At the start of the decade I was 14, just starting to get a few curves despite mums constant assurance I had no ass to speak of.
It was easy to see that girls were supposed to use their bodies to provoke and that I’d need to start dressing more feminine. After my wigga stage in the late nineties I bought a pair of tight baby blue corduroy pants with my own money. I began to experiment with op shopping and pushing the boundaries, trying to find a personal style when the concept was still quite foreign. I tried to see how far I could push it without embarrassing myself. I didn’t like wearing revealing clothes, but I did like to grab attention.

It’s strange trying to coming up with my favourite and least favourite styles of the decade because it’s like coming up with the favourite and least favourite styles of my life. There was nothing before this. I’ve done all of my experimenting this decade, I’ve gone from wigga, to mish mash op shop girl, to young adult trying to fit in with all of the other young adults that actually look a bit skanky so I actually feel really uncomfortable, to trying to look like a respectable employed person, to dabbling in the goth, to deciding I didn’t give a shit and if I want to wear sneakers and a t shirt with a skirt suit then fuck you if you tell me I can’t.

So without further a do. These are the trends I’ve loved and loved to hate from 2000 – 2009.

The Great

Leggings In general I’m not very confident about my skin tone or texture so when leggings hit the shops around late 2007/early 2008 I was quick to take them up as a staple. Previously I’d worn woollen stockings as pantihose only last an hour around me before I put a hole in them. Unfortunately I’m sensitive to wool so wearing woollen stockings was never very comfortable.
Leggings are now available in many colours and sizes, and makers even cater for people taller than 5’3″ on occasion! Makes dresses bearable all year round and scandalously short skirts seem demure.

Body Mods This decade has seen body modification not just pushing the boundaries, but also becoming acceptable, and even mainstream. You’ll find tattooed, pierced, and stretched employees in most workplaces these days.
Having access to communities of people, via the internet, who appreciate body mods has flared my interest and made me an addict.

Blazers Easy to chuck on with whatever you’re wearing blazers always make you look a little more polished.

Wide Leg Pants As an owner of thighs that are one size larger than the rest of her proportions I rely on wide legged pants to balance me out. These pants look as though they fall straight from my hips and don’t place any extra emphasis on exactly how I curve.

Mixing Styles Many think pairing sneakers – street shoes that is, not runners – with business suits is tacky and lazy. Not me though. It’s my favourite look of the decade. I like to be comfortable and just polished enough so a t shirt, blazer, dress skirt or pants, and sneakers is the best.

Extras for experts – Androgyny, socks as an accessory to an outfit, chucks, nerd chic.

The Ghastly

Boho – This style rarely looks good outside of an ethereal looking editorial with horses.

Leggings as pants – Despite my big love for leggings as an accompaniment to a skirt or dress, a pyjama bottom, or a comfy alternative to trackpants, like trackpants I don’t think they should be worn out of the house as pants unless you’re doing sports. The material leggings are made from is usually thin and unforgiving. But most of all, it just looks like you forgot the last step when you got dressed in the morning.

Daisy dukes – At least if you’re wearing leggings I don’t have to see your ass. I’m sure you have a very nice ass, but I don’t really care for having it almost naked in front of me as I’m walking down the street.

Boob tubes – If you’re wearing one you end up spending half the night pulling it up to make sure you’re not exposing yourself. You can wear a bra with them. And worst of all they squish your boobs down at the top. What is the point? Just wear a singlet.

Crocs – I saved the worst for last because WTF?! I can almost understand your reasons for wearing them if you’re a nurse, or if you’re doing a spot of gardening. But really why are they so ugly? Crocs makers have proven they can make shoes that are comfortable without looking like the original hideous chunk of plastic so why do they even make the ugly ones?

Extras for experts – Ugg boots as shoes, fake tan that is too many shades darker than your natural colour, huge sunglasses on girls with tiny features, Paris Hilton.

What did you dig on this decade?

First up is my roller derby outfit! New Zealand had its first intercity bout on Saturday and it was with our 2 most rival cities – Auckland and Wellington. The extra few years practice Auckland has on us were very evident as they whooped our ass 174 to 88! Not once did the crowd become discouraged though, we screamed our lungs out in support till the very end. It was SO great.

Welly’s colours are orange and purple so I wore every piece of orange clothing I own – a tie that came free with a shirt, a corduroy skirt from when I was at high school, and socks. I made my bow at Jo’s fascinator/banner making session the day before, it’s stuffed with paper, that’s how I roll.

I totally guessed how to tie my tie and got it right first time! Stoked.

My usual staples – a tee, skirt, sneakers. But this time it’s minus the leggings! Behold the glorious whiteness of my legs.
The grin is courtesy of free rum cocktails.
If you look closely you should be able to see that my t shirt features a punk version of Bambi. She’s very cool.

