Maxi mania

I'm caught in the midst of a crazy week!

Work is completely chaotic and I've been staying back later and later trying to actually BE productive.

Today I finished late, caught the train and bus home and had to, in the space of 30 minutes, do a VERY quick 10 minutes of exercise and have a shower and wash my hair and get dressed and catch a train back towards the city to catch up with good girl friends who I haven't seen in much too long over dinner.

Not that I'm whinging. Notwithstanding that I lead a completely crazy life, its crazy in a good way.

So it's nearing 11:30pm here, and I've got to be up by 6:45am.

Still had to do some blogging, the addiction I tell you ;)

Also....

Thank you all so much for the lovely comments on the last couple of posts :)

I apologise for running behind on responding to them, and pinky swear to respond to them by tomorrow!

(stompface, thank you soo soo much for the award (and I will catch it)...you're absolutely, positively LOVELY ;)

Have a lovely day :)

p.s. the photos are from two weekends ago, at the boat harbour.

dress, dotti. bag, vintage. shoes, gift from india. earrings, diva. bangles, assorted.

stylish at any age....

I got caught up browsing HEL LOOKS;

and it just goes to show....you can be stylish at any age.

For proof, see:

1) Vesa (23)

2) Salla (29)

3) Minttu (42)

4) Leena (65)

and last but definitely not least.....

5) Jan

this weekend I:

celebrated my sister's 23rd birthday, so much fun!

spent quality time with the boy (inclusive of beach bonding)

bought the penultimate slouchy black pocket tank from Witchery (obsessed much?)

What did you get up to?

Hallmark v reality

I think of Valentines Day with some trepidation.

After all, why do you need someone/some corporation to tell you that February 14th needs to be the day that you need to show your love for your significant other?

I like to think that every day should be the right time to declare your love (from the rooftops, optional) for and to your other. Whilst the day was originally a pagan festival, renamed after two Early Christian martyrs called Valentine, the Hallmarks of this world have elevated the day into a complete palava.

Regardless, I do like to see people enjoying each other's company and cherishing one another. As it should be, right? (this from hippy-Anika ;)

So, I'll go with the flow here (hypocritical much?) and say happy valentines day everyone.....

moving on.....

last week, our big bunch of friends had a house party at the established house party location. We laughed, wined and dined, conversed, and generally had a really good time. I love those kinds of rendevous.

"for the bloody marys? really? they taste sooo good!"

To friendship!

top, sportsgirl. acid wash skirt, vintage. bangles, assorted. headband, diva. shoes, siren.

Basic Attraction

Worn to a reccurence of our long-forgotten Thursday nights at the Llama bar, and to the uber fantastico jazz band that play there. Last Thursday, we returned.

The band has become even more bloody amazing. They were r'n'b jazz previously, now they are funk-old school-jazz. And they've replaced 3 of 4 members. The drummer remains the constant (he also happens to be Van Morrison's drummer, just saying ;)

And yes, he just oozes sex appeal ;)

the band

I usually never wear lipstick, but a few weeks ago traipsed through Target on my way to work, and happened upon the Modelista make up range. On sale. Good for me, because I'm not a lipstick kinda girl so would hate to waste 50-odd dollars on something that turned out to be a disaster. But it wasn't a waste, I'm now addicted to the stuff and am wearing it here...

I picked up the 'Nude' shade - Hollywood Kiss.

(They claim it's an 'extreme lip plumper' but ermmm maybe it has a minimal effect??)

Also.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my gorgeous little sister Chewy!

Here's to another fantastic year in our crazy household.

To friends, family and our crazy, growing shoe collection :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

pocket tee, ebay. skirt, cotton on. shoes, siren. earrings, diva. cuffs & bangles, various.

RAFW 08/09

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week 2008/2009 is what that stands for...

Browsing through penylane this evening I stumbled across a few loves, a few 'wtf IS that!!?!'s, and a few groans of 'be more original damnit!' for RAFW 08/09. Yes, I yell at my computer. Inferiority complex, set and delivered :)

Some loves:

Karla Spetic: THE SHOES!!!

(It's ludicrous how sexy those shoes are, and just how much I would wear them!)

Bec'n'Bridge: it wasn't that I was taken by the outfits (in fact, I thought it was sort of meh/bleh...I could have picked these up at Valleygirl...not too original), I just think this top is kind cute (for Valleygirl standards!!!)

Michelle Jank: EVERYTHING. Seriously.

I need to DIY some birds to place nonchalently at my collarbone, right?

the back of the dress

I love how effortless this seems, almost child-like in its ethereal simplicity,

yet stunningly flowing and liquid-esque.

Lastly can I just add how cute those S&B Vie braids were? Adorable! But....

...not as stomptastic as these babies:

I'll have 'em in a size 6 please, faeries? ;)

Ebay picks

Oooh, finally.

After ALOT of procrastination, distractions in the form of hmmm...laziness, being out of the country, etc, etc, a new set of items are up on ebay.

