Santa's Little Helper

Candy Mountain, Charlie!

Don't know what the Jazz is all about!

Jive turkey

I knew we'd be doing jive at dance class this night, so when I got this top the week prior I figured I'd see how the tassles looked in a fast-paced, twirly dance! Wore this with blue distressed skinny jeans and knee-high low-heel black boots. Hard thing is, you can't watch yourself in the mirror when you're turning, so I'll never know how it turned out! Fave dance though <3 x

Orgy down a well

I wore this outfit to the Passion Pit concert at The Powerstation - such a nostalgic venue! My friend who didn't know the band said Passion Pit sounded like an orgy down a well, hence the title. Just wore the dress with grey opaque tights and the mid-calf boots. Too risque without tights! I love winter because you can wear short skirts anywhere and still look like you've remained decent if you have tights on x

Baby get shaky after school

Not sure why I felt like dressing like a schoolgirl for work this day but I did. Wore the 3/4-sleeve white blouse with a pleated black mini, black tights, and black flats. Wore the amazing black ruffle jacket over top and a quiff ponytail. You'll have to excuse the briefness of this entry, have other things in my mind. Numbbb.. x

We can live like Jack & Sally

I've decided this week that I really love the name Jack on a boy. They all seem to be powerful corporate type characters (30 Rock) and it also suits little boys as much as it does grown men. Also it's the name of the skeleton in the Nightmare Before Christmas <3

I said to a couple of people that today I felt like I had walked out of a Tim Burton movie with my outfit - of just Helena Bonham Carter's wardrobe I suppose! I was wearing this little dress over a black 3/4-sleeve blouse (covered in white lint and cat hair unfortunately - really need a lint roller!) I had on black opaque pantyhose and the mid-calf low-heel boots which have a slightly Burton-esque look to them. I had on my bird necklace at the beginning of the day but it obviously didn't work with the outfit because fate decided to cause me to accidentally break it :( Something else to go to the jewellers for repair I suppose! Getting a few things need thing work now.. I also had on the black circular studs with dice on them that I've mentioned before. I like them because for a distance they look like plugs but without the stretch commitment! In short, I can kind of look like a badass without actually being one. My hair was in a high ponytail with a black satin scrunchie and quiff which also added to the concept. Now, where is that Sandy Claws..? x

I can sing a rainbow

I've been dying to wear this shirt since I bought it but never found an appropriate time or place. So I figured, why not wear it to work on a day when I have an external meeting at our Media Agency?? I wore it with the black waistcoat I acquired from mum but it didn't do the slogan justice photographically so I left that off. Wore my black blazer over top, and black skinny jeans with studded black leather Calvin Klein boots. The weather's turned again so I wore the black knee-high Spanish leather boots with gold toe tips and sky-high heels. The earrings I got for $1 off the counter at one of the cheap accessories stores and I absolutely love them. They're clear plastic heart studs with multicoloured diamantes all over them that look like they should light up. I wish they did. x

Jump & Jive

I kept taking this skirt with me in my car along with my dance shoes in case I wanted to wear it at dance - but never did. I bought it from a Supre outlet in Sydney - one of the few things I actually bought while there. However, because it's elasticated at the waist, it tends to ride up (it should be worn there anyway) meaning it's indecently short on the likes of me! Wore this with black leggings, black leg warmers and the blue sparkly ballet flats. On top the navy flower decal top and a black cardi. I was a little confused as to whether I felt more like a rock n roll dancer or a jazz ballerina.. Either way the skirt got at least 3 compliments today! It's made of really beautiful-feeling fabric and hangs really nicely :) x

I do believe in fairies!

