Alice in a Tea Cup

Lucky Break

2008-10-15T20:52:00.003+11:00

Due to popular demand I won't be allowing Alice to drown. she will be saved albeit though a little slowly!

I'll be alternating posting between here and http://www.christine-louise.blogspot.com/ just for some variety depending upon post content.

xx Christine

the future?

2008-09-27T22:39:00.003+10:00

to all the lovely people wondering what has happened, head over to christine-louise and discover the other side of me (warning: it's a little on the dramatic side of life). i'm not sure what i will be doing with Alice in Tea Cup but I think she may just be drowning... (sorry). I will get back to style blogging but most likely within a new blog or at my other one.

i am hoping to reinvent myself...

I have too many clothes... and I can't bear to part with any...

2008-07-30T22:56:00.003+10:00

The rediscovery of the wardobe revamp day. A pretty plum Jacqui E cardigan circa 2002 and it fits like a dream. So Happy!

The detailing up close and personal.

The *ahem* wardrobe extension from Howards Storage. Best $250 ever spent I think. Super simple to put together, sturdy (unlike the aldi rack i had that literally collapsed) and it's very practical.

I think I will have to devote friday to sorting through all my makeup and jewellery though, it's all in quite the tangle on my dresser at the moment. I find it so frustrating trying to keep things neat and organised and I never put things in drawers - just cannot stand it. Would love to hear about others crafty storage soloutions?

Lingering

2008-07-29T23:03:00.003+10:00

Well it's about time I updated I think. Far too much procrastination and clothes shame has been going on (alongside many a day spent at home in pj's) so time to get my act together and get back on the wagon.

Tommorrow is the BIG wardrobe cleanout which I am a little scared of right now. Especially considering 90% of it no longer fits.... ouch. But I will persist and hopefully rediscover a few things.

I still haven't had any success finding any cute tea dresses or floral prints in a size 16 so if anyone has any hints on where to find please let me know! I am desperate!

In the meantime I need a good nights sleep to prepare myself for the wardrobe assault in the AM.

Wish me Luck!

Pretty Hair

2008-07-23T19:57:00.007+10:00

Gregory Ladner

Diva

Just wanted to share my favourite hair accessories of the moment, alongside my diva black bow headband.

Inspiration?

2008-07-22T23:30:00.002+10:00

One of the many dresses discovered in my nonnas wardrobe, but I have no idea how to make it wearable...
Any suggestions?

Dreams & Dysmorphia

2008-07-11T21:08:00.003+10:00

I'm going to be honest. Honest with myself and anyone who skims across this page. Fashion may be flimsy and fun and exciting and all of that stuff that gives you a rush when it just works but this week for me.. well it just isn't.

I think my prac uniform is the obvious culprit (see previous posts) but I don't think I can place the blame squarely on its shoulders. And without trying to be miss negativity I think the problem might be me.

I have many lovely clothes & accessories & shoes and so on but I feel like I'm stuck permanently on a bad fashion day. The sort where what looked fashion forward and great in front of the mirror ends making you feel like some overdressed fool all day because you really don't have Sienna Millers life.

But it gets worse... (cue jaws theme) my big problem really is: nothing fits. And realistically, not only do I not have Sienna Millers life but I most definately do not have her figure.

This blog is supposed to be about my embracing of my shape and proving that you don't have to be a waif or even what 'normal' constitutes to dress fashionably and appropriately which places me in a conundrum: how does one preach about not looking like snow white when secretly that is what I long to do.

So I'm seeking brutal honesty and constructive critiscism on the issue. Surely I am not the only one who finds the whole size/shape/fit thing difficult. Getting it out in the open though can only be beneficial. Already I feel better having thought/typed it through.

Where do you think about vanity sizing? Should shape dictate how short a skirt can be? How many clothes are in your closet that stay in your closet because they don't 'fit' right? Do you have days where you're positive everyone is looking at your outfit and not in a good way? Do Susannah & Trinny really have all the answers?

