Be kind to yourself and enjoy the sales...

Ok, so it's been months, I know. I'm sorry - I feel as if a part of me has been put on hold for months. But that part of me, my creativity, is slowly coming back to life, waking from its slumber, yawning and stretching and getting ready to begin a new chapter. 

So first I should let you know - Ciao Meow is officially ON SALE. Yep, everything is 50% off or more, so get shopping and enjoy some fabulous savings. Personally, I'd be heading straight for the Fleur Wood dresses - they're gorgeous, beautifully made and timeless. But hey, that's just me.

So what's been happening? Well did I mention I had my baby? A beautiful baby girl, she arrived in the middle of August, very early in the morning and we were fortunate enough to have an amazing water birth together. Wow, just picturing it in my mind gives me goosebumps - it was the most life-changing experience I have had to date. I am irrevocably changed forever!

So motherhood has been a pretty amazing journey so far - we're 4 1/2 months in and I have been taken by surprise by how much I absolutely LOVE being a mum. Ok, so I'm sure most new parents think this, but I was worried I wouldn't be a good mum and that parenting wouldn't come naturally to me. I thought I'd want to jump straight back into work and leave the majority of care-giving to my partner, who is a child magnet (seriously, if there's a child within 10 metres of him, they are simply drawn to his big kind smile and sense of fun!).

But like I said, the birth of my daughter changed me irrevocably and guess what - the mother within me was born at the same time. And wow is she a powerful woman - I have been delightfully surprised by her absolute strength, her sense of calm and patience and the overwhelming unconditional love she has for her daughter. And suddenly all I want to do is stay at home and be the best mum I can be. Boy did that take me by surprise!

So suddenly, with this new desire to be a stay at home mum, I am faced with new choices and decisions to be made. How do I run a business at the same time?

Well, I'm not sure yet - I'm still trying to work that one out myself. That's what this blog is about - I wanted to share what was happening in my world instead of staying absent.  I also wanted to share this thought... it came to me while I was feeding bub one night... it's not a new concept, however it was like this concept FINALLY sank in for me...

KINDNESS BEGINS IN YOUR OWN HEART - if you are kind to yourself, you will have a greater capacity to show kindness to others. Simple yet often so hard to do - why are we such harsh critics of ourselves? Here I was, beating myself up for not working on my business enough when I had this realisation and it allowed me to just let go and allow my creativity and motivation to come back on its own, when it was ready, instead of shaming myself and trying to force it back. And suddenly, I wake up this morning and here I am, ready to start a new day. Amazing.

So I must dash now, I can hear my little girl waking up from her nap - it's time for some cuddles!

Much love,
Nicky xo

Fleur Wood Sale

25% OFF ALL NEW SEASON 

FLEUR WOOD!

Enjoy the savings at Ciao Meow and celebrate the arrival of Spring with a fabulous new Fleur Wood frock - at 25% off!

Simply enter promo code - fleurwood - at checkout to receive your discount. Be quick, for a limited time only.

Shop Fleur Wood

Fleur Wood Blossom Dress

Fleur Wood Delphinium Dress

Fleur Wood Forget Me Not Dress

Fleur Wood Marigold Dress

Fleur Wood Olivier Dress

Enjoy the sale and happy shopping!

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Further Markdowns on Winter Fashion

Huge savings to be had with further reductions on all SALE stock, with new sale items just added

PLUS 

Receive a FREE pair of Oh Deer Earrings when you spend over $150 in 1 transaction*

Shop the SALE NOW

Bless'ed are the Meek Zip Rosette Dress  

RRP $199.95 - NOW $99.98

*Visit the homepage for more details on our Gift With Purchase Promo

Happy Shopping,

Love Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Would you like some Free Earrings with that?

Yes, you read right... We are offering a super fabulous  

 Free Gift With Purchase Promo!

Receive these stunning Oh Deer designer Filigree Leaf earrings when you spend $150 or more (that's simply a fabulous new frock for Friday night drinks!). You can choose between the bohemian bronze or luxe silver to suit your individual style.  

GO TO SHOP

Details and conditions listed on the Ciao Meow homepage - be quick, we only have a limited number available, so it's first in, best accessorised!

Happy shopping!

Love Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

My favourite new skirt

Sumakhi Tab Side Pocket Skirt

Why do I love this skirt so much? Just a few quick reasons that I'll share with you...

