I have been out and about in the shops this week. It’s a bit tricky trying to work out what to buy because it’s either the dregs of the sales or a lot of fabulous new winter clothes that you just can not imagine wearing in this heat. What have I seen? There are already lots and lots of short aviator Burberry/Balenciaga style fleece jackets everywhere. I also see many leather jackets (still right), and heaps of green military khaki shirts and jackets ( continuing to be groovy). I can say with great knowledge that the colour camel is about to take over the world. Here are my best buys in each store for this week.
Don’t die of shock but I have updated the FiFi’s Favourite Finds slideshow: Outrageous! Now you can see all the photos, more or less, of everything I mention. Check out the slideshow there up there on the right. Yes. Look dumb dumb. It’s there, right there.
Economy class;
SeedFemme: I like the denim faded denim vintage shirt with patches of no pockets! it’s cool. Love this with shorts and stomp-a-licious heels. You can wear this later when it’s colder under a camel coat. True. Buy the fabulous drape grey tencel Tee dress with perfect round ( not scoop) neckline: Wear right now today and tomorrow and right up to cold old May. $89. Perfect for every day dagging around with heels or flats.
Aldo: There are great shoes here but if you snoop around you will see a Lanvin inspired necklace here: it’s made up of lots of tiny square mirrors clumped together on a black ribbon. For an outrageous $59, fabulous for the price. You should try on the cool YSL style T bar platform heels in a donkey suede or black as well for $149.
Just jeans:
Love the Riders by Lee dark blue denim skinny cargoes for $99. I like them because they are simple: the cargo look without da bling baby. You need to be skinny to wear those. If you want the new look of high waist flares ( hint: you do) then try on the Levis “demi boot rocking blue”. A little faded with a higher waist ( but not too scary high) and with the new flare leg. This was the look over the spring runways. Rachel Zoe will be happy and going bananas with such a choice $119.
Jays Jays: You got to love the maxi dress in a black and grey stripe cotton : all those stripes are so Prada darling! Buy a size bigger and loose and wear with flats. $29
Diva: I love the black feather choker necklace : it’s a row of long feathers hanging down. I know. Sounds slightly over the top but tres chic. Wear with the most simple, chic and very plain round neck sweater for a bit of a statement in winter with a black leather skirt. Oh so cool. Alas no photo. It’s looks expensive for just $24.
Country Road menswear:
I love the menswear grey slub tee with a patch pocket. Yes, it’s for you to wear. Not George Clooney although of course he would look so handsome. I love men’s clothes: the simple cut with all the important round neckline is so chic and understated and it’s just $29 so shut up because it looks expensive. Wear with slouchy chinos and mad wedge heels.
Target:
LOVE the leather (or I should say pleather) black short, collarless jacket with double rows of silver military gunmetal buttons. It’s $59. What? How so?! It’s looks more expensive than that for sure. It’s a wrinkle vintage Pleather so you can’t tell it’s not leather. It doesn’t even smell like plastic! You still don’t have a leather jacket? Bless. You should have listened when I told you to buy one years ago. Buy the denim dark wash shirt with pearl buttons: cool. Denim on denim rocks and you could wear this with faded denim boyfriend jeans a La Chloe. But if you can’t do the total denim look then try a denim shirt with chinos or with a black skirt and tan wedges. $39.
Kookai:
I love the fabulous diamante chandelier necklace with a few black jet jewels for an outrageous $60. It’s long and drapes into a couple of strands and is quite fabulous. Wear during the day with a stripe tee and jeans. Don’t save it for a special night or the King’s speech!
French Connection:
You want the cotton shirt dress with roll up sleeves in a faded coffee colour $159. It’s a little short but very cool with patch pockets and a round collar. You could wear it over skinny jeans if you so desire. It’s a wear right now summer dress! Also invest in the black crop swing DB trench jacket $189. Fab for winter.
Witchery:
The best jacket I have seen anywhere and to wear right now is the coffee/caramel fitted linen blazer which is great for wearing when its warm. Well, maybe next week when it’s not sooo hot. I have mentioned it over the last few weeks and I still think it’s the best for a buy now/ wear now scenario. $169.
Business Class;
David Jones; if you want fabulously chic and good quality basics then check out the “Majestic Paris” T shirts: There is a slub blue tee for $119 and all sorts of fabulous tops. Love.
Coach: I spy some cool black leather, short ankle boots with a tassel and a thin stiletto heel $395. New collection in next week.
