the what i wore project - week 16

black is black
i want my colour back

this week, i didn't intentionally set out to wear all black, but by the time it got to wednesday, i was already immersed, in one of the most beautiful colours there it.  i actually really love black. it was probably my favourite before hot pink.  i love black so much, that i even went as far as to die my hair from blond to black, way back in 1998 and i couldn't imagine having it any other colour.

this was also the week where talk turned to Matilda Kahl, the art director who has worn the same "uniform" of black pants and white shirt to work for the past 3 years.  I understand her motivation, but as someone who loves to express through clothes and believes that since work is really the majority of our day, week, month, year and life (unless i win a big lotto), then i am going to use these hours to dress in ways that make me feel like i live a life that isn't just about work.

as much as i enjoyed the all black looks, i am excited to be getting back to randomness in the colour wheel tomorrow.

so how did the week of wearing black pan out

monday - start of the week - fuck fuck fuck - can see why matilda kahl opts for the uniform, cause monday arrives with a thud and it's what the fuck am i going to wear today, day.

as it turned out, i loved wearing this outfit.  there was a little bit of sparkle, to make me feel like i could be anywhere else but the office and of course with the glasses, i could probably have driven past the office, cause they don't exactly provide the best vision - but damn they look good.

i wore black tube skirt from huudaverti, top from suzanne grae, shoes from whittner, heart earrings from nyc and brisbane (they are mismatched) and glasses from davies park market.

 

tuesday - who wore it better.
i have been dying to wear this dress, and so it seems, did my sister.  it's a little shorter than i would normally wear to work, but wow, it made me want to walk tall and i could feel the walk tall envy all around me.

i wore, dress from huudaverti, shoes from novo, earrings made by my sisters boyfriend
she wore, dress from huudaverti, shoes that made her want to jump and glasses to shield her eyes from the tropical panorama of fiji.

wednesday - the day that i felt there was no turning back from the black. i know what they say, but i can't say that i actually know if it's true. but for this week, once i wore black, there was no turning back.

wednesday was also the day i decided to see if i could find out if i was imagining if someone was actually going into my work drawer and taking my gum.  i decided to place it strategically in my drawer and check the next day to see whether any was gone. #dontbetakingmygumgumdumdum

it was also the day i needed to get my shit together and finalise my designs for fiji fashion week.  they aren't going to do themselves, jan-maree! so on my drive home, i decided to stop and soak up the sunset and i encourage everyone to do the same. it's so nice to just sit, enjoy and appreciate the beauty of the light, the end of the day and the journey into wine time.

i wore pants from country road, top from suzanne grae, shoes from betts, earrings from fiji and necklace from india.

thursday - i knew this dress had to come out of the closet this week, cause not only is it black, but it's beautiful.  the design is good and the texture is gooderer and it feels quite refined (not a word i usually associate with myself) but surely it's okay just this once.

i wore dress made by me, shoes from betts, random waist tie i pulled out of the drawer and earrings, of some kind.

also, there was no movement on the chewy problem. it was all still there!

friday is casual day in the office and don't i look casual.  i grabbed these pants out of the wardrobe and promptly set about finding something black to go with them.  it needed to not only be black, but to be something that i felt would not only compliment them but also protect the downstairs area, cause the god damn zip keeps coming down.  I will not part with them though, cause i love them.

i wore wet look jeans from target with zip that falls down, singlet from uniqlo, peacock necklace from sportsgirl, shoes from whittner, and top from h&m new york, circa 2005 and i did actually buy one for my sister in fiji, cause that's a thing we do. one for me, one for her.

saturday came and i was ready to twirl.

i twirled with my girl Miss H, outside the coffee shop.

i also grabbed a burger from wild rissole at the boundary street market.  i am a vegetarian and he has a vege pattie, but it's made of mushrooms, so straight away i am not winning. he also has a haloumi burger which was fantastic and the guy decided he would try and help me bridge the mushroom gap by offering me a mini mini pattie to try.  i tried, i survived, but i still don't like mushroom.

i wore tulle skirt made and handed over willingly from my sister, yonks old top from temt, belt made by me, necklaces that i have had forever, and haviainas, which according to some, let the outfit down, but according to others, look great. i also won't be eating mushroom burger from wild rissole. but he does make a great burger if ever you are there.

i also attended a 50th birthday (trial for my impending one next year) and decided to dress like i was going to a party and that required some sparkle.

