Life is so much better with a drizzle of sequins...

Or so that famous saying goes. A collection of random outfit shots from the weekend. Worn, in order, to watch Bertie Blackman in concert (bloody fantastic voice), to coffee with Stuart (time to break out the vintage pink cardi of course) and to a leaving dinner for a good friend of ours.

One of our more rambunctious weekends. Ever feel like you need to recover from the weekend? I'm with you. Bring on the quieter week :)

sheer tank, supre. jeans, DIY. leather jacket, red rover. shoes, steve madden.

sheer tank, supre. cardigan, vintage. jeans, lee. shoes, siren. necklace, gift from holland.

sheer tank, supre. skirt & jacket, cotton on. boots, vintage. earrings, DIY.

Stuart's muso look...I love it :)

How were your weekends?

greener pastures hither wander....

tie dye bustier dress by Nicholas X Morley for Sportsgirl ($170 AUD)

Enamoured by the current Sportsgirl collaborations: Cohen et Sabine, Spell Designs, Nicholas X Morley and Minty meets Munt. The above dress looks even better in person (and in the bold-coloured version that Morley is famous for and that has sold out), but for $170 I'm resigned to adoring this stunner from afar.

She played it so sweet it was a sin

Thought I'd share the individual pictures of my sister, Stuart and myself the night of our friend's 80s birthday party. I'm very attracted to Stuart in that getup. Is that wierd of me? Probably. Oh well.

Stuart and I have been invited to yet another dress-up party, for which the theme is "Monty Python". Mwah hah hah....should I go as the dead parrot?

I should, shouldn't I....

post edit: I realised, reading my last post, that it may have come across as one of those "women who compete for the biggest diamond ring" sagas. Not the case, I assure you. I think it's important to like the ring you'll wear for the rest of your life, and Abazias have a gorgeous selection.....the most important thing is the symbolism of the ring, not the size of it! xxx Anika

A is for Abazias

A few weeks back, one of Stuart’s best friends got married. It was a wonderful ceremony, and afterwards we stood around discussing how everyone we knew was either getting engaged or getting married and what kind of ceremonies we wanted for our weddings (fulfilling that stereotype of girls fantasizing about their wedding). Stuart and I were at our local shopping centre a few days later with my younger sister when she walked into a jewellery store that was having a massive sale.

“Ah look, Stuart, maybe you should just buy a ring now…..you could get a decent one for $300 at this price” I stated.

My sister and Stuart looked stunned.

Stuart countered that offer with, “I was planning to spend a lot more on a ring, woman”, and my sister shook her head and stated that whilst this shop did nice jewellery, you needed a ‘special’ wedding ring that stood the test of time.

It got me thinking…..she’s correct you know. If I have to wear that one ring for the rest of my life I want something elegant and beautiful, something that I can look at always and admire, and definitely something that represents the commitment.

I have to admit that the above coupled with Stuart and me talking about when we’d get married led to more investigation into the matter. I’ll further cement that stereotype (and that’s saying something, considering how non-girly I am) and admit that I want a gorgeous diamond ring.

(source: poppingbubbles)

Enter Abazias Diamonds. Diamonds……drool. Yes when I was a little girl, I imagined a big diamond ring on my finger when I got married. I haven’t thought about it in a long while (20 years, give or take) but now prompted to do so, I would love a classic solitaire-set white gold diamond ring. Fussy? No, I don’t think so; I just know what I like. And I love that Abazias specializes in letting you design your ring. Yes, you can customise your engagement ring. Yes, there’s a vast range of diamonds and settings to fit your price. Yes, they are reasonably priced (hey, I was joking when I said $300!!). More importantly, for the not-so-knowledgeable (read: me :) there’s valuable information on how to pick that special ring.

(source: abazias)

Final yes? The fact that they also sell some pretty awesome watches. I don’t know if you guys know, but I am a certified watch aficionado. Reasonable oversized men’s watches? I’m sold.

love this watch…..on sale too for $55.00!

(source: abazias)

District 9

sheer tank, supre. jeans, lee supatube. boots, DIY rubi. cardigan, kirrily johnston. necklace, gift from holland. rings, gift and vintage.

This weekend I did some kickboxing, nearly bought a gorgeous silk studded cape by Natasha in Leederville (but refrained), had fish and chips for lunch, window shopped, wore my gorgeous slouchy cardigan by Kirrily Johnston all weekend, planned to shred jeans, worked out the route for our Europe trip with Stuart, and decided to watch District 9.

