punch-drunk

2010-01-14T17:46:00.001+13:00

listening to: 'happy' - leona lewis

I am a very naughty girl.
My shopping spree, chronicled in my last post, has continued to the point where I had to force myself to put every last cent (bar money for partying this weekend) into another account and give Dad my eftpos card to hide. I'm planning on going shopping next week - for a new laptop, after the old one packed up - and I'm going to need as much funds as I can muster for that job!
But anyway, that's not important. What is important is that I finally got myself a necklush. I have wanted one for seriously two or three years - I think I did a post about it a eons ago - and I finally took the plunge and just got it. I figured if I had thought about them and wanted one for more than a couple of years, then the $NZ100 was probably a decent investment.
I am super excited!
I got a navy one with silver accents - I thought it'd be great with blacks (which I wear in abundance), browns, greys, whites... I was tempted to get the creamy natural one, but thought the navy would actually be more versatile and a bit more interesting.
It's my first Etsy purchase... I can't believe it has taken me this long. Ever since I heard about Etsy I've checked it religiously, and now my favourite sellers list is so huge I get sick of browsing through it all and just head to my favourites.
I'm super obsessed with babooshka boutique, which also seems to be on the hitlist for the Queens over at Kingdom of Style. Maybe that will be my next stop.

i've been shopping, ooh la la

2010-01-12T16:49:00.001+13:00

listening to: empire state of mind - alicia keys/jay z

So, today I brought a new black day dress. It's weird how I have gone this long without owning such a basic ingredient in the wardrobe mix... I have plenty of black dresses, it's just they are all nighttime-only-appropriate. It's quite simple but has got some nice draping action going on - love love love draping - which makes it a bit snappier. I've been spending all afternoon pondering what to pair it with...

I really want a long, grey marle cardigan that I can pull on overtop, and belt with a patent leather black belt. Then I'd spice it up with a really big chunky statement necklace (black too) and some killer heels. Like my black gladiators, a la Carrie Bradshaw... I know they were all the rage a couple of years ago now, but I still ADORE them. I like to think I'm not a slave to the seasons anyway. And in the winter I want some really cute ribbed black leggings (you know the kind I mean - vertical stripes, some sheer, some opaque). Don't think ribbed is the right description there (it makes me think of jersey, but it's not jersey) but meh. and some wee black ankle booties. I don't like how some people are so anti-black. I don't mind black setting the tone for an entire outfit, as long as you break it up with some interesting patterns/textures (ie, the tights) or different shades of blacks (people might think that last sentence is an oxymoron, but it's not. Kohl black is completely different to something more sheer). I think my affinity to black comes not only from being on the chunky side, but also from living in Dunedin for 4 years. That whole city wears black to DEATH.

I also got a really cute blue sequinned quasi-blazer from Jeanswest. It's pretty Balmain on a budget... No, of course it does not compare to the genius of Christopher Decarnin, but with an additional 40% off the sale price (meaning about $100 off the original price) I'm not going to be too fussy. The cut of it is actually pretty good, as is the fabric; here's hoping the quality of the stitching holds up too. I think it'll look really cute with all of the afore-mentioned LBD's for a night on the town, and might even work with the new black dress to party up an otherwise staid office outfit.

All in all, it was a good day to be Alana's wardrobe, but not such a good day to be Alana's bank balance. Oh well... I know which I would rather have more of!! I guess that's a sign I really am a slave to clothing.

2010.

2010-01-11T16:35:00.001+13:00

Right. 2010.
I've never really been a big resolutions fan - I'm quite aware of how fickle I can be. I'm literally the definition of an Aquarius - I start something, and rarely finish it. I change my mind constantly. But my love of fashion is something that has been with me basically for as long as I can remember - and so has my love of writing. I think I did a post last summer about my resolutions for 2010, which are basically the same this year. It's all about self improvement: I just want to be myself, and not worry about what other people think or whether I might fail at something or worry about trying to please everybody. 2010 really is a fresh start for me and I want to keep on keepin' on with my 2009 resolution, which while not entirely fulfilled has made a nice little start.

So... since it has been a long, long time since I last wrote I better do an update. Don't you just hate these pointless update posts? Probably nobody reads them but it will save me trying to explain things later. But my old laptop has been packing a sad since about June (and I'm not even exaggerating. It has been a NIGHTMARE) so I haven't spent a lot of time writing anything except rubbishy essays and random facebook status updates. But now, I pledge, I will use my time wisely and update my baby blog.
Here is the major news of my life for the past year.

1. I graduated. Finally! On December 16 it became official; I became part of the University of Otago alumni, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Political Studies. Very exciting stuff. I celebrated by making my Dad pay for a rather delicious, but rather expensive, celebratory dinner of scampi. Scampi, for those unfortunate souls out there who have never experienced the sheer joy of it, is probably the most delicious thing to come out of the sea. No kidding. It is melt in your mouth, seafood heaven. I have only had it twice in my entire life, because of its rarity and it's price tag. This stuff is the Hermes bag of seafood. I'm getting peckish thinking about it again. On to the next thing.

2. Even though I've graduated, I'm not done with the scholarly thing yet. I got a Fairfax internship/scholarship award - Fairfax, one of the biggest newspaper and magazine publishing companies in Australasia, pay for my journalism course fees for a year and then I am bonded to work for them for two years. Massive opportunity. So I am off to the small seaside town of Timaru at the end of the month, where I'll start my course. Expect a lot of posts for me the first couple weeks, as I do not know a soul up there and will probably be a bit of a recluse until I come out of my shell and make some friends.

3. I've started drifting away from my main group of friends. At first that realisation made me pretty sad, but then I decided to see it as an opportunity. I have always secretly wished I had a group of friends more like myself - I don't think I could have taken much more walking on eggshells, knowing that the people I hung around with were more conservative at their core than I really like. Your friends should make you happy, and feeling left out and isolated wasn't making me happy. I have been spending more time with people who have been only accquantinces in the past, and it has made me realise that I can fit in other places, if only I had the courage to put myself out there. Sad knowing that my group of friends, with whom I have spent so much time, have moved on together with their lives, sans me. But c'est la vie.

4. I am finally one half of a couple. Yes that's right, after all of my moaning about my crappy loveless life, I have finally settled with a boy who was under my nose all along. His name is Mark. We've been friends for a long time, and even flatted together in 08. At the risk of sounding really banal, we really really connect with each other - we both feel we can tell each other anything. We have had a couple bumps (one major one in particular, which is ALL my fault. I'm lucky he managed to forgive my stupidity, because I don't know I would have been strong enough to do so if the shoe was on the other foot) but things are generally really great. We've been together since the end of May, and I am blissfully happy.

5. I have started work at the Southland Times, the provincial newspaper of Southland. My Dad's the news editor, so it's not wholly unfamiliar territory, but the reporters room sure was. It was absolutely daunting: I haven't had any training, but I was being asked to go out and about and interview people and act like I knew what I was doing! It was terrifying but I'm happy how it's turned out. I've been here since November I think, and I've even had a few front pages! People have been very complimentary, giving my ego a much needed boost, apart from one douchebag who left a nasty comment on one of my stories on the Stuff website this morning. But if you've got dirt on your shoulder, you have to brush it off, right Jay-Z? Blech, that should probably be the only hip hop reference I make in this blog EVER.

So, in a nutshell, those were the exciting things that happened to me in 2009. Maybe they don't sound like much to the average reader, but to me they mean a whole lot. Hopefully 2010 keeps me going in the direction I started heading in in 09. And I guess that's where I'll end it for today...
I promise the next post will be something fashion related. Probably a 'I want this-this-and-this' post. Even though I have money, I am trying trying TRYING to be sensible and save as much as I can. I did blow last week's pay on a set of ghd's though, but hair is a different story.. New laptop is required for my course, as is money to live on. But a girl can dream, right?

Peace out kids.

annual start-of-summer/resuming-blogging-again post

2008-12-14T13:35:00.002+13:00

listening to: 'rien de rien' - edith piaf

hello hello! i am super aware of how slack my posting has been, and how neglectful i am as a blogger, but i had a rather busy second semester and just couldn't be bothered doing anything except study, drink and sleep haha. thankfully the study paid off, and i passed all my exams! only one more year of uni to go... exciting but scary at the same time. i've been back home for summer for just over a month now, but we only just got the internet hooked up so that further delayed getting my a into g and giving the blog a wee bit of attention.

anywho, summer has finally arrived, and yesterday i got the sunburn to prove it! silly silly alana... i plastered on the sunblock but then i kind of got engrossed in my book (the deep end of the ocean, by jacquelyn mitchard) and didn't realise how long had passed without another application. i also didn't turn over, so i look pretty freakin silly right now, as the redness is all on my front lol.

i don't have much to say right now, except that hopefully after christmas i get to do a bit more op shopping! i just wanted to swing by and say merry christmas, happy new year, and i promise i haven't forgotten anybody out there who still cares!

fuelling addicts everywhere

2008-08-14T20:41:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'do you feel' me - anthony hamilton

before i get started, i just want to emphasise how much i ADORE this song right now. in my book, nothing beats some smooth soul music; and after watching american gangster [yes, i know i took my time getting round to it. i'm not much of a dvd-renter] i was desperate to find some of the music from the soundtrack - specifically this song! i thought it was like an old song, seeing as the film is set during the vietnam war, but realised it's not. ANYWAY that wasn't an overally exciting story... just go listen to this song, its magic.

today i was procrastinating from study - again - and decided to pop onto bag, borrow or steal for a look.

OH EM GEE.

i could spend frikkin hours on this site!! favourites so far are the chloe heloise bag [which i spotted months ago, and which has periodically infiltrated my dreams ever since], the prada multi striped pochette in purple and the fendi b in the most delicious shade of electric blue my eyes have ever encountered... and i'm only up to page 5!

finally!

2008-08-06T16:52:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'peace sign index down' - gym class heroes feat busta rhymes

hey friends! this is just gonna be a quick post cos i have to start getting ready for work, like, now.. but i was away all weekend [and we still dont have the net at home, grr! but thats a whole diff story] and didnt get a chance to update my blog before i left. it's not THAT exciting anyway haha...

so, friday morning, my flatmate miranda and i moseyed into town to shop round for 21st presents. after we got them, we headed into glassons - i was desperate for a waist belt. i found a really cute one... its brown, stretchy, and i cant wait to wear it! there was a mad sale going on: miranda ended up buying a heap of stuff! i also picked up this really cute grey highwaisted skirt, which im super excited about!! it seems really good quality [for glassons at least] and ill be able to team it with lots of different things... so i finally found a highwaisted look that doesn't make me look super short and blobby! hurrah.

love ya biatches :)

oh! and..

2008-07-31T16:10:00.000+12:00

i am also in love with this girl, whoever she may be! she reminds me of mia farrow in the great gatsby... as seen on the facehunter.

a post as eclectic as my musical taste!

2008-07-31T15:19:00.014+12:00

listening to: 'where the city meets the sea' - the getaway plan [download!! it rules!!]

hello all! at the moment im procrastinating from a)study for my COMS201 concept test tomorrow and b)completing my annotated bibliography on an article by elihu katz for the same paper, which is also due tomorrow. i was just browsing the net, checking out the usual sites on my hit list and also stumbling across a couple new ones, when i found a couple note-worthy things that made me remember my poor forgotten little blog. so voila, here i be.

1. it is absolutely FREEZING here in dunedin right now! though i can't complain; this has been an uncharacteristically mild winter for invercargill/dunedin... therefore i am spending a lot of my time rugged up in not-hot jerseys and canterbury pant combos. thankfully, i received an email today from the person selling me this woolen shrug to say it was now on it's way! i'm making a pilgrimage tomorrow to george street [present time! got two 21st parties to attend this weekend] so will hit up a few shops looking for a nice, vintage-esque brown waist belt.

2. speaking of these 21st parties, i am dying for some new party dresses... alas, the majority of the dough currently sitting in my bank balance is headed my younger sister's way... she lent me some money last week when my cruddy cellphone crapped out! but that's a whole 'nother story. anywho, my daydreaming about waltzing into these parties in super cute new ensembles led me online, where i found these:

the top dress is from asos [apparently, in the style of charlize theron]. i think it's really flirty, wispy and fun... im not usually such a fan of lacy kinda things, but this one immediately caught my eye. oh, and as a sidenote: while i applaud asos for embracing the whole one-shouldered, 80s prom vibe, i think they should review the construction of their single shoulders. is it just me or is there something just slightly off about them??

the middle dress is by life with bird, which i found on mycatwalk. everybody heard over there tout de suite, because the rear view is to die for... im a complete sucker for a good racerback. for some reason it wouldnt let me frigging copy and paste that view though!! grr. too bad i dont have either $582 to spare, or a body little enough to squeeze into it haha.

and finally, the bottom picture is cameron diaz [duh] at some shrek premiere. i remember seeing this picture in one of my mum's magazines, and wishing my legs looked like that! i think that dress would be frigging perfect for some rowdy 21st times... i can just picture my ideal self carving up a storm on the dancefloor at the frog this saturday night!! though i'd pair them with my faaaaaavourite pair of shoes ever, my ever-present [and starting to get pretty well-worn] yellow shoes!! cos thats how i roll. oh, and some big hair.

3.like the legendary susie bubble, i frothed at the mouth a bit when i first saw these miu miu heels. i actually let out a little groan - no jokes. the pink pair for me, thanks.

4.truly my favourite quote of the week: natalie wood, australian designer hailing from sydney (sample, insight, something, and something else), whose work philosophy is "we're not out for mass domination of the fashion scene, we just want to make cool shit". Find the quote, and the rest of the article, here at refinery29. Judging from a subsequent google search, she's doing a pretty darn good job of it - but its not for the timid. There's a decent [albeit brief] interview with her at nylon's website too.

5. i have a big fat girl crush on erin wasson right now. sure, she's not exactly the newest face on the block - i think i first saw her round 2003? i'd gone through a dry spell of vogues etc, but 2003 was when i got my first job! so i would have had money to burn haha - but i'm really into that whole sultry-eyed, leggy vibe she embodies! jealous much? her look is kinda mk olsen, without the bordering on homelessness looking thing... she looks a bit healthier!

6. i want some ladyhawke-like eyeliner. search out 'paris is burning' on youtube and you'll see what i mean. i'm gonna team it with my duffy-inspired hair this weekend - how musical/brigitte bardot of me! i think she's my all time number one fash icon. for now anyway... we aquarians change our minds incessantly.

told ya it was a mish mash. over and out :)

whoa.

