Love In Melbourne

mmm love streetstyle

2009-11-05T22:13:00.004+11:00

Tommy Ton's blog jaknjill is well loved here. Check out this gallery on style.com that he's made of his favourite streetstyle dressers. I love that all the women are unique and wear their clothes not the other way around. I looked through it all and then came back so many times! Fifty bazillion points if you also spot a certain stylist...

my personal style assessment

2009-10-10T21:18:00.002+11:00

I had my personal style assessment/wardrobe consultation/personal presentation workshop/whatever you want to call it. You may remember that I was sceptical, heavily. And this continued right up until about 2 hours into the session.

It went like this: he turned up, armed with a large mirror. We (me, him and my mum) had a long question and answer section about ourselves, our lives, jobs, families, friends, how we see ourselves and how others see us, and why we are having the session. We talked, for a long time. It was a bit awkward doing this with my mother. I kept silent when he asked her questions and vice versa, although I could see her itching to have her 2 cents when I answered questions. Answering the questions was probably the most confronting part.... A few times I felt extremely wanky, vain, self-absorbed, overindulged, but I think thats pretty standard when you answer questions about how you see yourself and what your friends say about your outfits.

After this part he gave us a bit of a preliminary assessment, which was when it all got a little emotional. There was nothing said that I didnt already know, really, but it was all things that you sort of refuse to admit until someone says it to your face and you know they are right. As in, I repress my personal expression, hide my style under a bushel, and am afraid to express myself through my wardrobe. (the killer came when I repeated this to my dad, who said "yeah, I'd agree with that".)

This almost made me cry, but then I wasnt the only one when he told my mum she was so afraid of being inappropriately dressed that she played it far too safe, and that she pressed this onto both me and my dad as well (possibly contributing to my repression?)

Next we did "figure analysis" and "colours" (!). Figure analysis was nowhere near as horrifying as I thought it might be. Our analyser pointed out every single amazing feature of both of us and what we could do to enhance these lovely areas, and what we could do with clothing to minimise the less than ideal areas. Understand this was not done in a Trinny and Susannah way, but instead was more like "Now, if your jeans have low pockets, they will sit across your widest point, which is precisely where you dont want them to sit, try a pair that have no pockets across this line and therefore will not enhance this area." It was GENIUS.

I took some clothes along and it was really interesting to see that what I was actually wearing that day really didnt suit my figure (pockets in bad places, sleeves finishing at unflattering lengths, jumper length also quite unflattering (note all three of these things all finished at my "widest point" therefore making me even WIDER)) but the three pieces I brought along were all perfect. These were a black dress that I love but dont wear very often, my new leather jacket, and a cashmere jumper. These were all impulse buys that I could not leave behind cos they made me look and feel so good- why dont I always shop like that? (I do now).

Finally, our colours were done, which is quite a prolonged process but was quite fun. I am a Winter. I cant exactly explain what a Winter is, but I know I like those colours so I think thats all that matters.

The best things I got out of this session are,

1. Finding the perfect hem length. For me, straight across the middle of the knee (slimmest part of my leg). For my mum, just below the knee. Very slight adjustment, but makes ALL the difference. Get someone to analyse this for you, then have all your hems adjusted. You will never look stumpy and dowdy in a dress again.

2. Realising that some colours honestly and seriously can make you look amazing. And that others wont. So dont settle for that "nice" colour that really has no impact whatsoever when you try it on. Instead, try a few other colours and wait til you get one that makes your skin look increadible.

3. Having someone point out the most awesome parts of me has given me a lot of confidence to actually USE these parts to advantage. I know I have a little waist and quite big bottom, but this is actually pretty freaking cool (he said I have an "hourglass" figure. I almost kissed him.) and I should be proud, not hiding.

4. When I go shopping now, I look for different things- namely, is this top/jacket sitting at my "widest" point? Are the sleeves making my bust look wider? Is this neckline flattering? Could I get this adjusted to be a better length?

5. When trying things on, some things will just look perfect. They will suit you, enhance you, flatter you, make you feel stunning. You should always buy these. Then wear them everywhere. Why would you waste your money and your self-esteem with anything less?

6. You should buy things because you love them. As our analyser pointed out to me (as my eyes welled) why cant I buy a pink shirt if I love it? If it lifts my spirit and makes me happy to wear it, what more could I want? It's completely irrelevant if I "have nowhere to wear a pink shirt" or if "it's WAY too dressy". If I cant wait to wear it and it makes me happy, who cares?

I said this last point to a good friend of mine and she looked at me in amazement and said "No one has ever pointed that out to me before. That makes getting dressed so easy. Just put on what you WANT TO WEAR." We contemplated this previously taboo point for a few minutes.

