Style Trunk

This is the last in my travel series from Australia, but we're ending on a high with Sydney. After a couple of days in Melbourne, we headed north and spent four days exploring the various neighbourhoods of the city and of course, the iconic coast. It's safe to say I left my heart in Sydney - the mixture of city meets beach, the laid-back lifestyle, ridiculously good food, shopping, architecture and friendly locals has made me pining to go back. I'm not going to lie, I've been checking for flight deals almost on the daily but for now, discover my travel guide to Sydney.  

We stayed in Paddington in an Airbnb and couldn't have been happier with our choice. The streets were lined with the most beautiful houses (just look at those above) and the variety of places to eat and drink was incredible. The shopping was great (go to Oxford Street for independents and shops like Incu for the likes of A.P.C., Acne and Common Projects), it was full of character, plus you're really close to Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and a bus ride away from Bondi or the CBD.   

Jumpsuit: COS

Converse: Coggles 

Where to Eat and Drink

Kurtosh - We spent a lot of time on Victoria Street in Darlinghurst, which was about a 5 minute walk from where we were staying, and was lined with bars, cafes and restaurants. Kurtosh is a bakery/cafe serving fresh baked goods everyday - try the signature Kürtőskalács for a taste of traditional Hungarian pastry.

Mad Pizza - Also on Victoria Street but there are a few locations around the city, Mad Pizza serves up fresh pizza plus a variety of pasta dishes - go if you want a casual bite to eat. 

Cali Press - We found there was a whole host of health food-driven places to eat in Sydney that didn't lose out when it came to quality or flavour. Cali Press (five locations around the city - we went to the Bondi cafe) is one of the best examples, full of cold pressed juices, whole foods and bulletproof coffee (try it, trust me). 

Buffalo Dining Club - A tiny place off Victoria Street, Buffalo Dining Club specialises in mozzarella. There are just a few things on the menu - first, you choose your cheese, side and prosciutto, and then you choose your pasta (go for the cacio e pepe, which they serve out of a cheese wheel). The dishes are large and ample to share between two, plus the space fills up quickly (especially at the weekend) so go early if you want a table. 

Elvio's - Another Italian on Victoria Street, Elvio's has a simple but well-executed menu, with a build-your-own antipasti concept. They also do great coffee, should you find yourself there during the day.

Gelato Messina - The best gelato you'll get outside of Italy, Gelato Messina is a bit of an institution in Sydney. The flavours are inventive and each one so delicious you'll want to try every one. 

Infinity Bakery - Situated on Oxford Street, Infinity Bakery is a bakery-come-cafe specialising in organic sourdough. It's a laid-back affair where you can either grab fresh goods to go, or sit down for brunch (the avocado on sourdough was my favourite) and coffee.   

Aside from eating (which you'll want to do a lot of), the best way to discover Sydney is wandering through the neighbourhoods by foot and stumbling across the little parks and boutiques. But the touristy stuff is well worth a visit too; go to the CBD for high street shopping, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, and Bondi for Aussie beach life. Do the Bondi to Coogee walk too, for incredible views and a chance to sample a variety of the city's beaches (the Coogee Pavilion provides a well-deserved rooftop drink at the end).  

Dress: & Other Stories

Sandals: Zara

Top: T by Alexander Wang

Trousers: H&M (similar)

Converse: Coggles

Sunglasses: c/o New Look 

Top: Mango

Blazer: Zara

Trousers: Uniqlo

Sandals: Atterley 

During our trip to Australia, we flew from Perth to Melbourne for a couple of days right in the city. We stayed in an Airbnb in Fitzroy which is about a 20 minute walk from the CBD and is full of independent restaurants, bars, coffee shops and clothes stores - it's a little like the Shoreditch of Melbourne. 

As we only had a couple of days, we spent most of our time wandering around the city, having brunch, stopping for coffee and then going out for drinks and dinner - which is pretty much my favourite thing to do, so it suited me fine.

If you're staying in Fitzroy, go to Brunswick Street for shopping (Assembly Label and Nique were my favourites) and dinner (we went to Village People for Vietnamese, Naked in the Sky for rooftop tapas and Transformer for incredible vegetarian). Make time for Gertrude Street as well for brunch (try the Donkey Wine Store and Cafe) and wine bars (Marion was our favourite). 

Dress: Paisie

Bag: MM6 Maison Margiela at Coggles (sold out, shop red)

Sandals: By Malene Birger 

I've just about settled back into reality after two and a half weeks in Australia. We headed out to Perth first for a wedding, before flying to Melbourne and Sydney for the rest of our trip and had the best time; the food, the landscape, the coffee, the weather and the relaxed way of life were just infectious, and I can't wait to get back. For now, discover my travel guide to Perth - where to stay, where to eat, and what to do. 

