"House Arrest"

I wish I were this glamourous if I were home alone...

Amazing shoes.

Note the Louis Vuitton bunny ears!

House Arrest
Zink Holiday 2009
Shot by: Jamie Nelson
Styled by Ope
Model: Alina Rock (Models International NY)

A new year means new outfits

Wow, I can't believe we're already a week into 2010! 2010 marks a whole new year, and a whole lot of new outfits! Now, when I use the term 'new' I'm not necesarily talking about newly purchased clothes. Because as much as I love buying new clothes, shoes and accessories, moreover I love experimenting with new combinations from things already in my wardrobe.

Digging up clothes you haven't worn in years, and piecing them with wardrobe staples to piece together an outfit is just. so. satisfying. In light of this, I proclaim my 2010 Clothing New Years Resolution: To give new life to old clothing. Well, to be even more precise, to start wearing the all clothes I have in my wardrobe- or get rid of it. I find it quite shameful that I have some items in my wardrobe- still with tags on! I already have two big boxes of clothes I plan to sell in Glebe Markets/Ebay/St Vinnies some time. So I am going to set aside a day in the near future and go through every single item in my wardrobe and sort. it. all. out.

Here are some outfits from my 2010 so far...

At a friend's party:

Ruffle top: From a shop in Tokyo, on sale for AU$10
Purple Jeans: From a shop in Harajuku, Tokyo $AU 19
Shoes: Vintage Italian shoes from the 80s from the Wardrobe Store $65

Bracelets $2 each from Hello Gorgeous, Melbourne

High Tea at the Observatory Hotel (lucky me, again!) for one of my Best Friends, Anna's 20th

I was a bit outfit-anxious about this party, as I had heard some friends had bought new outfits for the occasion. I had not- so thirty minutes before I was meant to leave my house I was madly trying on/throwing around clothes in my room trying to piece together a combination that would work. After trying on what seemed like 100s of different tops, skirts and dresses, and receiving unconvincing"that's nice" comments from my Mum, I finally settled on an outfit.

I was pretty happy with it, seeing as everything I chose to wear I bought on massive sale! The separate pieces- top, skirt, shoes- added up to under $60. Sweet.

Top: Lacy sleeveless top, $4 in Op Shop on Chaple St, Melbourne

Skirt: Big by Fiona Scanlan: $34, from $60

Shoes: Nina New York: $25 from $180!

I'm on the chick on the right. Maddy in the middle is looking amazing in Alex Perry!

The most beautiful birthday girl Anna in Alannah Hill (R) and I (L)

I also wore a vintage brooch my Aunty gave me

All my friends looked absolutely stunning. It helps that they are drop-dead goregous...

Au revoir 2009!

Happy New Year all! My New Years Eve was a blast! It was low-key, chilled affair with best friends, my boyfriend, and randoms. As it was planned to be a 'sit and chat and eat and chat and eat and watch fireworks' affair, I didn't want to dress up too much. But on the other hand, it was new years, and every girl wants to look nice!

Unfortunately I look a bit crazy in this photo- but it shows the dress design well. Worn with an Enth necklace (see previous entry written on it)

After a bit of deliberation, I wore a lilac coloured see-through dress with a swirl design patterned throughout, which my Mum bought me for Christmas when I was around 10 years old. She actually bought it in some random clothing store in the old Chatswood Interchange!! It says it's Made in Korea which is awesome (as an aside, I really want to find some more Korean clothing as from what I have come across it's very well made and interesting). I had never worn it before, as I could never figure out what to wear it with.

Worn with glittery leggings and my Windsor Smith leather buckle boots

This is where a black slip comes in handy. I bought mine from Metalicus. Seriously, if you don't own a black slip, DROP EVERYTHING AND BUY ONE! I tell you, I have never used an item of clothing so much. So many outfit options just opened up.

Post Christmas (no) sales

Today I went to Paddington again with my Mum! But this time... I didn't buy a thing! Sure, there were so many clothes that I would give my left and right arm/leg for. Like a dress we saw from a Norwegian brand called Fin that was made from bamboo (!), or the sensational Opening Ceremony collection at Land's End in 5 Ways. Or the hundreds of shoes in Zomp, the Isabel Marant collection in Parlour X and the dresses in Willow. Not to mention the Romance Was Born Pop-up store, which was down a little alleyway and was like an underwater fashion-theme park!

Top: Uniqlo Thermo-top (!)

Embroidered vest: From a flea market in Tokyo, around $6!

