As you know, cakes and shoes are my vices. Both are pure indulgences but are also so bad… Lately though I’ve been trying to eat less cake and buy less shoes (wish me luck right now!) I’m sure all women have a love-hate relationship with high heels because they are so leg-friendly but not so kind to our feet. My feet get migraines after they are forced in a pair of 5-inches for an entire day. After a day of wearing my beloved YSL pumps, for example, I’m forced to befriend a tub of lukewarm water infused with Epsom salts.

I’d heard of Party Feet and other insoles but they are mere band-aids. For someone with a vet degree, I need more convincing evidence before I allow any ‘fillets’ near my feet. Thank God, somewhere out there, in a land far far away, a clever American podiatrist scientifically engineered a corrective, weight-shifting device for our feet. Meet Insolia brought to Australia by All Day Heels! I’d never seen anything like this!

Just as its name suggests, Insolia are transparent insoles (DUH!!!) placed inside the most vertiginous heels to help our feet cope with gravity and activity. If you’re like me, into physics and rocket science, the Insolia footage (no pun intended) is available here for your viewing pleasure. Basically they reposition our foot inside a high heel shifting weight off the ball of our foot onto the heel (where it naturally should be) so there’s less pressure on our feet, less pain and better posture. Kinda like wearing flat shoes!

This luscious green blouse (in mint condition! No pun intended here either) was my favourite find from Camberwell Market, see a similar one here. I finally went for the first time last Sunday. Can’t wait to show you the other spoils!

OK yes this is a Sponsored post but I’ve tested and tried these insoles and highly recommend them to anyone who wears heels, even to the kitten-heel-addict. After wearing Insolia all day, my feet rarely complained and they didn’t scream for massages or salt baths. Although the insoles had not effect on my cake-cravings…

Where: QV- Heading to dine with girlfriends

Wear: Vintage blouse (similar one here), BCBG Max Azria pants, vintage earrings, belt (similar one here), clutch, Shoesales.com.au shoes with vintage shoe clips and Insolia inserts!

I’ve had this baby blue vintage jacket for a while now and have barely taken it out for a stroll but the mood-lifting colour of it and the Arnsdorf skirt convinced me that they are totally bright for each other. Never thought I’d ever wear blue and pink together again as an adolescent but the hues just make me smile.

I was hasty when I ordered this pink Arnsdorf skirt. It was meant to match the pink Arnsdorf top, seen here. But I didn’t realise that the skirt really wasn’t going to have any lining! Sometimes pieces are made for the runway and then altered for commercial purposes. But this skirt came as is! A sheer pink skirt wouldn’t be high on anyone’s lust-list, would it? But to my surprise, it has become the new best friend of all of my mini dresses that are too ashamed to be seen public with me. And how can anyone resist these ruffles?

Where: Stealing a kiss from the afternoon sun

Wear: vintage shades, necklace, jacket (similar one here), belt, dress (worn as top), and bag, Arnsdorf skirt, Sonia Rykiel heels

Win: The SOSUME Give-Away are in its last day(s)! Don’t miss out! To enter, head here!

OK I have a confession to make.

For a while now (lingering for a couple of years) I haven’t been loving my career as a vet. It was never my first love and it doesn’t fulfil me like fashion does. Many friends can attest to this, I used to be somewhat a little unhappy about my day job and would moan and groan about it. I know, such an ingrate!

But one day, when I was reading the Bible “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” from Psalm 51:12, I was instantly moved to tears. What a brat I’d been! The contrast between this amazing job God has given me versus my annoying dissatisfaction about the position sent me to my knees. I wept.

Thank God for snapping me out of it. I now go to work with a completely different view point, joyfully and willingly. I appreciate my colleagues, clients and their pets much more. I am finally able to see the countless blessings in my job. It was as if my eyes can finally see! When we think hard, there are great perks in all of our jobs that we ought to be grateful for.

I view life differently now too. Before, I was desperately hoping to get back into fashion but now, I find so much satisfaction and joy in my job, right here, right now. It’s as if a huge emotional boulder I’d been carrying for 6 years have finally been obliterated. So thankful. Can’t believe I’ve been blindly living in blessings.

