Freedom of speech is something that I've always taken for granted. I had never thought about how incomparably lucky I am to be a straight, white, cis-gendered woman with access to incredible education and resources to extend my understanding on the world. Never in my life have I had to think about things as being not just as they are. As a woman I deal with implicit sexism in all parts of my life, the littlest things that are embedded so far into our culture that people don't actually think that they're sexist. 

Our unconscious forms of sex-bias are arguably, far more dangerous than the explicit oppressive acts of patriarchal males. Our unconscious racism, homophobia and discrimination of all sorts has created a society of morally ignorance. Is it excusable for these implicit forms of discrimination to continue, given that we've never been criticised for all the ways that what we are doing is wrong? 

My whole life I chose to be morally ignorant to the realities of animal abuse, because doing so benefited me. I chose to be morally ignorant of the realities of the daily discrimination of people because of class, race and sex, because these issues never affected me. It has gotten to a point where we are so used to how our lives have been built on the oppression of those around us, that rather than acknowledging our wrongdoings and serving to address them, we feel guilty. Rather than turning guilt into a productive emotion, we donate money to charities that do more harm than good for the 'benefactors.' We vote for the 'better' political party, so at least when the other party stuffs up you can justify your guilt because "I didn't vote for them!"

In order to create change we need to evaluate ourselves and our understanding of the world on a microscopic scale. We need to become aware of the implicit discrimination that clouds our individual judgement of others. We need to stop feeling guilty for things we have no control over and start using what we have been blessed with to create change. Rather than feeling guilty that I was raised in an upper-middle class environment and have the ability to think and speak freely when millions can't, I'm working to realise the power of thought and grasping onto how lucky and grateful I am that I can actually cause change. 

This is not a macroscopic issue, it's an issue that starts with us as individuals. It starts with calling our friends out if they say something that isn't okay. It continues with gaining the foresight and the self reflexivity as individuals to the point where we won't even need to filter what we are saying and thinking, in turn destroying our preconceived discriminatory views on others. I no longer believe, (in my white girl wonderland) that ignorance is an excuse to destructive views on anyone different to us, we have the world at our fingertips and need to educate those around us. Change starts at home. Change starts with swapping negativity with positivity. One single thought can start a revolution within yourself. We have no excuse.  

 

5/12

As tedious as it is for every single person in every month to say "Wow! This year has flown!" it is the absolute purpose of this post. The first five months of this year have been filled with extremes both socially and relating to fashion. There are so many trends and icons and such an influx in style tips and it is giving me so pleasure to sift through them. I personally have been living on substantially less money than I was this time last year, and as an extension I've unleashed a new talent of creating rad outfits (if I do say so myself) on a shoestring budget.
Everyone featured in these photos have influenced me incomparably and have forced me to be creative in what I wear, which I'm thrilled about.

I'm obsessed with layering, loose dresses, long coats and good shoes.

Liv xo

no one man should have all that power

The end of 2014 and beginning of 2015 have successfully placed themselves as the absolute best months of my life. The change from working seven days a week at a job I only just tolerated to a month away in Byron Bay and most excitingly, Japan has enhanced not only my appreciation for life, but also fashion and the power it has in unifying people from around the world.
This journey, so to speak began at Falls Festival and has concluded where I am now, in Tokyo with a newfound appreciation for style and intense passion for fashion (realistically, this started when I first got a Bratz doll.) I've been fortunate enough to experience and observe two entirely different worlds and how not so different they are as fashion has combined to create the pinnacle of all generations, social groups, interests and climates to create what we have now. It's both overwhelming and brilliant.

