect for replying to comments as of late. I came down with what we all thought was a nasty flu but turned out to be an even nastier case of strep throat and scarlet fever! I was taken to the emergency room last night and am on the mend- eating lots of ice cream, curling up in front of Disney Channel and online shopping. Hopefully I will muster up enough energy today to go outside and take photos! Well, a girl can dream...
{Outfit: Mossimo white jacket, Xhilaration skirt, Miss Shop boots}

a very merry christmas

While I enjoyed the Christmas cookies, presents and chilly weather over the past few days I am afraid the excitement has left me bed-bound with the flu! Doesn't exactly fall under the descriptions of "merry" or "jolly" but I did enjoy the holiday festivities. I love giving gifts, it's one of the best feelings in the world!
These photos were taken during particularly dreary weather in which I ate a lot of pie and wrapped gifts. I hope you all had wonderful Christmases. Don't you just love the holidays? 
Wearing: Thrifted cashmere sweater, Moda silk shirt, Cherokee mini skirt and Miss shop boots.

a little holiday diy

This has taken forever to get up and I know it's only one sleep until Christmas but... how adorable are these bows (they also come in handy all the time)? The DIY process is very simple and the finished product can be used as a hair accessory, Christmas ornament, part of a gift, or you can string them up in your house for a lovely decoration!

You will need: 

- Some florist's wire (white is better than what I used!)

- Several spools of ribbon with shaping wire in them. 

1. Fold a piece of ribbon in a bow shape and secure with wire. 

2. Do the same to a contrasting piece of ribbon and wrap on top of the other piece.

3. Repeat again for two more pieces of ribbon in different textures and wrap the piece of wire around until you reach the end. Fluff up the ribbon to hide the florist's wire. 

4. You can now put a hook on the back to make an ornament, tie one to a wreath, or secure to a headband!

Now go forth and be merry! I will be absent for a while due to the holidays but I have some festive outfit posts scheduled for the next few days. I hope you all have (or are having) a truly magical Christmas!

indigo

This is officially the first time I have ever featured jeans on my blog! I have suddenly bought two pairs (for $13 dollars each, score!) as they are apparently a staple over here in Texas, and learnt how to wear them without looking like a cowboy. The trick is to pair them with refined neutrals and classic pieces, like this cashmere sweater and messenger bag I picked up at an op-shop for a total of fifteen dollars. I am so in love with messenger bags and this Rosetti one is the perfect size for everyday. 

I would just like to say a monumental thank you for all the support you lovely people have given me over the past few exciting days! I appreciate every single comment and email and I plan to spend a great deal of time replying to all of them this afternoon with a cup of herbal tea. ♥

Wearing: Hillard & Hanson petite cashmere sweater, Indigo Rein jeans, Mossimo booties, Rosseti bag.

snapshot

I woke up to the most lovely surprise- I've been snapshotted by Teen Vogue! I am so excited to be their reader of the day and be featured on the website! Today I celebrated by first screaming a little and then hitting the shops for some retail therapy. Mainly gifts for others, though I did get a little carried away with the Philosophy shower gels! What have you all been up to?

shoes and socks

Derek Heart sweater, Cherokee skirt, Target tights, vintage hat, Mossimo shoes.

I am officially a woman! No, really! I picked out and bought my very first pair of heels (I know you have all seen my black wedges before but they were a gift and don't count)! It took a little bit of persuading but after I buttered Mother up with a few peppermint Oreos I was set to go. I now laze around the house in these shoes, go grocery shopping in them, sleep in them... that kind of thing.
This outfit was mostly a result of me wanting to wear my shoes and turned out to be a nice mash-up of bargain buys and vintage pieces borrowed off my lovely Grandmother. Big sweaters have been my go-to items since I caught a nasty cold and have spent a great deal of time in bed. My laziness never ceases to amaze me on these chilly winter mornings. I have learnt how to sleep in and avoid doing any kind of work by kind of sliding under the covers and snoring whenever someone walks past, surviving on smuggled cough drops, my laptop and harem pants. How have your lazy holidays been?

fall colours

Miss Shop knit, Minkpink shorts, Sportsgirl tights, Miss Shop boots.

