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Thursday, 30 December 2010

Red too...

That's the beautiful thing with red hair - it comes in so many different shades!  The possibilities are virtually endless!  (Plus it complements so many colours - blue, green......your hair truly becomes an accessory!)

xxo

Tuesday, 28 December 2010

Red

Ever since I was small I have wanted red hair!  I just knew that I was meant to be a redhead.....something had just gone wrong during my beginnings!!!  I spent me youth regularly suffering through ammonia-laden dyes and henna treatments (that occasionally turned green....didn't want to be a green-head....)

I had only recently, finally, made peace with the "mouse-brown" that was my reality, when:  I found my first grey hair!!!!!!!!  Well-meaning folks around me said "where?  I see no grey hair?", but I knew it was true.  And then my sister confirmed it.

So now, I have to dye my hair - and what colour do you think I have chosen?  Yep - red!

xxo

Monday, 27 December 2010

Simple pleasures....

Oh the joys of a kiwi kids christmas.....

I hope everyone is having a great christmas season, and that the new year ahead brings much happiness!!!!

xxo

Friday, 24 December 2010

Diamonds are forever.....

.....as are memories, and here is a distant memory from a time long past - London Fashion Week ss10/11!  This was a glimpse of Marina (of Marina and the Diamonds), before I had ever heard her fabulous music!  The clashing combo of colours ensures that this is an outfit that people will notice - and being noticed is a definite speciality of the British designer Ashish!

And may I just say that while the whole 'black-lipstick-thing' never really seemed to get off the ground, I think it looks really cool!  But alas, while I completely love this look, I never quite had the balls to actually attempt it myself??

xxo

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

Prints charming....

While I have always been more of a "plain" person, I have found myself looking more and more covetously at the prints on offer this summer.  Floaty florals, paisley patterns.....they're all there - and more!  Wear just one item, or pile patterns on top of patterns!

There is a fabulous freedom to fashion now - a perfect time to break out of my "plain" rut and begin experimenting with these 'charming prints.  ;-)

xxo

Sunday, 19 December 2010

Natural Style

I guess it was only recently, really, that it truly occurred to me how often the clothes we adorn ourselves with are a direct reflection of designs, colours and shapes that occur naturally in the world around us.   Floral or plant adorned designs bloomed on the catwalks this season, with designers such as Stella McCartney borrowing straight from their much loved gardens.



Whether it's as clear as a floral fabric, as abstract as......say, a waterfall, represented in a fortuny pleat, or as literal as a heart shaped leaf stamped on hosiery, mother nature is still a fabulous style muse and icon.

xxo

Saturday, 18 December 2010

Shop Decorations.....

Just for fun, here is one of the many gorgeous christmas displays on offer at Wellington's Kirkcaldie & Stains department store this year.  They always make a huge festive effort, and each year sees them improve on the last...

L
ooking forward to next year already Kirks!

xxo
 

Friday, 17 December 2010

High standing....

There is something I like more than fashion, more than style, more than almost anything!  Books!  Anyone who knows me is very aware of just how much I like my books, and this is a welcome, and already greatly loved, addition to the library.

From Where I Stand is a sublime collection of Mary McCartney's photographs, and includes both public and private images.  Having been privileged enough to gain access to some of the iconic moments in both fashion and music worlds, and having been lucky enough to know some of the most creative and ground-breaking personalities of our times, these pictures are a magical peek behind the curtain - a glimpse of fame, fashion and showbiz that we rarely get!

Throughout my life I have (all too rare) moments when I contemplate giving up my worldly goods and attempting to live a life of freedom, no longer tied down with clutter and "stuff".  However.......there is one thing that always brings an end to these thoughts of a zen-like existence - I simply couldn't be without my books!!!!

C
ertainly, from where
I stand, Mary McCartney's latest offering does absolutely nothing to diminish my passion for books!

xxo

Saturday, 4 December 2010

Loving Mondays

It was a joyous day indeed when (a few years ago now) Cheap Monday arrived in Wellington.  At LAST it was possible to find a pair of jeans that fit well, constructed from great denim, that you didn't need to take out a second mortgage to purchase!  I had long wondered why, WHY was it that cheap affordable meant ugly "stylishly challenged" when it came to jeans!  This seemed to be the impossible dream......

And along came Cheap Monday.  Great cut, great denim, fantastic range.....in a word, jean heaven (alright, two words....)

So first there was the unisex denim range, and the only real problem with it was that it was constantly selling out!  Jeans were flying out the door as fast as they were coming in, and I am ashamed to admit that, as much as I wanted to share the good news that was Cheap Monday with my friends, I simply couldn't risk the competition....

