Colour My World

I was going to give you something today about Oscars fashion, but I know that's not why you're here. Let's just say that there was a serious teary moment here when Heath Ledger was announced the winner of Best Supporting Actor. Sniff..

So instead of showing you what every Kate, Heidi and Angelina is wearing, I am of course going to show you what I was wearing instead. Sunday I headed into Fitzroy for a rehearsal for this Saturday's fashion show, Circa Nocturna. I'll admit I was having a rare wardrobe crisis moment, in which I stood in front of the over stuffed closet bemoaning my lack of things to wear! Possibly the result of having too much time on my hands to choose, (which is usually not the case), or just trying to build an outfit around a pair of fabulous but particularly tricky shoes. The Melissa shoes were especially worked in for the lovely K. Line who is wondering about their practicality. After much deliberation, here is the result.

Outfit Details: Purple top - MNG, Pants - Living Doll, Suspenders - Costume shop, Crown Brooch - ?, Shoes - Melissa, Panda Earrings - SIX, Glasses - Vintage Store.

So to answer the shoe question - yes they are comfortable (but I probably should have bought them a half size smaller), no they don't get any hotter than leather shoes, and the best part? They smell like bubble gum!

You're Such A Doll

Barbie portraits used by permission. Photographs by Torno Photography.

This year, March 9th mark Barbie's 50th birthday! And my doesn't she carry it well? With an army of designers and plastic surgeons (quite literally) at her beck and call, it is no wonder this lady can still knock 'em dead. For her upcoming birthday she was being presented at New York Fashion Week with 50 new outfits by some of the world's most illustrious designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui and Vera Wang. But why should she have all the fun?

Celebrating the style of a little lady we have all owned at one time or another, I've put together a selection of outfits just for you to channel your inner Barbie. And while I'm not a huge advocate for that awful phrase "dressing your age", I went with a certain feel for each age group. Feel free to mix, match and possibly steal from others as you please.

So whether you are a fabulous fashionista, a domestic diva or a queen in need of a new frock; get yourself a little Barbie style this week and celebrate the woman she made you.

Daily Outfit - School Gate Chic

It was the first day of school and the beginning of a whole new era yesterday. Miss Four was all fancied up in her little dress and black polished Mary Janes. Her bag was filled with snacks and her heart high with hopes as she went off to meet all her new friends.

No uniform for this year. They are "highly recommended" to wear the official school tracksuit, but in my opinion that is asking for trouble. Imagine teaching them this young that wearing a tracksuit for anything other than the gym is acceptable! (puts hand to forehead in a faint)

And while fruit is the standard snacking fare, something a little more cheerful was required for such a momentous day.

As for me, I knew I had a whole new challenge on my hands with school gate dressing. Given that where I live the standard mum attire is either capri pants and t-shirts, or the full Ed Hardy soccer mum look, I knew that whatever I wore I was bound to stand out. But not wanting to over do it, I did my version of jeans and t-shirt with these vintage style pants I knocked up and one of my favorite new blouses. It is actually even more comfortable than a jeans and t-shirt combo, and in my opinion looks a million times better. A quick twist with the hair and up into a french roll, and I'm done.

Outfit Details: Blouse - thrifted (no label), Pants - made by me, Shoes - Rohde

Now the biggest challenge will be adjusting to a whole new routine. Packing lunches, leaving early, parent teacher meetings, bake sales... I wonder how long the enthusiasm lasts?

Her Chequered Past

Me at about 14/15 with my little bro in the dress mum made especially for my holiday.

In a bid to find a few more ensembles to add to my hot weather wardrobe, I came across this number. She was almost forgotten as she'd been living in the dress up box for some time. My mother made me this dress when I was about 14/15 years old, and I wore it on my beach side holiday with visions of Grace Kelly in To Catch A Thief, dancing in my head. Now, I am more than twice that many years old, she sees the light of day again! I gave her a bit of a clean, iron and she still fits!

I am so thrilled with the way this dress looks now. I always had a tendency to dress older than my age, (as my tastes haven't changed much) and it seems I have now 'grown' into my style. But today I had to wear things just a little differently as that pesky broken toe is still preventing me from doing anything other than posing in my heels. So I popped on a cardigan pilfered from mums closet, a super cute pair of wide eyed bear earrings and my new pair of shiny red thongs (flip flops) from Duchess. This is how I actually met the day and headed off to grocery shop with girls in tow.

Outfit details: Dress by Mum, Cardigan - Katies (recycled), Shoes - Duchess, Earrings - SIX

I'm off tonight to see my other brother's band play for the first time. They've been getting all these rockstar gigs, and I haven't had an opportunity to see him strut his stuff. So I'll be getting ready for a night on the town and preparing for a huge long weekend tonight. We've got Chinese New Year celebrations, dinners, parties and I'm even holding a stall at the Camberwell market on Sunday in my ongoing attempts to purge. So If you don't see me this weekend, just picture me sleeping, exhausted in a pile of clothes.

