Left: Pretty Woman. Right: Hussein Chalayan.

Top: Chloe, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo, Versace, Michael Kors.
Bottom: Gucci, Stella McCartney, Kelsi Dagger, Halston, Prada, Juicy Couture.

Zara.

(Product information)

I was almost perfectly camoflauged!

Photo by Mr Bones.

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette; Manchuria, 152:365, Isabella Blow.

Isabella Blow, Mrs Edward Claridge.

Photos by Ren Rox & May Our Minds Lose The Battle.

See by Chloé tank worn with Topshop petal-cut skirt. An Emilio Pucci bracelet & feather earrings from Miss Selfridge add more colour. Shoes by Acne, Oasis & Nicole Brundage. (Product information.)

Betsey Johnson dress with hot pink Dr Marten 14-ups. Headband from Girlprops, gloves from ASOS, Tarina Tarantino necklace, Lolita Lempicka perfume & OPI nail-polish in Sahara Sapphire. (Product information.)

Helmut Lang tank worn with jeans by Republic, Alexander McQueen heels, a Thomas Wylde handbag & a chaos signet ring. (Product information.)

Bamford wool jacket worn with Forever 21 skirt, AM sunglasses, slouchy knit beret, & a Ramones belt. Topped off with Alexander McQueen studded booties, fingerless skeleton gloves & OPI’s Kinky In Helsinki nail-polish. (Product information.)

Marchesa lace dress & Alexander McQueen booties. Ring & necklace by Karen Millen, gloves by ASOS & dachshund clutch bag. Inside the puppy belly? iPhone, Moleskine, condoms, & a Swarovski-encrusted pen. (Product information).

Erin Wasson tank & knickers from Forever 21, with turquoise socks, Alexander McQueen booties, French heart necklaces & a copy of People Look Like Flowers At Last by Charles Bukowski. (Product information.)

Gucci dress, blazer by Preen, Frye harness boots worn with silver feather necklace & Jessica Kagan Cushman “lust” ring. (Product information.)

My new digs.

Jazzi, Gala & Nubby.

Illustration by saint.barbie.

(Balenciaga)

(Barbara Bui)

(Anna Lou)

(Diesel)

(Anna Lou)

(Chloé)

(Lanvin)

(Gianfranco Ferre)

(Miu Miu)

(Anne Valerie Hash)

(Marc Jacobs) & (Marc Jacobs)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

Manko by Steve Prue.

Photo by patrice panfill.

An interview with Floria about her creative process.

Christina Aguilera – Fighter

David Bowie – Little Wonder

Sigur Ros – Untitled #1

Fiona Apple – O’ Sailor

Fluffy – Black Eye

Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People

Tricky – Makes Me Wanna Die

Yuli & I in the front row.

Celebrity seating: Kelly Osbourne was at one of these tables.
Note the ‘B’ cupcakes & little golden books.

Photos courtesy of Style.com.

Photo courtesy of Style.com.

Erin Fetherston.

I loves me some nonpareils!

Thanks to Gilda for her marrrrvellous camera work!

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

Hennie Haworth is too fabulous!

Illustration by shoobydoo.

Photo by *Cinnamon

Four images above by Hey Michelle

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Product information)

(Groucho Marx)

& as I kept staring, I started to feel like this…

I walked out of the salon feeling like a bit of a freak, & as soon as I got home I grabbed my cleanser, squirted some on a cotton pad & gave my eyebrows a good scrub. Quite a bit of the colour on the skin came off, which was awesome, & when my boyfriend came home, he told me it looked great!

The result…

Purple-tastic! Ah! I love it!

Kat did an awesome job, she was absolutely perfect. She was totally “safety first!” which eased my fears a lot — I like my eyes & getting bleach in them would be a bit of a bummer, to say the least. I was also her only client at the time, which meant she could attend to me immediately if there were any problems. I think Wildilocks are now officially offering this service to anyone who’s game, so if you have a shock of neon hair & you’d like eyebrows to match, give them a tinkle!

They’re still a bit stronger than I am used to, but honestly, I don’t think that’s obvious to anyone but me. (I spend a lot of time examining myself up close in a mirror!) Plus, it’s easy to play them down a bit by just wearing a bit more eye make-up than usual. It has taken me a little while to adapt, but it’s the same for any kind of cosmetic change — it always takes a while for your mind to catch up with your reflection.

So, hello! I have purple eyebrows! Whee! I’m so happy with them — I look like a natural purplehead! Do you like ‘em?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Jem-Inspired Makeover!

[ 16 April 2008, 03:42 ]

What happens when you & your make-up artist friend have a free afternoon?

Why, you make a mess with glitter & highly pigmented eye-shadow, of course!

Initially, we were aiming for a Jem & The Holograms look, but after perusing some galleries online, decided that lightning bolts on the cheeks (etc.) was a bit much for a Wednesday…

Instead, we did a “normal” eye, complete with false eyelashes (Marie glued those Swarovski crystals on herself, pretty clever huh?), & a huge pink & iridescent glitter star over the other eye. Unfortunately it was hard to get photos of…

I think it all turned out pretty well, though!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Style By The Stars: What's Your Astrological Aesthetic?

[ 13 April 2008, 21:33 ]

Aquarius
20 January – 18 February

Aquarians are true eccentrics — it’s almost impossible to peg them down, except to say that they are all wildly different! They love to shock & they go out of their way to make a statement & an entrance. Every Aquarius has a favourite, secret vintage shop, or undying devotion to some bizarre new enfant terrible designer. Aquarians adore bright colours & plastic; there is probably a high percentage of them in your local rave scene!

For more information, see How To Spot An Aquarius.

Pisces
19 February – 20 March

Pisces are shoe-mad & likely to have an amazing collection of avant-garde footwear stashed under the bed. With their dreamy aesthetic, they can find it exceptionally difficult to get dressed for work. Female Pisceans prefer dresses & skirts to trousers, & their vivid imagination often has them yearning to dress in period costume or to imitate the look of someone in a movie. Their shopping style is intuitive & things just seem to work. They adore blue, silk, chiffon & tulle!

For more information, see How To Spot A Pisces.

Aries
21 March – 19 April

Aries are driven, no-nonsense people, & they dress in a way that reflects that. Your typical Aries woman prefers pants to skirts or dresses, & rarely wears heels because, well, they just slow her down! Aries love fashion & are often at the front of trends, but they stay away from anything too frilly or feminine. It’s common for people born under Aries to have an obsession with the colour red, & you’ll often see it around them, in their accessories, lipstick, car or gadgets. (My mother is an Aries & her glasses, lips & cellphone are all red!)

For more information, see How To Spot An Aries.

Taurus
20 April – 21 May

Taureans are the earthiest of the earth signs, & so natural colours (like dark green & brown) easily make their way into the Taurus’ wardrobe. While they love a good bargain, they are also capable of spending enough money to put the King Of Pop to shame. They either look uber-luxe or they dress down on purpose — Taureans don’t like other people knowing their business! They are drawn to soft, tactile fabrics like velvet, wool & silk, & can often be found swaddled, blissed out in a corner. They also like to draw attention to their throats by wearing chokers, necklaces or scarves.

For more information, see How To Spot A Taurus.

Gemini
22 May – 23 June

Geminis like to keep up with what’s going on in the world of fashion. They’re always the girls who have hundreds of fashion blogs in their RSS reader, & they probably have a few magazine subscriptions, too. It’s usual for Geminis to have a couple of different looks that they switch between, to avoid boring themselves — one might be elegant & one might be a little slouchier, or one look is quite feminine while the other is more androgynous. Geminis love silver jewellery & cool, light colours — light pink, icy blue & canary yellow are all favourites.

For more information, see How To Spot A Gemini.

Cancer
23 June – 22 July

Cancerians think sentimentally about clothing, & will keep dresses that they consider lucky or a coat that they had a great night out in 15 years ago. They love to mix & match their emotionally-laden pieces with newer things. They’re also mad keen on vintage, & love the thrill of reworking old clothes to make them look fresh. Cancer girls, whether well-endowed or not, love to show off their heaving bosom! They will often subconsciously go for low-cut tops without even really thinking about it. (This also makes them one of the most popular signs of the zodiac, especially at parties!)

For more information, see How To Spot A Cancer.

Leo
23 July – 22 August

Leo women love to toss their mane & get noticed! They rarely dress down & thrive on being the most exciting dresser in the room. Your average Leo’s (ha! Who am I kidding? There’s no such thing!) wardrobe is stuffed to the brim with sequins, silks, animal prints & fur (real as well as faux). They love sensual, tactile fabrics. Some of a Leo’s other favourite things include designer labels, hats, the colours gold & purple & standing out from the crowd. Their idea of hell is turning up to an exclusive soiree in the same dress as someone else — or wearing a uniform!

For more information, see How To Spot A Leo.

Virgo
23 August – 22 September

Virgos are the organisers of the zodiac, & so it’s rare that they will just go on a random shopping spree & come home with a sequence of unrelated garments. No way. They’ll have a list (if not on paper, then definitely in their heads) & they will not rest until they find this or that elusive piece! Virgos have an eye for detail & so for them, it’s all about accessories. They love detailed prints, unusual stockings & jewellery, & are likely to have a fabulous collection of hats & scarves. Their clothing always fits them impeccably (they are probably best friends with their tailor) & their motto is “quality, not quantity”.

For more information, see How To Spot A Virgo.

Libra
23 September – 22 October

Libran women are some of the most feminine in the zodiac. They love floral perfumes, dresses & heels — feeling & looking like a woman are of utmost importance to them. As die-hard romantics, a date or a new boyfriend are two of their favourite reasons to go shopping! They were also (in an informal poll) voted “most likely to dress to please their partner”. Librans dig balance, too, so they love to play up interesting proportions & colour combinations.

For more information, see How To Spot A Libra.

Scorpio
23 October – 21 November

Scorpios are sultry sirens, & for them, clothing is about sex appeal, power & control. They often have a penchant for mind-blowing lingerie, which they wear under everything to boost their self-confidence. Your favourite goth is probably a Scorpio, as they have a few of the same interests — an obsession with the colour black, for instance, as well as a huge collection of boots & semi-fetish wear. (Scorpios adore corsets, fishnet & PVC.) They also spend a small fortune on maintenance, & they’re always waxed with great hair.

For more information, see How To Spot A Scorpio.

Sagittarius
22 November – 21 December

Sagittarians can never stand still & this is reflected in what they wear. Most Sagittarians are obsessive globe-trotters, & they love to wear trinkets & totems from their travels. Depending on the Sag, this can range from strutting around the house in a kimono to just wearing a t-shirt that says ‘Santa Monica’! They’re pretty earthy, too, & as well as loving comfort, they like to buy things that last. Natural fibres make them smile, & they’re likely to own an old leather jacket & a pair of great boots that they wear with everything.

For more information, see How To Spot A Sagittarius.

Capricorn
23 December – 19 January

Capricorns are often workaholics, & so they dress to fit with that. For them, work isn’t just a place they go, it’s an extension of them, & something laden with meaning. It’s not just corporate Capricorns either — the more arty Caps dress for their profession too. Regardless, they like to have the best. Their Louis Vuitton bag would never be a replica. Some of the Capricorn woman’s favourite things include classic tailoring, showing off their great legs, pinstripes & dressing down on the weekend.

For more information, see How To Spot A Capricorn.

How accurate do you think these descriptions are? I think the Virgo stylescope is on the money, & I can definitely draw parallels between what I’ve read & how some of my friends dress — especially the Scorpios & Sagittarius’s! What do you think?

Oh, & as much as I wish I was a fabulous astrologer, I’m just not! These astrological style-scopes were compiled with the thanks & help of the following sites, which I highly recommend!

Fashion Tips by Sign
Neptune Fashion Profiles
What’s What: Fashion Stars
Spring Into Fashion: Tips By Sign
Donnalyn’s Astro-Guide to Venus, Style and Party Fashions

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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8 Outfits & Ideas For The Perfect First Date

[ 8 April 2008, 01:51 ]

After months of shy coffee shop flirting, Fawn finally wore this to browse an art gallery with Mark. When they walked outside, their nervous conversation changed track & she gave him an impromptu tango lesson in the garden outside.

Joanna & Ashley spoke candidly, laughed loudly & shocked the waiter at an elegant bistro. They rounded off the evening with martinis at the bar & a sweet dessert with two forks.

Dulcea & Quentin, art students from Brighton, had a picnic by a pond, followed by an exuberant Japanese photobooth session.

Carmen & Charles went for a spin on her scooter, followed by a small feast of hot dogs & Coke by the river’s edge. When she found herself using a napkin instead of wiping her hands on her jeans, she realised she must really like him.

Farrell & Ruby went to a sushi train restaurant. After a bottle of sake, they sat closer than they needed to at an outdoor cinema.

Trent wore this to go with Karl to a poetry reading. Later, they talked about Nabokov, hands gesticulating wildly over a bottle of red wine.

James & Bambi ate vegetarian burgers in her car before checking out a warehouse party her friend was throwing. (When he took off his hoodie, Bambi — a big Yoko Ono fan — hugged him out of sheer delight.)

Nicholas took Violet to an underground hip-hop show, danced with her in the back of the room & watched as she fell in love with him.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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What Would You Wear At 40?

[ 31 March 2008, 22:05 ]

“I confess, when I shop with my 19 year-old daughter, I am so envious of the style choices she has. PLEASE do women like me a favor! How can a forty-something mom build a style without large expense (we are paying for college you know) which will look new and fresh but appropriate for our age. Remember, we don’t have the great bodies we did at your age. Classic but unexpected. Flattering. Age-appropriate but FUN! What do you see yourself wearing at 40?“

People often write to me saying that they’re x age or y weight, what do I think they should wear? It can be hard to answer questions like that, because I don’t believe that just because you’re not young or thin (the theoretical ideal), that you should have some kind of boring style prescription. I think dressing in a way that makes you happy is the most important thing, & when you’re being told what you can & can’t wear, the fun gets sucked out of it pretty quickly.

This email was different. She asked, “What do you see yourself wearing at 40?” — a much better way of phrasing things. It made my brain whirr. Of course, what I’ve come up with is my style, & therefore not necessarily suitable or even something you can picture yourself in. But it does give us a jumping off point!

Here’s what I came up with.

A simple outfit with a splash of purple. This would be great for a day off, shopping or walking my Dachshund!

40 year old Gala on her private jet. Oh yes. Secret spy woman with colour-coordinated accessories!

Black & white & super-chic. I absolutely adore this outfit. It’s just not quite the sort of thing I can pull off yet.

I think older women look so amazing in black & white. It’s so clean, & it makes them look clear-headed, intelligent & successful.

While it can be easy to feel like you’re being left out of the fun trends that your daughter is slithering into, remember that as a woman, there are a lot of things you can pull off that younger people can’t. As we grow & mature, our presence expands, & our whole way of being changes.

So as a grown woman, don’t feel limited. Think about it — while it may not be in your budget, the real high-end fashion houses make clothing for women who are your age. Not young whippersnappers! If you need some inspiration, look at fabulous women your age & see what they’re wearing. Think about Coco Chanel, Lauren Bacall, Diana Vreeland, Nicole Kidman, Iman, Julianne Moore, Kate Spade… !

I imagine that when I’m 40, my style will have evolved quite a lot. I probably won’t be so keen on super-short skirts or sleeveless tops. I envision a huge closet full of obscenely beautiful things — great coats, fabulous shoes, delicious handbags. I will probably have moved past my obsession with shoes that have springs & platforms! I can’t even begin to imagine what my hair would be like… I will probably still have a penchant for black worn with a splash of colour, & unusual jewellery.

This whole thing reminds me of “Warning” by Jenny Joseph.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
And run my stick along the public railings
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick flowers in other people’s gardens
And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Or only bread and pickle for a week
And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
And pay our rent and not swear in the street
And set a good example for the children.
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

What do you think you’ll wear when you get older? Make a Polyvore set & link it in the comments if you’re feeling really creative!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Themed Outfits For Intellectuals

[ 16 March 2008, 20:10 ]

I recently had a girl write to me, saying that she was sick of wearing jeans to university every day, & could I please come up with some potential outfits for her to wear? When she added, “Maybe they could be themed according to what people were studying”, a light-bulb went off in my head & I thought, YES! Yes! I WILL do that for you! It’s too great a concept not to.

For the meticulous chemistry student! Wow them with your knowledge of the periodic table & love of heavy metal(s)!

For the zany photography student! Sparkly shoes that catch the light can be used as an impromptu bounce flash!

For the excitable make-up artist in training! T-shirt with snide saying proves your devotion to the art!

For the miniature archaeologist! Perfect for those of you who only ever listen to The Bangles & make terrible jokes!

How does King Tut’s secretary answer his calls?
“He can’t talk right now, he’s all wrapped up!”

For the fledgling illustrator! Ahhhh… this outfit makes me want to be an artist.

Do you ever dress on theme for what you’re studying? I’d love to see a nutritionist wearing a t-shirt by Johnny Cupcakes... someone at police training college wearing a clip-on moustache… or a literature major wearing Busted’s Prose Before Hos tee!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Cute Coats (& How To Wear Them)

[ 7 March 2008, 22:22 ]

So, you’ve read How To Buy A Winter Coat. Now you just need to decide what you want! Here are some of my top picks & a few tips on how to wear them.

Splash out on a hooded waterproof jacket in a bright colour that you love & matches the rest of your wardrobe. Wear it on days when you want to bring a little excitement to your rainy city! Bonus points: Buy an umbrella in a matching colour for undeniable adorability!

Hunt out a cropped little leather jacket for maximum versatility. They’re super-warm & totally chic. Pair it with feminine pieces (like fitted skirts & high heels) to make a stylish impact & avoid the “Where’d you park your Harley?“ comments! Bonus points: Buy a vintage leather jacket on Ebay — you’ll get a good deal, & even better, it’ll be original!

Invest in a tuxedo jacket to dress up sleek, simple outfits. Team black & white with one other accent colour & you’ll feel like the cutest girl on the street. Don’t be afraid to wear fun, silly accessories! Bonus points: Tuxedo jackets work really well over formal cocktail dresses — kind of like you stole your lover’s jacket to keep you warm.

Swoon over a dress coat if you live in a really cold climate or your boss is a sadist who keeps the office freezing at all times! A great dress coat can be your entire outfit if you want it to be, but it also adds flair to anything underneath. Bonus points: Buy a fabulous belt in a contrasting colour to wear over the top & add shape to your outfit!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Black In Fashion: Mourning To Night

[ 2 March 2008, 17:07 ]

Last night I was one of a few hundred guests invited to attend the opening of Black In Fashion: Mourning To Night at the NGV. (Thank you so much, Kitty!)

As we walked in, I spotted our friends Nicole (of Circa Vintage Clothing fame) & her husband Tim. We stood about discussing what we might see upstairs & our expectations of the event. Oh, okay — honestly, Nicole & I discussed that stuff & Simon & Tim stood there looking attentive & being charming! Waiters passed around trays of hors d‘œuvre & your choice of white or red, champagne or San Pellegrino flavoured drinks.

The organisers let us all percolate in the foyer for a while, & then the lights changed & someone clambered up onto the podium. Speeches were given (the usual “thanks to our sponsors & curators who did such a good job” etc.), & then fashion journalist Marion Hume grabbed the mic & proceeded to entertain as well as wow us with her vast knowledge of all things fashion. (Marion Hume is a very interesting woman: she edited Australian Vogue for 18 months, & after she used its glossy pages to dress down — rather than deify — Australia’s top designers, she was given the boot.) As she spoke, she swung between eras, taking us from the Dutch 17th century to Liz Hurley’s safety-pin dress in a matter of minutes. She explained the luxury of black & the difficulty of dyeing something a true black, as well as the trials & tribulations involved in having all your shades of black match up. Her speech was laden with anecdotes from the lives of Coco Chanel, Cristobel Balenciaga & Vivienne Westwood. We were all suitably impressed.

The original speaker invited us to go upstairs & have a wee squizz at the collection, “but not all at once, since it’s a small space!” she hastened to add. We started to move towards the escalators & I leaned over & said to Nicole, “I wonder whether Zandra Rhodes will be here!”. “Ooh, yes, of course, she’s in town!”, she replied excitedly. “Keep your eyes peeled for a bright pink bob!” I replied. Less than a minute later, I grabbed Simon’s arm & squeaked, “She’s here!” Zandra was standing right beside us in the queue for the escalator, next to a woman wearing a black turban with a white flower on the front. (A woman after my own heart, to be sure.) But she was engaged in conversation & I didn’t want to interrupt, so I decided I would speak to her later.

We rode the escalator to the 2nd level & entered the exhibit. There was a lot of hallowed cooing from everyone involved! The collection was small, about 60 items, but impeccably chosen & lit & displayed superbly. Here are some of the pieces on display…

YVES SAINT LAURENT RIVE GAUCHE, Paris (fashion house)
est. 1966
Yves SAINT LAURENT (designer)
born Algeria 1936, worked in France 1954–
Le smoking, suit (c. 1972)
Purchased, 2005

(I actually gasped.)

CHRISTIAN DIOR, Paris (couture house)
est. 1946
Christian DIOR (designer)
born France 1905, died Italy 1957
Zelie, cocktail dress 1954 autumn–winter
Purchased NGV Foundation, 2006

Chanel, Paris (fashion house)
1914–39, 1954–
Gabrielle Chanel (designer)
France 1883–1971
Jacket and dress 1920 spring–summer
Collection of Grainger Museum, Melbourne

It didn’t take us long to make our way around the gallery, & when we were done looking I started to freak out about talking to Zandra Rhodes. “What am I going to say?! Help! What if I just squawk & can’t get any words out?!” Simon was, of course, a paradigm of zen calm & encouraged me to go forth & fangirl! So I did.

I don’t know exactly what I said. Something like, “Excuse me, I’m sorry to interrupt but I had to come over & say hi! I think you’re amazing &, well, when I was at the Chelsea Hotel a couple of years ago I met your personal assistant because we had the same colour hair… I mean, my hair was bright pink like yours… so um, anyway, you’re so cool!” She was charming & gracious, I actually don’t remember much about what she said, except that she said I should come to the Zandra Rhodes exhibition at RMIT (which I will do).

I walked away from her with my knees all a-quiver & after all that excitement, we decided to was time to go home. As we exited the gallery (& were taking daily outfit photos!) I saw her again & I ran over & said, “This is the last time I’ll bug you, I swear, but would you mind if we got a photo?” “Of course not,” she replied, & so that is how the photo of her & I together came to pass.

Oh okay, since you asked (ha!), here it is again…

That was my night!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Skinny Ties

[ 25 February 2008, 16:56 ]

[Guest post by Audrey.]

You might remember I wrote recently about accessories, and the importance of putting in some effort with them. And while all accessories are important, no men’s accessory is more prolific and obvious than the tie. Not only is it a staple of the well-dressed gentleman’s outfit, it’s quite literally the Rubik’s Cube of the fashion industry: decidedly simple in its design and appearance, yet so goddamn complicated that most guys either do it half-heartedly, or give up and leave it at the bottom of their closet.

For the longest time, I avoided them at all costs. I kept my one school tie knotted in the one knot that I had my mother do, then I’d just loosen it and slip it over my head like a noose. And that’s what it was in my opinion: a noose. It was a symbol of death and darkness and all sorts of other horrors. Then, suddenly one year, something clicked. My wardrobe went from piles of oversized tees to some sharp, well cut shirts. I embraced my slim figure, and realised how good a button-down collared shirt can look on me. And hand in hand with a nice button down shirt goes a good tie –- the perfect icing on the cake.

While the wearing of the tie used to be a very formal affair, it was easy to stick to the rules of the season or event attended to make sure your choice of tie and knot was modest and appropriate. With the change in attitudes towards ties though, today’s gentleman is faced with a plethora of options. Plus, to make matters worse, skinny ties have made a definite resurgence in the mainstream fashion world. Yes sir, things just got more interesting.

The tie itself
The staple of the mods, the rockers, the indie hipsters and now the masses, skinny ties are quite frankly the white whale of the tie world for many men: a trend they’d love to try, but are too scared or intimidated to attack with confidence.

The first point of call is to actually select the tie. Before we get too crazy on the width of your new accessory, we need to cover colour and pattern. There are some simple rules and tips to follow, but keep in mind some rules can be broken if you have the style and charisma to pull it off.

A patterned shirt normally requires a plain tie. If you have a nice patterned tie, break it up with a plain shirt. Colours are all dependant on the rest of your outfit, and are mostly a personal choice. Try and pick something that compliments your skin tone (see Gala’s Fashion Help For Recovering Goths piece to determine your colours). Experiment! That’s my biggest piece of advice. See what suits you, what brings out your eyes, what plays on your best features. And if you don’t know what your best features are, ask your close personal female friends. I’m sure they’ll make a fuss and let you know what they are. And above all, trust your gut feeling. If you think something looks terrible, you won’t be comfortable, and then that’ll let you down even if the outfit does look good.

The equation
Let’s get back to the skinny tie. The wearing of a skinny tie is sort of like a mathematical equation. All those angles and degrees of triangles and percentages and you learnt in math class in high school were actually useful after all!

The first rule you need to understand is ratio. Skinny ties are… well, SKINNY! So the second you put one on, everything else will look larger in contrast -– the width of your waist, the height of your torso, the width of your body, the size of your head. As all-inclusive as I’d like to be, it’s a fact of life — if you’re carrying some extra baggage in the stomach area, this isn’t going to be working in your favour.

The good news for the more husky gentleman readers out there is that with the rising popularity of the skinny tie, there are variations of it out there available for purchase. So while a skinny tie may not suit your frame, there are still a lot of different shapes of slim ties available for you to purchase. Instead of the three centimetre wide leather 80’s style vintage piece, pick up something that’s still slim but still has a little shape. I personally am not a fan of the thin, straight knitted ties which can be disastrous for those with a fuller figure. Instead, I favour a ‘narrow’ or ‘Cambridge’ tie – something with a little more shape to it like this.

Just that addition of a little shape could mean all the difference for you too.

Get shirty
You need to look at the shirts you’re planning to pair up with your new skinny friend. Just like the tie will make you look different, it’ll also mess around with the proportions of your shirt. Ergo, you’ll need to be certain your shirt fits you immaculately in relation to the tie. I’m planning a guide to shirts for a future article, but you’ll need to slim up the cut of your shirt for your tie. Personally, I swear by MARCS men’s shirts. Long but never baggy, these shirts are cut so incredibly well in great crisp fabrics, and have amazingly clean lines.

But shop around, and try some on before you make your final decision. This is important! I’ll always maintain that you get into a fitting room with some options before you whip out the credit car. Get measured up by a professional, and find something that’s going to sit well and set you up a nice base for your tie. Try and avoid large, wide collars as again, the proportion of this to the thinness of the tie will look abstract. The body of the shirt should be fitted without being so small and tight that it exposes your belly. Sleeves should be fitted and long, but consider turning them up to the elbow. Otherwise, make sure they’re ending at the end of your wrist, at the base of your thumb -– not halfway down your arm. The stitch line where the sleeves attach to the torso of your shirt should run in line with your shoulder. I promise more details on these points in a couple of weeks’ time!

The final thought for shirts you need to think about is what I call the ‘polish’ -– make sure it’s cleaned and freshly ironed before you put it on and head out the door.

The long and short of it
Okay, so that’s the horizontal axis covered –- now let’s attack the vertical. While I’m built slim, which lends itself perfectly to the skinny ties I love so much, I’m also incredibly tall (we measured me at work today, I’m spot on 199cm!), which can cause me problems finding ties that are actually long enough. While there are a huge variety of excellent skinny ties being manufactured today (I have some great H&M skinny ties in my collection), I’ll still always have a soft spot for the vintage ones –- they have some fabrics, prints and stripes that they just can’t reproduce as well today. And it seems guys back then must’ve been shorter than me, because they’re all just far too short. So keep this in mind when shopping for your skinny tie. If you’re tall like me, find a nice long one so you can still put it into a full- or half-Windsor knot without it ending at your bellybutton. Hint: a tie clip is a great way to hide the fact the ‘tail’ of your knot only goes midway down your chest!

I hope this helps you all in your quest with looking great in a slim tie. For once though, it seems us guys are lucky in the fact there is such a wide variety of them available to us now -– various thicknesses, different patterns, different lengths and fabrics. The world is your oyster, good sir. Be sure to let me know how you go.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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How To Make A T-Shirt More Interesting

[ 18 February 2008, 06:13 ]

“I told you a while ago that I spent a long time wearing nothing but jeans and t-shirts, the unisex kind you buy at concerts. After I started developing a personal style, I tossed out all the old threadbare and gross ones, but since music is such a big part of my life, I do have a fair number of oversized band t-shirts that I’d like to wear in a less teenage-boy kind of way.

“So many of these shirts are really great and have such strong, eye-catching designs, and if I had the body for it, I’d wear them with cropped jackets and skinny-jeans, but I’m a hippy dippy size 10, meaning that skinny jeans aren’t actually the greatest look for me and cropped jackets make it seem like I have a huge gut. Which I don’t! So can you help a girl out?”

I can’t/don’t wear skinny jeans either, so I feel your pain!

Here’s what I team with t-shirts: Maxi-skirts. Capri pants. Jeans (bootcut or flared). Tartan skirts. High-waisted skirts. Cardigans. Leggings. Shorts. Dresses (worn underneath). When it’s colder I wear long-sleeved cotton tees underneath them for more texture & colour. It also helps stop you looking like a big blob if your t-shirt is oversized!

I like to make an effort to dress up my t-shirts because while I do love vintage tees, it’s very easy for it to move into messy or unkempt territory, & that’s not usually a look I relish. I like to tie a scarf around my neck, pull my hair back, wear good shoes (rather than my beaten-up old boots) & keep my make-up quite clean. I feel like that helps bring it into more classy territory. It’s very hard to beat a great vintage tee, jeans which fit immaculately & a flattering pair of heels.

Since you have so many big shirts, you might like to compensate for their size by wearing a cardigan that buttons at the waist (to pull your shape inwards) or buckling a belt around your midriff. I often wear a studded belt slung around my hips to break up a black outfit. It depends on where you want to draw attention, though — the eye is always drawn to any horizontal lines in your outfit, so keep that in mind.

You might also want to look into leather jackets — not a cropped one, just a normal waist length one with cool shoulder details. Push up the sleeves & throw on a scarf & ROCK it!

But I admit, I am not much of a t-shirt wearer! Nonpareils, I give you the floor! What do you like to wear with your favourite t-shirt? How do you make it look stylish?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Neogoth

[ 17 February 2008, 19:09 ]

It seems ironic that a little over a year after I wrote my first ever article — Fashion Help For Recovering Goths — I’m now writing about goth as a high fashion trend. But before you go thinking I’m just switching my position willy-nilly, I should explain that there is a marked difference between that piece & this one. FHFRG was about changing old, staid habits & embracing a new you, while neogoth is about adopting a dark aesthetic but making it stylish & sophisticated. So you see, they’re both about positive change — just in different ways.

So, what’s neogoth about, anyway? First of all, it has nothing to do with The Matrix — perish the thought! Nor does it have anything to do with bright, neon colours. ‘Neo’ is meant here to mean recent or new. Combine that with ‘goth’ & you get a fresh, modern version of the goth aesthetic. & not a moment too soon!

I found out about neogoth recently by having a dig around on the Fashion Spot (best fashion forums ever). Someone started a thread about neogoth in 2005, but the look seems to have really exploded & started blossoming recently. My guess is that the trend-setters are feeling a bit fed up with pastels & fluoro colours, & are rebelling. The thread is fabulous eye candy, lots of editorial shots & runway ensembles, but I thought a DIY guide might be useful.

While it would be easy to just throw on a whole lot of black & feel like that was enough, that’s not quite it. The whole idea of neogoth is that it is a more grown-up, sophisticated look. All the usual components of the goth look — dyed black hair, facial piercings, corsets, striped stockings & combat boots — aren’t going to help you out if you want to dabble in this aesthetic.

Neogoth is about texture. Wool, silk, lace & leather. Wood, plastic & lacquer. Without texture there is no neogoth — just someone wearing lots of darkly-hued clothing. Some people wear black to hide themselves away, minimise themselves, appear invisible. Neogoth is about doing the opposite: making a statement, dressing it up, putting in an effort & looking fabulous.

I really feel that neogoth isn’t just about wearing black. You can go to the complete opposite end of the spectrum & wear all white & still rock the look. To me, it is mostly about attitude — & attitude can be conveyed in the smallest ways. An accessory, a style of make-up or even a hairstyle can say more about you, your mood or your aesthetic than an entire ‘neogoth-themed’ outfit from the latest collections.

Colleen of Panic Industry coined the phrase “poisoned femininity“ to describe a lot of what she sees on the catwalk at the moment, & I think that is worth incorporating into the whole neogoth thing. It’s not just clothing, it’s about feelings & mood. It’s about playing up the elements of mystery, drama & intrigue. It’s about being delicate with a dark edge, being unexpected & a little sick around the edges. Kind of like that broken dolly thing from the 90’s, just more grown-up.

I know that the word ‘goth’ throws people sometimes, so to be clear: you don’t have to dress like you’re on your way to a Renaissance Fair! Nor is there any need to get all Trenchcoat Mafia on it! Neogoth should be über-modern. Skyscraper shoes, closely-tailored garments, futuristic sunglasses — architecture with clothing.

Think sharply-cut blazers, patterned stockings, patent leather belts around the waist, scarves, unconventional hair & layers. Think platform shoes, luxurious clutches & epic nailpolish.

Here are some outfits I put together using Polyvore which help illustrate my point!

For vampy man-catching drinks: Giles Kruger Razor dress, Tarina Tarantino earrings, Alexander McQueen silk chiffon skull scarf, Alexander McQueen skull clasp clutch & Christian Louboutin Architek leather slingbacks.

For fabulous business lunches: Bodyamr Balla mini dress, Lanvin necklace, Phillippe Audibert opal bracelet, a bag & Balenciaga pull-on cowboy boots.

For knock-‘em-dead moments: Jovovich-Hawk Sunny lace detail dress, Lacoste backpack, Lanvin oxford pumps, assorted bangles.

For manga moments: Hamish Morrow hooded jersey dress, Tarina Tarantino necklace, Elisa Atheniense bag, Miu Miu leather biker boots.

For relaxed Fridays at the office: Anna Sui floral print tunic, Sonia Rykiel sunglasses, Topshop skinny jeans, Anya Hindmarch Shirley patent tote & Alexander McQueen striped leather pumps.

For vampire-slaying in small, dusty towns: Marchesa strapless embroidered dress, Celine skinny silk chiffon scarf, locket necklace, rosary, Miss Selfridge lace stockings, Urban Outfitters cowboy boots, OPI nailpolish & assorted bangles.

My general consensus is that neogoth is a fantastic new style for people who want to do something different, as well as for people for whom black is like comfort food. Just remember to push it a bit, & you’ll be right as rain.

Extra For Experts:
Looking to the 1980s – darkly: Giles Deacon, Gareth Pugh and Roksanda Ilincic by Suzy Menkes of the International Herald Tribune.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Fafi For MAC

[ 11 February 2008, 17:28 ]

I just wanted to let you all know that the Fafi for MAC Cosmetics collection has been released in the United States. (YAY!) It won’t be available in the United Kingdom or Australia until the start of March, but anyone who wants to get in quick can now do so online! (There’s also free shipping within the U.S. if you use the code ‘MACFAFI’ at checkout.)

