Couture! Couture!

The Spring Haute Couture shows are always my favourite, and this year was certainly no disappointment. As expected, florals were everywhere, from the recycled-paper headgear at Chanel, to the petals on the runway at Givenchy. Here were my favourite looks:

Armani Prive: wonderfully Parisian-chic, pencil-skirt silhouette, lots of stiff lace, obi-like bows on stomach, and architectural elements (LOVE the skirt on the 5th picture). Note the little fan patterns on the second skirt. ISN'T IT PRETTY?!

Chanel: classic (as always, after all, it's Chanel!), amazing floral headgear (I read that it was made from recycled office paper!), classic shape, love the tulip skirt in the 5th picture.

Christian Dior: My favourite show this season. John Galliano out-dos himself every time. Theme seems to be English Garden Party; large regal feathered hats, corsets, cinched waists and full skirts. It took me a while to decide which 6 looks I would choose to put on this post (if I had my way, the whole show would be on this post).

Elie Saab: Asian-inspired with the stiff collars and obi belts, long column gowns, ruffles and roses, pastels as expected.

Jean Paul Gaultier: rather dark and gothic for a Spring collection, but at closer inspection, one would find that there are floral cut-outs on the side of the pants and skirts, interesting element with the black 'wings' on the shoulders of several looks (pictures 4&5), no idea what it is, but I sure hope it isn't human hair.

Givenchy: Asymmetry is a biggie here. Very Balmain at a glance, with the bandage dresses and layered scallopped skirt (4th picture), but not as sparkly.

Christian Lacroix: this collection is love. Heaps of really pretty floral prints, tulle, sequins, polka dots and lace (my favouritest things ever). I find the shoes really fascinating: the cross between a ballet slipper and a pointy pump. The jackets are ridiculously pretty, and I'M GOING TO WEAR THAT DRESS IN THE THIRD PICTURES TO OUR CRUISE. It's everything in my criteria (yes, I make myself a criteria. It keeps me from leaping madly onto every single dress I see). One shouldered, huge display of some kind on the shoulder, cinched waist, poofy skirt. Tick, tick, TICK!

Valentino: I'm madly in love with all the ruffles, layers and patterns. Lots of sheath and column dresses and tall long skinny silhouettes.

School's Back

Second day back from school and I’m dying. No, really. And because I’m dying and should really be doing something school-related, I shall blog in dot points.

• Where the hell are the “new fish in the sea”?! I am of course referring to the supposed whole new class of new people were supposedly going to receive. I know of ONE new person. ONE! One of the reasons why I was looking forward to the first day of school was to see the new people. That, and my timetable.
• My timetable, I’m happy with I guess. Can’t really expect anything better.
• Except maybe my Biology teacher. Gosh, he is so daunting. Though I really shouldn’t be complaining. He’s supposed to be good. Guess I’ll have to wait to see for myself whether he really is.
• Well, at least for once we have the good teachers- one of many advantages of being a senior.
• Another being feeling superior in our white shirts.
• Speaking of which, everyone looks so OLDDDD. I need to look at some people for a few seconds longer to be able to recognise them.
• Oh, and our shirts are see-through. Now let’s go make them even more see-through by washing them every day.
• And not washing them every day is absolutely not an option considering the weather these days. I am dripping by the time I get onto the train after school. Literally.
• Although maybe not as literally as Van The Guy dripping wet. Honestly, Jenny N and I were sitting behind him in Biology. Let’s just say white shirts and extremely hot day equals even more see-through-ness and air bubbles on back. If you know what I mean.
• Reminds me of the formal.

Ok, I just typed formal. This genius idea of blogging in dot points really isn’t working is it?

9 Hours & 16 Minutes

Okay, so I know today is a Tuesday, which means Heart Du Jour day, but today is a special day. Because it's my Last Official Day of freedom. After this, all our holidays will be filled with STUDY STUDY STUDY, WORK WORK WORK. So you can see why today is a rather poignant day.

Although, I can't say I am completely sad. I mean, we're going to be SENIORS!! SENIORS!!!! Plus, the first day of year is ALWAYS fun. Everyone's brain is still mush, so there's no competition.

Anyway, back to the main purpose of this post. Here's a list of the achievements/realisations I've made in the past 6 weeks:

1. I watched welll over 30 movies. This is probably more than I have watched in the past 5 years. Actually, it would be safe to say 40 movies. Especially at the beginning of the holidays. I just sat in front of my computer, watching 4 movies a day, and eating.
2. I read the whole Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot. Yes, I'm a fan. I started reading it in year 4, and I've been hooked. Meg Cabot recently released the last book of the series, so I bought it and decided to read the whole series again from the beginning. (Yes, all 10 of the books)
3. Did I mention that I read those 10 books in 5 days? I just sat here reading about 2 books a day (sometimes 3, if I'm uninterrupted), and eating. God I'm such a slob.
4. I redecorated my room! An achievement of which I am extreeemely proud. All those hard hours of dripping with sweat (my room is upstairs, hot air rises, the temperature at ground level was 37, go figure), and my muscles crying in agony (furniture moving, paint-sponge rolling, stretching, bending, squatting, so and so). I swear I could feel the fat melt off me. I probably lost a lot of weight in those days. But then I had to gain it back on with my excessive binging.
5. I realised that I need a man like a fish needs a bicycle.
6. I also realised that my Rushh horoscope is complete BULL. WHERE ARE MY LOVERMEN. THEY WERE MEANT TO FLOCK TO ME LIKE BIRDS TO THE NORTH! OR LIKE MOTHS TO LIGHTBULBS!! WHERE ARE THEY. WHEREVER THEY ARE, THEY HAVE 3 DAYS LEFT TO WOO ME. Chances are, they won't be coming. I've given up hope.
   
