DELIGHT or SMITE? (October)
[ 10 October 2007 ]
DELIGHT
Dressing with a touch of the surreal. Alexander McQueen knows how to tear it up — & by “it”, I mean the fabric of reality! I’d like to give him a big SMOOCH! If you’re stumped, in the mornings just think, What Would Alexander McQueen Do?, & take it from there. Dress intuitively. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.
Things from another era. We’re moving forward so rapidly, but that doesn’t mean you have to fully embrace the shiny plastic revolution. Old things have their beauty, too. My favourite things at the moment are Victorian mourning jewellery, vintage alligator & crocodile purses, as well as anything in mother of pearl or Bakelite. (I also have a thing for Otis Redding.)
Making informed choices — about what you eat, what you wear & how you live. I’m not saying we all need to be paradigms of virtue — I’m certainly not & being perfect is totally boring! — but a little information is a good thing. I’m currently reading What To Eat by Marion Nestle & it is incredibly illuminating. I’m only about 60 pages in & the things I have learned about the psychology of supermarkets & the organic produce industry are fascinating. Marion is a great writer & really knows her stuff.
Bow-ties. Ever since Kris Atomic mentioned it, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about them. I want a sparkly one to wear loosely around my neck. & maybe, if I didn’t have any tattoos, I would wear it around my upper bicep sometimes.
Stacked bangles. Yes, all the way up your arm! Yes, different materials, textures, widths & shapes! Yes, super-noisy! Let people know you are coming through!
The evolution of sunglasses. Come on, how long have you owned your pair of old faithfuls, really? Isn’t it time to move on & experiment? Yes, of course it is! Try something with a graduated lense or a radical shape — Karen Walker has fabulous Where’s Wally?-esque frames & Tom Ford is doing amazing sunglasses reminiscent of Willy Wonka’s TV Room goggles. Try something new! (Tip: take your camera into the sunglasses section of a department store, snap yourself in a few different pairs, make a note of the model numbers & then buy them for 1/4 of the price on Ebay…)
Education. Why not take a short course in something you’re interested in? It will help stave off the boredom if your job is dull, & maybe even give you some ideas for your future. You can teach an old dog new tricks, & people who know things are so much more thrilling than those who don’t!
Planning the rest of your year. I don’t mean to scare the bejesus out of you, but there are only 12 more weeks until 2008! If 2007 was going to be the year you started writing your novel, or committing to a regular exercise plan, or making more time for yourself, then you better get into it! Otherwise you’re going to be sitting around on December the 26th, red-faced & stuffed to the brim, wondering where the year went.
Being generous. Not necessarily with money, since that’s not always the way we can be most effective. Maybe you need to be generous with your time or your talent. Throw a dinner party for your friends or offer to help someone with something (babysitting, walking their dog, encouraging them to study, helping them put together a dashing ensemble). Altruism is not dead!
Adventurous legwear. Patterned stockings, knee-socks, legwarmers, pearls around the ankle… It’s time to accoutre your legs in a way they deserve! (Pssst… get your legwear kicks [hee!] at Sock Dreams.)
SMITE
Minimalism. Oh, it’s so boring, darling, so tired. Roll on decadence! More is more!
Chain letters, memes, viral videos, et cetera. Quelle yawn-a-thon! Sometimes it seems like I am the only person in the world who doesn’t want to watch cats jump off benches, etc.! Dear World, Please stop! Love, Gala.
Banks which insist on sending you paper statements… & ATM machines which print receipts, whether you want them or not! A little personal choice is a good thing.
Exercising in public. It’s just not that charming. I know it has to be done, but surely there is a better way?
Dehydration. Drinking lots of water seems to be the number one beauty secret of a lot of gorgeous people! I’m sure it isn’t a coincidence. If your skin is looking sad & sallow, don’t spend hundreds of dollars on creams, up your water intake & watch your face (& brain) come alive again!
Neon slogan t-shirts. Those House of Holland atrocities have had their day, even Agyness has moved past it — next abhorrent trend please! (Oh Agy, you know I love you.)
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I cannot STAND those neon lettered shirts. I literally cringe everytime I see one.
I have a few cameo lockets and brooches on their way from ebay GORGEOUS!
The Alexander McQueen collection you pictures is amazing! I saw the feathered items and I fell in love!
Exercising in public – what?? Can’t I go running any more?
Bangles – yes, totally!
Education – absolutely! Read a cookbook (Jamieeeee!), dive into the Perfume of Life forums, grab a ballet-workout DVD from the library, etc.
Bowties – I’ve got a dance-costume sparkly purple one on black elastic you can have if you want (so very very seriously not doing me ANY favours). It’s here:
http://web.mac.com/armiger_wilkinson/iWeb/Thriftyspend/Blog/08D49D79-B171-4B89-B3FC-7A2C6C1A3F2D.html
Kelly — Ahh, you’re ahead of the curve! Good for you ;D I am in a bit of an Ebay frenzy at the moment, too. V. naughty but v. fun.
