Style

As I'm writing this, the distant sound of 12 year olds getting drunk for the first time and the more comforting sound of rain on my tin roof fills my ears. This past week has been filled with some beautiful chilly, sunny days and the wet wintery mornings that Sydney's grown accustomed to from the past couple of years. This can only mean one thing, Winter is looming and I cannot tell you how thrilled I am for it.

Thus far the wintery trends I'm seeing are the punk-rocker seemingly androgynous staples coupled with chic black dresses and lush capes and coats. (On the topic of lush capes I bought this beautiful black cape the other week, I'll post a photo when I wear it out. Its $200 of bliss.) But regardless, so far the wintery trends have failed to disappoint. There's studs, gothic romance, bright colours, florals and luxe prints. There's something (in Australia at least) for everyone. But I'm not into the 'Westfield style shopper' pamphlet on how to look trendy this season because I found this quote by Edna Woolman Chase - "Fashion can be bought. Style one must process." I love this quote, because while I'm not necessarily the most fashionable or even stylish person I know, but the people who are most admired in the fashion field are the ones who aren't afraid to wear their own personal style. If you look at Sydney, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Paris, London or wherever's street style websites you'll see a collaboration of quirky people wearing quirky clothes that look beautiful because you know, it's their style. The fashions in shopping centre's are just fashions and at the end of the day people who just wear what's in season will end up wasting looooads of money because fashions go in and out but style is eternal.

That's not to say wear like jeggings if that's your style because that's not stylish, I'm talking grab a whole mix of items and see what you can come up with. Draw inspiration from people, places, photos, songs, movies...whatever floats your boat. I'm slightly in the process of figuring out my style now, at the moment it's darkish lipstick and boots but that's mainly because I just got my braces off so am revelling in the freedom of lipstick. But I have this friend, who as well as being a superstar fashionista has such a unique style, that while I wouldn't necessarily wear everything that she wears (and I'm sure that the same can be said from her to me), but I can still appreciate that that's her and that she looks a lot better than me when I'm wearing some weird dress my nanna bought me with some heaps buckled boots because I'm trying to be a grunge queen. She's got her style and she's not changing it for anyone, and there's a certain admiration that goes along with that because while I can rant on on a blog about the importance of having a unique style I myself don't put these words into practice, which is my mission for winter.

I can do 90's because that's an era that appeals to me, but at the same time I can do 2013 fashions too because that's also kind of a year that is somewhat appealing, I don't know I feel like this is a lot wankier than I intended it to be. But I'm talking, don't not wear heels because you're already tall, seriously only in the past like month I've discovered this...people would love to be 5'10" just embrace it.
You never know, some of your best outfits can come out of you being creative.

Liv xo

Cafe crawling

Quite a few months ago someone I know told my friend that she didn't know what to do when hanging around with us because all we do is go to cafes and markets and all we talk about are cafes and markets. I'd never even realised this before but actually my ideal weekend would be going to some form of market with my friends, buying some fab clothes then going to a trendy cafe and basking in how alternative and indie we are. If not with my friends, my mum's new years resolution was to try a new cafe or restaurant every month so often my response on Monday morning when someone asks about my weekend is "Oh my god I went to the nicest cafe on Saturday..."

And then I got a job in a cafe so really, I'm spending like 70% of my weekend in a cafe or foodery of some description. Spending money that I earn't in pretty much the same place? Sounds crazy but it's shamefully true. Now don't get me wrong, it's not like I spend literally all my time at cafes but I can now safely say that I know all the 'trade secrets' of cafes and how important cafe etiquette can be. I don't even just mean cafe etiquette in the manners aspect but in the what one should wear aspect as well.  

Generally the people who hang around cafes are there to be seen. It may not seem like it, but it's true. Cafes are the nightclubs for the under 18's who rate themselves as cultured. Including me. In order to make a lasting impression at a cafe, because who knows who you might bump into, one needs to dress the part.

I plan my outfits around which suburb the cafe is in, most people don't do this but if I was going to a trendy grungy cafe in Surry Hills I'd be dressing far differently than if I was going to Starbucks. It's a fact of my life. One time my friend who lives a 10 minute bike ride away and I went to the other side of Sydney for breakfast because she'd heard of a really nice cafe over there. 

