the what i wore project - week 35

damn you melbourne - you are fine (apart from the errant weather, which i am slowly getting accustomed to) but it keeps me on my toes and i have had a couple of learnings so far.

1. know where both gloves are at all times and purchase a back up pair in case you lose a glove like i did. hence know where both gloves are at all times.
2, just cause the sky is blue, the sun is shining, birds may be chirping and it looks warm - it isn't.

this was a week that not only tested my tricky weather outfits, but also tested my clothing choices. i am literally making whatever i can find in my bag lady wardrobe work.  but all that is coming to an end, as i come nearer to having a real wardrobe space.  and i am happy to report that a pair of denim overalls and a red checked western shirt will be making an appearance very soon.

i know spring is around the corner and i have been assured that it's still a while till short sleeves are in order, unlike my friends in queensland who are bathing in the warmth.

this is what the week from jan's bag lady wardrobe looked like and i once again ensured that colour was going to feature heavily.

and rightly so, given the line of ants i spied from my window.  i say ants cause at 46 floors up they look like ants - a line of black all marching towards work.

monday i wore black pants from country road, pink jumper from coles, knitted overshirt from sussan, men's shoes from tarocash and my leopard jacket that my mum made in 1996.

tuesday i wore my gold demin skirt that i made (it's intentionally crushed, cause ironing isn't factoring into my bag lady life at present), black turtle neck jumper from uniqlo, boots from jo mercer, rhinestone belt from wrangler and jacket from sri lanka.

wednesday i wore the same jumper - i know - 2 days in a row. i teamed it with my huudaverti tube skirt, jo mercer boots, i threw this spotted raglan sleeve top that i made on, added a sequin belt and a necklace.  i am not a big fan of wearing necklaces over turtle necks but i did it and did it again the next day. shows what having bag lady wardrobe does.

thursday i wore a raspberry pink velvet ensemble.  this was to ward of the bleakness of the day.  the jumper is from uniqlo, necklace from fiji, boots from jo mercer and the skirt and top were made by me.  the top was an afterthought using a leftover piece of the velvet which i added some pom poms to. looks like spring is springing on the garden terrace.

friday i wore the reverse denim velvet combo.  this look was way to structured for me. but i see lots of blokes wearing this same looks sans knee length boots. i liked it but it just makes me feel constricted.  can't explain why but 20 years ago i would have worn something like this any chance i had. the jeans are from target, boots from jo mercer, embroidered top and velvet jacket from sportscraft.

saturday i wore not enough clothes to keep me warm.  my god it was cold.  i went to my first ever photography class and it was outdoors and it was freezing. i wore my jeans, suede boots from merrells nyc, jumper from uniqlo, fur zip up vest from suzanne grae, scarf made by my mum and hat from an oppy in brisbane.  i also went searching for another pair of gloves.  oh my that was a drab adventure.  tips please.

sunday i wore my tie dyed jeans that i made, red men's shoes from stone, red jumper, black puffer vest from india, scarf made by my mum and cap from target.  this was also the day that i took my fun car for a spin.  it's been a few weeks now and i avoided any routes that would require a hook turn but i did manage to take the top off which is always grand.

so the end of the bag lady wardrobe is imimient.  i have found a place and expect to move in the next week or so.  i can't wait to have full control over the wardrobe again.

the what i wore project - week 25

after my heinous shopping adventures last week, i managed to rustle up a few good outfits for the week - thank goodness - using some new and old items from the closet and here are the looks.

of course this week was fashion focussed, but it was also family focussed with the upcoming birthday of my son who turned 30 yesterday and for me this meant a time of celebration, and also reflecting on the past 30 years of his life and my life - who i was then compared to now, what kind of parent was i then compared to now, have those wishes of what i hoped my child's life would be like come to fruition, where did i succeed or fail as a parent and most importantly, is my child a happy human being, who can deal with life's challenges. i think it is really important to reflect on many aspects of life and i actually don't think that my mother would reflect in the same way about her life or mine.

i certainly don't feel or look like i am old enough to have a 30 year old, but i am and i remember the day he was born just like it happened yesterday. i was 18, my partner and i were both overjoyed and overwhelmed at this new life that we had created at such a young age - but we have both been committed and loving parents and will continue to be. i gave my son a financial gift today but also told him that my ongoing love for him is no doubt the best gift i could possibly give.