I LOVE this range so much. Not just the make-up, but the accessories too! After all, who could say no to a Fafi t-shirt with striped arms? Or a silk scarf printed with Fafi characters? I have been waiting for it for ages & it is not disappointing.

Here’s what I’m itching to get my hands on:
Lipstick in ‘High Top’ (I love ‘Fun ‘n’ Sexy’ but just don’t think I could wear it)
Lipglass in ‘Totally It’
Fafi Eyes 1
Powder Blush in ‘Fashion Frenzy’
Nail Lacquer in ‘Boom!’
Mini Clearly Fafi make-up bag
Fafi t-shirt
Fafi scarf
...& I wouldn’t find a Fafi ‘Ermine’ doll either.

Yum. What do you think of the collection? Très délicieux or not so much?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Geek Chic

[ 10 February 2008, 21:21 ]

Now so ubiquitous that there is a Wikipedia entry for it, Geek Chic is currently one of the most popular looks around. It’s showing up on catwalks across the world, & even closer to home — the ‘geek chic’ prom outfit I put together was by far the one that resonated with people most!

If you want to give geek chic a go yourself, there are a few elements that can be incorporated.

Glasses
You can’t do geek chic if you’re not wearing a pair of glasses! I’m sorry, but it’s true. You don’t actually need to be short- or long-sighted however, which is good news. If you’re wondering where to get glasses, it’s actually pretty easy. All glasses in optometry shops come with plain glass lenses — sometimes all you need to do is peel off a sticker. You can find amazing glasses in vintage & op shops, & of course there are bargains galore to be found online. 39 Dollar Glasses is a favourite of many.

Allusions to geeky interests
This is where you get to be a bit sneaky. It’s easy to wear a t-shirt that says ‘Nintendo’, but it’s much cooler to wear something that only die-hard fans will recognise. Get creative, make your own accessories — that’s where those NES controller belt buckles came from originally, some dude in his bedroom! What do you love that’s geeky? Calculators? Knitting? Tea parties with your Grandma? How about wearing a blinged-up calculator, or making a brooch out of doll-sized knitting needles? Having said that, sometimes geeky t-shirts are really awesome — Viva la Relativity! from ThinkGeek is too cool not to buy.

Reappropriated slightly naff items
Start reclaiming things that you used to get shoved in your locker for wearing! This can be difficult, but thankfully the fashion industry is on this in a big way, giving us all a helping hand. Big bobbly cardigans, Oxfords, wool stockings & blazers are all back with a vengeance. Bonus points if you actually buy things from a school shop!

Here are some ideas for putting together your own geek look.

Sleek geek: Burberry cable knit cardigan; 3.1 Phillip Lim Exclusive Scout dress; Celine leather riding boots; striped socks; Malene Birger Gala headband; Linda Farrow Vintage for Luella glasses; robot earrings; Eprom necklace; MIDI cuff; watch by Tokyoflash.

Buffy geek: Caffeine molecule necklace; beanie; Buffy t-shirt; Pringle of Scotland Satin pouf shorts; black bolero jacket; Tokidoki for Lesportsac backpack; Demonia boots.

Potter geek: Gryffindor hoodie; Princess tulle skirt; Retrospecs glasses; Tarina Tarantino ring; magic wand; Hello Kitty backpack; New Rock boots.

Accessories: Retrospecs glasses; Robot Lover necklace; Luella bag; Melissa jelly sandals; Batman Converse; Cat’s Eye glasses; Lanvin Oxfords; Tokyoflash watch.

Extra For Experts:
Agathe shows how it’s done.
Designboom have very rad recyled cassette wallets!
Fashion Week for the Fashionably Challenged — oh, so funny. Black is the new modem minimalism art era for fashion. Black says “I don’t give a **** you work it out”.
How To Wear Geek Chic Style (for girls) from Wikihow.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Top 5 Fictional Female Style Icons

[ 29 January 2008, 14:43 ]

Television & movies are overrun with underdressed & badly-styled characters. But what about when the major studios get it right? This is my little homage to who I think are the 5 most stylish female characters.

5. Jenny Schecter

“Often, what you see with Jenny is not pretty. She’s in love with two people at the same time. She’s one of those people who will just grab experiences because of the holes inside her, and with that, she will leave the casualties in the wake behind her.”

Jenny Schecter is played by Mia Kirshner on The L Word, a television series that revolves around the lifes of a group of lesbian & bisexual women living in Los Angeles. While the character of Jenny was voted “Most Hated” on the show, you can’t deny that the girl can dress. With a penchant for mod dresses, vintage fur coats & sparkly accessories, she plays the part of the tortured artist beautifully.

What she wears:
Ripped black stockings, denim miniskirts & low-cut Converse. A messy bun with sparkly diamanté stud earrings & a camel-coloured trench, worn with knee-high brown boots. Vintage dresses & a super-short haircut. A loose white t-shirt with braces.

What we can learn from Jenny’s style:
Jenny isn’t afraid to portray different sides of her personality through what she wears. As a writer, she is always playing with characters & expression, & this continues through to her wardrobe. Jenny shows us that you don’t have to stick to one style, you can feel free to experiment & be different people if you want to. Some days you might want to be slick, while others you want to be feminine or just plain decadent — & that’s okay. In fact, it’s to be encouraged. Keep ‘em guessing!

4. June Miller

“I’ve done the vilest things… the foulest things. But I’ve done them… superbly.”

While June is not entirely fictional, what I’m actually referring to is her part as played by Uma Thurman in the vastly underrated film Henry & June — an adaptation of the book of same name by Anais Nin. June was married to Henry Miller, but also involved in lesbian relationships with artist Jean Kronski & later, Anais Nin (who had an affair with Henry too).

Uma’s character was dressed by Yvonne Sassinot de Nesle, & in the film, it’s not so much what she wears but how she wears it that really makes her come alive. Her clothing is an exquisite extension of her personality; it serves to make her a richer & more dynamic character. Her trappings are like a marinade that help to bring out her subtle flavours.

What she wears:
Long skirts, dishevelled stockings, a loose bun. A ballerina-wrap cardigan, red nails & kohl around the eyes. Fingerwaves, silver bracelets, a black velvet cloak. A silk slip. Lace-up Oxfords & a scarf on her head. Cigarettes & sheets.

What we can learn from June’s style:
Your clothing can help cultivate a mood — so don’t be afraid to be dramatic! Dress to suit your personality: pull the best parts of yourself out & extend them through coats, skirts & accessories. It is much more mysterious to cover up than to show it all off. Integrate your clothing into your lifestyle — use it to seduce or confuse or bewilder people. Be unashamedly yourself.

3. Cher Horowitz

“Do you know what time it is?!”
“A watch doesn’t really go with this outfit, Daddy!”

Cher Horowitz was played by Alicia Silverstone in what is arguably the best teen movie of all time: Clueless. Written by Amy Heckerling, it follows Cher’s transformation from a shallow & selfish girl into one who is, well, a little more mature & well-rounded. Really though, the reason people love Clueless is that the characters are so easy to relate to, the lines are really snappy & it is pretty much the ultimate feel-good movie.

Plus, I have eternal love for anyone who says something like this…

“So okay, I don’t want to be a traitor to my generation & all but I don’t get how guys dress today. I mean, come on, it looks like they just fell out of bed & put on some baggy pants & take their greasy hair — eww — & cover it up with a backwards cap & like, we’re expected to swoon? I don’t think so!”

What she wears:
Cher is a teenager, & she dresses accordingly. She loves miniskirts & short dresses, knee-high socks, cute hats & bags that match her ensemble. Cher is an accessory maniac & thinks way outside the box — in one scene she tote a marabou-topped pen which goes perfectly with what she’s wearing. In another, she snaps yellow bubble gum, which is the exact shade of the rest of her clothing. She doesn’t do “casual” & always looks immaculate.

What we can learn from Cher’s style:
Play with proportion — knee socks worn with miniskirts & long shirts looks brilliant & attracts the eye. Don’t be afraid to match; it’s easy & looks fantastic. (I think all that “don’t be too matchy-matchy” hype has really skewed & confused people’s style.) Healthy hair is one of the best accessories, & faux fur never goes out of style. Though I would stop at matching my bubble gum to my outfit…

2. Blair Waldorf

Serena: “How’s your mom doing with the divorce?”
Blair: “Great. So my dad left her for another man… she lost fifteen pounds & got an eye-lift. It’s been good for her.”

Portrayed by Leighton Meester in the show Gossip Girl, Blair is the ultimate preppy icon. While outward appearances secure her place as an upper-class darling, behind that she rules her fellow classmates with an iron fist. She is a girl that you just don’t cross, because she has the power & ability to stomp you into oblivion. She is also painfully well-dressed.

What she wears:
Blair maintains her conservative persona by not letting a lot of skin show — except for when she’s performing a striptease, of course. I think I am yet to see Blair in trousers — she only ever wears skirt or dresses. She is a fan of high-necked garments, elegant detailing, cherry red lips & high heels. She is the Cher Horowitz of the new generation: she loves to match, wear new trends (turban, anyone?) & rock perfection like no other.

What we can learn from Blair’s style:
Dressing in a preppy, sophisticated way doesn’t have to be boring. Use unexpected pops of colour, unusual textures & fabulous accessories to freshen your ensemble. Headbands are always appropriate, & nude lips are sinful. Wear fantastic nightwear. Don’t dress to be sexy, dress to be stylish.

1. Carrie Bradshaw

“Here. Swear. Swear on Chanel.”

Carrie is the quintessential style icon for anyone who refuses to be pigeon-holed into a “look”. Her style is ever-changing, evolving, & she expresses herself through what she wears. While some of her looks could be labelled feminine, retro, sleek or street chic, she defies categorisation. A true fashion lover, she is known for saying “shopping is my cardio” & spending $40,000 on shoes.

She was dressed by Patricia Field & Rebecca Weinberg in what I think was one of the great feats of styling. Sex & The City was the kind of show that people would watch just for the clothes, even if they disliked the characters. While a lot of what Carrie wore was way out there, I also like to think that she inspired a new group of women to start dressing up more, & to have fun with their clothes — not to view them as just a necessary evil.

What she wears:
I think “what doesn’t she wear?” is perhaps a better question! She rocks blonde & brunette, with her hair worn wavy, straight, in twin buns or tucked under a hat. She loves high heels, vintage shopping & Oscar de la Renta. She teams a Birkin with a waistcoat, purple with grey & a pop of lime green, high heels with tracksuit pants, a basketball singlet with a straw fedora. She wears a black pleather one-shouldered dress with a huge white flower pinned to it. She dons a Halston trenchcoat with great Jackie O sunglasses. She rocks an oversized white men’s business shirt & belts it around the middle. She wears knee-high argyle socks & high heels. In Los Angeles, she even wears two different coloured shoes…

What we can learn from Carrie’s style:
There are no mistakes, only learning opportunities. As we change, we should allow our wardrobes to evolve with the same ease & grace that we allow ourselves. Keep everything that fits & flatters you, because you’ll never know when you might find something that goes with it perfectly. Dress appropriately but do it with a point of difference. Don’t be afraid of hats, huge earrings, strange bags or vintage shopping — all it takes is a little confidence.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Dali Atomicus

[ 26 January 2008, 16:52 ]

“Dali Atomicus” by Philippe Halsman.

This photograph was shot live. It took 26 attempts, & over five hours to get it to look like this. Halsman would count, & on ‘four’, Salvador Dali would leap in the air, three assistants would throw cats, one other assistant would chuck the bucket of water, & Halsman’s wife would hold the chair as Halsman took the picture.

Beautiful.

“One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams. “ — Salvador Dali

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Hair Extensions

[ 18 January 2008, 18:02 ]

Note: I am in the incredibly fortunate position of having Wildilocks as a sponsor, & do not pay directly for services received. Please read my disclaimer for more information!

I have always been the girl with short hair. Since I was about ten years old, it has never been longer than my shoulders. I had a bob for years, standard young gawth fare — blunt & blue-black with a ruler-straight fringe. As I got a bit older, I started to experiment with it more: I shaved back my hairline, bleached the hell out of it, coloured it blue green purple red pink white, shaved one side of my head, teased it into beehives, backcombed it into neon-coloured quiffs & hid it under scarves & hats when it was being intolerable. But it never grew longer than my shoulders. I was always too fickle, forever wanting a change — I never had the time (or patience) to grow it out.

Recently though, I’ve been lusting for long hair. I love the look of long hair under a headscarf or turban, & I often find that if my hair isn’t doing it for me & I’m wearing glasses, hiding my hair under a scarf just makes me look like I’m terminally ill. The idea of extensions had crossed my mind, but as far as I knew, most places that did extensions only stocked them in wavy curly blonde. I also thought that synthetic hair would start to look cheap really quickly, & I didn’t want that kind of nightmare on my hands.

My friend Joel stayed with me recently & while he was in town, he introduced me to a friend of his, a woman called Cass. Cass owns Wildilocks, a hairdressing company with salons in Perth (Base808) & Melbourne (The LockWorks). We visited her at her shop & I looked around excitedly. First of all — the front counter was stocked with every colour of Special Effects hair dye (my favourite brand EVER)! They had New Rock boots stacked in a corner! The girls behind the desk were busy spinning colourful hair into dreadlocks, & Peaches was playing on the stereo. I felt as if I had arrived. I felt as if I could practically taste the possibilities!

A couple of weeks later, I went in to see Cass & have a consultation. I had decided that I wanted long hair, for once & for all, & I wondered what they could do for me. While I did initially want a full head of hair, because the back of my hair was so short, Cass told me that if I got a full head done, I would have to comb down my hair all the time so that where the extensions were attached wouldn’t show. I’m not actually very high maintenance, & I decided I couldn’t be bothered doing that, so she suggested that we extend the front, sides & the two long pieces at the back & go from there. I said yes please & she booked me in.

I arrived at Wildilocks at 1pm, bearing my chocolate vegan cupcakes with lavender icing. It’s my patented ultra-smooth move, haha — & they were very well-received! I was shown to a chair & introduced to Kat, a woman with amazing multicoloured wool dreads. We talked about what we were going to do. I hadn’t thought about it before I arrived, but I had quite a lot of regrowth, so we decided that we should deal with that. I told her that normally, because my hair is so dark, it requires two applications of bleach & a toner to get it down to a point where it can be coloured. Usually one application of bleach leaves my hair horrendously orange. Anyway, Kat applied the bleach & didn’t use tinfoil like people normally do, instead she used little plastic insulating papers. They kept my head very toasty, much more effective than tinfoil! She also mixed a treatment into the bleach to stop it from hurting my scalp — & I didn’t feel a thing. After a while, she came over to check my progress. She rinsed off my hair — & gave me the most incredible scalp massage of my life — & when I looked in the mirror, my roots were SUPER blonde. Wow, wow, wow. Wow! I have never had bleach work that well & not even hurt me at all!

After they dried me off, they applied the Special Effects. We used some Wildflower, some Blue Velvet & a little bit of Fishbowl — Cass said that Fishbowl helps the blue fade to a better colour. As I sat there, soaking up the dye, Kat & Nicole got to working dyeing my extensions. The extensions are human hair, so they hold colour in exactly the same way as my hair, & when the colour starts to fade (which will take ages, but will happen eventually), it will all change at the same pace. 45 minutes later they rinsed me off, gave me another incredible scalp massage, dried my hair & started to attach my extensions.

Cass has a really amazing system of attaching extensions, the likes of which I’ve never seen before (or even heard of). She used a bead to attach the extension to my hair, then used pliers to flatten it so that the extension stayed put. Very cool! Cass started on the back of my head & moved around to one side, & enlisted Kat & Nicole to help out on the other side. I was surprised at how quickly they got it done — I’m pretty sure it took less than an hour. As my locks started to appear, I felt like Lady Godiva with hand-maidens working at her side. I kept eyeballing myself in the mirror, trying not to grin ear to ear the entire time! I did exclaim & squeal a lot though. Kat said, “I have the coolest job ever”, & if everyone responds like I do, I believe her!

Eventually I had enough hair, but it was very long, & so we decided to trim it off a bit. Nicole cut it in a very steep a-line, quite short at the back graduating to a lot of length at the front. I wriggled excitedly in my chair & eyeballed myself a whole lot more. Cass gave me a sheet of instructions for looking after my hair (put it in loose braids to sleep, how to wash it, etc.) & I swooshed off into the evening! I stared at myself in practically every window on the street, & when I got home my boyfriend’s mouth dropped open.

I slept with braids in last night & today the thrill of it all is still huge. I absolutely love them, they look fantastic, they are versatile & great quality & I’m totally over the moon.

Best of all — Wildilocks is offering a 15% discount off all services at The LockWorks to any iCiNG reader until the 8th of February! You just have to mention that you read my site. A little gift from me to you. Mwah!

Thank you SO much, Wildilocks! As long as I am in Melbourne, I will never stray! I pledge my undy(e)ing devotion!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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New Hair!

[ 17 January 2008, 20:59 ]

Oh… my… god.

Words cannot describe how much I love it.

...But this picture comes close.

I haven’t had long hair since I was 10! I feel like an elf queen or manga girl! GURGLE! The excitement is palpable!

It has been a long day but it has been SO worth it. All the deets on my experience tomorrow!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Tarina Tarantino Interview

[ 5 January 2008, 14:28 ]

I recently had the opportunity to interview the inimitable Tarina Tarantino, jeweller extraordinaire! Here are five quick questions & her delightful answers…

Q: Tell me how living in Los Angeles influences what you do. How different do you think your jewellery would be if you worked from New York?
A: I love both cities & am inspired by both in different ways. Of course, L.A. is my home & I get lots of inspiration from this colourful city. On my way to work I get to see — seriously — some of the most beautiful street graffiti, then there is the gorgeous architecture in downtown LA & of course the sun makes everything sparkle!

Q: What’s your personal fashion direction going to be like for this winter?
A: It’s all about cute winter coats, I have them in every colour! My favourite one right now is an ice-cream yellow vintage London Fog rain coat.

Q: Whose style or aesthetic do you admire? What’s your advice for people who are still trying to develop their own look?
A: Try to find someone who will tell you the truth about what looks good on you when you go shopping. Sometimes we wear things that are not flattering because we are trying to hide our flaws, & we end up looking frumpy. Don’t be afraid to take risks — if you love a certain colour make it your signature. You don’t have to dye your hair pink like me, but when you find a colour that looks good on you there is nothing wrong with putting a lot of that colour into your wardrobe.

Q: With all the pink deliciousness of your work, do you ever get saccharine-overload? Is your home, for example, a paradigm of Zen calm? Or does the pink follow you everywhere?
A: Hahahaha! I love this question as people are always surprised when they visit my house. I think that people expect me to live in a gingerbread house covered in candy or something, but it is actually more mid-century with a cosy twist. My office on the other hand has light pink walls… they help to keep me calm!

Q: What’s the best compliment you have ever received?
A: When I see a stranger walking down the street wearing one of my pieces. The greatest compliment is when someone chooses to buy one of my designs, wears it & loves it. My customers are my celebrities & I have amazing customers!

& also, a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Edith, winner of the Tarina Tarantino three-row neon buddha cuff bracelet!

Thank you so much Tarina! xxx

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Fashion & Style Predictions: 2008

[ 2 January 2008, 17:22 ]

The Age, a Melbourne newspaper, recently published their fashion predictions for 2008. Their list of “must haves” are in bold, & my thoughts, suggestions & tips are underneath.

Body con
By this, they mean “body contouring garments” — anything which clings tightly to the body or is form-fitting. Of course, the very notion of this sends women across the world into a panic, & rightly so. Very few people can make it work. It’s almost enough to make you put down the truffles & run screaming to the gym. To slither with dignity into the body con trend, I recommend you only wear one piece of close-fitting clothing at a time. If you have a shapely booty, perhaps wear a body con skirt, while if you have arms, a bust & abs to kill for, a slender cut shirt or top is probably your best bet. I also heartily recommend buying yourself at least one piece of shaper underwear. It’s the secret of models & well-dressed fashionistas everywhere.

The waist
Yes, this is from last season. Regardless, the waist is here to stay. If you don’t have a belt that showcases your waist at its best, then it’s time to get one. If belts don’t turn your crank, you can always improvise with a fabric belt, a colourful obi or even a man’s tie. This is all great news for womanly figures & hourglass shapes, & almost… maybe… possibly… summons a shift away from the boyish, androgynous figures women have been starving themselves to achieve for years! Fantastic!

Purple
The colour of royalty, homosexuality & Prince is making a comeback in a major way. It’s been blasted all over the catwalks, from Lanvin to Comme des Garcon & all the way to Pucci, in every hue imaginable: violent violet, lascivious lavender, punchy plum & apoplectic amethyst. If the idea of head to toe purple makes you feel a bit batty — though it can be done to fabulous effect — snap up accessories in the aristocratic hue & wear them with neutrals, reds, yellows or greens.

Rockabilly
Full skirts, leather jackets & lots of plaid are on the cards, too — but as with any other defined style of dress, select a couple of elements only to avoid looking too “costumey”. Since I know that we all secretly wish to be one of the Pink Ladies (or the T-Birds), I suggest watching Grease for a splash of inspiration — & some ideas on what not to do.

The blazer & tuxedo jacket
Balenciaga brought this back recently & it’s a beautiful thing — especially worn with a colourful scarf tucked in under the front. The tuxedo jacket is more sleek than the blazer, & I’ve seen gorgeous versions in lots of stores around here, especially MNG (aka Mango). Both jackets are fantastically versatile & will make an amazing addition to your wardrobe. I recommend a single-button tuxedo jacket for simplicity’s sake, & for the daring & gender-bending, it is a major component of “Le Smoking“, seen below in this iconic photograph by Helmut Newton.

Hippie prints & plaids
I really blame Ms Rachel Zoe for this one — as well as the maxi-dress. Not that it’s a bad thing, more that her influence is super-obvious! She is a major fan of long, 70’s-inspired dresses with crazy prints & splashes of colour. The Age advises wearing these all in a huge orgy of colour & pattern madness, but I don’t. It’s really hard to do with panache. I think the best way to make it work is get your hands on a great sleeveless maxi-dress that shows your neck & shoulders to maximum effect. Pair with simple metallic or jewelled sandals, bunches of bracelets, big sunglasses & a headscarf for super casual chic.

Grey Gardens chic
I wrote about this in June, & then started experimenting with the look on July 3rd last year! Stick with me, kid, I’ll show you right! If you haven’t seen Grey Gardens yet, hop to it! It’s one of the most intriguing, creepy & unsettling movies ever, as well as being incredibly aesthetically inspiring. A remake of it is due out this year, with Drew Barrymore starring as Little Edie — & you will need to have seen the original in order to appreciate the remake!

The waistcoat
Yet another trend kicked off by Kate Moss. Waistcoats & vests are ALL over the place at the moment, & a good wardrobe staple. They can be worn over tees & collared shirts, as well as adding an extra layer of interest to a dress or under a coat. Before you rush out & pick one up, however, I strongly suggest reviewing your current wardrobe & thinking about what you could wear it with. I find that a waistcoat works best with trousers, & if you don’t wear trousers often (like me), you might find your options are limited.

Other notable mentions

1940s fit
Thanks, Dita! Look for pronounced shoulders, nipped-in waists, pencil skirts & anything that makes you wiggle while you walk. Bonus points for seamed stockings.

Gladiator sandals
Thanks, Mary-Kate! Since they were seen on her little trotters, gladiator sandals have started appearing in all kinds of shoe shops for all sorts of prices. My money is on “passing fad”, so don’t splurge too much unless you really want to!

Lace-up heels & brogues
If you don’t know that lace-up heels (often called Oxfords) are “in” by now, you must have had your head under a rock… or been in hospital. That’s okay, though! Just to get you up to speed: lace-up heels are “in” & they’re totally sexy. Great worn with black stockings, skater skirts (another trend), pencil skirts, tailored pants & anything with a bit of volume. You can take your pick of styles, too, since every designer & his dog has jumped enthusiastically on the bandwagon. Here — have a look!

High-waisted skirts & trousers
This is a carry-over from 2007, but strangely enough, I’m not seeing a lot of it on the street. Waistlines have risen, definitely — there are far fewer butt-cracks on display these days (hooray!), but I have yet to see anyone in the street rocking an extremely high waist.

Berets, turbans & headscarves
The turban I bought from Sportsgirl some time last year was recently reduced to TWO DOLLARS, so it is safe to assume that in Australia at least, this is a trend for the daring & fashion editors only. I also haven’t seen anyone else in the street wearing a beret, turban or headscarf (except for my friend Nadia, who does berets rather well). It’s okay, but it does sort of make me feel like the only member of the turban fan club.

Flared jeans & trousers
Yay! Yay! Witness my delight! I love a good flared trouser, & believe me, when skinny jeans were the only thing on the denim radar, I couldn’t buy anything with even the slightest flare. Finally, finally the tide is turning & I will once more be able to buy jeans which flatter my figure! It’s a miracle! Celebrate good times, come on!

Shirt dresses
A shirt worn as a dress is pretty much what I wore all last summer. A long bedshirt will do, though they can be hard to get your hands on — a better option is a large man’s business shirt, belted at the waist & accessorised with high heels, a spray tan & relaxed hair.

Cleavage
Dear girls who often bare your décolletage to the world,
Please start applying sunscreen to your chest before going out. Otherwise it will end up wrinkly, & that is one area you do not want to age prematurely.
Love, Gala.

“Rock chic meets nu grave”
I swear to God I am not making this up. I don’t really know what this means. I think I am glad.

Tights
Rock the Edie Sedgwick look & wear black tights with everything. It adds instant polish & really helps to pull an outfit together.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Fetish Wear

[ 31 December 2007, 12:39 ]

“I was wondering if you would write an article on fetish dressing. I always find fetish dressing comes off looking extremely tacky and “goth” looking which of course is not the way I want to look. I’d like to be able to incorporate items such as platform “hooker heels”, bondage corsets, pvc, etc. into a more neutral or even girly wardrobe.”

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. There is such a proliferation of cheap “fetish” gaments available, & sometimes it can seem like that’s the only way to make it work. Thankfully, one need not resort to “adult shops” that smell funny & are filled with men in trenchcoats & not much else! You can buy beautiful high-end fetish items online from companies like Coco de Mer, JT’s Stockroom & Madame S.

A lot of designers have also embraced fetish style & made it their own, with high fashion touches — which is great news.

I have to say, though, that while “hooker heels” may look alluring, & cost so little that it’s hard to say no, usually as soon as you wear them for any length of time, you will understand the price, & be wailing “no” all the way down the street. There’s nothing wrong with experimenting with the cheap stuff at first, so you can see whether it’s a style that is going to suit you or not — but if you want to keep it up, I suggest upgrading to the good stuff soon after.

I tend to think that there are a few pieces of criteria to make fetish dressing stylish rather than tacky.

Buy good quality pieces
It’s very easy to go to an adult shop & stock up on PVC trousers, Frankenstein-esque boots & spiked collars — but the reason it doesn’t look good is because you’re basically wearing a whole lot of garbage. PVC doesn’t breathe & you will end up a sweaty mess. In order for it to look more stylish & less goth, you need to buy things which are well made & will last. They must be made with high quality fabrics. Keep your eyes open for handbags or shoes with a PVC finish, anything with an extraneous buckle, things which are spikey, slinky, or exceptionally well-tailored.

Restrain yourself (hee hee)
If you want to give the appearance of being a kinky mistress (or whatever), it’s better to be subtle. You don’t need to walk around in ass-less chaps & a pair of thigh-high boots — it’s too obvious. You want people to give you sideways glances; you want people to have to work at it to figure you out. It’s always best to keep them guessing, & far more alluring. So, when you’re putting your fetish look together, only have a couple of pieces which allude to your cruel & deviant ways. Also, when you’re dressing like this, remember to show off ONE great asset at a time. If your top is all about cleavage, then don’t also show a mile of leg. Retain some modesty — it is much more alluring & stylish.

Do you
Remember — you are not pretending to be someone else, or wearing a costume — you are still you. While it can be fun to get into evil mistress character, it’s not Hallowe’en, & there’s a fine line between being stylish & ridiculous. By this, I mean: keep your make-up light. Don’t pull your hair back in an overly severe manner. Don’t be tempted to load your arms with leather gauntlets or draw angry black slashes around your eyes. Wear your favourite perfume — not Eau de Dungeon. Be charming; smile!

I went to my most recent crush, Polyvore, to see what I could whip up for you… Pun intended.

Helmet Lang crochet back sweater, Vanessa Bruno pleat detail skirt, Fendi large B buckle belt, Alexander McQueen patent Elvie bag, Balenciaga heels, sequinned eye mask from Monsoon, black riding crop, two-finger silver ring.

Derek Lam satin smock dress worn with Christian Louboutin studded mary jane platforms. Aren’t those shoes incredible?! Shoegasm! If this looks too simple, however, you could probably throw some white latex stockings into the mix to spice it up.

If you want to stock your wardrobe with a few stylish fetish essentials, you might want to seek out…
Thigh-high (or over-the-knee) boots
A waist cincher or corset (those crazy old goths have the best information on that)
Latex stockings or lamé leggings from American Apparel
A collar of some description — but no spikes, please!
A figure-enhancing pencil skirt
High-heel Oxfords or ankle boots with interesting detailing — buckles, buttons, straps etc.
Fishnet stockings
A big belt that sits on the waist that looks more like a saddle
Driving gloves
Chunky rings

& just for fun… What’s in my (fetish) handbag?!

Chloé Heloise patent tote, ‘whip me beat me bite me’ patch, ballgag, blindfold, handcuffs, whip, cat mask, Betsey Johnson python driving gloves, Kleenex (boo hoo!) & a Polaroid camera, for capturing those… delicate moments.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Gibbous

[ 30 December 2007, 22:41 ]

I thought I would introduce you to a little clothing house called Gibbous.

They say,

“modern culture has lost all scent of a soul. mass production & the disposability of fashion & style have ripped away the purity of clothing. sweatshop labor infuses garments with the stench of slavery. we are fighting against this epidemic with needles & thread. we believe clothes can have souls. we believe clothes should really be worn. lovingly mended, kept a lifetime & passed down. they can be dear as an old friend or childhood home.”

Some of their precious things are sold in stores — namely, Twill in Portland & Ruby 2 & Swankety Swank in San Francisco… but it’s easiest to buy online. At the moment they are selling cozy arm-warmers & bonnets — perfect for wriggling into this winter.

Gibbous are selling more than just clothing & accoutrements. They are peddling whimsy & a way of life. Their clothing is infused with the scent of freedom, their photographs are indulgent & fantastical. Everything about Gibbous is delicate & intangible.

I love their aesthetic, I love the messiness & unreality of it. Here are some of their pictures. Feast with your eyes!

Now, go & powder your hair, tear your stockings, & lie in a field somewhere!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Things I Love Thursday

[ 20 December 2007, 10:13 ]

Photo key:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

New musique! Our friend Joel, DJ extraordinaire, stayed with us for a few days & left me a whole lot of music to listen to. My favourite tracks at the moment are Riot In Belgium – La Musique (Ooh Ee & Loot remix), Klaxons – Gravity’s Rainbow (Guns’n‘bombs Freakout remix) & Justice – D.V.N.O. (LA Riots Bootleg).

Sofia Coppola — I just think she’s beautiful & amazing, especially in a suit. I also have a thing for this picture.

Cleaning & organising! I took my own advice yesterday & cleaned out my desk & bathroom cabinet(s). Needless to say, I threw out bags of stuff. Everything looks so much better! I feel empowered by cleanliness! Hooray!

Sweet little trinkets. My friend Yvonne recently sent me a tiny silver ring with a cupcake on the front. It is so small I’ve taken to wearing it on my middle finger, between my fingernail & the main joint. I adore it!

Gearing up for my Christmas vacation! Just un petit holiday, malheureusement — a few days. But I know how to make the most of the time, & it will be spent relaxing & getting pampered, spending time with my love & planning my moves for 2008. I swear, I am almost looking forward to quality time with my Moleskine more than I am the gamut of massages, facials, mud wraps etc. I have planned! What a geek, seriously! (I will still be posting while I’m away, so don’t fret! I love you too much to abandon you like that!)

Photocopying at the library! I’ve been visiting the library & making photocopies of pictures I like to clip to the line of fairy lights across the iCiNG Bowl. I want new pictures for the new year, to go with my new vision! In case you hadn’t figured it out by now, when the new year rolls around, I like to wipe EVERY slate imaginable!

Fresh flowers — I cannot begin to tell you how much pleasure the Christmas lilies on my desk have brought me this past week. They smell glorious & look fantastic. Crisp, clean & glamorous. Beautiful.

Dramatic aesthetics, not dramatic lifestyles. What else can I say?!

Paying attention to my appearance. Okay, honestly, I always do this, but at the moment I’ve been paying more attention than usual. I just had my eyebrows done, & they’re blue-black this time — très intense! I have a matching mani- & pedicure — Russian Navy by OPI with holographic glitter. & I just bought some MAC Studio Fix concealer, which I really love, much more than their other concealers. Like, it actually conceals things! YAY!

New York dreaming. Forever & always. Mmmm, yes. The Gramercy Park Hotel. The Plaza. The Soho House. Hot dogs. Wide streets & jaw-dropping skyscrapers. Gossip Girl continues to fuel my obsession, but oh, let’s just say I have a secret plan which makes me hyperventilate… (I had a dream about New York last night which was SO EXCITING that I had to wake up really early. Eeeeee!)

Honourable mentions: River by Joni Mitchell (best Christmas song ever); big hoop earrings; lists on index cards; avoiding the mall!; people who push aesthetic boundaries; charming people on the telephone; colourful shoes; a very optimistic Ebay watchlist; secret code languages.

“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” — Henri Frederic Amiel

Alright, you! Out with it! This is the second-to-last Things I Love Thursday for 2007, so make it count, baby! Tell me what you’re grateful you learned this year. Write about your friends, your home, your love affairs, your amazing lasagne-making skills. Go! Scrawl it with all the power of your pulsating heart!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Tomboy Boot Camp

[ 12 December 2007, 14:26 ]

“I was a tomboy as a child, then as a teenager I had an ubercasual, slightly androgynous style (jeans/tees/trainers). But now I’m rapidly approaching 20 and desperate to look and feel feminine and sophisticated. I tried to throw myself in at the deep end by buying a couple of pretty skirts, but I feel overdressed and awkward so I’ve never actually worn them outside my flat. How can I ease myself gradually into this girly stuff (without feeling like a drag queen)? And how can I look feminine and still be casual for uni?”

Consider androgyny
Dresses aren’t for everyone, & there is no point forcing yourself to dress in a way that doesn’t suit your personality or lifestyle. If you’re most comfortable dressing like a tomboy, consider upgrading to a more androgynous appearance. There is nothing wrong with looking androgynous — in fact, I think it’s an incredibly sexy style. The difference between being a tomboy & a hot androgynous girl-thing is the polish. Tomboys don’t brush their hair or they just throw it back into a ponytail; androgynous girls have great haircuts which they tousle to make it look like they just finished having sex. Tomboys don’t wear make-up; androgynous girls use a bit of foundation to even out their complexion & smudge some pencil around their eyes to make them look smoky & mysterious. Tomboys wear ill-fitting jeans & a baggy t-shirt; androgynous girls wear fitted black jeans or tailored black pants & a skinny-cut business shirt or interesting vintage tee. Do you see the difference? Androgyny requires effort, as dressing “femme” does — it’s just a variation.

