Yes, I know, it's another well-overdue and rushed effort for the Style Cost round-up for November, soz, please refrain from judgement. Even though I am now only working two days a week at "real work", I have been totally busy with my side hustle and trying to meet publishing deadlines plus the usual end-of-year events and festivities so time has been extremely limited and my Instagramming and blogging has taken a back seat.

I was asked to do the Instagram takeover for the Campbelltown Moonlight Markets for the launch night of 1 November, which I duly did so (and I must have done alright because they asked me back for December's market as well). Anyway, on my wanderings through the stalls, I found these cool mermaid earrings from Fig & Fletcher and snagged them for $10.


Mum and I met up for a day in Gawler and I picked up a couple of items including a star print dress from Big W for $15. I've worn it a couple of times but only for dagging around the house so I don't have a photo of it.

This embroidered skirt from Millers I got for 40% off - $24 down from $40. You may remember I got to wear this for all of half an hour before having to change plans and take Miss L to the dentist.


Also from Millers, a blue broderie boho blouse which is super comfortable - $15 down from $35. Again, no photo. Like, I said, busy.

I felt like I needed to update my work wardrobe with my career in limbo, so I poked around Myer's mid-season clearance and picked up a bargain in this Basque skirt that was $31.50 down from $89.95 - shown here with a Big W top ($15) and pasty legs (free).


Also picked up a couple of tops from one of those weird overcrowded mall chain places. This one is called NK Fashions at the Plaza. Here's one of them:


I found a pair of low block nude heels in Spend-Less to wear if required to interviews and what-have-you. Previously I had spoken out about nude heels but #NeverSayNever2017, am I right? I also had a voucher so they came down to $20. I bought a matching ponte jacket to throw over dresses too, just to formalise some of my frocks. I hate the whole suit for interviews thing.


I also found a good and comfortable pair of pants in Big W for $25.



Finally I popped into Katies during their "all sale items $15" and came away with a black broderie detail top:


and a dress, which I have not yet pictured.

Apologies again for this lacklustre effort of a post but at least I am still keeping track of my spend and will be able to provide a full wrap-up at the end of the year / start of next year depending how motivated I am.

Monthly totals

Items acquired: 13
Total RRP ticket "value" - $480.73
Total paid - $259.43
YTD spend - $2,426.19
YTD "value" - $5,563.75

Are you hanging for this year to end and things to settle down? Got a holiday planned? What's the haps?

It's quite likely you've clocked some of the beautifully packaged Natura Siberica range in your travels. It's something I've been seeing popping up on loads of beauty blogs and I was super excited to be sent an Oblepikha Siberica gift pack to try out.

Okay, so what in the hound dog is Oblepikha? It's also spelt Oblipicha, obliphica and, if you're feeling particularly clever, oблепиха. It's also known as sea buckthorn, which is a shrub that does indeed flourish near the sea, mostly in Europe.

Now, Siberia has long been associated with deeply unpleasant cold and barren wastelands but I think you'll agree these products look anything but.


Firstly, as I mentioned, can we just take a minute to appreciate the packaging. I want this print in a dress. Actually, I want to wallpaper my bedroom in it. The touch of gold gives it that luxe edge and makes it perfect for stocking stuffing, Kris Kringling or otherwise treating someone to some nice bath products this festive season.

Secondly, I need to let you know all of this stuff smells AMAZING. Again, Siberia and tropical aren't two words I would usually put together, however there are definite orange and mango vibes here, from the scrub to the shampoo.

Certified organic and bursting with herbs and natural ingredients harvested from actual Siberia, these ingredients were originally used to make elixirs and skincare for the Russian Royal Family, which is a pretty good indicator that it's the business because those guys don't play.

Also good to know: Natura Siberica own the largest organic farm in Russia and support the indigenous peoples of the North of Russia and Siberia.