This is another pair of my "Peter Pan boots", and on this day I felt even more like him or a pixie than usual! These faux-suede beauties accopmanied my grey wool babydoll dress with the black flower silhouettes, worn over grey opaque footless tights and these. I also had on my grey longline cotton cardi, so a very grey day all in all - not matching the beautiful clear weather we've been having at all! Sparkle sparkle.. x

Never nude

Nothing very new in this outfit except I love this top. It was a sale item and another risk-taker that has paid off. Always get compliments on this one, although perhaps that's because prior to this day I had never worn it with a singlet underneath and it is slightly sheer.. Once even got caught in the rain a little -_- The good news is I can vouch for the fact it dries quickly! x

Put another dime in the jukebox, baby

My boss commented that I was looking very "rock-chick" on this particular day. I'd had my hair cut the night before and it was full of layers and looking particularly edgy, so maybe she was right. This top was another sample sale one, and it has a picture of a girl's face in black pixels on the front, and a zip from the lower hem. Needed the black leather Calvin Klein belt for shape and black cardi with black skinny jeans and low-heel boots. The necklace is black beads and lace, and earrings were my black, flat plastic circles that look similar to plugs and have 2 white dice on them. x

Take a bow

I had to recycle this outfit because I didn't get time to take a photo of it before the last time I wore it to work, and when I came home that night after drinks I was waaay to drunk to remember to do so! I got this Guess Jeans tee from Savemart in Tauranga and it has tiny hearts all over and is a little sheer where the hearts are. The dress was a sale item from Glassons and the photo doesn't really do it justice. The straps cross over at the back and tie at the lower back in a bow, giving an apron-type effect. The bow I fell in love with at first sight, it can be either a brooch or a hairpiece, and I've only worn it once as the latter because it's so big and sparkly! Wore this all with opaque black tights and black low-heel boots. x

Frankly, my deer, I don't give a damn

Another sample sale Mambo gem, with a stag in brown ink on the front. The waistcoat was my mother's and I've never actually worn it but it fits like a charm! Back to the old (new) trusty skinny black jeans and boots with this one. Very happy with the way this ended up looking actually! x

Mambo #5

Got this Mambo tee from the sample sale at work too. Wasn't too sure about the fit or the design at first, but it's the pieces I take a chance and go outside my confort zone with that always end up pleasantly surprising me. This was on of those cases. The design kind of reminds me of American Indians, which I'm kind of loving right now and want more stuff that reminds me of that! Just wore this with grey distressed jeans, grey longline cardi and grey canvas sneakers. x

School of hard knocks

This is kind of a top/dress I got at a sample sale at work, where the white top is attached at the shoulders inside the black pinnafore part. It reminded both me and my flatmate of a school, and it has the cute little low pockets that everything seems to have lately. One part I really liked that this photo doesn't really do justice for is that the shoulders are slightly gathered to create a puff effect ^_^ Worn with black opaque tights and low-heel black boots. x

Ranch slider

I think the only reason I took a photo of this ensemble is because I felt like I looked like a cattle rancher all day. I was wearing this white blouse and black blazer with my bird necklace, blue jeans and black low-heel boots. I like to think I have costume-type themes some days and this was one of them. Yee-haw! x

Shimmy

Another sample sale gem this one! Unfortunately is a size too big for me but I ain't complaining for a sweetheart neckline for less than a dollar! Also had oversized pearl stud earrings and the amazing jacket again, as well as the skinny black jeans and knee-high flat boots. I think this is going to be my work outfit tomorrow too because I just wore it for a few hours to Burn The Floor which was AWESOME and makes me feel terrible for my lack of dancing skillz. Needs more practice space imo! Not to mention it was a gigantic perve-fest..

Tip for guys (not fashion related):

Learn to dance (well) and get visible muscle tone. Doesn't matter if you wear an open mesh one piece shirt combo and high-waisted pants, or anything for that matter! Swoon. x

Guess how much?

People hate when I play the "guess how much my outfit cost?" game, because it's about the only one I play, because I always win. The leggings are Rachel Hunter and the top part is actually a dress - both from sample sale yesterday where I got about 20 items and paid a grand total of $10. Only about 3 of them didn't fit so I'm stoked!! I took the white ruffle off the amazing jacket which totally did it justice. Because it was raining I went with the old trusty mid-calf boots - otherwise I might have opted for suede black heels.

