A new year often triggers a desire to start new habits, try fresh looks and generally buck trends!
Because of the perceived demarcation of time, it’s a good time to set goals and resolve to do thing differently. In particular I like the New Year for reassessing my style for the year ahead – it’s mid season too, so you have a wee bit of thinking and preparation time.
This year my personal fashion resolutions are:
- To wear lipstick more often or, at least, some sort of stain. I’m kind of lazy and just use gloss all the time, when the lovely MAC colours that seduced me at the counter go unused.
- To buy a pair of Frye boots. I love these stormy ones and would like to make them mine!
- To wear my Chucks less (to work). I love them but sometimes they don’t work so well in the boardroom. Plus it’s an opportunity to buy some towering wedges I have had my eye on.
- To go to the gym more often (3x a week). Right now I have a rather sporadic approach to my training, which is a shame because I was so good for months! Routines are necessary and must be followed.
- To wear more hats! I adore fascinators and the way they manage to turn a plain outfit into something sultry. I’d like to embrace the hat look with open arms – I want to be the fancy girl in the feather finery!
What are your style resolutions or goals?
If you want to change your style but are having trouble deciding on exactly what to do; take it small and easy to begin with. Initially I brainstormed one thing to wear more of, one thing to wear less of, one thing to buy, a beauty wish and a health/fitness goal! Goal maestros recommend making things even more specific, so break these thoughts down even further. For instance, wear make up more is a bit generic so I then focused it on my lips. Sassier shoes became buying the Frye boots.
Another tact you could try is writing a style statement and highlighting the elements you want to build upon this year:
“2K9 is the year robots take over planet Earth and force us to wear a uniform of black hooded dresses and blue metallic tights. I ward off the negative energies of the everyday by wearing amulets of amethyst and large powder-coated chain necklaces. 6 inch towering black heels keep me looking above the heads of the crowd, keeping an eye out for ‘bots.”
More of a visual person? Destroy a few of those magazines you have lying around – snip imagery that takes your fancy and create some fashion inspiration collages to refer to. Be sure to note down designers of pieces you particularly like!
One of my (in progress!) 2009 style inspiration collages.
For others, it may be a combination of the two. I’m going to print out my list, along with a few of my favourite collages of late, and pin them to the inside of my wardrobe. Everyday inspiration, voila! And hopefully, some style resolutions we can stick to!
Best wishes for a lovely few days! Be safe, be happy, be warm. Or cool! I am feeling the humidity today. So is an abstracted photo of snow falling really appropriate when I’m wearing a summer frock, bare shoulders and sandals? I will be back in a few days with my 2009 style resolutions. Until then, adieu!
Glee! The television commercial for Miss Dior Cherie is finally available in a high quality form. Just as gorgeous as the print ads, Sofia Coppola has worked her magic… bicycles, macarons, flowers, cute boys. The song is Moi Je Joue by Brigitte Bardot. Swoon.
The last time I did a display investigation was in October , so it’s about time for a Decemberist shop window survey of Ponsonby Road, AKL. Things are a bit low key here but there’s still some cuteness to be seen!
From top to bottom: Mason’s Men’s Store, Mei Mei, Widdess (with the cute lil knitted puddings), Jamie Boutique (book list to die for) and World Beauty (lights & giant letters ❤). Just a little touch of Christmas – but these are boutiques not huge over-the-top department stores. Um and I just had to show you those shoes even though there are no holiday decorations at all! Silver boots count as festive though, right?
Check out these teeth gnashingly good pieces of zipper costume jewellery made by Kate Cusack:
I do like – they remind me of corals and sea anemones! However what really stands out is the use of zips as an object of beauty in their own right, rather than for pure function.
“In art school,” Kate explained, “I realized that once you allow yourself to use materials in unconventional ways, then, just about anything is possible. It’s ironic that most fashion designers try to hide or disguise zippers in their creations. However, I love zippers’ shiny metal teeth and I want to show off, not hide, their sparkle and their sinuous flexibility.”
Ah yes, those little dangerous teeth. Also, not being the sewing type, Kate’s work alerted me to the fact zips come in different colours… something I never really thought about before.
Marc Jacobs is also feeling the zipped aesthetic, with these hair barrettes:
I really like both manifestations of ze zipper – a rock and roll hard edged look made wearable. A touch of punk!
