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PHOTOGRAHIC EVIDENCE 15-DEC-2008

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!

Photographic Evidence

Sky

A New Zealand summer sky.

Sammy

Sammy, one of the farm cats.

Chicken!

Free ranging and happy chick-a-dees.

Giant bunny

This rabbit was HUGE. You would have a full armful of bun-bun.

Woodpile
Islington Christmas Tree

The Islington Christmas twig tree! I have since added candy canes to it.

 Jess asked for beer...

A tree made of lights, down in a city park.

Isuzu Gemini

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?

DRESS CODE: ON THE FARM

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!

Country attire...

+ 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

Windswept

Harriet

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).

VIEWFINDER: METRONOMY - MY HEART RATE RAPID

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?

CFS LOVES LINKS 05

  • 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

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...

    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.

Chestnuts by Pia Jane Bijkerk

Chestnuts by Pia Jane Bijkerk

THE ONLY THING WE NEED FOR XMAS

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!

LE SCAPHANDRE ET LE PAPILLON

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.)

PHOTOGRAHIC EVIDENCE 8-DEC-2008

This weekend involved resting my poor shoulders after they were needled for a few hours, enjoying the beautiful flowers my mother sent me, having coffee x 2, watching a colourful parade pass in town and general relaxation. There was plenty of sunshine in the mix too!

day 1

Further shading on my tattoos (both shoulders)!

roses2

roses3

They're so beautiful, a simple jam jar was all they needed.

Sheinkin

One of my favourite cafes, Sheinkin, has a light feature comprising of many hanging naked bulbs.

Sheinkin

Sheinkin make great coffee too! Flat whites, mm.

Festival

Sunshine, dancing, singing and an ox on Queen Street.

Reslau

Reslau, another AKL cafe.

I also stopped in at a book store and bought a 2009 moleskine to geekily plan out my objectives for the next year. Haha, I am such strategist, right down to my language. Anyway, the majority of it was very restful!

How was your weekend? What was the most inspiring thing you saw?

VIEWFINDER: NOKIA MAPS

I love this ad for Nokia maps! Yes, they are a big bad global brand but really they are quite lovable, creating very interesting communications pieces - have you seen the 4th screen manifesto?

This one is for creative kids of all ages… I especially appreciate the gloriously inky marker at  0:27 - it makes me want to go lie in the shade of a nice big tree with a sketch book for the afternoon.

Swish, scritch, scritch!

TEN EASY WAYS FOR WOMEN TO LOOK SHARP - PART 2

Here are the next five recommendations in the list of ten easy tips for ladies to look stylish, fresh and sharp. Part 1 of the article discussed the merits of sunglasses, the many uses of Vaseline, headbands, gigantic bags and scarves. Ready? Let’s go!

6. PRETTY FINGERS, SENSATIONAL TOES

If you don’t have the time or the inclination for acrylics/manicures, it’s best to still keep your nails trimmed and tidy. For consistently good-looking nails I recommend a simple buff and shine with a clear coat - no colour.

Don’t believe the hype, chipped nail polish looks terrible! If you are really keen on some sort of shiny shellac, my favourite trick is to use a clear glitter polish. The random glitter pattern makes it less obvious you’ve done a less than stellar job, and chips are well hidden. It works well for toes too!

Other suitable alternatives are nude/pearlescent colours, which both cover imperfections and wear well.

7. GIRL IN THE PEARL EARRINGS

Whether worn with a vintage band t-shirt, a crisp suit or a cocktail frock, in every situation they serve to give you a look of distinction and poise. Simple, yet dashingly effective.

8. TUCKING IN WHEN YOU’RE TURNING OUT

It’s amazing what tucking in does for your image. It simply radiates an aura of consideration and professionalism – for who tucks in their shirts now days? Organised professionals, who would be unfavourably looked upon if they didn’t look their best.

Here’s a few examples of casually framed waists – tucking in also creates defined edges for the eye, giving a streamlined impression:

Lyell

Lyell

Photos from the Sartorialist

Photos from the Sartorialist

9. STAND TALL

Improving your posture can hide a multitude of sins. It makes you look instantly more confident, healthy and secure. It unfortunately may also take a while to retrain your body if you are chronically slouchy. Think Simple Now has a detailed guide to posture, which will aid you in making a change.

Here are two helpful hints in the mean time:

- Try taking up yoga. Not only does it help strengthen your back muscles, it inspires more awareness of your body all the time, making you less willing to slouch.

- Imagine a string running from your toes, up your spine, to above your head. Now pull the string up, lifting your entire form upwards.

In addition to making a conscious effort to stand up straight, getting a professional bra fitting will make an immediate difference. Buy a couple in your real size – it will make such a tremendous difference in your shape. I’m sure you will be astonished!

10. WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT

A common tip given to goal setters is to keep your dreams where you can see them. This also applies to those whose ambition is to look sharp with little fuss! Make up – and make up remover – should be placed somewhere you can reach them easily and can swiftly work through your routine.

I keep my makeup laid out in a drawer, which I can simply pull out and grab what I need easily – there are no lipstick-smeared bags to rummage through! I also keep cotton pads and a bottle of makeup remover right by my bedside so no matter what state or time I come home in I can take off “my face”. Removing your make up daily is one of the most highly recommended beauty tips so make it easy for yourself – avoiding clogged pores and irritated skin is definitely a sharp move!

