all i want for christmas is my two front teeth

I've never done a 'gift guide' before. And this is hardly a very helpful one, but I was inspired by this I'm Revolting guest post on Etsy, particularly this line This is for the one whose absence is keenly felt in those moments when the only sound is the city traffic beyond your window and you need to talk to someone and be understood. Because it made me think of you han, and made me want to get you the rug. And so here:

 

For the one that I admire from afar, compose text messages and emails to in my head when I'm walking, chat to all day, every day, about nothing. The one who loves all the best and some of the worst food, who can pull off every style, trend and item I never could, who calls me when she's drunk, high, and screams down the phone, who calls me sober, from work, to play me the carols being sung in her office (it'll be a tradition). The one who once called me her heart,  the one who I get to see in 14 days and counting. If I could I would buy her a pair of Opening Ceremony shoes, some Arnsdorf Jeans or this Navajo bag from Need Supply but I'm far more likely to give her a Trotski and Ash calendar, a candle from Lover, or, realistically, a bucket of gin and tonic and my bed.

Christmas is not for spending on onesself. If someone else wished to spend on me though they could get me some pretty jewelry like the smokey quartz on silk cord from Vamoose or the beautiful Morse Code necklace by Coatt (it spells 'love me do' in morse code!), or if they were feeling very generous I would accept the gold, diamond and turquoise ring by Mociun, from Magpie and Rye (I would accept anything from M&R, or Mociun for that matter, thanks). Even though it's kind of similar to one I got from Ruby in October, I would still love the Viva Vena Mustard Seed t shirt, because I have already worn the Madame Hawke one to death, and the back is special! It's sold out (probably thanks to I'm Revolting) but I would have love love loved the Moon print and lastly, I am actually considering buying the smokey quartz in geode for myself, because who doesn't love a chunk of rock?

tea time

I fell in love last year, in a shop in Curtain House that isn't there anymore, with a blue and white zig zag printed bathing suit. I never got it, and to be honest it might not have been zig zagged, or even blue and white for that matter, but it's likely-altered memory has lived on... Now it's the middle of winter and bikini bodies, bikini lines, and bathing suits in general were the last things on my mind until a couple weeks ago when Rittenhouse announced their mid-year sample sales.

I feel a little bit of the same way for Rittenhouse as I do for APC, but in a more local way. The impression I've had until recently has been that their clothes are simple, clean, sophisticated, and a little bit preppy, though on closer inspection I've found that they're also detailed, clever, and beautifully made.

For their last collection, the couple behind Rittenhouse collaborated with Swiss artists Michael Husmann and Pasquale Tschaeni, another creative couple. The result was an explosion of playful colours and textures that surprised many of their followers, and enticed me. That bathing suit that I loved last year was Rittenhouse, though I'd forgotten they even make swimwear until I was browsing their website and came across this. Which I love even more.

They're bringing the sample sale to Melbourne next Friday and Saturday, at Misty Bar on Hosier lane from 10am-4pm.
For those of you who aren't in Melbourne (or weren't in Sydney last weekend), today they announced reductions at their online shop, yay. After discussion with Han I think I'm going to go bikini, despite how beautiful the one piece is, now I just have to figure out how to justify buying a swimsuit in Winter (as if being on sale isn't enough).

Pictures are all from Rittenhouse

oh happy day

Madewell has an online shop now! Lou - this spells trouble. They don't ship to NZ or Australia yet but there are certainly ways around that. I suspect that this development will be key to solving the mystery of where can I find 70s style flared jeans that aren't a bit wierd? Photos are from refinery 29's profile on Madwell's Gigi Guerra, who I officially think is pretty and cool and probably would be really nice in real life.

hypocritical as heck

Gawd, I just bought these shorts on a total whim. Finances, weather appropriateness and moral highground be damned:


D'oh!

hey big spender

You may have figured out by now, (or not) that my mum is the most talented op-shopper in the world. She manages to find treasures in the most unexpected places, and more often than not, passes them on to me. Most of the time, they cost less $15 and were from the Otara Market or the infamous "op shop up the road".

By contrast, my flatmate and I went into a boutique on Ponsonby Road yesterday. I saw a cardigan I liked, which cost over $1000 - it was really nice, of course, but really? $1000 for a cardigan? There was a coat in another boutique which I loved; it was beautifully made and had fabulous golden buttons. But it was $750. I almost put it on layby, too. A good quality coat is easy justify spending lots of money on. But, ultimately, I couldn't go through with it.

My point is, I like clothes, and I like shopping. But I have come to realise that I absolutely balk at spending all my money on clothes. I can't justify it. I understand spending money on quality items, and obviously, I'm totally into laybying the odd thing here and there. But I cannot stomach a thousand dollar cardigan. I worked for a "designer" label while studying - I know what the mark ups are.

So I'm trying not to get hung up on wanting things. I'm only buying vintage or New Zealand made. I want to think about purchases for a long time before I buy them. I'm avoiding pining over glorious Lover look books, or at magazines which make me feel like all my clothes are ugly and passe. Instead, I'm enjoying spending money on brunches and whisky sours, going on adventures and seeing amazing things; reminding myself that $700 is half a plane ticket to almost anywhere I dream of going. Of course, Mum still thinks I'm totally frivolous.

i made a cake

Foolish online purchases of the month (so far, aiee!)

The boots came out of pure need for plainish flat things I can wear to work that are waterproof.

