Sonsi FFFW White Cruise: NY Summer

Sia, Jen of Seraphim Clothing & I

After figuring out that we wouldn't be able to make it to Europe this summer, there was something that seemed to soften that blow. The thought of meeting up with fellow bloggers to party in NYC on the harbour excited me immensely. Ever since I first watched Honey Daniels all those years ago attend that deliciously cool black and white party I've always wanted to go to one (ha ha LAME I know). During my early college years I organised a black and white party for my friends; one was celebrating her 18th birthday and the other was celebrating her 21st birthday. It was a crazy night. We caught the train into the city with cases of those cheap vodka premixes....I think they were called "Voodoos" or something. We ran a muck through the city screaming our "Cheeeeeeehoooooooo" calls letting everybody know the Polynesians were out to play. But something was missing. Oh of course. NEW YORK CITY!

It's crazy to think that these Poly girls have grown up into young *coughs* ladies and that we dress in white and attend events in New York. No I'm not bragging. I'm legit just thinking "How the hell did that happen?"

Still being that proud Niuean & Australian girl that I am, I wanted to wear something that let everybody know who I am and where I'm from. My accent had the Australian heritage covered so I wore a fou-fou (a floral headpiece worn on special events or when one dances). My mother gave it to my sister and I. I also packed the other for our cousin Sia. My Mum brought them back from New Zealand after our family reunion last April. You didn't see this because I didn't post this up.

But ultimately I wanted to be comfortable and to feel pretty. At home (Australia) my hair was being good but in New York it was fizzy as hell. UGHH. Oh well. YOLOd that shit. I also wore my coconut earrings that my friend Malo got me when she went to Samoa and the bracelet I got from Ruth when she went to Samoa. I actually didn't realise this until now :) Wore my trusty Moda dress that I picked up like 3 years ago and my pearl cluster ring when I was in Broome. For the shoes I chose the comfy Rivers low-heeled sandals.

It was so weird because I had been looking forward to this event ever since I found out about it. When I arrived I met up with the Aussie girls I had been talking to on our own Facebook forum. It was nice to know some people there. It was also the first time I had caught up with Gabby and Candice since our arrival so we were all excited and had a million questions and things to catch up on.

I started to recognise many other bloggers and didn't really know to approach them. I was torn between excitement (and wanting to dance as soon as I got on the boat) and nerves. When I'm nervous I just talk too much. But I met Kellie B and Jassifer. Two bloggers whose style I admire. From then it was all sort of a blur. The boat was packed and almost impossible to mingle with everyone. I ultimately chose to hang out with my girls because I didn't want to waste a beautiful evening getting caught up trying to do 'everything' and have no real memories of the night.

Instead we danced, laughed and tried with all our might to win a door prize. I went off to find food and ended up dancing with another lady whom I met in the line outside and promised that I would dance with her when we got inside.

I met Bec (her dress was my favourite of the white party) and boogied with Olivia and pulled pretty ugly faces with Sam. I hugged Dani and chatted with Ashley and met Inez of Style Chic 360 and Sandra of La Precosa Preciosa. The overall night was not exactly what I expected, but it was still great. We had our own little after party and Pie Face so no complaints here. Check out my instragram account @mele2541 for more photos under #melenyc.

Inez of Style 360, Jen of Seraphim Clothing and my sister Theresa of He called her Siki-Lou.

The Curvy and Curly Closet, Fatshion Insider & my girls.

Curvy Sam, Plus Side of Me, Jassifer Lion's Club & Wait until the Sunset

Check my beautiful sister's post HERE. Don't these two look like mermaids?

Big Love,


Falala Mele.

vintage faded denim melbourne

A few months ago I went away to catch up with some of my lovely friends in Melbourne. The cold weather (I hate the cold) meant that I could wear my vintage denim jacket purchased by my friend from my favourite local opshop Mickey and Mallory.

I fell in love with the studded detail and embroidery. It's probably one of the coolest pieces I own and I wore this when I went to see Daniel Merriweather HERE and he even said he loved my jacket too!