So this was to go to my friend's birthday party last night, who I hadn't seen in 2 years, and his feedback was that my blog is pretty much useless to males. Now, I don't intend for this blog to be useful to anyone, in fact it's pretty much a joke project that has transformed into a way to make myself accountable for my appearance. But he's right, the marketing guru in me tells me that I'm alienating 50% off my potential audience base. So I either need more gratuitous flesh shots or.. I can write something guys might actually care about - albeit in a tongue in cheek way of course! So here goes..

FASHION TIPS FOR GUYS:

1. Most importantly!
As discovered last night, if you wear a shirt that domes up at the front, women will want to rip it open, there is no denying this fact. What you can do to make the most of this situation - invest in a Superman logo tee to wear underneath said shirt, when they rip it open they will be powerless to your advances. Or you'll at least get a laugh.

2. Learn to accentuate your assets!
Women are very good at this on the most part, we have bits we know guys like so we show them off. I'm not denying this fact. Alternately, we wear something that hints to their existence, but obscures them slightly, making it even more alluring. I know guys' body shapes and fashion are not as aesthetic as women's, however, most women have something about guys that they like. Find what your strengths are and play on them, this will only make you look better overall!

3. It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
You're never going to look like a douchebag. You're going to look important, or like you have somewhere else to be, or, at the very least, damn good. If you're reading a fashion blog you obviously have some inkling of a care-factor about your appearance so use that to your advantage, it will get you further than you think.

That's all I have right now because I just updated about 10 blog entries from the last 3 weeks. But feedback works wonders, and I'm happy for it. Have a great weekend. x

Groovy baby, yeah!

Another lucky sample sale find, this Voodoo Dolls top served me quite well over summer, perhaps so that it doesn't really suit in autumn, but I played on the 80s theme again. Teamed with distressed blue denim skinny jeans, the Acid Green AF1s, and a smoky blue woven trilby, I tried to lose the hippy aspect. If only it hadn't been in a crumpled heap it might have looked a bit better on. x

Avast ye scurvy dog!

Are you ready for this? The infamous/famous AMAZING JACKET!! As per norm, I found this in Chch, down to half price. The whole military look is so appealing to me, probably because I love detailing such as cool buttons. The lining is black and white vertical stripes, and the white frill is detachable! It reminds me so much of a pirate jacket that I had to go along with that, and wear my striped Tommy Hilfiger top and brand new (finally found some!) black skinny jeans :D Then topped off with knee-high kitten-heel pointy boots. This jacket is going to get some great use. x

Stupid boys, let's get some shoes!

This little number was an awesome find at a sample sale at work. I think it was a sample that the buyers obtained but never stocked - all the better for me considering I love one-off pieces! It's really cool but has to be worn with leggings or tights or, in my case, thermals! The bottom is elasticated and sits just under ass-level, so on me would be in decent otherwise. Obviously with a white tee or else it'd be indecent there too - the back is similar to that of overalls. The new slouchy black beret features, as well as the mid-calf boots that are seriously proving their worth - another Chch find, I clearly don't have time to go shopping unless I'm on holiday! x

Class it up!

This dress was another killer find in Chch, although I had to work hard to make it look classy! I wore it in a situation where I was possibly going to be confronted with someone I don't like who also seems to think they are better than me. Or is threatened by me? Who knows, I don't really subscribe to the bullshit. Except that I had to look better and also make it obvious that I looked better. So the cleavage can't help but be out in this dress (you may notice the sparkles which are gold shimmer dust NOT sweat!), the other issue is that it's rather short on me. On top of that, I don't have any tights clean and in a wearable condition - they really are a terrible invention in terms of resilience. In the end I went without tights, and wore the mid-calf boots I always wear. Then I added the white cardigan and some pearl accessories, including oversized stud earrings. I have an obsession lately with black berets. I've been dying to find one with a layer of wool over a layer of black sequins but to no avail. Instead I got a thick knit acrylic slouch one, and a wool traditional style one. The slouch one has already proved its worth in terms of wearability and versatility - as well as practicality. Then I just put a black knee-length coat over top of the whole thing. I looked damn good but, as the story goes, she never showed. Ah well! x

