A piece of wisdom

If you happen to ingest a delicious doppio, as you should on regular occasions, and happen to feel so buzzed you start being a menace to the waiters with your wild hand movements, have a glass of wine. It’ll fix everything.

The scarf challenge: explanation

Last weekend I culled my wardrobe. I think I did ok, could have been more severe on myself etc. but ok. Where I failed was in the accessories. I should have got rid of more shoes and I should have looked through my bulging scarf drawer and been more critical.

I love scarves. I love the drama and the elegance of scarves. I personal have quite a collection of them. Some of them hand-me-downs, some of them purchased by me from vintage shops around the world. No one wears them anyone, even myself, a scarf-lover wears them but rarely. I am determined to change that.

I have decided to set myself a challenge. For one week Sunday through Monday I will wear a scarf every time I leave the house. I particularly chose this week because I'm going out 5 nights out of 7 so it's an extra challenge. I go to work, I go to movies, I go dinner – there must be a scarf somewhere in my outfit. I want to see how many of my scarves I find are wearable and also to get myself into the habit of reaching for a little silken square to set off my outfit.

Richard Siken: Poetic Genius

Hopefully this isn't too heavy for a Friday lunchtime, but really, when is the time for excellent poetry, if not Friday lunchtime?

I...can't actually remember when I first read Richard Siken. Hmmm. I don't read poetry a whole lot, so I'm not sure where I first encountered his work. I know the first poem of his I read was Scheherazade, after which I ordered a copy of Crush as soon as I could find it. There's just something about his imagery that I really like.

Anyway, this post was brought to you by http://richardsikendaily.tumblr.com/, where you can find quotes and images from and inspired by his poetry. So, go have a look if you're in the mood for some stuff like this:

Five for Friday no. 9

I love the idea of make-your-own shoes. In Australia you go to Shoes of Prey. A work colleague of mine recently got some shoes for her wedding made by Shoes of Prey and they're adorable! Milk and Honey are the American version and have some most lust-worthy designs.

Photo courtesy of Milk and Honey.

Future Post Box. Send a letter to your future self.

Tommy Ton is a street-style blogger so well known he now photographs proper campaign for fashion houses such as Proenza Schouler. However, he still works his magic on the streets of the world's fashion capitals and right now is the best time to be checking out his blog for the amazing and crazy at New York, London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks.

Photo courtesy of Tommy Ton and Jak & Jil.

Guerilla Gardener bringing a little joy to the streets of London.

This week I learnt that the German for The Pill is Die Antibabypille. Seriously. That's not exciting but it's an example of why I love German.

I attempt wardrobe rehab. Step one: cull.

I'm not really a wardrobe hoarder. I have a few clothes but in recent years I've been regularly giving away items to my favourite op shop - Endos Paddington. So what is left is generally in good nick and fits and isn't too ancient (with the exception of hand-me-downs from my Grandma, but that's different).

However, I definitely have wardrobe lethargy. I'm bored and dissatisfied with what lurks behind the doors and I stare at every morning trying to pick an outfit for the day. I have too many clothes that only go with certain other pieces, to many clothes I can't get rid of because there is no real justification for doing so and to be frank I am unhappy with a lot of my standard outfits. I want a wardrobe that is simple, stylish and attractive to which I can treat myself to a couple of purchases every year of vintage fabulousness or new modern classics.

One problem is that I am pretty much the same size I was 10 years ago, so I can't justify getting rid of old clothes because they don't fit.

Another sort of problem is that I love to vintage and op shop. I may come up with pretty dresses and interesting jackets but as to wardrobe staples and sensible purchases - those concepts don't necessarily mesh with trips to Box Vintage.

I read A Pair and a Spare's blog on Wardrobe Rehab last week and felt so inspired I couldn't wait to get started! And this weekend I did.

Step one: cull

Geneva at A Pair and a Spare had some great decision-making rules which I sort of followed but I added a few of my own.

Geneva’s rules, or rather questions to ask yourself:

• When was the last time I wore this?
• Does this make me feel attractive?
• Does this fit properly?
• Is this item out of date?
• Is this item worn out?
• Does this need altering?
  

My additional rules:

1. Anything handed down from my mother or grandmother was allowed to stay no matter how rarely I wore it.
2. Clothes kept for a special purpose such as travelling were allowed to stay.
   

My wardrobe prior to The Cull.

Once I got started it was invigorating and I found myself getting rid of a lot of clothes. That ESPRIT blouse I bought and tore but haven’t fixed in at least 3 years – a sign. Binned. Some clothes stayed but were put in to hibernation. My denim skirt for instance. Not always the most flattering article and certainly not Vogue right now but still in good nick and one day it will come around again.

Piles of clothes on the bed - throw, mend and sell.

I kept a fair few clothes that weren’t the best but were the best I had. For instance, a much loved white blazer that has seen better days but stays until I upgrade. White sandals I rarely wear but are the only pair of white flat sandals I own.

I could have been more brutal and when I do this again at the end of the year I plan to be. Anything that has not been worn between now and 31 December will go. I wasn’t as tough on my shoes as I should have been but that was inevitable. Make up got a good purging but jewellery stayed as it is – I’d cleared that drawer out at the end of last year.

As it is my wardrobe looks smaller and better organised. It’s not fabulous yet but I’m going to go through all the other steps from A Pair and a Spare’s wardrobe rehab and in a year or two I hope to have a beautiful pared down wardrobe full of clothes I love to wear.

My wardrobe post-cull. There are small but subtle differences. Hopefully in a couple of years it will look very different indeed.

Now I just need to decide what to do with the moundof reject clothes currently living on my dressing table. Endos? Ebay? Clothes swap?

Step 2: define your style.

Resumes and padded bras

I recently compared writing a resume to wearing a push up bra on a first date and it makes perfect sense to me.

In both situations – job application and first date – you want to look your best. The easiest way to do that is to talk yourself up or really highlight your ehm …assets.

However, you don’t want to do that too much because then later on there is the possibility of the other party being let down or disappointed. You promised so much and delivered so little.

See? Makes perfect sense. Fluffing up your resume is like wearing a push up bra on a first date.

My bad

I have been a terrible blogger lately! I aim to try to do better.


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