Alice McCall Dress / Kate Sylvester Shirt / Ellery Glasses / Jennifer Zeuner Ring / Kurt Geiger Heels

Growing up on a farm in a small country town in Western Australia when I was a baby, then in the suburbs in Perth when I was in primary school, then by the seaside on the Central Coast in New South Wales for my high school years where I'm currently still living, I always thought that I could live anywhere, whether that be in the heart of a bustling city or growing old in the countryside. But after arriving in San Sebastian with Luke after being away from our home by the sea for so long we quickly realised just how much we need to be by the water. That makes sense for Luke as he's a surf photographer but it actually took me a little by surprise. I was immediately calm, breathing in the salty air and day dreaming to the sound of small waves breaking along the shoreline. Everything moved slower and life seemed more simple. I was at ease. San Sebastian reminded me of home in so many ways and somehow taught me a few things about myself I hadn't acknowledged before. I suppose that's one of the reasons I went away, to come back  with new experiences to reflect on and a little more understanding of who I am. Apparently I like to wear pastel garments whilst shuffling around a harbor dock to pass the time. Who knew?

Photos by Luke Shadbolt

Natalia Grzybowski Jacket and Shorts / Natalia Grzybowski Shirt / Kurt Gieger Heels

After Versailles Luke and I rented a car and made our way through Central France down to Biarritz and San Sebastian. This probably wasn't the best idea considering we had literally nowhere near enough time to make our way through France at a comfortable pace, plus road tolls in France are a killer. We got stung with a $30 euro toll while entering Biarritz which would have been fine if we got to spend more than 24 hours in Central France. But this was just a little taste of what there is to do in Central France and nestled amongst the scenic towns is Ambiose, a beautiful little town surrounded by historic castles and chateaus. We spent the night at this cute little place called Chateau De Pray where the floral bed spread matched the floral walls and floral chairs and floral pillows. Some say it sounds intense but it was cuteness overdose in my books! Even on a rainy morning their courtyard still managed to have a charm about it which was exactly what I'd be wanting for the backdrop for this Natalia Grzybowski floral two piece which I'd been carrying around in my suitcase for months. Natalia is a fresh faced Australian designer that I cannot wait to see more from. Her collection "Hybrid" has been highly praised from Pages Digital to Susie Bubble and this neoprene two piece, along with her entire collection, is somewhat otherworldly. It's humbling to be able to wear her designs and support someone with such a fresh and precise perspective. Drawing inspiration from Natalia's collection I swept my hair back with very little make-up for a super clean look and threw in some of those "I'm bored and slightly depressed" kind of expressions, as well as some stiff poses to try and reflect the sculptured and minimalistic aesthetic of Natalia's creations. I'm going to let her garments do all the talking here, just a shame they couldn't write this blog post for me at 2am as well.

Photos by Luke Shadbolt