Make You Sweat

The weather is heating up and let's be honest, you're going to have a little ladylike perspiration. Or, you know, sweat. So we might as well embrace it right. And besides, I really love that clean, dewy, glistening beauty look that you see so frequently at Calvin Klein and Alexander Wang. It's also one of those runway looks that is really easy to dial back a little an run with for real life (see below).

Calvin Klein Spring 10

 Alexander Wang Spring 11

Calvin Klein Spring 10

It's also pretty low maintenance and surprisingly feels quite clean and fresh to wear (as I did so today). I raided my MAC Arsenal and utilised the following products. The emphasis is on clean, fresh skin. No bronzer or blush - just some brightening primer, light and hydrating Face And Body foundation and mineralize skinfinish. With gloss medium on the eyes and a little bit of brow pencil to frame the face. Easy, clean and fresh.

Left to right: Mixing Medium Shine, Face And Body Foundation, Prep + Prime Skin Brightening Serum and Mineralize Skinfinish all by MAC. 

Graduate Collection Preview #2

Our Rookie graduate show is on next week on Friday night. If you're in Auckland then, grab a ticket from Ticketmaster and come along! Until then, here is another preview.

Cropped images from photos taken by Guy Coombes

Inspiration for Summer: Black, White and Cool

This is a selection of things that are influencing and inspiring me for the impending summer. Nineties babes lensed by Mario Sorrenti. Icy blondes. Stark eyeliner. Slip dresses a la Kate, Winona and Ally McBeal. Pinstripes. Slicked back hair. Cool, strong and decisive. And what better way to get through the heat of summer than with wet hair and something backless?

French Glamour December 1994 "Le chair de L`Orchidee" Nadja Auermann by Mario Sorrenti

Clockwise: The Row Spring 12, US Harper's Bazaar October 1993 by Mario Sorrenti, Gemma Ward in Obsession Night For Men,

Harper's & Queen March 1993 "A different kind of pinstribe" Nadja Auermann by Mario Sorrenti.

Kate Moss and Mario Sorrenti 1993

Clockwise: Jil Sander, Damir Doma Spring 12, Winona Ryder in Girl Interrupted, Comme des Garcons Spring 12, Dazed And Confused 1997 by Katie Grand, Margiela.

Harper`s Bazaar febuary 1994 "After Matte" Nadja Auermann by Mario Sorrenti

Vogue Paris by Mario Sorrenti (unknown issue and year)

All images from The Fashion Spot and Tumblr

This is how you do The Great Outdoors c/o The Gentlewoman

In Lanvin, Hermes and Celine of course. If only real life was like this. I'm currently enjoying the latest issue of The Gentlewoman (with the stunning actress Olivia Williams doing cover duties) on my break at work. It has had to wait until uni madness ceased somewhat. But is thoroughly worth it of course.

Mr Mini Fill N Zip

I've never been much of a bag girl. Well, maybe I lie a little - I love bags but they have only ever seemed to be super expensive classic ones from the likes of Celine, Marni and Louis Vuitton. So instead I've made do with an $8 sensible bag from the Salvation Army for a few years though - however sadly the classy vinyl recently gave up this winter and need replacing. As luck would have it, I went into Children Of Vision when the latest bags from Deadly Ponies new range arrived in store and I immediately beelined for the the simple, beautiful Mr Mini Fill N Zip. He was soon put on layby and I finally paid him off yesterday (also somewhat of an end-of-degree present to myself).

He's already proved to be potentially the most perfect, comfortable and useful handbag ever. The size is large enough to fit necessities (today I had wallet, phone and all the usual suspects along with a heavy Antipodes bottle and it was fine) yet comfortably small enough that you are not dragging around a huge bag everywhere. The strap length is the perfect length to allow hands-free usage yet it never does that infuriating thing that satchels do when the bang against your hip/leg/ass when you walk (life is hard right). Not to mention buttery soft yet appealingly natural leather in a beautiful density and weight that is a pleasure to cradle in your arms. I am a happy girl.

Anais Anais

Sneakers, sportswear and sex appeal - what else do you need for summer?

Click through for a few more.

Things I've learnt in the last six weeks of my degree

Now that the most frantic six weeks of my design degree are over, I can actually look back on it. The things we did to survive eighteen hour working days. The things we got out of it. And, just as importantly, things I need for the impending summer. Now that I have my life back.

