Monthly Archive for November, 2011

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 6 – Officeoriginair Herb Garden.

Published on November 30, 2011 in Awesome Things and Organisation. 2 Comments

Image/via simonjamesdesign.com

What: The Officeoriginair Herb Garden. A place for your herbs.

Why: Because who doesn’t love things like this? And because people should grow their own herbs. For cooking with. And putting in cocktails, especially when summer is on its way. And because those little pots you get at the supermarket don’t look nearly as nice as they do in one of these. Plus those scissors are awesome. This is the kind of thing you get and you put in your kitchen and you feel like you’re one of those real human beings who cooks food and trims their herbs and keeps things tidy and perfect and lives in the real world like a real adult. (As opposed to one of those human beings who eats takeout everyday and drinks from the milk container and leaves their crap all over the floor.) I swear if you had one of these, people would come into your house and see it and think to themselves ‘this is a real grown up, onto it person’.

Best for: An older (and when I say older, I mean probably at 18 and up) person. I say this because not many under 18 year olds have their own kitchens (they have their parents kitchens). Great for people who have just moved into a new place. It’s something slightly different from platters and coffee cups, but still useful and beautiful. Best for those who like to cook or make cocktails. People who like tidy and stylish kitchens – this thing isn’t exactly cheap (NZ$154.00). Good for parents. And if you want to make it that extra bit special, you could pick out and purchase some herbs to go in the thing as well.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get one?: At the Simon James Design store in The Department Store in Takapuna, Auckland, or if the North Shore is just that bit too far (and let’s face it – it nearly always is), you can get it online here.

New week, new thing: New faces.

Published on November 29, 2011 in Awesome Things, Models and Photography. 1 Comment

Danika @ N Model Management.

The other day I had the opportunity to hang out backstage before one Richard Kavanagh’s Auckland Rodney Wayne fashion show/presentation. The show cast pretty much all new faces. I didn’t get to see everyone or take all their photos but I did get to snap a few portraits. These were some of my favourites from the night. (For more, see my photo blog.)

Continue reading ‘New week, new thing: New faces.’

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 5 – The Kiehl's 'fill at will' box.

Published on November 29, 2011 in Awesome Things. 1 Comment

Image/Supplied.

What: It’s a box. An empty box. But the point is you fill it with Kiehl’s products so it’s not empty anymore.

Why: Well obviously you need to fill the box with some stuff for it to actually be a proper gift, but once you’ve chosen things for it, you’ve got the perfect gift. It’s skincare which is pretty nice to receive, but it’s also got that personal touch because you’ve chosen the things that go in it. And the box makes for nice packaging which is good for those people who are useless at wrapping presents.

Best for: Anyone. Well, probably females, but there is a men’s specific range. And I know men who use the non-mens specific range so it’s pretty much for anyone who hasn’t already got loyalty to another skincare range. I would get it for female friends or that girl you work with that you think deserves something extra special. Or for your son’s girlfriend. Having the ability to pick and choose products makes it pretty easy to put together something that suits the giftee (and something that suits your budget). Personally I would recommend the Ultra Facial Cream, the Creme de Corps and the Acai range.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get one?: Kiehl’s is available at Smith and Caughey’s stores in Auckland and at Ballantynes in Christchurch. For other stockists, see here.

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 4 – Karen Walker X Everyday Needs Pyjamas.

Published on November 28, 2011 in Awesome Things. 0 Comments

What: Karen Walker x Everyday Needs Pyjamas.

Why: I don’t care if you are one of those completely naked sleepers (so not into this, by the way), everybody needs some kind of sleepwear. There are plenty of reasons why. I mean, what if you’re on holiday with friends and you need to get up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water? Exactly. You could go with an old t-shirt, but why not step it up a notch? These Karen Walker for Everyday Needs pyjamas are luxury combined with comfort. And they come in great prints, including this amazing navy polka-dot. Actually, you know what? I’d probably wear the nightshirt in the daytime as well. That makes it like a two-in-one outfit. Also, the tops and bottoms are available for purchase separately.

Best for: People who don’t sleep naked. (Or people who do, that you feel need to cover up.) Moms. Sisters. People who will appreciate ‘special’ pyjamas. The person who has everything.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get one?: At Everyday Needs’ online store, here.

