Keeping it real girls' lunch fashion outfit

Keeping it real: the girlie birthday lunch outfit

Nikki Parkinson Everyday Style, Fashion 45 Comments

Do you acquire certain friends from particular star signs?

It seems I collect Aquarians and Scorpios. I haven’t done any extensive research into this, short of looking at my calendar around these particular months and seeing it filled with birthday lunches, dinners, drinks, coffees.

And that’s ok. Especially the lunches. I’m a big fan of the long lunch. Yes, I am.

Last Friday it was my girlfriend Nat’s turn. The text invite for her birthday lunch came in the middle of The Great Styling You Website Hack of 2012. I didn’t know at the time if or when my blog would be fixed but I did know that I needed a little top-up of the soul from my girlies.

Much as I would have loved to have kept topping up my champagne glass as well, I was constrained by the school run and the need to catch up on two days of lost work. So I sat on my one glass of champagne, feasted on goat’s cheese and roasted beet salad and talked until the shoulders finally relaxed a little. Style tip: shoulders are not a good look when worn hunched around your ears.

Now, this group of girlies loves to frock up. They are each supremely comfortable in their own style. That text was a signal to get my wardrobe juices flowing. What would I pull out and re-glam for this occasion?

Inspiration was lacking. Sapped by stress.

And then my new Gorman shoes from Style Tread arrived. Oh yes, they did.

I love them in the same measure as my husband hates them. And that’s why you need girlfriends to do lunch with: you need to be able to base a whole outfit around new shoes and have it oohed and ahhed at.

Not booed and bahhed at.

Yes, you do.

Keeping it real girls' lunch fashion outfit

Hair: Suite Three | Lipstick: Napoleon Perdis | Dress: Morrison | Jacket: Sussan (ooh, ooh, ooh … Sussan’s now available online too) | Necklace: Riley Burnett | Shoes: Gorman (I actually got mine on special for $164 but that super dooper sale is no longer on, sorry)

Do you love a girlie lunch as much as I do? Do you “collect” girlfriends in different star signs? What do you wear to catch up with your girlfriends? 

PS. Yesterday I wrote a post on Justb. owning up to my the crazy mixed and muddled up name-full identity. You have to read the comments – I’m SO not alone with my mixed bag of names.

 

Comments 45

  1. I just picked up a pair of these Gorman Shoes for the bargain price of $114.95 from Brands Exclusive. Can’t wait to get them. Do you think they will work with my two pairs (purple and rust) of Emerson coloured jeans?

    Thanks Nikki

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  3. Oh, you look gorgeous! I love that lippy and the jacket too. Quick question; do you think an orangey shade of lipstick would look good with olive skin? I’m really not adventurous with lipstick.

    Going out for lunch I often wear a leona edmiston dress as I find them very comfy and flattering plus forgiving if you over indulge a little at lunch.

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  6. Lovely chubbly!

    You clearly move in different circles to me… When my gal pals and I meet for lunch, we are impressed by clean jeans and lipgloss! {But, good jeans and nice lip gloss mind you!} We are all still carting babies and nappies and puree and things around wherever we go though.

    One day we will frock up for lunch. One day…

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  7. You look great and as someone challenged in the cleavage department, I say ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it’!

    I’m an Aquarian too and was lucky enough to spend my birthday in Noosa (in the pouring rain). I’ve been meaning to thank you for the recommendation of Bistro C in Hastings St. I had a breakfast there on my birthday and we returned for dinner a few nights later. The service and food were excellent on both visits.

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  8. Love the outfit and the shoes are fabulous. Great idea with doubling up the necklace…was looking at one of mine this morning thinking “it’s a bit too long….” I’ll try the double up next time. Men don’t have to understand fashion, but just appreciate and enjoy the satisfied smile and inner confidence a great outfit gives us (win-win all round). Hope you continue these Keeping it Real stories – LOVE THEM.

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  9. Ohhh, I finally clicked on over to Style Tread the other day after hearing “Star Trek” every time the ad comes on TV instead of “Style Tread”… Baaaaad idea. Thankfully my size 11 clodhoppers means I can’t just buy up and enjoy free delivery/returns willy-nilly. Although I did find some boots for only $70. In my size. Lined with sheepskin. I’m telling my husband they’ll be good for the cold cold winter in Japan 😉

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  10. Oh I missed your blog while I was away – it’s good to be back 🙂

    The shoes TOTALLY pull the outfit together. Love it.

    Yep my hub doesn’t always get fashion either …

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  13. So glad that after THAT night and morning you were able to defrag with some girlfriends. And didn’t you know, all the best people are Aquarians? Just ask me, I should know 😉

    Loving these posts Nikki. I went shopping in my wardrobe this morning, and have put an outfit together that I will have never worn before. Are feeling rather pleased with myself.

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  14. What do husbands know about shoes anyway! These are so gorgeous! Love the tassels. They add an element of fun to a simple outfit. I am really enjoying these posts, Nikki. (I’m sure M. Perdis will be mortified when he finds out the typo in the name of his new lippy)

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  16. What is it with Scorpios?? I have 4 birthdays in one week of Scorpio, and BFF is a Scorpio too (and I have ANOTHER friend who has the same birthday as her- so SIX birthdays in 2 weeks!)
    Lovin that frock!

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  17. Oh, I am looking forward to kidlets being at school and enjoying long lunches with friends!

    Loving that dress – any dress with pockets is a winner in my books. And navy is my new favourite colour.

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  18. Love that you are pulling out old faithfuls from the wardrobe. Will that Sussan jacket go with our navy stripe Verily dress?

    My girlie catch up out fit depends on the occasion & weather. But as the birthday girl myself over the weekend I teamed a $29 Target summer dress with my fabulous Ruby Olive accessories to make it look special. I can’t tell you how much love I have for my Ruby Olive! Adds instant pizazz to everything & never fails to get a comment. Would never have considered such lollipop style pieces but so glad to win it (right here) as now I wear them twice a week.

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      Yes! I’ve worn the jacket a lot with our Verily dress. There’s a red one on the Sussan website that would work too.
      And so stoked you’re getting such joy out of your Ruby & Olive accessory win!

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  19. I looove a lunch with the girls(and their kids- They go to another table). I try to dress it up whenever I go into town, and work! We don’t drink anything but coffee at lunch!
    And I am an Aquarian, My birthday was yesterday! No fuss as we have had plenty of dramas around here lately with the floods. And will we will be with all the family on the weekend. My family and I did go out to dinner at our poshest restaurant in town so I didn’t need to cook, which is always a good thing on the birthday!

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