• I can go with very minimal sleep for weeks in a row. I'm talking two to four hours sleep a night max. Waking up at 5am to find yourself upright in bed with the lights on and your MacBook open. Falling asleep in the shower. Being physically too sleepy to drive safely. I was a crazy person. But you sure do realize how many usable hours there are in a day. 
•  When sleep deprived, venti brewed coffee from Starbucks is your friend. Until the morning you are holding you venti and feel like it's too small. 
• MAC makeup will turn you from looking like a crackwhore into a dabbler. Face & Body foundation and Mineralize blush were the only things making me look fit for society. And now I have my life back I've found myself wearing "Lady Danger" red nearly every day because, well, I can. It's the perfect f**k off red. 
• Clothing that feels like an approximation of pajamas makes you feel better about life. 
• When time is extremely minimal, Tumblring is easier than blogging. For when your brain can process images but not string together sentences. Also, the Tumblr app rules - why is there no Blogger app? Or is there and I just missed that memo? 
• It's amazing what people can do under pressure - everyone's collections really went next level in the last couple of weeks. There is some seriously amazing design work. You need to come to Rookie and check it out. Next level. 
• Everyone needs a good bookbag for summer. 
• The Gentlewoman is an amazing read, but even better if you've had to wait two weeks to read it. 
• I want to run around in sportswear this summer - I'm talking Nike, ADIDAS, raglan tshirts and caps. Especially as I have a month or two off work to really enjoy. It's been a long time coming. 
• I have several old faithfuls to replace for summer. My low-top converse are 8 years old and getting past it now, on the inside more than the outside though.   But do I replace with another pair of the same of branch out to something different? 
• I will not be purchasing trousers for the foreseeable future, as I nailed a pattern for a slim, elastic waisted pair that are seriously flattering and comfortable. 
• I do however need to stock up on shirts from Sherie Muijs (who is, by the way, now stocked at Fabric on High Street).

Tumblng

Although I have been an intermittent blogger lately as I've been finishing up my degree (only a couple weeks left now!) I have managed to keep my Tumblr up to date - posting and reposting photos using the Tumblr app is so much easier than using Blogger on an iphone. So if you don't follow it already, check it out.

Buttonhole gestures from Fantastic Man #14

Small, carefully placed wildflowers in buttonholes really should appear more frequently in day to day life. This small, yet significant tradition adds a touch of nature and sensitivity to impeccable menswear.

Fantastic Man re-photographed using Instagram

Cute new things at Pencil since the last time I was there

Since I actually had a free moment this afternoon (stunning weather too) I popped into Pencil to visit Pebbles and see what was new and cute in store. Please observe the following.

Babar pens! I grew up on a steady consumption of this cool dude - books, television and audiobooks. I need one of these in my life.

Whales are my favorite ocean mammal. They also look great on notebooks and subtly referencing Herman Melville.

Keith Haring yoyos! Enough said.

Still obsessed with the beauty and hair at Christopher Kane

So soft and clean and young. It's not only highly acheivable but was also a great foil to the metallics and florals of Kane's fantastic spring collection. I wish I was 16 and didn't have pores though, that would help.

Image source: Elle.co.uk

If I had money to spend and it wasn't nearly summer I would totally buy this

Because my favorite sweaters are thick and sensible and genderless, this Jil Sander mens jumper from Mr Porter is perfect. That double collar also adds that extra interest without being superfluous. I know it's spring, but I would totally run around in this jumper and a pair of brief little shorts on those cooler mornings and evenings.

Jil Sander Ribbed Double-neck sweater

Hi! I'm still alive.

Sorry I've been missing in action for the past week or so. I've been working like a madwoman on my graduate collection (two to three hours sleep a night max) so unplugged from every other aspect of life and accepted that I looked like a junkie. However we finally presented our collections yesterday - the majority of which were amazing. The diversity and strength of our year genuinely impressive. This morning we found out who was selected for the Rookie show and Raw presentation - I made it into Rookie, and am pretty damn pleased. The show is on November 11th and you can get tickets here. 

And now we will be back to regular programming. 

x

Looks I liked at Stella McCartney (and why there's been minimal posting lately)

Sorry that posts have been thin on the ground lately. Our graduate collections are due in one week, so I've been devoting 150% of my time and energy to it. 8am-12:30am days (for weeks in a row) do not facillitate blogging - or life in general actually. Usual posting will resume soon. In the meantime, here are the looks I loved at Stella McCartney. X

All images from Style.Com

Four looks I liked at Damir Doma

These looks from Damir Doma are some of my favorites from the whole of Paris Fashion Week.
Clean yet raw. Crisp and soft at the same time.

Image source: Style.com

Four looks I liked at Maison Martin Margiela

The sleeveheads and the pinstripes. The creams and the lurex.

Image source: Style.com