Melbourne Central Street Style August 2016

It’s that time of the month to snoop out the levels of Melbourne Central to snap up my favourite street style looks.

What I enjoy most about stopping people on their tracks is putting a smile on their faces after complimenting them on how they well they have dressed. It really makes their day.

Thank you  Melbourne Central for having me again, and to Jackson Roach for all the captions!

The next time you visit, I’ll be off to New York for fashion week so stay tuned xx

 

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Vellas’ layering really caught my eye. The way she mixes black lace with a form-fitting turtleneck is really unique. Not to mention the way she brightens up a grey jacket with colourful Japanese patchwork! Vella tops off her look in a pair of Adidas Stan Smiths. Tell us, how do you layer when the temperature drops?

 

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Donning cord pants over chinos, this Melbourne gent has given fresh thought to the classic preppy style we know and love. Not to mention the autumnal colours of his check shirt and crisp white low tops, this is one dapper dude on the move!

 

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Even when she’s not in the studio, Chinese designer Mei Lins’ fashion game is always on point. Reppin’ her own designs, I loved the way Mei has given a pop of pastel colour with hand writing on the back of her denim jacket. Her pants are tied in an interesting way as well, that give a unique silhouette that’s still wearable for every day.

 

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We love fashion that tells a story, and that’s what @JaymesMakis’ look is all about. Channeling bohemian vibes, Jaymes’ tribal shawl is from Bali and his jewelry is all hand made from pieces he’s collected whilst travelling. I love the way Jaymes has draped the shawl around his top half to give a cocoon silhouette, and has kept the colour scheme quite nomadic.

 

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With dreams of making it big in Japan, musician Abel has the rockstar look down pat! Putting his best foot forward in a pair of white Common Projects sneakers and all Acne ensemble, we think Abels’ threads are urban street wear at its best.

 

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The only thing more eye-catching than Mary’s bright smile is her tribal print jacket. I love the way she’s mixed this Gorman piece with a vintage maxi skirt and Converse high tops for the perfect urban ensemble.

 

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We love the way this gent has brightened up an all navy ensemble with a block panel sweater in autumnal shades.

 

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When it comes to cool, understated style, we can’t look past this fashionistas outfit. Denim is a go-to for most, but we love the way this jacket dons a fur collar for added warmth and  pleated pants to complete the look. Tell us, what’s your favourite denim piece?

 

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We love dapper gents who aren’t afraid to set the trend and walk their own path. Opting for a relaxed silhouette, this gents burgundy neck tie adds a twist of colour to an otherwise all white ensemble.

 

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Suicide squad you say? We think Les’s in a league of his own! This punk rocker dons the iconic Rottweiler tee by Givenchy, with zip detailed denim and studded Christian Louboutins to match. Les’s camo jacket by Off White with embellished badging rounds out this loud punk look.

 

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After finding out this fashionista is on the retail job hunt, it’s pretty clear she’s dressed for the role! I love the way Sophie paired her cropped puffer with a high waist pant to give the illusion of longer legs. Opting for a light chambray blue gives this winter look a pop of colour. Tell us, how do you add colour to your winter wardrobe?

 

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Who said winter is all about dark colours! We love this dapper gents’ chambray jacket with floral pocket square to match.­ Tell us, how do you brighten up your winter wardrobe?

 

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A key look this winter was the bomber jacket, so we love it when fashionistas experiment with different colours like this olive one. Combined with an oversized sweat and indigo denim in a velvet finish, we think this collegiate look is down pat. Tell us, what colour is your bomber jacket?

 

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Keep it fun and playful in a denim jumpsuit like this Melbourne fashionsta! We love the way she’s opted for a darker indigo to complement the season. Tell us, how would you wear a denim jumpsuit?

Pacific Werribee Opening Weekend Street Style (Part 2 of 2)

Continuing on from my last street style series at the Pacific Werribee opening day, here are my favourite street style looks captured over the weekend. Enjoy!

 

Pacific Werribee: Cnr Derrimut Rd & Heaths Rd, Werribee

Thank you so much to Amy and Monique O’Connell for being my two awesome little assistants, Jessica from Haystac Comms, and to everyone who stopped for a chat and snap. You guys are awesome xx

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Pacific Werribee Opening Weekend Street Style (Part 1 of 2)

Pacific Werribee, the new go-to destination in Melbourne’s West for fashion, lifestyle, hospitality and entertainment.

 

I am honoured to be a part of the relaunch of Pacific Werribee Shopping Centre as their official Street Style Photographer, where I spent the opening weekend spotting and shooting all my favourite street style looks.

It’s been over a year since I last visited, and I was in awe by how much the Pacific Werribee has changed; for the better! The mall has undergone a major building face lift, including a new website, branding, and a new gorgeous Brand Ambassador, Lauren Phillips. Their key anchor department store, Myer has expanded three times its previous size; and 30 more new retailers were added to its reportaire such as: Sheike, Mecca Maxima, Seed Heritage, Peter Alexander, Glassons, Bardot, Cotton On, Swarovski and Kikki K to name a few. What’s even more exciting is that the mall now houses two global fashion houses such as H&M and Uniqlo, and more eateries within the new Urban Diner area. I’ve also discovered a trendy barber + coffee shop called “Grindstone Barber & Baristas” which had great coffee and hipster, good-looking barbers.

