If the shoe fits... it does not make it comfortable. A hommage to my collection.

Obviously women loving shoes is a well-known stereotype. I wish I could say that I could run against that grain and stand strong and proud against such a presumption, but sadly I can't.
Shoes are my thing. Shoes are glorious. Shoes are fun and most importantly, the most justifiable category in ones wardrobe.

I never used to be this way, an advocate to all things shoe; I used to be a normal converse wearing teen who owned one pair of strappy silver shoes that were used for any occasion that converse unfortunately could not attend. This changed in my early twenties. I firstly, became interested in fashion and clothes. I liked what magazines presented to me, I finally understood what a trend was and how I could create a 'style' and how that would give the general public an idea of what kind of person I was through that 'style'.
Following this was the natural progression to footwear. Why would I have all this nice on-trend clothing when I had nothing to wear on the bottom except for my many pairs of converse that had been in Metallica and Slipknot mosh-pits (yes, those bands)? This is when I discovered Jeffrey Campbell.
The saviour and master of the middle ground interesting, fashionable, affordable shoe.
Examples of the type of shoe I purchased from Mr Campbell are below:

The Alameda Neoprene Wedge

The Kelly Brogue

The Lita Patchwork Boot

I realised that shoes are incredibly functional and disfunctional at the same time. This juxtaposition lead to an incredible ease in which to justify another purchase, but an amount of hate surmountable to my dislike of mushrooms after the pain of a 12cm heel. Two years ago after many pairs of stupidly high shoes that make my back hurt, feet ache and general level of fun decrease after 2 hours of wear by about 120 Gryffindor points, I figured I had to become more sensible. This also meant I could buy more expensive shoes, at least that is what I have told myself. I dreamt of: Marni, Wang, Mugler, Acne, Prada etcetera and finally have begun collating my ultimate shoe team for life. A full-time job in the fashion industry calls for serious work wear right? Yep, that's what I think. Here are some of these amazing sale shoes (as that's all I can afford):

Marni Two-Tone Leather Brogue

Opening Ceremony Oxford Clog

Shakuhachi Brocade Riding Boot

Alexander Wang Emily Brogue

As my love increases, so does my amount. A full wardrobe, full second cupboard and others spilling onto the floor... it is shoe madness. I am going start selling my old Jeffrey's, Sportsgirls, Country Roads, Nine Wests as I believe that time has moved on for me. I want to walk, not hobble, run, not crawl in sensible brogues, periwinkles, flatforms and sneaker wedges. This begins tonight. Hello eBay.

I'm bringing scrunchies back...

After Rommy Revson invented the Scrunchie in 1986 and named it after her Toy Poodle Scrunchy, hair history was made.

Come on, admit it, at one point in your life so far your mother enforced a scrunchie into your hair (or your sister's). Be it when you were 4, 10 or now me at 24. I bet it also matched one of your dresses or 5.

THE SCRUNCHIE IS BACK!

I'm telling you it is, high fashion and WGSN say so. 

I am in fact, wearing one now and it feels damn good.

Practical? Yes! Slightly attractive? Yes! Does it come in a range of fun colours? Why yes, yes it does!

Today mine is cream lace, tomorrow it will be black lace, next week black and white spots perhaps.

Why do I feel it is necessary to write about such a somewhat superfluous item? Well because hair is big at the moment. Donuts, french roll aids, clip-on fringes (yes no joke), wide headbands, jewelled alicebands, elastic pony covers etc... all are around and in a big way. People are experimenting and doing new things with old ideas. 

Take the scrunchies for example. You don't just pop it around a mere ponytail (you can, but it's not the 80s/early 90s), you take it and wind it around a messy bun. Instead of 'birds nesting' or top knotting your hair with a boring elastic, you use a thick scrunchie to add colour and interest. You can also layer your scrunchies. Smash them around a large bun on your head, put them around your donut. Anything is possible.

I am excited as this also hides my 'I really need to wash my hair, but going to the gym tomorrow so what's the point' hair. Yay!

Ashish SS 12/13 Birds Nesting

Layered Scrunchies

Also Ashish SS 12/13

Photo from:

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk

collegefashionista.com

asosmarketplace

My Melbourne Future.