I think as girls growing up in the new millenium we owe it to ourselves to stop feeling dysmorphic as a gender and to start embracing shapes and to start placing pressure on the fashion industry to be realistic about bodies.

Tagged

2008-07-06T18:29:00.005+10:00

I have been tagged by the lovely blog mistress at In Private Collection so I must list my Seven Songs of Winter 2008.

The rules are as follows:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now, shaping your Summer (or Winter as it is for me)
Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.
Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening to.

Violet Hill - Coldplay
To quote Dicko's review of this album, it's really 'episodic'. To get the full impact of this song you must have an insanely quiet room and the best stereo system you can get your hands on. Trust me.

Unguarded Moment - Dead Letter Chorus
http://www.myspace.com/deadletterchorus

Merry Happy - Kate Nash
The ultimate chick song. Her words stand for more than most give creedence to.
"I can watch a sunset on my own"

Unfinished Business - White Lies
Haunting but so relevant to my life.

I'm not going to teach your boyfriend how to dance with you - The Black Kids
This is my dance around the living room like an idiot song.

Viva La Vida - Coldplay
It's a medievil saga in a song.
"I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own "

A New England - Billy Bragg

"I loved you then as I love you still

I put you on a pedestal, they put you on the pill".

I tag:

Rosettes & Rocketships

Kittentails

Skylark and Son

Dililah, on the brink of bloody womanhood

Hello Lovely

It's nothing but a Lie

Merry Little Fancy Things

The Sunday Shopping Roundup

2008-07-06T17:39:00.004+10:00

Well well, what can I say? Yet again I am disappointed with Australian Retailers and the lack of interesting, well priced, quality garments.

Sportsgirl - Some nice pieces, verging a little on the outdated boho theme a little though. I exclaimed out loud at the price of this top, which I was contemplating until I spotted the price tag. For an extra $50 I can buy something of a much superior quality that I will actually wear over a few seasons as opposed to a disposable fashion item.

Portmans - Zilch, Zip. Vetoed the skirt previously mentioned on the basis of it having an organz underlay. Too annoying.

Sussan - Finally a store with new exciting clothes. Or so the poster in the window would have you believe. Nothing interesting in my size (14) though. Oh well.

Myer - Need I comment? Can we say Concession overload??

Witchery - Needs new stock. Badly.

Country Road - I love quite a few pieces but am hanging out for my spend & save.

General Pants - Didn't make it to the fitting rooms but is on the list to re-visit next week.

Target - Pretty dresses & tops but nothing that fitted right, and there were a fair few things not available in my size. But I did lash out on this Limited Editions top at the grand price of $50.

It's really all enough to make a girl want to learn to sew.....

Lemming Update

2008-07-04T22:50:00.002+10:00

I have made a promise to myself in order to reign in my Spring/Summer 08 spending. This could either be a fantastic idea or a very very bad one.

That promise is that I am allowed to spend $500 on clothes and that is it. Yes that's right. From July until December it will be game on Target, Temt and Valley Girl. eeepppp. Oh and the op shop. Lots of the op shop.

The plan is that I'm going to lose the spare 10kg that will bring me back down from the heffalump stage I am currently in so I won't need to buy new clothes because I will fit back into so many wonderful pieces.

But I will be buying hip skimming, bust accentuating Tea Dresses, and a few of them at that, I have decided. Nothing makes me feel better about myself than a few floaty ruffles and a pretty floral print.

Here are a few I am dreaming about.

Jovovich-Hawk
Kelly silk dress

Marc by Marc Jacobs
Moonburst sundress

Be & D
Kan Kan ruffle tote

^^ I know it's not a dress, but wow! It is to die for. I am currently scheming a plan to make it mine.

A blessing in disguise?

2008-07-01T18:57:00.003+10:00

Uniforms are currently the bane of my existence. Well, one uniform in particular - Mine.