2008-07-13T21:35:00.001+12:00

listening to: 'hero' - nas feat. keri hilson

my last post was on april 18?! that is a super long hiatus, even for me! apologies to anyone who commented on earlier posts and found me lacking the response department - forgive me!

as always i don't really have anything of interest to report; my life has been uni work sleep eat drink. and again as always some of those things were of a higher priority than others. passed all my exams though, which was super. even managed to get myself an a- on my 200 level pols paper, which despite the AWFUL lecturer was my favourite of last semester's papers. it was political communication, so very media/politics focused which was right up my alley.

last semester was really tough for me. it was the first semester where i have worked and studied, and it seems so lazy and spoiled to say so but i found it really hard. maybe if i didnt loathe my job so much it would be better, but i do so its not a barrel of laughs. i wasn't really enjoying my living situation either: it was weird, because i like the people i live with, but i've been feeling really distant and isolated. one of the hardest things to deal with after losing mum was the feeling that there was nobody who would listen, understand, care unconditionally. so i've been keeping a lot to myself, and it definitely eats away at me. maybe this semester i'll turn here more, so don't be surprised if a lot of my posts are random thought posts rather than anything trendy. knowing that other peoples lives move forward while mine is simultaneously so stuck is hard to deal with, and makes me really jealous and titchy. it just seems unfair; but the situation itself is a big pile of unfairness. if that makes sense.

my dad, younger sister and i went on holiday at the end of the semester. a week in vanuatu; the thought was the only thing that kept me anywhere near 'sanity' during the semester. while it wasn't always bliss, it was fantastic to get away and relax. we all needed it! the weather wasn't that flash, and i cut my foot on this massive rock on the beach and couldnt walk for two days! but other than that it was rad haha. the people were lovely and friendly, it was nice and warm, the scenery was so beautiful, and all the fresh fruit and fish was delish!

and now im back here in dunedin. last week was the first week of classes, and last night was possibly the last ever all blacks game at carisbrook! i was so happy i got a ticket... it was my first all blacks game! we were playing south africa, and we blimming lost! 30-28. i was gutted... but then we went and got drunk and hit town. had a great time... it was cranking! i stayed out until about 4:30 i think. i came home with a guy from back in invercargill... we have a bit of a history. actually, understatement. i've been sleeping with him sporadically since 7th form. kind of different now, considering he has a girlfriend. i feel really sleazy and guilty, as i should. but at the same time, he is the only guy i've ever been with who hasn't hurt me. it's so selfish and horrible of me, and i'm sure karma will keep kicking my ass because of it. a couple of my flatmates have let me know they aren't impressed at all, and i'm sure there are people reading this whose opinion of me just took a massive nosedive. but the need to have a guy, just for one night, who sleeps next to you and is there in the morning and who holds your hand as you cross a street is something that has been eating away at me for so long. i've been lonely for so long! and i know how bad it is of me to fill that need with a some other girl's boyfriend. but even though i feel guilty, i don't feel as guilty as i should. their relationship obviously doesn't mean that much to her either, as she has cheated before, but i don't like the fact that i'm that girl. it makes me feel super sleazy... but i know deep down that i'd do it again.

no other news. will be back again, as soon as i have something post worthy.

i heart heidi klum!

2008-04-18T22:25:00.003+12:00

listening to: 'love story'- mariah carey

so it's been ages, but i'm back. sorry, i've been so exhausted from work etc and i just couldn't really form a cohesive, comprehensible sentence let alone a post.

tonight the first episode of project runway (season 5) has just aired here in new zealand. even though i already know who wins - grr e! channel and perez hilton!!!!! - i still find it so frikkin fascinating to watch. it was apparent that this season is going to the the strongest yet: the general standard set even in episode one was crazy high. my favourite from the show? probably victoria hong's lbd, with the big metallic flower. i thought it was super cute and something i would love to wear myself. that gladiator-inspired, flowy charcoal dress was also really gorgeous: i'm a draping addict, i guess! but at least i can admit it, right?

BUT. i can't stress enough how weird i found it that simone was voted off over that crazy hippy dippy chick (aka rain goddess, as someone - maybe christian? - dubbed her). i thought her dress, while poorly executed and not up to standard finishing-wise, was really pretty (that colour combo basically made me swoon and also made me overlook how wrong wrong wrong the jacket was) and showed more potential than that hideous blue thing with the mental train at the back. seriously, what the hell was that?! spew.

can't wait to see the rest!

my big decision

2008-04-09T09:59:00.003+12:00

listening to: 'bye bye' - mariah carey

mariah's new album was leaked onto the net! i've been listening to it nonstop since yesterday.

anyway, the big decision i decided to share was that i've decided to volunteer for critic, the student magazine. at this stage i'm only going to put my name forward to do like book reviews and shizz, but it's a big step. i find it really hard to have people read my writing... the only reason i keep this blog is because i really really love to write, and the anonymity of the internet lets me hide a bit easier than writing full blown print articles in the student mag does.

so yeah. just thought i would share. wish me luck!

ps...

2008-04-08T11:54:00.001+12:00

i had a dream about those yellow shorts. and then i woke up. sadddd

cold snap = alana's increasing desire for cardigans

2008-04-07T15:35:00.003+12:00

listening to: 'wreck of the day' - anna nalick

well friends daylight saving has brought about the official beginning of the southern hemisphere's autumn. which doesn't bother me too much, as i grew up in a little bitty town with a reputation for being a bit on the nippy side. although i still adamantly maintain that dunedin is in fact colder than invercargill.

cold weather means i get to bust out my cold weather clothes. yay! this autumn/winter my focus is going to be on an androgynous tailored layering vibe. i've started scouring online for oversized men's cardigans (so far i have found at least 4 that i am DESPERATE to have. and considering they range in price from $4 to $15 i think i will be able to purchase at least a couple. i think my favourites would have to be a vintage pierre cardin one (i can't tell if it is grey or soft blue, with white vertical stripes) and a basic olive marle one. there is also an alpaca wool women's longline cardi that i am dying for but reserve is already $27 so i will possibly miss out on that. i've also had a quick look at mens blazers, but as yet haven't found anything that i couldn't live without. i know layering oversized men's pieces isn't exactly original, but i need to invest in some more basics. hopefully i will come up with ways of jazzing things up a bit. my first paycheck from work comes next wednesday (sadly i handed in my paperwork too late to get it this week) and i am soo excited! it will be nice to be able to buy a few bits and bobs. however, as i also have to purchase a new outfit for a wedding on the 26th i somehow think my shopping will be limited for a few weeks more yet. i am really digging a super sharp silhouette, with more structure than a skyscraper. usually i would define myself (and others would do the same) as a very girly, feminine person; but i guess this is just another eg of my super eclectic personality emerging. since it's getting colder now i will probably be stuck in a jeans/boots combo (yaaaaawn) but it would be nice to keep things interesting up top.

on a completely opposite note, dad has finally booked our holiday to vanuatu this winter! we leave on june 25th and stay 7 nights at the iririki resort and spa, which is a 69-acre little island directly across from port vila. it looks absolutely amazing, and i can't wait to just go and relax on a white sandy beach. heaven! i definitely think the 3 of us need it. anyway, as a result i've decided i need to buy a new bathing suit, so i've been spending literally hours online having a looksee. moontide's 'stardust' is my pick right now, but i guess it'll depend on how much i can afford to spend! i am so super excited though. if anybody has been there i'd love to hear anything and everything about it.

so my updated wishlist right now includes:
1. super long cardigans
2. oversized tailored blazers. single breasted only. i'd like them to be quite low cut too
3. a new pair of slim cut jeans. i only have a pair in black, which i left at home, and i don't really like the bogan vibe they throw off
4. some crisp white shirts with big collars i can turn up and have poking out of cardis and blazers
5. a checkered scarf, still
6. an interesting hat of some description
7. swimsuit!!
8. bright red suspenders. or yellow. or maybe electric blue. ok so anything in a primary colour

nothing fits

2008-03-31T20:45:00.001+13:00

Little do men perceive what solitude is, and how far it extendeth.

For a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures

and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

- Francis Bacon

a title that conjures up celebratory revelry!!

2008-03-30T16:54:00.002+13:00

listening to: 'the dumbing down of love' - frou frou

wow! big time wow! not only did i yesterday FINALLY manage to nab myself a job - at a supermarket, blech - but i was also commented by none other than coco from coco's tea party!!

it kinda makes me feel a bit better, after i made a complete fool of myself last night... too much cheap chcask wine turns alana into a bit of a mess. but i scored a veeeery hot swedish guy, so it wasn't all bad - ha!

the wind beneath my wings

2008-03-28T15:08:00.009+13:00

listening to: 'tangerine' - led zeppelin

it is 3:11 pm (friday) and i haven't sleep since around 9am thursday so please excuse the less than enthralling title. and probably also the following post.

all i seem to think about these days are the pieces i want to add to my wardrobe - the pieces i know i will probably never purchase (it's hard being a student, especially one who still has not found a job) but will lust over anyway. while it's definitely not as fulfilling as actually owning things, it's fun anyway and much cheaper.

what am i fantasising over right now? well lets see... firstly, a pair of bright yellow, high-waisted short shorts from topshop a la the flying saucer. if you haven't heard of her, check out my blogroll to the right... and if you have heard of her, click on her link anyway and head on over to check these shorts out for yourself. while it is now officially autumn here in the land of the long white cloud, we are still enjoying the longest summer weather in over a decade. although to be frank i'd prefer colder temperatures to global warming. i just want to pad around in short shorts and singlet tops but i don't want to scare people, not only with my completely inappropriate figure but also my pasty white legs. even in summers as glorious as this, my legs remain completely uncoloured while the rest of me turns lobster red. it is not attractive.

two words: rick owens.

and yes, i am jumping on the gladiator sandal bandwagon. i envy girls with legs long and lean enough to wear them. i'd love a pair in bronze...

i am a fan of the baggy, nonchalant 'i just threw this together' look, and a key staple of this look is the mansized loose button-down shirt. i want them in a variety of colours, specifically a nice light blue and also a white-based floral version. i'd wear them open over top of those delish yellow shorts and a white tank top, or otherwise i'd pair them with something more structured. like maybe a high waisted pencil skirt, with some of those radical nerd glasses to accessorise.

a huge checkered scarf, preferably in black and white, complete with fringe.

a quilted purse like the infamous chanel ones, except obviously not chanel. i lust after one in a sexy metallic purple colour, with a gold chain and clasp.

i know they are soo two seasons ago - or more? who knows who cares - but i saw a picture on the sartorialist of a woman wearing the most amazing high-waisted wide leg jeans. i have been on a real led zep kick lately and i'd just wanna lounge round in them, pretending i was robert plant's chick.

suspenders. i want a pair of bright red ones, maybe customised to have little rainbow coloured clasps. yummers.

i have also recently taken to wearing long tunics over leggings when i go out on the town. i have this really cool grey one with veeeeery subtle flecks of silver through it: it's got a beautiful scoop neck and pleats down the front, and sits really nicely. however today, while a friend and i were visiting the city council to get a new recycling bin for the flat we spotted market stalls over the road in the octagon. then i spotted a clothing stall and against my better judgement went and had a browse. i walked away with two more tunics: one is a very drapey kind of olivey/khaki colour with a keyhole cutout in the front and a wee button, and the other is very trendy... i'm talking block colours (black and bright blue, which i personally love against the colour of my hair).

that's about it. make love not war friends, and stay rad.

**UPDATE: oh, and a really loud, obnoxious, cheesy tourist t-shirt from like australia zoo or something. i'd wear those suspenders over top.

my continuing love for all things 'ye olde...'

2008-03-26T23:01:00.003+13:00

listening to: 'hanging on too long' - duffy.

more & more i seem to be wanting to teleport myself back in time. i think it's stemmed from my growing adoration of music throwing off a vintage vibe. it all started with amy winehouse... and the list has grown to include (but is not restricted to) the puppini sisters, adele, and my newest favourite duffy. i strongly suggest you check out some of her music - she's quickly becoming my favourite. i've always been fascinated by history, especially the 1920s, 1940s, and 1970s. but if my heart could only be divvied up into two sections, the 1940s and 70s would take their rightful place in there. at the mo i am super into the 1940s - not a suprise given that so much of fashion and music right now, two of my most favourite things in the world, seem to be so centered on that era.

so i decided to share my love of these three epochs with you, faithful reader. if you exist, that is. i haven't had any comments in awhile, which is kinda depressing but not altogether unexpected as my most recent posts have admittedly lacked finesse, among other things. even i get bored with reading my blog, but then again everybody is always most critical when they reflect upon themselves.

when i think of the 1920s, i immediately think of f scott fitzgerald's masterpiece, the great gatsby. hardly original, i know, but after reading it (and watching the robert redford/mia farrow adaptation) i just HAD to satiate my appetite with anything else flapper-related i could get my hands on. especially his other works; although, incredibly frustratingly, every single time i go to the library to lend tender is the night it is always already taken; however over the summer holidays i did finally manage to procure the beautiful and damned. however, as i've already blathered on about my love for flapper-esque headbands, i'll skip right along to the 1940s.

pussy-bow blouses, waistcoats in tweed, sillohuette-hugging definition. when i think of taking the 1940s new look thing into the present day, i picture a pair of wide-legged jeans (with plenty of buttons) teamed with a body-con singlet tucked in, plenty of bracelets, and a jewel-hued capelet thrown nonchantly over the shoulders. or a pencil skirt and waistcoat combo, topped off with a tweed hat - not a fedora, that's too obvious, but a jaunty little baker boy cap. and a pair of gold-rimmed classic aviators, an ode to the stereotypical Pearl Harbour soldier.

From the stories i've heard, my parents were mega hippies back in the day. growing up i listened to a mixture of led zeppelin, hendrix, the who, pink floyd, the eagles, meatloaf, david bowie, marianne faithfull... all the good stuff. when i was little i wasn't a fan; but now i dig! i'm truly not just jumping on the floral bandwagon... not only am i a fan of the whole floathy, etheral - i'm loathe to say it - hippie buzz, but i am a bit of a girly girl. so florals really are right up my alley. you could take the same pair of jeans from your 40s ensemble and mix it with some long, lean crochet and an oversized floral shirt with rolled up sleeves. the messy hair/thin headband look a la susie bubble would look mega cute.

well it's late and i have an assignment due friday that i havent even begun - political campaigning in nz, and how it has changed since the introduction of the mmp system - and even though i probably won't do any tonight, i don't want to go to bed tooooo late otherwise i won't get up till midday tomorrow.

but before i go, i'd love to hear what eras other people have love affairs with. stay cool friends!

i wish i was a seamstress!

2008-03-20T23:51:00.005+13:00

listening to: 'faces going places' - jose vanders

today, courtesy of somewhere out there in the blogosphere, i discovered this story.

burdastyle.com is the brainchild of a brooklyn-born duo, nora abousteit & benedikta von karaisl. and i think it's going to be my new addiction, even if i never actually get around to making anything. where

they could have profited from selling their AMAZING clothing patterns online, they created a community. and now it's thriving: not only do they provide patterns, but registered users can also upload patterns of their own. it really is craft heaven... and makes me wish even more i had gotten mum to teach me how to sew before it was too late.

i haven't even made a substantial dent in the pages filled with patterns yet, and already i'm dreaming of whipping up a number of the ones i have seen. and the best thing is, if i ever gather up enough courage to attempt anything, there is a section of 'how to's' PLUS 'sewpedia' for any tricky definitions required...

everybody make sure you go check it out - creativity, especially shared creativity, like this deserves to be supported.

happy st patty's!

2008-03-17T12:27:00.005+13:00

listening to: 'emotional champ' - new buffalo

hey friends! hope you all have a sweet st patricks day planned... sadly, i am COMPLETELY broke. we have 2 bills to pay this week. so alana is not in the best mood today! although with hair like mine it's practically st patricks every day of my life.

to cheer me up, i decided to jump onto polyvore yet again. at first i was going to make a single st patrick's-inspired outfit, then i decided to make two: one for day, one for night.

but then i searched 'green' (haha original, right!).

there were just so many things catching my eyes.
i couldn't really single things out to the point where i would be able to create only two outfits.

so here is my pick of the finest green offerings available. if you could pick only one item, which would it be? i think mine would have to be the marni slouchy tote... yum. hmm. or maybe the bookworm boots from anthropologie. and the shoes from emma pink are delicious too. as is the chloe top. ok, so i can't decide. man, imagine what havoc i could wreak with a credit card. i think the world would blow up.

enjoy! and have an extra guinness for me!

back to school, yo.

