What a weekend!

I know everyone is super busy these days; working, socialising, seeing family, exercising, shopping, instagramming, cooking, cleaning etc. etc. For me the past weekend was jam packed with party styling, shopping, a trip to the hairdresser, a girls' night out, some cray cray waterpolo (my little sister is a gun) and an awes photo shoot.

Let's start with the party styling. Take one football club, a budget tighter than a pair of spanks and a ladies day lunch. I had to be very resourceful and instead of using my favourite, go-to table decoration, fresh cut flowers, I had to look for alternatives. The result was, (after less than two hours sleep Friday night) giant crepe paper flowers and potted colour (a great alternative to cut flowers at less than a quarter of the price).

After setting up the event I headed into Claremont Quarter to prepare myself for a fun night out with the girls.

Lets skip the hangover, the recovery and the waterpolo (sorry Adelaide) and get to the photo shoot. After an exciting conversation over a glass of wine (and a cocktail) a couple of weeks ago, my good friend Ali from Creatures of Commonplace and I decided to collaborate on a new project. To view my styling, photography, the stunning Ali and her lust-worthy wardrobe head to Creatures of 
Commonplace.

Until next time....
xx Ella.

Oh, Hey There!

Oh hey there friend, my long lost friend! My blog! I have a bad case of the guilts, I have been treating it like the pair of shoes that have made their way to the bottom of my wardrobe never to be seen again. Stress less lovelies, those shoes are about to be taken out on the town, and so is my blog!

Since it has been a while, we have a lot to catch up on....there have been parties, outfit styling, designing, creating, label starting, decorating and a lot of organising. Since we don't have time for anything more than a coffee date this evening, I won't overwhelm you with too much fabulous-ness all at once. 

With so much going on at Ella Courtney Style, I don't even know where to start! 

I'll take you back to February 14th, oh yes, the day for the lovers, Valentines day! As it turns out, this day can also be great for the love-seekers. I was enlisted by 92.9fm to bring some romance to a speed dating night hosted by Lisa, Paul and Baz and celebrity psychic Scott Russel Hill, that was held on the rooftop of their offices in Subiaco. 

As well as being a night of speed dating, it happened to be the speedy-est decorating I have ever pulled together. As a last minute job, I had a week to source, plan and organise. I was also at a wedding in Sydney for four days of that week. Miraculously, (or you could say meticulously) it came together seamlessly (let's not bring up some minor issues we had with the wind and some paper hearts) and everyone lived happily ever after.

I took some quick snaps with my iPhone before racing off to a date with my girlfriends at the outdoor cinema that I have included below. You can view the whole album of professional photos from the event by clicking on the link...http://www.929.com.au/shows/lisa-paul-baz/photos/lisa-paul-bazs-psychic-setup/

xxElla.

Singapore Fun House Project.

 I was so excited when a couple of months ago, while having coffee with my Mum and one of her closest friends, I was presented with the most fantastic opportunity. To design and decorate a bedroom in a condo in Singapore! Having only recently moved to Singapore (from Hong Kong) and being a working Mum, Christine enlisted my help. She was unable to make it to my Mum's 50th high tea but after seeing the photos of my styling and organisation she believed that I was the right person for the job.

It was an experience I could not turn down! Two gorgeous young girls, one bedroom, three favourite colours (lime, lilac and turquoise) and an animal theme were the directions I was given.

About a month later I arrived in Singapore. Drill, handmade lampshades and sheets in hand ready to work my magic. I brought as much as I could in Perth, sacrificing my wedge heels and accessories collection to fit my hammer and photo frames in my suitcases. After seeing how glamorous Christine looked each day, I seriously regretted my choice! However, I was there to be the interior designer so my wardrobe fitted the brief.

With the help of Chrissie and Razak (the family's driver) we found the equivalent of 'Bunnings', Nippon Paint which somehow stocked every colour of Dulux paint I needed. We also located Spotlight and IKEA (I ended up visiting both most days) which had everything else I needed.

Before I reveal my photos of the finished room I must share my before pics along with some of the fun I had along the way!

The adorable Qiqi, welcoming me on my first day in Singapore.

Some before photos of the bedroom, including Qiqi!

 Nippon Paint (Singapore's equivalent of Bunnings.) Check out the shop owner in the background of the bottom photo!

Stocking up on supplies at Spotlight in Plaza Singapura.

 Playing dress ups with one of Christine's many pairs of designer heels. These are her favourite Laboutins that she wore on her birthday this year in Shanghai!