Two weekends ago I went on my annual trip to Melbourne.
Sometimes it is bi-annual, and when that happens, I feel lucky.
There are many reasons why Melbourne as an Australian city is my choice.
Here are a few of those reasons:

1) The grass is always greener and Melbourne is not Sydney.
2) Melbourne has trams, everyone likes a good tram.
3) I have not been to any other major Australian city except for Brisbane and well... yeah...
4) It is a continually growing cultural hub.
5) People are generally better dressed there.
6) Desgraves Lane looks like Diagon Alley.

As much as they are highly justifiable reasons for living in a city, I am also going to write about why Melbourne is great from a fashion focused point of view.
I work in fashion, I am an assistant buyer. Buying involves a lot of numbers and working mostly for larger fashion companies rather than small. Melbourne is the home to most large fashion companies in the country.

Here are a few:
Myer
Kmart
Cotton On Group
The Just Group
Billabong/Roxy/Ripcurl
The Country Road Group

People in Melbourne are effortlessly cool. They dress to impress, not to go to the beach. This is the key difference. I enjoy the constant opening of new eateries, boutiques and art galleries. I like the hipster vibe. I like me in Melbourne, I feel more at home.

When I go to Melbourne I always stop by a few favourite stores. This trip with limited time I only went to my favourite 5. These were:
Acne GPO
Alpha 60 GPO
Zomp
Green with Envy
Kinki Gerlinki

Green with Envy provided me with upstanding service and two amazing items. I am no longer an Alexander Wang virgin and now own an amazing pair of shoes. I also purchased a cute cropped top from their own brand Nicholas.

Melbourne people are more apt to change. They enjoy trying new places, having unique items and clothing, going to new cafes, they like astro turf in their bars, Mexican fusion and cocktails in jars. I also like all of these things. People from Melbourne also think that Melbourne is the best place to be and it is important to stand behind your beliefs. I wish I could say the same for my own home town, Sydney. Sydney isn't terrible, it is just the most expensive city in the world, for real.

Living in Melbourne is approximately a third less expensive rent and travel wise.

I also want to eternally pretend I am in a Harry Potter movie and capes are in!

The best kind of Wang

Desgraves Lane

TRAM!

Photos: 

www.lyst.com

http://freedomcyclist.blogspot.com.au

http://thenauka.blogspot.com.au

But exercise frightens my lungs...

In a processed food world, office environments and easy access to public transport/cars - it is very easy to not exercise.

I am not exactly addicted to moving. In fact, over the years I have become very good at multi-tasking and collaborating different tasks into one so that I may move the least amount of times possible. When I was 14 I was what the Wii Fitness calculator would have deemed morbidly obese. Had my mother and I not burned these photos and buried the rest deep in a hell fire pit (hard to get access to, but managed) I would have posted one for you to see, but alas...

You see, I metabolise my food at a 42 year old age approximately. This makes it very hard for me to eat crap. If I eat enough late night crap in a week, I am guaranteed despite my 2 gym sessions a week to put on weight. It is a constant battle of the mind more than anything, but exercise really helps to boost it and keep my mood high. Before a session I try and think of a million excuses as to why I shouldn't go, especially if Criminal Minds is on, but in the end I always go. Why? Well because of the following...

Today nearly 10 years on as I did my trainer's 31 days post xmas 'Work off Your Xmas Ham Workout' or as I fondly called it the 'Rape Me with a Ham Workout', I thought about how much I hated the feeling and yet found it a necessity. 

During the 120 squats of death I thought about how I needed to put these 3 hours per week aside and fill it with burning pain because in the end it would give me the glutes of J-Lo and reduce my risk of diabetes.

During the 62 pushups I thought about how without this workout I'd be at home stuffing my face with Tim Tams and weighing about 6kg's more wishing I could get off my lazy ass and do something about it.

During the 100 sit-ups I thought about how much my posture had improved from a stronger core and lower back, that it was helping me whilst sitting at my desk all day staring at Excel spreadsheets.

During the 150 star jumps (that make me look like a frittata) I remembered how much better I felt this year when I put on a swimming cossie at the beach knowing that I had worked really hard to not be ALL cellulite (only partly) and less wobbly.

During the 22 Burpees... well I couldn't think. Burpees don't let you do anything except die from a lack of ability to breathe, but also the one Tim Tam I was allowed to have because I did the burprees.

Point is - exercise has helped me over the years become a better and happier person who values and understands food, health and how important it is to look after oneself. It also helps me look better in clothes which lets face it, is probably my prerogative. 

Me tomorrow.

