White With Rainbow Spots

Wow. 2012 already. 2010 and 2011 seemed to disappear in a bit of a blur. I'm hoping this year slows down a little but I don't think that's how it works sadly. I'm at that age where this one will whiz by possibly even faster than the last couple!


Last year was a bit average in places for me- so this year I have a few plans in place. And not like last years great plans  that never really came into fruition. Moving to Melbourne didn't end up panning out. I left my roller derby league after 4 (INTENSE!) years of involvement and decided to utilise my new found spare time with more music, learning to sew, more Frockstarring, starting yoga classes and generally being proactive and motivated. How much of all of that did I achieve? Heh. basically none of it... ! I did however spend a great deal of time enjoying doing sweet F.A after years of an overly busy daily schedule. I enjoyed my routine of going to the gym on my way home from work, coming home to put on my pajama's, make a delicious dinner and then watch hours of really bad (so bad it's good again..) tv on the couch with my wonderful man. Now when I read that back it sure doesn't sound like much but to be honest I loved every second of it. I needed a year of stepping back and reassessing some of my priorities. Admittedly I may have stepped back a little too far at times- but I think the overall outcome at the end has been a positive one. I'm not going to tell you about any resolutions I have for the new year. That would be a definite jinx on my best intentions but let's just say I am now ready to hit 2012 with a better balance of 2010's ridiculous busy- and 2011's slothful ambling. Let's hit it!

My first Frockstar post for the year has been kicking around the wardroom  for quite sometime now. 15 months in fact. It still hasn't even been worn out of the house yet- but I will be changing that within the next 5 days. Promise.

This 80's does 50's wiggle dress hailed from a great little vintage store on Smith St in Melbourne. I could see the potential when I tried it on- but it was a little tight in places. While I should know better than to buy things out of size in the hopes of getting smaller-I turned a blind eye to logic here and bought it anyway. I have certainly made smarter decisions. Now I had a dress that was almost awesome on- but couldn't wear it.

Flash forward a year and then some- and it finally fits. To be totally honest I had kind of forgotten about this dress. It turned into one of those items that you see so often that you stop seeing it completely. The ol' "I've been in front of your face for so long that I have effectively turned invisible". I try not to let this happen in the wardroom but when there is that much packed into a room it is inevitable. The up side is that in my moments of clarity when I have a proper rummage- it's like Christmas rediscovering outfits I forgot I had and breathing a new lease of life into them. But I digress...

Wiggle dresses aren't my usual forte shall we say. My body type doesn't really lend itself to this style generally. Going out on a limb and getting a WHITE one was a brave decision- but I couldn't resist the multitude of  80's-esque rainbow spots with the black outlines. It gives me many many options for accessorizing which in my mind makes an outfit quite versatile. The different combo's of green, blue, yellow and red will basically mean I will never have to wear the same combination twice. (That doesn't necessarily mean I won't- just that I don't have to...)

For the sake of this posts photo I have gone with the good old McDonalds colour combo. Red belt and lipstick to tie in the buttons down the front (some of which are fake which was briefly confusing!)  - and yellow hair flower and shoes to give it a bit of contrast. I am already planning some of the other possibilities. These are including (but certainly not limited to) a short sleeved kermit green cardigan with blue cummerbund belt and shoes. I could even dive into the rainbow P.O.F completely and do the green cardi, blue belt, yellow hair flower and red shoes.... Too much? Maybe. Will I wear it anyway? Almost definitely.

Sadly the light used in the pic didn't really do the dress justice. There may be blow out in the full shot- but I figure I have suitably compensated for this by adding not one but 2 arty closeups of said fabric...

Somewhere Over The Knitted Rainbow

I think it's fairly safe to say that this jumper epitomises the term "Bright". It's migraine inducing colour combo coupled with eye blurring stripes had me at hello.




I do love a good rainbow. Why commit to one colour when you can wear them all?


I must admit that the handful of times I have actually put this jumper on - I have felt like it washes me out just a little. It is an awful lot of bright colours worn right next to my face and I'm not 100% I can pull it off. Don't get me wrong- that thought will not stop me from wearing it. Feel the fear and do it anyway.


As this hand knitted piece of amazing is obviously a statement piece the rest of the outfit needs to be downplayed somewhat. Hence the denim skirt, black tights and green chucks.





On a vaguely related note- someone once told me I reminded them of this 80's icon. This jumper totally makes me understand the comparison and also leads me to ponder if there was anything I wouldn't do for her rainbow striped moon boots!

