Saturday, December 4, 2010

there goes another few hundo.

Every few weeks or so I have a mini freak out about my shopping habits. One of such episodes occurred on Thursday, when I walked into my bathroom and actually stopped to have a look around. I counted 16 pairs of shoes and 22 dresses. In my bathroom. That's more pairs of shoes and more dresses than some girls (okay, a handful of girls) own in their lifetime, just in my bathroom. I made a mental note that I did not need to buy myself any more new clothes or shoes or bags until at least past Christmas.

The episode was short lived however, and I was back to my old ways the next morning, when I went in to work early to finish my xmas shopping (which I did, yay!) and wound up with a new bag and two new dresses for myself. oops.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

summer holidays


Apologies again for the lag kids!

By now the uni year's wrapped up for most of us: we're busy enjoying freedom - and it tastes oh so sweet! It'd taste a hell of a lot sweeter though, if we weren't having such crumby winter-esque weather. It's poo. I hate the rain, makes me so friggin' miserable.

At least I don't feel like I'm wasting hot summer days stuck inside at work though. On cold, rainy days, I usually quite enjoy work - it's warm enough inside for me to still rock pretty summer dresses, (and water and stain protectors are much easier to sell lol)

Anyyywayyy.

I'm pretty broke due to upcoming Christmas. In our family we don't buy presents for the adults anymore - only the kids - but I STILL have to buy upwards of 24 presents. Gah. And we're not even christian!

Combine xmas with the flood of 21st, and I'm pretty much living from paycheck to paycheck, scraping by with a bit of extra money made from a few items listed on ebay here and there. So I've been trying to cut back on shopping for myself...HAHAHAH...good one.

Here are a few things that I couldn't resist:

- This gorgeous vintage-style pleated floral dress (ESQ, $25 down from $50) - so girly and pretty...I couldn't help but do some twirls! Fun fact: I bought this while on my lunch break at work. I had just been to deposit some money into my bank account, and promptly spent it on this (as well as another dress and a pair of shorts) about 5 minutes after leaving the bank.





- White bat-wing top (Just Jeans, $15 down from $60) & black high-waisted shorts (ESQ, $15 down from $30), teamed here with my favourite new knuckle duster from forever 21


- Windsor Smith suede leather wedge lace up booties (Wanted, $40 - down from $160!). Love love loveeeee.



All in all a good week, methinks!

I'm sorry that this entry's so flat. I'm feeling tired/sick/blah. Will aim to be more entertaining next time!

Until then! xx

Sunday, October 31, 2010

I am sick of these 'I am' titles

Hellllloooooo all!

Apologies again for the massive break in blogging. I've meant to, I really have - every now and then I'd stop and make a mental note to share a little somethin' somethin' with you guys but I've just not been able to get around to it, with work and uni and family and facebook and general laziness and all. I'm not gonna promise to start blogging regularly or anything (don't try to change me, baby) and with exam season looming - yurck - it's looking more and more likely that this post may have to suffice for the next two weeks or so. But I'm here now, and that's what's important right? Right.

Two weeks and one day ago I banned myself from shopping. I know. But let me give you the back story.

Almost two years ago I started moving from my room into my sisters old room after she moved out. I never actually ended up moving completely out of my room - and the other room, essentially, became my walk-in wardrobe. It now houses my shoe collection (of more than 360 pairs), as well as hundreds of dresses and tops (no exaggeration), and an abundance of jeans, skirts, shorts, playsuits, jackets, coats, scarves, gloves, hats, and a few bags & belts (but my collection of belts smaller-sized bags lives in my other room). Most of the time this room is a mess. Any girl who needs to find something to wear in the morning will understand why.

Where most of my belts and smaller bags live

Every few months I do a cleanout, and sort things out into one of four piles: things to keep, things to sell on ebay, things to give to family, things for charity. In most cases, half of the clothes still have tags on them, and the shoes are either new or only worn once. Last time I did a major cleanout, I ended up with a good 5 garbage bags for charity, 5 for ebay, and 5 or so for family. And when it came to putting stuff back in the cupboard I still had to go out and buy another 50 coat hangers. and that STILL wasn't enough. I had to hang up to 10 garments on the same hanger, which isn't an easy feat. Needless to say, I broke a lot of hangers trying.

