Summer Beanies

As the temperature drops below zero

it is a common thing to see knitted hats

everywhere.

However the summer beanie is a relatively

new phenomenon.

Boys are working the look even when their

ears don't need warming, and why not,

it adds a bit of street to any outfit.

Just don't try this at the beach!

Mr Men Gone Bad

Something has happened to all our

favourite story book characters on the streets.

Reinvented as sinister cousins of the

originals, they are back , dripping with

blood , scowling and looking a little night-

marish.

The Disney era that was all utopian and light

has been turned on it's Mickey Mouse ears.

Welcome to the cartoon creepshow!

I'm with the Band..

Girls are banding together, joining forces

in fashion unity and accessorised

sisterhood! I love these two takes on headbands

which almost look like belts that have been

recycled. What do you think?

Big Top in the Bush

A fringe street circus with a difference is

coming to town.



Two summers ago, I went to the

Lunar Circus in the Margaret River,

Western Australia.

I was really blown away.

It was three days of some of the best

entertainment I have ever seen ,

and all set in the Australian bush.

Not to mention some colourful fashion,

great food and a really eclectic and fun

collection of people from all over the world.

From crazy Italian clowns to a Sydney based,

acrobatic trio, performing under a full moon,

naked.

It is on this year from the 23rd-25th of January,

so if you get a chance to check it out,

you won't regret it!

Oh, and you can camp on the premises

and surf at the nearby pristinely beautiful

beaches as well.

Denimmmmm

Jeans...yeah we all love them. Denim is

now taking over all garments in our

wardrobes.

I know you have all noticed this.

From the chambray shirt, to the raw,

edged cut-offs and skirts around.

Lots of people seem to be getting very

creative with denim.

Here are just a few examples above.

Pipe Dreams

Have you ever really looked at pipes as

sculpture?

I have never really noticed how

architecturally interesting they can be

until I was gazing up at one of the most

architecturally important buildings of

modern times; the Pompidou centre in Paris,

and I thought: it's just a whole collection

of interestingly beautiful, industrially cool..

pipes.

Leather and Lace

Gone are the days when girls wore pretty

dresses with dainty shoes.

It's all about contrast ,where cotton shifts

are more at home on the street with biker-

boots or trainers, chunky gold chains and

bold turquoise jewellery. Graphic prints

accessorised with brown, purple and

black leather, and that's all in the one outfit.

Or white canvas high-tops with plaid and

a motorcycle jacket.

Rules are made to be broken...

so break them!

Little Black Strides

Bridgitte Bardot, Little Richard,

Olivia Newton John and Axel Rose,

what style choice do they all have in

common?

Black, sleek, fitted, body-hugging...not

since Paris was black and black was Paris

and the age of the St Germain all black

uniform, have black pants been so

ubiquitous.

Everyone has there own take on them though.

The rock edge of black jeans or leather (girls

only unless you are doing fancy dress or

really are a Rock God!) And then there is

sexy shiny Lycra leggings, or the tailored

and flattering variety.

I love the look with contrasting tops and

black shoes.. see how they are worn here

and you can't go wrong.

Ape

Is the whole world going Ape?

Well it's not a new thing. From 'Planet

of the Apes, to clever Japanese fashion

label 'A Bathing Ape', the monkey

madness been around for the last few

decades.

I think we owe it to our closest animal

relatives to pay tribute!

Shoes..Shoes..Shoes ; Just Gettem!

The stiletto is loaded with meaning.

No other piece of clothing has so many

different connotations.

Seen by some as a woman's Achilles heel;

feminists have derided them, embraced them

and then rejected them all over again

Others see it as a woman's' right of passage,

or a status symbol, ( just watch any episode of

'Sex in the City.')

A fetishists obsession, or just a thing of

beauty and carefully considered design.

Love them or hate them, heels are a part of

our street culture.

Just take a pair of ballet flats, ( now sold

in night club vending machines apparently)

with you in your bag, for marathon dance

sessions or extended shopping expeditions.

And PS..I know it's been around for a

while now , but just check out Kelly's

'Shoes' on youtube.. for the ultimate

shoe mantra!

Funny Girls

Laugh...these legends made us role around

because of their self deprecating , zany

and above all, highly original antics.

That episode where Lucille Ball is

crushing grapes is up there with the best.

And that voice, worse than scratching your

fingers down a blackboard but no one will

ever forget it.

Joan Rivers knows that nothing is sacred

when it comes to making us laugh..and

she is better now than ever....STOP!

And as for Babara Streisand's early

cinematic efforts , she ruled the streets

with impeccable timing and goofy ugly

duckling turns, (somewhat goofy) swan,

brilliance.

The other thing all of these funny girls

had in common was pretty distinctive style.

The clothes they wore, served to enhance

there outrageous persona's.

Some girls on the street don't take

themselves too seriously either.

Here are a few who dress to raise an

eyebrow and hopefully a smile .

Love their look or hate it..

I'm sure they just don't care!

Banana Bender

The banana has to be the most universally

eaten fruit.

It is definitely a staple in Asia and in

countries like India, the price of the

banana is regulated , making it the most

affordable of foods.

Banana splits, bananas in pyjamas,

bananas on your morning cereal, and my

personal favourite, banana smoothies.

The potential for banana power is endless.

Banana as design inspiration however.

Who would have thought?

The attention grabbing bag below proves

otherwise.

Wallpapered part 3

Another sample of what I've seen on walls

lately. Peel back the layers and trace the

history of the last month of street culture.

Backpacker fashion

Backpacker fashion. The two might seem

a contradiction in terms , but I definitely

have noticed some interesting backpacker

style of late.

I love the thought of jumping in a van and

heading with a group of friends across the

desert into the Australian centre.

Or up the coast to Byron Bay.. maybe as

far as Cairns, Darwin and Kakadu.

I did it all through India with one change

of clothes and a bomber jacket that

doubled as a pillow on long train trips.

All I know is your clothes become a

travelling uniform , holding memories

of adventures and sunsets at foreign beaches.

Dusty with journeys into the middle of

nowhere and back.

Four wheel drives become homes

and surfboards or a much loved chess-

set, your only possessions.