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

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

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

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?!

stage mother (boboniaa)

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.