I know this doesn't look too bad, but keep in mind I threw out over 45 shirts and about 5 pairs of shorts & 5 pairs of jeans prior to taking this picture!


There's a filing cabinet preventing me from taking a full length shot of this section of my 3-panel-wall-long-built-in-wardrobe


A small snippet of the shoes


It's now at a point where I don't even need hangers to keep clothes up anymore...I can just shove a dress in to my wardrobe and it'll stay up because its just packed in that tight. I've found dresses that I'd forgotten I had in my wardrobe after sticking my hand a little further back. I know it doesn't look that bad in the pictures, but trust me, it's so much worse in real life...I struggle to pull the clothes apart when I'm looking for a particular item!

So anyway, a few weeks back I was feeling guilty for having spent three times what I'd been paid that week: I'd only done two shifts, and had filled my spare time with mid-season sales. So after a week-long (or rather, life-long) shopping spree I thought I'd sit there and actually write down what I had bought.

It went a little like this...

Monday - got sidetracked on the way to class
@Topshop: 2 full-length jumpsuits ($20)
Review: 2 necklaces, 2 bags, 1 scarf ($96)

Tuesday - I chose to shop instead of eat on my lunch break at work
Dotti: 4 dresses (2 were maxis), 1 bag, 1 (p)leather jacket ($82.50)
Bardot: Lace leotard ($10)

Friday - shopping with my cousin at Mac Square
Sportsgirl: 1 dress, a bottle of nude nail polish, 1 bag, 1 belt, 1 ring ($80.75)
General Pants: 1 Urban Originals oversized wallet ($25)
Factorie: 1 maxi dress, 2 rings ($35)
Valleygirl: 1 blazer ($30)
Lovisa: 1 ring ($40)
Ally: 1 straw fedora, 1 dress, 2 tops, 1 pair of jeansn ($84.95)
Dotti: 1 top, 2 maxis, 1 pair of shoes ($46)

Saturday - shopping on my lunch break again, but I ate this time!
Forever new: 2 pairs of heels ($19.90! and they're leather!)

So the total came to just over $570 for 9 dresses, 4 bags, 4 rings, 3 tops, 2 playsuits, 2 necklaces, 1 blazer, 1 leather jacket, 1 scarf, 1 belt, 1 wallet, 1 hat, and nail polish. I also have a pair of shorts and another bag written down here too, but I don't remember where I got them or how much they cost or what exact items I may have been noting here. Haha that's a bad sign isn't it?

I seriously scared myself with that list. I actually contemplated going to see a shrink about my addiction - but then I thought about it, and decided I'd rather spend the amount of money I'd spend paying to see a shrink on clothes & shoes. LOL

So I put myself on a shopping ban: no more purchasing of clothes or shoes for myself for as long as possible. And I was going soooo well up until yesterday. I had gone two weeks successfully resisting the call of the mid season sales. Sure I'd had a sneak peak here and there, but I'd resisted buying anything (even despite that close call I had with that pair of gorgeous pair of leather Peeptoe booties with gold buttons I'd wanted for ages...that were on sale for only $80 from $399).

And then it happened. Those damned five words called out to me in big red and white writing. Buy one get one free. Forever New, you're an addict's dream/nightmare. I scored that lace playsuit I had eyed when it first came in two weeks earlier (RRP $90), and one for my cousin, for what worked out to be $35 each, 2 pairs of leather lined ballet flats (RRP $60/pair) for a total of $15, and 2 vintage style hats for $10! Total spent was $95, with a saving of $275 on the total RRP...could you really blame me for relapsing?!

Monday, October 11, 2010

I am...sorry for neglecting you!

Hey all! Or...well...I'm not even sure how many (or how few) people read this crap. I mean...this...uhh...brilliant literary work.

I've been a tad busy with exams and assessments and work and birthdays and weddings (and shopping) as of late, so I haven't really had much time for other extra-curricular activities.

This is gonna be a quick one...I'm just here to tell you that the final 3 have been announced for the Westfield Insider gig & while I'm sadly not one of them, I did happen to have the pleasure of meeting one of said finalists at the interviews at Liverpool a few weeks back.

