My Favourite Things... Tag Time!

Hope you are all well darlings.  
Also hope you have a spare hour or day to read/view this post because it is heeeeeavyyy. But light. Long too.  Like a wholemeal spelt baguette.  Or a Kanjeevaram silk sari.  
Warning.  Brevity is not my forte.

I was tagged by a semi-recently discovered and already favourite blogger - Veshoevius from The Taxonomy of my Wardrobe. 
...now I am very bad at these things, I don't always play, I don't know why, it's not like I don't like talking about myself (ha!)... just lazy I guess... but I got rather excited about this tag!  Until I started doing it.

These questions, seemingly so innocent, so innocuous, so... insipid really... are the devils work!!   They are hard to answer!!  Well, for me anyway.  I got excited because Veshoevius made it all look so easy.  Her answers are so lovely , eloquent, evocative and so 'visual', her post is presented so beautifully that I got inspired and excited!  Mind you I felt all that before I actually saw that I had been tagged!

A little bit about the blogger/tagger... a very intriguing woman... she is a Flamenco dancer as well (but far more advanced than I)... as you will see, her writing is very 'visual', very 'voluptuous', a multi-faceted personality, sensual, practical and she is an enigma.  Not just because she doesn't show her face.

Okay... let's get it goin' on!  Feel free to skip the epic answers but there will be a pop quiz later.... kidding!  Sort of.   Just kidding!  Ready set... JUMP...

FIRSTLY, apologies... I haven't finished this, I haven't edited it, I haven't tagged other bloggers... I have spent hours writing this and I just want it published!!  I will be tagging other bloggers.  Will let you know once that is done.  Sorry this is so long and all over the place and it probably doesn't make much sense... I will refine it but it's close to 2am now and I'm sleeptyping...


1. Why did you create the blog?

"My blog is the result of the way I dress, not the other way around.  My family, friends and colleagues have always looked forward to seeing what I wear everyday and I always receive compliments from strangers.   Particulary because of the all the colour I drench myself in.

I have had my dress sense and sensibility from childhood.  Tavi schmavi.  The child-as-fashion-genius phenomenon doesn't amaze me.  I grew up in Madonna and Cyndi Lauper times.
People who work at opshops and vintage markets I haunt save 'special items' for me.  Apparently I inspire women to "experiment".  Still trying to figure out if that's a good thing... oh and... I've had women nudge each other or their partners, point and snigger at me.

World fame via web was a natural progression really.  J

A friend sent me a link to site called Style Diary and I thought that was a splendid idea and wonderful way for non-famous people to showcase their individual style!
I am over magazines and media telling me that celebrities are the last bastion of style.  No they are not and I.don't.care.  I don't follow celebrity style. 
The idea of dressing like someone else repulses me anyway.   I was once described as dressing like Carrie Bradshaw (plus being a journalist, comparison was inevitable) and woah no!  I existed first and I was a sports journalist.  So there.

I guess, like most bloggers,reading other blogs inspired me to jump on the blogwagon.  Actually... every blogger I know says this, even the uber famous ones like Sea of Shoes' Jane and Style Bubble's Suzie. 
...makes me wonder who was [pause for dramatic effect; cue sfx. electronic reverb] The First Style Blogger?

I did also notice the lack of women my age, which puzzled me.  Now I know better.  I think it's important that women my age and older showcase their fabulosity 'til it is truly seen as the norm. 
Shit.  Whoops!  I mean... s**t.  Have I answered this question yet??  This has taken me hours to write.  ["yeah? it's taking 2 days to read"]

What I do find hard is the chronic chronicling!  I was never a diary/journal keeper.  It's not my 'thing' to write down thoughts and musings.  Get this.. I did try and keep a diary once but found myself writing for an audience!  Ha!

That is actually the pressure that may make blogging a chore... having to write for an audience.  I must confess, if I was to write for self, they'd be a hell of a lot of swearing going on!! 

The photography side... that's what I love.  I am sometimes tempted to just post outfit shots and be done with it, no words, just images.  But that would be just too too vain...

