Gala's Style Essentials
[ 12 May 2009 ]
Geek glasses
I know they’re trendy as hell but I can’t help loving them. Mine are from Urban Outfitters, & I love to throw them on to add a bit of visual interest to an outfit. Sometimes I feel like having them on is a kind of disguise, which can be very welcome on those days when striding out into the maelstrom of New York City isn’t something I’m really in the mood for. My next step is to buy a second pair & cover them in tiny Swarovski crystals… Needless to say, I can’t wait! (Elton John’s demented protégé lives!)
Flat, well-worn boots
Boots are always my default footwear, & while I have more pairs of heels, boots get about a billion times more wear. They’re so versatile, so comfortable & so stylish that it’s almost impossible to go wrong. I wear mine with jeans, skirts & dresses, & always have. (Courtney Love was one of my first style icons — old habits die hard!) I started off with a pair of 8-up Doc Martens, graduated to New Rock combat boots (which my father told me looked like boots for someone with polio — & which I wore almost every day for 12 years!), & am now all about my Frye shortie Veronicas. I still have intense boot fever & voraciously eye them up whenever I go into a shoe store. I’d like my next boot purchases to be pink PVC Doc Martens & a pair of Frye motorcycle harness boots. Yum.
Super-long cardigans
Probably the most versatile item you could possibly own, a super-long or oversized cardigan should be (I think) an essential in every girl’s wardrobe. You can dress them up or down, they go with pretty much everything (especially if they’re in neutral shades like black or grey), & they’re a super-easy solution for warmth or layering on cool nights. You can even rock mad 90s style & tie one around your waist. Another thing I like to do with a long cardigan is to put it on but button it behind me, which turns it into a kind of bolero with tails. A long cardigan with pockets will be your best friend, especially during season transitions. The one I wear most is a light cotton one from Urban Outfitters, but I also have them in black wool (Ricochet, NZ) & grey wool (Country Road, NZ/AU) which make for essential plane-wear. If you can get your hands on a men’s cardigan, the I’m-wearing-my-boyfriend’s-clothing-&-we-just-had-great-sex look is hard to trump.
A statement handbag
I think everyone needs a handbag in a neutral colour they wear all the time — black or tan are great, safe choices — but it’s wonderful to have a handbag which is heavy on colour, style or statement. I only ever used a black bag until earlier this year, but now I have a menagerie of deliciously-hued purses in my arsenal, & I will never go back! They don’t have to be expensive either: the bag I’ve received the most compliments on is a $30 job from Forever 21!
An assortment of cameras
If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen. True fact, & this is further impacted by the fact that my memory is so atrocious that I have to write things down or photograph them or they just disappear from my mental reserves. Hence, I am always lugging around my Nikon D80 (very heavy) & now my Flip Mino HD, which is probably going to result in a fabulous hunchback by the time I’m 40, but hey, that’s the way it goes sometimes… I don’t think any of you need any further reasons or convincing, we all know how good it is to have real visual evidence that we are living our lives in an exciting manner!
Suspender belt
I have a vintage Mary Quant suspender belt which has served me extremely well in the past few years. Almost nothing will make you feel sexier, & even better, no one has to know about it (unless you want them to). You also don’t necessarily need to buy stockings to wear with these — if you’re feeling a bit punk rock, you can just cut pantyhose off at the thigh & wear them that way. I used to do this with black & white striped tights & it looked pretty hot, if I may say so myself. Interesting fact too, a lot of men have never seen a girl wearing a suspender belt in real life. When they actually do, let’s just say that they tend to be pretty happy about it. Now, hop to it!
A good pen
...Preferably with fabulous coloured ink. There’s nothing more decadent & fantastic than having your own pen on you at all times with which to sign receipts, give autographs to adoring fans & scrawl phone numbers with a lavish flourish. Of course, you do have to guard it with your life since for some reason, people’s morality seems to go totally out the window when it comes to the thieving of pens, but it is worth it. Much nicer than scrounging around for a chewed-up old Bic or that marker which comes out all blotchy. Yes, having your own pen is total glamour. (Better work on devising yourself a magnificent signature now too, huh?)
Bag & phone candy
I used to call such things “danglies”, which is really not very elegant at all, but when I found out that Tarina Tarantino called this stuff “bag candy”, I was all over it. So. Bag candy. Phone candy. Etc. This is the name for the lovely bits of deliciousness which serve absolutely no purpose but to prettify something else. A phone without candy is a phone without soul, I say! My tastes tend to run to the likes of rhinestone-encrusted initials, sequinned hearts & hypercoloured cupcakes, but your mileage may vary. Tarina Tarantino & Louis Vuitton have really nice options, but if you don’t want to spend a bundle, your local Chinatown should have at least one store with a veritable plethora of noisy, colourful, excitable things on strings. Titivate your goodies!