1. It's super easy and comfortable to wear - casually, dressed up, hanging round the house (hey I work from home, comfort is key!)
2. The graphic grunge print is seriously cool and right on trend without being over the top
3. It's trans-seasonal, which is the great thing about skirts. Simply add leggings and a jacket for cooler months, then bare your pins for summer (or add footless tights).
4. I love skirts combined with leggings and boots - it's super chic and I swear, will never go out of style. Try our Web of Deception Leggings and Pulp Ficiton Jacket.
5. It means I can wear it with my favourite Nookie Stevie Tee - a super soft black jersey Tee which has become a weekly staple for me!
6. It's made by a super cool Aussie designer that we love - Sumakhi! 

BUY NOW

Happy shopping and Ciao for now!

xoxo

Love Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Fabulous new Fleur Wood frock!

Just in ladies, this fabulous new Fleur Wood Olivier Dress is up there with my new favourites! And what's not to love about this stunning silk bronze metalic frock with bow detail? It's peachy bronze colour warms the skin and is a perfect dress for any special occassion. And did I mention super versatile -

• Wear it back with a blazer and tights to work for Friday night drinks
• Add some super stilletto's and a silk flower to your hair for a special occassion frock (weddings, races, special dinner)
• Bling it up with a gorgeous embellished cuff and clutch for a hot date

Just a few ideas to get you going!

Happy Shopping!

Love Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Gorgeous new arrivals from Kuku and Bless'ed are the Meek

Kuku Battlefield of Love Dress

Oh I love the sound of the TNT man pulling up outside - it always heralds the arrival of a fresh new collection of stunning designer fashion from one or more of my favourite Aussie designers. And what did he bring today? Divine new pieces from Kuku and Bless'ed are the Meek!

Woohoo, that's right, just in and ready to be worn and loved - a whole array of gorgeous new frocks and tops in a fabulous palate of colours - choose from classic navy, black, cobalt blue, pewter along with silver, cream and super cute black and white stripes.

So what are you waiting for? SHOP What's New Pussycat NOW and be the first to wear these stunning pieces.

Happy Shopping!

xoxo

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Favourite Winter Jacket

Fleur Wood Pulp Fiction Jacket RRP $329 

SALE PRICE $230.30

Stunning tuxedo style wool jacket with 3 button detailing, this is a jacket you will keep and love for years to come. A great investment, especially at 30% off!

Worn with Sumakhi Low Back Stripe Dress RRP $220

SALE PRICE $165

Enjoy the Sale!!! 

Ciao for now,

xoxo

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Shona Joy at 40% off

With 40% off the current Shona Joy collection and up to 80% off summer stock, it's hard to find a reason NOT to shop!  Get in quick, these are our favourite dresses from the sale...

Little Drummer Girl Tank Dress - RRP $220, SALE PRICE $145.20

BUY NOW

Sargent Pepper Side Frill Dress - RRP $198, SALE PRICE $118.80

BUY NOW

Flamingo Lakes Cocktail Dress - RRP $245, SALE PRICE $122.50

BUY NOW

Into the Wild Cocktail Dress - RRP $280.50, SALE PRICE $100

BUY NOW

Out of Africa Cut Out Mini Dress - RRP $269.50, SALE PRICE $107.80

BUY NOW

There's even more stunning dresses online and at super saving prices, so get shopping and enjoy the sale! Let us know if you need any shopping assistance - we're always happy to help :o)

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Designer Stocktake Sale - ON NOW!

UP TO 40% OFF NEW SEASON &

UP TO 80% OFF LAST SEASON STOCK
With Promo Code - stocktake

 

Nookie Purple Haze Dress - RRP $220 SALE PRICE $165

That's right lovely ladies, it's SALE TIME and you can bag yourself some very serious designer bargains at Ciao Meow right now, including party dresses, jackets, tops, skirts, pants, day dresses, jersey basics and more! We only have limited stock left, so if you see it and love it, then BUY IT because it won't last and there are no more re-orders. Sale ends 30th June!

