The Rock Ring

The newest piece of jewellery from Karen Walker is out! I got a call last friday from the lovely Scarlet at the new Ponsonby store telling me they had a new ring in, so on sunday I made the pilgrimage. And I love - the Rock Ring is fully sick, a chunk of luxurious rubble to adorn your hand. I'm probably also partial to it as I seem to be in a Flintstones trip stylewise at the moment - loving everything rocks, bones and zigzag hems. The ring also comes with a rose gold stone, and I can't chose between them! Time shall tell however.

Source: Showroom 22

While I was there, I finally decided on a piece I wanted from the new collection (have had many a try on, but always indecisive). I found the perfect pair of pleated pants; the palest grey, short - and they look great cuffed, and with the perfect amount of volume in the front and back (I hate it when pleated pants have a tight ass, NOT a good look). And bonus points for the uber cute name "Royal Albert". I'll def be rocking these bad boys cuffed - they even look ace with flats.

It was an epic mission getting my size! Had to journey to all three stores (although I was doing a tiki-tour of the city anyway as I had a fam-date and uni) but eventually they were found, and laybyed. Excitement!

Source: Karen Walker

Topshop Hearts NZ!!!

So all the fashion fiends I know are tripping over the news that the mighty TopShop is now shipping to little old New Zealand. This is to be a total killer to my bank balance.

I love these shots from there latest look book; the rough knits and metallics, fine prints and colours that are all slightly off and muddy. And am dying for those hot-as-hell leopard booties.

Sequined pants are, of course, totally choice.

Source: Showroom 22

As I usually always refrained from torturing myself with the TopShop website, the minute I heard the news I jumped on line and started compiling a wish list. Top of it is definitely these booties; cute, classic, a bit weird - and totally "needed" for my poor problem feet.

Left to Right: Sandy Crepe Wedge in Grey and Black

There are also some killer cross-body bags; a style I'm loving at the moment. Being "Hands Free" is liberating.

Left to Right: Barrel Cross Body Bag, Chainmail Hard Heart Bag, Leather Stud Cross Body Bag, 

As you know, I'm not usually a skirt girl - but these are definitely tempting. Love the rugged, shredded, washed out denims. Likewise the pyramid studs. I love tight little skirts paired with great big mens shirts and tees.

Left to Right: Denim Quilted Body Con Skirt, Triangle Gem Pelmet Skirt, Ripped Denim Bodycon Skirt,  

Even some dresses took my fancy (I know!! I'm actually getting more into them of late, we shall see how this progresses in the coming weeks).

Left to Right: Ripped Denim Dress, Denim Ruffle Dress, Lace Zip Front Dress,  

And as I'm always a fiend for a good jacket - both classic and pimped out - these obviously tickled my fancy.

Left to Right: Premium Double Breasted Blazer, Sequin Biker Jacket, Jersey Boyfriend Blazer.

Source: Top Shop

Ladylike

Im loving ladylike little girl shoes - they have endearing qualities of naivety, innocence and class. And manage to be delicate yet practical.

Chanel Couture Spring 08 Shoes

Source: Style.com

They would go perfectly with the Floor Skirt by Juliette Hogan that I have been coveting insanely since seeing it at Showroom 22's Media Open Day. I NEED this skirt.

Source: Front Row Diary

Muse: Jimi Hendrix

I love love love Jimi Hendrix - music, style, mystique, magnetism and tragic early demise. I'm not sure if I should be concerned that a lot of my key style idols are drug addicted rock stars from the sixties and seventies - but I have always been drawn to that whole world; the clothes, music, stories, danger etc. Hendrix's sartorial aesthetic was exotic, psychedelic, earthy, wild and primal - operative words also ideal to describe his life and music.

Twenty Seven Names' awesome summer collection "Jimi James And The Blue Flames" was inspired by Hendrix - I've wanted the whole collection the instant I first saw it at Showroom 22's Media Open Day. 

Also, Balmain's Spring 08 collection totally captures Jimi and the era perfectly (I still want everything.. Sigh) as does the already iconic frogged military jackets from Spring 09.

I always have quite a few of his songs on high rotate on my pod:

- Electric Ladyland

- Fire

- All Along The Watchtower

- Castles Made Of Sand

- Hey Joe

- Wind Cries Mary

Featuring: Balmain, Lover, Sass & Bide, 3.1 Philip Lim, Kova & T

Featuring: Matina Amanita, Bally, Miu Miu, Alexander McQueen

Sources: Scans, Style.com, Net-a-porter, Matina Amanita, Showroom 22,

Showroom 22's Media Open day for Summer 09/10: Volume Two

Wish I could have posted this in the morning today, but sadly uni/gym/work combo got in the way. Heres the d-low from the rest of our amazing afternoon at Showroom 22's Media Open Day;

The suits and shirts from Working Style were heavenly. I am a total sucker for menswear - and only buy mens shirts, women's generally just do not fit me properly (cursed with broad shoulders. But I like mens shirts better anyway, so its a perk). Gorgeous fine corduroy jackets - so elegant. Eddie and Tim were super nice as well - and put up with me saying the jackets were cute - sorry guys, not an ideal operative word for menswear. My bad.