Jeans: Roy Jeans, Melbourne $50, from $220

Necklace: Glebe Markets

Shoes: Vintage Italian shoes circa 1980s from The Wardrobe Store $60

Bag: Lauren by Ralph Lauren, bought in Boxing Day Sale 2005, David Jones $60 from $250

Top: Banana Republic $25

Bag: Pleats Please by Issey Miyake $50!

Jacket: from Isetan Shinjuku

Jeans: from Japan

Sunglasses: Oroton

Yes, I would happily give away my body parts to own these things, but for some reason, I wasn't in the buying mood. You know how sometimes, as much as you see so many things you want and have the capacity to buy, you just dont' feel like buying them at the end of the day?

I was happy just to admire, drool, and ah, drool some more. Plus Mum and I had lots of fun messing around with my camera. Ala The Sartorialist. To be honest, it actually felt good not buying anything. I just haven't found the post Christmas sales to be that good this year. I even checked out David Jones in the city on Boxing Day, and it was underwhelming to say the least. Too crowded, overpriced and just. not. worth. it. So until something really catches my eye, I'm going cold turkey! Although, whenever I have a bit of a dry spell, I tend to go on a bit of a psycho spending spree soon afterwards...

A couple of days, a couple of outfits

Grey Metalicus dress, and a beaded flower headband from Glebe Markets I bought for $4!

Top:

From a clothing store in Tokyo. The store had rails of different patterned tops exactly the same cut as this one (see below for another top I bought from the range) They were all only $15!

Jeans: Uniqlo

Bracelet: Bijoux, a bday present for my 20th.

Shoes: Nina Armado

Yesterday I spent a wonderful day in Newtown with my Mum. We looked in practically every shop on King Street. Newtown is such a dynamic precinct, full of character and vivaciousness. The clothing shops are interesting, and the op shops are even better. It would be amazing to live there.

It was such a relaxing day, as we wandered aimlessly from shop to shop, ahhhing and umming, picking up things and trying other on. Unfortunately, by the end of the day we were completely exhausted. Hence why I advocate shopping should be recognised as a sport- it takes endurance dammit!

My mum wearing a dress she found in a flee market in Tokyo!

The top I'm wearing is the same 'brand' as the top above- same cut, different fabric.

Today... I GOT A FRINGE!! I haven't had a fringe since I was little. I just wanted a bit of a change because I have had my "long hair with a side fringe" haircut for two years now! I wanted to go into the new year with a bit of a change. But it's more like a faux fringe- I can still sweep it to the side!

Speaking of the year two thousand and ten... it's time to start thinking of New Years Resolutions. Ok, ok, I know they are a bit silly because they're usually so easy to break. And I always do. Maybe it's because I set my expectations too high. I guess I shouldn't expect a total transformation, but some progress. To give more time to those in my life I love. To trust others, and myself more. To go after things I want, and to not give up so readily. To try to see things for what they are, not what I think they are. To learn about who I really am. Wow, 2010, here I come.

Naked romance

N-U-D-I-T-Y.

Well, to be more precise- nude, soft pink hue coloured clothing and accessories. It's a (lack of) colour trend that has been rumbling for a while now on the runways, and some of you more fashion-forward girls might be already on it. But it's only now that the trend is starting to hit the shops. The nude vision is unique, for depending on the fabric chosen and how the piece is structured, wearing a nude garment can evoke two opposingly distinct images.

1) Sweepingly feminine, romantic and delicate

2) Provocative, down-right sexy and body-tight.

Either way, it's been hailed "The Return of Romance". And I'm definately in love with it.

XXX

Op Shops

The other day, I spent the day Op Shopping around Glebe, Newtown and Enmore. I had to help my bf find the pieces for his Frank En Furter costume from The Rocky Horror Picture Show for a 21st. The theme was "A" or "F'. I dressed as a Feline. a.k.a. cat. I'll post a pic once I find one.

It was super duper hot, so I thought I'd throw together a summer look. I've got to say I'm not usually one to wear shorties as I feel quite self-conscious in them, but I'm trying to be more adventurous these days...

Top: Chic Collections (bought it around 4 years ago on sale from $120 to $35)
Shorties: $15 from cheap clothing shop in Maroubra

Bag: $30 from bag shop in Japan

I promise I was trying being a good helper... but I couldn't help but get sidetracked to look at stuff for me, as I ADORE op shopping.

I scored this beautiful dress, at the Red Cross Op Shop at the beginning of Enmore Road for only $14! It's by the Australian label Alibi which I think is now defunct.

I really have a penchant for cute, feminine floral dresses. I just love the shape, and that it ties as a bow in the back.

I'll keep you posted (I still have a lot of entries to catch up on)!

Have a lovely day x