The jacket...well, I've had my eye on it for a while. I'm not 100% sure if it is going to work. And I don't really like zips. I like the back of it, though, and I like the fact that it looks small, and not huge and shapeless. Also I've been going through a wanting, NEEDING shearling phase. So now that's taken care of, hopefully.

Oh, the cake. I have achieved a "personal best" in carrot cakes. Honestly, it tastes so good. And it is even in two layers with cream cheese icing in the middle as well as on top! Yum!

whelmed

Laneway left me, well, just whelmed.*
It was fun and the music was great, but it seemed wierdly organised and the weather was horrid and muggy.

Anyway. Today is Joanna Newsom day. I'm very excited.

I have also decided to buy a white shirt (unbelievably, the Sunday magazine led me to this one). Apparently we all should own a white shirt and I don't. This one is a little bit country, and a little bit see through. Perfect.


I have always had a soft spot for Ruby. I think that this winter I shall buy a coat from them as well.I have never, spent money on a coat and I think the time is nigh. I may even buy a dress, too. I'm trying to save and only buy NZ made, good quality clothes if I'm not buying vintage. Ruby is good in this way; also it is not going to break the bank. Well, it won't break it like Karen Walker would break it. Poor broken bank.

Piccies of Ruby from their Winter 2010 Lookbook. Worth a look. Ha.

*("I know you can be underwhelmed, and you can be overwhelmed, but can you just be, "whelmed?" "I think you can in Europe")

sale!

Arnsdorf and Tina Kalivas

Yesterday was my first day off since I got back to work and so I spent it wisely - shopping.

It's sale time ladies and here is what you need to know:

ARNSDORF rules - they make lovely, simple things in lots of pretty colours. They're closing the pop-up shop on Gertrude Street today but if you hurry you can probably convince them to cut you some sweet deals.... If you read this after today (Friday) then you'll have to shop online or look for them elsewhere, like Alice Euphemia.

...which brings me to ALICE EUPHEMIA. Alice also rules - they stock an awesome range of Australian designers, and now some Kiwis too, the delivery of Lonely lingerie by Lonely Hearts has been delayed but I have faith it will arrive, and soon! Also, I spotted a lucky girl purchasing a sweet Deadly Ponies waistcoat (vest? jerkin?) there last night so yay for you NZ. As well as my two fave nz labels, Alice stocks Romance Was Born, Friederich Gray, TV (which I have to say, is growing on me), Marnie Skillings, and heaps more. I scored the Tina Kalivas mini I've had my eye on all Summer and they're on sale NOW so go there!! ps I'm so excited about Tina Kalivas' new collection, but more on that later

Everywhere is actually on sale at the moment, but these guys are my top picks.

Oh and while I'm at it, ACNE have about 3 good things on their sale rack, which are actually almost affordable, I would recommend going in there if you are extremely tiny or quite large (so you can get the lilac dress that I fell in love with, and I can be jealous of you but happy that someone lovely has it), FYI there's nothing worth trying on there if you're just in between.

PS I bought colour!

lonely hearts a/w '10

I want these also

These Lindsay Thornburg cloaks are marvellous. I want one even though it is summer.

clip ons!

Aren't these a dream? And only US $46 from Oaknyc.
Perhaps I will treat myself next paycheck...

i love lamp

Today happiness comes in the form of:

1) This adorable lamp I bought off etsy. Look at it's wee face! It's name shall be Albino Stevie the Second, after the recently deceased bottom-feeding, cave dwelling, cannabalistic, no-eyed, translucent deamon fish I foolishly adopted a couple of months ago. RIP Albino Stevie the First. I suspect Albino Stevie the Second will be more of a pleasure to have around.

2) Today my boss lead our office in yoga (she was a professinal dancer and remains fabulous and ridiculously flexible) and then we followed it with delicious pies. I was the worst, my legs shook like a little chihuahua's. This is funny because a) it looks funny and b) I'm about thirty years younger than everyone else who was doing yoga.

3) Last night we pretended to be little plants growing from seed to blossoming flower while dancing to Hallelujah by Rufus Rainwright. I don't know how that happened (actually , I do, but it is not a story for the internet).

4) I'm going to the Twilight/New Moon DOUBLE FEATURE OPENING NIGHT AT ST LUKES. Words cannot express how happy I am about this. It is a late-night showing which means that it will be full of older creeps like myself (and about 20 of my friends) who will probably be a bit drunk and silly. EDWARD CULLEN 4 LYF/TEAM CULLEN/SQUEE. The opinions and views expressed by this writer does not represent those of the other writer of this blog.

"EDWARD IS A SENSITIVE POET"

FOR SHAME.

ouch

I'm still sore after yoga on Monday and am foolishly going back for more tonight...

Do you know what else hurts?

I've spent the better part of three days trying to track down a certain Lover one piece and even though Australia is ridiculously near to New Zealand it has been a heartbreaking process which has signified NOTHING. What is this life about? Why are things which should be so easy be so hard? A friend of mine lent me her Lover swimsuit last year and I remember a wave of happiness washing over me that no other swimsuit has ever evoked. Usually, I'd balk at spending hundreds of dollars on a swimwear but this little dude is something special.



To make myself feel better I bought this from Topshop:


That's right, its a navy and cream breton striped crop top with hook and eyes going up the middle. I need to stop buying things online when I cannot quite discern if they are ugly or not. The day I found out that Topshop shipped to NZ was a day terrible in its greatness. The floodgates to relatively guilt-free online purchasing have been opened. Aiee!


I feel as though Lou and I have become a little too pre-occupied with online shopping. Next post will not be about things I want to buy from the internet. Promise.