198 ruby garage sale

Get to it! Lots of goodies to be gotten, including some of my faves from last winter below. Including lots of shoes!

197 bubble

A couple of recent makes. All of these materials were bought ages ago. My head is so full of ideas these days but to keep myself grounded I'm trying my hardest to use up my massive stash of 'buy but don't use' materials which I've accumulated over the years, before buying more. The top is a subtle two tone silk, they're actually much the same colour but the back is more sheer. I especially love the side view how it overlaps and curves. The skirt is a pale gold beige linen - it has a subtle metallic sheen on it which makes it shine in the light.

196 porcupine

images: aych blog

"Ruby’s character is based on a fantastical old world female goddess, and the interweaving images, drawn from the natural world, echo her attempts to isolate and protect herself.” - project director Ralph Matthews

My fave pop princess in all the sparkles and glamour of her newest single. So Many Ruby's! Her beyond lengthy peachy dress was designed by Hannah of aych blog and check out those rocks... which are by NZ jewellery designer Jessica McCormack. Watch the awesome animations below!

195 japanese thinking etc etc

Somewhere between having a drunk feast at Kura the other night (BEST soft shell crab) and shower time thinking tonight I have had one tangent of thoughts after another. Most may realise that Japan is the country of contrasts; an easy visual example is comparing the conservative politely dressed nation with their Harajuku/out of this world pop culture which screams for attention. I never quite made the bridge between how different their architectural image is to their high fashion though. Going through my Architecture degree, I came to really appreciate Japanese architecture and design, it is a true visual of their polite and forever humble nation. Minimalistic, white, clean geometries which in their limitations show just how beautiful appreciating simple spaces can be.


1. Ishigami's Kanagawa Institute of Technology

In the realms of fashon, in the past recent while I've come to discover lots of designers which, really couldn't reflect differently on this description. Experimental and loud, the thing I find most curious about my favourites are how much fun can be seen through the garment, for both wearer and creator. The whole design process just seems like an absolute joy. Which has gotta be the start of something. (The burger ring has Made My Day).




1. Tsumori Chisato SS2011 / 2. Q Pot burger ring set / 3. Comme des Garcons homepage

194 four

Love on Top hasn't left my head the past 5 days.

193 fabulous arabia

Such a dreamy concert. I was left all alone to contemplate.

192 i'll be lightning

Earlier this year I attended a small pattern making class.. It didn't teach me much at all, but I got the basics to work with and ended up with an idea of how to make a princess line dress. I have been hiding this amazey chartreuse material for years now, it's DKNY silk from Global Fabrics that was too good to miss out on but I've never seemed to find a perfect use for it. Well here it is! It's all sorts of cool cos it looks like a block colour from far away but up close it has these dainty little white polka dots. My sort of jam.

Worn with my Ruby belt. And I thought it would be fun to chuck in my newest BRIGHTEST pair of shoes just in case things weren't exciting enough already. I bought them in Florence, from this amazing Italian brand called Casadei. I am obsessed with the heel shape.

191 prism light

I love these photos of Sophie Doull. She has such a curiously stunning face!





photos: model.net.nz

190 muso mondays #19

Mel will see this coming. Last night she accidentally discovered this amazing collaboration that is the latest project between The Black Seeds' Mike Fabulous and Lawrence Arabia's James Milne. Together they are called Fabulous Arabia. Such a disparate mix can only end up with a GREAT result - the chilled Black Seedsesque funk of Mike's instrumentals with James' dreamy layered harmonious vocals melted on top. The album is called Unlimited Buffet, and to celebrate the release they are playing shows! This Sunday at the Kings Arms. Get therrreeee.

189 purple waffle

This jumper I just made is the King of Comfy and just in time for this shit weather spell that has come upon us. I became infatuated with the idea of elbow slits which are perhaps the least practical feature (occasionally cold elbows) BUT it's purple waffle merino (comfy), raglan sleeved and boat necked (comfy), and big and baggy (comfy). I was so happy completing this jumper as it has lots of things involved in its making that I haven't tried before, but it all worked!