2008-03-16T23:52:00.009+13:00

listening to: 'american boys' - estelle feat. kanye west

yes, i know, i've been mega slack on the blogging lately. but i blame stupid uni!! i have been flat tack trying to keep up with the crazy amounts of reading i've had to do. i'm doing a mere 3 papers this semester, and i'm incredibly glad i didn't sign up for more than that! i am still really liking my papers, inneresting blah blah, but the amount of work?! not so much.

here in dunedin - studentville, basically - there are 3 groups of dressers.

1. average joes: nothing special. i, sadly, fit into this category; although since my job prospects are looking up i'll actually be able to afford new threads! woot.

2. clones: girls with matching EVERYTHING. matching fake tan, matching black puffa jackets, matching skinny jeans (light blue this year, i see), matching black leather boots.

3. indie kids: those who actually make an effort to dress creatively. sadly, clones are starting to infiltrate that group too...

anyway, back to the main reason for this (well overdue) post. i always pay particular attention to the "alternative" dressers. the real ones, not the ones who are wearing their scarves that way because it's been deemed cool. i love seeing how they put themselves together. it's so nice to see people steering clear of glassons.

i decided to put together a couple of outfits which i could picture someone wearing around campus. if i keep following my diet and exercise plan (GO ME!) and combine that with a bit of extra moolah i may be that girl! to all those in dunedin, keep your eyes peeled over the coming months.

as you all should know by now, i'm a sucker for baggy cardis. i am also kinda digging a roman/greek vibe, and even though the metallic cuff doesn't automatically conjure images of ancient times, i think it's a pretty modern take on that look. maybe it'd be more obvious if it was in bronze?

being a nerd is in man! i love that brogues are trendy with the hipsters these days - and i think this colour really funks them up. still digging the knee highs... is everybody else over them yet? oh and ps, polyvore has made me fall in love with rick owens. duh i'd heard of him and everything but here he isn't exactly a household name. but i love the slouchiness of his stuff... way cool.

i really like this, though i think i would have to partake in a little dutch courage before venturing outside in this. i forgot to put in like a tanktop for under the cardigan... oops. the first item i spotted was that amazing prada clutch - and yes, i basically built the entire outfit around that. it reminds me of the tarantino movie, true romance. i think this is something alabama would definitely wear, but i'm betting she'd pair it with a push up bra. and the jacket wouldn't stay on long.

i am so so in love with crisp white shirt dresses these days. this one is a bit too long for the look i was going for, but the detailing on the front was exactly what i was picturing in my minds eye. it'd look great with a tan no doubt! i was looking for some kind of roman gladiator style sandals - i'm pretty sure they were deemed 'out' again years ago, but this is my blog and that's how i roll!! - but after spotting these divine lanvin ones i couldn't stop fantasising over them

check out my polyvore (http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/profile?id=140021) for details on any of the pieces. oh and if you're super dedicated, you should search for claire de lune... i wish i could style the way she can!

for the first time in a long time

2008-03-11T13:56:00.004+13:00

listening to: 'grace is gone' - dave matthews band

sorry i haven't been keeping up with the posts in awhile. i have had so much work to do for uni that i've barely had time to browse blogs myself, let alone actually write one. although to be honest part of my lack of writing is because i am still on a bit of a downbuzz, and didn't really want to bore you further.

i don't have too much to write about, except i wanted to post some pictures of my new guess clutch! a dear dear friend of my mum's was here in dunedin last weekend for her son's basketball tournament, and she took me out to lunch. it was lovely to see her - it was nice to be able to talk to somebody about mum. i'm missing her so much. all i want is to be able to just ring her and tell her how shitty my days have been lately. i feel so alone up here. i've basically been sitting alone in my room at random intervals listening to a playlist i made on my ipod, crying and staring at the last birthday card mum ever gave me.

but back to my story. rosey and i had lunch at a wee cafe and then had a bit of a browse in some shops. we were in andrea biani, and she was choosing a new handbag to buy for herself - just to interrupt: lipstick red, beautiful hand-tooled embossed leather. it's soo soft, and basically i was drooling - when i happened to mention how pretty i thought this silver clutch was. i was browsing through the shoes while rosey was paying for her bag, and when she turned around she had bought me the purse! i didn't know what to say... on one hand i feel super awful, because it was $65! but on the other, i wasn't going to turn down a guess clutch lol.

so here's a snap... hope you love it as much as i do!! sorry my photography skillz are below par; way below par. it's next to my balenciaga motorcycle bag, which i got online. therefore i'm not sure of it's authenticity... but i loved it anyway! i broke the zip tho :(

mentally moving on?

2008-03-04T14:34:00.005+13:00

listening to: 'walking on broken glass' - annie lennox

i love them all, and appreciate everything that they have offered me.
but i can picture myself moving on, away from, some people i hang out with these days.

is that a really snotty thing to say? i don't know. i just feel like i'm kind of expanding, or trying to expand anyway (haha although not literally, actually my diet and exercise regime has been much much stricter the past week or so, go me!!). i'm not saying i like hate my friends and want or need to get away from them or anything!! but i just feel like i'm not the REAL me around some of them. a lot of the time anyway. there are elements of the real me that shine through, but it's not the full picture. i think everybody sees me as a one-dimensional person, and i don't see myself that way at all.

i have so many interests and ideas, and while they are generally centred around the same basic idea or principle they are varied and eclectic. even my music taste shows how random and broad my likes are. i can listen to basically anything and find something beautiful in it; even if i don't like it, i generally appreciate it. or parts of it. and i'd like to find some friends like that. i like to have different kinds of friends, so i can be challenged/entertained/whatever in different ways.

and i'd like some friends who appreciated the whole me - even if they didn't like the same things as me, or agree with me all the time. i don't want a circle of monochromatic friends who think and behave in the exact same way as i do. i want to be able to talk about fashion, politics, music, ideology. i want to be able to talk about books, and movies that don't revolve around toilet humour. some of my friends know about my blog; and sometimes i feel like an outsider simply for having one. trust me, not everything is as trivial as that. just idle comments and ignorance has really been wearing me down lately. it's ridiculous that i can't feel like myself around the people who are supposedly closest to me.

my life at the moment is just same shit different day. although it's not so bad now: my classes are super intriguing, and i'm enjoying them alot. i like living with the people i live with, but other than that i'm just not sure i share anything in common with many of friends other than our usual weekend debauchery. it's not particularly multi-faceted.

humph. maybe it's just tuesday-itis. is this just a slump, or a fully fledged rut? i am undecided.

id fashion week

2008-03-04T10:28:00.005+13:00

listening to: 'kashmir' - led zeppelin

so last week was id fashion week - unless you're from new zealand, you probably haven't even heard of it. it's held right here in dunedin (unfortunately i have never been able to go - tickets are a little out of my student price range haha). airnz new zealand fashion week is held in october, for the last 9 years id has followed on from the official new zealand fashion week.

dunedin is known for being a bit artsy, and it has a pretty solid reputation here in new zealand for having pretty sweet bands and other creative shiz. like some very very talented designers: tanya carlson, for one, is from dunedin and has consistently shown a collection. sadly though this was her final year... before moving north to auckland (gag). other designers who hit the runway - thought to be the longest in the world - this year include cherry cotton candy, nom*d, and keucke. plus a ton more, including capsule collections and also some students from otago polytech's fashion design degree. AND the guest designer this year was none other than adrian hailwood, whose label hailwood has branched out from his signature, adored t-shirts to full on womenswear (and menswear too!). the fact that the place-getters in the emerging designers award were from australia, new zealand and the netherlands of all places should show you how reputable this week is slowly becoming.

i'm super annoyed that the official website didn't have photos of the entire collections; only a review with one or two photos attached. POOR EFFORT. from what i've read and seen, online and in reviews in the otago daily times, the trends set at fashion week follow on from what is currently being shown worldwide. some key trends were:

40s-era silhouettes

inky indigo blue/purple hues including aubergine &violet

capes!

fusion between masculinity/femininity

equestrian-chic

plaid

grey, rather than the previously eponymous black (staple part of the dunedin palette)

fur stoles

although still retaining a tie to an avant-garde vibe so often associated with id - for example, sharn blackwell's 'freaks', which saw unexpected 3d silhouettes traipsing down the runway - the majority of it all was very wearable. this year the focus was on the tailoring, which was superb and illustrated how world-class our national fashion scene is becoming. my only criticism would be that now we need to start leading the trends, rather than following them. designers here have well and truly mastered their craft; but i think it's time to inject some innovation into the collections: new zealanders are always proud of the 'kiwi ingenuity' that runs through our veins, so it would be nice to see that reflected in our clothing. i'm not saying that kiwi designers follow trends to the letter: that is far from the truth. as shown at id, they use worldwide trends as a base and reinvent them according to their personal design asthetics. but it's time to up the ante in the innovation stakes.

to have a wee browse of what was on offer, go here. and let me know what you think of the new zealand fashion scene!!

awards season... for milan aw09

2008-02-23T15:02:00.010+13:00

listening to: 'nine in the afternoon' - panic! at the disco

sombre. austere. sober. LIES.

in my opinion - and i'm pretty much an expert, so respec' - the adjectives being bandied around re: milan fashion week are so off base. yes, the sepia-toned hues being sent down the runways aren't as electric as colours seen in previous fashion weeks; but i think some people are missing the point. the return to tailoring, to classy autumnal dressing, is just a backlash to the stupid nu-rave that at one point seemed to take over the globe. trust me, if kids in new zealand are dressing like that, then it's a global phenomenon... we seem to pick up on trends long after everybody else.

there seems to be a real return to old school glamour, and it's definitely in response to things like 80s revival, where bold colours ruled the roost. in milan it's all about bright red lipstick and a structured sillohuette. and fur stoles galore... love it, but vintage or synthetic, people!! even shows such as blumarine and pucci, which didn't stray too far from their "signature" palettes, adopted more watercolour-like, washed out tones. i'd never heard of luisa beccaria - should i be embarassed to admit that? i'm not sure - but i loved the icy blue tones that also cropped up in her show.

everybody has been raving about miuccia prada's collection, and i'm going to jump on the bandwagon. AMAZING. the detailing is absolutely stunning, and a true example of just how beautiful fashion can be. i love the black lace paired with sprinklings of both ice blue and beige. despite being so detailed and potentially fussy, the look works because of the wearability of it all. those palettes are just so beautiful yet at the same time interesting - each would lighten up an otherwise uniteresting outfit. winter can just be such a drag - outfits have a tendancy to be bland. even if you absolutely adore fashion, sometimes when you're freezing cold and cranky it's just easier to put on an outfit as dull as the weather around you.

the detailing award: no surprise here... prada wins hands down. i'm not sure if that lace is handmade or machine made - either way, it's sheer intricacy can't be beat.

favourite print award: just cavalli's mini shift dress. the flamingo print wasn't only on the dress, but also extended to the sheer tights! i can see swarms of stylish girls pairing those tights with anything and everything.

colour palette award: missoni. oooh, i bet you all thought i was going to pick prada. sorry guys; missoni's mixes of mustard, beige, teal, grey, white, black, sage and charcoal are making me drool right now.

coat of the week award: the most amazing coat i have ever seen would have to be one from missoni. featuring the print that was reoccurent in their entire collection, it reminds me of one of those faux kimono's really tacky chainsmoking housewives with bleached blonde hair would have worn in the 70s. (runners up include a navy coat from alberta feretti and a large-collared soft grey one from pucci)

best layering award: it's a tie between alberta ferreti's rouched bronze & navy dress, paired with tights; and a chunky coat over a drapey dress, worn with tights and a scarf knotted just so at burberry prosum.

best fur award: fendi, for the cutest 3/4 length sleeved jacket, cinched at the waist of course.

daytime outfit award: another tie - an ice blue, cream, grey and white concotion by luisa beccaria; and a very innocent schoolgirl outfit consisting of cardigan, white shirt, skinny belt, and beige skirt from blumarine.

nightime outfit award: the slinkiest navy knee-length dress i've ever seen, by maurizio pecaroro.

favourite sillohuette: a a black top paired with a gorgeous olive tulip skirt by max mara.

overall collection award: missoni! i just loved it... top notch!!

the most mixed bag of mixed bags

2008-02-23T02:43:00.008+13:00

listening to: 'home again' - shihad

i am in such a crud mood tonight (but i'm not getting into all that), so i thought blogging might cheer me up a bit. apologies for the lack of posts recently - we have had serious issues with our wireless here in the flat! big-time grr.

so first of all, this song is awesome. quintessential kiwi rock, what's better? get thee to itunes if you don't know this song and see what i'm raving about. shihad are basically the most famous kiwi band of my generation, and it's for good reason. i saw them live in 7th form - we roadtripped up from invercargill to dunedin, it was awesome - and they were frikkin rad. i hadn't been that into them before that trip, but i was definitely converted. i have been on such a kiwi music buzz lately... i just seriously can't stop listening to shapies!

still on the kiwi vibe, i've been meaning to mention my favouritest magazine ever in the whole entire world. yes yes i know mags like nylon, paper, zink & stuff are pretty damn sweet, but it's so different - in an incredibly nice way!! - to have such a polished fashion/streetstyle/beauty/lifestyle magazine targeted towards a new zealand market, as until the happy day i stumbled across it in whitcoulls i had raised myself on a steady diet of australian vogue (where everything was beyond my means, and aimed at an older audience) and the odd harpers bazaar, as well as fashion quarterly (new zealand based, but again for the older reader). my magazine purchases were devoid of anything really relevant to ME. oh, except for one aussie nylon i managed to procure: it was super hard to find. so thank you karen magazine!! the editorials are amazing, the content is brill, and it's basically everything i could ever want.. sadly 'tis only published biannually. while it's not quite as street-style-ish as, for example, russh, it's the closest magazine to focus on my demographic that actually satisfies my desires and requirements for what i could class as a great magazine. hopefully it gradually incorporates more and more street style, as there is definitely a niche market out there that would lap up a magazine that fuses high fashion and fashion reality.

so what else should i yarn about? i tried to create some ombre tights before i came up to dunedin but they really didn't work, so i gave up. i figure by the time i get it right they will no longer be uber cool. i attempted creating them in both violet and navy, and was so sad that they didn't turn out successfully. i have a real thing for each of those colours right now. the weather is getting cooler already, and i can envisage a winter where i'm pairing my standard blacks and greys with suitably soft, slightly washed out hues of purple and blue.. grey, mauve and a splice of electric blue to jazz things up a bit is a colour combo haunting my many daydreams lately. a mauve leotard under a pair of highwaisted grey wool pants... delicious!! pairing it with a peacoat would be like an ensemble chrysallis... the changing shape & layers would be pretty cool. would the chrysallis analogy or an anology comparing it to those russian dolls that have the little dolls inside them be more striking? what are those dolls even called anyway?

a developing interest for me is a kind of touristy, postcard-like aesthetic. while i was browsing fashion156.com i was taken by a shot from the central st martin's show at lfw. it wasn't specifically an example of that tourist-kitsch idea but the colour combo is a snapshot of what i've been picturing in my mind: teal, a slightly darker blue (but not quite navy), yellow, white & a wee hint of beige. try and spot it here: top row. if i was a creative whizz i'd quite fancy whipping up a lipstick red tulip skirt with a cinched waist and a built-in apron thingee overtop (i've been lusting over aprons for some time now) in a printed fabric of like an old village on the mediterranean or something. my vision includes whitewashed buildings, terracotta rooves, sparkling pop of colour via beautiful blue seas.. by the way, i don't mean kind of a faux-apron either; i mean one with like actual little pockets reminiscent of a stepford wife.

