“The middle ground gets lost. Anybody who talks about a sensible middle ground gets devoured by the extremes on both sides." ~ Edward O'Donnell.

Miss Unkon Shirt - Shakuhachi Moonshine Trackpants from MyCatwalk.com - Lorenzi Heels

This fantastic pair of trackpants is the third of a previously nonexistent collection that is now steadily growing in the most bizarre directions (the first being these, the second, these, and the third all the more amazing in person). Paired with the little bits of gold and softest baby blue of this shirt by Miss Unkon, I would say we have a happily married couple forevermore. When I can get my hands on a friend's macro lens, I'll have to show you the adorable cuffs on the shirt - the buttons are sort of like little chain cufflinks. And make you want to 'awww' - even when you're wearing it.

Yes my mother thinks I'm going crazy.







Apologies for the state of my hair! I'm thinking about bluntly snipping a centimetre off the bottom myself (since I've lost all faith in finding a hairdresser) - thoughts?

Thank you all for your beautiful comments and emails regarding my last post for Lipsy London and MYER! Hopefully you've all been into stores and had a try of all the stunning pieces! Or looked online. The latter is probably more feasible.

*love*

xx

Castañer x The Fable Collective: Behind The Scenes.

By some miracle of my uni timetable, I sorted out some time on Wednesday to not get the 308 bus down to Alexandria (where do such large vehicles hide... seriously) and snap and film happily behind the scenes in what stylist Kim Payne called a 'bright fiesta' of the brightest colours - Castañer x The Fable Collective's campaign shoot. Needless to say, I've already fallen very much in love with the relaxed but undeniably fun colour-pop of the shoe collab - you'll agree when I finish my behind-the-scenes video and, eventually, share the campaign itself. It was definitely a treat to see Holly Blake working her magic!

Aside: I don't think I've ever been on a shoot that doesn't involve faces! Good stuff :)

*love*

xx

As fast as you can.

YesStyle.com Bowler Hat - YesStyle.com Distressed Cropped Sweater - Mrs Press Khaki Pants - ModCloth.com Three Crowns Heel

So maybe I don't have my jumping quite as down-pat as this fantastic site Jo showed me this morning, but I'm getting there :) Sorry about the silence over the past few days! I may have been the dork that took my computer on my few days away (which, by the way, was intensely fun), but I was also the dork who thought it would be a good idea to go to two events (and dumplings afterwards) on 3 hours of sleep. As a result, I'm fairly ill as of waking up at 1pm this afternoon.

But all is well with these fantastic pants by Mrs Press - after I returned them to Clare (sob) I started seeing trillions of ways of puzzle-piecing them into my wardrobe. Definitely need to pay a visit to Mrs Press Dressing Room when the spring collection drops! I got this bowler hat at the risk of being packaged in bubble wrap with an enormous 'Raging Hipster' label across the top - the simple solution turned out to be flipping the brim downwards so the vibe was slightly more 1920s (comme ça), rather than the associated chinos and boat shoes.

I would also like to announce that these heels (thanks to my friends at ModCloth) are the perfect answer to drawing attention to small ankles. Weird to say, yes, but beneficial? Very much so.

An now, for the winner of the Style Yourself giveaway which I should have announced a week ago! But here goes. Congratulations to:

Hadassah of Linton from London

And for those of you who didn't win, not to worry! It's definitely not a fork-out to grab your own copy right HERE.

*love*

xx

Y'all ready for this?

Living Doll Distressed Knit - None The Richer Blaze Necklace from Market HQ - ASOS Boyfriend Belt - Romwe.com Wide Leg Pants - Lorenzi Heels - Covet Vintage Co. Tan Envelope Clutch

I consumed food with my dear brother this afternoon and he hates my new favourite Romwe pants, so I wore them. This wide leg business is the best solution for being warm in winter - you could be wearing polka dot leg warmers underneath and nobody would ever know. And because your bottom half is warm, there's a bit more room to play in the top half - though, to be fair, the distressed shoulders on this sweater are a bit deceiving. It is a lot warmer than it looks.

More importantly: If you've been keeping tabs on Twitter and Facebook, you will have observed that I was not so excited with the result of my long overdue haircut that happened yesterday afternoon.