Work with your own style
If jeans & a t-shirt are what you’re comfortable in, use that as a base to start from. You don’t have to wear floral tea dresses & knit blankets for everyone you meet! If you like to wear pants, then do that — just approach it differently. Make sure your pants fit you. Pick a cut that is flattering, that makes you look tall & slender. Check out your booty in the mirror — a good pair of pants are like a booster bra for your bum, rather than a minimising bandage. Instead of buying big, loose hoodies, buy a cardigan that reaches your hips, a vintage tuxedo jacket, or a v-neck cashmere sweater. Basically, think of your original style, but make it luxe. That means quality fabrics & flattering cuts.

Dabble with jewellery
You don’t have to start walking around like you own a diamond mine, but a little bit of jewellery is a really nice accent. Think of it as a personal signature. Of course, given that you probably won’t be wearing much of it, make sure that you buy something you absolutely love. Your skin tone will tend to dictate whether gold or silver suits you better. Gold is good for warm tones (people with olive skin, for example), while silver, white gold or platinum tends to look better on anyone who is pale. A fine chain with a couple of charms on it makes for a really nice signature necklace, just like a couple of plain bangles or a simple ring will. You don’t need to go for the gaudy stuff unless you really want to. (I can never resist, but then, that’s just my style.) I always think it’s worth spending the money on good jewellery. You get what you pay for, & if you buy something that is good quality, it will last you a really long time.

Buy one skirt
This step is optional, but if you do want to venture into more feminine pastures, buying one skirt is a good way to start. The reason for only buying one skirt is that it is really non-threatening. If you end up never wearing it, it’s only one item — not five, so there’s less guilt about seeing it in your closet. Plus, if you buy well, you’ll be able to coordinate it with lots of things in your wardrobe. I would suggest going for a pencil, maxi or pleated knee-length skirt in a neutral colour like black or grey. You can wear any of those with a fitted t-shirt, singlet, vest or business shirt (loosened at the collar with rolled-up sleeves, please!).

Upgrade your footwear
If you only wear sneakers & would like to continue in that grand tradition, that is totally cool — but just step it up a bit. Buy a pair of decked-out sequin Converse, or glitter customised Nikes. Check out Sneaker Freaker for the latest information on the sweetest kicks. Alternatively, if you prefer boots, just move higher up the boot food chain. I am a huge fan of Frye boots, though a great pair of cowboy boots are always cool & very versatile. Now, for the really daring — high heels! Start with a low-ish heel, & see how you go. There’s no point in buying a 6” heel & then breaking your ankle! You can also try a kitten heel to start, though I agree with Victoria Beckham when she says…

“I think a lot of women see them as the wearable compromise to high heels, but in fact they have none of the benefits of high heels yet also none of the casual ease of flats. High heels elongate your leg because they pull up your calf muscles; kitten heels make your muscles tense & swell up; high heels hoist you up; kitten heels make you slump. But most of all, they make your feet look bigger: they emphasise the feet by having them point downwards. There is nothing wrong with big feet but in this case they will look out of proportion to the rest of your body.”

Anyway, it’s your choice! Read How To Buy A Good Pair Of Shoes & How To Walk In High Heels before you set off on a shopping expedition!

Grooming is key
As I said above, the one thing that separates tomboys from everyone else is the grooming aspect. Grooming — to me, at least — means having a good haircut & looking after it, taking care of your skin, wearing a little bit of make-up & having neat nails. It also covers a gamut of little things, such as wearing clean clothes, fixing any holes or rips, not having your underwear show above your jeans, etc. Doing all these things might seem like a lot of effort, but really it’s just like any routine. You’ll get used to it & the benefits are enormous. I know that I always feel much more presentable (& therefore good about myself) when I have a great manicure & an immaculate haircut. It will be similar for you!

Get thee to a make-up counter
Go to a counter you like the look of (I recommend MAC & NARS), tell one of the assistants that you’re trying to bust out of your old tomboy habits, & ask them to help you. They will probably be delighted. Like Cher says in Clueless: “Ooh, project!” Get the assistant to make you up & observe what they’re doing. Ask lots of questions & don’t be afraid — most of these people are in make-up artistry because they love it & want to help other people. When it comes to purchasing, I recommend obtaining a bottle of foundation, some concealer, a tube of mascara & a black or brown eyeliner pencil. A separate brush for your foundation & concealer are a good idea too. Take your loot home & start experimenting!

Empty your pockets!
No, not just when you’re paying for your new purchases! Stop storing things in your pockets! It is unsightly & silly. Buy a bag that you like & start carrying things around in that, instead. When you buy it, look at the hardware (the metal clasps). Are they gold or silver? If you want to look put-together, the hardware on your bag should match the jewellery you wear. Just a little tip!

Outfit ideas

Cropped tuxedo jacket by Oli; Disney magic castle necklace; t-shirt by Imaginary Foundation; grey cigarette trousers by Topshop; CC Skye leather chain bracelet; Betseyville Glitterati roll satchel; gold python belt by V.B.H.; Kenzie ankle boots.

James Perse cashmere v-neck; wool & cashmere fringed scarf; Marc Jacobs padlock heart charm watch; Falke over-the-knee socks; RM Pandora shorts; chap ankle boots by Steve Madden.

Feminising your tomboy style is a gradual process. You’re not going to wake up one day & feel like it’s time to float away on a cloud of gossamer petticoats — it’s something you’ll (hopefully) continue to tweak as your style & life progresses. There’s no sense in forcing yourself to dress in a way that makes you feel ridiculous, so just make little changes & see how you go. You will make mistakes, but don’t let that scare you off. Just see it as a normal stumbling block on the way towards a more refined you!

Extra For Experts:
Clothes Shopping Tips
Fashion Help For Recovering Goths
Hand & Nail Care
How Wearing Make-Up Affects Your Career
Making Short Hair More Interesting
How To Choose A Flattering Haircut
The Essential Guide To Dressing For Your Shape

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Bed Head

[ 21 November 2007, 11:26 ]

Tomorrow morning, when you get out of bed,
Walk to the mirror & look at your head.

Though tempting to beat your hair to submission,
Take time to admire its wild composition.

For little you know, every night while you sleep,
Your hair is devising a secret treat.

So when you wake up, before you reach for the comb,
First stop to consider the mess on your dome.

While your instinctive reaction might be to scream “Ew!”,
Bedhead is a gift from the night time to you.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Beloved Aesthetics

[ 20 November 2007, 19:31 ]

Recently on one of my favourite Livejournal style communities, someone posted asking people what they thought was the least attractive look. Of course, it quickly turned nasty. There was a small backlash, with one person replying “Bad attitudes” (bravo!). But other than that, there was page upon page of people bitching. It was a true yawnfest.

Being negative is boring & pointless. It doesn’t enhance your life in any way. If we can learn to focus on the positive things as much as possible, our lives improve immensely.

“Let’s not be narrow, nasty, and negative.” — T. S. Eliot

In keeping with that, I thought I’d ask you all about your favourite looks on other people. Do you love girls with long red hair, or curvy women in jeans & heels? Do you have a weakness for tattooed Japanese boys, or for men in impeccable suits?

I’ll start!
I really adore girls with purposefully messed hair — teased hair, big fluffy dreadlocks or crazy manes. I love perfectly sleek bobs. I do, in fact, have a secret weakness for tattooed Japanese boys (especially if they also have stretched ears). I am huge on rolled-up shirt sleeves, regardless of sex. I girls in long fur coats & boys wearing pocket squares. I love unusual eyewear & vintage mini-dresses. I totally admire anyone who pulls off a look from a past era consistently — I don’t know how you do it, but I salute you! I cherish long sleeves which only show the ends of fingers. I flip my wig over men’s watches on women’s wrists. I think the world of anyone who wears a hat or who can rock a turban. & I want to smooch people who really look after their shoes.

Now, your turn! Let’s exalt together!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Preparatory Style

[ 19 November 2007, 16:53 ]

What is preparatory style? (Definition here.)

Preparatory style is something I have admired for a long time. I guess the reason I like it is because it’s so far removed from the way that I normally attire myself, but because it has such strong elements, I really respect it for what it is. When I was at school, I was forced to dress in a preppy style (white collared shirt, green tie, green kilt, black stockings, black shoes, green blazer), & even though I often rebelled against having to constantly tuck in my shirt, I kind of liked the simplicity of the look too.

There are a lot of people who look preppy but also dull. Turning you into a conservative clone is not the aim of this article! I think it is super important, regardless of the style in which you dress, to imbue your look with personal touches & striking individuality.

Let’s get one thing straight — done well, the prep look is incredibly hot. Healthy, athletic-looking people clad in perfectly-fitting natural fibres, like cotton, wool & leather, is really hard to beat. It’s also a very easy way to look chic & polished.

Essential elements

For anyone of either sex going for a preppy aesthetic, the following items are essential: Crisp collared shirts, v-neck cashmere sweaters, lace-up oxfords, scarves, vests for all occasions, classic sunglasses, a trenchcoat, riding boots (Frye do the best ones) & polo t-shirts. You could also carry a tennis racquet for bonus points. Another bonus point for oxfords in patent leather.

Girls, as usual, have a few more additional extras. Try experimenting with headbands, patterned legwear, skirts with pleats, well-fitted dresses, pearls, charm bracelets & cubic zirconia stud earrings (diamonds are so gauche).

Usually most prep dressing stays within a pretty plain palette — black, white, navy, red, grey. If you’re buying basics to supplement this look, it’s best to stick within these colours, & then if you want to don a yellow blazer or royal blue kilt, you’ll find that it probably goes quite well with the rest of your wardrobe.

Stripes are the preparatory holy grail. They are perfect. To do the look well, you should own at least one striped shirt or sweater, & a pinstriped vest, blazer or suit jacket. Argyle, polka dots, tweed & tartan all have their place as well. Preps also love emblems & crests. You can go totally nuts with this — they’re so cool, I just adore them.

It’s also important to have a great stock of basic items, like plain v-neck t-shirts, racerback singlets & collared t-shirts. (American Apparel is my favourite place for these.)

How to do it

One thing that sets prep style apart from other ways of dress is that things tend to be immaculately fitted to the body. If you’re going to rock this look, it is really really important that you buy clothing which is the right size for you. As well as the standard criteria of buying things which fit — look in a mirror; make sure you can move around in your clothing; check lengths; be sure that your clothing skims your body rather than clinging to it — you also need to think about layering. Preps love to layer! It is not uncommon to wear a shirt & a vest & a cardigan & a blazer, as well as a scarf. When you buy items like this, you need to consider what is likely to be worn under or over them. Make sure your vest will fit a shirt beneath it, for example. Buy a blazer with a bit of extra room so that you can wear it with a sweater. You get the idea. (More information on layering at How To Wear Layers Without Looking Like A Crazy Bag Lady!)

Just as the cut is important, so is the quality of what you’re buying. Don’t be tempted to buy 3 wool sweaters for $50 each — save your money & buy one which is fantastic quality but twice the price. It will pay for itself. You’ll get much more wear out of it, & it will look good for a lot longer than something cheaper. Even though these days we can buy clothing for a pittance, you truly do get what you pay for.

For girly prep style, it is hard to go past a good dress — one that fits you well — or a skirt with pleats. When I say a dress that fits you well, I mean something which draws attention to your best assets & skims over your flaws. By the way, to do prep style properly, drawing attention to your best assets does not mean major cleavage. Make the focus your neck, collarbone, forearms or legs. Choose one thing & showcase it. Don’t let it all hang out!

Putting together a preppy look is quite easy. Take a plain white v-neck t-shirt & match it with a pleated skirt. That’s your basic outfit, but then you can mix it up quite a lot. Throw a cardigan over the top. Wear knee-length socks & wingtip shoes or platform mary janes. Carry a pvc satchel & wear amazing glasses. Pull your hair up into a chignon & secure it with a brightly-coloured ribbon. Wear a stack of bracelets on one arm, or a silk scarf knotted around your neck. Accessories are the way to ensure your preppy look isn’t boring or stale.

Another way of mixing it up is to make one element slightly unusual. For example, if you’re a boy wearing a crisp shirt & v-neck cashmere sweater, instead of donning the standard khakis that would normally go with this look, you could try wearing long skinny jeans in a plain wash — like black. Or you could wear shorts that fall to the knee with a pair of slip-on trainers (Vans, for example). Don a fedora & you’re ready to go.

Some people feel really constricted & boring in a collared shirt. I understand, I feel the same way! Allow yourself to wear it in a relaxed manner — leave the top couple of buttons undone & always, always, always roll up the cuffs! Forearms are sexy, okay?

Putting it into practice

Here are some great pieces I’ve found online which will help you embrace the prep look!

Left to right: Moschino Cheap & Chic Quilted Applique Heart Gloves; Marc Jacobs button detail boots; Karen Walker Super Speed sunglasses; Ralph Lauren Large Stirrup Bracelet; Silk Lace Printed Scarf; Grandpa’s Pocket Watch Necklace; Oscar de la Renta Larrabe Frame Bag; Lux Lili Tuxedo Bomber; Sweater Earwarmers; Fedora Hat; Small Satchel Bag With Buckle; Tiffany & Co. Return to Tiffany Heart Tag Bracelet.

Left to right: Ralph Lauren Luxury Shetland Wool Crewneck (I love this in the power blue they have on the model. I wish more men would wear this colour! It is totally orgasmic!); Ralph Lauren Cashmere Jersey V-Neck; Ralph Lauren Lambswool Half-Zip Pullover. P.S. I don’t recommend tucking your trousers into your boots. I think it is a bit naff.

Left to right: Ralph Lauren Martine Long-Sleeved Shirt; Ralph Lauren Big Pony Mesh Dress; Ralph Lauren Adrianne rugby dress.

All of these pieces from Ralph Lauren would make excellent cornerstones of your preppy wardrobe. The styling above is a bit staid, but imagine, for example, the R.L. Martine Long-Sleeved Shirt with a pair of shorts or a skirt & Frye Engineer Lace-Up Boots! Yum.

When it comes to restyling the traditional prep look, your imagination & courageous spirit are your best assets. Well, that & your Visa! Try new things, especially if you think they won’t work — you never know, you could strike aesthetic gold!

Extra For Experts:
Gossip Girl Style
Gala’s Guide To Tennis Chic
Equestrian Chic

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Decorating A Room

[ 31 October 2007, 11:10 ]

1. Vivre Bohême, 2. C Deco, 3. Flea Market Style, 4. Chinoiseries, 5. Marie Claire Maison, 6. Baroque’N‘Roll, 7. Elle Deco, 8. Elle Deco, 9. domino magazine, 10. french-lilac bedroom, 11. 17.jpg, 12. scan, 13. bed

Lots of people have written to me recently, asking for tips on decorating their bedroom or their new apartment. While I am definitely not an expert — & a lot of the time my interior design “skillz” make me cringe — I do know a little bit, which I am more than happy to share!

I love bedrooms. I think it is part of my voyeurism. They are infinitely interesting to me. It is fascinating to me to see the way people put things together — the arrangement of furniture, the colours, the knick-knacks, the atmosphere. It is equally fascinating to see how people don’t put things together — haphazard, mis-matching, strange placement, old food in the corners.

I think bedrooms say a lot about their owner. If you don’t believe me, think about your own room (or even cast a glance around it). Is it dark & messy? Do you ever make your bed? Do you keep the blinds open at all times? (I’m guilty of that. Does this correlate with the fact that I’m an exhibitionist as well as a voyeur, or is it mere coincidence?) Are all your clothes stuffed in a closet or do you take care of them? Do you have anything pretty up on the walls or is your room pure function? You get the idea. I have become much tidier as time progresses, which I think is a pretty accurate reflection of my mental state. As I get it together, my environment follows suit. It makes sense.

So, how can you create a room that makes you feel comfortable, happy & at ease?

Choose a look
The easiest way to do this is to get your hands on some interior decorating magazines or books & start flicking. Take photocopies of the things you like best & create a mood board. Tricia Royal has some great tips on doing this (hers is about a fashion mood board but it is equally applicable to interior design!) & you can see thousands here.

If you find it hard to choose — & I always do — instead make a list of adjectives that describe your dream bedroom. For example, I would probably write: warm, light, colourful, juicy, inspiring, soft, quirky, vibrant. There are no wrong answers, so write anything you can think of. “Juicy” doesn’t have to be translated into something tangible, but it definitely gives me an idea about atmosphere, so it is a valuable thing to have on the list.

Think about what you will & won’t be able to live with. I love love love that overwrought super-excessive major-colours Moroccan look, but I know that living with it would drive me crazy. All that dusting & visual noise, argh! Similarly, the Marie Antoinette look might be a bit extreme if you’re on a budget. Work out a middle-ground that you’ll be able to achieve.

Pick a colour scheme
This is entirely up to you & the colours you choose will probably depend greatly on your mood board or theme. I advise caution for those of you who instinctively go for the dark colours — you old goth, you! Royal purple & inky blue are gorgeous but do you really want your entire room that colour? Maybe it would be nicer as an accent, say, along the skirting boards or on furnishings (lamps or cushions). As an example, my last apartment had white walls, while everything inside it was either black, white or hot pink. The bedspread & half of the chairs were black, half the chairs were white & so was the Flokati rug, & the throw on my bed as well as the lamps & cushions were all hot pink. It looked great, but an entire room that was black or hot pink would have been waaaaaay too much.

You also need to consider how those colours are going to go with the carpet, walls & the furniture you already have (if you don’t want to get rid of it).

Soft furnishings
Ooh, this is where it starts to get fun! Soft furnishings include things like duvet covers, rugs, blankets, cushions & curtains. You can go totally nuts on these & they add so much to a room. I personally think that shopping for bed linen is one of life’s pleasures, but then, I am a bit kooky like that. If you can afford to splurge on amazing sheets, you definitely should. It seems indulgent but the difference is palpable!

I love the way a throw looks over the end of a bed or a couch — it just adds another layer of colour & texture & deliciousness. Ditto lots of cushions — they’re comfortable & squishy & decadent. You can get such fun cushions these days. I have a sequinned one which I adore. Cushions are great because you can get all different sizes & types in shades of one colour, which looks brilliant. Not too “perfect” looking, a little bit mad but totally chic.

A rug cannot be underestimated if you have hideous carpet. It might be the one thing that saves your room from the Bad Taste Gallery O’ Horrors. They can be great under a coffee table & chairs, because it can help hold that area together while also seperating it from the rest of the room. It may also save your carpet if your uncoordinated drunken friends spill red wine everywhere — yes, it has happened to me!

Choose a feature
In any room, there is usually a focus. For most people it’s the bed, but if your room is large & contains your entire life, you could make it about something else. Say, your collection of typewriters or a beautiful chair. Work out how you can best display these things to their advantage. If you have a long, low bookcase, maybe your typewriters could go along the top, organised by colour. Or you could put a nice lamp next to your favourite chair, & a rug underneath it. If your room is relatively plain with not a lot of furniture, you could make the emphasis one of your walls. You could hang a huge mirror, put up lots of art or just empty frames of different shapes. It’s entirely up to you!

Organise your room according to feng shui
I wrote an article on it, you know! Click here!

Make a plan on paper
Draw an outline of your room, measure up your existing furniture & have a think about how you could rearrange your room to make the most of the space. Maybe you could swap the position of the bed & the couch, or the stereo & the computer. If you are really anal, you could make little cut-out pictures of the items (to scale) & then move them around your paper room to see what works. Moving furniture around can COMPLETELY transform a room, so spend a little time thinking about it!

Hit up IKEA
If you need a new bed, couch, rug or closet, IKEA is your best friend. (I had never been to IKEA before I moved to Melbourne, & it blew my mind!) Get one of their catalogues & use your room plan to see whether things would fit. I did this obsessively when we first moved into our apartment, because we had — literally — NO furniture. All we brought over were two beds & a stereo cabinet! We now have two couches, two armchairs, three desks, two chests of drawers, two bedside tables… & that’s just the large items! One thing I would advise, however, is that you go to IKEA with a list & a budget! It’s so easy to spend more than you were expecting.

Little things make all the difference
Beautiful candles, stacks of magazines, sequinned cushions & framed pictures all help to make the space more individual to you. I really believe you can never have enough of these things.

Scented candles, incense & essential oils are really important in a bedroom, seriously! The place where you sleep & dress & daydream should always smell fantastic — not like sweat or mould or stale air! How depressing! Candles are my favourite of these three things, because they look beautiful at the same time as diffusing a fabulous scent. I definitely have a soft spot for Nag Champa incense, though! Essential oils have different properties & effects on the mind, so find something that works for you. Even if you are using all of these things, I still recommend opening your windows & letting the place air out regularly!

If you’re after lovely vintage prints, there are people on Ebay who sell really gorgeous ones at reasonable prices. Have a gander at ImageSelect Framed Art & First Art Source. I am a sucker for old Vogue covers & they both have lots on offer. AllPosters.com is another one worth checking out. Remember to look at the size of what you’re buying, though!

Other little things that can spice up a room include: fairy lights (I like the clear ones), flowers & plants, antique bottles, paper crane mobiles, blackboards, decorative boxes for holding trinkets, aquariums, mosquito nets, beaded curtains, cookie jars full of sparkly treasures, pretty squabs for sitting on, folding screens, a nice tablecloth, hanging crystals (dancing rainbows, yay!), lanterns…

To avoid looking too cluttered, only display the things you really love.

Come up with innovative ways to display (or hide) things
If you’re an obsessive Polaroid fan, don’t just hide them in a drawer! Hang them from a mobile or cover a wall with them. Just think a little bit differently. Use pretty dresses you never wear hooked over the curtain rail to block the light. Similarly, when it comes to things that aren’t so attractive, work out a way to minimise their effect on the room. Hide your television in a cupboard or put your laptop in a fold-down writing desk. This will make your environment look much cleaner & more pleasant.

Other ideas:
If you’re allowed to (landlords/parents/grumpy partners), use a lick of paint to tart things up. You don’t have to live with hideous wood panelling — paint it white (or eggshell)! You can also use paint to counter a lack of natural light. If you have tiny windows & a dark purple room, it will look like Lord Gothyck’s Über Dark Chamber Ov Dark Gothyckness, no matter how many stuffed toys you have on your bed! If you suffer from dark furniture, you can paint that too.

It’s nice to have things in pairs if you can manage it. On either side of your bed, have a bedside table & a lamp. It looks very polished & balanced.

If you have a couch which you love but is starting to look a little worse for wear, consider having it reupholstered.

The one thing I think every bedroom needs is a great stereo. I would choose music over chairs every time (if I had to, though I’d rather not). Without my sub, I’m nothing!

If your room is little or dark, hang a mirror — other than the full-length one you use to look at your outfits in! They help create the illusion of space & bounce any light which comes into the room, so it will look much brighter.

Flea markets are a fantastic place to pick up furniture. You can get all sorts of things to suit your taste & budget. Remember to go early, wear sunscreen & comfortable shoes, & take cash!

Seek inspiration online. There are some great groups on Flickr — try Bedrooms, Domino Magazine, Interior, Interior Inspirations & Eclectic Interiors!

My number one tip for anyone who wants to dress up their living quarters is to experiment & not take it too seriously! If you approach it with a light heart & the attitude of a mad scientist, you’ll have so much fun as well as learning boatloads about what works & what doesn’t.

Making a space your own is something that develops over time, & seldom comes together in a day. Visit homeware shops & flea markets & browse Ebay regularly. Add to it continually & it will really start to feel like home.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Operation Athletic Bling

[ 22 October 2007, 11:03 ]

I recently bought a Camelbak waist-pack for when I exercise (running & cycling especially). For those of you who don’t know what a Camelbak is, they’re a company who make bags with big bladders inside them which you can fill with water. I used one last year at Burning Man & it was great. Anyway, when I’m trying to run, lugging a big bottle around is really irritating, & I also needed somewhere to put my keys. A Camelbak seemed like the perfect solution.

However, when it arrived from Ebay, I looked at with a critical eye. I liked the purple, but it just looked SO boring, so typical. I wanted to stamp my mark on it. I wanted to be able to pick it out from a line-up of Camelbak waist-packs. It was really lacking something, I thought.

I went on the hunt for materials, which ultimately consisted of 432 heart-shaped rhinestones & a bottle of craft glue, & then I got to work.

The finished result?

Ta-da! Running can be glamorous, you know. You don’t have to wear all black & grunt & groan inelegantly. If you have to exercise, you might as well do it in style. Don’t just exercise; accessorise!

I love this SO MUCH! I can’t even begin to tell you how much it fills me with glee. I feel like one of those toys from the 80’s covered in flashing jewels. It’s like my magical power-pack, transforming me from normal Gala to super-fit Gala! Woop woop! Showtime, Synergy!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Bow-Tie Ideas

[ 20 October 2007, 01:52 ]

Further to my outfit the other day, here is another way to wear a bow-tie…

Around your beehive, to secure those pesky fly-aways!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Hallowe'en Costumes

[ 14 October 2007, 17:30 ]

Like all reformed goths, I have a thing for Hallowe’en. It’s not the black & orange motif, or the cats with arched backs that do it for me so much, but more the idea that it’s a night to embrace all things scary, weird & creepy. I have always loved horror movies, & remember watching terrible films like Child’s Play — & reading Stephen King books — when I was 7 years old.

Which, of course, brings us to the fact that Hallowe’en is just around the corner. Two weeks away, in fact. The emails are rolling in. “My boyfriend & I have been invited to a Hallowe’en party & we would like to go as matching exotic cheeses but cannot find the right type of fromage for our personalities. HELP!” You get the idea.

I always find it kind of tricky to come up with some kind of costume. I am not that keen on resorting to the usual costuming options that girls my age tend to be so thrilled about, which is basically anything + a short skirt. According to Wikipedia, the most popular adult’s Hallowe’en costumes are, in order: witch, pirate, vampire, cat & clown. My suggestion would be to shy away from these ideas as much as possible. If you are going to dress as one of the aforementioned, just rock it as hard as possible. You want to do it well. Don’t just wear a pirate hat with your jeans. Do it every other day of the year if you like, just not on Hallowe’en!

Two years ago, I was an abducted schoolgirl. I wore a bloodied shirt & rope around my wrists & my friend Timmy gave me a fabulous (faux) black eye. Last year, I was Salvador Dali. I drew on a moustache, took some pictures & went to the video store. One of my proudest moments, at age 10, was my costume as a headless horseman — that’s me, above, on the right. But I am really a Hallowe’en amateur. I have seen some amazing things, & am always impressed by the level of people’s devotion to their costumes.

The following are but a few of the consistently amazing hallowe’en costumes of Ms. Roxanne Carter. I’ve been following her journal for years & I am always impressed by the effort she makes for Hallowe’en. She has an amazing closet, as well as a lively imagination & excellent photographic skills. Being generally gorgeous probably helps, too!

If that doesn’t make you fall in love with her, your heart is as cold as her gorgeous marble backdrop!

If you want more, & I bet you do, here are the photos of her as a doll from Stravinsky’s Petrouchka, a femme fatale & Marchesa Louisa Casati (swoon-o-rama).

I have a big thing for costumes with historical relevance or of costumes that have literary ties. For example…

When it comes to Hallowe’en, I think it’s really an opportunity to try something crazy & wild. If you’re idly considering a new aesthetic direction, or if you just wish you were more like Amanda Lepore, Hallowe’en is the perfect chance to really do it up. There is usually very little judgement on the 31st of October, so if your friends know you as a mild-mannered public servant who usually wears a sensible brown suit, maybe tonight is the night you can finally reveal your secret identity of Jessica Sparkleboobs! Know what I mean?

If you’re usually fairly “out there” when it comes to your daily ensembles, rather than trying to think of a costume (like “sultry harem girl” or “grease-stained firefighter”), think of it more in terms of character. Who do you admire? Who do you fear? What movies appeal to you aesthetically? Who are your favourite book characters? How about authors, composers, artists, pioneers, sex educators? What about fashionistas, mathematicians, musicians, muses? Maybe you would like to be more abstract. What about a creepy ice-cream truck man? How about the Grand High Witch?

Do some research. Really sit down & have a think about your dress-up options. Once you start pondering it, the ideas will really start to flow, it’s just that you need to be in the mindset first. Don’t feel like you are limited by your physicalities — even if you have pink hair, that doesn’t mean your only option is Jem. You can always wear a scarf or a hat, or even buy a cheap wig. Think as broadly as you can. What kind of Hallowe’en costumes do you like to see on other people? Do you prefer people who look scary, or people who have made an effort & come up with clever solutions?

Don’t be afraid to be grotesque or “unpretty”. Hallowe’en isn’t the night to prove you’re a sex bomb (though I’m sure you are)! You can do that every other night of the week if you like, but if you’re obsessed with looking hot or getting the attention of the opposite sex, it will really limit your costume ideas & the ways you can express yourself. Be a villain, be someone or something despicable — challenge yourself a little bit.

If you don’t want to go it alone, or if you & your lover or best friend are similarly stumped for ideas, dressing in tandem or in a group can be great fun too. Think of great (but unconventional) couples throughout history. Andy & Edie? Raoul Duke & his attorney? Tyra Banks & Jay Manuel? Vivienne Westwood & Malcolm McLaren? Anais Nin & Henry Miller? Big & Little Edie? Tom Cruise & an alien? P.T. Barnum & a “freak”? Pauline Parker & Juliet Hulme from Heavenly Creatures? Jayne Mansfield & Anton LaVey? Hum & Lo? (You can also dress up your dog or kid sister if you feel like dragging them along!)

However you dress up for Hallowe’en, the most important thing is to make as much effort as possible. Even if everyone else is dressed like a “horny little devil” or policeman, you will know that you put in the hard yards & that you look fantastic. Take lots of pictures & have an amazing time.

Extra For Experts:
Hallowe’en Horror Nights at Universal Studios… I would love to go to this!
Celebrity Hallowe’en Costumes from Gawker…
Or if you’re still really stumped, take a test.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Spray Tanning Put To The Test!

[ 11 October 2007, 14:19 ]

Well, yesterday was one of the most unusual experiences of my life. Yes, I deigned to have a spray tan. There was a voucher in an issue of Cosmopolitan magazine offering up a “free spray tan”, which of COURSE I couldn’t resist.

I booked my appointment the day before & the receptionist told me to exfoliate well in the morning, not apply any body lotions, & to come along wearing loose clothing & “thongs”. I sauntered down there at 10.30am & a nice woman led me up three flights of stairs & took me into a little room with a huge black & glass box in the middle.

She explained what we were going to do. She told me to wear a showercap but to leave my hairline & ears showing. She told me to apply the “prep gel” to all parts of my body where I wanted the tan to take, but not to worry about doing my back. She then said I should apply a barrier cream to my fingernails & cuticles, palms & sides of fingers, inside forearms, toenails, heels & soles of my feet. She said she would go downstairs & program the machine, & that it would send out a test spray & start talking. She said that it always scared the hell out of her at first, so to be ready for it!

She asked me which shade I would like. There were three options — light, medium, or dark. I showed her my arm & said, “I’m quite pale, so I don’t want to look like one of those scary girls from the Gold Coast.” (No offence, super-tanned people, but I kind of like my ghostly pallor!) She told me that the ‘light’ application wouldn’t show up much, & suggested I go for medium. I thought, ‘Ahh, what the hell, it’ll wash off in a week anyway’. She told me to use the little telephone in the room if I needed any help & said she hoped I enjoyed my tan. She walked out & closed the door.

It was while I was standing, butt-naked, rubbing weird shimmery green gel into my skin & contemplating this MagicTan booth that I realised — the future is here. Seriously, it is. After all my prepping — & I forgot to put barrier cream on the soles of my feet, damn! — I walked into a glass booth, pressed a button, & it started speaking to me, telling me to change positions & spurting out all this crazy sugar-mist. It was surreal, to say the very least.

I held my breath & kept my eyes closed & tried to remember all the positions. There was facing away from the jets with your hands “like you’re holding buckets of water”. There was turned to the side with one leg bent & one arm up. Then the same, in reverse. Then facing toward the jets. I accidentally breathed in some of the spray stuff, which didn’t smell very good, & idly wondered whether I would have an asthma attack. When it was over — which was quite soon after I had stepped in, it didn’t take very long — I cracked my eyes open a tad & tried to find the door handle. I thought my contact lenses were covered in mist, but no, it was just that the mist was EVERYWHERE. I was so glad I had put my clothes on the other side of the room!

It took a while for the mist to dissipate & in the meantime, I was busy bedaubing my skin with a towel to get rid of the excess. Some of the tan was just sitting on me in weird globs. I used a wet towelette to clean my hands & toenails. Then I gingerly pulled my clothing on & strolled back downstairs.

I gave the woman my voucher & told her it was one of the strangest experiences of my life. She smiled at me & said the tan would last about a week “if you take good care of it”. Their definition of “taking care of it” is not exfoliating, moisturising a lot & not spending much time in the shower. Hmmm. A week isn’t much bang for your buck — I think the tans are usually about $55, so that averages out to about $8 a day. But then, I guess if you’re only doing it over summer (& that would be the case for most people, I would have thought), it’s a pretty good option.

I’ve since had a couple of showers & less of it came off than I was expecting, which was a pleasant surprise. My mother said that when she had a spray tan, after she showered it looked quite patchy — but mine is still pretty solid. I’m covered in cocoa butter from head to toe (okay, technically neck to toe) & I smell like Willy Wonka’s dream woman. I am also really brown, surprise surprise!

       

Overall, I would give the experience 4 out of 5 cupcakes. A point off for how long it (allegedly) lasts, & for breathing the stuff in. Blech! But it is definitely a great alternative to lying on the beach covered in oil — ew! — or going to a solarium, which, let’s face it, is basically like saying to someone, “Hey! Here’s $100, give me cancer, & make it snappy!”

Now I have to adjust to my new colouring. It’s pretty strange! I was very glad to see that my foundation is still the right colour. Phew!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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How To Dress Like Edie Sedgwick

[ 6 October 2007, 12:42 ]

Edie Sedgwick, ’60s It girl, has experienced a bit of a resurgence. Sienna Miller played Edie in Factory Girl, released early 2007, but even before then there was a rising interest in this girl who was Andy Warhol’s muse, a girl who spent her way through her entire inheritance in six months.

While it wasn’t all bread & roses — Edie battled with drug addictions & eating disorders her whole life — her aesthetic was ground-breaking, inspiring a generation of girls to cut their hair short, experiment with dramatic makeup & don black stockings!

So, how can you mainline a bit of Ms. Sedgwick’s style into your look? Not everyone is stick thin or suited to platinum blonde hair, so it’s best to just take little pieces & see how they work with your style.

This cotton t-shirt leotard from American Apparel is super-Edie, the sort of thing she would have worn with a black mini, black tights & flats. Edie would practice jazz ballet for several hours every day, I think because doing physical activity helped calm her mind. Most of her outfits evolved from this pasttime — she would just throw a big coat or loose-fitting men’s shirt over the top of her leotard & stockings & go out like that.

Wear opaque black stockings with everything. EVERYTHING! I’ve said it before, but my favourite brands are Jonathan Aston & Levante.

Load up on striped t-shirts & sweaters, & anything with a boatneck. I like the damsel striped snap henley, the parallel lines tee & the sparkle striped boatneck tee. Very chic!

If you’ve got the gams for it, wear short black miniskirts & dresses. Minidresses, as well as being very short, tend to be quite close-fitting, so if you feel like your stockings & underwear make you look a bit lumpy, try wearing shaper underwear under your dress. It isn’t sexy, but this stuff is the reason celebrities look so flawless (well, most of the time)... See this for an example!

Wear dark eye makeup. People used to get frustrated at the way it took Edie three hours to do her eye makeup before she went out. With her eyes rimmed in black, she would wear false eyelashes or draw them on. After she had spent her way through her inheritance, she would use watercolour paints as eyeshadow.

