i'll tell ya what's bloody going on....nothing much

Not much going down this week....bleak weather, lack of inspiration leading to bleak, boring outfits....bleak week here in Auckland.

Ended up chucking a huge vintage furricoat over the top before heading out.

Bleak...bleak...bleak.


wearing: thrifted blazer, karen walker fall out dress, mens belt, thrifted boots.

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what the hell is going on?

I like BIG shoes. I like them A LOT!

Sam Edelman 'Zoe' Harness Boot

Platform Oxfords via Anywho


Proenza Schouler Platforms

All I want is some beautiful/ugly shoes...and I feel I'm being sucked into the clutches of TB-Trend Blindness.

Charles Anastase


Jessica Simpson Dany Platform via StockholmStreetStyle


The Jeffrey Campbell Foxy Platform exclusively for Nasty Gal

Why I feel the need to jump on this Dany bandwagon? I dunno. But my love of platform, chunky, nose bleed heights and borderline downright ugliness has these shoes whispering my name and chanting, "Buy Me!.....Buy Me!....Buy Me!....BUY ME!"

Though, the photocopy of a photocopy is never as good.....

What the hell is going on with me??

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have you ever wondered?

It's wordy. It's ranty. It has a lot of images. You have been warned.

kate sylvester

I have been so frustrated and overwhelmed by choice of what to wear lately, that I decided to get PRO-ACTIVE. Not the zit stuff, I just wanted to try and edit The Rack, which I guess is a little like trying to rid one's self of unnecessary mounds of yuck...ewww. Rumi of fashion toast had a post picture of her Spring Rack. I can do that, what a bloody good idea.

karen walker

But this proved to be difficult. Really difficult. How do fashion editors do it? Each garment that was man-handled and about to be put in either the Store It/Sell It/Salvo It/It's Shit pile instead of being placed on The Rack like a prize winner, had me battling vocally (oh yes, out loud) about it's potential to be re-styled/reworn/repaired/reworked/re-turned (as in it-could-come-back-with-a-vengeance-some-day).....Oh, if I wore it THIS way with THIS then it could be kinda cool. Well THIS colour is IN at the mo, I could just wear it THIS way. I can't get rid of this?! What if it is the next big thing and I don't have it anymore? I actually ended up with MORE garments crammed on The Rack than what I started with. WTF!!!????

karen walker

Big R tried to help telling me to keep only what i liked. Problem being, I liked EVERYTHING. Each garment had potential to become part of the ultimate outfit, the IT item, the go-to staple about which my ENTIRE wardrobe would revolve and would come unhinged and sucked into the abyss of style-challenged-nothingness if I got rid of it.

lonely hearts

Admittedly, I found some things I had totz forgotten about-bonus!-and had been on the verge of buying again-double bonus, clams saved!-but the whole exercise had proven to be A GIANT WASTE OF TIME AND EFFORT.
julian macdonald

I felt defeated, depressed and unaccommplished. Still frustrated. Still overwhelmed-if not more so. Still stylistically challenged.

I have endured 3 days and 2 sleepless nights of comtemplation, reviewing, list making, magazine tearing, mood boarding, justifying wierdo-ness fuelled by Tim Tams and Jarrah coffee.

I like many different aesthetics of many different designers. I like many different styles of many different people. I like many pricey items and many cheaper items. I like many different style tribes: granny chic, vintage mavens, quirky kids, street dudettes, labelistas, body-con babes, teddy girls,...the list is endless....

ellery....and then I had a brain fart.

richard nicoll fall 2010

It wasn't the clothes, it was me.

alexa chung for madewell

boy by band of outsiders

I have indulged and inundated myself with magazines and lookbooks for years and now blogs have also become a big inspiration source. And

also a source of frustration. I have been inspired to try new things, stick with old things and just all out lust after other things. And there's the rub. As much as one wants to show the world just how downright fashion they are-it does not make you whole. A whole lotta mess but not whole.

rag and bone

I love shopping, thrifting, online hunting for the Awesomest Next Top Garment (or accessory, let's not discriminate) that I MUST-HAVE. And there are a lot of contestants, that on first look and hurried purchase seem like they are the one to make me truly happy.

