tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29234374009394332382024-03-09T04:47:01.141+13:00FrockstarFrockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.comBlogger236125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-10383702492803470222013-09-30T19:49:00.000+13:002013-09-30T19:49:04.346+13:00Are You Reddy To Frock? (To The Maxi)No decade quite owned a full length dress like the 70's maxi. It makes sense on so many levels really. The bright colours and busy patterns synonomous with that period are all so awesome, if the dress is longer you get to see more of them. "More is more" isn't a philosophy that spans all outfit decisions, but in this case I think it's perfect. <br />
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Maxi dresses and I had some time apart for a few years, but I fell in love with them again last Summer and now I am a serial maxi re-wearer. Not always easy when you are of diminutive stature. Let's face it. Wearing a long dress that is far too long and pools around your feet is going to do a pretty great job of making you look as short and squashed as possible. No self respecting undercover midget wants that I can assure you. Hiding high shoes under them can help, but you still gotta be careful. <br />
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No matter what the fabric, all long dresses have a few key universal versatilities.<br />
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<li> If it's cold, you can wear leggings or tights under them. It may be one of the only times I relax enough to not need to match them too. Chances are I still probably would, but I could potentially break my colour co-ordinated fixation under billowing skirts and it might not wreck my day. (don't judge. It's a thing. Ridiculous I know, but a very real affliction even if I am the only one to suffer from it.) Hell. If it's really cold you can go to town. Tights, long socks and legwarmers are even better when they are your own dirty little secret. I imagine so anyway. I can't keep them a secret and keep showing them to people so it's hard to say. It does allow a new and hidden platform for the ridiculous while not looking like a cartoon character or detracting from the dress though. Legwarmers are amazing, but can be hard to work into outfits as an retired rollerskating adult. Take every opportunity you can to get those puppies on. Im always glad when I have and I usually catch myself making resolutions to do it more often. </li>
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<li> If it's hot, a maxi is surprisingly cooling to wear. I couldn't explain the scientific logistics but there is a definite breeze you get flowing through the right light floating fabric. A very specific breeze that has never been matched on a shorter hemline. The more breeze you get, the more it floats too. A nice bonus of this feature is that you feel like a princess when you're floating around on your own dress induced aircon. I've been called a lot of things but graceful isn't one of them. If I can fake it with a dress you can be damned sure I am going to notice it. Sadly, being aware of this rare feeling of grace and poise is often short lived when I invariably trip over my own feet or get tangled up in the fabric. While falling over is never really that awesome, it's almost worth it if I can get a few minutes of tapping into my inner disney princess. I dont even really think of myself as a "princessy" kindofa girl, but I think on some level we all are. Who wouldn't want a beautiful gown, handsome prince and a happily ever after? A great trio sure, but let's face it. I'm pretty much happy enough with a beautiful gown. CHECK!</li>
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<ul>
<li>A maxi can also hide all kinds of things. You don't have to shave your legs for a start. If you ever needed to tape a hipflask to your leg nobody would be any the wiser. And if cartoons have taught me anything, its that you can pretty much sneak 2 (or even 3) people in anywhere if you have them on each others shoulders and a really long coat. I'm not that silly though. Of course that wouldn't work in real life.<i> Nowhere</i> makes coats that long. You could adapt this concept with a midget though. Very easily hidden under a maxi. You can pretty much get that midget in for free anywhere now. <i><b> </b></i></li>
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<b>You're welcome. </b><i><b><br /></b></i><br />
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Pretty much every maxi has those same great selling points, and that's before you even get to the individual dresses selling points that always grab me right by the eyeballs. Fabric, pattern, colour and extra detailing. Today's featured frock has a lot going for it in those stakes too.<br />
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Red is one of my favourite colours to accesorise with. What girl doesn't feel sexier wearing a great red lippie? Exactly. Now I suggest you start with that and just keep going. Red is a great contrast to pretty much every other colour, and I must say I abuse the crap out of this. Nothing wrong with being a serial colour combo'ist. (Although I do suspect there<i> may</i> be something wrong with using the word combo'ist.)<br />
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This maxi is in a firey shade tomato red with an overlying paisley in shades of black and charcoal. (see what I did there? Fire? Charcoal? I did stop short of using "burned out", but totally defeated my restraint by just telling you about it.) The fabric is just how I like my friends. Bright and ridiculous. This frocks additional features include some tiny faux button detailing down the front, a tie at the back to really add shape and the cutest double layer of arm frills EVER. <br />
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I am now freshly excited about long dresses- and it's just in time for FROCKTOBER!<br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-38743659518128655562013-07-11T23:37:00.000+12:002013-07-11T23:37:19.533+12:00Mexi Can Can (Yes I Can Can)(Before you read any further I have a recommended soundtrack for the full aural experience of this post. It can be located <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3u4gOc72BE">here</a>. I don't care if you choose to listen or not, I just think you should have the choice... )<br />
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One of my more commonly used phrases seems to have become "If you are going to do something- you may as well do it properly". It really is a great all purpose philosophy and I catch myself applying this to numerous situations on a daily basis. In the context of outfit creation it means total commitment. None of this hesitant dipping one toe in the water. Oh no. Pick a theme/ colour/ obscure inspiration and run with it. As far as you can. I've fine tuned my own sense of when I think I'm over doing it by intentionally taking it way too far and then working my way backwards . Over co-ordinate on purpose and then stripping it back slowly is a great way to find the right balance, and definitely the most fun. I do try to toe the line and stop right before an outfit gets too obvious, cliche or ridiculous- but let's face it. Even my conservatively dressed days are bound to be deemed pretty weird by more conventional standards. <br />
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I do like dressing with a theme in mind. I like a goal and I like the challenge of finding the perfect combination of items to interpret my concept through. I know that the time and effort I invest is likely to be lost on most people as I realise that 99% of the population just don't care. But that's ok. I also know that it is totally worth it for the rare times I come across one of the 1% that get it. There may not be many of them out there- but the ones that understand REALLY understand. I don't like to think I'm the sort of person that needs my fashion choices validated- but I do get quite the kick when someone picks up on the finer details. (without me having to point them out anyway.) It's not the same when you have to explain the levels of nerdy matching theme continuance to someone. Seriously. If I have to explain it to you, it kinda takes away all of the "clever" out of it. I have a scarf that is a perfect example of this in fact. The pattern on it is knitted bacon and eggs- and it was the very first thing I noticed about it. I swear I have worn that damned thing at least 50 times and not one single person has noticed it's breakfasty goodness. Sigh. <br />
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Sometimes the theme develops organically while other times it's conscious and predetermined by a single item. Like when you find a super rad brightly coloured Mexican circle skirt from the 50's. When a theme is that awesome why wouldn't you run with a it? An off the shoulder white top not only fits with the theme- but is also subdued enough that it lets the skirt do all the talking. A red flower in my hair is pretty standard most days- but this outfit could also work with yellow. Actually you know what would be perfect? A green cactus clip.<br />
(Note to self- make that happen....)<br />
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The dark navy of the fabric perfectly sets off the bright yellows, greens, reds and whites against it. Bold contrasting colours are always a winner in my opinion- and something about the striped detailing is particularly pleasing to the eye too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfuwMK9txXXZrxggYlwZRCqn9oLxwzZaq96g6FEyfbIh3EdZB9S9IJ8VUY-1lu0u8m2ZdgW-CW9M77Po5czYukRE9Cy6UafLISWFzNBjbIi0_1Cv1hov-jF2EhQCTR8mxJfOWl9eFcLo/s1600/Mexicancan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfuwMK9txXXZrxggYlwZRCqn9oLxwzZaq96g6FEyfbIh3EdZB9S9IJ8VUY-1lu0u8m2ZdgW-CW9M77Po5czYukRE9Cy6UafLISWFzNBjbIi0_1Cv1hov-jF2EhQCTR8mxJfOWl9eFcLo/s320/Mexicancan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I feel like I have given the right amount of attention to detail to stay on the right side of MexiCAN before it slides into Mexican't or even the wrong end of Mexicarnage.. (I stopped short of a sombrero, fake moustache, poncho, Freida unibrow and burrito but all these went through my mind I can assure you) The only other addition I would consider is a bottle of corona in my hand and some more of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3u4gOc72BE">THIS </a>in my ear holes.<br />
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I made it through this whole post without incorporating any great Mexican puns.. not a single Juan!Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-42150219128397221762013-05-27T23:08:00.001+12:002013-05-29T11:57:53.642+12:00Chambray ya say...If you are a regular reader, you may well have noticed I haven't been here for a wee while now. Quite some time in fact. While I have a couple of pretty good reasons why blogging has been put on my back burner for the last few months, it would take far too long to explain it here. Besides. It all has very little to do with clothes so not much point putting it out in this context anyway. Let's just assume you are all thinking "Oh you're back" and leave it at that. Right then. Now that's out of the way let's carry on with the frocking show!<br />
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I'm still not 100% sure how I feel about 50's reproduction clothes that came out of the 80's. When they got it right- the garments can be nothing short of amazing. When they didn't, they <i><b>really</b> </i>didn't. Maybe it's safer to just keep judging on an outfit by outfit basis, so today I'm talking about one that totally made the cut. <br />
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Pale blue chambray isn't often my first choice when it comes to picking an outfit. For me it conjures up images of <a href="http://img0.etsystatic.com/000/1/6738016/il_fullxfull.345420916.jpg">Billy Ray Cyrus</a> (back before he was more famous for being Miley/Hannah Montana's Dad) and phrases like "<a href="http://hellogiggles.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/04/Britney-Spears-Justin-Timberlake-Red-Carpet.jpeg">Canadian Tuxedo</a>". It's a hard mindset to break, but this could be the kind of dress that could do it. The added bonus of being the pale blue denimy colour it is, makes it very easy to accessorise with. There are many other variations available in my stash of belts, shoes, petticoats and hair accessories, but a classic red was the ultimate winner for the photo's you now should see before you.<br />
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While we're on the subject let's talk shoes. Red, spotty
& wedge(y). What's not to love! I managed to get a lot a great deal of wear out
of these babies over the Summer months. They are a very easy shoe to work into
other outfits too so rest assured they will be featured here in a few more
posts to back this up. <br />
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(There really needs to be a close up photo HERE of said shoes. Will update this post to reflect such a thing as soon as I can get a decent pic of them. Taking photos of your own feet is harder than it looks ok! Go try it. Feel free to let me know any tips if you can manage it better than I do...)<br />
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The style of this dress has a subtle undertone of "Nautical" too with it's wide
neck line and row of tiny buttons down the bodice. The back also has quite a wide and sweeping shape from shoulder to shoudler. The V shape just
below the waist line is a cool detail, and the skirt has more than enough circle to it to rock a decent crinoline underneath it. The fabric is light to wear and falls really nicely, so overall I think I need to be wearing this dress a lot more often. In fact while typing this post I have just completely resold the whole concept of this outfit to myself. Let's hope Auckland's erratic weather gives me a window of opportunity to get reacquainted properly soon....<br />