Congratulations to lovely lady Em of Lick My Cupcakes. I’ll get your shirts out shortly.

xx

Don’t get me wrong, I love summer in New Zealand. It rarely gets too hot (high 20s), everyone is getting their required dose of vitamin D and it’s making them happy, holidays abound, and there is a general sense of love and frivolity in the air.

However, above New Zealand is a giant hole in the Ozone. This means an extremely fast burn time (think 5 minutes at midday for someone fair skinned like me) and a high risk of skin cancer whether you tan or not. I’m not a sporty type, I don’t get much enjoyment from battling waves in the ocean or feeling uncoordinated while trying to throw a frisbee, so I usually sit under a tree with the other pale uncos or amuse myself with books, photographs, and music.

What you need

1. Cool Clothes – I’m a big fan of rockabilly clothing but it’s almost always too windy to wear flowy dresses and skirts in Wellington. Pencil skirts are great for combating the wind but make lounging on the grass and sand difficult. Capris are sexy and generally stretchy – perfect for summer! I wore my pair a lot last year, this year I’m thinking of getting a few more and embracing by ass and thighs.
   A pair of loose dress pants are also essential for night time in summer. Mosquitoes, evening breezes, and sunburnt legs stuck to chairs be gone.
2. Distractions – While everyone else is off doing cartwheels I like to read a book, listen to some music, or take pictures of the fun. Books and music are also great for occupying the pockets of time you can grab for yourself in between holiday visitors.
3. Protection – For pasties especially a wide brimmed hat and plenty of sunblock are essential for staying healthy during summer. Sunburn is never fun and never hawt. If you have tattoos make sure to either keep them out of the sun or heavily sunscreened, you don’t want your artwork fading do you?
   If you’ve got darker skin, or skin that tans don’t forget you’re still at risk for sunburn and skin cancer! The only safe tan is one that comes from a bottle.
4. Hydration – Worse (IMO) than sunburn is heat stroke. You really don’t want to go there, it’s a nasty nasty business. Stay hydrated when it’s hot outside and if you’re drinking alcohol match each drink with a glass of water.
5. Bottomless pitBag – Gotta have somewhere to store your travelling fun, and a big pretty bag is most ideal. You’ll probably end up being asked to look after everyone elses stuff too so lots of pockets are a must.

What do you need to get through summer?

Why yes, that is Che Guevara’s image depicted in toilet rolls

A few weeks ago I was contacted by T-post asking if I’d like one of their shirts. I took a look at their site, and discovered that their shirts aren’t like normal tees. They’re also micro magazines!

Printed inside each tee is an article that reflects both a current news piece, and the state of the world. The issues I have to give away are “Negotiating a War” this article is about music file sharing and the charges RIAA are claiming from small time downloaders; the other is “Spare a Square” which talks about Cuba’s current toilet paper crisis, they’re running out of it quickly! Alongside the article is a column about the tee designer.

T Post is a unique idea. You subscribe like you would to a magazine, receiving a new issue every 6 weeks and not knowing what will be inside till it arrives. Each shirt is exclusive, print runs are limited to the current number of subscribers and back issues cannot be ordered.

I’m extremely fussy when it comes to tees and I’m a good little bogan who only strays from black for special occasions. For this reason alone I turned down the offer of a free shirt and instead asked if I could give one away. Lucky for you they sent two.
Both shirts are womens medium. If that’s not your size don’t forget the other t shirt lovers in your life, you could score a unique xmas present for free!

If you’d like to win these shirts simply leave a comment letting me know. For extra entries tweet (include @msconstantine so I see it) or blog about the giveaway.

You have until the 20th of November.

I raised this question yesterday on Twitter because I don’t have the answer. Whether that’s because I’m clueless when it comes to defining fashion or because it can’t be defined is unknown to me. No one else seemed to know either.

At 4.5 million people New Zealand doesn’t have a big enough market to give shoppers a lot of choice. Unless you know how to make or customise your clothes you’re mostly at the mercy of the chain stores. In New Zealand we’re also in the wrong hemisphere to get fashions first hand.

Six months after new season fashion heads into shops in America -already watered down versions of catwalk fashions, created in every conceivable colour and quality- we finally get the left overs. I’ve never worked in retail so I don’t know how the buying process works. But I imagine that after a few months of celebrities and high school kids picking what’s hot for the season that’s what we get stuck with. We don’t get the multitude of variations here. Consumers don’t get to decide what suits them, they don’t get to choose the shirt with one ruffle over the shirt with two. We usually get one choice. A choice that is sold in one, sometimes two colours, and then the buttons are changed and the same top is sold in the shop next door.

The point of this rant is this: This seasons clothing trends are determined by the people buying for shops. Most people can only afford chain store clothing, and therefore whatever is in the chain store is what they’ll wear.