we were a single parent family for a long time and his welfare and wellbeing were on the top of my list before anything else and i hope that my contribution to his life has made a difference. i hope it has given him the strength when he needs it and to show care and love to himself and others and go forward into this next stage of his life with confidence and the ability to make the most of his life regardless of what challenges he may face. i know for me, life didn't start to fall into place till my early 30's and i hope that this next chapter is a fulfilling one for him.

happy birthday to my beautiful boy and for any parents out there who may have doubts about whether you are doing the right thing - well children don't come with a "how to be a great parent" manual - there's generally the tradition and the experiences we had from being parented that guides us.

i do recall as a teenager thinking that when i had children, i would be a much different parent than mine were. i didn't want my child growing up in a world where "no" "you can't do that" and "why would you want to do that" were pretty common, and even now, i am still met with those same things from my mother and i am 48 for fucks sake.

i have upheld that decision i made as a teenager to be a different parent and it feels great. i don't do or say any of the things my mum did and said. i support 100% and the biggest piece of advice i got when he was nearly grown up, was that this is his journey and who i am to try and make it mine.

change only comes about by wanting and making it happen, so if you want to give yourself the freedom to be the parent you want to be rather than what's expected to be, then go for it. have fun!

so, after all of that, here's what i wore this week - cause that's why i am doing this, right? and i know that my fashion sense has definitely changed after 30 years.

monday i wore a pattern clash. this is a fave of mine and has been worn before. jumper is from coles, skirt and belt i made myself, boots from jo mercer and earrings from fiji.

never be afraid to pattern clash - it's just like parenting - sometimes the most unexpected things work out.

tuesday i wore some ruffles.  boots from jo mercer, top from unknown, i made the belt and i made the skirt a long long long time ago.  i feel youthful in this pic and i have always struggled with being a youthful mum, but it is what it is and i owned it.

wednesday i wore jumper from harris scarfe, boots from jo mercer, belt from nyc, vinyl skirt from huudaverti and love heart earrings. both of these earrings are different which is probably what happens if you have more than one kid.  they are both great, but not always the same, but you still love them.

thursday, i rugged up and wore snakeskin boots i have had for ten years, velvet skirt made by me, scarf made by my mum, belt from wrangler dfo and jumper from uniqlo and silver hoops.

i loved this look and felt totally like i was walking my own walk and as a parent, we should still do what we love to do, knowing that if you want to wear snakeskin, velvet and rhinestone, then so be it. it's okay to be who you want to be as well.

friday i wore boyfriend jeans from target, men's shoes from stone, jumper from uniqlo, vest from sussan and earrings made by me.  this is also the day that my mother questions why i would choose such a horrible backdrop for my picture. because i am me, that's why and this is what got me thinking about how it is important to not try and create cookie cutter people and lives.

saturday i wore a look that isn't really my look. i wore jeans from target, sneakers from gola, men's shirt from coles, hoops and jacket from sri lanka (gifted by my sister). last time i wore a shirt like this, my son didn't recognise me and on reflection, that's a good thing, it means that i continue to surprise - and who doesn't love a surprise. your kids will, if you let them have ice cream for dinner.

sunday i wore old old boots from jo mercer, jeans from target, scarf knitted by my mum, old jacket from katies, hat from an op shop and a cheeky smile. and why the cheeky smile, becuase i totally trespassed on private property to take this pic and that's okay.  in the realm of life what would it matter and if my kid did it, i would be okay with it, cause we all need to push the boundaries at times to determine what our limits are.

also on sunday is me and the birthday boy, my son who has just turned 30 and who i love so much. i am grateful to be part of his journey.

the what i wore project - week 22, my sister's wardrobe

oh my haven't i had a fabulous fashion filled week - it is true, it was fashion week in fiji - there was so much fashion both on and off the runway.  This event has just had its eighth run and we have been part of it for four years, and as i mentioned in my last blog, i was asked to help out and i got a real understanding of the workings of a major fashion event and in fiji there were so many things that really challenged my structured way of working (not thinking) - but it was fun and if i could sum the week up, it would be like this:
1. sleep deprived (about 4 hours each night since i got here - Adrenalin works wonders)
2. what the fuck (what the fuck is happening here and how can this event even work)
3. chaos (the butterfly effect was in full swing and it both hindered and helped)
4. tuna is not a vegetable

what a week. and i got through it with both style and comfort.