Get me 2 pair, I need 2 pair

I'm clearly loving this whole 80s revival as you can tell! This was to work - yes I wore leg warmers and Acid Green Air Force Ones to an office job. Teamed with thermals serving as leggings, the trusty flamingo tank, grey cotton cardigan, and the scarf I got from the Trade Aid shop during my last Chch visit over Labour Weekend last year. Wow this is a short post, didn't event make it to the bottom of the photos! Speaks for itself really though ;) x

Get your freak on

I just had to put these leggings in here, also in part because it's the first time I've worn leg-warmers outside of a costume party context :D This was for a fundraising Zumba class for Meg's netball team, and I had a lot of dirty washing that needed doing. When I bought the leggings I wondered when I'd ever get to wear them. With all my other exercise gear in the wash, and the whole culture behind Zumba, I figured it was the perfect opportunity. The leg warmers also served a purpose as it was pretty nippy that night! Just wore these with a plain white tee and my tennis shoes (best support for jumping side to side!) The leggings are Adidas Missy Elliott range :D x

Flying purple people eater

I went down to Christchurch for Queen's Birthday Weekend and this was the one notable outfit from that trip. I got there and was lulled into a false sense of security because it was early June and NOT abysmally freezing! In the 5 days I was there the temperature dropped probably about 10 degrees Celsius until on my last day it was hailing when I woke up. I didn't believe my 7 year old cousin when she told me that, the fool I am! I wore this ensemble when we went out for dinner, did some great shopping while I was down there too! (Thanks for your patience, Tree) The Adidas tee I got from an outlet sale, and the earrings I bought down in Chch. The rest is just basic distressed blue skinny jeans and I wore my knee-high, black, wedge sheepskin boots. Amazingly warm! But I do get the whole *look me in the eye, look down at my shoes, look back up at my height, look away* thing. I mean, I am close enough to 6 foot without heels so am well over with a decent pair! It seems to make people feel better knowing it's not all me. Except when it is.. x

So you wanna be a rock superstar?

About the only exciting thing I wore this day was my Volcom shirt, a score from Save Mart! Probably Tauranga Save Mart though, it's a treasure trove for op shops and second had stores down there! <3 Anyway, I love it because it has pink glitter and guitars on it. What more could a girl want?? x

Everybody's starry-eyed

This was for work one day - I was feeling 80s and was dying for some high-top black canvas or leather Chucks or something. Then I remembered I had these Pumas, although the first couple of times I wore them they were really painful :( I just got them for the stars really.. Unfortunately this is being written so far after the fact I have no clue as to the rest of the ensemble. All I know is, I wore thinner socks, took out my insoles, problem solved!! x

The inspiration for it all

OK as you may well have noticed, I much prefer doing this blog for the photos than the writing! Otherwise I may put more thought and effort into what I have to say. Sooo now I have to update about 10 posts way after the fact, starting with this one! I do remember this outfit well though, it's one of my faves and the one that inspired me to create this blog. It's the one I mentioned in my first post, before I thought to take photos. This was for a girl at work's leaving drinks/night on the town, and my god, the tights and woolen Carhartt hoodie served me well that night. It was freezing!! So because this outfit has already been described, I won't bore anyone with the details here. It can pretty much speak for itself!! Except maybe the Rocawear handbag, got that in Hawaii and it is so bling! x

No place like home

I seem to have a fetish for blue, sparkly shoes lately, I have, after all, bought 2 pairs in less than a month. These particular ones cost me $2.50 in a sample sale at work and are AWESOME, just quietly. Teamed with sheer stockings in an attempt to glamify another shirt dress, this time a black and white striped number with a black skirt. I'm dying to get a sparkly black beret to wear with this dress, however in this case the shoes had to do. Over the top a trusty black cardi I found on the floor of a club, and diamante earrings with the bird necklace I got from the Santa Parade markets.