Hair adornments and fashion accessories should also be kept in site and well organised to inspire you to use them. How about trying one of the following?

- Put nails on the back of a wardrobe or bedroom door to neatly hang necklaces from.

- Jewellery can be stored in compartments; sorted by colour, material or occasion! Or for a prettier look, use a dainty glass cake stand for easy perusal of your collection.

- Keep scarves on a hanger designed for ties – organised in one place.

- A few small decorative bowls can be filled with hair ties, bobby pins and clips. Keep these, your hair straightener, hairdryer and products all in one “zone” to make the process faster.

For bonus points, why don’t you write out your dream or goal on an index card taped to your mirror, or for the more adventurous, written in cherry red lipstick!

I hope you find the tips collection useful, and do check out part one (tips 1-5) if you haven’t already. Again, if you have any super style ninja moves, please do share them. Here’s to sharp sassy looks for all! ❤

TEN EASY WAYS FOR WOMEN TO LOOK SHARP - PART 1

Recently I read an article on Lifehacker describing the Top 10 Easy Ways to Look Sharp - and promptly noticed a few protests that it was mostly male orientated!

I agreed and decided to create a fresh new list of ferociously sharp tips for ladies to look stylish. These are hacks as well as a few great tips that will let you sail through every day. Every time I’m faced with 5 minutes extra time to snooze I’ll take it, so you can trust these ideas have been carefully tested. Let’s get started with the first 5!

1. THE EYES HAVE IT COVERED

Get a pair of sunglasses that suit your face and wear them religiously. The reason for this is twofold. First, glasses give you the aura of being a suave, cool person who can accessorize. The second function of sunnies is to protect your eyes. More glasses wearing means less Shar-Pei-esque wrinkles in the future = and less squinting now. Squinting is never sexy.

Chloe Myrte acrylic sunglasses

Your sunglasses can be either classic (think faux tortoise shell, over sized frames) or cheeky (think lolly coloured wayfarers). Bigger will protect the skin around your eyes more but cheeky, is well, fun! Some eye protection is better than none so you’re okay, whatever your choice. If you need advice or inspiration, wander over to Eye Heart Glasses and look at Jo’s expert picks.

Ray Ban pink wayfarers

2. A TOUCH OF GLOSS

Vaseline is the wonder balm, seriously - first up, use it on lips for shine if you have no time for lipstick. I always seem to wake up with scraggly askew eyebrows after a night’s sleep; use it to tame your wayward eyebrows before you dash out the door!

In a pinch, a tiny slick of Vaseline applied to your eyelashes will give them a shiny waterproofed, lengthened look.  You can also use it to micromanage out-of-control hair when styling; a tiny dab works well to tame fly-aways!

3. HEADBANDS FOR THE WIN

I will say straight up that headbands don’t have to make you look like a little girl. They come in a wide variety – skinny brushed silver, wide black patent leather or sweet fabric ones - as seen here on Brigitte Bardot.

Alice bands in particular are your saving grace for days when your hair just isn’t behaving and you need to look swish in seconds.

Alice Bands

Alice Bands

I simply brush my hair back and up towards my crown, give it a once over with hairspray and sweep the headband on. After that, another spritz of hairspray will keep it all in place. Perfecto, for the rest of the day! You can also use this as an up-do, putting your hair in a high pony before putting on the band.

4. JANE AND THE GIANT BAG

An over-sized bag is an essential wardrobe foundation for those who favour laissez-faire personal style but still want to look sharp. This may come in a) leather - or a damn good fake for those of you not on board the leather train, but be aware pleather does not age well. Or b) canvas.  Your bag should be one of the following colours - navy, ivory, brown (preferably chestnut) or black.  If you are rocking the canvas you can venture towards brighter colour palettes like eggplant or cherry.

Serena tote and Kiah bag - both from Country Road

Serena tote and Kiah bag - both from Country Road

The bigger the better! Why? Because you can obviously fit more guff in: your DSLR, the book you’re currently reading, tissues and your 570 plastic cards.  This doesn’t have to be an every day tote but it’s brilliant to have something that will do in a pinch that you can just dump stuff into. It also does the double duty of making you look tiny in comparison - the big bag theory. This is an illusion that really works - hurrah!

5. FAST WITH A SCARF

Scarves are your saving grace on a day with not enough time to get ready. You probably have a large fashion imagination but just not that much time - so chuck on that boring black tee you’ve already worn this week, wear your usual denim if you have to, and put on a scarf… voila! French blogger Betty, from Le Blog De Betty, is an inspiration when it comes to rocking a wide variety of pretty scarves.

Indeed, I have an extensive collection of scarves (am currently wearing black linen shorts, a black t-shirt and an eye-popping coral scarf) that save me time and time again. They give you an instant splash of colour, added textural interest and a practical disguise for that occasional coffee stain. Easy.

Right, there you have it lovelies, the first five tips to streamline your style! Let me know how these go and if you have any life-saving tips please share them in the comments. It’s the ultimate goal for all girls really, maximum sharpness in style, minimum effort - more time for fun.

Please step this way for Ten Easy Ways For Women To Look Sharp - Part 2 - the next 5 brilliant tips.