Leather Legs

Okay so I am on cloud nine right now.... I FINALLY found a pair of leather leggings!!!! Was walking out of Black Box when I noticed a pile of buttery soft Claude Maus leather leggings. Actually had a heart attack - raced to the fitting room. They are so perfect. Naturally I laybyed asap. Can't wait to be reunited with these - I've been searching for the perfect pair of leather leggings/pants for about four years now.

Source:

Stolen Girlfriends Club Summer 09/10 "No.8 Weapons Of Mass Destruction"

I had an appointment in Ponsonby yesterday - which gave me the perfect excuse to pay a visit to my beloved Black Box. While there, Zara Mirkin was a sweetheart and showed me the Stolen Girlfriends Club lookbook for their summer collection "No.8 Weapons Of Mass Destruction" (which I have been eagerly awaiting). Its relaxed, laid back, weird but sexy. Strong feel of Americana and classic staples like tees and denim that have all been twisted.

Fave picks would have to be all the starry denim pieces - you know me, I have yet to meet a star I didn't like. I really want the paneled bike shorts (same style as my uber comfy/warm plaid pants), the slouchy denim shorts and I secretly (well maybe not so much) kindof LOVE the shirt - it's just a little bit country, and just right.

Im a fiend for sheer at the moment, so love these sheer sleeved dresses

And love even more the sheer sleeved sweat dresses. I would literally live in these - to the point of embarrassment and awkward comments from people.

Loving the two toned denim jackets, and wondering if they are unisex? I usually prefer mens jackets to womens' thanks to my somewhat irritating broad shoulders (although they do make the wearing of awesome mens tees and shirts very easy - therefore I am grateful).

Speaking of menswear, I love the classic but twisted athleticism and prep of these. Those cream jerseys would be crazy wearable on balmy summer nights (I miss so much) and in the cold we have now.

Source: Zara Mirkin from Stolen Girlfriends Club

Ps: Apparently their winter collection is going to be awesome. Am sooo psyched already.

17/06/09: Shop Shop Shop

So I FINALLY went shopping (properly) today now that I am free from uni. God it was good. Pretty much took up my whole day post-gym. And although today was freezing (something I combatted c/o my beloved Tv leopard merino leggings and my fave of mums cashmere jerseys) it was stunningly sunny and beautiful.

Black Box was perfect, but then again when is it not? I left wanting/needing new jeans. Stolen Girlfriends Club jeans are pretty much the only type that fit my body perfectly, and always have the most kick ass styles - I'm seriously craving their perfectly faded torn skinnies that are slashed all up the leg, but have a denim layer underneath (for warmth and practicality - therefore they are obviously a sensible/necessary purchase oui?). Also wanting some of the Tv jeans that are slashed all the way up.

Source: Tv 

A pit stop to Vixen in St Kev's saw my find this uber comfy clompy pair of Dr Martens mary janes - heaven for my decrepit feet. When I brought then out at home later I thought the fam would have a fit - but they actually liked. Was a tad shocked, but pleased.

Paid a long overdue visit to Children Of Vision and the ever lovely James Dobson - I did the usual, stared longingly at all the stock, stroked the puffpaint splatered pieces and pesterred him about when Romance Was Born's summer collection was coming in - I want aaall of it, no joke. Except possibly not the semi-infamous Octopus Bonnet.

With some extra cash that was accumulating in my wallet I fiiinaaally paid of my ankle boots from Mi Piaci - have been searching for a staple pair like these FOREVER. Most are way to large widthwise for my scrawny feet, and not many had the inbuilt platform that I wanted - but these ticked all the boxes. And now its holidays and I am reacquainted with my social life I actually have places to wear them! Excellent.

Treated myself to some new lippy - a MAC Satin in Snob (have been needing/wanting for a while now).

Source

Superette have some awesome Lover pieces, think me and the little sis will have a bit of a try on when we pop in on saturday. And I still NEED/LOVE the Ksubi Aras. Every time I put them on it just feels like they complete me.

Tried on some of the new(ish - considering my lack of shopping lately) Toy Watches. So cute. Like plastic versions of my current and much loved Tissot (I call it my Seventies Porno Watch) and also remind me of the white Chanel watches that I've coveted forever. So obviously I loved the Plasteramic in white!

Source: Toy Watch USA

Final stop was Karen Walker, had a lovely long chat with the awesome Scarlet and spent forever looking at possible 21st birthday jewelry options - loving the owl ring (quite meaningful as my late grandmother collected owl ornaments) and the carrots (ideally in gold - more carrot appropriate colour oui?). I've wanted that blue cocktail knuckle duster forever, and have desperately wanted the cigarette butt charm for even longer. Sigh.

Source: Karen Walker

New Goodies: Tv and Tweed

Picked up my Tv leopard merino leggings from Black Box yesterday. They are HEAVENLY. So unbelievably warm and comfortable - and surprisingly super wearable. The colours of taupe, grey and black means they go with pretty much everything.

On a cheaper note, I hit up my local salvo shop as well and got an amazing purple/grey/tan tweed oversized blazer for a cool $10. Super comfy and warm and with magically deep pockets. Handbag not required.

