Is anyone else surprised over the controversy surrounding Rachel Ray’s new ad for US food brand Dunkin’ Donuts? Apparently the commercial has sparked outrage over her scarf, which allegedly looks like a traditional Arab headress.

Image courtesy of Perez Hilton.

Have these people not seen this kind of scarf on pretty much every trend-coveting young woman in the world at the moment? Ethnic scarves are in! She’s not exactly wearing it on her head.

Is this really about the “war on terror” or are the media using this to spark a “war on fashion”?

Tags: Fashion And The Media by Alicia
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Cotton On Cardigan - H&M Top - Forever New Pants - Forever New Flats - Mimco Cocoon Bag - Mimco Crystal Stud Earrings

Runnings exasperating errands today. I wanted to wear my new Forever New pants and found that they slip down a tiny bit, I might need to wear these with a belt. I love the really relaxed straight/skinny cut to the leg. Very flattering.

I’m so impressed with Forever New. A relatively new chain, they opened late 2006. The stock initially was questionable, but as a friend who is now an assistant buyer for the chain explained to me, there was a rush to get stock into the stores on time, but now that they’ve got their buying team together they’re able to relax and concentrate on great designs. She’s not wrong.

The styles and quality at Forever New really rival current popular high-street chains such as Sportsgirl while retaining more competitive prices. They seem to be faster at catching onto new trends rather than rehashing the same tired trends (think Sportsgirl’s continued obsession with boho), and you can really see the high-end designer inspirations in a lot of their products without the feeling they’ve blatantly ripped off someone. As well as their own great buyers they also carry a range of products by UK brand Lipsy.

Tags: In Praise Of, What I Wore Today by Alicia
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I really hate shopping at sale time, although I do appreciate a good bargain, which is why I always go.Today there was a sale event at a local shopping centre, where most of the stores participate and offer discounts. They have them about four times a year. I got there at about 11am and left at 6pm, dividing half of the day with my mother who was looking for accessories to go with the outfit for my Uncle’s wedding, and the other half with my favourite fashionista.

Vintage Blazer (it’s Navy by the way!) - Mink Pink Top - Insight Jeans - Lipstick Flats - Sportsgirl Bag

I spent a long time walking around but made most of my purchases at the end of the day! The first thing I made a bee-line for was the copy of the Topshop dress I missed out on last month from Dotti. I also got a black cardigan from Cotton On, a pair of black pants from Forever New, and a navy top from Witchery with fluttery tiered sleeves.

Yoanna Baraschi Skirt

As I mentioned the other day, I finally got my Yoanna Baraschi cream lace skirt from the United States! Isn’t it divine?! I’ve been struggling to come up with colours to wear back with the skirt except for black. The hardest part is being winter and needing a jacket or cardigan. The skirt is very textured so I have to be careful about clashing textures and patterns. I bought the Witchery top with the skirt in mind because navy and cream look great together. I can team this all back with my tan shoes and bag. But what colour jacket or cardigan? Navy on navy? Grey? I’m really struggling with this!

The lovely Tea has got me thinking about getting another leather jacket. This time a biker style with a large collar that’s anchored down by studs. I looked in all the stores today but I think I’ve missed the “a leather jacket is a big trend so every store is stocking them” boat. They were everywhere a while ago, where have they gone?!

Also, still waiting for my ASOS order to arrive, I’m really hoping it comes tomorrow!

Tags: What I Bought Today, What I Wore Today by Alicia
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I was expecting my Yoanna Baraschi cream lace skirt to arrive at my P O Box so when I checked it this afternoon and it STILL wasn’t there I was pretty dissapointed.

I didn’t go into the kitchen for about 3 hours after I got home - imagine my utter shock to see the parcel on the table… must have been sent to my home address by accident! My thoughtful mother always leaving things in the place I look last!

It is so much more beautiful in person. The lace is really heavy, when the seller quoted $328 as the RRP I don’t think she was kidding. This skirt looks EXPENSIVE. Now I’m going to be too scared to wear it! It fits beautifully too.

Pics soon…

Tags: Online Shopping by Alicia
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Today was anothter trip to-and-from work. I reaalllllyyy wanted to wear my new shoes, but I needed a no-fuss outfit I could change in and out of quickly. At the last minute I threw on some stockings as well. The trench was an impulse purchase about a year go at a really inexpensive independant store. It has a really full skirt, so it’s not like a traditional trench, but it’s fun! I have worn it much more than I thought I would when I bought it so it was a real bargain!