So here it is more it with my purple oversized blouse. I found this baby in Brooklyn when I went opshopping with the Trini-Sissy Gabby. The colour and the buttons caught my eye and I'm pretty sure it set me back like $4. WINNING! Would have been cool to wear it with some boots or wedges but it was FREEEEEZING that night and were walking all over the city so I had to be kind to my toes :/

Vintage Denim Jacket $35 / Purple Vintage blouse $4 / Black Tights Kmart $8

Do you like it? What's your favourite denim piece?



Much love,



Falala Mele

Aussie Curves:15 week roundup

Hello lovely ones,

Just a quick post here. At the moment I'm in Adelaide for my nieces 4th birthday. Finished work yesterday, chucked everything in the car and BOOM! I'm waking up to my 3 nieces running around my brothers house. Anyways I have been busy again with school work and reports SMH. and I haven't had a chance to find anything strapless. When I packed to move to Mildura I took a whole heap of warm clothes because it gets sooooo cold and I left most of my summer wardrobe at home at the South Coast so my choices are non existent at the moment.

But I have come accustomed to my weekly curves submission and I thought I'd do a 15 week round up (geeeeeeze time flies when you're having fun) of the past 15 weeks worth of fun.

If you're a brilliant mathematician you will notice that there are not 15 pics here and that's because I didn't know about the Aussie Curves challenge until it had already started. The first weeks topic was Boots and the second was Bold Nails (from memory). I missed the first week but I had an outfit with boots and leggings on the third so I figured it made up for it.

What's your favourite outfit here? I think I like my skirts one the best. 

Hope you are all well. Enjoy your weekend.

Big love,

Falala Mele.

NYC: Sugarcane, Brooklyn

I have been meaning to share my pics from our night at Sugarcane for a really long time. Work combined with the Aussie Curves fun has meant that my limited free time was given to things other than my NY summer adventure recount.

This is another one of our adventures with the Trini-Sissys Gabby and Candice. They wanted to take us to SUGARCANE  to experience some authentic Caribbean cuisine (it's voted the best in New York). I swear they are Brooklyn's best tour guides. Full of knowledge about cool places, great food and they are just sooooo much fun. 

They insisted we try the callaloo and oxtail OHHHHHHMYGAWSSSSH and the sorrel martinis in JUGS (uh huh that's how the Sissys do it) were the perfect antidote to the hot balmy weather. The atmosphere was cooooool. It was full of people and conversation and the DJ played songs I could only dream about hearing in an Australian club. Hat off to you Sugarcane. You do your food well.

I had big ideas to straighten my hair and wear it down and have my sheer black over sized blouse buttoned up to the top BUT it was too hot! As I walked from my hotel to the train, UP went the hair. As I sat on the train I loosened my buttons. SMH. Oh well what can you do. I'm not going to melt trying to save my intended look. Sometimes you just have to change it up to enjoy the place / event at the time and I did have the best night with my lovely New Yorkers and Aussie sisters.

Oxtail / Callaloo / Coconut Rice  

Mele, Gabby & Theresa

Chris, Gabby, Theresa, Ruth and I 

What I wore: I picked up this sheer over-sized black button-up blouse in St. Marys. I went to get my eyelashes done at 4 Seasons Beauty (they are the best) and there was free clothes at the street fair.  FREE CLOTHES? HELL YES! My sister and I found a few pieces and we thought we should leave some for other people but they insisted that we take all we wanted because they have too much stuff. COOL HUH?                            I found these yellow tights at Kmart. I REALLLLY wanted a pair of yellow shorts before my first US trip and I didn't find any.  So when I saw these I was like "YES I finally get my yellow shorts". I cut these and they did the job just fine.                            Had to wear my faithful chucks because we were trekking all over the New York catching trains and walking to and from places.

Thinking about all my friends in New York. I hope you are all well. I miss you guys xo

Big Love,

Falala Mele xo

Aussie Curves: Polkadots

 I wear a lot of polka dots. I love them. The majority of my stuff is black with white polka dots and being the committed opshopper that I am, I pass loads of them on my thrifting travels and they usually end up coming home with me. 

