Monthly Archive for December, 2011

In 7.5 hours it will be 2012.

Published on December 31, 2011 in Awesome Things, Me and Rant. 3 Comments

Photo: Jian de Leon.

In 7.5 hours it will be 2012. I’m not sure how I feel about this exactly, but in general, I am not a big fan of the changing of the years. New Years Eve is pretty much one of my least favourite ‘celebratory’ occasions (expectations: too high, disappointment levels: through the roof) and I’m one of those people who gets into the depths of worry and depression about what they’ve achieved in life and where they’re going and it’s generally just pretty overwhelming. (I’m nothing if not completely neurotic.)

In terms of goals/new year’s resolutions for 2012, I don’t really make them but one thing I do want to do is to get a photo of Karlie Kloss. That and worry less, but I know that’s not going to happen so I’m happy with just the Karlie photo.

For all of you who have been reading this blog, I sincerely hope you’re not as jaded as I am about the turn of the year. I hope that you have things to look forward to tonight (keeping expectations at a reasonable level though) and that people are nice to you and you are nice to them and that you don’t spend a fortune on drinks and regret it upon waking up tomorrow. I JUST WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY GUYS. See you on the flip side.

Two questions to mull over.

Published on December 29, 2011 in Awesome Things, Mysteries and Oh.. 7 Comments

This photo has nothing to do with the post, but I'm obsessed with Karlie Kloss and I'm using it anyway. Image/via fashiongonerogue.comi

  1. Why does nobody in New Zealand ever talk about Fashion Distraction? Why doesn’t anyone talk about her here? Or do they and I’m just not part of those conversations? She’s got a gigantic international following for god’s sake! She’s been featured in Teen Vogue! Why don’t I ever see her around?! I don’t really follow style blogs so much, but I’m the minority. Style blogs get huge traction and lots and lots of people love them so why is she flying under the radar here in New Zealand?!
  2. Who writes The Honest New Zealand Fashion Blog? Have you seen it yet? If not, check it out. It’s opinionated and honest and definitely a pretty good read for anyone who is interested in New Zealand fashion. The person behind it is obviously pretty passionate about the local industry. Being sort of involved with some of the people and publications they’ve blogged about, I’ve been very curious as to who writes it, and after doing a lot (well as much as one can do when reading a blog) of internet research today, I actually have my suspicions as to the author is but 1.) I want to see what they have to say and 2.) I’m not 100% sure (just about 80%) on their identity so I’m not going to publicly make any assumptions just yet. What do you think?

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published on December 27, 2011 in Awesome Things, Highs and Low(e)s, Me and Rant. 2 Comments

Highs:

  1. Getting all christmas shopping done in three hours total – including driving time.
  2. Shit Girls Say. And, thanks to someone notifying me of it on my Facebook Page, if you want to get a bit racial you can check this.
  3. Despite having been terrible at updating my blog, my tumblr and my twitter, I’ve been really good at posting my ‘What I Wore Today’ things. All the outfits are pretty much repeats on repeats on repeats, but whatever.
  4. I managed to go the whole of the Christmas period without eating ham. I’m not sure why this is on the highs but I feel like it’s some kind of achievement.
  5. iChristmas.

Low(e)s:

  1. We now approach that time of year where nothing is open. You want a snack? Don’t bother leaving the house unless you want KFC. The only place you can guarantee will be open at this time of year is KFC.
  2. Yesterday I popped in to the Boxing Day races for a few hours. I witnessed several great outfits and several not so great outfits and lots of things happened but that’s not the point, the point is I didn’t take a sweater because I thought it would be sunny so I was sitting outside feeling pretty cold for a good while and today I have that weird feeling in the back of my throat that can only be attributed to an oncoming cold. Sad face.
  3. This Highs and Low(e)s is two days late and I’ve forgotten what happened last week so it’s not exactly easy to put together.
  4. Sometimes Auckland feels incredibly small.
  5. I hate that new Facebook timeline layout thing.

Obligatory Christmas Post.

Published on December 25, 2011 in Me and Oh.. 3 Comments

If only my family photos looked this good. Image/via models.com

Hello readers, how are you doing? Merry Christmas and the like. This is just a quick post to say I hope you have a nice day and that you’re spending time with people you like and that you’re overeating and drinking and doing whatever festive things you’re supposed to do on a day like today.