Add a Little Zest To Your Day

According to the big wig colour predictors, 2009 has been declared the year of Mimosa. Officially it is PANTONE 14-0848 Mimosa. And just what the hell is Mimosa other than a tasty beverage? Well for those of you here in Australia, you should be very familiar with this little gem as it is in fact a part of our national emblem. Those of us on a first name basis with this one know it as Golden Wattle. The flower that children all over the country take to their teachers, causing their hay fever to flare irreparably for the day, as it sheds its pollen like talcum powder in sheets on your clothes.

Allegedly this sunshine filled hue will be the tonic for our economic blues and cause us to be filled with imaginative and innovative impulses. Well, in that spirit I've applied mine for you and come up with some great ways to add some sartorial sunshine to your days.

Lemon Sundae by super kawaii mama

Mimosa in the Evening by super kawaii mama

Sunshine in Your Life by super kawaii mama

So if you are feeling a bit over the grey skies of a northern winter, or looking to encourage a little more sunshine south of the boarder, then these could be just the trick. But proceed with caution (lol), an over consumption of Mimosa (both the beverage and the colour), is bound to make you a tad queasy.

Santa Style

Outfit Details: Dress - unlabeled recycle boutique find, Shoes - Mossimo, Jeweled hair snood - Singapore department store brand, Earrings - Diamond studs, Ring - Tokyo department store find.
Shot on location by Nana, Miss Four and Myself at Westfield shopping mall.

Earlier this week I packed up the girls and their Nana to head in for the yearly Santa visit. This is a very exciting day that begins around 5am with lots of jumping around and dancing; and no that sure isn't me at that hour. After dressing Miss Four in her best black and white party dress with appropriately frilly socks and shiny shoes, I thought I'd get a little peace to get organised. However, my knee high stylist insisted on choosing my outfit because I had to be "pretty for Santa". So with a little creative collaboration, this was the result.

Santa seemed rather pleased with it and was rather keen on keeping me by his side. With all that extra squeezing I'd better be getting a darn good present this year!

When Imitation Is Not Flattering

Evan Rachel Ward - Before and After she began dating Marilyn Manson.

When we are young our mothers dress us. Choosing outfits to reflect their own tastes, morals or aspirations. As we grow up we venture into that scary territory of choosing our wardrobes for ourselves. Generally beginning by emulating the fashion pack at school, choosing our labels to belong and be recognised as a valid member of the group. We graduate to fashion experimentation, finding our niche in sub cultures, or the simple pleasure of displeasing the parents who are so old fashioned. But from there, were do we go? What happens when the high school preppy no longer frequents the same social circle, or the goth is tired of black?

For most the choice is to lazily follow in the fashion footsteps of the masses, but for those who seek something more the transition can be a difficult one fraught with pitfalls. One of the most dangerous is imitation.

What was it that made the world sit up and take notice of Audrey Hepburn? Was it just the black Givenchy and the dark glasses? While undoubtedly chic, these props did not make Ms Hepburn the entrancing individual who has become legend. It was her unique combination of style, personality, flair, sincerity and altruism. She was herself in a way no other could, or will, ever be. Like a knock off Chanel handbag, imitation may bring a degree of recognition or a sense of improved social currency; but the feeling is a rather hollow one. You may be the only one who knows it, but that lack of authenticity can leave you feeling more exposed than you felt to begin with.

It is one thing to be inspired by someones style, but altogether another to attempt a personal reinvention through complex imitation. Very time consuming and draining in my opinion. Rather than taking a style journey by copying your look head to toe from your favorite personality, consider a more enriching option. Become a better version of yourself. Take an inventory of your style, (such as it is) and focus on all those idiosyncrasies that make you you. It may be your love of sparkly shoes, your penchant for oversized 80's earrings or your secret desire to break out the Farrah flick you had in high school. Once you have embraced the quirks that make you an individual, feel free to add inspirations from your favorites. You'll discover that as you pop on those huge dark glasses, the look becomes an altogether different one when paired with your unique flair. And thus you become a true student of fashion. An innovator, not an imitator.

Pants -Take Two

Outfit Details: Silver Batwing top - Tempt, Grey high neck top - Miss Shop, Pants - by Me, Shoes - Rohde, Sunglasses - Chanel, Golden bracelets - from a Halloween treat bag!

It seems I am often heralded for my vintage style, and while I do have a great affinity with decades past, I like to make them work for me. This is why I mix my plastic children's jewelry with 80's couture; my hoochie heels with high collared tops and just about anything that takes my fancy. I do know my decades, my designers and my history, but I also know what suits me. So for that reason I take an eclectic view of fashion and enjoy finding myself in all my looks.

When high waisted pants first came out I tried on various commercial jeans, but nothing really looked right on me. I had a mental image of what I would look like in these amazing pants and where they might take me. But when I would stand in the dressing room all I could see was a large expanse of arse staring back at me. After years of 6cm flys, adding that much fabric to your behind takes some adjusting in the visual memory. So feeling like I had just gained a good 10 kilos, I put those pants back on the rack.

