1: Our nation’s capital
I WENT down to Canberra for a few days last week. Mr Galeforce has recently relocated there for three months for work. I had a couple of days off through the week so it was the perfect opportunity to slip away to: a) to check that he had settled in OK; b) to take my
“new” car for a spin – well it’s three years old but only has about 5000km on the clock, so the three-hour drive was a great chance to blow out the cobwebs; and c) to familiarise myself with some of the attractions of our nation’s capital.
Yes it was cold and wet, and small – just like a big country town. Mr Galeforce has settled in just fine. But I ran out of time to see all the attractions; two days is just not long enough! I did get to see the Australian War Memorial and in the process discovered the names of two of my great, great uncles who were killed in action in Flanders in WWI. Quite an emotional experience.
The exhibition Turner from the Tate was showing at the National Gallery of Australia, but alas, I didn’t make it. However, I drove around to acquaint myself with the layout of the city and was pleasantly surprised by the ease of getting around, the architecture and symmetry.
But what every woman needs to know is the lifeblood or the heartbeat of a city. So I went shopping – window shopping actually – all in the name of research! I headed into the belly of the beast, into the warm confines of the wonderful and expansive Canberra Centre. Its warm embrace was a welcome respite to the bitterly cold weather outside. The modern layout and design of the connecting four buildings made for a warm and pleasant experience. You can shop ’til you drop, collapse into one of the comfortable chairs or cafes along the way, gather strength and then shop some more. Car parking was plentiful – and cheap!
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the centre, and now all Canberrans anxiously await the much-needed upgrade and refurbishment of David Jones, just in time for the all-important Christmas crush.
I’m already planning my next trip down in late September as I want to take in the annual floral spectacular that is Floriade. Unfortunately Turner will be gone, but no doubt there will be something equally as exciting to take it’s place. I want to see the other major attractions of the city and discover the hidden gems in the suburbs. I’ve also been advised to visit the National Arboretum ... and maybe a winery or two, or indulge in high tea and champagne at the Park Hyatt!
2: The eyes have it
THOSE who know me, know that I have a bit of a thing for glasses.
Unfortunately, they are a necessity – I’d be blind without them! Contacts have never been an option. But fortunately I have been blessed with a face shape (?) that can carry many different shapes and styles. My optometrist (that’s you Sue G at Optique) is always amazed at how many different styles I can wear!
Consequently I don’t just have one pair. I have a collection of sunglasses and spectacle frames in a variety of shapes and colours. I regard them as accessories. And as with any accessory, they all co-ordinate with my wardrobe.
So when I happened upon these wonderful Miu Miu pale pink acetate frames from Vision Direct I realised they’d team beautifully with some of the pale pink and nude-coloured summer pieces in my wardrobe (such as the nude-coloured sandals below) – not to mention that nude, pale pink and rose gold are huge this season! I first noticed these glasses about two years ago – they have only been available in black, tortoiseshell and red glitter for a while – but Miuccia Prada has now added a few new colours to the collection – obviously they have been a really successful style!
3: Make a statement
WHEN in doubt, let your accessories do the talking! Or at least, let them make a statement. Guaranteed to find a place in every woman’s wardrobe is a statement necklace. This fabulous and festive Blu Bijoux bib necklace from Max & Chloe ticks all the boxes for me – colour, texture and wow factor! A must-have to take a basic T-shirt, classic white shirt or plain-coloured dress or knit up a notch or two. And the mint green and pale coral beads will complement most summer colours and look good on all skin tones.
4: Nude allure
WHILE doing the rounds of the Canberra Centre last week I discovered these gorgeous Jo Mercer nude sandals with rose gold metallic heels. You really can’t see the shine on the heels, but trust me, they’re gorgeous.
Perfectly chic for summer wardrobes that call for pale and pastel tones, I found myself wanting to justify them in my wardrobe. It didn’t take long to work out – with my favourite old boyfriend jeans, under my Chloe nude-coloured silk satin gathered skirt and my pale pink Calvin Klein stretch cropped pants. They’ll be perfect with my white jeans, linen pants and long flowing maxi skirts. In fact I found plenty of uses for them. But for those who can’t quite go the pastel route, they’re also available in black and tan with silver metallic heels.
What are you loving this week? Found some interesting pieces? Want to share a new shopping secret or hidden gem? Would love to hear from you.
Labels: Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Canberra Centre, Jo Mercer, Max & Chloe, Miu Miu, National Gallery of Australia, Optique, what every woman needs