188 white light

A simple white dress, designed and made in an hour last night.. I pretty much made it up as I cut. I am a big fan of the awkward length sleeves (slash literally only enough material for this length) and the wide boat neck. The fabric was given to me, it's a little strange and a little kooky, but kinda cool. It has turned out to be quite the perfect little number for this whole in between seasons thing we've got going, and I can see it becoming a summer staple too.

187 Alexander McQueen at The Met

I was fortunate enough to coincide my recent visit to New York with the much celebrated tribute exhibition to the late Alexander McQueen at the Metropolitan Museum. Entitled 'Savage Beauty', it presented McQueen's work and ideas dating right back to his very first collection. The work was that of a true visionary - this guy lived in another dimension..

186 muso mondays #18

The hauntingly beautiful voice of Ryan Gosling.. as if this guy needs anymore charm!

185 cool and new books #1

I have been acquiring a large amount of books lately, mostly as gifts or some such thing for one reason or another. No I am hardly a book person and yes these are all to do with that word fashon which is great because in essence it means lots of photos and what I would consider to be interesting words. I start off with two which have all photos and minimum words which is easy for me and also you (seriously bad scanning is coming up).

Facehunter, courtesy of my brother. A lot of talk has been about this man who was here during Fashion Week, and although this interview didn't really impress me that much with his views on New Zealand he still takes great photographs and has a cool philosophy on his style of work. My bro bought me this at A Curious Teepee in Singapore, signed by the man himself (Yvan Rodic/Facehunter) who was at the launch of his book at the shop. Who doesn't love an inspiring person telling you to follow your dreams?

Here are some of my favourite images:



"My pictures are not meant to document reality; they are meant to tell you short stories."

Yes that lady has a horse bag.



Madame Hawke Journal #4 "fun work" courtesy of Renegade House. And now I find myself wondering, since Madame Hawke will soon cease to exist, this has gotta be a keepsake. I love that this journal features musicians, and awesome ones at that - Chelsea who I have talked about before and Alistair from The Ruby Suns who are really rad, and well coincidentally enough who both opened Liam's debut show at FW. If it couldn't appeal anymore the second section features food as art. That is all.



"These are our friends who all do really fun work."

184 auckland art gallery

New things that have now suddenly appeared over the two months I was away continue to surprise me (i.e. everything for RWC including a shiny new McDonald's downtown!?). Last weekend I went to see what all the fuss was about Auckland's newly refurbished Art Gallery. To be honest, I had no expectations;... so with that in mind I went, and it was truly amazing. Like, there should be fuss made about it amazing.

The new Auckland Art Gallery includes its $121 million restoration which has meant flourishment into a beautiful old meets new agenda, allowing Auckland to show off something that could now in fact compare to world class galleries. The new architecture is respectful of it's history and surroundings (Albert Park), inspiring organic tree like canopies which now form the main entrance. Internally, parts of the old 1887 original has been restored and seamlessly integrated into the modern parts of the complex. The modern spaces seem relaxed and roomy with a sense of direction; with one lol-worthy shout out to the particularly MoMA-esque (in face it's less esque and pretty much the same) open atrium space, which is hovered over by Korean artist Choi Jeong Hwa's Neo-Pop inflatable flowers.










A large amount of space is of course dedicated to NZ art, modern and indigenous works including Gordon Walters and amazing Maori portraits by Goldie, as well as the opening celebrating two months of hosting the Julian and Josie Robertson Promised Gift which brings out the big names - Dali, Picasso, Mondrian, Matisse to name a few (no photos, poos). Howie and I spent a good amount of time angling our confusion in Luc Peire's mirrored striped box.







Our visit was cut short by closing time, however we spent a good two hours in there and got our money's worth of free entry for sure. It's open late at the moment, till 10pm which was cool firstly because lit up things were of great impact, and also there was quite a peaceful non crowd of people, which equalled a cute scenario of about ten people at the end of the night sitting on the steps listening to the trio playing interesting whale-like but harmonious music. I highly recommend you go there! 

183 strange nostalgia for the future

Made this shirt dress. Was planning to wear it for my birthday months ago and never finished it slash started hating on it big time! Two months away and I came back with fresh eyes and I think it's not so bad anymore. Really really old school looking, in a shade that looks like it could have been sitting in the closet for years and just rediscovered.., anyway I like how the gold buttons make it pop.