And I know these will def not be to everyones taste (my lil sister grimaced when I pulled them out of the bag) but i love these. Super cute!!! V similar to a pair I had when I was a kid. And $4... So I could not say no. 
Have been loving socks lately too - they are keeping my poor scrawny midget feet warm!

Tv Fix

Yesterday I treated myself to a trip to my fave boutique in town (and one of a handful that I ever make an effort to go to) Black Box - had worked a million weekends in a row and have so much uni work to do that I actually needed some retail therapy to keep me relatively sane. As always, it didn't disappoint. And bonus - they have some Tv pieces in! I pretty much died - didn't think I'd ever be seeing this in New Zealand. Thank god for Black Box. I laybyed (laybought?) a pair of these babies - pure (and thick!) merino leopard print leggings. So amazingly warm, words actually can't describe (go and try the last pair - a medium - on for yourself and see). These are def a necessity for my poor body this winter (lack of any circulation means I am always cold).

Source: Tv

Black #10: The Boys

The menswear editorials in the latest Black magazine blew my mind. Completely and totally loved them (way more than the womens' for once). Incredibly  grungy, sexy and semi androgynous. I would so wear what they are. Stunning models - different to the usual models you see around (ripped all american beefcakes or skinny little slips of boys with better pouts than the girls).

Nineteen93

This is undoubtably one of the best eds I have seen anywhere in a long time. Everything is just insanely stunning; rich contrast of the lighting, amazing grungy clothes - paired with nailpolish. All the looks have a sexy, worn in and rumpled quality (morning after much?). And there's a shit load of my favorites like Stolen Girlfriends Club, Friedrich Gray, Ksubi and Chronicles of Never - most of it supplied by the heavenly store that is Black Box. And I love the long haired guy - I have a total soft spot for guys with long hair.

Stay Away From Being Maybe

Love the roughed up and layered white shirts here (I've got them on the brain, we are studying/designing them at uni at the mo). Super hot waistcoats, and love love a guy in a fur jacket. The v successful Levi Clarke is awesome in this. Such a different (and quite uniquely kiwi look).

Hello Kitty

I fell in love with the cover of the latest Fashion Quarterly the minute I saw it in Paper Plus - and the corresponding editorial was even better. The contrast between the creamy beige knits and the slick black leather is stunning. So delicate and soft yet so sharp. And that kitten is adorable!! I seriously want that jumper in the centre - I've seen it somewhere, just can't remember where. Possibly Black Box?

Fashion Quarterly Winter 09 "Hello Kitty"

Under The Cherry Moon

I went into Black Box today and nearly DIED when I saw some pieces from Ellery there. Australian designer Kim Ellery (who used to work at Russh) has the most amazingly sexy, dark, glam, tactile collections. And the shots from the winter 09 lookbook are stunning. 

I couldn't tear myself away from one of the Ellery tanks in Blackbox - silkjersey and tercel, low arm holed, and overwashed black (browning). I die.

UNDER THE CHERRY MOON

Love love these moody dark; inky black, deep rust and beigey pink.

Ellery Winter o9 "Under The Cherry Moon"

Source: Ellery

Operation Ksubi = VICTORY!

 Went to Black Box today!! And guess what I found??? The Ksubi Lace Jeans that I've been lusting after and raving about (here and here). And they had my size!!!! So what did I do? I lay-byed! Am SO excited. And poor (they are $435 in total - eek! Can't tell Dad - he will tan my hide!) They are so wearable though - and super comfy! The lace is stretchy and soft, and quite warm! And they have ragged hems, looks so beautifully rough. Yay! 

Chains

Loves it.

UK Vogue Oct 08 - Givenchy Fall 08

Le Box Noir

I made a (first) trip to Black Box in Grey Lynn yesterday and was v impressed! The new(ish) boutique is stunning - interior, vibe and stock. It is the baby of Stolen Girlfriends Club's Dan Gosling - naturally they have the largest (and best) collection of SGC I've seen. 

The labels that caught my eye were SGC, Shakuhachi, Something and Ksubi - they also stock Chronicles of Never, Friedrich Grey, Therese Rawstone and others. And apparently in the future they will have the full Ksubi Line (not just jeans, sunggies etc).. Although with the current trouble Ksubi is apparently in that will remain to be seen oui?

While I was there I tried on a few stunning things, a black chunky cable knit crop top (insane!) but Shakuhachi that actually was cute and wearable! And these SGC pieces...

The image of the dress really doesn't do it justice - its silk and the peace sign is done with delicate lace applique. It felt like wearing a really comfortable tee! Unfortunately the smallest they had was an NZ10, and while it fitted and did look ok (was meant to be baggy) it really did swamp my frame (I wear a 6 usually). Sigh.. So pretty. Oh well I suppose I have just got a similiar(ish) Karen Walker Dress.. But I heart this one too!

Anyway definitely go check Black Box out - the staff are really nice and helpful too! Not intimating or snobby like some boutiques.

Ps: Runway Reporter's Article