To receive your super sale price, you MUST ENTER PROMO CODE - stocktake - AT CHECKOUT! Your sale price will then be calculated. To give you an idea of prices, we have -

40% OFF new season Shona Joy

30% OFF new season Fleur Wood

25% OFF new season Kuku, Bless'ed are the Meek, Nookie & Sumakhi

Up to 80% OFF last season stock from all designers

Shop the sale NOW

Happy shopping - remember to contact us if you need shopping assistance. Our Contact Details are on the website. www.ciaomeow.com.au

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Gorgeous new fashion accessories arrive at Ciao Meow

 Blue Peacock Locket Pendant in Brass

 If you adore gorgeous vintage-inspired jewelry that's utterly unique, looks fabulous on, brightens up any outfit and is made with love right here in Australia, then boy are you going to love the creations from Oh Deer!, the latest designer accessories label to arrive at Ciao Meow!

Love Birds Sitting on a Branch in Silver

Behind Oh Deer! are two Melbourne based sisters Eva and Magda with a creative flair for making handmade modern and vintage style jewellery, now showcased online at Ciao Meow. With backgrounds in graphic design and retail, they share a deep life-long passion for art and fashion.  "Making jewelry has become a creative outlet for both of us and it’s something that we love doing and have a lot of fun with."

Leafy Branch Bracelet with Turquoise

 Enjoy their stunning, nature-inspired collections, available online now at Ciao Meow! Affordable, unique and utterly divine, their statement pieces are the perfect way to jazz up the most simple of outfits and also make a great gift idea.

 Mod Bird Charm Earrings in Bronze

These are just a few of our favourites - I hope you love them as much as we do!

Shop the full collection online now at Ciao Meow

Enjoy and happy shopping!

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Shoulder detail - Ciao Meow is loving this trend

Seriously, what is not to love about this utterly cool trend? Ok, I admit, I had my doubts about the resurgance of shoulder pads (if you've lived through the 80's, you need no explanation). However, when done well, they are fierce. And I don't use that term lightly!

Take this Bless'ed are the Meek Fringed Top for a perfect example - the style of the top is kept relatively simple - soft, beautifully draped charcoal grey jersey in a long-line Tee - easy. Then add the shoulder detail - hidden shoulder pads (only little ones, nothing scary) to give that sharp-shoulder sillouhette seen on catwalks and red carpets the world over, then add some black contrast to the top and finish with fringing. Voila - we have perfection. Fringing, by the way, is one of my all time favourite embellishments, it just looks fabulous when done well.

Which is why this deceptively simple little top has become my wardrobe staple - I wear it with everything! Leggings, jeans, skirts, shorts - it's just so easy & comfy to wear and always looks stylish. And best of all, it's stretchy, so accomadates growing baby bellies like mine :o)

The secret to remember when rocking the shoulder trend is keep it simple and streamlined so that the emphasis is on the shoulders and not competing for attention with other embellishments, clashing colours or wild accessories.

Don't forget, it's available now at Ciao Meow and I hope you enjoy wearing it as much as I do!

Happy shopping and ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

My new favourite Trench

Yes it was cold enough this morning to wear a trench - woohoo! You cannot BELIEVE how excited I was to don my gorgeous new Bless'ed are the Meek Black Studded Trench. Yum o Yum!

Slipping into those gorgeous sleeves was like slipping into the arms of a long lost lover! Ahhhh, then belting it up was a delicious embrace and voila! I am looking fabulous and urban-chic and utterly timeless in this perennial classic.

I did add some other clothes of course, namely Nookie Zeppelin Leggings (leggings are my ultimate winter staple) as well as my favourite deep purple Shona Joy Sargent Pepper Slouchy Tee (clearly comfort is key here, I am pregnant after all!). LOVE the shoulder detail on this top and it's long enough to wear with leggings (read as - covers your bum).

And, super exciting of all, I added boots - yes boots, it was cold enough for boots! Honestly, I was grinning like a crazy person to myself this morning as I got dressed... being able to wear some cool winter fashion seriously just made my day. Hey, I'm easy to please :o)

Hmmm, I wonder if it will be cold tomorrow? A whole weekend wardrobe to plan for - I better get to it!

What are you wearing today?

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Win a $50 Fashion Shopping Voucher for Ciao Meow

Ok fashion lovers, we're amping up our Facebook Page and we want YOU to be involved! So if you're not already signed up as a Fan, then do so now. Then tell all your friends to become a fan as well and to list YOU as how they heard about Ciao Meow on our Facebook Page.  

