Archive for June, 2009

My favourite outfit: Miss Anna Jane

June 27th, 2009

We like you and want to know what you’re wearing. Send us a pic and a description please!

Here’s me standing on a chair posing in my living room. I am wearing a vintage dress gifted to me in Brisbane by a wonderful friend named Michelle Younghusband. I love it so much because I don’t own anything that fits me quite as well. It’s cotton, and lined with one underskirt for a bit of flamenco feeling. I’m wearing it with Amie McCarron’s Parisienne black beaded choker necklace, and my favourite pair of brown leather boots. These were a major splurge for me, but I have never regretted the purchase – they are flat for walking the hills of Wellington (and climbing the odd tree), made in Italy, and brought from a fancypants boot shop in New Farm, Brisbane (my old posh hood). Red velvet curtains complete with broken curtain rail, low lit lamps and half-full wine glass complete the look.

Get inspired by the Queen of Blending

June 24th, 2009

Here, the Queen of Blending makes beautifully lined eyes with a white eyeliner that she makes herself. She uses a MAC liquid medium, but I’ve made my own liquid colour using a Napolean Perdis primer. So you could experiment  with also sorts of mediums and colours.

IMATS 2009

June 22nd, 2009

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The International Make-up Artists Trade Show has just been held in LA. Pursebuzz went along this year and has a load of pretty pics from the show here and here.

I think my head would burst at a place like this…so colourful and pretty and creative.

Red lip tips

June 22nd, 2009

Check out meganwegan’s tips for red delicious lips.

Swonderful

June 22nd, 2009

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Milia – not as pretty as it sounds

June 20th, 2009

Recently, I got spots under my eyes. Just little teeny white dots just under the skin. I figured they’d go away. Well, I self-diagnosed, and I’m convinced it’s milia (aka milk spots or oil seeds).

wikipedia suggests milia can be caused by harsh face washes or repeated hot showering by those with sensitive skin. Another website says milia can also be caused by sun damage, dermabrasion, topical steroid creams, and other skin trauma.

Whatever the cause, it is fairly common among adults. And the important thing to know is that they are not pop-able. You can’t remove them at home without risking scarring. Go to a doctor or skin specialist for removal or treatment.

Has anyone had them or had them removed? I’d like to hear any advice or experiences you’ve had.

Gracie Lou – delivery free for you!

June 19th, 2009

We received an email today from our reader Lizzie to say

Just wanted to let you guys know that a Wellington makeup/frangrance website has free delivery until end of June!. They have such fantastic prices on there and all the top brands! Cheaper than strawberrynet!

So of course I headed along to www.gracielou.co.nz to have a looksee. My credit card is very very angry with me right now for the dress I bought the other day, not to mention looming unemployment, but otherwise, I would probably be doing some shopping there right now. The Pop Beauty eye compacts are pretty, the idea of Smashbox 24 carat gold mascara really intrigues me, and there are some brands on the site I haven’t heard of before. So if you’re into that sort of thing, go nuts! And don’t forget to let us know how it goes.

It’s shopping time down on Fatty-Nation Street

June 17th, 2009

(With apologies to The Cure. And also anyone else who doesn’t approve of that term. But oh well.)

Hey all my ladies with the curves, have you guys been to Featherston Street lately? Petone used to be the best place for plus-size shopping, but now town is totally Curve-ville.

  • There’s Zebrano‘s designer range (their “casual” store on Johnson Street is just around the corner), where you can fork out $400 for a Moss singlet, and be happy that Trelise Cooper’s plus-size range only goes up to a 20, because god forbid the real fattys should have at it. But seriously, they do have some lovely lovely things, and an amazing selection of ball dresses. But you’re going to pay through the nose there – expect nothing under $200 unless you hit their sales racks, which are past season and leftover stock and in extremely limited ranges of sizes.
  • There’s Platform Clothing which I didn’t go into today, whose clothes have always seemed a little bit boxy to me, but perhaps there’s something in there for you. These dresses look very cute. But again, not cheap.
  • Then there’s The Carpenter’s Daughter which is full of a riot of amazing jewel colours and textures. I lusted so so much for a frock coat in pink velvet, but at $550 I had to step away and instead tried on a huge selection of dresses in purples and greens and peacocks. Oh it was a glorious experience. And an expensive one. And if you come to my birthday drinks on Friday at Hawthorn Lounge, you’ll get to see the results. It’s totally what Joan Would Do.
  • It’s not on Featherston Street, but Farmers on Lambton Quay has a good range of plus-size clothes as well. They have a “designer” range, which means they have stuff for like $100 an item, which is kind of wrong in my opinion, but their Wild Child range can be pretty good and under $50 and is also 30% off right now.
  • And finally, although it’s not even a real place but rather the internets, I have to brag about how I finally found a dress that has SLEEVES! And POCKETS! And actually COMES DOWN TO MY KNEES! Oh it’s so exciting – so check out the_curvy_chick on trademe or her online store Sheer Curves - which actually had the dress I bought for $20 cheaper. And while we’re recommending online places, I’ve heard very good things about Bella Chic, although I have yet to purchase anything from there yet, but like Sheer Curves, they stock Igigi dresses and you might get a better deal than direct purchase because of changing exchange rates, etc.  

So let’s rock on with our frocks on, yes?

Speaking of sustainable…

June 17th, 2009

There are so many annoying and insincere articles about saving money in recession times and sustainable fashion at the mo. Most seem to encourage even more consumer spending under the guise of thrift or being green. So I really like the Uniformproject ‘s take on this. One woman, one dress, for 365 days.

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 Starting May 2009, I have pledged to wear one dress for one year as an exercise in sustainable fashion. Here’s how it works: There are 7 identical dresses, one for each day of the week. Every day I will reinvent the dress with layers, accessories and all kinds of accouterments, the majority of which will be vintage, hand-made, or hand-me-down goodies. Think of it as wearing a daily uniform with enough creative license to make it look like I just crawled out of the Marquis de Sade’s boudoir.

 

The Uniform Project is also a year-long fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for slum children in India.

Heel stoppers

June 11th, 2009

clear20heels I found out about this amazing product from a  dude in drag.  I can’t believe I hadn’t seen them till now.  They are called Heel Stoppers and they are little plastic things you stick to the bottom of your heels to stop you sinking into grass or marking wooden floors or getting stuck between decking. And you can get all sorts of fancy kinds. Apparently you can buy them from many shoes stores as well as many places online. Who’d a thunk?!