Christmas is not a huge event in my household. This morning we got up early and had this $70/head buffet breakfast at the Langham. I’m not gonna lie, I’ve had better, but I did consume three hash browns and some bacon and eggs and a champagne and a coffee and a pineapple juice so I can’t really complain. There was a young guy in charge of cooking eggs and I felt really sorry for him. His nametag said his name was Cameron. Poor Cameron. All I could think about  was the fact that everyone was complaining about how slow he was at making eggs and that he had to work on Christmas day and how people are so demanding when they’re hungry. Anyway, now we’re home, I’ve opened a couple of gifts, my uncle is asleep on the couch, my brother has gone off to hang out with his friends and I have about 6 hours to kill before the next thing – dinner with my dad and his side of the family where I’ll get asked whether I have a real job yet, and when am I going to find a nice chinese boy to marry? I’m not sure where I’m going with this but I’m going to assume you guys are all too busy eating and getting drunk to read blogs so it doesn’t really matter.

Anyway, for those who are online and got to the end of that ramble, happy holidays! xx

PS: Check the rest of that Dolce & Gabbana campaign here, it’s pretty fricken good.

Sometimes there's just nothing to say.

Published on December 23, 2011 in Me and Rant. 2 Comments

Image/Alexander Neumann. via fashiongonerogue.com

I haven’t posted in two days. This is quite a long time for me, and yeah I’ve been busy but sometimes life just gets busy and overwhelming and sometimes you’ve run out of gift guide ideas or maybe you’re just lazy and putting together a post is just too much when it’s sunny outside and sometimes there’s things to write about but you just don’t want to overshare online for a few days. Kind of like when you get in a fight with a friend or you reach a stalemate or you’re so tired you can’t move and you literally have no words. Sometimes there’s just nothing to say.

PS. I hope the Christmas shopping is going well, folks. Mine is done and dusted.

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 16 – Last Minute Gift Ideas.

Published on December 20, 2011 in Awesome Things. 5 Comments

'Toggs' togs, available at The Department Store. Image/thedepartmentstore.co.nz

We’re getting down to the wire people. Down to the wire. If you haven’t started Christmas shopping now, it’s about time you did because the next few days are going to be pretty stressful and let’s not even start with heading to a mall. Just avoid it. Avoid it all together and go out NOW. Because I’m a little disorganised, I’ve compiled a list of easily attainable last minute gift possiblities for today’s gift guide entry:

Continue reading ‘The Great Gift Guide 2011: 16 – Last Minute Gift Ideas.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published on December 18, 2011 in Awesome Things, Highs and Low(e)s, Me and Rant. 3 Comments

Highs:

  1. The above gift from my relatives. I should explain. Every Christmas each of my cousins on my mom’s side of the family get $50.00 cash as a gift. Each year the $50.00 is presented to us in a different way. We’ve had $50 notes baked into cupcakes, we’ve had a lounge filled with helium balloons with some of them having the note inside them, we’ve received $50 in coins, half a $100 bill (by the way, this is actually valid tender) and one year we even had to do a Fear Factor-esque eating challenge before the money was given to us. Someone had to eat cat food. Anyway, this year it was a $100 bill (holla!) with each kid’s face on it. It never ceases to amaze me how my mom and my aunts and uncles come up with this stuff.
  2. My event at Arcade on Thursday night. Good times! Thanks to everyone that came despite the pouring rain. I didn’t take any photos of the night but this guy did – check out his blog!
  3. I saw Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol on Wednesday night, and although those movies are not usually my thing and I did find it pretty fricken cheesy and ridiculous, it was kind of nice to go to the movies for once. I hardly ever go to the movies.
  4. This song.
  5. This video.

Low(e)s:

  1. I walked into a parked car last night*.
  2. Drunk tweeting*.
  3. People who lie to you*.
  4. Despite the fact I have been posting my Christmas Gift Guide, I have actually not done any Christmas shopping myself. Every day it gets closer to Christmas and every day I feel a bit more stressed about the whole thing.
  5. This isn’t too much of a low, but it is an observation: People keep noticing me at eating establishments, and then messaging me to tell me they saw me.  It’s always at cheap eating establishments, never anywhere exciting, and they never say hi to me but always message me to say that they saw me and I never know how to respond. Why don’t you just say hi?!

