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

T shirts and Sneakers.

There’s no point denying it. No point trying to fit in with the other girls. There’s no reason for me to try to wear high heels, elaborate swishing blouses, or huge cowl neck sweaters.
I can admire stilettos, platforms, and pumps as pieces of art. I want to buy them because they’re pretty, but I just can’t wear something that makes me that uncomfortable.

All colours and styles of shirt adorn my change room but the black t shirts are the only ones that get worn.

It’s always a thrill to find a t shirt that is fun and funky, black, in my size and,  in my price range. My biggest problem is I have no idea what I’m looking for until I find it. I’m extremely picky about what I buy. But I don’t know what to search for to find my ideal pieces. I’m not a label whore so I can’t even narrow it down by name.

Finding pretty sneakers is harder. When the shoe gods make sneakers available in shoe stores in as many varied styles and colours as they do for heels I’ll be a very happy lady.

So, there you have it. I don’t give a shit about the latest catwalk design that makes you look like you got caught on a barbed wire fence. I want tees. Witty, dark, and cute tees. And I want them paired with sneakers.

[pictured: Osiris Libra Girl (which I have!) and ThinkGeek t shirt (which I want need!)]

As America heads into Summer New Zealand and Australia sink into a wet, cold, depressing, winter. Working in an office brings many great things like always boiled water for hot tea and reasonably consistent temperatures via air conditioning, but there are still essential items you need to make sure you survive the dark months.

Your winter essentials:

• A long coat with a hood for Wellington wind – If you live in Wellington like me you should know that there is nothing more essential than a hooded coat in winter. Umbrellas are turned inside out and there’s no use for them when the rain is coming at you vertically anyway. A long hooded coat will keep your head and most of your legs dry.
• A pashmina or wide scarf – Wont take up too much room in your bag and it can be used as a scarf, as a whole head covering to keep your ears warm, and you can wrap it around your shoulders when the meeting room turns our to be colder than the rest of the office.
• Fingerless gloves – Even better if you can find the mittens that fold back into fingerless gloves. Sometimes the air conditioning can take a while to kick in and it’s difficult and painful to type with freezing fingers. Fingerless gloves are perfect for typing in.
• Knee high socks or stockings – Wether you’re a pants or skirts type of girl knee high socks will keep you warm.
• Long sleeved undershirts or polyprops – Wear them under your short sleeved tops and dresses and you wont have to go without your summer wardrobe or cover it up with jackets for 6 months.
• Bright nail polish and accessories – If they don’t keep you from being depressed then they might at least keep you from being hit by a car.
• Shoes – You’ll need at least one pair of closed toe shoes, with proper grip, and no details cut out of the sides and top that can be worn with socks. For those freezing days when you’re running down the hill to the bus in the rain.
• Waterproof bag – If you usually use a bag made from a material that absorbs water now is the time to switch to something more like leather or vinyl. There are not many things worse than discovering that not only is your bag soaked but so is every single thing inside it.
• Miso sachets and heat and eat meals – For when you haven’t prepared lunch and can’t face going outside on your break.

What helps you survive the winter months?

Quick reminder that it’s the last day to enter the Cupcakes and Mace jewellery competition.
All you have to do is leave a comment on the competition post!

No excuses.

If you win you could be as cool as my sister.

Leggings are not a substitute for pants. Please stop taking your fashion advice from Lindsay Lohan and start thinking for yourself.

Before you leave the house look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself these questions:

• Am I wearing leggings?
• Are my “pants” really tight, thin and stretchy?
• Do my “pants” accentuate my crotch?

If you answered no to all of those questions you have reached the end of the questionnaire.
Feel free to leave the house and be seen in public.

If you answered yes to any of those questions continue with these:

• Am I wearing a large/long top that covers my ass and crotch?
• Am I wearing a skirt/dress/shorts/pants?
• Am I leaving the house in order to go running or go to the gym only?

If you answered yes to any of these questions you have reached the end of the questionnaire.
Feel free to leave the house and be seen in public.

If you answered no to all of those questions please go back to bed and try dressing yourself again when you have had some rest.

Work on Thursday seemed to call for layers!

• Broken Heart Clothing T shirt
• Cupcake and Darwin Fish necklace
• Red and White striped Country Road racer back dress
• Black petticoat
• Black buttoned footless tights
• Blue striped socks
• Babycham shoes
• Big white bag from Equip