Seeing as I always love the classic black with white polka dots and red lips look, I decided to do something different. I picked up this stretchy green polka dot dress from Supre at Harbour Town (I think that is what it is called) in the Gold Coast last April. It was on sale and I loved the colour (I also brought the yellow one when I met the fabulous Daniel Merriweather see HERE) and I thought it would be a perfect addition to my New York summer holiday wardrobe. 

Please don't be afraid to walk into straight sized stores. You never know what you might find (size tags do not take into account the material, style and fit of each garment) you just need to look.

This bloody amazing jacket was given to me as a birthday present from my friend Moala. This is a vintage thrifted piece and I love it. My bug glasses were picked up in New York from  a street vendor, chain was thrifted and boots were from Target. I love the height they give whilst being incredibly comfortable. What are you wearing your polka dots with my friends?

Big Love,


Falala Mele xo

Aussie Curves: Picnic

Super quick one. On my way to another wedding today so I gotta go get ready but these shots were taken a week ago in Mildura because it was some anniversary of the paddle boat. The river was packed with boats and people and while I didn't sit down to an official picnic (we do them all the time....see HERE and HERE) I did enjoy fresh strawberries and cupcakes from the local stalls.

Perfect picnic attire should be comfortable and allow for the sun to kiss your skin ;) 

Big Love,

Falala Mele xo

Dress: Best and Less / Cardigan: Thrifted / Boots: Gifted from Gabby / Glasses: Salvos / Belt: Gifted from Amra

Aussie Curves: Stripes in NYC

Hello lovely ones,

It is officially the start of the school holidays! I have been busy and I crammed every ounce of work I could pull out of my backside in before Friday afternoon. Had pancakes with my lovely girls in Mildura. Slept at 1am. Up at 7am. Packed and started the 12 hour drive from Mildura with my sister. Made it home by 8:30pm. Greeted by my parents and Aunty and have been busy ever since.

Spent yesterday:

6:30am morning stroll with my Mum, Aunty & Snoopy

Picked up my gorgeous baby niece

Spring fair with my Mum, Aunty and sisters

Lunch with my sisters

afternoon snooze (OMG I am living on the edge)

editing US pictures

and a movie marathon (I never get to watch movies and my hard drive is full)

What's coming up:
2 weddings
a graduation
nieces birthday
op shopping raid on all my local spots "HONEEEEEY I'M HOMEEEE"
Lady Antebellum concert
beach time :)
catching up with all my friends <3

Anyways that's where I'm at right now.


This week called for stripes and I just so happened to have an outfit featuring stripes ready to go. I found this top and I loved it for a variety of reasons. I based the rest of the look around  this one piece. I love that it has a high cut around the neck. I have been wearing a lot of that lately. Fell in love with the low cut back. It's nice not hoochie and that's how I like to roll ;)

I combined some of my favourite never-fail combinations with the look and I felt cooooool in my OOTN. The red lips and gold eyes are one of my fave makeup looks. The city chic skirt gave my body extra hips and shape and it allowed the top half of my body to be accentuated by the stripes. One of my favourite New York outfits of this trip :)

So this night we went out to Shadows in Manhattan. Sooooo many funny stories from that night but I guess you just had to be there. NY night scene is on another level. We are so timid here in Australia. Those New Yorkers like to party and it's a good thing cause we do too.

Major thanks to our Trini-Sissys. They took us out and danced the night away. This was our last night in New York. Next afternoon we flew out to Vegas. Danced all night and walked to Maccas for some chicken bites. That was the only thing open and all that dancing made us hungry. Sorry about the poor picture quality. Just took the little point and shoot because we planned to dance our asses off!

Striped Top: SES Westfield / Skirt City Chic $15 (sale) / Shoes Target $35 / Bag Earring Chain: Thrifted

If I hear music and I like it, then I will dance. I'm not shy at all (see above). I love dancing with my girls!

Candice, Mele, Ruth, Gabby and Theresa

OMG I love my gold drop clip-ons. I think they were like $2. Thrifted find baby!

Last shot before leaving shadows.

Big Love,

Falala Mele xo