Mr Samnang Sou is extremely cute, super-dooper friendly, knows his style, and in my very humble opinion, is more than worthy of the Insider crown (you may have caught his cameo on the ACA video). So pleaasssseee vote for him here! (you'll also go in the draw to win a $5000 Westfields gift card so it's worth a shot!)

I'll be back in a few days to update you on my past few purchases (involving a very satisfying trip to Review). Until then!

Thursday, September 30, 2010

I am satisfied...and super dooper broke

As a treat to myself for actually starting my assignment (due next week; and when I say start I mean really...just start - i.e. name, title, student number, first heading) I thought I'd take the morning off (because my normal routine of sitting around and watching t.v. is very strenuous work). The plan was to head to DFO & Westfield Parramatta, for a spot of light shopping, mainly for birthday presents for a few close friends.

6 hours and $600 later, the total stands at 11 dresses, a top, 2 bags, 2 belts, 6 pairs of shoes, 4 necklaces, a ring, 2 cardis, a pair of shorts, 2 pairs of slippers, some unmentionables, a denim jacket, a wallet, a scarf (plus a birthday present that I'd rather not disclose) and my pick for bargain of the day, a beige genuine suede leather jacket from Just Jeans, which I picked up for only $29.95! The shopping was insane. Like, even more insane than the way that Sarrah Murdoch used the word. INSANNEE.



DFO was bargain-hunter's paridise with a further 50% all reduced items at Dotti, Oroton an Peter Alexander; a further 40% off at Country Road; a further 30% off atPortmans; and a further 25% off at Barkins. It got to a point where I put a pair of boots that were on sale for less than $20 at Barkins back on the shelf because it was too expensive in comparisson to the other stuff I'd bought that day. I'll probably regret that one tomorrow. Mossman also had some great sales on, but again, having paid $5 for a dress at Dotti, I wasn't even prepared to spend a mere $40 on a gorgeous floral smock (something that I'm already regretting now).

At Parramatta I snapped up some gorgeous necklaces from my favourite accesories store, Lovisa: they had 3 for $10 on sale items & I just couldn't help myself! Also picked up an amazing black & gold ring for only $10, full price! The love affair is only getting stronger.

All in all, a good day. But I'm on too much of a high to concentrate. I'm sorry Uni, you lose again.

Ps, here are some snaps from Saturday night. Final outfit cost was only $86 (not including the blazer I chucked over the top at the end of the night - the one from the ACA challenge). Silk maxi dress (Portmans, $10); gold leather belt (Just Jeans, $1); earings ($15, Alex Perry for Diva); necklace ($25, Lovisa); cuff ($10, Lovisa); ovesized flower ring ($5, Forever 21); heels ($20, Sachi from Zu Clearance in Melbourne).


Sunday, September 26, 2010

I am exhausted

It's 21st season - I've had at least two every weekend of the month. This weekend was particularly intense, starting off with work all day Friday, then straight off to the city for dinner & karaoke for a uni mate's birthday.

Going straight from work meant that I had to pack my outfit for the night & bring it to work with me, which always stresses me out because I have a tendency to forget things like the accessories or shoes or the right underwear. And not having time to do a quick outfit check in the morning resulted in having to bring a bag more suited to a weekend away ( containing two pairs of shoes, several rings & bangles, and two jacket options).

I didn't end up going with either of the two shoe options I'd packed, instead opting for a pair that I had been eying at work but had been hesitating about. The only size left was a full size too big for me, but I didn't care, I loved them. Loved them in a way that no man could understand; loved them like I could love no man. They made my legs go on for days... And they were on SALE, for a ridiculously small amount. What did it matter that I couldn't take two steps in them without having a near death experience?? One pair of partyfeet & one pair of heel grips later, I thought I'd be okay...and I was...for the first 20 minutes. Halfway through the night, however, I was ready to make base camp in the middle of the street, with plans to head for the summit in the morning. Painnnnn.

This was the final outfit ($61): black/gold speck dress with cutout back ($7, Mink), bangles ($3, Gloss), gold plaited leather belt ($1, Just Jeans), 'love' double finger ring ($13, Lovisa), diamante ring ($17, Alex Perry for Diva), studded suedette platform heels ($20, Betts)

I don't care how much they hurt, I WILL wear them again. No pain no gain, baby.