do you know what my favourite thing is since becoming a bit more involved (or compulsive, you choose) with fashion? it's the amount of "rules" i have seen broken. i went to an all-girls school for awhile, i'm from a relatively well-to-do family (at least by nz standards, we're absolutely not even close when it comes to international standards), i've always had impeccable manners - aside from the occassional lapse. therefore, my modus operandi was always that i knew what was acceptable or "right". if i had heard about people wearing tights with open toed shoes, i would have been HORRIFIED. like, literally horrified. or mixing prints - GASP O RAMA!! but now i've seen it, visually experienced it, and amazingly i actually appreciate it. every site i click onto has at least one girl wearing a pair of grey tights with chunky beige platform sandals - open toed sandals. and someone - male or female - mixing either two different plaids, or stripes and a bold abstract print. i think i mentioned previously a girl i saw when i came back to dunedin? wearing polka dots and abstract? it was when we were waiting at the lights, and i was super relieved i was wearing my sunglasses cos i just couldn't look away! i had to take her outfit in, it was that good. if i wasn't so self-conscious i would absolutely love to do what the people behind the likes of the sartorialist do: take photos of people whose outfits catch their eye, inspire them, make them swoon. dunedin is really different from my hometown of invercargill in the sense that, being an academic hub, there are quite a few really arty, creative people; the array of outfits is sometimes quite striking. also, being a bigger town it isn't as close minded. back home, all the girls - myself included - wear basically the same thing, minus a couple variations. it's just the way things are. sure there are clones here too. i think i've mentioned that before. the girls who dress the same here are more noticeable than home - here, they really wear the SAME standard outfit of grey skinnies, black puffer, knee high boots - but it's diluted by all the randoms who rock different looks. i really need to find a job, as i'm running out of money fast and i need to be able to feed my growing love for vintage and my yearning to create all the ideas floating around inside this crazy little head of mine... yes that's right, i'm so broke i can't even op-shop! right now i'm a fashion afficianado with nothing to wear.

headbands. been a pretty major fad for at least a couple of seasons now, and one that i was definitely a fan of. but right now, rather than the preppy school-girl styles that i had previously been all over like a rash i'm really digging the flapper-style ones popping up on street style websites and online chain stores alike. i like the skinny ones as seen on the queen of cool kids (in my book at least) susie bubble - mixed with a slightly messy, exaggerated-volume 'do. but my real love is for the ones with ornate detailing: feathers, sequins, feathers AND sequins. even just a massive bow attached to a headband makes me all shivery - but they have to be worn just so. the great gatsby is a permanant fixture on my all-time-greats mental list of books (and later, movies), both for the story and the costumes alike. and the roaring 20's is one of my favourite eras, for a number of misc reasons, not least of all the clothes. i went to a halloween party when i was 12 - halloween isn't big here so it was kind of a memorable event - and i remember i hired this amazing dusky pink flapper dress with a lace overlay (prada aw09 style) and feathers down the bottom from the repatory society. surprise surprise, i topped it off with a silk headband with yet another feather. check out my selection/variations...

well my friends, i'm done. that's all folks! i'm off to sleep, gotta be fresh for the part-ay we're hosting tomorrow night. bring on saturday!

ps i want a shirt dress so bad. stark white.

bored, and hanging at the flat by myself

2008-02-19T21:43:00.001+13:00

listening to: 'sandstorm' - darude

so insanely bored, lonely and cranky right now.

that is all.

i'll tell you what i want, what i really really want

2008-02-17T21:25:00.002+13:00

listening to: 'electric dream' - shapeshifter

so, i had my first night back in dunedin. and last night was my first night of o-week '08 back in dunedin. i had the most amazing time; it was fantastic. town was crazy packed but i was so munted i didn't even care. usually i hate when it's that cramped but i was just having such a good time jamming on the dancefloor (especially to this song! ahh) that i didn't even care. until my feet literally started to bleed and i had to go home haha. oh and that reminds me, sadly my favourite going out shoes - i posted pics of them, they are black satin kitten heels with wee diamante thingees - broke!! i was so sad. and i was walking around the monkey bar with my shoe flapping on the floor. i must have looked a right mess. but ANYWAY.

what i wanted to actually write about was my incredible urge right now for a shrunken navy blazer. with gold buttons. i'm going to have to go check out some op shops for one, but i am going to be picky about it because i don't want one that isn't perfect.

anyway i have to go now because my friend tim & i are going to watch the godfather 2 on dvd now... and he is reading this and rolling his eyes! so i'll stop my little ramble there.

ps tim wants me to say he's hot. but really he's ok... may post pics, but only if they are suitably embarassing and drunken.

au revoir!!

alphabeat

2008-02-14T23:47:00.003+13:00

listening to: 'fascination' - alphabeat

yet another example of how far behind new zealand is, huh? i had no idea these guys even existed until 10 minutes ago... but i fell in love instantly while watching their video on c4 (a music channel here).

so, i looked them up (thanks wikipedia!!) and was soo not suprised that they are a band from denmark. seriously, what is it in the water that makes scandinavians so inherently cool? apparently it makes everybody over there naturally, amazingly cool. definitely setting the standard, street wise at least.

i just wanted to note how cool i think they are: from their music to their amazing style. i'll definitely be grooving to them on my ipod a lot over the weekend.

a late new years resolution

2008-02-11T23:08:00.000+13:00

listening to: "future baby mama" - prince

firstly yay for amy winehouse! not only is she looking a heck of a lot better than in past weeks, she also deservingly took out both album & record of the year at the grammys! she is one of my absolute favourite artists; its slightly embarassing to admit it but i am a HUUUGE mariah fan (ever since i was 6. i can't just let her go, whether you disapprove or not) and will probably never rate anybody over her. but amy winehouse comes close, very close. i've yet to watch her satellite performance on youtube, but no doubt it will be stunning. hopefully one of her resolutions this year was to keep off the crack: sure she lapsed, but we've got a bit of progress people!

speaking of resolutions, i've never really made them. i know in my head what i want to achieve each year, though i rarely do. not the biggies anyway. but tonight i was inspired whilst browsing i want big hair, a blog i stumbled upon earlier this evening. this girl is only 15 and yet she looks pretty handy with her singer!! my mum was an amazing seamstress - she made my ball gown in 7th form - and we still have ALL of her sewing gear: instead of just (somehow) getting rid of it, i've decided i want to inherit it, and hopefully eventually i also inherit her craftiness. i can never REALLY find clothes that i am absolutely in love with, so now this way maybe i can make them!

hopefully this isn't a completely ridiculous idea. you don't know this, but i am really not good at stuff like sewing. i always have grandiose visions, and then when it comes time to actually produce something it all gets shot to pieces, be it a painting or whatever. when i was third form we had to do a woodworking module for a whole dreary term, and the teacher told me that the jigsaw puzzle i attempted to make was the worst he had ever seen. and he had been teaching for quite some time.

i think the first thing i would attempt would be a skirt. it LOOKS simple enough... right? i had a friend who once made a skirt entirely of ties, and it wasn't bad. hey or maybe i could make a scarf!! all i'd have to get is a bit of fabric! a PREEEEEEETTY bit of fabric. i could make many scarves. i could be a scarf-making queen. gee whiz this is going to be grand. or is it just fuelling my ever-growing, bordering-on-the-unhealthy obsession?

dammit, i'm still stuck at work and i can hear the sex and the city theme song coming on... since i work at a newspaper, the tv in the newsroom is always tuned to the late night news broadcast when i'm at work. and satc reruns are on after that on monday nights. GRRRRRR. i don't usually work mondays, thankfully, but i jumped at the chance for extra hours since this is my last week of work. have i mentioned that? i head back to dunedin for university on friday morning. i have course approval the following monday, then it's crazy orientation ("o-week") week and then back to class. looking forward to being with my friends. looking forward to moving into my new flat. but not looking forward to actually living in dunedin again. i'm going to miss dad & renee like crazy, and i'm gonna be sick with worry over them. but i guess it will all work out in the end.

anyway, wish me luck - for both of my endeavours!!

alana discovers the joys of polyvore... and plugs some stuff she likes

2008-02-11T16:14:00.000+13:00

listening to: "disco" - autozamm

hey beautiful friends! so, today i am planning to plug a couple of wee things (but for good reason i swear - i'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart, and my genuine appreciation!) but only because this a blog where i can write about things currently tickling my fancy, and everything that will appear in today's post is indeed doing that!

first things first. myspace has become a hub of music: artists and fans - and soon-to-be-fans - alike flock there to check out the latest and greatest, blah blah blah. and no, i am not so far behind trends that i have only just discovered myspace. give me some credit! but i do suggest you all head on over to myspace and check out disco by autozamm, the brand new song from the auckland quintet. i've only heard it on the radio a couple of times so far, but i'm absolutely loving it, and was inspired to share! sadly, it's not on itunes (yet). oh and ps, their other song (killer shoes) is also well worth the listen: i think i'll adopt it as my official getting ready to hit the town song.

so that was plug number 1. here is plug number 2. the girls over at our wishful wardrobe (yes, i do appear on their blogroll. please, no pictures.) have introduced me not only to paddington bear, style icon, but also to polyvore. let me just say THIS IS MY KINDA WEBSITE. you know how yesterday i mentioned my intense jealousy of cher's amazing computer program that picked out her outfits each day? voila, the 21st century version does not disappoint. so far i have spent approximately an hour ALREADY "just browsing". aka, pretending i can afford & also fit into these beautiful beautiful clothes.

actually, i just realised that was 3 plugs. i'm practically a slave to the man now. oh well, they are all definitely worthy of your time - if you waste time reading this, you have a fair bit of it on your hands, thus could definitely do with another website to aid your procrastination. the challenge i set myself - the dedication!! - was to create completely different outfits (one for day, one for night) using the same dress. i picked a relatively simple Development Wool twill dress (available on net-a-porter) as my base. here are the outfits i concocted:

day

1. dress

2. all saints contrast heel (lace-up oxford)

3. louis vuitton monogram pendant

4. fendi convertible bracelet (the set would look cool, rather than just the one)

5. flirt for asos over the knee socks

6. oli cropped jacket

7. 'marvelous' vintage wayfarers

night

1. dress

2. shimmer clutch (hopefully it's oversized!! mmm.) from fcuk

3. headband from target

4. cocktail ring, as featured at blog.stylehive.com

5. catwoman t-bar loubs

sorry the quality of the picture is so bad! i can tell i'm going to spend A LOT of time on that site... it's like the grownup version of barbie dolls! and i was a big barbie fan. speaking of barbie, check out gwyneth's dress. seen here at madonna's gucci/unicef party recently (relatively recently anyway) she looks more like a life-sized version of everybody's favourite disproportionate doll than style icon. give her a boob job and you're set! i love a big bow, but something about this just doesn't work. and don't even get me started on the shoes.

so, in summary, i like good honest kiwi music; i like other blogs, especially ones where i learn even more about the joys of the internet; i love playing dressups without having the hassle of having to actually BUY the clothes; and i am not a fan of gwyneth's stylist.

fini!

movie mania

2008-02-10T13:18:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'fly together' - trey songz (i'm secretly gangster)

so, late last night when insomnia had gotten the best of me i started watching fear, with reese witherspoon, mark wahlberg & alyssa milano. i remember the first time i saw this movie - i think i was waaaay too young to be watching, it completely creeped me out. the scene where he beats his chest over & over again? eek! but it got me thinking... scary thought i know.

movies are obviously such an integral part of pop culture: just think of the dedication shown recently by fan's of kiera knightley's green dress in atonement. i haven't even seen that movie yet (i'm a little slow when it comes to movies... not a fan of the $12 ticket price. that's two drinks at a bar!) but i know precisely what the green dress looks like, and i can completely understand the devotion being afforded to it! sigh.

so what movies have shaped my mind, clothing wise? there have been many. reese witherspoon had a huge variety of plaid mini skirts: mini alana thought they were soo cool. but how did i know plaid minis were cool? because i was an impressionable 7 year old when clueless came out! although now it certainly isn't the epitome of all that is fashionable, without clueless i may not have even developed such a loooove for the whole fashion thing. alicia silverstone had my dream life: a computer (wow! at my school we had a boulder-like ibm in the library) that picked her outfits for her. she had a cellphone! she wore plaid minis with knee high socks and cropped t-shirts!! i couldn't wait to be 16. sex, clothes, popularity, whatever. i think basically any & every girl around my age, any girl who can simultaneously remember how jealous they were of cher horowitz and can also credit a mild to severe obsession with fashion, was influenced by the film. current trend alert - knee high socks anyone? and the resurgance in the popularity of plaid? thankfully these days we are a little more restrained.

no fashionable movie list would be complete without breakfast at tiffanys - think fashion, think movies, and the image of audrey hepburn in givenchy springs to mind immediately. how cliche is the phrase LBD? yep, and every woman's quest to attain the perfect LBD stemmed from this film. every time i see it, i want to slip into something sleek and chic, put on some pearls and don huge sunglasses and a chignon. the appeal stems from the sheer timelessness of it all: the perfect, if not cliched, example of stylish and classical dressing. thank god for holly golightly.

julie christie in dr zhivago? i've only ever seen it once: i watched it late one night with my mum, a looong time ago. i loved it, i loved the clothes, i loved how classy julie christie managed to be in siberia; it's no wonder i am so enarmoured with the girls on facehunter & the sartorialist who get snapped wearing those beautiful big fur hats.

titanic is not only one of the most well-known movies among my generation; it also left me in love with the fashion of the early 1900s. kate winslet had the most amazing costumes, resplendant and extravagant, complete with elbow-length gloves. her corseted figure, in that beaded red gown, is one of the most iconic moments i can remember when it comes to fashion in movies.

i had to watch his girl friday for a film paper in 1st year, and despite it's many attributes in other areas i really dug hildy's masculine take on the new look. the 1940s is a favourite era of mine: all those itty bitty waists and the bright red lipstick. i'm a sucker for practically anything set in this era: try the aviator, pearl harbour, yadda yadda yadda.

the devil wears prada is another one of those movies, cliche or not, that you just can't leave off a list like this. andy goes from drab to fab (could i be a corny voiceover chick or what?) and is a walking montage of amazing designer outfits. i especially love the old school chanel look she channels.

my favourite movie of all favourite movies is hairspray: a grin was permanantly plastered across my face right from the opening scene. despite my intense dislike for movie ticket prices (rarrrgh!) i went to this movie 4 times: the 4th time, i shouted my flatmates a trip too. and it wasn't just the musical numbers i adored, although i loved them so much that i bought the soundtrack the day after i saw h.s for the first time; i loved the outfits, especially those of queen bee amber von tussle. i daydream about dancing round, doing the stricken chicken, in those poufy big skirts. every time i watch it - and i've watched it a lot - i'm just mesmerised.

so, these were just some movies that hold a place in my fashion consciousness... i've no doubt included movies that people have been like HUH about, and ommitted films that to others probably seem like the most obvious of choices. there are still a heap of movies that i would like to see, that i have a feeling will probably make me swoon the same way: love story, for one. so i guess you could say this is really just a work in progress.

ps: how do you like my budget-ass montage? who needs photoshop when you have paint?!

if i won lotto

2008-02-09T21:48:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'ramble on' - led zeppelin.

