My photo
Sydney, NSW, Australia
Photographer. Writer. 45yo Indo-Fijian Australian. Glam Feminist. Coconuts.

Friday, February 4, 2011

My Rites...

Got mehndi (henna) done this morning and I'm wearing 'Athena' (bodylace) so I could have called this post Athenna... J

As you can see it's not a traditional pattern (on the backs of my wrists and top of my feet).  I get mehndi done for more than decorative reasons.  Usually I get it done at the start of summer because henna has cooling properties but this season, Summer didn't really start until last week (read more after the jump...)




wearing:
vintage swimdress
(vintage because I have had it for 20 years and yes it is still in excellent condition, which says a lot about the quality and the swimwear brand, a brand I used to be the 'face' for...
Even though I do love my bikinis and being a waterbabe I have a ridiculous collection of swimwear this swimdress is one of my favourites. 
It's sexy in a mysterious way and I feel like a superhero. 
Plus it's perfect for blog photos because... uhuh sugah... I may feel like a superhero but I'm no supermodel.)

[by the way, just in case, you don't know or as a reminder, majority of my images are self clicked, these included]

***************************************************
I get mehndi done because it's cooling and it's pretty and it lasts all Summer... but it does irritate me that ignoramuses think that I have tattoos. I've got nothing against tattoos on others.  Find some rather attractive and I respect Island and tribal symbology but tattoos are not my 'thing'.  Mehndi is a spiritual temporary embellishment. 
...But really I wanted to wait for a specific day because of symbolic reasons.



I like my rituals to signify important events or dates.  I also don't really like to celebrate these dates in any conventional way.  eg. birthday parties.  As much as I love celebrating my loved ones birthdays with a party because it's a day to be thankful for and therefore everyopne should celebrate it, I'm not that big on having parties for myself. 

Despite appearances (eg. a blog!  a BLOG!! with full face photos!!), I am quite private and don't like the birthday limelight.
...Having said that... like I do for others, I do like celebrating my birthday week.  Occasionally month.  Hell.  Year.  Just because I'm in my forties is no excuse to change that.  Celebrating my life is my right.  Right?


20 comments:

Veshoevius said...

Hello gorgeous! Amazing photos!! Love the swim dress with the body lace and henna tattoos are so beautiful. You are so unbelievably photogenic! Which swimwear brand is it? Wonder if I can remember the campaign!
Sigh..craving summer now... The beach! The sea! The sand!

Unknown said...

Oh Dusk you are exquisite, as always. Is that late afternoon light? Beautiful pics.

Sarah xxx

Leia said...

You beautiful beach babe! Still loving the swimdress. And I feel the same way about henna vs tattoos... I could never get a tattoo but I do like temporary decorations. As for birthdays... my family doesn't really celebrate them - we give gifts when we feel like giving them, not when we feel obligated to give them, and birthdays are usually celebrated with a family dinner - no parties or anything. That suits me just fine because I don't like to be in the limelight, either!

Leia

Unknown said...

You are so beautiful...and you are a super model...Look at your hands, look at your feet they are all so pointed and looks so great...You ROCK !!!

Unknown said...

You are so beautiful...and you are a super model...Look at your hands, look at your feet they are all so pointed and looks so great...You ROCK !!!

Vix said...

You look amazing! There's women twenty years younger than us who don't look half that good.
I'm a bikini babe, too but I'm sorely tempted to pop over and borrow that awesome swimdress off you. Some things DO justify a bigger outlay of cash. xxx

Jazzy E (Hivenn) said...

So beautiful. Love the metal. x hivennn

Love Bonche said...

Great!

kiran sawhney said...

Wow!! That is your kind of Birthday Post. Great shots.

Anonymous said...

Oh great photos...and is that chain a seprate harness? I absolutely love it

Bright Green Laces

L1L2 said...

DAMN!!! birthday girl..may you live many more days and years with the same rocking spirit!

Anupriya DG said...

How the hell did you take these pictures yourself?????? :O

You look as stunning as always.....& you are right, you are no supermodel......you are way better than one!!! :)

bollywoodstylediaries said...

you ;look majestic!!

i have seen this same fence/beach in lot of your pics. Do you live nearby or is this ur favorite beach?

Tanvi said...

I share your views about Birthday celebrations. I am the same.

Love the JUMP ... The swim wear also looks glamourous on you ... I am quite shy with swim wear. Can never post my pictures in them.

Ninjagaiden78 said...

I like the dress and the backdrop.
Nice photos as always!

windowshopz.com

angel in disguise.... said...

nice pics....just dropped in here...n at first i thought it was some super model...but..its ur original pics rite? ...wow...gr8!

Bhushavali said...

Love your poses!!! Great photography!!!
Fashion Panache - Top For Sale - 2

Fourth Daughter said...

oh, happy birthday! Can you show us more detail of the henna tattoos? I was just thinking I'd actually like to get that done some day.
Like you, I stay out of the spotlight if at all possible - except on my blog. But last year I got fed up with having to buy everyone else wedding presents/baby presents and decided to have a biggish birthday "do", seeing as neither marriage nor kids are on my agenda but I felt as worthy of a celebration as any bride/mother!

Rock'n Roll Ballerina said...

Lovely photos! I wish we had that weather here in Oslo..minus 10 today:)

Suruchi said...

brilliant brilliant shots...
you look super duper glorious:-)
yes a super hero too:-)