Okay so I've just realised how flat this entry's sounding, so I might just save the rest of my weekend adventures for tomorrow, when I'm hopefully more rested and entertaining...but just one more thing before I go: I'm OBSESSED with my new double finger 'Love' ring from Lovisa. I must admit that I laughed at knuckle dusters when they first came out, but like high waist jeans, harem pants, and shoulder pads, they've totally grown on me, and I now will not leave the house without one.
Until tomorrow, my lovelies!

Thursday, September 23, 2010

I am dying to go shopping

I've got an itch that needs scratching, and it's one of those ones that never really go away. You know, like when you have a mozzie bite on the sole of your foot, and no matter how much or how hard you scratch, you can never be relieved of? Imagine there's a pesky mosquito following you around your whole life, and somehow biting that spot on the sole of your foot every day. Now replace 'sole' with 'soul', and replace 'a pesky mosquito' with 'the need to go shopping'. (Okay so it doesn't flow directly from that previous sentence because you end up with 'Imagine there's the need to go shopping following you around your whole life, and somehow biting that spot on the soul of your foot every day,' but you get where I was going with that one!)

19 hours since my last purchase (a gorgeous vintage-style oversized clutch from Forever New, half price at $25) and I've got the shopping-addict's equivalent to smoker's twitch.


Temporary relief is found while poking around on fb: the Valleygirl fan page has lead me to their website, where a cute little romper catches my eye. And its on SALE for only $19.95. I could order it online...but I want it today. Not because I have any fancy occasions on or anything (not that jumpsuits would be very suitable atire for such fancy occasions), but because most of the time I like my purchases to be tangible. That's not to say I don't get that thrill when I arrive home to a package with my name on it, believe me, I do, but things feel so much better when they're in hand. Or on body. Or on foot. Plus, postage fees? Pssht. There's an extra 8 bucks I could've used on clothes/shoes/accessories!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

I am in love

I've been DYING to wear my new Lovisa necklace out, and Saturday night is looking like the night! I'm thinking strapless Portmans printed maxi (which I picked up at their clearance store for only $10 from $200), gold plaited belt ($1 at Just Jeans), chunky heels (the $60 Rubi ones from the ACA challenge), shiny locks (I grew them myself!), and this baby:


Love, love, loooooveeeeee! With that amazing amount of detail, it's sure to become one of my staple show-pieces this upcoming party season. You'd expect similar pieces from no-name designers to start at $50 (if you're lucky), but I picked this beauty up for only $25!

Diva, watch out, there's a shiny (fairly) new kid on the block, and I'm a sucker for sparkles...

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

I am a shoppaholic.

Monday:
So there I was in my bathroom, getting myself ready for - but dreading- the day ahead. Black harems, military boots and a khaki top would have to do it for today - a long night of cramming for a mid semester exam had left me tired and lazy. Quick mirror check: I think better of it and throw on some chunky accessories - tired and lazy are no match for stylish and, for lack of a better word, vain.

And then from the background noise (Kyle & Jackie O) I hear it...did that lady just say something about...shopping?! I'm suddenly alert my eyes widen as if for some reason that would help me to hear the lady on the radio better - damn my slow/inappropriate reactions. Apparently Westfield is looking for an Insider: a savvy shopper who knows how to get on trend looks, on a budget. Apparently the good people at Westfield are looking for me.

Never have I believed that a role was more perfect for me - I mean, paid to go shopping?
Anyone who knows me knows that if shopping were a sport, I'd be a world class athlete - and the thrill of finding a bargain would be my performance enhancing drug of choice.

Applications don't close until the October 1st, but of course I can't get it off my mind. Sorry medical & applied physiology, several hours of cramming for you just got wiped out by the prospect of actually earning money while buying that pair of Tony Bianco's I fell in love with the other day.

I spend the next two days getting a CV, 300-word response, photo & video together. Not my best work, but pretty decent, and the best I can do considering my increasing anxiety about applying in time to get an interview slot in Sydney. My heart sinks: I'm rostered on to work all day Tuesday, the day of the interviews. Poos. But wait - I read on & discover that all's not lost! They're being held at Livepool Westfields (where I work!) & it'd be a piece of cake getting the morning off. Seriously, did I NEED any more proof that the job was made for me? I submit my application and eagerly keep checking the website for updates.