Armani Jeans In David Jones: Check out the black knit jersey short DB cardigan jacket. Looks a snug fit and very flattering with small shoulder pads. It’s like a jacket that is really a cardigan. You could wear to work in autumn and not take it off at your desk. Love it with jeans too. Of course. $379.
SABA: I spy a cute black ,long, cotton voile sleeveless maxi dress on sale with a lovely V neck and a racer back. Flattering shape but its skims over the bits…Now on sale $169.
Veronica Maine: For winter there will be camel everywhere: First sighting is the camel cashmere wool melton jacket with one button and big 80’s lapels. But not in a scary way. Tip: if you do wear camel add black or choc brown or denim. Only fashion editors can do camel head to toe.
SeedFemme: You should buy the black sleeveless leather vest that is very Rick Owens style. $399. A great trans-seasonal piece non? Sure it is expensive for something without sleeves.LOL. but it’s tres chic. It has that big floppy lapel thing happening and a zip or two.
Marcs: You should check out the very Celine inspired (So fabulous, we love Celine) red and navy stripe T shirt mini dress. It has a wide straight neckline and ¾ sleeves. Love the pockets on the front. Wear it as a short dress if you have the legs or back over with the stone chinos. Love with wedges. $99.
CK Calvin Klein: The new season is in store and I see divine drape tops and dresses in grey and black. And a fabulous sleeveless, V neck black velvet crisscross patterned dress. $599. Most pieces are trans-seasonal so very easy to wear right now. I want it all. The prices are fabulous considering the amazing quality of the fabrics. There are tops for about $200. The dramatic simple cut never looks good on the hanger so try it on. On sale I spy a fabulous black nylon trench coat for about $290. A must visit. I insist. Minimalism is a trend only at the beginning so get into it now.
Country Road:
So many fabulous new winter pieces; buy the stone trench coat cape $339, the equipment style silk shirt $149 and the very Celine inspired poloneck sleeveless knit vest $149 are the best. I love the tan leather mini skirt $249 and military green patch pocket parka with cute puff shoulders $199. Buy the grey and black colour block knit $129. And you can buy it all online..yay.
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Fifi - love your site! I look forward to the weekly emails that I get from you on Fridays
Would you recommend a tanned Asian gal getting into the camel craze that is about to hit Oz this Autumn/Winter? The only concern that I have with wearing camel is that it will make me look dirty.
Thanks so much! Thrilled you are loving The FiFi Report! Regarding camel; I say yes you can! Why not wait til closer to the cooler months & see how u look in camel then when the light is different etc. Of course it’s about u looking & feeling fab so if you don’t like the look just bypass the trend. You can always invest in camel accessories!
Hi Fifi, I love your report - has given me so much inspiration and tips on how to wear things. I am in desperate need for a new handbag and know that you said that the square shoulder bag is the go, have you seen any a bit bigger that the Country Road one you suggested or is that as big as they come? Just need one big enough to fit a few “kid” things in it and love having pockets on the front like the country road one to put my phone in etc. Tried every shop in my local shopping centre yesterday but couldn’t come up with anything! Any suggestions would be SOOOOO appreciated. Thanks a million!
Thanks for the lovely feedback Narelle. I am thrilled you love The FiFi Report and that you can get some helpful shopping advice!
In regards to the handbag dilemma: it’s always a tricky one. I used to think that one bag would do all situations but that proves very elusive. I suggest bypassing the square shoulder bag : I think they really only look good when they are smaller. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look cool. I would go for a two handle tote with a zip at the top or a slouchy shoulder bag. The slouchy cross body bag is a winner because you can be handsfree: and with kids we know that’s important. Invest in a smaller structured shoulder bag for times when you are not lugging around kids ( when is that?!!). If you wait till the end of the month all the new winter stock should be instore and I am sure you will find what you are looking for. Meanwhile try Witchery : http://www.witchery.com.au/bags/allie-zip-tote/w1/i5349459_1961665/
Hope that helps!
Hi Fifi, thank you so so much for getting back to me. Went to another (bigger) shopping centre today - yes I was on a mission - and saw another bag at Country Road, it is the Indi Vintage Tote in Light Camel. I think it is going to be perfect, although I would have liked a shoulder strap so maybe I should check out the Witchery one you suggested as I didn’t see it today. Anyway, I hope you approve of the Indi tote. Gotta look good whilst shopping and your right, perhaps I should invest in a smaller one, however, price per wear ie when I’m without kids, would be pretty high! Look forward to Friday’s report. Thanks again!
Pleasure! yes, that Indi tote is fabulous…but look out for a shoulder strap bag because handsfree makes life very easy.