Continue reading ‘The Great Gift Guide 2011: 4 – Karen Walker X Everyday Needs Pyjamas.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published on November 27, 2011 in Awesome Things, Highs and Low(e)s and Rant. 3 Comments

Highs:

  1. So apparently some people thought my blog was cool enough to be nominated for an award. I know, right?! Crazy.
  2. I went to the Peroni Long Lunch on Friday afternoon and had drinks for the first time in a long time. I also had lunch. Both were pretty good. As was the company I surrounded myself with. (Thanks to my professional plus one!) Sometimes leaving the house is okay. (But only sometimes.)
  3. Making up really great captions to go with my photos on my photo blog. This was probably the number one highlight of the week. Or even the highlight of my life thus far. I have literally not enjoyed doing anything more. LITERALLY.
  4. There are some nice people on the internet.
  5. I got sent some exciting gifts in the mail this week. Firstly I love mail so it doesn’t matter what it is – I’m glad I’m getting it. Secondly, when the mail is not letters or bills and is actual courier packages of fun, exciting, useful gifts? You really can’t beat that.
  6. As of this week, I have a company. And an accountant. Does that make me a real grown up?

Low(e)s:

  1. People who don’t act like good guys. Or people who just plain aren’t good guys.
  2. Being the good guy when you don’t want to be the good guy. (But maybe this is a high, because exercising self restraint means you are a good guy, which means good karma for you.)
  3. After announcing I would put up a Gift Guide post every day starting Thursday, I got useless and didn’t post one on Friday. Poor form.
  4. Oh god. Christmas. And you know what follows Christmas? NEW YEARS. Literally the worst time of year, ever.
  5. You know how last week I bought a lotto ticket? Yeah. I didn’t win. Well I haven’t checked properly but I’m pretty sure I didn’t. $18.00 down the drain. THANKS FOR NOTHING.
  6. Those tumblr question askers just looooovve to get super personal, don’t they?

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 3 – Bedrock Bones.

Published on November 27, 2011 in Awesome Things. 1 Comment

What: Bedrock Bones.

Why: Pebbles Flintstone. Cute. Many colours. Cute. So, so cute.

Best for: Girls. Sisters, friends, girls with long hair. (And for those who don’t have long hair, the bracelet version would be perfect.) Girls that are into cute or quirky or both. Girls you don’t want to spend huge amounts of money on, or girls you need top up stocking type gifts for. I have one in white. I don’t know if I’m too old to wear it but I do anyway and it makes me feel like I’m one of those cute cheerleader types which can only be a positive thing, right?

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get one?: From Pencil Boutique in Ponsonby, Auckland. Also available at Ruby stores across New Zealand.

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 2 – Jack Spade 'Airmail Pouch'

Published on November 26, 2011 in Awesome Things. 2 Comments

Image/jackspade.com

What: The Jack Spade ‘Airmail Pouch’ aka. an ipad case.

Why: It’s so cute. It’s a baby blue knitted envelope for god’s sake. You really can’t get much better than that. Imagine carrying your ipad in that to fashion week – can anyone say STREETSTYLE?!

Best for: Persons that own an ipad. I guess maybe you could use it as a clutch which could be cute, but it’s really made to house an ipad. Also, the person needs to be okay with carrying something kind of girly looking or at least persons who are into fashion. I mean that in the best way possible. I would fully respect a man who carried their ipad in one of these. Also best for people who live in America or at least people who don’t mind spending US$74.00 shipping it to New Zealand.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get one?: From Jack Spade stores across America, or online here.

That awkward post where I ask you to do something for me even though you don't know me.

Published on November 25, 2011 in Awesome Things, Me, Oh. and Rant. 13 Comments

I’m going to get straight to the point: I’ve been nominated for a Concrete Playground ‘The Bloggers 2011′ award (in the fashion category) and to win it I need the public to vote for me.

Now, now, now – before you go and mark this post as read, just hear me out okay?:

  • Firstly, I’m going to be completely honest with you. I didn’t actually know the awards existed until someone emailed me a few days ago to ask if I accepted my nomination. And yes, I’ve been umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to keep blogging the past couple of weeks, but this doesn’t mean I haven’t been slaving over this thing for the past two and a half years. This doesn’t mean I haven’t gone home from parties within an hour of getting there, so I can go home and write something. This doesn’t mean I haven’t self-funded trips to fashion weeks so I can cover them. So yes, I know I’ve been complaining lately but this doesn’t mean I don’t want to win. (I mean, who wants to lose for god’s sake?)
  • Secondly, I am going to be very diplomatic about this. Although I don’t know all the people and blogs I am up against, the people I do know of that are in my category, are worthy and tough competition. In fact, I am friends with some of them and I know they put as much effort into their blogs as I do. If you read another nominee’s blog and enjoy theirs more than you enjoy reading mine? I implore you to vote for them. Actually, I want you to see the list of other nominees and make an informed decision. Check it here.
  • Thirdly, the prize for winning the fashion category is ‘A Sunglass Hut year-round wardrobe’, which equates to ’4 pairs of sunglasses, one for each season, valued at $500.00 per frame’. I am going to come right out and say I don’t need 4 pairs of sunglasses. It’s not about the sunglasses. It’s about the KUDOS guys. The KUDOS. So if by some freak accident Isaac doesn’t take out that top prize and I happen to win, I’ll be giving those sunnies away to you guys, my readers. This isn’t a bribe. I’m just being honest. (And feeling kind of nostalgic.) I’m very lucky. I get sent free things on a semi regular basis, and it’s all because you come here so I owe you one.