I believe style is a physical manifestation of our psyche.  It is self expression and how we perceive ourselves and others and how we choose to present ourselves.
I may have created the blog to share my spirit but I think now it's mainly about photographic creativity." 

2. What kind of blogs do you follow?

"Hmmm... I follow many blogs and they're all different.  I don't just follow style bloggers and style blogging isn't what makes me a fan of the blog.   There are many popular style blogs that, well, bore me.   And I don't neccessarily follow like-styled bloggers.  Not everyone thinks like this though. 
I read blogs and like the style of bloggers that (I know) faint at the sight of all my colour and layers!  Australian bloggers in particular, seem to have a fear of colour!  Not all and certainly not my favourite Australian bloggers!

I read somewhere that when we commend someone else on their taste we are actually congratulating them for being like us!!!!  I don't like that.  I don't like someone simply because they're like me.  How boring.  Where's the diversity?   

I comment and follow and LIKE/LOVE many blogs/bloggers that have very different taste/style to mine. 
I like uniqueness.  Individuality.  People who are not afraid to not fit in.  And wit.  And a knack for storytelling.  and prose.  and fluidity.  elegance, sassiness, strength.  Wit though, hooks me everytime.  and certain women just rock a Goddess vibe you know?

I know what kind of blogs I don't follow! 

Blogs like The Sartorialist and Jak & Jill bore me.  Particularly when they photograph famous people hanging around fashion weeks wearing the equivalent of a third world country's budget.  Yawn. 
Although I do love the gorgeous stylings of Sea of Ghosts, Suzie Bubble and Gala Darling, etc... they don't thrill me as much as say, a 'normal' blogger does... someone like Vintage Vixen or Tanvii or Fourth Daughter....not world famous but gaining recognition for being fabulous individuals who don't depend on labels to validate their style." 

3. Favorite makeup brand?

"Don't have one. I really don't place much value in brand name of cosmetics. Having said that... in my twenties, I was in to my branded cosmetics - Sonia Rykiel, Elizabeth Arden, Chanel, Estee Lauder, Clarins, Lancome, Shu Uemura, also Revlon and Poppy King lipsticks (Australian brand, the best matte lipsticks ever). 

Now... I don't really care what brand I wear, as long as I love the colour and the feel.  But mostly the colour.  And the price.  I know.  I'm such a cheapskate!!  But... quality no longer comes at a price.  I believe it never has, not cosmetically.  Departments stores and cosmetic chainstores are treasure troves!

I don't wear foundation.  When I remember (!) I use the most amazing powder product ever!  I will do a seperate post on my skin stuff okay? 
I am however, obsessed with mascara!  L'Oreal, Maybelline and Bourjois have the best ones not because of the mascara but because of the variety of brushes they have!  It's all in the brush and flick of the wrist. 
...am also rather obsessed with eye make-up... have just bought this palette of rainbow deliciousness and I am itching to play!

4. Favourite clothing brand?

Again... do not have one.  Regular readers will note/know/have read that I very rarely (rarer than hens teeth) state the labels of the garment/s I wear.  My attitude is 'I Maketh..'... as in the clothes don't make me... they way I wear them makes them.. 

I shop everywhere and wear everything.  I relised long ago that I don't view fashion as an investment.  Puhlease.  What a myth.
Don't get me wrong... I do have many designer names in my wardrobe and I do love designers but... I don't salivate over things like Lanvin for H&M or wax lyrical about Rodarte. 

A garment is too often mistaken for fashion.  Fashion is too often confused with style.  eg. wearing Wang leather shorts makes you fashionable and stylish.  No.  Just means you have money to burn.  And a bum for a billboard.  Not girth!  Advertising.  Where's the mystery?   But dammit those shorts are gorgeous!!

For me clothing is not art.  It is the application that is the art.  Not what you wear.  HOW you wear.

5. Your indispensable makeup product?

"Lip balm or lipstick.  Any lipbalm and mainly Ulta 3 Green Magic... a pharmacy brand [AUD$3] green lipstick that turns pink on your lips!  The higher your alkali levels the deeper pink it becomes!  It is moisturising and creamy and it lasts forever!!
It was the lipstick type/brand I used when I was 13.  And I'm still using it... how's that for staying power!!!