Hence, one has accumulated a fair bit of stuff that has been worn once but then allocated to notwearsville. It could've been for many reasons, quality, fit, colour, just didn't work, or more likely, it just didn't make me happy at all.

sherie muijs

I had to look at The Rack through new eyes. 'What I would wear all the time?' eyes. 'What I would wear that is ME?' eyes. 'What is relevant to ME, MY life, MY job, My play, My going out, MY shopping, MY coffees, MY thrifting trips, MY man (love you Big R), MY hanging out, MY hanging in?' eyes. I have a lot of eyes...4 in fact.

stolen girlfriends club

And the task was a lot easier. The Rack went from a gigantic clothy mound with a stick hidden somewhere in the middle (as previously, the hangers could not be seen) to an actual running rack with some clothes hanging from hangers on it. SO impressed with me. Chuffed. I will probably still wake up and look at The Rack thinking, 'I wanna wear something else'...I have strategically culled 6 drawers to 3 and created 1xdrawer-basics, 1xdrawer-eclectic/unique, 1xdrawer-events to cater for such moments. Big R is stoked to (finally) get 3 drawers of his very own. Lucky boy.

twentyseven names

As you can see from the different images in this post, that I find it difficult to fit in with a specific aesthetic, they ALL inspire and influence me in some way. But I'm pretty sure that's the same issue for a lot of people out there. Am I girly? Am I tomboy? Am I foxy? Am I frumpy? Pale? Bold? Futuristic? Natural? Rock? Librarian? All at once? Or one look a day? Am I a maverick or a recipe dresser?

kate sylvester

That is the freedom of fashion. You can change your look to suit your mood, you can dress yourself to suit your budget- luxe or less? cheap and chic? this handbag or this outfit? are staple features in most magazines these days. You can wear pretty much anything, anyhow at anytime-no boundaries, no rules, no limits. And that's why fashion and personal style has turned into my prison. The choices, the options, the influence, the inspiration: so much to wear, so little time. Double edged sword.

burberry prorsum

I looked at my blog. I looked at what I've worn. I hoped for evolution, a common thread that suggested a development of and into my personal style. My signature. I found myself confused and at many times, cringing. If I flipped through a book with this collection of images, I would have screwed up my face.
I know, I know-the point of a fashion or style blog is exactly this. Not the cringing aspect but the unedited visual record of real people, in real time, wearing real stuff, how the would really wear it and blogging about this real cool garment or thing that they really want and a real awesome designer who really nailed it with their latest collection. Gotta have, gotta get, gotta give props, gotta pose, gotta be first one to create that recipe for the best outfit EVER!

But all I got was licorice allsorts and I don't really like them. This blog? This cake I'm baking? It's a flop.

ruby boutique

Putting together The Rack, though daunting, had to be done before Big R left me (a broody, grumpy westie is an unbearable bedfellow) and accomplish 3 things.
1/ Represent me.
2/ Organise but not stifle me.
3/ Make dressing fun again for me.

And each piece had to match ingredients from my new recipe:
* Have I worn it in the last 6 months?
* Is it in good condition?
* Statement, staple or basic? No 'just because' or 'but it cost a fortune' categories apply.
* Does it fit me properly?
* Do I feel good/confident in it?
* Do I REALLY like it...on ME?
* Is it a flexible garment? Can I style it to suit different aesthetics that I like?
* Are there 3 or more of this SAME garment not including basics? If yes, one has to go if this one is to stay.
* Do I like the garment, the association or the attachment? Memory/Label/Trend associations/attachments must be photographed and archived visually, not garment-ually.
* Did I buy this with good intention or blindness (see blinded by the light post)?
* If the garment does not favourably fit with these conditions, it has one last chance......is this a designer/iconic piece that should be archived? Signature prints/pieces. Historic pieces (not that I have any...yet.) By a retired/deceased designer like McQueen (as-if) Luella (as-if)or Mala Brajkovic (ooh, tick) that is archive worthy, not a t-shirt.

