Do smart-casual clothes exist?

I am aware that I have not posted for a while and my busy life is partly to blame but it is mainly because I am having a minor fashion crisis. I am under the impression that smart casual clothes do not exist. I proudly walked around university in head to toe Alannah Hill and heels during my first year and was always known for being over-dressed. Whenever I went shopping, I would always buy a new "formal" dress that I may wear once, to a very casual party. I seem to have an endless supply of cutesy/girly clothes and nothing that isn't over the top. Now, I find myself struggling to figure out what to wear to university and other daytime outings. I either have formal dresses or tracksuit pants and hoodies and when I go shopping these days, that's all I find! It leaves me wondering, do nice smart-casual clothes exist?

Although I am saving for a trip to the U.S in January, I am also searching for smart casual clothes as well as trying to explore stores other than Alannah Hill. I look to other university students for inspiration but this has not helped me. Today I went on an expedition to Melbourne's CBD to find these elusive smart-casual pieces.

I wore:




Country Road Silk Boxy Shirt, Country Road Cable Knit Jumper, Cheap Monday Jeans, Topshop Leather Brogues.

I picked up a Country Road Jumper, Marcs Pants and Seed Dress


Images courtesy of countryroad.com.au, marcs.com.au and seedheritage.com.au


I still don't know whether or not these can be classified as smart casual but I guess it's a start!

In Hiding

I apologise for the lack of posts over the past month. Life became busier, and I was virtually working full time despite being on "holidays" from university. I was juggling 35 hours at work with my summer school subject and I was struggling to find time to sleep, let alone bake, shop and go out. I also didn't think that my work uniform would make an interesting outfit post!

Just this week, an old and less faithful household appliance decided to die on me and I did not have an oven! Here are the last batches of biscuits that I made before it passed away:





However, that makes room for a shiny new pretty oven that doesn't require 20 minutes extra cooking and constant rotation of pans and trays. YAY!



Sadly, I have not been able to purchase a variety of new outfits as I am trying to save for a trip to the United States early next year with my tiny tiny income. I haven't bought anything, until today and I justify my purchases as uni clothes and for Melbourne's winter and potentially New York, Boston and Seattle's winters.

Today I wore:



Alannah Hill My Heart and Soul Top, Any News Dear Shorts, Cat and Mouse Game Belt and Wittner Fai Ballet Flats

My purchases:



From top to bottom: Alannah Hill "I'm on Strike" Cardi, Country Road Stripe Knit, Country Road Cable Knit
(Images courtesy of alannahhill.com.au and countryroad.com.au)