Nadine — You dork! Of course you can! I went for a run this morning, but that’s why I bring it up. I really don’t like being seen in public that way! I would go running at night but Melbourne is full of creeps, it’s not as safe as Auckland! I think I am going to do it at about 6am. There is no one in the city until about 9am usually! & hey, I like the bow-tie! I’d be honoured!
i only speak for nz, but most banks will have a non paper statement option as long as you don’t have lending on your account (i.e. an overdraft). by law they have to send you statements on your lending facilities every two months (hence credit card statements being monthly).
so pay off that debt (debt=big smite! boo!) and turn that smite into environmental delight!
total delight this week is finding the perfect fitting, makes-me-feel-like-a-million-dollars black cocktail dress! Yay!
my delight this month is biking! i can’t wait to bring my bike back over from NZ & get to riding my bike everywhere – finally some fitness (although it’s exercising in public- sorry!) and saving the environment – YAY!
With so many other important, sickening and tragic things happening in the world sometimes I wonder where my priorities are that fluro slogan shirts make me so fiercly and irrationally angry.
I have a big shiny silver bow tie. I wear it when I want to pretend I am a box (i.e. Never..)
I’ve always been a firm believer in maximalism; my hoarding tendencies are completely antithetical to clear, surfaces, unadorned walls and cream furnishings. It’s just not me! My delight this month is authentic flamenco (off to Madrid a week on Friday!), and my smite is trick or treaters at Halloween. I know.. I know.. But I just don’t like jumping up and down to answer the door every few minutes, when I actually just want to curl up in front of the telly. Halloween parties, now, that’s a different story altogether!
I’m with you on the neon slogan shirts. I mean, UGH! The slogans aren’t even witty, and it hurts my eyes to look at the damned things.
Fair enough if a couple of people wear them, but now EVERYONE is wearing them and copying each other, and I hate that. It was the same thing with those bright tracksuit pants a month or two ago. Where’s the individuality?!
And I love bow ties too!
Actually, bows in general.
Just added “What to Eat” to my BookMooch wishlist. Sounds like something I’d dig — in part like a niche-specific version of Douglas Rushkoff’s “Coercion: Why We Listen to What ‘They’ Say”.
And reminds me, for anyone that WAS planning to make this the year they started writing that novel… How about joining in on National Novel Writing Month (http://www.nanowrimo.org/) (site seems to be down — probably being updated in preparation). You could be a novelist by the end of the year! I’m determined to actually finish this time.
I also agree with EVERYONE on the House of Holland garbage. If it’s trickled down to the cheapie table in the mall stores, it’s time to move on. Like, months ago.
Now I REALLY need that butterfly head-dress? Hat? thing. Also added to my wish list is a tophat, but with tulle tied around it so it swishes down my back.
And I have just spent an hour trying to justify the petticoats and frilly knickers on the Sock Dreams site, I’m hoping to come up with a reason to own them by this afternoon.
i love your posts; they make me so happy and inspire me. especially planning the rest of 2007 seems a good idea to me, because the time always goes by so slowly at the end of the year.
those t shirts have been making me feel ill for months now. yeurk.
my most delighting delight is my brand new tattoo, peter the bluebird. he lives on my foot, and is very happy.
Those slogan t-shirts have never been cool… even when George and Andrew were telling us to CHOOSE LIFE back in the 80’s…
Now they just smack of $5 dollar rack at Supre.
Adventurous legwear – yes yes yes! I have a pair of bright blue/black glittery argyle Simon de Winter socks that I love but misplaced for about 6 months. I wore them to work last week and had nothing but positive comments from everyone – even the girl behind the counter at my local deli squealed with delight!
It’s almost time for cute tailored cut-offs (three quarter) and equally cute t-shirts! Alas, Perth weather has been dismal… :(
P
x
i HATE those shirts. and anyone that walks around head-to-toe neon is just asking for trouble!
can’t people define their own style/wear normal clothes/not burn my eyes?!
i always, always wear bows with everything. anything sugar-sweet and dolly, i’ll wear it.
delights
1.I am majorly happy about starting my new degree in audio engineering in Febuary next year
2.finally being confident about applying my own styles even though I dubb them weird names like securary chic,russian prostitute chic, geek chic, boy chic, dressing like a member of the band the horrors etc…..Its kinda like theme of the day.
3.I equally am fasinated by my new pearls, I brought a pair last week and I cannot stop wearing them with preppy little cardigans, I also am love art deco style jewellery…anything art deco is fine with me.
4.going to awesome gigs and looking forward to ones like tegan and sara, taste of chaos and the gossip….
My only smites are procrastination, it ruining my life. See I am doing it right now, I should be studying! Also not being able to say no to certain foods like lollies, cakes and chips.
OH OH OH I fogot to add something!!! I just brought my first piece of designer clothing which was a betsy johnson dress which was only $260 (glee! even though its second hand) from this awesome store near me that I have been shopping in since I was 16!
Delight –
Butterflies, swarms of butterflies on everything! I love it.