My hair was feeling decidedly crispy after extensive use of toning shampoo when I was given this pack. One wash later and I was surprised at how noticeable the difference in my weave was; soft, silky and way less fuzzy. The small travel bottles are pretty firm so you will need to give them a good squeeze to get the product out  or just spin the whole cap off but you won't be sorry once you do. I was so impressed by this product, I trotted myself off to Chemist Warehouse and bought the full-sized products (on special, obvs).

Also on the crispy side were my hands. A few days of using the hand cream, and they were back to normal if not better. I am quite particular with  handcream texture - too thick and it doesn't absorb and feels greasy for ages which is frankly gross especially when you're using a keyboard all day. Too thick and it does nothing. NOTHING.

Again on texture, the body butter is like some kind of whipped butter you get with McDonald's hot cakes and the scrub smells SO SO GOOD I have gone and bought a new shower caddy so I can have more stuff in there with me permanently. SO GOOD.

Have you used any Natura Siberica products yet? I really recommend you do so at your earliest convenience.

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Products kindly sent to me for review. All images, thoughts and feels are my own. Please see my PR & Media policy for more information on working with Almost Posh.

It's totally December so now we can officially be all about CHRISTMAS! (Like you weren't already)


Stuck for excellent gift ideas? Then worry not, because here are some fabulous items from LUSH's famous and extensive Christmas collection that will please even the grinchiest of Grinches.

You may also be pleased to know that LUSH have worked super hard to get their holiday favourites into "naked" format, meaning little or no packaging if that kind of thing is your re-usable hessian shopping bag. As I was kindly sent these in the mail, I have the packaged versions but do check out the naked versions as well if you get a chance and give the gift of environmental-consciousness this Christmas!


If you like your shower gel sweet as, then look no further than the Snow Fairy Shower Gel which smells like all the lollies you get to eat on Christmas morning before lunch.


I once lost a radio trivia quiz on a Buck's Fizz question so you better believe I've had "Making Your Mind Up" stuck in my head since having a sniff of this delightful body conditioner. It's got cognac in it so you can booze it up during your morning shower. CHEERS.


And after that shower, it makes sense to wack on some body lotion. The Once Upon A Time origins story has blockbuster written all over it. Also, apples.


It wouldn't be a LUSH Christmas without some of their signature bath bombs (much to my little elf's delight). Pictured here are Sherbert Dip (not to be confused with EMF's 90s banger album, Schubert Dip) which has already met its maker and is deliciously zingy, Snow Fairy jelly bomb (which has partially self-detonated as you can see) and the Christmas Cracker bubble bar. OH, SNAP.


STOP THIS CUTENESS AT ONCE. The Snowman Bubbleroon melts in your bath, not in your front yard and the Butterbear bath bomb is all izzy, wizzy, let's get fizzy.


Get your smackers mistletoe-ready with these festive beauties, the Santa Baby lip scrub, complete with tiny hearts, and the Sugar Plum Fairy lip tint to give you some long-lasting lip love.

Christmas pleases me greatly and I'm well prepared for the season. How about you?

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Products kindly provided for review. All images, opinions and elves are mine and authentic. For more information on working with Almost Posh, please see my PR and Media policy.

If you're a fan of affordable beauty products and tools, such as I am, you will no doubt be familiar with e.l.f. Cosmetics - November brand of the month over at RY.com.au - who kindly sent me a generous haul of goodies to put to the test! RY (Recreate Yourself) is an Australian beauty site bringing you the best in cosmetic, hair and skin goodness, and I've worked with them before when they kindly introduced me to The Ordinary skincare.


Hailing from another three letter initialism, NYC, e.l.f. Cosmetics (Eyes Lips Face) have been bringing their super affordable yet good quality offerings to beauty lovers since '04 when we were all about baby pink super glossy lips, shimmery blush, thin brows and bronzer for daaaaaayz.

I have picked up a few products from e.l.f in the past and have had good results. In particular, I like their brushes and think their quality punches well above the price point.

