107

Tartan Throw  THRIFTED / Tie-dye Top KMART / Leggings KMART / Boots RIVERS / Glasses EQUIP

107. That's the name of my favourite lipstick. It is a staple and life saver. I just slip it on with a lick of mascara and I'm ready to go. I've had the colour for well over a year now and I'm surprised I haven't needed a replacement. I'm a fan of matte colours because they have better staying power throughout the day. 107 is apart of the Rimmel Kate Moss range and from the quick google search (I was checking if it had another name) I would assume that it is the most popular in the range.  Priceline have them on sale now for $10 HERE. 

I also had a chance to wear my new boots today. I took my Dad out to buy some new clothes the other week and he picked up the boots that I wanted. I needed something sturdy and comfortable when walking through the streets on London, and something to withstand the rain and cold. I didn't want to pay $80 so I took a chance at holding out until the sale came. I walked back into Rivers and picked them up for $20. #WINNING

I've also been busy trying to sort out my UK visa as well as find a place to live (any advice or hookups would be appreciated because I'm starting to freak out!) and I've felt the real urge to start hunting through all my favourite opshops to stock up on warm clothes for London. Last week I found this adorable tartan throw over. It's warm and just feels so comfortable and it's feeding my current obsession with the 90's aesthetic.

Also picked up this oversized tie-dyed top from Kmart that I will no doubt live in during the summer.

Pretty casual and comfy but that seems to be my regular lately. What's new with you?


Big love,

Falala Mele.

Happy 21st Leena

This March I travelled to Auckland, New Zealand to celebrate my niece's 21st birthday. For Niuean people, 21st birthdays are a big deal. Families will prepare for months in advance and invitations are sent out early so that international guests can pencil in the date.

Even though this year was set aside for saving for the big move, I had to fly over for this birthday. My niece Leena is a breath of fresh air. She is artistic, creative and I love her because amongst the grind of life, she dares to dream and plan and works quietly towards achieving her dreams. That's bravery.

Leena is selfless, loving and adorably cute. She didn't want a big 21st birthday but her family insisted because it's a chance for her family to celebrate her achievements and the fact that she is growing into a beautiful woman publicly.

To my beautiful niece who braved Mildura with us; who convinced us to buy a cute little bunny and who continues to work and give and share and shine, THANK YOU for bringing goodness into our world and life. I love you beyond words and I can't wait to see what you do with your life.

My cousins made her birthday cupcakes.

My Aunties & Mum celebrating through dance and song.

My nephew Vincent painted her birthday banner inspired by Great Gatsby font.

Leena's sister and little cousin perform for her. Family & guests give money to the performers.

Worn: City Chic skirt and thrifted  sequinned embellished blouse.

Niuean Takalo (war dance)

Big Love,

Falala Mele

worn so far

1. Fave thrifted denim / Kmart top / Forever 21 scarf    2. Thrifted floral dress / purple lips / Target wedge sandle

1. Thrifted patterned blouse / purple lips $3     2. Best and Less blouse / Seraphim chain /  Hat Cabramatta 

1. Carnival casual w fluro muscle shirt from Hawaii    2. Basic face goodness

1. Denim / bindi / Uncle's beanie for birthday dress up   2. Knott flow on Sundays

So I've definitely eased off with the ootd shots. I still love getting dressed up but I'm just kinda fine with wearing it and moving on. Don't get it twisted, I still love reading blogs and looking at creatively styled ensembles but for me, it got to a point where I wanted to photograph everything.....then I kinda thought I could spend my time doing other things...like live life.

That's not to say the outfit shots will stop. Hardly. I'm just not as inspired right now so here a few shots of what I've been wearing off my humble phone. Still ridiculously drawn towards that 90's aesthetic. I love the deep lip colour, and a more casual look. Ugh it's me all over. Little effort and then I'm off.



Big love,


Falala Mele.

Beautiful things: Sabbath Pastels

Worn last Sabbath.