If not?......BYE BYE BABY, BYE BYE.

I think I've nailed it somewhat. I hope so. This definitely helped me take stock of what I have-(far too much! Big R was right...sshh, don't tell him), what I ACTUALLY need to get and maybe earn a little cash to buy a few indulgent things that I want. Oh yeah, they still have to fit the above criteria-I didn't go through all this shit for nothing! Plus, I think I've nailed my style a little better-like, understood it better...ya know? The only outfits that make it onto the blog are ones that I reckon readers would give two hoots about....you should see how many are questionable, beyond quirky and heading for oddball-ville, plain grotty or I should just not have gone into public wearing.

I guess we'll see over the next few posts huh?

flannel

Have you ever wondered?

all images sourced from the web, including but not exclusive to: tfs, style.com, fashiongonerogue, rag-pony, fashion toast, isaac likes.

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a-rocking good day, overall...

I been a-rocking the purple nails this past week. Metallic-y, Cadbury purple....mmm...nom, nom, nom.

I've also been a-rocking these vintage blue denim overalls. I wanted linen ones, but hey.

Oh yeah...double denim! Oh yeah, the no-socks deal!

The bag ^^^^my lil sis got me for my day of birth last year. She knew I was on the prowl for a vintage tooled leather bag. How could she NOT after I prattled on and on and on and on....

So, when she spied a bag stall at the markets she got me this one. It ain't vintage. It ain't tooled. It is leather. It is a bag. 50/50 split. Gotta give her A for effort and for listening skills. Her comprehension? Hmm, B-.

I loves it anyways cos it was bought with loves and I loves my lil sis....even when she's a total mole.

Besides, it's a yummy chocolate brown..nom, nom, nom.

A good result overall.

wearing: mens bauhaus denim shirt via jet, thrifted overalls and boots, belt by jenswest, bag gift from lil sis.

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where do i put the kitchen sink?

All I wanted to know was,

vest up?or vest down?

Up?or down?Vengaboys, this ones for you.
Big R wants to know where I'm going to put the kitchen sink...ha, ha...you're hilarious. I have a fair idea where you should put it.

You're also sleeping on the couch...smart arse.

Meanwhile, I'm just getting loose to the Vengaboys....beh, beh-beh, beh, beh-beh, beh, beh, beh, b-beh, b-beh, beh, beh....that's my oonce oonce singing. Sounds better by the kitchen sink and def with a finger in the air.

wearing: thrifted cape, leather shorts and aigle rubber riding boots. denim shirt by bauhaus mens via jet. belt and socks...who cares? that ^^^^face? after the sink remark...not happy.

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l says,lllll, l says, llll, every letter makes a sound, l says, lllll...

Why do a lot of nice fings start with 'L'? Lover, lullaby, Lula, luscious lad, leather, Lanvin, lemon tart.....lllll.

Anyways, I guess there are a lot of crap things that start with 'L' too. Lacklustre (my hair), late payment fee (my credit card), loser, lumpy, lung oyster (oh, it's a phlegmy hoick btw-ewwww), limit (on aforementioned credit card)....

No thanks to that aforementioned limit, I've been light in the pocket yet still lusted over some lovely fings. Lacking in funds, I had to get a little creative with what I had in The Cave....and with the help of Big Red Shed, I scored some pretty likeable boots at a lean price! Ha-zahhhh!

So, my lavender linen blazer gets a little turn. Yay for it! While the lusty, little leather shorts are back in high rotation. Best thrift EVER!...well, I say that now but fashion is so fickle. Next week I'm sure I'll exclaim some other thrifted fing as my best....I digress.

Sheers. Is anyone else lovin' sheer hosiery? I'm trying to find burgundy or chocolate...the shops are so lacking these! Laters xxx

wearing: thrifted linen blazer and leather shorts, grey tank, sheers and 'nabraska' (not a typo, actual name) stomp boots RRP$59.99 (wohoo!) from the warehouse, scarf from just jeans.

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an apple a day....

Does an apple a day keep the rain away?