so my sister said it was okay for me to come into the room early pearly of a morning to pick an outfit. after a few flicks back and forth along the clothing rail, i found this dress.  i was instantly in love. it was just simple, yet beautiful with a slight detail on the neckline that just made me feel very lady like but in a way that suited my sense of style.

to kick of fashion week, they did a screening of dior and i - i didn't get to see it, but it was very well recieved and a must see for any designer who wants to understand the the work involved in putting a collection together from start to finish and the pressure that comes with doing so.  (i probably needed to watch, cause it was a rough week, getting to the runway)

monday i wore cheesecloth dress from my sister's wardrobe. she made this one with local fabric and a lace insert that she got down the road and i matched it with those same shoes i have been wearing nearly every bloody day.  i really loved the feel of this dress and will be adding it to my wish list.

this local fijian fabric is what we used in our melbourne show and was made into a beautiful A-line skirt that i just wanted to keep on wearing. i loved it. for the fjfw program, they had a fashion forum for student's who got to hear from speakers who shared their knowledge on fashion design and business to assist in building a career in fashion.

tuesday i wore, tshirt and necklace from my sister's wardrobe, skirt from huudaverti and those same shoes.

today was a 70's inspired charity lunch, and this jumpsuit was the perfect thing to feel both retro and modern.  i took this photo in the makeshift kitchen that is used for their bbq stall and i felt that the outfit and the location were both complementary of each other.

wednesday i wore jumpsuit from huudaverti. my mum picked this fabric and decided it would look good in the jumpsuit.  the necklace is from my sister's wardrobe and i am not even mentioning the shoes.  this was also the day, i decided to invest in a pair of sneakers - pink of course!

oh oh look at this - it must be show day - cause i snagged a fjfw t-shirt and did my best to look important.  there was a lot of stuff to be done, so i needed to dress for comfort.

thursday i wore jeans from target, (mine), shoes from diadora (mine), heart earrings (mine) and fjfw tshirt (mine).   what- nothing from my sister's wardrobe......

but wait, there's more.  it was also our first showing for the event and it was resort wear night.  we got good reviews and you can check out the pics on our facebook

thursday night, i wore dress from my sisters wardrobe (am so taking one of these home), shoes - you know the ones, the brown ones and heart earrings.

thank goodness for these shoes - my feet were so sore from the day before, that i could barely wait to get them off when i got home.  if i had of been able to take off my feet as well and give them a rest i would have.

thursday i wore jeans from target, my tree of life top, and sneakers from diadora.

we had another two shows today in the ready to wear/trendsetters night and i had a beautiful piece of fabric to make a long skirt to wear on the runway. sadly though when i asked for a long skirt, i really got a long skirt. it was about 4 inches past my feet, so i had to go to plan B, which i didn't get a photo of, apart from on the runway.

thursday night, i wore brown kaftan from my sister's wardrobe which was made by huudaverti.

i noticed that down at the arena where the show was held, all the volunteers were wearing shell necklaces, so i thought i would join the locals and follow suit.

friday i wore jeans from target (they need a wash) top from suzanne grae mt ommaney, diadora's from suva and shell necklaces that my sister has collected over the years.

now this is the skirt i was supposed to wear the night before but it was too long.  i asked my mum to make it into this dress for me to wear on friday night.  she just added a couple of straps to it - which we will need to modify cause it was last minute, but it was a hit with everyone who was surprised to see me wearing something else but jeans and sneakers. everyone just wanted to touch the fabric and i can't blame them.  but guess what, i had to wear those shoes again.

this was the last night of fashion week and it was the high end resort, couture and bridal wear night.

friday night i wore skirt that is now a dress made from peacock sequined fabric i got at spotlight, indian style earrings and my whittner shoes.

after having so little sleep during the week, i gave myself a forced lie in.  i am not very good at sleeping in, but i just needed to stay in bed and literally lie there.  damn it felt good and my feet loved it.

sunday i wore just another simple outfit for the day which was my target jeans, tshirt from my sister's closet, my sneakers and the shells again, cause they are an accessory that instantly makes you feel like you are on a tropical island.  Oh hang on, i am on a tropical island....

so that's another week of outfits and i still have another week to go.

