Shape and drape

I've been paging obsessively through DROP, which features Japanese street style. I find it difficult to mess around with clothes back home in Malaysia as much as I do here in London, mostly because of the familial mockery/surprise that greets anything remotely new, but partly because it's so damn hot. They get pretty hot 'n' humid summers in Japan, though, so it's interesting to see how they dress despite it.


This is my favourite outfit that I've seen so far, but one wonders if it isn't a little too perfect. It is a bit ridiculous of me, but will she ever be able to come up with so ideal a combination of hat, hair, sun, dress, bracelet, socks, shoes and sunlight again? If you asked me why I thought this so beautiful I would have to say it is because of a) the colours and b) the fact that the dress and hat are both a little too big. The precise lines of the dress, the wrinkled socks, the angle of the hat on her perfectly bleached head ... it is too beautiful to think about!

And the Japanese are the emperors of layering. Layering in the summer! Madness. And yet they don't look like they're about to up and drop dead of the heat.




Possibly it's just because they're made of tougher stuff than we are.

What I find particularly interesting is the fondness of shapes that don't necessarily have to anything to do with the shape of the human (female) body.


That isn't very clear, is it? What I mean is -- so much of (Western?) fashion is focused on being sexy, or showing it all, or not showing it all but suggesting. Which is fine, obvs, I'm a huge fan of the tiny mini shift dress and that's hardly modesty central. But it's interesting to see fashion that isn't fixated on how much you can show off or suggest, where a baggy T-shirt is not the worst thing in the world.



I'm not going to say it's not about sex, because who knows? I'm not here to do a sociological study. But it's cool to see summer fashion that isn't just tiny summer dresses, much as I love tiny summer dresses!

- Zen

Pretending to be a little boy in the girliest way

Approx. 1 million years after everybody else, I have come to the realisation that waistcoats and formal shorts make the cutest combo.

Chain scarf/necklace - knitted by me; black waistcoat - H&M; white lace cami and grey shorts - ... Primark

I actually only picked up the waistcoat at H&M because I thought it was on sale. It wasn't, but its sharp Vs were so cunning that I couldn't make myself put it down.

All hail summer!

- Zen

An image

I wasn't that interested in the outfit when I first looked at this picture from an Anthropologie catalogue, but the more I looked at it the more enthralled I was. I like the demureness of the soft rose tights under the staid brown of the trench and the shoes. The delicate straps on the shoes, the profusion of buttons on the coat, the contrast between the creases in the pushed-up sleeves and the neatly folded scarf. But most of all, the colours. A subdued greyish-blue, rose pink and I'm-not-sure-what-to-call-it brown. It's just so pretty and thoughtful and gentle, something you'd wear on a grey day when you weren't feeling too chirpy but you weren't too down either -- just tranquil and in a mood where everything is beautiful.

I don't have tights which are that precise shade or a skirted trenchcoat of any hue, but one could mock up the scarf with a pair of knitting needles and some patience, if one so desired:

Bow-knot scarf by Katherine Burgess

Ribbed mini-scarf by Celeste Glassel

Anthro-inspired scarflet by Kim Seio (on Ravelry)

And looking at that picture, one thinks one might be inspired!

- Zen

Of prints

Yesterday Sue and I went to the Burberry sample sale. The only thing I can say for it is that it confirmed my impression that the Burberry tartan whatchamacallit is ugly. Why put this print on the lapels of a perfectly good polo shirt, rendering it hideous? Why have it on a quilted bag with black leather handles and panel? Why put it on wellies? Dim gai ah?

In justice I should say that they had one rack of women's clothes which were interesting and which I might have bought if they were not over £100. I tried on a gorgeous empire-waisted calf-length deep purple dress which was made out of some sort of matte silky/satiny material and was just heaven to touch. And some other things -- a gold dress, a hilarious aquamarine top covered with big plastic sequins -- were interesting. But on the whole it was a mildly depressing experience, filled with overpriced mackintoshes.

We bought shirts for our fathers and brothers and grandfathers and skedaddled. After a dim sum lunch to revive our spirits, I ambled with Sue to South Kensington, where she dropped me off at the V&A museum.

I didn't pay the requisite £5 to see the Anthology of Hats exhibition, but I did have a leisurely poke through the permanent Fashion collection, looked through some of the Asian sculptures and carvings, and then wandered around the V&A shop.

