A blogger's beauty routine for a weekend getaway.

Dolls, this weekend I travelled to the Gold Coast, an Australian delight, where the sun shines, and the people laugh. It was the most beautiful, memorable and relaxing long weekend I could’ve ever dreamed of. Of course, I took every opportunity of a summer weekend getaway to prioritise my beauty, fashion and aesthetic, Dolls. And this is every tiny detail and more...

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Beauty by the pool

Polka dot bikini? Say yes and yes, please, Dolls. I placed a light covering around my lower torso using a silk scarf, which my beautiful, thoughtful mother gifted me all the way from Turkey. It features a colour palette of pastel pink and purple and feels as soft as feathers. Wearing this swimwear and sorong piece with my kitten-toed, leather, and gold pointed shoes, lounging around the hotel, made me feel marvellously elegant and chic. Additionally, I decided to further enhance the ethereal element of the aura I was wishing to exude with a pearl triple threat; I wore my bow pearl earring set, my grandparents’ 21st gift to me of a pearly necklace and finally, my pearl bracelet that I wear around my upper arm. I believe it worked out excellently, considering the white tinge of my pearls paired with the white background behind the black polka dots on my bikini.

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Lingerie loungewear beauty

This sweet little set I chose to wear daintily around our hotel room features pink lace shorts and a white lace cami top with a bow on either strap, and flower embroidery on both the shorts' waistline and the cami's upper third. It embodies everything that is flirtatious and womanly, and says both romance and ‘be my valentine’. I believe this makes it an ultra-perfect duo for a divine weekend getaway.

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Resort wear beauty, darling!

Usually, Dolls, I opt for outfits that heavily feature black. To be honest, wearing white pushes me out of my comfort zone because I believe it portrays purity and casualness, whereas my aesthetic tends to be slightly sexier and more sophisticated. However, white outfits on vacation are beyond appropriate for the occasion, so I decided to push my beauty boundaries and pack a white outfit, which I wore to a family brunch. And to my great delight, I didn't feel out of place at all; in fact, I loved showcasing a look that said I was unwinding and not putting in excess effort. It felt relieving to allow myself the pleasure of being on vacation.

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Fine dining beauty - the polka dot set

This occasion was particularly special, as was the experience I had in taking these photos for you, Dolls. I asked a waitress at my grandfather's 80th celebratory birthday party if she wouldn't mind being my photographer for 10 minutes, and she was completely agreeable and took on the role of 'hype girl' effortlessly and willingly. For the following 10 minutes, she proceeded to consistently and frequently remark that I looked beautiful. I always find that my photos turn out better when the person behind the camera is complimenting me as I model because I thrive on the positive feedback, which inspires confidence, something I severely lack. And boy, Dolls, did this gorgeous young girl make me feel confident, worthy, and important... a complete stranger! It truly made my night, and I felt quite a buzz afterwards, which contributed to what I considered a very successful family night, one of warmth, possibility and love.

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Outings

My dad and I took a sweet vacation pause from the hotel to do some much-needed and, more importantly, much-desired shopping. The plaza we went to was somewhat mediocre, and I was faced with limited options, which, despite being a bad thing for my excitement factor, wasn't a bad thing for my bank account.  Though I tried on three outfits, I left the stores with nothing but a few mirror selfies as a souvenir. The outfits I chose to try on were so classic, and I felt like Coco Chanel would've been proud of me for not indulging in yet another little black dress to add to my abundant collection.

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Bikini overwear

If you didn't know already, it is no secret whatsoever that I love a little black dress as much as Coco Chanel. And nothing seems more perfect to me than a loungewear little black dress, that artfully combines class and relaxation. To me, it's a genius combination. Mind you, I might just be ever-so-slightly biased!

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Dolls, I loved everything about writing this week's blog post for you. It allowed me to explore fashion, as well as le maquillage, a true opportunity for a beauty blogger who is as keen and excitable for trying new things as she is to harnessing her own unique and individual fashion sense.

Kisses,

COS x