How I thought I looked at the beach (reality not pictured)

My Buy of the week. Karen Walker Whale Dress Win!

What will 2013 bring forth for the fashion world?

Happy belated New Year!

Sadly, I had no time off during the Xmas/New Year break and was hard at work and have not been able to keep a consistent timeline here.

2013 will hopefully become a promising and fulfilling year for the fashion industry and all it encompasses.

Firstly, and one can only hope, that tights as pants will finally fade into oblivion. This I think will only be a dream owing to the amount of people still parading them about my neighbourhood, but one can wish, hard.

Secondly, Balenciaga may swing to the forefront of everyone's attention due to its head designer change. Alexander Wang, the one, the only, the best. What will he bring to the Balenciaga name? At first I thought this was an interesting and perhaps an uncomfortable choice, however, now that I have seen the latest studio made collection, almost making way as it were for his debut, I am truly excited. His masterful tailoring and beautiful luxe fabrics should bring a breath of fresh air to the catwalk for SS 13/14. I just hope he keeps on making amazing clothing, bags and shoes for his own lines as T by Alexander is my new obsession!

Thirdly, H&M are coming. What will this once again mean for our Sportsgirls, Portmans and local brands? H&M are perhaps the most affordable,bang on trend and accessible brand in the entire world and this is a scary thing to envision for our already collapsing industry. Topshop and Zara's impacts seem to have fitted into a small niche that perhaps we weren't addressing completely here. Their businesses have not killed Australian equivalents, maybe taken away from them, but melded in nicely as another option. H&M are cheaper and bigger competition. They are also coveted around the world for being the brand that offer affordable copies of every designer name under the sun. I.am.scared.

Lastly, Pantone Colour of the year is Emerald. Amazing! I am truly looking forward to a year of beautiful peacock hues and jewel tones. This also may have something to do with the fact that emerald is one of my colours, but it does make a nice change to Tangelo Tango, as that orangey red does nothing for a pink based complexion. Bring on another year of developing more sustainable fabrics, new silhouettes, prints, textures and trends. Excitement!

I purchased this from Outnet last week, love!

Refreshing Change.

Future Pitt Street Mall.

The Year I Chose to Lose.

I completed a Bachelor of Fashion Design last year. People who have studied other design disciplines or completed very similar courses understand what undertaking that final year really means. It takes a toll not just physically, but also emotionally. 2011 was probably the most draining, stressful, sleep deprived and challenging year of my life. It was also the year, however, that taught me patience, time management and most of all, taught me exactly what I was able to achieve if I really tried. It has taken me a year to be able to talk about it without feeling sick. I picked up my garments this week from college and as I stood there looking at the results of my hard work, I smiled and I knew progress had been made.

I am finally able to think of it as a 'learning process', whereas a year ago I would have said it was probably the worst life choice I had ever made. It is so hard to explain, but it is like making a horcrux (for those Harry Potter fans out there). Taking a piece of your soul and placing it into 9 garments and 5 bodies that will become your Magnum Opus. It is not just 9 garments. It is 9 garments defining exactly what you are about as a designer, what you want the world to see, and you only have this one chance.

I had never received amazing marks in my design subjects. I was more interested in theory and design history subjects. So when we were presented with this winter brief I was more than just nervous. The first week we were to present 5 looks for 10 garments. That is 50 drawings, which take time and a lot of thought. Churning out that many ideas in one 7 day period is incredibly taxing. I had been thinking about this collection for two and a half years at this point and yet, when it came the moment when I was to put these thoughts to paper and express them to my teacher, I couldn't.

I began searching for more inspiration. Stylesight became my bible. Who were my style, designer icons? Who weren't? Should I utilise alternate design disciplines like architecture?

I fell in love with Frank Gehry, the amazing Guggenheim Bilbao architect. This led to me looking at designers who also drew influences from architecture such as Gareth Pugh, Felder Felder and, of course, Alexander McQueen.

After 6 months I had done some pretty incredible things. I had put back together a rusted stud machine after visiting a stud maker in Marrickville, I learnt how to sew leather, how to cut out silk without it slipping, I had fused together silk and neoprene with quilting glue. I dreamt designs, I dreamt solutions, and would wake up writing them down furiously. I sat up night after night with my wonderful friends sewing, typing, drawing, painting and in the end I made something I was really proud of.