Everything sartorial I have ever complained about in the past has become irrelevant now. I just wear whatever makes me feel happy at the time. So far I've worn 3 things I've never worn before. And the sky has not fallen in. And I've felt great, all day, every day.

Finally! I have not really bought anything since the assessment (much more discerning these days), but today I went out with no intention of buying (always the best time to actually find things) and came home with a vintage YSL 80's-by-way-of-40's black tuxedo style jacket. Big shoulders, little waist. A bit Balmain, a bit Dynasty. TOTALLY AWESOME. I wore it out of the shop (Shag, on Chapel St, if you are interested) over my tshirt and pants, and loved it.

Any questions on the style assessment I'm happy to answer.

2.55

2009-10-07T17:56:00.004+11:00

SO AWESOME!

2009-10-07T10:47:00.001+11:00

RUB ON//

nice pics to cheer up a crap day

2009-10-07T10:23:00.004+11:00

This pic comes from a lovely article re: Sophie here

packing...

2009-10-04T12:47:00.003+11:00

Oh no! I'm turning into Maggie Alderson! I'm about to lament about packing!

I've just been away on a week long camp and I took three bags and still had to carry odd ends and bits! lol I took one enormous bag, a green bag and also a bag with all my bedding (so it doesn't count). The enormous bag was VERY heavy- so heavy in fact that every guy I got to carry it for me (how could I possibly carry it?!) asked me if I had a body in it.

I think the reason I packed so much was that I had ALOT of different clothing scenarios to account for. First of all, the camp was up in the Dandenongs (Melbourne's kinda mountains) and I was told it was going to be freezing. I took alot of jumpers and my big finnish winter coat and big pink gumboots for playing muddy games. It was, however, too muddy for games so they were mostly played inside, and the weather was gorgeous and warm so I barely wore a jumper. I basically wore the same thing everyday so all my natty ideas of remaining clean and dry and warm were totally redundant AND I FORGOT MY TOWEL. sigh the worst!

Next time I am going to pack a towel and just the clothes on my back (yeah right).

a Vintage Mod SAMSONITE Fashionaire Marimekko Suitcase from etsy

one week later...

2009-09-13T14:44:00.004+10:00

This is my wardrobe containing the things I a) actually wear or b) really love, and wear on special occasions. (note: there is half a clothes rail also holding these items not pictured).

I have a pile almost as tall as me of things that are going, and I have 13 items listed on ebay.

After consultation with Maudrey I have decided that everything in the Maybe pile is going. Then I am not going to feel guilt or remorse when buying new things. I will buy quality not quantity, I will buy things I love, I will not be struck down with thoughts of "But dont I already have something like this? I should really just wear that" cos I DONT HAVE THOSE THINGS ANYMORE! I have:

2 pairs of jeans
2 pairs of pants
approx 10 dresses
approx 20 tshirts/tops
approx 5 other tops (shirts etc)
a few jumpers/trackpants
3 jackets
4 cardigans
1 long coat
4 skirts
4 wool jumpers

Thats it (except obviously for underwear and accessories). And now I can build on this! Very much looking forward to shopping. Very discerning shopping. Within a defined colour palette, and with definite ideas of how I want to look.

I need some new shops to visit. Hit me up with ideas, please.

im forgetful in the face of something new...

2009-09-10T15:31:00.003+10:00

I've been NOT buying any magazines but waiting for my next Vogue delivery..... this morning that fact completely slipped my mind and i was seduced by the new Harpers Bazaar.... complete with tiffany-blue notebook and pencil..... Only just remembered now that I wasnt meant to buy any mags..... I suppose when I get home tonight my Vogue will be waiting.

Have you seen the new Harpers? New editor, new look? On first flick-through it seems slightly less beautiful, with slightly less luxurious fonts that the old one.... I always thought Jamie Whatshisname was a good editor, I wonder how the new leading lady will go. What do you think?

Final Wardrobe Picture from after the Big Chuck of last weekend will be posted soon....

spring clean help!

2009-09-10T12:35:00.002+10:00

if you're anything like me you will have a slight/giant obsession with making lists. Shopping lists, cleaning lists, to-do lists, any and all kinds of lists.

This morning i came across this:

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/cleaning-checklists#slide_9

Its the Martha Stewart Spring-Cleaning printable checklist. You're Welcome. There is also one for Preparing For Summer, which would be perfect for once you've spring cleaned!

Oh, and Amiriche- the style assessment is booked for the 26th September. I'll report back!

Value City!!!

2009-09-05T18:30:00.003+10:00

Wow! I'm in love (in melbourne harrharr)

I've finally been to Value City Super Savers in Preston! It was like a treasure chest full of amazing vintage finds and extreeeeeemely reasonable prices! (and no this is not an ad for them!)

I bought ...