Experiment with a beauty mark! Edie had a beauty mark on her cheek, I don’t know whether it was natural or whether she drew it on, but it looked marvellous. In my experience, the best tool for drawing an even, smudge-proof beauty mark is MAC Cosmetics’ Liquid Eye Liner in Boot Black!

Edie loved to wear really long, dangling earrings. They used to call them “shoulder-dusters”, because, as you can probably guess, they would touch the shoulders of the wearer. They can be hard to find, so check Ebay & scour vintage clothes stand at markets for a nice pair. These earrings were her signature, & she would normally wear no other jewellery.

She was crazy about hats — all kinds. I think this leopard mohair beret is very Edie (& would look wonderful with an all-black outfit)!

Edie loved fur jackets & coats. I don’t know whether hers were real — they probably were — but if you’re going to buy the real stuff, make it vintage, okay? My faux-fur coats are some of my favourite things in my closet: incredibly warm but also totally stylish. Scour Ebay & vintage clothing stores for the best ones!

The reason for writing this article, really, is that I was intending on going to this last night:
“Think of a creative genius think-tank where the likes of Lou Reed, Truman Capote, Edie Sedgwick and Bobby Driscoll played with art and amphetamines. This is what Warhol’s tin foil lined Silver Factory evolved into when he took down his silver clouds. Meccanoid will be recreating this madness by throwing an Art After Dark Silver Factory party at the NGV.”

But instead, I ended up dressing as Edie & running around my apartment… (Yes, I know I got the beauty mark on the wrong cheek. Oops!)

Burberry hat
One long dangly earring from Sportsgirl — I had to put in my tunnel, because my newly-pierced lobes can’t have anything but studs in them!
Black dress from Portmans
Grey & black striped sweater — I bought this YEARS ago in a shop called Spacesuit, but I don’t remember whether it was in Wellington or Auckland… I do know that it was $20.
Black stockings
Lots of eyeliner & mascara!

It was fun, anyway!

Extra For Experts:
The Ciao Manhattan Tapes — Edie talking over a collage of pictures & video.
Edie Sedgwick — The ultimate style icon from Marie Claire.
A Fashionable Muse – Edie Sedgwick, pretty Hamptons-centric but still interesting!
I took a whole lot of pictures which you can see by clicking here!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Dressing With The Essence Of Fairytales

[ 2 October 2007, 12:15 ]

“I was wondering if you could help me out. I really want to redefine my style so that I can dress ‘with the essence of fairytales’, but I don’t really know where to start. I sort of have a vague idea, but if you have any suggestions that would be great.”

A few years ago (2003 if I recall correctly), Eugenio Recuenco did a photoshoot for Vogue which was based around fairytales. The pictures were gorgeous, as you will see in a moment. Look at them closely & think about how you could imbue a little of that vibe into your daily outfits…

I think that when it comes to fairytales, or dressing on any kind of theme, you don’t want to be too obvious about it. You don’t want to look like you have just come from a Renaissance fair (probably), so wearing re-enactment costumes & their ilk is not the way to go.

You might find that it’s easiest to pick one fairytale & use that as a starting point¹. Maybe you like the rags-to-riches story of Cinderella, or the teeny tiny friends of Snow White. Read a few different versions of the story & observe the small details. Make a list of them, if you like. This will help you cultivate an aesthetic.

However, if you don’t want to do that, you can just work the fairytale look in other, small ways. I don’t think most fairytale characters had tans, so stay as pale as you can. You might like to use a vibrant cheek or lip stain, to give yourself a wintry flush. Try wearing an antique key around your neck — not one of those “new antique key necklaces”, but an actual antique key from an actual antique shop, on a string. Perspex shoes are in at the moment, so they would make a nice substitute for glass slippers (& there are a lot of sequinned flats around if you feel more Dorothy than Cinderella). Try buying vintage slips & dyeing them beautiful colours, like deep blue or green or scarlet. Start collecting full petticoats & clothing in strange, otherworldly fabrics. Wear glitter by your eyes. Crimp & colour your hair (white or deep red or raven black). Grow your hair long & put tiny braids in it. Wear a little tiara all the time, or an earring of a crown. Search Ebay for a vintage t-shirt with an airbrushed unicorn on the front (you know the sort!).

Make something your signature — red apples, beds, pumpkins or even porridge! Seek out anything that has this motif & wear it with gay abandon.

When it comes to fairytale-esque clothing, I think the best way to go is the homemade route, or at least go for things which look handmade. Contrasting stitching, ragged edges & a loose drapey feel will go a long way towards making it look right. Accessories, however, are a different story.

Disney has put out a range of high-end jewellery which is fairytale (& Disney) themed. If you had a couple of their pieces, you could work a whimsical theme into any outfit, whether you were wearing a sun dress or jeans & a t-shirt.

This Peter Pan slingshot necklace is fantastic. It’s a little bit Bart Simpson, & a little bit Never Never Land. You could always wear it with a little clock around your neck & a Lacoste t-shirt to work the Captain Hook angle!

These Snow White hand mirror earrings are awesome & of course, with them dangling from your lobes, you would be the fairest of them all.

I am actually in love with this gold-plated magic castle pendant. No further explanation needed.

There are a lot of other options at 80’s Purple (including Alice in Wonderland & Bambi-themed jewellery)!

Having a fairytale-themed bag is another way to work the look in a relatively easy way. Hot Topic sells these Snow White apple tote bags, & I like them very much.

Finally, if you love your dog but are also kind of cruel, why not dress it up as Tinker Bell, Snow White or Peter Pan?! (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)

I hope you have fun creating & playing with your new look! I imagine that a whimsical-looking girl crouched over a big book by Hans Christian Andersen or the Brothers Grimm would be very appealing to a lot of people. Good luck!

[1] Note! Choosing Sleeping Beauty as your theme does not mean you can sleep all winter! Shame on you for even thinking it!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Fashion Report: Spring/Summer 2007/08

[ 30 September 2007, 14:25 ]

Image key
Olga Sherer for Ralph Lauren. Immaculate nails & Lanvin hexagonal ring [US Vogue February 2007]. Pearls. Art deco earrings. Gloves by Molly N [Simply You Summer 2007]. Chanel blue patent driving gloves [US Vogue February 2007]. Diana Vreeland. Random art deco girl. Art deco black enamel bracelet. Bangles by Lanvin, Dior Homme & Patricia von Musulin [US Vogue February 2007]. Girl in a turban. Chanel 5018 sunglasses.

My direction for spring/summer 2007/08 is a mix of aristocratic, tennis & haughty chic, with modern edges.

The look is largely based around black & white, with unexpected splashes of colour to stop me from falling asleep (pink hair, purple fingernails, green eye makeup, etc.). All this talk of spring florals & nu-neon makes me want to rebel, so I will, & I am. I am rebelling towards glamour, elegant necks, an air of transatlanticism, the scent of art deco.

Everything should be long, long, long. Full skirts, dresses that hit below the knee, draped scarves & legs lengthened to the hilt. There will be an emphasis on wrists & legs, the aim is to elongate the limbs as much as possible. For this reason, anything worn around the wrist is encouraged. Black enamel cuffs, fingerless gloves & wristlets will be marvellous for this purpose.

Consider proportion & geometry. Contrast is a cornerstone of the look. Think sleek black dresses with big hair, wide hips with a small waist, long legs in big boots, stacked bangles along a delicate arm. Juxtaposition is key.

Grooming is also of utmost importance this season. Clean clothes, shined shoes, perfect coiffure & immaculate makeup are what will make this look work. Nails should be short but well-kept & lacquered with red or metallics. Slicing this aesthetic with your modern self — candy-coloured hair, tattoos, piercings etc. — will be fabulous.

Hats are essential, particularly anything with a wide brim, as are turbans & headscarves. The ideal pair of sunglasses are the Chanel 5018, closely followed by Tom Ford’s Marissa or Samantha.

If you can only trifle with one sort of accessory, bracelets (which make noise as you gesticulate wildly) are It. Art deco styling is encouraged, lots of heavy metals, but anything with a bit of bolshy shine that catches the eye is acceptable. Also, keep your eyes out for dangling earrings, pearls, rings which reek of art deco futurism, anything Bakelite. If hair is not hidden beneath a turban or hat, it should be pulled back from the face & combed high. Play with animal print (faux, please): zebra, leopard & crocodile. Aristocratic animals, you know the sort.

Swan around in high heels, buy a kimono for lounging, walk at a pace rapid enough that your garments flutter behind you. Have your eyebrows tinted; learn how to do a clean cat’s eye (coming soon!). Buy an elegant clutch for evening adventures. Cultivate a jazz appreciation. Spend time on the telephone as opposed to continual electronic contact. Make a habit of buying treasures. Keep your chin up & stay fabulous.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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The Power Of Eyebrows

[ 28 September 2007, 16:06 ]

Yesterday was pretty exciting, as days go! In addition to hot air ballooning in the morning & getting my ears pierced (!!!), I also had my eyebrows professionally shaped.

I haven’t had my eyebrows done by anyone else since the first time I had them tweezed, which was when I was about 15. That’s a long time ago now! I’d been thinking about the power of eyebrows for a while — I am keen on a strong brow & wondered what a professional could do to my face.

I had heard really great things about Afnaan from the Vogue forums, so I emailed her & booked an appointment. Then there were two weeks of torment as I let my eyebrows grow out. The temptation to pluck was overwhelming, but somehow I managed to hold back!

You can only imagine how happy I was to be running across the road to Arch Enemy, Afnaan’s business! I sat in the chair & she started explaining what she was going to do, & how. She made astute observations, like, “One of your eyebrows is a little higher than the other” — which I had never even noticed! Eep! Then we embarked on the eyebrow grooming. She tinted my brows, waxed them & finally tweezed them. I sat in the chair from 1:45 to 3:00 & when she finished, I was THRILLED.

The shape is actually quite different to how I normally do my brows — I tend to make my arch quite severe, while the way Afnaan has done it means the shape is softer & it has really changed how my face looks.

One of my very first articles, The New Eyebrow, is all about how important eyebrows are to your face. They grow in all sorts of unusual ways, & can completely alter your appearance — for better or for worse! Having them shaped or tended to is definitely worth investigating, I promise you will be astounded at the difference. We all spend so much money on cleanser & moisturiser & makeup, but the number of women (& men especially) who don’t give their eyebrows a second thought is mind-boggling!

This morning I received an email from an iCiNG reader who had seen Afnaan’s details on Gala’s Guide To Melbourne, & also booked an appointment…

“I am totally in love with her and want to have her babies – my eyebrows have never looked this amazing (I have really unruly strawberry blonde brows) now they are slightly darker, and look like MODEL eyebrows. HOT!”

Do you need any further convincing? I didn’t think so. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest eyebrow specialist, & enjoy!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Less Is More

[ 26 September 2007, 12:36 ]

Today, tomorrow, or next week — sometime — try experimenting with the concept of “less is more”. In any aesthetic medium, even if your style is more-more-more!, it’s worth trying a new approach every now & then, to see how it works for you.

Coco Chanel’s advice on accessories was to always take one thing off before leaving the house. I think the woman had a point. When I think of a chic woman, that woman is not covered in glittering baubles with a crazy printed dress & strappy shoes. She is a woman who adheres to the “less is more” mantra.

So many of us wear litres of foundation, a ton of jewellery, a gallon of hair product, twenty different colours. Or a patterned scarf & a t-shirt with a design on the front, along with checked trousers & embossed leather shoes. Try simplifying what you do, & see how things change. Usually when I make an effort to wear less makeup, I feel much better about how I look. I also think there’s value in only wearing the jewellery you love — & not necessarily all at once. A few well-chosen pieces always trump the walking-junk-shop look.

You can also try simplifying in unexpected ways — wear a plain dress with lots of bangles, or no jewellery at all with a busy printed coat. Play with contrast & see what happens. Don’t just throw on your usual mish-mash of accessories because you’re used to it. Surprise yourself!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Winter Style 2007

[ 25 September 2007, 12:00 ]

I’m a bit sad to be in the southern hemisphere right now, because while I love summer, nothing in-store is really thrilling me too much. The rest of you, though, are in luck, because there are some wonderful things available to buy. I can’t stop thinking about it. When it comes to style, winter has summer beat. It’s an awful truth.

Here are some things I’d be wearing if I was in, say, New York. (Swoon.)

A brightly coloured obi belt with simple black ensembles. A turquoise & gold obi would look amazing over a simple black sweater, & a red butterfly obi would be fantastic atop a casual black dress.

Oversized men’s style cashmere sweaters worn with everything. They always come in wonderful colours, like deep black, royal purple, crimson & navy blue. Very warm & very chic, roll the sleeves up for maximum style points. Try to get one which fits your shoulders but is long enough to wear as a dress. You can wear them with kilts, jeans, long skirts or shorts with stockings underneath.

Shirt dresses worn over stockings with heels. Wear with layers so that you stay warm enough — a thin wool sweater underneath, woolen stockings & a scarf should keep you pretty toasty. I love shirt dresses because they’re so effortless.

A maxi skirt with everything. Given that a maxi skirt is big & long, you need to be careful about the proportion so you don’t look like a swamp monster or moving tent. Wear with a fitted t-shirt or anything that is well-tailored to your top half. You might then want to balance that out with big bangles or hair so don’t just look like a teeny person in a huge skirt!

Doctor’s bags will ALWAYS be cool to me, but they have recently come back into style. Zac Posen recently released the Aurora frame bag which makes me salivate, just a little. But at almost £1000, I suggest browsing Ebay for a genuine vintage doctor’s bag instead!

Bright leather gloves. These are definitely worth snapping up while they’re on offer, because it won’t last. Normally gloves come in black or brown & that’s it. This season, you’ll see electric blue, vibrant yellow & cherry red among others. There will also be a variety of lengths, with many of them reaching past the elbow. Ooh la la! Keep your eye out for fingerless & driving gloves with beautiful details, too.

A good belted trenchcoat. Truly, this is the best sort of coat to own in winter. If you can wear it with wool stockings & high heels, so much the better, since it will emphasise your figure & make you look sexy & sleek.

Sequins. While normally a bit disco reminiscent, you’ll see a fair bit of it around. It’s definitely a trend to be embraced! To avoid looking like everyone else, I suggest vintage shopping & browsing Ebay to find unusual pieces — a pink sequinned tuxedo jacket, for example, or a turquoise mermaid-esque mini. Wear with all black or luxe-sport pieces to dress it down for everyday.

Luxe-sport in general. I really like this trend. If you don’t know what it is, it’s basically ‘cool’ sportswear (say the Stella McCartney for Adidas range) mixed with high-end pieces. The end result is ultra-modern & more than slightly space-age. Worth experimenting with!

I’d be really keen to see men & women dressed like old fashioned writers, in white undershirts with braces holding up their grey pants, & glorious hats! Though I don’t know if anyone will oblige me… !

What will you be wearing this winter?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Sealed With A Kiss

[ 24 September 2007, 23:50 ]

Receiving something exciting in the mail is one of life’s great joys. Seriously. These are the days of bills & circulars, worth less to the recipient than the paper they were printed on. To most people, these things actually have negative value. I cannot begin to describe what a kick I get from pulling a colourful envelope out of my post office box!

There is something touching about it, something genuine & unique & authentic. It means that somebody across the ocean has taken the time to sit down & write you something, to put pen to paper with you in mind. Then, with the envelope tucked securely in their handbag, they have deposited it in a box on the side of the road, & postal workers have passed it between hands until it finally arrives at your house.

I love that.

I wouldn’t consider myself a professional letter writer or anything, especially now when I tend to spend my “down time” — the time I used to spend writing letters & making parcels — asleep or thinking about iCiNG! But I have written a LOT of letters in my time, so I thought I would give you some ideas to stimulate your letter-writing impulses!

Write a letter which is candid & juicy
A letter which says the usual things — hello, how are you?, I am fine, today I went to the market etc. — is cool, but to make it really pop & sizzle, you should make the writing as interesting as you can. If you don’t have any news, write a short story or a haiku poem. The aim should be to thrill the reader in some way. One of my dear friends once wrote me a letter on the back of a huge homemade porn collage, it was amazing! (I stuck it on my fridge.) Don’t worry about the usual conventions of explaining what you’ve been up to if you don’t want to — in these days of email & social networking, odds are good that your correspondent already knows all about your new boyfriend/cat/haircut. Just make it invigorating, fun to read, amusing, charming. If you’re just staring at the blank paper with an equally empty mind, pretend you have a crush on the person, THEN write. See how that turns out.

Use unusual materials
It makes a difference. Anything which looks different, or is scented, or has a sensual tactile quality makes for prime postal material! I use an assortment of pens — I love vivid coloured markers (I have them in hot pink, turquoise & violet), glittery pens, fountain pens, pencils, everything! I once sharpened the end of a paintbrush & would dip it in Indian ink to write strange, chicken-scratch notes to people. Buy vellum paper, make pop-up cards, write a message on a mirror (though this is more for hand delivery than post). I wrote someone a message on a mirror once, telling them all their positive qualities, & they still had it years later. I actually had that same person write me a letter in black marker on a sheet of aluminium foil, which was super cool. Experiment & see what you can come up with!

Think about your handwriting
As a child, I was obsessed with graphology: the study of handwriting. I love to look at other people’s writing, I think it is fascinating. Regardless, the way your writing looks will greatly impact on how your letter comes across. Some people have an angry writing style, while others’ is flowery & tangled. I have always felt that neat handwriting is a sign of respect towards the reader — there is nothing more upsetting than trying to decipher someone’s scribbles! If you are normally messy when you write, try to make it as neat as you can! Otherwise, consider using a typewriter!

Compliment the recipient
People love to hear how great you think they are. Even the most impatient, antisocial person will probably have a moment for you if you tell them — sincerely! — what their best qualities are. I really believe that you can never go overboard when it comes to telling your friends how much they mean to you & how much you appreciate them. As the old adage goes, you could be dead tomorrow — or they could be — so you might as well spit it out. Plus, having that stuff on paper is lovely to refer back to.

Enclose titbits
Add little surprises to the package! Photobooth strips or sticker photos are great, since people can put them up & see them all the time. The same goes for any cool postcards you find (or buy), perfume samples, fortunes from cookies, lip gloss, strange pictures from magazines, stamps (if you both live in the same country) & glitter! I love sending out weird things. I once had a really boring job, so boring that I actually resorted to reading the phone book. One day as I was doing this, I came across a listing for someone called “Man Fanny” — needless to say, I photocopied the page, highlighted his or her name, & posted it to everyone I knew that would enjoy it. It was fantastic.

Pay attention to the envelope
While those shiny metallic envelopes in packs of 20 may wink suggestively at you, a handmade envelope is so much cooler. I am one of those people who is happy to rip a book apart at a moment’s notice. This gives many people heart palpitations, but two pages taped along the edges make a wonderful envelope. I am a real geek, I actually own multiple copies of my favourite books so I can do this. But you get the idea, you can really use anything. I remember reading a book once where they said that you can send almost anything by post so long as there is enough postage on it — so, for example, you could put a letter in a shoe, seal it & put stamps on it & it would probably arrive at its intended destination. How amazing is that?! Of course, doing all this stuff takes time, so if you just want to dash something off, then silver envelopes are for you. (They are what I normally use.) I also like to do the envelope last, so that it is in keeping with the contents. (Geek!)

Now that you’re in the mood to write a letter, how about some supplies to get your heart racing?

I have been obsessed with lovelydesign for a while, but have never bought anything. A sad truth! Their i miss you mail set is made from vintage maps & recycled paper & is just begging for purchase, don’t you agree?

I really love the look of recycled paper, for some reason it is really aesthetically pleasing to me. Not to mention, good for the conscience! Needless to say, this recycled stationery set totally turns my crank.

I stumbled across a veritable stationery treasure trove on Things From Another World! There are 1950’s pin-up girls, as well as themed sets featuring Bettie Page, Penny Dreadful, Lenore, the art of Fawn Gehweiler (pictured) & Gloomy Bear. For those who like the it super-colourful, the Tokidoki stationery set is for you…

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Camping In Style

[ 24 September 2007, 11:57 ]

Recently, a very sweet girl told me she was on her way to a school camp & didn’t know what to wear. She said that while her mother always tells her to take practical clothes, she often felt shown-up by the other girls, who were immaculately groomed — even after canoeing! Ahh, the joy of school. But it did prompt me to think that surely there was a way to camp in style. It can’t be all mosquito spray & burned marshmallows, can it?

I think that our dear letter writer’s mother is right in that practical clothes are key. Seriously, anything with a heel will either get ruined or ruin you (picture tripping over a log & mashing your face, for example). However! Practical does not necessarily mean styleless! & stylish does not necessarily mean impractical! This is a key point. You can still look devilishly cool in a pair of flat boots.

Suggested packing list:
A pair of relaxed-fit jeans — & hike them up, please! No one wants to see crack around the campfire, eep!
Flannel shirts. They’re comfortable & stylish & if you think you can wear them ironically, so much the better! Roll up the sleeves & leave the top few buttons undone, too.
A long black maxi-skirt or plain long dress. Obviously not for when you’re doing anything insanely physical, but it will be good for lounging around in the evening, as well as the trip there & back.
Vintage t-shirts. Cool & comfortable — hard to beat! Remember to always buy t-shirts which fit you, meaning they are long enough in the body, the sleeves hit you at the skinniest part of your upper arm & they’re not so tight that onlookers can see the shape & form of your belly-button.
Shorts. Nice ones! Not daggy ones! If it gets chilly, you can chuck a pair of leggings on underneath them.
Racerback singlets. They’re super-sporty & allow you to show a bit of skin without looking like that was your intention. (Sneaky!) Remember to buy a bra with convertible straps to wear with these.
A thick cardigan or faux-fur coat for night time (& cold mornings). When the temperature drops, you don’t want to be the girl who can’t eat dessert because her teeth are chattering.
Big flat boots. I would wear my New Rocks because they’re rugged & easy, but anything with a bit of weight to it will be fab.
Sandals. They’re much classier than jandals/flip-flops/thongs & the best ones have a delicious, French Riviera kind of feel.
A hat of some description. What you wear will depend on your style. I have, for example, a black baseball cap which says ‘Compton’ on the front (loooove it!) as well as a huge sunhat, & both would be good to take on holiday. Use your discretion!
Headscarves. These get a big tick in my book, I am a fairly unabashed fan. After a few days in the wilderness, lovely though it may be, your hair will begin to get a bit stanky. A scarf around your noggin is, in my opinion, the only sane response to a world gone mad.

Put together properly, these items will have you looking magnificent. Really, what you want to do is look effortlessly stylish. A log cabin, or tent, or whatever, is not really the place to bust out your couture, as nice as that would be. A few simple pieces & a necklace or some bracelets will go further than you might first think.

I suspect that the girls who look immaculate after canoeing aren’t paddling with a lot of vigour. That’s okay, though, I used to sit out physical education class every week & I turned out alright. I think, though, that the reason they look good is because they’re looking after their skin & hair. This is not hard to do, you just need a portable routine which you can take camping easily. Even when I was at Burning Man, I would moisturise every morning, apply makeup, & take it off again at night! It doesn’t take long & it makes you feel (& look) about a bazillion times better. (I don’t really go for that au naturel thing…)

What you take for your skin routine will depend on how much time you want to put into it. The girl who wrote to me said she was only going camping for two days, so I would suggest making it as fuss-free as possible. Take some baby wipes (the sort with aloe vera & vitamin e) & moisturiser, as well as foundation, concealer & waterproof mascara. Primer too, if you have it. Use the baby wipes in place of your normal cleanser & toner step, then moisturise, prime & apply foundation. Foundation, concealer & mascara is so easy to do — shouldn’t take more than about 3 minutes — & will make you look fantastic & low fuss. Showing up for a hike with a full red lip & smokey eye is probably a bit much.

Pull your hair back off your face, either into a ponytail or with a scarf. You will look clean & chic, even if you feel like a total grub-monkey. (That’s the official term, in case you were wondering.) You can add a couple of sparkly barrettes if you feel the need, but leave your curling tongs, GHDs, what-have-you, at home! You’re not at the Moulin Rouge, darling!

In closing, have a fabulous time. Take lots of photos, tell ghost stories & roast marshmallows like your life depends on it!

Extra For Experts:
Living It Up At Burning Man (well, it’s camping, innit?!)
The Perfect Roadtrip (you have to get there somehow…)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Winter Essentials 2007

[ 23 September 2007, 12:35 ]

Oh, sweet peaches in the northern hemisphere, I haven’t forgotten about you! Just like the Summer Essentials list, here are some things you might want to invest in for the chilly months…

Tartan, argyle, check & houndstooth
It’s winter, therefore these patterns are essential, even if the temperature where you live barely drops. You’ll look totally classic & appropriate. If you don’t dig being “appropriate”, then mix it up with ripped stockings, big boots or teased hair. Try wearing a tartan scarf, a cute little kilt or a houndstooth coat. Just avoid head-to-toe Burberry check, since it’s un peu Chavvy!

A striped umbrella
Let’s face it, you’re going to need an umbrella. Instead of dragging around that awful multicoloured thing slapped with a realtor’s logo, why not upgrade & get something that makes you feel chic & put together? Get a little bit Edward Gorey on it & go hunting for a striped umbrella — they aren’t common but they look immaculate. Fabuleux.

Hot water bottle
Preferably in “your colour”. Mine is turquoise, for example, & matches a lot of my clothing. This can be a saviour on freezing cold days when you have to commute to work. Just take your hot water bottle with you, it will make you much happier. People will think you are strange, toting a hot water bottle around in public, but they probably thought that anyway, & who really cares? You’re warm & they’re not. Case closed.

An inviting bed
If you’re going to hibernate, you might as well do it in style. Buying new bed linen is one of life’s great joys. Most people keep the same duvet covers & pillowcases for huge amounts of time. It makes such a difference to the atmosphere of a room & the quality of napping that it is absolutely worth the investment. While you’re at it, why not buy a really fluffy, marshmallow-reminiscent duvet & magnificent pillows? Why not, indeed?

Yoga classes
It’s so easy to sloth it up in winter, but a little bit of physical exercise will make you feel incredible. I love Ashtanga yoga, but Bikram yoga is practised in a hot room, perfect for cold weather! If you’ve never tried it before, please do — it is amazing. Plus, every time I leave, I feel like I’m walking on a cloud. P.S. Wow.

Oxfords
I love, love, love high-heeled Oxfords, especially these ones by Bally. Oxfords are one catwalk look that you are definitely going to see on the street this season. While I am not usually an advocate of a clunky heel, with an Oxford it works. Wear with a short skirt, opaque black stockings & your hair in a bun for maximum effect. (Put a pencil through the bun for instant headmistress style.)

Wool stockings
I like Levante & Jonathan Aston. Wool stockings tend to be quite a bit more expensive than the normal sort, but they are 100% worth the investment. You only need a couple of pairs, they’re difficult to ruin, & they will keep you incredibly warm.

A vintage typewriter
There is nothing like an old typewriter to spice up your decor. Even if you’re not a writer, old machinery & allusions to literary greatness are hot. There is a great satisfaction that comes from using a typewriter to write stories, poems, letters or to-do lists, not to mention, the printed word is very sexy. Anna Piaggi (famed fashion writer) has used a bright red Olivetti since 1969, & I personally have been dying for an Olivetti Valentine (pictured) for years. Drool.

A library card
Start making a list of books you want to read this winter. Then start ordering them in through your local library. Your branch may not have the tome you’re looking for, but another one probably will, so put it on order if you can! I am a geek & do most of my library research online — then I only have to trot down to pick up the books I want. They usually charge a teeny fee for reservations, but it’s worth it. Then get your hands on a nice bookmark, stack them next to your spruced-up bed, & get to work!

Other honourable mentions:
A faux fur muff (I refuse to put myself through the trauma of sourcing a picture!), a big window with a sweeping view, a colourful pashmina or scarf, hot chocolate, regular doses of good Thai food, white fairy lights, cherry red nailpolish & rich red lipstick, a faux fur throw for your bed or couch, good cashmere sweaters, Diptyque candles, quirky socks & a big cardigan which doubles as outerwear.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Things I Love Thursday

[ 20 September 2007, 14:24 ]

It’s Thursday, so it’s time to celebrate the good things!

On my list this week are… David Lachapelle, beautiful old vintage wallpaper, aloe vera juice (tasty & healthy, bonus!), retro air hostess fashion, girls in hats, this girl, old telephones, Violet Crumble ice creams, long naps, super-speedy morning walks, vibrant blue skies, mismatched saucers & teacups, other people’s birthdays, the way that Anthony on Sex & The City says “Chanello!” when he walks into Chanel, candy-coloured illustrations, bearded ladies, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, Ani Difranco’s Canon, tall stacks of neon magazines (Dolly & Teen Vogue!), 5htp, receiving big orders from Amazon, green eyeshadow, boxes of sparkles to add to envelopes, edIT, brightly coloured flowers, glittering swimming pools, describing someone as a “gimlet” (it doesn’t mean anything, it’s just a new nickname!) or an “electric boogaloo”, glossy lips, a fridge full of cupcakes, the fact that helium balloons are only $2.50 each one block away!, amassing treats for someone else’s birthday, clearing out my inbox & big sunglasses.

The last photo in the mosaic is of my dog. My parents had to have her put down on Monday. I’m pretty sad about it. She was 17, not bad for a teeny tiny dog! (That photo was taken with my webcam YEARS ago, in my old bedroom — note the purple obsession.) RIP, little mitten.

1. Smoke, 2. Milla Jovovich, 3. Fabulous Amanda, 4. Amanda Lepore., 5. lavazzacalendar2, 6. Trolley Dollies13, 7. Trolley Dollies04, 8. Art hotel, 9. a little bit of everywhere, 10. The Master Bedroom, 11. nursery rhymes, 12. Sunny Side Up, 13. from after17 issue10, 14. Untitled, 15. 8.11.07, 16. The Four Agreements., 17. discoball, 18. pop, 19. polaroid, 20. permanently disconnected, 21. Christina Ricci, 22. Fafi, 23. strandkai club inside, 24. Clémentine à Paris, 25. cuteblanche

I’ve also been expanding on my vision of the iCiNG Bowl. I wrote in my Livejournal a little while ago… “I like to envision myself walking around the iCiNG Bowl, with a row of ladies in tight sweaters with cat’s eye glasses typing furiously at beautifully restored typewriters. There would be seven of them, & their typewriters would be red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo & violet. Their sweaters would match & on them would be pinned a glittery diamante brooch of their first initial…”
Anyway, my new plan is that instead of a desk, I will sit in a swanboat filled with cushions with my laptop, & I will pay a girl to shine the swan every day. It will lacquered shocking pink with miniscule pieces of holographic glitter mixed into the paint & it will have a handle on the side which, once cranked, would play weird tinkley music. Yes please!

I also adore this video, it makes me smile my face off!

Tell me what you LOVE today!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Summer Essentials 2007

[ 18 September 2007, 12:45 ]

Tennis lessons
So you can cultivate your tennis chic look, of course! Remember, tennis lessons mean nothing unless you have a super-wealthy friend with an enormous tennis court & a butler, so if you don’t already know someone like this, perhaps you could place an ad on Craigslist… If you want to maintain the look without the physical exertion, just start carrying a tennis racket & tying a sweater over your shoulders. Fabuleux!

Sunblock
Wrinkles & creases are for “it” bags & old love letters, not faces! Keep that in mind!

Minx heels
Every girl needs a pair of shoes that make them feel like they’re having palpitations. I am currently lusting over the shoes pictured — Christian Louboutin knotted open-toe sandals. I tried them on last weekend & didn’t want to take them off. They are the ideal shoe for drinking cocktails outdoors in the warm night air, surrounded by stars (in the sky & around you, darling) & cameras. Oh, yes.

Postcards & a fabulous pen
For writing sonnets to your lovers & admirers while you’re on holiday, of course! Be sure to extol the virtues of wherever you are — even if you’re plagued by flies & food poisoning — & sign them off with a sticky kiss & a flourish!

Duwop lip venom
For perfectly plump, sexily swollen kisses & a bit of colour! (This gloss also gets the Gala seal of approval for postcard-smooching.)

Photobooth strips
Taken with your nearest & dearest (even if you can’t remember their names the next day) & stashed in your handbag for entertainment purposes.

A plant
You may not be home to care for it too often, but if you buy cleverly, it won’t need a lot of work anyway. Plus, they make every living space look about a million times better. Go for something which looks alien but delicate. My favourite is the moth orchid (the one I owned when I lived in Auckland is pictured above). Remember to name it something exotic, like Beauregarde, & stick a name-tag on the front of the pot.

A masquerade mask
Not a nasty cheap one, an incredibly decadent one (you might want to make your own). & if no one will throw a masquerade party this summer, then you will just have to throw your own, won’t you?!

An exercise plan
So you look your absolute best for summer. Sleeveless dresses & short skirts are the enemy of the unprepared, I am feeling the fear myself! If you don’t know where to begin, try this — I am!

Something to put on your head
I like turbans & big sunhats. What you choose is up to you but you simply MUST have something on your noggin this summer!

Other honourable mentions:
A Moleskine diary or notebook, a passport, a driver, a big armchair for long phone conversations, contraception, crisp white sheets, a sweet but light fragrance, lanterns for your balcony, regular mani/pedicures, magazine subscriptions, a list of summer goals & a devotion to having fun!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Happy Birthday To Me!

[ 13 September 2007, 08:17 ]

Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to me!
Happy birthday, dear Gala,
Happy birthday to me!

Thank you so much everyone for your well-wishes, cards, gifts, electronic smooches & techno love! I will get back to you all individually, I am way behind on my email right now but let me just say a massive THANK YOU! You are all adorable & your support is so very appreciated.

Here are the birthday photos taken yesterday! (Ain’t my boyfriend a peach?) We actually DROPPED one of the memory cards there & so he got on his bicycle & went back to get it… Quelle champion! You can see the rest (+ big versions) here.

Oh, & do you want to hear something amazing? Do any of you remember how I said that I wanted pink glittery cupcakes for my birthday? Well, this INCREDIBLE cupcake QUEEN, Kim, offered to make them for me. I picked them up yesterday — she is the loveliest woman ever — & they blew my MIND. Coconut cupcakes with sticky marshmallow icing! Drool! I wish I could invite you all over to eat one!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Equestrian Chic

[ 10 September 2007, 23:34 ]

I was never one of those “horsey girls”. You know, those ones who were NUTS about horses. They read The Pony Club books, had weekly riding lessons & obsessively doodled the likeness of their favourite horse, “Speckle”, in the margins of their math book. Maybe you were one of them! I wasn’t. I never really got it. I liked horses for about a week, before moving onto my obsessions with Al Capone, Boadicea & Jack the Ripper. (Truth!)

Regardless, the Melbourne Cup is approaching. It’s a huge horse race worth millions of dollars. People go along in fancy hats & bet on horses & get sloshed, it’s quite fantastic. Of course, it is not necessary to don a cocktail dress, you can always pay homage in your daily wear.

With that in mind, here are some fabulous ways to accoutre yourselves accordingly. (You may notice a bit of a theme among this collection of items. Leather, buckles, shiny finishes — it’s all a bit BDSM really. To pull off the equestrian look with panache, think more ‘kink’ & less ‘Mr. Ed’.)

Foiled horses t-shirt. Oh, cheer up, sad model! This tee is super-cute & it’s on sale, how could she possibly be upset about it?! I like the colour very much, I have a thing for pale yellow t-shirts, even though they make me look kind of sick & washed out. My loss can be your gain, ladies.