Haven't taken any photos this week, partly due to featuring pieces I've already worn or not noteworthy, and partly because I forgot today until I got changed. Yesterday I felt a little Michael Jackson, in the white "maternity" top again, black cardi, black work pants, and lil white canvas shoes. All I needed was the rhinestone-studded white glove and some stripes down the sides of my pants.

Today was pretty awesome because it was raining so I had an excuse to wear my acid green and white Nike Air Force Ones. I don't really feel like they went with my outfit but they don't honestly go with much. I had on a pretty nondescript outfit of grey bootleg jeans, black (navy?) and white striped Tommy Hilfiger 3/4-sleeved top with silver and gold thread running through, and a black cardi over top.

I have a date tomorrow night though, so I have to think of something smashing to wear! ^_^ x

Don't go to Spain & go into the mountains & expect to see much rain

Before I get started, I have to rave about these amazing boots. I wore them because it was wet, and they are so painful after a day (or evening) of wear. However, they are gorgeous black leather with gold toe-tips and were my mum's when she was about my age. They cost her between $200-$300 back then in Spain, and are a perfect fit. I'm so lucky to have these! They are pretty much the highlight of any outfit, so I just wore blue distressed denim skinny jeans, the lovely navy top with awesome flower-detailed fabric, and black blazer. The necklace is really cool, I got it from some markets they had after the Birhenhead Santa Parade, and it has a kind of reverse image of a bird on the other side with more flower detail. Teamed this with my favourite glam diamante earrings I got from some jewellery closing down sale and are unfortunately down a few of the original stones. Still get compliments on them though! x

So Coco

In this outfit I got told I looked Coco Chanel and Jackie (Jacqui?) O. I think it was a bit more risque than these analogies imply. That is, this dress is quite short, even if it has long sleeves and cute oversized buttons, and the tights I was wearing were more sheer than I had initially thought. The pearls (necklace, bracelet and earrings) added a touch of class to counter this. And the Victorian-style boots are just an awesome favourite of mine this winter :)

Prior to this day I had been feeling run down so was just wearing comfy old favourites not worth mentioning. In fact I was in my pyjamas for most of Wednesday :( Bounced right back though! And still haven't learned to take care of myself.. x

Peter Pan called..

No photos from yesterday sorry, pretty much wore a collboration of the week's outfits/intended outfits to go bowling. Was a baby pink singlet with the pink batwing crop top over the black pleated mini skirt I wanted to wear to work on Friday and lil white canvas shoes. Then to dinner later I added black leggings because it's really getting cooold! A girl at dinner though awesomely had a lemon yellow top on and the same colour iPhone cover - I loved the co-ordination!

That reminds me, speaking of other people's clothes, and what the kids are wearing these days (not that we were).. On the way to Dan's to watch DVDs on Sat night I drove through Highbury to see 2 high school age girls, one of whom was wearing a grey oversized sweatshirt and black tracksuit pants. More to the point, the tracksuit pants were tucked into her Chuck Taylors. These weren't high-top Chuck Taylors though.. they were low tops. SO WEIRD. Although yesterday when I went shopping I saw stirrup pants and I was SO TEMPTED to get some. I may yet do so, but they're rarely long enough for my lanky legs!

Today I returned to the favourable flamingo top over baby pink singlet, teamed with black leggings - I really need to get some more of those. Because it was raining I wore my grey slouch ankle boots, which means my former boss usually tells me that Peter Pan called and he wants his boots back! To keep warm I wore my longline grey cardigan with my even longer line black woolen cardigan - makes me feel like I'm in my dressing gown all day ^_^ I put these with my zebra print resin chunky bangle and similarly detailed dangly metal circle earrings.

