Pastel Street Style

What could possibly be better than one lavish lady dresses in sweet pastel tones and alluring dark sunglasses to shade her bright eyes? A whole troupe of wonderful and subtle colours all travelling together in a wonderful group! Not many of my friends are into fashion they way I secretly am, but it would be nice to compile with other bloggers on occasion and maybe head down to market events and be able to photograph one another in a favour-returning chain. I love the casual use of socks and sandals as well as knee high socks and leather satchels- there's a school girl charm appeal about the ensemble of girls but they all look past high school and well into university. I love the Beatles shirt worn on the left and tucked casually into a denim shirt- it's such a relaxed look but it also radiates cool 1960s love of music.

The perfect companion to an angora, tri-colour sweater? Why leather pants and hot heels of course, and a look of a deer-frozen-in-headlights wouldn't go astray either. I love the matching painted wall behind her though and the cute little wrinkles of her pants- I've been meaning to get my hands on a nice versatile pair of faux leather pants for Winter but just as I summon the courage to purchase on Asos, they sell out. They would certainly make for a good staple piece of my wardrobe and would also being out the quirky nature of vintage sweaters adopted from my local shops as well. If you're not completely welcoming of the cotton candy tones and sugary sweetness that pastel shades have to offer, plain black heels and pants are a wonderful way to ease yourself into the trend.

Some people (ordinary non-fashion obsessed people with lives) sometimes have unwelcoming views of Asian girls dyeing their hair in outrageous hues. For example there is a celestial being that graces my lectures on occasion when technology fails us and she's a Chinese girl with platinum blond hair in soft silvery tones and a subtle crimping affect. One day she dressed in all black and the latest combination was a woolen blue jumper with suede elbow patches. The students sitting behind me leered gently at her but I think she's gorgeous and admire people in their twenties who have the courage to go grey prematurely. Similarly, I loved this image of lilac hair, wine red lips and a crisp white blazer shown above. Some of the best trends in life are truly for the head and hair and this is the highest calibre. If only I didn't have conservative parents who would disown me for pulling such a stunt...

I love the simple combination of a flowing blouse as well as showy jeans in a bright colour- there's a great range of handmade printed silk scarves available on Etsy and at your local vintage store. Another favourite of mine is a brand called Kloset, which is very similar to that of Sretsis for an updated and chic look. With the understated wedges in beige and billowing smock top, it's definitely the jeans that are the dominant colour of this outfit but those shoes are to die for as well. Finally a nice word about the girl herself: while her outfit is neat and without nary a stain to worry about the contrast of her textured hair that springs in every direction imaginable is a wonderful contrast. I must have hair envy- my own long locks have been bugging me a lot lately and I think it's time for a chop or to add a splash of colour somewhere.

One of the more admirable qualities of pastels is their ability to bring out the soft and feminine appeal with the right structures. Midi skirts, or those that end between the knees and ankles have become increasingly popular as of late as well as sheer and mesh patterns but it's the strong colour blocking of the skirt with tan leather bag across the body that I admire. I've never been a big fan of thin strappy heels but those worn with the lilac and aqua vintage shirt and an expression like that of a deer-in-headlights does have me slightly infatuated. It's more of a lust and admiration to try and channel someone else's style from within my own being that has me feeling woozy though.

Although I have been shamelessly neglecting my own pair of black Dr Martens, I am lusting over the brogue like design and Pearl tones of some of their newest ranges. The British brand Dr Martens have really been keeping up with the latest fashion trends as of late, including creating their own style of creepers shoes with the well known, weather soles people around the world have come to know and love. For something a tad more sweet and innocent, this lovely lass above has styled them with floral pants and a sweet lilac jumper with crisp collar peaking out. I've always had a large crush on purple, but this sweet shade of lilac is easy on the eyes and goes well with brown hair- the mismatched mint coloured brogues are even more of a turn on with upturned cuffs at the ankles to boot.

Once again I have the itch to try and change something about myself starting with my hair; mint green may not be the preferential choice of myself or my parents but I do love the rock chick aesthetic appeal. Long comet-tails of liquid eyeliner in sharp cutting lines has been one of my favourite distinct looks for university, and nothing says glamorously tacky like a leopard print coat or some other faux

I've never one to be worried about the effect of rain dampening my spirits or my hairdo but there have been a rather nice range of see-through umbrellas available to purchase on the Opening Ceremony- I'd be more than happy to spend more than half my paycheck at their online store, if only they accepted Paypal. While being a full-time university students has given me a number of perks and concession priced goodies it's still difficult to buy the best clothes when you need to ask your parents for permission and pay them back. Fortunately loose, slouchy jumpers in the fashion of fisherman and crochet style are easily found at some of the most synonymous fashion names and I have my eye on a few from Asos. I'll just be holding out for the coldest and most bitter weather that Winter in Melbourne has to throw at me till I dare step out in effortless style- or try to look as good and carefree.