Here it is below:

The Chevron Coat

Bondage Pant, Triangle Shirt

The Fly Away Dress

The 1000 Pieces Dress

Goldfrapp Jacket

Armourdillo Dress

The Carnival Dress

The Biggest Week of Online Shopping Ever.

This week began with Cyber Monday. Arguably the biggest day of online shopping in the entire year. The interesting thing about this year in particular is that it was officially the biggest day of online sales ever. IBM tracked 500 online retailers across the day and the world showing a 30% increase in sales from 2011. 
Why is Cyber Monday the biggest online day of the year? Well, it follows Black Friday. Black Friday is the massive Thanksgiving sale that happens each year in lieu of the American public holiday. It boosts sales pre-Christmas and allows people to justify a lot more readily why they should be buying (Christmas Presents, Clothes are pretty etc...). 
So what is this information saying about the fashion industry and people in general?
They are becoming more and more comfortable with the online world and less interested in poking around Westfields. 

Who Did it the Best?

Opening Ceremony (my love, my all) offered a killer sale mostly on clothing, however, once again let their international customers down with their $40 shipping (it does arrive in 48hours though).

Barney's were offering a great broad range of designer gear for 30-60%. They also gave their international customers free shipping over $200. (I may have partaken in this wonderful opportunity *cough leather pocket shirt cough*).

Urban Outfitters offered 2 for 1 deals, $5 stocking fillers etc... as well free shipping over $50.

Then the UK retailers jumped on board with The Outnet giving an extra 40% off certain categories within their ranges.

Solestruck (the best shoe site in the world ever) have the best Cyber Monday sale of all. 50% extra off all their sale product in which there are over 2000 styles. It is huge. Last year the server crashed on my friend and I and we had 4 computers on hitting refresh, panic faced and crying... yes shoes are that amazing especially when they're $70. Fortunately, all worked in our favour and I was seen to be wearing my lovely Cheap Monday boots to work today, all thanks to Solestruck's amazing sale.

So What Next?

The fashion industry is as I said before at a crossroads where they are needing to spend equal money and time getting their websites looking amazing and incredibly stylistic, offering unique deals that their own stores aren't offering etc..., however, also needing to keep their shops trendy and fashion forward as well as differentiating themselves from their competitors.

Where this leads in the near future will be incredibly interesting especially with this exponential growth in online sales. Exciting times ahead!

Barney's Co op Steal

TBA James Boot - It's Love!

Christmas is here AGAIN! What/Who/When am I buying these perfect presents?

It's that time of year again... that time of year where everyone pretends to like each other in their family, where we buy each other presents that attempt to be 'unique', 'interesting', 'different' not only from the year before, but from everyone else and most importantly, a time of year where everyone gets to eat a big ham.

Present shopping is not easy, exciting (unless it's for ourselves) nor is it satisfying. It is usually done panicked during those two weeks prior to the big day when we are hungover from our work parties, feeling particularly apathetic towards work and when the last thing you want to do is make informed and personal decisions regarding other peoples' well being. Last year this was me, the year before this was me and yada yada yada. In an attempt to alleviate this somewhat, I purchased a heap of items online (too late of course) and no one got their gifts until the second week of January owing to delayed shipping.

This year I am going to become captain organised. What? I am a grown-up with grown-up things going on in my life like... a job, a credit card and a shit load of shoes.
I hopped online last night and purchased a good amount of stuff for my close circle of friends and immediate family. I. am. done. A month out, a few hours in the comfort of my own home with my pj's on (cat on my lap) and a cup of tea - I. am. finished.

How you ask? Well by internet shopping of course. Thank you Urban Outfitters.

Urban Outfitters - The novelty gift mecca. Full of stuff for your body, home and life that you never knew you needed, but then can't understand how you lived without. How did I not own a mirror in the shape of an own before, or a shower curtain with birds on it? Did you know I need a giant floral decal that sticks to my wall that looks like a bedhead? No I didn't either. It is awesome and lots of fun. It makes for hours and hours of fun Christmas shopping that involve the best socks $6.66 can buy. They are also doing free shipping to Australia with orders over $50 and with the list of 20 people I had buy for, that a piece of cake.
Here are a few examples:

I need these

Xmas Options


Yes please.


Where's Wally Hat!

Yayoi Kasuma - Orgies and Art

I was recently in New York City and went to the Whitney museum to see the Yayoi Kasuma exhibition there. I had previously seen her work in the Museum of Contemporary Art in 2009 here in Sydney and loved it. Her phallic themed, lively instillations and somewhat serious canvases from her early and later years made for one incredible exhibition in a huge space.

