When in doubt

For us southerners, winter is coming to an end. And what I hate the most about end of seasons is that trends seems to be so old and unexciting and most of us would stop caring about what we wear already. By the last month of the season we are convinced that there are no new on-season pieces or creative ensembles that we have not seen. Since I am new to this whole one-year-four-season thingy, I find myself surviving end of seasons like a fashion victim. Or I would just give up and go back to the sweater and jeans combo.

Well, what I did was to search up the street style shots from winter in the northern hemisphere for inspiration. Here's a little something I came up with:-

One. When in doubt, wear the fool proof classic big black coat.

Two. Crazy tights in winter = refreshing!

Three. Yes we know but we forget sometimes, to layer-up!

Four. In case you skipped washing your hair in the cold weather, wear a hat. ;) Nobody needs to know it is just a fashionable cover-up.

Five. This will last you till Spring, maybe even early summer, considering how crappy New Zealand's weather had been. - The nude trench had been in trend since last spring and still going strong!

All the best in your battle against end of season dullness! hugs*


Photos by: Mr. Newton, All The Pretty Birds

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Cleo NZ collaborated with Karen Walker for their June issue, thus making the pages a good source of style-copying. Opps, I mean inspiration. After a fashion parch dry period for me after the tests and assignments that sucked out every ounce of energy I had, it is great to restart by putting together an outfit that someone else had tried and pull off successfully. Fashion newbies and fried brain all time fashion lovers should try this.

Studded flats - checked

High neckline tunic - checked

Little shoulder bag - checked

Win!

Outfit: Victorian neck dress - thrifted; tassled shoulder bag - Mango, studded flats - Vinci; big ring - Bling.

June: Things I saw and liked

Candy for your lustrous eyes.

Source: Madewell, Google Images, Modcloth, Stockholm Street Style, The Skinny, Style Scout, The SF Style, Streetpeeper, Daily Alexa Chung.

Who Wears The Pants?

Thanks to the screening of Coco Avant Chanel last year, us girls recognise the importance of practical clothing again, especially pants. A garment that is much more practical than tights, leggings and skirts if you are a busy girl who has to hustle hustle in your daily activities. Or you ride a bike. Like me. So I have decided to have a Pants-off competition, between the guys and the ladies from several stylish points of the world.

Take a look at these stylish pantsters and vote in the poll.

Photos from: The Sartorialist, Style Clicker, Stockholm Street Style, Face Hunter, Altamira

On the street: Vintage

Since I started buying vintage clothing last year my biggest concerns were how to wear them without looking like the weird cat lady. I think that is what most of us would think about a lot. As in how do we make vintage wearable and blend in but still remain distinguishably chic.

These ladies seem to be doing a good job so I put them in as a reference to share with you guys. :)


P/s: I'd really like to do a giveaway soon but the traffic in this blog is disappointingly low. So if you like my blog, please follow it. You can do it via Google, Bloglovin' or Facebook. Will do the giveaway when we reach 100 followers! :D

Source: Stockholm Street Style, Street Peeper, Drop Tokyo, The Style Scout.

Vintage Hunt

If you are my friend from Facebook, you would know that I planned a vintage hunt trip for the girls during this Easter holiday. I have been cruising through the days as if I am on vacation - which I shouldn't be doing - so it took me a few days to edit and finally upload the pretty pictures we took along the way.

I had always wanted to go sniff around in Christchurch city centre since last year but the only time I could actually go roam around the streets were Sunday afternoons after church ends when all the shops are closed - sad face. But our university's weekly magazine ('Canta') published a feature on vintage shopping just a few weeks ago and listed some of the most amazing shops and I was just so tempted to go. So after gaining a year of experience bus-ing and reading actual maps and finding the right addresses, I gathered a group of ladies and we head off for an adventure.



2nd Edition - not really a vintage store but it is a secondhand bookstore in the city where we passed by. Special thanks to Esther for showing us this beautiful little hidden shop in the alley. The owner is a chic lady with great concepts and really modest when it comes to compliments. Her shop is just gorgeous and stocked with art and wonderful books. I love how it is not overwhelmingly big and the place smelled nice, unlike most old secondhand bookstores on the main streets.