i have learned a couple of things this week. the first is that even though fijian people run on island time and it looks from the outside that things may not be happening, a shit load gets done in a small amount of time.

the other thing is that when things are feeling stressed, i encourage you to go outside in the open and scream at the top of your voice FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK. it feels great and is cheaper and better than any therapy you can pay for.

well i am about to plan a few days away at the beach. the weather isn't looking to great today, but that won't stop me from having a pina colada and a lie in a hammock under an umbrella, if i have to.

the what i wore project - week 21, my sister's wardrobe

I had grand intentions of trying to update my outfits on the blog each day, but i am in fiji and i am running on fiji time and that means that sometimes the desire to do something and what actually gets done doesn't always match.

What i have been doing this week is helping out at the Fiji Fashion Week office by offering some of my experience in doing last minute things for the show.  It's been quite the eye opener taking a peek into the workings of a five day international fashion event that has over 9 event's on their program.  (Must remember to update my resume).

Here's a look of what i wore this week and out of eight outfits, only three pieces are mine - apart from bra, undies and footwear, which i ensured i wore everyday.  So, what did i wear out of my sister's wardrobe.

I have actually found it quite tricky to wear outfits from someone else's wardrobe.  even though this is my sister and we like the same stuff and the same looks, i have found that not everything i eyed off in the wardrobe actually was going to work for me. We both have boobs, but I have hips and she doesn't so shape wise, we are very different. But like a speed machine, i whipped outfits on and off until i found something that would work for me.

we had to go and see the boss off Fiji Fashion Week for a chat.  My sister is doing the designer relations this year so there are a lot of things to get organised, we went and talked about the upcoming week.  it was quite enlightening.

sunday i wore black pants from target, havaianas from byron bay, a top from my sister's wardrobe that i know nothing about except that it is really cute.

i didn't think i would love this dress as much as i did - but i freakin love it.  the length was great, the sleeves were nipped in with a little elastic, the fabric was awesome, and it had pockets- and i am still trying to fall in love with them.  they just don't suit my body shape when i wear certain outfits.

on monday i wore dress from huudaverti sample rack, shoes from whittner and necklace from my sister's wardrobe - maybe it's from Robert Kennedy Fiji.

tuesday i wore top and tube skirt from the huudaverti sample rack and shoes from whittner. the necklace is from my sister's wardrobe and i am thinking it's from Robert Kennedy Fiji also.

mid week and i was ready for a little sparkle.  this is a fun dress that can be worn either more formal or casual - either way it works. 

wednesday i wore dress that i designed from the huudaverti sample rack and shoes from mollini.  

i must have tried on about 10 tops before i ended up with this one - which is exactly the first shirt i put on when i went into the sample room to pick something to wear. i knew it was the one, but it took about 9 others just to be sure.

thursday i wore jeans from target, shoes from whittner (aren't they getting a workout) top from our first collection in 2012 and earrings made by me for our collection last year.

every morning i get a taxi down to the FJFW office and i have arranged a guy to come and pick me up. he arrived just in time for me to pose with his cab.  i love this pic.

friday i wore this blue spot dress from my sister's wardrobe.  it came from Old Navy NYC in 2013 - i know, cause i was there and i wish i had got one as well.  shoes are from mollini and my mis- matched hearts always on the lookout for opportuities to make an appearance. 

we had to go to model fittings and rehearsals today.  next rehearsal is the real deal at the arena and and it will really start to feel like it is actually happening.  at present, there is still so much behind the scenes work going on that it's hard to believe that in just 2 days they will have transformed this massive sporting arena to a world class fashion event. 

saturday i wore bird shorty shorts and pink top from the huudaverti sample rack, those same shoes from whittner, hoop earrings and the best accessory of the day - 2 pens in my hair - i needed to make a lot of notes.

today was another day at home cutting, sewing and stressing but i am really happy with the looks i have created, even though i have had to do a fair bit of modifications due to time constraints.  but that's the life of a fashion designer.

sunday i wore shorts that are actaully mine, birkenstocks and this cute top from my sister that seems to be a staple of hers.  i don't think i have ever seen a time that she hasn't bought it when she is vising from fiji, - so figure it may be a favourite.  don't know anymore about it that that.

