ADVENTURE #2: BYRON BAY FOR SITG

In a stunning turn of events... I'm making a blog post? What is this? Who am I? Is this real life?

Yeah... it's been a while. Sorry about that. But never fear! I'm back, procrastinating doing my homework as usual, and for this reason I have decided to fill you all in on my latest adventure. On  July 22, I awoke at an ungodly hour which shall not be repeated, and along with my mama, her bestest pal and two of my favourite ladies, piled in LJ's Mercedes Vito kidnap van, and embarked on our 18 hour road trip to our new home for the next few days - a beautiful, spacious house in little old Mullumbimby in Northern NSW. (Hometown of Iggy Azalea, just in case you were wondering. You weren't.) Of course, I didn't even make it to Byron before making my first purchase for the weekend - Bangalow, you were pretty, and the shemademe crochet bikinis I picked up were even prettier. 

Here's a paddock and one of many rainbows we spotted along the way while it absolutely pissed down rain.

Feeling completely and utterly knackered, we ordered some takeaway Chinese and it was straight to bed for all us festival goers. It never fails to amaze me how tiring it is to sit in a car and stare out a window all day.

Friday morning was an excited blur of cereal eating, outfit coordinating and terrible eyeliner application, before heading into the heart of beautiful Byron for some lunch and pre-Splendour shopping. While waiting in line for an ATM, we spotted Raph Dixon of One Day/Jackie Onassis/The Meeting Tree roaming the streets, which was kind of a big reminder - we are actually here. We are going to Splendour in the Grass Today! (Cue excited dancing.)

A vegetarian's heaven: haloumi burger, fries and fresh watermelon juice with my favourite ladies.

Before long, it was time to head home, and put on our festival gear and gumboots before catching the bus up to the North Byron Parklands. Within minutes of arriving at the venue, it became apparent that this was going to be one very muddy, memorable weekend. Highlight of the day was definitely Peking Duk - they never fail to impress me with their incredible live set, filled with special guest appearances from Safia, Harts and Thundamentals, to name a few. While we partied in the Mixup Tent with those legends, the rain started back up again, which meant the walk back to the bus stop afterwards was ankle deep in mud. RIP my yellow socks. 

DAY 1: SAN CISCO, TKAY MAIDZA, GRIMEZ, PORTER ROBINSON, PEKING DUK

OUTFIT DETAILS: may the label t-shirt dress / vintage levi's jacket via grandma funk / ray bans / status anxiety bag / doc martens / cotton on socks

The next morning was a groggy affair. When I woke up at around 11:30, it became very clear that I wouldn't be making it to Circa Waves' set at 12:15. Instead, we decided to laze around and watch Workaholics before heading back for round two, beginning with Safia - who were amazing! We spent all day partying, making new friends (I met my "husband of four years" at Mickey Kojak, and I didn't even get his number), and of course, getting muddier than ever. Biggest regret of the day was not saying hello to the queen herself, Mimi Elashiry when she walked right past us (!!!). Day two awards for best sets go to Purity Ring and Flight Facilities! (Side note: to the boy who decided to attack my face with his mouth in FF, that is not how you are supposed to do it.)

DAY TWO: SAFIA, MICKEY KOJAK, YOUNG FRANCO, PURITY RING, AZEALIA BANKS, FLIGHT FACILITIES

OUTFIT DETAILS: vintage overalls via grandma funk / skin and threads top / cotton on hat / doc martens

The end was nearly here. It was a bittersweet feeling; as tired as we were, I felt like I could party this hard every day for as long as I lived. Splendour, you were amazing, and you definitely saved the best for last! It was muddy, hot, sweaty, crazy and the most fun I've had in a very long time. Alison Wonderland was absolutely killer (I've never been that hot in my life) and Carmada was 100% the perfect way to finish up the best weekend in history. All 30,000 of you legends partied like there was no tomorrow and it was the best first Splendour experience I could've ever hoped for. 

DAY 3: SET MO, ALPINE, JAMIE T, JOYRIDE, ALISON WONDERLAND, CARMADA

OUTFIT DETAILS: princess polly top / rollas shorts / status anxiety bag / cotton on hat / doc martens

And that was it! Another two seemingly endless days of driving and we were home, and still as I sit here now, all I want to do is go back and relive it all again. There's always next year, right?

Thanks so much to my mom, LJ and my lovely little friends for partying with me, and special mention to Jorja for being our own personal walking disco ball on the last day. We lived off twisted chips, soft pretzels and Dutch pancakes for three days and avoided those portaloos like the plague (I didn't pee the whole festival!), and it was the most wonderful weekend I could've ever imagined. It's going to be hard going back to school this week. Someone send help. 

Until next time!

