Posted by Bel. The time is 12.23pm here in Wellington, NZ.
I have to admit that I'm not enough of a woollenwear connoisseur to be familiar with Pringle of Scotland, a label established in 1815. But apparently they originated the much esteemed Argyle pattern, so congratulations to them as they celebrate 195 years in the fashion business. We fans of patterned cardigans salute you!
Argyle platforms? Yes please! And Lou will take them as brogues, I bet.
US President of Style, rocking an argyle cardie. (Note overwhelmed children in background, embarrassed by their abundance of beige.)
My original icon of argyle (and knee socks), Cher Horowitz.
David Shrigley is a Scottish artist whose illustrations manage to at once capture both the most basic and complex matters of life. His crude drawing style makes his pictures immediately accesible and funny, yet so often the comedy comes from a 'sad but true' element. Oh and he uses lots of text as image... le sigh!!
And now he has turned his attentions to that simple and essential item, the woolly jumper. (Or 'sweater'. Which do you say?)
It's a rainy day here in Wellington and I have an hour to kill before I brave the elements and get my hair cut in my lunch break. In case your afternoon is dragging as much as mine, here are some links from the last week that managed to hold my attention.
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Where The Wild Things Are interview with director Spike Jonze, co-screenwriter Dave Eggers (squee!) and the indomitable Maurice Sendak: "I would rather not have had a film than turn it into a kiddie movie". Includes a quick video from the London premiere.
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Polaroid's not dead? The company has now announced the classic Polaroid camera and standard 600 film will be back in production. In the meantime, check out this exhibition in London of the very last batches of film with the final expiry date or go download Poladroid to easily turn your digital pics into retro goodies!
The sad flipside of this is in developing countries where safe access to contraceptives is not possible and where abortion remains highly restricted, tens of thousands of women are dying each year from unsafe abortions. And millions suffering serious complications as a result.
I have probably only removed about four staples in my lifetime. But when that time came, those staples really needed to be removed and it was no fun shredding my fingertips in the process. Would I have preferred to have had this nifty contraption instead? All signs point to: GRRRROWL.
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As a writer (!), there are few things I abhor more than writing exercises. I find they evoke little more than stale and derivative scribblings in me, desperately squeezed from my mind grapes.
But when I clicked through to 100 Colors, 100 Days, 100 Writings, I was struck by not only the originality and freshness of the writing, but the thought that maybe, just maybe, this was something I could get into.
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I find home renovation as about as thrilling as the next person - assuming that the next person is someone who finds it completely dull, and not my Aunty Lynda, who could watch Mitre 10 Home Make Over until the cows come home. (And make over the cowshed.)
But props to the couple who did this to their bathroom:
i.e. MADE IT AWESOME!!
A comment says they should've gone for proper coloured tiles and everything, but the blogger says they're hoping that when they eventually resell the house, prospective buyers won't notice the Tetris motif and just think it's a random pattern. Or it will be a SELLING POINT to end all!!
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And finally, if you haven't already watched this video, enjoy!
Posted by Bel. The time is 12:01pm here in Wellington, NZ.
I know that Lou is the tennis fan, and that due to my lack of a television, there's a high chance everyone else has already seen this - but I'm posting it anyway. I love it.Advertising for "women's sanitary products" tends to be rather coy, particularly in the American market from what I've read. Great to see this champion doing such an edgy and funny piece - I hope she got a lifetime supply as part of her endorsement! Jezebel has an article about the ad, questioning why aren't more famous faces used to sell such an essential product.
Along the same lines, copyranter praises a French print ad (Tampax again!) which actually emphasises the no-leakage benefits of a tampon (for when you're swimming with sharks, in particular), rather the demurely using blue liquid and euphemisms.
Posted by Bel. The time is 8:53pm here in Wellington, NZ.
Slapping the eco-friendly label on anything possible has become increasingly popular. John Key has recently dug himself a hole by stating that New Zealand is committed to climate change and then refusing to meet with those seeking to instigate action. FYI, Mr PM: treating Keisha Castle-Hughes like a whiny kid was not a good look. Many of us think she has a point.
Our country has long prided itself on its 'clean, green' image and the good causes we hold close. The weeks of hype building up to the reinstated 'Telethon' were soured by revelations within hours that high administrations costs meant the underprivileged kids would only actually be receiving a small percentage of every dollar raised.
Having in the last month been involved with coordinating fundraising for a 'not-for-profit', I know this is no easy job. But the focus must be on the end result - helping those in need. Whether it be in the community or from an environmental angle, some of that onus also falls on the general public.
Check out who you give your money to. Make sure they are a registered charity or incorporated society. There will be information available on exactly how and where they spend the money they receive. If you are motivated to donate, then make sure your cash is going where you want it to! Then get committed and set up an AP. Even just a monthly $5 would be appreciated by any of the organisations or community groups that you come in to contact with or have been supported by.
On the lighter side of things, this video puts a spin on the issue, mocking those who throw themselves into saving the world - to about ankle deep:
Jezebel.com has taken heart at this style satire of Stiles', particularly in light of recent comments from US supermodel Erin Wasson:
"The people with the best style, for me, are the people that are the poorest. Like, when I go down to like Venice Beach and I see the homeless, I'm like, oh my god, you're pulling out like crazy looks".
Wasson has worked for everyone from Vogue to Maybelline over the last decade and just launched her own range of designer clothing. No word yet on just what the carbon footprint will be, or on how she intends to make accessible to those 'poorest people' her new line of products.
Posted by Bel. The time is 11:27am here in Wellington, NZ.
The last video I posted totally took the piss out of people who remove themselves from the moment by putting a lens between themselves and what's really happening, experiencing the action secondhand and only attaching significance to that of which they have permanent records - usually digital and easy to distribute.
But in this case I say 'bully for you', because I am so glad someone captured this.
Posted by Bel. The time is 8:05pm here in Wellington, NZ.
To be honest, this is not a technique of my own concoction, but rather one taught to me by my dear friend Heather. However it has served me well over the years, especially in recent times when a trip to the hairdressers is just too much to face.
I know most salons offer to trim your fringe for free between visits, but I mean, really, who does that?! Isn't it so much more rewarding to take up the snips in your own grasp and feel the power surge through your follicles!
As you can see, I was in severe need of a trim and so decided to employ The Technique. Simply, you hold the scissors vertically, so all cuts are made parallel to the hair shaft. This may seem counter-intuitive, but your locks do get scythed away - just in a far less dramatic fashion, as anyone who has unintentionally hacked their fringe to Bettie Page Land will relate.
Demonstrative video of me in action (only 1 minute long, chill your beans):
You will note at about 30 secs in I am running my fingers through my fringe - this is to shake out any hair that has been cut already - it is ESSENTIAL to do this often, otherwise you will cut more than you intend and the whole operation is futile.
Here is the end result:
Sexy face FAIL haha.
Another tip is to try and not get renegade hair in your bouquet of flowers either, that is kind of gross.