Slowly, more of the label began filtering through: soft cotton t-shirts, leather shorts etc.  And now we have the sunglasses.  Great styles, great quality, GREAT price.....in a word, shades heaven (alright - two words!!!)

xxo

Monday, 29 November 2010

Skating in Wellington....



I'm sure when my friends and I were young we were happy to wear any colour.......as long as it was
black!  Right now it would seem that green - in all it's shades and glory - is the "new black"!

xxo

Saturday, 27 November 2010

Princess Bay....

Ok, so Wellington doesn't have the large fabulous shopping you can find elsewhere (although Kirkcaldies is getting better and better every year), and we don't have the largest of populations (although many would say that's a great thing).....  But what we DO have is a wild and beautiful coast line - and on a warm summer evening, with the sun slipping down behind the hills, there is nowhere in the world I would rather be!

xxo

Wednesday, 24 November 2010

Spotted at the bar....

Ahhhh - nothing accessories an outfit like......a nice pint!

So here we have two of the British national obsessions in one shot  - beer and mobile phones!

xxo

Monday, 22 November 2010

Tiger tiger.....

Tiger tiger burning bright
Printed on fabric, a charming sight! ;-)

Sometimes I need a little reminder of what a bad poet I am that prints can be unusual, imaginative or illustrative
.... 

And what
better reminder could there be than a bright, colourful and striking picture-print of a tiger - my chinese horoscope sign
!! 
Tigers are fearless, bold and fabulous -  just like the woman who dons such an eye-catching article...

xxo

Sunday, 21 November 2010

Canon Couture

I was at London Fashion Week this year, and while you may have read that this or that was the latest 'must-have' accessory - for example the backpack - I can assure you that there was but ONE thing that stood out head and shoulders above all the rest.......the camera.



The silky webbed strap was generally seen in either a black, white & red, or a striking gold and black combination, and could be worn casually over one shoulder or around the neck; slung across the body, or casually wound around the wrist; low on the hip or higher, (like Paul McCartney's guitar).  Logos and brand names have pride of place, and while black is the most frequent colour, there were also plenty of retro silver options, alongside a smaller, more colourful compact range.  As with all accessory trends there were plenty who went for over the top large, with enormous lenses in a fashionable grey stripe, but I have to say that, as with heavy padlocks on a Chloe bag, I see repetitive strain-type-injuries for those that tote these monstrosities around for too long!

Oh
- and as with many other accessories, Hermes has come up with a pretty covetable offering!



xxo

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Wax works....

If there is one fabric that has made a spectacular comeback over the last two years, it is leather.   It was not too long ago that leather was a symbol of many things......none of them beginning with "fashion" or "style"!

Then in the past couple of years leather went global - nay...universal!  Suddenly it was everywhere!  And those who thought it was a passing fad have really been truly silenced this year!  Leather was as prevalent as ever, 
if not more so!

There is one problem with this of course, and that is that leather is generally as costly as it has been popular, thus making it out of 
reach to many.

So luckily, there ar
e other options.....just one of these being waxed denim, which has made been quietly growing in popularity, allowing many people to capture the same edgy 'rock' style without having to possess a rock bank balance.  
xxo

Thursday, 18 November 2010

WTF....

Now, from the sublime - to the 
ridiculous.....

Why?  That is pretty much all I could say when I saw this
!  Now, it is rare for me to be truly speechless -  but on this occasion I was somewhat lost for 
words!

I havelearned over the years that it's unwise to say I'll NEVER do  
something:

I said it about flares.......wound up loving my new JBrand flares**.  

I said it about skinny jeans.......you couldn't pry my skinny jeans from my cold, dead fingers.  
I said "never" about wedges........I tower over all my friends in my new blue wedges.
I said it about harem pants.......well...ok, I still haven't embraced them!

But believe mewhen I say that it is
HIGHLY UNLIKELY that I will ever, EVER, submerse any part of myself in a tank full of fish, & sit calmly while they nibble all over my body!

(Watch this 
space.....)

xxo

** I can even clearly recall saying, at about age 5, that I would never,
ever wear jeans!!!!  I now struggle daily with the conundrum of where to store my extensive jean collection, & at least once every year I become consumed with the  fruitless  un-ending search for the perfect pair!

Monday, 15 November 2010

Chanel dreaming....

Aaaaaaaaaah!  What can I say?  I'm in love - with a DRESS!  A beautiful, blue, Chanel dress!