2 cardigans - one covered in roses and the other black sequined
a cape - fuchsia with black lace
a shirt- pale apricot
and a gold bow necklace

all for only 20 sequins! amazing! I was very pleased with myself for not getting more but maybe I will go back in a few weeks to see if the marimekko-esque sundress and gold opera jacket are still there? wink wink

I love love love to go to op shops. The hunter gatherer instincts kick in and my eyes are like magnets being drawn to the colours and prints I love. I can't wait to take Miss Zoe soon and my sister in law when she gets here for chrissy yeah!

spring clean!

2009-09-05T16:01:00.004+10:00

I mentioned to a woman I work with that I would be cleaning out my wardrobe this weekend, and she nodded wisely and said "Mmm. Clears the mind".

This is the entire contents of my wardrobe. Minus shoes and accessories.

4pm.
I started 3 hours ago and I'm about half way through. I got off to a good start, all energy and lets-get-through-this attitude. I pulled the stripy bags out of the shed (where most of my clothes have been living for 3 months, uninterrupted). Once I had everything piled on the bed... energy started to wane... it was easy enough to get a "keep" pile going, full of things I wear all the time. The maybe pile was huge. Like, twice the size of the everything else. Scarily big. This was when I flagged, and started checking facebook and texting people for help. Just when I'd started sooking to my housemate about it, my lovely boy turned up with a mini-quiche and a raspberry macaroon for my lunch! Perfect timing. While I was munching I realised that looking at all the clothes I no longer wear but cant get rid of was depressing me. I feel guilty getting rid of them, but cant bear to look at them any more. It makes me feel clogged and down and too heavy in the stomach to do keep them, but I also have this "But I always wanted a fake fur chubby...... this jacket is soooo nice, even if its a little short.... maybe I should hold onto this dress, its black, everyone needs a black dress..... I bought this at a concert.....aaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh".

And now, I have a pile of Things-To-Try-On before going further. I have an Out pile, which is continually growing. And my Keep pile has stayed relatively stable, which is important as its made up of the things I actually wear all the time. Here are the questions that are keeping me from moving forward now: How many black skirts do I need? Is it worth keeping dresses cos they would be good on a hot summer day? What if it belonged to my dad, who never wears it, and I thought it would be awesome but its really just an oversized, heavy, beige mans cardigan? What if its a divine, supremely lovely Cavalli silk skirt, but you've only worn it twice in..... ummm..... at least 2 years, maybe 4?

5pm.
Bored and looking at online catalogues for a new fridge. Need to try on about 20 items to decide on which pile they belong. Cbf.

7pm.
Have tried on all "maybes". Only put one in the "no" pile. (the mans beige cardigan). This is not enough. So now I'll go through the pile and assess it using the three questions I found on Apartment Therapy in a nice closet organising post:

Do I love it?
Is it flattering?
Is it the image I want to project?

I've covered the flattering issue by trying them all on.... the tough ones are still to be covered. Will I ever wake up in the morning wanting to wear a pink floral patterned, high waisted, full a-line skirt? I doubt it. But I might!

herein lies the next problem.

Further steps to be taken include: sorting "No" pile into "Opshop" and "ebay" categories. Leaving this post here for the time being though. But rest assured the bed is a lot clearer now than in that photo up there.

how do we feel about...

2009-08-25T19:18:00.002+10:00

hiring a personal stylist?

After my sulk 2 posts ago, my mother (who knew nothing about this) emailed me today and asked if I would like to go to this personal stylist man with her. First appointment is a "personal assessment" then next appointments include assessing the wardrobe you already have and culling, before going shopping together and being told what to buy. Or maybe I am being too sceptical.

My reservations are thus:

I dont know this person- what if I completely hate their personal style? How can I trust them?

What of their fashion credentials? What if I know more about fashion than them? (this may be unlikely, but possible!)

I feel like I know what they will say to me, and I dont want to pay $300 to be told I have a small waist, therefore should wear full a-line skirts with pretty cardigans in a lovely 50s style. If I wanted to wear those type of things, I would wear them already. And sometimes I do, but I dont need someone else to tell me that.

What sort of stores will they take me to? They better be good. And by good I mean somewhere I've never been before, with incredible clothes, at good prices (doesnt have to be cheap, just worthy).

I want them to understand me when I say pretentious things to them about the style I want. And to be intimately knowledgeable about people like Emmanuelle Alt and Scott Schuman.

Am I asking too much? Does anyone have experience with these people? Do they know what they're doing? In a Grace Coddington way, not a Sportsgirl way?

Please report back,

things to think about...