Knock ‘em dead lip gloss
Balm is good — essential, I’d say — but gloss is better. Balm moisturises & gloss tantalises, so get tingling! My lip balm of choice is anything from Palmer’s cocoa butter collection (dark chocolate & peppermint is my jam right now), while my holy grail lip gloss has been Givenchy Pop Gloss Crystal for what feels like a very long time. At least 6 months, & I still adore it. It tastes sweet, it’s kind of sticky, it shimmers with irridescent glitter & the colour is perfection. It isn’t the cheapest lip gloss on the market, but golly, would you really want that anyway? I think it’s worth it for the way it makes you feel — all pouty & sex kitteny & absolutely ripe for the smoochin’.
A really good concealer
...Because nothing puts a damper on a fire-cracker mood than a stonking beezer-pluke[1] (aka, a big blemish). MAC Cosmetics do great ones, of course, in a variety of formulas depending on what you prefer, but Benefit’s Erase Paste is my new-found friend. It’s really, really great for brightening that sometimes-sallow area underneath your eyes, which means you can totally pretend you didn’t have a few too many mojitos last night & that you really are a responsible member of the team. Oh yes. Worth its weight in gold, I’m telling you.
Hair accessories
The more ridiculous the better. Now that my hair is short again, I kind of have a complex about making it as big & impractical as possible, so my latest obsession is buying things to stick in it. I have not yet graduated to the Marie Antoinette school of putting a ship atop my noggin, but I’m sure my day will come. Forever 21 is my favourite place for headbands of all stripes (bows & flowers abound), but I just bought this lucite butterfly headband from Tarina Tarantino in both pink & black. I couldn’t resist. I am going to wear them both at once. Drool.
Other things you will find in my bedroom…
Ears (bunny, maus, sequinned, polka-dot); faux-fur coats; MAC Cosmetics’ Plush Lash (holy grail for eyelashes); a selection of neon & holographic nailpolish; vintage slips in candy colours; bottles of Miss Dior Cherie & The Exact Friction Of Stars; ripped stockings; dresses, dresses, dresses.
[1] “Beezer-pluke” is a word meaning pimple which I came across at least 10 years ago in this book called I Was A Teenage Worrier by Roz Asquith. It has stuck with me forever, sometimes to my chagrin, & so now, I am passing on this magical word to you.
So, what are your style essentials? I asked Twitter, & here’s what I found…
lesleydenford Style essentials: baby bangs, Converse, scarves, big white flower ring, black liquid eyeliner, MAC blush, & shiny lip gloss.
zimgirl16 I don’t leave the house w/o eyeliner, otherwise my favorites are dangly earrings and feathery headbands for my short short hair
emiliabedilia style essentials: calf length boots -preferably slouchy or biker.
vixel Eyeliner, accessories that match my hair colour, antique rings, biker jacket and a geek to accompany me!
duskyblueskies Mascara, skinny jeans, pointed-toe flats, blazer, aviator sunglasses.
tatvictoria re: style essentials (of late): good hair, bronzer, boyfriend blazer, flats, basic tees, messenger miu miu, a cuff
greyout Big scarf, boots of some sort, black eyeliner, a flat-iron, skirts & dresses (never pants!), greyscale.
declinedesigns candy colored hair, stripes, rose prints, bright colors, and heels!
finalfashion one messenger bag, living in denim, Dr. Martens, black jackets with pockets, plain button down shirts, AA tanks, pencils.
fashiontrix a good bra and dark denim jeans.
ladyjulianne pink-stained lips, coloured tights, my beloved bright pink handbag, purple umbrella, loads of rings, a book
PeachMcGee Fabulous knickers, perfect hair, pristine eyebrows.
TheRawBombshell polka dots, pencil skirts, black liquid liner, red hair dye and heels plus my secret weapon – a smile!
chelseydee I have rhinestones in the balls for my body piercings, the sparkle is very ooh la la :)
RokingLTD brand new 501s every 6 months in 32 waist, 36 leg. Cream linen suit. Birkenstocks. Viv westwood t-shirts!
millycupcake leopard print coat (topshop), Bow back mac , Leather boots (in winter) in summer oversized sunnies, jeggings, disney jewelery
ashemischief Funky shoes, polka dots, lightning bolt & unicorn pendant necklaces (for 8 years now!)
PrincessPoochie vintage driving gloves, electronics of all kinds, dark glasses, books
vanitygirl lip gloss with a slight tingle factor, iPhone, a great pedicure
HipMom mascara, lipgloss, great shoes (occasion-appropriate: not necessarily heels!)
kiddetective style essentials? my goggles, of course! goggles and chapstick.
notitles I always must have a purse that’s big enough to carry my notebook.
P.S. Add those stylish girls to your Twitter list — new friends ahoy! Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match!
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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Ooh, I have a total stationery fetish, I’d love to know what your favourite pen is! I may also give that Erase Paste a go, I usually use Touche Eclat, but I’m less convinced by its effectiveness these days.