What about trends that are so simple you don’t need to go anywhere near a mall to participate.

Apparently a simple ribbon tied around a wrist is going to be the next trend. It’s trickling along and could go either way. What most of you should know is that people have been doing this for years! It’s so simple, wrap yourself up like a gift to the world and you’ve got jewellery for less than 20cents. So why is it the next trend?

Does a picture of Dakota Fanning wearing a ribbon launch a thousand girls into their grandmothers haberdashery drawers? Does it take two celebrities? Does it take a fashion blogger or two sporting the look for women to see how pretty a ribbon is? I’d like to believe that people don’t follow just because something’s announced as the next big thing, but ugly It bags and 80s comebacks are trying to prove me wrong.

Maybe you’ve got the answer. What do you think starts a trend?

You may have seen my plea for help on twitter on Saturday night. Big thanks to those who replied!
My Saturday night consisted of a friends birthday cocktail party where semi formal dress was requested. We knew it’d be more semi than formal so didn’t want to be too flash. And afterwards we had an album release party to go to at a bar. I ended up pulling out an outfit I bought for a work do last year, I love wearing a poofy skirt anytime and this one always gets compliments.

Beads – Some cheap jewellery store (Diva, Bling, Equip?)
Ring – Cupcakes and Mace
Blouse – Jay Jays
Jacket – Portmans
Silk skirt – Portmans
Leggings – Valley Girl
Sneakers – Converse

Well, not so much a postcard as an adorable letter and gift.

Back in February (my how time flies!) the lovely simi of [the now disappeared] Postcards from Simitopia ran a tag giving five people the chance to receive a gift made by her. I was one of the lucky ones and I received my specially made gift yesterday wrapped in black tissue and a sparkly ribbon, with a letter addressed to the Cupcake Factory, a special Simitopia stamp on the front and the Simitopia deer on the seal. So cool!

simi is a crafty little lady and it really shows in the beautiful brooch she made me in my two favourite colours, pink and black.

Thanks simi! You’re great. :]

We finally got around to watching I Love You, Man last weekend. It’s very funny, very cute, has great actors, a great script, and an adorably awkward man almost every woman wants to marry (Paul Rudd as Peter Klaven). What surprised me about the movie was how much I loved the style of sloppy mismatched Sydney Fife (Jason Segel). What surprised me more was when we went shopping the next day and The Boy told me he really loved Sydney’s style and wanted to emulate it. :D

Next thing I know he’s buying a hooded grey knit sweatshirt and I’m planning his wardrobe. I love being with a guy who is enough into fashion that he cares about how he looks and thinks about his purchases, but still relaxed enough not to look like preppy douchebag (I like preppy style, just not preppy douchebag style).

This one’s for The Boy, and anyone else who wants to get the Sydney Fife wardrobe.

Board shorts should be refined to the water and ugg boots should be kept inside. So really I should be screaming NONONOOOO at the thought of this outfit. But Sydney makes walking a small dog along a board walk in both board shorts and uggs look like the best idea in the world.

Start your Sydney wardrobe with some kitschy board shorts, low cut uggs, and a cowboy check shirt.

Add a grey tweed jacket, a light coloured striped sweater, jeans, and slip on shoes.

Shop for a tux or relax with a beer in a shawl neck cable knit cardigan and t shirt.

Round it all off with a couple of scarfs and some more buttoned shirts, especially cowboy check shirts in yellow and blue tones. And there you have it, your very own Sydney Fife-d wardrobe.

Would you “let” your man dress like Sydney or dress like him yourself?

My love of t shirts doesn’t extend far beyond a black base. Once you’ve got the black base sorted though I’m open to any number of funny witticisms and kawaii cartoons.

There is a vast array of indie t shirts available online. Most of the retailers you’ll find online feature designs from independent artists, often in limited quantities. Here are a few of my faves.

Also check out 1-daytee and TeeFury for limited 1 day only designs.

1. Robot love – Shana Logic
2. Crossbones classic – Johnny Cupcakes
3. I got one! – The Deep Blue (cafepress)
4. Frankencakes – Dotted with Hearts (etsy)

1. Shunnn – Film Cow (cafepress)
2. 7 legged spider – 27bslash6 (cafepress)
3. I’m blogging this – ThinkGeek
4. Ich bin ein nerd – Gifts for a geek
5. OMG Pwnies – ThinkGeek
6. Black Out – Vision and Indecision

1. I listen to bands that don’t even exist yet – Evan Ferstenfeld (typetees)
2. Beware of unicorns – Alex Solis and Matheus Lopes (threadless)
3. Fairy bread – Mr Vintage
4. i > u – ThinkGeek
5. Famous Nobody – Famous Nobody