These installations lead you on a journey into a metaphysical world where fantastical ideas become reality. For example standing on a platform surrounded by water in a mirror room draped in fairy lights that lead into eternity. Kasuma wants to encourage escapism and projects her own mental instability (not necessarily in a bad way, however, she voluntarily lives in a mental asylum in Japan) onto her viewers.

Other works include a normal kitchen room with glow and the dark spots that respond to ultra-violet lights and a very in-your-face art-orgy also involving spots as well as panty hose. It's this juxtaposition of normality and found objects with simple, wacky ideas that enable her to have become one of the most successful modern artists today.

What also perfectly accompanied the exhibition, was how New York City embraced it. Scaffolding on buildings printed in Kasuma's dotted prints, buses covered in advertisements and best of all, Louis Vuitton. Their windows all over the city were spectacular and all in all made my trip.

Fireflies on the Water, 2002

Yellow Tree Furniture Room

Louis Vuitton Window on 5th Ave, New York

When good things happen to those who wait...

So today, something really cool happened. I went to the Newtown Festival which was an overcrowded hipsterfest with dogs and children on the side. It was a really lovely day in all with perfect weather, great company and good local music.

Whilst sitting on the grass waiting for our last two friends to arrive we were invited to a backyard garage sale around the corner by a nice modern gentleman. Off we went and were met with a quaint, tasteful backyard with pavers, and an open plan kitchen that opened out under a small portico. There were racks of clothes, shoes lined up and a table with bags. I fossicked through some shoes and picked up a nice pair of brand new pony skin Topshop sandals. I then espied out the corner of my eye on the table  - a specific bag, but it couldn't be... but it was...
The Mulberry Alexa Bag. I. DIE.

For $70, slightly loved, but in great condition, my very own real Mulberry Alexa bag that I have coveted for years. I also got some great advice about my line of work. Best. day. ever.

Amazing bag & an amazing lady - Alexa Chung

White as the Moon... my Skin that is.

I've been coming to terms more and more with my skin. My skin is quite dry (dry combination according to beauty therapists) and extremely pale. I'm talking paler than the most palest people walking around today. I have friends that look down at their skin and say 'God I'm pale...', whilst being at least 3 shades darker than me. In photos the flash makes my skin white and reflects off of it like taking a photo of yourself in a mirror. Door sensors can't see me outside supermarkets (I'm that pale).

So after years of attempting to tan and going lobster red, peeling and starting again, fake tanning (so much effort when you get patchy and not even exfoliating your dry-ass skin will fix it) - I've given up.
This is it, this is me. No changing it at all. I will be a freckly, paler than ivory person forever.

On the plus side it means I look quite good in black, which I wear all the time, as well as dark reds, dark purples, colours I like basically and perhaps for that reason. Pastels on me look like a potential vomit. I am becoming OK with it, I'm facing it. It's easier just to accept it now that I'm an adult. As a teenager I wanted to look like a 'hot beach babe' like the good Bondi private school girl (YUK) should, but no.

Fashion has accepted pale people too (thank you Alexander Wang and his models) and really, the odd yellow shoe doesn't go astray away from my face  - the only place a yellow colour on pale people can go.

My acceptable yellow shoes

My pale-skinned icon Dita Von Teese

Quentin Bryce (more like Quentin Dressnice)

Quentin Bryce or Quentin Dressnice as my mother and I call her is not only a fantastic role model for women, but she is also a great fashion pioneer. She is flawless in her public speaking, her eloquent word choices and her choice of shoe.

Why I think she is amazing:

She is our first female Governor General
She was the first woman to join the bar in Queensland
She was the first woman to became a faculty of law member at her university 
She NEVER looks bad
She ALWAYS wears amazing hats

I saw her addressing HRH Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles whilst on their visit to Queensland two nights ago wearing this amazing yellow shift dress and matching 40s style hat. She honestly looked better than every person there. It is funny how much seeing her representing Australia in that way made me so happy. I am no patriot and yet, her handshaking of the royals and her well mannered speech about their visit made me really content.

I am not one to have a go at Julia Gillard for her wardrobe choices, but she could change it up a bit and make it a bit more interesting. Maybe swapping that Carla Zampatti cream blazer for a nice print or something along those lines. Take a leaf out of Mrs Dressnice's book perhaps.