Sherieyvonne

Source: Sherieyvonne

Amazing details from this collection; inserts, multiple collars and reversible pieces. And I loved the cut out shoulder details. 

TwentySevenNames

The collection from TwentySevenNames is to die for - we were so excited we were practically hyperventilating. It was an amazing sartorial lovechild of Jimi Hendrix and the nineties. Insanely cool.

Loved the peach and white denim pieces - such a fresh take on ubiquitous pieces like the vest, jacket and cutoffs. Such perfect summer hues too.

Left to Right: Peaches short shorts, Peaches denim jacket & Sleeveless cut off denim vest

I am seriously coveting the tee on the left. The image doesn't do it justice - its the palest neutral pink, like dirty ballerina tights - in the BEST possible way, I am pretty much obsessed with that colour right now. Its delicately sheer and I would definitely thrash this.

Left to Right: Basic scoop neck tee, Jimi-James tshirt dress, Crush with eyeliner skirt

The cropped tops were all heavenly - the zip lace would be great even for winter. And the stripe is cute, nautical and I love the slightly long crop length. Would most probably buy it a size or two too big I think.

Left to Right: Little kicks lace cardi, Monterey pop crop top, Lace cardi and Lace tights

So much angelically sexy white lace. Brigette and I both NEED that bodysuit. Much to her disapproval however I really loved those little briefs. Wearable? Surely... Somehow..

Left to Right: Little wing bodysuit, Art star check dress, Slip-knot lace dress, Lace knickers

Love the jeans and leggings that featured knee patches! I made a beeline for these when I saw the cute little suede patch peeking out of the rail.

Left to Right: Oxford knit zip jeans, Oxford patched tights

Standouts investment pieces were definitely these two stunning jackets. The frogging on the left is all hand done (and amazing). The suede fringe jacket is actually quite slick - has amazing panels on the arms and elbow.

Left to Right: Jimi Jacket, Joplin Jacket

Source: Showroom 22

Showroom 22's Media Open day for Summer 09/10

I was super lucky to get to go to Showroom 22's Media Open Day yesterday - all their designers were showing their summer 09/10 collections. All the ranges were amazing - was so so exhausted from talking to the designers for 3 hours straight but was on such a high afterwards! Best arvo I have had for a long long time.

Juliette Hogan

I actually can't get the skirt on the left out of my head. The instant I saw it on the Juliette Hogan rail I fell in love. It's simply heavenly; knife pleated, semi-sheer, fluid, femine and crazy-elegant. I would live in this year round - tights for winter, or boy leg briefs for summer. So hot with a soft loose tank. I just don't know which colour I like best? There was the ballerina pink (as shown), a cream or a black. Maybe I need two?

Bettina Liano

The night before, I had coincidently just watched a sneak peek clip of Bettina Liano's new campaign video on Patty Huntingtons Frockwriter blog - if you havn't seen it, do. Jessica Hart is stunning. We loved their sexy denim - especially the distressed, faded, superhot O Leg Shredded (they feature in the clip). The leggings with studs across the rear would also be an amazing wardrobe stable if I can get my hands on them. The loose silky shorts would be pretty much lived in all summer long (and then in winter with wooly tights and boots). And love the shredded black tee - they also do a tank version.

Alexandra Owen

Alexendra Owen's collection took our breath away - the origami-like folding and draping was so beautiful. The range had the most modern, soft tailoring that I think I've ever seen in the flesh. Stand outs were definitely the white top on the left (it comes in black, but I prefer it in white as I like the paper-like effect it created) and the stunning blue silk pieces (the exact colour of a perfect blue sky). The girls representing Owen were super sweet too, answering all our rambling questions and putting up with our repeated exclamations of "Wow.. But how is that done? How does that work? Wow!".

Kathryn Wilson

Wilson is pretty much every kiwi girl's favorite shoe designer - and she just gets better and better every season. I think Brigette and I spent about 40 whole minutes standing in front of her display shelf? God knows what Wilson thought! It was all just so so beautiful. We both are INSANELY coveting Bragwanath heel (pictured) but are torn between all the beautiful colourways. After about half an hour I decided I HAVE to have the nude/black pair. So stunning.

Ps: I'll be posting about the AMAZING TwentySevenNames collection when I get home from work tonight - I am pretty sure Brigette and actually died a bit in side from love. It is insanely awesome. I actually want it all. x

Sources: Showroom 22