i'm thinking of making this my theme song: one of my many bad habits is talking far, far too much. especially when i am in a slightly intoxicated state... or when i log onto blogger, where i write pretty long posts about relatively nothing because i'm bored and have nothing better to do. keep reading: you'll find out what i mean.

judging by what i have seen from nyfw (new york fashion week... duh. i like to make acronyms to spice up my conversations. although i'm sure even those of you who aren't diehards managed to figure THAT one out, it wasn't too hard. actually, i'm sure someone made that one up before me. i'm so unoriginal sometimes) the trends aren't completely left-field; the majority are things that have already been filtering around the edges of fashion - mainstream or otherwise - for some time now.

like the fixation on grey: grey is the new black, yadda yadda. which is fine by me, i love grey! it makes a nice difference from wearing only black without being one of those people that stand out so much that passersby point and laugh: a common occurance, at least in little old new zealand. i haven't seen street fashion in my reality like the stuff i see every time i log onto facehunter and other sites of it's ilk. although, to be fair, that may be because of the seasonal difference. some trends seen at the major fashion shows simply do not work here in australasia. while people are donning fur hats reminiscent of dr zhivago in copenhagen, people here are lounging around in nothing but a pair of short shorts and their swimsuits. but i can still browse! so, if i had a bit of extra moolah lying around i would be picking up these grey high-waisted pants, from asos.com, which also manage to kill two birds with one stone, what with the military kind of vibe they throw off. as you may know i am quite in love with pointless details, demonstrated here by the lovely wee buttons. yes i know they are holding the pants together, therefore they aren't completely pointless, but i'm sure you know what i mean!

staying on the subject of colours, mustard may not work for everyone, but that's fashion for ya! is it bad that i have never heard of malene birger?? please don't hate me: i'm relatively new to this! i did a little homework (not a nerd, this is a far cry of being all absorbed in like algebraic equations or something) and found out that, among other things, this Danish designer is a favourite of HRH Princess Mary. See, I told you we were waaaay behind Copenhagen! Whatever, her sloane pleated top is not only pretty and drapey, perfect for a casual brunch if that's your bag, but it is also reduced by 60% on net-a-porter! so go, quick! at least if i can't buy it, i can encourage you luckier ducks to. the wide hem i imagine would also further add to the exceptional shape. pair with a big pair of sunglasses and a skinny pant for that uber cool, albeit precisely carried off, "oh this? i just threw it on" look.

the infamous 'new-look' look is also still a major force: cinched waists, dramatic red pouts and pintuck curls... cute! being advertised as one of the 6 key looks for the season by net-a-porter, you can either purchase this belted coat by chloe; or, if you aren't as keen on the £1, 193.02 (precise, aren't they?) price tag as you are on the actual style, i'd opt for this electric blue delight from the urban collection, which is a mere $US76. i think the endearing popularity of this style is the way the silohuette flatters basically any and every woman's shape, no matter what it is. whether or not you have a classic, 1940's-esque hour glass figure, the new look silhouette can be rocked by everyone. in the case of those with beautiful marilyn monroe-like figures, it accentuates what is already there; and for those who have a more athletic, less curvaceous, figure the cinched waist creates an illusion. the fact is that the absolute majority of women the world over do not have a figure that fits into industry standards: sure, no doubt some do; but fashion shouldn't just be for the skinny minnies. every woman would like to look nice, to be complimented on her appearance, and every woman would also like to be able to buy trendy clothes: a lot of the time, that just isn't possible. i'm as much a fan of skinny jeans as the next girl, but the reality is that that trend isn't something i am able to wear. but a beautiful bright blue trench coat, belted at my waist? perfect.

in complete contrast, designers embracing a more masculine approach / asthetic when it comes to women's clothing is still apparent. obviously a trend that has been around for awhile, as "the boys club" even appears as a new look on http://www.dotti.com/: dotti, for those of you who don't know, is an australian-based clothing chain with a demographic targeting mainly the late teen to early 20's age bracket. outfits consisting of wide leg pants, tailoring, jodphurs and vests, like those seen at rag & bone can easily be re-created on the cheap. the 8 button suit vest from dotti is only $NZ50: anybody living down under should take advantage! but if you feel like a splurge, my pick is an alexander mcqueen tailored waistcoat. net-a-porter pairs it with slim black pants and a phillip lim blouse; i personally would head in a more casual direction: teaming it with some indigo skinny jeans, vintage band t-shirt and a baker boy cap would rock-star it up a bit. cliche, yes, but then again i'm a product of an age where we are all spoonfed by tabaloid images, and i guess sienna miller still rates with new zealand woman's day.

tights galore were paraded down the catwalk: and they have donned the legs of every single remotely fashionable girl for what seems like forever. even plain black opaques are reliving their day in the sun. bright colours & patterns are no longer reserved for summery dresses; seeing someone in a pair of violet tights is no longer a rarity. visit any street style blog, and you'll see an array of colours paired with anything and everything. check out these two examples from facehunter: i loved them both so much i couldn't pick a favourite! so this is what motherhood feels like. susie bubble did a post awhile back about patterned tights; ever since then i've been dreaming about these creations from celeste stein: her motto promises she'll knock ya socks off, and she ain't lying! and the coveted features a tutorial on how to create gradient tights here. alternatively, head to http://www.topshop.com/: they have stirrup footless tights in yellow, turquoise, purple, orange & red. but, just so you know, my favourite colours would have to be violet and navy.

shoe-wise, slip your feet into lace-up oxfords or chloe criss-crossed sandals (the platform variety, retro cool at it's finest, complete with perspex and wood fusion heel).

with a few exceptions, the look is returning to the glamour of the 1940s, with a modern edge: the lace-up oxfords from topshop, for example, aren't exactly katherine hepburn fare, but i get the feeling that IF katherine hepburn was a current screen goddess, this is totally the shoe she would be rocking.

meanwhile, a girl can dream..

these are a few of my favourite things... shoes, anyway.

2008-02-07T14:24:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'untouched' - the veronicas

yo yo! well i took my sister shopping again today - i should so be a personal stylist! i dress other people better than i dress myself. alas, the grandpa cardigan she got on our last little expedition (the one i wanted to go buy for myself too) was no longer on sale... i almost threw a tantrum in the middle of the shop but managed to refrain (phew.). i was basically the epitome of restraint today - i only bought some truly yawn-worthy stationary. oh, and the most amazing scarf of all time. plus a pair of super cute little shoes for $20.

the shoes made me decide to post a couple pics of my little shoe collection: please note that this isn't even close to covering all the shoes i own, just my favourites. minus the pair of bright yellow flats a la amy winehouse (well, i think so anyway). they are getting a little battered so i'm planning on buying another pair - the third pair i will have owned. oh! and note that i don't wear my jeans that short, i was just kinda hitching them up for purposes of the photo. sadly, due to a high instep, combined with inherited (from both sides) squat feet-physique, my feet look pudgy and wide, but what you gonna do??

1. the new shoes... haha when i took this i didn't notice the box of wallpaper in the background. dad's keen to renovate the house a bit before he sells it. i love the rounded toe (i am heart'ing round toes at the moment) and the slight shine... though you can't really tell from my shoddy photography.

my standard saturday night shoes... they have the tiniest kitten heel, which means i can get roaring drunk without endangering my life (you know, aside from the possibility of liver failure etc) while still maintaining a semblance of girly prettiness that comes with wearing heels... nothing else gives your hips such a life of their own.

3.
i fell in love with these and got them on an absolute whim... my very first paycheck from my very first fulltime job last september! the peeptoe is gorgeous, and i love how the wedge heel makes it a little easier to walk in such high shoes... i'm still (embarassingly enough!) a novice high-heeler. still haven't been brave enough to wear them, aside from dancing round in front of the mirror in my bedroom.

again, digging the round toe look. i went through a stage where every single pair of shoes i owned had a pointy end but i'm kind of over that look.. i love how the round toes are reminscient of the 40s, an era which has gradually started to influence my idea of beautiful. they are really quite high, for my standards anyway, but the relatively solid heel makes it easier for said heel novice to walk without feeling like a dodo. since the heel is so heavy i've decided this pair looks much better with a pair of jeans rather than a skirt.

scarf-o-rama

2008-02-04T23:05:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'new day' - shapeshifter

yesterday, after my dreaaaaaaaaaaaary post, i did a little research re: my favourite accessory. i've always been a huge fan of scarves - silk. bright colours. chunky & woolly. etc - but have never really worn them. scratch that, i've pretty much never worn them. but one of my MANY resolutions for oh eight is to inject a bit of scarf love into my life.

then i forgot to post some of the pics i found! so when i was browsing style.com tonight, and i saw their 'anatomy of a classic' section regarding scarves, i decided that i too would pay homage to (according to donna karan) "the most versatile" of accessories.

do you wear them casually thrown over one shoulder? babushka-style? the single loop of the neck and then hanging down over your shoulders? as a headband? or a simple square knot? i guess it all depends on the mood of your outfit, and the style of the scarf itself.

personally, i don't have a favourite. but there are a few things i look for in a scarf: i usually wear pretty plain clothes - when you're as broke as i am, the sensible thing to do is to buy staples that you can wear every single day, rather than (sadly) every single thing that catches my eye - so at the moment i am super into bright prints, especially abstracts. i also really like the whole touristy vibe some printed scarfs throw off: you know the ones i mean, they have pictures of like the eiffel tower and some dude in a blue and white striped shirt and a beret.

another thing i look for in a scarf is the length - i like them ultra long (this is where we get our minds out of the gutter my friends!!) so they flow outwards as i'm walking along. also, this way you can wear them as a headband with a really cute 70s vibe, a la lauren conrad.

and since the climate in dunedin is so damn cold, the chunky wintery versions are definitely much appreciated: my favourite colour for this kind is of course grey. and i like them to be really chunky and heavy looking: fine knits just aren't my kind of thing... not when it comes to scarves.

am i alone in my fixation? and how do most people like to wear them? let me know guys!!

20: not off to a good start

2008-02-03T15:12:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'new soul ' - yael naïm

last night was pretty much awful... i think i really need to talk to someone objective, because i don't talk to anyone and then everything i bottle up just comes out when i'm drunk and i make a big mess of things. dad asked me once if i wanted to talk to a grief counsellor but i kind of just brushed it aside and we haven't mentioned it again. but i think it's gotten a bit out of hand; i don't want to keep taking the way i feel out on my friends. it must be pretty bad if i can't even enjoy myself with them anymore, but lately i've been having crappy nights more than i've been having good nights.

this is a bit of a downer really! will post again later tonight... right now i can't even think of anything remotely interesting to say.

goodbye childhood...

2008-02-01T23:55:00.000+13:00

listening to: '18 till i die' - bryan adams

ok so i'm not 18 anymore... and i'm almost not 19 anymore. 4 more minutes and i'll enter a different age bracket.

so depressed right now!

post-script (aka PS)

2008-01-31T02:15:00.000+13:00

who noticed that i added a wee playlist gidget thing to my blog? i'm getting all pro now.

new shoes!

2008-01-31T02:01:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'ex-factor' - lauryn hill

well even though i don't have pictures yet - i left my digital camera at a mate's house last weekend - i just wanted to share my excitement with everyone.. what is it in a girl's dna that makes us get butterflies just from shopping? is it just me? i think i have an addiction.

sadly, no, it isn't the oscar de la renta clutch (ha! wishful thinking alana jayne..). pretty boring really: just basics for the new year at uni. my fun was derived - at first - mostly from the fun of being let loose by my sister to pick out clothes for her. how do you get into the personal shopper industry, i wonder? i think that is DEFINITELY a career i would excel in lol.

anyway, back to me. the most exciting personal purchase made today (okay, yesterday. i had work last night and it is now 2am NZ time) was a pair of theeeeeee coolest heels. they are black, patent looking, with a super demure round toe. they are the highest heels i own, apart from my impulse buy of silver peep-toe wedges that i ADORE but am too afraid to wear, and i plan on wearing them on my birthday this saturday. i wore them around the house all afternoon... when renee asked why i told her it was important to wear new shoes in, especially if you plan on dancing the night away while wearing them. but the truth was of course that i just wanted to feel super pretty as i pottered round, lounging on the patio in the sun and feeding the cats. yes my day was that exciting.

can't wait to put up some pics - although to be honest i'm nervous. i've been sitting here critiquing the outfits of others and still haven't posted any of myself. a wee bit hypocritical maybe? more like now that my eyes have been opened to the wonderful world of amazing street fashion i'm even more unhappy with my own incredibly dull, generic outfits. so don't be suprised if the only picture you get is of my feet!

everybody, meet my significant other

2008-01-29T13:38:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'here comes the summer' - fiery furnaces

i am in love.

oversized clutches have been hot for awhile - wait, are they still cool? the trouble with being stranded in the isolation of the antipodes is that trends tend to take quite awhile to arrive. anyway, i love big handbags and i love clutches, so whether they are still jude-law-hot or not (wait, is HE still hot??), i'm gonna love them regardless.

this beautiful little puppy is by oscar de la renta (yes, i just swooned a little). too bad i don't have a spare £650 floating around. if i did, i'd pair it with a simple charcoal dress (complete with bateau neckline) and the bright red jimmy choo eliza sandals i also found on net-a-porter. if anybody wants to donate funds to the "buy alana an oversized clutch" found, email me... i'll give you my bank account details. no?

if i was said stage mother, zooey deschanel would be my favourite child

2008-01-29T00:36:00.000+13:00

here comes zooey deschanel!! i love this look for her. it reminds me of a dress julie christie wore in sound of music (no joke) that has always stuck in my mind - in a good way! and the colour is so pretty... the fitted waist is seriously beautiful.

i would never say anything negative 'bout about my zooey, but i have to admit i do prefer the top half of the dress to the bottom. but i admire how she wears such different clothes to other people... a true style icon.

this whole silohuette is just stunning. the fit is perfect. ahhhhhh what else can i even say?! i am speechless.. so tailored, so amazing.

gorgeous in grey... the tiny interspersion of black is very elegant. and i love how she is sans fake tan! a rarity!!
the bow. the puffiness at the top at the sleeves. the black opaques. the 60s fit of the minidress. sigh-o-rama.

ballerina zooey... i think that neckline is just absolutely gorgeous. and the colour is super pretty.

the classiest plunging neckline i have ever seen. this dress is amazing: i love the colour, and again the sleek top half jutting out into a puffy skirt is really tickling my fancy! she looks gorgeous. not sure about the shoes though??

the neckline is the first thing my eye notices. love the cream poking out of the navy. really unusual jersey, but i dig it.

the accent of purple at the neckline is beautiful.

looking gorgeous in a floral minidress. i think part of the secret formula to wearing a minidress right is definitely ensuring that it's loose and breezy: gets rid of the tramp factor! i also really like how she has winterfied a floaty summer dress with the black tights.

sigh.. wish i was skinny enough to pull off horizontal stripes! the slouchy fit and the different hues of grey look good, but i think the navy hoops add an extra something.

the dress is hard to make out but it's the best i could do! perfect for a red carpet event while still staying true to her indie reputation. it's hard to picture some of the hollywood big guns rocking this dress the way zooey does, huh? charlize theron - no. jennifer aniston - nope. halle berry - uh uh. (too old school).

love the bow.

possibly the only girl in the world who could outshine reese witherspoon... no mean feat, considering her outfit is a basic combo of black & white.

hard to see (sorry bout that!!) but i do love the crochet detail around the neckline; and the chunky belt: it reminds me of the show 'big love' - it looks like something chloe sevigny's character would wear with one of her long denim skirts.

i'm sorry... i just couldn't resist throwing this picture in.

the collar of her coat is just stunning: and it works well with the scarf - very discreet co-ordination. the flecks of blue visible in the dress add even further to the outfit: the flattering hues pull it together just perfectly, without being "perfect". and how cute are those shoes????

inspired juxtaposition of the monochromes. i love the casual air the oversized shirt dress gives, and love the little details such as the stark, crisp collar and the ever-so-slight bubble hem.

i think this is my favourite... although i feel the bardot-style hair may be influencing me! that navy blue looks heavenly.. definitely a nice change from seeing basic black everywhere. i love the accents of cream, especially the oversized clutch.

proof that the hollywood set COULD look unique while still being red-carpet appropriate. the exact right amount of detailing.. and black opaques as usual.

even though you can't really see the outfit - ok, you can't see the outfit at all - i wanted to include this simply because of the beautiful little headband. why is it that whenever i try to make a headband like this look "jaunty" it just looks forced? i guess because her kind of style is something i'll never be able to replicate!!

ok definitely time for bed... you know you're exhausted when you spell "jaunty" J-A-U-N-T-R-Y. please let me know if i've missed any more errors (grammatical, spelling or otherwise).

ps: HOW does she get her skin that luminous?!

major buzz...