You see, I am a nursing student and along with that title comes the most hideous outfit I have ever laid eyes on complete with Navy shoes. Yes you read correctly, Navy. The only consolation being that they are of our own choosing provided they are enclosed and flat.

Admittedly I do secretly love my nursing shoes (but only because they have bows on them), although it did take me months to track them down after spotting them in my Nonna's Womens Weekly.

The other components of my uniform consist of ugly, high waisted navy pants, a shirt with a too high neckline and a too high V split below the bottom button and an ever so glamorous polar fleece vest and matching jumper as modelled by me below. Oh and please excuse the no makeup and headband - my best example of what I don't want to look like!

So my question is really, how can you/do you make your uniform look semi decent when you have no choice control? I usually try and wear makeup and pretty earrings with some sort of hair accessory but this tends to fly out the window a little with all the early starts.

For the most part (whilst at the hospital) I can deal with looking drab - it's when I have to catch the bus that the heffalump dread takes hold and I start to feel very uncool.

So what do you do to make your uniform 'your own'?

The cutest dress I have ever owned.

2008-06-30T00:19:00.003+10:00

Don't you just wish your childhood favourites still fitted? Well I do, I had the best wardrobe ever at the age of eight. I think it's been on a decline ever since!

Shopping & Dinner with the Boy

2008-06-26T23:34:00.007+10:00

Face: See Previous Post

Earrings: Diva

Scarf: Pashmina via Phuket

Dress: Tiger Seven (Independant designer from Bangkok - Siam Square)

Stockings: Columbine Opaques & Razza Matazz Fishnets (Inspired by The Life Aesthetic)

Shoes: Scooter

Bracelet: Mimco

Four Year Anniversary with the boy today and in true style we went to GPK and had coke & pizza (or in my case a coke spider).

I felt a little conspicuous with the red stocking/fishnet combination but I think that's just me. As for the smock dress.. well I felt that I should try and get a little more wear out of it before smocks fly off the fashion radar completely. I really love the dress though, it's my throw on the floor and step on, pick up and looks fabulous dress.

Inherited Vintage

2008-06-26T14:04:00.007+10:00

Gulp... my first posting of myself. Please be kind. I found it a little challenging to take a full length pic of myself so I'm going with the puzzle piece theme for the moment.

Face
MUFE Concealer
MUFE Sculpting Blush in 8 on eyes & cheeks
Pop Blue Eyes Grey E/S
Napoleon Rhapsody Pencil
Random Black Pencil
Clinique High Impact Mascara
Benefit Her Glossiness Gloss

White Rosebud earrings from my childhood
Mimco Headband

My Nonna's Bow Jumper circa 1982

My Mum's Just Jeans Moleskins from the mid 90's

Boots from Scooter (aw08)

Current Portmans Lemming

2008-06-26T11:12:00.000+10:00

I love this skirt.

The bug caught me!

2008-06-25T00:11:00.002+10:00

Apologies for the lack of fashionable musings relevant to the topic at the moment. Am stuck in bed with the flu so therefore not fit for photographing!

I did however splurge on an Olympus FE-320 on the weekend and it's very cool, so please stay tuned - will attempt to get going soon :)

xx

Selling Dreams

2008-06-22T00:12:00.003+10:00

I guess this is really getting to the crux of the matter, the point of this whole exercise.

So many girls have no idea how to dress their body.

Harsh? maybe. True? very.

I work for a boutique national chain store and today I had a girl come in with very similar dimensions to myself who wanted a new dress for a party. The one she chose to try on is black, with a deep v-neck fitted bodice, short sleeves and a knee length A line skirt with a satin sash around the middle. The material is a crushed acetate or something - not entirely sure.

So she tries it on and I have to say the dress looked amazing on her, it hugged her tiny waist and skimmed over her hips whilst accentuating her assets.

Her complaint? - That the A line skirt of the dress emphasised the difference between her hips and her waist.

