Menswearphobia

I have always steered clear of menswear because I just generally find suits boring and I had the misconception that all male fashion was just SUITS SUITS SUITS but alas I WAS WRONG (so much caps-lock).  In fact I was wrong on two levels: menswear is not all suits and suits are not always boring.  I owe my newly sparked interest in this area to Susie from stylebubble, and her post about Carven's S/S 2013 show.  I love the collection!  It's so understatedly cool and refreshing, I think.  Here are some of my favourite looks.

I particularly love the jumper (bottom right).  Hang on, maybe I just like this because I would wear it.... meh.
Tommy Ton is another influencer on my sudden good vibez towards men's clothing.  I think this Hello Kitty suit had something to do with it.

And I'm pretty sure the one in the middle is a guy and I'm pretty sure his amazing jacket is from Prada S/S 2012 (women's) and it looks so good!  The orange backpack, the printed pants... I love these guys.  Can we be friends?
Scott Schuman also posts some really interesting takes on suits.  Check out this suave fellow.  (Did I just say that?????)

Images from style.com, jakandjil.com (Tommy Ton) and thesartorialist.com (Scott Schuman). 

Sugar and Spice

all topshop.com

AHHHH a pixelated, pastel pink, ice cream jumper!  Quick, make an outfit!
I totally love the flippy skirt that adds to the cutesy feel, aided by the school-girl-esque shoes.  I am a sucker for these retro glasses, especially because they match the blue colour in the skirt.  A light trench is a perfect 'transition piece' (winter to summer, or if you're unfortunate like me, summer to winter).  The edgy metallic is toughens up the outift to stop it looking like something a three year old would wear (even though I am a three year old at heart).  When I saw this cute ice-cream jumper from topshop I immediately started to think about what on earth I would wear with it.  Here, my friends, is one of the many results.
Alas, I have discovered polyvore.com.  Seriously, you should try it.  It's almost as good as actually shopping (har dee har)!

Suits > Dresses

Another bout of internal cheering from me occurred when I was watching The Logies (I'm sorry!  It was for the fashion, OK?)   Australian actress Sophie Lowe walked down the red carpet in this gorgeous Ellery pant suit!  I could not find a good quality photo ANYWHERE, sorry about that.  What I am trying to prove, though, is that a suit is not always masculine!  The print is floral!  The pants are loose and flowing!  Here hair is long and wavy!  Her shirt is sheer pink!  Gah, she has achieved the perfect balance.  Who says you have to wear a dress?

With Blake Davis, zimbio.com

Courtesy of ItsJonahh

Some more suit inspiration...

Clashing prints, topshop.tumblr.com

Don't be fooled by the single colour, the effect is still as punchy!
  topsop.tumblr.com

So I still love this, a year later.  Pyjamas and day wear, YES!
Celine, Spring 2011, style.com

Techinically not a suit, but woah,
imagine if you wore this to formal instead of a dress!
Mary Katrantzou, Fall 2012, style.com

Eighties

Most of the first images were taken in London some time in the 80s (ft. the jacket I was telling you about a few posts back!).  The last photograph was taken in Katoomba, Blue Mountains, 1988.  I think most of the photographs speak for themselves, they have that beautiful sense of nostalgia.  And for those who weren't alive in the 80s, we get a small glimpse of what life (and fashion) was really like.

mohawk guy #1 discusses best types of gel with mohawk guy #2

the pants! the leather! another mohawk!

collars, coats and knitwear

stunning image of paris taken from notre dame, 1986

beautiful lighting, shirt and breton stripes

me: were you like, trying to be really 80s on purpose?
mum: IT WAS THE 80s! look at that madonna dancing!

love the printed shorts paired with white tee

All images belong to my mum and were found in dusty photo albums in my house.  Please do not reproduce.

Dolce and Gabbana

I absolutely love everything about Dolce and Gabbana's latest Spring/Summer collection.  It pays tribute to the most important feature of Italian life - food.  It sums up the trends of the season into one collection through the use of sheer fabrics, lace, plastic materials and pastels.  It is bold, it is bright and it is fun.

"At a time when Italy is experiencing one of its worst-ever economic crises, the new Dolce & Gabbana collections are there thankfully to serve as a reminder with a picture-postcard smile of just what a treasure trove of legends and character the country still is." - Vogue Paris Collections, Spring-Summer 2012.

Confession: I am a massive fan of a bustier and shorts/skirt that are MATCHING IN PRINT (Kim from Edward Scissorhands may have something to do with it).  And hey, teamed with vibrant zucchini and chilli prints and you've got the perfect outfit for dancing the summer night away on the Amalfi Coast!

I also have my eye on this combo from Topshop... crop top and shorts.

Just as extravagant as the spicy prints were the darker, detailed numbers.

It's the silhouette and sheer qualities of the first two dresses that brings them to my attention.  The last outfit, however, is my favourite.  Dripping with jewels in every colour, it is totally regal and opulent.  It reminds me of this book I read as a child.  I think it's the imagery of the princess sitting on her throne, laden with necklaces, crowns and every sort of precious stone in the world.

(All images courtesy of style.com)

Update

So I've decided that rather than make this just a street style blog, I just want it to be a whole mish-mash of everything fashion-related that goes on in my life EVER!
I think 'fashion' as a word is a very broad term, but also narrow in terms of people's perceptions of it.  When I think of fashion, for me I think of fun, experimentation and personal style.
It is true that fashion is somewhat about first impressions, superficial judgements, but it is also about breaking those stereotypes that cling to our clothes.  How we choose to dress ourselves and why is what defines us from the people that lived 10 years ago.  It is something so exciting, so dynamic.

SO here is a little place, I am doing it for no one else, it is my creative output.

(PS picnik i will miss u)

I hope that someone out there will enjoy it.