 Dinner at Ku De Ta and checking out the view from the top of the Marina Bay Sands. Absolutely amazing!

And finally.....The room reveal!

I am so lucky to have had such an amazing experience in Singapore. I can't wait to get back there to see the family again and to do some more shopping!

To view more of my photos go to my Facebook page for EllaCourtneyStyle.

Ella xx

Mexican Fiesta! Ola Amigos!

I turned 24 today, not an age usually celebrated, not a milestone but just another birthday. However, with a love of event styling and a having a good time, i'll take any excuse for a party! I gathered thirty of my closest friends and threw a Mexican Fiesta!

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here are some of my happy snaps.....

To see more, including all my gorgeous friends, more cocktails, a sombrero and some sexy moustaches visit Ella Courtney Style on Facebook.

Hell Yeah MinkPink Silver Jeans!

I have long been lusting after the Sass and Bide silver jeans, until the other day when I was power walking through David Jones Claremont and spotted the MinkPink 'Hell Yeah Skinny Jean'. Apart from the label I couldn't tell the difference. I quickly added them to my (ever growing/ I don't know how I can possibly afford) list of must-haves for an upcoming trip down south. At $74.95 I thought they were a steal and vowed to pop back next time I was in claremont.

After forgetting about them for a week or so I decided to check David Jones Hay Street today. As you can imagine I was aptly saying 'hell yeah' when I discovered that they are now $49.95. I just had to share my excitement, got to love a bargain!

www.davidjones.com.au

markethq.blogspot.com

xxElla

Party Nails

Nail art has become so popular over the last couple of months. I have already trialed the nail foils (see post http://ellacourtneystyle.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/nail-files.html ), have some nail stickers waiting to be used and possess every colour of nail polish under the sun. The latest trend (after some hesitation, I am now obsessed) is glitter!

Keep it short and sweet. Go metallic. Apply lots of coats. Team them with a collar necklace and/ or statement lips.

To re-create this look, head to Sportsgirl and purchase the nailpolish for $7.95. Make sure you have some time up your sleeve because it requires about five coats to get the full effect.

Happy glitter nails!
xElla.

From the Prison to the Garden Party.

While I am always obsessed with fashion and shopping, I have recently been sharing my time with my latest love, party or event styling. I swapped my usual online faves; Shopbop, ASOS and Topshop for Pinterest, Perth Party Hire and Ebay and I have had an amazing response to the result!

Thanks to a great friend of mine I was hired by the Collegians Football Club to style an event they were hosting at the Fremantle Prison. Being a 'Sportsman's Night' I went all masculine and encompassed the theme of the prison. The result: A mix of the Football Club's colours, some prison-themed props and toys (boys will always be boys, none of the toy guns were left behind!) an assortment of old jugs, jars and wood and lots of chocolate coins. Here is a snap shot of one of the table displays. Each one was different, which made it fun. There are lots more photos under the 'event styling' tab. I'd love you to check them out!

Most recently, however, I decided to throw my mum the best 50th birthday party ever! With family members flying in from South Africa and Sydney and around 50 of mum's closest friends and family it had to be good! Mum didn't want a big 'proper party' so we thought a high tea would be perfect, and it was. I thought of everything (I think), from pink parasols to shade the sun, flowing Chandon, gorgeous waiters, antique tea sets, delicious sweets, floral table runners, pink lemonade with candy striped straws, mums favourite tunes, roses and dahlias in abundance and a stunning guestlist.

Mum and I did most of the cooking and our mini lemon meringue tarts, cupcakes, rosewater meringues, strawberry tarts, mini trifle and all the rest, looked stunning on tiered cake stands with pastel doilies, and in glass lolly jars. 

I was totes excited to put the floral arrangements together. Being a high tea, roses, lillies, tuber rose and dahlias were in excess. My favourite decoration was the collection of jars I hung with pink ribbon from the gorgeous cherry blossom tree. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here they are....(again, there are lots more under the 'event styling' tab.)

I can't complete this post without mentioning our outfits! It was a great excuse for me to purchase the Sass and Bide 'Great Escape' top that I have been lusting after. I teamed it with a gorgeous sequin skirt from Sportsgirl, Colette necklace and Country Road wedges. My sister Adelaide looked hot in a dress that I brought from R'nays in Hillarys, with a Sportsgirl necklace and Mum looked beautiful in a dress by Zimmermann and spearmint slip from Metalicus.

 

Don't forget to look at more of my happy snaps under the 'event styling' tab.

x Ella.