Falls Festival was excruciatingly hot, the shower situation grew dismal as the days went on and all aspirations for perfect hair and makeup, for me at least were made futile. However, rising from this saw people like me, go out to idealistically pick up men wearing no makeup, having not shaved in a week and wearing yesterday's socks. I don't necessarily condone the last point however you've got to do what you've got to do. What I liked about this was that it was genuine and people were taking control of what they had, and working it. Surprisingly though, this has been paralleled in Tokyo. I've seen countless women who while they may be clean shaven and showered, are wearing subtle, if any makeup and looking so unbelievably powerful because they're confident and also dressed immaculately. What I've picked up the most from Byron and Shibuya is that 2015 is a year of power and my aesthetic for 2015 is powerful but stripped back. I'm not even sure that description will make sense however, if 2015 is to be as powerful a year for me as intended I want my clothes to reflect such. The stripped back part of this ideal comes in with wanting to be powerful, however not intimidating. Moreover, coupling oversized coats of bold colours with slim lined pants and six hole doc martens combines the hyper-femme with masculine whilst not being too far one way or the other. Dresses tailored to fit coupled with statement jewellery, reflect control and furthers the image of power through refinement.

From my perspective, 2015 is about having clothes that fit properly, healthy bodies, healthy attitudes and a culmination of all the best experiences we have had and will have. The past month for me, has been the happiest of my life, going unrivalled against anything else I've done. I want this attitude to be reflected in my work and clothes, bringing the summer into winter and vice versa. If I've learnt anything from the remarkable people I've seen and met from my travels it's that power comes through fashion and that is a trend that has been cultivated around the world, and one that won't die.

I can't attach any photos from my phone but rest assured, when I get home there will be a bombardment.

Liv xo

trend setter

I've touched on this in the past, but as I've started figuring out my style and how I want my style to evolve, the concept of a 'trend' as opposed to 'style' has been taking up my thoughts more so than it probably should. I'm not the most stylish person I know, I'm not the most trendy person either but how I dress on each day is a direct portrait of how I feel. I use clothes as more of a means to represent what's going on with my life, this started off as a subconscious thing but I've recently tuned on to this phenomenon that has ruled my life and here we are, I've been wearing black nonstop for the past week because I'm stressed with uni work, have a chest infection and am 300% done.

However, the other night I was out and I bumped into a group of my friends who were all wearing the exact same thing; a denim mini skirt, cropped top, converse and with their long straight hair in a ponytail. For me, this was completely ridiculous and I felt both uncomfortable and out of place as I wore a sheer black top, black shorts and flatforms. Yet, they seemed so content with all being dressed in the same way. All of my friends, some of whom the most stylish people I know have mentioned it to me and how weird it is that they were perfectly comfortable being dressed in the same uniform of sorts, and how if we had been in the same situation we'd have changed. It was remnant of when we were twelve and would go to the local shopping centre (to attract boys) wearing a quirky shirt from Jay-Jays, denim shorts, converse and maybe on a chilly day, leggings under the shorts. 

I don't know whether it was the culmination of this, or the consistent boyfriend jeans/stripy t-shirt/converse seen at university that made me go through all of my clothes and throw out any garments that I've seen a maximum of five other people wear.  It's part of the superiority complex that's reached it's pinnacle since turning 19. The thing is, people who have a unique style pervade an image of confidence and effortlessness, this image is something that I'm yearning to emulate. I know that when I am dressed well I'll have a good day, it's a combination of people stopping to comment on how nice I look and feeling content with life. 

There's a certain uniform that envelopes so many teenage girls, apparently, according to my mother this phenomenon is called a trend. However this same phenomenon removes individuality from clothes, it removes the dressing for a mood as being a way of expression and makes doing such appear as an anomaly. I think building up a style is something that evolves over time and with age, but when you see so many girls all dressed the same, it's very easy to put them all in the same category of the masses. It's only enhanced by the mass reproduction that clothes are made now and how much cheaper it is to buy basics that coincidently everybody has. I think that socially we should promote an image of individuality in the way you dress as being good for the soul, because it is. When you are dressed head to toe in an outfit that you've worked hard to create as a representation of you it's a really positive thing. We live in a society ruled by fashion dos and don'ts but dressing in a style that represents you is probably the best thing one can do, this retired artist walks her dog with me every week. She's dressed as you'd expect a retired pop-artist to, and she looks immaculate which is what I can only dream of.

Kylie Jenner sporting the Sydney University (unofficial) uniform

Fran Fine/Drescher. I truly love her and what she wears more than life.

Grimes being cool (as usual)

Solange Knowles, ultimate goddess.

