2008


Things that have happened in 2008:
♥ I started this blog (and did over 100 posts)!
♥ ...and made some lovely new friends as a result
♥ I changed uni degrees (from Media & Information/Communication & Cultural Studies to Media & Information/Social Sciences)
♥ I got two articles published in Pocketto
♥ I got three articles published in The Western Independent
♥ I celebrated a year anniversary with lovely Boy
♥ I went to Byron Bay & Melbourne
♥ I celebrated my 19th birthday with a burlesque show
♥ I let go of some negative people in my life
♥ I've collected more than 20 vinyl records
♥ In terms of live music, I saw Interpol, Elton John, The Dandy Warhols, Devo, Sigur Ros, Yves Klein Blue, The Wombats, Ben Lee, The Grates, The Panics, Cut Off Your Hands, Kate Nash, PNAU (multiple times, for some reason), Paul Kelly, LCD Soundsystem, & The Police
♥ As for live comedy, I saw Bill Bailey & Ross Noble
♥ I had jobs at Cotton On, Cotton On Kids and as a nanny
♥ I've been living in my apartment for a year

I'm so excited for 2009! I have a feeling it will be a spectacular, spectacular year! I have made a few goals for this year, mostly to do with uni, journalism and with priorities, I hope that everyone has something they can achieve this year!

I'll be taking a little break while I'm down south, where I'm heading for a New Year's Eve party at a house in Mandurah, and then onto Southbound. I should be back on the 5th (that is, unless the Kooks lead singer decides to whisk me away to London after seeing me in the front row... it could happen).

I also wanted to say thank you, to everyone who's reading this, and to everyone who's taken the time to comment & read my blog over the year. It has been awesome getting to know so many people from all over the world who are doing such amazing things with their lives! It means the world to me that you like what I'm doing, so a massive THANK YOU to everyone!

I hope that you have a wonderful, magical, glittery, extravagant New Year's Eve and I'll see you in 2009!

x
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What I've been up to when not imbibing copious amounts of gin and tonic.


I kind of don't like this weird time between Christmas and New Year, where no one has any real schedule and ends up eating dinner at about 9:30 at night and staying up until ridiculous hours and then sleeping in until 10 or 11 in the morning. Anyway. This is an attempt to kind of summarise what I've been doing in this holiday n0-man's land.

These are a few of the things I was lucky enough to receive for Christmas...

Tara doll made by the gorgeous Em, Totoro (!!!) & kimmidoll from the amazing Boy!;
Books: The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947-57 (from Mama and Papa Lloyd), The Cheap Date Guide to Style (from Boy) & The Mighty Book of Boosh (from my sister)
This awesome clock from my sister
A gorgeous bracelet from Boy's parents
Last Sunday, I went out to lunch with some lovely blogging girls, Em, Liv, Amanda, Shannon (who I met for the first time and pretty much fell in love with), and the obvious favourite of the day Avalon Charlotte! My camera was out of batteries so you have probably seen these pictures on the other girl's blogs already... well, here they are again!


It was so good to see them again!
I hope you have had a fabulous break too!
x
p.s HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Mama Lloyd! I love you!
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Santa baby, a '54 convertible too, light blue







Merry Christmas! What could be better than a bevy of beautiful pin-ups?
I hope you all have fantastic days and get very spoiled, eat a lot and spend time with the people that you love!
Lots of love, Tara
xo
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What I Wore 22.12.08


First of all, I bought a new modem! So it's back to regular posting. I actually haven't been up to much during my blogging absence, Papa Lloyd has come to stay with me to watch the cricket, I went with him one day and, well, I was bored; my cousins from Sydney (who are around the same age as me and my sister) have come over for Christmas; my grandma had her 70th birthday (and big family party) on Saturday; Boy has moved into his new house; and now my sister is staying with me until Christmas (WHICH IS IN THREE DAYS!!! THREE DAYS).

And today I went to IKEA with Boy & my sister to get some stuff for Boy's new house. I ended up buying a cutlery set and a set of red candles. Why? I think it's impossible to walk out of IKEA without buying something. Or eating the meatballs. Mmmm.

Dress: Cotton On//Belt: Valleygirl//Shoes: Rubi//Bag: Sportsgirl

Sorry, not the most exciting outfit in the world, but I have bought lots of lovely things in the past week that I am looking forward to putting on the blog!

Can I appease you with my Christmas wish list? A little late, but hey!

These headphones from fledflare.com; blue Rayban wayfarers; The Sweet Tooth tunic from Modcloth.com; a pink typewriter; Lolita Lempicka perfume, Plumage of Burma clip from Modcloth.com; Naomi underwear from Agent Provocateur; this iPod speaker from Charles and Marie; a fancy chandelier (I'm moving house next year); peacock tights from Modcloth.com; Gwen Stefani Harajuku Girls perfumes; tickets to Europe; and tickets to the Mighty Boosh!

