I blue myself(?)

I have a back load of outfit posts due to my previous inactivity so I figured I'd just 'shop three thematic outfits together to save me the hassle of posting and you reading.

While red is my favourite colour this day, I will admit that when I was younger and rebelling against all things feminine, blue was the colour of choice for me. It was after all the stereotypical 'boy colour' and in my haste to disassociate myself from all things girly, I rejected the boldness of red. It seems that while I may have grown more receptive to things, some things just remain inherent. I actually wore these three outfits consecutively over three days. Need I say that navy blue is pretty up there in my books?



(left)Dress: Online, Belt: Mum's, Shoes: Topshop; (middle)Dress: thrifted Sportsgirl, thrifted belt, Topshop shoes; (right)Dress: Vintage, Tanktop: Bonds, Belt: From another dress, Shoes: Wittner
Someday I'll make a post about my favourite most useful buys. That vintage camera bag that I tote around everywhere that you see over there ranks no. 2 on that list. All that space allows me to chuck two cameras, a couple of notebooks, voice recorder and book among other things at all times. The downside to it is at events or packed places, I'm that asshole hitting everyone left, right and center with my gigantic bag as I try to get from Point A to B.

Walking in a (warm) winter wonderland

Since I've left Melbourne, I've been in mourning for the wonders that is Melbourne's Camberwell Sunday Market. Chaz and I (with Snakes and BigAd) used to go every Sunday morning, which is a huge feat for me considering I detest waking early without a life or death reason. We'd spend the day roaming around the stalls, examining the curiosities others have put up for sale, while having highly amusing debates trying to persuade each other why we should totally put down that top/skirt/kitschy phone in the shape of a grand piano (regret, Chaz!). Other times, I'd go alone and just wander around soaking in the disgustingly early sunshine while nibbling on a chocolate croissant. Okay, lies. I don't nibble, I chomp. It's certainly one of my most recommended places to visit while in Melbourne and I miss it rather dearly especially since I've been unable to find an equal venue here in Malaysia.

Last Saturday though I happened to be around Amcorp Mall and figured I'd drop by for their acclaimed weekend flea market, purported to be one of the oldest, if not oldest, flea market in the Klang Valley. Oh my gosh! So much brilliant hidden treasures waiting in this historic flea market! There's a damn good reason it's been around for as long as it has (11 years?) and the friendly folks and great wares on offer are it, I reckon. Suddenly, I've found an equal for Camberwell! I spent my time talking to this gentleman about his collection of vintage typewriters where he told me about really old models I never even thought capable of existing. I also purchased a 1960s vintage suitcase from Mrs Lee who has an amazing collection of vintage bags for sale!

I also thrifted this knitted sweater which reminded me a lot of Liv Tyler's outfit in one of my favourite movies from the 90s, Empire Records. Although technically, come to think of it, it's so much more like the sweater A.J. wore instead.


Knitted sweater: Thrifted, Top: F.O.S, Skirt: Dangerfield, Necklace: eBay

And yes, knitwear in tropical climate? Thank goodness for freezing air-conditioned offices that help justify the thicker material! There are so many things I miss about Melbourne. I'm just glad that there's one less thing to miss about that beautiful city.

Menswear Take 124951789.

I've always had a soft spot for menswear-inspired clothing, as witnessed here, here, here, here and here. I think if my figure had remained boy-ish, my wardrobe would have been completely different, less dresses and flared skirts, and more vests, tailored shorts, and slouchy tees. But puberty had to come, and force me into a pear shape. =( Damn you mother nature!!

Anyways. Despite wearing a white tee, I felt compelled to cover it up with as many pieces of black clothing as I possibly could. I'm sorry, I've tried, but I just can't do it. It's just so... white.

AA white v-neck tee, Alice in the Eve vest, Satch blazer (thrifted), UO shorts, black tights, thrifted brogues, Burberry fedora

PS. I have no idea why I'm pouting like that in my pictures. Let's just pretend that I'm not doing it...

Now You See Her, Now You Dont.

So, I think we've established by now that I am the queen of disappearing. But yeah, I think I've been very much lacking inspiration for what I wear, as well as the patience in taking my own pictures. I often wished that my apartment had a backyard or balcony that I could stand on, one preferably with heaps and heaps of natural lighting. These florescent lights are doing nothing for me. Haha. One day though, one day I shall move into a nice place, flooded with light, and set up a little photography corner. And since I'm daydreaming, it'll also have a nice big walk-in wardrobe. In fact, screw that, I'll just convert one of the spare rooms into a wardrobe, with a wall just for my bags and shoes. Ooo... a huge kitchen would be nice as well, one with heaps of counter space... And maybe an additional oven... with a nice big shelf for all my cookbooks...

So, on that note, what do you do to stay inspired? Both in what you wear, and how you take your pictures?