I read every Teenage Worrier book but I remember very little about them apart from how annoying Letty’s mum was, and that there was lots of weird imaginary slang, and I could never recall any of it – thanks for “Beezer-pluke”!
Another style essential of mine, or more accurately a would-be style essential if I had it, is a black or purple handbag, because I have worn my pink handbag with my red coat too many times and I don’t think the world should be forced to withstand the clash any longer. I would just love the exact same bag as my pink one, but in black or purple. Annoyingly I think they did actually make it in black but I couldn’t buy two bags at the time. I am so picky about bags – I hate when they have clashing stitching or a lot of metal, and I prefer the metal bits to be silver.
I agree with Vixel – tell us what your favourite pen is! I have two, my Parker fountain pen that I got in a calligraphy set in my early teens, and a Staedtler Cool Roller.
You’ve reminded me of my near-constant urge to take more photos of things that happen [I get lazy, even though I usually have my camera with me].
I agree about the suspender belts… I’m not yet flush enough to wear expensive, seductive underwear every single day, but I have enough for at least twice a week… and if a guy doesn’t appreciate a girl in a suspender belt, he’s either ignorant or not into girls!
I love those pink patent docs!! :)
Mac Studio Fix, China Glaze Nail Polishes, Special Effects Hair Color, Combat Boots, A Comfy Pair of Dark Jeans, Old Band Buttons and Ridiculous Sunglasses. :)
Regarding pens:
With you on the moral black hole that is the pen. Not that i think people do it on purpose, though; I think that having a gorgeous writing tool is likely to make people notice and therefore respect, the item far more. Maybe you could attach it to your bag on a long and gorgeous chain, dotted with charms, hence also satsifying the bag-cangy requirement.
An old lecturer of mine suggested that the world is divided into two groups of people: net pen-losers and net pen-gainers (explained as he wildly snatched his biro off a nearby table)... do you think some lucky people have hordes of them stashed away?
Wonderful post Gala! I have a metallic purple pair of Docs, but the pink ones are amazing too. Though I’m worried to wear them with skirts…I think they make my calves look fat! Awesome to wear with jeans though.
I’m still looking for the perfect yet affordable bag. The Harvey Nichols store has some amazingly drool-worthy styles, but slightly out of my price range! Oh, what I’d do for a real Chloe bag…
mine are basic, evergreen items
such as:
black tees and blouses FOREVER!
i have to admit, that almost half of my clothes are ones of those. absolute basic. you can easily dress them up or down…not mentioning crazy variety of styles, fabrics and so on.
straight jeans (but not skinny, just straight)
another basic in my wardrobe. also very flexible if you come to styling.
thrifted/vintage bags and purses
oh, i have lots of them. diffrent shapes, colors. usually i stick to black leather(xl size)- most practical ones. but lately i rediscovered those impulse-bought ridicoulus ones. bold colours, fun shapes and very feminine.
belts
actually the same as with bags- another great accessories, as well as..
scarves
ok, i wear them all the time. if it’s horribly cold or terribly hot. i just can’t imagine going out without them. even if i just pop out to buy bread or something.
i have a large number of scarves of all sorts. big cozy ones, silk and elegant, simple cotton ones, plain, colorful…
big sunglasses
i could wear them all the time. if it’s too dark i use them as a headband.at the moment i own two plain pairs and lolita style heart-shaped red ones(not like from tosphop, more like from lolita the movie)
and last but not least-
red lipstick and matching nailpolish
it makes me feel fabolous and oldschool hollywood star like each time i wear them. i can be wearing evening dress or a hobo style outfit- always fabolous and feminine.
oh. and sexy night gowns and slips. i wear them to bed even if i sleep alone. make me feel sexy! i also recently rediscovered stockings- perfect for summer if you don’t feel like showing your legs. and sexy as hell as well
LOVE these essentials — especially the pink Docs! LOVE ‘em!!!
www.positivelypresent.com
my style essentials at the moment are…
headscarf/wrap – for when I’m out & about & my hair gets a bit crazy.
geek glasses – love ‘em, but also rather practical as the worlds is somewhat of a blur without them ;) check ‘em out here: farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3…
black opaque tights (wool in winter, nylon in summer), grey eyeliner, extreme mascara, tousled hair, cardigan that is constantly off one shoulder, black ink pen and ballet flats. i love these kinds of posts. so simple but weirdly inspiring (and the comments are always fun to read). xx
Several pair of Converse trainers I rotate on a regular basis – wear with everything including skirts. (Though long ones). My Doc Martens, took months to break them in, including much rubbing in of hair conditioner to soften the leather, but it was worth it. Now I want those pink ones…Red hair, put up with a chopstick if I’m having a bad hair day. Freckles. Glasses, again a bit geeky, but I’m dangerous without ‘em. My little leather jacket that goes with damn near everything. My peacoat; warm and goes with everything. Stripey socks, the more madder the colours the better…My mum’s wedding ring and signet ring. Chocolate flavour lipgloss…And finally my tattoos.
