How long do i have to hold my breath for?

There are many things that leave me out of breathe; the gym, the thought of drowning, that very restrictive dress in my closet, but nothing makes me gasp for more air than sending out an email to prospective work experience companies.  It has been a couple of weeks since I sent out the "please take me, please love me, please, please, PLEASE give me work experience" email.  It was time for follow-ups.  It was time to add more companies to my list.  It was time to throw my dignity out on the line and pray a bird doesn't decide to shit on it.

I didn't have to type away for long with the lack of magazines made in Melbourne; I send a follow-up email to Melbourne Wedding and Bride and a first email to The Fashion Journal.  I took a breath and its been holding ever since.

 People go on-and-on about you needing the right attitude to break this business but I don't believe that is everything.  How about talent?  I'm not sold on the idea that I have any yet, so it's hard to imagine a 30 year-old me typing away day-in and day-out.  Then again, what about the magnitude of people who are talented in areas and never get anywhere with it?  What happens to them?  How long can talent keep you going?  When does persistence and a great ability to talk yourself up become the deciding factor?

I'll keep you updated when I start breathing again.  Stay with me guys, it might be a slippery slope now, but hopefully you will be able to read me in a glossy magazine and say: "I read her first pieces of 'published' writing".  It is true, this blog does count as being published. Boo Ya!

Love Me.

A declaration of love

When it comes to Facebook I was a late bloomer.  In the year I have been ‘socially hooked up’ I have learnt one thing:  if you are in love – or luf as my friend and I like to refer to it as (another word for lust or fake contrite love) – then you must display your affections all over the internet.  “Candid” photos of the happy couple kissing or snuggling in bed, artistic close ups, or even just photo-after-photo of the lovers together.  It is out of control and really just makes all us single, lonely and apparently un-dateable counterparts want to jam a knife into them.  Normally I am in the latter group but today it is all about to change.

I might not be declaring my love on Facebook but I feel this is just as good.  I, Rebecca, have fallen in love for the first time in my entire - 20 years - of life.  Who am I in love with; a skirt.  A beautiful pink and leather Alannah Hill skirt.  It supports me all day, it tells me I look pretty, it is friends with most of my tops and best of all, its mine – and perhaps a couple others.  Lets be honest Alannah Hill isn’t that exclusive.  In true Facebook fashion I am going to leave you with photos of my new love and me.

Love Me.

A fine romance has begun

Collette Dinnigan never fails to produce girly, sexy and wearable clothes.  Her Autumn/Winter 2010/11 collection caught my eye this week.  Most of the collection is black however each piece is texturally diverse.  Dinnigan used a lot of lace, snakeskin, tulle and intricate beading.  At first glance each piece can seem quite boring and plain.  When looking closer you notice the black dress is actually made from at least two different materials.  Delve even closer and you see the little sliver number is actually made from dyed snakeskin.  It’s refreshing to see an Australian designer making clothes that are feminine this winter.  Many – for example Sass and Bide and Willow - are opting for more edgy and masculine garments.  The clothes seem awkward and unflattering on a woman’s body.  On the other hand, Dinnigan’s collection nips in the right places.  It emphasises the waist, the length of the garments are youthful and respectful, and the necklines are sweet and sexy.  All-in-all I love this collection and I wish I could add a few of these pieces to my wardrobe.

To see the whole collection head to Vogue.

Love Me.

Image: vogue.com

"Nursery Rhymes for the Blahnik Brigade"

Today i cleaned my room and stumbled over a book: This Little Piggy Went To Prada by Amy Allen.  I had forgotten all about it.  I received it as a birthday present last year.  Sitting on my bed I realised what a gem this little book is.  It's a book of nursery rhymes changed around for "the Blahnik Brigade".  My housemate and I sat down and picked out two favorites.  Enjoy.

Hey Diddle Diddle

Hey diddle diddle,
the skirt fits my middle,
Mummy is over the moon.
Giorgio laughed,
"to see her size halved...
she'll be back in Armani soon!"

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

One, two, three, four, five -
hogan trainers in my size,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten -
evening dress by Ralph Lauren.
Off to Sloane Avenue,
for Gaultier and Jimmy Choo,
Kenzo and Agnes B,
design for children, thankfully.

How to dress like a toddler

It is Easter.  Now to some Easter may just mean chocolate and parties but for a group of people it means church.  Now being the good little friend I am, I ventured to the 3pm mass with my best friend.  Sitting down – in a freaking uncomfortable pew – my mind started to wonder.  As an atheist the priest’s words of wisdom were of no interest to me, so I took the hour and a half to take note of those around me.  The children wiggling around on the floor and reading books about insects soon began my favourite people to stare at.  Apparently I was witness to a picture of the largest insect in the world.  Amazing!  

I also began to notice the clothes: The tidy and un-kept clothes, the tatty and the ratty, the clothes I wouldn’t even want my housemates to see me in.  Sweat pants and jersey tops were a favour among men.  The women adorning lovely floral tops and sexy tan pants.  It was a sad point in my day when I realised the most well dressed people were the toddlers.  What is it the makes parents dress their children amazingly but forget to give themselves the same consideration?  

