Aje and a grand.

Since word go of Aje popping up on my radar, I've been a fan of designers Eddi Robinson, Bree Norris and Adrian Norris' ability to incorporate the sparklier side of life into the every day - namely by the use of buttery leather. It's no secret that I can never get enough of seamed leather.

Aje's AW11 collection, 'La Tribu Russe', definitely speaks for itself on that front. When asked about my favourites from the collection, I would probably start with the boots, then the perfect embellishment-to-effortless ratio, and the rest is history.

Needless to say Rachel Rutt looks absolutely stunning as always.

So, I think it's a fairly good deal that some exceedingly lucky person out there could win a $1000 wardrobe from this collection just by signing up to Aje's newsletter (thanks to none other than the increasingly awesome RUSSH). If I were you, I'd hop to it. HERE.






To be honest, if I had $1000, I'd probably be buying Aje with it too.

Make sure you check out the rest of the collection HERE as well! Sadly, I couldn't fit it all in one post :)

*love*

xx

Yes. It's comforting.

YesStyle.com Felt Wide Brim Hat - Living Doll Lace Trim Shirt Dress - YesStyle.com Distressed Cable Knit - Romwe.com Vertical Stripes Tights - Therapy Shoes Tower Pumps

Some refreshingly comfortable details from what I ended up wearing some time last week when Sydney wasn't flailing in rain. I had been wearing typically teen-years-ed combat boots (which I quite liked with the sweet simplicity of this Living Doll shirt dress), but Mother insisted that hot beverages with her friends amounted to a formal occasion - for which these pumps have become my go-to.

I really haven't shown you enough of this fantastic distressed cable knit either - this will be fixed soon. I wear it so much more than you could ever imagine. I swear Sydney Winters get colder every year.

P.S. Just a heads up that my blogging may be slightly on-off over the next week or so because I'm so p-p-paralysed with happiness that it's exam time.

P.P.S. In my procrastination, I discovered these. Maybe it's time to cave to JC Litas?

*love*

xx

Caught on film.

Black Milk Galaxy Print Bodysuit - Vintage Skirt - Bloch and Gaynor Minden NY Shoes

You might remember me mentioning a while ago (accompanied by this happy behind-the-scenes snap) that I did a black and white film shoot with the very talented photographic master, Ash Myburgh - she kindly sent through some scans last night so I thought I'd share! I had so much fun leaping for a solid hour and a bit (choreographers never put enough jump/leaping in routines - if any of you are reading: we really don't care how tired we get - it's awesome).

On a slightly different note, tomorrow night is VOGUE Australia's Online Shopping Night for which I'll be blogging and tweeting with amazing deals - I'll give you guys some sneak-peak heads up in the morning on the Shine By Three Facebook Page: so get excited! So make sure you're following me (@Margaret_Zhang) and the #VOSN list on Twitter to get the most out of the night!

*love*

xx

"To escape jury duty in England, wear a bowler hat and carry a copy of the Daily Telegraph.” ~ John Mortimer.

Cameo Burning Bridges Dress from Material Attention - YesStyle.com Bow Accent Bowler Hat - EVIL TWIN Sheer Maxi from Market HQ

I hadn't had the chance to wear this amazing dress yet - and the foreseeable future didn't hold any occasions quite up to its comfortably cut out awesome - so I took the liberty of making it a little more day time appropriate. This particular skirt does do a fairly good job of that. As does my new favourite hat that probably won't do anything in the way of sun protection, but it's Winter, so I can just declare its function to be head-heat retention.

And a very useful piece of information for you all: for a limited time only, Material Attention is offering free shipping (gah I love it when that happens) - so get shopping while you can!






Now all I need is a Daily Telegraph.

P.S. If you haven't already, I would love for you to vote for me in the 2011 ColourDujour awards!

And stickybeak around the Shine By Three Facebook Page while you're at it!

*love*

xx

Bardot likes you. So does Wednesday.

Bardot Layered Tulle Skirt - NEUW Denim Shirt - Romwe.com Bat-wing Sleeve Oversized Cardigan - Yves Saint Laurent Brun Vibrant Lipstick from YesStyle.com - Dotti Tights - Therapy Shoes Big Ben Boots

So aside from me pulling out my favourite pile of tulle from Bardot that hasn't be subject to my twirling for a while, I thought (in the spirit of taking of photos of what one is wearing) you'd like to know about the little Street Style competition Bardot is running where you could win a $500 voucher and star in the next Bardot email newsletter, just by snapping yourself in your favourite Bardot before June 8th. How easy is that? Get entering HERE.

On a slightly different note, who's feeling the Wednesday-Addams-had-a-baby-with-neon-nails-on-an-American-roadtrip vibe? I made that up. As you may have gleaned from my excited Tweet (and happy photo), I finally found the perfect not-red-in-disguise dark lipstick to wear like a boss for the entirety of winter. I should have known that YSL would be the solution - there were oh so many failed attempts with others.

On top of all that, I'm very much obsessed with my Romwe Knit. As are most people who happen to be around on a cold day, I promise, it fits multiple people in some wonderful bubble of warmth - but with enough of a plunging neck to button collared shirts all the way up like a raging hipster.