Family Friendly cafes are a no go zone. Dog friendly cafes are a no go zone. Cafes with play equipment are a no go zone.  Cafes where you're likely to see someone who was on Australia's Next Top Model are where you want to be. I think this is why you have to dress the part because at the end of the day, you need to look like you belong to the elite crowd. It's like Sydney's equivalent to the Upper East Side, except you're from Brooklyn. 

Now once you're all dolled up in the season's latest trends, ready to be snapped up by Sydney Street Style you can finally venture the 45 minutes it takes you to get your morning coffee. Then once you're there, you have to order something off the menu that will photograph well on Instagram. It's a constant struggle, the days of going to a cafe simply for a coffee are long gone. But not after you've scoured the internet for markets in the area or warehouse sales or looked out for signs of a garage sale. It'll look desperate when the Barista asks you what you're doing today if you don't answer with "oh just going shopping you know, then I'll probably go to this gig or art opening I don't know, whatever happens."

Even if you just go to cafes to pick up a bacon and egg roll to nurse your hangover on a Sunday morning, just keep a lookout for those of us who are living the cafe lifestyle. Normally they're 17 year old girls using their iphones to update their instagrams. I'm allowed to say this because I'm one of them, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Liv xo

PS Proper fashion post coming soon!!! (this time it's about winter 2013) x 

f@$h10nis+a

Okay so I'm not a particularly 'fashion aware' person, like I read vogue and have a tumblr and take an interest in models and whatnot but I don't claim to have an extended knowledge on this topic. But there's something that's really not working for me of late and that is the 'fashionistas' of today who have watched the Victorias Secret show in 2012 and now think they have a huge knowledge on models. Now, I myself watched the show but it was more so I could get motivation to get a body like Candice's but there are so many people who upon watching the show now have a feigned interest in fashion and an obsession with Cara Delevigne. The only thing I can compare this to is when the Notebook came out and everyone suddenly loved Ryan Gosling.

Don't get me wrong, I love Cara because she's crazy and isn't so serious in photos but I cannot even put into words how much it shits me when people (mostly 14 year olds who went through the hipster phase but are now moving into the vs phase) talk to me about how much they adore fashion and how Adriana Lima is so revolutionary and how the new Versace line is oh so chic. Especially when they start talking in French to seem high fashion when they don't realise that 'Oh la la' actually means oh dear.

I feel really pretentious and stupid writing these because by no means am I a fashion extraordinaire but I do know the difference between a high fashion model and a commercial model and I can appreciate that the two have a pretty vast difference and while I can appreciate both, I'm not going to pretend that a Victoria's Secret show is the same as a Stella McCartney or Romance Was Born.

I'm going to end this here because I feel like an absolute wanker writing this but I'll end with a few photos.

Karlie Kloss

Stella McCartney Resort 2013

Daphne Groeneveld

K back to unpretentious posts for now.

Liv xo

Overall appreciation society

me

spring 2010

alexa

kate

n'sync

destiny's child

alexa

overalls rock

proper post coming soon x 

You're a virgin who can't drive

As Clueless is undeniably one of the greatest movies of all time and as it was made in the single greatest year of all time and the 90's was just generally a fantastic era, I thought I'd write a post about how fantastic the costume designers of Clueless or rather, the designers of the 90s were.

Every so often, popular culture goes through an 'everything old is new again' phase and at the moment, it would appear that the 90's is the new cool thing. I'm beyond thrilled about this because the 90's is seriously such an under appreciated era and if Clueless isn't proof enough of that, then need I mention the wonders of Space Jam, Destiny's Child and the Spice Girls? Funnily all of my examples showed great evidence of the 90's being rad.

But 90's fashion is back (well in my eyes at least) and I'm just going to mention things that are beyond cool. Loose spaghetti strap singlets - coupled with a strapless bra, these singlets are just brilliant. I've stolen about 3 from my mum, when she bought them they were for pyjamas but the silk fabric is just wonderful and I can't even describe how much I love this style. Cropped spaghetti strap singlets are equally as cool and ever so 90's. 

Cher and Dionne also totally rocked the top button up style before it was even in, and own the effortlessly chic school look with cute stationary, fabulous hair accessories and just a general air of coolness about them, really it's no wonder they were the coolest at their school. Dionne is seriously one of the most gorgeous people I've seen in my whole life and her experimentation with clothes is just beautiful. She kind of reminds me of my friend only with a bit more attitude. 