It's not that what you look like is most important because it is obviously not the case, however, in all truth - it is what people are going to see first and remember you by. Take Jackie Kennedy for example, that woman has gone down in history as one of the best dressed women well...ever.

It makes me consider sleeping with my hair in curlers and getting up 2 hours earlier just to try and replicate this look, ha!

    

The Amazing Jackie O

Quentin Bryce having a laugh this week with the Royals

Amazing

Donuts that don't make you fat.

 

So there is this latest craze at work, on the runway, at my house (my sister and I) and the world... The Hair Donut.

This is brilliant why? Because of the following:

1) Volume - The Donut makes you look like you have a lot more hair than you really do and for people like me with very fine hair, I can just wrap it around and BAM! I have as much hair as an 80s music video clip. They also come in different colours for different hair shades and sizes from 'I have short hair' to 'I want to be Lady Gaga'.

2) Sophistication - Pop one of these babies in and people think it took you hours. It gives the illusion of a really sophisticated hair do whilst in reality only taking 2 mins.

3) Day 3 Hair - Yes we all get to day 3, the day before hair washing day, or the day you probably should have washed your hair, however, a number of reasons why you can't bathe pop up. Like, I am going to the gym this afternoon what is the point? I've had a big night and can't possibly waste any precious sleep... I can't be bothered. You know, the usual. So pop your hair in a pony, shove in the donut and off you go.

Yay for a trend that is flattering (my cheek bones stick right out) and is fun (I look like a 50s pin up...in my dreams anyway).

YUM!
 



LC rocking it



Why sleep and fashion go hand-in-hand

So I have not been sleeping much. I have just begun my first real, fulltime job and basically not going to bed early enough. It is surprising how it makes a difference to not only your overall daily work performance, but how you look.

I woke up this morning with the biggest bags under my eyes. Bigger than a crater. They were purple, swolen and I looked like some kind of zombie (perfect for Halloween). This tiredness made me particularly apathetic to what I shoved onto my body and consequently I'm sitting here at lunch time hating on myself for putting this cardigan/dress/flatforms combo together. I look a bit ridiculous I have to admit and obviously no one in the workplace really knows what my style is yet. I feel like shouting at the top of my lungs: 'I SWEAR I DON'T USUALLY DRESS LIKE A RAINFOREST CREATURE!', it's the hour and a half commute, the fact that my brain is fried from an information overload and I... I...need sleep!

 

 

Me today

 

Cheeky Wranglers assaulting the senses

Look, I've been through this before, but I feel after a good 5 hours at the Surry Hills Festival in Sydney yesterday I have to get this out in the open. Wearing shorts as small as your underpants, or even smaller are not a good look. No one is looking at you (who aren't desperate young men) and thinking 'amazing! I hope my morals are as loose as that one day!'. What people are actually thinking is 'ah why won't those tweens/teens/uni students, put it away?!' whilst vomiting in their mouths a little. They were out in full force yesterday and usually together in packs.
The great accessory to these kinds of shorts is usually an old 'vintage' band t-shirt whose sleeves have been cut off and show full side boob (please note these are bands if questioned they know nothing about). A girl in particular who won 'slunt of the day' for me was wearing a see through bra under hers so you could see her nipple peircings hanging out the side of her shirt like binocular vision. She also remarked at one point when lining up for food with her friends 'I don't even want to eat.... I just want vodka!'. Priceless.

A really good example from another blog
http://littlemissconceptions.tumblr.com/post/29759447616/nojustdont

Trying new things

There was a time not that long ago where I would have only worn black, more black and slightly different shades of black (yes there are different shades of black). I am, however, trying to branch out. Not hugely... like pastels (yuk with my skin) or super fluros (I'm not going to a rave here), but you know the odd splash of something else. I mainly stick to the following: dark scarlet reds, dark purples, burgundy, the occasional mustard yellow accessory, but this will all be coupled with black. If I am not wearing black in some capacity or form I feel naked. Not actually naked, but the naked you feel when you leave your watch at home. I recently went overseas and decided I wanted to change my image (a style overhaul if you will) and bought florals, some orange, a chocolate shoe (it's from Opening Ceremony so it's ok) and many a basic from American Apparel. Here is a combo I am going to try and get the courage to wear to work this week. I think I can do it (with black shoes of course). Top by Kookai and Skirt by Cue.

It's not as fluro in real life I swear