Autumn/Winter colours are officially everywhere and I am adoring it. These Minkpink shorts remind me so much of the leaves that are currently falling! They have been such a staple and the only item that successfully keeps me warm without having to wrap my legs in cashmere cardigans, risking looking a bit odd...

My hair has been frustrating me no end lately, so I kind of teased it and threw it up into a bun/topknot/lump on my head sort of thing. This conveniently took about three seconds. Christmas shopping has been taking up the majority of my time. I adore the gift-giving season, especially since here in America they have the massive Target $1 section.... vanilla-scented hand sanitizer anyone?

little blue beret

Alpaca wool beret, Geneva cashmere sweater, Moda silk shirt (worn underneath), Cotton On skirt, Mossimo leggings, Miss Shop boots

I am finally adjusting to the crisp winter air! The key is layering. I have learnt how to layer everything from a summery skirt to a breezy batwing top, simply by adding a coat, tights and boots. The amount of fun I am having picking out serious winter outfits (the winter in Australia is pathetic) continues to astound me time and time again! Aside from this my days have consisted of Gingerbread and Pumpkin Spice lattes from Starbucks and reality television. I adore America.

travels

So I know what you're all thinking... 2-4 days my bottom! I understand and apologise, but I had forgotten how utterly exhausting travelling can be (It's been a good 2 and 1/2 years). I have arrived safely in the beautiful state of Texas, the leaves are changing and am planning on braving the winter air to get some amazing shots of it all happening- and what I'm wearing!

1. Warm fabrics are the key if you have little material on your body.
2. I adore the kitschy treasures that can be found all over my Gram's house, this probably being my favourite!
3. Fake leaves because it's too cold to walk outside.
4. A wonderful Chinese-speaking fellow.
5. Beauty loves right now-Lush Bubblegum lip scrub that you can lick off- it's delicious- and I finally bought liquid eye liner! Expect a cat's-eye trial post coming soon.

november blogger

Say hello to Chloe Ting! She is the well-dressed brain behind the Tumblr blog Chloe's Addiction. I have officially fallen in love with her quirky style and adorable ensembles. She can pull off anything from a pair of bunny ears to a fur stole...

What's the story behind the blog "Chloe's Addiction?"

I started posting in Chictopia back in May this year, and 2 months later I was awarded a Style Icon status. However in order to claim that status on the site, it required a blog! A lot of viewers from Chictopia had also suggested I make a blog and I never really thought people would want to check out my blog but I made it anyways. Fast forward today, I try to post as often as I can on snapshots of my daily outfits, and also random post regarding pieces of my life. :)

What are your wardrobe staples? 
These days I rarely not pull together an outfit without accessories. Hair accessories, belts, rings, bangles, etc. I think they help give more character to an outfit and my personal favourite items would be my YSL ring.

Where are your favourite places to shop? 
Locally, I like shopping in vintage stores (Greville St in South Yarra), General Pants etc. I do most of my shopping online though in places like ASOS, Nastygal, Solestruck and Inlovewithfashion.

Do you have any tips for great fashion photography? 
Get a good SLR camera, learn the basics, and get out there in the sun to take some shots! Midday is usually a bad time to take photos cause of the shadows, best time would be in the evening when the sun is out and it isn't too windy.

What are your beauty essentials? 
Sunscreen and eye cream. I use them every day before putting on any make up.

Do you have any advice for aspiring fashion bloggers? Don't be afraid to express yourself and don't limit your creativity. This sounds cliché but its very true when you shouldn't care about what people think and doing so will help you gain a lot of confidence!

P.S. Hope you enjoyed the interview! I am afraid I will be MIA for the next 2-4 days due to my 20-hour flight leaving the morning. Wish me luck...