Never underestimate the importance of looking after yourself! I’ve been rather ill for the last few days & it’s all because of my own reckless behaviour.
Having said that, being bed ridden has given me an excuse to catch up on my guilty pleasure, Gossip Girl (S3, that is).
Not sure why I love it so much, since I hate most of the characters. Serena is a major bimbo; Little J is a pointless bitch; Vanessa & Dan are boring; Rufus is (in the words of my good friend Dan) such a Mike Brady; Nate – I could take or leave (he’s too gorgeous to dismiss completely).
But I suppose my favourites more than make up for it: Blair, Chuck & Dorota.
From left: Miss Blair, Mr. Chuck, God bless Dorota
Since Chuck is a boy & Dorota’s wardrobe doesn’t offer much in the way of variety, today’s style guide is brought to you by Miss Blair:
She’s ultra-feminine. You will rarely see her in trousers
When it comes to dresses, she cinches at the waist or opts for babydoll. Rarely tight & slinky
She loves head accessories – hats & headbands
Laces & florals are key
She loves a good statement coat
Sretsis SS2010
Sretsis SS2010. Need I say more? This collection is totally amazing & totally Blair. The Motherchucker would be all over this. This is just a small selection of pieces; you can view this delicious collection in its entirety at http://www.sretsis.com/
Meanwhile, how exciting is it that Jenny & Vanessa have been written out of S4!? Discuss:
I have been so lazy this week. It’s partly the cold, but mainly it’s because I broke my headphones, so I have nothing to listen to when I go running.
My favourite song to hit the pavement to is Danger Zone:
Listening to this song makes even the most everyday activity feel exciting. The bus ride to work is so much more thrilling! You yield so much energy when washing the dishes! Picking out your outfit in the morning turns into an 80s fashion montage! And so on and so forth…
What I think will inspire me to get back into my exercise routine (besides buying a new pair of headphones) is to dress a little bit more athletic this week. I’m thinking Hervé Léger by Max Azria. The type of stuff you simply cannot wear unless you’re a person who works out.
Clockwise from left: Hervé Léger dress, MMM top, Audio Technica headphones, Casio Baby G digital watch, American Apparel high waisted stretch denim skirt
Now setting my alarm as Danger Zone… Hopefully it’ll inspire a morning jog…
My desk buddy, Catie May, asked me to put together a Winter look for her. She gave me a very concise brief: “texture”. With that, I considered a couple of things -
She tends to channel a bit of a late seventies/early eighties vibe
She spent the last few years living in NYC
Then it hit me. This look is so The Warriors.
Can. You. Dig. It?
The Warriors (Source: filmofilia.com)
The Warriors is a film about a New York gang (the The Warriors) who are framed for killing the leader of all the gangs, Cyrus. All the other NY gangs are after them, so they have to try to make it back to their home turf, Coney Island, alive!
But that’s beside the point. The coolest part of the movie is that every gang has a unique aesthetic, as per this wicked opening sequence:
But we’re going to focus on The Warriors’ style, which is really all about that magic word, texture. They kind of have this Apache tribal thing going on. Leather, fur, feathers, denim, beads, stitching – perfect for winter (except that The Warriors don’t actually wear shirts – which is fine with me)!
Clockwise from top left: Rachel Gilbert rabbit vest, Rabbit on the Run dress, Noir triple beaded collar, Mimco bag, Mimco boots, Seneca Rising fringed tunic, Stolen Girlfriends Club biker vest
The full list of gangs from The Warriors can be found here. Which gang would you be in?
While everyone else seems to be living it up at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, I’m just sitting around staring at my desk menagerie:
From left: Bear, Koala, Ducky, Robot Bunny, Elephant
That’s not entirely true. I have been avidly following RAFW on Twitter. At my desk. So in the spirit of my office-bound life, I want to put up my favourite designer of Day 1, with a collection I can easily see myself incorporating into my workday wardrobe, Carly Hunter.
Twitter was abuzz when her debut show was on & once I saw the pictures, it was easy to understand why.
Carly Hunter SS11 RAFW (Source: thevine.com.au)
It’s great for work because it’s minimalistic, but the giant spots & the interesting cuts are exactly my cup of just-quirky-enough tea.
Yep, I realise some of it is super-sheer, but invest in a slip & you’re sorted! And how amazing is the cape-y tunic-dress? Love a good cape.
Autumn never really gets too cold in Sydney. It’s already May & the mercury has steadily remained in the early twenties.
Speaking of the twenties, I think Autumn is the perfect excuse to get into some twenties millinery.
The Great Gatsby, 1974 (Source: ladychameleon.com.au)
I love wearing headgear, i think it’s so much fun. I don’t see many people getting into hats in Sydney. I want to see a little less hipster trash & a little more Great Gatsby, please!
My favourite type of hat is the cloche, which is a flapper style hat.
From left: Max Alexander, Hat House, Julie Fleming, Max Alexander
Alternatively, you can go to David Jones – they always have a great selection. Make sure you take a camera & a friend so you can do a hat montage – It’s a great way to spend an afternoon! Believe me!
It’s Autumn now, and as much as I hate the transition into the cooler months, there is something nice about an Autumnal Sydney. Probably because the city looks so pretty!
