Black Magic

Wearing: Ashish X Topshop Studded Jumper, Wowch Leggings, Dr Martens Floral Boots, Vintage Frilly socks and various silver necklaces.

I've been very cautious when it comes to wearing my Dr Martens boots without adequate thick woolen socks to protect myself from blisters, hence my reluctance to wear such an outfit for university. The combination of a studded jumper and combat boots is enough to ward off any fellow commuter so this outfit would be reserved for only the worst of my bad moods. The frilly socks almost didn't make it into this outfit but I'm rather glad they did; it makes my odd feline friends look a little sweeter. I'm also sporting a new haircut with tidier ends, but it will take a few more days for it to properly settle in to a recognisable shape. It's the same dark, brooding brown colour as it has been for the past few years that doesn't really do much for such a dark and sombre outfit, but I have faith that a colourful vintage knit will contrast well with hair that's almost-inky-black.

Stolen Girlfriends Club Heavy Metal Bracelets

It's as charming as it is fitting that the name of New Zealand brand 'Stolen Girlfriends Club' range of jewellery be named Heavy Metal because if there's one thing all these silver bracelets have going for them, it's weight and gravity. Since you're paying between $350- $400 AUD you can rest assured that you are paying for solid pieces made of silver. I make no secret of my love for pyramid shaped studs and this edgy ID bracelet epitomises my love for heavy silver jewellery as well as punk aesthetic.

The pre-made charm bracelet includes motifs from many of their other pieces including a guitar plectrum, or pick as it is so often referred to, the Eiffel tower recreated in miniature, flat pressed skills as well as edges of what could be fangs. It removes all the hassle of having to choose your own charms when creating a charm bracelet and for your Parisians out there and French speakers the Eiffel tower has to be the selling point for this amazing piece.

 

I first saw this charm bracelet many years ago when pressing my ugly nose on the display glass at Melbourne Store Fat4 located in inner city GPO. It was when I was still an avid guitar player and VCE hadn't entirely crushed my dreams with the weight of a heavy study load as well as demanding and crazy science teachers and horrible and unendurable maths lessons. I loved the piece for it's thick and rectangular linked chain as well as thick and generously proportioned plectrum hosting the brand's name. I love the realistic size of the pick and the thick rock edge of the chain. It's my favourite bracelet from this brand.

Katzi in Rose Gold

 

 

I've really enjoying my Summer holidays this year and all the free time I've been left with to discover great new brands as well as rediscover some of my old favourites. I have seem the name Katzi before on the New Zealand fashion scene but it didn't really lock in till I was lusting after their rings in rose gold. Lately I've been seeing a lot more brass used in jewellery to give the look and shine of gold with a bit of a more stronger and yellow hint for the same price of silver- it's always good to see when a label will charge the same price for the same design just a different variation on a piece, which made me feel a little annoyed at Karen Walker for not simply gold plating and instead choosing to charge roughly one thousands dollars for their gold pieces while their silver is only one hundred or two hundred dollars. All the more heartbreaking since Karen Walker was my first great love for New Zealand labels.

Enough about the disappointment of last night, I spotted Katzi rings from one New Zealand online store and then tracked them down for cheaper at another, curiously it was only the rose gold pieces left. The copper hint to each of the rings from this collection is just right and with the option for stacker rings I am very tempted to buy myself both the thin and the thick pyramid rings, although being left to pick over the leftovers I wouldn't be able to wear both rings on the one finger in true stacker style but maybe a softened spike thumb ring is just what the doctor ordered?

Tell me About it Stud

One of the easiest ways to update a piece of clothing or an accessory is with the careful application of studs to  evoke a grunge mood- for example have a look at these black heels with various studs in conical shapes along the backs of the shoes. It's something I've wanted to try for a while and with my staff discount at Cotton On I could buy a men's leather jacket with hood at 50% off and update it to fit my own personal style and add some studs to it; there's a whole range in all shapes, sizes and colours on eBay but I wouldn't really know where to begin if I were to add my own studs. I really like the use of the studs on the backs of these heels and the way they've been applied but would I be willing to risk wasting $50 for a jacket if I mess it up? Better to have a few test runs on some similar materials and fabrics before I go for the big finish and add studs of my own to a piece of clothing that's already been finished and sewn up.

The use of studs in the fashion world is not just limited to shoes, they can also be used in soft jersey jumpers as shown in the second photograph above. One of my favourite jumpers is an Ashish for Topshop jersey jumper with assorted studs on the epaulets as decoration, I've received mixed receptions on it but most of the time my friends and colleagues walk up to me while tapping and prodding along my shoulders to test out their durability. It's a big hit when I wear it out to some of the rougher suburbs- it's the kind of cosy jumper I wear when I don't feel like talking to people much and I just want to ward other people off.

This! This is the kind of jacket I would love to be able to DIY for myself- this very photograph was the cover of Oyster magazine some many months and editions ago. I felt captivated by the way the fringe falls across her face, her skin tone and complexion as well as all those thick and glorious gold studs. The use of thick and statement rings too is another impressive factor... all I have to do is master the way of the home done stud and find a nice thick leather jacket with lapels to add studs to. Wearing it with a shirt with a Mustang I received for Christmas from my father would be the perfect simple way to style it as well as wearing some cut-off vintage denim shorts.

Too bad there's not a lot in the way of denim shirts of jackets available at Cotton On at the moment... I'd love to try my hand at the simple plastic studs on the shoulders and maybe adding a back panel with a simple silhouette design in black fabric paint. Of course having black and blue hair pulled up in a bun would be the perfect way to pull it off but I'm not willing to make that sort of commitment at this point... I'll just try to get the motivation to clean my room, sell unwanted clothes and finally start some DIY projects in terms of fashion. I think I should make those three points my New Year's Resolution.