Rather than be dismayed, I decided that I could do a better job of translating my mental image to reality. I had had great successs with wide leg pants before, so why not go one step further? So I headed out to my local fabric store to pick up some stretch denim and set about drafting a pattern for these beauties. The idea I had in mind was a 1940's casual look, but I wanted them to translate into all kinds of other styles. Much of the success or failure of this idea depends on the accessories employed in this endeavour.

So after yesterday's blast from the past, I give you my more modern version of these pants. This is yet another way I wore them to head to a casual family barbeque on the weekend. I also paired them with the other pair of Rohde shoes I picked up, which were the higher wedge, sling back ones. (Yes, I got them both.)

How To Tackle A Monday

I am forever hearing about the Monday Blues or Mondayitis, and really, I know that not everything in life can always be fine and dandy, but your perspective has much to do with your mood. If you wake up on Monday morning to a shrill alarm clock, rather than that stunning original Dior gown you had just been dreaming about, it is a rather rude shock. But what is your first thought, (that is once you actually figure out what day it is and that you aren't going to get that much needed half and hour)? How can you make your Monday something other than the ugly precursor to what often promises to be another round of drudgery? As with most things in life, turning something simple into an occasion makes the whole things much more enjoyable and pleasant. Here are some of the tricks I use ( and those I should) to make Monday something to be anticipated not avoided.

Photo by Osamu

Organise breakfast the night before

If you don't have time for the full eggs and bacon experience, make sure you're prepared for something quick but delicious. Some fruity muesli, fresh berries and home made yoghurt; perhaps a fresh orange juice and some proper loose leaf tea. Set your table with some bright and fun linen, I have a vintage 1950's table cloth with little coffee pots on it I like to use. Make it a little "Bed and Breakfast" style and lay out a gorgeous teapot and matching tea cup, a linen napkin, even a toast rack. You don't have to actually use all these items (god knows I hate cold toast), but it is about the ambiance they create. If your kitchen looks this appealing first thing in the morning, you aren't likely to start the day only on black coffee and vitamins.

Photo by LuckySundae

Plan a fabulous lunch.

Whether you work from home, head out or spend you days just luxuriating around, it pays to have a plan. If you have things to look forward to in what can be an otherwise mediocre day, it can make the difference between mind numbing boredom and anticipation. Prepare yourself something both gorgeous and delicious, like a bento box full of your favorite treats. Make sure to include something you wouldn't usually indulge in at lunch time - like caviar and crackers, yum. But whatever you do, don't pack it with sugar, that is a sure fire way to induce that mid afternoon crash.
You could even include a decorative place mat or napkin just to make your lunch space something a bit more special. Rather than getting crumbs in your keyboard, if you can, eat out. You might not be able to find a good park, but make sure you get a change of scenery, even if this just means putting a street scene of Paris on your screen saver and clearing your desk for your polka dotted place mat.

Photo by Mizrobot

Wear your fancy underwear.

It might be Monday but, what better excuse to break out your A game? Find your favorite matching set, your suspenders or even just a silky slip. No one need know, but you'll have a little secret to make you feel glamorous all day long. This trick works particularly well if your chosen employment involves a uniform. Underwear is one very secret and subversive way you can indulge your whims and personality, without ever having to reveal it to the world.

Photo by KevinDooly

Get dressed to music.

Setting the scene is not just for Friday nights. Start you day off on the right note by waking up to something relaxing and calming rather than the screech of your clocks alarm. If you can, program your radio to a classical station where you are more likely to be woken by Bach than the Beastie Boys. Then move on to dressing music to set the tone of your day. Here's some of my favorites:

• Isn't it a Lovely Day - Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong
• The Whirled you live - Etherfox
• Got the Sun in the Morning - Doris Day
• It's a Hap Hap Happy Day - Stephane Grapelle

Now you have a few ideas to start you off, get plenty of beauty sleep and start your day in the best kind of style.

*Stay tuned tomorrow for the 200th post competition winner!*

Syncopated Style

Last night I enjoyed an evening out at the National Gallery where they are presently hosting Deco era entertainment. A perfect reason to find something a little fancy for a Wednesday night. So I channeled Pola Negri with the smoky eyes and bow lips, and even attempted a novice finger wave in my hair. Such fun.

While the traffic delaying my journey meant that I sadly missed the Vaudevillian strong man and Follies girl act, I did make it in time to hear the wonderful Cairo Club Orchestra. But imagine my delight when this marvelous chap appeared on my radar once again. This time he was accompanied by some seriously stylish ladies who could also dance up a storm. Fortunately the nature of the evening was such that I had the opportunity to hob nob with these elegant companions. Not only could they dance with skill and flair, but to my inordinate pleasure , I also discovered fashion design and millinery to be amongst their talents.

Left to right: Elizabeth, Baron and Lisa.

To see a snippet of the evening's entertainment, and enjoy the dance stylings of our elegant friend, I captured a little for your enjoyment. You'll also notice one of the evenings younger participants who danced her tiny sized 2's off all night. Wonderful.