Yes! My goggles! I should mention that mine were handmade just for me by PanzerKitty.
And I set off my goggles with a great Zebra pen, the f-z01: it’s silver with a textured metal grip. It works with my monochromatic cyberpunk-tinged life!
Other bits of style essentials I have are: my moleskines, my gypsy charm watch, headscarves and locket necklaces!
Gala, I think you are turning yourself into a kind of super heroine, what with your butt-kicking boots and disguise glasses and long cardigan like a cape. Super Gala? Wonder Darling? The Pink Lantern?
im loving your essentials :)
a cardigan, skinny jeans, statement graphic tees, flats, huge lustworthy bag, bigelow mint gloss. add a daily necklace, ring, and earrings and you’ve created a uniform your daily style
Ooh. A little makeup talk! I’m a beauty blogger so I love any mention of makeup :-P
Anyways, Benefit’s concealers are really good. Have you tried Boi-ing? That has covered my most hideous eye circles and zits, it’s truly amazing! The only problem is that the colors are quite limited, but it is fantastic for dark circles.
Was nice to look into your style essentials, Gala. Do you have any plans of making showing us a sneak peak inside your makeup bag? :-P
*** Wow, that last bit did not make sense. Don’t know where the word ‘making’ came from! Hope you know what I meant though :-P
Uhh, I love your suspenders! I agree about this phenomena of men who have never seen a woman with a garter belt and when they do, well, lets just say they get very excited :D I have an obsession about wearing matching underwear AT ALL TIMES.... not because I’m scared that I’ll land in hospital and I’ll be laughed at if I wear some seven year old snoopy knickers. No, because they make me feel really feminine, confident and super sexy.
What is that robot looking camera there behind the flip HD? It’s suuper cool. I’m looking for a new small digital just now. Are the ones you have any good? I mean does the interior live up to the exterior?
liquid eyeliner, cowboy boots, skinny jeans, spikey belt!
Hoop earrings, chunky heels, pencil skirts, pearls, giant handbags, anything with pyramid studs, and a nice, wide obi belt.
Great list! I love every single piece. Wherever you got your sense of style, I got mine there, too! I look forward to more posts. Wondering if there is anything we wouldn’t agree on?
Gala, have you ever tried curling your hair? I have no idea if your straight hair would hold curl, but short curly as fuck hair would be adorable on you.
My style essentials lately: black knee length peasant skirt, curly hair (that actually stays curly. Deva Curl hair products have saved my life), Perky Purple nail polish from Essie it’s so bright, black mascara, my OctopusME necklace ( www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?... ) (she’s such a sweetie, she sent me one after I did an interview with her, the quality is amazing), vneck shirts, lime green wife beaters and light blush on my ridiculous cheekbones.
black tights, ballet flats or lace-up boots, mac fluidline, nars blush in super orgasm, headbands, long tangled up necklaces, slips or babydoll dresses (courtney was also one of my first style icons!)
How do you wear your boots and jeans, Gala? Especially boots with a lower cut like the ones pictured? Do you tuck your jeans into them or no? (I’ve been struggling with this dilemma!)
Haha, this reminds me: my old pair of glasses fell apart a few months ago, and when I was deciding on the new pair’s frames, I thought of your glasses! Now, my new glasses are bigger than any other plastic frames I’ve had(much more noticeable as well), but I don’t feel as self-conscious when I have a lazy day and wear them instead of my contacts! :D
Oh Gala! The hot pink docs remind me of the gripfast boots I bought my freshman year of college. Hot pink & steel toed. I can’t bare to part with them.
Style essentials… lots of dresses! (especially floral ones), cropped cardigans in pastel colours, bright pink nail varnish, vintage silk scarf, statement bag, mini skirts, subtle lipstick
oh Gala! great list. I agree about the hair accessories but it saddens me that you call out Forever 21…I get the allure of it, believe me — it’s impossible to beat their prices, but there’s a reason for that.
They are currently in court for ripping off designers and have been sued by so many! As an indie designer, it hurts to see someone as awesome as you promoting them…they really don’t need your support. I think of them as total junk food – the McDonald’s of shopping. Satisfying at first but sickening later (like when you are trying on a shirt and put your arm through the dryer-sheet-like fabric! or if you ever wash anything from that store…it disintegrates!)
I get that there are different markets and most people shopping at F21 are not necessarily looking for high-quality investment pieces. But I sell on Etsy where you can find many many more original things, even one-of-a-kind stuff for just a little bit more money.
Maybe not completely impulse buy/disposable like Forever 21, but more special and something you’ll want to keep forever, or hand down to a friend or little sister.