VOK Trenchcoat - Target Dress - Miss Shop Belt - RMK Mary Janes

Ahhh I love those shoes! I managed to wear them for my five hour shift but they were hurting by the end. I’m so lazy when it comes to breaking my shoes in, often I won’t do it and the first time I wear them they hurt badly and I never wear them again, which is ridiculous. I’m also trying to train my feet to feel more at home in heels after years of wearing flats exclusively. I’m pushing myself to wear them for short but intense periods of time (ie. lots of walking or standing) so hopefully soon I can comfortably do a five hour shift in heels.

SHOP til you drop always features someone from the fashion industry every issue in an article called “in my closet”. This month it was Somer Watson from Natasha. They show a shot of her wardrobe where all the clothes are lined up in colour order rather than by type of garment, which is how I have my clothes organised. This morning I decided to try rearranging my tiny wardrobe in colour order. The order is: Black->Red->Green->Blue->Purple->Grey->Pink->White. Seeing my clothes arranged like this will be helpful when shopping because I think I’ll be able to remeber more easily what colour items I already have and in what quantities! No surprise that black easily takes up 1/4 of the cupboard space!

Tags: What I Wore Today by Alicia
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Last night we tried to go to a bar in Prahran for an old friend’s birthday but didn’t get in even though she had a guestlist because it was a “full house”. Although I was initially furious I suppose I was secretly grateful because the particular bar in question when full is a nightmare to move in. We ended up in St. Kilda instead. I chose not to wear a cardigan because I always get so hot inside bars and I hate carrying them around once I get warm and want to take it off.

Cotton On Singlet - Vintage Skirt - Target Tights - Vendor Heels - Mogil Bag

Today I went for a walk down Chapel St with Mister J because I wanted to check out the American Apparel store again. I tried on the Double U neck dress that FashionFake blogged about, but it just looked really unflattering around my soft tummy and hips. Oh well!

I did end up buying the RMK shoes I’ve been obsessing over from the website. It baffles me that for $120 I can buy heels that are leather upper and lining from RMK, but would have to fork out $150 at Witchery for shoes that are only leather upper. Yes, I’m a leather upper AND lining snob, and admit so freely. I just hate the idea of my poor feet being suffocated by synthetic lining. I also hate the smell (before and after wear) of poly urethane and other “man-made leathers”. I just can’t believe the prices some stores try to charge for shoes when they can’t even justify the pricetag. The designs aren’t special and the materials aren’t better quality. Does not compute.

Sugar by RMK

I can now cross Black Courts and Black Waisted A-Line skirt off my list of things to buy. Still need flats and some pants. The skirt should be here next week, I got my shipping confirmation from ASOS on friday!!

Tags: Online Shopping, What I Bought Today, What I Wore Today by Alicia
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First of all, I’d like to thank the person who left the interesting, insightful (and witty!) comment on my last entry. I don’t accept anonymous comments but I would certainly have published it if you’d have revealed your identity! Maybe next time!

I worked today, and have a uniform which is a dress. This means that in winter, I need to wear tights to stay warm! We usually get changed once we get to work, which means if I don’t want to struggle with tights in the back room when I get changed, I really should wear them on my way to and from work. I was feeling very bored with my clothes and decided to go for a skirt I op-shopped a few weeks back, worn as a strapless belted dress. It actually has tiny white flowers on it, but they look like polka-dots from far away. I got four compliments on it, although two of them were from sales assistants in stores so I don’t know how legitimate they were!

Supre Skinny Cardigan - Vintage Skirt/Dress - Fat Belt - Target Tights - Dorothy Perkins Flats - Mimco Headband

Later tonight my mother helped me shorten a “dress” I’d bought from ebay. It came from Hong Kong, and on a petite asian woman this would have actually been a dress! On me it was passable only as a tunic, but the length combined with the cut was horrid for my body shape. So I measured the hem and chopped it at a more reasonable length, then we broke out my sewing machine and spent the next 20 minutes trying to make the hunk of junk work. It did, eventually, and I ended up with a lovely new top! I can’t wait to wear it!

