Discount Disciples

Wearing: Discount Universe shirt, vintage blouse, Asos skirt and Dr Martens boots.

As you can probably tell, this shirt is approximately one trillion sizes too big for me BUT it's perfect for layering. I wasn't meant to buy anything this month but I had to buy this vintage blouse for $6 plus postage because I knew deep down that's the kind of regret one takes with them to the grave. One thing I forgot though when it comes to buying vintage is just how itchy old synthetic fabrics can feel against naked skin. The plastic buttons were maybe clear once but they've aged terribly and are the colour of pale ale so I plan on replacing them soon when I stumble upon the perfect, tacky flower buttons. I feel like Enid Coleslaw would have a really good button collection if she weren't already enamored with pop culture and into sewing rather than filling her sketchbook. As always, citing a fictional character as a reference to steal clothing/ craft supplies from is generally counter productive but hey! I've always felt more represented by figures of the imagination, rather than real people.

Cloud Nine

Wearing: Discount Universe halter top, Target trousers, gifted bangle and Chloë Sevigny x Opening Ceremony boots.

I was well and truly feeling myself in this outfit. The pants and bracelet are pieces my mom bought me, as she insists on buying my clothes despite my many protests. So I thought, why not wear those pieces with two of my favourite things I bought for myself? I have the terrible affliction of forgetting about amazing pieces I purchase months ago, and forgetting that even if I have worn them there aren't any pics on my blog. I'm citing this amazing sequined halter top, which is not a style that I would normally wear but it was actually fun to show a little skin for once! Aside from making my body look hot this piece if so well made, each sequin was hand-sewn and the fabric is surprisingly heavy but also stretchy. The previous owner either 1.) did not wear it much or 2.) looked after it. Whatever the case may be I'm extremely grateful I snapped up this archive piece when I did- it's one of my absolute favorites from the Australian brand!

Growth

Wearing: Marina FINI earrings, Vintage jacket, thrifted blouse, school uniform skirt and Dr Martens boots.

I've been obsessed with personal development and growth over the last couple of weeks. It's been difficult for me but I've finally reached a point where I can be honest with myself about my personal relationships and when to move on. To celebrate my new found freedom I dressed like a plant witch, although to be honest I look more like a character from Dynasty. This has largely to do with my slightly padded shoulders and the amount of clashing prints in this outfit. Most of my time has been spent learning about plants lately as they are an integral part of my honours thesis. I've also learned more about mushrooms than I ever thought I would in a lifetime. It just goes to show that life never really turns out the way you thought it would be. Also, I thought wearing body glitter on my eyelids was a good idea but after about an hour or so the glitter had slowly migrated onto my cheeks. I'll probably find glitter in the bathroom and around the house for the next month.

 3- Eleanor Hardwick for Rookie Mag, 6- Susie Bubble wearing Simone Rocha X J Brand, 8- Don't Go Into the Woods via Rookie Mag, 10- Rookie Mag Road Trip Diary: Week Three.

Ice Queen

Wearing: Vintage dress, thrifted cardigan, POMS earrings and Dr Martens boots.

My mum said this outfit was "too fluffy". Little does she know there's no such thing. I felt so good wearing this outfit but some people cannot deal with fluffy white earrings. I wore this outfit to the Melbourne Art Book Fair held at the National Gallery of Victoria, and even there some people were staring. I don't mind though because I got a signed copy of Minna Gilligan's limited edition book, Poems, Prayers and Promises. I also got to hang out with some rad babes I have met through various unofficial Rookie Mag events and got to catch up with them. Given that I've been so busy this year with my research I think it's forced me to make time for the things I truly enjoy. Which means that I'm busy all the time but I think that's when I'm happiest, even though I sometimes collapse into bed because I'm so exhausted.

Keep it simple, stupid

Wearing: Target turtleneck and skirt, Asos faux fur coat and Dr Martens boots.

I wore this outfit on the weekend and although it's fairly conservative for me I still got a few looks. I'm not sure if it's because it was a strange hour of the night or what I was wearing, or a combination of red hair and pink lips but I think at least one lady was trying to smile at me. It might have also been because I was with my boyfriend who's white and even though I'm mixed and halfway some people might still have a problem with us? I don't know, it's pretty confusing trying to guess what someone is thinking. Anyway I needed to wear a warm jacket because we went out to the city to celebrate a friend's 21st. It was a friend from work but we often hang out to play video games and order pizza and he's crazy good at just about everything. We ate at B’Churrasco, located on A' Beckett Street which served yummy Brazilian barbeque-style cooking. Our dining experience included fourteen different meets served on sword-length skewers, thankfully there weren't any vegetarians but the banana fritters were absolutely delicious.