Well do you know what that means for all the Melbourne West-Siders? You don’t have to drive into the city to “fight” and pay for a carpark, when H&M or Uniqlo and all the popular Australian labels at Pacific Werribee are just around the corner! It is definitely the new go-to, one-stop destination for all your fashion, lifestyle, hospitality and entertainment needs.

Happy shopping everyone! xx

Pacific Werribee: Cnr Derrimut Rd & Heaths Rd, Werribee

Thanks to Gitika Garg for being my awesome little assistant, Tatsiana Baibak from Haystac Comms, and to everyone who stopped for a chat and snap. You guys are legends xx

Stay tuned for more of my favourites looks this Wednesday!

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Exploring Kuala Lumpur in Style and Wonder

Eat, Play and Love is what KL is all about

 

What I love about travelling to a new country is hanging out with the locals and immersing myself into their culture. Kuala Lumpur was no exception – the sweet smell of durian (well…to some it’s smelly and prohibited in hotel rooms); the high-pitch sound of motor bikes passing by; and the incredible taste of traditional Malay street food.

We explored the Central Market street stalls and found myself devouring a variety of traditional sweet and savory food. I ate a fried whole fish covered in spicy sauces, custard vanilla and durian puffs, bowls of prawn mee, curry laksa, and nasi lemak, milk pearl tea and even drank an icy cold passionfruit drink from a bag.

Of course I couldn’t have claimed to have visited KL without visiting the grand Petronas Twin Towers. The towers were so popular that I couldn’t even get a ticket to experience the walkway between the two towers (tip: pre book your tickets at least 5 days in advance). I’d have to say my visit to the towers was surreal – they really do glitter and glow. Although for me the highlight was in the gardens below where a magical little forest of ancient looking trees with roots exposed and dangling, provided a nice resting place and of course a great photo opportunity. No I am not posing in a scene from Lord of the Rings, but this was really the garden at Petronas Twin Towers.

This blog post couldn’t go without saying that I honestly believe the hidden gem in this city is its rustic street art, which is spread all over the city’s buildings and walls. The bold colours of the colonial buildings creating a rainbow of endless photo opportunities and backdrop. As a shopaholic I’d expected to leave Central Market with bags of cute and probably useless trinkets, instead I spent hours in the heat scouting and photographing all the locations that I fancied.

I ate, played and loved KL. Definitely a place to be if you are thinking about escaping Melbourne’s wintry weather.

Finally as I bid my farewells to this stunning city, I want to thank the following special list of people:

  • Ruby Wang of TheRubyCanvas for this unexpected and awesome opportunity. I can’t wait to travel with you to NYC in September coming up real soon!
  • Synthia Kek for her lively personality as she showed us off to her Facebook friends and interviewed us live, and of-course for her warm hospitality when we stayed at The Gardens – A St Giles Signature Hotel & Residences
  • Venicia Gaul and her creative team at Piranhanyc for the opportunity to work with them on the St Giles Hotel campaign
  • Last and not the least, my travelling partner in crime: Dee of AdaptTrend, who has not only been such a great friend over the years but a super stylist, writer and photographer who took on my creative direction to heart and made it her own. Thank you and love ya to bits xx

 

words and images of me  // DEE DARWICHE of AdaptTrend
creative direction, words and images // KAREN WOO

outfits // SHEIKE
rose gold sandals // BARED FOOTWEAR

 

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Finding rest in Penang

“He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.” —Benjamin Franklin

I wasn’t expecting to go overseas with my family this holiday season, but Alan whisked me and JJ away for a week of family fun and soaking in the warm golden sun. We had a few destinations in mind: Hamilton Islands, Bangkok Thailand or Hong Kong, but we decided to go back to Penang, Malaysia; to the place we first had our overseas trip together when we started dating.

Our little family flew with Qantas and Jetstar Asia, and we checked into the Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Batu Feringgi Beach, 11100 Penang, Malaysia) for a 6 nights stay. Besides devouring bowls of Assam Laksa, sipping endless supplies of Mocktails and Teh Tarik, I spent a majority of my time braving the humidity and 37 degree heat exploring George Town. This little town was perfect in every way – a photographers and art lovers haven to say the least. There were plentiful of hidden gems to discover such as 3D interactive street art, textured walls, piles of ruins, and odd combination of coloured buildings which eventually grew on you. We were really lucky to come at a time of Hari Haya (Malaysian New Year) because the streets were quite deserted which made walking around town a breeze.

Here are some of our most favourite places spotted around George Town. Pictures of me taken by my love, Alan Woo, and the rest are from yours truly x

black jumpsuit // ALICE MCCALL purchased from Very Special Kids Sale
red dress // ZARA
rose gold sandals // BARED FOOTWEAR
clutch // OLGABERG

 

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