I’ll be selling my samples at the Bust Craftacular on Sunday the 17th, at Warsaw in Greenpoint – please come by all you darlings! and check out all the great indie stuff coming out of Brooklyn right now — a lot of which is just as affordable as Forever 21 (and better than Urban Outfitters’ prices these days!)
I’m usually so caught up in living life that I forget to take pictures of anything! Apart from me, of course. Because the online world needs a creature like me to make it that bit more fulfilling, lol. I also want a pair of Doc Martens, but I sort of think that they aren’t as trendy as they used to be. I also purchased a MAC lipgloss, which Dame Edna made up, and it’s called ‘Possum Nose’, which is super cute & smells like Heaven.
First and foremost, geeky glasses, because without them I wouldn’t be able to see… In no particular order now: oversized handbag that I can never find anything in; excellent shoes, appropriate to the situation (this includes walking boots, in some cases!); Batman watch, however I’m thinking of reviving my Simpsons watch; well loved necklaces (one at a time); lipbalm, French Vanilla at the moment; dresses in a variety of colours and shapes; tights; Aloe Vera antibacterial gel... you can never be too careful!
Phone candy!!! I love that term! I never knew what to call the phone charm I had for ages on my pink Razor. ;) lol. I must go find a new one soon—my old phone candy broke months ago… Although it was an awesome, custom made piece I bought on Etsy!
Other style essentials for me: red lipstick (I do a pinup/vintage look, so this is necessary for me! Although lately I’ve been doing bright, Barbie pink lips too!), high heels (the higher, the better, imho), skirts (short, long, full, tight… I live in these!), red nail polish (my fingers are always different colors, but my toes are always cherry red! ;), and a tiny Liberty of London mirror compact that my bff brought back from a trip to London!
Btw: I have to admit that I’m awful at commenting, but I always love seeing your style posts—they’re so bright and cheerful and really inspire me to add a bit more “brightness” to my daily looks! Kudos, Gala!!! :D
Let’s see… my style essentials…
black Rayban Wayfarers stay in my bag day or night (you never know when they could come in handy late night ha!)
black leggings
OPI nail polish it was You Don’t Know Jacques for a long time and although it’s still lingering it’s accompanied by a fabulous red called Girls Just Wanna Play and the perfect pink called Strawberry Margarita.
pearl earrings
MAC concealer
Victoria’s Secret ridiculously glittery lipgloss
perfume never leave the house without it NOA by Cacheral to be exact
sexy nightgowns/panties/bras it does a girl’s confidence good :-P
shirts with the sleeves cut off with a little bra peek one of those cool things an A cup can pull off
BLUSH, BLUSH, BLUSH I love it, I’m known for it, and my bone structure demands it.
and last but VERY important a smile and a positive, ladylike attitude.
:D
i want some geeky glasses ;( i love the doc martens. im jealous! i want them :P i love my blue lace nicole by o.p.i nailpolish [the prettiest whimsical colour i own] love the term phone candy! im just mad, because my phone doesnt have the loop for it :( i always carry my camera with me, and i always have one of those larger than life bags XD i love this post. this is the best one yet.
p.s. i am still VERY jealous of those uber cute doc martens XD
Oooh, great question! without a doubt, giant oversized sunglasses, I-Just-Had-Sex-Hair (even if I haven’t had sex ;) ), an assortment of enormous and ridiculous rings, a huge handbag, lavishly painted cats eyes and of course, an attitidue to pull the whole thing off.
I love love the pink Dr.Martens. I saw them a year aho in Nordstrom and was going to buy the yellow version, but I chickened out! As for geeky glasses, use coupon code SUNNY15 to save 15% at Urban Outfitters. It ends today!
Hmmmm…style essentials?
Cowboy Boots – My black durangos with steel toes and bootstaps, definitely! I wear them nearly everyday. I have a whole trunk of beautiful shoes, but these are my babies.
Polaroid – I think I would die without my polaroid camera. Five bucks at the Salvation Army, hoorah!
Crazy hair – I agree with you on this, short hair teased like mad is the best thing! I love how crazy I can make it just by ruffling my hands through it! Super fun.
Bracelets – I make lots of colorful beaded bracelets and wear them all the time, or at least a few of them! They’re not always colourful (such as the black one with the dangling ankh) but I love having dangling jingly things on my arms. Lots of bells and charms and such I find by pure luck! Some people think they look silly, but hooey to that! I’d rather be silly than boring.
Batman socks – No one else can see them, but I think they’re wonderful. Comic nerd pride!
An arsenal of sharpies and conte crayons and my moleskine – Self-explanatory, really.
V-necks – American Apparel’s acid wash deep v-necks are currently my favourite kind, but I have a few from Walmart and wherever else I see them when I have a few bucks on me. I’m mad for v-necks, they’re so flattering on me. Easy to dress up and down, a real dream I’d say.
