Truth be known, I wasn’t looking for a new fashion find. I was driving up Glenhuntly Road in Elsternwick when I spied a new Discount Lollie shop. Well the brakes just screeched to a halt practically of their own accord and I found myself automatically racing in to stock up on all my favourites – chocolate covered honeycomb, raspberries, chocolate bullets, liquorice all-sorts… My excuse was that I was headed to a friend’s house-warming party that evening and I was sure she’d welcome a lolly bowl to help feed her guests. But I knew I’d scoff my fair share before handing over whatever remained from my personal binge-fest.
So there I was, heading back to the car with two bags full of sugar when an unassuming boutique caught my eye. It was the red dress in the window that did it…
Curious, I dropped my guilty purchases in the car boot before exploring. Urban Soul is a treasure trove of affordable fashion from an eclectic range of local designers. They also showcase a creative mix of accessories.
Better still, Urban Soul is holding a sale right now, so if you drop in soon, there’s plenty of bargains to be had. Here’s my favourites.
(1) I very much fancied this peach lace top by Elliat. You’ll need to wear a cami unless you like the exposed-bra look, but using different colours underneath will help give you a fresh look every time you wear it. And it’s on sale – reduced from $89.95 to $69.95.
(2) Continuing with the lace theme, there’s also this emerald green dress by Shona Joy. At least this one comes with lining and costs $200.
The dress though, that I really wanted to buy was the red one I’d spotted in the window, by Maurie and Eve. Right on trend, it sports a peplum feature, plus (although it’s hard to see from the photo) the centre panels separate when you put it on, giving a sneaky cleavage reveal – which contrasts naughtily with its initial prim impression .
Sadly I knew I’d be devouring those lollies in the boot before long, and was unlikely to ever fit into the coveted red dress. The best option for covering gluttonous sins was this wildly decorative cape. Love at first sight.
Urban Soul can be found at 395 Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick.
Ph – (03) 9523 5500