{Summer Whites}

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White is such a fresh and easy choice for an effortless summer look. Here I have added some bold and cheerful coral accents using a bag and a belt. These photos reveal my one reservation about this dress - how easily the material wrinkles. Nevertheless, it was on sales and was at a good price point so I #yolo-ed it (say hello to my favourite verb of the month!). I have also been secretly hoping to adapt the white on white look into my wardrobe, it hasn't happened yet but this is definitely one big step towards my all white moment!

If you have been following my blog or know me in real life, you would know that many pieces of my wardrobe come from Forever New. The main reason is probably because Forever New goes down to a true size 6 and size 4 that fit my petite frame very well, usually with no alterations needed. This look really embodies the feminine and fun vibe of the brand that I adore.

 Outfit

Dress: Forever New Mia Military Style Shirt Dress

Accessories: Forever New Kathryn Belt, Forever New Pixie Straw Bag (here), Alannah Hill headband
Shoes: Wittner

Merry Christmas everyone and thank you very much for reading!

:)

Are you wearing white this summer?

{Lights and Reds}

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With only 10 days til Christmas, I have been adding some simple festive touches to the house. We gave away our Christmas tree few years ago so I made do with a DIY christmas tree and fell in love with fairylights all over again...

Homemade twig Christmas tree: minimalistic but still oh so cheerful

Lucky lanterns (from Typo): pretty things to look at before I doze off

Pinecones: the smell of these humble pinecones always make me think of Christmas

Red bows: can jazz up anything

And how can we forget Mrs Santa Claus?

I have now added an "Ask me anything" widget to the Ask page. Feel free to ask me any questions you have about my blog or tell me any suggestions you have!

What are your DIY Christmas decoration ideas - please share them!

:)

{Festive Lace}

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I love browsing through ASOS every so often - it is where I can buy high waisted tapered pants that fit with no alterations needed (thank you to whoever came up with the Petite range!). Though I have never bought a dress from ASOS, the vibrant colour and full skirt of this lace dress caught my eyes. I caved in since I don't have a lacy dress or a red dress and I really wanted one for Christmas. Thankfully, Petite AU 4 fit me perfectly, though the waist was quite snug. The cut-out back and three layers of tulle add character to the dress and are so fun to play around with! At around $55 (after online codes), this is a great affordable option for those Christmas/New year's parties!

Outfit

Dress: Asos Lace Dress with Cut Out Back (here)
Accessories: Wittner heels, Temt bracelets

Thank you so much for reading!

:)

What gems have you bought from ASOS?

{Pop Jersey}

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I have been shopping quite a bit recently (during and after exams) and it is not even December yet! Coincidentally, two items were both in a rosy pink colour so I paired them together  and..voila.

A pop colour blazer has been on my wishlist for ages and I finally decided on this one from Seed - the fabric feels so light, fits me well especially around the shoulders and isn't too long and the lining is beautiful when I roll up the sleeves. It also comes in many other pastel ad bright colours (here).

I have also been looking for daytime shoes and these Marcs wedges are so easy and comfy to wear. I particularly love the buckle on the front where I can adjust the width. I have small (size 5.5) but wide feet so it's difficult for me to find shoes that fit and don't accentuate the width of my feet...#firstworldproblems much?

Outfit

Top: Marcs Slub Stripe Popper Detail Short Sleeve Tee (also worn here) and Seed Heritage Pop Jersey Blazer (here)
Bottom: Witchery jeans
Shoes: Marcs Leather Wood Wedge

As heatwaves and bushfires hit parts of Australia, hope everyone have a cool and safe weekend!

:)

What have you bought off your wishlist recently?

{Statement Skirts}

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Red is the colour of the day - the bright coral colour of these flowers and skirt really lifted my mood. I bought this tulip skirt when Zara first opened in Sydney (...how time flies!) in 2011 and it really gives the right volume for a fun and polished look. As a bonus, it matches the colour of my new car (which snuck in the background of the above photo). I love driving (just not the parking part) and can't wait go on road trips in it - it makes me feel so free and independent!

Outfit

Top: Cotton On
Bottom: Zara Skirt
Accessories: Wittner shoes, Forever New Kathryn Necklace (here, also worn here)

Here are more statement skirts I am loving at the moment (i.e. the fruits of my procrastination):

From left to right: Marcs Rayon Oversize Floral Circle Skirt (here), Forever New Petra Printed A-Line Skirt (here), Forever New Gabrielle Pleated A-Line Skirt (here), Alice McCall Breaks the Cage Skirt (here)

I am off to have a (hopefully) relaxing weekend, after the craziness of exams and work - hope you all have a fantastic one too!

:)

What do you think of A-line and tulip skirts?

{Funky Friday}

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I have been feeling uninspired about my work wardrobe. So I have been shopping (and instagram-ing) for some pieces to add some fun and flair to my work outfit to give me a break from the usual suit/shirt combo. I was pretty pleased with myself when I found this outfit from Saba for only $98 (reduced from RRP of $278)! I love sales. I actually shop a lot of my work staples from Saba because they are of great quality and the size 6 generally run true too size so they actually fit me 80% of the time.