She felt more comfortable in outfits that make her waist look less defined. Her words not mine.

And it just made me so angry, here's this gorgeous young thing trying to make herself look bigger than she is in an effort to demphasise her hips.

What could I say? I just smiled and nodded..............

Birthday Presents

2008-06-20T23:25:00.003+10:00

more to come.

Zara goodness

2008-06-20T21:26:00.003+10:00

I am devastated. Not only do we miss out on all the fabulous Zara clothes here in Australia, but it seems they are holding out on homewares also. http://www.zarahome.com/ And the prices are rather reasonable too IMO. These are just two simple pieces that caught my eye.

I love that this is green glass, it reminds me of the antiques my mother collects. Very vintage yet classic enough and different enough to be a standout.

This is really simple but I'm drawn to the block colour and the effortless contrast of the red against stark white.

*Praying for Zara in Sydney*

"Buying more and more shoes was the real solution to her problems...".

2008-06-18T23:06:00.000+10:00

I realise this relevant to all of us wannabe fashionistas who dream of ferragamo at night but I swear in my case it's like totally true (*said out loud in my best clueless voice*)

You see, it's like this, I have hips and not just normal hips. At times (mostly when my stomach is well behaved) my proportions are that of a mannequin at Review. And they're size 16 hips at the moment and as ashamed i feel to admit it.. vanity sizing is their best friend. Veronika Maine here I come. But oh wait. I don't have a corporate lifestyle? Or a spare $165 lying around.

Damm.

Soloution: Shoes!!!!!!!!!

Most recent shoe purchase: Sachi cope in patent black and suede. Problem: I can't walk in them yet.... I keep falling over in a most undignified manner.

So I guess it is only logical and practical that I buy more new pretty shoes that I can walk in to wear in the meantime because I uh wouldn't want to fall over now would I?

Disney Couture Tinkerbell Locket

2008-06-17T22:34:00.000+10:00

I wear my Tinkerbell locket nearly everyday with a few of my rings added to the chain. And I must say everytime I wear it the lovliest comments come my way.

I love that it's just the right length for me and doesn't make my chest look anymore inflated than it already is as I am quite short in my decollatage.

Basics

2008-06-17T22:15:00.001+10:00

Current High Rotation Clothing Items

Witchery tulip style denim skirt.
Country Road orange long sleeve round neck tee
Zara black high waisted box pleat skirt with pockets
Country Road indigo low rise skinny jeans
Insight black long hooded duffle coat
Vintage black velvet long line blazer
Notre Dame (my uni) oversize navy hoodie
Tiger Seven black babydoll dress
Portmans black & cream print with galaxy neckline dress
MNG v-neck tee in black, grey and pink
Club Petites v-neck knit short line knit
Country Road white high necked long sleeve tee
Random black 3/4 sleeve trench with bow belt

Unmasking the truth

2008-06-17T22:00:00.000+10:00

Oh gosh, the awkward first post where I never have a clue what to say which kinda makes it more awkward and rather cringeworthy for all reading this.

So I'll take the stock standard route of introductions to start...

Who am I?

I'm someone who is a lot older than I feel, twenty-four going on sixteen complete with a midori & pineapple fetish.

I'm a diverse, complex, high maintenace kinda girl who loves to perplex and say what everyone is really thinking but nobody is brave enough to put out there.. the downside being that I am highly emotional so it all tends to blow up in my face rather frequently.

I spent twenty-two years yearning to write for a living only to make a super snappy decision and embark upon a Nursing degree which I actually love.

I'm what you call a petite, curvy girl but I find it challenging to find clothes that do flatter and fit well, which is a shame because I love that clothes can disguise flaws and create illusions.

I love that look that people give you when you wear something a little off centre or fashion forward. I like making people think: even if it is only "Oh gosh, she looks... interesting." Any impact is a positive impact in that respect.

The world is about people.