Tags: What I Wore Today by Alicia
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Today I had an appointment at the TAFE I’ll be attending during June and July to undertake a short business course. I needed to go in and see the co ordinator, and make my application “official”. I’d been accepted back in March but couldn’t start straight away. The next course is in three weeks, and I’m super excited!

Cotton On Cardigan - Bonds L/Sleeve Tee - Cotton On Leggings - Vintage Boots - Cotton On Scarf

I really just wanted a comfortable, relaxed, layered look for today since I didn’t know how much running around I was going to have to do. In the end it turned out to be very little, typically. I know it isn’t Sartoralist worthy but I felt striking in the bright melon top, while keeping my alternative side by teaming it with grey and black.

Someone asked me recently how I would discribe my style. This was hard because I feel like I don’t really have a “style”. I can be about low-key layering one day, feminine the next, or channel something edgey in boots and a leather jacket (which by the way I have been rocking since back in the day). In the end I summed it up with the term “alternafem” because I like retaining girly elements to all my outfits (even if it’s only manicured hands, makeup and a sparkly hairclip) but through my dark hair and pale skin, I get told I often give off a more alternative vibe. I was quick to point out that “alternafem” was not rockabilly style 50’s dresses, bettie page hair and tattoos… although I love that look on other people. But I do try to be a little darker while I’m prettying it up, and prettier when I darken it up. I think “alternafem” sums it up well.

Tags: What I Wore Today by Alicia
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Some people don’t understand ‘fashion’, they find it excessive, unnecessary, impulsive, insane… it’s this massive fat line and you either get it or you don’t. People on the other side of the line cannot see fashion as art. The dedication to fabrics, cuts, tailoring… fashion-as-art is an intricate craft that many fail to recognise because they can buy a t-shirt at the Reject Shop for $2.

I showed some people pictures of my hilariously bat-winged purple op shop shirt and got some pretty strong reactions. One said “I don’t like it because it looks ridiculous. You look like a magician from the 80’s.” I replied “Why is that a bad thing? Magicians are the best people in the world. They’re always pushing convention, challenging people’s minds. What you see is not always what you see!”

The shirt in question.

Isn’t that what fashion-as-art is about? Isn’t fashion a little bit of magic? Designers are magicians, they’re always pushing convention, and challenging people’s minds!

Sandra Blacklund, Natalia Brilli, Scherer Gonzalez
(Thanks to StyleBubble for the reference material!)

Now having said all of that, I completely appreciate that often these magical designs do not always translate well into a daily wardrobe. I also acknowledge that I do not wear designer clothes because I can’t afford to, and that I do not even very often execute in my choice of wardrobe to reflect that which I covet. But I certainly don’t see the confusion in occasionally playing a role, and indulging in something fantastically bizarre, unusual or quirky, and every now and again pushing convention!

Even if it is one hilariously bat-winged purple shirt.

Tags: Style Inspiration, Vintage by Alicia
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Today the mother and I hit up our local shopping centre to scope out ideas for my mother to wear to my uncle’s wedding in London this August. We came home empty handed - can you believe it? Mister J was so proud that I didn’t buy anything, but the joke is on him because I have a dress and a pair of shoes on hold and will most likely purchase them Friday. The dress is a replica of the jacquard tea dress from top shop that I missed out on after it went on sale because I hesitated for only a few days! Yippee! When I saw it hanging in the store I think my jaw fell to the floor. Very excited about that.

?? Black Caridgan - Target Dress - Target Tights - Dorothy Perkins Ballet Flats

I feel like I’m wearing Cardigan/Dress/Tights/Ballet Flats combinations every day. This is exactly like my Cardigan/Tank/Jeans/Ballet Flats uniform of 2007 and MUST STOP before I get boring again. I might need to break out the crazy-sleeved purple blouse tomorrow for some variety. I haven’t washed it yet, eep.

I also really need to find a better way of photographing my outfits! I have nowhere good in my home for photographing, everything has a doorknob or a photo frame or a window in the way. I’m also having trouble with the lighting which is perpetually too dark. Natural light is great when it isn’t raining, but I always feel so clumsy dragging my tripod outside, and I often don’t have people around to take photographs for me.

Tags: What I Wore Today by Alicia
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