Festive Shoes | DIY

Hello lovely friends!

It is December (obviously) and we have been invited to a couple of Christmas parties this year. There is nothing we love more than getting super festive, so when we saw these shoes, we freaked out.

But then we couldn't find them anywhere, and thought they'd be pretty easy to make, and my golly, the so are.

So, if you've been watching our Vlogmas, then you'll know we recently went to Spotlight to get some things to try this out.

All you will need are a pair of shoes of your choice: We went with these gold ballet flats from Big W

A hot glue gun + glue, and some festive pompoms (or any decoration of your choice)

Method: Heat up your hot glue gun, decide on how you want to arrange your decoration, dab some glue onto the decoration and secure into place on your shoe.

Let them dry and HOORAY. You have festive shoes. 

Super cute, super easy and super cheap. 

Claire is going to wear her's to work the week leading up to Christmas.

Let us know if you give this a go, and send us pictures! We'll love to see them.

Stay gold xx

A Pop of Colour | Style

Dress: Target | Sandals: K-Mart | Earrings: Diva (yes, they are that old!)

Hi all, Grace here! 

Everyone always says that to dress like a Melbournian, wear black. Well, black and any other dark colours. However, I very rarely wear all black, or black in general (apart from shoes and jeans) unless I am volunteering at art events. Navy blue is definitely the neutral colour in my wardrobe. I cannot help but have colour! 

However, when I stumbled across this dress in Target last month, I fell in love. This dress works well with wearing the dark colours of Melbourne while still having a Spring and Summer feel to it with the darling pops of bright yellow in the detail with the flowers. It also works perfectly for when Melbourne has its typical cloudy Summer days. You can dress to suit the sky, but still feel like you are staying true to the Summer season. 

I kept the accessorising for this dress to a minimum (shocking for me, I know!), choosing to go with some dangling earrings as my only jewellery to tie in the yellow on the dress, and a black flat sandal. Although a long necklace with a pendant on the end will also go well with this dress. 

How would you describe Melbourne fashion? 

As always,

 stay gold!

x

P.S Have you been keeping up with our Vlogmas? It is a great way to show you our day-to-day life in Melbourne. Be sure to subscribe to our youtube channel so you don't miss out!

Baseball Chic | Style

Hat: General Pants Co | Top: Factorie but no longer available | Jeans: Cassie High Waisted 
Bag: Colette (similar) | Shoes: Dotti (Similar) | Earrings: Sportsgirl | Necklace: Lovisa

Hello lovely friends!

We are back with a style post for you. I have been obsessed with my baseball hat for weeks now. If I'm not at work, I am most likely wearing it. It's effortless, and cute, and great for when we run out of dry shampoo. 

This is a great transition outfit for spring, especially with the rollercoaster ride that is Melbourne weather. And who doesn't like to wear all-black from time to time? It's chic, cute, and this outfit is so effortless.

While the top is no longer available from Factorie, you could easily replicate with any black crop top.

Stay Gold,

Claire

Our Spring/Summer Wishlist 2015

white dress | pyjama set | white cropped t-shirt |

 black sandals | crossbody bag 

check shirt | anchor shorts | tan sandals | shirt dress

These upcoming warmer months, I am looking forward to exploring my blue and white with a splash of colour (I'm feeling pink for this season, perhaps some mustard yellow, too) palette into my S/S wardrobe. The pyjama set from H&M are to die for! The only thing that could make them total perfection is if they were monogrammed. I also refuse to let go of jelly sandals as the shoe for Summer. They are such a classic! I am planning on keeping the trend going with jellies in black, white, and maybe pink too.

In case you have not noticed, I like to keep things classic in my style, with a few surprises here and there. The shorts, also from H&M would look perfect with a button down, while the neon pink cross body will be my go-to bag for day adventures.

The blue and white dress is definitely my splurge item. I was walking past French Connection when I saw the most beautiful dress in the window. Automatically I walked inside the store to have a closer look, and guys, oh my word was it amazing. French Connection is actually really appealing to my aesthetics at the moment. The dress is a bit out of my usual price range, but I know that I will definitely get my wear out of it. So it is totally a valid investment, right? 

yellow shift dress | white playsuit | black swing dress
| sunglasses |
white off the shoulder top | white ruffle crop top | crossbody bag
black sandals | white sandals

This combination of items are making me hearteyes all over the place. 

