A beautiful baroque interior by Tony Duquette.

As you probably gathered from the last post bemoaning my indecision on carpet choices, there are some changes afoot here at home. I’ve always been a creature of change, never settling for long on one thing or another. Not shoes and never jobs, and least of all the environment around me. I’m an easily discontented sort, always on the look out to improve, embellish or otherwise chase some other version of perfection. Which is why my career as a style blogger and vintage hair & makeup artist is such a constant source of joy to me. It is always and forever changing.

This time, my living space is once again in the line of my decorative fire. I’ve spent the better part of the last four days hauling furniture, trawling Pinterest, climbing ladders and annoying carpet sales men. Anyone around me at these times knows that the correct response to any of my queries is, “Oh that’s genius!” “Absolutely, ‘Lime Dream’ is an inspired choice.” (Which is by the way, the name of the colour I have only just today finished painting in my studio.)

I’d like to tell you that my decorating efforts take place from the comfort of a deck chair, gin and tonic in hand whilst an army of minions completes the tasks. But no, being the pedant I am (read – control freak), all decorating efforts take place at the hands of me and my very patient father. This is the one time you’ll find me in spandex yoga pants, balancing on one foot atop a ladder, in some oddly contorted position, paint brush in hand. Yes, it is still with red lacquered (but somewhat paint spattered) nails, lashings of mascara and chiffon scarves.

Decorating, like ironing; is for me a kind of Zen. I have some of my very best thoughts doing this kind of work. It is probably the only time I have a single track mind without the usual multiple mental conversations. And today I had another thought. I think the candidate most in need of a makeover at present is the internet, or should I say, the way people behave to each other on the internet. This was not prompted by any particular moment, comment or thought, but just by a general observers view as I wade through hideous Facebook posts, dreadful comments and other ‘ugly’ sentiments.

So while I kick start this (yet another) decorating phase, I’m inspired to think of decorating our insides just as we do our outsides. Shining a light on those neglected corners of friendship, dusting off the cobwebs of forgotten manners and finding a shade of attitude that compliments us well.

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When I was growing up, shopping for clothes was an entirely different landscape to the one I see now.  The was no fast fashion, no hyper tween styles, no super cheap imports and absolutely no way that most people could afford to buy something new every week, especially not a 14 year old with her first job.

We had to learn to plan out what we wanted each year, which as a teenager revolved mostly around what didn’t fit me anymore and the one item I’d need to ensure that my ‘cool’ status was up to date.  Mind you this was only ever really one item, and its cool factor would last for a whole year in most cases.

They don’t make them like this for this kind of price anymore!

Fast forward to the 2000’s and shopping for fashion is a completely different experience. I can now go into a store where not one single item is over $19.95 RRP, and to me, this is a tragedy on so many levels. It is no wonder that the skills of a good shopper are getting lost in the hunt for a bargain.

30 Days of Fashion is a new initiative being launched by the Commonwealth bank to help re-educate us in the ways of the savvy shopper.  With some of the best fashion commentators in the country on board, Commonwealth Bank is getting us talking about how to really invest in fashion, and it isn’t filling your wardrobe with junk from a $5 bin.

Most women I know don’t have a proper shopping budget. The level of organisation we have when it comes to forking out for the latest thrill is limited to how much is in the bank account at any one time and how much of that we can spare. Of course, the problem with this is that it leaves us vulnerable to the quick fix, the cheap and easy and it means that the $1000 handbag you’ve always wanted will forever remain out of your reach. It’s time for some change I say.

Here are my tips for making the most of your money and creating the wardrobe you’ve always wanted.

Have a yearly budget – this doesn’t have to be hard and fast but if you have a figure that you are working to, you’ll know just how much you should be saving each week, what sort of investment you can afford on each piece and how hard you need to then make each piece work to pay its way on your shelf.

Know your style – there is no point in spending $500 on a pair of skinny denim jeans for me just for the sake of a fashion experiment.  Occasionally when you’re tempted to shake it up and experiment with a new style that you haven’t before, the best way to do this is without committing the big $$. But to avoid wasting your hard earned pennies on something that may very quickly end up on eBay, borrowing or renting these pieces is the best way to go.  If you’re lucky enough to have a friend the same size as you, see if you can borrow the item from them for 24 hours and test out its street cred potential.

The other alternative is to rent. There are some great new businesses out there that are renting out more than just evening dresses. You can rent jeans, bags, shoes all manner of fashion. And for a little cash you can test out your new look without leaving yourself open to a bad case of buyer’s remorse.

Know the basics and find the gaps – While most Fashion writers will tell you that the basics are great jeans, black pants, white shirt etc etc.. This very much depends on your style. For me, jeans would be a total waist of money and a black trouser suit equally so. But what are my basics?  Keep a notebook handy near your wardrobe and every time you think, ‘drat I wish I had a blank blank to go with this’, write it down.  Soon enough the missing link will become apparent and you’ll also know just how often you find yourself wishing for that certain item. It gives you a quick reference point to go back to when your next shopping date arrives.