Thursday:

Lace dress ($20, Dotti), black cut-out high waist belt ($10, Glassons), black tights ($15, Forcast), silver flats ($4, from NZ), red leather jacket ($150, Wrangler).

Checking out the competition, and its fierce! The guys and girls that are feaured on the Westfield website so far are intimidatingly cool, & genetically blessed. My application's still not up. Sad face.

Friday:
Grey romper ($20, ValleyGirl), tan belt ($6, Dotti), black singlet ($10, ValleyGirl), taupe sandals ($55, Betts), black quilted bag ($30, SES).








I'm finally dressed after two hours of trying outfits on, checking them out in the mirror, disapproving, and flinging them off (my bedroom & bathroom are messes yet again). I check my phone & I've received a missed call from an unknown number. I check my voicemail and almost die in excitement: Corrine from Westfields wants to know if I'd be interested in participating in an A Current Affair's piece that they'd be filming before the interviews on Tuesday. It takes me two hours to get back through to her, but I finally get a hold of her & tell her I'd be absolutely thrilled to be a part of it! I'm beaming for the rest of the day.

Rose from PR emails be the brief for the Westfield Fashion Insider Challenge that arvo - me & two other girls are to be given $200 to create an outfit (including shoes & accessories) that covers one of this season's trends: the maxi dress (or skirt), nautical, military, nudes & pastels, the blazer, the romper, coloured denim, or the techno (digital print) dress. Sounds like my sort of thing!

Saturday:
Blue paisely print maxi dress ($18, some random shop in Liverpool), tan high waist belt ($7.50, Supre), flat sandals ($44, Betts), oversized flower ring ($20, Forever New), lightwash denim jacket ($20, Supre).





My boss approves my request for the morning off on Tuesday. I spend that night at a friends 21st, telling anyone & everyone about the Westfield Insider gig & that I'm gonna be on tv. Hells to the yayyer.


Monday:

Black romper ($10, Forever New), oversized flower ring ($7, Forever 21), flat sandals ($44, Betts), vintage bag ($2, Vinnies), Sunnies ($10, markets)






I become increasingly nervous about interviews & the Fashion Challenge - especially because I find out that we're only getting 20 minutes to complete the challenge. I reaaaalllyyy don't want to choke or look stupid on camera/in front of all those important people. Knowing me I'll come off as the biggest bimbo. It takes me ages to fall asleep that night, I toss and turn for hours - the damn butterflies won't let me sleep.

Tuesday:
Floral maxi ($45, Forever New), gold belt ($1, Just Jeans), denim vest ($40, Forever New), oversized floral ring ($20, Forever New), flat sandals ($44, Betts), vintage bag ($2, Vinnies)... no photos, but check out the aca video :)

The. Big. Day. We spend the morning filming for the ACA story - it's so much fun & everyone's incredibly nice & friendly! The other two girls are gorgeous & really know their stuff (one works for Women's Day, and the other's been blogging for over a year - and her blog is just a-mazing). I make a mental note to catch up to them - perhaps I should start blogging again...

The Challenge is over before I've had a chance to even take a breath (and by the end I'm dripping sweat - very attractive), and we model our new outfits in front of fashion royalty, STYD editor Justine Cullen, and social commentator Melissa Hoyer. We all have very different takes on the maxi dress - I love them all! No winner is announced but come on - $200 worth of free clothes/shoes/accessories?? It sounds to me like we ALL won!






Black embellished maxi ($45, Candy & lace), strappy clog-style heels ($60, Rubi), Ring, bangles & bag ($7 all together, Gloss Clearance Store), nude blazer with lace detail ($40, Sweet Acacia from MA Runway), sunnies ($13, Cotton On).

I rush back to work/reality after interviews, and the thought of being able to see myself on telly that night gives me the energy to push through the day.

I'm ecstatic with the end product, and I appreciate what a clown I looked like on the show, tripping over shoes that were still tied together. Sigh, it wouldn't be me without at least some sort of clutzy mishap. Oooh- here come the text messages & fb posts; I'm gonna enjoy it while I can & stretch these 15 minutes as far as I can!


Thanks to Westfields, their PR team, the ACA team, the judges, & those awesome girls and guys who inspired me to get back on the blogosphere today :)

xx Vinnie