We'll then enter both you AND your friend in the comp to win $50 smackers towards a fabulous new outfit from Ciao Meow.

We'll draw the winner once we reach 200 fans. So get crackin! Sign up, tell your friends and get ready to go shopping!

Need more reason's to sign up?  Ok, we understand, here's a 5 brilliant reasons as to why it's great to be friends with Ciao Meow...

1. Seriously cool up-to-the-minute fashion at your fingertips - stunning dresses (party dresses, cocktail dresses, maxi dresses, day dresses - every variety of dress possible!), beautiful quality basics (that every wardrobe needs, we might add!), luxurious new season jackets, as well as a fab selection of separates including tops, Tee's, pants and skirts. That's enough for us anyhow

2. Super quick delivery - most orders arrive between 1 and 3 days (over a weekend) after your order has been received. Now that's darn quick.

3. Orders are beautifully wrapped accompanied by a hand written note, just like a special gift for you. Now that's what we like to receive in the post!

4. Receive exclusive access to Flash Sales, feature designer discounts, competitions and be the first to know about our super End of Season Sales when you join our Facebook page and Newsletter. Plus all the fashion news, tips and advice we like to ramble on about!

5. Customer Rewards - once you've purchased with us, it's our number 1 priority to look after you to ensure you're happy and valued. So we offer exclusive reward to our customers, including ongoing discounts on future purchases as well as other lovely surprises along the way.

So, convinced yet? Join the party and come shopping!

Sign up to Facebook HERE - Ciao Meow

Sign up to our Newsletter HERE

Good luck in the comp and ciao for now!
Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

My wardrobe staples for the long weekend

We just had a gorgeous long May day weekend up here in Queensland. Though I'm still aching for cool weather, even I couldn't deny the sunshine was just glorious. So I stopped my whinging and took advantage of our sunny days to enjoy the local sites here on the sunny coast. Went to the beach, shopped at local markets, dinner at a favourite bistro and brunched like it was my last day on earth!

Here's my fashion staples and what kept me in good fashion stead for the weekend...

Brunch on Saturday needed something a little warm as it was quite early, so the Nookie Pretenders Maxi dressed down with black sandals was perfect. Plus a stripe always makes me feel more Frenchy-chic, which suited almond croissants & cappuccino's at our local French Patisserie perfectly!

This light cotton Fleur Wood Africa Tunic was perfect for the beach and a walk through the national park, thrown casually on over my Fleur Wood Petit Four Bikini with denim cut-offs. Very casual-chic and super comfy, it's also essential to cover up in our hot Queensland sun, so was great to be able to roll down the sleeves when I needed to. To accessorise, I added some wooden beads, a fedora hat (sunsmart and very cool!) and some havaiana's - the staple footwear of the coast!

Ok, stripes and Little Black Dresses are a slight obsession for me, but they are such classic wardrobe staples, you don't have to over-think what you're going to wear and they always look fabulous. So needless to say, when it was time to go out to dinner on Saturday night (lovely little Italian bistro, YUM, does fabulous vegetarian food), I reached straight for one of my new favourite LBD's - the Fleur Wood Sixteen Candles Tutu Dress. How cool is this dress, seriously? Perfect for the coast too, as it's not so over-glam that you look totally out of place (casual-chic rules the day here). I simply added some black bejewelled sandals to add a casual element, a little flower to my messy up-do and my favourite Lisa Marinucci Black Onyx Pendant and I was ready to go.

Sunday was a perfect day to shop the local markets and I had the perfect dress to wear - the Sumakhi Blue Haze Cape Dress, belted at the waist as shown here with some comfy tan thongs and my fedora hat. Super comfy, light enough to not get too hot, but just warm enough to ward off the early morning chill. I just love this dress and once home, off came the belt and it turns into a caftan-style dress - uber comfy for chillaxing in! I love a frock that has multiple looks & functions - it's a multi-tasker!

So there you go, my perfect long weekend wardrobe - all thanks to my favourite designers at Ciao Meow. And today, it's back into work (I use the term loosely) in another comfy combo...

Yes, I know, stripes again! But this Baker Boys Jersey dress is so soft I can't resist. Worn with the Nookie Zeppelin Leggings adds a bit of a rock edge and then black ballet flats completes my need for easy comfort. I'd love to add some cool ankle boots, but hey, I work from home, so clomping around in heels in your own house all day really doesn't work! So flats it is and I'm happy with that.