Invest in Fashion. – To me this means a few things; firstly always buy the best quality you can afford. With vintage, this becomes a double delight as you not only find quality far cheaper than buying a new equivalent, but the level of quality standard you’ll find is far greater than most modern equivalents in the same price point.  For instance, a couture 1940’s suit may set you back $450, but buying the modern equivalent with the same production standard is likely to come in closer to $2500.

Look after your pieces well and they will reward you.  If you’re buying quality and you find that after a year you are no longer wearing that piece, you can sell it on for a good return.  Good labels that are well made hold their value far better than a high street bargain.

I could go on and on about this, but let’s have a look at what the industry insiders have to say.

Now the challenge is up to you.  I want you to tell me which of these industry insiders have the best advice and what are YOUR best tips for fashion savings?

Tell me and you could WIN a $200 Westfield Gift Voucher to put towards your next fashion investment!

Competition opened to Australian residents only and will run for the period of two weeks from the live date.

Recently I’ve been asked the same question by a number of people, both readers and good friends. That is, “How do you know who you are?”.  What they want to know is that in my role as wife and mother, how do I retain such a strong sense of self?  Let me tell you, this hasn’t always been the case.

Just like anyone else, I have had times in my life when I’ve “fallen off the wagon” so to speak.  Times when work took over everything, time when appearances were the last thing on my mind, and time when I thought, “Is this it? Is this as good as it gets?”  But by and large, these moments have been blips on the radar of an otherwise colourful and memorable life.

One such time for me was after the birth of my first daughter. I had a body that no longer belonged just to me, in a shape I didn’t recognise and responsibilities that I hadn’t even contemplated before hand. A demanding schedule with very little sleep and only a small baby for company did nothing to help the situation.  Like so many women before me, I would look through old photo albums barely recognising the woman I was just twelve short months before hand. But it didn’t make me sad, melancholy or wistful; it made me mad. And just like Dylan Thomas said, I could feel a “rage against the dying of the light”.

Of course, my life wasn’t literally over, but as many mothers know deep down there is a little grieving that goes on for the girls we used to be. And frankly, I wasn’t having any of it. I didn’t want to be surrounded by Wiggles music and the life of a homogenised happy baby commercial; I wanted something that was mine, that was ours and that was a unique reflection of the people we are.

Yes, that is all a little deep and raw but it applies to so many situations. Those times a job is lost, when children leave home, when we go through a bad break up; any life situation that we have allowed ourselves to become overly content in and sneakily, it has come to define us. That’s when it is time to take measures into your own hands and rediscover what makes you you. It can be a long slow process, but it is ultimately a joyful one. So take heed my friends and I’ll give you the secrets that help me keep my groove each day.

ART -

Image via Patrick Ng on Flickr

In order to think about who I am I also have to think about who I was. Fortunately I kept my school art folio with pieces dating right back to early primary school.  Each piece contains a memory of a time, of friends, teachers, passions and stolen kisses behind the shed. This is super powerful stuff and a brilliant place to begin your journey.

Whether you draw, paint, doodle or whatever; now is the time to pick up your tools and start to create something for yourself. It never needs to be seen by another person, but the process of creating it, what inspires you and learning to look at the world with different eyes is something you need to retrain yourself to do.  These are the skills that you will use each day when doing the most simple things like choosing an outfit, picking the tea set that makes your happy instead of the one that is just on sale, or finding beauty in the small free moments that each day brings.

MUSIC -

Image via Buttha on Flickr

I still have a little child’s suitcase full of my very first cassette tapes.  The first cassingle I ever bought ( Poison’s ‘Unskinny Bop’!), Mixtapes with love messages from high school boyfriends and even recordings I made myself with a little microphone and a portable tape recorder.  Some of it makes me cringe but I never fail to see the influences of this music on myself. The times I bought albums to impress a boy but really hated the band, and those that I never played for anyone, my heart set to music. The albums I would dance to like my life depended on it ( Jive Bunny & The Mixmasters anyone?), and the albums I have bought many times over that still appear in my collection. Music feeds your soul. Don’t let it starve.

Also, never say never. When asked to define my music tastes I used to say, “Oh everything but XX, I hate X.” Mind you, I had never really given X a good go and neither had I explored it properly. So I took off those blinkers and made a foray into previously forbidden territory only to discover a brand new passion that set my soul on fire. This is how I found New Music Me and she can make even the worst day shine!