Awesome hot chocolate + chocolate buttons + snuggling up in my bed with a book (Cause its officially cold now so I can do that!)
Getting my mum an awesome birthday present which she loved :)
Shoe shopping – need new boots for winter!!
Smite –
Mean grumpy people :(
Delight- finding the perfect Halloween costume already!
Smite- waiting for Halloween to wear it!!! Too long!
Smite- Myspace wars. I’m too old for this shit!
Firstly, I want to say that I love your writing. You are truly an inspiration! Secondly, I agree with all of your delights! Life is all about living – we shouldn’t shy away from new things. And I definitely hear you about the slogan tees. I absolutely detest those things. So un-chic!
I love your DELIGHT list, I agree with everything on it! I’m adding “What to Eat” to my Amazon wishlist, it sounds very interesting and really useful – shopping in grocery stores gets more complicated every day!
But, I’m still supporting minimalism, at least when it comes to my home. Go all out in every other aspect of you life, but don’t touch my bedroom. :D
Although this has nothing to do with your list (sorry!) ... DELIGHT = selling my car on trademe yesterday and being handed cash for it, less than 24 hours after listing it! So so stoked, and such a surprise!
Gala I just read your comment about running at night in melbourne. I completely agree
Although I live in Yarraville (about 15 mins from city) I am seriously considering getting up at about 5am to run before work, the theory being I wont be assalted that early in the morning. The creeps are hopefully tucked up in bed by that time
Melbourne terrifies me sometimes!
to person who commented before me – how rude! read gala’s commenting policy mate!
to gala- agree wholeheartedly with the slogan tee thing, its way past its expiry date.
Gala- speaking of legwear, have you seen Betsy Johnson’s line of socks?? I just got some, and they are SO adorable! I want to wear them every day, but I should probably wash them eventually… ;)
delight: changing my uni degree. i’m excited and motivated. :)
super ultra smite: at first i thought those slogan tees were sort of funny – the ones about hedi slimane and whomever else. but as time has gone by, the knockoffs from supre and target and the endless racks of identical slogans on tshirts really bother me. are people robots?
rosie — Mmm, my bank in NZ send my credit card statements over here every month or so. Seems like such a waste, I don’t need them! & congratulations on finding the dress, that is so exciting! Where did you buy it from?
natasja — Melbourne is a great city for cycling, yay! You must be so excited!
amypalko — Oh wow, Madrid! You will have an amazing time! & aw, you big meanie… kids need candy, you know! ;D I haven’t had any trick or treaters since I lived in Wellington, which is a long time ago now. I am definitely planning on getting dressed up & going to a party, though!
Miri — Trends are pretty boring in general but the slogan tees are one of the most obnoxious of late!
Candice — Cool, I’m sure you’ll like it. Her writing style is very engaging, not at all dry like some academics tend to be. I have tried to do NaNoWriMo a couple of times but never manage to finish! Obviously it is not a pressing enough desire ;D
JakJak — I think you could make one pretty trivially, attach some fake butterflies to wire & attach that to a headband. Voila! It’s just that making it look good part, that’s the difficult bit. & hey, you don’t need a reason other than that it would make you happy to own them! Now go forth & purchase!
laura — Thank you very much my darling!
bluebird — New tattoos are so wonderful. Say hello to Peter for me!
Pants — I kind of like those “Frankie Says Relax” tees, but maybe that’s just because Mary-Kate made them look so good… I am totally biased, it’s shameful! I will keep my fingers crossed that Perth warms up for you soon! It is pretty chilly here still too.
natasja — Evidently not! ;D
nana — That’s because you are the personification of a sugar-sweet dolly, dolly!
Christy — You’re such a cutie! & I am about to do a piece on how to study for exams… hopefully it will help you get off yo’ booty!
Jenny — Shoe shopping can be heaven as well as hell, for me! I found some really cool sandals with leopard-print ties today, but after walking around the shop in them, realised that the bit that went between my big & first toe would rip my foot apart because it was hard & plastic & awful. GRRRR!
Ruth — Ooooh tell me about your costume! & also, Myspace is painful. I dislike it :\
Jamie — Big kisses to you, cutie!
Valerie — You will love it, I’m sure. & actually, my bedroom is pretty minimal too. White bed, white walls, one picture above the bed, & that’s about it!
Tania — Oh, congratulations! You must be stoked!
Kelly — Mmm, it’s a weird situation. I’m not usually motivated by fear but I’m just thinking, I’m a girl, wearing an ipod, it’s not the smartest thing to do in the dark.
jess_xox — They’re gone ;D
Ruth — No, I haven’t seen her legwear! I will have a squizz now… I feel my wallet calling…
anna — Sometimes. Only if they don’t know any better! They’ll get there though, they just need encouragement!
Oh no! I feel your pain, it can be pretty bad for me too – I have fairly narrow feet so getting things that actually fit right is sometimes tricky.
But I cope because I relish any excuse to spend excessive amounts of time thinking about shoes!! :)