2008-01-28T19:56:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'fall at your feet' - crowded house (yep, two kiwi artists in a row... it's this gorgeous summery weather! perfection.)

well, what can i say? today on another blog i saw a link to my very own blog!! i can't really describe that feeling... punch-drunk, next to the likes of daddy likey, the sartorialist, into the fray & my very own idol style bubble!!! what a feeling! i've gone back just to look at it about 10 times - yes, just two simple words, punch drunk, are making me that excited! what a rush man. that makes writing this, spending so much time poring over other blogs & wardrobe remix, racking my brain for ideas as i lie awake in bed every night worth it.

thankyou so much - now everybody go and read our wishful wardrobe, my two favourite girls in the world right now!

designer collections for chain stores: selling out?

2008-01-28T13:28:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'oughta be in love' - dave dobbyn

i'm going to take a little break from posting my favourite inspirational outfits, because i read this blog yesterday and it really got me thinking. so many designers have collaborated with chain stores (ie topshop, target) for awhile now - is this selling their previously elitist, exclusivist soul?

i have to disagree with mer in the city. yes, the heart of truly beautiful fashion is the things like the superior tailoring and the top-quality fabrics used. designers revered by their peers and consumers alike, the world over, achieved the status they hold because they have proved themselves time & again to understand "the basic beauty and art" that fashion is. but i think that designer collaborations, where fashion is brought to the masses, definitely have a market. so haute couture is supposed to be unaffordable? of course it is. haute couture ALWAYS WILL BE unaffordable. but what's wrong with bringing just a smidgen of fashion to a wider audience?

i say smidgen because obviously there have to be compromises. fabrics, especially. the fact is that there are so many people who would love to wear designer clothes - myself included - but can't justify such expenditure. the pricetag of fashion is for so many unattainable. so by collaborating with chain stores the designers can offer consumers a slice of their beautiful visions - not as close to perfection as their own lines, but replications that can make the less fortunate feel as beautiful as the lucky ones do in their designer threads. not everybody who has a passion for clothing and fashion itself can spend thousands of dollars on designer clothing. not everybody has wealthy parents with a limitless credit card. if a wider audience learns to appreciate clothes that are even remotely similar to those a designer produces for the runways (and elitist snobs who may wear certain clothes only because of the status symbol it affords them) then i fail to see that as a bad thing.

yes, designer and chain store collaborations are not the real thing - the differences are certainly vast. yes, in many cases these collaborations are probably undertaken only to garner even more profit. but the result is a larger number of people dressing in better (granted, not the BEST) clothes. it affords them just a tiny taste of the fashion industry, a taste that they would otherwise never get to experience.

i can't wait until my stella mccartney for target trench arrives. at the moment, it's as close as i am going to get to high fashion, and i'm not going to apologise for that.

stage mother (boboniaa)

2008-01-27T21:03:00.000+13:00

i love the preppiness of this super sportif outfit: upturned collars are so collegiate and HOT. especially when they offer you a peep of the unexpected: the stripes look wonderful.

whoever said neutrals were boring was a liar. this shift dress is redeemed by that two-tone detailing on the front. i also really like how she has paired the crisp, tailored dress with simple accessories: plain shoes, minimal jewellery and the beautiful sunglasses. her statement piece is definitely the bag; and it works because of the simplicity of everything else.

my favourite. that dress is just amazing.. so crisp! the accents of green - the heels and especially the headband - take it to the next level.. i love the slouchy fit of the dress, and the collar is so clean and sharp. LOVE.

i. love. this. print. (oh, and the belt).

the fun polka dots, paired with a classic summer coat, would look lovely on their own - the exceptional acessories make it even more special. i am in love with her shoes. the cinched waist soften a somewhat structured silohuette.

perfect silohuette. the proportion of the turtleneck in relation to the slim cut jeans is spot on; and the electric blue of the beads against the green looks beautiful. loving the round-ish toe on the metallic heels.

super cute playsuit. really flirty and fun... i love the hints of red, especially the low-slung belt. the pleating on the shorts is beautiful.

she truly can do no wrong! that is perhaps the most perfectly-knotted scarf i have ever seen. it's hard to make black and white look wrong, but it's harder to make black and white look interesting. the metallic heels add a nice touch, and make me want to drool.

who would have thought chocolate and lime would go together so well? only she, queen of quirky style. casual without being boring.

loving the print! and the accessories - the belt and the beautiful green shoes - are perfection. everything looks like it belongs together, but doesn't look matchy-matchy (gag).

the shorts are perfect. i love the buttons.

the trilby is right on trend; and i love the neutrals paired with the green. the vest injects something really special into an otherwise simple outfit, without overpowering the simplicity and casual air of it all.

the dress is so simple but stunning: beautiful palette of shades. and yes, another scarf. love it!

huge fan of pleats; here they are at their finest: highwaisted, raspberry... what more could i ask for?

i am in love with this pink tunic! raspberry = love. also the white flats are leaving me drooling.. love the cheeky peek of shorts under the tunic.

so this is how it feels to be a stage mother... [facehunter]

2008-01-27T13:51:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'live forever' - oasis

first of all, before i get too into this post, i can assure you that the song choice is unintentional - my itunes is on shuffle and i was reminded how much i love this song - but definitely fitting. i've been trying to think of something to post about, when i realised that following the writers idiom of 'write what you know' is exactly what i should be doing in this instance. so here goes..

at the moment, my clothes are boring.

they are uninspired, they are mass produced, they are thrown together simply because my laundry basket is overflowing and i'm procrastinating doing the washing (trust me, if you had as many things to do around the house as i do you would too). i have also purchased a quite a few new items for my wardrobe online, trying to bulk the 'interesting piece' factor up a bit, but i'm having them all sent to my flat in dunedin - i don't want dad to know how much i'm spending on clothes, as i owe him 2 weeks worth of rent. don't feel too sorry for him, he has plenty to spare but doesn't share a lot of it.

this is why i am spending so much time on the internet lately! after dad has left to go to work, of course (he works at the southland times too - yes yes i know, nepotism at it's finest - and doesn't start until early afternoon). looking at other people's outfits, so vastly superior to my own, gives me such a buzz. i can finally understand how dina lohan feels!!

facehunter, the sartorialist, susie bubble and especially wardrobe_remix on flickr are my salvation! i've decided to share a few of my favourites: this is merely a tip of the iceberg when it comes to the images i've saved to my computer. i don't want to put off anybody who might be reading this with a super slow connection, so i'm going to try and be as frugal as i can with the images.

let's start with facehunter:

such a gorgeous colour! and the hat is incredible.

i think this is my very favourite! i love the jacket. i love the chunky white bracelet (i have one similar, i wish i could wear it this well). the black peeking out from the jacket - the exact right lengths, they work so well together. then there is the tights... the shoes... whoever this girl is, well done!

that jacket! how jealous can i be of one girl? she carries off such a costume-y piece with ease - you've got to love it. the jeans have such a beautiful wash too.

the most beautiful leather jacket i have ever seen in my life.

the whole combo works so well: the oversized scarf (sigh), the high waist - those buttons are great, the leather jacket... I admire how she has worn so many colours, without looking like a nutbar!

1 word: scarf. that's all i have to say.

i love the buttons in such an unexpected place. love the hint of the tartan on her sleeves poking out; and of course i love the coloured knee highs - such an unusual colour, but it looks great. oh, and her impossibly beautiful hair.

i was first attracted to this picture because of that fabulous glossy fringe; but the more i look at it, the more i admire the clothes. i'm definitely a big grey fan as it is, and i love that pretty ruffled detail around the neckline.

a great way of wearing neons without looking like a nu-rave kid. and i love her hair!

i'm sure tolstoy would approve: i especially love the delicate print of the skirt, and the oversized clutch.

i'm a sucker for wrap tops, and this is gorgeous - drapes perfectly, and in a wonderful fabric. i used to hate prints, but at the moment i am really digging bright abstracts - especially on silky material. reminds me of scarves, which as we all know, i am a wee bit obsessed with at the moment.

i love the volume of the skirt, contrasted with the top tucked in. so feminine, but not overtly so. love the colours.

birthday birthday birthday!!

2008-01-25T23:11:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'chasing pavements' - adele

no it's not my birthday yet, but it's getting close! only a week to go. so this is my very last week of being a teenager.

i'm pretty much terrified of turning 20; quarter-life crisis much? just thinking about it makes my stomache feel hollow. i think i'm suffering from a case of peter pan syndrome... and as the big 2-0 draws ever nearer i'm getting more and more anxious. does this mean i have to grow up now? be responsible? stop laughing at the word uranus?

the christmas of 2006 was my first 'grownup' christmas. instead of fun stuff, like a pink bike with streamers on the handlebars or even a pink cellphone, i got a new duvet. sheets. towels. an electric jug. etc. ok whatever, i needed them in preparation for my first year of flatting (blah blah blaaaaaaaaah), but Yawn. note the capital Y. so, the christmas of 2006 was kind of a wakeup call for me. all my life, i've been the kind of person who has been all "i can't wait for when...". when i was 10 i couldn't wait to be 13. when i was 13 i couldn't wait to be 16. when i was 16 i couldn't wait to be 18. but it's all been downhill from there folks! impending adulthood is drawing ever so close.

but since some of my girlfriends gave me a copy of the secret at my joint birthday bash with kim, i'm trying to be positive about entering my 20s. it means i'm closer to finishing uni and actually getting a job; in turn i'm closer to being able to buy all the clothes that have been out of my broke student reach.

i'm also hoping that i can at least start TRYING to leave behind the whole sheep mentality that seems to mark adolescence: maybe now i will have more confidence in myself as a person, and will focus more on being who i really am rather than being one of the crowd.

one thing i have noticed about university is the whole clique thing. i thought we all left that behind in high school, but apparently not. the only thing im not looking forward to when i return to uni is seeing the throngs of overly-made up girls with super straight hair, permanant mandarin complexions and puffer jackets worn with grey skinny jeans, tucked into black leather boots.

it's easy to be just another clone - it's too easy. hopefully the year i turn 20 will be the year i finally set myself apart from the people who grate on my nerves so much, and not care.

ps: while we're on the topic of my birthday FEBRUARY 2ND i just want you all (all 2? of you) to know that dad relented and got me the stella mccartney jacket! will post pics asap.

time to play pretend

2008-01-23T21:19:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'only to be with you'- roachford ... an oldie but a goodie

now that i know i have AT LEAST one reader i think i better step up my game and a)write something worth reading and b)write something on a regular basis (or at least stop posting in such erratic intervals).

back at work again. had a relatively uneventful tuesday - sad to hear about heath ledger. i also tried out a new recipie for a chicken dish for tea, but it was pretty average.

so what did i do all day? i lived in fantasy-land, and dreamily composed dozens of different outfits. i think that can be even more fun than really shopping: sometimes all that harsh lighting exposes imperfections id rather pretend didn't exist.

in preparation for my return to uni, im currently fixated on the following:

1. looooong cardigans - preferably grey
2. crisp white cotton shirts
3. slouchy brown boots
4. worn, distressed, ancient - but not manky - old brown leather satchels (i like to match accessories. i dont care if thats not how all the cool kids roll, but this is my blog.)
5. layering layering layering
6. vintage silk scarves in bright, garish abstract prints
7. raspberry coloured opaques
8. big chunky cable knit ANYTHING
9. this amazing dove grey stella mccartney trench coat that i am going to BEG dad to buy me for my birthday... its an absolute bargain on http://www.trademe.co.nz/ . if anybody else bids on this, i will find you.
10. BIG buttons.

strange, yes, considering it is still the height of summer right now. but dunedin is renowned for its freezing cold winters, and i guess i've just been thinking about it a lot. and yes, to me my school wardrobe is key concern - im hoping that if i look fab ill be able to focus on getting good marks, rather than daydream incessantly about all the items i covet. plus i figure that if i have fun getting dressed every morning i won't be tempted to throw on a pair of worn out canterbury pants and leave my hair uncombed, thus skip classes and lounge around the flat all day watching dr phil and eating too much.

i'm still looking for the perfect grey cardie, although i do have my eye on a great taupe marcs one. granted, it has short sleeves, so isn't technically wintery; but note number 5 - layering. it will look great with a white skivvy underneath methinks! i also managed to pick up a raspberry insidious fix cardigan. i love having pieces that brighten up my otherwise dreary, mainly black, ensembles. i have a really cute little pleated dove grey skirt which it will look swell with.

hmmm what else do i have my eye on? about 3 satchels, im still deciding. a pair of black slouchy boots from sachi - i already have a brown pair, but they definitely couldn't be called slouchy. this silk scarf with an amazing floral print: all different shades of blue. I also treated myself and bought a high waisted pencil skirt (with detachable suspenders - will probably remove these), complete with BIG buttons lol. i know i know, i'm about a year too late to jump onto the highwaisted bandwagon; but it is a look i absolutely love! i think the thing with me is that i want to look trendy and hip (don't we all? secretly at least) but there are trends that i just fall in love with, and would continue to wear long after they have been discarded by everyone else. and that's when being fashionable evolves into something resembling personal style.

i don't really care if high waists are "out" !!! ill admit it here and now, my favourite outfits (for myself) would all have me looking like a librarian - although i'd vamp it up with brigitte bardot hair and a smoky brown eyelid. i love that preppy, sleek look... i'm not really the kind of person who takes too many crazy bold risks when i dress. i definitely admire those who do, but i think there is something old-world about my personality, and my dream wardrobe would reflect that. i agree with the bubble - who says that you should wear your clothes, rather than letting them wear you. a person wearing the way they want to be perceived by the world, or emulating an epoch they adore, or always adding a signature piece to every outfit is always going to look better than a person wearing top-to-toe trends, hands down.

procrastination queen

2008-01-22T22:39:00.000+13:00

listening to: nothing, i'm at work and my ipod died. but my favourite song right now is 'gravity' by sara bareilles.

why hello friends... moments like these, i wonder if there is anybody out there in cyberspace actually reading this dribble, or am i alone? pfft, perhaps that's a good thing: then one day when i've FINALLY written a bestseller nobody will know about this awful little attempt at les bons mots - by the way, i am super sorry i haven't been keeping as up to date as i promised in only my last post! and it's not like i've even been busy.