Having naturally dark hair has always yielded many a dilemma when it comes to dyeing my hair and feeling pleased with the results of resorting to the bottle. It's a tad unrealistic to try and achieve such modelling perfection and feel confident in everyday society with such boisterous pink hair but I think a streak here and there by way of extensions and worn in a plait or braid may be the answer to my bored hair situation. It may take some hundred dollars to have a head full of soft pink hair, or maybe a wig would do just nicely- all I know is I have a hunger for pastel tones that are reminiscent of all my favourite jelly candies and that my hair is also giving my grief. Metaphorically killing two birds with one stone and fixing my hair and craving for colour would be a god send but I don't think it's quite as reasonable as I would like it to be.

Another magical ability of pastel clothing is that no matter what your facial expression says, you still look as cute as a fairy and delightful as punch. It may not have been the model's intent to scowl at the camera and purse her lips but it really does make her a little tired and cranky. Clothes can usually do wonders for one's mood- I often choose to wear red when I'm sick in a feeble attempt to perk myself up and maybe sweet baby blue and pink is this young lady's way of being a little sweeter on the inside by projecting it on the outside. I must say, I really love the swirling patterns and colours of her belt though- a nice way to break apart the pink and blue shades and inject some more colours to enjoy in the outfit.

Just another reason to drool over the prospect of travelling to Japan sometime next year is all the cool and kooky fashion, including sprawling paisley scarfs in colours that remind me of dreams and fluffy boots akin to that of the abominable snowman. There's also the small matter of Olympia Le-Tan's recent holiday influencing me, collaborations and parties in swish Japanese boutiques and the Miyazaki Museum.

My favourite British born Chinese fashion blogger, Ms. Susie Bubble of the Style Bubble manages to inject a sweet pastel tone into a neutral outfit by use of feminine makeup. At a guess it's something similar to the Lime Crime shades of fuchsia lipstick. I love it when she wears round frames- looks so chic with her straight and angular front fringe. There's also the lovely masculine tones of the sheepskin hood attached to a dark green woolen coat and simplistic snap back cap with black and white. I have such a hard time trying to wear a snap back hat and still look utterly feminine but it's always so inspiring to see others pull off outfits in such an aesthetically pleasing manner.

Aqua and Purple

 

This second hand Gucci dress has been hanging around in the Sosew online store for months now and although I wasn't initially attracted the sharp contrasting purple and blue stripes, I recently saw the perfect shoes to match them although ironically the shoes have sold out and the dress is still there. I'm unsure about the collection and season for this vibrant dress but I don't think it would suit me very much- you have to be careful when wearing a something as bold and exuberant as a dress like this and having it overshadow you and the way you look.

 

If you're keen to claim this second hand Gucci dress in excellent condition for your own collection and wardrobe, head on over to Sosew and explore their dresses section for more gorgeous fashion house clothes. Although the model's nails match the blue pinstripes of the dress I am very concerned about her her colour and lipstick shade clashing with the dress on an uncomfortable level of colours mashed together. Although I'm not willing to shell out nearly $700 for a single dress I have no occasion to dress for, I do have the confidence that my hair won't clash with the colours of this dress.

The shoes from a completely different brand and era that match the dress are from Acne and are made of silk, named the Acne Alice heels in silk. They cost $530 on Solestruck and have already sold out within a few days of being available online but I am keen to see the real things in store and fly under the radar of the snooty sales assitant at Acnie in Melbourne to see how the colour matches up. Can you imagine if the dress and shoes were eventually brought together in a beautiful marriage? I can't imagine any two dresses and shoes more perfectly combined together.

The Blues

Today I had expected to spend most of the day gleefully writing over a hot keyboard but a five and a half hour power outage has left me instead with a case of the blues. Luckily for me I whipped up a few images earlier of all things blue in a sort of bowerbird collection of images. While many other people have been looking forward Valentines and all things pink and red, it seems my romantic mood happened a month early and instead I have my mind on chillier things including a holiday during Winter 2013 and warm and woolly coats and sweaters to prepare for Autumn and studying at university.

I was close but not close enough having a pass last year to visit Disneyland but not the newer addition of the Disney family, Disneyland's California adventure. It's a shame really because I wouldn't have minded a nice, big and furry hug from Monster's Inc. Sully but I think I'll settle for tender embraces exchanged with me beau.

I have been personally forbidden by my father from either possessing blue hair so I suppose I'm left to admire the luck of others who get to combine Primary colours in the forms of extravagant curled showgirl hair as well as a golden and glittery bustier and ruby red lips. It's strange that in this modern age, that blue hair seems to be just a little more popular than I perceive it to have been in the grunge era of the 90s.

Last year I was treated to a classic and cliche moment in which just before heading off to the beach an ice cream van rolled past my host family's house and I got to enjoy a colourful and frozen treat. A nice contrast between a clear blue sky and the ice cream, but maybe a small white cloud would have looked good with the bubble gum eyeballs. I really should have gotten something similar to this Spiderman ice cream with bubble gum eyeballs or maybe something of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle persuasion but instead I got a rocket-something or rather in patriotic red, white and blue.