Rainbow Ski jacket

This is a jacket that I always want to work into more outfits. It is actually my ski jacket. Not having made many trips to the mountain in the last few years has meant it hasn't made it's way out of the far corners of the wardroom for some time now.

The 80's had some great ski and apres ski wear. So great in fact that some friends of mine used to hold an annual event that was essentially a very well organised, weekend long, 80's ski wear dress up party held at a lodge in Ohakune. "Snow Glam". Awesome concept and very well executed. The weekend included a welcome night disco, snow activities during the day (races, jumps, toboggan's etc) then on the Saturday night- the fashion show. This group of friends have turned the average dress up party into an art form. 1 outfit per party just will not do. No- to really do a dress up party right you need to have multiple costume changes over the evening.

Sadly - Snow Glam has been shelved for the last few years as the organisers are no longer in NZ to put them together. I am holding out for a reunion weekend at some point in the future though.
Snow Glam 2007 may have even been the last time I got to wear this jacket!




80's red puffer jacket with rainbow detailing features in blue, yellow and orange. when actually wearing it on the mountain I have some electric blue pants to complete the look. If I was to actually wear it in the city I would probably wear it with the denim skirt and blue hightops shown in the photo.

Rainbow Plaid

My Monday was VERY Monday this week. I wasn't particularly inspired all round really- and the "meh" kind of stretched throughout the day. I partly blame this one the hangover I was sporting on Sunday. I'm getting too old to assume I will only feel bad one the day after such frivolities sadly...



I decided to combat my "meh Monday" by stopping in for a quick look around the rainbow op shop on K rd on my lunch break. I'm glad I did- as I found this gem of a pencil skirt for $3!! I have a rule that anything that costs less than a cup of coffee is a no brainer purchase.

The plaid in the fabric is extra cool given that is is rainbow coloured on a black background. This makes the accessorising options for this skirt pretty much limitless. Yusssss....



I have decided to go fro a sunny yellow approach this time round with yellow stilettos (also $3 from trademe) and a yellow hair clip to tie it all in together. This co-ordination can also be achieved with red, green or bright blue. How very versatile!

If The Shoe Fits

I have decided to do a special shoe post today. Mainly cause I have again been slack and not kept up with my daily blogging but also as I have such a great collection of footwear that just isn't getting the foot time at the moment. Mostly due to seasonal outfit restrictions but there are a few pairs that just don't have the right ensemble that really showcases them too.

The first pair really demonstrates that not all boots are made for walking. Some are made to sit still and gaze at whilst being very still. This is one of those pairs! Some people might argue that there wasn't much point buying a pair of shoes that can't be walked in. My counter argument would include the following.

• I can walk in them- just not far or for long.


• They are kermit green.

• They have diamantes on them.


• They are pointy


• They have stiletto heels


• They are ruffled.

In my personal opinion they may in fact be the best pair of boots ever made for the above reasons!

The first day I wore them they did cause a few glaze overs when I would get distracted by my own feet... I seem to have mostly gotten past this now.

While I am on the subject of great boots- check out these incredible harajuku-esque (yes that is a new word- thanks for noticing) knitted sock boots with a wooden platform. Oh yes they have it all.

These boots can do more than walking. I can run, jump, dance, skip... the works. They are actually very easy to manoeuvre in as the sole is flat. The only downside is wearing them in a house with multiple flights of wooden stairs. I'm not a soft stepper at the best of times- but I will certainly never be creeping up on anyone wearing these!

The shades of olive and brown are great for winter- and they go with HEAPS of outfits in the Wardroom. They look great with black tights and I have the perfect olive green hand knitted scarf to finish the look off with.
They hailed from tradme- and cost me $25.00 last Winter.

The last pair that will be featured today is my rainbow kitten heels. These are surprisingly hard to match with an outfit. I know that I have the choice of ALL the colours in the shoes to roll with- but I decided that they work much better when the outfit is kept minimalist (as much I physically can do at least) and then the shoes get to be more of a statement within themselves. I do have a great pair of rainbow hair clips and a sparkly rainbow brooch that helps lift an outfit that is predominately black when called for though...

While these shoes aren't strictly seasonally dependent- I like them much better with black tights- thus making them a little more Winter appropriate.

These shoes were originally in Wildpair. A rainbow crazy friend of mine was with me when we saw them- and both of us fell in love! Sadly for her I found a pair on trademe that were too big for her feet- so I had to buy them for myself. In store they were retailing at $150.00- on trademe I scored them for a cool $11.00.