One of the highlights of 2012 so far is the wedding of our dear friends, Jade and Roger. One of the most compassionate, intelligent, fun, driven and glamorous couples I’m blessed to know. When we were in Hong Kong, Roger filled us in the epic tale of how he proposed to Jade, with a raw diamond, upon her request. This ring she wears took Roger nearly a year to acquire. And for any ordinary mortal, they would have been deterred by the lack of un-dodgy suppliers, wholesalers and retailers and stopped their perilous pursuit. But not for Roger, he literally went to the ends of the earth to show Jade his love. And Jade? The words ‘beautiful’ and ‘talented’ are mere understatements of this music virtuoso with a black belt in Tae-kwon-do and a deep passion for the arts. In one of the speeches, the brides-MAN declared that ‘if he got a dollar every time Jade got hit on, he’d be Skype-ing his speech from his palace in Sweden.’

The BridesMan impersonating Zoolander

I was on an emotional high all day at the ‘Spring Runway’ themed wedding. The stunning bride wore a silk gown created by a Cambodian-based designer, Eric Raisina, purchased on their holidays. The beautiful bridal party included a brides-MAN and a grooms-LADY.  The bestmen were decked out in preppy Tommy-Hilfiger-inspired outfits which Roger art-directed (he is a designer, after all!). We were treated to a sensational Stokehouse gastronomic experience and got to witness the most divine speeches and be serenaded by dear friends and hubby(see below)! These photos can only offer a glimpse into the loving atmosphere of the day. But hey, we’ve all been gifted with imaginations! Enjoy!

Isn't Ash's Sass & Bide dress amazing?

The Bombe- Signature Dessert at Stokehouse

The Wedding Cake- 3 tiered cheese!

'Hey Roger take care of our Jadey/She used to be this little girl but now she's all a lady...'

Remember I mentioned in this post that I acquired something super special in Singapore? Well this is the dress. An original 70s’ Yves Saint Laurent one-shouldered ruffle gown. Couldn’t think of a better dress to wear to a ‘Spring Runway’ themed nuptial by the beach.

This is the stuff love is made of. Thank you Jade and Roger for an unforgettable day and we wish you the most extraordinary life together! “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” – 1 Peter 4:8

Where: The StokeHouse 30 Jacka Boulevard, St Kilda Beach, Phone: 03 9525 5555

Wear: Vintage 70s YSL silk dress (Vintage Designer Sale, Singapore), vintage Charles Jourdan heels, vintage earrings, ring, bracelet and belt.

I think I’m addicted to silk shirts. I wear it to everything, from plane rides to events to sleep. When in doubt, I pull one out. They are the perfect companions for pants, jeans, shorts and skirts. Remember that a silk shirt can even be worn as a skirt, as demonstrated here! If I were marooned on an island, all I need are silk shirts.

Introducing my new love: the printed Nikicio silk shirt. From afar, it resembles a reptile print, but up close you will discover something completely unexpected. See? It’s like I’m wearing  jumper, but not… I’ve ordered the matching pants too, can’t wait for them to arrive to complete the matchy look!

It’s been a while since Theodore has graced Cecylia.com, sorry everyone! Here is our dear pooch getting the ‘cute’ treatment and becoming acquainted with my vintage Roberta di Camerino bag. I learnt about the couture label when I was in Milan. Giuliana Camerino was highly innovative, she was the first handbag designer to use richly textured fabrics such as velvet, previously reserved for clothing only, to create her renowned bags. Her celebrity following included screen legends such as Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor. I was smitten by her life tale. Now whenever I go vintage shopping my eyes are always peeled for her signature gold R’s. Roberta di Camerino pieces can be found at ML Vintage.

You may recall me wearing my suede sandals here last. My lovely soft Habbot shoes are now on sale! Habbot has a new Pop-Up store at 589 Chapel St South Yarra! Pop in and grab a pair!

