Monday, October 29, 2007

"Welcome to David Jones, Ladies Shoes, this is Karin."

So it seemed like I bluffed my way through the interview: I got the job! A two to three month gig in Ladies shoes at a nice department store seems like a pretty decent way to spend the holidays- Can't you just see me befriending all those shoes? I mean- "Hello Manolo!" "Hey where did Louboutin go?" I think I've died and gone to shoe heaven. Kind of reminds me of this quote I once saw on a shopping bag:

Heaven is closer when you are in high heels.
I think I could probably find something delicious to toast to that!
Photo cred: google

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Graphic Header: Version 1.0

I finally got around to installing Photoshop on my newly formated computer and so, it's only right that I make a header for this blog. I mean- it's about time the layout stopped looking so boring and plain! The bird is featured in a Comme des Garçons advertisement that I first found in the pages of the September i-D. I was so mesmerized by it that there was nothing I could do but use it!

Edit: It seemed like some problems occurred with the header, which I hopefully just fixed.So I need to ask: does it work on your computer now? As in- can you see it?

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Verdict

You know how I mentioned another two Designers for Target collections? Finally got around to heading to the store- sure, I went a few days after it arrived... but the hype over fashion collaborations in Australia, after the Stella craze, is really not that big. The styles and range is an improvement from the Josh Goot and the quality considerably better than expected- keeping in mind that my expectations were minimal. I snapped a few pics on the camera phone, a sad little 1.3 megapixel thing that thankfully didn't make any strange noises whenever I took a photo (unlike my old Sony Ericsson), and here they are- apologies for the dismal resolution.

This is the dress you wanted to know more about, Lady! I think the clever lighting of the ad made it out to be more glamorous that it really is- it almost seems a little plain in real life now (the model looked très chic in it, non?). But then again... I didn't try it on because I just had a feeling that it would slightly strange on me. I would be wary of the fabric though, because whilst an acceptable quality... it looks like just the thing which will snare horribly if your nails aren't smooth and buffed and perfectly neat.

The cute sequined bags that I mentioned. Didn't actually take a good look at them because I knew I wouldn't be buying it, but since they looked so shiny and well... shiny, I just had to take a photo. It a good way to keep up to date with the whole metallics trend that's lingering around. To me, the black has a whole lot more class that the white- the black makes me think of those darling trumpeters, pianists and sax players in smoky clubs- playing sexy, husky jazz/blues tunes which I adore!










Those black shorts are major! I'm not sure how I'd pull it off (maybe with sheer knee socks or thigh high socks? Or maybe not... the fabrics would clash terribly I imagine- ) but just look at the draping and the pleats and details at the waistband! They're too good to pass up! Maybe I'll buy them when they go on sale (once again, I'm pulling the its-not-good-enough-quality excuse).Oh, and regarding the last photo-

I was extremely against the purple/ beige eyelet shift when I first found it online, but seeing it in store is a whole different story! The material is fantastic compared to most of the other cheaper looking ones- it looks very stiff, holds its shape well and is everything I think a nice shift should feel like. If you were planning to buy just one thing from these 2 collections, I would have to say the shift. Nothing else adds up quite as well.

Unless of course, you preferred the swimwear- all those frilly one pieces and bikinis in red or black! I'm not sure how I'd respond to you if I saw you on the beach with it though...
Photo cred: me!

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Are the kids of today growing up too fast?

A number of very strange and rather shocking conversations between myself and an 8yo girl, the daughter of a family friend- let's call her Anni, occurred when they were visiting last week and I was absolutely stunned:
Topic 1: Fluoro pink is the thing to be seen in, said she.

"You know, you really should buy some fluoro pink. It's very popular these days." kicked off the first conversation. I think I was staring at Anni, mouth open half the time. Wait, what? Come again? I'm not trying to be elitist but it was shocking to realize how different 8yo girls a decade ago (aka moi) were from the kids of today. I think I was watching Sailor Moon and playing with yoyos in my tomboy jeans-and-Tshirt outfits.

Topic 2: She recommends Payless as the place to source your black flats.
Because Anni just got her first pair of blk ballet flats at Payless, she recommend I get mine there too (sorry hun, I thought, I've already got a few pairs too many...)

Topic 3: It's all about layering, dahling!
"I really like these- points at her plain long sleeved blk Tshirt - it's really good for layering. Because we're in Spring so it's still a bit cold. An outfit kind of like what I'm wearing now..." For your information, she wore a blue and white patterned mid thigh baby doll over the Tshirt, with blk leggings and those flats. By God, she's trendy for someone who's not even a tween yet! [The photo was the first example that came to mind, a tad bit old- Marc by Marc Jacobs SS06 RTW]

Topic 4
: What do you call them? Pencil jeans or skinny jeans?

