You can tell a Wella woman by the way she wears her hair....

.....you can tell a Wella woman anywhere!  Read the low-down from my night out on Monday at the Wella Trend Vision Hairdressing Awards at Thread.co.nz

American Apparel full length skirt pleeeease

Just wanted to show you my next summer purchase, it's this beautifully floaty, full length skirt made of chiffon by American Apparel.  I hunted high and low online to find out where this skirt originated from!  AA have a great collection of basics, as well as skirts, blouses, leggings etc.  I'd always thought they stocked simple cotton tees and sports wear - but no!  Check out their site here.

Image: Topshop Blog

Image: AA

Auckland say hi to Sass & Bide!

My all-time favourite store has arrived in Auckland, and right on my door step in Ponsonby.  I'm absolutely loving this seasons graphic and tribals prints and have already been in there to hunt out a purchase or two!  

Carrousel - the new pop up store

Read about Hayley Iggo and her new pop up designer clothing store - Carrousel, here www.thread.co.nz

Glassons - The biggest fashion fairground

Hmmmm slightly irritating that my website name is being used in a marketing campaign for fast moving fashion store Glassons. If you haven't heard Glassons aka the House of G has opened a flagship store in Newmarket with the tagline - 'The biggest fashion fairground'.  It looks like they are attempting  a copy cat of Oxford St, London's Top Shop.  In any case this promo I'm sure will help send traffic to my site! Haha.

Semi Permanent Design Conference 2010

Lucky enough to get a VIP pass to New Zealand's largest design conference on Friday, I was able to hear from some very inspiring and fascinating young designers.  One of interest was Jessica Hische a young 20-something girl with an amazing talent for illustration and typography.

Another highlight of the day was listening to Karen Walker and her partner Mikhail Gherman and what was even more interesting was to find the creative inspiration for the Karen Walker brand comes not from Karen but from Mikhail.  I got the impression she was more focused on the 'business' side of things. Slightly disappointed they didn't get into the nitty gritty of how the brand evolved from the very beginning though.

A great line up of speakers from Dick & Otis Frizzel, Storm Thorgenson, Pixar and Frost Design to  name a few.

Images: www.semipermanent.co.nz

First attempt

I wanted to show you one of my sewing attempts - which is trying to make a loose fitted, scooped neck, v-back, sleeveless top.  Now the trouble I had initially was finding the perfect pattern, I mean most of them still look like they're designed for the 70s and uninspiring at that.  I've tried to do some re-designing of the pattern to cut it into the shape I'm after.  This is the result and most of it's still to be finished off.

Oh and these are my new G-stars - as posted back in April

This is the pattern I was talking about (pic on left) - as you can see, not the look I'm trying to go for but the basic template is there :)

Why not Waihi

A recent weekend away to Waihi in the Coromandel was just what we needed.  The weather was  beautiful and the town nice and peaceful.  The best part about getting out of the city is being able to visit the antique and second hand stores in the small towns on the way.  I found these gold pieces at Arkwrights in Paeroa.  The matching set are clip-on earrings and I'm thinking of taking the backs off and turning them into rings.  I'm slowly building up my gold jewellery collection as I have a significant amount of silver which doesn't always work depending on the outfit.

You might spot the feather ring in this dish.. it's a crazy little ring I got a few months back covered in baby feathers which sits on my little finger.  I've only worn it a couple of times as I have to be very cautious wearing it as the feathers are so fine and I have been known to get my hands wet while wearing it, ha.  Not a good look to have dead-like bird on your finger!

Kate Sylvester for summer

Doosh - it rhymes with whoosh

I headed down to the Viaduct on Thursday night with my friend Jo for the launch of the SS 2010 collection of edgy Kiwi street-wear label Doosh.  To read more about this event read my story 'Get your toosh into Doosh, here at Thread.

My friend Jo and I enjoying the pre-show drinkies. 

(Image from Alex Tee at thepeople.co.nz)

A change is always good

Nails Inc London is my new favourite nail polish brand right now.  Tired of my eight or so different shades of red on the shelf (no not in the fridge!) I was keen to get amongst the new colours that have been popular over summer in the UK - let's see if this product hits NZ soon.  

These polishes came as a set of four, my favourites being 'Jermyn Street' which is a combination of soft grey and muted beige (far left);  the slate grey polish (second left) is titled 'Southbank' and goes with almost anything.   As for the pale pink 'Warwick Avenue' and 'Taxi Black' I'm sure I will manage to make use of these at some point!

If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it.....

The connector ring, all the rage at the mo.  I found this little gem at Forever 21 .  I've had several comments on this little knuckle duster, it's just something a bit different and yes, you can still have full use of your fingers!  The gold beads were given to me as a birthday gift and the index ring is from the Wanaka markets - a piece of broken china with sterling silver edging.