I love the rich colour of the top and the print (first leopard print item..ever) on the bottom keeps it fun. Together, they make a great combination for casual Fridays (or any work day depending on how corporate your office is) and after-work drinks. Oh and the side zipper on the skirt can be zipped up from the bottom - so useful when going up stairs or when I need to power-walk to the office!

Outfit

Top: Saba Sharla Knit ($59 from $129), Saba Suit Jacket
Bottom: Saba Funky Leopard Skirt ($39 from $149)
Shoes: Wittner

Happy Friday everyone!

:) 

How do you keep your work wardrobe fresh and stylish?

{Purple Haze}

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I love the colours on this dress – they remind me of those pink and purple and golden sunsets that steal my breath away. The shimmering silk and feminine cut is very much “me” and this is my go-to dress for special occasions – formals and birthdays. This is one of those dresses that make me feel beautiful. To me, it is important that what I wear makes me feel good about myself. It is not about dressing for others’ approval, but putting in the few extra steps so that I know I am presenting my true self to the world.

I have very few v-neckline dresses/tops in my wardrobe – because I know I am never going to have the curves to make it work. Despite this, I couldn’t resist this dress and had to have it. I have added in this gold leaf necklace (which I pinned here) to provide a focal point centred above the v. V-necklines are a great way for short women to look thinner and taller – they help to elongate the neck and torso. What do you think of the results?

Outfit

Dress: Witchery
Accessories: Colette Gold Diamante Leaf Necklace (here), Orchirly bag
Shoes: Wittner

Don’t forget to follow me on instagram (@_naomip) and pinterest to see what I am loving and buying – these activities increase exponentially when I cram for exams!

Thank you for reading everyone!

:)

{Feel the Breeze}

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I rediscovered this high-low dress stashed away in my closet - just in time for summer. High-low dresses are surprisingly easy to wear - they are fun, create an interesting silhouette, show a bit of leg and help draw attention to your shoes! I have paired it with these bright wedges for extra height, a pop of colour and comfort (really good for walking on grass). I think the orange in the wedges really help to pick up some of the colours in the dress. And above all else, I love the swishing movements the skirts make when I walk.. makes we want to run around in circles haha.

 (My mum thinks I look like some furry animal here...)

Outfit

Dress: Portmans
Shoes: Forever New Brooklyn Strap Wedge (here, also worn here)
Accessories: Alannah Hill headband, Orchirly bag

Today marks a small milestone for me - I survived a month at my new job and did my 10th post on this blog! Gonna celebrate with some ice-cream (of the peanut butter variety) and then it's study time!

Thanks for dropping by and as always, I would love to hear what you think!

:) 

Have you rediscovered "new" pieces in your wardrobe lately?

{Paperbag Goodness}

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One of my favourite summer pieces are paper bag shorts (and paper bag pants for winter of course). They are roomy, comfy and a bit dorky which makes them so endearing! I have balanced the bright fuchsia colour of these shorts with a more understated stripe tee for a wear-everywhere summer look.

I posted about this Marcs tee here and soon after caved and bought it - it is actually my first stripe tee! Stripe tees really embody casual chic to me (and Marcs does them so well). I am already thinking of getting more... (like this one: Breton 2 Colour Stripe Tee)

Outfit

Top: Marcs Slub Stripe Popper Detail Short Sleeve Tee
Bottom: Dotti Paperbag Shorts 
Accessories: Diva bracelet, Mimco shoes

Happy Friday everyone and have a fantastic weekend!

For more #petiteplaground, head onto: bloglovin | instagram | chictopia

:)

How would you style these paperbag shorts?

Thanks for reading!

{Ladylike Charm}

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I remember buying this outfit from Forever New way back in high school (almost 5 years ago!), it was probably my first purchase of "formal" wear. I loved it to bits back then and still do today :) I wore this to a French-themed party and thought the lace details, blush tones and volume under the skirt combined to give a ladylike and feminine look. The trench is an item that I don't wear nearly enough - unfortunately I struggle to find things to match it with but it works well enough here.

 Outfit

Top: Forever New

Bottom: Forever New
Shoes: Wittner

This is the first post where I have let my hair down (literally haha)... I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do with this frizzy and untameable mess of mine.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend and and talk soon!

:)

What would you wear this outfit to?

{Stay on Top}

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My love affair with polka dots continues with this playful polka dot dress from Topshop.  On the topic of Topshop... we Sydneysiders finally got our very first Topshop store! I must admit that I only have a few Topshop items and this dress by far is my favourite. The blue and white combination is so classic and easy to work with. I remember how I instantly gravitated towards it instore when I was in London earlier in the year and it has been a wardrobe staple ever since! (Note: now that I'm looking at the hemline in these photos, I think it might have shrunk a bit in the wash...sadface).

Outfit

Dress: Topshop

Shoes: Mimco

I am sorry I haven't posted in a week! I'm trying to stay on top of everything - uni (end of semester assessments are looming), new job (it's like learning a new language), friends (who give me so many reasons to smile) and everything in between!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone - I am definitely gonna make the most of this sunny and calmer weather in Sydney!

:)

Have you bought anything from Topshop?