Isolated Heroes Pleasureland

Short, sweet and to the point the Isolated Heroes latest lookbook 'Pleasureland' is a dreamy concoction of glitter, glitter and more glitter. I'm not sure where these photos were taken (although given that they are an independent Scottish designer that does narrow things down) but bonus points for finding the arcade machine 'Cosmic Invaders'. Not only did this setting complement the clothes for the shoot but they also reinforced the idea that they are special pieces to be worn during the evening, or on a fun day out. The signature faux fur coats are back featuring a Peter Pan collar and slightly shorter cut but the real star of the show are those sequined biker jackets. They look insanely good when paired with the sequined halter neck dresses or floaty chiffon-like material with a high thigh split. Just about everything including the sweatshirts were embellished in one way, shape or form with a sequined design or some kind of iconography. Like last season there were love hearts, rainbows, smiley faces and palm trees which are all handmade in the studio.  

I loved the styling for this photo shoot with the colours and the graphics of the arcade a continuation of the colourways and designs of this season. While I had previously complained about the use of bindis for a previous shoot (which you can read here) I'm happy to say spray painted glitter and thick hoop earrings were the accessory of choice. While I'm certainly no beauty blogger I also have to  adored the subtle eyeshadow, accentuation of brows and use of lip stain. I got Lady Gaga vibes from the sheer amount of modern glamor sequins and attitude, as well as serious hair and courage of the designer to take their brand to the next level. It's incredibly difficult for designers, particularly emerging designers to follow their vision and create clothing which does currently not exist or breath new life into something which has already been expressed. Following the departure of Louise Gray and maybe, even possibly Meadham Kirchhoff's imminent demise the ability for a brand to continue and persevere in this market is largely dependent on how they handle the PR side of their business. But the fact remains, as Susie Bubble said that fashion should be about artistic vision first and commerce second.    

The clothes and styling were largely inspired by Miley Cyrus, as was the playful premise of this entire photo shoot. If you've been following my blog for a while now you'll know I don't really care about her or celebrities in general. The only remarkable thing about many celebrities is that they appear accessible to the rest of the world and we can buy into the illusion that we think we know them. However, despite my cynicism I must admit that the work inspired by her stage presence and personal style is something to behold. Isolated Heroes have managed to create a collection which is both eccentric and mischievous, yet able to integrate into daily life. I just loved the glittery pink dresses and matching motorcycle jackets (which I've wanted for ages but never had enough money). Rather than seeming out of place given the visceral and competitive spirit of an arcade the clothes merely enhance this mood. At first I thought the Timberlands were a poor choice in footwear but I stand corrected. Given some thought it seems that the blend between the physicality of this environment as well as the fashion subcultures Isolated Heroes appeals to.

The first previews from this collection featured the fluffy yellow and red jacket. It instantly reminded me of my many years spend playing Pokemon as a child, as well as Tamagotchi and other Japanese electronics. I was electrified for all the right reasons and it was really unlike any of the other faux fur jackets I've seen on the market since. What was equally impressive was finding an equivalent colour to make their Holiday dress in yellow. The colour combinations as well as experimentation with faux fur is more reminiscent of their older collections rather than last season's creations. It's been really interesting watching the brand evolve starting on Asos Marketplace and managing their various social media platforms as a way of world domination while delivering the same kind of glamorous aesthetic I've come to associate with independent brands from the United Kingdom. As far as I can tell no one does it better than Isolated Heroes or takes it as far. It's all a bit exaggerated and yet everything works together really well. 

By far the best thing about Isolated Heroes is their size range- they now offer UK sizes 6 through to 24 and their lookbooks have proven that their jackets look just as good on the boys as on the girls. I know it's a little patronizing coming from someone who is not plus size or even an in between but I think it's important as consumers that we can exercise choice. While it may not come across in these photos in particular my understanding is that they do celebrate diversity. Plus they also take custom orders and usually update their Depop account with special sample sale prices. If I can ever save enough dollars I definitely want to get my hands on a sequined biker jacket if I can ever decide on a colour. For the thrifty and crafty folk you could also probably attempt stitching sequins onto a sweatshirt with varying success (depending on how well you sew). If I had enough sequins and spare time I'd be inclined to try it myself but for the moment I am super busy in the wake of fashion week and runway events around the world. Plus if you can afford it you should support the brand who comes up with these lovely ideas whenever possible.

*All photos via Isolated Heroes website