Back 2 Basics

Chuck on some Chucks, denim and grey knitwear for a laid back, every day look.  Too easy. 

MAGGIE WEARS:Top / Dotti || Skirt / Pare Basic || Jacket / Dotti || Shoes / Converse || Sunnies / Hello Sweetie ||
Velvet Choker / The XY Collection || Watch & Bangle / The Peach Box || 

Hiiii guys! Back here today with a simple, basic outfit consisting of greys, whites and denim: a combination which you basically can't go wrong with. As you may know, skirts are my LIFE and a-line skirts are my absolute favourite favourite favourite and right now button through skirts are really in. I still haven't found my own button-through skirt as I'm looking for the perfect (as in won't break my wallet) one but for this I stole my little sister's denim one. White denim isn't usually my thing because I'm in constant fear of making them dirty as I am quite possibly one of the clumsiest people ever. Oh the sacrifices I make for a blog post. 

To jazz up the otherwise simple outfit I've added a velvet choker (can someone buy me this one though??), reflective circular sunnies, a lil' backpack and statement jewellery from The Peach Box. Isn't this rose gold Marc Bale watch paired with this gold aztec bangle a perfect combination? I'm in love with both pieces and if you are smitten like myself, you can grab 15% off storewide using the code "mb-yemagz".

I'm also totally loving this versatile grey knit vest and oversized denim jacket sent from the lovely folk from Dotti and believe me, they have gotten a lot of wear in the past few weeks. Here's a tip: knit vests and denim jackets are PERFECT for trans-seasonal wear. But speaking of weather... Tomorrow's the first day of summer and I'm SO not prepared for the stinking hot humid air and blazing sun. Eugh. No thanks. Not for me. You'll find me curled up watching many, many movies and TV shows while devouring Connoisseur ice cream (half price at Woolies, people!) That's basically my plan for the whole summer holidays. 

Auf Wiedersehen,

Mags xx

Insta Hacks 101: The Cafe Flatlay

via @meowjoce 

Ahh, the art of perfecting the cafe flatlay. An elaborate mixture of precisely placed plates and flattering angles. It's the epitome of Instagram success; that one perfect shot we strive towards. Here are some golden insider #hacks on how to take the flawless Insta you have always dreamt of. 

via @taramilktea

1. LIGHTING, LIGHTING, LIGHTING

As all Instagram photographers (because if you take photos, you must be a photographer right??) know, natural lighting is a must. Be seated next to a window to keep up that clean, light Insta feed. I for one have never moved seats because of this... *sweats nervously* 

via @boyform_

2. B IS FOR BACKGROUND  

To maintain that minimalist and totally goals feed, it's vital to have a bright, preferably white, table. Because if it doesn't match your feed, might as well just give up then and there and shamefully snapchat the unworthy meal. Extra 10 points for a marble table top. 

via @thatsotee

3. WHAT'S GOOD FOR THE GRAM IS GOOD FOR YOU

Now we've got all the #aesthetic interior sorted out, let's talk about food. Don't even think about ordering what you feel like eating - that would just be ridiculous. You gotta order what will look most visual appealing. 10 points for a smoothie bowl. An extra 5 if it has flax and chia seeds, quinoa, goji berries and kale sprinkled artfully on top in perfectly orchestrated lines. 

via @theiconicau

4. CHANNEL YOUR INNER STYLIST 

Alright, so you've ordered your food and now you wait patiently for it to arrive, right? WRONG. You are wasting crucial planning time in which you can gather objects to fill your frame.
Salt and pepper shakers? Check.
Floral centrepieces? Check.
Wallets? Check. 10 points for an Acne or Mimco purse
Calculatedly opened magazines or newspapers? Check.
Carefully sipped coffees which still have their coffee art? Check.
iPhone that you should be taking the photo with? Check.
Your watch which for some reason you take off when you eat? Check.

via @crimixaled

5. THIS IS IT

Young grasshopper, your moment is here, this is what your training has led up to. Your food has arrived and so has your time to shine. Place the prettiest plate of food in the foreground - your friend doesn't have to eat the food they ordered, it's fine - and take about 624 photos from all angles. You gotta get that perfect birds eye view shot! Stand up! Stand on a chair! Bring a stepladder! And my personal fave tip: getting your friends to freeze mid cutlery-hold to pretend that they're about to eat. But we all know they're gonna have to wait another painstaking 10 minutes to eat.

via @katnt

6. OH YEAH...

Satisfied with a photo that's totally going to make you Insta famous? I guess you could like, eat your food or something. But don't forget to gram it at #primetime... because if you didn't post it, it never happened right?

via myself sadly (@yemagz) (nothing like a bit of good ol' self promotion) 

I for one am guilty of indulging in this addictive behaviour - well, maybe not to the extent I mentioned but you catch my drift. SO it's totally okay to snap a pic of your food but y'know like it's a good idea to eat it before it gets cold/your chia seeds get soggy or whatever. 

OK lots of love as always,

Mags xx

LBD

All a girl needs is some confidence, killer shoes and a little black dress. 

I just want to formally welcome this new addition to my wardrobe: this little black dress. The history of LBDs dates back to millenniums ago and from them the have spurred into a classic, a must for every wardrobe. 

Dresses have only been recently creeping into my closet because for some reason, they just honestly look really bad on me. Like I just find it so hard to find one which the cut, style and pattern suit me. Sigh. A tragedy I know. Talk about the real difficulties in life. 

Anyway, the other week my mum came home with this dress from Pare Basic and I did a lil squeal since I love all things ribbed and high necked. So naturally, I stole it off her. And here is a blog post of two of the many ways you can style a LBD. Let me know in the comments which you prefer! X 

LOOK 1: Milkshakes & Pom Poms 

MAGGIE WEARS:
Dress / Pare Basic via Universal Store || Jacket / Retrostar Vintage Sale || Bag / Thrifted ||
Earrings / Hello Sweetie || Sunglasses / Sportsgirl || Socks / Dangerfield 

LOOK 2: Kimono lovin' 

MAGGIE WEARS:
Dress / Pare Basic || Kimono / Cotton On || Shoes / Rubi Shoes

 I have so many blog posts ahead so keep an eye out! I'm right in the midst of exams yet I'm still finding time to post on my blog more regularly than usual... #prioritiesstraight. 

Well I'm going to head off and finish rereading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for about the seventh time and then write up some more studio essays. Talk about a wild Friday night.

Catch ya on the flip side,

Mags xx