Anni really really really wants a pair. Enough said. Apparently, I'm somewhat "uncool" because I don't own a pair. Does that mean I'm a nerd? Does it?

I sound terribly bitchy, don't I? I don't mean to, but I guess I still haven't gotten over our "enlightening" conversations yet. I say enlightening, in quotation marks no less, because it reflects the strength and power of advertising on the child and the tween in my opinion. Ever since a few years ago, it's suddenly become all about the tween- they're a huge market because they're aware of what's hot (and what's not), they understand the importance of one's appearance... but don't have a job yet. So to me, what the tween does is spend extravagantly on luxury goods with their parents' no limit credit cards. I'm not against the concept of either spending lots on luxury goods or the use of my mom's credit card per se (God knows I do it a lot)... it's just that if they're spending so much at a stage when they're not truly aware of the value of money, how much debt and card bills are they going to run up as an adult? And are they really aware of what's good quality, what's worth the price... and what's not? Is this in fact going to be the catalyst that will eventually lead to a First World debt crisis? [Shhh- I know I know. I'm being melodramatic...]
Since everything is growing so much more accessible, and as children's fashion is becoming more like adult's fashion just shrunken in size, kids seem to be growing up so fast- at a glance, they appear to look better, act wiser- in an almost adult like manner- and it's such a foreign idea to me. Sure I was a city girl (no doubt I always will be) but I remember my childhood fondly- days spent in the local park playground, playing with the neighbor's kids and trying to beat the boys at handball during school recess and lunch. Anni seems to spend her days applying nail polish, reading numerous fashion magazines (she namedropped Harper's and Vogue at various points in time) and listening to Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani.

I don't know what to think.Are they being deprived of a childhood because of the commercialization, and materialization, of everything? Or are we simply redefining what childhood means?
Photo cred: style.com, NYT, some blog I found through google

Thursday, October 18, 2007

i-D November 2007

I personally might not like Kate Moss' new bangs (too blonde, too Irina. I definitely preferred her old messy/sexy bedhead look with that dirty blonde coloring rather than this wild platinum blonde bob) because it makes her look like a burnt out, too tired party girl, but that does not detract at all from the quality and sexy quality of this phenomenal ed. For lack of better words, just look at how bloody HOT she looks in Too Fast to Live. What a perfect title for this perfect ed- it's like the noughties' take on sex, drugs and rock-N-roll. Just pure complete dark glamor.




Click here for the full ed- I cut out maybe 4 pages because of misalignments and all that.
Cred: the beautiful laisla of TFS

Monday, October 15, 2007

What in the world...

Just a side note because this is just amazing. Boring old unemployed me, with absolutely no proper retail experience, have been called in for a group interview at David Jones (one of the two dept stores which dominate Australia. Personally, I see DJs as more of an upper class thing than Myer) this Thursday. A miracle I tell you. A pure miracle. That and my friend's genius CV which I used as a template for my own.

I'm hoping against hope that I'll get the casual SA position that I want- I want that discount!Oh... and it's Christmas, my summer holiday, so I can practically work FT! Here's to more money, because 1. one can never be too rich or too thin and hence 2. I am an absolute casholic:
Photo cred: TFS

Friday, October 05, 2007

Here's to another Target collection

So I just got a Target email telling me to check out their Designers for Target website because of the new collections. That's right- it's meant to be plural since there are two lines: Gail Sorronda and Yeojin Bae. I'm afraid I've never heard of Sorronda before, and since the website only has a small part of that collection up, it's kind of hard to judge. I did, however, spot a black sequined bag (there's also one in white) that's $69.99 and quite tremendous. And also a pleated mini, available once again in blk or white- also for $69.99. Too bad it's denim though, because the volume of it makes me think of those infamous SS07 Prada shorts for some reason. I'm not quite sure why...
Yeojin Bae is all about femininity and cute summer pieces. I know pictures may be deceiving but the quality just appears to be so much better! Am quite interested in the belts- it's very cute, very wearable and has that utilitarian/vintage look about it. The other three outfits that I posted here show the variety of the line- you have the LBD, the darling white summer day dress and the luxe tones of that last one is perfect for a night out on the town! Another instance where it reminds me of the SS07 Prada RTW- this time, I'm quite sure it's the color and the silk.


Collection comes out October 13. I suppose I will feel compelled to wander into Target and take a look. Even though the likelihood of me buying is very slim. A maybe on the belt, I guess.
Photo cred: Designers for Target