We'd heard good things about the movie, and decided to give this sci-fi flick a go. I have to admit that we were expecting your run-of-the-mill sci-fi flick, and therefore were very pleasantly surprised at the brilliance of it all. The movie is done documentary-style and is based on Alive in Joburg, a 2005 short film directed by Neill Blomkamp that centres on the same subject matter. District 9 subverts the alien genre, stripping the aliens of all mystery and showing them living in a squalid slum within Jo'burg. The hand held camera work looks stylish, not cheap as in so many other films, and the movie's comments on immigration, capitalism, greed, power as well as its analogies to the events that occured during the apartheid system enforced by the South African government between 1948 and 1994 are done so goddamn well.

Read the synopsis here, and then go and see this movie. It's brilliance lies in the fact that it is set in South Africa, has no well-known actors playing the cliched sci-fi good guys, and that it is set up and splayed out perfectly in documentary form. Stuart and I agreed that it is probably the best film we've seen to date in 2009 (only Gran Torino compares). The special effects are brilliant, the aliens completely believable. It's only that much more special because Sharlto Copley's acting is brilliant, it does not preach the morals that are achieved by the close of the film, and because the story-telling is magnificent and aimed at an intelligent audience. I'll bet the folks at Halo are regretting letting Blomkamp go as director for Halo*. Bloody brilliant movie.

Anika's review: 4 1/2 catfood tins/5

Stuart's review: 4 1/2 catfood tins/5

*So the story goes, Peter Jackson approached Blomkamp to direct Halo. Blomkamp wanted to focus on the relationship between the aliens and the humans in the movie but this idea was no-no'ed. So Blomkamp resigned as director, and him and Peter Jackson decided to do District 9 instead.

LickIt.

Mad props to Katherine (best friend) for the link love to my favourite denim brand's newest product. Hellooooo, Lee Licks. Heard about these but hadn't seen them for sale. Seriously kickarse skinny jeans that feel like leggings, only with a zip and a fly. If you're into skinny sleek 'sexpants', you'll be wanting these.

I''ll take a size 6 in Blue Acid Frost or Ripped (above), thanks muchly.

Check out their site for more.

post edit: I contacted lee jeans about where to purchase the licks online or in Western Australia. They don't sell online (as they are a wholesaler) but in WA, the best places to try are Live, Surf Sports, Brownies and Murray Smith Surf Centre.

Sinuous ensnaring bewitchment

I've talked about Pauline of In My Body's House before.

Her writing is haunting, gripping you in a vice. Sentences are not classically structured, and it gives the words even more depth and description. Pauline's writing is unlike any other and I have to be honest and admit here that nothing gets me more excited than the realisation that another post is up.

An excerpt from this girl's gorgeous writing (post titled 'meteors'):

"We spread the blanket on the wet grass and lie down.

The meteors shooting through the sky,
through the branches of the wet trees moving in the wind. He
sings to me.

Locusts.

I close my eyes.

"-tell me what it's like," I say.

and he puts his hand over my eyes, he pulls me against him.

"its like a snow globe," he says. I can feel him smile,
his teeth against my neck.

We laid there. The stars faded into the dawn. Dew on our faces.
The meteors, faint in the sky.
They were like lines traced into water, but I would remember where they were written."

Tell me you don't feel it, that the writing doesn't take hold of you and wrap its sinuous limbs around you, ensnaring you to its structure and prose and content, capturing you in a bewitching spell.

Go check out In My Body's House. Pauline is beautiful. Her work? Even more so.


In other news, I am ill once again. I'm beginning to worry about my immune system. I seem to have caught the majority of the onslaught of colds and flus that have bypassed us this winter. Still, it's a cold and nothing more. Just annoying is all. So instead of digging up outfit shots, I decided to share with you a picture I took a little while back. It's of Hillarys Boat Harbour and inspires serenity every time I look at it.

Hope it inspires you too.

An Ode to No One.

Compulsive obsession about the sharp-shouldered blazer featured in An Ode to No One's AW 09 collection (alert....blazer heaven at slide 20) and their SS 10 collection. Yum. Good things come to those who wait, right....I'm twitching my thumbs waiting for the next order of these beauties to drop. Meanwhile, check out their website for more.