This season I am feeling a lot of white with my blue denim high-waisted shorts, black shoes, and I am determined to make the swing dress work for me. I am such a mid-20th century aesthetics kinda gal, (60s and 70s I ADORE) so I am 100% here for the return of the 70s right now. Bring me all the bell sleeves!

We had a ball creating this post! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. As the new seasons come in and when Uni comes to a close for another year we are excited to start creating more fashion/style posts for the future.

What trends are you looking forward to rocking this Spring/Summer?

Stay gold,

G & C

A Change Will Do You Good

Hello all!

People usually change their hair to signify a new point in their life. When I graduated high school, I cut my signature long locks into a shoulder-length bob (It is funny how this style would become the hair trend the following year). 

As I am leaving my teens, I feel that I am finally coming into my own. I am feeling really good about this semester, and the rest of my degree even. This is when things in my life start to take off, so I would like to change my hair to commemorate that.

When I told our Dad that we were going to change the colour of our hair he said, “Well you and Claire have never done anything really outrageous before.” Which is true, and is why I am making such a big deal about dyeing my hair a totally normal shade. 

For me, this is one of the biggest, spontaneous thing I can do, bar buying a ticket overseas without the proper amount of money saved.

Likewise, Claire is also feeling like she is coming into her own. Double major of media and cinema studies finalised, and a volunteering gig under her belt, the future is taking shape and possibilities are opening up. 

Also with the help of Pintrest, (typical), I have figured out my style, and am in the process of re-vamping my wardrobe. It's out with the old and in with the new. While us dyeing our hair is the most outrageous thing we have ever done (thus far, we still have our 20s for more outrageous adventures. Like moving overseas! But that's a discussion for another day....) this is also an opportunity for our outsides to reflect our insides. 

Reaching Peak Claire and Grace!

Three semesters left of university. With jobs, volunteering and blogs happening, they are going to be wild. And of course, there are the endless possibilities of what to do AFTER Graduation. We are excited for what is yet to come. 

Claire isn't 100% blonde yet, but we are on our way! And there is still more to do for Grace, but dyeing your hair and finding a hairstyle that suits you is a process. We are proud to say that is has begun.

Stay gold!

C & G xx

Pre-Weekend Away Shopping Haul

Hello beautiful people!

We are very excited in the Graceful and Claire household this week. This is because next weekend, we are going to Sydney for a long weekend away with our bestie, Miriam! This is especially exciting, because this is actually the first holiday that we have planned and organised on our own, as adults. 

However, while our trip to Sydney will essentially consist of shopping and art gallery/museum visits, we felt that there were a few things we needed to pick up first. So, along with our good friend, Elektra, as our enabler (because every shopping trip needs someone to say that yes, you totally do need another navy and white striped jumper), we visited Bourke St Mall to see what we could find. 

Kate: The Future Queen by Katie Nicholl ($21.99 - Dymocks)// Confession time: I am a huge fan of the European royal families. Especially the Cambridges. So you can imagine how excited I am to have this book in my possession as my holiday read! I already know more than normal people about Wills and Kate by watching numerous documentaries, and those US biopics from Lifetime and Hallmark, but I am sure that there will still be more I can learn by reading this book. 

*This image is from the Target website. I couldn't photograph the material very well*

Navy Jacket + Quilted Vest (currently on sale - Target) // I have been looking at finding a jacket that I can wear in the winter instead of wearing a coat everyday, and this jacket and vest combo is perfect. Not only are they two separate pieces, but they are also waterproof, which makes a great piece for when Melbourne decides to rain, out of the blue. 

This jacket comes with quite a story. Instead of explaining it, I will tell you the short version. Basically: The original price was $89, but with it being on sale, and my cashing in on Flybuys points (I'm a real adult guys!), I only paid $7.05. I am fairly pleased with myself for that one. 

Striped Boat Neck Jumper ($39.95 - H&M) // (similar linked) 

We love navy and white stripes. It's a thing, let's just all accept it. It is nautical, french and classic, all at the same time. Feel the love <3 What I love most about this jumper is that I'll be able to wear it with some jeans or shorts and I have a cute, chic outfit. And so effortless as well! Isn't that just the dream? - C

Heeled Ankle Boots ($49.95 - Rubi Shoes) // 

I've been on the hunt for heeled boots, because who doesn't love them? I particularly like these ones, also am really into the whole open at the side thing. I also like the gold hardware (as I am such a gold person). I am very excited to wear these with jeans to Uni - C

Handbag (On sale for $69 - Zara) // Unfortunately, Zara Australia is not online, so I cannot find a link to this bag online. If you are as in love with it as I am, then you are going to have to go in store and find it. Trust me, these photos do not do this bag justice! This purchase was not for our Sydney trip, like the others. I actually bought this bag to use for Uni. For more details, I might do a What's In My Bag? post for the second semester of Uni. 