Something old, something that can be new and also blue is the reinvented Diana camera from Lomography, the Diana Mini compatible with 35mm film. She looks a lot like her predecessor from the 60s the original Diana medium format camera but she's pocket sized and fits in the palm of your hand; both sharing the same lightweight and carefree spirit. While I do have many Diana F+ cameras, I'm finally selling my Diana Mini Noire since I have the 35mm back. I just prefer the bigger body and a more professional look, although I'm not sure how seriously you'll be taken with a toy camera in plastic around your neck.

For some people it's simply not enough to have blue hair and a nose piercing but there must be vibrance and vitality radiated from themselves. I quite like the neat tuxedo jacket and have, as of late been searching around for vintage tuxedo dresses and jackets myself but I will never look quite as colourful as this woman shown above. I do admire the neat and straight line of her fringe as well as the matched blue eyeshadow highlighting her green eyes as well as red lips but there's something very straight and therefor unnatural about her eyebrows. The frayed and dry crackly hair that seems teased out reminds me too much of Krusty the Clown, a television entertainer for children from The Simpsons.

I'm quite looking forward to the holiday I'll be taking in just over a year to Canada as well as experiencing varied and mountainous landscape, something Australia seems to be lacking in. I wasn't at all pleased to learn that I need to save five thousand dollars for the trip alone to go towards train tickets in The Rockies and something to contribute towards my plane ticket as well. Although I have saved $500 in a month, it seems that the road is going to be long and treacherous before I can breath easy and delight in buying things again after having scrounged and dug deep to save my pennies.

All day long during the power outage my mother has been complimenting me on the length of my hair saying I look very Japanese, although, if they were true then my hair would be thicker and black as well rather than dark brown and thin. Still, I think black hair with dip-dyed ends in blue would look a lot better than dark brown with blue. As I said before, dyeing hair blue in my house is a very taboo subject and should not be raised at any cost. A safer bet would be to dip-dye my hair red and then let it fade to pink and reapplying pink dye every now and then to continue the ruse.

I wouldn't mind having a little cat of my own, ideally something photogenic to make life interesting with big broody eyes and maybe a little bit of attitude to get me up in the mornings with a grumpy attitude. I guess I'm just in love with their shape and structure and the stylised nature of their face and ears. It's all very symmetrical and I've always taken that approach in my decorating and design if possible but it's not a large obsession of mine.

I love the charm and quirk behind this photograph- for someone to be able to look cool and edgy when sporting a very high cut fringe should be saluted in my book and I'm dying to see the rest of those dark circular shades. The black bow at the ponytail is a nice touch to the dark teal dyed hair of the girl and her shaped eyebrows which seem to naturally slant downwards in a mean stare. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to be a punk, dyeing my hair constantly and not caring about the feelings of my family, maybe a tattoo on the back of one of my legs... sounds expensive really.

A blue overload as it were, indulging in blue lipstick, eyeliner, hair as well as a collared shirt and against what may be a blue painted door. However, I suspect that a gel filter in front of the camera's flash has thrown a blue light over the entire photograph and produced an unnatural colour of the skin of the model. Still, it was a nice idea to match everything about the appearance and aesthetic of this photograph in blue chameleon-like tones.

I think blue is one of the more popular colours in terms of dip-dyeing for blonds; pink results in a very Barbie doll aesthetic that reeks of naivety but blue is cool calm and collected especially for this colour worn against a woolly brown fur coat and with snow in the background. I suspect it's going to be a while before I ever get to see snow again, or indeed when I get my hands on something fur or at least Mongolian lamb.

Slip dresses and vintage nightgowns from the 1960s have been a recent muse of mine so naturally seeing this modern combination of sheer and tulle makes me blood boil- but in a good way. It's rare to see hints of tulle around the skirt of a dress and for it to be done well, but for a dress to be featured in Vogue it must be beautiful to look at as well in terms of it's design and colour. I suppose the sheer white as well as soft colour of the blue/ lilac against such tan skin and black nails is a great contrast for a model with delicate features and honey brown hair.

Seeing such swirling textures and colours of varying blue, sea green and turquoise makes me think of the way everyone envisions the ocean rather than the dark and inky greatness you see swallowing at the edges of the sand beaches. The rolling of this material reminds me a lot of my American Apparel pleated skirt in a silky green fabric colour- it reminds me a lot of Ariel from the Little Mermaid and her Dark Green tail which would be in shimmering shades of dark sea green if she were real. But really, who's to say she's not real?

I love the colour matching and intensity of the make up shown here, for blue eyes framed by eyelashes clad in mascara as well as the eye pencil right through the eyebrows. It makes everything seem so surreal in this photograph, heightening the blue floral crown and goddess-like appeal of the bindi on her forehead and the curled hair with purple and many different shades of blue. It's a beautiful image for someone showcasing talents in terms of the beauty industry and even as a photographic project but I pose the question: who on Earth puts so much effort into their daily routine to look as well groomed and colour coordinated as she does?

When my cute little Lomography Fisheye finally gets sold on eBay I think I may farewell it and end the final roll of film I will put through it in a similar manner to this guy shown above and have it take some photographs of my top half. I have a lovely resin rose necklace in pink as well as a suitable blouse to match with it and I think the dreamy nature of the film and distorted lens can really bring them out their nature nicely.