Jacarandas (Source: australiantraveler.com)
I do love all things purple for Autumn. Purple shoes, purple lipstick, purple velvet, purple lace, purple knits…
lockwise from left: Minimum knit dress, Natalie Encarnita cape, Peep Toe Shoes suede heel, Mimco comb, MAC lipstick in Cyber
I’m dying to visit Japan during cherry blossom season (April/May). Can you imagine anything more awesome than a temple tea ceremony surrounded by fluffy pink trees? That would be my dream come true!
Source: regex.info/blog
I’ve promised myself that in a year from now I’ll be shopping on Omotesando & then catching the bullet train to Kyoto. In the meantime, I’ve bought some Japanese organic green tea from T2 in anticipation.
Also in anticipation, I’m channeling a Japanese vibe for work:
Colour palette – pinks, greys & beiges
Structure – origami pleats
Mixed textures – silk, knits
Clockwise from top left: Maurie & Eve top, Alice McCall knit dress, Nylon Flocks skirt, Dion Lee dress, Gemma Degara flower bag, Wanted pink heel, Wanted beige heel, Alain buckle wedge
As for my top 3 songs about Japan? They’re all by Air:
I’m convinced I’m living in the wrong decade. I should’ve been living out my twenties during the 80s. I feel like I really got a raw deal. There are a few reasons:
I have 80s curves (none of this stick-thin business)
I have that frizzy/curly 80s hair (like Jami Gertz in Lost Boys)
My favourite music artists include Phil Collins, Billy Ocean, Hall & Oates & Icehouse
My favourite literature is from the 80s (Bret Easton Ellis, Jay McInerney)
I think guys were way hotter in the 80s (James Spader, Andrew McCarthy, RDJ)
Clockwise from left: 80s curves, RDJ *sigh*, Jami Gertz's hair, Hall & Oates, J.Spade *swoon*
So here’s my super minimalistic style guide for 80s in the office (which might not actually be very appropriate for the office at all, but happens to be similar to what I’m wearing today):
Primary colours + Black & white – I love this simple formula… It always works!
Tight minidresses – American Apparel has everything you could possibly need
Wayfarers – if you’ve ever read Less Than Zero, you’ll know you’re nothing without your Wayfarers
Low heels with a rounded point – super comfy, try & get them in snakeskin
Matte red lippy – I love MAC in Lady Danger
Clockwise from top left: American Apparel Stretch Velvet Dress, Custom Shoes from Shoes of Prey, MAC Lipstick in Lady Danger, Two-Tone Wayfarers
So tease your hair out, slap on your Casio digital watch & rock out to Electric Blue on your way into work (preferably on your walkman).
One of my favourite films of last year was An Education. Not only was it a beautifully crafted film, but I could really relate to the story: young girl meets refined gentleman who opens her eyes to a sophisticated world she previously had no access to (been there, done that). You want to yell at her & tell her how naive she’s being, but at the same time, you know she needs to learn for herself.
Carey Mulligan is adorable as Jenny, but my new girl crush is Rosamund Pike, who plays the gorgeous, dimwitted Helen.
So, here’s a bit of England, 1961 inspiration for work:
Keep it demure – not too much leg or cleavage
Patterns – floral, large spots, etc
Strong colours – forest green, violet, deep blue
A statement coat – bold colour, bold texture or bold pattern
Structured, structured, structured!
From left: MacKenzie Mode, Trelise Cooper, Pink Ruby
And of course, to top it off you need a beehive, headband, scarf, liquid eyeliner & big sunnies.
Meanwhile, I think this film was totally ripped off at the Oscars. The winners were just so American. I still can’t believe the Blind Side was even nominated for best film. Which film do you think was under-represented at the Oscars?
I can’t compete with women at a fancy dress party. No matter what the theme, certain ladies seem to be able to turn their outfit into something overtly sexual. Instead, I often do the opposite & dress like a boy.
I caught a glimpse of Carrie Bradshaw wearing a tux in the new SATC2 trailer – so I think androgynous fashion could be set for a mainstream comeback.
Another young lady with a penchant for the cummerbund is American singer Janelle Monae.
Source: jmonae.com
She’s been gaining loads of popularity with this, her signature style (& probably her music… Can’t say I’ve heard it).
Here are some ideas about how you can incorporate tuxedo style into your work wardrobe:
Left: Barkins Shirt; Centre (from top): American Apparel Bow Tie, Mimco Gloves, Tony Bianco Shoes; Right: Acne Jacket & Pants
While I do feel really empowered when I dress typically female, something else comes over me when I dress in a masculine way. It’s beyond confidence… It’s more like arrogance. And it’s fun to play that part every once in a while – especially at work.
I often come across the debate on why women, on average, earn less than men & I really think it has more to do with with one’s attitude than it has to do with employer discrimination. In my experience, men are often more confident in their abilities, so they ask for what they want. Women feel as though they will be rewarded if the powers-that-be think they deserve it. But if you sit around & wait, it’s easy to fall behind.
The women I know who earn the most behave in ways that are typically masculine to secure pay increases – which basically means they believe they’re worth it so they ask for it. What’s your opinion?
ebnarcisse
