Being touristy in Wellington

Even though I've lived in Wellington for about a year and a half now, I don't often go around doing all the touristy things because they're just there all the time - despite never actually having done many of them!

About two weeks ago, I had a visit from someone super special, my boyfriend! He lives in Auckland most of the time but had come for a bit of tour around Wellington. We spent an entire day just wandering around from place to place, stopping only to eat (of course!)

Posing for a quick photo while we decided where to eat on Courtenay Place
Top: Portmans (XS); Jeans: Huffer (6); Chuck Taylors - Slim (5)

Cosy casuals: jeans and knit sweater

Unfortunately the lighting isn't great. However, there was not much success to be had outside! (see below)
Scarf: Farmers; Jumper: Glassons (size 6); Jeans: Huffer (size 6); Boots: Rieker (36). 

Knit jumpers are very cosy and versatile. This black/grey version can be worn with almost any other colour. However, I am a bit of a weakling and tend to wear knit jumpers as tops rather than as... jumpers? I always need to have an extra layer as I don't find them warm enough to wear alone. But maybe that's just me.

Boots: These boots were purchased online last year (can be found here)Although they may not be the most fashionable boots, they are amazingly comfortable. They are fleece lined (keeping feet toasty warm), leather, with a round toe (for comfort), and have quite a slim ankle. They are also from the Rieker anti-stress line, which means they are designed to have soft, flexible, shock absorbing soles. The Rieker name also guarantees good quality.

 The only downside to these boots that I have found (although possibly an issue with most ankle height boots), is that they can be hard to wear with jeans that have zips on them. About three of my pairs of jeans have zips either on the inside or the outside leg, which is great for making them slimmer around the ankle, but it means when worn with these boots, the zip from the boots rubs against them. Normally I can avoid this problem by twisting the jeans around a bit, but it is still a little irritating. I would not recommend these boots to those with larger ankles.

Student Life: Travelling with carry-on

I am originally from the Auckland area. When I go home, I tend to be quite cheap about my airfares and often don't book a checked bag. On Jetstar, you are allowed a 10kg limit for carryon, but AirNZ only allows 7kg. So... Usually my issue is trying to get as many outfits as possible under the 7kg limit! I've started to plan outfits before I go now, instead of just randomly throwing clothes I think I might wear into the bag then realise later I have nothing to wear with it!

This is what I took on my first trip home about a month ago now: (It's taken me this long to get the photos!)

I will admit, I did also wear some of the clothes I had left at home to supplement these items. However, that was because I had not anticipated such a different temperature between Auckland and Wellington! I hadn't brought enough summer clothes to last the time! I also planned to take another jacket, aside from the blazer, but forgot, so another item would have probably been on the list!

I took the red skirt and black shorts along with pair of maroon and black tights, so that I could wear them in colder/warmer weathers. Turns out I didn't need them!

Please excuse the very pale legs! I had no idea that my legs were so untanned! Especially after a beautiful summer!

When I was younger I always thought that higher necklines on smaller chests just looked downright ugly (although my experience of higher necklines at that point was basically just turtlenecks, which I still don't find particularly attractive).

The red and white top in the last photo was one of the first tops that made me realise how attractive they can be. Although you can't see in that picture, the back of the top is actually scooped out at the back, giving a subtle hint of sexy without need to show too much of something I don't have! The other great thing about that particular top, is that at the back, although it has a low back, it is a wide scoop rather than a deep scoop, and so it's still very easy to wear a bra underneath.

One of my pet peeves is backless tops where women wear an ordinary bra underneath and you can see everything! I try to avoid low-backed tops/dresses unless they cover where a bra sits, otherwise they are just too much trouble (excluding for special occasions of course!)

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Windy Wellington - Not a real summer!

I have just moved back down to Wellington to start back at uni all over again. After living in Auckland all summer with lovely 25-26 degree heat, I got an unwelcome shock when stepping off the plane in shorts and a singlet into a Southerly 15 degree wind.... The next day I reluctantly agreed that I would have to dig out my non-summer clothes! I didn't even get a chance to wear my inbetween clothes that are summery but too hot for Auckland summer and too cold for Wellington! And now I'm in Wellington, the flat I'm in doesn't get much sun at all so its even colder!

Before I moved into the flat I stayed with my Mum at a hotel in the City. This was my Wellington (supposedly summer) outfit....

I actually had another cardigan on underneath the blazer as well!

This outfit has a mixture of nicer and cheaper things but I think it still comes off looking classier than its price tag. I am wearing...

• A plain cheap, $5 white tshirt which I picked because it ran it quite a small size and a stretchy fabric. But it still does the job. The only downfall is that it is a little see-through, so you have to wear a singlet underneath. However, I tend to do that with most clothes anyway so it doesn't really bother me.
• The scarf is 100% silk, and from a Hospice shop (op-shop) for $4! The design on the scarf is quite nautical and seems of a similar style/pattern some designer scarves I have seen around. It also has quite a few colours on it so it can be quite versatile, working with blues, white and black.
•  I found the blazer the other day while looking in Kmart for high neck/boat neck tshirts, after having exhausted every other shop in the mall. I decided to look in the children's section as I assumed that children's clothes would have higher necklines. However, they didn't have any either. The blazer is quite a cheap polyester/knit material, but the sizing in the children's was perfect. I ended up buying a size 10 girls as the sleeves on the 12 were too long. All in all, I got a good fitting blazer (which are quite hard to find!) for $17! Student prices! 
• The jeans are by Huffer. They were from an outlet store (Dressmart in Onehunga, Auckland, it really is an amazing place to get good deals) and were $80. However, I got them as a gift from Mummy for Christmas so that is even better!
• The shoes are by Australian brand Novo. They were $60, but are leather and have rubber soles. I like them because I like to have the front of the ballet flat come up a little higher on the foot, otherwise they are very hard to walk in and just plain uncomfortable. I wore these around the streets of Wellington and they were fine! For those of you who don't know Wellington, it is a seriously hilly place! Heels do not fare well here! (Although it doesn't stop me wishing I could wear them everywhere!)

On another note, I am looking for a more 'cost effective' version of the LK Bennett 'Sledge' shoe in nude. I would like them to have a low platform to add extra height and also lessen the impact of the heel. But not too chunk otherwise they loose some classiness I feel. However, I can't afford to pay $350 for shoes! I don't mind investing a little if they are a very versatile and comfortable shoe. I have also heard of the Ann Taylor Perfects - does anyone have a pair and want to give a review?