I'll have to take a proper photo of my new nail polish before it runs out (I'm working through it so fast - good thing it's $2 from Chinatown).

P.S. I've been nominated for the 2011 Colourdujour awards and would love if you could all pitch a vote my way simply by clicking 'Like' right HERE! And while you're lurking around Facebook, how about a 'Like' on the Shine By Three page too :)

*love*

xx

Inconspicuous.

Paper Skye Pleated Maxi Dress - Belle Bijoux Woven Bag - DITA Sunglasses - Alexi Freeman Sequined Leggings - Therapy Shoes Big Ben Boots

I realised this morning on my rainy way to uni that I never share what I wore to the last day of RAFW (by which I was well and truly a mess in a corner - clad in sequins nonetheless). The combination of the sheer Paper Skye pleat glory and sequined legs by Alexi Freeman was probably the most fun I've had in an ensemble in a long time. Who doesn't love passer-by double takes - "Margaret... why are you sparkling?" - and billowing skirts?






Thanks so much to Nicole for snapping these for me!

And some extras thanks to Miss Zanita and Nicole respectively:




How was everyone's start to the week? Sydney decided to have a massive cry on the day I decided to wear a wool cape. Good times.

*love*

xx

Step two.

YesStyle.com.au Double Breasted Cape Jacket - YesStyle.com.au Highwaisted Canvas Shorts - Romwe Striped Tights - Therapy Shoes Big Ben Boots

It makes me feel slightly old-and-wise to say that my dear little blog is now 2 years old. I would just like to extend a wonderfully clichéd thank you to all you amazing readers for bringing me all this way and for kicking me along into such incredible opportunities - through blogging I've been able to meet a ridiculous number of inspiring people that have been so kind as to guide me a little in an equally inspiring multitude of ways. Then next year is certainly going to be some happy internetted ride. Be prepared!

And bazam: here's me jumping in what you would think are the most unjumpable boots to celebrate that. Definitely not that case.

I wore this cape to uni this week and got a lot of what-are-you-wearings. Yeah well screw you all - I'm warm. It takes a lot of willpower not to sit in the corner petting the super soft navy blue. Disclaimer: Please be prepared to get sick of this cape as a serious repeat offender :) (I have also taken a liking to tucking my hair in to all sorts of necklines).

In my hurried in-the-door-out-the-door blogposts recently, I'd completely forgotten to announce the winner to my Gigi Vintage Easter Giveaway! SO I'm jumping to announce (so appropriately too) that the winner is...

Maria from Wild Space Monkey Adventures

Congratulations lady!! I'll be in touch to get your details soon.

Otherwise, tell me tell me - how has everyone's week been? I feel an odd half-asleep detachment from this space that really needs to be picked up.

*love*

xx

Gail Sorronda SS11/12.

Gail Sorronda's show on Monday night was a healthy walk between the ground-breaking structures from her last Spring/Summer, and a fresher, breezier ground. Aside from my love for the halos of white, messy hair and white pins (I think I'll wear my hair like this when it starts to get warm again - no hesitations), I loved Gail's play on higher necklines and mid-length sleeves, offset by bell shapes and just enough shirring to keep it tailored.

The problem with Fashion Week is that I want everything now. So thanks to Gail, you'll be seeing me in a lot of white this Winter.








Thank you all for the sweet comments about my styling/shooting for Paper Skye! I can't even begin to express how much I appreciate all your support :)

*love*

xx

Shine By Three x Paper Skye: SS11/12.

Those of you who've been reading/tweeting/facebooking will know that yesterday afternoon, Paper Skye's SS11/12 collection walked like it was nobody's business at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week. It was a fairly surreal to see the 12 looks I'd styled hung up on racks backstage, then floating down a runway towards some frenzied breed of photographers' pit. I can't even begin to imagine how designer Kirsten was feeling!

If you remember me mentioning that I'd shot the Paper Skye SS11/12 collection over the Easter weekend (and if don't) - here they are. Kirsten's pieces lend themselves so well to repeat layering, movement and any degree of light (as became so evident in yesterday's show) and were, as a result, such a joy to shoot despite the intermittent rain. It can hardly be a coincidence that my favourite transeasonal sheers, pleats, textured stripes and soft neutrals have been summarised in the one collection, so I hope you all enjoy these shots!

Do feel free to shoot me an email if you'd like higher res images and be sure to have a bit of a Paper Skye stalk at the website and Facebook page!

Thank you so much to the lovely Bespoke PR girls and Kirsten for this amazing opportunity (eternally grateful), and a huge congratulations to Kirsten for such a beautiful show yesterday! I'll have photos up for you all very soon - look what was in all the goody bags!




I get so dorkily excited about these things.

RAFW is well and truly done and dusted (including sleeping off the 5-day accumulation of waiting around, carrying a thousand bags and a damn heavy camera, chasing buses and cabs in wonderfully high Therapy heels, and other associated happy exhaustion). It was so wonderful meeting so many people who I've looked up to for who-knows-how-long... and some who I only realised I'd looked up to for years after the conversation had finished and they'd trotted off to a shiny black car somewhere :)

So many millions of photos and posts to come from a fantastic week! Thanks for all your sweet comments, tweets, likes and emails of support and general love!

*love*

xx