Shade of Blue

I wore thift to go out thriftin. This dress a mere $5.00 which is amazing considering it’s in such a great condition. Speaking of thrifting, (which yes, I know I do a lot) but I’ve been really feelin this joint which could be the theme song for all my fellow op shoppers. A song by Mackelmore and Ryan Lewis appropriately titled Thrift Shop, so naturally their video will end this post, enjoy!

Dress- Thrift, Avondale Flea Market

Clutch – Thrift, but cant member where?

Glasses – Chain store in Oz

Tights – Wild Child, Farmers

Shoes - Rubi

And then, to rep the normal sized (but skinny when compared to me) my sis - Anne

Jumper – from mums closet

Jeans – Kmart

Necklace – Thrift, Salvation Army-  Mt.Eden

Shoes – Converse

Glasses – Thrift, Salvation Army- Glen Eden

Bag – Thrift, Trade Me (Website)

Now, this song is Fucking Osum...

D.I.Y Mentality

In this post I’ve got a bit of a D.I.Y theme going on. Firstly the vest Im wearing, was previously an 80's short sleeve jacket, thrifted, cut up, recycled into something somewhat  new. Secondly the necklace was a Do It Yourself item made simply with coloured rope and hardware. The necklace was inspired by Michelle Lane’s rope jewellery collection which I thought was really cool, but being the cheap ass that I am, I would replicate my own version. Just don’t ask me how I did it, a lot of trial and error and random knot tying. So, together with my sheer top (with the very visible hot pink bra underneath) and my obligatory tights, I was ready to skate . . . if only I knew how!

After

Before

Top – Thrift, Red Cross New Lynn

Vest – Thrift, Tongan Lady@ Avondale Flea Market

Tights – Kate Madison, Warehose

Shoes – Converse

Necklace – I D.I.Y’d it

Glasses – Cotton On

Thought I would add my sis Anne into this post as she was the reason why we ended up in the skate park. You guessed it, she’s a wanabe skater. Plus I love her top which I found but couldn’t fit, damn!

Anne wears

Top – Thrift, Hospice New Lynn

Jeans – Kmart

Shoes - Converse

Dark side of Sunday

Who doesn’t like to get a bit goth, punk or emo from time to time? Dark Plum lips, black dress, shades and earrings topped with a jacket and its safety pin-ness - it’s not full fat goth, just a subtle version of it.

Dress – City Chic

Jacket – K&K

Glasses – Le Specs

Earrings – Lovisa

Rings – Diva & skull is thrift from Avondale Flea Market

Art + Design Exhibition 2012

Last night I attended the opening night of AUT’s Art + Design Student Exhibition. An annual event show casing student work from across the whole board, from fashion to graphic design, spatial to product, if you’re craving some creativity and free booze, then this is the place to be. Been that 3 years earlier I myself exhibited my own work (in Spatial Design) I knew what I was in for so I wanted to dress accordingly. Lots of people + tonz of lighting + small space = heat, so I opted for a loose shirt but wore a vest to provide warmth when the sun went down. Boots protected my lil piggies from broken beer bottles and puddles of spilt wine as well as been more comfortable for all the walking (Fuck doz dam stairs!). For accessories my fav hat to keep the bush at bay and a D.I.Y necklace (to show off my own crafty-nez). It may seem over kill to think this much about an outfit, but function, as well as form will be your best buddy at the end of the night. Being in a crowded room is uncomfortable enough on its own, last thing you want to be contending with is an uncomfortable outfit as well. My advice- any event that you haven’t been to, ask someone who has to get the lo-down. What was their experience, what did they see and do and what would they wear if they went again? Girls you can never be too prepared! Any way here’s some pic’s from the night and happy *almost the weekend* vibe. 

Shirt – Thrift, Hospice New Lynn (D.I.Y the studs on collar)

Vest - Thrift, Hospice New Lynn

Tights – Kate Madison, Warehouse

Boots –Hush Puppies

Hat – Warehouse

Necklace – Made by me from some rope and bolts

Rock Out

Was feeling a Rock vibe this morning, so what is a girl to do but submit to it. So I go to my tried and true, Lost Boys sunnies and hat combo which I have to admit features together quite a bit. Chuck a cross on my chest to bump up the accessory count (& something to repent with later) and there you have it, an outfit fit for shopping at your local fabric store. No bar or pub hoppin here, just a girl on a mission to find materials for her next D.I.Y project. (Hopefully if my endeavours succeed I can post them up to share with you guys so watch this space...) And in the mean time, in the words of Brittney ‘ROCK OUT WITH YOUR COCK OUT!’   

Shirt – Thrift, Save Mart Onehunga

Tights – Kate Madison, Warehouse

Cardy – Valley Girl

Shoes – Hush Puppies

Glasses – Le Specs

Hat – Warehouse

Necklace - Diva 

Colour Therapy

It’s just whatever! Just one of those days where you just want to wear colour and walk around looking like the human equivalent of a rainbow. If bright colours don’t pull you out of a funk, i don’t know what else would? 