What do you get when you combine bibliophilia with an aesthetic obsession?
A personal curatorship that amuses and inspires!
photos from the adobe bookshop project
bookshelves by chotda
Red and orange and yellow and green, indigo, violet and blue…
The power of colour can not be underestimated for bringing interesting new dimensions to your life. Gorgeous and so easy… anyone can do it!
Make your whole life seemingly organised – Rearrange your CD’s like Nattbarn has done or your clothes – a la Nubby Twiglet. Read only green books for a month. Eat a rainbow of foods for a week (at your own risk). Only take photos of yellow objects or, if you’re feeling sassy, pink. Write your diary out in lime green ink. Work within constraints to break new ground in your life. Feel the power of the spectrum… Embrace it!
Are you or a loved one infected with a dreamy wanderlust? Are you a known Francophile? Do you swoon at the thought of puffed macarons? Then perhaps this gift combination would tickle your fancy…
The Paris Wallpaper City Guide will go down a treat when you are plotting an excursion to the fair city – full of cool tidbits and local nous that will see you hitting the ground running. When you make your own discoveries you can note them down in the back of the book. Multi-function for the win! I have recently bought one in anticipation of taking on Beijing and the Tokyo one has been a good friend to me in the past.
And to go with your travel literature, may I suggest a Maison de cire Trudon candle, in the scent of Roi Soleil! “The candles are part of a legacy which extends back to 1643, when the first Maison de cire Trudon apothecary opened in Paris, providing its services to Queen Marie Therese. ” Since then they have been gracing the olfactory spheres of royalty, parishes and other notable residences.
What makes Roi Soleil especially wondrous is its fragrance – inspired by the “”Mirror Gallery” and the vast wooden floor of the Chateau de Versailles”. It is described as a “kingly and solar perfume”, that “blends a green and wooded wake of coniferous trees to the sumptuous dizziness of incense with a light ray of citrus”.
Ooh la la – that language! Egads, I am almost sniffing my screen… As you know, I am on a Français film spree and have just watched Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette (so sweet, like candyfloss hair) – so this is perfect. The candles are also vegetable-wax based – meaning they’re animal friendly, which is the only way to go.
Imagine the two items bundled in tissue, wrapped in brown paper, then tied up with peach tulle. Whether for yourself or someone dear to you, what a breath-taking gift to unwrap – magnifique!
The last week has been hectic! A lot to do and not much time to do it… I’m sure you know how that goes. As mentioned earlier, I went to a farm. It’s amazing how different the pace is out there – so peaceful. I also pranced around and produced a Christmas tree of sorts, visited a public Christmas tree and went on a very rapid drive in an old car. Fun!
A New Zealand summer sky.
Sammy, one of the farm cats.
Free ranging and happy chick-a-dees.
This rabbit was HUGE. You would have a full armful of bun-bun.
The Islington Christmas twig tree! I have since added candy canes to it.
A tree made of lights, down in a city park.
Sunday driving...
I also got a little bit drunk and silly with my friends, after an evening of saying “yes!” to any opportunity that arose – such as bars we had never been to before and buying bottles of Champagne. This resulted in some godawful dancing on my behalf (thankfully no photographic evidence) and calling my friend in France – things I both enjoyed immensely!
What did you say yes to this weekend? Did it work out for the best, or even adventure?
Today I went out to a wee farmlet, to celebrate a family birthday. It was about 25 minutes drive from the city. In between socialising, I wandered around, saying hello to the various ducks, pukekos, friendly cats, cows, chickens & bunnies. I took a few photos (it was quite windy) and then dashed inside for cake. Mmm, pecan and caramel is an awesome cakey combo!
+ Grey singlet
+ Black levis
+ Black jandals/flip flops/thongs (oo-er!)
+ Jockey star shirt, from Supre of all places… (I say Jockey because it reminds me of racing horses.)
+ Hippo brooch
My new hippo brooch from Princess C, Lady J And the Upper Crust is so much fun! Taxidermy influences meet a crazed colour palette. You may call her Harriet. (Thanks also to Michi Girl, who were graciously giving them away).
Where are the lyrics to this sound to be found? I have seen various declarations such as “it’s about pancakes” (or hot dogs?), “the song is about 3 young ladies who fall into Marcel Duchamp by accident and decide to change their lives as a result” and mentions of hippos. Huh? Who knows!