Union Jack Bunting ($5 - Treats From Home) // 
One of our grandmothers was born in England and we wear this 1/4 English badge with pride. Union Jack bunting is something we've wanted to have for the apartment for a while so when we stumbled upon this English food shop above Dymocks on Collins Street, we were like "hell yes!" Grace got a photo with a statue of the Queen and we saw like 5 mugs we want to go back and purchase.

Yay England! 

Stay Gold!

xx

Award Season & Claire Really Loves Movies

Hello, all!

You may have seen on our Twitter that our second favourite time of the year is upon us: AWARD SEASON! And my oh my, do we love Award Season. This probably comes from our love of beautiful gowns, celebrities and watching things on screens aka Movies and Television. 

Award season came at such a convenient time for us when we still lived at home, since all the ceremonies and red carpets were televised on Austar/Foxtel, during the school holidays, while Grace and I were sitting at home bored and/or avoiding doing holiday homework (a plus about University: No more holiday homework!)

Unfortunately, since we no longer live at home and we must stay in Melbourne for work etc, we cannot watch the award ceremonies this year (except for the Oscars, which is televised on free-to-air tv thank goodness), we shall be doing what Claire (me) did for the Tony Awards last year: Constantly refreshing twitter as each of the awards are given and wait for Buzzfeed to update their Winners post. This method worked quite well for the Golden Globes last Monday.

The Golden Globes are very exciting to me, because it celebrates TV AND Movies at the same awards show! And Tina Fey & Amy Poehler hosted 2 years in a row.

Also, it can give you a good indication as to what might receive Oscar nominations. So, there was I last Monday, computer on my lap, Twitter and BuzFeed open and constantly refreshed and 2015 planner by my side, listing which films I need to see, the release dates, and where I can see them (As well as documenting what won Best Motion Picture Comedy/Drama, TV series Comedy/Drama as well as the acting categories. It's a very detailed system. 

Today the nominations for the 2015 Oscars were announced, and I am making it my mission (and by default, Grace's) to see as many of the films nominated for the Best Motion Picture Oscar as I (we) can before the award ceremony (which, thank goodness, is on the week before Uni starts. Last year I had classes and had to avoid all social media and wait until the repeat at 9pm to watch it).

The films are:

- Whiplash

- Birdman

- American Sniper

- Grand Budapest Hotel

- Selma

- The Imitation Game

- Boyhood

- The Theory of Everything

(What a sausage fest. Where are our ladies at? And how come Selma wasn't nominated for any acting awards? The Academy/The Oscars are very problematic.)

Now, we have already seen Grand Budapest Hotel and The Imitation Game, so that leaves us 6 films to go. We are also adding to the list Reese Witherspoon's new movie, Wild, which she is nominated for Best Actress (by the looks of the trailer, we feel like it might have been snubbed, but we will see)

Now, going to the movies these days is so expensive. Like, as dedicated Village Cinema's people, it costs us $25 for snacks alone. Insane. 

BUT here are some tips to get discounts/see as many movies as you can for a cheaper price:

Find out what day your cinema offers a student discount (most of them do)

For Village Cinemas & Hoyts, these days are Tuesday's. 

At Cinema Nova in Melbourne, on Monday's you can get tickets for $7 for any session before 4pm, and $9 for any session after. 

It's amazing. On Monday Grace and I are planning on going to see Whiplash AND Birdman just because $7 tickets.

So there is our second tip: If you are trying to see a lot of movies like us, take advantage of the cheaper prices and make it a double feature. Cheap tickets, yo!

Award season is also about the fashion! Who can forget Lupita N'Yongo absolutely slaying the red carpet last year? What a goddess.

As the season continues, we'll be sure to share with you our favourite looks, (just because) and keep you all updated with our film viewing progress.

You can also keep updated with our Twitter and our Instagram account.

And this has been our longest post, yet! 

I just really, really, REALLY love movies, guys.

Stay fab!

Claire x

Viola Davis, what a Queen.

Emma Stone

Anna Kendrick