  

there was time to fit in some much needed sconies which were a much needed treat.  i am also hoping to avoid getting dengue or the latest bug called chikungunya - it's all the rage here apparently.  the mosquitos are just insane.

so that is my week wearing someone else's clothes.  it has been fun and i still have another 2 weeks of picking out items while i am here.

i actually really appreciate how much i love opening my own cupboard and picking out my faves, or my go to pieces and i just can't get attached to any of these things because they aren't mine but i am hoping that i will have time to get some things made to bring back to at least fill my empty suitcases.

the what i wore project - week 20

this week was and still is action packed.  not only was i heading off to fiji for our fourth showing at fiji fashion week, but i had to finish all my work work, before i could leave to go to fiji for my fun work.

as my departure date grew closer, the list of things i needed to finalise grew longer.  things such as finalising my fabrics for our collection, last minute shopping in the form of chocolates, crumpets, soy milk, vegemite, promite, getting some strategic waxing (really, you want me to put my leg up where - this is hair removal, not a bloody yoga class) and the list went on. i also had to go and have my first ever try at having some fake eyelashes put on. This wasn't like a slab of lashes, but individual ones as i am so in love with the ones that a colleage has, that i decided to try my own.  Now, i haven't taken this lightly - i don't even pluck or wax my eyebrows, so doing this was quite the commitment, but they do feel long and lovely.

what was hilarious though was that during this relaxing time with the therapist, we were chatting about make up and i explained that apart from a bit of lippy, mascara and some eye shadow, i thought had reached my full make up potential about a year ago. but no, i am doing a bit more now - my red stila eyeliner is now a must have item. i didn't even know how to put eyeliner on until about 6 months ago but a lesson from mecca cosmetics fixed that. i just was never that into all of this stuff, regardless of how razzle dazzle my outfits may be. a simple face wash some coconut oil when i remembered was pretty much my routine.  anyway, i am doing a bit more in the make up department and when i told her of this, she offered the compliment that i have started looking after myself....actually i said, i have always looked after myself, so with that faux pas, she proceeded to ensure my transition into falsies was quick and painless and one that i am happy with.  the fact that my sister said i have drag queen lashes, doesn't deter me at all. it just makes it all the more fun.

so this week i am only showing 5 looks that i wore and the reason for that is that i am now in Fiji, as of Friday night and i literally have no clothes.  i bought the bare basics. a pair of shorts, swimmers, 2 tops, pj's, what i wore on the plane a dress to wear to an event and a pair of pants.  not much for 3 week's vacay, but that is okay, because i am going to raid my sisters wardrobe or the huudaverti sample rack and just make up some new looks each day.  i just had too much other stuff to bring, so figured i would just leave my clothes back home.  genius! but it is a little weird not quite knowing that you can go to your fall back faves if you need to.

well, here is what i wore pre-fji for my busy busy week at work and what because a very chilly brisbane.

Monday i wore this heavy cotton drill dress with classic art. I made the dress with fabric from spotlight and the boots are from jo mercer.

Tuesday i wore an animal print tube skirt from huudaverti, really old black top from temt, boots from jo mercer, vest from uniqlo melbourne and western belt from wrangler dfo.

Wednesday i wore gold denim skirt from huudaverti, black top from unknown, boots from jo mercer and lee denim vest from Big W that i sequined the heart onto the back of.

Thursday i wore something to keep me warm as it was bloody chilly so i dressed for the cold weather apart from the shoes - but that's a brisbane thing. this red velvet suit if from sportscraft, my jumper is from harris scarfe, shoes from betts and belt made by me.

i refrain from wearing anything suit like as i just don't want to be responsible for causing anyone to drop what they are carrying, or fall over at the sight of me in such a constructed look.

Friday i wore something comfy to travel in.  jeans from target, shirt/dress from tree of life, poncho from davies park markets, birkenstocks and a smile of someone who is about to go on three weeks leave.

i got to work super early on thursday - it was cold and clear and i decided to take a pic of our beautiful city that is brisbane.

so tonight i am in suva, staying in a little bure at my sisters house.  it is cool, raining and even though it is just 2 hours difference, from home, i am feeling tired but very excited about going into her cupboard tomorrow to see what i can dress up in. my trip was uneventful, unlike my last one when i got the final boarding call at brissy and i hope to try and update my looks everyday. however with fashion week just around the corner and a collection that is still in progress, i will be on high alert for the next 2 weeks.  then it will be true holiday time.

bula.