Saddle belt bag. Coolest EVER. Wear slung around your hips for a great unexpected addition to an urban outfit. Or, I guess, if you were home on the ranch, you could fill it with carrots & hay & feed Mr. Chips.

Stallion Charm necklace. If you just want to add a smidgen of equine action to your ensemble, this is the way to go. It’s cool & understated & I like the double-chain.

Frye lace-up engineer boots. These boots are really quite beautiful. They kind of make me drool on myself a little bit. I am sure they are desperately impractical (really, who can be bothered with all those laces?), but I would almost say it’s worth it. These are much classier than your standard million-hole Doc Martens & could be worn in all sorts of situations with enormous flair.

Pringle 1815 twill pleat-front shorts. I was initially turned onto Pringle by my friend Davide who was obsessed with them. (He is currently in London looking for cute boys to kiss, please email me for more information!) Anyway, all of this to say that Davide has great taste, & these shorts make my heart skip a beat. They are SO cute. They would look equally marvellous with the Frye lace-up engineer boots, above, or heels. I can picture them with a stylish vintage t-shirt or a soft flannel shirt. Or maybe just a nice pair of pasties & a riding crop. Ooh la la!

Coco de Mer horsetail corset belt. Blush! Quick, scroll down before your boss sees! Okay, yes, this is a little bit on the risqué side, but it is really a gorgeous piece. I think it could be worn in an extremely high-fashion way by someone with a LOT of confidence, super-high heels & impeccable grooming. Maybe over a crisp white shirt. What say you?

Parker wool fedora. I am mad about hats, & this one is no exception. It’s made from wool so it’s good for you bunnies in the northern hemisphere right now! A fedora looks fabulous with a simple outfit — I’m envisioning this one with a long, white, deep v-neck t-shirt, aforementioned Pringle shorts & Frye lace-up engineer boots. Rawr!

BI LA LI gabardine jodhpurs. Okay, before I begin, WHO decided on the spelling of that word? Jod-h-purs? Argh! Anyway, these are very stylish & I dig the buttons up the front. Also, jodhpurs are in this season, if you’re interested in that sort of thing! Wear with a ponytail & an all-American boyfriend on your arm.

Safari post earrings. Cute little horses to gallop around your earlobe. Neigh!

Alexander McQueen patent corset belt. Um, delicious. Much less kinky than the corset from Coco de Mer, but then, you would expect that. This would be incredible over a slinky black wiggle dress with a pillbox hat (& veil). Kind of like what you would wear to the funeral of your husband if you had murdered him with a pearl-handled pistol.

Miu Miu patent leather gloves. Totally sassy. I love the length, they’d show your wrists & I think that kind of cut is very fresh & young. Gorgeous bow detail. Definitely the kind of thing you would wear until they fell apart.

Pringle cashmere argyle sweater, found on Ebay. It’s definitely the best place for wonderful argyle sweaters! You could go equestrian with this, or you could rock it up by wearing it with skinny black jeans, a red Chanel 2.55 & Christian Louboutins. (Why, yes, I am writing for the child star demographic!)

Vintage Kentucky Derby shirt, found on Ebay. I have wanted one of these for years, mostly because of Hunter S. Thompson (see below). Ebay is always the best place to get them, so keep your eyes open!

The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter S. Thompson is a GREAT book & you should read it! It features many observations on the Kentucky Derby, including The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent & Depraved. We all know a book is the hottest accessory, anyway.

Once you’re properly attired, please proceed to sit on the nearest verandah & get plonkered on Mint Juleps — the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. (10 mint leaves, 1 & a half teaspoons of super-fine sugar, seltzer water, crushed ice, & 2 & a half ounces of Kentucky bourbon whiskey. Mix. Gulp. Repeat.)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Things I Love Thursday

[ 6 September 2007, 16:55 ]

Yes, this is going to be a regular feature… Feel free to chip in or just admire the pretty pictures, whatever works!

Today I love…
Safari chic, my mother, hugging, my media pass for fashion week!, remembering that nastiness is nothing to do with you, emails from friends telling me how their Burning Man experience was, my new kimono, lovely friends who are keen for adventures, meeting new people, recognition, swans & flamingoes — it’s all in the neck!, beautiful masquerade masks, octopi & squid, Fawn Gehweiler (I’m going to her exhibition on Saturday), Lomo cameras, hedge mazes, twins & triplets, bubbles, Pee Wee Herman, false eyelashes, accordions, dramatic eye-makeup, Crazy Horse Paris, & Amanda Lepore…

Big versions:
1. Day 131: Sphere, 2. Sasha Pivovarova, 3. ITVogueAnimal5.jpg, 4. february swaporama: p.w., 5. butterfly, 6. Crazy Horse Paris, 7. homecoming, 8. amanda lepore, 9. Octopus, 10. Keira Knightley by Arthur Elgort for VOGUE US, 11. ITVogueAnimal4.jpg, 12. lashes five, 13. roy liechtenstein, 14. drink, 15. A Belated Valentine…, 16. A few of my pieces en route to Barcelona…, 17. bubblegum, 18. ITVogueAnimal2.jpg, 19. drink, 20. roy liechtenstein

If you’re wondering what Things I Love Thursday is about, I’ve learned that expressing your appreciation for things — no matter how small or trivial — makes you feel really good, & helps to propel you forward. It’s good for you, so get on it!

Finally, doesn’t this crazy piece of installation art BLOW YOUR MIND?! Here is a big version. Surreal!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Corset Remix

[ 5 September 2007, 00:48 ]

The other day, a friend & I were discussing our old gothic predilections. It turned out we were both harbouring corsets in our closets, but since we both felt like we had moved past our old style, didn’t really know what to do with them. Corsets, especially the good ones, tend to be really expensive & some of them are gorgeous pieces of work. Too precious to throw out or give away, but too ‘goth’ to wear.

However, the more I thought about it, the more I realised there was a middle ground.

If you, like us, are in a similar situation, try these suggestions…

Wear your corset over a dress for added structure, fanciness & a super-cinched waist. This is an especially good way to wear a dress that normally isn’t too flattering or you or doesn’t showcase your shape! Try your corset over all types of dresses: you’ll be surprised at how often it works. Vintage dresses, silk sundresses, little black dresses…

If you want to retain the attitude of a good corset, sling it over the top of a crisp white shirt (with puff sleeves, perhaps?), a skinny black tie & a black high-waisted pencil skirt. Add seamed stockings & killer heels into the mix, & with cat’s eye glasses & your hair in a bun you’re ready to dish out some discipline!

...Or for a slightly less rigid look, put it over the aforementioned crisp white shirt & pair with your favourite jeans.

A corset is a fantastic addition to any garment which doesn’t have a lot of shape. Think of it as a big belt! See Lisa’s outfit for an example of how you can pull this off effectively. (Ahh, I love her, she’s so cute!)

Wear your (overbust) corset underneath a blazer with a slinky skirt. Only do up a couple of the blazer’s buttons for sex appeal plus plus!

But if you absolutely cannot fathom wearing your corset again — Chartreuse memories, perhaps, or maybe it just doesn’t fit any more — you can always have it framed or hang it above your bed as a gorgeous installation piece. I’m picturing it undone with the laces flying behind it…

Happy tight-lacing!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Things I Love Thursday

[ 30 August 2007, 12:29 ]

Girls with violet hair; hula-hoop wriggling; big bunches of balloons; fairy floss; kink; Russia; booty-bangin’ bass; Halcyon’s Burning Man video (I think I have a teeny crush…); going on adventures to new places; clocks worn anywhere but the wrist; Tupac Shakur; “The thing I love most about the web is..” at SXSW!; gift vouchers; bearded ladies (I have one on my wall) & P.T. Barnum’s host of “freaks”; birthday cake-eating phonecalls on Skype (my favourite psychic, Ed, turns a year older on September 1st!); I must be emo (funny forever); random phonecalls from excitable girls; cat’s eye makeup; dreaming about New York pizza; plotting for the future; bubble mixture; dressing up; & Fafi’s inspiration!

Tell me your favourite things! What are you excited about? What is making you smile today? Did you dance around your room to a great song today? Come on! SPILL THE BEANS!

Links to the above photos:
1. report01, 2. post video shoot, 3. Pure Wonder│by Ellen von Unwerth, 4. fairy floss, 5. Scarlett Johansson, 6. Raspberry macarons, 7. dork chic supa smarty, 8. circling, 9. Hoopn 4 Peace, 10. MK in Vogue Italia (June 2007), 11. Ice Cream, 12. Back in USSR#3, 13. the tide rises, 14. Fairy Floss　線菓子, 15. Best. Desktop. Ever., 16. japanese candyfloss

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Dissecting Men's Style

[ 28 August 2007, 10:37 ]

My dear male readers, I am sorry if you have felt neglected! I am sorry if all the pink is getting to you! I resolve to write more about men’s style, from this day forth! Let me appease you with this (soon to be regular) feature — a dissection of men’s street style. Oh, & of course, feedback is always welcome!

Let’s focus on the guy on the left, since I think he looks the best. His outfit is comprised of very simple components — a flannel shirt, jeans, a belt & a watch. It sounds like the duds of your average lumberjack, but this guy has put it all together with a slight twist & ends up looking cool & stylish. What has he done? First of all, he’s slicked back his hair in a very cool greaser/rockabilly style. There’s nothing fancy going on, it’s probably just pomade & a comb. Secondly, he’s rolled up his sleeves, & it looks fantastic. So many men underestimate how sexy a defined forearm is. Thirdly, & in a very unusual turn of events, one side of his shirt is untucked. Is it deliberate? Did it just happen? Who knows? But it looks great. It makes him look a bit unpredictable, which is quite appealing really…

Here’s a hard fact of life: shorts can look good on men. (See here for another example.) Stop claiming that the world would be better off without glimpsing your gams, & take a chance! This guy’s outfit works because he’s not showing too much skin. His outfit is, again, pretty simple — a long-sleeved black t-shirt, shorts, a belt, sandals — & again, it’s the small touches that make this work. His sleeves are pushed up a little bit. The t-shirt is tucked into his shorts, which makes it look sleeker. The belt is unexpected & it gives a nice little detail in the midst of all that black. & then! Those lovely sandals! Swoon. I love that they are so unusual.

This guy knows his assets — long, skinny legs & great hair — & is working them to his advantage. Notice that they are the only solid black things, everything else is patterned or coloured, so the black really draws your eye in. He’s matched his sunglasses with his bag (awesome!) & his shirt with his sneakers. If all components were green or orange, he might look a bit matchy-matchy, but since he’s using a couple of different colours, it really works well.

Scott (of The Sartorialist) said something about this guy looking like an “old-time movie star on vacation”, & he’s absolutely right. His style is so consummately relaxing-summer-holiday. His outfit is easy on the eye but actually quite unusual. Why? How? First of all, he has brilliant hair. It’s gently waved, which makes him look chilled out but still stylish — this can be hard to pull off. His outfit is all neutral colours, which is a rare thing. Most people would be tempted to throw on dark jeans or a jacket to break it up, & sometimes this contrast can be nice, but I’m glad he didn’t! The charcoal stripe through the shirt is echoed in his pocket square, something which normally looks so stuffy, but in combination with rolled sleeves, light trousers & the absence of socks, he looks perfectly debonair & fresh. CHARMED, I’m sure!

It takes a brave man to don a cardigan — & a vintage one at that! This (cuuuute) guy’s outfit works because of the proportions. Normally a cardigan with pants — unless they were super-tight ones — would look a bit dowdy, a bit Mr Rogers. He has deftly escaped this fate by pairing it with denim shorts, which shows his legs & that incredible sock/shoe combination. He’s kept his palette quite clean — the white shirt is quite luminous & the dark shorts ensure your eye isn’t too distracted. I absolutely love the lines around the socks, it’s such a brave (but perfect) choice. I also think he might have looked a bit childish without the glasses — but they top it off wonderfully.

I am in LOVE. Such an adorable outfit. He’s keep his silhouette very sleek — notice that the singlet, the shorts & the hat are about the same width across his body. His singlet is tucked in, which makes him look tidy. The stripes around his hat match the rest of his outfit PERFECTLY. & best of all, his shoes are neutral. It would have been tempting to match them to the rest of the ensemble, but then he might have been erring on the side of “my mother dressed me”. Fabulous. I also like that we can’t see his eyes, that is totally hot.

Lessons to take home:
Capitalise on your best features. Find out what they are & then WORK them, relentlessly! If you’re not sure what your best features are, ask your friends!
Roll up your sleeves. People who roll up their sleeves look they’ve been working hard at something, like they’re driven & passionate. Even if you’re not, it’s a fabulous illusion to perpetuate! (I am not the only woman who finds this attractive!)
Think about proportion. Wear long sleeves with shorts, or jeans with bare arms. Don’t cover it all up (or show it all off) if you can help it — mix it up, make things a little unexpected.
If most people would leave the shirt untucked, tuck it in. If most people would tuck it in, leave it out. Be different!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Betsey Johnson's Apartment

[ 27 August 2007, 10:17 ]

Elle Decor UK (August 2007) published a spread on Betsey Johnson’s New York apartment, which she recently redecorated. You can see some pictures of it here — it’s gorgeous. Pink & silver & crystal, oh my!

While I was poking around Flickr, trying to find photos of the aforementioned feature, I found an article on her apartment from a few years ago, which shows what it was like before. Voila!

(More details)

The following photos are from Betsey’s perfume launch held in her own apartment… Love those pink helium balloons with their tails creating an impermanent curtain.

“Buy what you love. Forget the trends – what’s in & what’s out. Even if the item is a crazy little bra or hotpants, it’s important to love it for what it is.”
— Betsey Johnson

Extra For Experts:
Betsey on redecorating — “Make it personal. I like houses that totally reflect their owners. Take some chances. Try those colors you’ve always loved but were afraid to use. What’s the worst that can happen? You have to start over again? So what? Decorating is fun. And maybe you’ll learn something about yourself in the process.”
Betsey on travelling — “In London, Rellik is big time for us. We also hit the Portobello Market, Mary Moore and Virginia in Clarendon Cross. Steinberg & Tolkien on the New Kings Road is also good. I also like Alfies.”
Betsey Johnson: America’s 25 Most Fascinating Entrepreneurs. “The fashion world has always loved Betsey Johnson’s whimsical personality and outrageous designs. But nobody would put money on her when she decided to start her own company. Could she really build a successful business around silver micro minis and pink tutus?”

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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David Jones Designer Collections Summer 2007

[ 18 August 2007, 19:24 ]

Show coverage in haiku form

The Côte d’Azur set
the scene — famous playground of
the rich & listless.

Et voila! Here they
come, models whose lifestyles we
are meant to envy.

Long blonde hair, beaucoup
du stripes in navy & white
& vivid red lips.

Halter tops with spots,
impractical shoes abound,
monochrome is in.

Australia’s Next
Top Model does her little turn
on the slouch-walk.

Wooden bangles &
brown leather belts help ground a
floaty white shift dress.

By the looks of things,
sailor chic will be major.
Ahoy there matey.

Mimco’s turbans &
beads reek of Little Edie
at the beach. (Love it.)

All the male models
look like criminals, even
in pink & florals.

(Sunglasses hide one’s
eyes from the piercing glare of
the surly front row.

There are several
mothers in the audience
who are not happy.)

...Is that all there is?
Stripes & white for summer is
not that ground-breaking.

Extra For Experts:
Designers: Anna Thomas, Tigerlily, Mimco, Zimmermann, Calibre, Seafolly, Alice McCall, Sally Smith, Sabatini, Akira, Easton Pearson, George Gross & Harry Who, Alannah Hill, AG by Arthur Galan, Simona, Ginger & Smart, Sass & Bide, Lisa Ho, Morrissey, Kirrily Johnston, Trelisa Cooper, Collette Dinnigan, Alex Perry, Willow.
Full photo gallery, merci beaucoup Vogue!

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O Magazine & Ellen Barkin

[ 15 August 2007, 11:32 ]

I recently bought a copy of O magazine‘s July issue, because my girl Violet Blue had written a piece about porn for women & I was delighted for her!

While normally it’s not a magazine I would even flick through, I was pleasantly surprised by the content within. It was juicy, it had substance. It didn’t talk down to its readership & I felt like my $10.95 AU had been well-spent.

Well, I felt that way until I turned to page 206 & started reading a piece on Ellen Barkin, an actress who recently appeared in Ocean’s Thirteen. The article starts with an explanation of how she dislikes looking at herself in the mirror while she refers to herself as an “old lady”. We then hear about her beauty routine & how she’d like to gain seven pounds.

Finally, we reach this.

To say I was disappointed by this list is the understatement of the century. Some of this is a little hard to swallow.

“Don’t wear hats, except to keep the sun off your face. A hat makes you look as if you’re trying to get noticed.”

What exactly is she trying to say here? That women over 50 should cover up & shuffle down the street as if invisible? That once you hit your 50th birthday, your time in the spotlight is over? Time to eat at the early-bird special, grab your Zimmer frame & don orthopaedic shoes?

There are plenty of super-sexy, strong, wonderful role models who are over the age of 50. Like, for example, Helen Mirren, Catherine Deneuve, Sophia Loren, Susan Sarandon, Diane Keaton, Meryl Streep & Goldie Hawn... & hell, even Madonna (my new role model) will be 50 in a year’s time! Plenty of them have hair longer than their collarbone, wear red lipstick & (heaven forbid!) show off their knees!

I know that writing is easier when it’s prescriptive, & I know that a lot of people just want to be told what to do, but it doesn’t make for very positive, inclusive reading, nor does it empower anyone particularly.

I expected something a little more age positive from O magazine. Here’s my take on the assignment.

Gala’s 10 Rules For Everyone

1. Accept yourself. Now. As you are. In all your wonderful imperfection, with all your delicious flaws, regardless of past failure or pain. Stop delaying approval of yourself. You will not be a better (or worse) person when you’ve made your first million, or when you have legions of screaming fans, or when you have a baby. Love yourself now. Forgive yourself now.

2. Take care of yourself — whatever that means to you. From buying a pet to going for long walks with your best friends; from getting a weekly manicure to leaving your abusive partner. You deserve it — & you deserve to feel good.

3. Assert your sexuality. You don’t just choose an orientation & that’s the end of it. Things change! Go with your whims! Buy toys, read manuals, learn tantra, do whatever you want to do. It will keep you youthful, as well as making life more fun.

4. Put the same effort into developing your personal style as most other people put into following trends. In a few years time, when you have a wardrobe full of incredible coats, beautiful shoes & mind-boggling jewellery — & everyone else only has “basics” & recent trends to work from — you will thank me!

5. Develop a strong enough sense of self that you are truly living your own life. Have faith in yourself, believe in yourself, even when your spouse/parents/friends are telling you to go in the opposite direction. At the same time, stay fluid, stay open, or you’ll stagnate. Keep pushing, keep questioning. We stop growing as people when we stop asking questions.

6. Be good to people. Take the moral high-ground. Resist the urge to “get revenge”. Avoid gossip. “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, & you help them to become what they are capable of becoming.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.)

7. Take risks. Change your hairstyle, date someone younger, buy a fabulous sports car, move to Paris, open a bakery, make new friends! Take responsibility for your life, your circumstances, your choices. It is not anyone else’s fault.

8. Shirk that boring obligation to wear ‘appropriate’ clothing. Everyone looks better when they feel good in what they have on their back. Wear a ballgown to the supermarket & a suit to the baseball if it makes you happy!

9. Learn from the best. Take makeup lessons, see a personal stylist, ask your hairdresser the best way to blowdry your hair & watch your manicurist carefully. Even if you don’t do these things professionally, there is no reason why you shouldn’t benefit from their experience.

10. Smile. Be grateful for what you have. Appreciate your life.

Extra For Experts:
What’s Sexy About Women Over 50? from match.com
Why Women Over 50 Love Their Age from WebMD
Over 50 and single? Rediscover your sexy side from msnbc
Porn’s New Focus: Over-50 Crowd from the San Diego Tribune
Fashion Over 50 from about.com

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Nu Rave

[ 13 August 2007, 13:07 ]

“Recently I’ve been becoming really enticed by this season’s “new rave” trend, as I love bright colours and weird patterns but I don’t have a clue how to go about dressing myself in lurid, dayglow colours without looking like a clown!”

The Nu Rave look is tricky to pull off, since I feel quite strongly that neon colours were probably never created with the intent of people splashing them onto clothes. When you think about it, garish green, shocking pink, eye-watering yellow & brain-crushing orange don’t really go with anyone’s skin tone. I mean, yes, it can be worn, but it’s not neccessarily flattering.

However, cautionary tale aside, obviously you want to pick up on the trend, so here are some ways to do it!

Secret Genius Tip
I think the way to master the “nu rave” look is to imagine you’re a senior citizen, & you’ve just caught the bus to Atlantic City to do some gambling for the weekend. However, while you were packing, your cruel grandchild spiked your tea with psychedelics. Now: dress accordingly.

Try to keep neon colours away from your face as much as you can. It’s really easy to look washed-out or ill if you’re wearing the wrong colour under your chin.

Those House of Holland t-shirts have been a huge hit & sell for a keen price on Ebay. Chain stores have picked up on the trend & you can now buy a knock-off for a pittance. Over here in Australia, Supre has a whole lot of white t-shirts with “BAD HAIR DAY” & “LOVE YOU LONG TIME” printed in neon green. If you’re not sure how long the trend (or your interest in it) will last, going for one of these cheaper, “gateway” items might be your best bet.

On your bottom half, try wearing colourful leggings, skinny jeans in sky blue or lime green, or a bubble skirt with crazy stockings underneath. Ksubi (pictured above) have an incredible range of wild skinny jeans, & Urban Outfitters have skinny jeans in fuschia, green & blue.

As always, colourful accessories are the way to go. Buy some crazy platform sneakers or cheap fake Converse & cover them with paint & sequins & gee-gaws. Buy a plain tote & spray a stencil on the side in hot pink paint. Load up on colourful jewellery, neon wigs & silly sunglasses. Paint your nails white or neon.

I had a look around Patricia Field’s online shop &, other than having a huge crush on her, I discovered she sells a whole lot of things which will supplement your look. For example:

Sequinned visor, $22, in a huge range of colours.

Mighty Fine retro Bambi t-shirt, $36. I looooove this.

High waist sequin shorts, $74. (Okay, not strictly nu rave, but totally hot nonetheless.)

Neon splatter sunglasses, $16, & again, a huge range of colours.

Tripp zebra tunic minidress, $48. (Not strictly nu rave either, but you could rock it.)

Timmy Woods lip purse, $250 & worth every CENT goddamnit. It’s SO Amanda Lepore.

Psychedelic Daisy t-shirt, $36. Very easy to wear.

Bling sequin “fanny pack” (bum bag), $24, every colour under the sunnnnn.

For the brave (& those well-acquainted with an eyeshadow brush), my friend Sophie (right) rocks this neon rainbow makeup like it was designed for her. I think she looks AMAZING. Might be something to try!

Finally, something from the Urban Dictionary...

“Nu Rave is when rich young children ‘rave’ in a licensed venue, listening to average indie pop bands who call themselves Nu Rave to get the rich young kids to buy their records and make them and their record companies/the venues money.

“Hey Ollie are you coming to Koko Nu Rave night tonight, it’ll be jolly good fun. We can buy GLOWSTICKS and wear colourful trousers and act all kerayzeeeeeee, then we can come back to mine and get Jeeves to russle us up a couple of VODKA AND TONICS!..... man”“

Wink wink, nudge nudge! Have fun!

Extra For Experts:
Poprave Blog is an awesome blog designed for followers of nu rave culture, with recommendations for clothing, shoes, vinyl toys & all manner of ridiculousness.

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Style Icons: Madonna

[ 8 August 2007, 22:23 ]

“I think you can be defiant & rebellious & still be strong & positive.” — Madonna

I love Madonna. I can’t get enough of her newest album, Confessions On A Dance Floor, & have you seen the video for Hung Up? Girl is FIT! If I have a body like that when I’m 49 (!), I will be extremely pleased.

Why is Madonna a style icon? As if I even need to tell you! She has been making music for years — this year marks her 28th year in the pop business. Even more incredibly, almost all of her albums have been critically acclaimed, each distinctly different from the next. Her image is as mercurial as the weather — she is the ultimate chameleon. While she often shocks & surprises, she manages to pull off each look attempted with incredible flair & panache. Through taking these fashion risks, she inspires entire generations of women to imitate her. While I’m not under the illusion that she is perfect, I think she is a pretty fantastic role model.

She moved to New York City at the end of her sophomore year at school with $35 in her pocket, hoping to pursue a career in dance. She worked at Dunkin’ Donuts for a while, but in 1979 became involved with a musician, which kick-started her career. Since then, she has released ten studio albums & scores of singles, compilations & live albums. Anyone with that kind of drive gets my stamp of approval!

Here are some of my favourite Madonna moments…

“I’ve been popular & unpopular, successful & unsuccessful, loved & loathed, & I know how meaningless it all is. Therefore, I feel free to take whatever risks I want.” — Madonna

For your viewing pleasure, I present two of my favourite Madonna videos… maybe not totally appropriate for work, but totally hot.

Some wise words from the superstar?

“Be strong; believe in freedom & in God; love yourself; understand your sexuality; have a sense of humor; masturbate; don’t judge people by their religion, colour or sexual habits; love life & your family.” — Madonna

I couldn’t agree more.

P.S. She likes to sing “My Way” by Frank Sinatra in the shower.

Extra For Experts:
Celebrity quotes
Madonna on Letterman in 1994.

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Men's Summer Style '07

[ 2 August 2007, 23:25 ]

I recently received an email from Ben in the U.K. asking what I thought men should be wearing this summer, so here are my thoughts on the subject!

At the moment, I really like it when men dress in a casual, not-trying-too-hard style. The only man whose rather formal style I endorse is that of Karl Lagerfeld, one of my secret boyfriends. (As in, it is a secret that even HE doesn’t know!) Super-starched, high-necked white shirts, fingerless gloves, powdered white hair, a plain black tie… drool.

The best way to dress casually is to organise your outfits ahead of time, so you know what goes with what & you don’t have to think about it too much in the morning. Usually it is a simple case of shirt + pants + shoes, but a blazer or a great hat (like a straw fedora) always scores you points. Couple your casual garb with an immaculate haircut & fantastic eyewear or even a bit of makeup if you’re game! (Black mascara or a tiny smudge of eyeliner can make you look slightly broody & mysterious, which I think is hot hot hot.)

I love comfortable looking collared shirts with the sleeves rolled up, outfits which are all black & white & also designer stubble — meaning you shave everything below the jaw line & don’t let it get longer than a few days worth of growth. I am really into well-fitted jeans, too — not necessarily skinny or wide-leg, but just something which fits the body well & shows off a man’s best features, whether that’s his slim thighs, perky butt or super-knobbly knees.

Without further ado, here are some men’s street looks I love, & in some circumstances, what I would do to improve them…

This guy at Uniqlo in NYC epitomises effortless summer chic to me. He looks flawless. I cannot fault him on any aspect of his outfit. His red-check shirt is very “classic American”, & I love the way he’s rolled up the sleeves & left the top two buttons undone. His hair, glasses & facial hair are all brilliant & I love him for carrying a satchel! Only real men carry bags!

Take away the blazer & the hat & you’d have a very average-looking guy. It’s these two little details which totally raise the quality of his outfit & give him the appearance of a man with style, rather than just some guy who picked yesterday’s clothes up off the floor! Again, he has great facial hair & there’s even a badge on his lapel! Great touch.

Look at that pout! Owwww! I love the white hat, shades & bag. The cardigan is FABULOUS but I think a close-fitting polo shirt would have made this look impeccable — as you can, it’s too big so it’s creating strange folds below the cardigan, & the collar looks a little loose. I adore the monotone styling, though. Definitely someone you would look twice at.

I love the way he’s rocking the blue colour scheme here, but mostly I wanted to demonstrate that shorts can look REALLY good on a man! If you’re worried about exposing your pasty legs to the public at large, exfoliate & then use a good tanning lotion! (Read this from Winona for a brand comparison!) I love his tote & watch & shoes, they’re all fantastic. I think if his shirt was untucked this look would be more relaxed looking, & less — how can I put this? — bus driver. (He’s really cute though so we can forgive him just this once.)

Oh my godddd. AMAZING. He’s wearing a vintage stiff-fronted tuxedo shirt. These things button in the back, so I can only assume he had someone to help him get into it, but a plain white tunic would do just as well. LOVE the silhouette created with those skinny jeans & trainers. Wayfarer sunglasses like his drive me a little bit crazy but he definitely wears them with a lot of flair. Again, rolled up sleeves, jeans which fit well, few accessories. He looks like he just threw this on, though I’m positive he didn’t!

For the men: What do you normally wear in the summer? What have you been loving recently? Is there any kind of style you see on other men which you think looks amazing but don’t know whether you could pull it off yourself?

Everyone else: How do you like men to dress? What kind of style stops you in the street?

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Style Icons: Marchesa Luisa Casati

[ 30 July 2007, 11:18 ]

“Her carrot-coloured hair hung in long curls. The enormous agate-black eyes seemed to be eating her thin face. Again she was a vision, a mad vision, surrounded as usual by her black and white greyhounds and a host of charming and utterly useless ornaments. But curiously enough she did not look unnatural. The fantastic garb really suited her. She was so different from other women that ordinary clothes were impossible for her.” — Catherine Barjansky

The Marchesa Luisa Casati had nude male servants gilded with gold. Wax mannequins sat, lifeless, at her dinner table. She wore live snakes as jewellery, & was infamous for her late-night walks, during which she would walk cheetahs on diamond-studded leashes, while completely naked beneath her furs.

When both her wealthy parents died, Luisa (aged 15) & her sister were suddenly the wealthiest women in Italy. Luisa’s natural propensity for the arts & fascination with surrounding herself with beautiful, unusual things became a major part of her personality. She regularly shocked the aristocracy with her bizarre garb & enthrallment with the macabre.

She was tall & thin, with a pale, almost cadaverous face. Her huge green eyes were flanked by false eyelashes, slathered with black kohl, & she regularly used belladonna eyedrops to dilate her pupils. Her mouth was painted rich vermillion.

She held black masses & masquerade balls with equal excitement. She had incredible love affairs with men & women alike. It is said that she once wore a freshly-killed chicken as a stole, & that on a separate occasion, she had her driver kill a chicken & pour the blood down her long white arms so that it dried in a pattern which pleased her.

One of her houses was a semi-ruined palace along the Grand Canal in Venice. The gardens were illuminated with Chinese lanterns & albino blackbirds fluttered in the trees. Another was the Palais Rose just outside of Paris, a red marble mansion with a private art gallery, containing more than 130 paintings of her likeness. She was obsessed with her own image & commissioned thousands of artists to paint, sculpt & photograph her.

However, Luisa’s passion for clothing, jewels & extravagant lifestyle found her with a personal debt of $25 million by the time she was 49 years old. After all her personal possessions had been auctioned off, she fled to London where she eventually died. It is said that she was seen digging around in bins for feathers to put in her hair.

She was interred with one of her taxidermied Pekinese dogs, & her gravestone quotes Shakespeare: Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale her infinite variety.

Marchesa Luisa Casati continues to inspire & thrill today. Dita Von Teese has named her as a key personal influence, while fashion designers send models down the catwalk in homage to her image. The New York Times wrote of Armani’s 2004/05 autumn/winter collection, “At Armani, bold violet eyes were inspired by the 20th-century Italian aristocrat Marchesa Luisa Casati, the godmother of the new eccentricity movement.”

I love the Marchesa because she was a true original. Wild & mad, with extraordinary fashion sense, she did as she pleased & lived a life that few others are bold enough to even dream about. Just reading about her makes me feel brave! I am so enamoured with her. (I dressed in honour of her on 14th July.)

For more information, check out Infinite Variety: The Life & Legend of the Marchesa Casati, The Definitive Edition by Scot D. Ryersson & Michael Orlando Yaccarino or Wacky Chicks: Life Lessons from Fearlessly Inappropriate & Fabulously Eccentric Women by Simon Doonan. (Also, here’s a doll of the Marchesa by October Effigies, commissioned by the authors of Infinite Variety.)

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Summer Fun In Your Backyard

[ 27 July 2007, 15:51 ]

“Hello, I have a little backyard that I’m just dying to make into the perfect place for picnics and parties during the summer, but I’m not quite sure what I want it to look like! I’m looking for small backyard inspiration, any suggestions would be wonderful! Furniture, lights, decor, etc etc.”

I really think the key to having an inviting backyard is a few well-picked items.

You definitely need somewhere for people to sit. I like those crazy old picnic tables with attached seats — they’re a bit more rustic & authentic-looking than a plastic table & slew of chairs. Who knows though, maybe you’d prefer a whole lot of little fake toadstools for people to sit on! Check Ebay (use the specific location tool to find something close to you) & flea markets for outdoor furniture. If you can get your hands on some long 70’s pool chairs, that could be amazing. Most of those come with a squab to lay on — if you’re going to go the whole hog, I suggest having them recovered in a fabric you adore which is fairly hardy. (It needs to be able to handle rain, sunscreen, sweaty bodies, cigarettes & wobbling glasses of alcohol.)

In my experience, most outdoor parties start innocently enough in the afternoon, but end up spilling over into the night-time & early morning fairly easily. When the sun goes down, you need candles! If you bought one of those big wooden picnic tables, put a few candles in the middle (or on one end) & let them drip their wax. I looove the way this looks. Put candles all over the place — little tea-lights or votives in jars around the garden looks gorgeous. The flame reflects against the glass, it’s beautiful, & the jar prevents them from falling over or being blown out by the wind. You might want to invest in some citronella candles to keep bugs away, too. Sometimes they sell huge ones on sticks which you can just push into the ground. Have these near the table, since that’s where most of the people will be.

For extra illumination, fairy lights or lanterns are totally the way to go. Clear white fairy lights strung between braches are among my favourite things in the world, but I found a lot of other amazing lights when I looked around. There are lights encased in little pink silk flowers, pink lanterns, round white lanterns, butterfly fairy lights & silk Chinese party lights. I’m also mad about Moroccan lanterns, which should be hung from trees! I would love to have ALL of these, but it might be overkill!

Buy tea glasses (I like these in red & blue) & a beautiful teapot. Fill it with some kind of punch concoction & have everyone drink it out of the tea glasses. (Always going by “intended use” is such a bore.) Get a magnificent parasol & use it to cast some shade over the table. Blow up big, metallic balloons (or clear ones) & tie them onto tree branches, make a little fort or treehouse, buy a paddling pool. Rent a bubble machine! Tell all your friends to come over — & invite me!

Extra for experts:
Outdoor decorating photos & more
Once Upon A Garden by iVillage
Dream Spaces by iVillage

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I Love Victoria Beckham!

[ 18 July 2007, 11:59 ]

She’s like a hot fashion robot from the future! “MAJOR!”

I didn’t really know anything about her until I watched Victoria Beckham: Coming To America last night. (I never liked the Spice Girls so I kind of missed that boat!) I adore her personality — she’s warm, smart, positive & hilarious… definitely the brains behind the ‘Posh & Becks’ enterprise.

She gets a lot of flack from the media (& general public) about her body, which must be hard to deal with. Surely dealing with your inner critic is enough?! I know it is for me (& most of you, too).

Anyway, I wish her every success, I think she is brilliant. & I would love to go shoe shopping with her!

P.S. I love love love Milkfat!