So let's have a look at what I got sent . . .


First things first, the Tone Adjusting Face Primer. I am a recent convert to the practice of priming regularly and although this looked significantly like wasabi on application . . .


. . . there was no burn as I applied to my face for a colour-correcting siky finish.

The rest of the face base includes this Foundation Palette that allows you to blend a custom shade, whatever the season, with the excellent Ultimate Blending Brush.


Moving on to the eyes, the surprisingly pigmented Best Friend eyeshadow duo gives good colour pay-off while the Mineral-Infused Mascara and Precision Liquid Eyeliner are pretty reasonable options given the price. The Eyeshadow "C" brush is just the right texture and shape for blending around the eyes.


More face action with the Contouring Blush and Bronzer duo in St Lucia which packs a pigmented punch and requires a light hand on application (lesson learned!). The beautifully shimmery Baked Highlighter in Pink Diamonds sweeps nicely onto the cheeks and the double-ended Day To Night Lipstick Duo in I Love Pinks (so true) is the perfect product to keep in your work drawer to take you from desk to dusk.


Finishing up as the name suggests with the Beautifully Bare Finishing Powder, a light translucent offering in a sturdy compact complete with applicator sponge, and Makeup Mist and Set Spray, both ideal as we come into the sweaty season.


Here's the face I threw together using all of the above. It was very rushed, and if you saw my Instagram post that day, you understand:


This Black Friday / Cyber Monday weekend, you can hit up RY.com.au for a number of deals on your favourite products so I suggest you check it out post-haste.

Have you used e.l.f. products before? Thoughts and feels?

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These products kindly gifted for review by RY.com.au. All thoughts, feels, images and $10 Kmart canvas prints are mine. For more information on working with Almost Posh, please see my PR & Media policy.

At the start of the year, I had grand plans of doing a monthly "never say never" challenge, but in the immortal words of Powderfinger, this life turned out nothing like I had planned.

So let's talk jumpsuits. I assume I was dressed in romper suits as an infant and have vague recollections of a lime green playsuit type affair sometime in the early 90s but that's the last time I wore any kind of all-in-one legged garment.

The term jumpsuit always conjured up images of tight disco-style shiny arrangements or 80s shoulder-padded Dynasty numbers so I kept myself well away from those kind of style shenanigans until they started reappearing in recent years in a more subdued form.

My thoughts then changed to be more along the "yes, all well and good but not flattering for someone 161cm tall with thighs / mum tum / mum bum" but my friend Claire changed my mind in the ensemble she rocked for Australia Day last year that was indistinguishable from a dress. In the spirit of Never Say Never and thanks to some ASOS voucher credit, I took a chance on this one.

I was concerned as there were no size 12s left so I took a gamble on the 10.

Bad move. I couldn't even get it done up at the back, never mind the hot mess at the front.



In a moment of madness, I took another gamble on ASOS's jumpsuit selection but I feel like I may have done a bit better . . .





Verdict: Never Say Never!

Do you have an opinion on jumpsuits? Would you wear one ever / again?

So we're a week into November and I'm only just getting around to bring you the Style Cost spend for October.

Not going to lie, last month was hectic. I had my birthday, a number of events including the Spend-Less SS 17/18 launch and I resigned from work. So things have been a bit chaotic lately and I have had very little motivation to get organised / dress nicely / take photos because, well, stress.

Being my birthday month, I was tempted by plenty of special retail offers, some I took up, some I did not. Some I took up and then took back when they weren't right.

The first pop was two dresses from Little Party Dress, whose wares I have been admiring on fellow bloggers for some time. I got the Kenzie Paparazzi print and the Megan in navy floral and got 10% off my first purchase.



Yeah, that's a compression sock on my ankle. I jumped down the stairs racing to answer the phone and blew my ankle out. As I mentioned, chaotic, stress etc.