I lusted after these Japanese print cotton scarves, which you can get from their online shop if you're willing to fork out the £20:


So pretty, so light, so perfect for spring, so ... much more than I would be willing to pay for a scarf ...

Sigh. :(

I was cheered up by these headbands, which, like the scarves, are pretty and expensive -- in fact they were much more expensive than the scarves, their prices being in the range of £40-£80. Unlike the scarves, however, I see distinct potential for DIY in them.


This one was especially gorgeous. The leaves were very flattering against dark hair, and they were made of a soft suede material that was magic to the touch. I am not entirely sure how one would recreate them -- find some material and cut leaves out of them? Crochet some leaves? Pluck some leaves off a tree and preserve them in some way? But clearly the first step is to find a cheap hairband.

Finally I dropped by TK Maxx and ended up buying this intriguing drapey jersey dress.


It defiantly ignores my figure, the colour is one I usually dislike on myself and it's a strange length, hitting just below the knee ... and yet I love it. And it is super comfy!

I also caved and got the terrifically cute jazzesque shoes I am wearing in the photo, justifying it by thinking of the shoes as a birthday present. Of course, my birthday isn't for a month yet, so I am going to put them away in the back of my closet and pretend they do not exist until it does come around.

And with that, I have resolved to go on another month's shopping ban. Inconveniently, for the first time my procrastinatory eBay searches have turned up floral print hats of the type I have been looking for the past couple of months:


What's a girl to do?

- Zen

Skirts that go with T-shirts

I've been on a dress kick after years of lounging around in T-shirts, but after picking up a couple of oversized T-shirts for a song at Zara, my interest in them has been reignited. They're surprisingly versatile. Under a cardigan and belt, they are reasonably convincing dresses; they add lightness when tucked into a ladylike calf-length tweed skirt; they are super comfy when worn with tracksuit bottoms as sleepwear. But most of all, with a scarf, a pair of jeans and Converses -- I may look like a misguided hipster kid, but damn it, I am comfortable!

So when I saw that Threadless was having a sale, with their super cool graphic T-shirts going at US$5, it seemed an opportunity too good to miss.

Having dithered and finally settled on three T-shirts from the site, I started wondering how I'd wear my T-shirts. I only have two wearable pairs of jeans, and I'm very lazy about laundry, so there had to be some other option for when both pairs were in the wash.

So I went to H&M and tried on about half a million things I thought might possibly go with graphic tees.

I liked this A-line skirt the best, not least because it had a really mod feel, with the shape and the double row of buttons down the front.


This was the right size; I checked to make sure once I'd put it on, because damn, it was tight! It wasn't bad, I guess -- it didn't make my tummy look quite as obvious as it seems from the photos -- but overtly sexy is not really my style. For one thing, I like being able to sit down.

I was enchanted by this frilly mint-green skirt when I saw it on the rack, but when I put it on I didn't like it quite as much.

High-waisted poofy bubble skirt! I couldn't decide if I liked this or felt it was just too much. It's actually a very demure, non-shiny cotton, though the lighting makes it look as if it's made of PVC.

Blue-and-white striped denim skirt, though you can't see the stripes in the crappy light. Was pretty meh about this; I like the buttons, but dislike the sort of squarish shape of the skirt.

My second favourite of the items I tried on was a navy blue pencil skirt. I have mixed feelings about pencil skirts -- as I said, I like being able to sit down and for all my various bumps and concavities to be hidden from the public eye, and pencil skirts don't always cater to those desires. But this one does look quite charming.

Edited to add: I forgot to mention that I also tried on harem pants!

Yeah, er, I don't know. From some angles they have a chic slouchiness, but from others they basically look like clown pants.

I did in fact buy one of the items I tried on, but a picture of it + T-shirt in all their glory will have to wait till I actually receive the T-shirts. In the meantime, I'll keep rewearing my Zara T-shirts ...


With optimistic pink shorts! :)

- Zen

Vintage inspiration

I was idly browsing Modcloth when I came across this adorable dress:


I love the black & white colour scheme, the slanty pockets and the buttons. Sigh.

I hadn't heard of Peggy Moffitt so I went to my trusty friend, Google Images. Talk about inspiration!

Peggy Moffitt liked bright tights ...


Crazy dresses!


High hem-lines.


(I love how the circles repeat themselves across her dress and socks.)