Shirt – Thrift, St Paul De Vince

Jacket – Thrift, SaveMart – New Lynn

Tights – Wild Child, Farmers

Bag – Thrift, Hospice – New Lynn

Necklace – Warehouse

Glasses – Dollar King

Ring – Thrift, Avondale Flea Market

Shoes – Hush Puppies

Head Scarf – Can Teen (Can Teen bandanas available this month, proceeds go to help support young people living with cancer. 

For More info visit http://www.canteen.org.nz/ )

Nursing Blue

 This dress was a steal when I brought it at the Hospice sale for only $5.00 last year. It’s weird to think, that I’m able to clothe myself with chump change but I couldn’t use the same money to buy a Big Mac combo because I would still be short a dollar or two. Anyway, my sis reckoned I gave off a Nurse vibe in this get up which I couldn’t see until now. But if it gives someone a laugh then my job is done, after all, laughter is the best medicine. 

Dress – Thrift, Hospice Henderson

Cardy – Thrift, Hospice New Lynn

Belt – City Chic

Bag – Blue Bird, Strand Bags

Hat – Jay Jays

Glasses – Le Specs

Brick House

After mall ratting around, me and my sis went for an explorative walk were we found this great old brick building. Its facade chipped and cracking, weathered down to expose a variety of textures and materials is in its grit, a thing of beauty. Like wine, its depth and beauty comes only from age, something which is in stark contrast to what we believe in now. So in its honour, I felt it would be a great place to take some photos and appreciate something old rather than new.   

Singlet- Kmart

Tights-Kate Madison, Warehouse

Cardi- Valley Girl

Bag- Kmart

Glasses- Le Specs

Shoes- Chucks

Urban Safari

The title is pretty self explanatory here. Nuff said.

 

Dress- Valley Girl

Top- Target

Bag- Kmart

Hat- Warehouse

Glasses- Le Specs

Casual 001

Nothing special, just a few pic’s of me in my casual gear. The only thing that separates me from looking like a 40 year old mother of 2 is my accessories. My hat and glasses pull this outfit together in a youthful ‘art school student’ way (minus the obligatory starbucks cup in hand). I can vouch for the phrase ‘accessories make an outfit’ here, otherwise you would assume I drive a minivan.

Shirt - Thrift, SaveMart Onehunga

Cardi - Thrift, Hospice New Lynn

Tights – Wild Child, Farmers

Hat – Warehouse

Glasses – Le Specs

Scarf – Gift

Necklace – from Samoa

Colour me Orange

There was finally a break in the bad weather that we’ve been experiencing and I was game to spend the day scrimmaging through the local op shops. I wasn’t looking for anything specific; I had no shopping goals to achieve so it was a causal browse through. I hit up my local Hospice store (better described as a small factory) where most times I visit, I usually leave with a purchase or two. After about 30mins of searching through racks, trying on items (and failing), tinkering with nick knacks and such I was ready to leave, leave empty handed. Then my sister Anne, the budding shopping assistant that she is, spotted a bag and immediately brought it to my attention. Quite frankly I was shocked that I missed it all together, considering the bag was bright orange on a dark brown chair at the front of the store, go figure? But it was a great find, old school- possibly 80s (to satisfy my nostalgic cravings), an eye catching bright colour (as winter had gotten me colour deprived) and was in an impeccable condition. With a price tag of $14, as soon as it was in my hands it was sold. So of course in my casual gear I was wearing I just had to pop my new bag on and take some snaps before we headed home. 

Jumper- Rivet, Warehouse

Shirt- Unknown

Tights- Maya, Warehouse

Shoes- Kmart

Gloves- $2 shop

Necklace- Love Love

Glasses- Le Specs

Hat- Cotton On

Bag- Thrift, Hospice New Lynn   

These boots were made for walking!

As hard as it can be being fat and trying to find clothes, having big feet is a whole different story. Lest with clothes, you can always alter & extend it to make it fit but you cant buy size 10 shoes and turn them into 12. 

I blame my Samoan/German genetics for my mammoth feet, there was no way my taro’n’cornbeef & beer’n’sausage loving ancestors would bless me with petite feet. So when I found a pair of boots that weren’t hideous and extremely expensive I experienced my first shoe high in years. A pair of simple, flat, black leather boots will always remain as classic as a cotton white shirt or a pair of well fit denim jeans. But above all it is practical for the day to day wear making it a staple in any fashionista’s closet. 

So to break in my new boots I went to the Auckland Art Gallery to soak up some culture and to get inspired back into painting again (examples shown in my blog title and to the right). With some of the photos I took that day Im sure ill have (visual) food for thought.

Shirt- Thrift, Avondale Flea Market

Jacket – Thrift, Save Mart New Lynn

Tights – Maya, Warehouse

Boots – Hush Puppies

Bag – Kmart

Glasses – Le Specs

Earrings – Lovisa