Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Suede shorts and bombshell cuff









Scalloped suede shorts: Kookai, Jewelery: Gifts and from India, Fringe sandals: Sportsgirl


Its finally spring and all I want to do is wear gladiator sandals, shorts, hacked off tees without tights or sweaters, pile on the jewelery and gamble about at the beaches and the rock faces screaming Yaaaaaay sunshine. Now on to something a little less frivolous the first of the brass cuffs is from Ranjana Association retailing at Oxfam, their brass jewelery made from old Cambodian bomb shells left behind by the Khymer rouge. It such a beautifully made, hand crafted message of peace and starting over that I couldn't help but buy it. I hope everyone is having a wonderful start of the week. Happy Wednesday all!

Monday, October 15, 2012

Fifty and counting



The boy and I were just sitting home, drinking, chatting and playing our favourite music when I was astounded by his lack of knowledge about me, he still didn't know who my favourite Beatle was! I promptly loaded My sweet Lord and and exclaimed baah ofcourse George Harrison. I know most people go with either Mccartney or Lennon, I love John Lennon but there is something about George Harrison that just appeals to me on many levels.

I remember my Mum humming my sweet lord while doing chores, long before I knew bands or artists, when it was just her and I and my days consisted of following her around mimicking everything she did. This happened a long time ago but I remember the moment clearly like it was yesterday, a sunny late afternoon and me listening rapt to this beautiful song in my Mother's sweet voice. And to this date the song never fails to lift my spirits. That I think was one of my earliest introductions to music and fashion that I would later come to love and be inspired by.

I love looking through old pictures and wish I was born earlier and lived in batik prints, tie-die, paisley prints, maxis, wide legged pants, oh wait! I do live in them. But you get my point, it would have been wonderful to have lived in that era not just be inspired by it. So I have been listening to Harrison and Eric Clapton non-stop and trawled tumblr to put together an inspiration post dedicated to my favourite of the Beatles. And the best part is, this is my fiftieth post, I know its a teeny tiny milestone but knowing my attention span its a decent achievement to stick to something. I guess I really like it and the best part is I am not doing it for money or for followers or any of that jazz, I post here because I really like to and that makes me want to come back and post more. Happy Monday all!












Sunday, October 14, 2012

What I wore and the news that saddened me this week









Camouflage shorts: DIYed old pants, Flannel & Sweater: Thrifted, Sandals: Whittner, Jewelery: Gifted/ India, Bag: Oxfam

After the heat in Asia I think I love this un-decidedness of the weather here, its sometimes warm enough for the beach, then the weather decides to cool down enough to wear sweaters and denim jackets. PERFECT. I can layer all the plaid and denim and wool I want but still get to wear my shorts without tights and we spotted a mini-snow leopard kitty enroute to my usual picture taking spot! Somedays I tell ya make me happy :D

I know that I mostly put up photos of my outfits here but I want this little space on the www to my little corner where I can talk about anything affecting me. Right now I cannot get Malala Yousufzai out of my mind, a fourteen year old girl who has been shot in the head and neck because she dared to claim her right to an education and speak up against girls not being allowed to go to school by the Taliban. Seriously how bad can the world get, this girl is FOURTEEN! Aargh! One shouldn't have to fight for one's basic fundamental rights at this age, one shouldn't have to be this brave, one sure as as hell shouldn't be gunned down by this barbaric mindset. I have no words to describe how strongly I feel against such atrocities and how much distaste I have for people who claim that western cultural influences are ruining eastern women. I hope and pray that she comes out of this terrible ordeal with her health and spirit intact and the Taliban never have another chance to do this to her or anyone else again.

I was debating whether to put the pictures of my outfit with this post, because you know it touches on something so tragic but then I thought isn't this what feminism is about? Exercising our right to choose who we want to be? How we want to portray ourselves? I choose to be whoever I feel like being and I thank my lucky stars that I was born to the parents I was and then feel tremendous sadness. Because in this day and age it is just the circumstances of my birth which I had no control over, that determine that I am sitting at home and writing this post and this brave little girl is fighting for her life.

Saturday, October 13, 2012

My Short Skirt-Eve Ensler



My Short Skirt
From The Vagina Monologues
By Eve Ensler


My short skirt is not an invitation
a provocation
an indication
that I want it
or give it
or that I hook.

My short skirt
is not begging for it
it does not want you
to rip it off me
or pull it down.

My short skirt
is not a legal reason
for raping me
although it has been before
it will not hold up
in the new court.

My short skirt, believe it or not
has nothing to do with you.

My short skirt
is about discovering
the power of my lower calves
about cool autumn air traveling
up my inner thighs
about allowing everything I see
or pass or feel to live inside.

My short skirt is not proof
that I am stupid
or undecided
or a malleable little girl.

My short skirt is my defiance
I will not let you make me afraid
My short skirt is not showing off
this is who I am
before you made me cover it
or tone it down.
Get used to it.

My short skirt is happiness
I can feel myself on the ground.
I am here. I am hot.

My short skirt is a liberation
flag in the women's army
I declare these streets, any streets
my vagina's country.

My short skirt
is turquoise water
with swimming colored fish
a summer festival
in the starry dark
a bird calling
a train arriving in a foreign town
my short skirt is a wild spin
a full breath
a tango dip
my short skirt is
initiation
appreciation
excitation.