*ALL SO VAGUE AND MYSTERIOUS AND AMBIGUOUS!

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 15 – Handmade 'Secret Santa' gift tags by Make Believe .

Published on December 17, 2011 in Awesome Things. 2 Comments

Image/Olivia Coote.

What: Make Believe gift tags – okay so they’re not really a gift but you need them in addition to your gifts!

Why: One, they’re handmade by the lovely and incredibly attractive, Olivia Coote. (You may remember her from such blogs as this one or this one or from this photo here.) Support the local talent! Secondly, how hilarious are these? They’re perfect to tie on your presents, they’re funny, they’re original. Win, win, win.

Best for: Everyone. If someone doesn’t think these are funny, they don’t deserve your presents to be completely honest.

Okay, okay, I’m sold. Where do I get them from?: Contact Olivia directly via her blog, her etsy or her facebook. If you’re in Auckland you could also catch her tomorrow at Kraftbomb market in Grey Lynn (Grey Lynn Community Centre) from 11.00 -3.00pm. In other related news, Olivia also makes a whole host of other things that would be perfect as gifts – make sure you check her out one way or another!!!

SEE YOU TONIGHT FRIENDS!

Published on December 15, 2011 in Awesome Things and Me. 2 Comments

I know it’s raining outside guys. I know. I can’t do anything about that. But all I can say is don’t be such a fricken wuss – I’m expecting to see you Auckland readers tonight at Arcade, where I’m taking over the store. In case you’ve forgotten, the details are as follows:

When: TONIGHT (duh), 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Where: 22c Cross Street, Newton, Auckland (it runs parallel to K’Rd, near Upper Queen St)

Come have a (free) drink with me! I’m non-threatening and some people even say I’m nice.

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 14 – Super sunglasses.

Published on December 14, 2011 in Awesome Things. 3 Comments

Super Panama's. Image/via Area 51.

What: Super eyewear.

Why: Although it might not seem like it right now (at least not in Auckland), summer is on its way, and what better accessory to go with the forthcoming sunshine-y weather than a pair of good quality (made in Italy even!), good looking sunnies? The Panama (above) is my favourite style, but they’re all pretty good – you can’t really go wrong.

Best for: Someone you know well enough to be able to choose a style of sunglass for. Someone you know well enough to spend a decent amount of cash on. Someone super.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get it?: You can grab these (and other styles) at Area 51.

Reasons to come join me at Arcade on Thursday.

Published on December 12, 2011 in Awesome Things. 6 Comments

Arcade raglan, Dr Denim Dunk Chinos and Moreporks cap - all available at Arcade this Thursday.

In case you weren’t already convinced to come down to Arcade (22c Cross Street, Newton, Auckland) this Thursday, I’ve compiled a few reasons why you should. First up, it’s Christmas in two weeks and what better way to celebrate with a few (free) drinks and good company?! Secondly, I’ll be there and I want to meet some of you. I’ll be able to give you advice on what you should buy your boyfriends/brothers/girlfriends who like to dress like boys and I’ll also be able to give you terrible relationship advice – who doesn’t want that?! Thirdly, I’ve taken a few photos of things in store on the super nice and super hot Matt from Clyne (yeah yeah, he’ll be there) so you can see the kind of things we’ll have in store for you:

Continue reading ‘Reasons to come join me at Arcade on Thursday.’

Highs and Low(e)s.

Published on December 11, 2011 in Awesome Things, Highs and Low(e)s, Me and Rant. 1 Comment

Highs:

  1. I met this guy last night. He doesn’t really make those videos anymore, but I say BRING THEM BACK!
  2. Apparently some of you guys and some judges thought this blog was worth Concrete Playground’s best fashion blogger award! I found out on Friday that I’d won and I was pretty happy – thanks for the support guys! And thanks to those who voted.
  3. I am doing that Arcade thing on Thursday and I am putting it in the highs because I know it is going to be awesome. Will you be there? I want to see your faces.
  4. Today was a complete write-off. I was pretty much the walking dead all day and looked like sh*t (mind my language) but the fun of last night meant the whole day with the inability to function as a normal human being was worth it.
  5. Managed to make it to 5 events over the past week! Does this mean my hermit behaviour is subsiding?!

