Stop looking. I found the foundation that lasts all day.

... and now I don't know what I did without it.

Full disclosure: for the past few years, I’ve been settling for tinted moisturiser. Not because I don’t like foundation, but because I haven’t been able to find one that actually stays on my skin, and looks the same at the end of the day as when I first applied it.

Most long wear foundations set like clay, and completely obliterate my natural skin tone and texture so I end up looking like I’m wearing a mask (i.e. not desirable). So I’ve been waiting for the right foundation to come along.

It needs to completely even-out any redness or dark patches, but still have a sheerness about it so my natural skin shows through. I don’t like my foundations to dry completely matte, either. I like a little bit of glow, but definitely nothing shiny. And it needs to go the distance because I don’t believe in reapplying throughout the day. It has to last - from my morning coffee run, through a long day at the office and then on into the evening if I’ve made plans after work.

I’d come close to finding ‘the one’, but most of them completely disappeared after an hour or two. I’d gone through just about every ‘cult’ foundation, but nothing ticked every single box… and then I found it.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Make Up is everything. It’s my daily go-to. All I need is a few small dots (one on each cheek, the chin and the forehead) and it smoothes-out my entire complexion. You can build it up for the PM, but I keep it light so it doesn’t even feel like I have anything on my skin.

And when I get home from work? Sure, it’s worn-in a bit throughout the day but my skin still looks even. Seriously, if you need your skin to look good all day, this is the best $50 you’ll ever spend. It stays-put for up to 15 hours, plus it’s oil-free, so it doesn’t go greasy on your skin later in the day. 

Amen.

Shot in collaboration with Vogue Australia & Estée Lauder.

4 reasons to get more grey in your wardrobe

#greyalltheway

Grey quickly went from being one of my least-worn colours to my most-worn colour. I used to think it washed me out and made my overall complexion look dull (FYI, not so great on those days when you wake up feeling a bit... flat).

I’ve always gone for black or white instead. But grey as a colour is actually the best - if you know how to wear it properly.

Here’s 4 good reasons to add more grey to your wardrobe:

1. THERE’S A GREY FOR EVERYONE.

First things first, you need to find the right grey for your skin tone. I find lighter greys pop a bit more and lift my complexion, rather than making it look washed-out. This doesn’t mean I don’t wear darker greys - I just keep those shades away from my face, or layer it under something lighter.

2. TEXTURE TEXTURE TEXTURE.

Textures show-up in grey so much more than black. I’m obsessed with chunky grey knitwear with ribbed or cable knit details. The bigger the detail, the better, I say.

3. GREY BREAKS-UP ALL OF YOUR BLACK.

If you’re reading this blog, chances are, you <3 black just as much as I do. 70% of my wardrobe is black. But grey breaks it up. Better still, mixing different tones of grey (like these pinstripe pants and ribbed sweater) means you can have a day-off black without without feeling like you’ve completely lost it in bright colours.

4. YOU CAN WEAR GREY ON GREY.

Mix tones. Mix textures. Mix prints. The good thing about grey is it actually looks amazing head-to-toe when you use these things to break it up, and it’s less of a commitment than all-white (because, let’s face it, me + all white + red wine = disaster).

Wearing:

Country Road knit | pants | sneakers

Shot in collaboration with Country Road. 

The two types of coats you need in winter

Une. Deux... the end.

I’m so excited to finally share a project I’ve been working on with SABA to celebrate their 50th anniversary. I guess you could say it’s been a bit of a reminiscent collaboration for me. 

SABA were kind of doing the whole minimal thing before it was cool. I remember buying my first suit there for a job interview.

Fastforward to now, and they’re still a go-to for those wardrobe building blocks you can wear over and over again - like these coats. 

There are basically only two styles you need for winter, and I’m going to tell you what they are.

THE WRAP COAT

This is the more feminine of the two. Wear this with boyfriend jeans and a tee to dress it up a bit. This style of coat is so versatile because you can wrap it various ways, wear it undone over a tee, or if all else fails, wear it alone with pants as a top.

THE STRUCTURED COAT

Go for a longline blazer style. Basically, I wear this when I want to look like I’ve got my life together. This is my go-to if I’m wearing a dress or skirt because it balances it out a bit, but I also love wearing it over a relaxed suit to go for full boyfriend vibes. 

You can also layer one over the other and do the double coat thing. 

Voilà!

Wearing:

SABA structured coat | wrap coat | pants | shoes

Shot in collaboration with SABA.

The best boyfriend jeans ever.

Weekend uniform = solved.

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet, but I wanted to share these boyfriend jeans from J Brand with you because they're too damn good. 

Why? They're the ultimate boyfriend/baggy shape and sit super low - pretty much made for the weekend! 

My go-to outfit is these, an oversized coat, a high neck tee and sneakers (of course). Easy.

 Wearing:

Georgia Alice coat (similar) | Theory tee (black or white here) | J Brand jeans (in lighter wash here) | Adidas Superstar sneakers

SHOP:

5 outfit ideas to try this weekend.

... using things you already have in your wardrobe.

1. STRIPES

When all else fails, wear stripes (or black, but you already knew that). 

I like to think of stripes as a print for people who don't wear prints. They're kind of neutral. Wear them with denim, or use them to break-up an all-black outfit. 

I usually go for a button-up shirt or tee (love this Alexander Wang one), but if you can find a shirt dress this good I'm all for mixing it up. 

MY EDIT:

2. BLACK BLAZER, BLACK JEANS

Fail-safe. Always works. 

