This is a Melbourne centric post so for those of you in the rest of the country and the rest of the world… look away now to avoid disappointment!

Image via Christian Monotone

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Set your alarms ladies ’cause the team at Episode just emailed me all the details of their big moving sale to share all the goodies with you!  There are loads of great brands that you’ll already know like Friends of Couture, Elly M and Minty meets Munt; but I know that what will really tickle your fancy is the HUGE collection of vintage they are selling off!  Ten years worth of collecting is hitting the shelves and all has to be moved! I’ll admit it, I’ve already had a bit of a poke around and brought home some fabulous vintage pieces that will be making gradual blog appearances.  There is loads of 60′s and 70′s as well as some really wonderful 1950′s gems!

• Buy any two pieces of women’s new clothing  and receive 50% off the second item. This includes sale stock and already reduced styles.

• Buy any two pieces of men’s new and receive 50% off the second item includes sale stock

• Buy any two pieces of men’s vintage and receive 50% off the second item

• Buy any two pieces of women’s vintage and receive 50% off the second item

• All sunglasses are $10

• All kids wear is 50% off

• Most jewellery $5

• All ladies hand bags 50% off

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On Monday 31st May they will have 50% off EVERYTHING for one day only!

Woo hoo!

What is your Mr wearing this winter? Not that t-shirt that came free with a case of beer I hope! Some of you already have very stylish other halves, but some of them need all the help they can get.  Mr SKM has been very patient with me as I pop him into a kilt at Christmas and smooth him into a pink poppy print shirt for work, but I’m hoping that come this winter he may take up the sartorial challenge and volunteer to shop for himself.  So when Friends of Couture told me yesterday that the launch of their Men’s Winter 2010 collection is upon us, I was one mighty pleased lass.

I’m tired of the same old, same old combos that so many of the mass brands churn out, but  the other end of the scale doesn’t fit the bill for us either as Mr SKM has never worn a suit and tie in the entire 12 years I’ve known him! So what to do? Well, I’ll be whipping him down to Friends of Couture and sizing him up for some of these chic and comfortable winter style offerings.

The Friends of Couture Men’s  2010 range is all about the relaxed Gentleman.

“Menswear is inspired by classic Gentleman’s Country Weekend styling- Crushed Tweed vests, Thick Duffles with plaid linings, Pea coats, Heavy Flannel Plaid shirts and some soft relaxed basics thrown in for after hours lounging by the fireplace- grandpa long sleeves, soft polos and  super luxe woolen cardies…”

I love that they haven’t just thought about the basics of a gentleman’s ensemble, but rather how they want to feel in the clothes. It’s relaxed, it’s comfortable, it carries a vibe of effortless chic. Mind you, the image of relaxing by the fireplace with such a smoky eyed Gentleman doesn’t hurt one bit!

Even though I’d go AOT if I wore shoes like that, I love the styling in this photo and particularly the soft frindged scarf.

..And here is the super excellent part of the news; to celebrate the launch of the Friends of Couture Men’s 2010 collection they are having a three day sale!

So head on over and pick up some swanky new threads for your man.. and while you’re there you can even grab a little something for yourself for all that effort.

Just type in ILOVEJACKETS in the coupon box for 20% off all clothing and accessories.. even women’s!

I wonder if the model is for sale?

Just a brief reminder… The Violetville Vintage gift certificate giveaway closes today! If you’d like the chance to win a $50USD to their fabulous new store, click here to find out more. Entries close at midnight tonight.

Also..

For those of you who experienced problems with the Friends of Couture website over the weekend and weren’t able to take advantage of their 20% off everything Valentines Day promotion, they have kindly extended the sale just for you!  All the bugs have been worked out and international shipping is now enabled too. Horray!

So until 21st February, you can get 20% off ANYTHING in the online store by entering the code “bemyvalentine” on check out.

And while in housekeeping mode, I am currently sorting out all kinds of little bugs and things that annoy me in this site,(IE has terrible functionality issues) so if you have any requests now is the time to pipe up. Lots and lots of good stuff to come so don’t miss a moment!