Low(e)s:

  1. Extreme hangover today. It’s after midnight the following night and I still feel seedy. That’s the only word to describe it – seedy.
  2. I was super, super behind this past week. Behind on invoicing and tidying and pretty much every errand I was supposed to do. This means that this coming week is going to be next level busy and I won’t be paid for ages and I will have to live off credit for a wee while longer. Sad. Face.
  3. I’m really failing on that daily gift guide thing huh.

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 13 – Huffer 'Chico' short-sleeve shirt.

Published on December 11, 2011 in Awesome Things, Menswear and Models. 1 Comment

Image/huffer.co.nz

What: The Huffer ‘Chico’ short-sleeve shirt.

Why: Short-sleeve shirts – perfect for summer. The one thing I hate about most short-sleeve shirts is the fact that the sleeves can be too long and be close to your elbows. This one has the perfect sleeve length (see below) and it’s got the best blue and white stripe. It’s a pretty great price too (NZ$129.00).

Best for: It’s a men’s shirt but I think the small is good for girls too (as evidenced below). Great for brothers and boyfriends and girls who like to dress like boys.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get it?: Check this list of Huffer stockists here, or if you don’t want to leave the comforts of your home, you can get it from their online store.

Thanks to Matt @ Clyne and Kobi @ 62 Models for being impromptu shirt models.

The Katherine is Awesome Arcade Takeover.

Published on December 9, 2011 in Awesome Things, Me and OMG. 9 Comments

Hey, a bit of shameless self promotion here but isn’t that what blogs are all about? Anyway in case you hadn’t heard already, this little blogger is hosting a bit of a shindig next Thursday and would like you all to come!

Remember that shop Arcade? You need to join me there on the night of the 15th of December. Why? Because I’m going to be taking over the store (the Arcade boys are being relegated to drinks and music). From 5pm – 8pm expect new and limited one-night-only stock, storewide discounts, gifts with purchases, a couple of ‘katherineisawesome’ combos (including cheap deals on Vans authentics/Chucks/Caps/Socks etc – more on this later), Christmas gift giving advice from myself (and any other advice you need – let’s face it, I’m a one stop shop), delicious beverages (courtesy of Rochfort Rees and Peroni) and basically a fricken awesome time.

SAVE THE DATE!

PS: Girls, I know at least one male model and one pro skater will be there. If that doesn’t sell it for you, I don’t know what will.

PPS: Arcade is located at 22c Cross Street, Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. If you can’t make it, check them out anyway – there’s events happening every day up until Christmas!

The Great Gift Guide 2011: 12 – Ruby Nail Polish in 'Sailor'.

Published on December 8, 2011 in Awesome Things. 0 Comments

What: Ruby Nail Polish in Sailor (or various other colours, but this is my favourite).

Why: Painting your nails is one of the most technical, weird and frustrating things that lots of girls seem to do on a regular basis. I don’t know why, but it seems to just be (at least for me) an amazing and therapeutic thing. There’s something about the way you feel a sense of achievement when it’s done. And who doesn’t want to give that as a gift? Painting your nails crazy colours makes you feel like you’re wearing a new outfit even if you aren’t. It can change your mood dramatically. No one knows why and it’s just how it is. On a separate note - I love navy. And a navy nail just seems to me like the perfect alternative to black.

Best for: Females. Or males that like nail polish. So probably just females – but make sure your colour choice is age appropriate. Sisters, daughters, girl friends – but don’t get that mistaken with girlfriends. Boys? Don’t buy your girlfriend nail polish unless you’ve specifically been told to or you know for SURE that it’s the colour she loves. If in doubt, don’t risk it. I feel like this is a gift a girl should give another girl. Good for stocking filler gifts or in conjunction with something else if you’re feeling generous.

Okay, okay I’m sold. Where can I get it?: Ruby, duh.