This Chanel is a little piece of heaven really.  The floaty net fabric, the muted dusty lavender tone, the empire line, the delicate beading - it is a true classic.  Indeed, I was really struck by how ultimately timeless it is.   You wouldn't be at all surprised to see this dress in a faded photo from the 1900's, the 1920's, the 1950's..... 


There is always some debate in New Zealand as to what the rules are when dressing for an event, and deciphering the dress code maze is not really our forte as a nation.  Indeed, as a country we are notorious for our under-dressing (& I don't mean our stylish lingerie!!!) - jeans to opening night of the ballet anyone?  I can clearly recall my childhood dismay upon glimpsing the informal outfits on display when I attended my first ever opening night at Wellingtons Opera House.  I yearned for Chanel - I got blue denim


Of course,
 I think it is highly unlikely that I will ever be fortunate enough to own, or even wear a dress such as this, but....well.... a girl can always dream, right?  Sighhhhhhhhhhh..........


xxo


Scarf envy

You know....I have something to admit -

To this day I have never quite managed to figure out how to tie my scarf with the same casual class, sartorial style or insouciant air that so many women I see manage to achieve.  It is a major frustration for me, but I take comfort from the rare article I come across in magazines that attempt to teach this art to their readers - this must mean I'm not alone, yes??

So, here goes:  My name's Michele, & I'm a scarf-dyslexic. :-(

xxo

(Oh, and if I'm not mistaken, this is the fabulous model Ruby Aldridge....)

Wednesday, 10 November 2010

Top of the town

It certainly is exciting that Topshop has finally reached NZ shores*, (even if it is a small collection within another store).  Once merely a British High St brand, Topshop is now loved worldwide, for a variety of reasons.  Here are a few of mine:

Firstly - It is a brand that really lets you play with fashion, offering a phenomenal collection of garments from the sublime to the ridiculous.  

Second - Topshop is well known for it's support of up-&-coming designers, giving many fledgling labels a foothold in the industry that it would have been virtually impossible for them to gain otherwise.  

But the thing I love about the brand the most is that it allows many of us the opportunity to own a slice of designer heaven that would normally be well out of our reach (for example the Christopher Kane designed dress above)!   Yes - god bless those wonderful designer collaborations!  And god bless Topshop!!!

xxo

* I should note that while Topshop arrived in New Zealand months ago, it only recently made its way to Wellington.  Thank you to you Karen Walker!

Tuesday, 9 November 2010

One RIng....

I bumped into a friend the other day & I couldn't help noticing the ring he was wearing.  I love the ruby eyes and diamond eyebrows, & it got me thinking - I really like jewellery on men!  And I particularly like that more and more men are starting to wear it.....

Indeed, jewellery seems to have had something of a renaissance over the past few years.  Labels here in New Zealand such as Company of Strangers, Deadly Ponies and Stolen Girlfriends Club, to name just a few, are producing imaginative and creative pieces infused with a dark Kiwi humour.  And this "gothic" trend can be seen in the incredible work of Pamela Love and William Llewellyn Griffiths, alongside many many others.  

And while women are buying these offerings in droves, I think there is a masculinity to them that means men are indulging too.  I, for one, say long may this trend last!!!

xxo

Thursday, 4 November 2010

Costume characters....

When we are little we love to dress up.  I remember wistfully the large wooden 'Dressing Up' box upstairs in my grandmothers house - the way I would dive in head first, emerging minutes later as a "Medieval queen", a "fairy princess" or a "victorian lady" - (even, on occasion, as "my mother at her school ball").  One of the [many] sad aspects of aging seems to be that we lose that playful desire to dress up outrageously, (save for those special occasions when we deem it acceptable, ie. Halloween)....

.......or some of us do!  Thankfully there have always been those amongst us who retain this youthful sense of style in their daily sartorial choices - the Marchesa Casati's, the Isabella Blow's and the Anna Dello Russo's.

I
love the couple above, not only for the gorgeous colour but for their sense of fun!  To me, they look as though they have just stepped from the pages of
Oliver Twist, or some such novel - a modern day Artful Dodger and Nancy.

So
I think why not employ more fashion fun on a daily basis - we only live once after all.
...

H
mmmm - I think I feel a New Years Resolution coming on......

xxo

Sunday, 31 October 2010

Prick up your ears....

Looking around me on the streets this autumn one thing stuck out above all others - ears!  Many of the hats I spied this autumn had them!  Now, hats are something of a fashion passion of mine - always have been, & I have remained loyal to them whether "on" trend or off!  But I must admit that for the past few winters I have become a bit lazy with my choices......it has been either a beanie or trilby exclusive affair.  So while I have to admit (sigh) that I may just fall outside the age bracket for pulling this style off, I wholeheartedly embrace it as a concept!!  