A smile – Well, obviously. ;)
Blonde hair
Big smile
Irrepressible tendency to bust out dance moves in public
Dresses for life!!
Flat footwear
Eyeliner/eyeshadow
Eyelash curler
I would say scarves, but they are strictly cold-weather gear. Everything else on the list is a daily must-have, 365.
(I have got some super-long cardies this winter and they are awesome!)
this is great! thank you!
Super list!
Hot pink doc’s. OH YES! Just picked up a similiar pair last night and am loving them.
Matchmaker, yes!
I was Chava in our school production. The practises were hell, every day from 3 til 5 or 6, and only in grade 10! We had lives too haha. Over all it was fun though, I only regret that there were “copyright issues” and so no one could take pictures.
Suspenders, amazing
It’s always inspiring to see what others are producing in their personal aesthetic affairs. I think I’ve FINALLY discovered my ‘style’ (for the moment at least! hehe).
*Wearing my wavy thick black hair naturally (not straightened all the time!).
*Clothing is all about beautiful vibrant colours (magentas, yellow, turquoise and red) in gorgeous silks and chiffons. Short leather asymmetric jacket and long black double-breasted overcoat.
* Lots of short skirts worn with thick tights- i basically have no pants anymore i like to wear- it’s weird! I like the freedom of the legs.
*Lots of ankle boots!
*Enthusiasm and playfulness in the heart
* kohled eyes and clear-glossy lips with plum-coloured blush.
*Well-looked after hands and nails.
* Take the camera. Everywhere.
Fabulour post Gala!
Every time I read something from you about fashion or style I get all inspired and want to buy new clothes and get glam. Haha.
That tri lens lomo camera in your set- I own it! It’s adorable and super fun :P I’ve always got at least two cameras with me haha.
xx
50s pinup silhouettes
Ridiculously bright colors (especially royal blue, purple, & turquoise)
Cowboy boots (except now mine have died, so I’ve tentatively moved on to 14-hole black patent Docs)
Waist-cinching colorful elastic belts
Black winged liquid eyeliner
- 3d (lensless) cinema glasses that I jacked from a Bolt in 3d showing (shhh) – my finger puppet, Jerome – Black Jeffrey Campbell boots – My granny’s necklace – Fearless eyebrows – A bouncy ponytail and a fringe with a little curly lick at the very end – Moleskine sketchbook – Tons of pens
My style must-haves: www.polyvore.com/salts_style_e…
lol, I’m happy you quoted Fiddler on the Roof, gawd love ya Gala
Black boots, red accessories (especially tights!), corgis, lipstick under any and all circumstances, geeky obsessions like video games, art deco and art novouea prints, and buttons on absolutely everything I wear.
Hahah I am so dense tonight. I was like “Why the hell am I getting all these new Twitter followers?” Thanks for the mention. And btw, I fully support those pink Docs. LOVE them.
Along with my blingy body jewelery, I must have: My black Tripp messenger bag, skeleton-foot printed converse, black jeans, black jacket or vest, coloured/white tee shirt, bright violet hair, and purple nail polish.
Ohh fun. Mine are black ballet flats, black leggings and tights, black eyeliner, green dresses, blood red hair, huge black bag, ridiculously large sunglasses, aromaleigh pale pale pale foundation, champagne eyeshadow, and minted rose lip balm.
My style is constantly evolving, but at the mo’ my daily essentials are:
*Rhinestone-studded spectacles (I’d be blind without them!)
*Deep maroon hair with electric orange streaks and blunt bangs (obsessed, OBSESSED!)
*Fitted waistcoats worn over brightly colored t-shirts (it’s Oscar Wilde meets “My Little Pony”)
*Pale gray pashmina scarf (it goes with everything, I swear)
*“Light Blue” perfume by Dolce & Gabbana (my signature scent for 5 years running)
My style essentials are:
Scarves, black flats or black peeptoes, CRAZY CURLS!, red book/laptop bag, little red car (because in this city a car is a style staple), black cigarette jeans, geek glasses, pink ear buds, Bunny Person key chain, RINGS!
I really dig notitles. I agree completely with her: When I look for purses to replace the ratty tote I have now, I ask myself the question “Will my notebook and scheduler fit in here?”
-Chapstick
-Black eyeliner and blush
-My cheap pens, most importantly my pink one
-Notebook (for writing my stand-up comedy in)
-Adorable Totoro Make-up Bag
-Kitty shoes
-Bright yellow Converse
-Very dirty, and falling apart Angry Little Girls totebag.
-Copy of a book in aforementioned tote for reading between tours at work. Current: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
I also have a deep affinity for Frye boots and Tarina Tarantino.