I'm going to get my head around international shipping and all associated dealings, and probably offer international shipping for the next set of clothes and/or accessories up for auction.

Some of the gorgeous things up for auction....

black moto buckled denim jacket

brand new Primp nautical print thermal

grey t-back w.beaded halter & adjustible sleeve

oversize purple cape w.gold patterned detailing

gypsy maxi dress w.ruffle sleeves

high waisted navy 3/4 length skirt

Take a look at all the items up for auction this week at:

The Stooka Stall:Walk-in Vintage

....blue suede shoes? over-rated. grey is where its at.

Worn out to dinner at a quaint Irish pub/restaurant with Stuart.

These shoes are ridiculously comfortable for curved heels.

And I've collected quite a collection of armwear. I love stacking it all up to kingdom come :)

The food was typical Irish goodness; Colcannon potatoes (with butter, spring onions and cabbage...mmmm), Guinness pie the size of a dinner plate, with a thick pastry crust, and pints of Guinness. Yummo.

the Perth skyline in the background;

on a bridge over the Mitchell freeway

Ignore the mildly idotic look, and focus on the jewellery ;)

Went to see Vicki. Cristina.Barcelona tonight. It's mildy amusing but largely self-indulgent in that typical Woody Allen way. And Penelope Cruz....woah, new girl crush. She IS the definition of sex appeal.

Also watched Grand Torino last week....fabulous film. It amazes me that Clint Eastwood is so fantastic at 78! And so good looking for a 78 year old as well. I highly recommend watching Grand Torino, it's a well-made film. Highly politcally incorrect and all.

(I loved the entire direction, the acting, and the idea of overcoming long-cultivated perceptions so selflessly.....)

tank, supre. jeans, cotton on. bag, vintage. shoes, siren. hair thingie, ice. sunglasses, random cheapie store. bangles, assorted.

Wittner A/W 09

So I've trawled the internet like a maniac, trying to find pics of the Wayne by Wayne Cooper and Leona Edmiston designer shoe ranges being stocked at Myers around the country, but have come up with nadas. Shame, because I wanted to feature the gorgeous purple suede stacked heels by Wayne Cooper. Part minx, part feline-assassin and part PSA (pure sex appeal), I WANT those shoes....but am on a shoe ban.

So with the dreaded B word firmly in place, I decided it wouldn't hurt to visit Wittner. Oh, and it wasn't just me being masochistic....the sister celebrates her birthday in less than 10 days and is starting to become a fellow shoe fiend.

I walked in. And started drooling (yet at the same time was left somewhat hmmm....disappointed in their design team?). Because Wittner does incredibly awesome rip-offs of designer shoes, and produces them relatively soon after. Prime examples:

a) YSL Tribute platform pumps-a nod to

or in the funkier version:

the heel on those babies is 8cm, with an added 4cm platform....sweeeet!


and the real deal...

b) Prada-esque spat heels, I do like the (added) silver button tabs on the side...

I am so tempted by the faux-tributes, it's not even funny. I just have to remember my ban. No Wayne Coopers, no faux tributes....waaaahhh ;)

Heres hoping someone out there can enjoy the shoes.

sources: www.wittner.com.au, http://jakandjil.com

Tag, you're it!

The gorgeous CC of Couture Carrie tagged me a few days ago to do the following interview. My first tag, sniff sniff, I'm strangely pleased. And I do like to ramble on, so here we go :)


Describe your personal style.

The single best word to describe my personal style is 'eclectic'. Some days, I put on a masculine blazer with 80's shoulders or men's suspenders or even a men's cotton tee (my fave thing actually), whilst on other days I'll have 'business lady vamp who means business' in mind. Although those are usually weekdays where I have to go to work and meet with applicants and other clients. There is always a punk/rock element thrown in (most probably in the form of stacked studded/other cuffs), even when I dress for work although I limit it to just select accessories at work. But to further confuse, I also have hippy inclinations, and wear maxi skirts with stacked turquoise jewellery and braided leather thongs through my hair on hot, hot days.

Simple with an edge is another way to label my style. I'll often wear a white tee on the sheer side, slightly oversized, with a bandage miniskirt or a ruffled asymmetrical skirt or ruched satin/lame skinny pants. I adore accessories so often my outfit forms a basic canvas on which I can layer scarfs/tea cosys/ruffled micro-mini skirts as neckwear, and pile on the bangles/rings.

I see myself as an adventurous fashion devotee, willing to give most everything a try. I've noticed as I get older that I'm developing (atleast I think so) a sense of sophistication without losing the edge. Lastly, a must-mention: high heels are my achiles heel (hee hee), but the 'stripper ones' (as my work mates call them) are saved for weekends. Shame, I know!


What are the staples in your wardrobe?