I'm sure lots of you are on Christmas holidays, hope you are having a wonderful time! And to those getting their T.E.E scores tomorrow, GOOD LUCK! I send love & kisses!

x

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"When the going gets tough, fashionistas get tougher..."


Hello all! Sorry for my sudden prolonged absence, on Tuesday my modem suddenly died and I found out I'll have to get ! I am writing this at Boy's house (almost his ex-house, he moves tomorrow!) so I'm not sure how frequent posting will be for the next couple of weeks. Sorry, please stick with me! I'm trying to catch up on all your lovely blogs as I type.

Anyway, I encourage you all to check out the latest issue of Pocketto... I may be a bit biased because I wrote an article for it (and am now a regular contributor!), but the whole issue was so amazing! I admire Emma so much, it's such a well-put together mag! Here's my picks from this issue...


My article, on what I think the economic crisis means for fashion (p14-15)


Two stylish cartoon ladies (p30-31)


Some amazing artwork by Dallas Shaw... Christmas present, anyone?(p36-37)


A gorgeous photo shoot (p40-55)

And an anti-Twilight piece, whoever wrote this is my new lover (p67-68)

See you soon (I hope!)

x
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What I Wore 8.12.08


I'm back! I'm back!

This weekend was kind of a busy one. On Saturday night Boy & I went to Fremantle during the day (where I found the dress I'm wearing right now), and then out to dinner and to see Four Holidays. The movie was OK, but we had gold class tickets so that was enough of a novelty for me. Free popcorn! Plushy seats! Woo! Then on Sunday, it was Boy's grandmother's 90th birthday so I met his extended family for the first time. They are all lovely, of course. Then last night I watched Never Been Kissed and got all nostalgic for the 90's.
Dress: Op-shop//Shoes: Rubi
A Rubi shop opened in Perth not long ago, and so I bought these shoes and a silver pair. It was $20 for the two of them, and while I do love them, I guess you get what you pay for! My feet (and toes, which is very uncomfortable) are covered in blisters. Oh well.
And I have to say, I love this dress! I feel like a psychedelic housewife.

Also, I love the new Louis Vuitton ads (CAN YOU GUESS WHY?). I don't really like the brand, because I think that the monogram bags have been waaay overdone to the point where they just look tacky now. Although, one of the bags does look pretty cool. See:

What do you think?

x
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What I Wore 3.12.08


Things have been pretty quiet around the ol' Gin HQ (aka, my house) recently! I have picked up an awful awful cold/flu thing from Boy so I have spent the past couple of days feeling like my head is wrapped up in a big pile of cotton balls. Not very good.

This is what I wore to go and get groceries. I left all my makeup at Boy's on the weekend, hence the no facing the camera directly! Eek!


Top: Target//Skirt: Dotti//Leggings: American Apparel//Shoes: I ♥ Billy//Necklace: Paraphernalia

Also, one of my bloggy crushes Nubby Twiglet did a post today on 10 random facts about her. I had fun reading her list, so here is mine! Sorry if some facts are repeated from other posts, but, well, I'm sure you can cope.

1. I'm pretty good with grammar and spelling, but I can never spell 'rhythm' and 'business'! I always spell it 'buisness' and spell rhythm any number of ways.

2. My first job was working in a kiosk at a sports centre.

3. I've never dated anyone with blonde hair.

4. I can't whistle or blow a bubble with bubblegum!

5. I'm right-handed when I write, but I do most other things (like pouring coffee or whatever) left-handed. I'm not ambidextrous or anything, so I don't know what's going on there!

6. I haven't been overseas (yet!)

7. My fingers are double jointed, and the tips of them flex out naturally.

8. I can't stand the taste of bourbon - even smelling it makes me want to throw up!

9. I've met Arj Barker & Tara Moss, and my friend and I accidentally harrassed the kids from Operator Please at Big Day Out (by accusing them of sneaking backstage - it was rather embarrassing)

10. I was 'senior student' in primary school, which basically was the head girl. My good school career ended pretty much after year 7, though!

So make a list too!

x

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What I Wore 30.11.08


December already! Eeee!

This is what I wore last night to the Sugar Blue Burlesque show. The theme was "art", and had Botticelli , Warhol, & even Jackson Pollock inspired dances! My favourite dance was the Warhol one (I'm guessing it was "inspired" by Warhol, because it had a mod theme and they had the mod signs all over their costume! And Mia Wallace wigs! It has totally re-inspired my desire to do the burlesque classes they offer, I keep reading about them on kittentails and they sound like so much fun!