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Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-65007910747701677992013-01-15T23:53:00.000+13:002013-01-15T23:53:11.129+13:00Madame ButterflyI have recently been reintroduced to the amazing-ness that is Saturday morning "Garage Saling". It's a pretty great way to start your weekend if you can commit to the early start. Coffee in one hand and a list of addresses in the other. Getting to rummage through piles of unwanted trinkets, knick knacks and having that moment where you realise you've found a true treasure in amongst the junk. I've managed to accumulate all kinds of unexpected gems this way but I am always extra stoked when I come across great clothing. You couldn't ever <i>count</i> on finding an incredible vintage gown but sometimes you are lucky enough that one finds you. <br />
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Friends of ours were moving to New York and were having an early morning "everything must go" sale at their place. It was a nice mix of BBQ breakfast, social beers, a chance for people to stop in to say their goodbyes, and lots of well organised (but extremely varied) items that weren't going to be travelling with them. I did manage to convince myself that we were paying more of the social visit than looking to buy stuff off them. My best intentions dissolved within 5 minutes of arriving and soon I had committed to helping the cause by taking a set of shelves, a set of vintage postcards and an oil heater. I was about to head back to the BBQ in the courtyard when my eye was caught by something beautiful floating on the back of the lounge door. There hanging up in front of me was the most incredible 70's gown in shades of marigold, deep browns and reds. It was one of those actual jaw dropping moments that stopped me in my tracks for a moment while I registered just how amazing this dress was. It actually took my breath away in those first few seconds and I knew that this dress was something really special.<br />
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After checking that it wasn't out with the rest of the items up for grabs as a mistake I found out as much as I could about its history. It was bought originally for a fancy dress party. It had made it out a few more times since- but only ever in a dress up context. It had been very well received in all of its wearings and while my friend was sad to be giving it up- it just hadn't been worn enough to make the cut of the clothes going to New York. With it's fitted bodice, floating full skirt and long winged arms it was indeed a work of art- but a hard one to get into a regular wearing rotation.<br />
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The warm colours and the floral pattern are indicative of its 70's creation and with it's long pointed sleeve/ wings it manages to be elegant without being too hippy. I love that the colour evolves from the bright marigold flowers of the main dress into the contrasting red, browns and black while keeping the same big bold flower pattern throughout. It works well and even though there are a few key points of difference in the cut of the dress itself- the fabric makes the most of being bright without diminishing or overpowering the gown as a whole. <br />
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I put it on as soon as I got it home and immediately felt like a princess. Or maybe a butterfly. Whatever the label. It was graceful and delicate anyway. These words aren't often ones that are paired with me (ever!) so it did actually feel like there was a kind transformation when I put it on. I was enjoying gliding all around the house and watching the fabric float all around me when my default unco setting burst the bubble. I had managed to get one of my "wings" caught on the banister at the top of our stairs. With so much fabric to get caught there hadn't been any obvious tension in my sleeves to stop me moving. Sadly I kept going and the banister ensured that the dress didn't keep moving with me. The sound of that fabric ripping felt like a lead weight in my stomach. Luckily for me it was a relatively small and very fixable rip- but a timely reminder that even in a chiffon winged gown I'm still not going to be able to pull off "graceful" for more than a few minutes. <br />
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To reduce the risk of another rip I have been admiring it from the stationary safety of the mannequin in the wardroom. I may not have found many places I can wear this frock yet, but at least I can appreciate it as a work of art in the meantime...Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-36479143138445677812012-12-27T08:18:00.000+13:002012-12-27T08:18:54.904+13:00Silver Rouched Ridiculousness<br />
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So another Christmas has come and gone. Turns out the end of the world didn't happen- and we are screeching towards the final days of 2012. There is a very high chance I said this last year but it feels like I actually blinked and missed much the last 12 months. <br />
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Yes. We are almost completely past the festive season now and I suspect many of you experienced an increase in overeating and hangovers because of it. I am very fond of this time of year (for many reasons) but thank god it only lasts a couple of weeks. I can get as festive as the next girl but there is a lot to be said for pacing yourself these days. I'm getting too old to be able to live through the hangovers. Its a sad fact- but its totally true. Long gone are the December's of my twenties where I could celebrate many consecutive nights with a glass of bubbly or 3 and be fine the next day. These days there needs to be a lot more glasses of water in between drinks- and sober nights in between the festive ones. If you are reading this and lucky enough to be still enjoying your 20's- for god sake make the most of your stamina while you can. It will disappear just when you think you are untouchable and it sure sucks when you realise how good you had it in the sobering light of your mid thirties. It's always nice knowing how good you have it before you lose it. Sorry. I will end my finger waggling old lady rant here.<br />
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One of the Christmas traditions I have picked up in the last few years is playing with Masters of Metal in their annual Christmas Extravaganza. What better way to celebrate the silly season than to don a mullet wig and rock out to some sweet 80's glam rock? Seems like the right thing to do to me.<br />
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As previous posts have shown I've had a few years to put together a couple of different themed MOM ensembles now- but there is one slight problem I have encountered. Once you wear an outfit as a piss taking 80's glam rock costume- it sure is hard to break away from that vibe and wear it with any credibility later. Such outfits get pigeonholed this way and it makes utilising these rare opportunities for further wearing much harder. Basically once a dress is a MOM dress- it's likely to only ever be a MOM dress. I'm more than happy to commit to a sweet outfit for his band- but when I only get to play with them once- or twice a year tops it can be a little sad too.<br />
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That brings us to the topic of today's post in fact. Now to be fair- I did buy this frock specifically for Masters of Metal. At first that is. It's definitely one of those dresses that just has so much going on all at once that at first it seems... well. Ridiculous. Rouching. Metallic. Cowl neck. Lace insert. It's more than your average garment would attempt to pull off- but somehow it works. Even weirder is that the longer you look at it the more credible it slowly starts to seem. So much in fact that I kinda want to wear it outside of an 80's glam rock theme to see if it can hold it's own. I am all for pushing the boundaries of your average dress code if I have something I really want to wear- but a dress like this needs a semblance of occasion I feel. Even I know that it isn't <i>really</i> a Saturday morning cafe brunch frock- or a pop down to the supermarket outfit. I do sincerely hope that I stumble across the right time to bust it out on an unsuspecting public without over thinking it too much more than I already have. I'm hoping that in a burst of epiphany- I will just know when it's time is right. <br />
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At the bargain price of $20 (trademe of course!) I'm sure I have already got my monies worth really. In fact- I even bought another one that is almost identical as I'm that convinced that someone else I know needs one in their lives at some stage! I really should stop doing that I know- but if something can bring me that much happiness I feel obligated to help another one find someone else that will feel the same way.... I know. I have a problem- but I get almost as much joy out of watching someone else fall in love with a piece I have sourced as I do falling in love with a piece myself. You just know when someone truly appreciates a garment in the way it deserves and it sure warms the heart. I have had many a vintage clothing store owner comment on seeing that same spark in me and we end up just feeding off each others excitement. I know that the doppelganger of this one will end up in good hands eventually and I'm looking forward to being the catalyst for the happiness it will bring the right person. But with that long winded tangent I digress...<br />
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In my attempts to break free of the context I have forced upon it in previous wearings- I'm not even going to post pics of it being worn in all of its glam rock glory. I'm hoping that once I take away the white ruffled stiletto boots, the lace fingerless gloves, the teased hair/ridiculous wig and the multitude of chains and bracelets it may paint a very different picture. I may have typecast it myself but I'm hoping it's not too late to try a new context and set a very different precedent. I'm also hoping that the photo's will help me to see it's full potential outside of a dress up theme. If not- at least I got to wear it with credibility just once even if it was only for these photo's!<br />
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One more and final noteworthy point is that other than that depicted in these pics- every other time I have worn this dress I have worn it backwards. I don't know what it is about the style but I seem to feel more comfortable with the cowl neck at the front and the lace insert at the back. I think it stems from a vaguely constricting feeling I get with anything that is too snugly fitting around my neck. I always mean to wear it in the way it was designed but change my mind at the last minute. Kinda weird really that I took pictures the way I've never actually worn it now that I think about it- but maybe it was my brains subconscious way of giving it that new context I was talking about. Lets assume I had a flash of secret prophecy in fact and just run with that shall we? <br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-6455362380306043402012-11-15T13:19:00.001+13:002012-11-15T13:35:26.209+13:00Red Knitted Piano Jumper<!--[if !mso]>
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<br />
I don't know if it's because I was a true 80's child that I have such
nostalgia for these years. I was there for all of them for a start and spent a
lot of my formative school age years deep inside them. Seriously though.
What a great time to grow up. We had glimpses of the mod cons that technology
would be bringing us but there was still a simplicity. A wholesomeness to life
back then. Kids toys were <a href="http://nj1015.com/top-20-totally-awesome-toys-from-the-80s/">pretty epic</a>
but we still wanted to play outside. Television shows were off the chart and
with only 2 channels in NZ until 1990- TVNZ had a pretty captive audience.
Weekends were book ended by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-krFPf3ReM">"What
Now"</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhGdw7sjoDs">"RTR
Countdown</a>" or an endless stream of Sunday night Disney Family movies.
(depending on your bedtime of course....) Kiwi cuisine was for the most part
still pretty bland but thanks to microwaves at least it was fast. The times
they were a changin' but little did we know the cultural cusp we were existing
on. Of everything the 80's touched - not many things evolved and expanded
quite the same way that music and fashion did. Both became brave and
experimental in both inspiration and execution while also giving us so many
more choices and options. For a small country with 2 television stations and
only a handful of high end family run department stores; this was a huge
turning point.<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvXHgCbV3qmk4IeIodgo-fclBNbpI04QA2XH3DVAGLD2JTFTteNQCtZ4iRcyagt1m53AN6eCpRycItgXe10cZ6cWojCL2pWlhj2LbHnSluoVpmxGcg6ut0zcCmHjRRmcX5fztGdvjg-0/s1600/Red+Piano2.jpg"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"></span></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvXHgCbV3qmk4IeIodgo-fclBNbpI04QA2XH3DVAGLD2JTFTteNQCtZ4iRcyagt1m53AN6eCpRycItgXe10cZ6cWojCL2pWlhj2LbHnSluoVpmxGcg6ut0zcCmHjRRmcX5fztGdvjg-0/s1600/Red+Piano2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvXHgCbV3qmk4IeIodgo-fclBNbpI04QA2XH3DVAGLD2JTFTteNQCtZ4iRcyagt1m53AN6eCpRycItgXe10cZ6cWojCL2pWlhj2LbHnSluoVpmxGcg6ut0zcCmHjRRmcX5fztGdvjg-0/s320/Red+Piano2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Before I slip into the ramblings of a mad woman writing about 80's music
I will get back on track. From here on in I will try to just give you the
ramblings of a mad woman writing about 80's fashion or more specifically
knitwear.<br />
<i></i> <br />
<br />
The later half of the 80's (from where I was at least) heavily featured
bright and chunky knits. Much of it was over sized. Even more of it was
variations of a template using neon colours, geometric shapes, different
textures and squiggles. There were squiggles everywhere. There is a very real
chance that my view of knitwear during these years is based predominantly on my
own wardrobe at the time but years of op shop rummaging seems to back me up.