I bought a couple of dresses from eShakti but I'm not sure what to do about them yet. I haven't worn them, haven't photographed them so I'm just pretending they don't exist right now. Bear with me.

As I mentioned, I went to the Spend-Less launch and came home with no less than four pairs of new shoes kindly gifted which was very pleasing, as you can imagine.


I got a Mimco $15 birthday reward and used it during my styling session at Rundle Place with muh girl Jenni from Styling Curvy on two pairs of earrings, the Rock Solid hoops and the Sweet Dream drops in rose gold (surprise surprise). These ended up being $40 each after the reward and my $20 booking fee redeemable on products. I also won a $10 voucher for Rundle Place. Yay!

Also with a birthday 15% off, I went to Best & Less and picked up an $8 top off the clearance rack. I haven't worn it yet and I'm not sure if I will but I think it just hasn't been warm enough since to think about it.

I grabbed a dress from ASOS to wear for my DJ turn on Halloween. I'm not sure if I'll wear it normally so it may end up in the dress-up box but it was $93 marked down to $45 so that was good enough. By the way, my hair is still goddamn green.


Finally, my friend Ali from Philosophy Australia sent me a STUNNER of a top that I cannot wait to wear, except it's gone back to being criminally cold in Adelaide (I am literally in front of the heater right now) and it's sleeveless, so I'll have to be patient.

I must apologise for the slapdash nature of this post and hope I can bring you the quality you've come to expect from Almost Posh next month, however given I could soon be without income, the only thing I'm looking for at the moment is a decent interview outfit.

Monthly totals

Items acquired: 13
Total RRP ticket "value" - $802.66
Total paid - $292.31
YTD spend - $2,166.76
YTD "value" - $5,083.02

How's your life treating you at the moment?

I’ve banged on about dresses before and how great I think they are and how they are an instant outfit and you can wear them all year round and dress them up or down, tweak them to suit and ones with pockets are particularly awesome and all that kind of thing.

As the warmer weather starts to bed in, I find myself on the hunt for some nice summer dress action that can do double duty for work and the weekend. Over the last few years, I've eschewed shorts completely in favour of lightweight shift and t-shirt dresses to get me through Adelaide's heatwaves.

Here's what I favour in frockery these days:

1. Comfort

I am way too old to be bothered squeezing into something tight and short to sit at my desk all day. A good office dress needs a waist that will accommodate a big Friday lunch and be long enough to sit comfortably without cutting off any circulation. Lately I have been drawn to shift dresses with detachable ties that you can place as you like or a generous elastic waist. This one is from Little Party Dress.

2. Sleeves

I tend to go for sleeved items – not because I hate my arms but because sleeveless items tend to have the arm holes pulled forward by the bust, leading to side bra which I cannot stand. Every now and then I luck into a sleeveless dress with suitably snug arm holes and you better believe I get my cost per wear out of that, like this number from Katies.

3. Print and Detail

A good print is very cheering on a dull day and who doesn’t like some kind of fun detail like tassels? I used to be a huge devotee of the monochromatic dress but these days I tend to branch out. My office’s relaxed dress code means I don’t have to keep it corporate, which is another win. This is another beauty from Little Party Dress.

4. Transeasonability

As I mentioned, I like to wear dresses all year round so if I can rug up with tights, boots and a cardi then throw it all off (well, not ALL of it) once the warm weather arrives, then it feels like a whole new look. This was a steal from Rivers*. (Not an actual theft, I did pay for it, just not very much.)

5. Pockets

'Nuff said. This tasselled treasure is from Adrift.

Recently, I found myself acquiring a bunch of new beauty gear in the one week, so I thought I'd get it all together and share with you.