Roller Disco!

Tonight was the last derby training for the year- so we had a roller disco. It was rad.
Tone Loc, Talking Heads, Grease Megamix- we had it all. Rainbow leg warmers were the most appropriate thing I could have worn really...


The thing with rainbow accessories is they are actually very hard to match with anything else. You really need to go quite sparse with the rest f the outfit of the rainbows are massively diluted. I know this as I have a rainbow knitted jumper, rainbow hair clips, rainbow shoes and a rainbow belt. wear them all together and you look like a unicorn threw up....


As the crux of the outfit was the leg warmers I opted for muted colours with the rest of the ensemble. Black strapless top and denim hot pants with green fishnets. These fishnets are sooo good. Not only are they the best shade of green to go with my ... well everything- but I'm starting to suspect they are made of magic.I have worn them through 4 derby games this year and still haven't got any holes in them that aren't supposed to be. If that ain't magic I don't know what is!


Lastly I accessorised by wearing a roller skate necklace in blue white and orange. I actually have 2 skate necklaces. The other is a silver boot skate. Also cool- but roller disco P.O.F called for the quad.


I have a big weekend coming up. Starting with my huge scale work rodeo themed Christmas party tomorrow night. I've had the dress ready and waiting for a few weeks now- and as of this evening have finally decided which shoes to wear with it. I am good to go- YEEEEEHAA!

Let the Sunshine In

Yesterday was such a stunner I was expecting today to be a much more appropriate bright sundress kindofa day. No matter. I will bring the sunshine to this slightly overcast Friday myself!

Today's P.O.F (point of fashion for the uninitiated) was based on a "70's Luau meets RainbowBrite". Slightly obscure perhaps- but a good excuse to wear such a great summer dress and also to match my hair flower with my yellow shoes that are not getting anywhere NEAR enough feet time at the moment. (p.s. I love casual Friday's. So much fun to really push them in a corporate environment!)

The dress was purchased in Melbourne in the most incredible vintage clothing store I think I have ever visited. The first part of the store is kinda small and boutiquey but once you turn the corner it opens up into a 2 tiered warehouse size extravaganza! Other than the sheer size of this store- the most impressive part to me was how well everything was catalogued on the racks. Being someone who has OCD tendencies for how my wardroom is catalogued this really hit home with me. The sections got down to such detail as the "Knitted with sequins" section or the "1940's ball dress" section. The dress pictured was in the "Tropical 70's" section and was surrounded by other similar styles and fabrics with a Hawaiian twist. For the first time in my life I had to leave a vintage clothing store due to a case of sensory overload. There was just too much to look at and it was all so brightly coloured and patterned! As amazing as that store was I would never recommend anyone try shopping there on a hangover... I could not leave without a purchase of course- so left wit this dress, a yellow cardi and a spontaneous counter purchase of a ribbon hairclip.

Toady's shoes are bought to you by the colour yellow and Trademe. They were an absolute bargain at $9 including postage. I especially love how they tie in a sneaker with a wedge style. Its nice to have a pair of shoes with a definitive flexibility to take them from casual t-shirt and denim skirt to something a bit dressier for a summer evening. I have a creeping obsession with the colour yellow at the moment. It will never take over my love of anything green- but I have a greater appreciation for it as a very wearable colour option right now.

Although it didn't make it into today's outfit - I am too excited about my latest pair of sunglasses to not give them a mention here too. I have an extensive array of eye wear that will also go with any theme or occasion. I am unsure of the exact number of glasses that is deemed as "too many" but I'm sure with 38 pairs I'm knocking on that door! My newest ones are nothing short of incredible not only for their function, their novelty but also the price. At first glance they are pretty cutesy enough with an obvious kitty undertone- but wait. there's more!

With a simple fold they turn into an actual kitty cat shaped face that you can then hang off the front of your outfit to create a further statement. Why settle for wearing sunglasses on top of your head when you can do this! As I mentioned- the price is a factor in just how awesome these are. With a price tag of $4 they have quite literally blown my mind this week.

(A special mention goes to my amazing roller derby compadre -Lucy in Disguise- for her owning a yellow tiger pair of these first and not minding at all that I bought a similar pair when I saw them in a store the following week)

Lets hope tomorrow is full of actual sunshine to make the most of other bright summer dresses and a new pair of glasses...