Knitwear was heavily patterned and multi coloured whatever the palette of
choice. There was (is?) something for everyone who wanted to dabble and support
our national wool industry. Woolrest was even the prime sponsor of the 1983
Miss World Competition that shot our own <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2_GhN8ROXQ">Lorraine Downs</a> straight
to the dizzying international and highly coveted "Miss Universe"
title. Wool was breaking away from it's daggy (ha) reputation and we were happy
to jump aboard and see where this thing would take us.<br />
<br />
<i>I just need to quickly apologise for the "dag" pun but the one
incorporating "following like sheep" was much worse.</i><br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlZiehlYoHiMxTTBNKVesyc3JbCqo5nZ7X8goyqvV21cGungNbyRa759si3gilVkshOfmytr20OcquiFj5458J02JwU28lWo0FgaZ5QxTJPtU9LcduPT_y4gp0v3hZu_-o-r7yTWt3ac/s1600/Red+Piano.jpg"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-ignore: vglayout;"></span></span></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlZiehlYoHiMxTTBNKVesyc3JbCqo5nZ7X8goyqvV21cGungNbyRa759si3gilVkshOfmytr20OcquiFj5458J02JwU28lWo0FgaZ5QxTJPtU9LcduPT_y4gp0v3hZu_-o-r7yTWt3ac/s1600/Red+Piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjlZiehlYoHiMxTTBNKVesyc3JbCqo5nZ7X8goyqvV21cGungNbyRa759si3gilVkshOfmytr20OcquiFj5458J02JwU28lWo0FgaZ5QxTJPtU9LcduPT_y4gp0v3hZu_-o-r7yTWt3ac/s320/Red+Piano.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
Somewhere in between the first industrial knitting machine made for personal
home use and the niche carved out by infamous figure <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bain">David Bain</a> and his garments
of choice lies today's subject. It wasn't knitted for me personally but god
knows I had 2 Grandmothers that would have been more than capable of making
this happen if only I had thought to ask. Whoever was the original recipient
was I just hope they loved it the way it deserves to be appreciated. In saying that
there is a certain comedic quality to imagining a punk or goth 14 year old
boy being given this for Christmas from an elderly relative. I just hope
he waited till she wasn't watching before he rolling his eyes or going
into involuntary facial twitches when he realises he not only has to try it on
for her but people have <b>cameras.</b> Whether it harked from a happy place of
intentional design for it's original wearer or a teenage boys darkest
nightmares his friends see him wearing it in the family Christmas photo's. It
sure is in a loving home now.<br />
<br />
I stumbled across it on trademe. I <i>may</i> have typed piano as a search
word in the clothing section. It sure seems like something I would do after
all- but I seem to recall this one may have found me in a much vaguer category
in a general browse. I could go into some deeper philosophical thoughts about
fate versus luck when it comes to finding clothes. I could also go into
ridiculous detail about the difference between me finding that special
something and that special something finding me and how I differentiate the 2
but I won't. You will just need to trust my gut feeling on this one. Even if I
hadn't found the trademe listing myself there is a very real chance that
someone else would have pointed me in it's direction. Piano keys are a pretty
obvious thing to be related back to me so I have a pretty sweet collection of
keyboard themed accessories gifted over the years. (scarves, belts, rings,
bracelets, tights, headbands... the list goes on) I will confess there is an
inclination to throw myself into this P.O.F completely and wear them all
together but I won't. Even I have a line I don't cross and I'm pretty sure a
head to toe piano key outfit is falling on the wrong side of it. I will save
that one for when I am closer to 60 and can use my well earned elderly
eccentricity as an excuse to really go to town on it. Seriously. The outfits of
my golden years are already being thought about....<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9Ub2ieOmognls-efiHYH70mzdBYEgZtfSPmXUhOHxeT74i69WOVcsUPtEHS9iwr5Tej2jjKO_Bg3U_7_mGy-RqF_CPCBSV9TJT3355EvVvgwyszLW-0bjIifJbOSxFcw7dEHxU49dU0/s1600/Red+Piano3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9Ub2ieOmognls-efiHYH70mzdBYEgZtfSPmXUhOHxeT74i69WOVcsUPtEHS9iwr5Tej2jjKO_Bg3U_7_mGy-RqF_CPCBSV9TJT3355EvVvgwyszLW-0bjIifJbOSxFcw7dEHxU49dU0/s320/Red+Piano3.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />
The red is bright and tomatoey. It goes with my current favourite red lippie
and I have many options for co-ordinating around it in while being subtle yet
deliberate. A closer look at the stitches in the keys suggests that it was
machine knitted but still not mass produced. I have matched it with red
boots that are maybe knocking on the door of a little<i> too </i>matchy but a
pair of classic black chuck taylor hightops would finish the outfit off
perfectly too. Not only would they tone it down a notch while not having to
give up on my obsession for matching colours- they would work well with the
tights in the pictures, darker shiny lycra leggings or jeans. <br />
<br />
I love this jumper. I really do. The only thing I would change about it is
it's size. When I bought it is was clearly listed a woman's size 10. It was
photographed flat on the floor and I imagined it would be much smaller than it
turned out to be. You will see in the photo's that wearing it as a dress isn't
too much of a stretch for me but turns out it also fits my lovely man who is
much MUCH bigger than me. What started as a joke in him trying it on for shits
and giggles quickly escalated into it going to work with him as an ironic
participation in a loud shirt day. Essentially he used my awesome new jumper as
a novelty dress up joke. (The joke hinging around the fact he is the last
person you would ever see joining in on an office dress up theme.) It was even
briefly passed on and worn by another friend of ours in his office- although I
know he was wearing less ironically being a man of loud persona and
many musical talents. The most impressive part being that standing at close to
6 foot 7 the jumper still fits him perfectly. This knitted piece of
incredibleness is many many things but a woman's size 10 it is not.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVSWYsr0MInviBWT8eQUE0asExvHKXiSCEjLlLtKWqkv_Cz3_YnB7Nd6O_4GMvXu6HO3VLECfj9dxaDaMExWcDRW9QlAzwHvwj8-GgV6QxQJaiStZXiiiHzYusdhs4wJcaIAMT4yeO6U/s1600/461122_10152121110270608_352742553_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVSWYsr0MInviBWT8eQUE0asExvHKXiSCEjLlLtKWqkv_Cz3_YnB7Nd6O_4GMvXu6HO3VLECfj9dxaDaMExWcDRW9QlAzwHvwj8-GgV6QxQJaiStZXiiiHzYusdhs4wJcaIAMT4yeO6U/s320/461122_10152121110270608_352742553_o.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
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<br />
To give you a sense of scale- if I was standing next to Carl in this photo I
would be lucky to come up to the bottom of the black keys on the sleeves. I
should also point out I haven't asked permission to use his photo showing how
well he rocks this jumper. It sure isn't a choice for the faint hearted
and he carries it off in a way that not many others could. He should be proud.
Hell if I didn't love the damned thing so much myself I would be tempted to
give it him.<br />
<br />
Carl- if you ever read this I promise you can borrow it anytime you want. I
will even throw in the matching glasses you are modelling to complete the
ensemble. You are welcome. Or I'm sorry. Whichever is more appropriate at this
juncture....<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-85234481883880042642012-10-25T12:24:00.003+13:002012-11-06T17:59:23.660+13:00Let The Sunshine InNot being the type to shy away from bright colours and bold patterns I am somewhat used to people commenting on my use of them. This year in particular I have found more strangers than ever before approaching me in the street, office, cafes to let me know that they are picking up what I am putting down. While I don't need the reassurance of strangers as such, it is still nice to know that someone appreciates what I am doing enough to tell me. Apart from one lady who yelled at me out of her car before chasing me down the street and cornering me in a shop. It took away from the compliment itself and left the whole situation quite firmly in the "creepy" zone. The intense look in her eyes combined with the sense that she was the stereotypical type of woman to own 30 cats sure added to the experience. I think the part that scared me the most was knowing that there is a very real possibility that I will be the same when I get to her age. Maybe if I am brutally honest it could be closer to my outright destiny. I will almost surely be terrifying younger women by chasing them down streets to talk about their clothes when I am old enough to be classed as properly eccentric. I may have a bit more room yet to grow into this impending phase of my life but truth be told it probably isn't even that far away.....<br />
<br />
But I digress. <br />
<br />
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<br />
Todays featured outfit certainly isn't one that blends into the background by any stretch. I have been using it to force my own sunshine into Auckland's grey days this Winter and it sure has freaked people out with it's migraine inducing brightness. People just cannot help but comment. Most of these are based around "Gosh that's a bright dress" (which can portray admiration or terror depending on the tone) or a variation of "You are your own little ray of Summer". (usually from the older end of the age spectrum). Whatever the comment. Whatever the intent behind it. I am well aware that there is a degree of "balls" required to wear this dress with the confidence it deserves- and on the right day I'm pretty sure I can.<br />
<br />
As is often the case the dress found me. I had left the house to get a key cut in St Kevins Arcade and this little number was part of the window display in K Rd's infamous "Vixen". It had me transfixed instantly but I managed to break free of the spell and carried on my errands. It's one thing to walk away from a moment like this. It is something completely different when it comes to obsessing over it afterwards. Once that initial "I love it" seed is planted in my head it can be very difficult to move on. In this instance I recognised early that it was already quite far under my skin and could prove to be very distracting. Instead of letting it dominate my thoughts over the next few weeks I went back an hour later to try it on. I had to be prepared for the outcome either way. If it fit me I was ready to commit to the purchase. If it didn't, at least I could stop dwelling on it and move on. Either way it was the first step to breaking the spell I was under and getting control of my own thoughts again.<br />
<br />
<i> (I feel like I need to acknowledge those last few sentence. Yes. This is an accurate depiction of how such things play out in my head. I realise that not many people obsess over such things the way I do but then not many people have an entire room full of clothes boasting a similar history either. Instead of being vaguely embarrassed of myself when I catch myself deep in the "over thinking" zone I now choose to look at is as "deliberate and well thought out". </i><i>At this point in my life I am not just comfortable with my passion being much closer to an obsession. I am outright embracing it.</i><i> )</i><br />
<br />
I did feel a little bad at making Mikey behind the counter take apart his window display for me to try it on- but only for a split second. As soon as I had it over my head it just felt right. I was already sold but if I needed another sign to push my decision it was the reaction I got when I stepped out of the fitting room. The reaction of an audible gasp followed up with a "You cannot leave here without that dress" was made all the better by the fact that it came from a complete stranger who was just browsing in the store. Someone who had no way to benefit from giving me an empty compliment. There was no turning back. It was definitely coming home with me.<br />
<br />
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The style of the dress itself has elements of a few different era's. It has the full pleated circle skirt of the 50's while still managing to convey the 70's with it's exaggerated collar and extreme polyester fabric. Not a common mix of decades influence but one that works quite well in this instance. <br />
<br />
Yellow may not come across as particularly neutral but block colours in frocks can prove to be very versatile. There are many options in the colour palette to compliment and set it off when picking accessories and shoes- but some certainly work better than others. Red with yellow can feel very "McDonald's". Green with yellow can feel a bit like "Australian sports team". It didn't take me long to realise that pairing it with a deep cobalt blue was the best way to get the most out of both colours with the perfect balance of neither toning it down too far or over intensifying an already bold base. I had the basic concept ready but wanted to give this outfit a special occasion in which to unveil it in. As luck would have it there was a friends 40th a few weeks later so I decided to wait till then to bust it out officially. The ensemble was mapped out and complete. I didn't need anything else to realise the vision. Or so I thought....<br />
<br />
A week or so later I walked past the window of Vixen again on my way to our local bar. Not only was my eye just caught by the window display it stopped me in my tracks completely. I literally ground to such a halt that my long suffering man (whose hand I was holding at the time) came close to girlfriend induced whiplash. I could feel myself being physically pulled in closer to the window in the same way that cartoon characters float on the smell of a hot baked pie. There in front of me was the most perfect pair of statement shoes to compliment my dress. I don't think I ever could have imagined them better. Yellow vintage pumps from the 70's with a splash of cobalt blue detailing and a smattering of black polka dots. The shop was closed so I took a photo on my phone. I spent the entire next day not just thinking about them but actually dribbling over the picture. Needless to say I ran back there as soon as I could to try them on and they fit. They were now forever cemented as the perfect finishing touch to an ensemble I was already very excited about.<br />
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<br />
When you put the shoes directly next to the dress there is a subtle but noticeable difference in shades of yellow. The shoes have a warm orange undertone while the dress is definitely has more of a cooler lemon shining through. As I am almost guaranteed to be not just the only person to notice, but the only person to care I can let this minor fact go. The block colour of the dress is offset by the blue leopard cardi to give it some texture (a plain blue cardi was just too flat) and the black tights pick up the black in the pattern while providing the contrast to make both the yellow pop and to further tie the blue in. The shoes work like a dream to pull the entire context together and work just the right amount of each colour to give it balance. Plain yellow, blue or even stock standard black shoes just aren't enough. It isn't just that these shoes match the palette I have chosen here. They actually lift everything to the next level. They give an impression of everything else being carefully chosen to work with all of their elements rather than the complete opposite.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am yet to even try to get these shoes into another outfit or consider