It was definitely my favourite one I've seen so far, probably because I was in the company of two lovely blogging ladies, Em & Liv! I was so excited (and super nervous!) to meet them, and they were both as lovely & gorgeous as they appear on their blogs!



Dress: Temt//Flower headband: Splendour in the Grass stall//Shoes: Sportsgirl

Three burlesque beauties:

I saw the dress in a Shop Til You Drop last month and have been wanting it ever since! When my sister was visiting me up in Perth I finally bought it. It's so fun to wear, I just want to shimmy whenever I put it on! I think it will have to be my New Year's Eve dress. Speaking of which, what is everyone doing for it? In Perth, I haven't heard anything except for a 50's and 60's themed night but it's at a sports bar (the name escapes me) and I don't know how fun that would be...


And I also bought these because I couldn't resist (maybe I can use them when I am a burlesque superstar. I was trying to think of a burlesque name but I am not that creative!):


Also, today (December 1) is World AIDS Day. In Australia, HIV and AIDS rates are increasing, and the message of the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day is to "Enjoy Life. Take Control. Stop HIV & AIDS". If you're out & about today please buy a red ribbon to show your support!

x

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What I Wore 28.11.08


Today I had a job interview, it was for an accounts assistant but, since it was a recruitment agency, there's a chance I could end up in a totally different position. Anyway, the interview went really well except when I got out my second button had popped! D: I don't know at what point it decided to pop open, woops! When I texted (a rather unsympathetic) Boy to tell him he said "Whatever it takes to get the job ;) :)". Boys are so helpful.

Other than that it went really well, the woman interviewing me was very cool! We talked about shopping and Southbound! And she said she liked my shoes :)
(Evil button popping) Top: Ben Sherman//Skirt: Basque//Tights: Razzamatazz (doesn't saying it just make you want to do jazz hands? I know I do. RAZZAMATAZZ)//Shoes: Zoom//Necklace: Family heirloom//Earrings: Diva
Let me tell you, it was incredibly hard to find a skirt! All the high-waisted pencil ones I tried on were way too big in the waist, but made my thighs look like mating sea-lions. The only one that fit (apart from the Basque one, which was on sale) was a Country Road one which was $189. Skirt-makers, get on it!
Luckily, I felt a lot more comfortable in this outfit than I did last time I interviewed at a corporate place, where I wore a suit jacket & skirt. In that outfit I kind of felt like a kid playing dress-ups, not very "me" at all! Needless to say I did not get that job, maybe because the interview was pretty horrendous!
Then I went shopping and bought this Little Lady From top, which was made even better by the fact Myer were having a 25% of "youth clothing" day.
Last night Boy & I watched My Neighbour Totoro (or Tonari no Totoro), by the brilliant Hayao Miyazaki, and it was fantastic & adorable & whimsical & gleeful!
Is it too late to wish a happy Thanksgiving? Well, happy Thanksgiving anyway!
x
p.s I accidentally deleted my post from yesterday, sorry!
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Style Icons: Twiggy


Twiggy was born Lesley Hornby on September 16, 1949. She was asked by Nigel Davies to model, but gave it up after four years, saying "You can't be a clothes hanger your whole life!". As well as modelling, Twiggy starred in a production of Pygmalion, appeared on The Muppet Show (I have the episode! i.e I am lame), and is now a judge against Crazy Tyra on America's Next Top Model. Twiggy is probably a style icon for most girls, she's one of the definitive 60's girls, after all! I love that her playfulness and goofy side shows through in her photos, and obviously I still love being able to see her on ANTM!

I love. Love. LOVE her eyelashes. If only I was not so inept not only with mascara but with fake eyelashes as well! I think these photos are gorgeous, very reminiscent of the 1920's film stars. Also - I love that style of hat.

I think these are some of the cutest Twiggy photos ever! I especially love the first one, of course Twiggy could look adorable in a man's suit! Like I said before, I think that she is adorable and that the models that aren't afraid to be a bit goofy are a LOT more interesting than the models who just try to look alluring and sultry all the time.

I kind of am in love with this outfit. I almost bought a pair of fringed boots today just because they reminded me of this picture. I think that (with a little less fringing) it would be a perfect summer music festival outfit. If only I could arrive at music festivals (or anywhere, really) looking so glamourous and getting off my own private jet!

And these two photos show some awesome 60's fashions. The last one is my favourite not only because of the cute dress but also because of those earrings! They are fabulous!

What do you think of Twiggy?

x
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I'm a freelance writer who blogs about Perth (my old home), Paris (my new home), fashion, food, and everything else that takes my fancy. Have a look around and enjoy!