MY TOP 3: FESTIVAL INSPIRATIONS

Yes, it's summer here in Australia, and everyone knows that means festival season has begun! Music festivals and concerts are my favourite things - the vibe is awesome, everyone is there for the music and the fashion is out of control. I find music festivals to be the number one place to express yourself style-wise without any fear of being judged or scrutinized, because music is all about self expression - this should be reflected in your outfit! One of the most important parts of going to a festival or concert for me is picking out an outfit that suits the vibe and style of the event and I take a lot of inspiration from pictures of girls (and guys!) at other festivals like Coachella or Splendour In The Grass (which I will be attending for the first time this year - eeeep!). Here are my top three festival fashion icons. 

3. THE JENNER SISTERS (WITH A SPECIAL APPEARANCE BY SELENA GOMEZ)

The mini-Kardashians, Kendall and Kylie, always score a perfect 10 in terms of fashion, but come festival season they really go crazy and experiment fashion-wise. And it usually rocks. Two reasons they weren't higher on my list: Kendall's huge nose ring last year really didn't do anything for me. Oh, and Kylie, lose the fanny pack. Just because it's studded, doesn't mean it's acceptable.

2. VANESSA HUDGENS (SURPRISE, SURPRISE)

Aren't I predictable? Vanessa never fails to amaze with her colourful boho Coachella outfits, and her boyfriend never fails to make me swoon with his face. You go girl. Every year her outfits get more creative and amazing, and she has worked her way up the ranks to nab the title of Worldwide Festival Queen in most peoples' books. I can't wait to see what she wears come Coachella 2015! Also, can we talk about the lineup?! Free tickets would be much appreciated.

1. MIMI ELASHIRY

My favourite Aussie beach babe takes the cake in terms of festivals. Her colourful, edgy outfits always stand out in a crowd (or mosh) and to pull off the things she does is incredible. She epitomises the cool, effortless festival hippy in my eyes and I look forward to seeing all her festival getups in 2015. Bring on festival season!

SPECIAL MENTION: BEHATI PRINSLOO

My ultimate lady crush can't go without an encouragement award here. Effortlessly cool and edgy, always. Rock that wig, Bee. 

Hope you all enjoyed and came up with some cool ideas for festival fashions this year. Bring on 2015 and all the cool events that come with it. See you soon, Groovin' The Moo!

ADVENTURE #1: ITALY

Hello strangers! 

I'm awfully sorry it's been so long since I've posted anything here, I happen to be very forgetful and also very lazy, as well as my life being very hectic as of late. In the wee hours of yesterday morning, I arrived home from a month long trip to Italy, first with my pals and a few teachers on a school trip for art and language students, then with my mom for a bit of girl time. The trip was incredible, spending 4 weeks in a country I have always wanted to visit, learning more of the language, eating a hell of a lot of food, admiring the fashion and experiencing the Italian culture. Here's a rundown of my trip.

#1: VENICE

After roughly 26 hours in transit, Venice was the first stop on our itinerary. We spent two nights in this beautiful labyrinthine city, and although it wasn't a highlight for me personally, it was still an amazing place to visit and explore.

(This last colourful picture isn't actually Venice, it's a small island called Burano that we visited while we were staying in Venice. It's famous for its colourful buildings and the beautiful lace which is produced on the island.)

#2: BASSANO DEL GRAPPA

Bassano is a tiny town where our sister school is located, and this was one of my favourite places. Everything was so lively and the people we met there were so lovely, the two days we spent here were super fun and the town is so charming and there is always something to do.

(While we were in Bassano, we spent an afternoon in nearby Marostica and climbed a mountain!)

#3: TUSCANY

Next on the agenda was two nights spent at a farmstay in the mountains of Tuscany. While we didn't spend much time at the actual farmstay, we did go on a day trip to Siena, where I did some SERIOUS shopping. It was a charismatic town with great shopping and beautiful old buildings. Tuscany was a really enjoyable part of the trip.

#4: FLORENCE

Without a doubt my favourite place we visited, the four nights spent in Florence were a highlight for the whole group of students, since we finally got to see the other group of kids who had been doing the trip backwards and spend a few days catching up, while enjoying the food, art, shopping and history of one of the most famous and charming places in all of Italy. The Duomo building was incredible, the art museums were mind-blowing and the shopping was super cheap and there was a huge variety to choose from. Florence is famous for its cheap and beautiful leather, and I could not have loved this place any more.

#5: SORENTO

Sorento is a small beach town in Naples, with crystal clear blue water and adorable hotels. Here, we did day trips to Positano, Capri and Pompeii. It was great to relax for a few days after being flat out for the entire trip. The beaches were beautiful, the water was warm and Capri was a highlight for everyone - we took private boat tours around the island in small groups, and stopped midway in a small cave and swam for around 45 minutes. Pompeii, of course, was amazing, and such an interesting and historical experience. I was definitely sorry to leave here.

#6: ROME

The final stop on my trip with school was a hectic one, there was so much to see and do in Rome! We visitied the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Spanish Steps, the Capuchin Crypt, the Pantheon, Circus Maximus, La Bocca Della Verita, and so many more. Rome was interesting to see all the famous historic monuments, but it was also charming and exciting. While it was easy to get lost, that wasn't exactly a bad thing - often we stumbled upon things by accident. It was a favourite for many people.

