I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

Left: Dimitris THEOcharidis; Right: Jenny (Jena) Holmes

Without doubt, my two favourite pieces (?) from the JENA.THEO press day collection, the very first I noticed – were the DESIGNERS – sitting gob smack in the middle of the showroom minding their own business. Now, I’m pretty sure designers usually stand behind what looks like a harmless mirror and analyze each face twitching of press day visitors, but with Jenny Holmes and Dimitris Theocharidis there was to be none of that. I must say, it was positively refreshing to be able to talk to the designers without needing that backstage pass or appointment. It was as if a layer of presumptuous elitism behind the invisible hierarchy of the fashion industry had been cleared and made way for a more hearty, artist-appreciating atmosphere.

You might remember the collection from my exhaustion-ridden coverage during fashion week; I hadn’t written much but the catwalk photos had communicated a lot of the clothes to be quite light. On lifting some personally during my visit, they were definitely AW worthy heavy; so apparently it’d been the sheer weight of the fabric that had produced such a vigorous ripple on the catwalk! My favourite though, were the fuzzy pieces that looked like gaussian-blur effect.

Jacket – Vintage Burberry, Shirt – Uniqlo Menswear; Vest, Pants & Bag – Gmarket, Boots – ZARA, Bracelet (silver)- COS

Let me explain my favourite pose where I look into the distance: I am indeed looking for the silhouette of a long lost lover to come back from war. Anyone know the whereabouts of a certain private Ryan? His mother calls everyday.

I have a phobia for looking straight in the camera I suppose. I’m always tired and drained in some manner or another so my dark circles get big enough for its own zipcode. Well call it whatever you like, the blogger stereotypical ‘gaze over horizon’ pose, or that pretentious little b…eetlejuice pose – it’s all self preservation, both yours and mine.

Thank you Macku for taking photos!

Inspiration: Abaete for Payless

What you’ll need: Victim Shoes (Preferably with thin high heels), Chain-heavy Jewellery pieces to take apart (fringed necklace if possible), 8 Studs with prongs (any size), Scalpel or hobby knife ,Jewellery Pliers, 8 Jumprings (~1/32inch diameter)

Mark the width of the stud onto the shoes and make small slits with a sharp scalpel (or hobby knife) for the prongs to go through.

Hang 2 jumprings on each of the prongs of the stud, insert stud into the slits. Bend the prongs inward to close using a butter knife or a metal ruler.

Add another stud, but this time hanging only one jumpring on the right arm, towards the back of the shoes. Position the stud at the top of the heel arch. Repeat for other side.

Take apart the piece of jewellery with the most chains available – best if the necklace is a chain fringe. If not, pick out a thicker chain for a main hanger, and hang thinner chains so it looks like a fringe. Measure onto shoes, cut and hang onto the jumprings.

Using your jewellery prongs, (usually equipped with cutter) cut the fringes just short of the ground

Optional: Add extra details with leftover chain; Add heavier weight chains on every other slot if wanted.

Those Abaete for Payless pics have been sitting in my DIY inspiration folder for almost a year now, I just never had the guts to risk a lab rat pair of heels for the potential disaster of an operation. Well, in truth I had no clue how to attach the chain onto heels, and the gluegun option only made me think of scenarios like backtracking the streets for that few lost strands of chain… Then Forever21 contacted me requesting a Prom themed DIY, and let me choose a pair of heels to be sent over with some old collection jewellery. Maybe it was the faux-suede heels I found in their store, or the fact that they were free (HOOT), but I went straight to the stab & hang option.

For those wondering what would happen if the chain would drag – would you step on it, fall over and die a slow death…? That won’t happen unless you somehow miss the instruction on cutting the chain just short of the ground. Just please don’t go rock-climbing in them and then sue me for slipping on a chain or two.

It’s slightly too bling for me personally, so I’m thinking of tuning down the chains and getting rid of the additional details, but there’s so many styles you can try. Instead of conical studs, try flat round studs – spray painted with black might make things less hardcore. It’s really up to you.

Thank you F21 for the shoes & jewellery. You can see the DIY in their blog, The Skinny.

Shoes by Beaucoops

Stolen Girlfriend’s Club knitted hotpants

…which would basically only fit my fist.

Snowberry skincare products

Totem pole-inspired Tina Kalivas

Art Deco deco by Lucy Hutchings

Thurley

Beautifully simple Zambesi pieces

Left: Zambesi weaved wool skirt; Right: Thurley Asymmetrical silk dress

Jewellery by Toby Jones

Mini trench by Alpha60

Print scarves by Athena Procopiou of Shoot My Design

Alpha60 sunnies

Light Essentials by Sosume

Left: Andrea Pfeffer; Right: Kyle Robinson; More photos here

If I ever had a chance to re-make my first few fashion choices, from buying my first Cosmopolitan magazine in 2006 to banishing all glittery sweaters from my ‘drobe, I’d liked to have first consulted Robinson Pfeffer for some damn good taste. Although of course, in 2006 the agency (events & PR) would’ve been a mere few flittering ideas, bubbling and brewing amidst the growing friendship of Kyle Robinson and Andrea Pfeffer until its hatching in 2008. I was invited to their showroom in Old Street last week, and other than the fact that I got lost finding the entrance and almost pressed on Hussein Chalayan’s studio (?) doorbell, it was a wonderful (and educational) opportunity. Boy does it teach you how to think beyond the trends. The two were so kind, crazy and quirky… well of course! The brands were from all over the world: New Zealand, Canada, UK, Japan… My personal favourite was the Zambesi pleated skirt with the catflap-ish hole, and the mini trench by Alpha60. Well, I’m not going to spoil this glee by looking up prices or anything for now.

Sweater – Mum’s Geiger, Pants – Zara, Shoes – Kate Kanzier, Bag – Vintage DIYed, Scarf – Highland store, Shirt – Make Lemonade Shop

And who’d have thought that the bush I stuck my head in was full of spiders?

Well, as part of mandatory health & safety precautions – bit like how the bodyguard tastes the wine for poison – my photographer (aka le sweet-sweet manfriend with a disposable camera) stuck his head in the bush first. He told me later that he got home and pulled out spiders from his hair, despite the one we shook off after doing the photos. Whose genius idea was it? I don’t know, don’t look at me.