And ... looking like a cross between a Regency soldier (the white stockings and black shoes) and a little boy (the shorts)?



I like how she combines colours in unexpected ways, and her distinctive hair and make-up -- the look is almost clownish, more scary than sexy. I doubt I want to try her make-up or hair (too lazy), but I find her palette of clashing bright colours inspiring.

- Zen

I want

Florals ....







Maybe if we dress as if it's spring, that will make it come faster?

Mr. H, So Sweet, €45.50
Accessorize, Japanesque Floral Foil Print Bag, £25.00
LoveColour LoveTights, Lullaby Peach, £9.95
Hetty Rose, Amalie 2
H&M, Rok, €34.90
Modcloth, Floral District Dress, $74.99


- Zen

Sense of accomplishment

I maded a hat. :)

1 skein and a bit of Noro Silk Garden Lite on 4 mm circular needles, following the Felicity pattern

I poured blood and tears and two pairs of circular needles into this hat. I kinda mucked up the top bit, but I don't think it's too obvious.

I plan to wear this with EVERYTHING.

- Zen

Recent outfits

I've been more active on Wardrobe Remix lately a) partly to motivate myself to dress pretty and b) mostly as a means of procrastination, 'cos I've got exams. I'm too sleepy/stressed to make a post with, like, words in it, so here's a bunch of recent outfits.

Black cardigan - Topshop; slinky taupe dress - Zara; grey tights - Tabio; oxfords - River Island

I really liked this outfit; I've been having a thing for pale neutrals recently. Sadly my wardrobe is dominated by black&white and strong reds/dark blues.

Enamel flower necklace - stall at the Curve; burgundy merino vest - Gap; black patent belt - Far East Plaza; mauve, burgundy and white print skirt - H&M; tights - Topshop; oxfords - River Island

I really liked the shape of this when I saw it in the mirror, but it doesn't look that nice photographed for some reason. I think it might be the shape of the vest -- it's quite rectangular, isn't it? I wore this with my black cardigan over it; maybe that made it look better (or maybe not).

It's actually quite good to take photos of your outfit, if you can be bothered. It allows you to see it as other people will, and it's surprising how different it looks from how it appears in the mirror sometimes.

Blue top worn as dress - G2000; black boyfriend cardigan - H&M; black bead necklace - somewhere in Malaysia; tights - H&M; blue knee socks - Tabio; brown leather knee boots - DUO

I pulled this top out of the closet with the idea of wearing it under my white dress (see below) -- as an experiment, you know -- put the top on, then realised it pretty much worked as a dress. As a short dress, but hey, I was planning to spend most of the day at home trying to work and getting distracted by things on the Internet, so why not?

I get such a kick out of finding new ways to wear old things .... That said, later that day I went to Sainsbury's to pick up some groceries, tripped over a pavement and scraped both my knees. So serve me right for trying to do without trousers. "Gondor has no pants ... Gondor needs no pants!" my foot.

Pink bead necklace - shop at Cineleisure; T-shirt with splash of pink and eldritch stick creature - Zara; belt - Far East Plaza; print skirt - H&M; navy blue tights - Topshop; oxfords - River Island

I bought this T-shirt to wear as a dress but when I tried it my courage failed and I lamely covered up with the long black cardigan featured in the previous outfit. But it is a very nice T-shirt!

I initially wore it as a normal sort of T-shirt, tucking it under the skirt, but that somehow did not look as nice as wearing it over the skirt did. So I went for the slightly weirder look.

Grey and white polka dot cardigan - Marks & Spencer; black bead necklace - somewhere in Malaysia; ivory belted shift dress - Dorothy Perkins; grey tights - Tabio; grey and white heels - Charles & Keith; watch - vintage from my dad

The shoes in this picture are a tiny lie; I wore flats really, and only put the heels on for the photograph. But I was wearing those heels in my soul.

Lilac dress - Zara; navy blue double-breasted blazer - charity shop; black patent belt - Far East Plaza; black tights - Topshop

The dress is new -- I wandered into a Zara right after an exam and picked it up for £7 as a treat to myself. It looks nice with the black belt and all, but really I want to wear it with mint green, dusty rose, the palest of primrose yellows ... but I have none of those colours in my wardrobe.

What I do have is one and half skeins of Rowan Milk Cotton in pale green sitting under my bed, though. Hmm!

- Zen