This is how it went. I'd explained to the hairdresser how much I wanted off (admittedly I hadn't had my hair cut in a good 6 months and it had gotten to a point where there is only so much Moroccan Oil can do). Said hairdresser proceeded to demonstrate the length (which I was happy with) and cut on one side (which I was also happy with). Then we get to the other side.

Snip snip snip.

 "Oh sh*t..."

Wooo gotta love that!

So because one side was messed up, the other half had to come up to make it even.

And that is the story of why the hell Margaret's hair is now oh so short. Looking at it now, it probably isn't so bad - can it be called post-traumatic-chopping-off-half-my-hair disorder? I think so. I think I'll like it in two weeks.

 

Tip for amazingly chunky necklaces such as this one - half in half out.

*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

Two steps back.

Somedays Lovin' Dress/Shirt - Dotti Opaque Tights - ROC Boots Wedges from Westfield.com.au - Vintage Bag - Market Hat

It always so happens that the arrival of Winter makes me hang on to Autumn and its associated colours and crunchy leaves. This piece of Somedays Lovin' probably does a world-best job of both these Autumny characteristics - I'd never been one for oranges and browns, but this wonderful hybrid of a shirt-dress (with delightfully half-batwing-ed sleeves) really takes the cake for snuggling with skim caramel chai lattes (so healthy...) and/or stomping down the street to restock on highlighters. That was a very long sentence.

My beloved ROC wedges deserve a shout out for being invincible.

I think I might make another trip to Dotti and buy 4 more pairs of tights. So much comfort for every day of the week.







Thank you all for the sweet congratulations from yesterday! I don't think I tell you guys enough how much you make my day (really - comments and emails are much nicer to read than piles readings by people who think they know things about the meaning of life).

*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

B-b-burgundy.

MINKPINK Boat That Rocked Pea Coat from Market HQ - MINKPINK Stockholm Syndrome Shirt from Market HQ - Dotti Burgundy Wide Leg Pants - Therapy Shoes Tower Heels in Taupe Suede - Angus & Coote Studs

Why yes, I have been liking the idea of all-one-colour for the past couple of weeks. And yes I did just throw together some distant cousin of a coloured pantsuit in a clash of textures. These Dotti wide-legs are definitely among the most incredible pants I've ever had the pleasure of floating about in, regardless of their overwhelming tendency to billow as you stroll. I've been loving the double collar effect of wearing a shirt and a blazer recently as well - please expect to see a lot more of this.

Thanks.

Thank you all so much for the sweet words about the DOLLY feature - it really does mean so much!! And a shout out to those of you who I've met while in many a chai-latte line around uni over the past week and a half! It's always so much fun to meet readers away from the computer :)

Make sure you're tweeting, Bloglovin' and Like-ing daily!

P.S. much love to dearest Mother for the beautiful early birthday earrings

*love*

xx

Bubble-bursting.

DITA Clear Frames - RIMMEL London Lipstick - Events Blazer - Vintage Blouse - LadyLovesGreen Leather trousers - Therapy Tower Heels in Taupe - Rebecca Minkoff MAC Clutch

It was an absolute pleasure to meet the sweet and ever boldly style-comfortable Susie Bubble over the entirety of RAFW. I'm always so terribly dorky (and ever so slightly starstruck) with people I look up to, but it was so lovely to have quick chats here and there with Susie (who was running around OPT like a crazy lady all week!) and seeing her views and approaches to designers and style is a mishmash of art and creativity in action.

This snap was after Sara Phillips SS11/12 (of which I'll have snaps up soon), and conveniently, here are some quick shots of what I wore that day.







These leather pants (from fantasitc Etsy seller LadyLovesGreen) were a perfect fit, a perfect colour, perfect warmth for a bit of a windy day, and so perfectly timed (thank you Ruth!) that it wasn't even funny. I quite enjoy the leather-on-leather that's going on with my infallible Rebecca Minkoff MAC Clutch, and combined with these perfect Therapy block heels (which were definitely my favourite Therapy shoe of the week), drew almost as much attention as wonderfully geeky clear frames and BAM lips. I'm all about a block heel at the moment, and taupe suede is definitely the right way to do it.

The equally sweet and humble Phil Oh (Mr Streetpeeper) also snapped me in that ensemble earlier that morning for Harper's Bazaar's coverage of RAFW:

Thank you all for bearing with me on the blogging! Getting back into the Uni rhythm has definitely been a bit of a rocky road. I promise to get back onto all your emails and questions and sweet comments super soon!

*love*

xx