I also use M.A.C. lipsticks, 'Viva Glam' and 'Carnal'.  Found the most perfect red in a cosmetic chainstore and it is now 'my' red."

6. Your favorite color?

Totally mood dependant.  Last week it was wavering between pink and red.  That's my masculine energy coming to the fore.  When my oestrogen is asserting her kickass self, then it's blue, like this week... which I know sounds topsy-turvy considering people believe that blue is for boys and pink is for girls. 

Pink was originally for boys...If you want to know why, ask me and I'll tell you in the comments section.  Blue was considered the paler, daintier colour.  The gender switch in the Western world, happened some time after WW2.

I am also personal shopper/stylist and I don't work using trends, I use moods and colours.

 My hair used to be like this and then after this, it was teal and cobalt tipped.  About 5-10 years ago.  I want my hair teal again but alas... everyone's doing it. 

7. Your perfume?

"Vanilla Oil and Vanilla EDT by The Body Shop. 

Perfume no longer gels well with my chemistry.  Prior to that I was all over the bouquet spectrum!  I still don't really know if I'm a wood type or fresh or semi floral!  [see this fragrance wheel]

8. Your favorite film?

You might as well ask me to choose which is my favourite finger!  Or child!!  Okay that's a bit extreme...
Cannot choose this.  I have a huge collection of movies -English, Hindi, Chinese, Some French and Spanish- and I love them all! 

Favourite genre would be sci-fi.  No. Action.  Female hero action.  Thrillers.  Horror.  No not really.  Not anymore.  Definitely martial arts films and supernatural stuff and sci-fi fantasy and mystery and twists... The Dark Knight and LOTR and Indiana Jones and Bond and Lara Croft and Star Wars and The Usual Suspects and North by North West and Rear Window and Sholay and Karz and Khoon Bhari Maang and Matrix and Seven Samurai and Kill Bill and My Best Friend's Wedding and Austin Powers and Game of Death and Mortal Kombat and Charlies Angels and anything by Pedro Almodovar and Bend It Like Beckham and The Long Kiss Goodnight and Face/Off and Contact and Gattaca and Rocky and Die Hard and League of Their Own and cripes I'm tired now.
...all that is just off the top of my head... I have hundreds more...not just action stuff...

Unfortunately I am not into what is termed the 'chick flick'.  Anything with Jennifer Aniston and ilk and movies like The Notebook and Atonement...zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

9. What country would you like to visit and why?

"Spain.  Japan.  2 cultures I am fascinated with and by and I have never visited these countries.  Oh I have visited Spain once when I was a child living in England but that doesn't count. 
...I'd love to retell a story that a beautiful Flamenco dancer winked at me whilst performing and forever my heart belonged to Flamenco, etc, etc but alas... no.  No wink.  But something stayed.  I have been fascinated by Flamenco my entire life.

Likewise Japanese culture and traditions.  Taiko Drumming resonates deep within my soul.  This is the only image I have of me in the Taiko dojo.  That big drum is Odaiko.  Respect.

...I need to revisit India... and revisit USA...and spend months driving/sailing around them... my husband and I intend to do this... we're boating people and it is our wish to one day, when the youngest has finished his schooling, to sail around the world.

10. To be chosen by the blogger.
Hmm... this is quite difficult... I'm thinking deep and meaningful questions so that I can appear smarter... J... but nahhhhh...

Describe your style?

Can't.  Next.

Favourite book?

Please!  Take my finger instead!

Okayyyy, let's talk cars.  What gets your motor running?
Oooh.  That's more like it.  I love cars and motorbikes!   I love working on cars.  Have rewired Jaguar engines... we love our Jags... and am very proficient at changing brake pads on Land Rovers and water pumps and filters and spark plugs, etc.

This is my dream car.  Alas... it is only a dream.  A prototype concept car.  The Holden Efijy. 

I used to ride this.

I now I want this.