I usually go for all-black on top and then add flats to keep it low-key, but opting for a white tee will freshen things up for a Saturday or Sunday morning (and it's much kinder on your complexion if you're fighting a hangover!). 

My all-time favourite black jeans are Nobody's Geo Skinny. All black (including the button, super sleek and they suck-in all the right places).

This outfit works with all different flats. See my 5 favourite pairs here.

MY EDIT:

3. WHITE SHIFT DRESS

Perfect for Sunday brunch. Actually, just perfect for weekends in general. 

The colour 'white' reads weekend to me (just don't spill your cappuccino) and shift dresses = the comfiest ever. 

I paired mine with black accessories in this post about summer wardrobe essentials to toughen it up a bit.

MY EDIT:

4. BOYFRIEND SHIRT + DENIM

Stole this one from my 2015 New Year's Resolutions post. 

I love the combination of a tonal blue boyfriend shirt and denim. It still has the same fresh appeal as white, but it's a little less obvious. 

MY EDIT:

5. SNEAKERS

Seriously, all day, every day. 

I wear my all-white Adidas Superstars, these Stan Smiths or my Spring Courts with everything at the moment. Case in point: my daily outfit snaps on Instagram. 

Full disclosure: my collection is getting a little out of hand, but you know what they say, when you find something that works, stick to it.

MY EDIT:

The winter style survival kit.

4 things you need.

Winter is creeping up quicker than I expected, and I’m feeling unprepared.

Getting dressed in the morning is becoming a cold and complicated ordeal - too many T-shirts, not enough knits or jeans and limited coat options. They just happen to be my favourite things to shop for, but they’re also usually a) the hardest to find and b) the most expensive. Yep, the struggle is real. Especially when you’re tied to your desk 80% of the time.

Cue… Vogue’s Online Shopping Night (a.k.a. heaven, a.k.a. the night where I curl up in bed for hours deliberating over what to buy).

So for the sake of being organised, this year I’m getting in early. Here’s what I’ll be buying:

1. THE STAPLES - BASSIKE

Two words: stock up. It’s my dream to own an endless supply of Bassike, and a further 25% off sale items makes that (slightly) more achievable. THE PRO’S:

• Their basics are the best fit, and they last forever.
• It’s the perfect opportunity to get your winter wardrobe building blocks (think long sleeved tees in black, white and grey).
• There’s also free shipping on non-sale stuff (like this amazing coat). Winning!

2. THE WINTER MANI - KESTER BLACK

A fresh mani is the best way to break up black on black on black in winter. I usually go for deep reds, navy, grey or nude… or beautiful pastels like this to brighten things up.

THE PRO’S:

• I’m all about this brand. Their polishes are all vegan and cruelty-free… and they have the best colours!
• 25% off all online orders.

3. THE WINTER WELLNESS SAVIOURS - BARE BLENDS

Ok, blame it on the lack of sunshine or too much soul food, but it’s at exactly this time every year I start feeling a little… lacklustre…. Enter Bare Blends.

THE PRO’S:

• You need Bare Greens in your life. It’s a potent mix of green veggies, grasses, algaes and matcha green tea (amongst other things). I’ve been having it every morning, and it’s the best start to the day.
• The whey protein is perfect in smoothies and it will fill you up for hours.
• The exclusive Vogue sample pack essentially saves you 45%. I mean, need I say more?

4. THE PERFECT JEANS - NOBODY DENIM

Hands down, my favourite jeans ever. I wear them every single day, so multiple pairs are required.

THE PRO’S:

• Whether you’re into a black skinny high rise or ripped boyfriend jeans, Nobody have you covered. Their Geo Skinny in black are my everyday go-to.
• 25% off makes most pairs under $200 which, trust me, is the best investment ever.

Photographer: Ana Suntay-Tanedo

If you invest in one piece of jewellery, make it this...

... Because the small details make a big difference.

You know how you kind of feel ‘naked’ when you leave home without your iPhone? 

Well, I feel the same about the fine jewellery I wear every day - particularly my necklaces. I always wear at least one, but sometimes layer two or three.

Trust me, it makes life easier in the wardrobe department because it means your can wear the most basic outfit, and it will still look good.

Think of a crisp white boyfriend shirt and denim shorts. Alone, this could look a little boring and predictable, but add a few fine necklaces that are truly ‘you’ and unique, and this simple outfit is instantly interesting. 

The thing is, the right piece is not always easy to find. I love necklaces that are simple and delicate, yet modern, and strong because I tend to wear a lot of structured stuff - relaxed suits and shirts - so it needs to complement this. Trust me, I’ve done my research, and very few pieces tick all the boxes. 

The good news is you can stop looking, because I found it. The gold Tiffany T Smile necklace is everything. It’s one to literally never take off. It works for day with a simple tee and rolled-up sleeves, and it looks beautiful at night with a sleek black blazer or low neckline. It will never date. 

Or if necklaces aren’t your thing, a cuff or bangle is my next go to. You can wear it alone or layer it up with a watch (which adds just the right amount of detail with roughly rolled up sleeves). 

It’s all about finding pieces that are really ‘you’. 

A word of advice though - if you’re going to wear something every day - invest. Special jewellery pieces become a part of you, and you’ll have them for years to come. 

Watch the video:

Wearing:

 Tiffany T Smile necklace | Tiffany T square bracelet | Bassike blazer, pants & coat | Adidas Superstar sneakers

Location:

 The Darling Point Pad via Contemporary Hotels

* Shot in collaboration with Tiffany & Cohttp://bit.ly/1ER3JnD and Vogue Australia