Trying to plan my outfits for the rest of the week now based on what I'm doing after work, it's a busy one so trying not to get any sicker than I feel now :< Can't seem to shake it since Fri. Wish me well! x

Shake your tailfeather

Every weekend I ahve good intentions of going out - but it doesn't always pan out. This weekend was one of those. I have been pretty much shattered all week and on Friday I awoke feeling like I was coming down with something. I still feel that way but it doesn't seem to have developed into anything *fingers crossed* More to the point, my plan last night was to go to my friend's and watch 80s movies on DVD, but I still dressed for going out - just in case. I have kind of a thing for lingerie, and being that I have just bought new stuff, I had to wear it - that would be the maroon strap. I also felt that my summer singlets didn't see enough light of day, so to speak, so I wanted to wear one of them. I'm quite fond of the flamingo top, partly because it pretends to be a dress, so I can be a nopants. I really don't like pants that much it seems. So I wore that with a baby pink singlet underneath, teamed with the grey footless tights. The plot thickens though. I was going to DVDs so wanted to be comfy, but if I went out I wanted to look good (didn't end up going out btw). So I wore my tan fleece slipper boots (not Uggs)and what I call my Grimace hoodie. I call it that because it's made of deep purple coral fleece, which means it looks like someone skinned Grimace (from McDonald's) and made a hoodie from his skin. It's super warm and comfy and cozy ^_^ I also took with me my double-breasted 6-button grey blazer and lil white canvas shoes as back up. Kept my bling in my ears from the day, and went with the always classic cleavage accessory :P I can't help it with that awesome bra! It's the Perfects Brazilian line, they have some amazing undies - 6 different kinds in each colour! I only have 3 kinds in 3 colours though, but I digress. x

Fame!

My work tries to be fun and cool by having a theme of dress every friday - this friday was no different. The theme of the day was "Crazy Shoe Friday" and I was going to wear my Baby Phat pink, white and gold sneakers with the top half of the outfit I ended up wearing. However, when I awoke it was pouring with rain outside, and I am very precious about my sneakers! I opted instead for the white leather lace up knee-high Converse boots. These usually draw comment, and on this particular day I had everything from superhero (Kick Ass)/The Bride from Kill Bill, to wrestler/boxer, to marching boots. I don't mind though, they are waterproof as anything and I hadn't worn them since Sarah's glam-rock themed leaving party nearly a year ago. I was going to wear black leggings and a black miniskirt but this didn't seem right without the sneakers, so I opted for the blue skinny jeans with studded black leather Calvin Klein belt again. On top, as mentioned, was the planned white singlet and pink batwing crop jersey - which my former boss fondly refers to as my "Fame" top, because it looks like I should be in the movie of the same name. So, generally, every time I see him in the corridor and work I do a fake run-jump off the wall and yell "Fame!" We crazy. I teamed these with silver hoop earrings and 2x oversized plastic bangles, which I have an unnatural penchant for.. Anyways, time to go ten pin bowling, yah!! x

Blanc de blanc

No story behind today's outfit really, was just going through my basket of clothes to wear some of the things I've worn once but aren't dirty yet. Picked out the white "maternity" top as I call it, which I need to wear a white tank underneath or else it's see-through. Black work pants and lil white canvas shoes because I didn't feel like wearing heels. As much as I always buy shoes and have millions, I think I have a shortage of comfy and practical heels for work. Wore the woolen Carhartt cream hoodie again because this weather is really taking a dive in the temperature department :( Topped it off with a white fabric flower headband on black elastic to make things slightly less professional and more feminine! I'm clinging to the thought that the shortest day is a month away so then we're on our way to summer again, yay!!! x

I said brr, it's cold in here!

The mornings are getting a bit nippy, although the weather still hasn't cooled down enough for people to buy winter clothing and heating from us. Shop at The Warehouse dammit! One of my fave winter outfits is my grey woolen babydoll dress with flower decals. I always have to wear a black tee under it so I don't have to wash it so often - wanting to keep it in a size that fits me for as long as poss. Teamed with black leggings again and calf-height low-heel slouch boots, with a longline grey cardi over top. I bought some really cute earrings from Whitianga that have bird and flower silhouettes on them that go perfectly with the dress so they were the finishing touch. Very wintery outfit but totally fits the weather :) x