My white oversized mens tees from CottonOn men, Lee supatube skinny jeans (oh sooo comfy, and oh so sexy!), my hooded leather bomber jacket from the Melbourne Queen Vic markets for the colder months, lame leggings, studded belts, my yellow and navy blue Reebok trainers (I'm addicted to exercise :), vintage customised leather skinny pants with diagonal zippers, Siren strappy platform heels, Urban Soul nude and cobalt platform heels, a multitude of random sunglasses and head accessories, and the assortment of vintage blazers from a variety of op-shops in Perth and Melbourne.

Also: Supre skinny jeans, Diva costume jewellery, Siren shoes, t-shirt dresses from Countryroad to Valley Girl.

What's your signature look?

A white sheer, oversize tee and skinny pants/cutoff Levis/edgy skirt (paired with tights and a leather jacket in winter), always with an assortment of various stacked bangles/cuffs/bracelets, and high heels. Topped off with my suede backpack/black LV bag with gold trim/patent leather Mollini bag and a scarf/neckpiece of some sort :)


What inspires you?

Fashion editorials that break or nudge boundaries, books and movies that have you deliberating hours/days after you've read/watched them, free flowing poetry, Stuart's writing (it is seriously brilliant, but I am a little biased ;), androgny, random genius illustrations, Blue King Brown's music, a friend of mine called Laurence who has an intelligent and witty mind and who is quirky cute too, intelligence in good looking people, friendliness, fashion that is outside the box but wearable, and most definitely fellow bloggers and fashionistas.


Who is your fashion muse?

I don't know if I can limit it to one....there's Irina Lazareanu, Kate Moss, the Olsens, Kate Lanphear...haha, I'll stop now.

Favorite purchase of all time?

My gorgeous black Hermes birkin bag. Oh how I love her, let me count the ways ;)


Biggest splurge?

Ahem...see above :)
(and yet, it didn't cost me the earth thanks to getting it at a designer op-shop)

What's your beauty routine?

This might take a while, so... (I jest, I literally have a 2 minute beauty routine). I wash my face, use foundation sparingly where required, chuck on my Lucas pawpaw balm and I may just use Garnier's surf spray to calm my hair down on frizzy days (just chuck it in and scrunch or brush, either works). If I'm going out it's mascara, blush, some form of black eye pencil/liner/liquid (if any at all) and err....Lucas pawpaw balm. On very rare occasion, I will bring out the 'chilli red' lipstick (with no other makeup save blush).


What jewelry do you never take off?

My silver cuff (the best christmas present yet!) and my gold filagree stacked ring. I take them off, I just wear them most often.


What are you wishing for?

*More free time so I can read my exponentially growing pile of books;
*Even though it may seem cliched, an end to starvation and poverty in Africa;
*a pair of purple suede stacked heels (I stopped alltogether at Myer today when I caught sight of them) by Wayne Cooper. Oh. Want!
*more time to do more DIYs, write the novel I've always wanted to, relax and not let life speed by.


What are your obsessions?

*Christmas, I get somewhat excited about the silly season

*thick-cut hot chips, good coffee and Protea biltong from South Africa

*Sass'n'bide's range of leggings and bandage-esque dresses

*Alannah Hill skirts (sooo divine)

*tie-dye, I want....gimme!

*my blog, wierd that, I know ;)

*revisiting 80's trends...can't help myself

*the Shop Till You Drop publication, seriously addictive!

*Balmain/Givenchy/Ginger & Smart(see right)

*Pink Champagne (my fave op-shop in the whole wide world :)

*the Gails; Gail Jones and Gail Tsukiyama, both ridiculously fantastic writers

*the canon rebel xti digital camera, I want it!

I tag Erika of fashionchalet, Bella of Vintage Lollipops, Qin At The Disco, Domonique of LilyLoveLock (all of whom have intelligence, fashion and wit in spades) and anyone else who wants to answer those interview questions. Enjoy :)

sources: www.gobuybag.com, google, www.etro.it, www.shoeshow.com.au

Lee Supa Tube

I'm sure you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when I talk about the frustrations of finding the PERFECT pair of jeans.

I've tried expensive brands, el cheapo stores and nothing! I once bought a $200 pair of jeans and they just didn't cut it (what a waste!). To be honest, the closest I've got to a damn good pair is Supre's (a F21esque chain store here in Australia) skinny jeans. The reason for the better fit is that they cater for tweens/pre-tweens and so have pretty small sizes.

(...on the downside, you have got to squeeze yourself into the smaller size jeans if you want a decent skinny pair and, like me, have stupidly small ankles....)

BUT!! Only recently (I know, where have I been hiding??!) have I discovered the absolute genius of Lee Supatube jeans.

Pure Perfection.

I've never seen skinny jeans done so well. The comfort factor is a HUGE plus too. I can't tell you how pleased I am to have found the perfect jeans. I've since ebayed two more perfect pairs...what can I say? Perfection.

Post-note: The supatubes are pretty skinny, so that needs to be taken

into consideration if purchasing your first pair off of ebay

tee, cotton on men. jeans, lee supatubes. shoes, zomp. bangles, various.