Vintage brooches to adorn a summer blazer lapel: Australian native flowers, rhinestones and bejewelled glasses that remind me of Dame Edna Everage
Despite my best attempts to travel light, I somehow managed to return from Australia with 15kg more than I had arrived with (this was also despite offloading several kilos of English souvenirs to family along the way, and not having time to go shopping for clothes for more than a single hour…). To say this was a point of tension between the Clever Boyfriend and myself en route to our departure gate is a serious understatement.
And so, to save my lovely readers the same luggage-induced relationship anguish, here are some of my favourite souvenirs from my trip and a guide to a few of the things I think are worth the excess luggage dramas.*
Blush and petal silk to make my wardrobe (and lingerie drawer) smile.
Sartorial treats: Australia boasts some truly exceptional fashion labels, as well as a focus on niche boutiques that you just don’t find in the UK. Aside from the obvious things I miss, I’m forever mourning the fact that in Australia you can buy a gorgeous dress from an established designer for a fraction of the cost of a comparable designer label in the UK. I don’t know how I would have survived my early twenty-something years there without brands like Lover, Zimmerman, Karen Walker (who, if you want to get technical, is actually a New Zealander), Sass & Bide, Camilla and Marc, Alice McCall, Fleur Wood, Willow, and Nicola Finetti (plus pyjamas from Peter Alexander, whose stores all look like marshmallow pink boudoirs, and gorgeous lingerie from Elle Macpherson) .
MOR candles that smell like a summer’s morning, Kit cheek stain to maintain the holiday glow, a haul of Aesop and Jurlique rose shower gel that smells like an explosion of garden roses and turkish delight on a cold winter’s morning.
Beauty: As a self-confessed beauty addict, I can honestly say that I’ve tried a lot of products. And in my opinion, Australian beauty brands are on par with the French as being the best in the world. Between an obsession with avoiding sun-damage and the laid-back, healthy lifestyle, the Australians are all about anti-oxidants and organic ingredients. My bathroom shelves would be completely naked (and my skin tortured) were it not for the wonders of Aesop and Jurlique skincare, organic rosehip oil (does wonders for the skin) from Trilogy or Kosmea, divine body creams and scented candles from MOR, and cult items from Kit and Mecca Cosmetics.
A new chunky pearl necklace from Mimco.
And finally, I’d throw a tantrum if these things didn’t find their way into my suitcase on an outbound flight from Australia (such are the frivolous cravings when one is an expat living abroad): beautiful pearl necklaces, acetate cuffs and accessories from Mimco; Haighs chocolates (simply the best you will ever try); Cadbury Cherry Ripe bars; Allens Chico Babies (chocolate-flavoured jelly babies); luscious red wines and summery pink moscatos from the Barossa Valley; crisp copies of Australian Vogue, Rush and Frankie magazines; cookbooks by Bill Granger, Donna Hay, Kylie Kwong and Maggie Beer; a giant jar of Vegemite (love it or loathe it) to be spread on hot buttery toast on grey English mornings; a small handful of sun-bleached shells collected from the perfect beaches; and enough proper coffee (to be drunk while lazing about at alfresco cafes with a spot of people-watching), gelato and fresh mangoes that my cravings for them don’t induce homesickness for the next year.
Souvenirs for the home: an antique French map of Australia from the 1800s; seashells collected from walks along endless stretches of white sandy beach.
What do you love buying as a souvenir when you travel to a new place (or conversely, what do you have to cram your suitcases with when you return home)?
Love, Miss B xx
* Most of these brands can be found in the UK (through their own stand-alone stores, at Selfridges, on Net-a-Porter, or via My Catwalk, who ship to the UK), though, as with anything, are always significantly cheaper in their country of origin.
You’ve transported me straight to a land of sunshine LLGxx
Great stuff!!!
I definitively love your style!
x
I love your blog so I’ve nominated you for a Bloggie in the Fashion category. x
Oh, I’m enormously flattered, thank you so much lovely!
B xx
That vintage map is gorgeous! I was looking at a few in Notting Hill a few weeks ago. They surprisingly had loads of Aus maps. You know I don’t think I’ve ever tried Haigh’s chocolates (is that really terrible?!) so I really must pop in when I’m back. On my wishlist is Kit cosmetics lipgloss and peppermint lip sheen, Bloch ballet flats, a pretty bikini and a Zimmermann dress xx
Oh my, I insist you do if you pass one while you’re there. My favourites are the apricot fruit individual chocolates, the apricot bars and the dark orange chocolate blocks. Mmm!
B xx
Whenever I travel I always over-pack too..hahah You got such an amazing stuff and the vintage map would looks stunning framed on the wall:) Hugs and kisses, my dear
I too love to collect shells when I go anywhere by the sea whether it is in this country or abroad. My husband and I have two shells and a pebble picked up on Brighton beach on our first anniversary of dating on display in our bathroom and I love that they help keep the memory of that day fresh in my mind. x
What a lovely thought this is! I’m forever collecting tiny bits and pieces to remind me of a particularly fond memory – isn’t it nice to be doing a perfectly ordinary task around the home, and then catch sight of the momento and be transported back to that time and place?
B xx
I love everything in this post! Those MOR candles were in the sale on the UO site but I forgot to add one to my order the other day.
I want to visit Australia now!
Oh…
This is such a romantic ode to the many treasures of your beautiful homeland, Australia.
