chelsea blossoms.

{Top - Equipment; cardigan - Oroton; skirt - Zara; bag - Botkier; belt - ASOS; shoes - Guiseppe Zanotti}

Images taken by my gorgeous friend Minnie of the amazing blog Minnie Knows <3

As the northerly winds begin to blow their gentle chill across Australia, on a small street of perfectly congruent alabaster flats in London there are cherry blossoms ripening with the spring underneath the placid European sun. I could not have asked for a more perfect day when I spent the day with my new favourite Londoner, Minnie, a few weeks ago as we frolicked around Chelsea, devouring a leisurely brunch on Kings Road, followed by petal gelato cones...

Much love, Mandy. xx

chic eats : the butcher's daughter, NYC.

Inspiring food is difficult to come by. Inspiring raw, organic food is an insurmountable accomplishment. The Butcher's Daughter achieves exactly that - an experience that is delightful to the palate in a milieu that is as light and beautiful as its menu. A juice bar/cafe hybrid in the hip Nolita, it delivers the loveliest cold pressed juice melanges and smoothies (my favourite was 'cacao suave' - a divine concoction of raw cacao, cacao nibs, bananas, and almond milk) as well as dairy-free alternatives to their coffee selection (delicious cashew/almond milk). 

But moreover, it is their menu that stands out with a clear ethos that embraces gloriously fresh produce and salubrious ingredients - I had the quinoa salad and avocado toast, which were not only exquisitely presented but wholly droolworthy. There are few raw foods that induce cravings for me but the food here is so transcendent, so exquisitely executed, that I think about it almost every day now that I am back in the raw food void that is Australia. The crowd that linger here are also hip, but not in a pretentious way, and the place is warm with communal tables and effused light, which makes the experience all the more enticing. 

There is truly no more resplendent way to detox! 

Much love, Mandy. xx

The Butcher's Daughter

19 Kenmare St

NYC 10012

Ph: 212-219-3434

motel.

{Skirt and top - c/o TRACYEINNY; shoes - YSL}

Images by the gorgeous Love Yaz. 

My YSL-clad feet are well and truly planted back on home ground with the completion of my first day back at work in the restless ennui of a small town hospital in St George. Literally landed from London two days ago and generously imparted myself with 24 hours to reset my Circadian rhythm - completely worth it for an extra day in my beloved London! 

On a more sartorial note, tracyeinny is the most amazing purveyor of affordable fashion trends that doesn't compromise quality - this leatherette skirt has consolidated itself very stalwartly in my heart and you will find that almost everything on their site is utterly lovely. 

Thank you for all your patience with my slow posts but I hope I can resume the organisation soon!

Much love, Mandy. xx

Zara spring 2013.

{Zara spring lookbook 2013}

I was so enamoured with the entire Zara spring lookbook that I had to share these images so that we could collectively gush at the ubiquitous whites (definitely up my alley!), whimsical oriental prints, and Chloe-esque ruffles ... not sure how I'm going to restrain myself today at the London purveyors today!

Much love, Mandy. xx

Helmut Lang, NYC.

{Jacket & skirt - Helmut Lang; top - this is a plain tee; shoes - Guiseppe Zanotti; ring - Pree Brulee}

Images by the lovely Harpreet Kaur. 

It is difficult to describe with accuracy the manic phenomenon that is New York. From the moment I landed, everyone was so gregarious and embracing that I felt immediately at home, which in turn translated to a somewhat rapid adaptation to the local sartorial vernacular (slick, polished, and pragmatic upon a canvas of black). The thing I adore about New York is that you can make some really audacious wardrobe choices on a daily basis and still feel like you belong. Like the city itself, the aesthetic is so dynamic and bold that you can't help but fall in love with change...

...And just a note about this shoot - this series of images was taken by my beautiful friend Pree between the Frick Collection and Central Park after we traipsed around 5th Avenue for  our Laduree fix. Looking back at these images rich with gentle afternoon light dispersing through the foliage of Central Park, I am reminded that spring is truly the most whimsical time to visit New York...

Hope you are all having a glorious week and apologies for the chasm between posts! Am currently in London, but as always, you can follow my adventures (i.e. witness the disturbing amount of cake I am capable of consuming haha) on Instagram (frocks_frivolities). 

Much love, Mandy. xx