replacing them in this one. Even if this frock and shoes only ever get
worn with each other I am still happy. What they may eventually lack in
versatility they certainly make up for it by complimenting each other so
well. Like Bert goes with Ernie or Lucy goes with Desi. Pretty cool on
their own but the dynamic they create together is undeniable. At some
point I may well stumble on different wearing options for both pieces
but I also get the feeling that I have already tapped into some weird
next level clothing nerd chemistry and one that could not be topped. It
doesn't often get better than this. I have plenty of other items and
ensembles that I can put my energies into fine tuning and testing new
ideas. This one is perfect already.<br />
<br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-55892791516282177022012-10-23T21:19:00.000+13:002012-10-23T21:19:57.767+13:00Masters of Metal Halloween <br />
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I always look forward to playing with Masters of Metal. Not only do I get to rock out to some sweet 80's glam rock tunes but this time I got to do it as a Glam Rock 80's Bogan Skank Zombie! <br />
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On the weekend we played one of the Armageddon after parties. (for those not in NZ it's like a much smaller comicon.) It made for a very surreal afternoon. We had to pack our gear in through the rain into a foyer full of wet nerds. We got to watch a Dragonball Z screaming competition while we waited to get to the stage. I saw one of the actual <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=axa&sa=X&pwst=1&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&biw=1280&bih=683&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=OCM1bXQSwmW6OM:&imgrefurl=http://www.ugo.com/sports/battering-ram&docid=_3GjZlWA7Unl3M&imgurl=http://mimg.ugo.com/201101/5/3/2/171235/cuts/18batteringram_480x480.jpg&w=480&h=480&ei=blKGUIX9OOaiigfe2YHQDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1014&vpy=326&dur=2546&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=175&ty=175&sig=109115348754922965024&page=1&tbnh=140&tbnw=140&start=0&ndsp=26&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:0,i:122">Bush Whackers</a>. And after all of that we got to rock out at the Logan Campbell Centre playing to a crowd that included a viking, a banana, lots of skeletons and a lobster. It all made for one incredibly surreal day!<br />
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Until the afternoon of the gig I wasn't sure exactly what I was going to wear. While I had the back up outfits of shows gone by- I wanted to push the theme a little further this time. I started with this sweet green wig I originally bought for the last years Christmas show. I figured that it encompassed the Halloween theme of the party while also tying in the metal bogan-ness I wanted to capture.<br />
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Lycra shiny leggings seemed like a good idea too and it all fell into place when I added the faux snakeskin corset front tank top. Yes. This was already in my wardroom. Stop judging me.<br />
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Accessorising is always fun when you get to ignore the usual rule of less is more. Bangles, white lace fingerless gloves, pearls, studded belts (one with piano keys), green Spar Kill necklace and green eyeball heels and I was good to go. Gosh that's a lot going on in one outfit....<br />
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I am very tempted to bust this same ensemble out at our annual Christmas show. I imagine that this particular outfit won't be getting much wear time otherwise!Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-18246718939577550042012-09-18T03:46:00.001+12:002012-09-18T03:46:22.057+12:00A Classic In Green Leather"Classic" is not a word I throw around lightly. Especially when talking about clothes. To me the word conjures images of Audrey Hepburn in a <a href="http://pinkpapillon.typepad.com/.a/6a01157065f1f6970b011570b7c45e970b-800wi">little black dress,</a> Jackie O in a <a href="http://rodeo.net/agnes-b/files/2011/04/katie-holmes-jackie-o-chanel-08202010-02-430x590.jpg">Chanel suit,</a> and I only have to <i>mention</i> Marilyn Monroe to know that you are already picturing her in the same iconic dress that I'm thinking about. These women made these pieces the timeless classics that they are today- but you don't need a celebrity of yesteryear wearing an outfit to prove it can stand the test of time. <br />
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The humble trench coat may have been given a bad rap over the years (thanks to a stereotypical image of a flasher and dodgy guys on street corners peddling fake rolex's) but it's simple cut and strong lines have kept it current through many decades. All of them in fact since it's inception in the 1850's. Thanks to Burberry, we have a coat that with a good fit will be flattering on anyone.<br />
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My version of this classic has a definite army feel. I don't know if it's the leather (soft and buttery) or the shade of green (dark and forresty) but I can't help but feel like some sort of glamorous war time spy when I'm wearing it.<br />
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While it is a very flattering cut, there certainly isn't a lot of room for weight variation. A few cheeseburgers could be all it takes to pull at the buttons and destroy the clean lines completely. There has been at least one Winter that I didn't think I was doing it justice so it stayed on the rack!<br />
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To roll with my idea of "war time glamour" I have played around with my scarf options for these pics. I am more likely to wear one around my neck in real life- but it sorta suits the head scarf version too. Doncha think? I also imagine it working with an unconvincing french accent. You know the one.<br />
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"I shall say zis only waaance...."<br />
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I honestly don't know why, but a fake moustache just felt like the right
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Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-69872986737091001452012-08-28T15:59:00.000+12:002012-08-28T16:00:34.621+12:00Green and Yellow Tulips<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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I do love splashing colour around on a cold day. I know that I have already touched on this subject a BUNCH of times now- but why oh why do New Zealand women insist on wearing such dark colours in Winter? After a quick "previous post" check I can see I touched on this just a few posts ago. So I will save you my drawn out diatribe on it again. This time. This dress is a timely reminder for me of how well other people can react to a stranger wearing bright colours when so many.... just don't.</div>
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It was a bout a month or so back now. My lovely man and myself decided that we would get up early on a Sunday morning and go and make a day of it. Armed with coffee and cameras we went on a mission to get some good early morning sunrise shots out over Auckland harbour. It was a beautiful day. Crisp air with just enough sunshine to warm our bones. After our first stretch of adventures- we went to the Takapuna markets for a look around and to get some more coffee. </div>
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These markets are great and I would love to get over to them more often. It is a very eclectic mix of stalls full of plastic toys, fresh produce and flowers, faux designer sunglasses, home made crafts and the odd "garage sale" looking spot full of bric a brac and curio's. There really is a little bit of something for everyone.</div>
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I think my man must have seen the bargain crazed glint in my eye when I saw the possibilities of a good rummage- so made a plan to go have a coffee and read of the paper while I did so. I was more than happy to have a wander and meet him afterwards. Half the fun of markets like this is not knowing what you are looking for exactly, but knowing when you see it. I came out with a beautiful vintage crystal bowl, a cake stand, some freshly cut white proteas and an Ella Fitzgerald record. As I was on my own at this point I was more than happy to do a slow meander through the stalls checking out everyones wares. I swear that I have never had so many strangers come up to me in such a short space of time to tell me how much they liked my dress. It wasn't even just the little old ladies either. I managed to get a pretty good spread of people in the range. </div>
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This story finally ties in with the point of the post as the dress is question is the one I am writing about! (Insert B Grade horror stabbing organ music here while pulling a shocked face)<br />
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This dress hails from Smoove on Little High St. I have a pretty good track record of loving the dresses I have bought from there in the past- so I am happy to spend a little bit more on them than I would usually be prepared to on a frock. (Around $80.00 a dress but they do deals on 2 for $140.00). The day I bought it I accidentally (no.. really) caught them on a day they were having a 50% off sale. A smarter person may have relished in the money they saved on their purchase. I did not. I just bought 2 of them. And I regret NOTHING. <br />
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The tulips on the fabric are in gorgeous bright shades of marigold yellow and orange. This is nicely off set by the kelly and kermit greens of the leaves- and set against a black background for optimal effect. I haven't had this dress over the Summer months yet, but it has provided me much wearing mileage over Winter teamed with black tights and boots (or green heels) and a perfectly matching marigold yellow cardigan. <br />
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Thanks to the strangers that told me how lovely I looked that Sunday morning (*BLUSH*) I now have a very positive pairing associated with this outfit these days! Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-66101079984984229392012-08-27T11:39:00.001+12:002012-08-27T11:39:22.676+12:00Tropical Orange 70's<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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I may not know what the weather is doing where <i>you</i> are dear reader- but I can tell you that here in Auckland it's starting to feel very Spring-y. We had that first really sunshiney day that pops up at the end of a dreary and wet Winter earlier this week and suddenly there is a better mood all over the city. The office workers were out in force exercising in Victoria Park and I was there too. I wasn't so much exercising as appreciating their energy from a safer distance. (Basically translated as sitting on my arse in the grass with a sandwich and juice) I was enjoying the first signs of warmer weather in my own way however. I took my cardi off to give my bare arms some sun time- and I ate my first strawberries of the season too. They were delicious. Thanks for asking. <br />
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With the warmer weather coming so does the increased outfit options coming up with the seasonal rotation in the wardroom. I will always be a sucker for a good "out of season" bargain so there is often a stash of new things ready to be tested out once the seasons start to change over. I am quite skilled in squirreling things away so now I get to rediscover Summer frocks that found me on rainier days. It is always an exciting time I can assure you.!</div>
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This particular 70's maxi was another trademe find. When I originally purchased it I swear it was a red dress. To this day I do not know if it was my poor old eyes starting to fail- or the resolution of the computer I was sitting at. Either way it matters little. Turns out I like this dress even more as an orange frock anyway. <br />
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I know I have said it before- but there is something about migraine inducing bright colours on a polyester fabric that just get me every time. This particular maxi certainly has some notes of Hawaii coming through too, So much in fact I wore it to a luau party we had recently. Next time I will be mindful of having a tropical themed dress up party in the middle of August. It was a good idea in theory- but the older I get the more I find myself being genuinely concerned about people being cold. It is usually in the context of my inner monologue and often comes with a mental finger waggle. You know the type. The "I bet your mother doesn't know you're out in public dressed like that young lady. You will catch your death of cold" kind of a deal. Anyway. I digress.</div>
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I have teamed this bright orange piece with yellow heels and matching hair flower for this picture but it also lends itself nicely to a pair of <a href="http://www.frockstar.co.nz/2009/11/this-is-what-i-would-wear-if-i-was.html">orange cork platforms</a> I have kicking around too. With the fabric showing tones of green, yellow, and white- it gives me a few colour options to play around with when it comes to my footwear and hair accessories anyway.</div>
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Wearing a yellow lei seems to give the dress a certain somethin' somethin' too. Pictured above standing in front of our party art installation. <strong><em>"Stair Lei To Heaven".</em></strong> Seriously. Don't ask....<br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-4904769246208865672012-08-01T16:10:00.000+12:002012-08-01T16:10:14.194+12:00Circus Striped Blouse<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
It's nearing the end of a cold and wet Winter in my hometown. Every Winter I find I get an abundance of strangers approaching me in the street to comment on how nice it is to see someone dressed in bright colours. I don't know why so many women play it safe (especially in the colder months) and stick with a colour palette consisting of black and shades of grey. Any other colours represented anywhere are still heavily in the "Winter Shades" which basically means dark and/or muted. (think forest greens, burgundy, dark purples....) Why oh why don't more people feel comfortable in bright colours in Winter? I don;t know if it is just me- but I always feel so much better injecting some artifical sunshine into my day through my outfit. Enough people comment on it on a regular basis for me to think that just maybe I am injecting some into their days too. </div>
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But as usual- I digress. <br />
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As far as brightly coloured outfits go, this one isn't as out there as others that get walked out of the Wardroom. In the scheme of it this one is <em>almost </em>even bordering on tame. It is a nice mix of a "grown up office worker" ensemble while still injecting a healthy dose of my own personality into it. Not always an easy line to toe I can assure you. The office I work in sure has seen some interesting attempts in the past! (Thankfully they are used to me and my intepretation of corporate wear...)<br />