So here is my tip to looking good if you are heading off to church this weekend; ladies please wear a nice knee-length (or just above the knee) skirt or dress.  Guys it’s called ‘a nice pair of slacks’.  Not to difficult to find.  Now if you go into your wardrobe and realise that everything you own could possibility to give the priest a hard-on, then a great back up would be anything pale pink or purple.  Don’t forget they are the catholic colours for Easter.

Love Me.

We Don't Need To Look Good Naked... We Have Style

Happily driving down the street.  Heading into school – on a day I don’t need to, so the happy bit was a little strange really.  Music was blasting in my ear as I sung along to the latest trashy song.  Then my eyes locked onto the car in front of me. “Fashion sucks: the only label you should ask for is this one”.

 

It takes me a while to realise exactly what I was reading.  Although some people think I’m a reckless driver I do actually focus on the road.  I felt a sense of outrage.  The idea that anybody who doesn’t see the value of getting up and putting on that gorgeous skirt, dress, pants or shirt has the nerve to judge those who do.  How does liking fashion make us any more stupid than them?  This guy for instance was in a rundown, white van.  It was nothing special and neither was the man in it. 

It’s a known fact; looking good gets you further in life.  Think of it like this.  Two people go for a job interview.  One person is wearing a cute outfit; the other is wearing sweat pants.  I’m confident enough to say that the person in the cute outfit will get the job even if the other person is more qualified.  Fashion tells the world who you are, who you want to be.  Looking at a person can tell you whether they are rich or poor, do they like colour or even are they confident enough to step out of the mainstream trends. 

Why would you want to hide away from an everyday and normal expression of yourself?  Everyone has to get up in the morning and put clothes on.  You do it from birth.  Even naturalists need to put clothes on to get to a place where they are allowed to be naked – unless of course they are happy to get slapped with a indecent behaviour fine.  Why hide from clothes?  Why be scared of looking good?  Why judge those who make an effort? 

Anna Wintor, editor-in-chief of Vogue, said in The September Issue, a documentary about Vogue, that even she felt judged by her family because she puts her time and energy into clothes.  Her family however are all in more ‘serious’ professions.  If Wintor gets judged then I suppose there is no hope for us little fish.  Until fashion is seen as serious there will always be somebody thinking they are better.  Just remember, at least we look gorgeous no matter what we do.

Love Me.

Tailors may be our answer

Trends.  Seasons.  Skinny.  Curvy.  Black.  Everywhere we turn it seems we are being told what we should or should not wear.  Now sometimes this is good.  It should be heard.  It should become a mantra but sometimes it helps to criticise, to analyse.  If you don’t believe me then watch Funny Face.  It taught me one really obvious and simple rule: everyone shouldn’t wear pink head to toe.  More specifically - if you didn’t catch my Funny Face joke - is that the people who tell us these absurd creations aren’t even abiding by their own rules.  They see the lunacy of it.  They have realised that just because it sits nicely on a runway doesn’t mean it sits nicely on a street.   Kay Thompson, actress in Funny Face, highlighted this very point for her 1950s audience.

So maybe you’re beginning to re-evaluate that recent impulse purchase of a hair necklace.  Starting to wonder how much money you could have saved on clothes that don’t suit you.  Well I may have a curer. 

Tailors may be our answer. 

A little beckon of hope for those who want to create not regurgitate trends.  All those women who are recognised in society for being fashionable, for being fashion forward do not follow others.  They are not sheep, they do not see the person in-front of them and think I better act exactly as they are.  No.  They branch out and turn something quirky and unusual into a garment to be loved and admired.  

Tailors may be our answer. 

The answer for all those women and men who not only want to be ‘trendy’ but want to look GOOD as they are doing that.  Imagine how good it will feel to have someone come up and say: ‘that skirt is amazing.  It suits your body so well.  It’s so flattering.  Where did you get it?  I have the same body shape as you and I find it impossible to get anything to look that good on me.  I thought it was my fault.  But apparently not.’  You can then turn around and let them in on that little secret.  The answer is a Tailor. 

Ok I must specify something here.  When I say the answer is a Tailor what I actually mean is the answer is a GOOD tailor.  Shop around till you find someone you can trust to be quick, worth the money and has talent. 

There have been so many times I have walked for ages around the shops trying to find something very specific.  Knowing exactly what I wanted and never found it.  This winter for example I become in love with the idea of a cream skirt that came just above my knee.  I wanted this skirt to be made in heavy cotton that can be worn for winter, summer and job interviews.  I feel in love with something impossible.  It unfortunately doesn’t exist at the moment.  I do that a lot - don’t get me started on navy pants, dark brown boots, aubergine coloured tops and cream light hooded tops.  So perhaps I too should take my own advice. 

A tailor may also be MY answer.

Love Me.