a final note for 2009

To the Great Wide Void:

It seems I took an accidental hiatus from blogging...whoopsydaisy. I thought that being home and on holiday would give me tons of time to spend blogging, but rather, after a sordid traveling experience, I arrived to a house without internet and there went that plan.

It's been about a week, and I've finally returned to the world wide web, but I know more than to make promises of more frequent posting when I'm not sure I can fulfill them. I've been a bit of a deadbeat blogger the past few months, and with the final six months of law school round the corner, I can't imagine I'll get much better. I've been conflicted about whether to apologize about it or just remain silent. As you can see I chose the latter mostly because I never really understand when other bloggers apologize, it's their blog, their lives, their time. I wouldn't want them to post just for the sake of posting and so neither do I.

As for me, this blog was created as a personal filing cabinet of sorts, for all those images that I find on the internet, and all those random thoughts I have about fashion. I'm an overthinker. I overthink overthinking. But I just wanted a space where I didn't feel any pressure and could do as I fancy, and I think that is what this is. I have no real indication of how many readers I may have, and I guess I prefer it that way, because then I write for myself without the pressure of pleasing an audience. It's a bit more scary to think people are actually reading what I write, when most the time, my posts are small burbles of spontaneity without much foresight. I feel a wee bit of blogger shame when I compare myself to all the others I read, with their collages, well-thought-out prose and just generally inspiring content.

But in the end, I think I'm happy with this little space I've created for myself, even if I can't devote as much time to it as I like. And I'm always delighted if I get a comment here and there to know that I am not speaking entirely to an empty void. But Void, if it's just you and me, I am okay with that too. We do well together, and I'll see you in 2010.

Love,
dw

Sophie Conti

I'm sure most of you are aware of that wonderful haven of inspiration, Style Like U...but I couldn't help but repost this recent video of Sophie Conti, merely because she is so hilarious and has the funniest anecdotes, including a Larry David-esque incident involving knock-off Balmain heels. I love her approach to fashion. Quality over quantity and pro- outfit repeats, as she says, "I'll wear the same pants four days in a row, but it looks good, you know." It's fun and funny, nothing too serious, cause in the end, it's just clothes.

Sophie Conti from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

the wild unknown

I quite like buying gifts for Christmas. I think part of the reason for that, apart from the simple joy of (hopefully) making others joyous, is I do most of my shopping online. That way I avoid the scary shoppers and can find so many interesting little things by just stumbling upon them. That is how I came across these calendars and prisms from The Wild Unknown. Each object is handcrafted in Brooklyn, but inspired by the Catskills and Great Lakes, where the glass is blown for the prisms. That's the other thing about buying online, I can support the artisans and small businesses, and that's kinda nice too.

Now I just have to find someone to gift them to, otherwise, they may end up in my own home. And that's not what Christmas is about...er, is it?

small comforts

I think I might be under house arrest. Informally, of course, but the combination of fucking cold rainy weather and the burden of deadlines has made venturing outside a rare occasion. But there are little things, small indulgences that are getting me through the increasingly shorter days. I'll make it through by staring idly at my new you-study-so-hard-you-deserve-them boots, consuming dubious amounts of coffee and homemade fudge (that travelled all the way across the Atlantic just for me), and adding some Christmas cheer to the house in the form of a mini poinsettia, the lovely poisonous plant of the holiday season. No cabin fever here...as long as I don't confuse the flower for the fudge, I'll be all set.

strange magic

I feel the need to contextualize, but I got nothing other than I like the above. There, I said it.

the beginnings of a list

Dear Santa,

I want these.

You can get them here. Size 4, but you know that, right?

Thanks.

Love,

dw

One day, I will...

One day, I will have a library. Filled with books, from ceiling to floor. With a ladder for the most unreachable, but still desirable, tomes that grace the top shelf. Bugger off, Kindle.

Oh Boy, Oi Polloi

For me, one of the joys of being a lass is comfortably wandering into the men's section of a store and being able to purchase something in sizes ranging from xxs to l with no qualms. I think it is a bit of a luxury to be able to wear men's clothing so freely... not that men cannot wear women's clothing, but I imagine the fit must be harder, at the very least. I quite like men's clothing, especially in terms of basics, sweaters, cardigans and the like, which is why I squealed in delight when I stumbled across Oi Polloi, an online boutique "for men" -- which just translates to online boutique of "oversized wonderfulness for me." I feel a bit bad stealing from the boys, when it's hard for them to do the same, but with goods like these, it's hard not to.

my leonids

Every news outlet anywhere has been screaming about the leonids meteor shower tonight -'best in years’, ‘must-see’ event, etc, etc. It is supposed to happen at 2130, BST, but I live in London, and stars are few and far between in this town. At 2125, I went out onto my tiny balcony, overlooking the back of a turkish restaurant, in search of the beginning of something magical. So far, so nothing. I did see twinkling lights all around, whirling and twirling and moving to be sure, but these were not showers. They were planes, circling, in preparation to land at Heathrow or Gatwick or maybe even Stansted. I stood for about 10 minutes, watching the twinkling lights. It reminded me of that movie Pushing Tin, how close they all could be to crashing into each other. Slight misses between tin cans floating in the sky — it may not be natural, but it’s pretty magical.