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Red is one of my favourite colours to highlight an outfit with. (Also good for those not used to injecting colour into their winter wardrobes as red is a great off set with blacks and greys..) Red shoes, red belt and red hair flower. I have an instant outfit whatever I choose to wear in between these key peices. It's <strong><em>so</em></strong> easy it actually makes me feel a little lazy that I'm not putting in more effort...</div>
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This outfit is a variation on that basic template. Red is an easy match with the bold colours in this striped shirt and I am especially fond of the (equally bright) royal blue and shades of purples. Its a nice way to be bright and still stay within a Wintery palette. </div>
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This shirt has a bit of a sheen to it. Not quite a satin- it is definitly part of an early 80's polyester at least. As if this blouse didn't already have enough going for it- throw in some puffed sleeves and we are away!</div>
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You may notice I have titled this post "Circus Striped Blouse". When it first arrived as a package sent to me at work (thanks again trademe!), I was keen to show it off. I showed a dear friend of mine and he started singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjedLeVGcfE">this tune</a> whilst pretending to juggle. To this day I am still not entirely sure if he meant that I looked like a clown or the big top....Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-7846919587025287732012-07-28T12:49:00.001+12:002012-07-28T12:49:12.807+12:00Gold Lame` Leopard Print<br />
I have a dream. My dream is that everyone, everywhere would find so many more appropriate times to rock out a gold lame` leopard print outfit! <br />
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I am sad to say in the 3 years or so that I have owned this piece of amazing-ness- it has only been worn 4 times. Out of those 4 occasions- once was for a glam rock 80's dress up and once was for the pic for this post. I really need to lift my game I know.<br />
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This dress was my "feature frock" on a mannequin in the Wardroom for a very long time. On a slight side tangent I believe everyone should have a mannequin for this purpose. You can only wear one outfit at a time and there are only so many outfit changes most people could work into a single day. It's nice to have something on display for instant visual gratification that may not be so easy to get into the general rotation. To be fair- this dress was used for so long more because I needed to do some serious sit ups and ab work outs before I was truly comfortable wearing this out anywhere. A tight, one shouldered, puff sleeve, gold lame` leopard frock is many many things- but forgiving of a less than flat stomach is certainly not one of them.<br />
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I can get very impatient waiting for the right opportunities to arise for dresses like this one. There is always a very real risk that if I have to wait too long, at some point I will throw all caution to the wind and bust out an <i>extreme</i> casual Friday in the office. Now while I bought this dress in total seriousness my impatience to wear it meant that it became a dress up ensemble for the most recent <a href="http://www.frockstar.co.nz/2010/12/mom.html">Masters of Metal</a> gig I played in. I think it worked quite well for the 80's glam rock dress code - but it did plant a small seed of worry in my head. The trouble with wearing something as a fancy dress costume before you wear it in any other context means there is a small risk of people will remember it as a novelty outfit. This could seriously influence the frocks integrity for future wearings! Yeah. I know I spend way too much time worrying about things like this. I am fairly confident that nobody actually cares about my dress's "integrity"...<br />
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As a glam rock costume obviously the dress needs to be paired with some sweet white ruffled stiletto boots, a studded belt, side pony, and lots of jewellery. I'm sure you will agree the overall outfit sure is something!<br />
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Back to my serious wearing- and I have kept it pretty simple. With a fabric print like this it pretty much speaks for itself after all. Black tights, black patent mary janes and a black vinyl waist cincher belt. Simple. Effective. And much MUCH less bogan than the last time I wore it!Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-23415293113225593302012-07-23T16:03:00.000+12:002012-07-23T16:03:31.466+12:00Baby Blue 70s Gown<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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Who doesn't love a great 70's gown? Well. You are all entitled to your own opinions- but frankly speaking if you aren't picking up what I am putting down you are WRONG. (heh)</div>
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I absolutly love 70's era vintage. It was my first foray into fashion from any decade outside the one I am currently living in and overall it has been pretty good to me over the years. Some fantastic things came outta the 70's. Queen. Fondue parties. ME.<br />
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I struggle to walk past a rack with brightly coloured nylon and polyester frocks from this time period without squealing. (maybe a little bit of dribbling too. Lets be honest....)<br />
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This frock has been kicking around in my life for quite some time now. I think I must have picked it up about 12 years back. Sadly it doesn't get anywhere near enough wear time in. I may have to start just wearing it into the office or something. Casual Friday's need a bit of a pick me up anyway.<br />
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Baby blue and polyester is quite a statement in itself. Throw in a halter neck with ruffled front, backless... <em>back</em> and make it full length. I'm certain you will agree the overall look sure is something!<br />
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I love how this dress is doing such a great job of being the female gown version of the stereotypical baby blue 70s tuxedo. You know - like <a href="http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-nz:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADFA_enNZ408&biw=1440&bih=675&tbm=isch&tbnid=142VHBXD9d6jjM:&imgrefurl=http://offbeatbride.com/2008/09/retro-tuxedo-groom&docid=MA5l29dZ7e1uYM&imgurl=http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3070/2826443465_ecbe490ae3.jpg&w=333&h=500&ei=4MkMUN3MFKa1iQek2eyFAw&zoom=1">THIS!</a> I am yet to convince my wonderful man to don one to match me- but I haven't given up hope completely...<br />
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I have teamed this frock with some extra special shoes. I even glittered them myself! I was already fairly appreciative of the black pumps they used to be with the sparkly bows on the top. Now that they are blue-dazzled (see what I did there?!) they are much MUCH cooler. Glittering your own shoes is deceptively simple but can be quite messy. I would strongly recommend a tray and an abundance of newspaper under your work area. I didn't realise exactly how messy this little project was going to be- so the first pair I sparkled up left a shiny trail of destruction through much of my bedroom. Ok. The entire house. My boy was less than impressed when 2 weeks later he was still finding glitter in his hair and on his face... <br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-24644628912616585662012-07-12T10:56:00.000+12:002012-07-12T10:56:06.224+12:00Gold Shorts<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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<br />Who knew I was a short shorts kindofa girl? Well. There actually have been a few clues along the way. I did spend a lot of time in Roller Derby hot pants afterall- so maybe this was a natural progression really...<br />
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I have often said that it isn't so much that I find great pieces of clothing as much as they find me. These shorts are a pretty good example of this happening. There I was. Minding my own business and ambling up Queen St after a lovely coffee date with a friend. As I neared the recycle boutique- I thought I would just pop in ever so quickly and have a quick look at their wares. My rack skimming skills are particularly good in a store like this I must say- and my well trained eyes pored over the different colours and patterns. Like a BOSS. Now the Recycle Boutique has a pretty good business model I must say. They sell your clothes on behalf- and will give you 50% of whatever they get for them. If your article has not sold within a set time frame- they will reduce it by 50%. If it still isn't sold within the next set time frame then you get the option to take it back- or they can donate to charity on your behalf. Pretty much everyone is a winner this way. </div>
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Now I have a pretty good history with the recycled boutique overall. I don't find amazingness EVERY time I wander in- but when I do. Woah doggy. I have been known to ponder how on earth these peices havn't been discovered by anyone else before me. Especially when by the time I have found them they have been reduced by 50%. It should be un-possible but I guess it's fate. I am supposed to find them and liberate them of their retail prison to take them home foe a long and happy free range existence in the wardroom. Makes for a better bargain story that way too really. </div>
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So back to my shiney shiney disco shorts! You may already have guessed where this story is going- but by the time these shorts found me- they were 50% off the original price. (which incidentally I would have been happy to pay...) They came home with me for the bargain price of $20.00. Turns out you can put a price on my happiness afterall...<br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-1524075665546189622012-07-07T08:09:00.003+12:002012-07-07T08:09:46.098+12:00A Clean Wardroom Is Good For The Sole<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
Wow. Even with my best intentions of not letting my Frockstar postings slide- turns out I am still ridiculously slack. The good news (I guess) is that after this incredibly long break there is certainly no shortage of things to post about!</div>
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So much has happened since I updated last. I went to Auckland's last ever Big Day Out (I also went to the other 17 years worth-but that's another story) I had a "moment" with one of my favourite piano players- and then found <a href="http://cheeseontoast.co.nz/2012/01/29/the-dresden-dolls-at-powerstation-photos-2/">said moment</a> captured on a music blog. (Yes. That's me with the flower in my hair giving her the intense "I LOVE YOU AMANDA" eyes but to be fair I had just had my face in her boobs...another story too I guess) I lost some weight due to some long overdue portion control and my new love of boxing classes. This is turn led to my first foray into pants in the last 8 years or so! (They will get their own post. I promise) I accumulated a *cough* <i>handful</i> of new outfits under the great excuse that I needed more that fit me.<br />
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And in a fit of organisation one Thursday afternoon- I decided to pull out all of my shoes to sweep, mop, reorganise and stock take. A much MUCH more time consuming job than initially anticipated. I don't know what to liken this experience to really but I'm sure you have at some time in your life started something before realising the sheer enormity of the task. Then the secondary realisation that you are already so vested in said task that you have to just keep trucking on and get the bloody thing done. It is 5 hours of my life that I'm not getting back but totally worth it in the long run. This dear reader- seems like a good place to start the rest of this post.<br />
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Those of you that have never graced the Wardroom with your presence won't know how much the shoes were starting to take over. They were stacked 5 and 6 pairs high in rows under clothes racks. They were spilling so far out into the rest of the room that not only would my door not open all the way- but I was often physically falling over them when in there. Not <i>just</i> after a gin or 2 either. Yes. This job was way overdue. While I would like to profess that the above reasons were enough to facilitate my desire to tidy them- it was in actual fact my OCD that finally put me over the edge. Truth be told I was sick of people asking how many pairs I had and not actually knowing the answer. Well. Now I do!<br />
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I am willing to bet that if someone else had attempted this mean feet (haha)- it might not have been made as un-necessarily complicated as I made it. Once all the shoes were pulled out and pretty much taking up every inch of floor space it was time for the organising to begin. If I was going to stock take I was damned well going to do it properly! This translated into arranging them all pair by pair. In a semblance of colour co-ordination of course. (Don't get me started on my constant need for a system to find things in that room!). It started with the boots then worked down into high tops and trainers, heels/wedges/sandals all the way down to jandals and slippers. I figured that as I hadn't had all my shoes out where I could see them all in one place before - there was every chance it wouldn't be happening again for a long time. The picture above took me about 20 minutes to take as I couldn't fit all of them into one shot! I actually still haven't <i>quite</i> fit them all in the photo- but at that stage I was in danger of falling off the piano stool I was doing one legged acrobatics on and I'm not very good with heights. Even piano stool sized ones. <br />
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I realise that cleaning out a closet isn't exactly a life changing event. It isn't even really a rite of passage either. It was quite eye opening however and I am sure there was some character building mixed in there somewhere too. I'm quite the <strike>hoarder</strike> <b><i>collector</i></b> you see. This may be a surprise to read (if you have paid NO attention to the rest of this post if not the rest of Frockstar as a whole that is!) I learnt that I had 12 pairs of boots that were exactly the same. I knew there would be a few pairs kicking around - but 12? These are the only pairs that I threw away. No- not all additional 11 of them. Lets not get silly. I threw away 4 of them though. 8 pairs seemed like a much more manageable number to lean on. 1 pair for wearing till they get too worn then 7 back ups. Stop judging me. They stopped making them a few years back and are hard to come by. I always snap them up on trademe if I trip over a listing. I also learnt that by no means should I ever buy another pair of yellow shoes in any style. I am in no danger of running out of these either. <br />