Feel free to share your wardrobe favourites... it's always fabulous to hear what other fashion-loving gals are wearing :o)

Happy shopping and ciao for now,
Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

What am I aching to wear?

I am blessed to live in gorgeous Queensland, beautiful sunny Queensland, by the beach. Yes, I am HUGELY grateful for this fact. However... let me just point out, that it doesn't get overly cold here. Therefore the changing of the seasons is not overly noticeable. I mean, we're over half way through Autumn and I've barely gotten out of cami's, shorts and singlet dresses!

This makes it incredibly hard for a girl who runs an online boutique who is literally SURROUNDED by all the stunning, luscious, snuggly new season winter warmies that I am just ACHING to wear!  But it's too damned hot! And boots, did I mention boots? I want to wear BOOTS!!!

So, seeing as I can't physically wear them right now (without sitting in arctic style air-con, not really the environments best friend), I've decided to post up what I'd like to be wearing. Kind of like therapy for me, hopefully a little entertaining, maybe even a little wardrobe inspiring for you... I'll leave it up to you to decide.

What I'm aching to wear today...

Fleur Wood Pulp Fiction Jacket with Sumakhi Long Sleeved Low Back Stripe Dress 

Yes my friends, this is what I'd be wearing today if the darned weather would just play along! This gorrrgeous jacket from Fleur Wood is made from wool, so its super warm and just tailored to perfection. The Sumakhi dress is a nice thick jersey (great to hold you in) and I have to say, am obsessed with stripes! I would then add some black opaques with my favourite gun-metal grey suede boots, purchased from my gorgeous friend Julie of Jules & Roc (great online store ladies!). And some gorgeous dangly earrings - I'll keep you posted, but have some gorgeous new jewels arriving from Melbourne label Oh Deer. Seriously cool and quirky - stay tuned.

Ahhh yes, it feels good to dream about it. Honestly, it does. Kind of like living vicariously through my blog. If I can't experience it physically right now, at least I can experience it cyberly (ok not sure if that's a real word, but it fits). So what are you wearing today? Or what would you be wearing if the weather was right?

Share with us, we'd love to know!

Happy shopping & ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<

Get back to basics

All the designers are doing it, so it's time to enjoy the fruits of their labour... We're talking jersey basics and boy do we love them! Think super soft jersey's, simple well cut styles, flattering shapes, beautiful quality and perfect layering pieces... all these attributes make them easy wardrobe essentials, ideal for trans-seasonal dressing and an excellent wardrobe investment as they are perennially stylish. What's not to love??

Enjoy these styles now at Ciao Meow...

Fleur Wood Baker Boy Jersey Dress - add tights and boots and you're good to go. Good idea to leave the sausages at home though :o)

Fleur Wood Element Blouse - beautiful cream 3/4 sleeves with option to roll up. Worn here with Fiction Jacket and jeans. Just classic.

Fleur Wood Element Dress - simply navy jersey, add tights and over the knee boots, sling on a colourful scarf and it's perfect for brunch with the girls.

Fleur Wood Baker Boys Cardi - a classic navy stripe in a draped, easy to wear cardi - perfect to throw on over a dress or a Tee (pictured here with Nookie Stevie Tee), it's a trans-seasonal Must Have.

Nookie Stevie Tee - simple black well cut Tee in a super soft jersey. You just can't go wrong here! Add it to basically ANYTHING and look stylish.

Nookie Tyler Tank - add a little embellishment and voila, you have instant glam in a simple Tee. Love it! And we're loving the gorgeous Teal colour too.

Nookie Pretenders Stripe Maxi - ahh the jersey maxi, very elegant and so soft you'll swear you were still wearing your PJ's! A great dress to wear anywhere - add a blazer for work or a cool vest for play. Seriously cool.

Sumakhi Blue Haze Cape Dress - love the powder blue, this is almost like a poncho in a dress but 100 times cooler than the ones your mum dressed you in when you were 3! Add a belt and you have an instant style lift.

Soooo.... what do you think? Convinced that jersey basics are a stylish girls best friend? Right then, so what are you waiting for? Go forth and shop! Enjoy...

Ciao for now,

Miss Ciao Meow >^..^<