Bead it!

I have been a bad blogger lately. Not sure if it’s a bit of writer’s block or if I’ve been occupied with so many other things that I just don’t have the energy for writing. I have a feeling the blogging may be a bit intermittent until the end of October, so please be patient with me!

I like to refer to these beads as my flapper beads. My lovely friend Jan purchased them for me many moons ago in H&M after I nearly swiped some vintage glass beads of the same colour that she possessed. I have searched for a vintage glass version, but they’re a bit pricey for my purse strings these days. I love beads in their many forms, especially long beads because they can have a bit of swing and you can play with them when you’re bored.

I hadn’t worn these in quite a while, but have a feeling they will be in rotation quite a bit this autumn/winter. I’m looking forward to deep jewel tones and bought myself a little rust coloured dress at H&M on Sunday. I look forward to pairing it with these beads, a number of other necklaces, scarves, a top underneath, a cardigan on top, various tights, brown shoes, black shoes...I was going to try and hold off wearing it until September, but have a feeling it will make its first appearance this week...

Accent Enough

Sometimes even I wear something that doesn’t require accessorising. This dress is one of those somethings. It’s Marks and Sparks from last A/W, I’m thinking if I can find the right pair of trousers I can use this top to pull of the tunic and trousers look. Of course finding trousers that suit my pear shape and the money in my budget for them is another matter...

Favourite T

You know you have one. It has faded, has holes, the screenprint is cracked or has faded beyond recognition and it has absolutely no shape to it whatsoever. It has survived purge after purge. You might have purchased it yourself or stole it off a parent/significant other/not-so significant other...it’s your favourite T...used to wear it everyday...

This beauty is from a gig I went in Houston, Texas at the age of 14. I was (probably still am a little) obsessed with Evan Dando and while it wasn’t my first gig – that honour goes to Milli Vanilli, redeemed by the fact that Young MC opened – it was one of my most memorable. My glasses got kicked off my face in the mosh pit because everyone was so angry in the mid-90s that you moshed even at a Lemonheads concert and I actually couldn’t see the gig.

These calamities did not prevent the t-shirt my father bought me that night from taking pride of place in my wardrobe for over 15 years. It doesn’t really get worn in public these days, but it does get slept in frequently enough.

Luckily in 2007 I was able to see my teen hero play Dublin with my friend Yvonne and courtesy of her mate Trev, who got us on the guest list. We had a bit to drink beforehand and were squealing like teenage girls. This time I wore my contacts just in case there was a mosh pit and I made sure to make my way as close to the stage as I could for a good part of the gig. 

Lurking Good

There is a rather large pile of laundry in my room and I just can’t seem to find the will to tackle it. It really wouldn’t take much to do...

This of course required the wearing of clothes that have been lurking in the drawers for a while.  I am pleased that they got a bit of an outing and that I got to let out a bit of my inner hippy.  At the age of 13 I was obsessed with tie-dye shirts and bell-bottoms...at times the song remains the same...though this shirt is a lot more revealing then one I'd have worn then.

Top:Urban Outfitters

Jeans: Gap

Bag: Ebay

Sunglasses: American Eagle Outfitters

Bracelets: Stolen from my mom and Bernard Shaw Carboot Sale

P.S. You can’t see them in the photos here, but I have persevered with the wedges of pain and was able to walk around in them for most of today without a problem - vaseline on the skin where the shoes are rubbing seems to have finally done the trick!

Reacquainted - Wedges of Pain

I seem to be going through a period of rediscovery with a number of items in my closet. This week I was staring at the great wall of shoes in my bedroom – it’s more of a mess of shoes on the floor that seem to end up creating a barrier than a lovely organised wall of shoes – and thought, ‘meh’.

Remembering that I have a number of pairs of shoes that get neglected, I decided to pull out a pair of wedges that I have owned for about 4 years.

Theoretically everything about them is right. They are leather, comfortable, not terribly high, good with jeans or dresses and they make my legs look mega long. They were quite affordable and they kept showing up in magazines post-purchase, so I felt like I got the purchase of a lifetime from Topshop.

So what is wrong with them? The first few times I wore them I seemed to fall at least once in them, part of this was clumsiness and/or levels of intoxication, but the other was that the sole is quite narrow and if you hit any kind of uneven payment the wobbles begin. The other issue is that they rub in a few places. I have persevered with shoes previously and won the battle, but am unsure if it will work with these, based on below:

Monday: Right heel rubbed a bit raw. Stitching near buckle on right wedge rubs ankle and actually cuts into it. Loosen down a notch to no avail.

Tuesday: The heel part is fine, but the ankle thing getting increasing uncomfortable. Tried rubbing vaseline repeatedly on portion of shoe that is doing the damage, seems to improve it for a bit, but then back to square 1.

Wednesday: Now the left ankle is also cutting into me. As above in terms of attempts to correct.

I love these shoes, but they are abusing me and I am reminded why they haven’t been worn much. Anyone have any tips? Or tales of abusive accessories?

En Soie

I have my own little fashion rules in my head – I am never sure if these are just completely my own or if I heard them somewhere and adopted them. One is not to wear knee-high leather boots in summer and every year I try not to wear a winter coat until after 1 October.

These compulsions make summer wardrobe choices a daily series of battles within my head and/or with the elements.

“Is it going to rain? It’s a bit too warm for the rain mac, but what if gets cold?” 
“Sun might peek out, will I put on my contacts so I can wear my sunglasses?” 

“No, you can’t wear an all black outfit – it’s summer for f**k’s sake and you are not a goth!”

There is a lovely and easy solution to the last one in the form of this lovely Hermes scarf purchased on holiday in Biarritz about 3 years ago. When I was originally looking in the shop, I fell in love with this same style, but on a cream background with pinks, reds and oranges when I went to buy it, the only non-display version was the dark blue one here, but I decided I liked it more because it included a few more colours and would not show any stains should anything get on the scarf.

I wear this piece quite often and I can’t believe I haven’t written about it before as it is one of my prized possessions and would be saved in a fire. I love the colours, the shape and the fact that the entire pattern is in the shape of an elephant when viewed from a slight distance. (I’ve had a thing for elephants since the 5th grade). If ever I develop an allergy to silk it will be framed and hung on the wall...

Tightening & Transforming Belts

It’s the weekend before payday. Every month I swear that it will be different that I will stick to my budget and have loads of cash to spend on the last weekend of the month.  Inevitably I find some amazing find on ebay or in the shops or a friend calls to invite me out and I have to say, ‘Ummm...actually...umm’

The good thing is that it forces me to get creative, today’s examples:

• A cocktail of muddled nectarines and vodka with some ginger, brown sugar, a dash of nutmeg and topped up with tonic was created. Verdict is that the mix was quite tasty, but nectarines were very pulpy. You would be better off infusing the vodka with nectarines.
• I spied my little AA rope belt this morning and just had to wear it, unfortunately it wouldn’t really tie right as a belt on my dress and I couldn’t loop it as a crown on my head for the office without raising numerous eyebrows. I wore it as a necklace.

Some say economic strife leads to heightened creativity and today, I definitely agree.