Simple yet edgy, sophisticated, and affordable. Yes please, bring it on!

Welcome to the jungle...

...is a Guns'n'Roses tune off their album Appetite for Destruction. Why am I telling you this? One of my friends recently turned 27, and to celebrate her birthday she decided to have an 80s dress-up karaoke party at this crazy-awesome karaoke bar we know (Dreamland) where drinks, a Chinese buffet and karaoke can be enjoyed for the sweet sweet price of $30. I decided to take inspiration from Axl Rose, front man for Guns'n'Roses....minus the bandana. Can't be mussing up the hair you know ;)

It was a crazy affair, with everyone turning up in the best 80s outfits. There was the aerobics chick, the neon colours outfit, the ridiculous moustache and mullet wig, the 80s rockstar (complete with shoulder padded leather jacket and hi-tops), an American werewolf in London and a few more crazy outfits.

We took some crazy pics which I look forward to seeing. I only took a few pics myself.

(Stuart; in the crazzzy leather jacket, neon tee and hi-tops)

The most embarassing thing about my outfit was the fact that the only thing I had to purchase specially for the party was the aviator sunglasses. Heh.

The rest of the weekend was spent shopping for birthday presents and cake and generally chilling out. Perfect. I also contemplated distressing the skinny jeans in these pics, but was too lazy to actually deliver.

Check out the gorgeous turquoise cross stone ring Stu bought me :)

Yes, I'm always awkward taking poseur pics, don't mind me....

How did you guys spend your weekends?

80s outfit: tank, witchery. leather skinnies, sportsgirl. leather gloves, markets. leopard print jacket, vintage. chains, diva; live; vintage. sunnies, cotton on.

normal outfit: tank, supre. jeans, lee supatube. shoes, DIY rubi. leather jacket, red rover. arm wear, street vendor in thailand; markets; diva.

Camilla and Marc SS 09/10

I have to be honest with you guys....I've been holding out on you. Since the debut of Camilla and Marc's S/S 09/10 RAFW show, I've been keeping an eye out for the delectable leopard print boots. Yum. The clothes themselves were nothing too out-of-the-ordinary, yet they were put together perfectly and the subtle edgyness present in each outfit was delightful.

The themes:

nude colours

metallics

tailored pants

chains/hardware

I loved the juxtaposition of the chains/hardware and the floaty feminine fabrics, and of the leopard print boots with the nude palette. Do I like? Yes. Would I buy? Yes. To select pieces.

yes please to this gorgeous jacket

One of the above pieces would be those leopard print boots. Or the nude boots. I'm in love with both...and cannot choose for the life of me. Which would you get?

Soon to be released (available to pre-order), they cost $Aud660 - $Aud 700. A lot of money but worth every penny. In fact I had planned to buy a pair of Sam Edelman 'Zoe' harness boots but the total cost (including shipping) is $Aud 696. I'd rather the gorgeous Camilla and Marcs, thank you muchly.

p.s. I'll also take the insanely cool gold jacket with black shoulder pads....mmmm.

I also want to thank you all for the lovely comments. With regards to some of the comments on the last post, I found the YSL knockoffs by Siren....available to pre-order at Sassi Parella (click on link to be directed). G'luck!

source: http://www.vogue.com.au/

She's a very kinky girl...the kind you don't take home to mother

Siren has upped its game. This season's offerings are the best yet. Whilst there are some blink'n'you'll miss it imitations, they've actually engaged design teams (or hey, there could just be one man working his arse off, sketching designs??) and come up with some incredible shoes.

And did I mention that the price point is more consumer friendly? I didn't?? Frankly, its probably because I was too busy drooling. Over the model used for the SS10 campaign and the 'godessesque' feel to the look book. Woah!

Let me try and be specific......I want all of this:

APPRO $149.95

CULTURE $119.95

CURIO $109.95

I adore the above two pairs, and cannot for the life of me decide which I want more (and in which colour....more colours available in each style)!

DASH $109.95

(incredible shoes, and another pair I absolutely love)

these were the shoes I was on the hunt for a week back...love these YSL knockoffs!

And a couple more.....

JEALOUS $139.95

CURVE $119.95

Check out Siren's website for more...I meanwhile will be drooling whilst debating which pair I love most and want to take home to mama ;)

Speaking of which, which pair would you be claiming from all of the above?