as i also own a convertible - it's a volvo - and it's awsome, it's so fun to drive around sans top and just look up at every opportunity.  i wasn't driving, cause driving and keeping your eyes towards the sky wouldn't be smart, but it's pretty cool to have that view, unless of course you fly under birds.  

i wore silver vinyl skirt made by me, beaded top from sri lanka, shoes from whittner (haven't they had a run this week) and the crazy chair i was sitting in was from st vinnies in west end.  also volvo headlights, do amazing things for ones glow.

sunday - last but not least. it was massage day - my weekly ritual and the day the reign of black would end.

i wore shorts and earrings made by me, sheer top from  suzanne grae and cap from target to hide dirty hair.

so black is black and i need some colour back. come on week 17.

seems only fitting that i share this awesome 70's song which will either make you want to get off your chair and dance, or leave you totally mesmerised by the era that was disco.

aussie curves - activewear challenge

i am amazed by all the activewear that's available to choose from - and some of it just seems so impractical that i think it's more about the fashion statement then the activity it's meant for.

for me, finding activewear is about the practicality, not necessarily the look. but underneath all that, it doesn't matter what i wear because what i am wearing it for is the most important reason.

in the industry i work in, it's all about health and safety and we are lucky to have so many initiatives available to us to encourage our longevity on this planet.  we have free swimming sessions, quit smoking campaign, women's and men's health initiatives, are encouraged to participate in fun runs etc and it becomes quite contageous when you see other people being involved.

 

as a long term vegetarian, i have always been happy with the food choices i make - and i eat whatever i like except for mushrooms and eggs, cause i hate them both.  but the desire to be physically fit is another choice altogether.  i heard one of our executives addressing a conference and he showed us a picture of his family and talked about how the doctor told him he was in the obese category.  that's a harsh thing to hear, because he certainly didn't look any different to anyone else in the room. on hearing those words, he decided from that moment, that if he didn't do something to address his health, he may not be around for his family.  and those words really resonated with me.  what could i control and do, to make a difference to ensure that i had the best opportunity to spend as much time as possible, with my family and friends.

i didn't intend to do something, i did something. this wasn't about losing weight, but about being a fitter person. i had been a slacker gym member, but on seeing a pamphlet about PT sessions we organised a work group to do 3 sessions a week, a friend gave me a treadmill and i started a couch to 5k program.  this program is so great, because it takes you on a slow journey to fitness.  my big achievement came when i reached the point where i had to run for 20 minutes straight and i was scared, really scared.  my boss at the time, gave me great encouragement and told me to go slow.  it wasn't a race, but as long as i kept going at a slow pace, i would reach my 20 minutes AND I DID. i was so proud of myself.

at an international women's day fun run, i elected to walk for 4 km's but committed to running the last kilometer with my grown up son and this was such an achievement.  i know it's only ONE kilometer, but it was still one more kilometer than i had run before. i still prefer to run on a treadmill as i find it a very supportive way to do it.

after we had done our PT sessions for a number of months, we wanted a change and took up boxing. boxing is really the best workout i have done - apart from ashtanga yoga - as they both require practice in order to develop. boxing is an all over challenge.  sure you might punch a bag, or someone else if they get in the way, but it also has weights, running, core work and requires a bit of mental discipline and you sweat - real bad.

 

 

this decision and commitment to get fitter was one that i am really happy i made.  my fitness has improved and that is keeping me on track to the end goal - being there for my family, friends and for me.

in sharing all of that i'd like to touch on the active wear.  my two things that i have invested in are a great sports bra and running shoes.  as for the rest of it, if i can wear something that doesn't fall down, feels comfy then i am happy.

i have a bra from enell. my sister put me onto it as we both have giant boobs. it does up at the front, it squashes everything down so there is no jiggle and the best thing is that you order it after measuring around your rib cage and also around your bust. you then choose the size that is right for you and off you go. at first it was weird, but it's the bra of choice for me.

What i wear:
swimmers - target
running shorts - from Big W
singlets - from my cupboard
sports pants - K-mart
shoes  - asics
boxing gloves - sting (but don't forget your wraps)

i know i have technically not dedicated my blog to the choices of activewear out there, because for me it isn't what's the most important thing. it's what i am doing while i am in it, that matters and it all starts with one step. and when i get stuck, i remind myself that my mind gives up before my body does and that keeps me going.