fashion victims

I know that fashion has a tendancy to repeat itself, but don't you think that some things should just never come back in fashion. Like short pants and stockings for men.

 

Or men in belted sweaters.

Well I saw some shocking fashions on the weekend - always worn by young girls, who look like they think they're in a music video. And let me tell you, just because Lady Gaga wears it in a music video, it doesn't mean you should wear it in public.

One girl in particular stood out - she was wearing a white lace top, over a hot-pink bra, with a mini skirt and she had one black fingerless glove on her right hand. Her friend also had a black fingerless glove on her right hand.

They looked absolutely ridiculous. And one could say that maybe they were in fancy dress...but I really don't think they were. I think they had dressed like that on purpose and thought that they looked awesome. I'll tell you now, they didn't!

I think that I would like to start taking photos of fashion victims - I should do it with my phone and try to be subtle. Of course I would blur out the faces, but gosh it would be funny!!

Stay tuned for fashion victim photos!

sewing entry 2011

This year I won Third Prize in the sewing section of the Canberra Show. I am determined to enter again, but I must decide on what I am going to create!

Before the end of the year I have a couple of things I would like to make, including a wedding dress for my sister's wedding in France (don't panic, it will be a very simple dress and shouldn't take too long at all!), but I want to get started on my Show entry sooner rather than later.

Last year I entered in the Non Professional (less than two years experience) 'Any article of hand or machine sewing', and I think since this is only my second year entering I will stay in that category.

But the delima is: do I design something myself, or go with a pattern?

One pattern I did have in mind is a replica of Scarlett O'Hara's red dress -

Which I would make in blue so I could wear it myself.
But is that too much?
It's not as though the prize is a lot of money or anything. It's mainly just ribbons unless I win the Grand Champion award which is $500. Last year some ugly ass outfit won. Very strange!

shopped like I never shopped before

Well I have to admit, the title statement is a lie. I have shopped like that before, just not in a very long time. It has probably been a year since I have bought anything that I didn't really need (around the time I returned from Egypt to find that I had speant way more than I meant to!). But with a pay rise, some pays overlapping and weird tax stuff, I found extra money in my bank account and so I went shopping!

This is what I bought over the weeked:

Pleasure Stay bra

Elle McPherson underpants

Target gumboots

Cue winter coat (actually on lay-by, but their lay-by is only for 3 weeks, so I'll include it in this tally)

Joanne Mercer red boots

Carmen Steffans fabulous 40s heels

Target wall clock

Bras'N'Things undies (I feel I was ripped off here, I asked if the '3 for $20' pants were comfy and wouldn't ride up my bum, and was told that they were really popular because they don't ride up your bum. But the first pair I wore went right up my bum! Cranky!)

Lush buffy bar & bath bomb thing

Big W pump pack for moisturiser (rather than buying the $99 Aesop moisturiser in a pump pack)

Review blue top (totally cute!)

So the only thing I 'need' to buy to complete my 2010 winter wardrobe is some black leather gloves (mine are brown), and I might get some more hats for the season. I'm also waiting on my Dad to acquire me an umbrella from his work, since I'm now walking to work (hence the gum boots).

I think I'm pretty much set for this winter - although I do have to make a few new work dresses, and a fur stole or muff.

So I have relapsed into my Shopaholic ways (I even bought a couple of magazines), but I'm determined not to let it get the better of me, and once I get my Cue coat out of lay-by that will be the end of my naughty shopping ways!

the september issue

Last night I watched The September Issue which is a movie about the September issue of Vogue, which is the biggest issue of Vogue as it marks the start of the new fashion year.

I love the movie The Devil Wears Prada, based on the book of the same name, which is meant to be based on Vogue and the famous Editor Anna Wintour. I really enjoyed that movie, I own it on DVD and watch it often. But the reality of Vogue is something completely different. One of the main fashion editors, who works closely with Anna, is absolutely horrible. Apparently she used to be a model but now her hair is horrible and frizzy and really needs a conditioning treatment, she wears horrible flat shoes, and horrible ill-fitting clothes! She does not look like someone who knows anything about fashion, let alone working for the best fashion magazine in the world!

So while the movie was quite informative about the fashion magazine world, and I was left thinking "how could I get a job at Vogue", I was also left thinking "if I worked at Vogue I would at least put a conditioning treatment in my hair!".

I was also inspired to make more clothes, design some myself, and wishing that I had a lovely workshop that I could use to sew in, so that I don't have to vacuum up fabric scraps from my lounge room!!

ballgown

This is my ballgown.