Over the last few outfit posts you will have seen a few extremely cute new additions to my wardrobe like this stunning purple cardigan and these bow bangles. Each of these pieces are by local Melbourne label Friends of Couture.  I absolutely love Friends of Couture and you will have seen me wearing their pieces for some time now, remember this little lamb cardigan? Occasionally you come across a collection that you think to yourself, ” Oh that is all so me, I just have to have it!”, well that is the way I feel about everything FOC does.  They have a brilliant knack of combining vintage inspirations with super cute detail and modern chic, which  is why when they invited me to review their latest collection, Paris After Dark, I jumped at the opportunity.

Jo Matheson, (chief designer) and Candice DeVille aka Super  Kawaii Mama

Nicole looks stunning in the “Little Red Ridinghood” dress is azure blue with the red striped Matelot top underneath.

Paris After Dark is the new Autumn Winter 2010 range by Friends of Coutures head designer Jo Matheson.  Inspired by the romance of vintage lines and a strong traditionally French colour palette, Jo has created something that is both wearable, collectable and very very head turning. The collection takes a journey from the flirty and feminine lines of sweet floral chiffon with a distinctly 1930′s flavour and meanders through to stunning, slightly puffed sleeved cardigan with beaded art deco detailing. I particularly love the Hotel DeVille cardigan in a soft, buttery cream wool with deep blue beading.  There are the iconic pieces that take wardrobe staples and give them just that much more punch by creating a strongly waisted silhouette and drenching you in azure blue; as well as classic boat necked tee’s with stripes that Gigi would have been proud to wear.

Jo Matheson is responsible for the beautiful Paris After Dark collection.

Hotel DeVille Cardigan (left) clearly must have been named after me! Little Drummer Girl cardigan (right).

The feminine detailing doesn’t stop at the figure flattering cuts, but continues through to corsages, bows (that can even be worn in the hair!), tulle skirts and the softest of soft cropped angora cardigans. (I don’t know about you, but the snuggle factor of angora wins me over every time.)  I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to find a local, accessible label that knows how to combine current trends with timeless classics in such a seamless way. For example, they’ve taken the military feel (so popular in that Balmain jacket) and managed to capture the essence of the style in soft, wearable cardigans that make the most of our assets without having to cash in any to buy them!

When I start to think about “Paris After Dark”, my mind drifts to Parisian bordellos (clearly I watch too many films), smoky eyed women in sumptuous fabrics, with kissable lips and strokable hips.  Jo has woven this intensity and edginess into some of the darker pieces in the range using velvet and sequins (bows!), strong shoulder lines and strategically placed zippers. While our Parisian girl by day may be all feminine pinks or jaunty stripes, at night her walk takes on just a little more wiggle in body con electric blue, violet and black.

Oh, and for those of you who have been drooling over my high waisted jeans… let me tell you, this collection has the most amazing pair of wide legged, high waisted black pants, Sartori.  With flat fronts, button detailing, even button on suspenders; when I tried these on, they fit like a glove and I even gave a little Squee in the dressing room.  You are going to LOVE them. ( Watch out for an outfit post with them next week.)

See them on the left? Awesome Sartori pants!

Friends of Couture pieces get my seal of approval for not only being infinitely stylish and cute, but also for their quality. I’ve worn some of their pieces over and over and over again in the last three years, washing the knit wear and popping it back on the next day, and they have kept their shape, their colour and their edge. I can’t say that for a lot of modern pieces in my wardrobe, especially not those others of a comparative price.

Yes, I could go on and on about how fab this range is, but you really must see it for yourself.  If you are in Melbourne you can head straight to the stores at:

225 Chapel street, Prahan

186 Sydney Road, Brunswick

Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

Melbourne CBD 311 Swanston Street, Melbourne

And, because one can’t possibly not share something this good with the rest of the world, you can get your hands on some of these fantastic pieces for a ONE DAY ONLY 20% off Valentines Day Sale in the online store!! Just enter “bemyvalentine” at the coupon section at the checkout for 20% off on ALL stock!

***EDIT: Just to clarify they do sell online and will ship to ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! So get in there while the Aussie dollar is still a bargain!***

So yay for awesome new designs and a great big yay for special sales too!!