But Clueless weren't alone with their fantastic costume department, such TV shows as Lizzie McGuire, Friends and even The Fresh Prince of Bel Air totally nails the 90's hiphop look. This begs the question, why wasn't I born 10 years earlier so that I could experience the 90's as a teenager. I'm going to pass the blame onto my parents because I seriously believe that I would've been the Cher Horowitz of my school but now that's just a failed dream. 

Another 90's trend I'm diggin' (also note the 90s lingo I'm using) is 90's grunge! Now, despite the fact that many of the grungey youth of the 90's resembles hobos, the flanno was totally a statement. Similarly, overalls which not only are beyond comfortable but they are cute and make you look like an artist. Printed high waisted shorts were also so fabulous back then and as I recently bought a pair for a solid $8.00, I can safely say that I would've fitted in in the 90s.  

Essentially the 90's were full of fashion hits and misses but as I've got a 90's haircut I feel a rejuvenated passion for the era, a passion that my four year old self didn't grow to have, regretfully so. 

But whatever, I'm outie.

Liv xo 

Make up

Now, I don't wear makeup all that often because mostly I'm just horrendously lazy and don't really know what to do when it comes to manifesting something fabulous out of eyeliner and lipstick. But in saying this I absolutely adore the idea of makeup worn in a sophisticated way. I don't necessarily condone wearing layers and layers of thick foundation but a statement lip or eye can seriously go along way in flattering the already lovely facial features.

And as Summer is looming the bright tropical colours are being brought out too. Particularly vibrant pinks, oranges and reds but the more subdued pastally tones are also working wonders on the Spring racing scene and in creating a more naturalistic makeup style, I firmly believe it makes people feel more comfortable as there's no worry of getting lipstick on your teeth or overdoing the eyeliner. And when people feel comfortable they radiate confidence, making them look even lovelier.

Another point I'd like to make is about eyebrows. Now, when you think about it eyebrows are seriously so strange yet they're such a key part of one's face. I honestly think that someone's eyebrows can make or break someone's appearance, which sounds awful but when someone has to draw on their eyebrows I think I have the right to slyly judge them. That's not where I'm headed with this point though, I'm far more interested in striking, fierce eyebrows like Bambi's which, are so easy to achieve at home that it's not even funny. All you need is a natural (depending on your hair colour) eyeshadow and something to act as an eyebrow brush. It's seriously amazing how you can enhance your features at home and I think people need to be doing that more often than they are.

So many people hide their freckles or imperfections with foundation and while obviously everyone has insecurities, everyone's human and without a doubt you'd look 100 times nicer embracing you for you. I know all too well how easy it is to go wild with concealer when you're trying to look fab for a party, but at the end of the day if you're trying to impress people with your 'perfect' skin tone then they're not really worth impressing at all. And this is going to sound so lame and whatever but if you're hanging out with the type of people who would judge you for a pimple or blemish then they're not worth your time because 99.9999% of people wouldn't take a seconds notice at your scar that you got from falling up an escalator in a freak accident when you were 14 and those who do are probably so full of their own insecurities that they pick out other people's flaws to make themselves feel better. Flaws that aren't even really flaws because they're what makes us who we are.

So please can people start not covering up their freckles because 

a) freckles are so in at the moment

 b) it's always awkward when you don't rub in your foundation properly or don't get a colour that suits your skin tone

and 

c) you're undoubtedly gorgeous freckles and all

Aaaand that was the world's biggest digression but I'll just post some pictures to lighten the mood from that emotional paragraph of makeup styles that I seriously adore.

If I had the balls to bleach my eyebrows for a brief stint I seriously would, this is so great.

Also as a side note Cara Delevingne is my favourite model at the moment and her eyebrows rock

Bright lips and nude eyes 

Pastally hues

Liv xo

I'm dreadful

I'd just like to start by apologising profusely to everyone who occasionally checks out what I post for not posting anything in almost two months. I've just started year 12 and it's insanely busy but I promise I'll post more now that I've kind of figured out how to organise time.

And I know I promise this every time I post something but I really need to study because failing General Maths would be an awful career move but I absolutely promise I'll post something fantastic within the next few days!

Until then, here's a photo of my haircut. Please ignore that it's a selfie and I look ridiculous. 

But yay short hair! 

Liv xo