Where: on my way to get kebabs

Wear: Nikicio shirt, Versace sunnies (from OPSM, last seen here), vintage necklace, bracelet, belt (last seen here) and shorts, Self-made ring, Roberta di Camerino bag, Habbot shoes

PS- For some mindless fun, try saying ‘Roberta di Camerino’ really fast 10 times. It really rolls off your tongue doesn’t it?:)

PPS- Have you checked out the latest give-away? SOSUME is a Melbourne-made organic fashion label and this Tee is a darling!

What do you wear to weddings? It has come to my attention that for the past decade I’ve mainly worn dresses to weddings! How boring of me! The last few weddings I’ve recorded on the blog of me wearing dresses are here, here, here, here and here. (Wow that was a lot of weddings!) Inbetween these I attended one as a pianist and wore a blue blouse/pants set, seen here. Recently I decided to jump off the traditional wedding attire bandwagon and create quirky outfits that are still wedding-worthy. So the last wedding I attended I wore a tuxedo jumpsuit. And the wedding I attend on Australia Day last week created an opportunity for me to toy with a beloved trend- Renaissance.

So I pulled out my Victorian bellow-sleeve blouse, last seen here, and a H & M brocade skirt I’d discovered in an op-shop. Why anyone would get rid of a brand new brocade skirt (WITH POCKETS!) is just beyond me. I can only count my blessings and label it a ‘miracle-buy‘. Here is my darling friend Mei, who has been a big sister to this only-child-fashion-lover. Mei is also a self-confessed Net-a-Porter and Outnet addict. Don’t you just adore her Romance was Born silk dress? She is walking art. Baroque jewels and opulence, oh my!

So tell me, what do you wear to weddings? Are dresses your easy-option as well? Have you entered my SOSUME give-away yet? The Tee is made from the softest micro-modal, in Melbourne! I hope you’re embarking on a beautiful week, filled with surprises at every corner.

Where: at Victor & Rita’s wedding

Wear: vintage blouse, sunnies and belt, YSL ring, H & M skirt, wrist clutch from eBay, Scooter heels,

You may recall in this post where I raved on about Melbourne eco-lovin’ designer Alex and his organic label SOSUME. (If you don’t, here it is again for ya). I was sent 2 Tees, grey and white. I actually love the white one more because of the cute pocket detail, but I wanted my readers to have the best one. Since youth my mother drummed into me that it’s better to give the best away. I can guarantee you that it will be softest Tee you’ve ever tried. So here’s a warning: you may never want to take it off…

To get you in the mood for a white weekend, here’s my latest take on the milky trend.

It used to be a joke amongst my friends that I should get a granny chain because of my forgetfulness and propensity to lose sunglasses. But recently a beaded glasses chain caught my eye at an op shop and its sheer beauty helped me erase the senility and taboo attached with it. It’s funny how time changes everything and trends can pleasantly surprise you like an anonymous love letter in the mail. The sunnies chain also doubles as a necklace!

Not sure if it’s because I’m attending 2 weddings within 3 days and since there’s no way I can wear white to these events, my rebellious nature has stimulated a desire to take the clean look to the streets. This year I’ve decided that I need to learn to adopt the Celine effect – embrace minimalism and instead of allowing clashed prints and bright colours always take centre stage, let the shapes and lines walk the talk. So if you also feel so inclined and love the colour white (yes it is a colour, ask any colourblind person), I’m giving you the opportunity to win the SOSUME white Vee Tee. All you need to do is share this post on your Facebook wall and Tweet it, and leave a comment below. Simple! The white winner will be announced Wednesday 8th Feb!

Have a wonderful weekend! Come chat if you miss me :) I’m ultra excited about a bestie’s wedding tomorrow. The theme is ‘Spring Runway’!

Where: After dinner at Abbotsford Convent

Wear: vintage earrings, dress and shoes, Pinkie the snail ring, Specsavers sunnies with vintage chain, vintage wrist clutch from eBay

Hello hello! You’ll be glad to know that I’m back in summer mode today. In this post where I wore yellow and pink a dear reader suggested that I should team pink and orange together. She must know that I adore challenges. Especially if they are the video game or fashion types. The key to mix colours harmoniously is to combine them in the same saturation. Colours in the same tonal family blend together more naturally. That’s not to say that you can’t mix brights and pastels together, you just need to work a little harder as a matchmaker.