The owner gave me a slip of paper with her shop details when I bought Sophie Kinsella's 'Remember Me' ($6!). It says "2nd Edition Art & Quality pre-loved books (bought and sold) 22 Poplar Street Christchurch City Centre 03 379 3501". So here you go, if you are in Christchurch and is planning a vintage shopping trip, take a detour to this little shop, I'm sure you'll adore it!

Etcetera - it was featured in 'Canta' magazine. This the the first shop that we went into on the trip. It was not exactly what I imagine it would be but definitely a good starting point for the trip. Etcetera smelled like coffee (because they sell coffee at the corner of the store) and is filled with militaria antiques from the Second World War. I could not help but stare at the military jackets and the stained flag in awe. Then there was some impressive pieces like this old Hollywood styled dress. It was as if I just walked into Catherine Zeta-Jones' "Chicago" wardrobe. Gasp!

The ladies took a picture with the hat collections in Etcetera. I love Rebecca's hat!

Above: This is my favourite alley way in the city, where they hang vintage bicycles on the walls. I accidentally walked into this back-lane last year and took a few pictures of it and thought that it would be cool if I can show it to somebody, and I finally did! :) And we found the car that was up on the walls opposite this one. Yes, a VW mini cooper.

Above: Tête-à-tête on Hereford Street, our last stop of the day. The owner is a darling lady who has good taste on vintage things. I bought the most beautiful little wool cardigan I have ever seen here! It fitted so well! It was a 100% wool (warmth!) cream coloured knitted cropped cardi with metal buttons. Just typing the description of it gives my shopaholic heart a jolt!

.....
Other than that, we went to Lin's at (71, Kilmore Street) for Dim Sum lunch. It was amazing! All the girls were satisfied and happy when we left. Yummy custard desserts~

And I leave the best for the last, Gertie's Vintage Clothing on High Street was epic! They had lovely coats hanging on the racks and gloves in a vintage briefcase! I found the tiniest fur jacket that no kiwis would fit (Yooyah Asian Size!) and I am just thankful that people from 10 20 years ago are 2 sizes smaller than the modern homo sapiens. Some pieces are over-priced though I would say, but Gertie's do have the most amazing collection of vintage clothing I've ever seen so far.

featured in this post: Esther from 凹凸.

On the street: Milan

Regretfully, this is what I call a lazy post. Although they are inspiring and amazing, I have to say, I tend to do posts like these when I am busy and have no mood for a decent outfit post/better researched posts.

Anyhow, these ladies are amazing. Look at lady #1! The skirt convince me that sheer is totally chic! And to top that the tights matches the outfit like they are meant to be together for life. I just love how she wears a simple t-shirt and leather jacket to tone down the mod-ness of the bottom. This is what I label as fashion genius, the serendipity kind of ensemble that is simply chic and inspiring.

Lady #2 had on this edgy black "cold shoulder" blazer that literally screams out. That is one gorgeous piece that I would not consider wearing. So I have to put it in the category of "to be awed at". But I have to say, isn't her skirt just intriguing? Not only that it is high waisted and in the right colour, the textured coil on it is just pure individualism.

Lady #3 and Lady #4 are just direct opposite of each other, one with cute head-dress and the other with geek glasses - but both wearing the (almost) identical shoes! They are the perfect outfit shots to show how we can achieve different looks with the same pair of shoes. Flared coat for a girly look or checked pants and manly jumper for that town chic look. Delightful!

Even though lady#5 did not stand out when I first lay my eyes on the photo, I do like how she wears her denim vest. I had been contemplating whether a denim vest can qualify as a wardrobe staple and this photo is just making the decision harder. She look so 90's in a good way, with black lace, black laced-up boots and denim vest over zipper top. She just look so comfortably out of time.

The last lady #6, hmm... she made me feel like studding my black trench. If she is wearing that trench minus the studs, it would not be nice at all, would it? Ah, how studs can spice things up.

Sometimes I do wish we have more interesting fashion people walking around in Christchurch. Walking in the city without running into any fashionably dressed person is just not natural, don't you think?