Blouse Best & Less / Shoes Thrifted Mickey & Mallory / Hat Cabramatta / Glasses NY street vendor

Cardigan SES / Necklace Seraphim / Leggings Target

Beautiful things: Thrifted wedding look in Hawaii

Aloha lovely people. Just wanted to share my wedding look for Mary and Trevor's wedding held in the Kameamea School Oahu chapel. The setting was so pretty and  the church was perched high up in the mountain and gave a breathtaking view of Waikiki. I have more pics to come later as these ones are just off my phone.

So before I left Mildura I donated the majority of my belongings to the various opshops around town. I was in a hurry but I quickly had a look around and I found this floral vintage dress and I thought it would be perfect for the wedding. It's light, cool and the white and pastel colours give it that fresh spring feel. Winning wedding outfit for $8. I picked up the white shells from and ABC corner store for 90 cents. Paired them with White sandals from Big W. I would have preferred a pastel yellow for contrast but that's all I could rustle up before I left the country.

Wedding was beautiful.....but I'll fill you in on that later. Until then, aloha!

teenage dream

Thrifted Threads: Dress $4 White Cardigan $4 Shoes Target Glasses Equip Earrings Prouds

Thrifted things make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream. 

All the things I could ever dream of when I was a teenager. Pretty clothes, cool shit. 

The type of gears that let everyone know; you were the shit and you knew it.

I was a complete poor soul. But I think everyone was. Nah that's bullshit. People were cool. I wasn't. 

I was a quiet, good, half-caste girl who was fat and couldn't afford all that fancy shit. 

It didn't kill my life like it did for others. 

It didn't sit at home and pine for it. 

I just waited around and grew into myself. 

It was nice dreaming away about all the things I wanted to become. 

I was connected to my family, friends and music and looking back, 

it seems to be the best youth ever. 

Things are getting messed up now days. 

You get everything you want and you get it quickly.

Now I realise that a lot of shit doesn't matter.

But it's nice to get all things that make me feel

like I'm living the teenage dream.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

velour lips & quick visits

Hi!


Yes I know, it's been forever. I've been busy. School, niece, family & saving. All the necessary boring stuff that makes up a huge chunk of life. Amongst all the ordinary stuff, I was delighted to have my sis Emma come and visit my sister and I.

She brought gifts. The beautiful Australis Velour Lip Colour range. Two colours each. I was pretty keen to see how this gloss turn matte lipstick would work and I'm surprised by the punchy colour and staying power. It lasted through dinner and I literally had to wash it off. Cool for you makeup buffs out there.

My whole outfit was based around the lip colour. I decided to wear my rose blouse as a contrast to the lip colour. I love this thrifted find. Think it was like $2. Black skater skirt and boots. Casual and comfy. Went straight out to dinner after this. Thanks for making it all the way out here Emz. You are the bomb sis.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

Aussie Curves: Celeb Copy Cat Aaradhna

So I've climbed out of the woodworks to participate in my fave Aussie Curves theme.

Yes. The Celeb Copy Cat week was something I could not miss out on. I had so much fun last year trying to pull together an outfit to match the effortlessly dope Solange Knowles (see post HERE). While everyone in Australia is going cray cray for big sis Beyonce cause she's here at the moment.....I'm totally pissed that I will miss Solange's quick summer tour and New Years concert. She is on my MUST-SEE list and unfortunately, I will be in Hawaii when she is visiting Australia. WHYYYYY??

Anyways, back to this post..... So I've chosen to copy the beautiful Aaradhna. I'll forgive you if you haven't heard of her before. She is New Zealand's very own RNB & soul queen. I knew of her from way back because all of the polynesians were buzzing over that Adeaze track 'Getting stronger' and the good music has not stopped. 

She has recently dropped the superb album Treble & Reverb. Honestly it's soooooo fucking good. Yes, it needs the swear. I'm never excited about new music because there's so much stuff out there these days and I don't have the time to find that needle in the haystack.

But this is exactly what her album is. 

It's the first whole album I've actually bought in a long time and it's a real collection of stories that progresses and takes the listener on a journey. Yes. A real album. Thank you music gods.

Her track WAKE UP has kept me running on the treadmill when my legs have felt like lead, and the entire album is on high rotation in our house still....pretty sure we were playing it this time last year. 