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The Fashionable Jew

[ 15 July 2007, 21:39 ]

“I’ve read a bunch of advice you gave and was wondering if you could apply your great wisdom to my case too. I love fashion and style, and I wish I could muster the courage to wear some really cool attention grabbing outfit… I am in tenth grade and wear a long (floor length) denim skirt with a black T-shirt just about every day. I have to abide by some rather strict religious rules with regard to dress – not just at school, everywhere. (The rules: no pants, nothing tight or revealing, shirts up to the collar bone and past the elbows, absolutely no exposed midriff, skirts past the knee, no visible underwear, nothing transparent or too sexy in general.) I was wondering if you could help me get out of my rut, or if I should just resort to wearing a burka. I would be eternally grateful… I am a [modern] Orthodox Jew (not Ultra-Orthodox) and I live in Israel, where — according to a relative of my mother — fashion is more extreme: either very racy and immodest or very dowdy and frumpy. But if you manage to think of cool outfits that are modest enough for me I’m sure I’ll find equivalents locally.”

This cry for help was a true test of my abilities! I’ve never been to the Middle East & I have very little knowledge of Judaism, so here goes! Most of what I have written is in accordance with Tzniut. Please know that I have tried my hardest & my intention in writing this was not to insult anyone, but instead to give a girl some style hope!

I recognise that Jewish women are not the only people in the world with restrictions placed on their dress by religion, & I hope that any of you in a similar position will be able to use this article as a springboard for your own appearance! Alright, without further ado…

Hello, my sweet! Thank you for writing & I’m sorry it has taken me so long to put this together.

Really, I think the best way to approach this is to work with the things you’ve got, rather than focussing on the limits you have. Thinking about restrictions all the time is very boring & tiring, so let’s accentuate the positive!

Take your hair, for example. You can do, literally, thousands of things with it. Colour it, have it cut, give yourself a mohawk if you can get away with it. Pull it back from your face & pin some big, sparkly brooches into your hair — say three stars (one on either side of your head & one on the top, charmingly askew) or a rose. Even if you’re wearing all black, a bit of glamour in the hair will cause you to dazzle everyone in the room! Tease your hair up into a wild bird’s nest & stick feathers in it. On days when you can’t be bothered with your hair, throw a brightly-coloured silk scarf over your head, or tie it up into a (fashion) turban.

Buy up vintage t-shirts on Ebay. If you buy men’s shirts in the same size that you are (a men’s small if you’re a small in women’s clothing, etc.) — that way they won’t be tight or too clingy. You can buy all sorts of crazy shirts, featuring anything from Mickey Mouse to World’s Biggest Ball Of String. Wear a thin hooded sweatshirt underneath & pull the hood up through the t-shirt’s collar, so it flops back behind you. Alternatively, throw a cardigan over the top, even one with 3/4 sleeves should do. Short little cardigans that end at the waist are super-adorable, while a cardigan which ends at the hip is really wearable, & a long cardigan is great for hiding in or bundling up on cold days. You can always push the sleeves up a little bit if you want to show your wrists, or if you have bracelet mania like me!

Try piling your wrists with bangles in any colour scheme you like. I’m nutty about clear lucite bangles at the moment, but you can buy AMAZING vintage bangles on Ebay. I especially like stumbling across people selling collections of red bakelite bracelets, they’re beautiful. (Just look on Ebay for bakelite bangle or bracelet.) Wear them all the way almost up to your elbow & remember that if you have skinny arms you should wear big bangles, while you should wear fine ones if your arm is bigger.

Try a knee-length skirt with striped stockings & mary janes, or a floor-length skirt with combat boots. Mary-Kate Olsen (above) has been rocking an ankle-length black silk skirt & gladiator sandles recently & it looks gorgeous. You could also try doing a femme Karl Lagerfeld kind of look, which would be ultra-cute. Wear a starched white shirt, fingerless leather gloves, a long black skirt, a belt & sunglasses.

Accessories are really going to be the best way to differentiate yourself from everyone else, so start buying them up! Go for unusual things. Often you can buy entire estate lots of jewellery on Ebay. You’ll end up with a LOT of very interesting pieces, & the stuff you don’t like you can give away or resell. I love choker necklaces, big dangly earrings & weird clip-ons, bracelets galore & antique rings.

There are so many small things you can do to spice up a plain outfit. Brooches are brilliant for this. Have a friend buy you some in another country, borrow them from your favourite relatives or source them from strange little second-hand shops. They tell fabulous stories. Try changing the buttons on your cardigan, jacket or shirt — you could go for big, brassy, military-type buttons or cute novelty ones. I once saw purple rollerskate buttons, they were incredibly cool. Belts are fantastic too — wear one around your waist like a big bow or slung around your hips. I love pyramid-studded belts worn over floor-length skirts, I think the contrast looks gorgeous.

Buy huge sunglasses which make you look as if you’re on the run from the paparazzi! They add instant glamour to any outfit.

Make-up is every woman’s best weapon. Learn how to use it! You can go for the natural look or impersonate Elvira as it suits you. Play around with it, create a signature look which makes you feel magnificent.

Finally, you can always take a hint from the 80’s. When women first started entering the corporate “man’s” world, they thought that in order to compete they had to almost disguise themselves as men. The “power suit” was a big, boxy look, further emphasised by shoulder-pads. Thankfully, today, most women realise that they have just as much power by allowing themselves to be women, but at the time, a lot of women wore beautiful lingerie underneath their big man suits to help them retain feelings of femininity. No one has to know, it can be your little secret!

Good luck!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Daily Outfit -- 14th July 2007

[ 15 July 2007, 10:58 ]

What did you do on Saturday night? I dressed up & took photographs. & then I went out, dressed like this, to buy pizza, & carried it home through the rain while listening to Madonna on my headphones.

Pink headscarf worn as a turban
Black satin shirt from Laurie Foon with amazing detailing on the upper arm (hard to photograph!)
Black v-neck dress from Laurie Foon
Faux-fur coat
Lucite bangles & knotted pearls
Black Manolo Blahniks

I dreamed about being an eccentric heiress & attending parties in the Hollywood Hills. It was fun. (Click the images for a huge version.)

P.S. The cigarette is a prop & unlit. Smoking kills! Etc.! (Ssshhhhhhh.)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Majority Rules!

[ 14 July 2007, 16:41 ]

Okay, well, that & the fact that I have enough pink dye to tide me over for several months… but never fear! I will be a purple people-eater again sometime soon!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Hello Blondie!

[ 13 July 2007, 22:44 ]

New haircut! (If you’re wondering why iCiNG was quiet today, it’s because I was in the hair salon from 2.30 until 7!)

I love the cut so much, I think it is gorgeous & couldn’t be happier. The colour, however, is another story. It looks GREAT in those shots, but that’s because you can’t really see the top. There are bands of orange/brown where my colourist said they didn’t want to apply more bleach because they feared my hair would break. (I always need a double application & they didn’t want to go for a third.)

Tomorrow it will be purple. Or pink. I have a bottle of each. What do you think? (Poem unintentional.)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Things I Love Thursday

[ 12 July 2007, 11:43 ]

Okay, here are some small things which are delighting me today!

Clockwise from top left corner: a girl drawn by Fawn Gehweiler, a fake indoor beach in Japan, Audrey Kitching’s fringe, a photo by Ellen Von Unwerth, an unknown girl, bound papers, a hotel room, origami paper cranes, a cupcake, cute shoes on purple carpet, another girl by Fawn Gehweiler, balloons, & a ballerina on a cupcake.

Also…
The gap in Madonna’s teeth!
Really sweet peanut butter, yum.
Thinking I had disappointed someone when actually, they just forgot to reply to my email & think I am brilliant!
Watching orchestras all turn the page of music at the same time. Is that dorky? It just looks so beautiful, like a momentary flock of butterflies.
Trading skills with a friend — “I’ll write you a new company profile if you make me a dress!”
Wearing pink, glittery tabi socks around the house when I wake up.
This video of the Three Tenors where Pavarotti is grinning like mad at Domingo & Carreras at 1:58! SO CUTE! Oh my god I love it!
Chilled green tea with jasmine.
Obsessing over the baths I’m going to take in Sydney. I haven’t lived in a house with a bath since about 2003?! I’m going to go to Lush & buy a Fairy Jasmine bath bomb for every night I’m there. Ohhhhh it’s going to be soooo good.
This is absolutely hypnotic. I love interesting musical notation, drool!
Being able to watch almost any of those Next Top Model shows on Youtube for freeeee & whenever I please!
Jumping on my trampoline & singing along to 2pac!
Oh my god, this is from the city I grew up in.

Whenever I remember, I like to make lists of things I appreciate. It’s a great thing to do as soon as you get out of bed, because fuelled by all that positive energy, how could you NOT have a good day?!

My boyfriend & I sometimes play this game where he says, “Okay! Ten things you’re grateful for right now!”. If I’m grumpy I’ll roll my eyes at him & say, “this sandwich” in a voice dripping with sarcasm, but by the time I’m up to about number six or seven, I’m starting to feel good & it oftens helps get me out of my funk. Try it next time you’re irritated. Even if you make a list that is ALL sarcasm, at least it’ll make you laugh!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Gala's Guide To Tennis Chic

[ 1 July 2007, 12:59 ]

A good friend of mine, Davide, is in London at the moment. I said to him, “I’m surprised you’re not at Wimbledon, kissing boys in Lacoste polo shirts & getting grass stains on your knees.”

As I get older, tennis seems more & more attractive to me — to me, it is about the most civilised thing I can think of (like golf, except it’s interesting). Mostly I think I want in because I love being surrounded by all those social graces but still getting in there & shaking things up a little bit. I relish the image of strutting in there with my purple hair tied back, wearing a white Lacoste tennis dress, all tattoos & mirth while sipping iced tea!

For girls:
if your hair is long enough it should definitely be pulled back into a ponytail. Girls with their hair pulled back into a classic ponytail always makes me think of school — I went to an Anglican all girls’ school & our hair wasn’t permitted to touch the pristine white collars of our shirts. Anyway, to me, it is very sporty & a bit innocent-looking, which I find quite appealing.

In terms of apparel, of course you can’t go wrong with anything Lacoste. Hit up Ebay for the best stuff, though if you want to buy new, here’s a Lacoste terry headband & matching terry wristband. Really, I’m sure these things have no purpose but they are essential components of tennis chic.

Try wearing a white Lacoste tennis dress with (matching) neon pink underwear or a headscarf & 3/4 leggings in the same colour. Throw on a ballerina-wrap cardigan for when the sun starts setting.

I am a huge, huuuuge fan of the adidas by Stella McCartney range. Here’s a four-piece tennis dress set worn by Maria Kirilenko on the court. I adore it. It’s not in stores anymore but remember, Ebay is your friend!

This is from her newest tennis range. Love that skirt. Isn’t it fabulous?!

In terms of accessories, pile on clear lucite bangles — they go with anything & they’re super-mod. Big sunglasses are very important — whether you go for the huge oval sort, Wayfarers or Ray-Ban aviators, make sure they suit your face shape!

For boys:
In a nod to retro tennis, I am a strong believer that most men should wear a sweatband (à la John McEnroe & Richie Tenenbaum). It’ll keep that ‘fro (or emo combover) out of your eyes & makes you look super-athletic even if on the court you resemble a Thunderbird.

I personally have an insane penchant for the combination of a pastel-coloured polo shirt (sky blue is especially a favourite of mine), toned, tanned arms, wristbands & half-sleeve tattoos. (Think this but with an edge.)

Wear the shortest shorts you can (especially if you’re tall, like Chevy Chase in Fletch — he looks like an emu in his tennis gear, so hot) & allude to having a summer house in the Hamptons.

Here’s Davide’s opinion on tennis chic for boys:

“Wool jumpers over shoulders is fluorescent colours is totally where its at. It makes other people think you are joking and is a great way to show off a good skin day.

The great thing with tennis chic is that it’s super fun and comfortable. Get in character and speak with a funny accent. If feeling super in character stick some tennis socks DOWN YOUR SHORTS. Wearing colours makes one’s day a bit brighter so don’t be scared to match yellow and purple.

Today because it’s gay pride parade (which I wouldnt normally go to but it’s a party in a strange land with some people I know so what the hell, try new things right?), I’m wearing a yellow jumper over a sailor striped polo with jeans and yellow flat dress shoes from Selfridges because it’s coooold. I have a peach coloured scarf to go around my neck. It’s a shame that I naturally look so masculine, because I’d make a great camp sailor.”

For the super-keen:
Start spending time at a country club. Remember to wear pearls & get blitzed on gin & tonics like the rest of them.
Adopt a ridiculous name for the season, like Binty, Muffy or Waldorf Salad The Third.
Go super-retro like these cute kids, in tweed & a newsboy cap.
Carry a bottle of Evian, hire a driver & start dropping tennis-themed sexual innuendo into conversation, e.g., “I’d like to re-string HER racquet…”

Happy serving!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Initial Rings

[ 27 June 2007, 15:44 ]

Okay, I know it’s been a bit serious around here… so let’s pick it up a little, shall we?!

Today I received a package from Girlprops containing rhinestone initial rings! I ordered a set in gold & a set in silver… & I loooove them…

What do you think? I’m totally smitten. If I ever forget my name, poof! It’s right there! (If I was violent I might be psyched to imprint my name on someone’s forehead, but I’m not.)

Oh, & do you like my new (to me) Lacoste sweater? Thanks Ebay!

Have you bought anything recently which sends you into ecstasy?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Zee 'Air Down There

[ 13 June 2007, 11:07 ]

“Dear Gala,

I have a question that I often throw around and debate with people, and would like to know your perspective on it (being the fashionista that you are!). In today’s modern society where image, especially body image, is emphasised and sex seems to be very liberal – what is the stance on pubic hair in modern society? Is it expected to be more on the bald side these days, or can you still look like a wookie ‘down there’ and be seen as attractive? What is seen as ‘good hygiene’ in the way of pubes? I’m often intrigued as to whether there is an official-like social stance on the matter. Especially since the rise in trend of getting a landing strip, brazillian or, if male, the more daring crack sack and back wax. Is it a conditioning and construction of society, or a natural progress of the sexual revolution?

Should society be proudly bald, taking away a visualisation of adulthood, or should we proudly be growing a chia pet between our legs? And do you think porn has influenced the stigma of having pubic hair?”

Well! Here we go then, eh?

History lesson, ahem!

“Waxing of the genital areas has been prevalent in many societies around the world for centuries, in Ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt but especially in arid or desert, predominantly Muslim and Arab countries. Arab, Turkish, and Persian women as well as women from the Albanian culture and Mediterranean regions have for centuries been waxing in the genital areas. The waxes used were often sugar-based and made with lemon; however present variations include oils and scents to lessen the discomfort. The reasons for genital waxing in these regions have not necessarily been for cosmetic reasons throughout history, as it is in the case of North and South America as well as Europe, but instead these cultures mentioned above have generally practiced waxing for centuries more for reasons of personal hygiene and/or religion. As a result, in many of these cultures, body hair of any sort on women is considered socially unacceptable. However, waxing the genital area completely is relatively new to modern Western cultures, developing mostly in the 20th century. In the United States, for example, the habit of waxing or even shaving the pubic area did not become common place until the 1960s.

The Brazilian wax originated in Brazil for women wanting to wear the then-new thong bikinis, which was not widely popular inside the United States at the time. Brazilian waxing gained huge popularity through the late 1980s & has boomed in the last couple of years in the US. Legend has it that the J.Sisters beauty salon in New York has helped spread the name out.“
From Wikipedia.

In reference to the original question, I don’t know if the argument is as simple as “taking away a visualisation of adulthood”. There are lots of other aspects of adulthood — such as mortgages, 5 screaming children & saggy bottoms — which in the past we were expected to just accept & deal with. These days, we are free to deny, embrace or alter these conditions as we see fit. The Brazilian falls into the latter category. It’s a cosmetic thrill & enhances your look just like having your eyebrows shaped does. Why only take care of SOME parts of your anatomy & neglect others?

I know that a few years ago, when the Brazilian craze hit, there were a great many women who were worried that removing their pubic hair would suddenly turn their husbands into child molesters or pedophiles… or something. The logic in this argument is interesting, to say the least, but I don’t think that going bald is going to turn dear hubby into Gary Glitter.

Pubic hair might make you look like an “adult”, but quite frankly, so do breasts & thighs. Hair that (quite frankly) obscures the clitoris serves no purpose, so why not whip it off? It heightens sensitivity, looks superb (in my opinion) & will give yo’ lover a thrill.

“That’s the thing about the Brazilian. It makes you do crazy things. You have to be very careful who you invite to Brazil.” — Samantha Jones

Now, I’m not going to kid you. Brazilian waxing hurts. It is an ordeal. Every time I get one, I swear I will never go back… & yet. Shaving is such a hassle: growing it back is ugly & irritating & it requires constant work (exfoliating or re-shaving). Waxing is also fairly expensive, but then, you would have to pay me a fair chunk of change to be attending to women’s hairy, secret parts all day long too. The good thing is that once you have it done, it lasts a long time — 4 to 6 weeks.

“I got mugged! She took everything I got!” — Carrie Bradshaw

Maybe it’s just the generation I’m from, but I am keen on hair removal. I tweeze my eyebrows at least every couple of days; I even shave my arms. This kind of obsession extends to more intimate areas, too. Here are my personal preferences.

On women, I think a ‘Hollywood’ or ‘Sphynx‘ Brazilian (totally bald) or a landing strip Brazilian (a line of hair down the front) is the way to go, whether you shave or wax to get it that way. If you simply cannot be bothered with all the maintenance this style requires, then you need to at least trim. I really don’t think there’s any excuse (or reason) for anyone to be completely wild in that area anymore. I actually tend to think that most women (of my generation at least) all have some kind of pubic upkeep routine, & you’d be in the minority if you just let it grow. Most of the women I know go completely bald — it seems strange to me to just neglect the area, almost backward. I feel that as liberated, sexually-active women, there is almost a responsibility to “put it out there”, be familiar with & proud of our genitals. Is it just me?

I think all men should trim. Not to do so is just discourteous. Shaving or waxing is perhaps a little bit extreme — I don’t personally think it enhances the aesthetics of the area, so, you know. Save yourself an hour. It’s not like anything anybody needs is going to be hidden away, unless perhaps you’re 80 & have never touched your, um, thicket! Just a little upkeep is nice!

I did some research (*moustache wiggle*) & I really couldn’t find anything referencing pubic hair “trends” that had been written more recently than about 2004. A shame, really, since I’d like to know what the recent style is. In the early 2000s, suddenly Brazilian waxing was a hot topic, & every print publication featured humorous anecdotal pieces about visits to strange Russian sadists brandishing tubs of wax & small paper underwear. After that stage, though, there is nothing, zip, nada — somewhat like a full Brazilian itself — to be found on recent trends in pubic hair grooming. For all I know, women in Germany are flocking to Matilda in Baden-Baden who will shave a maze into your crotch.

I thought about calling some beauty salons to ask them what’s popular these days, but that’s only really going to tell you what the pubic scene is like in Melbourne — not hugely useful. Then I thought, hey! I have an international audience of astute, independent thinkers! Maybe I should ask them!

So, is anyone game to talk about their, uh, pubic preferences?!

Extra For Experts
“261 People Want To Do This… get a Brazilian wax“ — with anecdotes & all. I particularly like this comment: “I am determined to do this, both for me and my boyfriend, also because I am having a baby soon and if I don’t I’m worried they won’t be able to see the baby as it’s coming out!!”
Nerve.com interview with a Brazilian waxer. Her tips? Drink two glasses of vodka beforehand, & ensure you’re clean first! (Arrrghhh!)
Some Like It Trimmed, from WebMD.
Tips from a Brazilian waxer, thanks to Yes But No But Yes.
This is hilariously badly-written, maybe by someone from Belarus (after the recommended two glasses of vodka)? “You are welcome to join the club of pubic hair shaving.” Well, thank you very much!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Grey Gardens

[ 12 June 2007, 13:25 ]

Yesterday, I finally watched Grey Gardens, a documentary about two eccentric women — mother & daughter — living in absolute squalor in East Hampton, New York. This wouldn’t be remarkable in & of itself if not for the fact that Big & Little Edie were the aunt & first cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, & they lived in a dilapidated 28-room mansion. It is said that the Edies remained independent by selling off their Tiffany pieces one at a time.

Filmed in 1975, it is basically a series of vignettes depicting the women’s “everyday lives”. Little Edie wears a scarf over her head at all times, fastened with a huge brooch, & either a full fur coat or a swimsuit. Big Edie seems to do everything from bed, propped up against the wall in a huge sun hat, singing along to records she made in her youth. They argue constantly — Little Edie blames Big Edie for ruining her life, & Big Edie screeches about how she shouldn’t have to live alone. Little Edie feeds Big Edie cat food & calls it “pâté”. Wild racoons live in the attic (Little Edie leaves out loaves of Wonderbread & Purina cat chow for them to eat). When they don’t argue, they’re either sunbathing or eating ice-cream.

It is a truly bizarre movie but very aesthetically inspiring. While I wouldn’t actually want to do it, the fantasy of living in a crumbling mansion, eating ice-cream all day & swanning around in a full fur coat is quite appealing. Its influence is strong. Rufus Wainwright wrote a song called Grey Gardens on his album Poses, ZOOZOOM magazine shot a fashion editorial (which I LOVE) based around the movie (& Vogue has featured two as well), & Todd Oldham, John Bartlett, Marc Jacobs & Laurie Foon (NZ) have all cited the influence of Little Edie on their clothing designs. Drew Barrymore is playing Little Edie in a fictionalised adaptation of the documentary this year, & last year Grey Gardens hit Broadway in musical form.

“This is the best thing to wear for the day, you understand, because I don’t like women in skirts, & the best thing is to wear pantyhose or some pants under a short skirt I think, then you have the pants under the skirt, & then you pull the stockings up over the pants underneath the skirt, & you can always take off the skirt & use it as a cape, so I think this is the best costume for the day. ...I have to think these things up, you know? ...Mother wanted me to come out in a kimono so we had quite a fight.” — Little Edie

I have to wonder what made them both so weird. Was it the isolation? (They had practically no contact with the outside world for about 25 years.) Big Edie’s husband divorced her by telegram after running off with a Mexican woman, which could make anyone go a little mad. Did Little Edie end up that way too after prolonged exposure to her nutty mother?

Anyway, as I was watching it, I had an idea. I should have a Grey Gardens party! Everyone has to wear fake fur & heels & speak in an accent which sounds half-British & half-New York. Grey Gardens will play (with no sound) & we will listen to Chopin, drink gin cocktails & colour in pages from the Grey Gardens colouring book (for sale here, but does anyone know another way of obtaining it?). Ice-cream will, of course, be BYO, as will flea repellant. Want to come along?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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What To Do With Candles In Glass Jars?

[ 12 May 2007, 01:18 ]

“Women with candles have replaced women with cats as the new sad thing.”
— Samantha Jones

On the blackcigarette community today, someone asked the following…

“I’ll admit, sometimes I’m drawn to buy something just for its pretty packaging, its good looks. Especially with candles, intricate glass etching goes a long way with me, like for example candles by Modern Alchemy. But now I’m faced with a question. What do you do with the pretty glass holders the candles come in, once the candles are spent? Do you throw them away, or save them? Since the design on the glass was half the appeal, it seems like it would be a waste to throw it away. Do you think it would be tacky to save it? I have a mind to clean out the old wax and wick at the bottom and repour a new candle in its place – how would I go about doing that?”

You could certainly clean it out & just put a tealight or votive in its place, but that’s a bit dull & I think we can do better than that, personally. It seems almost offensive to replace say, a Diptyque or Rigaud candle with a tealight which will burn out in 3 hours.

The best thing to do is use the container for storage of some description. I am a great fan of using jars & bottles for holding little collections of things, & I never really throw anything pretty away. It always gets used somehow — whether it’s fresh white lilies in a French absinthe bottle or goldfish in a cookie jar — & you can always use them as the packaging of a gift for a friend.

If you have a little table by the front door, you could use it hold your keys or as a paperweight for any boring mail which comes your way (read: bills). Most of the candle glasses are the perfect size for storing jewellery, whether rings, beads, brooches or hair-clips. Hang earrings off the lip of the jar.

Smokers (naughty!) can empty out a packet of cigarettes into the jar, with the filters pointing upward, for a super-decadent, ’40s kind of feel. If you don’t smoke, or are trying to quit, you could always do this with candy cigarettes!

Use the candle glass to hold collections of anything small that you have a lot of — seed pods, buttons, feathers, fake moustaches, sequins, lip balm, bindis in little metal pots, beads, or pearl-tipped pins. Try making a miniature planter. Fill it with gobstoppers or gummy bears.

Decorate your working environment by using the empty glass to hold your business cards, paperclips, golf pencils, sticks of white chalk, words of wisdom from fortune cookies…

Though I guess in order to do the above, you need the candle holder first! Here then, are some of the most beautifully-presented candles I’ve found. The scent descriptions sound pretty delicious too. Hold me back!

My favourite, Diptyque candles smell incredible & look amazing. I have yet to own one, but I bought my mother a Tilleul-scented one for her birthday! In Sex & The City, Carrie has a Baies Diptyque candle in her bedroom. No, I am not obsessed.

Modern Alchemy candles come in coloured, etched glass jars in scents like Opium Den: “collapse in a languid, hazy cloud of resin, opiates and tobacco fumes” — & Boston Tea Party: “english black tea and cedar tangled in brackish seaweed”.

D.L. & Co. candles come in exquisite little vases — for example, the Foxglove candle comes in a turquoise frosted glass vessel in the shape of, you guessed it, a foxglove flower.

Vie Luxe candles are presented in a nickel-finished glass jar, & scents like Cote D’Azur sound incredible: “Vie Luxe’s Cote D’Azur candle is infused with scents of white lily, water hyacinth and white freesia with pink rose and french verbena”. Drool.

Archipelago Botanicals Monogram Collection has a different scent for every letter of the alphabet, but honestly, they all sound amazing so I doubt you’d be disappointed. The scent for ‘G’ is gardenia & jasmine. Yum. Too bad if your name is Xena or Zara, though — for some reason X & Z didn’t deserve candles of their own!

A Scent Of Scandal candles have great names (Back Seat Of My Car, Gold Digger, Starf*cker, Sugar Daddy) but I’m not overwhelmed by the scent descriptions. Seems kind of gimmicky to me, does anyone have more information?

Tocca candles have a long-standing reputation as one of the best in the world, along with Diptyque. I would love to have a sniff of Kyoto: “Tocca Kyoto candle is a delicate fruity-floral apricot-like aroma permeating from the Kinmokusei plant’s tiny gold-orange petals surrounding the ancient Buddhist temples of Japan’s cultural heart.” Doesn’t that sound magnificent? Wow.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Top 5 Ways To Define Your Own Personal Style

[ 9 May 2007, 00:49 ]

5. Buy a decent-sized Moleskine notebook & start making a look book for yourself.

Stick into it any pictures of models, clothes, makeup that appeal to you. Copy into it quotes from anyone whose style you adore — like Karl Lagerfeld’s quote: “Good taste only tastes good to the people who think they have good taste; a good taste can be very uncreative & boring. Good taste is something very bourgeois, very established, so it needs fresh air.”

Read fashion history books & make notes in aforementioned Moleskine about things you like. Pillbox hats? Platform shoes? Sailor chic? Write it all down & don’t worry if it’s not “in fashion” now — remember that fashion is cyclical & besides which, constantly being “on the pulse” is boring.

Do your research. Read fashion websites (my preferred mode of obtaining information & inspiration) & buy magazines — not just Vogue but things like FRUiTS & Cutie too. Go to the library & look at stacks of fashion magazines from the 1970s & 80s if they have them. Take photocopies of anything you like. Watch movies with a strong aesthetic — say Amelie, The Virgin Suicides, Pulp Fiction, Bladerunner, The Addams Family etc.

4. Start borrowing clothes & accessories from your friends: experiment & find out what works for you.

I say borrow because it’s cheap! There’s no sense in buying something which you’re not sure about. A short-term loan from a friend is a great way to discover what suits you, & if you don’t like it, just give it back! (You should try to bribe your friend if there is anything you really love.) Allow your friend to dress you up if they’re game — you never know, they might just kit you out in something you adore. Fill a plastic bag with accessories that they no longer wear, take them home & work them into your outfits over the next couple of weeks. Do you look better in small, Lennon-esque sunglasses or huge, oversized shades? How does a cowboy hat suit you? A beret? Are you more comfortable with an enormous vintage doctor’s bag or a clutch? You get the idea.

3. Start taking daily outfit photos — I cannot stress the value of this enough.

Do it with a Polaroid camera if you can. Stick them in the back of your Moleskine. Write commentary alongside each one, including what was good, what wasn’t, & what you’d change if you wore it again. This will make such a difference to the way you dress yourself, & will teach you a lot about your colouring, shape & proportions.

2. Write yourself a rough style concept.

An example. It doesn’t need to be long, but flagrant use of adjectives can help solidify a picture in your head. You could start off simple, with “wide-leg pants & cropped cardigans“ but then expand it to “wear with geta & pearls“. Allow your imagination to roam, & if all else fails, go back to step five!

1. Be prepared to spend some time thinking about your look!

The most stylish people don’t magically conjure their outfits into existence: a lot of the time, their wardrobe is the cumulative effect of lots of list-making, hunting, haggling & a staunch attitude towards keeping weird old treasures. Feel free to make mistakes — if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not pushing the envelope hard enough. Finally, don’t be afraid to redefine your style concept — to make it wilder or more wearable. This will keep you from getting stale & is also a lot of fun!

P.S. Hello to all my new readers from Problogger!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Madame Pompadour

[ 3 May 2007, 13:25 ]

On an exploratory visit to the Victoria Markets, Ana & I stumbled across a shop called Madame Pompadour. It’s gorgeous — like something from a Francesca Lia Block book. It is INSANELY pink, a treasure trove of homeware, clothing & accessories. I took a whole bunch of pictures because I thought it was gorgeous. I hope you find it inspiring!

Ana in a kimono from the shop. Beautiful but a little too big for either of us. I love the stack of quilts to the left, it makes me so happy. I’ve decided that I want to do up the iCiNG Bowl like a psychedelic grandma’s house: white furniture (which I already have) with granny-esque accents (floral, patchwork, vintage lamps etc.), fairy lights, weird exotic flowers, pictures of girls my age with little to no clothing on, taxidermy & maybe a zebra-print rug. Fake, I think. Anyway…

I love that etched mirror. They had a fabulous range of clothing — camisoles, slips & skirts — which ranged in price from really good value at about $14 to really really expensive at about $200. I didn’t buy any of them, even though I really wanted to, but I did buy the below dress for $39…

It looks pretty great with black stockings & New Rock boots.

An umbrella covered with quilt patches. I love it. & look at all those gorgeous pink cushions! They’re going to look so good on my white couch.

Marie Antoinette-esque quill pens, jelly moulds, lace parasols, glorious china & a huge dresser housing it all. I love shops decorated like this, I would much rather feel like everything is an exciting discovery than just “here’s a shelf & some stuff with price-tags”. Quelle yawnfest!

Aforementioned slip dresses. GOD, they were beautiful. Hand-dyed, I think, with embroidery & bits of crochet & pearls. Seriously, amazing. I want one in sky blue & one in fuchsia.

Feathered hairclips on a little cake stand. Simple enough, right? You could do that on your dresser at home. So do it!

For anyone in Melbourne (sorry to those of you who aren’t!) — Madame Pompadour is at 145 Victoria Street, next to the markets. Tell Tara I sent you!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Tags: aesthetic, consumption, inspiration, life
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How To Rock A Wig

[ 2 May 2007, 18:08 ]

“Oh my gosh, will you please write an article on how to wear a wig! I’ve tried cheap ones on at novelty shops before, but they just look like a Halloween costume on me. But your looks just wonderful, like I actually thought you dyed your hair for a minute. It doesn’t have to look completely natural, but I would love to know how you pulled that off without making it look like it was just a silly costume. Also, what did you do with your hair underneath it?”

Dear Anonymous (psshhh! I’m going to call you Greta),

The most important thing when it comes to wigs is that you spend as much money as you can. I know it probably seems like I say this a lot, but really, it’s true. You get what you pay for. Cheap wigs are obvious & it doesn’t matter what you do to it, it’s always going to look wrong somehow. While a more expensive wig is not necessarily superior, they tend to be better as a general rule. My black wig wasn’t very expensive, I paid $65 Australian for it (about $53 American), but it was bought wholesale so I got a good deal on it. It’s not amazing quality but it’s okay, & since I don’t intend on wearing it a whole lot, it will serve its purpose very well. If you’re planning on wearing your wig regularly (like more than once a week), you should spend more.

Definitely take your time when buying any kind of hairpiece. It really needs to suit you, & if you’re not sure, go away & think about it. There’s nothing worse than something expensive that doesn’t get any wear! You should feel comfortable in your wig — it’s like any other item of clothing, if you don’t feel good in it, it will be obvious & it won’t look right. If you’re not sure what kind of hairstyles suit you, I wrote an article on how to choose a flattering haircut which will help!

Having said that, buying a wig doesn’t need to be boring or predictable. Your hair doesn’t have to look “real”, per-say, just good! You have the ability to wear anything you want, so if you’d like to rock a purple bob or long white ringlets, you can! Have fun with your appearance; surprise yourself!

Make sure you take care of your wig! They’re usually sold in plastic bags, but a polystyrene head or something else which is round is optimal for the wig to sit it on. Brush the wig (with a steel comb) before you put it on & then brush it again once it’s on your head.

When I bought my wig, I knew the fringe (bangs) were too long, so when I got home I had my friend trim them. If you’re going to do wig surgery — which is almost always necessary, in my experience — go slowly! If you hack a big chunk out of it, it’s not going to grow back, so be careful! When we started trimming my bangs, we trimmed about half a centimetre at first, then looked at it & talked about it some more before doing anything else. After a bit of adjusting & fiddling, we decided the bangs would look best if they were sitting just above my eyebrow, so we trimmed it back to there. The good thing about this is that if I want my bangs a bit shorter or longer, I can change them by sliding the wig back & forth. If you’re nervous about screwing this up, take your wig to a salon & have a professional attend to it.

I wear a stocking over my hair when I put a wig on, as well as clipping the hair under it. It just keeps all your natural hair in place. Also, sometimes the rubbing of a wig will give you a bald patch, so a stocking is a good way to prevent this. Put the wig on (put your thumbs in the front of it & hook it over your head), shake it out a bit, give it a comb & once it’s in place, grab some bobby pins & pin it to your natural hair. Otherwise it will slide around & it’ll sit too far back on your head, which looks pretty ridiculous. When you’re putting it on, make sure it is pulled down all the way in the back. If the wig feels loose, take it off & adjust the band.

If the wig still looks a bit fake, or you’re not entirely comfortable with it, put a hair or a scarf over the top. Since this covers a large portion of the wig, it’ll seem more realistic, & for some reason when you do this, no one will ever suspect you’re wearing a wig. I went out last night wearing a scarf over my wig & I felt fantastic & confident — kind of like a spy! My new hair gave me the confidence to be a different person, with more wiggle in my walk & coy little smiles.

I know a lot of women with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy are terrified of having to wear a wig, but I have read a lot of accounts of women who find that it actually gives them a lot of freedom & a wonderful opportunity to expand the horizons of their appearance. In season six of Sex & The City, Samantha develops cancer & finds herself in a wig shop, trying to make herself look like “her” again. She’s very distraught because she’s going to a movie premiere & she can’t find anything which resembles how her hair used to be. However, later in the show, you see her at the premiere wearing a bright pink wig, & it looks magnificent. Keep that in mind when you’re wig shopping!