This vintage bag is one of my most treasured possessions. A structured Doctor’s bag, the clasps are pure genius and so far I’ve only seen Fendi re-invent these vintage fasteners. It’s roomy enough to transport our big mamma SLR and fit a pair of flatties for emergency situations.

Another favourite I’m sporting here are these Vionnet satin beauties (last seen here). They are ON SALE now! I bought them for my birthday last year to satisfy my shoe addiction. Classically black and white, they add elegance to every outfit and I mean, EVERY outfit. Talking of shoes, the lucky winner of the Shoesales.com.au Give-away goes to Amanda! Your shoes are flying to you as we speak.

To add a tad of tomboy edginess to this otherwise very girly and ruffly ensemble, I supplemented the outfit with harsh lined shades, cowgirl ‘necklace’ and the gigantic Dynamite MAWI ring. Voila. Candy floss transformed into Sherbet Bomb.

Where: En route to watch movies

Wear: Vintage everything, Mawi ring, Vionnet heels, Serge Lutens Sa Majestic Rose fragrance

Where: on route to Chinese New Year Dinner, hence the sans-makeup, who wears makeup to see their parents?

Hello lovelies! Happy Friday and welcome to the first JUMPSUIT POST of 2012! This flirty Violet & I onesie is named after none other than Margherita Missoni, who inspired the entire SS12 collecion for designer Anna Linklater. Unfortunately I’m not an Italian heiress, so have not been blessed with her beauty (nor her bosom). The jumpsuit has a rather revealing neckline and I nearly chickened out by wearing a top underneath but then decided against committing fashion sacrilege. This jumpsuit was designed with an exotic setting in mind, although Melbourne has suddenly experienced a mild dose of season poisoning.

Hands up if you’ve visited the Lourve Museum. Sorry I can’t join you as I’m busy impersonating the most popular statue in the famous Parisian museum – Ms Venus de Milo. I remember having to squeeze past the entire population of China, whilst trying not to lose my Nina Ricci clutch and my husband to see her royal armless. Only then not being able to photograph her because of the ridiculous crowd of paparazzi blocking our path. I don’t understand why not having arms makes one more popular, she can’t even do the royal wave! My heart goes out to Venus though, she can’t wear rings and bracelets!

After carefully examining these frames, I have decided that I need to invest in a strapless bra. I’m sure Margherita would agree.

Also, lately many of you have been commenting about my wardrobe. Well you know that I’m trying to detox it in order to regain sanity in my life so please take a look and ‘adopt’ any pieces from my outlet store that you like!  Have a wonderfully relaxing weekend everyone! xx

Where: Out to dinner

Wear: Violet & I jumpsuit, Sonia Rykiel heels, vintage everything else

PS: Have you entered the Shoesales.com.au Giveaway yet?

Being a visual person, I like to keep my shoes out of their boxes and display them as wearable art. I store my footwear collection on white bookshelves for clarity reasons. But due to restricted space and a horrible hoarding habbit, some of my treasured footwear have had to reside in their original cartons, hence I have neglected many fine beauties as of late, like these Marc Jacobs butterfly laceups. I haven’t worn them for over a year! Feel like a bad mother… Actually I’ve never worn this vintage fringe dress or the tweed coat before either come to think of it…it’s simply not possible to dress up as a vet.

The purse was a gift from my grandma- it is so intricately made, like most vintage pieces from decades ago. There are multiple pockets inside including a mirror and a coin purse, all joined together! They don’t make things like they used to…My grandma is currently holidaying in Shanghai at the moment, wish I could join her :)

So how do you store your footwear?

Don’t you just love street art? The bold colours, lines and topography are both visually awakening and mentally stimulating. Why have coffee when you can just wake up to graffiti? Applauses to this street artist. All great art and design is proof of a greater designer. We are so blessed to live in this intricately created world. Happy Hump Day lovelies!

Don’t forget to enter the Shoesales.com.au Giveaway!

Where: On my way to get milk

Wear: Vintage everything, gifted ring (last seen here), Marc Jacobs shoes (last seen here)