2009-08-24T17:50:00.002+10:00

stripy tops
wide-leg pants
extraordinary jackets
impressive belt
super shoes
low necklines
tough jewellery
unusual colours - like dark butter yellow and bright kelly green
baggy tops
tailoring

wearing my leather

2009-08-23T17:17:00.002+10:00

I feel like everything I wear these days isnt "me". I cant work out what "me" is, but yesterday I tried this jacket on and it was so perfect, I couldnt NOT buy it, even though I was most definitely not in the market for another leather jacket.... I think I am going to have to put away all clothes that are not right, and go with a really small wardrobe of things that feel good to wear. Do you ever get that, when everything looks wrong and makes you feel uncomfortable, in both a physical and mental way?

If I had to label what look I think I want these days, I would say........ quite masculine, very sleek, with old-fashioned bits like gloves and pretty headbands. Big pants, waistcoats, very tight-waisted dresses, high heels, very loose tshirts, man jumpers. And a little brown leather jacket that feels more like a cardigan is a pretty good start, i think.

whats up, b.o.m?

2009-08-16T17:42:00.004+10:00

whats with this weather? foggy at 4pm last week, gale force winds today.... this does not a pleasant walk to work make! Or indeed, a smooth hairdo.

The cure for this winter weather though, is simple: half price cocktails and The September Issue at Como cinema. Who's in?

Regimes and Daydreams

2009-08-04T19:38:00.005+10:00

I'm on a "too many pastries in paris + sick of spending $30 a week on metcards" regime of walking to and from work (3ks, 30 mins, hardly a hill in sight, not THAT serious) and its going well. Bought a new umbrella from NGV- just like this one from Stella Brella:

So now I wont even get wet in the rain. Still, I spend most of the walk wishing I was here, where in my daydream it NEVER rains in Paris and indeed, I would just spend my day wandering the streets in the sunshine, perhaps with a parasol instead. Its totally twee, I know, but wouldnt YOU like this view from your apartment?

Little inspiration from Jak&Jil

2009-07-25T15:45:00.001+10:00

Heaven in a Shop, Amsterdam.

2009-07-21T10:28:00.006+10:00

Party Dresses:

Wedding outfit:

Could you choose a wedding dress from the rack?

was that a rhetorical question?

Those shoes lined up there are vintage mens wedding shoes. Above them is a row of vintage top-hats.

After I took that last photo I saw a sign saying "No photography". I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself! The shop was too fabulous.

Far Far FARRR to long!

2009-07-20T20:13:00.003+10:00

hello blog! I haven't written here in so so long! Hmm I was having a little fashion rant to Miss Zoe the other day and it's still bothering me! This year I am trying to be the best and most professional I can be and that definitely translates to the day to day clothing choices. I am free from having to wear a uniform this year which is so fantastic and I am doing kinda artsy stuff so I can afford to be a bit "out there" as some ppl like to say...

So why is no one else at my course doing the same? track pants? when we have professional people come in to work with us it just makes me cringe to see the others in hoodies and track pants and runners! It's such a bad look to make a first impression on someone you may want a job from later!

I am taking the opportunity to dress adventurously and try new things to better figure out my style and what I like and feel comfortable in but also like I am not just lazing around the house on a sunday morning!

I think the Marni Fall 2008 collection would feature heavily- sigh check these out..

see the whole collection here

shoes!!!

2009-04-16T16:54:00.006+10:00

hmm am I allowed to spend my bonus on shoes??? It will boost the economy!!
here's my 3 top choices...

sometimes I start work REAL EARLY

2009-04-14T19:10:00.002+10:00

and when I leave the house, this is what I see....

hope gone wrong

2009-04-13T12:29:00.003+10:00

found this sticking out of a bin near VCA...... i almost feel sorry for whoever gave up and stuffed it in there. But mainly I just find it funny.

i'm going to new york in 5 weeks, this makes me....

2009-04-13T11:59:00.002+10:00

thoughts of today

2009-03-21T19:38:00.002+11:00

isnt it funny how with old friends you might barely ever see them but when you do nothing has changed, you're still friends, and anything exciting happening in their lives is just as exciting for you to hear about. you know these people will come and get you when something crap happens.

i never seem to turn to the right people when something bad happens. instead i send out pleas to entirely the wrong group of friend, the ones who claim to be friends with you and "care", but who in actual fact are busy washing their hair when you are desperate, and dont seem to care that they havent seen you in months, despite your reasonably frequent texts for help. i really need to re-think my disaster strategy.

I also need to re-think my spending strategy. I am not impulse buying anymore, and I am certainly not buying anywhere NEAR as much as I was 12 months ago, but I should be saving as much money as possible in readiness for NY and Paris. And I'm not. And I will regret that!

list

2009-03-18T22:25:00.001+11:00

b&w stripe top
pink baseball cap (or any awesome colour)
cetaphil
eye makeup remover
hot glue gun
return new purse that cards dont fit in
risotto rice
fruit
2 baskets for storage
1 smaller basket for pencil storage
remove everything unsightly to shed
ebay junk