Marnie Skilling top, thrifted shorts, black AA leggings, Nine West boots, thrifted black scarf


Thrifted floral dress (worn as skirt), Gap black cardi, hand-me-down patent black belt, black tights, Payless patent black flats.

"It's business time," sings Flight of the Conchords

I haven't been online a lot especially since the start of my new job a week and a half ago. I was in the teaching line before but some random insanely great opportunity came my way and with sheer utter luck I now find myself working in media, the field in which I've nurtured a burning passion for since I was about yay high (gestures to hip level). This company is in new media - rather fitting since I've always been rather obsessed with its latent potential and chose a lot of new media related subjects back in school. One of my best paper at uni, the few that I'm truly proud of, talked about the convergence of new media with politics. More specifically it talked about how in time which ever political party had the upper hand in harnessing the powers of new media, be it through familiarity or information flow, will come out on top in elections. I wrote this paper in 2006. In 2008, Barack Obama and the democratic party in America clinched victory, and I daresay a big part of it had to do with their better handling of new media.

Anyway, I got off track. As it stands, I am not in politics currently, nor will I ever be in the unforseeable future. Instead you can find me at tonguechic[dot]com. It's a strange thing, this 'getting where I want to be' personal achievement. I find that I am not quite ready to introduce myself as a journalist or a writer simply because I do not think that my skills are quite worthy yet. In my mind, journalism is old school - think Dorothy Parker and the Knights of the Algonquin Round Table. It's rather ironic how my self-judgment is so entrenched in the old, when my beliefs are tilted towards the modern.

Long story cut short, my new work place is rather relaxed about clothing. Something which finally motivated me to put on the other 95% of my wardrobe that were previously not practical, especially with young'uns in the mix.

So this is me today:

Blazer: Sisley, Badge: online, Tshirt: Topman, Shorts: Valleygirl, Tights: Safeway, Melbourne, Shoes Docs via eBay


(Well not today since my outfit shots are all not in order anymore.)

If it isn't evident, I've decided to retires jeans for an undecided time being. I need a reprieve from all that length, me thinks.

Tomorrow I will be covering the MTV World Stage Live concert in Malaysia. At a loss to what to wear, I've googled some Lollapalooza 2009 style shots that you can also see here and here. My biggest issue is shoes. I haven't worn open-toed shoes/slippers in a really long time and I'm fairly certain that I have forgotten how to style it together with the rest of my wardrobe. Should I want to, I don't own any either. So what will go on my feet then?!

Challenge Outfit IV

This weekend, the Hello Sailor vintage fair was once again held in the city. I've always wanted to go, but since it only seemed to be advertised via word of mouth or through facebook (which I don't use that often), I never knew when it was. But this time, we managed to catch whispers of it just in time, and one of my most exciting buys was a tailcoat jacket. FINALLY, after so many months of searching for a decently priced one, I've found it. The only problem is that since it's a men's jacket, I'll have to get the shoulder's taken in a bit, or risk looking like a linebacker.

Anyways, this was what I wore.

Luella for target striped jacket (thrifted); Lover initiation bodysuit; Wayne Cooper skirt; black tights, thrifted brogues

My first time wearing both the jacket and the bodysuit. I'm still unsure how I feel about the jacket. I mean, I love the colour and stripes, it's all very candyman-ish. but it's just a tad on the big side for me, so from some angles, it looks sort of awkward.

It's also the first time I think I'm posting so many pictures for just one outfit, so let me know if you want fewer next time.

All in all, it was a good event. We were supposed to have gone on Sunday as well, but I had to pass due to me feeling sick. Spent the day alternatively napping and watching Torchwood instead, and even though I slept for 12h last night, I still feel kind of blah. So, keep your fingers crossed for me.

Challenge Outfit III: Alternate Looks.

Today's original outfit was inspired by this editorial.

I've always had a secret love affair for drappy, slightly baggy feminine masculine looks (I'm clearly well-versed in fashion related terms), which, in my opinion, is ridiculously chic when carried off by the right person. However, as I've neither the figure, height nor (importantly) clothing to pull it off, rummaging through my cupboard resulted in this.

Thrifted cream top; Mink Pink grey cardi; Country Road striped cardi (my mom's); thrifted scarf; thrifted shorts; Dr Marten boots

Similar to my aversion to jeans, I dislike wearing long shorts. Basically I feel that any sort of pants longer than mid thigh looks strange on me. Don't ask me to explain my neuroses. All I know is that I have a heap of them and am frequently told that they are irrational (although I'm not entirely convinced). Consequently, these thoughts were what caused me to make a last minute outfit alteration.

Funny how changing into shorts, tights and flats can change the look of the entire outfit. I also tried wearing a hat as per my previous post, but soon realized that my bun prevented them from sitting properly on my head. Oh well.