I needed to replace my Vani-T mineral foundation from the one I was kindly gifted at the first Bloggers United Adelaide event, so I logged on to their site and found that not only did they have a 10% off first orders code but also, the powder I wanted was bundled in with a moisturising primer and a cute kabuki brush in a Discover Minerals collection, so naturally I went ahead and added to cart. I haven't used a primer regularly before but so far I like what I see. The brush is marvellously fluffy and great for applying mineral powder and of course, the product is a HG.

I'd been stalking the Kat Von D Studded Kiss lipstick in Nobel for some time, waiting for a decent offer at Sephora online. When we ticked over into October, I got a birthday reward offer so I picked it up and the double-ended tarte Tarteist Double Take eyeliner in a moment of madness. I really need to ease up on black liquid eyeliner but I still can't tear myself away from the hope I will one day find a foolproof application method. It's super black and even the pencil end is mega inky so I need to take a light hand with it. The lipstick is paler than I expected but I am okay with that, as I did kind of think after hitting the order button that it would be too similar to one of my other million lipsticks but it's not, so yay.

Finally, I had an eye make-up lesson at the Benefit counter in Myer Adelaide. I am always up for tips and tricks and the lovely Gabby gave me some easy to follow ideas for creating a decent eye look, which I then went ahead to wear to the Spendless Shoes launch.


I decided to pick up the brow pencil and when I found out it came in a Defined and Refined Brow kit with full sized other gear for only a bit more, well - what else would you do.

I put together a face using all of the products (and a couple of others I had kicking around)


I didn't mean to take this shot with my eyes closed but it does actually work because you can see how I did my eyeshadow, using the tips Gabby gave me.



Bought any fun new beauty products lately?

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All of these products were bought with my own coin. For more information around collaborations and working with Almost Post, please see my Work With Me page.

If you know me, you know I love shoes, so when this invitation arrived on my doorstep, I was both intrigued and very, very, extremely keen.


I have been a fan of Spend-Less Shoes going way back because traditionally I do like to spend less and get more. If you follow me on Instagram, you'd have seen a lot of my brown boots this winter. But did you know they are an Australian company AND they are headquartered right here in Adelaide? They send their buyers all over the world to source the best in shoe trends, delivering them back to us in the form of affordable footwear and have been doing so since 1988.

The event was, quite frankly, stunning with many a gorgeous detail and lots of beautifully-presented food and drink.




An Instagram competition invited guests to collect a passport and play dress-ups in front of various location stations, including NYC, Santorini, spring racing, a wedding, a garden party and a boho doorway, tying in with the hashtag #thepairtotakeyouanywhere. You can see my entries over on Insta . . . find me at @almostposh and go ahead, show me some love, I don't mind.

Here's one of my outfits, featuring the Heidi shoe in rose gold . . .


I took my friend and Almost Posh contributor Bridie along as my chief photographer and we had a great time swanning around the various stations, admiring the outfits of other guests, playing with shoes and enjoying the occasional nibble.




These are some of the lovely ladies from Spend-Less who welcomed us to the event, worked the Shoe Bar and answered questions about the brand. And also gave us the hot tip that shoes would be given away at the end of the night!


 Don't mind if I do . . .


Not to mention a lovely goodie bag with further shoe-based treats within! Talk about spoilt.

Thank you to Be Young PR for the invitation, Spend-Less Shoes for the party and the many suppliers that contributed to the event . . .

@pickawall
@modernparty
@studiobotanic
@redhengin
@aeon.collective
@littlebigballoonco
@fromthewild.com.au
@footeandflame
@hellokitco
@couturelovemadness_
@entorageevents
@lamannapatisserie
@foodbyannabel
@novatechcet
@wineforyogalovers
@chateauapollo
@philpirone
@somethingborrowedeventhireadelaide
@cassieyoung_pr
@partywithlenzo
@adelaidecityoptometrist
@sylvyearl
@_gretakate_
@madeforagoddess
@frio_thelabel
@homesupply

Have you got any Spend-Less in your shoe-drobe? If not I suggest you check out the new season collection for something that might take your fancy . . .