How to be your Super-self.....

The annual Armageddon Expo rolled into town recently, giving fanboys, geek-girls, (and my nephew), agreat day out*.  The timing was somewhat ironic too, as I have recently rediscovered something of a passion for 'Wonder Woman'!

Yes, Wonder Woman....you remember her, don't you?  The femme fatale of superheroes, that goddess in red white and blue, the 'X' chromosome to Superman's 'Y'.  With her boomerang headwear and bullet foiling bracelets, she gave young girls like myself something to live up to, (and young boys something to live for)!

But she shared more than her super powers with stars such as Superman - they also shared an incredible  knowledge of what a change of clothes can achieve!  Indeed, if you were looking for evidence of the transformative power of clothing you need look no further than Wonder Woman......   Depending on her clothing choices she was either a meek and mild "everywoman" or a Superhero with crime-stopping powers!  Not only that, but she could render herself virtually unrecognizable with each whirlwind wardrobe visit!!

So there you have it - dress this way and you are just an average soul,  but dress this way** and there will be little that can stand in your way!

*  (Not such a great day out for the wallet!)

**NB:  You should probably be aware, this will likely entail wearing something super-short and super-tight!  Oh, and you better hope that you suit the colours red, white, and blue!

At the fair....

There seem to be a lot of fairs on at the moment .....not that I'm complaining, mind you!  I love being able to revisit this element from way back in my history.

(Looking around me today, I had a feeling that a many of those old rides from my childhood are still alive and well, and entertaining the youth of today with the same style they did me all those many years ago!)

Another thing that's also very much alive and well is the denim cut-off, in all its various shapes and sizes!

xxo

Tragic.....

I lived in Christchurch for 4 years and they were very happy years providing cherished memories!  It is a beautiful, friendly, unique and wonderful city, and to witness these scenes of devastation and catastrophe is painful indeed!!  It is not only buildings that have crumbled in this shocking event - hopes, dreams, and lives have also been shattered, and my very best wishes and greatest sympathy go out to all those touched by this tragedy.

xxxo

Events Centre....

The other night, Nas and Damian Marley played at the Wellington Events Centre, and people queued for ages to get inside....

Can I just say that, while the music inside sounded great, the wonderful evening outside was truly a spectacle!

xxo

Petone Street Fair....

Better late than never....

Because I was....um.....busy on the day - happy valentines to all!  Hope you had a lovely day, wherever you where, and whoever whatever you did! ;-)

And for those of us who are single, this heart is all yours!  Embrace the freedom you have!  Love yourself.....and never compromise!

xxo

More scarf envy....

I love the way some people can pick up a scarf - merely a scrap of cloth - and make it look effortlessly chic.  I love the way this person has picked up a scarf and made effortlessly chic look Big Day Out cool!
Ahhh.  If only there were somewhere you could go - some sort of accessory class - where they could teach you all those little things......like how to tie a belt in the latest style, or how to assemble your scarf into something that even slightly resembles stylish.......

xxo

Lights out....

It was the last night of lights in the Wellington Botanical Gardens last night.  They really turned on (excuse the pun) a magical affair.  The weather held out, and everyone had a wonderful evening - both old and young.

BDO People...

While the day ended with the plastic cape as clear winner for "most worn" fashion item, there were many colourful exceptions throughout the day....

The lead singer of the band Wolfmother posed for pics in his bright pink dinner jacket.....

while shorts where everywhere, in every imaginable colour!

xxo

Big Day Out, Auckland 2011

Ok, so this may be how the BDO ended up, but there were some happy moments throughout the day too.

I'll share a couple....

Iggy made the day for a handful of lucky punters when he invited them up on stage to dance....

...you've never seen such happy faces as those that came off 5 minutes later.

Nick Cave played with his band Grinderman.  I think everyone I spoke to agreed - he was incredible, and he and his band played a blinding set!

Yes, despite the incessant, torrential rain......

...(which in fact added to the effect, when the song 'Grinderman' opened with the lyrics

"I'm the Grinderman

in the silver rain...")...

...it was definitely still a really fun day out!

xxo

NY 2010/11!

Happy New Year from the vineyards of Martinborough!

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

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

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....)

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....

Hmmmm - I think I feel a New Years Resolution coming on......

xxo

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

or....would it be a bloggle?

LFW SS/11

LFW SS/11 Day 5 #4

LFW SS/11 Day 5 #3

LFW SS/11 Day 5 #2

The incomparable Erin O'Connor in Marc Jacobs....