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So there they were. All neatly co-ordinated and taking up all of the Wardroom's floor space. I got to tickle my compulsive tendencies and start to count them and compile the most ridiculous (and I do mean <i><b>ridiculous</b></i>) stock take list ever created. Now that they were all splayed out in front of me it just didn't seem enough to do a straight up count of them. No no. That just wouldn't do. I needed to get more detailed in my approach. What good was knowing how many pairs I owned if I couldn't tell you exactly how many pairs of red heels I had? How could I not know how many pairs of white wedges I had to match with Summer dresses? What if someone wanted to know how many pairs of knee length boots I owned? What if... Yeah. I do actually know that the chances of anyone asking me any of those questions are slim to f**k all. <u><b>I</b></u> still wanted to know though- and that was a good enough reason to press on. The other good reason to list them in a more detailed way was to keep them top of mind. I have been known on occasion to purchase a pair of shoes in a colour I thought wasn't already represented at home- then found later that there was. (another reason to not have them all stacked on top of each other and under things...) In some strange way - the list will now potentially stop me from buying un-necessary footwear. Well.<b><i> Excessively</i></b> un-necessary footwear at least. Even I have a line somewhere....<br />
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My counting and stock take now complete- it was time to re-organise back into the space allocated. There still needed to be pairs stacked and piled under racks- but now it was done in such a way that it just made so much more sense! Sure my 19 year old Cherry Doc Martin 10 up boots aren't getting a great deal of air time these days but they will never<i> ever</i> be let go. These were the kind of contenders for getting stacked outta sight. I still know they're there. The lesser worn pairs safely stashed, the frequently worn pairs easy to access and the statement faves now had the glory display spots for optimum showing off.<br />
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<b>The Great Wardroom Shoe-ganize of 2012 was complete!</b></div>
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NB. After much deliberation on my part- I have decided to not share the full nerdiness of my shoe stock take. I think I may have already shared too much in fact. I will know when I run into someone who has read this post. I have a pretty good idea of the look I will get from them. Hell- it may even be YOU dear reader. No- I think that the list itself is destined if not completely for my own enjoyment but small intimate and in person audiences at least. That said- I am happy to tell you the total number. Knee boots, ankle boots, high tops, laced trainers, slip on trainers, stilettos, kitten heels, wedges, sandals, jandals and slippers- all together.<br />
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<b>153.</b><br />
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NB/2. Since stock take I did buy 1 more pair of yellow shoes. I was going to include a picture to show you why I had to buy them- but they are good enough for their own whole post. Which at my current blogging rate you may get to read in 2017....<br />
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<br />Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-86214878777058607532012-01-19T13:31:00.000+13:002012-01-19T13:31:09.490+13:00Versatile KhakiIt will have been mentioned somewhere in this blog I am sure-(GAWD forbid I repeat myself!) but I never grew out of my childhood favourite colour when most others did. Green will always be a fixture in the wardroom- but I do still run into people occasionally that are<em> genuinely</em> surprised if I am wearing another colour. Green will always be my first colour love- but it hasn't been a monogamous relationship lately. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">"It's not you green... it's me. I just think I need to experience other colours for a while. Red is looking damned attractive these days and I don't know how much longer I can fight the pull towards yellow. We can still be close though. I promise I won't let things won't get weird between us..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not elitist towards different shades of green but they do seem to have their set times and places. A bight kermit green will make me think of more Summery ensembles whereas a nice deep khaki seems to be a more Wintery shade. That little theory fell over somewhat with this dress. A light a floaty khaki Summer dress with a subtle floral print in yellow, blue and orange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoYuvdoT7NQgIPFi5sLJUIDGGXv6rNHRhv6xl-DQVHZvxmusMAZz2930W2CirzUDIjefjeRwRjVBzflU3_O6uS2M1Y-lyU533TYkfLOpw2Ia3VOJYJopEe84f-iHZlWtFCSdY8zhyphenhyphenOhU/s1600/khakiclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoYuvdoT7NQgIPFi5sLJUIDGGXv6rNHRhv6xl-DQVHZvxmusMAZz2930W2CirzUDIjefjeRwRjVBzflU3_O6uS2M1Y-lyU533TYkfLOpw2Ia3VOJYJopEe84f-iHZlWtFCSdY8zhyphenhyphenOhU/s320/khakiclose.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Khaki is a good base colour for any outfit because as far as greens go it is still quite neutral. I have a few khaki and red combos I like to pull out from time to time- and I really like that this dress has it's own in built colour co-ordination options. It is just a matter of choosing one now.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Ok. I tried. I couldn't choose. What a great excuse to showcase the versatility of this khaki frock and its accessorizing options! I have set myself a rule in this showcase. I will only be using 2 forms of matching accessories. There will be no hair flower/ belt/ shoes/ handbag over matching here today. I will be interested to see which one works out the best.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpGR-Ehyphenhyphen_HBfB4Jmmzxx3L3KuQ6owNQSo-y8zNuj5Gb4HFTtk1vqSAvRCQ07IUUlSNARUSwE6-ZMdm23Rx5nulu54geXZHIDn_0WDmBPi6UukcsPnmjPJsopTXENBhp4VdZZKkUajFRE/s1600/khakiteal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMpGR-Ehyphenhyphen_HBfB4Jmmzxx3L3KuQ6owNQSo-y8zNuj5Gb4HFTtk1vqSAvRCQ07IUUlSNARUSwE6-ZMdm23Rx5nulu54geXZHIDn_0WDmBPi6UukcsPnmjPJsopTXENBhp4VdZZKkUajFRE/s320/khakiteal.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">First up is a great deep shade of turquoise. The belt I am wearing in this shot is actually a genuine 70's cummerbund. (I have the matching bow tie and 'kercheif too) I have paired it with a cute pair of turquoise wedge slingbacks with a bow detailing. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Second off the block is a nice bright yellow. I have matched the dress with a pair of yellow pumps and hair flower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Last but by no means least- is the lesser utilised orange. Nothing rhymes with orange. Did you know that? I have gone with orange hair flower and (the bordering on ridiculous) 70's strappy cork platforms.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I think I would feel comfortable to wear any of these 3 colour combo's when it comes to this dress. I love how the fabric of the frock itself seems to change when you put different colours next to it. It pulls out the colours in the floral print and can really make them pop. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So.. which is the best combo dear reader? This little trial has taught me a couple of things. It has taught me that I am in dire need of a skinny orange and yellow belt! You didn't really think I would start imposing limits to my colour coordinating did you? That was a total accident and only because I didnt have the right belts to go with the orange and yellow options... By the time it comes to wearing this frock again I'm sure that little speed bump in my "ensembling" (new word) will have been obliterated. </div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-90074314177658869402012-01-13T15:34:00.000+13:002012-01-13T15:34:58.146+13:00Leopardy GoodnessI do like a good leopard print outfit. I wouldn't go as far as to say I was obsessed with animal skin patterns- but I have a decent amount of them represented in the Wardroom. To be fair- most fabric patterns and colours are!<br />
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I love that leopard in particular is very versatile when it comes to matching it with other colours. You can play it safe with gold or black but you can really lift it by matching with brighter blues and greens. Of all the possible colour combo's-red with leopard has to be my favourite. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know I have a tendency to over co-ordinate. I am by no means in denial about this. It is not uncommon for me to take 2 or 3 matching accessories off before I leave the house. Even I occasionally know when I have gone too far. (I did say <em>occasionally...</em> sometimes I may realise but don't care and wear them all anyway!) The reason I mention the over matching is that red is the easiest colour for me to fall into that way. There is an abundance of reds in pretty much everything just waiting to be worn. Belts, hats, hair flowers and jewellery. You name it. I probably have 2 of them in red. Ok. Probably more than 2. My point is- red is dangerous this way. </div><br />
For this outfit I have obviously gone very matchy- but I think I have managed to stay on the acceptable side of the line. Leopard in itself is a good way to break the colour up I find. <br />
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This dress is a fantastic score. I bought it from the cotton on outlet store and it cost me a cool $15.00. I didn't get a close up shot- but it has adjustable straps AND a ruffle on the top. An elasticated waistband and a flattering skirt cut rounds it all off. Yes. I am quite fond of this dress. I'm sure it will come as no surprise to hear that I have another in the same cut- just a different colour! (Frockstar post pending) <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Another point to mention about the versatilty of this dress is that it is nice and light for the Summer- but looks just as good with black tights and cardi's for an instant Winter ensemble too. </div><br />
I have gone for my stock standard red skinny belt, hair flower and patent peep toe wedges for this wearing. In fact- that is the combo I have gone with every wearing now that I think about it... Note to self. Try it with a different colour next time.<br />
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I thought I would also take the opportunity to showcase one of my favourite rockabilly cardigans too. My cardigan section of the wardroom is getting a little bit out of control. I don't know how many cardi's your average girl would have- but I would put money on the fact that I am probably quadrupling that amount. At least. I am now in a self imposed "black cardi ban" as these are pretty well covered. I am a sucker for embroidery on black cardi's though. I guess that's how they got to be so well represented in the first place...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3pyM9X-0tCaGIveci-tL0wOwJCVVsUsNPlNtoXZMBjnZ6ZFwd3cBcNZ2P-g3UqL4ZiNhYOEBmTR3zyNHm0gVfqhI0ST2uToYUqIRAoGYxrSzgzh2T9IPL1CMQp1AWS2lRAuV-8DSw2g/s1600/leopard5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB3pyM9X-0tCaGIveci-tL0wOwJCVVsUsNPlNtoXZMBjnZ6ZFwd3cBcNZ2P-g3UqL4ZiNhYOEBmTR3zyNHm0gVfqhI0ST2uToYUqIRAoGYxrSzgzh2T9IPL1CMQp1AWS2lRAuV-8DSw2g/s320/leopard5.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This one was another great trademe purchase. I think it cost me about $40.00 which isn't too bad for a good quality cardigan. It's quite a bit thicker than a lot that I have - and its brushed too so nice and fluffy feeling on your skin. I LOVE the embroidery at the back as well as the detailing on the front! I could explain this in great in detail - or I could shut up and let these pics speak their thousand words... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5IKP3NRGxftJNv_zVHFPX7zpbGSYkbuehAQ3IzekxOVov3Ar8Qxnv9ykRGkDEqJDzu923NDlvD4PjRO1kO8yLo_2EcpX_rD_tJgqZDUOdurhSeSw1RkWYrX7PssuDRSqeG7QFmHRdd0/s1600/leopard4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh5IKP3NRGxftJNv_zVHFPX7zpbGSYkbuehAQ3IzekxOVov3Ar8Qxnv9ykRGkDEqJDzu923NDlvD4PjRO1kO8yLo_2EcpX_rD_tJgqZDUOdurhSeSw1RkWYrX7PssuDRSqeG7QFmHRdd0/s320/leopard4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUc_fq9uS5m3htOBh2c16CL1W1UI-oHO4VRKpbPpo03uX6X-PerdXpoI31WX2HXCEmn1aafJYloeOnUSl5iAZschpYsFIOpL4fdB3RRnQsaX-IYFWY2y0R876gmleifKaZNpsvkl1e5Y/s1600/leopard3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUUc_fq9uS5m3htOBh2c16CL1W1UI-oHO4VRKpbPpo03uX6X-PerdXpoI31WX2HXCEmn1aafJYloeOnUSl5iAZschpYsFIOpL4fdB3RRnQsaX-IYFWY2y0R876gmleifKaZNpsvkl1e5Y/s320/leopard3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-16946913299606339122012-01-06T09:15:00.000+13:002012-01-06T09:15:27.444+13:00White With Rainbow SpotsWow. 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! <br />
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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!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRDtnUsoqNMp2l84u6k38CxlZ2Cg-OzZh87BKbAG9WwyZMN9UohOHjBE_1odcCSYPipJNenK4LE8cmgQ9IHli3MHs1XJtgufl_iBybTVsIjUTYMxDOnon8Gjzy7oOxQwU7B9sSI-q9Es/s1600/spotty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxRDtnUsoqNMp2l84u6k38CxlZ2Cg-OzZh87BKbAG9WwyZMN9UohOHjBE_1odcCSYPipJNenK4LE8cmgQ9IHli3MHs1XJtgufl_iBybTVsIjUTYMxDOnon8Gjzy7oOxQwU7B9sSI-q9Es/s320/spotty.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">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...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">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 <strong>WHITE</strong> 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 <strong><em>many </em></strong>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...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB9Bhkc1EBbPTOmhkQMswFO_2o_ua3iIU8zhkhUkSpVyrssTspGcZ4T4QjdLkWuw0xQKxjGfY6YMTaTksscLKUEXOduyY_pEXNJ-vN3NJDBxeKtD6RJDn3gfyhQkluG-ajMbGeiEGg1Y/s1600/spotty+flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZB9Bhkc1EBbPTOmhkQMswFO_2o_ua3iIU8zhkhUkSpVyrssTspGcZ4T4QjdLkWuw0xQKxjGfY6YMTaTksscLKUEXOduyY_pEXNJ-vN3NJDBxeKtD6RJDn3gfyhQkluG-ajMbGeiEGg1Y/s320/spotty+flat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">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. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">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<strong> 2</strong> arty closeups of said fabric... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNck1K8aAwgWzKqv8MJxLphMcriP9v_9KXP2yHnJ7Hze7qLBZ84Sh5l1drr-BP6wYIjNsFOv-pkj9mUImlGbzzTtfigh7uONQNNJuqPqYwFFK5-7iKBy-joSurLTeke2QiqPMPs980D-Y/s1600/spotty+up+close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNck1K8aAwgWzKqv8MJxLphMcriP9v_9KXP2yHnJ7Hze7qLBZ84Sh5l1drr-BP6wYIjNsFOv-pkj9mUImlGbzzTtfigh7uONQNNJuqPqYwFFK5-7iKBy-joSurLTeke2QiqPMPs980D-Y/s320/spotty+up+close.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-4965530931657543302011-12-30T12:09:00.000+13:002011-12-30T12:09:42.359+13:00Frill AND a bow!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Another Flissmas over for another year. It's hard to believe we are down to the final hours of 2011.It really is true what they say. Time goes much faster as you get older. I swear this year went by in a total blur...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I chose this dress for my final post of 2011. I also chose it to wear to my family Christmas dinner on the 24th in fact. Lucky I already had the picture ready to go- as I managed to dribble gravy right down the front of it at dinner. I blame the pre-food gins but in all honesty it probably would have happened if I was sober too.