It MUST do, cos I ate an apple (ewwww...healthy!) and it was SUNNY!! ALL DAY!!

Stoked my hair is now long enough to fit into a little knot on my head.

Should stick an apple up there too and see if Big R can shoot it off with a bow and arrow!

Then again, maybe not.


wearing: vintage burberry blazer, thrifted boots, belt and dockers shirt, nobody skirt via jet, bag gift from lil sis.

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blinded by the light....

Sometimes you gotta wonder..."What was I thinking?"

Is it possible to suffer from fashion blindness?

The answer, quite simply.....is YES!

Fashion Blindness, or FB, can manifest itself in several forms, each with their own distintive symptoms.

Label Blindness: LB. Love/admiration/the coveting of a particular designer or label, can lead to blindly buying pieces (at sometimes outrageous prices) that neither look good/feel good/are any good at all.

There's loyalty and then LB...a fine line so easily crossed. Trust me, you can try and justify that you love wearing that purple and lime green bodystocking with the nipple tassles but no-ones gonna buy it. Not even if it's by Romance Was Born, cost you $800, was featured in the latest Lula Magazine and worn by a big name blogger who was rocking it in her latest post with the Pamela Love ring, a turban and lace flares (all untrue btw.)

"BUT IT'S BY (insert coveted label/designer here) SO I HAVE TO BUY IT!"

Ah, no, you don't. So don't. Buy what you love, from who you love because you love it and you know you'll love wearing it.

Trend Blindness: TB. Just because your fave celeb/idol/model/blogger gave it a go (or a magazine said so) you decide to do it too.

And you suffer for it. And people can tell. And yes, they will talk about you. You know that horrible sideways glance or random giggle? It's about you. Be paranoid, be VERY pARaNOiD!

If you want to try ass-less chaps? Fine. Just add big gruddies please-I don't care HOW TONED your cheeks are. Aforementioned turban? Sweet. Just wear it with conviction and be comfy in it. If you are not wearing a trend you enjoy then it is WEARING YOU-and that ain't good fashion sense..it's a classic case of TB.

Size Blindness: SB. Too small/too large. But its the last one left and that grotty mole over there is heading for that 80% off Stolen Girlfriends dress or half price Miu Miu Swallow Heels (hey, I gotta use creative license here to fully illustrate the point) so you GRAB THEM! They don't/won't EVER fit...but they are yours! HA HA! Yeah, well so is the debt. Congratulations on your purchase...your unwearable purchase....and the pain of looking forlornly every day at your SB buy. You've just created your own false economy.

So...why the major rant? Why would I possibly offend readers? (Of course, I'm assuming you actually read the post but most likely have not.)
Becausetoday I suffered from a case of TB.
Oh yes,this post was a cautionary tale.

Although personally I felt perfectly happy in my threads, I definitely got a few whispers and giggles. (Glad I could humour you btw! Yes you, that chick who was buying the tempura bento box?) because of TB, I decided to wear MEN'S STRIPED BOXER SHORTS!!!! IN PUBLIC!!! AS SHORTS!!!! Howev's, I will do it again. I liked it!


I guess for all my rant ^^^^^^up there, sometimes the disease is the cure to a fashion or style rut.

wearing: dotti trench, big r's white shirt, karen walker charm necklace, shades via random asian dollarstore, just jeans belt, navy tights and men's boxers via the warehouse, acne atacoma wedges.

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i lied....

Remember my rant about kiwi's and our non-colour preferences and tendencies?

Remember my statement on how I'm not a fan of colour?

Weeeeeelllllll........

I LIED!


COLOUR!

I'm still not the biggest fan but after that post I had a little brain fart and decided to inject a dose of colour into my day....AND they were PATTERNED colours. Go all out I say! (a bit of a joke really...not the most slap-in-the-face-with-A-WET-FISH-COLOUR but colour none-the-less.)

wearing: jeanswest grey marle boyfriend blazer, world bow blouse, dotti high waisted shorts, purple leopard tights via trade me, rings from diva and beau coops frankly 03's via good as gold.

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