Red Hot [Chilly] Pepper

I'm generally a big fan of autumnal/winter colours. Give me grey and navy blue anyday, any season, and I'll wear it happily. But I'll admit that it can be a bit drab, dour and, um, life-sucking to constantly match the weather. This is why I am absolutely in love with the Camille Bidault-Waddington styled (who else could do layers so perfectly?) editorial, The Big Chill, in the December issue of US Elle. It's all winter colours with a punch of red to waken everything up. Indeed another editorial in the same issue uses red as well to marvelous effect. I'll never give up my beloved greys, but a little spice never hurt anyone.


The Big Chill




The Exhibitionist



(source).

damn.

I don't care what anyone says, Chloë Sevigny looks damn hot in this outfit. And only she could take a straight-from-the-runway outfit and make it look so effortless and throw-on. The girl's got gumption.

(source: tfs, via ringo, have a banana)

me versus her

Her hair is a testament to tousled, curly perfection. My hair is not. It is annoying half wavy, half straight, mostly unmanageable. But my hair is brown, and I like that.

Ooh, Child

Normally I find fashion editorials with kids in adult designer clothing to be a bit strange. Often the styling results in them being turned into weird sexualized mini-adults with too much make-up on. But I actually really like this editorial from Purple magazine, mostly because it is so fun-filled and innocent. The kids still look like kids, playing dress up (with Mommy's amazing wardrobe). And that's a good thing.







(source)

studying to song

So, in case you haven't noticed, I haven't been around much. Sorry. Life is sometimes difficult to balance - studying, work, play. Apparently third year of law school requires concentration, and while for many that means hours in the library, studying in complete silence, for me, studying means sitting at my kitchen table, surrounded by books, paper, coffee cups and music. I cannot study without having noise around me...libraries are too quiet, everyone is too academic. Plus, my fridge isn't four feet away.

But I can't exactly have blaring music on - I do get distracted - so I have playlists of songs to study to, mostly melodic, 'indie-folk' or 'indie-pop' that can be overtly saccharine but perfect for melding into the background of my typing. On current repeat is Clare and the Reasons. It's perfect calming music that gets me through the stress that is law school, providing a soundtrack to my frenetic studying.

head to toe

This winter, I'm thinking of monochromatics and longer lengths. If I have to be completely covered up, might as well go all the way, with dresses and skirts that skim the ice cold ground.

the shape of things

The clog-shape is having a bit of a moment, eh? I can't really decide whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I do like the wooden heel but clogs remind me of my childhood, when I had hideous pink clogs that I wobbled around everywhere in. Not something I want to relive, especially since I'd probably still wobble today...heels and I are a bit of a farce.

(all shoes from Creatures of Comfort)

take a break, it's wednesday

This has nothing to do with anything other than the fact that I thought it was hilarious. And it's Wednesday. And I had to wake up early, but woke up late, subsisted on coffee alone for four hours and have to go to work in three. But this made two minutes of my Wednesday brighter...maybe it can do the same for you.

#31

I had given up all hope of being able to get the newest issue of Russh in any reasonable amount of time, but now their new site is not only selling back issues, but also the current issue AND ships worldwide. It's a bit pricey, (15 AUD plus a whopping $21 shipping to the UK), so I have to remain content trawling my local convenience store to find the previous, two-month old issue. I've been successful with the last three issues, and since Australia is in a different season anyway, by the time I get the issue, it practically corresponds to the Northern Hemisphere ... or so I tell myself.

But for those you, desperate for the newest and latest from Down Under, it is now only a click away.

don't let it go

Okay, so I know I'm about a week or two behind in the news here, but I totally understand the whole Balloon Boy hoax thing. Well, I don't understand it in the sense that why would you enlist your child in a rather ridiculous scheme to get a science-reality show... but I do understand the appeal of the balloon, as do many a fashion editor. Balloons are a bit magical; they defy gravity after all. And they can add a bit of whimsy and child-play to any photograph, hence seem to be quite a popular fashion editorial accessory. So, here's to Balloon Boy and his balloon. I get it kid, sometimes you just want to tie one to your wrist and float away...




(sources: tfs, we heart it)