Be coveted

Thanks to Nadine at Coveted (thanks for your email!) I now have a new place to shop online.  If you are after boutique shopping, one of a kind pieces then this is the site for you.  Items are sourced from all over the world and you will even find some lovely homewares on the site, what more could you ask for!  These were my favs.....

Freckle studded waistcoat $119, very rock

Dahlia petrol blue military coat $199 (I absolutely love this coat - it's almost like a cape but with a brass band  feel to it!

and these pants are just gorge...I could definitely replace my grey trackies for these. Plum Pretty Sugar Lounge Pants, great for those summer nights, $69.

Happy Bastille Day!

As I was pondering what to wear this morning (always hard to do when it's freezing cold) I realised it was Bastille Day, easy I knew what to wear - stripes!  I found a simple little navy and white striped sleeveless top in the nearby Sallies last year for $3... anyway I have worn it with a little tulip skirt over thick tights, some heels and topped off with a red scarf.  It's interesting to see that  the 'Breton' stripe doesn't go out of fashion. 

Thread

Very excited I am now a contributing writer for Thread one of NZ's leading online fashion sites!  Went along to my first event last night - the Wella TrendVision 2010 Hair Dressing Awards in downtown Auckland.  The venue was perfect and totally suited to the funky and oh so stylie types that were there.  A great night out and I met some lovely people.  Check out Thread  www.thread.co.nz for all your fashion, style and culture updates.

Oh and I now have a new camera... long time coming!

Gorgeous stylists

Bottom two images thanks to Fresh PR

A couple of pics of the work that made that it through to the finals.

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Twenty8Twelve

Images: Twenty8Twelve

Sienna Miller and her sister Savannah have put together a great spring/summer collection (note: northern hemisphere) mixing rock chic with femine pinks and thigh high body-con dresses.  Make those winter boots go the extra mile in your spring wardrobe this year.  As long as your feet are warm you won't notice the cold so short dresses shouldn't be an issue.  Hard to visualise really as I gaze out my window into a very bleak and miserable Auckland afternoon.....

ONCE’IT the new invite-only luxury fashion site

ONCE'IT is the new place to shop online for luxury labels at discounted prices, but only for those special few who are members and by invite only.  Once a member you can sign on your friends and you'll receive a $20 credit when your friends make their first purchase.  A selection of international and local fashion brands favourites such as World, Sabatini, Twenty Seven Names and Juliette Hogan.  Check out http://onceit.co.nz/

She's got legs and she knows how to use them....she's got leeeegs...

Rachel Comey silk petal shorts, high waisted with lovely scalloped hems -  pair them with the very sought after Henry Holland tights and a great set of heels or boots and you will be ready to hit the street.  One tip - be careful putting these tights on, they are easily snagged having managed to put my finger straight through them upon easing them up my leg!

Peep toes and beads

I've posted this photo of my best mate Kate, she is wearing a dress of her mother's circa 1970, made of cream silk with hand beaded glass and pearl beads. The fantastic orange peep toe heels are from Nude, topped off with black ring and earrings and black painted toe and finger nails.  Go Kate, we dig your style! xx

Braids are back

Killing some time

Image: Twenty8Twelve

Just love this.  Have been on the hunt for an animals skull actually, bizarre as that may sound.  They look great painted up in white or black and in this case gold -  works for your jewellery as well!

Get French with a gilet

Perfect for the winter weather, the gilet is just what you need.  Great as an extra layer, I have worn mine to death, both to work and out and about.  It's managed to feature on the racks two years in a row now (having bought mine back in 2008 from the UK. Go the faux fur!

Mesh for May

Following on from my post on 05/05/10, another practical look for winter is the staple - black leggings.  Not to be confused with the horrid 'jeggings' that I have spotted out there.  Leggings are great and work well with almost everything from blazers (my favourite at the mo!), floaty tunics, shirts, singlets...whatever really.  As for footwear, again several options to choose from although personally I like to wear a heel or boot otherwise I feel slightly stumpy and/or look like I'm about to go for a jog.  Came across these snazzy numbers by complexgeometries, which will set you back a little at $US128, the mesh is pretty awesome huh?

Don't take it, I'm not ready!!

(Max sequined jacket, Karen Walker acid wash shorts, Witchery singlet, 

Jet Set Bohemian necklace)

Saturday night and we hit the town to see the Auckland finalists in the V48 Hours Filmmaking contest.  With the cooler weather upon us my recent summer shorts from Karen Walker needed the addition of some black opaques.  Sorry, blurry pictures may be the result of a couple of wines!

Moonlighting in Melbourne

A slight delay in posts having just returned from a 10-day stint in the fabulous city of Melbourne!  The place just seems to keep growing in size.  So many old haunts to visit and many new funky areas to check out.  I wanted to quickly throw this posting out there (before I blog about the nitty gritty detail of what was being sported on the streets!),  Brunswick St - need I say much more!  A wonderful collection of stylish and unique boutiques and many awesome vintage stores which we like.  A must must see is the corner pub called Bimbo Deluxe, it got us at $4 pizzas!