7. I bought a LOT of underwear. I am not going to give you the details of the exact amount I spent, because this would convince you that I really am a lunatic, and then you'd stop reading this blog. So no. But I will say that it was a lot. And no, not just from Target or something. I mean, Elle Macpherson, Collette Dinnigan, or Bassoni. But really, nice, pretty, matching underwear makes me feel nice. You should try it.
8. Help can come from surprising places.
9. I made a school bag I am compleeeeeetely in love with. You guys will have to wait a bit longer to see it
10. I am a shopaholic. I don't mean to be. It just happened over the summer. With all the money I've been saving up from work, I felt a HUGE urge to spend it on. Like on furniture. Or curtains. Or lingerie. And now I have $30 left in the bank.

What did YOU achieve/realise this holiday?

Crazy

Four days until school officially starts again. Damn the cancelled strike. My excitement for school to start a few days ago has been replaced with dread. I just realised that in four days, WE WILL BE SENIORS!

Sure, we’ll be able to walk around in superiority in our white shirts, we’ll be able to push into canteen lines (hopefully), we’ll no longer be mistaken as year eights, but hey THERE’S A WHOLE CHUNK OF WORK AND STRESS ATTACHED TO THAT.

And I am in no way ready for that- not mentally, physically, not even in terms of sleep. Just the other day, I stay up the whole night watching Asian dramas with my mum. It wasn’t until five in the morning that she unattached herself from the sofa, claimed that she wasn’t as crazy as me, and trudged away in the direction of her bedroom only to reappear five seconds later to turn off the T.V. and claim that THERE IS NO WAY YOU’RE GOING TO CONTINUE WATCHING THIS WITHOUT ME. So you think I’m crazy, huh?

Anyway, if it's anything that's crazy, it's this weather. It is ridiculously hot at the moment. I’m not home right now and I can’t bear to stay seated here in this hot still air for any longer. I think I’ll retreat back to the comfort of an air-conditioned room now.

Room Makeover

Redecorating your room is like raising a child. It makes your life complete. It makes you feel fulfilled. It's very greatly rewarding. You spend heaps of money, heaps of time, and heaps of energy cultivating it, perfecting every single minute detail, whether it's teaching your child not to swear, or measuring the chord of your chandelier so it hangs exactly 15cm from the ceiling. Or if it's teaching your child not to pee all over the house, or measuring the millimetres of your wall so that a poem is exactly centred on it. Or if its spending the estimated $124 800 raising one child, or spending around $1248 on redecorating your room. It's all the same, because it makes you feel so fantastic inside, to be able to create, achieve, or build such perfection.

Anyway, less chatter and more pictures. Here are the horrid before pictures:


Completely disorganised. As you can see, there is a hair dryer on the floor, a foot spa in the corner, and underwear bursting out of their drawers.


Closeup on the bed I never made.

Now the after pictures. PREPARE! :


The door, which very cleverly hints at my sister to knock before she enters. That girl will never learn.

I decided to take a picture of the bedroom both at night and in the day:

The room is much warmer at night thanks to the warm lighting and closed curtains. I thought I'd post both to make you get the room more.


As you can see, much cooler in the day


My beloved IKEA Chandelier. Can you believe I bought it for $55?!


I found this lamp at some second hand store. I had to pull off the original trim and fringe, and made a new beaded fringe (from leftover beads after I finished embroidering my formal dress)


Close-up on bead work


The love birds.


A corner of my room.


Dresser. As you may have noticed, I had it pre-makeover, but I simply removed the mirror and repainted it.
1. Accessories
2. Small vehicle collection. Mainly Volkswagen beetles.
3. Drawer one
4. Drawer two

Accessories

1. Earring rack
2. Ballerina bracelet holder
3. Jewellery box for rings, pendants + brooches
4. Necklace rack

Earring Rack:


Jewellery Box:



Vehicle collection: (I am fond of Volkswagen beetles)


Drawer 1:

1. Hair pieces, headbands and such
2. (In separate cases), Lipsticks/glosses, nail polish, perfume bottles
3. Hair/skin products + larger perfume bottles
4. Shell containing bobby pins and hair ties
5. Purses, wallets, clutches, as well as their cases, sunglass and watch cases:


Drawer 2:

1. Belts in self-made cotton belt-organiser (I have a thing for belts)
2. Scarves


Most of my shoes. As you can see, I have stuffed my boots with paper (old study notes actually), so they will keep shape.


Small handbags on top shelf, hobos and messenger bags on second shelf. Also stuffed with old study notes.


My bookshelf, containing the books I read most often (or the ones I collect in series, or by authors). I keep the other random books in storage under my bed. I know I should just save money and borrow books instead. But I like OWNING them. Here's my top shelf (containing my faves + collections):

As you can see, I've read all the HP books, I'm a huge fan of Cecelia Ahern and Meg Cabot, and I love Molly Moon books. Yes, I know they are for kids, but I fell in love with them when I was 11, and have continued reading (and buying) them.


Curtains + full length mirrors (made up of seven 30x30cm mirrored tiles)



Left wall of my room.

Wardrobe

1. Jackets
2. Long cardigans
3. Dresses
4. Black tops (I have too many)
5. White tops (ditto) + a few tops in other colours (mainly beige and light pink), and prints
6. Cardigans and vests
7. Pants and Jeans
8. Skirts and shorts

I store my coats in the coat closet downstairs, and the clothes that aren't currently in season are in storage, either under my bed or in the guest room.

Poem on my wall:

It reads:
"Life is short.
Forgive quickly.
Kiss slowly.
Love truly.
Laugh uncontrollably.
And never regret
anything that ever made you smile."