Before we get started - a reminder if you’d like to win an original painting by artist Narjia Brownlie valued at $8100 (and raise money for women’s charity, Good Shepherd) - enter here. The winner will be announced January 9!
I love to shop. I love special things. Here’s my best buys of the year!
These $30 jeans
I bought a pair of these Cotton On jeans on a whim a few year ago in a dark grey shade (make sure you size up). I’ve lived in them ever since and don’t know why I didn’t buy another colour way sooner! I bought the cream version a few months ago and have worn them multiple times a week since. They look and feel expensive - but I got mine for $30. Full price they’re $59.95 but they always go on sale.
Vintage Chanel Classic Flap bag
For my birthday this year I treated myself to a vintage chocolate brown, with gold hardware Chanel Classic Small Flap Bag. It’s from the 90s, in perfect condition. It makes me so happy.
Two other fantastic vintage bags of note: a suede Gucci bag and a super soft Bottega crossbody bag. I’ve been looking for a vintage Bottega bag like this forever! I ended up finding it online from Carme Vintage. The Gucci bag however was a spur of the moment purchase. As soon as I saw it at (excellent vintage store) Iregular in Paris, I knew it would be mine. It’s since become a perfect every day bag. It fits my laptop, a book and all my other bullshit.
Aren’t we all always in pursuit of a great white t-shirt? I’m convinced COS make the best t-shirts. Specifically this one I bought while I was in Florence in August this year. I love it so much I just bought two more during this week. Crisp, great thicker collar around the neck. I’ve got both a small and a medium.
Chanel Shoes x 2
While I was in LA in January, I was debating between two pairs of Chanel shoes; some ballet flats and some heels. I ended up going with the heels and I’ve worn them constantly this year. The black and white colourway is so complimentary to any outfit - both dressy and relaxed. They’re incredibly comfortable and feel special.
I never forgot about the ballet flats and just this week in Melbourne, I popped into Chanel and the black ballet flats from January were there! It felt like a sign that they were in front of me again, in my size, begging to become mine. So I bought them!
TBH Skincare Acne Hack spot treatment
I’m always trialing products, especially products to help with my acne/congestion prone skin. This is the best acne product I’ve tried all year. It’s a blemish cream that doesn’t irritate your skin, but works on diminishing/eliminating any breakouts that pop up while helping to prevent any new blemishes from appearing. It’s a perfect product. I am absolutely obsessed. Buy it here. (FYI I’m working on a dedicated acne/congestion substack. Coming soon.)
I got SO lucky when I visited the Alaia store in New York at the height of the Alaia ballet flat craze in July this year. They miraculously had my size in the studded flats so of course I had to buy them.
I had a bit of regret afterwards thinking I’d just fallen prey to a trend and stressed if I’d ever use them but they’ve become my most worn shoes of the year. I wear them so much my mum makes fun of me. But they dress up a relaxed outfit and are nice and fun enough to wear to formal occasions. Plus they’re so unbelievably comfortable! They’re also great conversation starters as someone always has something to say about them. Buy them here. Or here.
Vintage Levi 501s
While in Florence, my mum and I came across this incredible vintage store called Momo Vintage near our accomodation. They had SO many pairs of vintage Levis. Just like the journey of finding a perfect white t-shirt, aren’t we all just trying to find our dream jeans?
I tried on a bunch and liked a few but there was one pair that fit quite well but were on the tighter side. My mum told me I had to get them and I hesitated. But after trying on a few more things I ended up buying that pair and thank god I did. They’re my favourite favourite favourite jeans I’ve ever owned. They manage to be comfortable but perfectly fitted (after being too tight in the store they’ve given a little over time) at the same time. Moral of the story - mum always knows.
Our new carpet (see above pic)
The carpet man may have ghosted us on 6-7 occasions but when it was finally installed, everything changed. Replacing our old carpet with this beautiful Bremworth wool carpet (we got this one in the shade Kaolin) changed the look and feel of our home instantly. It was maybe the best money we spent all year. It’s so soft and bouncy.
Special mention to our custom lighting (made by Katie Ann Houghton via Rainbow Studios) was such a treat to finally install also!
I finally tracked down a couch that both looks good and is extremely comfortable. We ended up finding the MCM Milan 3.5 seater with two ottomans on Facebook Marketplace in incredible condition for an amazing prize. It’s huge! I’ve barely moved from it since we got it.
Jewellery:
Cartier Tank
To celebrate a decade of being together, Angus surprised me with a vintage Cartier Tank. It’s a piece that I will treasure forever. It’s so special to me, I love it so much. The strap it came with broke a few months after I got it (which we anticipated) so we replaced it with a new one at Cartier in Sydney. I always love to commemorate a special milestone with forever jewellery pieces.
I was lucky enough to be gifted two other beautiful pieces to my everyday jewellery collection this year- Linden Cook signet ring in 9k yellow gold - this has an imprint of Angus’ fingerprint on it. Later in the year, Paddington jeweller, Sarah Gardner invited me in to pick out a ring and I chose the yellow gold Pretzel ring with diamonds.
I’ve worn this mini skirt all year. It’s great in warm weather and fabulous in the winter months as well. It’s perfect and worth every penny. I sized up so it would be a tiny bit longer also.
I can’t explain how good this hairdryer is. Like, I never thought I’d be this excited/into a hairdryer! But the Dyson Supersonic exceeded any expectation I could have had (it’s currently on sale too). It’s beautiful, sleek, dries my hair so so quickly and easily without damaging it in the process. All of the attachments it comes with are so necessary and game-changing.
Vintage jackets: blue jacket, suede jacket, trench
One of my favourite things to seek out in a vintage store or market is a good jacket or coat. These are three I love the most. The trench I found this week in Ballarat at vintage store, The Dressing Room. The suede jacket in the middle I found at Reseller in Copenhagen. The last jacket is from the Melrose Trading Post Market in Los Angeles.
And lastly, my trip overseas with my mum
I loved this trip so much that I was deeply depressed when I got home. I had the most incredible 7 weeks away with my mum. At the start of this year we had a friend in LA offer their house to us for 2 weeks in the middle of the year. Mum was newly working for herself and immediately wanted to take up the opportunity. So by February we had booked our big trip away.
We travelled to Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris, Milan, Florence, Rome and Copenhagen together, mostly laughing and occasionally bickering our way through it. What a joy to have that precious time together. We can’t wait to do it again.
I hope you found this round-up fun!
I will also share a list of the best things I did for me this year - including positive lifestyle changes, that (mostly) don’t cost a thing!
More Smooth Brain Thoughts soon,
Ali xx