FOOD -

Image via Sifu Renka on Flickr

I’m not the greatest cook. In fact I’m downright lazy. But when you have to do it and you have more than yourself to cater for, the things you love often go out the window. You find yourself living on a diet of spaghetti that pleases all and indulging in a block of chocolate afterwards as if that will make up for the neglect your palate has been suffering. Allow yourself to eat something that you really want. Something that may not be loved by all, may not be PC or even cheap. But do it, and do it just for you. If you want to eat a whole dozen natural oysters with caviar, then by golly  you’d better do it! Even if you have to hide in a tub of bubbles, or eat the sitting alone on the front porch, it is just you and your food. Treating yourself like the King of the Castle every now and again with nary a thought for the other occupants whims is key to true decadence and a great way to get in touch with what you really love.

There is so much more I could say on this topic, but this is the place to start.

So I’m offering you my challenge, my life line if you will.  Try these three simple things and tell me what a difference it makes to you. You can come back here and ask me questions or leave me comments to let me know how you get on.

Remember, life is for living – do it with all the passion and verve you can!

The lead up to Christmas can be such a hectic time that we save up all our relaxing for the day after. Boxing Day in Australia usually means hang overs or early mornings to hit the post Christmas sales. For me, I like to spend those few days between Christmas and New Years taking a few deep breaths and taking stock of what has gone before. What has worked and what hasn’t. It is less about making resolutions for the new year than it is about thinking of the things I would have liked to have had time for and figuring out how to make that happen.

I’m also choosing to extend my Christmas glow this year well into the new year, by having friends and family join me on my return to Melbourne for yet another “Christmas ” party.  That is, a chance to chill out with my puppies and nearest and dearest instead of running around with days full of commitments.  It seems only fitting to enter a new decade with a fresh perspective, a new modus operandi if you will. So many of us feel compelled to start each new year placing more and more expectations on ourselves only to be sadly disappointed with our lack of achievements come the following December. And while I believe that a good plan is the key to success, it isn’t the be all and end all.  So in a some what contradictory fashion, I have come up with a plan to do away with a the pressure of a plan. (Stick with me, it is just the way my brain works).

There are loads of things I want to do this year, but instead of looking at the things I  want to do, I am focusing on how I want them to make me feel.  For instance; my studio is full of materials and good intentions that have not been touched in the last twelve months.  I am itching to get stuck into some good projects and finish many of those that were started several years ago.  Ordinarily, I tend to put myself under pressure to get things done once I start them, often tackling only those projects that can be finished in one day so that I feel ‘complete’.  What the last year has taught me is that working this way means I often spend what should be enjoyable, therapeutic creative time, being crabby and time pressured; snapping at people around me and not enjoying the process. So the upshot of all this is that if I focus on enjoying the process, then no matter how long it takes to finish something it will still be a success and I will still have found the benefit I set out to achieve. Ergo, success through a lack of traditional, externally quantifiable goal posts. (Clearly I am onto my third espresso of the morning here – or I have been watching too much holiday special Frasier).

I’ll be interested to see just how well this works for me being a rather driven, list making, type A personality. But whatever happens, you know you’re along for the ride!

*I’m still in Sydney, eating too much, sleeping little and finding excuses to dress up. I’ll have lots of pretty pictures on my return home to my super speedy internet connection.*

Image from Sixties Book photostream on flickr

It seems that this “global recession” has become a new key marketing tool.  Being thrifty is the new black and every glossy I pick up is promising bargain buys to help your wardrobe survive the crisis.  And as I get all excited at the prospect of finding more secrets to dressing for under $500, I am left a little confused by choices that (albiet fabulous) all retail for around $500 each.  Since when did a handbag for under $500 qualify as a bargain for the cash strapped? Perhaps if Chanel ever had sales this might be the case, but until that day I fail to see how paying full retail price for a mid range bag is savvy shopping.  But if you think this is where I’m going to tell you to save every penny and dust off the old bag to give it a new lease on life, you’re wrong.

One of the problems we are faced with during a recession, is that the only way to bolster the economy and create more confidence is by ponying up the cash. Spending ourselves out of debt.  If you’re not an economist this may sound a tad on the side of crazy to you, but trust me there is method in this madness.  (Have a read of this article  in the LA Times for a lighthearted analysis of the situation). What the world needs now is basically for every flash bastard out there with cash burning a hole in his pocket, is to spend it – creating demand, creating jobs and so on.  But what does this have to do with you? Well unless many of you are reading this from aboard your private yachts (in which case read the previous advice and perhaps send me some Dom while you’re at it), you need to take this advice with a modicum of caution and strategise a battle plan.  Which is where I come in.

Over the next…well however long the inspiration keeps flowing.. I’ll be bringing you my fabulous tips to help spend yourself out of this recession.That means real bargain buys, shopping tips and lifestyle tips.  Basically helping you still look fab, have fun and do your bit for the global economy all on the change you have to spare. It isn’t likely that you’ll find a $500 bag appearing here as your savings salve, but you will find some cheap and chic ways to look and feel a million dollars. So start saving your pennies and get ready to polish that halo.