If your wig looks really shiny & unrealistic, a light coating of baby powder will help dull the sheen. Apply it with a powder brush, then shake off the excess. You can also buy special wig styling spray to keep a handle on flyaway hair & weird kinks etc. that your wig might have. Both of these things can help to make your wig look better on.

Above all, have fun with it! I now own two wigs — the black bob & a big pink afro, & I want more! I’d like a white bob & a beehive too…

Extra For Experts:
How to care for all different types of wigs — very useful information.
How to put long hair under a stocking cap — because if you just pull your hair into a bun, it’ll look like you have a tumour under your wig!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Living It Up At Burning Man

[ 1 May 2007, 11:28 ]

About six years ago, I heard about this crazy festival in the Nevada desert called Burning Man. It sounded like a warped, psychedelic camping trip & the idea really appealed to me. I saw lots of pictures & read lots of stories about what happened there, & thus started my obsession with the topic. Living in New Zealand, I thought I would probably never get to go — I knew it required a lot of equipment & preparation, not to mention the expense. I wasn’t interested in going by myself (I am not the camping type) & my boyfriend didn’t want to go, so I pretty much ruled it out… but secretly I would look at the website every now & then & think about going.

Skip forward a few years, I had a new boyfriend who had already been to Burning Man, & we decided we would go together. Well. What an experience. Nothing that anybody tells you can ever prepare you sufficiently for that environment. You can look at pictures & watch videos & read packing lists & practice putting your tent up all you like, but getting out there the first time is always a shock, it is always weirder & bigger than you imagined, & it is always utterly mind-blowing &, cheesy though it may sound, life-changing.

I have read a few articles on Burning Man recently in traditional media & they seem to think it is just a ‘festival’, it is listed along with the Glastonbury festival & Coachella. Burning Man is, um, not a music festival. It is a week in the desert — yes, the actual desert — where the only things you can purchase are ice & coffee. You need to have EVERYTHING else with you, including about 15 gallons of water for drinking alone. If you’re not prepared or think someone else is going to look after you, you are in for a rude awakening. You can die out there. The back of the ticket says you are responsible for your own life! Also, please know how to pitch your tent before you get there, because odds are that there will be incredibly strong winds when you arrive & those are your tent-pitching conditions.

Anyway, there are so many essential packing lists & pages of information on how to do Burning Man properly, & attempting to re-create or better those would be an exercise in futility. I can, however, tell you about my experiences & give you some suggestions.

We took some things with us on the plane (like tents & thermal clothing & shoes), & then bought a whole lot when we arrived in the States. Luggage allowances are a bummer. Another good thing to do is purchase things off Ebay & have them sent to a friend’s place in the U.S.A. — then you can pick them up when you arrive. I did this for my dust mask, bikini, legwarmers & other non-essential items.

Most people take sleeping bags with them, but if you’ve got the packing space & feel like a bit of opulence, why not take along a proper bedspread? Take something winter-weight, it gets COLD at night. The thing I found with my sleeping bag is that you end up crawling into the bottom of it at night, because of the temperature, but when the sun comes up in the morning, it is suddenly super-hot & your sleeping bag is like a little chasm of hell. If you have a duvet, you can just flick it off, without having to try to disentangle yourself from your sticky sack o’ misery. Definitely take an inflatable mattress with you, the ground is pretty hard!

I think if you can have a decadent time at Burning Man, you should. Obviously this will depend on your budget, transport & general lifestyle, but I think a fantastic picnic on a blanket with real china & teapots etc. would go down a treat. There is no reason why you should “slum it” at Burning Man — if you don’t have to eat off plastic & live on beef jerky, why would you?! Take cupcakes (they may need to be eaten on the first day, but who cares), boil up some tea, have a whipped cream fight & then go roller-skating at the Black Rock Roller Disco. See if you can bribe someone to wave a big fan at your picnic group, they might need to be paid in kisses or something, but I’m sure you can strike a good deal.

I also strongly recommend taking two tents with you instead of one. I know this probably sounds excessive, but it will make your life much more pleasant, especially if you are sharing your sleeping space with somebody else. Last year I had one tent for sleeping (containing an inflatable mattress, sleeping bags & some essential stuff, like a torch, eyedrops & baby wipes) & another for food, clothing & water. Our tents were set up in such a way that you could unzip the front of the sleeping tent, crawl halfway out, then open the other one & grab whatever you needed. It was pretty good really.

Take your vitamins! Even if you don’t normally take vitamins on a daily basis, Burning Man is a harsh environment & I am not foolin’ you when I say that your body needs all the help it can get. I recommend a good multivitamin, Omega 3 pills & a good stash of 5-HTP if you can get your hands on it. (5-HTP is a serotonin-replacer, & is really good for giving you a little burst of happy. Also if you intend on indulging in substances on the playa, 5-HTP will make the next day a lot more pleasant.)

Something to keep the dust out of your mouth & eyes is very important. If you inhale too much dust you will get what is called “playa lung” when you get back to civilisation, which is basically where you cough up mud. Not very civilised at all, & best avoided. The conditions at Burning Man change drastically from year to year — for example, last year I had my dust mask (above) on me at all times, but rarely needed it. It did match my hair though, so that made me feel better about it. A lot of people just wore scarves or bandanas around their necks & pulled them up over their mouths, like bandits, whenever they saw a dust storm approaching. You’ll also need some goggles or other kind of eye protection — again, last year conditions were great & I didn’t need anything more than my sunglasses, but take goggles (a pair without ventilation holes in the sides!). Dust in the eye-socket is pretty unpleasant.

I was really worried about changing my daily contact lenses at Burning Man, since it’s so dusty & really there’s no good place to do it. I went to my optometrist a month before we left to see if I could have month-long lenses. This gave me enough time to make sure I could wear them without any trouble, & they were fantastic on the playa. Just remember to take your eye-drops!

Fashionable playa wear is really up to the individual. The things people wear range from complete nudity to a shirt with no pants (these people are called “shirtcockers” & generally mocked), to faux Miss Universe to stilts or tracksuit pants & a cape (NSFW), Japanese warriors in Transmuters, plain white or a really, really scary Miss Chiquita Banana. (As you can see, some people go there basically to dress up for a week.)

If you don’t want to do a full-on costume, try wearing a prom dress; cute underwear (a child’s patterned singlet with matching underpants would be adorable); cowboy boots; nothing with bright red finger- & toenails; a t-shirt & heels; striped pyjamas; a flower in your buttonhole; a big, back-combed wig; Chinese slippers; a vintage tennis outfit; a big jade kimono; a turban to protect your hair; bells tied around your ankles; a pashmina in a bright colour for warmth at night; Egyptian eye makeup, aka an exaggerated cat’s eye; a fur coat; ballet flats; huge cubic zirconia earrings; vintage camisoles or slips. Search for weird things on Ebay under the keywords cyber, cosplay, fetish, circlet... Ebay’s also a great place to pick up fishnet stockings in every colour under the sun, wigs, bizarre Masonic jewellery, animal masks & old map bags carried in the war. In terms of getting dressed out there, in the middle of nowhere, really you can do as you please — & most do. Of course, you can just wear shorts & a t-shirt, but that’s a bit boring. Participation is important!

You can also do things like glue rhinestones or small toys to your goggles, glue things onto your hat (you need one — I wore a cowboy hat last year which was excellent), customise your bike (yes, you need one of those too) or decorate your backpack (it’ll be on your back all day, every day, so it might as well look good!). One thing to keep in mind is that everything attached to these items needs to be SECURE — otherwise you’ll leave a trail of glitter all across the playa, which is an environmental concern & impossible to clean up. Feather boas are out of the question for this very reason!

Personally, during the day I tended to swan around in dresses — they’re so easy to wear & very little fuss — with cowboy boots & a scarf on my head to protect my hair from the dust. (Towards the end of the week it can start to look a bit manky, & showers are a fairly rare event out there!) If I wasn’t wearing a dress, I’d be wearing a bikini: I bought a great one on Ebay which was white with black polka dots, lined in turquoise. It was part of a stripper outfit I think, & it also came with a (really) short skirt in the same fabric. I always had sunglasses &, of course, sunscreen! At night-time, more coordination is required, since the temperature drops dramatically once the sun disappears.

In the photo above, I am wearing:
White dress
Blue striped thermal top
Star fingerless gloves
Woolen stockings
Platform New Rock boots
Hello Kitty bag slung around my waist
Furry leg-warmers
Glowsticks (I am not a raver, I promise!)
Pink headscarf (it’s really dusty out there, so I was trying to keep my hair as clean as possible)
Dust mask with pink filters (colour coordination is important)
Camelbak (a backpack with a water pouch inside it) — & my fur coat was in there too.

At night, you need some kind of illumination. It is pitch dark across most of the playa, & if people can’t see you, they will run into you on their bicycle or with their art car! I understand that getting squished on the playa is not the best activity, so bring stuff to keep you lit up! You can buy big packets of glowsticks which are bendable & come with little plastic attachments to make them into bracelets, necklaces etc. Other people just use little blinking shapes (like stars) which they clip onto their clothes. Our friend Joe used some bright blue EL wire to create a sign on his chest which blinked “JOE”.

Of course, people travelling internationally to go to Burning Man will find themselves more limited than those who only have to drive from San Francisco (which a lot of people do). If you’re a native of Shanghai, you will probably have less exciting attire than Tiffany Brouhaha from California who spent all year welding her costume together. Don’t feel bad or discouraged by this! There are people for whom Burning Man is their entire life, & really, that is hard to compete with. Just jump in with both feet & do whatever you can to distinguish yourself or make an exceptional impact. Really, anything goes. You might be the most popular person in your camp just because you’ve got more food than you know what to do with, or you read people’s palms. Burning Man is an exceptionally inviting environment, so don’t feel like you are less important just because your hat doesn’t shoot flames & you keep your bra on.

Having said that, I found myself feeling really lonely at Burning Man some of the time. It was confusing, because I’d been looking forward to it for such a long time, but sometimes I felt really socially anxious & weird. I understand that it’s quite natural for people to have a hard time emotionally while they’re out there, but I didn’t know that at the time. I felt like I was the only party pooper in a desert of 40,000 people. If you go along & feel unhappy, I recommend coming out of your shell asap & spending time around people, talking or just listening to their conversations. Most people at Burning Man — like about 95% — are really awesome & pleasant & want you to have a good time, so don’t feel alone & don’t be afraid!

Dress up like Marie Antoinette, doze on couches in the shade, squirt people with water guns, have someone feed you a cake, practice your pole-dancing (there’s a lot of opportunity for that on the playa), organise a dusty dinner party & do lots of cartwheels.

Extra For Experts:
An article on Burning Man by my friend Mary Bee — hosted here because it’s worth it.
Black Rock Burner Hostel — I stayed here last year & it was fantastic, they really have their shit together.
Ggreg’s Burning Man gallery — drag queens ahoy! I love the commentary under the pictures: “Burning Man is where those dorks from shop class rule the playground.”
Drag Queen makeup at Burning Man — from the same guy as above.
The Official First Timer’s Guide — essential reading.
Wikipedia’s entry on Burning Man.
A Google Map of Burning Man — you can see the layout of the city, a semi-circle around a centre point.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Flickr Favourites -- 27th April 2007

[ 27 April 2007, 11:57 ]

My Flickr favourites from the last week. A little dose of pretty for the last day of the working week!

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Burlesque Chic

[ 19 April 2007, 09:20 ]

On Sunday night, I went to see the Red Door Burlesque at The Order Of Melbourne. It was a very exciting night, I’d never been to The Order (though I had heard good things) or seen live burlesque! The latter is especially strange, because for a while, I was absolutely obsessed with burlesque & even considered forming my own troupe a couple of years ago.

The Order Of Melbourne is wonderful, dimly lit with a rooftop garden & immaculate table service. The show was fantastic, too — two saucy curvy ladies getting their kit off, Birdman (the host) pouring tea through his nose, a cute girl in a makeshift peep-booth & Marawa, who did two acts, one with hula hoops & another where she combined trapeze with aerials!

There were free lamingtons (see below), special burlesque cocktails & an incredible cheese board on offer. We had such a great time! The atmosphere was excellent too, I felt like I was in a 1940’s lesbian joint — except there were men there, too! I wish I had dressed up more for it — I was totally underdressed, in jeans, a black trapeze dress & a red headscarf. I didn’t realise the crowd would be so dressed to kill. There was a lot of shiny black hair, red lipstick, high heels, fishnets & general glamour! It was fantastic, it’s so rare to see people (especially in the 20-35 age group) really making a huge effort when they go out.

For anyone who wants to incorporate a little old-world glamour into their daily dressing, here are some ways to do it…

Do your eye makeup in a cat’s eye style.
I almost always wear mine like this, it makes me feel very glamorous & dramatic. Here’s a good tutorial if you’re not sure what you’re doing! One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes, lining your lower lid will make your eye look really heavy, as if you’re tired or sick. Whenever I put makeup around my eyes, I only ever touch the top lid.

Change the way you do your hair.
From a short, fringed flapper-esque bob to long pin curls, an old style hair-do makes a very strong statement. This is the best online guide I’ve found for information on burlesque/vintage/retro hairstyles. Go forth & pin curl! You can also add a little sparkle to your hair with diamante slides & silk flowers. If all else fails, tie a scarf over your head, like I do!

Get your hands on a great vintage-look jacket.
A jacket is such an easy way to transform an ordinary outfit into something which looks spectacular. If you like fuzzy outer-garments, you can buy old fur coats very easily on Ebay & faux fur is all over the place. Also, keep an eye out for tuxedo jackets (regardless of your sex) & vintage jackets with nipped-in waists. It is VERY important that these items fit. If they don’t, you risk looking like an Olsen twin on a bad day (without the cash).

Start wearing high heels!
Never owned any? Can’t walk in them to save your life? It’s a good time to start! There’s nothing sexier than an elongated leg & a little shimmy while you walk.

Focus on the details.
Start drawing on a beauty spot, wear red lipstick, take good care of & paint your nails (red or pink being most traditional), & think about your silhouette! A really simple but glamorous outfit could consist of a white tailored shirt, a black pencil skirt, stockings, heels & red lipstick. I know it sounds kind of boring, but you will look like a knock-out.

For men…
I think a crisp white shirt & tight black pants is a really good look. If you can get your hair into a pomp, you should — if not, grease it down. I also like big, fake black moustaches on men… but maybe that’s just me.

I’m thinking of going again, I really enjoyed myself. This time, though, I would do my damnedest NOT to feel underdressed! I would go all out — black pillbox hat (with net), black corset over shiny rubber-look black dress, wide fishnet stockings & spike heels. The more I think about it, the more appealing it sounds! & of course, if you haven’t been to a burlesque show & have the opportunity, I strongly encourage you to go!

Extra For Experts:
Art Of Seduction, an article from The Scotsman.
An interview with Dita Von Teese, from Factio Magazine.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Apartment Living & The Single Gal

[ 12 April 2007, 20:41 ]

I recently had a request from somebody who wanted to see more photos of my apartment in Auckland, New Zealand. The good news is, I have a lot of photos I can show you. However, most of the pictures have people in them too. I guess I didn’t think at the time that one day I would be doing an online show-&-tell of where I used to live!

I found this photo on Flickr. I love Flickr! This is my old apartment building, on the corner of Queen & Victoria Street, smack-bang in the middle of town. The scary Santa mounted the corner for about three months a year. I was not on the corner blocked by him, thank god. I was on the other side, facing downtown.

The best thing about my apartment was that it had this huge window which took up most of one wall. Because of this, the whole place (it was a studio) was always bright & light. In terms of living somewhere, abundant natural light is so, so brilliant. Anyway, this photo is part of that window. I had some glow-in-the-dark letters which I would stick to the window to spell out words, & often I would grab a whiteboard pen & write things on there too — quotes, ideas, etc. For months, I had “Never fear being vulgar — only boring”, a Diana Vreelandism, written in cursive high up the window.

The worst thing about my apartment was the freezer. Yes, that’s my freezer — BEFORE it got really bad. Seriously. The freezer, which came with the place, had a crappy seal which resulted in major problems. It was pretty useful when people came over for drinks, though — I’d hand out knives & tell them to carve themselves a big hunk of ice for their glass. The Starbucks poster, “obtained” for me by a boy, was stuck to the door & made it look much better.

So, here I am on the telephone when I had a whole lot of people over. You will notice that the lighting is a bit dim — that’s because I am lamp-obsessed. I had four in my apartment (roughly, one in each corner) & they created a brilliant atmosphere. The printed paper on the wall behind me is gift-wrapping paper which I really liked. Above me is a length of rope tied to a hook on the wall (3M adhesive!) which I pegged things onto. From left to right, a stencil of Alice in Wonderland; an illustration by John John Jesse; an envelope from my friend Kaia; a zebra mask (this will make another appearance later in the article); an old Olivetti print (bought on Ebay) & a picture of a bearded lady (from a book about P.T. Barnum). On the wall on the right, I have a picture of Mary-Kate (!), a postcard of the Night Porter & a postcard for a Dada night in New Orleans.

This is from one night when my friend Ana came over & decided to create a canopy of blue above my bed. She is standing on my boyfriend’s back wrapping blue fairy lights around a hanging light fixture. (Not totally practical but it was great fun.) You can see more of my kind of “living area” set-up here. I had two black couches & two white chairs, covered in vinyl with silver feet. They reminded me of old bus seats, I loved them.

To my left is a little table that my laptop lived on. To the left of that was a huge stereo cabinet which I covered with a blanket which was made of art-deco style fabric. I didn’t want the ugliness of my hi-fi on display. I stored a typewriter on the top. The observant among you will notice that the Billie Holiday poster is missing. I changed the contents of that wall around a lot.

Jennie came to stay. She is taking an imprompu nap. Notice the pink cushion she’s hugging — I had a whole lot of them, some on the chairs, some on the bed & two lamps on either side of the bed in the same colour. It was so cute. She’s sitting in front of the big window mentioned previously. That’s my grandmother’s bookcase, with candles, plants, lanterns & typewriters on the top. I stuck pins in the corners of it so I could wrap fairy-lights around it, which made it look really cute at night. In this shot you can also see my flokati rug, the edge of my coffee table, & at the far right, my collection of old newspapers & a blackboard.

I am mental. Okay. Again, part of the window. So great! I had a view of the Metropolis hotel (it’s that big thing to the right), which is an art-deco building & very dramatic at night. I also strung fairy lights across the window, as you can see. Looovely.

Thugs on my bed! The edge of the window (it went all the way up to the roof, & the place had really, really high ceilings), another bookcase & my bed. I had another line of rope going behind my bed for pictures. On the side of my bookcase you can see a white piece of paper — it’s an email from my mother which I really liked. I’m such a goob.

A rejected daily outfit photo, but you do get to see my bed. Some of you will recognise this from my more recent pictures in Melbourne. It’s a very comfortable bed, let me assure you. On the far left is ANOTHER typewriter (I collect them), & you can see the pink lamps/cushions I mentioned earlier. Also next to the typewriter is a cookie jar full of accessories. The pictures behind me include some pages ripped out of a shabby chic book, a photo by Roxanne Carter, a holographic postcard of Jesus, an ee cummings poem, a quote from Bukowski, etc. Also, the weird thing behind my head is a yellow dress which doesn’t suit me. It looked great pinned to the wall, though. On the bedside table to the right is a framed selection of Lemony Snicket’s misfortune-telling cards & a whooole lot of library books.

My little girl sheets — pink striped flannel — & a packet of 100’s & 1000’s biscuits. Bliss.

Here endeth the tour! I hope you enjoyed it ;>

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Miss Sixty Fall 2007

[ 4 April 2007, 11:41 ]

Okay, I know I don’t normally publish runway photos, but this collection — Miss Sixty Fall 2007 — is incredibly cool &, in my opinion, very wearable.

I love the collar on this jacket! It is fantastic! I like the short little sleeves pulled up, too. Not necessarily the best choice for winter, but I suppose if you had something with thin but long sleeves, it could work. I am absolutely mad for the high-waisted pencil skirt with that skinny little belt, & also the scrunched-up socks with those boots. Seriously, what an amazing outfit.

Same girl again. I like her haircut very much. Not sure about the bodice of the dress (it’s DENIM, I saw it instore in London), but the poofy layers of tulle with black, glossy, knee-high, paratropper-esque boots is DEFINITELY a look I would rock if I could. I love silly juxtaposition like that — soft with hard, sweet with mean. If you took her to a ball, it looks like she would grab you by the collar, throw you against a wall, put one of those beautiful boots on your chest & tell you she loved you. Heaven.

Yes, it’s a little “Mask of Zorro”. The hat can go, but I love that cape & the way it winds around the neck. Very chic. I also like the short grey gloves.

Okay, you should know by now that I am a major sucker for anything with a fitted bodice & a poofy skirt. When done well, it looks exceptional. I also ADORE the fabric. I hate the hat, though, & something needs to replace that bra.

But wait! From the back, the hat looks fantastic! I just think at the front it should be more like a flying cap than a baseball cap. Behold the way that skirt flares. Wowza. I love it with the boots. So cool.

I love this. The beanie with those puff shorts & socks pulled up high? Perfection. Of course, you need twig-thighs (like the model) to wear them, so you know, they’re inappropriate for anyone who doesn’t exist on a diet of lettuce leaves & coke (& death)! Oh well, I would rather be happy ;>

Yes please. Beanie + dress (again, fitted bodice & pooooofy skirt) + fur stole + fingerless gloves. Beautiful. (I would like to have seen it with the paratrooper-esque boots, above, but oh well.)

Lovely.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Urban Bohemian

[ 27 March 2007, 12:47 ]

Photographs from Ridin’ Dirty Face, an amazing site I found yesterday. I thought some of you might find these pictures stylistically inspiring…

To be dirty-faced & free, wearing jewellery from people long since passed, secret bonds formed & held tight. Holes in stockings & knots in hair, riding in an empty boxcar, heading toward the dream. A messy life filled with the promise of sky.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Possible Style Icons

[ 24 March 2007, 12:44 ]

I’m not 100% sure on either of these girls yet, but I think they have definite potential.

I have a soft spot for Amy Winehouse because she was born a day after me, in the same year! I put a lot of stock in weird things like that.

I also like her because she has great pin-up tattoos, massive hair, dramatic eye makeup & absolute tons of talent. She seems a bit messed up but that’s okay, aren’t we all to some degree? She also provides great soundbites:

At around age 10, Winehouse founded a short-lived amateur rap group called Sweet ‘n’ Sour, as Sour. She described the group as “the little white Jewish Salt ‘n’ Pepa”.

Winehouse has a number of “old school” tattoos of naked women on her body. When asked about them, she was quoted as saying “I like pin-up girls. I’m more of a boy than a girl. I’m not a lesbian, though — not before a sambuca anyway.”

I know Kelly doesn’t get it right all the time. Sometimes her Frankenstein-esque makeup scares even me. But you have to hand it to her for trying. I think she’s great, actually — she is honest about who she is & she manages to pull off a lot of different looks with considerable aplomb. She’s super-cute & very stylish.

I think she has come from a distinct disadvantage: while her family is wealthy, her father (Ozzy) & mother (Sharon) are hardly paragons of class or dignity. Of course, sometimes she says stupid things on camera or gives the appearance of being despicable — but if you point a camera at most 20 year olds, you are going to get similar results. It also looks like she struggles with her weight a bit, & of course the press absolutely crucifies her for it, which has to be hard. I think she’s pretty cool, & she gets older she’s definitely improving, style-wise.

Who’s on your style radar?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Primp My Ride

[ 19 March 2007, 09:19 ]

“I have an article idea for you me dear. Pimp my ride Gala-stylezzz! Please? The Toyota Corona I got for my 30th is sooooooo lame and has no sass compared to my old Peugeot that gave up. Help me make my ease-ey pease-ey Japanese-ey car cool?”

Now, this is certainly not my area of expertise. Though I may have been taught to drive at age 10 by my exceptionally irresponsible (but awesome) father, I have never actually owned a license (much to his chagrin). However, as soon as I received this email I immediately thought of Miss Sandra B.

Who is Miss Sandra B.?, I hear you ask. (Shhh, this is my imagination.)

She is a nutty but adorable girl from Massachusetts. I secretly think she is the greatest thing on earth. I’ve been reading her online journal for years — it used to be Novim & now she is situated at novimnet.livejournal.com. While I’ve never met her, it was through her website that I met the lovely Star. Anyway, the point is that Sandra has a Cadillac like no other!

It may not be to everyone’s taste, but it totally turns my crank & I thought it might give you some ideas…

So, how are you supposed to make a car as stylish as this? The answer seems to be: a lot of estate sales, clear silicone sealant or Elmer’s household cement & some creative license.

I can’t think of a better way to travel across the country than in this fabulous beast.

Genius. I love it. I hope to one day have a car just like it.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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How To Get A Great Tattoo And Never Regret It

[ 14 March 2007, 14:20 ]

While tattoos can be fantastic & beautiful, they can also be hideous & embarrassing. This article will tell you about the sort of things you need to consider before you get a tattoo, how to pick a design, how to choose a tattoo artist & how to look after it once it’s done.

I love my tattoos (I have two half-sleeves), but before you get any, you need to think about the fact that getting a tattoo is a big deal. It might come out looking terrible, you might hate it, you might be allergic to the ink they use, your parents may never speak to you again, you may become unemployable (depending on what you get & where) & YOU WILL HAVE IT FOREVER. Unless you can afford laser removal which, I understand, is very expensive.

There are lots of good reasons for getting a tattoo. There are also a lot of bad ones. For example:
You want to piss off your parents. You want to look tough. All your friends have them & you feel left out. You want to profess your undying love to your new girlfriend via ink on your skin (dude, just send a card). You want to be cool. You’re drunk. Your friend needs someone to practice on. Et cetera.

I have seen so many bad tattoos — so bad they make me cringe when I think about them. I know a guy who went somewhere “cheap” to get his done & he ended up with a tattoo that is crooked. It is so embarrassing! My point is, getting a tattoo which doesn’t suck isn’t that easy. The proliferation of ugly tattoos on the shoulders of the great unwashed is proof of that.

Where do you want it?
My suggestion (at least for a first tattoo) is that you get it somewhere which is easy to cover for work. Anything below the wrists or above the neck is a pretty bad call, though there are a lot of tattoo parlours which won’t tattoo anyone there anyway. Remember that people really like to judge anyone with a tattoo. My friend is about to get his knuckles tattooed & I dread the day he has to go to court for a traffic violation or travels internationally.

How much do you want to spend?
The answer should be “as much as it takes”. Please, never go anywhere & say “Oh, I only have $100, what can you do for me?”. I have spent thousands of dollars on my arms (& that’s before you even factor in that I flew to New York to get Timmy Kern to do one of them). You should plan your tattoo with your artist first, get an estimate of cost, & then go away & save your money! It’s for life! Remember?!

What are you going to get?
Most tattoo artists have pages of what is called flash art up on their walls which you can pick from. I always thought that was quite a bizarre thing… you walk into a parlour, have a cursory glance around, then say to the man behind the counter, “yeah, gimme ‘horny little devil #6’, right here”. It’s so meaningless! I actually knew someone with that exact tattoo, it was painful to look at.

If you’re not sure of what you want, try making a list of things which appeal to you (aesthetic or otherwise). Make it three pages long if you need to, just brainstorm & rattle off as many things as you can think of. I did that for both of my tattoos. The first list (when I shrunk it down to the things I actually wanted on me) said: siamese twins / candy / cupcakes / teacups / fortune cookies / hearts. The second one said: swanboat / hot air balloon. If you can find pictures of the things you like, print them out & take them to your tattoo artist. This will help them a lot.

A reader just suggested that if you’re getting something in a written in a foreign language, make sure you check with a native speaker to ensure it says what you think it does!

I found a tattoo online which I really like…
No! No no no! Please don’t rip off someone else’s tattoo. It smacks of lame. A tattoo is meant to represent you, not someone else! People go to a lot of effort to design tattoos which are individual to them, & unfortunately this kind of thing happens all the time — which is one reason why I don’t really like posting full pictures of my tattoos online. Call me paranoid, but it’s almost like asking for someone to steal it.

Well, I found some art online which I really like…
Ask the artist for permission. They will probably be delighted, but it’s definitely polite to ask first. My siamese twins are two of Fawn Gehweiler’s characters joined together, & I definitely asked her whether it was okay!

How do I find a good tattoo artist?
Shop around. Have a look at Bmezine & search for artists in your area. Ask people online, ask your friends, then go into the shops & talk to the people who work there. Ask to see their portfolios — the flash on the wall is usually purchased from another company & is in no way indicative of their talent. A good tattoo artist should have social skills (i.e., not make you feel like a chump), be professional, polite & talented. If you find one you like, make an appointment for a consultation, & take in your ideas for your tattoo.

Okay, my artist drew something up for me, now what?
I am possibly the most cautious person ever. I once had someone draw me up a tattoo, which I then taped to the head of my bed so I could look at it every night & see whether I got sick of it. I did, so I knew I shouldn’t get it tattooed on me. (Looking back on it, I am SO glad I didn’t have it done. Phew.) Anyway, I would suggest doing something similar. Put it somewhere that you can look at it often.

It’s been months! I still like the design.
Get yo’ butt to the tattoo parlour, then! When they press the design onto your body, have a GOOD look at it in a mirror to make sure you REALLY like it. It can still be altered at this stage, so don’t feel like you’re being a pain if you want a slight change.

Does it hurt?
Yes, but not as badly as you think it will. Some areas (on top of bone, for example) hurt more than others, but it’s pretty bearable. If you’re worried about it, try taking some Tylenol beforehand. The best thing to do is concentrate on breathing slowly. Endorphins will kick in, & you won’t feel it as much. It also helps to think about other things than a needle in your arm — take a friend to talk to if you want, or make conversation with your tattoo artist. I’ve seen some people take mp3 players along, but I just think that’s kinda rude.

How do I look after it?
Tattoo artists have different aftercare methods, so do whatever your tattoo artist tells you to do. Basically, while it’s healing, keep it moisturised (but not over-moisturised) & don’t pick at it! Don’t go swimming, sit in a sauna or expose your new tattoo to sunlight. This will impede the healing process & can cause infections & other nasties.

It’s healed! I have a tattoo! I’m the coolest person ever!
Why yes… yes, you are. Remember to ALWAYS put sunblock on your tattoos whenever you go out in the sun. Otherwise your beautiful tattoo will fade & look sad, & we don’t want that.

A warning:
If your tattoos are visible to other people, they often think it is okay to touch you & ask inane questions. You will need to get used to this. They will ask you if it’s real (...) & then give you their opinion. You can deal with this however you like but I suggest reading my Avoiding Creeps article.

Extra For Experts:
rec.arts.bodyart tattoo FAQ will answer every question you could possibly have, including tattoos getting stretched, tattoo removal, etc.
Thousands of tattoo pictures from BMEzine — remember to use them as inspiration only!
Consider this a warning.
Blacklight!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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How To Wear A Scarf

[ 10 March 2007, 11:23 ]

“I bought a couple of scarves the other day and would love to know the best way to wear them! It sounds like a silly question as I know how to tie a scarf, but yours look fab and so effortless. One I bought is long, slim and silkish, black with skinny red double striped border. The other is a square (to be folded into a triangle) and cotton with a grey tiger print and tiger face on one corner – red trim. They would both give quite a different look. Any advice would be great!”

I must tell you a secret. Mostly I wear headscarves because my hair is short enough to have days where it absolutely refuses to behave. The rest of the time I go the scarf route because I can’t be bothered doing my hair!

I first started wearing them when I received a scarf in a goodie bag from fashion week. Since then I have amassed a sizeable collection (though most of them came from raiding my mother’s wardrobe). They’re such an inexpensive & colourful way to add to an outfit, I am obsessed with them. Look for good ones in secondhand stores or recycled clothing boutiques. Check the seams & if you’re buying something in a delicate fabric, beware of snags or holes. Also, wash it before sticking it on your head!

I like to match my scarves to other parts of my outfit — so maybe it’ll be the same colour as my bag or my eyeshadow. I usually take the square ones, fold them in half to form a triangle, then lay them over my head, tie a knot at the back & tuck the triangle flap underneath that (to stop it billowing in the wind). Sometimes I fold them thinner & wear them like a headband, but I find this works best if you have masses of hair which will stick out at strange angles behind the scarf — & my hair’s too short at the moment for that kind of thing! & you have probably seen my How To Tie A Turban video by now!

Another way you can wear it is around your neck. One option is to take the scarf in its triangle form, drape it around your neck with the triangle at the front of your body, then knot it behind your neck. This usually works best with a scarf which is reasonably stiff, but if you’re using a silk scarf I suggest wearing it snug against your neck, otherwise it can be kind of droopy. With a long thin scarf, just fold it in half lengthways & then knot it so that it wraps your neck. You can do a bow if you like but it’s really up to you.

I think my scarves probably look effortless because I’ve been wearing them for such a long time! They’re so quick — just tie them up & go. They are my saviour on days when I feel haggard & just want to get a massage & be left alone. Haha.

Experiment with different knots, bows, clasps & brooches to keep them together. Try tying a scarf around one handle of your handbag — I love this as an idea, it looks so elegant & I think it would be fantastic to have a scarf on hand at all times in case your hair gets rained on/blown out of shape/annoying. Stylish & practical, I love that stuff!

Extra For Experts:
25 ways to tie a scarf with cute little diagrams & everything. “Add a gay flair to pants”, indeed! I’m going to steal some of these ideas tout de suite!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Shaved-Back Hairline

[ 10 March 2007, 01:16 ]

In response to my article What Are Your Style Trademarks?, I had a few people ask for photographic evidence of my shaved-back hairline.

It took me a while to find photographs, & I’m sorry they’re so little & rubbish. But here you go:

That’s how I looked three years ago! I basically shaved my hairline back about three or four centimetres. I don’t know why I did it, I just grabbed a razor & went to town on myself! I think it looks mildly cute, in a lost-hardcore-vegan kinda way. At the time I had just stopped eating animal products, had 0g ears & was obsessed with wearing my pearl choker & a plastic gun around my neck. Haha. Awww.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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What Are Your Style Trademarks?

[ 6 March 2007, 21:13 ]

I saw this question asked on the blackcigarette Livejournal community & thought it was really interesting.

I used to love the idea of having some piece of jewellery that I always wore — I really liked the idea of having a permanent identifier. Now I feel like it’s okay for my identity to be more fluid, to dress like an eccentric Parisian one day & to look like a Japanese raver the next.

There are a few things that I am usually wearing, however:

In the past I was obsessed with:

...As well as wearing flowers in my hair, shaving my hairline back in a very Edwardian fashion, & an insane passion for Maybelline’s “Cherry On” nailpolish (the perfect red). All in the last few years!

What are your style trademarks of the past & present?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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What Does Your Clothing Say About You?

[ 28 February 2007, 22:38 ]

Have you ever thought about what message your clothing is projecting & what it says about you? What story do you think your outfit today told the world?

No, no. Don’t keep reading. Pause for a second & think about it. When you leave the house in the morning (or the evening), what are you & your outfit trying to say?

Really, it’s worth considering. How many times have you walked down the street & made a huge judgement call on someone else, PURELY based on what they’re wearing? (I know. It is awful, but it happens.) Do you dress for yourself or for other people? Are you trying to fit in with your friends, or impress the opposite sex for your own ultimate gain?

