New Zealand Part 2

Les jours ensoleillé de la Nouvelle Zéalande me donne l'envie de porter les couleurs vives. C'est drôle, parce qu'à Melbourne mon costume de rigeur consiste toujours du gris, du noir et encore plus du gris! Alors, cela se fait un changement de bon.

 

 The sunny New Zealand days makes me want to wear bright colours. It's funny, in Melbourne my outfit de rigeur always consists of grey, black and more grey! So this makes for a nice change.

P.S. Linen doesn't travel well! These photos are a testament that 4 hours in a 4WD + windy roads + warm weather = so wrinkly that the wrinkles have blended in with the embroidery at the hem of the dress! 

A New Zealand Summer

 Les photos sont de Mr Tea, qui a toujours un talent pour capturer la lumière. Un vrai maître de la camera Canon IXUS!

 Photos by courtesy of Mr Tea, who always has such a knack for capturing the light. A real master of the Canon IXUS!

"Il pleure dans mon cœur comme il pleut sur la ville."

 Ceci est un citation du poète Paul Verlaine. Il pleut comme vache qui pisse à Melbourne, meme plus qu'en hiver. La pluie a inondé le jardin chez mon copain et y a produit une sorte d'etang, ce que m'amuse beaucoup parce que j'ai pu faire semblant que j'étais dans un baillou.  

 

Me voilà quelque jours avant, en route pour un déjeuner entre copins. La robe maxi, je l'ai trouvée dans un friperie il y a quelques ans.

Stella McCartney for Target part deux

These dresses are from the second collaboration between Stella McCartney and Target Australia, released late last year. Although I checked out the collection online before the release date, I must admit I did not rush to buy out the collection when it became available. My past experience with the Designers for Target ranges is that they get heavily discounted after a few months, so patience is certainly a virtue in this case! I picked up these dresses for $49 each, plus two pairs of pure wool straight leg trousers for $29 each.

I must admit, I find that the the pieces are quintessentially Stella - the lace, rounded shoulders and tailored, crisp edges were shown in Stella McCartney's resort 2011 collection. Also, the quality of the fabrics is impressive- the magenta dress is a silk/cotton blend, the trousers are pure wool and the lace on the lace dress is cotton. I would not have minded paying the original prices for these fairly well constructed, designer pieces, but then knowing that they would be ultimately heavily reduced gave me the patience to wait.

* Sorry for the dodgy photos, Melbourne has been so overcast lately. Also, it didn't help that I took those photos indoors with even poorer natural lighting!

"Le luxe, ce n'est pas le contraire de la pauvreté mais celui de la vulgarité"

Here are some things I picked up from a recent thrifting foray. Trawling op-shops for beautiful things is one of my favourite things to do, which probably explains my cluttered shelves and bulging wardrobe.

Thrifted: two tea tins (made in England)

Textured glass bowl

 

I bought two crochet floral longsleeve tops (in white and off-white), a navy lace dress (it's actually a large-sized blouse but, teamed with a nude slip, narrow belt and gold accessories, I envisage a flapper-esque dress), two tea tins, a glass bowl (perfect for holding make up) and a wonderful magenta silk dress (will show in next post!) for a grand total of .... $8!! So, boys and girls, be kind to the environment and to your wallet - shop vintage!

On another note, it's almost fig season and Mr Tea's tree is full of delightful, fleshy green fruits! Mmm... nothing beats fresh figs for breakfast.  

Minimalism

A trend that has been on my radar for a while now is the resurgence of minimalism: a second take on the 90s-tousled-fresh faced-Kate Moss-white on white look. Of course, Calvin Klein and Céline are right in their element, but houses such as Chloé and even Lanvin are getting in on the revival movement.

Am I a fan? No. Give me a statement necklace or billowy chiffon any day. But I can't deny the power of clean lines, tailoring and a crisp, white shirt. After all, Audrey does it so well with her gamine look. To me, too much minimalism equates to androgyny, and I prefer the innate, chic femininity of Ms Hepburn: where one takes a plain boat-neck sweater paired with tailored cropped trousers and ballerines, yet exude femininity in this simplicity... I digress. 

I guess my take on minimalism is this: keeping an outfit simple and minimal has its many merits and can look very chic, but make sure your proportions are flattering. There is nothing worse than a shapeless, frumpy sack look. After all, Chanel once said "la mode c'est comme l'architecture…c'est une questions de proportions !" ("Fashion is like architecture. It is a matter of proportions!")

Shay xx

Stella McCartney Pre-Fall 2011

Chloé Resort 2011

Not so chic minimalism: Céline RTW Spring 2011

"It's the rose acacia..."

One of my favourite films is Chéri (2009). Visually, it is a masterpiece; each scene glows in the way of a painting by Monet or Renoir, its soft palette throwing a dreamlike veil over the mise-en-scène. The fluidity and drapery in the costuming of Léa (Michelle Pfeiffer) is reminiscent of a sensual and ethereal Mucha poster. The patchy, dancing light and soft textures seem to have waltzed right out of Renoir's Le Moulin de la Galette.

1&2. Exemplars of art nouveau design: the wrought iron railing, curved and fluid nature of the arch, pastel hues of Lea's dress. This archway reminds me of Gaudi's work, especially the Casa Batlló 
5. Looks to have walked out of a Monet painting, complete with dancing sunlight and soft brushstrokes
7. Can't keep my eyes off the lush texture of the fur sofa, which contrast beautifully with the metallic sheen of the tea ware


Chéri is based on the novel of the same title by French writer Colette, first published in 1920. It is set during La Belle Epoque in pre-war, fin de siecle Paris and its faubourgs. The lavish lifestyle and tortured emotions of an aging courtesan who discovers love too late, after leading a life of pretence, is perfectly set amongst a backdrop of sumptuous art nouveau furniture and buildings.

 Ahh to have a sun-room such as this... one day...


A decadent film that makes a delightful feast for the eyes.