To those who got to the end of this post? Thanks for your patience. To those who nominated me? Thank you for the support. To everybody? Thanks for reading. You can vote here. (Note – You need Facebook to be able to vote and I’m pretty sure you can vote for more than one person.)

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 1 – Snapbacks.

Published on November 24, 2011 in Awesome Things and Menswear. 2 Comments

Yes folks, it’s that time of year again. Christmas time. A time of bonding, of sharing, of extended periods in the vicinity of your relatives – but most of all, of gift-giving related stress. You may be the organised type. You may have gone out and purchased all those obligatory December 25th gifts, but for those who haven’t and haven’t a clue as to what to do (and for those who feel all the other blogger gift guides aren’t cutting it – OOOOOHHH SNAP!) – look no further. I am going to be your present-searching eyes and ears for the next month. For the next 24 days, I am going to endeavour to find a perfect gift for someone and post it here on the blog, starting today. (This is a huge call, considering the regularity of my posts has been less than perfect lately – wish me luck.) Here goes:

Continue reading ‘The Great Gift Guide 2011: 1 – Snapbacks.’

Little Brother makes menswear that girls can wear too.

Published on November 22, 2011 in Awesome Things, Menswear, Models and Photography. 7 Comments

My wonderful models, (the back of) Matt Purcell (Clyne) and Gabrielle Carter (Red 11) in head to toe Little Brother.

You have to have been living under a rock if you haven’t noticed that this whole ‘girls dressed as boys’ thing is on the rise. In fact, I don’t even know if I could say it’s still ‘on the rise’ – I think it might be at its peak. Girls everywhere are on that menswear tip. Anyway, regardless of where exactly it is on the bell curve, it’s safe to say that right now there’s no denying it’s damn popular.

This is all well and good – obviously I’m a fan, but the thing I’ve noticed is that the hardest thing about tomboy dressing is finding menswear that actually fits. Sure, it’s easy to hunt out menswear-inspired women’s pieces, but being able to find actual menswear that you can wear and have look halfway decent is not easy. This is where you turn to Little Brother.

Little Brother has always made pretty on-trend, quality menswear basics, and for as long as I can remember they’ve been bringing out their collections in pretty narrow cuts – their size range has always catered for the skinnier of boys. I never really thought to purchase any for myself until about 6 months ago, when Isaac got me to try on the ubiquitous Little Brother duffle coat in an XS. I was surprised at the fit – aside from the sleeves being a little long, the thing was pretty much perfect. Ever since then, I’ve been dying to see this see this stuff on a girl, so when I saw the new summer collection had launched, I grabbed the opportunity to dress the beautiful Gabby Carter (Red Eleven) in a few of my favourite pieces and take a few snaps. And just so the boys weren’t missing out – I also roped Matt Purcell (Clyne) into donning the same outfits for comparison. I’m pretty happy with the results – it’s his and hers at its finest:

Continue reading ‘Little Brother makes menswear that girls can wear too.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published on November 20, 2011 in Awesome Things, Highs and Low(e)s, Me and Rant. 9 Comments

Miss these girls.

Highs:

  1. The great weather, and the knowledge that it is going to be like this for a good three months at least. If I were in the midst of Autumn-Winter right now, I don’t know what I’d do. Summer cures many problems. I think it’s the Vitamin D that does it.
  2. I went to this event at The Studio on K Rd the other day. I’d never been in the venue before and was pretty surprised to see how big and awesome it was. I’ve obviously been living under a rock. In addition to the fact that I had discovered a ‘new’ venue, the event had catering which included mini beef burgers, seared salmon on soba noodles in little takeaway boxes, prawn and cress rolls, shot glasses with some concoction involving scallops in them and tiny ice-cream cones. Best catering I’ve had in a long time.
  3. I think I might win Lotto. I think.