Here. In depth:
www.mermaidinamanhole.com/2009…
I’m loving all the fabulous new Twitter friends! Thanks again for the pimpin’, Gala. _
Totally indicative of my style:
www.polyvore.com/photomatic/se…
I like the list! Geek glasses, DOC MARTENS and long cardigans FTW (:
I’ll keep an eye out for those wool ones next time I’m in Country Road so I have one I can wear by itself in winter here in NZ =]
Mine are: – Converse All-Stars (usually my black ones) – shorts with opaque tights – SCARVES hell yes – and hats, right now I’m obsessed with long beanies although I love my fedora and wish I wore it more often – TOKIDOKI bags. Or any awesome bag for that matter ;D – band t-shirts – Japanese lolita or punk skirts – colored eyeliner
... hopefully white DM’s to be added to that list _
Interesting fact too, a lot of men have never seen a girl wearing a suspender belt in real life. When they actually do, let’s just say that they tend to be pretty happy about it.
Gala, I absolutely agree & love you for saying this! :D (Actually, I love you for saying many things, but today it is this.)
Strings of brightly coloured pearl style beads from the $2 shop
Geeky glasses
High ponytails
Tights in every colour of the rainbow
Black patent leather boots
Gold studded belt from the Guess bargain bin!
Classic silhouettes
Black and white (then accessorised with crazy bright colours!)
Threading ribbons through my shoelaces
Winding thin or studded belts around my wrists like bracelets….
Gala! ShoeMania in Union Square has pink docs for under $60 on clearence. Just go downstairs and they’re in the back! Gonna get my white ones from there later today.
Mascara! And add another coat everytime you need a pickmeup.
...and it ate the rest of my post so here it is again:
A good hair day If that fails, put your hair up and away, and draw attention to something else!
Studded belts Adding a bit of ‘rock’ to my corporate attire is my daily challenge.
My new deep pink patent booties with pink ribbon laces or any footwear that you are madly in love with.
...and by the sounds of it I think I need to add a camera, but which one to get??
As a photographer/blogger, “If you didn’t document it, it didn’t happen” has been my motto for life, for some time now! Awesome.
Also, I keeping umming & ahhing about those pink DMs! They’re gorgeous, but seeing as it’s coming up to summer in London, I don’t know how much use I’ll get out of them (although judging by today’s miserable weather, it’d be a lot!) & I’m no good at putting them away for the next season. New purchases must be worn IMMEDIATELY.
My style essential is defo all about the beautiful bag I’ve chosen to wear that day, like a big piece o’ candy on my arm!
You’re SO right about the suspenders. I’ve been wearing stockings for years and when my boyfriend’s friends found out their eyes nearly popped out of their skulls!! Within weeks their girlfriends’ had mysteriously started wearing them :P
My essentials:
> Ripped tights. They just make any outfit instantly sexy and ‘edgy’.
> Mascara. There’s no item of makeup so important. It just ‘finishes’ you off perfectly. I’m still looking for my mascara soulmate but I find it difficult to go wrong with good old Maybelline.
> Boots. I too started with DM’s, shimmery purple ones :D I have a pair of Red or Dead biker boots now and they get the MOST wear. They cost about twice as much as I’ve ever paid for shoes but they were SO worth it.
> Camera. Since I bought my little Coolpix I barely take my SLR out. The photos are of comparable quality and it does video. Perfect!
> Scarves. The immense and glorious Daddy Likey recently posted about scarves and she could not be more right.
> Slouchy hats. I’m seriously slack about washing my hair (It’s not gross, honest. It’s just it’s purple and washing it is a pain….) and they’re my saviour.
> Post-its. I would be a wreck if it weren’t for the million fluorescent post it notes I have stuck up everywhere to remind me of the VITAL stuff I have to do.
As a kid, I bought a DIY beauty book that mentioned how Gwen Stefani used to wear rhinestones by her eyes. I never actually saw any pictures (and didn’t much care at the time), but the idea was AWESOME. I started trying it out my freshman year, and soon I became an expert at facial rhinestone application. I wore them every day, but stopped when I went to college. Now I’m going back, and I love every minute of my sparkly eyes :) Definitely my style essential, followed by Burt’s Beesewax (representin’ my home state!) and an ooooold jean bag with faded glitter.
Oooh, I love this post because one of the camera’s you have posted I own!! :) The cute white one that looks like a robot face is awesome, if not a bit retro!! My boyfriend bought me it because it’s so much fun!
Sunshine & Sparkles!
xxxx
Haha, i love how you spell mouse, maus:)
xoxo
Excellent list Gala! Mine:
-Friendship bracelets that really remind me of someone
-A bag I made myself
-Ridiculous hair accessories (flowers, feathers, crowns, etc.)