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">If it isn't the fabric that grabs me on a potential new frock- its the additional details. You know. An asymmetric hemline. A faux button detailing. Any intricate or even (dare I say) un-necessary addition will often be the straw that breaks my bank accounts back. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This is a dress that managed to pull me in with not 1, not 2 but 4 major hooks. First up is the fabric. A stunning mint green with an almost metallic pearl sheen to it with light undertones of white gold throughout. This alone absolutely screams out to me "50s formal wear". </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ9ZVoWZdof5NlxEp0RDpk9T7_2UTm8ILIxyFej7XLvuwD3qCjEOlTEAwFGN4IQz0wv31DxayQDlx5EMNaFhYktdd-iDhv5vQOYOKsOEYXMEhbpjYroj1plsluBaqvjsiJ1Swmud2ZL8/s1600/palegreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoQ9ZVoWZdof5NlxEp0RDpk9T7_2UTm8ILIxyFej7XLvuwD3qCjEOlTEAwFGN4IQz0wv31DxayQDlx5EMNaFhYktdd-iDhv5vQOYOKsOEYXMEhbpjYroj1plsluBaqvjsiJ1Swmud2ZL8/s320/palegreen.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The 2nd hook is the frill detailing down one side of the bodice. It's an unusual touch- and ties in particularly well with the 3rd hook- a cowl neck feature that continues and tapers out at the waist.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The 4th hook and possibly even my favourite of the lot- is the SUPER CUTE bow on the shoulder right above the 2nd hook frill. If I wasn't already totally in love with this dress (and let's face it- I was pretty much already there...) then the bow was the definitive detail to really send me over the edge. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have paired this dress with a skinny red belt and red heels for not only this picture- but for all it's wearings so far. I know that I have other options available- but I really think I am onto a permanent winner with the red/mint green combo. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have worn this dress a few times now and I would hesitantly even consider it as a late entrant into "Frock of the Year 2011". As this prestigious title hasn't even really existed until I typed it just now there won't be any awards thrown out willy nilly. As I have been surprisingly reserved with the all over dress buying in 2011- I have found myself mainly riding on the coat tails of last years purchases. I will forgo any last minute pomp and ceremony for 2011- but am formally committing to a post in roughly one years time to honour "Frock of the Year 2012!" </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">As I bid 2011 adieu I can't help but ponder what to wear to our annual New Years party at our place. This dress is currently a front runner but I feel like it has already has it's time in the festive seasons limelight. The last party we have hosted <a href="http://www.frockstar.co.nz/2010/11/tropical.html">this </a>beauty made an appearance so that means it can't be worn to this one too... (my worst fears were recognised at the same gathering when a party goer pointed out that she had seen me wear the same frock teh party before as well! ) I am considering putting together this years party ensemble from the ground up and starting with the shoes. This is largely due to a huge blister I have recently aquired from a pair of jandals. The other (and ridiculous I realise) thing to consider is that I am capable of expertly matching my drinkig vessel and even straw with the evening's outift. While I recognise this is taking things waaaay too far- I also know that it makes me happy knowing that this level of co-ordination has been reached. Now if only I can just stop pointing this out to people after a few drinks...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-34566714252782558592011-12-22T15:48:00.000+13:002011-12-22T15:48:42.964+13:00Vintage Violet VisionI have spent the last few minutes trying to work out how to incorporate <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9H_cI_WCnE">this gem of a tune</a> into this blog post title. It didn't work- but I thought it was worthy of a listening option for you nonetheless. After I conceded "Purple Pleated Greeter/Beater/Cheater/Meeter or Bleater" weren't going to <em>quite</em> work - I went back to the drawing board. Other titles I toyed with included but are not limited to "Violet- it's a colour <strong>and </strong>a flower", "Violets with Violets" (except the flowers on the fabric aren't...) "Violet- more than just the colour of a bruise" which then morphed into"Violets not Violence" which is just silly. In a final flailing attempt at alliteration it even briefly paused at- "Very Violet Vintage Vision Vavavoom". I definitely over shot on that one. I realise that I have definitely over thought this one- so I may as well just draw extra attention to it now. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I have also learnt since typing this long winded intro that the word Violet starts to look like it isn't spelled right when you look at it for too long... Now that all of that is out of that way - lets press on with the actual frock talk shall we? Yes lets. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXViZLhNckcfiuaLVkFODyytVZZ6l_kvnXbGmyJrFG0B8Nm-V9oyBWjUVS6MEcif0EJH_PTDPAVqsPyG9grYIQhuZMi3-dR-RuZTabveJYOI9GFSzxK1hVU07VCmY0gItim_Q5cCkf21M/s1600/purplepleated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXViZLhNckcfiuaLVkFODyytVZZ6l_kvnXbGmyJrFG0B8Nm-V9oyBWjUVS6MEcif0EJH_PTDPAVqsPyG9grYIQhuZMi3-dR-RuZTabveJYOI9GFSzxK1hVU07VCmY0gItim_Q5cCkf21M/s320/purplepleated.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This little number is another reconditioned vintage piece of fabulousness from Smoove. (refer <a href="http://www.frockstar.co.nz/2011/11/great-frock-swap-part-1.html">here</a> for that days full shopping experience) I like that it has a "High Tea" sort of a feel to it. You know. The sort of dress that should be worn with white wrist gloves whilst eating hot scones with jam and cream and sipping on tea served in matching floral china tea sets. I'm not one for scones <em>or </em>tea truth be told- but this frock would be the perfect outfit should my tastes suddenly change. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I am quite fond of the colour purple and its derivatives- yet the purple dress section in the wardroom is actually a little under represented. I can assure you- I was just as shocked as you must be. This particular shade is right on the cusp of a deep violet with subtle undertones of cornflower blue. I love that this is off set by the coral red, ivory, baby blue and sage green in the floral print. The colour combination overall is quite striking in my humble opinion. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDIOcJ0K82JNlxMOjcOzpl8dea0jwUZKuECD3VT7fvvTftnFmfadITh9cMrH8bSJ-8xWgDqvjkXkahnvVUgCH8R4uk-3ZcXdfc9IGqrOYt-87Z0EI1KGBUNgzYNzQdxxPVkwU3k0k1oE/s1600/purplepleated2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDIOcJ0K82JNlxMOjcOzpl8dea0jwUZKuECD3VT7fvvTftnFmfadITh9cMrH8bSJ-8xWgDqvjkXkahnvVUgCH8R4uk-3ZcXdfc9IGqrOYt-87Z0EI1KGBUNgzYNzQdxxPVkwU3k0k1oE/s320/purplepleated2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>(As a side tangent I have always been a big fan of purple paired with canary yellow- or a bright tangerine orange. If I ever decide to get into fabric design you can expect to see those colour combo's in abundance)</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The fabric itself is a beautifully floaty light weight. Not quite chiffon but not quite crepe either. It glides with you when you move- but is light enough to require a built in slip. Even then I think I will potentially steer clear of any intentional standing in front of bright lights. What is the point of a lovely feminine and demure dress if you are just going to take away all the mystery by flashing your silhouette around willy nilly? </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Upon re-reading that last statement I think I may have just officially just morphed into a 60 year old woman living in the early 1900's...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This fabric has a slight "crinkle" to it- and this is further defined with a fine pleat in the skirt. It is a nice finishing touch I think- and gives the skirt a little bit of extra movement. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiKQWDeJ8tXaHlqZPCI7lNxSUD79GxdxLERrR1YGQ8QbVvptye4ghMnq2_eW3fgnMqNQ8cDtbN8SQRGjEu9NpfnxMctiflfqZE3xX2YvGttXR8HuTdR8r1PU8yW648y7wlK9QTy8TSaE/s1600/purplepleated1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikiKQWDeJ8tXaHlqZPCI7lNxSUD79GxdxLERrR1YGQ8QbVvptye4ghMnq2_eW3fgnMqNQ8cDtbN8SQRGjEu9NpfnxMctiflfqZE3xX2YvGttXR8HuTdR8r1PU8yW648y7wlK9QTy8TSaE/s320/purplepleated1.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">For this photo I have teamed it with white belt and shoes- but have also worn it in real life with my good old default setting of red belt and shoes. I swear those things are starting end up on every second outfit that walks out of the wardroom on me. Someone even said to me this very morning "Wow- you wear those shoes all the time huh" It is besides the point that the statement itself is blatantly true. It bothers me that with a room that has more pairs of shoes than I can even count - (because of my current stacked up storage system. Not because I am actually stupid and cant count...) that other people are starting to notice I wear one pair all the time. Time to lift my shoe rotation game I think...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While I'm sure this glimpse into my psyche is entertaining and a little scary- I will sign this post off by pointing out that I am particularly fond of the juxtaposition of the label on the frock itself. Nothing sums up a pretty feminine floral dress quite like words "Smoove as F**K". </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9bG0ZsKykQ3lukE2z7YpMQxTZMJuuPZm1_-KIqYe6RfitCNJhipGaRzASLw7RLRKdhn2bFrZbAjFkg3KHliDbv4fc3CeYQsJOSuxF2YTdC91UUTCoZQjpIdtptneijoUmGDANN5pZkw/s1600/purplepleated3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9bG0ZsKykQ3lukE2z7YpMQxTZMJuuPZm1_-KIqYe6RfitCNJhipGaRzASLw7RLRKdhn2bFrZbAjFkg3KHliDbv4fc3CeYQsJOSuxF2YTdC91UUTCoZQjpIdtptneijoUmGDANN5pZkw/s320/purplepleated3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-72869127728076173162011-12-20T15:45:00.001+13:002011-12-20T16:02:23.074+13:00Hibiscuses and Pin Up Girls (or The Emotional Spenders Lament)Most of you will know what I mean when I throw out the term "Emotional Eater". You may even understand the phrase "Emotional Drinker". While I have certainly dabbled in both of those- I am also an "Emotional Spender". This is equally as destructive as the first 2- but for very different reasons. At the risk of sounding particularly shallow- <strong><em>stuff makes me happy</em></strong>. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">There. I've said it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> (I'm sure you are all suitably shocked and stunned by this revelation) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So logically- if stuff makes me happy (especially new and exciting stuff) then if I am not happy for any reason- this could be a good way to cheer myself up. Right? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Now I'm not trying to say that buying things (or clothes more specifically) makes my problems go away. It certainly isn't a long term fix. It does often take the edge off though. I can honestly say that some good old shopping therapy goes a long way to help with my overall frame of mind. Sadly it doesnt' have the same affect on my bank balance as a general rule...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The danger with the Emotional Spending (Or E.S as I shall refer to it for the sake of word over usage here) is that the risk of post purchase regret is much higher than if you are spending in any other frame of mind. There is an element of ... desperation I guess. There is more hope pinned on a purchase to lift my mood and it means that I am not as likely to really think through whatever it is I am buying. I have certainly had a few E.S moments that have gone pear shaped in the cold sobering light of getting them home. Thankfully today's frock- (while bought in a frivolous E.S moment) is not one of my regrets. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoKcbR35fmP-26ol7rxOSr31s5l-vMHQgq4m8tadsPoi2eFJnYvWdUE9Aq77SXUzD5UgKKyKaax5Hf80PTzZZn37xbIPQdcYkRcgw6wUdayYu5r9Zu59l_vv06i2Vxah4SfOZNSa6Imw/s1600/pinip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoKcbR35fmP-26ol7rxOSr31s5l-vMHQgq4m8tadsPoi2eFJnYvWdUE9Aq77SXUzD5UgKKyKaax5Hf80PTzZZn37xbIPQdcYkRcgw6wUdayYu5r9Zu59l_vv06i2Vxah4SfOZNSa6Imw/s320/pinip.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I had a wedding to go to of 2 very special friends back in November. I even had a job at the wedding. Yes thats right. I was entrusted to stand up in the ceremony itself and read out a poem. I felt ever so important and knew that this meant there was extra pressure to wear something awesome if everyone was going to be looking at me for a few minutes. (haha) This pressure didn't translate into an immediate need to go out and buy something. I have many a party dress in the Wardroom that hasn't been worn out yet, so I figured that this was my chance to get one of them out into the real world. I had not yet chosen the right dress for this auspicious occasion- but I knew I probably already owned it. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">A couple of weeks before the wedding I was having a "meh" kinda day. I don't even think it was for any particular reason. I just felt flat and bored. For the record- I already know that this the worst possible time EVER to be browsing on trademe. My E.S cell count was too high for window shopping. I slipped on a picture and fell into an auction and bought a new (and completely unnecessary) dress under the pretence that I needed something new for the wedding. I wasn't even fooling myself at this juncture. The issue with this purchase isn't that I bought a new dress. I am <strong>always</strong> going to be buying new frocks that I arguably don't need. (pfft) The issue with this one is that I spent WAAAY more than I usually would for a single item. On something that I couldn't even convince myself that was required. The figure I'm talking here isn't bank breaking- but when you bring in as many new frocks as I do- you need to be a bit less frivolous. I spent $140.00 on this frock. That's heaps more than my usual bargain hunting brain would let me spend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I love this dress. I really do. That doesnt' mean I still didn't get a bout of post purchase regret a day after I had paid for it. If I shopped around I could have bought many dresses for this price. I was disappointed with myself for giving into E.S in a moment of weakness. (Being aware of the dangers sadly doesn't mean you are in the clear. An E.S trigger can happen anytime. Anywhere. Be careful online shopping kids...