Friend Friday: Back to the Fuschia

So... this is what I wore last night, meeting friends for drinks then attending a fundraising event for a (burlesque themed) play.  BUT... what is so momentous is that I'm actually going to participate in a Blogger Networking activity!  Friend Friday!

This is a backdated post, written on a Saturday (AEST), dated to Friday about an outfit worn on Thursday.  Back to the future...
...so the reason I am participating in this is because I read Veshoevius' post and as always she floors me with her complex yet simple to comprehend, eloquent, lyrical answers.  And her banging 'rock chick meets a Baroness' style. I was inspired.  Plus... she mentioned me as someone who inspires her to wear hot pink!   So I thought it most appropriate.

Here goes.

1.      "Since you began blogging do you notice a change in the types of things you gravitate towards while shopping?"

No, not at all!  I still shop the way I have always done... from anywhere and everywhere and the brighter the better!  What I don't usually divulge is where I shop nor where I find my pieces.   I also don't want to be defined nor validated by the labels and prices of my clothing choices. 
Clothing is an expression artform for me and as such I like to keep an interpretative air about it, for the viewers perspective.  Which sounds like a whole lot of pretentious bulls**t but it's true! 

If anything... I tend to back away from certain items or trends.  But this question does seem a bit weird because I don't shop to blog.  That would make a mindless consumer junkie! 
Admittedly... if I do find a most amazing piece, I look forward to photographing it...which just makes me a vain-ass showpony rather than a mindless consumer junkie.

2.      "Do you find, as a fashion blogger, that you dress differently from your family and friends? Do they comment on that?"

Yes!  I do (dress differently) and they do comment!  But I don't dress differently because I'm a 'fashion blogger'! 

My blog exists because of the way I dress, not the other way around. 

READ MORE AFTER JUMP!

My husband, children, family, girl/guy/gay friends, colleagues, customers love the way I dress!  They look forward to seeing what I will be wearing next and I do dress differently for each 'group'... not as a way to fit the tribe. HELL. No. I never dress to fit in, I never have, even as a child, even being the 'odd one out'... I relished that position.  Still do.  As a teenager I was well known for my crazy sense of dress and yes, sometimes I would get judged for it...still do... but I really didn't and don't care. 

I am always 'me'... but the different versions of me.  Read this post for more about this.

I do get funny looks and I do get snide comments, particularly from other women and although that used to bother me because I could never imagine doing that to someone else... now I just smirk back at them.  Yes smirk. 

My friends are damn stylish but I am by far the most out-there one of the lot.  What I really really love though is that my girlfriends all dress up out of their comfort zones when with me.  I have been known to march them back in to their dressing rooms to change if I don't like what they're wearing because I deem it unworthy of their fabulous selves!  God bless them they still love me!  I swear I'm not bossy!  I just like my loved ones to shine.

...and with me around no one ever feels overdressed!!  So they go for it!

My husband loves the way I dress and 'gets' the look 90% of the time!  My children... my daughter says she is heavily influenced by my style (but she has her own stamp) and my boys think something's wrong if I'm wearing "normal" clothes.  The boys have always liked that I don't dress as the other mums do. 

When they were younger, going to pick them up from school, waiting at the school gates... in a sea of lycra, I would be in a fuschia caftan cinched at the waist with a metal belt, orange & blue platfom wedges and a denim floppy hat.  They always found me in that crowd...

CONTINUED after the jump...

3.      What’s the weirdest fashion that you secretly like, even if you aren’t bold enough to wear it?

Hmmm... okay, well... secretly I really love the classic Katherine Hepburn look but I am not understated enough to wear it!  Even though she wasn't understated! 

This is such a classic, elegant look but even though I absolutely love it, it would be boring on me because my personality does not suit this look.  

AND.... I would love to just wear a white t-shirt with jeans, add boots and leave it at that but I can't!  Just can't!  I get 'itchy'.  I feel underdressed...which leads to a whole slew of questions... as to why I feel underdressed.  eg. Do I use the way I dress as a mask?  

Yes I do.  But.. Not to hide me.  Not in the way you may think.   Sometimes, I use the way I dress to be invisible.  Hmmm... I will address this in another post.

I also really like simple dresses.  On others.  I like that I can appreciate all kinds of style without needing to like it because it's my style.  I see that in others.  Sometimes I think that when someone admires someone elses style what they're really saying is "you are like me, bravo". 

I never want to be that person.  That person doesn't grow.

4.      Looking at current trends – what would you like to try but need to build up the courage to do?

Again... not courage... I would need to tone down to wear current trends.  I'm not really aware of what the current trends are anyway.  I know leopard print is in but that's because it never goes out!  I wear a lot of animal print anyway. 

Oooh capes are everywhere here.  But in greys, neutrals and boringgggs.  I have many vintage capes that get oohed and ahhed and "oh I could never wear that"-ed. 

"colour-blocking" is a 'trend' that baffles me... colour is a way of life for me, not a trend.  And the way Australian style bloggers "colour-block" amuses me.  Actually... mainstream style Australian fashion bloggers bore me.  There.  I said it. 

I do not find a grey bulky cardigan worn over tan pants and a white t-shirt, accompanied by the ubiquitous Jeffrey Campbell 'Litas', all brought together by a gigantic clutch in a 'bright' colour like peach... an original statement in style.  Although dammit, I do love  JC shoes.

5.      Toot someone’s horn – what fashion blogger out there inspires you with her bold fashion choices? 

Ahhhh I love and admire many and as arrogant as this may sound, I don't look to others for inspiration (I look for admiration)... it's Desiree that rocks my socks off!  She is fearless! 

...and although many consider her a spoiled rich brat, I do very much love Jane Aldridge's style.  Very similar to to my style when I was her age but that's not why I like it! 

I am astounded at the money she seems to spend but each to their own...  but... I find those that look fabulous without needing to sell their organs, more stylish than those that spend big bucks on designer pieces. 

That's why celebrities on the red carpet, etc, bore me.  They're not stylish.  They're walking billboards.

One thing I don't share and should really is that many times I am dressed for hmmm... less than AUD25.  Top to toe.

I am astounded at the prices the young girls I work with pay for their boring, hipster tribe, must wear a designer label, pieces.  They pay through the nose for the privilege of being recognized as someone with more dollars than sense.

Some of these girls will work for clothes and not eat for days.  Another issue for another post.

And I'm done.  Sorry, this is a rushed post as per usual!  I'm off to photograph a most fabulous event!

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Thank you for your answers to my previous post's question!  Like U2, I still haven't found what I'm looking for... when it comes to answering my own question.  Why do I blog?  Why do I blog?

I really don't know.  Most of you are now raising your eyebrow/s, rolling your eye (which would be a cool party trick but also kinda creepy so just roll both okay?), deep sighing all over the place and thinking "Dusk!  For heaven's sake!  Get. Over. It."
..but... it is important for me to know why I do the things I do.  Otherwise it's mindless.