But mainly my short skirt
and everything under it
is Mine.
Mine.
Mine.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

In which we play with the shutter speed








Skirt: Supre, Crochet top/ Leather jacket and boots: Thrifted

This whole outfit post idea came about because of the AWESOME leather oversize shirt/ jacket. Buttery soft leather, thrifted, made in New Zealand and has that perfect shapeless/ oversized silhouette that I love love love, I mean what more can one say? I know that the pictures are not super good but we are new at using a fancy camera and I have zero knowledge of photoshop and like I've said before for me this isn't just about taking the perfect photos. Ofcourse I want to learn and get better at taking and editing pictures but I am not going to beat myself up for not having the most amazing photo spread.

Today the most amazing woman in my life celebrates her birthday, Happy Birthday Mummy :D Hope every one is having a wonderful week and are looking forward to kicking back over the weekend. Happy Thursday all!


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Inspiration: Penny Lane








Trifted leather skirt and crochet top, Suede booties: Witchery, Hat: Don't remember

Look at this buttery soft leather beauty, she is the one I spoke about in my last blog post, a little too long so I took a pair of scissors to her but she knows I love love love her. This skirt especially since its worn with a crochet top reminds me of Penny Lane and her little light brown suede (i think) mini-skirt she wears with a peasant top.

I may be a little too obsessed with all things leather, although its a recent phenom, I was vegetarian for years and avoided wearing leather at all costs and even now try to limit my leather consumption to gifted and thrifted items. One day I hope to rid myself of this habit but for now I am going to frolic in this beauty. Happy Tuesday all!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Indigo vegetable dyed beauty









Indigo tunic and Jewellery: India, Bag: Gift, Boots: France


I have a deep abiding love for all kinds of ethnic textiles especially if it involves, vegetable/ tie dyes, block print, patch work, embroidery and the list keep going. I bought this tunic because I fell in love with the deep indigo hue but it wasn't really my size and then I sat home and sewed and hemmed till it has become this perfect shapeless sack that I love. I don't really know how to use a sewing machine and don't have access to one therefore do any alterations that I have to by hand. I reaaally reaaally want to learn to sew and be able to whip up atleast basic things and be able to do minor alterations. Something to add to the already super long to-do list.

The silver enameled kundan earrings are hand-made by a small jeweler in a pattern that I chose. Kundan enameled Jewellery is created by setting different shaped, cut and polished multi coloured gemstones or enamel into a metal base. Its one of my most favourite kinds of jewelery but then again I love lots of different kinds of bijoux.
In other news I have just cut up a penny-lane-esque leather skirt today and can't wait to wear it. I might even dress as a messed up groupie for Halloween lets see. Hope everyone has had a good start to the week. Happy Monday all :D






Sunday, October 7, 2012

Block printed flared yumminess









Pants: Anokhi, Jewellery: India, Silver sandals: Seed, Wool hat: Don't remember


I love flared pants of any kind but these hand block printed flowy beauties are my true love, so much so that I went back and bought them in another colour! One of my most favourite things to do in India is buying block printed yumminess in dresses, pants, skirts and scarfs and this time I've had a major haul, hmmm I should probably do a post on that. But honestly these pants are one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and make me feel like I am walking in a flowy wonderland. LOVE IT!

The last picture is of a silver anklet that is a part of a pair, one of them is with my friend I went traveling with and the other one is with me. Its one of the most special things I have,thanks Caro. Hope everyone is having a great weekend.


Friday, October 5, 2012

Random shots taken after dark










Hello hello :D Two posts in a week after almost two months of silence? What can I say except for I love getting my posting mojo back. So I am sharing these pictures more for the accessories than anything else, I know some people post perfect looking pictures but I am not one of them. In the first outfit I am in love with the DIY-ed CK shorts, embroidered camel leather bag and the crochet cardigan thing and in the second with the gauzy skirt and the neck party.

I bought the shorts from a vintage shop in Surry hills which I haunt for denim and bags, the embroidered bag was a gift, the crochet cardigan is from the Manly markets, the gauzy skirt is from Paharganj, Delhi and the neck bling is from all over. I bought this skirt on one of my first few days in Delhi with my soul-sister, promptly wore it to go see the Qutab minar and I think I'll always treasure it because of the person I bought it with and the people I met while wearing it for the first time. Yea I am sentimental like that.

The more I read about fashion in most magazines the more I am inspired to just dress for myself, I can't really understand how it is okay for magazines to tell us that we are not good enough if we're not dressing for our body-type, we need to wear certain colours or certain things are not in and wearing them will make us look what? Silly??? Stupid??? Well Bleh! I am barely five feet tall and I will wear maxi skirts and dresses without heels because I WANT to. I am fed up with people telling me what looks good on me or even worse what is appropriate.

Appropriate or inappropriate is all in one's head if you ask me, telling people how they should dress or behave is just plain idiotic. If it is 40 deg celcius outside I will wear the least amount of clothing and if that makes you insecure to have me around your man or woman, one go see a shrink and get rid of your insecurities and two go run round the block to whip your body into shape instead of telling me to dress appropriately!!! Phew rant over.

I've been wanting to get this off my chest for ages, the trip back home was filled with people who made me tremendously uncomfortable about being who I am. The worst part of it all was that more women seemed to be intent on girl shaming than men. But something my Dad said stayed with me "You don't have to change who you are or lie about anything as long as you are happy with yourself". Thankfully my parents are wonderful people and are happy to let me grow into whoever I want to be. I think I should actually sit and do a post on how stupid it is to judge people on the basis of how they choose to dress or undress their body. But in the meantime I have read a pretty good post on the topic and you should definitely read Courtney's blog, especially this post

Happy friday everyone!