-Granny skirts
-Vintage anything
-Notes to self written on left hand
-Mismatched socks
-Brightly colored shoes be they converse, ballet flats, or pinup heels
BTW, if you happen to see a short, fat girl with a turned up nose and aforementioned flower in hair running toward you and shouting ‘GALA DARLING!’, there is no need for alarum. It’s just me, visiting NYC for the first time this weekend. I may ask to touch your cotton candy hair. Just warning you ;)
I love erase paste! I’ve battled eye circles forever and this is the only concealer that does the trick! I did hear, however, that benefit utilizes silicon in their makeup so I use it sparingly. I recently discovered Makeup Forever’s HD makeup. It’s amazing! A little goes a long way and I use the erase paste on top, much less because the foundation provides a lot of coverage.
Anyway, I love your blog!
oh man i love posts like this. this one’s made me really consider what i would say my signature style is.
i’m a boot addict too: current favourites are a pair of beige suede fringed ones, kind of pocahontas-y. before that it was beat-up leather cowboy ones, and i’m currently really coveting white doc martens. in the evenings i go for stilettos but i totally dig the versatility of boots.
leggings: i have so many different pairs now and am currently on the lookout for more. current favourites are black latex effect ones i picked up for a few quid at new look, but i’m also obsessed with my american apparel tie dye ones and these cornflower blue metallic rib ones i got for a song at a vintage shop.
big coat or oversized cardi: currently in love with my oversize green parka (because where on earth is the british summer? oh….wait….) but also love my ratty fur, and my collection of lurid eighties charity shop knits. evenings it’ll usually be my cropped leather.
books: i usually have at least one novel and two theory books on me at all times. literature student. nuff said.
moleskine squared: also known as my ‘insanity catcher’.
oversized rings: my hands are my most well groomed feature, so i have accumulated a lot of hand candy. i usually only wear one at once (when i say oversized i mean oversized). am currently loving the neon plasticy-gem stuff in topshop. yum.
hairwise it’s always tousled unadorned curls with an alice-delall shave on my right-hand temple.
makeupwise i usually smudge on eyeshadow as eyeliner. current loves are urban decay smog, asphyxia and whatever the navy one is in the mac fafi palette. i wear waaaay too much mascara (loreal double extension, yumyum) could not live without a good highlighter, and usually just palmer’s cocoa butter balm the lips. oh, and my liz earle blemish stick is my bff. also, always immaculate nails. current loves: revlon one perfect coral, rimmel black cab, rimmel portobello pink, and umm, probably loadsa others. chips upset me.
I’m not big into pink but those boots are just too cute!
My fashion essential has to be hosiery. I’m currently packing for an overseas holiday and have got more hosiery than just about anything else – lucky it’s easy to pack :D
Hmmm I have to say I tend to buy my clothes based on the way they make me feel. For instance, I’ll wear a certain shirt because I feel> super sexy or confident in it. Hence my love for boots; they fulfill me craving for a stompy hair-tossing bossy kickass attitude.
Also I have great love for luscious textures, facial piercings, unusual details such as a hidden pocket or decorative buttons, and scarves tied around the hair.
I love these posts of yours, Gala; they’re so wonderfully inspiring.
My style is an odd mixture of hillwalker, small boy and librarian, I think. When I’m riding or dog-walking, I’m usually wearing a gilet over whatever else I’m wearing, regardless of the weather, and I’ll usually be wearing jeans or jodhpurs.
When I’m at university, or out anywhere without animals, I look more like a little boy pretending to be a librarian (but getting it slightly wrong). I love boots, especially cowboy boots and DMs, I usually wear a shirt with either a knitted vest or a cardigan over it, I often carry a leather satchel and I’ll have a minimum of one book with me, usually more like four.
Oh, and my hair is either loose (reddish and waist-length) or in two plaits, old-fashioned schoolgirl style.
i LOVE that you love erase paste from Benefit! especially since i work for them. =D
that stuff IS absolutely gold in a little pink pot. =]
I used to think I couldn’t live without my mobile phone, but then I didn’t have one for nearly a month and it wasn’t so bad. Now I rarely use it. I always have on me my skullcandy pink headphones (they block out all noise), my nintendo ds and a good book for all those long commutes as I don’t believe in owning a car.
I also couldn’t live without my cardigan. When i cannot be bothered to get dressed I just put it over thick tights and boots/Or my bright adidas attitude sneakers with a belt and I am done!
I am summoning up the courage to have my prescription put into my Urban Outfitters geek glasses…
Great tips Gala!!!
I have recently availed myself with a super comfy navy blue Urban Outfitters cardigan ($10 on sale rack! Woohoo!) and I LOVE IT!!!
I don’t have too many style essentials, I’m a pretty basic girl most of the time, though I do love to dress it up when the occasion calls for it.
Mostly I never leave the house w/out my glasses, lip balm, and either a pair of well worn colorful Converse or black boots & skinny jeans.
I am working on making my look a bit more adventurous more often though. I’ll have to see how it goes…
Re the suspender belt and stockings – oh yes, yes, yes. Comfortable and liberated and does tend to make boys melt…