At least your eyes don’t lie to you when you watch the My Heart Rate Rapid video. Yes, they are gyrating with giant iPod ear-buds. Oh Metronomy, my heart beats rapidly for you…
If you are in AKL on the 9th of January, you are in luck! Metronomy are playing with The Teenagers at the Kings Arms. And for those in Wellington on the 10th, you may enjoy the fine aural companionship of the two bands that night at Bar Bodega. But you have your tickets already, don’t you?
The famous Life photo archive is now held by Google and fully searchable! From the late 1800s to today, you may browse to your hearts delight – or search for fashion, cocktails, make-up… even your country!
Joan Crawford & Salvador Dali
The Fashion Almanac is a project by Laura Bradley. A compendium style magazine with lots of line drawings and venn diagrams to instruct you on fashion forecasta. It reminds me a lot of the Monocle aesthetic (which I love, yo). Available to read online here! [via Style Bubble]
Transcending fashions...
Style from Tokyo is street fashion photography by Rei Shito. I discovered it after my last post on Japanese street style & it’s a goodie – loads of hot Harajuku looks. Also of note is The Streets Walker – a Tel Aviv based street fashion blog. I honestly never imagined Israeli fashion in this context – so exploring this site has been really eye-opening and inspiring. Fashion – another reason to visit Israel (my friend Danit is the first reason)!
Awesome gifs at GreenLaundry- that really bring a sense of life and energy to the blog. Something I would like to try in the future…
Dumpling Dynasty products meet the charmingly Asian kitsch illustration by Fiona Hewitt – famed for her earlier artistic contributions to the adorable Miso Pretty bath product line.
And to improve on my previous holiday spirit, I have been reading the two seasonal guides that Pia Jane Bijkerk has on her magical site – the first is an introduction to holiday gift ideas. The second is a guide to holiday decorating ideas: tabletop styling, ornaments, gift wrapping and holiday art. (I really love this second series – we are not having a tree this year but I feel like we need some adornment around the house! Read it and you will soon feel like me, skipping off to make some gingerbread men…)
Somehow I don’t think the keytar is going to work for us as a gift under the tree these holidays, whether giving or receiving. They’re much bigger than I ever expected!
Thankfully, there’s a more suitable stocking sized alternative – a stylophone! This miniature stylus operated synthesizer is a recreation of the 1967 classic. It’s famed for being used by David Bowie on Space Oddity and being promoted by Rolf Harris. In today’s music realm, Hextastic has effectively sampled the instrument, Rolf too.
"The craze has begun..."
Don’t you want to sit around the Christmas tree playing digitized riffs from Christmas carols? How about a round of Ja-Ja-Jangle Bells or Silen-en-en-tttt Night? Perhaps just in the company of my friends, who are all tech heads and DJs. It would sound like seasonal bliss to them!
I have been feeling the urge to watch a lot of French or French inspired films lately. One of the DVDs I picked up was Le Scaphandre et le Papillon or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Directed by Julian Schnabel, it tells the story of Jean-Do Bauby – the editor of French Elle – who suffers a stroke, leaving him completely paralysed. The only thing he can move is his left eye.
Thankfully, with the dedicated care of the people around him, he still enjoys a quality of life and the ability to communicate – with a blinking derived alphabet system. It all culminates in the publishing of a novel, as transcribed by his supporters.
If you have seen the recent James Bond movie, you may be familiar with Mathieu Amalric, who plays Bauby. I was saddened by his role in the Hollywood explode-a-rama, however do not fear he is a brilliant actor and The Diving Bell is a testament to this.
The film has not been without disputes. In real life, Bauby’s girlfriend is not the wench she is made out to be in the movie, as this article discusses. Florence Bensadoun actually spent weeks by his bedside, tending to her lover, while the filmic wife was apparently not true to life.
Despite the controversy, Le Scaphandre et le Papillon is still a loving, dreamy film that shows that a life is still to be valued even when everything but your mind is gone.
RATING:
(This is the French cinema trailer, which in my mind is far superior to the Western offering.)
This year my personal fashion resolutions are:
will go down a treat when you are plotting an excursion to the fair city – full of cool tidbits and local nous that will see you hitting the ground running. When you make your own discoveries you can note them down in the back of the book. Multi-function for the win! I have recently bought one in anticipation of taking on 
