Melbourne Diaries
An open-ended record of the city's food, art, architecture, and fashion — the standout places, the daily moments in between, and everything worth documenting along the way. No end date. Enjoy.
CARTIER: Melbourne Winter Masterpieces
Location: NGV
Joey Scandizzo for the hair. Tony Bianco for the shoes.
Reine & La Rue
An instant favourite. Post-work martini on a Friday night.
My everyday fragrance.
Alto Astral by Byredo.
Gimlet
My favorite restaurant in Melbourne.
The capsule wardrobe
(and some other thoughts)
I thought I’d write a section dedicated to my outfits on rotation. I purposefully left out using the word “currently” in that sentence, as I tend to find pieces that I believe are timeless and which become staple pieces for long periods. I gravitate naturally towards neutral colour palettes; black, white, grey and brown. I’ve developed a love for a deep burgundy / maroon red over time too. I definitely love the capsule wardrobe approach, and I must admit that for me, capsule wardrobe has been a fancy way of saying I’ve been living out a suitcase for the past few months. Now that I’m back in Melbourne I’m slowly adding a few select pieces to my collection, and building my Winter wardrobe. First, a good quality umbrella, and a decent pair of gloves. I had my eyes on the Bottega Veneta gloves in red. After work the other night I went in to have a look, however I discovered they don’t have the red colour gloves in Australia. I tried on the chocolate brown and they were lovely, but I had my heart set on the red, so I’ve left that on the wish list for the moment.
Anyway, back to the capsule wardrobe. I like outfits that are statement pieces, but also hold restraint. I have one pair of black suit trousers and a black blazer that I wear consistently. I dress them up and down with different jewelry, or by choosing between a berry lip or a nude lip. I have a few special pairs of heels that have been in my wardrobe for the better part of ten years. They come out on special occasions. There’s a handful of long sleeve tops; turtlenecks are my favorite, especially in Winter. I have one favorite dress, a deep red floor length gown. It’s my favorite because of the fit, but also the memories that were had when wearing it.
This blog weaves a multitude of interests; art, architecture, food and fashion. I’m not an artist, architect or stylist, but I am a foodie and I have an enormous love for all of the above. Over the last little while, I’ve tapped back into my creative side and it’s coming out in different ways than before; consistently training the eye to look for sharp lines, patterns, contrasts. I love to explore new places to eat and drink. This is especially true when travelling and trying new cuisines. The feel of the restaurant or bar is just as important as the meal or drink itself. I notice every minute detail; the architecture of the building, the lighting, what’s on the menu, how the item is served. The uniform and presence of the waiter. The one restaurant in Melbourne that hits every note for me is Gimlet, of which I’ve posted about previously. You walk in and it’s like you’ve been transported back in time to a different era, somewhere over in Europe. Every single detail is exceptional. Last time I was there, mid-martini, I went to the bathroom. Upon return I noticed my drink was missing. A split second later it reappeared - my waiter had placed it back in the fridge whilst I was gone so that the temperature remained perfect. I appreciate those small details. Someone close to me once said to me “I appreciate anything done well”. I have to say I agree with that sentiment.