right now, i am spending my tuesday night at work, my eyes slowly dying as i squint more and more at the computer. but fear not! as the hours i put in here will (fingers crossed) look very nice on my application for a fairfax media internship after i finish uni. and yes, as you can see, i am truly dedicated to my work... but i feel like it would be traitorous to plebs everywhere if i didn't take advantage of the fact that the southland times doesn't block ANY websites. so i spend pretty much all my time on perezhilton and style bubble. ahh, what a life. tonight obviously the main focus is on sir ed... i'm not going to blather on about him; there have already no doubt been far too many cliches bandied about. but to say that he was a great man, a hero to the ordinary joe bloggs, is all I can do. okay, done now. oh and there is someone in blackmount who is attempting to break a world record for shearing "full wool ewes". riveting!!

i don't really have much to say tonight; twas only signed into blogspot because i wanted to leave a comment on susie bubble's daily outfit site thingee. i wonder if she will browse my blog? if so - susie, i apologise! this is definitely not quite as cool as style bubble. (by the way, if there is anybody reading this who hasn't visited her site, do so now. stumbling across it was probably the greatest thing i have ever done online lol).

hmm what is happening with me? i got another fringe cut the other day. still not sure if it's really me. call me bourgeoise, but PEACHES GELDOF of all people has had a major impact on my daydreams of late. that rock and roll baby, devil-may-care attitude; the suitably messy blunt fringe; her outfits... i'll admit i'm intrigued. i wonder if people in the know think she's cool, or if it's just me.

the weather was pretty dreary today; not like the last few days. invercargill has really been turning on the awesome summer weather. dad said something yesterday bout how we've been having the best summer we've seen in yonks. i've been trying to be sunsmart, but the temptation to attempt a tan (futile, really, considering I inherited the irish genes of red hair and fair, freckley skin) has swept me up a little. so far, no tan. but a wee touch of pink does look slightly better than the pasty white i have been since last summer. to be fair i can kind of see a wee bit of tan in there. but perhaps it's just wishful thinking.

kim and i had our joint 20th birthday party the other day. she had a brilliant time, i on the other hand found it to be a complete waste of time. somehow her inviting half of the guys i've ever pashed - guys who never even texted me afterwards - was not my idea of a fun time. lets just say it was awkward and leave it at that. i'm sure you can imagine.. anyway, i just wasn't even in the mood to hit the clubs so i went home. but i'm planning a wee soiree with just the girls on my actual birthday (february 2nd in case you're interested) which i'm sure will be a lot more fun!! Not sure what I will wear yet; probably the same old uninventive thing. I wish I could get away with wearing something different, but i live in such a cliquey, judgemental little town that i never do. i'm just not that brave. maybe after i lose a bit of this extra padding, haha.

so, if i could, what would i wear? what a question - oh the possibilities! let's pretend i'm not held back by the constraints of insecurity nor money. oh, or my figure. if i could wear anything, what would it be? i'm probably not going to be described as a trailblazer; in fact i'm probably miles behind those deemed fashionable. something for me to ponder - i guess i'll get back to you.

ps: i promise to ACTUALLY get back to you this time.
xo

im back

2007-12-17T15:16:00.000+13:00

listening to: 'charmer' - kings of leon

well, here i am. haven't written in months. i guess because writing what has happened in my life recently has been so daunting.

there is nothing i can really do to soften what i am about to say (as you can see by my amazingly poor sentence structure this is the first time i have written ANYTHING in a long long while). my life has been divided into before and after... on august 27, my mum had a heart attack and died.

so, things have changed pretty drastically. i withdrew from my papers at uni and moved back home to invercargill to be with my dad & renee. since august i've been struggling to work, clean, cook, look after everybody else, and keep my own head above water.

nothing i can write really sums up everything i feel or think; words are so inadequate. it goes without saying that i'm grieving so much. i truly think of her every single minute of every single day. even when i'm not thinking specifically about my mum, and how much i miss her, it's there in the back of my mind. i had never really understood how that phrase - the back of my mind - worked, but though it's so cliche and trite it really is possible to be thinking of something when your attention is focused towards an entirely different topic. it's always there.

i don't want this whole post to be about my mum, and everything i feel. i'll write my thoughts as i think them... i just thought i better mention what has been happening before i started in on anything else.

so. in other news.

when i was working at acc - it was just a temp job; i've finished there now - i would often get very very bored (the work was rather mind numbing after awhile) and began trolling websites for something to help me get through the sheer dullness of each day! i happened to stumble across some amazing blogs, which in turn have prompted me to get back here and write myself.

so please, bear with me if my posts are boring or whatever.... my writing is hardly on the same scale as other blogs out there, but i promise to work on it! at any rate i'll put on some links to some better blogs haha.

will probably post again later today or tomorrow... sometime soon anyway - as soon as i have an idea of what to write about.

alana.

ps. from now on, this blog is dedicated to my mum, mere anna kohuwai -- love you.

good things come in threes.

2007-08-21T20:29:00.001+12:00

listening to: 'heels over head' - boys like girls

third post of the day, tragic. but whatevs, "cyanide & happiness" is a web comic i've noticed before; have been browsing [read: procrastinating from researching my essay, due thursday] and thought my blog could use some brightening up. so, voila!

PS: i think rob is the best.

i just found this on another blog

2007-08-21T14:11:00.000+12:00

and decided to share.

Thank You!
To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.

To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have known real love.

To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.

To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.

But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do it;
It is you I thank the most,
Because without you I wouldn't have tried.
Author Unknown

entering the political arena..

2007-08-21T13:42:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'writer's block' - just jack

this morning i joined young labour.

recently i have become more focused [slash concerned] with the world at large: not just my own insular one. i've found myself paying quite a bit of extra attention to politics, especially politics here in new zealand. next year is my very first opportunity to vote!! mega excited.

when i told my parents i had decided to join, i accidentally said national instead of labour... mum just about choked haha. oh how such slips of the tongue can turn into chaotic hilarity! the 3 of us laughed for seriously 10 minutes straight: what a joke! just imagine me voting for john key.

i'd rather see a government that at the end of the day is trying to do the best they can for all new zealanders than one that is looking to simply line the pockets of those who least need it, and then sell the country out to the bullies in the white house and canberra..

i'm quite looking forward to possibly becoming more active in it all: at the moment i've only registered, and am expecting an email from the dunedin branch soon. not sure if i will attend meetings etc straight away; in all honesty i don't have any specific knowledge of policy and would rather not sound like an uninformed cretin. will also be interesting to hear the views of people who actually share my ideologies for a change. i've been busy reading up on one of the links on the yl website [http://www.younglabour.org.nz/joomla/] to heads up, which briefly outlines all the policies of labour. but i'm not presumptuous enough at this stage to go to a meeting armed with an inadequate amount of information!

in other news, we have signed up for a flat for next year. i'm glad to get it all sorted even if it wasn't my first choice; unfortunately for me all the other ones seem to be snapped up already. fingers crossed i don't get stuck with a crappy room again!!

hmm what else do i have to report? still haven't made a start on my assignment. just not in the mood to focus at the moment. i don't know what else i can do to try and relax. i feel like my brain is going in 50 different directions at once.. i'm trying to stay out of the public eye for a wee bit so i don't lash out at anybody inappropriate, haha. attempting to breath deeply and all that jazz.

sometimes i wonder why i'm writing this as if anybody reads my blog. but i suppose that even writing to an imaginary audience is better than not writing at all. and at least it's thereapeutic; a form of expression i so desperately need, especially right now.

is this deja vu or what?

2007-08-19T21:31:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'hate on me' - jill scott

pardon me, what am i missing here? have i done something wrong??

people lament all of society's woes all the time. but what right do you have to do that when you do nothing about it when witnessing it firsthand? i REFUSE [note the double emphasis there] to be that person.

ultimately, we are all products of our parents. this year i have really thought about that a lot, and for the first time i realised it's true. being the daughter of two [relatively] liberal people, who are both able to articulate their opinions, i guess it was bound to happen. especially considering i seem to have inherited mum's emotional, stubborn side. which is a fault, i know. but at the end of the day, i am opinionated about doing the right thing - i have a social conscience. and i'm glad i have the knowledge that my parents are incredibly proud of that aspect of my personality, as was reiterated to me again today. and i'm glad i have that instilled in me. i won't ever change, because there has to be people who do care about what happens to people other than themselves. otherwise how bad would the world get? it's bad enough already.

i'm glad i'm not a complete fuckup: maybe sometimes i don't always do the right thing, and sometimes i'm bound to be wrong. but such a substantial part of myself is my belief in helping others, not just yourself. i know that on the surface i can appear to be pretty shallow, and i'm not even saying i'm this superhuman with a heart of gold. but i think i have a fairly good sense of right or wrong, and i'm also opinionated enough to voice it. i am not the kind of person who would sit back and watch somebody who is unable to stand up for themselves: if you can't stand up for yourself, people who can do it should.

this is just the same shit different day. there's nothing more that i, or anybody else - other than the two of them - can do about it. but for fucks sake, reality check time!!! everybody has days when they feel pretty low and down on themselves: but you should always know that you are worth more than that; and that behaviour like that is not normal or acceptable. although apparently to some people it is. and not just the people who do it: the people who accept it as well. is it because she thinks he doesn't care about her as much as she cares about him? just because they get back together every single time... that's not proof that he cares.

nobody likes to be alone. far out, reading over my last few entries that is certainly apparent! but would you not rather be alone, than be with someone who crushes what little self esteem you may have left? what kind of love is that? nothing is worth putting up with that. all these weak justifications that we heard last night... i had started crying as soon as we got to the bottom of the driveway, and didn't stop until balclutha. i can't handle even being there at the moment.

i know sometimes i am hyper emotional. i know sometimes i am not rational or logical. i know sometimes i am wrong. i know sometimes i make mistakes. i know sometimes people have to learn things themselves. but i also know that if the roles were reversed, my friend would do the same for me as i am trying to do for her now. because she is a good friend. and i'm trying to be.

lonesome tonight

2007-08-18T00:08:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'the promise' - tracy chapman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSTz1xxdRw

Together again

It would feel so good to be

In your arms

Where all my journeys end

If you can make a promise

If it's one that you can keep

I vow to come for you

If you wait for me and say you'll hold

A place for me in your heart.

sometimes it's there, sometimes it's not. but really what i'm saying is, it's always there. i have just learned how to hide it sometimes. but the unfortunate part of that wee deal is this: you can't hide from yourself. you can't pretend to be one thing when you know you're not really. facades are facades because there is always at least one person who knows the truth.

it isn't that i am longing for one person specifically, although the time with him was when i've been at my truly happiest. if that's even a correct, gramatically or otherwise, phrase. but i knew - correction: thought i knew - i had someone there to talk to, whether the conversation was mundane or soulsearching. i haven't reached a point yet where i'm comfortable soulsearching on my own. but perhaps that is the point: maybe i have some work to do before i can meet someone who makes me feel like i used to.

i'm so sick of being the lonely one. sooo sick of it. why are the people who don't care about love [etc] the ones who have it? why can't i have someone to talk to? my friends are fantastic. but the thing with all of them is, they all have someone who they can claim as their "significant other". but who am i significant to??

i'm tired of going to bed at night, lying there alone, wishing i had somebody to talk to... and i'm tres tired of crying over something as stupid as this dumb blog.

raging ginger

2007-08-16T11:17:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'the queen & i' - gym class heroes

so.freaking.angry.

the audacity of some people boggles my mind sometimes. i was terrified last night; so scared i couldn't even move to get up and lock my bedroom door.

but then it turned into pure unadulterated rage!!

gingrrrrrrr.

this shit is

2007-08-16T01:32:00.000+12:00

B.A.N.A.N.A.S!!!!

i just realised my last 3 posts have been about tv shows. how depressing!! i haven't even watched a crapload of television lately; i've been doing my freaking lab report all night [till i finished; then i devoured the new season hills on www.mtv.com]

brainwashed much? i need to find a man so i go to bed early for sexy times instead of watching mindless dribble!!

is it just me...

2007-08-16T00:25:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'little razorblade' - the pink spiders

or do you ever catch yourself inwardly nodding as you watch tv, listen to a song...

i guess it's because there are only a limited amount of emotions we can feel. jealousy, despair, happiness, grief, contentedness, suspicion[whatever else i've missed. obviously this isn't an exhaustive list of emotions people!!] . i think sometimes easier to relate to an experience or feeling expressed by somebody else than it is to feel completely alone and misunderstood.

i've just watched the first 2 episodes of the hills - season 3. actually, i'm waiting for the last half of the 2nd episode to load. pop culture rocks my damned socks. team L.C bitch! ANYWAY the point i would like to make is this: lauren & lo are talking right, and they are saying something about how there always seems to be this one guy who you keep going back to, no matter how bad they have treated you in the past and so forth. and then lc said something that really resonated with me: that every girl wants to be the girl who changes that one guy's wicked ways. lc says everyone can change, as long as the right person comes along; and every girl wants to be the one girl that can do that.

i immediately thought of my own version of that guy. since b. and i broke up, i've gotten with this guy more times than i can count. well okay so that's extreme hyperbole; but it hasn't been just a one night thing. he txtd me again the other day, which tbh was the first time in awhile. and i realised that whenever i think of him, i kind of drift off into a daydream about being that girl. the one that he would wanna change for. it kind of sounds like he's changed, or at least trying to, but the thing is it hasn't been for me - he's living with his girlfriend!! so why is he still texting me? i don't know if he can change.. and it's like lo said to lauren: why do girls look for a guy to change? why don't they wanna be with the guy who is good already?

and i agree with what lc said back to that: that's too easy.

but then i wonder if that really is true. because i'm finding it pretty freaking hard to find one who is GOOD. i'm done with all the a-holes of the world! i feel like i've met a substantial portion of them. i definitely feel like i've had my fair share of bad guys, and that it's time for some good times.. so is finding the right guy as hard as i think? or is there some part of me that overlooks the right guy and instead chooses the one who i subconsciously know is not going to change for me? can i just never be the girl that changes him? am i not good enough, do i not have that talent? i once read somewhere, where [a male, of course] wrote that there are two types of girls: girls made to marry and girls made for fun. imagine if i was destined to be the latter, for the rest of my life. imagine if i never fall in love again. i'm in love with love; but what if that's all i get to be in love with?

shortland street: whos the bad man?

2007-08-15T18:30:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'crossroads' - cream

i am thinking there are 3 contenders. so, until they stop dragging this out, i am going to be watching veeeeeeery closely.

so here are my picks. if i'm wrong, well hey... i'm never wrong.

1. Kieran the ex-pimp daddy

Obviously the main suspect - duh. But although he is rather shady, I think he's just being used as a decoy. I think his arrest last night is just something to throw viewers off the scent.

2. Joey the murse

What's dodgier than a murse? Especially one who got rejected by Claire right before her body was found. And to top that off, Meg was hitting on him all night before she was found outside the I.V. Definitely something fishy about him, but perhaps that is just something the writers are intentionally doing. Is he a murderer, or just a weirdo? Try not to let the fact that he's got a nontraditional career cloud your judgement.

3.Steve from the morgue

F.R.E.A.K. Strikes out with both Claire and Meg. Knew details about their murders that nobody else seemed to know. Maybe his business life has started merging into his personal life?

So, there go my top 3. Whoever it is, Mark is going to be in a LOT of strife. I bet he left a whole lot of hairy wee Mark sperms floating round in Meg!!