Low(e)s:

  1. Wilson Carparking on Hobson Street. They are sneaky in the fact that they have now changed their ‘Earlybird Parking’ ($14.00 flat rate) rules from get in before 9:00am, get out after 12:00pm to get in before 9:00am, get out after 2:00pm. The change is not well signposted. In fact, I heard they put a notification of the change up for one day before taking it down. This meant the other day I was there from 9:00am – 12:00pm (what I thought qualified for Earlybird Parking) and it cost $36.00. $36.00!!!
  2. Been pretty slack on the blog front.
  3. Facebook. I can’t even talk about it. There are pros to Facebook, but boy are there cons. Maybe it’s not just Facebook. Maybe it’s the internet. So much information all the time. So hard to escape. This week I’ve felt like I need to quit the internet. So much internet.
  4. I didn’t do Highs and Low(e)s last week, for the first time in over a year. On the one hand, I was hating the blog and hating the internet. On the other, I’m disappointed in myself. I will never be able to say I’ve been doing these posts weekly since (insert date here) because I skipped last damn week.
  5. People who are assholes.
  6. People who anonymously send me hate messages. Especially the ones who are sending them anonymously and know me. I know they know me because of what they’re sending.
  7. People who are trying to hack into my blog and emails. Maybe I’m being paranoid but I have been logged out of my emails, like 5 times this week and I have also been getting ‘password reset’ emails from WordPress. Does someone want to take me down that much?
  8. I complain too much.

Things I've seen: outside the AUT Rookie Show 2011.

Published on November 18, 2011 in Awesome Things. 7 Comments

The title is self explanatory. I have a big day ahead so no time for anything else. A couple more below:

Continue reading ‘Things I've seen: outside the AUT Rookie Show 2011.’

Things I've seen: at the AUT Rookie Show 2011.

Published on November 17, 2011 in Awesome Things. 4 Comments

Last Friday night I was lucky enough to be invited to attend (and seated front row! Holla! I’m a real blogger!) Rookie 2011 – a showcase of 24 AUT fashion graduates’ collections. The things I saw were incredible. It might sound stupid but it is incredibly overwhelming for me to think there are all these young people with the ability to actually put together clothes. From scratch. It’s beyond me. I can barely sew a button back onto a shirt, let alone come up with a pattern for an anorak.

Anyway, I was so impressed that I took a billion photos – way too many for this blog post – which meant a lot of sifting through them over the weekend. Below are some of my favourites. For more of my favourites (I told you there were a lot), check out my photo blog. I’ll be posting more and more of them over the next couple of days.

Continue reading ‘Things I've seen: at the AUT Rookie Show 2011.’

On Cheating.

Published on November 16, 2011 in Oh. and Rant. 15 Comments

Image/James K Lowe.

Today I have a bit of a weird, slightly off-topic, spontaneous post for you. It’s about cheating. When I say cheating, I don’t mean cheating on your math exam (THIS IS BAD! DON’T DO IT!), but more about cheating in relationships. (Yeah. Different huh? But hey, it’s a nice change.) There’s not really any specific point to this, it’s more just a (long) discussion.

Continue reading ‘On Cheating.’

New week, new things.

Published on November 14, 2011 in Awesome Things. 7 Comments

Image/Supplied.

Hi Readers. It’s Monday and a new week, so here are a few new things you should look out for – especially if you’re in the Christmas shopping mindset (and you should be – better to be organised than have a freak out on Christmas Eve and end up buying everyone book vouchers or lotto tickets or something):

  • Kiehl’s has recently opened up in Ballantynes in Christchurch. This is awesome news because pretty much everyone on earth should own a pot of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream. The shizz is the bomb. In even more awesome news, Kiehl’s is having a sort of opening do/celebrating Ballantynes Beauty Week by throwing a party at their counter over the weekend of the 19th and 20th of this month (this weekend!) where there’ll be live jazz and popcorn and everyone’s favourite – free product samples. Do it.
  • Aucklanders rejoice. Two of your favourite casual menswear brands, I love Ugly and Commoners_Alike, have come together and opened up a concept store at the top of Mt Eden Road (near AS Colour), making it the one stop Christmas shop for the men in your life. I’ve also just been notified that every week there’s going to be a surprise in store, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled! (The store is open from now until the 28th of December at 11 Mt Eden Road, Auckland.)
  • One of my favourite online stores, Everyday Needs, is also opening up a real life pop up store just in time for Christmas. Katie Lockhart’s baby will be stocking all sorts of quirky household goods that you won’t find anywhere else. The shop is open from Friday the 18th of November until the 12th of December so get in el pronto.
  • Everyone’s favourite High Street high fashion boutique (sorry, I hate that phrase, ‘high fashion’ but it sounds good in this context), Fabric, is opening a sale store on O’Connell Street. Get this – all stock will be $100 and under. For serious. There’ll be clothes, shoes and jeans. I know sale stores can be pretty freaky and require much patience and a good eye, but if you’re quick, I bet you can grab a bargain. Doors open 10:00am Wednesday. I suggest you get in early.
Happy shopping everybody!