Besides dying over her music, I've also watched her style evolve. I love her appreciation for vintage (and I assume thrifted) dresses and prints. I love her because she's talented, real and polynesian. Aaradhna looks like a lady and sings like a queen. I can't wait for the day I get to listen to her sing live.

I found this gorgeous pic of her on Kiwi blogger Lani Says Aaradhna's Media Showcase post. I love her dress and I have picked up a few like it when I was out on the thrift. My outfit was a dress and a blouse but I cut the dress and made a skirt, just because I do that sometimes. Both are thrifted of course. I love that she is wearing flats. I'm forever living in chucks and dresses. I love that she is a natural beauty. 

Do yourself a favour. Listen to her music and follow her on instagram @aaradhna and twitter. She is one of the few people that are worth following.

Big Love,

Falala Mele.

NYC Summer: Day 4 (I think)

 Hi Falalas,

Just a quick post to share my ootd on my New York Summer Adventure.... Feels like an eternity ago now. My previous post said we had a pretty laid back day. After wondering around we came back and got changed to go to the Bloomingdales free event for FFFW. If you followed any of the FFFW events then you probably heard a lot of negative feedback for this one and that's because it wasn't really that good and the people who attended the event were mad.

I feel like the general public got the idea that we all weren't happy and even Gwen DeVoe responded to Jassifer's post on it HERE. Running a huge event like the FFFW is bound to have holes because there is just so much to do and I don't want to be negative and nit pick so I'm just gonna say that I didn't like this event and I wouldn't attend it again.

The best thing about being stuck in a small confined space was that I got to meet some awesome plus sized beauties. Some models, bloggers and of course regular people like me who just wanted to have a little look around.

This is what I wore. I thought it was about time I get out of my Chucks and after meeting Kiah from THE REZ TO THE CITY I was ready to roll outta there. On my way out I stumbled into the Magnolia bakery and picked up some ice tea and a peanut ice box. FROTH! Lol it was so nice but I couldn't finish it. Too rich and decedent but definitely worth it just to say I did.

Check out my sister's comprehensive post the Bloomingdales event HERE.

Shorts Avella (originally pants but I cut them) / Singlet Factory / Blazer Thrifted / Chain Gifted/ Shoes Target

Big Love,

Falala Mele

Aussie Curves: Feminine

Dress: Vintage Floral Australian Dress made in Melbourne. $2.50 at the Salvos

Hat from Cabramatta for $2

Boots: Target  /  Glasses: Cotton On

Hello my fellow Falalas,

I've finally made it back to the Aussie Curves challenge list. I'm so excited to be back and primarily because two of my girls have decided to join the challenge this year. I've been very fortunate to grow up around beautiful girls. Sally was my high school and we did everything together. Our love for music and food and Koori culture and all things ghetto brought us together. Our tastes and interests developed and our lives rolled out on different tracks but I still count her as one of my homegirls. She's been through a lot lately and I'm so happy that she's out there being bold and fierce not matter what. This is her contribution to the Aussie Curves Feminine week. I'm digging the floral dress. Nothing seems more feminine than a dress with a floral print. Sal's hair is freaking awesome too!

Then there's Lo. My curvaceous sister from another Mister and the first person I featured on my blog in the WHAT SHE'S WEARING POSTS see HERE. We met in college and pretty much became inseparable when she moved into dorms. She went off to Hong Kong when she graduated and moved to Mildura after that job. She is now the Deputy Principal of our little school. She is the main reason why I decided  to move here. I thought it's be awesome to be paid to work with your friend. The Mildura adventure has been great. I have loved settling into this town and know that I will miss it when I leave at the end of the year. I'm so happy Lo decided to join in with the Aussie Curves fun and she now has a blog of her own. Click here: CONFESSIONS OF A PLUS SIZED BEAUTY. Be sure to check her out and follow. This is a new adventure for her so why not share the journey with her.

How cute are my sister girls???

Big Love,


Falala Mele.

insta update

some of my instagram feed. Follow @mele2541

Big Love,

Falala Mele.