#7: MILAN

Milan was my final and most anticipated destination. As a young person aspiring to work in fashion, visiting the high fashion capital of the world has always been a dream of mine, and after spending just a few days there I can already see myself living there. Milan was edgy, laid-back and exciting, and visiting Da Vinci's Last Supper was a highlight for me. The fashion was crazy, the nightlife was super cool and the people were awesome. I will definitely be back there someday soon. 

And that's it! As amazing as it was, I am glad to be home, but I'm looking forward to going back there when I finish school. Sorry that this post was so long, hopefully I'll be able to continue this "Adventure" post series soon! 

Until next time,

LILY XXX

BIRTHDAY WISHLIST

my birthday is coming up, and i want many things. here are some of them. links to purchase all items can be found on my polyvore - tequilaanddaisies. find this set and click on the item to go to the link. 
enjoy xx
brogues: asos
vintage camera
b&w boots: kenzo
eye dress: zara
bralettes: alexander wang
tattoo choker: pretty much anywhere
mesh sweater: alexander wang
sunglasses: net-a-porter
purse: marc by marc jacobs
tee: isabel marant
shorts: levi's (vintage)
socks: country road
backpack: dangerfield
fedora: avenue 32
boots: balenciaga

3 WAYS TO WEAR A BOLD LIP (ON A BUDGET)

Unintentionally, I have somehow made bold lips my trademark. I generally don't leave the house without colour on my lips unless I'm going to school. Here's 3 of my favourite, well-priced bright lip colours and how to rock them.

(BY THE WAY: SPORTSGIRL TOP & CARDIGAN // ZARA JEANS // RUBI EARRINGS // CHOKER BOUGHT AT VIC MARKETS, SILVER PENDANT IS PERSONALISED)
(FOR ALL MY BASIC MAKEUP, I USE RIMMEL MASCARA AND BB CREAM IN MEDIUM, SPORTSGIRL EYESHADOW PALETTE, STILA BLUSH,  GLOMINERALS CONCEALER IN GOLDEN, KEVYN AUCOIN BROW PENCIL IN BRUNETTE, BYS LIQUID EYELINER AND RIMMEL SCANDAL EYES PENCIL EYELINER)

1. ORANGE CRUSH (SPORTSGIRL)

Matte lips are a favourite of mine for any time of day, and this bold tangerine colour is perfect to give any simple outfit a modern twist. Looks best on tanned skin. I keep my eye makeup fairly simple with this colour - the lips are the feature. I blend a base colour all over my lids, a champagne gold colour on my lower lid and blend it with a dark brown on my outer lid, so the colour fades from dark on the outside to light in the corners. A little bit of mascara finishes the look. I usually wear my hair back with this colour, as well as this sleek low pony it looks nice with a high messy one and even winged eyeliner.

2. AIRBORNE UNICORN (LIME CRIME)

So this is probably the most out-there colour I own, and I usually save it for things like going to the city, where people are less likely to make fun of this amazing vibrant purple - it doesn't ever bother me if people like what I wear, I dress only for myself, but on an off day it can bruise my confidence a bit, like anyone else. These are really moisturising and smell amazing, which automatically puts them at the top of my list of favourite lipsticks. I used the same eyeshadow techniques for this look and just added a little black liquid liner to make my eyes pop. I've always kinda liked undercuts but been too scared to ever actually do it, so I just pinned parts of my hair back and flicked it to the side to create a fake undercut. For an even more futuristic look, try space buns. Add winged eyeliner and fake lashes to really make this colour pop.

3. PINK VELVET (LIME CRIME)

First of all, everyone reading this who has never used a velvetine needs to get their butts over to limecrimemakeup.com and buy one NOW. I have them in three colours and they are my go to lip colour for every occasion. The liquid-to-matte formula goes on like a lip gloss and dries as a matte lip stain. Plus it smells AMAZING. This vibrant colour is the perfect pink and it's perfect for day and night. For my eyes, I used all the same colours but used the dark brown and a piece of paper to create a smokey wing, then used chocolate brown eyeliner on my top and bottom lash lines and blended it outwards to make my eyes pop. A tutorial for this look can be found here: Get the Look: Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Runway Makeup. Soft, fluffy curls add to the girly effect. (If you aren't a fan of matte lips, the Rimmel Apocalips Lip Lacquer in Apocaliptic is almost the exact same colour with a glossy finish.)

Bold lips are always in fashion, and they are one of my favourite ways to really spice up an outfit. Make sure to pick colours that compliment your skin tone, outfit, eyes and hair, and keep the rest of your makeup fairly simple - too much going on can make you look a bit like a drag queen. Hope you all enjoyed, more beauty posts coming soon.

ADIOS FOR NOW, LILY XX

PS: this post is not sponsored. all products were purchased with my own money and all opinions are truthful and my own.