Ciao bellas!

why carrie bradshaw rocks my world

2007-08-14T22:10:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'gold dust woman' - fleetwood mac

another day that ends in me feeling frustrated, annoyed, irritated...
it's all these little petty things, which if it was somebody else wouldn't bother me at all. but i'm sick sick sick of dealing with this bullshit. people need to get real, grow a backbone, and stand up for themselves. and other people need to stop being so manipulative and sketchy.

what i wonder is, how people can let themselves be treated so badly. i can understand caring about somebody so much that you are scared of losing them, or not wanting to interfere if you see something happening to other people, but the fact is if you don't stand up for yourself, who will? part of being a valuable human being is having opinions, and another part of being a valuable human being is treating other people well. people who take pleasure in seeing other people suffer are certainly not people i have any time for.

as much as im over being single right now, i wouldn't want to be in a relationship with any of the guys from my past. what is the point of being in a hurtful relationship? the way they have all eventually treated me just shows me that they aren't worth my time. there have been times when i thought i had met the right one, but in the end their true colours came out in full force - and they turned out to be just another retard. wherever the right guy for me is, i wouldn't find him if i was with one of the losers from earlier times. holding onto the wrong person just means missing the right one.

in other news, my exam timetable for this semester came out today. i have coms201 - theory of communication studies - on oct. 24; coms206 - history of media - on oct. 25; psyc112 - human thought & behaviour - on oct. 29. can you tell i'm super excited? i'm already waaay behind in my readings, therefore should definitely not be wasting my time blogging. but at this stage, there is nobody i can really talk to completely. there are too many little nuances in my personality that i regret showing to anybody, even if it was only one person. i guess these i am never really wholly honest with anybody other than myself. i guess i'm not even wholly honest in this blog. but it takes the edge of a bit.

i wonder what makes us feel completely comfortable with somebody? how do you know you've reached that point with someone? where even prolonged silence is a cozy place to be. you don't have to worry anymore about the reaction what you say will get, or if you do you know it won't change or effect anything too much. when do you get to a point when opening up is just some intrinsically natural thing to do? thus brings me to my chosen topic for todays blog: it reminds me of my most favourite satc quote:

"Later that day I got to thinking about relationships. There are those that open you up to something new and exotic, those that are old and familiar, those that bring up lots of questions, those that bring you somewhere unexpected, those that bring you far from where you started, and those that bring you back. But the most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you you love, well, that's just fabulous".

And that, friends, romans, countrymen, is why carrie is the gospel.

ps: i bought those yellow heels i was talking about. cos, as carrie so wisely says, sometimes it's hard to walk in a woman's shoes - which is why we need super special ones sometimes. she really is one heck of a chick: bring on satc the movie 2008!

blast from the past

2007-08-12T19:47:00.000+12:00

listening to - 'you made a fool of me': india.arie

how tragic is it that i know [well, could count] exactly how long it has been since i've been without? i get so frustrated with myself, but during that time i haven't learned how to switch anything off. maybe the feelings aren't as intense anymore, but the slightest contact with him can make my stomach drop. even seeing his stupid car anywhere: it just reminds me of the time when it was parked outside my house, every weekend without fail. and a conversation like the one we just had can leave me questioning the past, the present, the future.

our conversations are either one of two genres - 1: pretending/trying to be civil; or 2: fraught with anger and accusations. tonight's was the former. eventually the conversation veered towards our feelings about our past relationship.

i know this may seem to some as merely the ramblings of a spoiled, clingy ex girlfriend: but then i would ask you if you have ever truly been in this situation? where you have given so much of yourself to somebody else, where you have felt so safe and loved and content. and then to have it taken away abruptly. i didn't use the term love lightly, and i never will. i meant it every single time it left my lips. so where do these feelings go? especially if you find yourself unable to achieve that feeling with anybody else? or maybe you just don't let yourself. trust me, you can't judge me any more than i judge myself. and at least i know how this truly feels.

anyway. the conversation suddenly became me telling him that, despite the fact that we were so young at the time, i didn't appreciate him insinuating it didn't count. it lasted too long, and was too intense and involved, for it not to be counted. any relationship where you fall asleep on the phone together is no normal relationship, haha. in my book that counts! i pointed out that, knowing me the way he did, he should have realised that it would always mean something to me. and it always will. i'm the most romantic, sentimental, gooey person i know. try as i might since my brush with love ended, i can't get rid of that facet of my personality. i'm definitely not as naive anymore. but i will always be a romantic. and for me to know that our relationship, my first and only relationship, ended that badly was hard enough to deal with; for him to say something to the effect that it in retrospect it didn't matter to him was pretty shattering.

and then we talked a bit - a lot - more; with him saying he did care. when i told him it seemed like he didn't care much he said the reality was far from that. which to be honest was incredibly relieving to hear - sometimes the thought that he was maybe, lying alone at night, reminiscing fondly... sometimes that was all i could think of to reassure myself. the hurt that i felt and still occasionally feel is so crippling. i've learned to deal with it a lot better since then. no more stays in the hospital for me. the period of our demise was the hardest time i have ever had to go through, and not simply because of our breakup. the things i was dealing with at home were most definitely taking their toll on me, and to suddenly not have anybody there to help me get through all of that left me so alone.

i know we have both grown up, changed, tried to forget as much as possible. but even thinking now that there was a possibility none of it had meant anything to him i'm close to tears. it meant so much to me. too much, undoubtedly. but the way it ended has no effect on how i ultimately feel.

i wish i had been as lucky as him. i've never been able to find that kind of closeness and ensuing happiness again. still, i'm only 19, so no doubt i will eventually. but at this stage it kind of limits how "over it" i can get. i made the most of my singledom in my last year of high school. to be honest i kind of took that too far. skanking round is not what i'm looking for anymore. but it was what i needed at the time.

i feel so pathetic and lame. like honestly. it has been a very, very long time. but it was such a definitive part of my adolescence. hopefully my twenties will bring about a change. i'll be able to leave those definitions behind. and thankfully this epoch will be one in which i'm not as naive, lessons learned etcetera.

rargh! don't wanna go back to the flat!!

2007-08-11T20:57:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'colourful' - rocco deluca

i really am dreading going back up to the flat tomorrow. it's been a blast pretty much the whole year, but lately everything has just driven me crazy and it's turned me into this cranky irritable mess. i've done sweet f-all the ENTIRE time i've been home, and it's been insanely boring. but at least my sister has worked for a large portion of my time at home, thus reducing the amount of time i have had to deal with her. i'm super glad i've got my new laptop now: might spend as much time as humanly possible alone in my room, just me and my sweet sweet laptop. definitely looking forward to our flat next year.

tonight i was watching this tv show called hotel inspector. and the hotel being inspected - ha.ha. - had a really swish function room which they were trying to turn into like a really popular place for people to have wedding receptions. so, obviously, i was hooked!

http://www.theknot.com/

the mere fact that i know that website - since the age of 14 - should tell you something. i am royally obsessed with weddings. my worst fear in life is to always be a bridesmaid, never the bride. and at the rate i'm going this fear will be realised. anyway, this show reminded me of the movie the wedding planner with j.ho in it. there is this one scene that really resonated with me: she's planned this incredibly lush, romantic wedding... and then she goes home to her meal-for-one and turns back the covers of one side of her bed.

last night i was talking to tim about the possibility of going to brisbane next year. i would really love to, for obvious reasons: but i'm only gonna go if i'm skinny. wouldn't want to go over there unless i could show something off in a bikini for jade, haha. speaking of which, i haven't stuck to my diet AT ALL the entire time i've been home. oh well... if i don't buy the naughty foods in dunedin, then i won't have them to eat. problem solved.

anyway, brisbane next year would be super rad. damo & jade live in an apartment right in the middle of the city, and even if we went in winter it would still be hot enough for us invercargillites! not sure how it would work though, if i was the only girl with a bunch of guys. however, i am planning on being hot enough to attract the attention of one of them. but we'll see how i go.

just thought i would write a wee ditty... sorry the content is so worthless, oops!

peace.

joy bars and other things i heart

2007-08-08T21:39:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'tears dry on their own' - amy winehouse [yep still obsessed]

does anybody remember these? apparently, in order to celebrate the 70th birthday of joy bars - chocolate on the outside, jellytip [best icecream flavour OF ALL TIME] on the inside mmm - they [whoever "they" are] have re-released them. yay! i remember getting them from the kiosk at queens park, after playing in the main playground but before heading to te castle.. so, after you read this, go out and get a joy bar. you definitely won't regret it yo!!

so, what else have i been thinking about lately? to be honest, not a lot. i know i have a couple of assignments due soon, so i've kind of been reading over some stuff... i have one for psyc112 [just my lab report, on social interdependence] and also a short essay for coms206, about the history of radio. it's very exciting times.

note to self: today you remembered that one of the books you want to read before you die is paradise lost.

today i also decided that as soon as i get paid tomorrow, i'm off to buy amy winehouse's 'back to black' cd: this obsession shows no sign of letting up. i never thought i would like a singer as much as mariah but i'm getting close!!

i was meant to go back up to dunedin today, but decided to stay down here to pick up my laptop. so i'm still at home, the highlight of my day being a walk round windsor with zsa zsa. in other words, invercargill has been pretty boring.

let's talk about invercargill for a second. i've lived here my entire life, and unlike 99% of the people my age i don't hate it, and was nonchalant about leaving. invercargill, according to http://www.invercargill.org.nz/, is "is favourably placed on the Southern Scenic Route and is the gateway to some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery and destinations including the Southland heartland, Stewart Island, Fiordland and the Catlins." it's a pretty small, obscure town but the people i know from down here are the best friends i could ever have. i guess it just illustrates that you can have fun wherever you are - it's what you make of it. cos we have definitely had a lot of crazy fun times down here!

I went to james hargest college [formerly james hargest high school] and year thirteen - our last year at school - was seriously the best year of my life. which was a massive relief, especially after the year that had preceded it. but i don't really have the guts to talk about that just yet. i didn't really do any extracurricular stuff, but i definitely had a flourishing social life. 2005 was undoubtedly a year in which i made the most of opportunities presented to me.

as much as i love invercargill, i know there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored and experienced. i'm a major daydreamer, and one of my favourite things to think about is which countries and places i'm dying to travel to. wanderlust has definitely been well and truly instilled in me by parents who have unfortunately never had the opportunity to experience the things they wanted to.

top 10 places i want to visit:

barcelona, spain
new york, usa
gallipoli, turkey
lisbon, portugal
pompeii, italy
ireland [in general, but especially dublin & county kerry]
rwanda [in general, to do volunteer work]
costa rica [in general]
savannah, usa
crete

i'm in a very list-ish mood tonight. so here's another one:

top 10 things i love right now

amy winehouse
joy bars
jessica stam

this pair of yellow patent leather open toed wedges that i saw... will buy them asap
this picture:
the colour orange [but then again, when am i not an advocate for orange??]
big sunglasses as usual
the fact that there are new posts on http://community.livejournal.com/foto_decadent
pantene hair masks
the ending in 'harry potter & the deathly hallows'

well kids i'm out! kisses

me in a nutshell..

2007-08-07T16:42:00.000+12:00

Advanced Global Personality Test Results

Extraversion		63%
Stability		20%
Orderliness		43%
Accommodation		70%
Interdependence		70%
Intellectual		43%
Mystical		43%
Artistic		70%
Religious		56%
Hedonism		36%
Materialism		83%
Narcissism		36%
Adventurousness		30%
Work ethic		30%
Self absorbed		30%
Conflict seeking		70%
Need to dominate		70%

Romantic		90%
Avoidant		50%
Anti-authority		50%
Wealth		56%
Dependency		76%
Change averse		63%
Cautiousness		83%
Individuality		50%
Sexuality		50%
Peter pan complex		56%
Physical security		56%
Physical Fitness		30%
Histrionic		90%
Paranoia		50%
Vanity		76%
Hypersensitivity		90%
Indie		45%

Stability results were low which suggests you are very worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.

Orderliness results were moderately low which suggests you are, at times, overly flexible, improvised, and fun seeking at the expense of reliability, work ethic, and long term accomplishment.

Extraversion results were moderately high which suggests you are, at times, overly talkative, outgoing, sociable and interacting at the expense of developing your own individual interests and internally based identity.

Trait Snapshot:
open, tough, irritable, worrying, does not like to be alone, craves attention, low self control, emotionally sensitive, interacting, sad, very social, aggressive, prefer organized to unpredictable, dependent, social chameleon, suspicious, values the heart over the mind, likes large parties, outgoing, likes to make fun, likes to fit in, mildly phobic, vain, makes friends easily, enjoys leadership, clingy, rash

spoiled? not?

2007-08-07T14:00:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'don't stop the music' - rihanna

well my old laptop has completely crapped out [for the millionth time] and i had finally managed to convince my parents to let me put a new one on hire purchase. so i had sussed out a sweet deal for a lappy and a printer, since i don't have one, and dad and i went to the store to go get it this morning. but then my dad got all huffy bout how he had to fill in like an income thing since he was my guarantor. which i thought was pretty lame cos it's not like he doesn't earn much money and was embarassed or anything.
so then we went home in silence... i was fully not impressed. i didn't know how he was expecting me to do all my university assignments etc if i didn't have a working laptop. so then i stomped up to my room.. i was in such a rage, cos i'm just so frustrated. my old laptop has had sooo many issues with it, i basically haven't even had a working laptop for the 2 years i've been at university. it just had a spazz whenever it felt like it - and it was almost always around the time i had a ton of assignments due!
so i went up to my room all angry and whatevs and being the hyperemotional brat i am, i threw heaps of books and crap round my room. and like threw my shoes at the wall.
i know i'm just being a spoiled wee dork, but i don't care. it worked anyway.

foto decadent

2007-08-06T13:15:00.000+12:00

listening to: 'stay'- lisa loeb
late last night, while making a futile attempt to spruce up my page layout - as a sidenote, can anybody help me with this? - i found the most amazing website of my life. i spent hours and hours on it..

i love everything fashionable, and i love avant-garde, and i love photography. so finding foto decadent, a community on livejournal, was like finding a life source or something. i have barely looked through a minute amount of the stuff thats on there, and i'm hooked. now, back to scouring f.d for more!

i thought i would share a few of the pictures that have captured my attention so far. hopefully this works.

ps: yay it did!

baby's first blog.

2007-08-05T23:55:00.000+12:00

listening to: '20 good reasons' - thirsty merc

well here i am, finally joining the whole blogging craze.

but with pretty much everything else i have ever attempted, i have arrived [far] too late to be trendy. le sigh.

i'm alana, and even though my grammar throughout this will be for the most part adhered to, i never type in capitals. unless i'm p-d off.i'm not really sure what to write about, especially now. do i tell you about myself? basically the only reason i've joined is to vent all the trivial intricacies of my mind so i don't go crazy. or drive my friends crazy. i have a myspace and a bebo, which is where most of my friends are at, but those aren't really places to discuss how neurotic you are.

i've lived in the same small city in new zealand for my entire 19 years. for the past 2 of those 19 years i have been studying in dunedin; but i don't consider that home. more about my studies, and how mindless they are, later.

my parents are relatively happily married and i have a younger sister who drives me insane. more on her later too.

i am a pretty average, unremarkable person, especially on the surface. maybe here i can express myself in ways i can't anywhere else.

ps: hopefully over the duration of this blog my writing will become less pretentious and actually resemble something readable.

stay rad.