Where to Stay

As I mentioned, we went over for a wedding so a group of us stayed together. We opted to rent a house in Scarborough Beach, mainly for the space and the fact that we could just walk down to the beach in minutes. It's the kind of place that's really relaxed, with plenty of great places for coffee, brunch and well-positioned bars for a sundowner (the sunsets are incredible). If I visited again, I'd probably opt to stay in Fremantle, with its streets that are full of colonial-era architecture in bold and pastel shades, a bohemian atmosphere and some incredible spots to eat and drink.   

Sunglasses: ASOS

Dress: Totême

Where to Eat and Drink

I somehow managed to get no snaps of where we ate, probably because the food was so good I forgot to (shock) take a picture first. The food in Australia was so fresh and seasonal, and there wasn't one meal that was disappointing. 

The Wild Fig - Located just by Scarborough Beach, The Wild Fig has an inventive menu that covers everything from brunch and lunch, to evening snacks and dinner. The quality of the food was amazing, the vibe was relaxed and the positioning is incredible. 

The Sandbar - Just a few doors down from The Wild Fig is The Sandbar, a beachy kind of place that serves your classics - pizza, burgers etc. - and is a great for a post-beach drink.  

Lady Latte - We stopped by Lady Latte in Scarborough on our last day for a quick coffee before flying to Melbourne, but left wishing we'd got there sooner. It's quite small and a bit on its own, but the breakfasts looked (and smelled) delicious, and the coffee was perfect. 

Bib & Tucker - Located on Leighton Beach in Fremantle, Bib & Tucker does all-day dining in one of the best settings. Outside, tables give you views right across the ocean, while the interiors are contemporary with a slightly industrial feel. The food's great too (we went for a post-wedding breakfast and it proved the best place to ease a hangover), with a menu that's an inventive take on the classics. 

Little Creatures Brewery - Also in Fremantle is Little Creatures, a craft beer brewery where you can also have a pizza and a drink in their back garden. I'm not a big beer drinker but it's a nice spot to spend a sunny afternoon, plus they do free beer tasting which is worth a try.  

What to Do 

Kings Park - A botanic garden in the city, Kings Park is great for having a wander around or taking a picnic to. Plus, it gives you views right across the Swan River and Perth's skyline. 

Top: Oysho

Trousers: Oysho

Lancelin - On one of our days, we headed north up to the Pinnacles and stopped off at Lancelin on the way. It's a bit of a sleepy, beachside place but the sand dunes are incredible - huge white mountains of sand that make it look like a desert. If you go, make sure you save a bit of time for sandboarding. 

The Pinnacles - A bit of a drive from Perth (about 2.5 hours) but still interesting to visit if you've got the time. It's quite touristy but the natural desert sculptures are unlike anything I've seen before, plus you'll see a different side to Australia on the drive up.  

Rottnest Island - Again, a bit of a touristy spot but definitely worth a visit. It's about a 45-minute ferry ride from Perth (go on Tuesdays as the tickets are half price, otherwise it can get quite expensive), with loads of little coves, beaches and quokkas running around. I'd recommend staying overnight if you can, as there are so many places to explore - perfect if you're a beach lover like me. 

Sunglasses: c/o New Look

Swimsuit: c/o New Look

After a three week hiatus, I'm back to blogging as usual with loads of content from my recent trip to Australia. If you follow me on Instagram you'll know we had quite the activity-packed trip, from weddings and island exploring in Perth, to eating our way through Melbourne and having the arduous task of trying to find the best wine bar, and walking Sydney's coastline all while falling in love with the city.   

I'll be sharing my travel guides soon (along with all my outfits, of course) but for now, let's talk the Bardot neckline. Before I went away New Look asked me to style up two pieces to show the versatility of this look and for me, there's nothing better than an off-the-shoulder dress or top for easy holiday dressing. 

For day though, I went for something a little different with this incredible swimsuit. There's something I really love about a one-piece for a bit of old-school glamour (or more likely, the fact it hides that bread belly that inevitably crops up on holiday) and in my go-to colour of black, this provided a chic beach-side option.   

Sunglasses: ASOS

Top: c/o New Look

Jeans: ASOS

Shoes: c/o New Look 

When it comes to evening dressing on holiday, I tend to carry on with that sense of ease and effortlessness. Enter this white Bardot top with subtle crochet detailing that can be worn with everything from culottes and wide leg trousers, to jeans - as I have done in this instance, pairing with low-heeled slingbacks for a touch more of that old-school style.