Reading your words makes me realise that I have never tried any Australian beauty brands. How inexcusable is that? I’m resolved to visit Space NK this weekend and indulge myself! ;0)
Hope you – and your lovely family – are still well.
Sarah x
P.S: Have just seen that you and the Clever Boyfriend are due to celebrate your 6th anniversary.
Congratulations!
You are both still comfortably distanced from the dreaded seventh year – the one of the ‘Itch’ – which Napoleon and I draw to a close next month and which has been, to understate, a bl**dy nightmare! ;0)
http://stylesouk.wordpress.com
Oh…
This is such a romantic ode to the many treasures of your beautiful homeland, Australia.
Reading your words makes me realise that I have never tried any Australian beauty brands. How inexcusable is that? I’m resolved to visit Space NK this weekend and indulge myself! ;0)
Hope you – and your lovely family – are still well.
Sarah x
P.S: Have just seen that you and the Clever Boyfriend are due to celebrate your 6th anniversary.
Congratulations!
You’re both still comfortably distanced from the dreaded seventh year – the one of the ‘Itch’ – which Napoleon and I draw to a close next month and which has been, to understate, a bl**dy nightmare! ;0)
http://stylesouk.wordpress.com
Sarah, I insist you go and get yourself some Becca primer, Aesop skincare, Jurlique rose hand balm or body wash and a MOR candle (at Space NK) pronto!
And thank you so much. Though you do scare me slightly with your talk of the 7 year itch….
B xx
Ah.. this post was exactly what I needed to read whilst sitting here on this hideously dark grey Friday morning. Loved your pictures of everything set against the vintage style map.. wonderful! xxx
Thanks for reminding me to love where I live! Usually I devour your posts to ease my homesickness for my years in London, but this time you’ve provided inspiration for tomorrow’s to-do list. My lovely husband is looking after Mr 4 and Miss 2, so I’ll be squeezing a trip to the Strand Arcade (Haigh’s & Jurlique) and Paddo (everything else) in between breakfast with the girls at Bill’s and a picnic dinner under the stars and fruit bats at Sydney Festival’s Jazz in the Domain.
By the way, isn’t the 6th wedding anniversary the year of Caramello Koalas?
Ooh Sally I hope you got yourself some lovely treats? And your weekend sounds spectacular (especially Bill’s and starlit picnic + jazz)!
B xx
My sister lives in Australia. Think I might have to get her to send me some of these goodies. Although as she lives in Kalbarri think probalby best to get my niece in Perth to get them. Not sure Kalbarri’s shops stock all those items!
Love the blog and your Twitter.
xx
I love love the photos here… ALso I find this a very common problem with everyone from Australia. It is quite impossible to pack lightly, it’s not like you can just pop there whenever you feel like it.
Also I tagged u in my new post. I am curious to what you’re gonna write!:-)
M
I love the sound of the lotions and potions and what a wonderful map! Have a great weekend x
What a fabulous round-up of all things Aussie! I feel you captured lots of our great things down to a tee. and should you ever miss our streetstyle fashion – hope you’ll drop by my blog – I haven’t updated since Christmas Eve but will be starting again soon. Just hard to work out who to feature after the fabulous smile of my last featuree!
http://www.BusinessChic.com.au – Australian streetstyle fashion as we work it!
i love the layout and design of your blog!! gorgeous photos and inspiration
xx
I stuffed my own suitcase with beauty products from Chanel, Guerlain and Caudalie when I returned home to France at Christmas.
When I went to Merci, they were promoting Aesop products. I had never tried them before and thought their scent was divine, but alas, I have to say the price was off-putting. I can understand why you would bring back a stock of them from Australia!
Oh yes, I saw the Merci display (a giant tumble of empty Aesop boxes stacked with their beautiful amber glass bottles – they always do the best store design), but it’s definitely cheaper in Australia! And how wonderful to return to NYC with a bag stuffed with French treats!
B xx
Thanks so much for visiting me over at Paris in Pink and allowing me to discover you and your divine blog here! I’m loving these pics bejeweled maps and all the inspiration and beauty in your previous posts. Following you on twitter and adding you to my rss feed
Hugs,
Camille @ Paris in Pink
Gorgeous purchases B! I love MOR packaging, it’s so boudoir and gorgeous!
I am such a sucker for beautiful packaging, and no one does it better than MOR!
B xx
i love this beautiful xx
beautiful photos, I love the ones of the brooches, they look so kitch =)
Hannah xx
I absolutely LOVE this post. I feel like I’ve been transplanted to a place I’ve always dreamed of visiting… albeit never been yet. Being in the US, most of the brands you listed are literally foreign to me but I’m going to do my research… your souvenirs sound absolutely wonderful.
oh chicos!! i would miss those if i ever moved away from australia.. This post kind of makes me sad that I take all these things for granted. I know if I moved away I would suddenly get MOR, Lover and Haighs Chocolate withdrawals. I know that on this trip I am on a mission to the UK high street – Topshop, COS, Zara and H&M, and in Paris I’m headed to the Isabel Marant, A.P.C and Celine stores. stuff that you can’t get easily (or cheaply) in australia, that’s what I’m looking for!
X
Thank you so much for this post – I am lucky enough to be off on my first trip to Australia in March and will now make sure I leave PLENTY of space in my suitcase…
Kath x
I love the Blog, you have very cute fashion idea’s!