I love this dress so much. Even when the dress is bustled (see below) it is still magnificent! And I am so comfortable in it (which give more evidence to the idea that I was born in the wrong century). All I need now is somewhere to wear it!

what I did today

Today is Sunday, and after an early morning motorbike ride (ok, it was 11am but since it's Sunday that is pretty early!) I decided to finally make something with this fabulous material I saw a while ago.
When I saw this fabric I fell in love with it...I was just drawn to it for some reason. But at $24.95 per meter I was naturally very hesitant to splurge on it. To put things in perspective I usually spend about $8 per meter on material, lately I have been lucky enough to find some great fabrics on sale (but even at full price they're no more than $15 per meter!).
When I finally realised that I couldn't stop thinking about it I went to buy a couple of meters so that I could make a summer dress (halter neck style). Unfortunately they only had 1 meter left! But I bought it and today I made this skirt.
I had a particular idea of what I wanted, but unfortunately I didn't have a pattern that would create my idea...so I made it without a pattern! I had an idea and I made it happen. I know it's a pretty simple skirt, but it is a Duchess original!
People often say "you must have so much time on your hands" when I tell them that I have made something. But this skirt only took me a couple of hours. And sure, I probably should have been cleaning my house, but apart from housework what else would I be doing if I wasn't sewing?

heatwave

It has been so long since I've blogged! To be honest with you I don't know if I have very much to say at the moment, so this is really a blog for blogs sake!
It is hot! Summer has finally come, and it has come with a vengeance! But I doubt it will stay. Last week we were have 15 degree days, today it is 30 degrees!! And our air conditioning in the office is broken, so inside it is 28 degrees!

I had to laugh, one of my colleagues asked if I'm the type of person who gets grumpier as it gets hotter. I replied with "aren't I quite grumpy throughout the year? I'm not sure the weather really has much impact!!". But that isn't the case with some of my work mates who do seem to be getting grumpier as the weather gets warmer!!

Luckily tomorrow is a day off. Technically it is "Family & Community Day", but in reality it is Melbourne Cup day, which is so much more better!!

And on Thursday it is Crown Oaks Day, and at work we're having an Oaks Day Ladies Luncheon (organised by me) to celebrate Fashions on the Field! Which means that tomorrow I will spend the day working on my fascinator!!

fascinating fashion

Last night I attend Cor da Moda which was a fashion event held at the local Audi Centre showcasing shoes and fabulous fashions.
The tickets said "Dress to Impress" so I went out, got myself a hot glue gun and made a fascinator! I have to say, I think it worked quite well (and this really cute guy I met later on actually said "nice fascinator"!). I found these great purple feathers which matched my fabulous 1940s style shoes perfectly!!
I have to comment on the variety of styles that were at the Fashion Event. There were the fabulously stylish people, the horribly trendy guys (with too much hairspray!), the people who don't care, and then there's the people who care and try but miss! In particular there was one girl in a floral print strapless dress (worn over a black top and leggins). This might not sound too bad, but the dress was short (above the knee) and went out dramatically from the waist, hopefully with the aid of tulle. It was difficult to tell if the poufiness was from tulle or was just the way this girl was formed. She was a bit overweight so it was possible that she just had a huge ass!!
I know that sounds mean....but seriously, you should have seen what this girl was wearing! And I think she was with her mother whose dress was pinned up with bull-dog clips! It must run in the family!

jaunty hat

Today is the first day of spring and the weather prediction was for a fine and sunny 14 degrees. So I decided not to wear a full coat today (I have a high waisted skirt on with a matching little 3/4 sleeve jacket) and instead wear a hat while I was outside and commuting.
I pulled out my cream beanie/beret, which complemented my predominantly black and cream outfit nicely, and suited the waves I put in my auburn hair perfectly.
I've also pulled out my Voodoo swirly-seemed stockings, which are such a lovely touch to any outfit. I am determined to get some more when I see them.

I'm thinking that next time I pull together such a lovely outfit, with great accessories, I need to get some photos so that I can put them on my blog. I shall see how I'm looking when I get home tonight and might take a photo then.

vivacious

Of all the words in the English language the one I really love is "vivacious". I love the way it sounds, the way it is used, and what it implies.
In Gone with the Wind when the other Southern Belles are being mean about Scarlett O'Hara behind her back Melanie Hamilton (soon to be Mrs Ashley Wilkes) says that Scarlett is "just high spirited and vivacious". My sister and I will often use this line in describing each other as it is really quite perfect for almost any situation.

On Monday I had a job interview and I received the rejection email that afternoon. I wasn't too crushed because the two women I interviewed with were wearing this horrible ill-fitting grey suits and I was worried that it was some kind of uniform, and I just don't do ill-fitting grey suits! Anyway, when I sent out a group text to tell some of my friends that I had the interview and didn't get the job (probably beacuse I'm too stylish) one of my friends wrote back "You're to vivacious to work at that place". Isn't that a lovely thing to say. And she's probably correct. I had on a lovely blue and purple Cue dress, vintage black boots, and my auburn hair half pulled back with ringlets falling. While the women who interviewed me were wearing pale pastel colours shirts with their ill-fitting grey suits, and had boring hair. I definitely would have stood out in that office.
I stand out in most offices - that sounds conceited, but I'm just "high spirited and vivacious!"