Liv xo

lara bingle

Since I cut my hair short I've been obsessed with Lara Bingle and her street style and hair style and just everything.

This year has been iconic and I think I'm in love.

Slowly but surely making the metamorphosis into her. 

Liv xo 

but shiiiit it was 99 cents

There are a few things in life that make me feel infinitely happy and when I do said things my whole life changes and rainbows appear and I realise the beauty of life again and again. One of these things is going shopping at vinnies/salvos etc, far more so than just going shopping at a centre. Purely because of the sense of accomplishment that comes along with finding treasure within someone else's trash, which is why I find myself going to various 'thrift shops' weekly. I use no exaggeration when I say weekly because I genuinely go out of my way to make the commute to my local vinnies every week because well, there's always something new to discover and a new project to start.

Now, I'm not making this post to be like "yeah I just LOVE vinnies all my clothes are either designer or from op shops haha!" Because people who make a point of where they purchased their clothes are the worst kind of people but rather, make a point of just how good op shops can be and how the negative stigma surrounding vinnies is both unwarranted and unfair. For me, shopping at second hand shops was something my father instilled in me as he was quite into making the most of ones means and living sustainably. I used to hate the idea of wearing someone who I didn't know's old clothes (that's not to say I didn't live in hand me downs up until I was about 12) because if they were in vinnies someone obviously died in them???? gross???? I'll just wear my brothers' old sneakers and live in peace??? But not really, because once you discover that all of these preconceived values are dumb you live a lot more simply and gain sincere fulfilment from scavenging through the racks and racks of clothes until you find the kind of treasure that all of your friends resent you for.

Which is exactly what happened to me and what changed my entire life, because Vinnies stock the same things you would find at the markets but for a quarter of the cost and the money you spend goes to a really good cause which I think is the most important. Most of the staff at vinnies stores are volunteers, the donations are given by people who don't want anything in return and the money made goes to people in need. Moreover, you find some serious gems that General Pants try to stock in store to mimic, it's a win-win and I can't sing my praises enough.

I'm going to conclude this with a few dorky images of the some best things I've bought whilst 'thrifting' and encourage you to do the same. I've found some serious gems at a Vinnies in the snowy mountains, and equally as good items in Paddington, the world is your oyster.

Dress - $5.00 

Leotard - $5

Skirt - $3

Skirt - $8

Faux Fur Coat - $15

This doesn't even cover an eighth of the things I've found thrift shopping, and I wish you all the luck in the world. 

Liv xo

where have you been?

The concept of finding yourself, in my humble opinion is a drastically overrated and unrealistic one. I say this because this whole year when people have asked me what I'm doing with my life I've replied with "I'm just sticking with this degree until I find myself and what I want to do with my life." The issue with this statement and the supportive "I hope it works out for you" that comes in response, is that it implies that the current state by which I find myself isn't really the one that I'd like to, or should have for the rest of my life.

The pressure we place on ourselves to figure out what we want to be or who we want to be is the most toxic of all the things we can do to ourselves. The seven month European holidays where we hope to find enlightenment, thrusting ourselves into degrees because it might work out or going on drastic lifestyle changes in the quest to find the meaning of life - to varying degrees each place a pressure on ourselves that we need not have or deserve. I mean, we underestimate our current self and attributes to such a large extent that we're constantly pursuing the life of perfection. When I finished school I was very lost and unsure of what I was going to do with myself, I put a lot of pressure on the first half of the year and ended up disappointing myself in that I still haven't figured out what I'm doing with my life and feel as though I'm doing a degree simply for the sake of doing a degree. However, I've realised that all life choices we make help to obtain the final goal. For me, I just genuinely want to be happy and I can't give myself a time frame in accomplishing that goal because then I'll inevitably end up disappointing myself, which I don't deserve.

That's not to say that all quests of self enlightenment are futile and end in disaster but I feel as though finding yourself is a state that comes organically from all experiences had in life and not something that can be made. So really what I'm saying is that we should relieve pressure from ourselves because we have enough pressure from other aspects of life, just be happy in what you do and you'll find yourself when the timing is right.

Liv xo