I was on my way to buy sushi on Friday night when I passed a girl wearing an extremely short dress with her boobs hanging out. She wasn’t unattractive, but seriously, I barely noticed her face. It was all about the boobs. What was she thinking before she left her bedroom? I am trying to be as non-judgmental here as is humanly possible, & maybe I am completely wrong, but I don’t think she was going to a rotary meeting. She looked like she was out to snag a mans (sic). I’m not talking about a first date at a little restaurant & flowers, I’m talking about nightclubs, bumping & grinding, & waking up in the morning feeling like a troll. (I think that “if you’ve got it, flaunt it” can be taken the wrong way sometimes.)

I have to tell you that this is hard to write without it sounding like I am judging casual sex — which I’m not. Maybe it wasn’t a good example. I also feel bad for really skinny girls who wear tracksuit pants so no one will notice.

People are free to do as they choose — all I think is that you should value yourself & your clothing should reflect that.

I like short skirts as much as the next girl, but I think there is a point where you stop dressing for yourself & start dressing for the benefit of others, & that’s when we start to have problems.

What you’re wearing & how you’re wearing it says so much about you — how you feel, which parts of your body you like & dislike, how confident & comfortable you are, & where you think you fit into the world. It is so interesting to think about all these things when you’re people-watching, but it is best applied to yourself: before you leave the house, before you buy a new dress or before you buy another pair of Converse to replace your last pair.

Are you a “scene” kid, secure in your goth, metal, emo or hip hop uniform, happy to fit in? Do you walk around clutching a Louis Vuitton bag in front of you, & if so, what does that say about you? Are you concealing nipple piercings behind your conservative blouse in a secret act of rebellion? Are you going for a European look, & does that mean you’re ashamed of your heritage? Are you dressed to resemble the latest celebrity-du-jour — & does that mean you’re completely devoid of your own style?

Ultimately, only you know what’s going on in your own life, & only you hold the secret decoder ring to your own outfit. But you don’t need to buy into all that scene crap, you don’t need to follow trends & you don’t need to impress anyone else. If you feel good it will mean more than any compliment a stranger could pay you.

Dress as if you are celebrating yourself in a room full of sleeping people.

Just do whatever it takes to make you happy. Your external appearance is yours & yours alone — yours to do whatever you please with. Clothing can transform you into anyone you want to be, which is something that I think International Dress-Up Day helps with. It reminds us that we can do whatever we please, that we can dress like our idols if that’s going to help us become more like the people we admire, or the person we imagine ourselves being. There is a whole secret language in the fabric we cover (or uncover) ourselves with, a secret language that bellows down the street in all directions.

“If you aren’t enjoying your clothes, then you really are missing the point.” Betty Halbreich.

Where is the real value in dressing for other people, anyway? Why not try impressing yourself? If you still really want the external validation, don’t worry — when your clothing is truly flattering & you are obviously happy in it, people will notice — but the point is that you will look good without having to devalue yourself or buy into anyone else’s ridiculous agenda.

If you can manage to untangle yourself from that huge part of society which says we must be liked, admired & fit in at all costs, you will start to realise & develop your own true style — the perfect gift to yourself, which no one can ever take away.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Novelty T-Shirts

[ 26 February 2007, 10:45 ]

This is a terrible craze which affects boys & girls similarly.

You know the ones I’m talking about surely — “Your Village Called, They Want Their Idiot Back!!!”, “That’s Queen Bitch To You”, “I’m Going Nucking Futs!”, “Drama Queen”.

Phew! Giggles a-plenty! Actually… no. These shirts have a magical power which automatically lowers the IQ of the wearer by at least 40 points.

Please, if you own one of these t-shirts, or your beloved has one hanging in the wardrobe — do your city a favour & dispose of it. Quickly, quietly & with minimum fuss. (We suggest a roaring fire.)

Thank you.

This has been an iCiNG Public Service Announcement.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Sofa Coppola's Apartment

[ 21 February 2007, 13:53 ]

Sofia Coppola’s apartment in Soho, New York City.

Regrettably, I have no idea where these photographs came from. All I have to go on is this small quote:

“Instead of doing the loft thing,” says Coppola, “and just sprinkling around a bunch of modern furniture, I wanted to decorate my place with pieces that looked grown up like what our parents might have owned.”

What do you think of the style? I think it’s lovely but a little bit too pared down. I like the casual air of having framed pictures along a shelf, I love the low couch & the soft colours.

The second picture is interesting. I ADORE the table — the shape, the wood, everything. The zebra-skin rug makes me wrinkle my nose, though, & the painting looks juvenile at best. It really looks like the whole place has been “cleaned up” for the cameras, which I guess they always do, but I like to see REAL living spaces — with an old newspaper & a laptop & a big stack of reading on the couch.

I guess expected something a little more ethereal from the director of movies such as The Virgin Suicides, Marie Antoinette & Lost In Translation, but maybe she prefers a more earthy existence the rest of the time.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Learning How To Dress Up

[ 19 February 2007, 18:55 ]

“I’m completely sick of dressing down and jeans and such. I want to start wearing skirts and dresses and dress pants. I’d like to stick to black and red and white if possible. Any suggestions on where to start with completely re-vamping my wardrobe?”

Yes! This can be broken down pretty simply into a few steps:

Take stock of what you have
Go through your wardrobe & separate it into a few piles: Keep, Maybe & No. The first & last categories are fairly self-explanatory, but the middle pile (“Maybe”) needs a bit more thought. Try things on, see how they fit you & consider what else they go with. Get rid of the things you never want to wear again. You may find that the only way you stop wearing plain t-shirts is to donate them to charity.

Think about what you’d like to wear
You’ve said black, red & white are very appealing to you. I must suggest that you look at Miss Nubby Twiglet’s wardrobe photographs. She is the queen of all things red, white & black, & she wears a lot of those colours, but you will notice that she doesn’t stick solely to those options. She also occasionally delves into blue, green & gray. It is possible to make strong colour statements without limiting yourself, so maybe that is something to keep in mind.

Further to the above, think about specific items you can imagine wearing
If you’re trying to stay away from jeans, maybe wearing skirts & dresses will be a major part of your new direction. Work out where you’ll draw the line — would you wear a miniskirt or can you only imagine yourself in something long? Would you like to incorporate vintage into your wardrobe or are you happier in new things? Think about this a lot & put whatever you come up with on paper.

Go shopping for core pieces
Always dress to flatter your body shape & colouring! Look closely at how the clothing makes your body look. If you look lumpy, short or rotund, don’t buy it. You might want to take someone shopping with you — someone with good taste & who has the ability to tell you “no”. I always find that going shopping with my mother is an enlightening experience, she picks things off the rack that I would never have even considered — & they often look fantastic.

When I say core pieces, here these might include a coat, a good pair of trousers (since you said you wanted to wear dress pants more often), some skirts & dresses. Depending on whether you want to stick to black/white/red or branch out a little bit further, I would suggest going for a black coat. You could even go for a coat with a little bit of a pattern or something, but a red coat might be too much first thing in the morning & if you ever want to wear green, your red coat will make you look like a Christmas tree. You see what I mean?

In terms of dresses, I would go for a few different styles but hopefully dresses that can be worn in multiple ways — with a t-shirt underneath, with a sweater on top, over pants or bare-legged, etc.

Accessories
I love accessory shopping. Go crazy for these things since they enable you to wear the same outfit but look completely different simply by wearing good accessories. Buy hats, scarves, stockings, leggings, legwarmers, socks, hair accessories, necklaces, jewellery, headscarves, bags & shoes. (Glorious shoes!)

A note
Using a small colour palette can be tricky sometimes. It is quite rare to find a whole lot of things in the same shade of red, for example, so if you want to wear more than one red piece at a time it might be a bit of a trial.

Bonne chance ma petite!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Style Tips -- 19th February 2007

[ 19 February 2007, 13:08 ]

Read a newspaper in public.

Design yourself a new signature.

Buy a notebook & plan your look for next season.

Drink a really good coffee & leave lipstick on the rim.

Smile.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Style Icons: Carrie Bradshaw

[ 17 February 2007, 07:32 ]

When Sex & The City started airing on television in New Zealand, & every 30 year old woman I worked with was talking about it endlessly, I did what I (at the time) did best: I judged, & swore never to watch it. I don’t follow the herd, blah blah blah, & I never saw an episode.

I don’t know what it was that caused me to change my mind, but several years later, I was in a video shop trying to find something light to rent. I paused in front of the “TV Series” aisle, looking at the SATC boxes. After some consideration, I took it up to the counter, making some kind of speech about how I wanted something fluffy.

Well then. Imagine my surprise & embarrassment when I realised that this was actually a great show! The characters were interesting & smart, the fashion was amazing, the storylines were intricate & exciting & the whole thing was set in my favourite city, New York!

I very quickly fell in love with Carrie Bradshaw, the main character played by Sarah Jessica Parker. Carrie is a writer with an incredible wardrobe who is on the search for love. Not “on the search for love” like those women who are desperate & obsessed with cats, but on the search for love in that cute, fun, optimistic Amelie kind of way.

Carrie as a character is an icon, & Sarah Jessica Parker is no stylistic slouch either — but the real credit goes to the stylists behind the scenes, namely Patricia Field & Rebecca Weinberg. Sarah Jessica Parker met Patricia Field on the set of one of her movies & they bonded over their love of fashion. Patricia has a store in New York’s Bowery & also retails online at patriciafield.com. Rebecca Weinberg is a super-cute lesbian Jew with great tattoos! They made a fantastic team.

The reason why Carrie’s style is so pervasive is that she is a true eclectic. She puts vintage with haute couture, always stands out & never looks average. Either her outfits are a raging success or they are an incredible failure, but it’s like what Diana Vreeland said: “Never fear being vulgar, only boring”.

Yes, at times, SATC is shallow — but we would all be kidding ourselves if we thought life was constantly highbrow! Yes, a lot of the show is unrealistic. I remember reading an article somewhere which estimated that for Carrie to maintain the lifestyle she demonstrates on the show, she would have to be earning about $600,000 US a year. Not the most viable salary for a woman who writes a weekly newspaper column! But… it’s television! That’s the whole point. It presents a fantasy.

Carrie is consistently inspiring & always uplifting, flawed & wonderful. To me, she is the ideal woman.

Extra For Experts:
Carrie’s apartment, a guided tour by HBO. This is so worth reading, there is a lot of very interesting insight here.
Dear Carrie Bradshaw, a really cute blog post. “I love you, Carrie Bradshaw. I love you like you love the girl you like the most from summer camp. It’s sort of a crush. Sort of an obsession. Sort of an ‘I-want-you-to-live-near-me-because-you-increase-the-value-of-MY-property’ kind of thing. Mostly I love you because you’re the leader of the Pink Ladies. You’re Rizzo. You’re the best friend. The pretty girl. The prom queen. The sweet girl next door. You’re the queen of the cool chicks. You’re who I want to be and the one I want to be my best friend all wrapped into one.” Awwww.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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How To Wear Layers Without Looking Like A Crazy Bag Lady

[ 12 February 2007, 09:45 ]

This article is in response to the lovely S.‘s question, which was phrased something like, “how do I wear layers without looking mental?”.

With the entire world in a strange limbo, season-wise, getting dressed every morning kind be a trial. The weather is changing so radically that no one knows whether to wear sandals or boots, dresses or coats. If you layer your clothing, you can avoid this to a degree.

There are some places where you really need layers, like London in winter. It is so bitterly cold outside, but on the flipside, the tube is so bloody hot that you don’t know what to do with yourself. You could just bundle on three sweaters & be done with it, but the problem is that you’ll look like an American football player, & I don’t think many of us are aiming for that. “Gridiron Chic” has a long way to go.

When layering up, there are three key things you need to consider:

Length
Thickness
Fabric

If you have three tops which end at the same place, you’re going to look a bit dowdy. Likewise if you have three tops which are all the same thickness, or all the same fabric. If you’re wearing a whole lot of tops in the same fabric, you will find they don’t sit well against each other, they will kind of stick & bundle, therefore annoying you. If you can throw some silk or cashmere in with your cotton, you’ll be much happier. All of these factors need to be mixed up in order for this to work effectively. So you might try putting on these items:

Baby Rib Tank ($16)

Baby Rib 8-Button Pullover ($34)

Fleece Sleeveless Hoody ($30)

Long Tunic Cardigan ($29)

Wool Check Bomber Jacket (£45)

Grey Pencil Skirt (£20)

Cotton Spandex Jersey Leggings ($26)

Legwarmers ($14)

This is a very simple outfit, all solid colours except for the bomber jacket which breaks it up a bit. Everything here is from either American Apparel, Urban Outfitters or TopShop.

As you can see, these things are all different lengths. The dress & hoody are both sleeveless, which means you’re not going to have a huge bulky arm or be wearing five seams in your armpit — three (baby rib, cardigan, jacket) are enough. I’ve put legwarmers over leggings (which tend to be warmer than stockings unless they’re wool) because it’s far more flattering than two pairs of tights or the other option, which is pants tucked into ugg boots. (DON’T DO IT!) You could throw on any kind of shoes you liked with this outfit, since it’s kind of slouchy but stylish — sneakers, flats or heels would work equally well. I am an absolute nut for wearing legwarmers over wedges, it makes me feel all cloven-hooved, which I love.

Hope I helped!

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Improving Your Life With Feng Shui (Or: Why I Bought Goldfish Today)

[ 10 February 2007, 00:12 ]

Feng shui is pronounced “fung schway” & is a Chinese discipline practiced within the home. Used properly, it is said to increase happiness, romance & prosperity. It works on the concept of manipulating qi, which can be translated as “life force” or “energy flow”. Qi follows the wind (feng) & is halted by water (shui), so feng shui is the art of harnessing that qi in your home. Does that make sense?

The first time I tried applying the concepts of feng shui, I had read about it in a teen magazine. I drew up my room according to a bagua grid & stayed awake until the early morning re-arranging my furniture. I think my parents probably thought I was nutty, but my mother had introduced me to the joys of shuffling furniture years previously. (I would often collapse on my bed in the middle of the room, & awaken completely disoriented.)

I don’t know whether feng shui works, or whether it’s a placebo effect that makes me feel like it has value, but I’m pretty happy either way. This probably sounds mad kooky, but whenever my domicile is organised according to feng shui, I feel really good.

Here’s a brief overview of feng shui concepts, & some easy ways to implement them. Another few articles profiling various rooms in your house will surely make an appearance in the near future!

Things to remember:
Cacti plants are a bad thing to have inside! The spikes & sharp edges catch the qi & turn it bad. Get rid of them.
Try to minimise electronics in the bedroom. If you have a television near your bed, cover it (ideally with plastic) when it’s not in use. It apparently creates too much yang energy & will prevent you from sleeping.
For couples, a mirror directly opposite the bed can cause problems by encouraging a third party to join in.
Another reason for men to put the seat down after using the bathroom — if the lid is up, all the good qi will be flushed away!
Keep your desk as free of clutter as is humanly possible.
Fish & aquariums should not be kept in the kitchen, bedroom or bathroom — it is believed that if they live there, will attract material loss.
Don’t store things under your bed! When I was a kid I used to “clean up” by just sweeping everything underneath it. Following my example is a bad idea — the space beneath your bed needs to be clear to allow energy to flow freely.
If your bookcases don’t have doors, push the books forward so that the edges are in line with the front of the shelf.
Rubbish bins etc. — keep them clean & empty them when they get full. It seems like there is “no good place” to put some things. Always use common sense! Feng shui may not say where you should put your bin, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have one. Your workspace still needs to be functional.

Okay, keeping those in mind, step one is to draw up a bagua grid. You should do one for each room in your house. When I lived with my parents, I would only apply it to my bedroom but that was enough to make a difference. Another thing: if your parents are weird control freaks, best not tell them what you’re doing. Just let them think you’re re-arranging your furniture. Wink wink.

That’s how a bagua grid looks. The basic idea is that it denotes the room you’re working on. To work out which way is ‘up’, the bottom of the image (where it says “self-awareness & knowledge / career / helpful people & travel”) should be on the same wall as the entrance to the room (typically a door). My living room is a weird shape, so when I do a diagram, it looks kinda like this:

Do this for your own bedroom (or wherever is easiest to start). Write the names of the areas on top, then think about what you have in each of these areas & how it reflects on it. Some of it is obvious. Do you have a rubbish bin in your prosperity area? (I did! A sure-fire way to make sure you don’t make a lot of cash, or if you do, to waste it on crap!) Is there a huge pile of unwashed clothing in your health area, a dying plant in your relationships sector? Get rid of it!

Prosperity:
My prosperity area is where my desk is, so that’s pretty good placement. I did have a rubbish bin here (argh!) but I’ve just moved it. I have cleared my desk of as much clutter as I could. I’ve also looked at my desk as if it has its own separate bagua grid: in my top left corner, I’ve placed a big cookie jar with gravel, water & three goldfish. I hear they’re good for attracting prosperity, & as they are now in the prosperity sector OF the prosperity sector, I hope they do the trick!

Things which are good in this area are:
Money (like a change jar maybe)
Jewellery
Fountains
Anything purple, red or gold
A hanging mobile of some description will help “set things in motion”
This is also a good place to put pictures of things you intend to buy or a photo of anything that symbolises wealth to you, like an overpriced handbag, a photo of St Tropez or a close-up of Paris Hilton’s nosejob.
& of course, goldfish! Goldfish are descendents of koi which can live for 100 years! There is a lot of differing information about how many fish to have, but I like an arrangement of three.

Fame & Reputation:
I had some candles in red holders on the windowsill a little to the left of this area, but as I’ve been researching & writing this I’ve moved them so they’re in the fame/reputation section! It’s interesting the way sometimes these things are almost perfectly aligned unwittingly. Serendipity for life! This is kind of an open space for me, but I am thinking about buying a little plant to go next to the candles. It’ll have to be a resilient little thing, since there is almost constant sunlight there.

Things which are good in this area are:
Anything red, orange or purple
Candles (if you can get them in the above colours, even better! Coloured holders will do, too)
Awards, photographs, trinkets or anything that reminds you of positive events in your past
Plants

Relationships:
The relationships area in my living room is a day-bed. This sounds good, but it’s covered in books on fashion, style, beauty & design. I think this pretty much just proves that I am in a relationship with my work. The books should be moved to the knowledge area. Behind the bed is a big bag of clothing I have to give away to a charity (or something)! There’s stuff under the bed too, which isn’t a good thing typically. This apartment is very low on storage space so having the bed there has been a blessing (there’s an ironing board & a blackboard under there). I’m telling myself it’s okay because they’re flat items, so the qi can move across the top. Yup. That’s my story & I’m sticking to it.

Things which are good in this area are:
Round or oval mirrors
Anything pink
Pictures of loved ones
Anything in a pair (especially Mandarin ducks or cranes, as they mate for life)
Two fresh flowers in a vase (apparently this is good if you want a date!)

Family:
Not much in my family area. There is a tree, though, which is sprouting like mad. My relationship with my parents also happens to be getting pretty good recently. Hmm! Curiouser & curiouser! Guess I just need to take good care of it… This area can also signify “new beginnings”, so plants are definitely a good choice.

Things which are good in this area are:
Plants (I don’t think the size matters, ahem, but anything here should definitely be looked after really well)
Photographs
Family heirlooms

Health:
Like the fame/reputation area, this is pretty much a pathway. There’s nothing here. I also couldn’t find much information on what is good in the health area, so I’m not sure how to improve it. I did read that yellow is a good colour for stimulating health, so a yellow rug could be useful.

Things which are good in this area are:
Exercise machines
Anything yellow!

Children & Creativity:
I have a bookcase here which houses my magazines (each title in its own box!), some of my typewriters, camera stuff (Lomo, lenses, polaroid), old journals, bags full of clippings, etc. So I am pretty happy with this area. I have a string of fairy lights going across my living room which starts in this area — I’ve pegged pictures along it of people I admire, things I’ve created & other things I find inspiring.

Things which are good in this area are:
Art supplies
Art in general
Computer
Anything that inspires you or reminds you how creative you can be should go here if possible.

Self-Awareness & Knowledge:
More bookcases! Organised alphabetically, too. Is that lame? (When I say “alphabetical”, I mean by author name. People seem to be confused by this as a concept. Why? Anyway this is slightly off-topic, but one day I hope to organise my books by colour.) I have a globe lamp (like the one in Witch Baby!) on top of my bookcase which was placed there on a whim — a bit of research tells me that having a globe in this area will increase worldly knowledge! Right on. There’s also two comfortable chairs (often used for thinking) & a big couch, & it’s a great place for them to be. Clutter in this area is a bad thing, so if yours is messy, clear it out!

Things which are good in this area are:
Books or a bookcase
Charts of anything you might be studying
Crystals (if you believe in that sort of thing!)

Career:
In my living room, like the health & fame sectors before it, again, this is a pathway. Not much I can do here except for hang wind-chimes… & I’m not sure I want to.

Things which are good in this area are:
Mirrors
Water-related items (a fountain, a jar of flowers, fish-tank)
Images which relate to your career goals

Helpful People & Travel:
This area of my living room is actually the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean I can’t work with it. The fridge is a good place to stick pictures of places you want to go — I have a postcard of the Guggenheim museum (this one actually) which would be great there, since New York is definitely somewhere I want to visit in the next year! I’m also going to make more of an effort to keep the bench free from clutter, since that won’t help!

Things which are good in this area are:
A mirror
Photos or postcards of places you want to go
A world map
A globe

Here endeth the feng shui introduction. This is all very basic information & is about as specific as I can get online, talking to an audience whose houses I have never seen! Professional feng shui practitioners have a lot of knowledge — if you ever hire a feng shui consultant they will come to your house with a tape measure & do a really rigorous job.

The best thing about feng shui (in my experience) is that a little tends to go a long way. Even if you don’t believe in it as a concept, surely having pictures which remind you of your goals is a good thing?! A lot of it is common sense really!

If you embark on a re-organisation of your home, let me know how much of your house was already pretty close to what I’ve written about here. I think the whole thing is pretty interesting. Also let me know if it increases your health/prosperity/love life!

Extra For Experts:
Some things that will increase your prosperity
Applying feng shui to your desk (divide your desk up according to the bagua grid, a very simple concept, but quite a good article)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Dressing Up

[ 6 February 2007, 13:55 ]

The slogan for iCiNG is “dress up, leave a false name, be legendary”. I must admit that I borrowed it from Hakim Bey’s essay on poetic terrorism, but that doesn’t make it any less applicable to my life or this website.

I was reminded of this when I read my friend Penny’s journal post, “Dressing Like A Girl“. She wrote,

Today is day one of Dressing Like A Girl Week. It means dresses all week.

‘What a fantastic idea!’, I thought to myself. I then decided to shamelessly rip her off, but it’s okay, because she was originally inspired by me. It’s a lovely follow-on effect, innit?

For those of us suffering from a dreary attack of general wardrobe malaise, choosing a theme & dressing accordingly can be an absolute blessing. Last week I did a fair amount of channelling Diana Vreeland: headscarves as turbans, immaculate nails, red lipstick & gliding rather than walking. (I also decided to grow my hair long, but that’s a long process.) It’s quite easy to do all this, simply ask yourself a few questions:

Who do you think is consummately stylish?
Whose wardrobe would you love to peer into?
What style have you always wished you could pull off?

Maybe you have always wanted to dress like a spy (scarves, big sunglasses, trenchcoats, heels), or Patrick Bateman (immaculate suit, Oliver Peoples glasses) or Weetzie Bat (pink sunglasses, feathered Indian headdress, dress printed with Disney characters). Quite frankly, my darling, I don’t know what you’re waiting for. Of course you don’t have to go the whole hog, but there is no rule that you can’t incorporate parts of your desired aesthetic into your daily outfit.

You could also try doing a rainbow theme — not necessarily the whole outfit, but just accessories. On Monday wear red shoes, on Tuesday carry an orange umbrella, on Wednesday wear a yellow cardigan… you get my drift, oui? See if anyone “gets” it. Penny kept it simple by choosing to wear dresses for a week which is a great idea if dresses aren’t usually something you get a lot of wear from, but you could do something similar with pants, heels or anything, really.

I would love to organise a day where everyone who wanted to participate would dress in a certain way, & after the event we could post everyone’s photos from the day. That would be so great. Would anyone be interested?

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Bindi Revival

[ 4 February 2007, 11:14 ]

Bindi… not just for Gwen Stefani anymore.

The more thought I give it, the more I am convinced that a bindi is the ultimate fashion accessory. They’re small, cheap & come in about a million different varieties. Plus they’re beautiful! You can go for the traditional style & place it between your eyebrows, but some of them look good next to your eye or dotted along your eyebrows. I like to wear one which matches my eye makeup in turquoise (seen above), purple or blue.

I think the best sort are the ones that come in individual containers. They’re usually a couple of dollars each, but if you get a good selection of colours you will probably be able to coordinate them with almost everything you wear. If you want to reuse them, & you probably will, buy a little bottle of cosmetic glue, like the sort of thing you attach false eyelashes with. You can make bindi last months this way.

The place where a bindi is typically applied — between the eyebrows — is the area of the sixth chakra, the seat of “concealed wisdom”. Apparently, wearing a bindi there helps retain energy & strengthen your concentration. It also protects against bad luck. (I am a total sucker for anything with a story.)

Of course, they’re not for everyone, & I wouldn’t advise wearing them anywhere boring, like an office or a formal dinner with dull people. Don’t feel guilty about misappropriation of culture, either. From Everything²:

Even in India, bindi have come to be seen as little more than stick-on jewelry

& from Wikipedia:

In modern times, the bindi has become a decorative item and is worn by unmarried as well as non-Hindu women, in India, Bangladesh and other countries of South Asia. ... Sticker bindis are also fashion icons worn for the pupose of self-decoration, as they come in all colours and exotic designs, sequinned, dusted with gold powder, studded with beads and glittering stones etc…

Extra For Experts:
Bindi entry on Everything²
Bindi entry on Wikipedia
Large selection for sale on Ebay

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Inspiring desks

[ 2 February 2007, 07:46 ]

This topic becomes larger on my horizon every day. Since I started working from home, I’ve really come to appreciate how important it is to enjoy the space in which you work.

I have always enjoyed decorating the places I live in, but when I was going out to work, I was really only spending about 5 or 6 (conscious) hours in my home a day. Now that I spend all day at home, I’m finding it really interesting to watch the obstacles that appear.

My desk got a lot of use for the first couple of weeks I owned it, & then as I got more into working on iCiNG, I found myself spending less & less time there. I would take my Macbook into the bedroom & write from bed, I’d move my things to the kitchen table & work there, curl up on the daybed in the sitting room… almost anything to avoid working at my desk. It was bizarre.

Then I realised what the problem was — I was facing the wrong way, with my back to the best view! I rearranged the living room, swapping the position of the daybed & my desk, & now I absolutely love to sit where I’m supposed to be. Instead of looking out across suburbia, I have a great view of downtown Melbourne, with a really interesting building right in front of me (at night, the tower on the top of it changes colours every 30 seconds or so). It is amazing how this changed my level of productivity.

The area I work in is very multi-purpose. It serves as my workspace, an entertaining area, an exercise space & a guest bedroom. The room contains a day-bed, a couch & two comfortable chairs, three bookshelves, a kitchen table with two chairs, my stereo unit, a miniature trampoline & the kitchen itself. I use the room for different things throughout the day. It has taken some juggling to get it how I like it.

One thing I am a stickler for is good light. I love natural light & the last two places I have lived have had an abundance of it — almost too much, though that’s why they invented curtains, right? Good light is really energising & I always work better by a window. Like a plant! At night-time, I will NEVER use an overhead light, I am a lamp kinda girl. I have a matching pair from my parents’ house — one on my desk & one across the room on top of a speaker. I also have a string of fairy lights going diagonally across the room. It creates beautiful ambience at night, & I clip pictures I like to the string with pegs, which helps divide the room up too.

Sites like Steve Pavlina & 43 Folders have done the productivity thing to death. I can’t do better than them, & plus, it’s not my area! What I really care about is aesthetics.

For me, the perfect workspace is one that balances inspiration & stimulation with organisation, but this is going to be different depending on what it is that you do. Programmers have different requirements to photographers. The more coherent your space is with what you’re trying to do, the more effective you will be & the better you’ll work.

How To Clear Out Your Workspace

Work out what your end goal is.
When you sit at your desk, do you want to feel inspired, uplifted, calm, angry, energetic? The main thing I require when I’m working is visual stimulus — pictures that spark my creativity & make me feel good. I like organised clutter VERY much.

Look objectively at your work area.
Figure out whether it is doing what you want it to. Remove all the things that are glaring inconsistencies — the uncomfortable chair, the old boxes of cereal, the half-finished letter & the melted candles.

Examine the details.
When I lived in Auckland & had strings of pictures everywhere, I realised that some of them made me feel bad when I looked at them, or they just weren’t consistent with who I was or what I wanted to achieve. I looked at every single picture I had hanging & put it into one of two categories — either makes me feel good or makes me feel neutral/bad. I scrapped everything in the latter category. It was hard, actually. Just because something didn’t uplift me didn’t mean I didn’t like it. Somewhat akin to those people who like ogrish.com, I guess.

Sit at your desk again & re-evaluate.
How does it feel now? What could you do to make it more ergonomically-sound? What does it need? What do you want? (Those are two very different issues.) Make lists. You don’t have to spend a fortune on a rubbish bin & a lamp — IKEA is your friend — but if you want interesting things, try flea markets & the perennial favourite, Ebay.

Inspiration!
(I love Flickr. If any of these are yours, let me know so I can credit you.)

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Style Icons: Diana Vreeland

[ 30 January 2007, 15:52 ]

“You gotta have style. It helps you get up in the morning. It’s a way of life. Without it you’re nobody. I’m not talking about a lot of clothes.”
— Diana Vreeland.

Diana Vreeland was an incredible woman. Born in 1906 in Paris, she spent most of her life in New York & rose to acclaim for her work as fashion editor at Harper’s Bazaar & later at Vogue. Her eccentricies are what make her so interesting to me. For example, she always had beautiful, perfectly manicured hands. She pronounced her name not as “Diana” but “Dee-Ann”. She invented the word “pizazz” (& many other words, including “faction” — a combination of fact & fiction). She was obsessed with the search for the perfect red & when having her apartment redecorated, told Billy Baldwin, “I want this room to be a garden — but a garden in hell.”

Bettina Ballard found Mrs. Vreeland’s red garden room “one of the most attractive atmospheres that I know,” comparing it to “an over-crowded Turkish seraglio on a rather elegant boat.” Books, bibelots, calculated clutter, personal pictures [among them, sketches by Augustus John, Bébé Bérard, & Cecil Beaton of herself], & “treasures, many Scotch snuffboxes in horn & silver, are massed on tables, walls, & shelves looking as if one could never get around to seeing them all. A long-stemmed anemone stands in a long-stemmed vase. There are oriental divans against the wall covered with inviting cushions, & she dines at a table pushed against a divan with bright cushions propped behind her back. She presides on a big Indian print-covered sofa like a sultan’s favourite, before & after dinner, with everyone gathered on small chairs at her feet. She lives in an atmosphere of informal luxury confined in crowded quarters, in an aura of intimacy & mystery.”

Diana wrote a column for Harper’s Bazaar called “Why Don’t You…?” which offered creative, but not necessarily practical ideas for its readers. Some of my favourite suggestions are:
Why Don’t You… wear violet velvet mittens with everything?
Why Don’t You… fit your clothes easily? Only English & Americans have this mania for snappy tightness.
Why Don’t You… have an elk-hide trunk for the back of your car? Hermès of Paris will make this.
Why Don’t You… have your cigarettes stamped with a personal insignia?
Why Don’t You… wear, like the Duchess of Kent, three enormous diamond stars arranged in your hair in front?
Why Don’t You… paint a map of the world on all four walls of your boys’ nursery so they won’t grow up with a provincial point of view?

“I’m terrible on facts. But I always have an idea. If you have an idea, you’re well ahead!”
— Diana Vreeland.

Diana wore her blue-black hair slicked back with lacquer, & believed that a good hairline & finely manicured hands were the hallmarks of elegance. She often wore a turban made from a scarf. She rarely made it to her office before noon, & was responsible for bringing animal prints into style (when a young Yves St Laurent showcased them in an early collection, Diana pushed them to the public). She paid incredible attention to detail & the fashion shoots she directed are evidence of this. She understood the concept of selling a fantasy to the public & was quoted as saying, “Give ‘em what they never knew they wanted!”

Part of the reason I find her so inspiring is that she was such an original. Her sense of personal style was strong & she did exactly as she pleased. I really admire anyone who just gets out there & isn’t afraid to show who they really are. She had many cruel things written about her — journalists mocked her starry-eyed “Why Don’t You…?” column & passed judgment on her appearance. Those things don’t matter anymore. Being a critic is easy, but Diana changed the course of fashion forever.

“Never worry about the facts. Just project an image to the public.”
— Diana Vreeland.

Extra For Experts:
Some quotes from Diana Vreeland: Bazaar Years by John Esten, a book that is absolutely worth buying.
Chapter excerpt from Allure, on Diana’s collaboration with Christopher Hemphill.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Fashion Report: Summer/Autumn 2007

[ 29 January 2007, 11:10 ]

Stop the presses! My personal fashion report leading through to the middle of the year.

I call this the “cyborg coquette”, combining the best elements of the 40’s, 60’s & the future. Glamour is important & grooming is a top priority. Work from a good base of neutrals (black, white, cream, camel, khaki, olive, beige) & supplement with bright slicks of cobalt blue, shocking pink, fire-engine red, vibrant turquoise, electric green, bright yellow.

Go for super-short dresses with a mod edge, worn with huge shoes — now is the time to learn to walk in them. Interesting stockings with a lot of texture & colour. Well-tailored pants with a wide leg should be worn with devastating heels or boots. Hunt out knitwear with avant-garde, surprising details & unusual lengths.

Hair is sleek & futuristic with an eccentric twist. Eyebrow-skimming, perfectly flat bangs are The Thing. (Invest in a ceramic hair straightener.) You will require a shiny (but small) clutch to hold sunglasses, cigarettes, cellphone, Moleskine & hipflask for short walks to the library — but for social occasions, a big bag is essential. Slung over a shoulder, it will add a casual air to a more formal outfit, helping prevent it from looking too perfect. For a more dressed-down version of this look, go harajuku/cyber: pair with funky stockings, legwarmers, brightly coloured beanies & knit-caps. On sore-feet days, wear flat but simple boots.

“Is this testing whether I’m a replicant, or a lesbian, Mr Deckard?”

MORE: Pearls worn with a super-modern ensemble, like a space-age Coco Chanel. Mirrored sunglasses (to maintain the mystery) removed to reveal a coy beauty-spot & doll-like blush. Shiny accessories: cuffs & collars in patent, mirror & plastic. Luminescent skin helps cultivate that I’m-not-entirely-human-yet look. Pouty lips in sugared pink or red are essential. Curl, colour & learn to look up through your eyelashes for optimal Humbert-snaring. Cultivate a fake accent for the season & bluntly admit to its inauthenticity. Insane accessories — make it fun by buying things with flashing lights from toy stores, anything with a child’s rocket motif, wear this hoodie.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

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Quote of the Day -- 17th December 2006

[ 17 December 2006, 01:36 ]

“A new dress doesn’t get you anywhere; it’s the life you’re living in the dress, & the sort of life you had lived before, & what you will do in it later.”

Diana Vreeland.

Love letters & feather headdresses,

Tags: aesthetic, quote
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