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I was still feeling a bit dumb for buying this on the day of the wedding, but I was determined to stop dwelling on it. I put on my big girl panties (figuratively that is) and made a conscious decision to feel as fabulous in my new and potentially overpriced dress anyway. I straightened my hair. Slapped on some false eyelashes. Donned some sky high red peep toed heels and a matching hair flower. I was starting to feel quite good when I left the house to go and get some cash out from the money machine downstairs. I had to walk past my local cafe to get to said money machine. There was a table of the classic rockabilly type girls sitting right outside that I had to walk past. I swear- every single one of them stopped talking mid sentence and stared at me as I walked past. I think one of them may have even had her mouth open! Now being a girl that likes to pay attention to what other girls are wearing- I am usually pretty good at picking these vibes up. I know the difference between good quiet and bad quiet anyways. This was definitely a good quiet- so I walked back home feeling like a million bucks.This was the moment that all post purchase regret truly left the building entirely- and I decided the dress was worth it's weight in self esteem. To top off this brief but </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> fantastic foray out onto my street- I also got a text from an acquaintance that had seen me walk past. All it said was "Goddamn those are some awesome heels...." My head was at least 3 sizes bigger when I got back home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYPU6vaMvpCaUIDXOW2CiKVeNLoiihebE2dP5quTYeZ-FiLEzSGJvpgWXbCehM94F1VyxRu1A47wlDiWAPhLyLfw-vyBA7ZVhHrRZqTgWxwaD80tTvMj6gaDB3d108P1klxx91kH2cas/s1600/pinip2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYPU6vaMvpCaUIDXOW2CiKVeNLoiihebE2dP5quTYeZ-FiLEzSGJvpgWXbCehM94F1VyxRu1A47wlDiWAPhLyLfw-vyBA7ZVhHrRZqTgWxwaD80tTvMj6gaDB3d108P1klxx91kH2cas/s320/pinip2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So back to the dress. It's one that is almost in danger of being on the "cliche" side of rockabilly. You know. That 50's reproduction kind of dress that may not <em>scream</em> out- but most definitely whispers "mass produced". Its a basic halter neck with a fitted bodice and circle skirt. Black with nice and bright hibiscuses and pin up girls. Even the occasional butterfly. While it came with a black belt- it was kinda dumb. I had a much better black waist cincher so threw that on with it too. Thisdress would have worked with a red crinoline (to go with the shoes and hair flower) but the black one just felt right. I listened to my heart on this one and stayed with the black petticoat. God knows I'm not usually very good at the less is more philosophy!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The beauty of having so many colours represented in this dress means that my accessorizing options are pretty limitless. I have an UH-MAY-ZING new pair of yellow shoes (yet to be featured) that are going to look pretty damned good with this dress too....</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-39100609781856811512011-12-07T16:09:00.000+13:002011-12-07T16:09:51.023+13:00Blue Paisley<em>"So this one time- I went to swap a dress that didn't fit and accidentally came out with 5 more... "</em> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>You've read that story already. I will spare you the re-details. While I am unsure if that is a real word- I am sure you understand what I am saying by the context I have used it in. Nobody can ever tell me I'm not doing my bit for the evolution of the English language that's for sure!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D5NObrL9T35896sAtZcabll6u4gBiA3PKl5W7ztb3l7Dq9QJV0y-u7XSMc7SRnAB7V_rFQyFmEc1mqRlad9W4pALSjfgzFidyom2QzAlv84rbVcULDr8LDxSZrzP01IMuYaLHHRAViM/s1600/Paisley+Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D5NObrL9T35896sAtZcabll6u4gBiA3PKl5W7ztb3l7Dq9QJV0y-u7XSMc7SRnAB7V_rFQyFmEc1mqRlad9W4pALSjfgzFidyom2QzAlv84rbVcULDr8LDxSZrzP01IMuYaLHHRAViM/s320/Paisley+Blue.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This dress ticks a lot of boxes. Fabric colour. Fabric pattern. Fabric feel. (a nice floaty Summer weight) Dress cut, (length and the cute little puffed sleeves) and lastly accessory options. I think it rated well enough on my internal checklist that it made it through to become one of the 5 that followed me home that day. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Often the first thing I am drawn to in an outfit is the overall colour scheme. Once that's grabbed me the other selling points become apparent- but you always need that initial hook to make you pick it up off the rack. Colour and pattern always seem to be mine. It has a nice mix of cornflower blue, aqua, beige and a deep gold over an indigo background. Straight away I could see that the options for shoe and belt colours would not be limited to one combination. I do like it when I don't have to commit to an outfit looking the same every time I wear it...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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The paisley print gives it a very distinct 70's feel- but it isn't a typical style or fabric used to really encompass that decade. Because it's a "revamped' vintage dress it's hard to peg the era it would fall under exactly- but I think the overall effect works well so it doesn't really matter! Is it just me or does anything in paisley also have that "old man pajama" feel? Maybe that <strong>is</strong> just me...<br />
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</div>For the showcasing of this frock in the Frockstar forum- I have paired it with a bronze belt and matching wedges. Sadly these shoes are on their last legs (so to speak) - and I don't know that they would survive even one more last attempt at wearing them out of the house. They were dangerously close to disintegration even getting them to the lounge for the photo! It's a pity as the whole ensemble ties in exceptionally well with the particular shade of Le Specs I have on my head.... Must be time to find a replacement pair of bronze shoes so I can replicate this look again!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YUOl6f1C-a2dngZGDtnxyGsAIlfjdljrratJG6zC-HTFXliyNP2wxYkXrTLDQKZofHF69t96oEANVCCY9Dyf3GttKEZw7slJnrSbXu4v34HlsPo5tIbRbrEGna7Kra3X85yJxZiPi44/s1600/Paisley+Blue3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YUOl6f1C-a2dngZGDtnxyGsAIlfjdljrratJG6zC-HTFXliyNP2wxYkXrTLDQKZofHF69t96oEANVCCY9Dyf3GttKEZw7slJnrSbXu4v34HlsPo5tIbRbrEGna7Kra3X85yJxZiPi44/s320/Paisley+Blue3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-41457041026728560332011-12-01T16:13:00.001+13:002011-12-01T18:30:20.877+13:00It's Flissmas Time Again!I can't believe it's December again. It doesn't feel like it should be time for Christmas again already. Take heed kids. The oldies are onto something when they say time gets faster as you get older. While it is a little terrifying- the blow is somewhat cushioned by the fact that today marks the first official day of Summer here in NZ. (and was noticeably colder than any other day we've had in weeks. Thanks Auckland) Today also marks my own self imposed rules around Flissmas officially starting. It's put up the tree day. It's "can start listening to Christmas music" day. It's usually wear something red and green in my outfit day. I don't do Flissmas the way I used to though I must say. I haven't put up my tree in the last few years. My house is pretty well represented for the red green decor and fairy lights all year round. I do still listen to Christmas music- but only at work so I don't drive my boyfriend crazy. Of all my now dwindling traditions the only one that seems to be getting stronger is my "Festive P.O.F". All you need is green and red. Easy. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9e4Qe4W8T9IUI93UBQN7V436ot9TDk_4ojzuvXq0ndDXoQeTwQRXn9649pwEZbG45EYXqbNZx05PG6KqhPIh-kxyIlXO2hg0R0AqCL9g95artO7_7dT0iWL_6xsVY811tzGE35V6yfs/s1600/tinsel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU9e4Qe4W8T9IUI93UBQN7V436ot9TDk_4ojzuvXq0ndDXoQeTwQRXn9649pwEZbG45EYXqbNZx05PG6KqhPIh-kxyIlXO2hg0R0AqCL9g95artO7_7dT0iWL_6xsVY811tzGE35V6yfs/s320/tinsel.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This years actual "1st December" outfit has already been posted about- but I have been saving todays featured frock to mark this auspicious occasion. How can you not think of festivities when you are looking at an 80's cocktail dress that is made entirely out of tinsel? Thats right. <b>You can't. </b></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDOendWggnrX3QCE8wyvPHJqzID60LVgY3MMLZi3HUPapW0wNqHIn0wOoc1RCuE9v6QyxVSmBhILssNbmB5wjrzSdLbmaLkaij62mABBbpk_g-zMo25R02dFJgfO2QJDY6r1tOVb7cqc/s1600/tinsel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhDOendWggnrX3QCE8wyvPHJqzID60LVgY3MMLZi3HUPapW0wNqHIn0wOoc1RCuE9v6QyxVSmBhILssNbmB5wjrzSdLbmaLkaij62mABBbpk_g-zMo25R02dFJgfO2QJDY6r1tOVb7cqc/s320/tinsel2.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the 3rd dress that found me at this years Grey Lynn Fest. It was the classic story of spotting it across a crowded market place and getting the magnetic pull. Up close it was even better than far away. The light catches all the individual strands of tinsel and creates something I can only describe as a <i>glow.</i> I don't recall ever thinking that I was missing a tinsel dress in my life before. As is so often the way - I knew I needed it in my life as soon as I spotted it and then wondered how I managed so long without it. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The dress itself is really hard to photograph. There is a lot of little... bits (?) that all want to move in different directions for a start. The photos also don't really do the colour justice. In person it is a more striking deep red- but looks more like a terracotta here. (Is "<i>Burnt Sienna</i>" taking it too far? Too late. I went there anyway)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The zip has some issues that will need addressing before it gets worn in public. It has that slidey-ness that the most well loved dresses get with age. I'm sure I can get onto fixing that soon enough and deliver this little beauty into a new era of festivities! This dress is just screaming to be worn while sipping cocktails and listening to some sweet <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Various+Artists/Ultra-Lounge+Christmas+Cocktails">50's Christmas lounge music.</a> I think I can probably make that happen without too much trouble... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnetYSVvpzeJnerqdmG_d_s4U4b4IhaIR4xkj-7EM0gp50jeSbCQMXk8Np1Gw2oVd45Cipef_3Ny_YLWweMBSPPJuuFGpK1s5HKRa4GZAqIE7hRz_8fu8VBTqXOtlr8W28xZmy0Uia4y8/s1600/tinsleclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnetYSVvpzeJnerqdmG_d_s4U4b4IhaIR4xkj-7EM0gp50jeSbCQMXk8Np1Gw2oVd45Cipef_3Ny_YLWweMBSPPJuuFGpK1s5HKRa4GZAqIE7hRz_8fu8VBTqXOtlr8W28xZmy0Uia4y8/s320/tinsleclose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">In other Flissmas outfit news... I caught myself wondering today how many days I could keep up the "Festive P.O.F" for. Red and green are the most represented colours in the wardroom after all. I was genuinely considering taking the opportunity to take December to a new Flissmas level and keep with the colour theme as long as possible. Then I remembered I am <i>technically</i> an adult- and that maybe just knowing that I could is probably enough. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">To be honest adult or not- the jury is still out on that one!</div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923437400939433238.post-85895380840775717672011-11-28T16:50:00.000+13:002011-11-28T16:50:19.040+13:00The Great Frock Swap (Part 1)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You may recall a couple of posts ago my anguish at the "<em>One That Got Away</em>". (or more aptly explained- "<em>The Dress that Didn't Fit</em>".) You may also recall that my dismay was somewhat thwarted by the excitement of not just swapping the dress for one that did fit- but also timing it so that the exchange happened on the same day the 300 new frocks were showcased in store. I swear the first thing that went through my mind on Friday morning was "Yay! Its new dress day!" Yay indeed. The great frock swap certainly didn't disappoint.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The only trouble with seeing that many great dresses all at once is that you certainly run the risk of that good old problem. Total sensory overload. There is such a thing as too many colours and patterns for any average brain to handle at any one time. Thankfully mine has been well trained over the years (and every day when I walk into the wardroom too!), and I was ready for whatever the racks could throw at me. After the first walk through I hand picked my favourite 15 and went off for round 1 in the fitting rooms. I whittled 15 down to 3- but then figured it would be silly not to have a second whip through the racks in case I had missed anything. Round 2 in the fitting rooms commenced with another 22 dresses...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRfWRzsYasiFCaOn6W3u1BSTdVuEaDvaiO6ttYJGHYWZJVVAHkpIiYjycebVADVq4fffPUnottWBfEZbUKZG_VsOPEcuYST0JWcGKu7G0JXX4K_iv7CcCym6q1h598QBdFWGVIwpfn8o/s1600/sripesflowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRfWRzsYasiFCaOn6W3u1BSTdVuEaDvaiO6ttYJGHYWZJVVAHkpIiYjycebVADVq4fffPUnottWBfEZbUKZG_VsOPEcuYST0JWcGKu7G0JXX4K_iv7CcCym6q1h598QBdFWGVIwpfn8o/s320/sripesflowers.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>I should possibly point out at this juncture that I swear I went into this situation with the best of intentions. I transferred some extra money into my savings account so I couldn't accidentally spend too much. I had a plan. I had 1 dress to swap- and figured I had a buffer where I could come out with 1 more. Maybe even stretch it to 2 if they were amazing. My mental pep talk was clear and I was good to go. </em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So back in store and I had now tried on a record 37 dresses in one go. The 3 I set aside had now skyrocketed to 7. 7 dresses was WAY more than I intended to buy. After some careful consideration I further condensed my selection into 5 that I absolutely could not live without. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The <strong>really </strong>silly part is that I felt like I deserved some kind of personal reward for not buying all 7 of them! I swear I even left the store feeling like I had done really well instead of leaving the store realising that I had completely blown out my Friday Frock budget.... Never mind. This is a good time to reiterate my shopping mantra to anyone that questions my decisions.<strong><em> "You can't put a price on my happiness". </em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">So that takes us up to the frock featured today. It was one of the lucky 5 that made it through my stringent choosing process. I particularly like the colour combo in this dress. A white background (always a brave choice with my history of spilling things down my front!) with an unusual mix of teal green, khaki, coral pink, red, cerise and a deep purple. Lots of options for co-ordinating accessories there. I was also drawn to the pattern given that most 70's frocks have flowers OR stripes. It's not often you get them both in the one garment!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This time around I have matched it with the good ol' red peep toed wedges, skinny red belt and a red hair flower. Next time I will try and be less boring with the accessorising. Red is a great staple- but I feel like I fall back on it a little too often...</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S Now that "The Great Frock Swap" is complete- I can tell you which shop I went to! Smoove on Little High St in Auckland City. If you have not yet been there- you need some Smoove in your lives. Trust me!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Frockstarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02583766089323794114noreply@blogger.com0