It is always wonderful to see someone having FUN with what they wear - not taking it all too seriously!  

xxo

Tuesday, 26 October 2010

Street Style


The first one I saw was in Paris this summer.  It caught my eye, & I took a photo, but thought nothing of it. Then, in London's Soho, while sailing under the Pillars of Hercules, I looked up & found myself staring at a familiar image - another mosaic 'Space Invader'!!  Curiouser & curiouser!


And THEN, the other night while out & about (read: quite drunk), I witnessed yet another invasion!! 


 Coz that's what these are!  It turns out, according to Google, that they are all the work of a Parisian Street Artist named 'Invader', who has been invading cities all around the world with his tiled creations since around 1998!  He has even "invaded" the letters of the Hollywood sign!
Now that's what I call street style!

xxo

Monday, 25 October 2010

Chalk Farm Road, London

I've said it before & I'll say it again - winter has some sartorial merit!

I think it's also worth noting that I'm seeing more & more black lipstick this year too......first at London Fashion Week on Marina (of Marina & The Diamonds), now looking pretty cool in Camden.  I am personally looking forward to the new black YSL lippy that will be coming out soon, alongside a white one.  These are to layer over your existing colour to either lighten or darken it - how clever is that then? 

xxo

Friday, 22 October 2010

Autumnal thoughts...

One of the great things about Autumn has to be that the fabulous overcoats can come out of the back of the wardrobe where they have patiently waited out the summer months......  Everyone looks great in a coat - particularly the men!
xxo

Thursday, 14 October 2010

Halloween's on the way....

Halloween's coming;  let the costume shopping commence!
xxo

On the subject of colour...

While I'm talking about colour, I must say that one thing has really struck me lately.....  Colour is gorgeous!  I have always been a purely "black" gal - open my wardrobe and you will see lots of black sitting alongside more black, punctuated with subtle tones of......black!  But I have to admit that this colour thing is worth a look.  When wandering the streets it is, more often than not, colour which catches the eye - and more important than that, it is colour that brings a smile!  So, to colour or not to colour?
xo 

Shocking Pink - Oxford Circus, London....

In a season where we seem to be faced with a sea of camel coloured capes, this was a sight to behold....and a happy one at that!  Refreshing, yes? 
xo

Warm & Wooly, London


It's very difficult to know where to go after images of the gorgeous Rihanna - so I have decided that right down is the only way......to an image I took while rather inebriated at a fabulous London establishment.  I looked over and saw this warm winter wooly, and while being from New Zealand made the sheepish print appeal, in fact I think it is the length that really appeals to me.  To my enormous chagrin, with my body shape I can't really wear shorter tops, but I think they look wonderful!  It's a look that really brings to mind those spunky WWII gals with their newly acquired sartorial freedom.....or the American rockabilly?  Either way, this was a fabulous choice for an autumnal evening in one of Soho's many drinking holes, and with the simple black pants, she wears it well! 
xo

Monday, 4 October 2010

Sunday, 3 October 2010

Camel Boots, Covent Garden, London

Up until now I have been pretty much a strictly black shoe gal, but lately, something has altered.  I am starting to see the possibilities in other colours for footwear.  And the shade that has captured my eye this season?  Well camel of course!
xo

Soho Blues, London

Shorts in autumn, London

A Gaggle(?) of Bloggers, Somerset House, London

or....would it be a bloggle?

Lucy In Disguise, Covent Garden, London


Lily Allens new venture with her sister - a place to either hire, or buy, both vintage clothes and items that she herself has worn.  It is also a place that is looking good!!  

xxo

Saturday, 25 September 2010

Soho, London

If there is one colour that I love to see in autumn it would be orange.  It shines out like a warm light on those cold rainy days, & it makes me smile*.  

It is also wonderful to see Wellington boots (or gumboots as they are known in New Zealand) out & about.  This is a 'trend' I am particularly pleased about;  It gives me a way of managing to be both practical & fashionable whilst freezing on the sidelines at my nephews saturday morning soccer games!

xxo

* It particularly makes me smile when it is nestled amongst the black & camel tones which form to create the Burberry tartan! :-)

Friday, 24 September 2010

Milkbar, Soho

This afternoon, I found great coffee - in the heart of London!!  Yes.  It's true.  Soho's Milkbar, and....... it's run by Kiwis....