I Don't Believe it....

I have always had a bit of a soft spot for dinosaurs, their little funny arms and spikes and their osaurus erotops dactyl ending names and the like, theres nothing not to love surely.  Then to come across this!  The Archaeopteryx who happens to have bird like qualities, wings, human legs, claw like feet and hands and a dino face.  Amazing.. and he was actually seriously real.

Washing Your Lovely Gloveys

You have every reason not to believe it, but you can wash kid leather gloves with gentle detergent.  I bought some vintage ones a few years ago and thought I would take the risk and give them a wash.  At first they went crunchy when they dried but quickly softened up.  I have washed 3 different pairs now with no hint of a problem. I know its not generally advised but if it must be done then they won't get ruined honestly!

All Time Favourites - Eileen Grey

Eileen Grey should have had as much recognition as her contemporaries during the 1930's, because the influence of her design & aesthetic was infinite. She had a real Modernist sensibility and was experimenting with tubular steel around 1925 before it became popular with Modernist Architects, and at the same time had a love for the East and Deco, which made for the perfect combo. 

Shaded and Shadowed

This pretty photo was taken by Alexander Rodchenko, who believed that "It is our duty to experiment"

Beautious Bunny

The bunny who has manners and elegance in aristocratic doses.  Even whilst resting he's poised and photo ready, streamlined and dapper as a man with a snake headed cane swirling it around with a top hat on...

Pretty as a Picture

Weegee (Arthur Fellig) - Cinderella Ball 1941

Have an Awesome Weekend....Love Walt

This is Walt Disney, the happiest man who ever lived. The first studio he owned was called Laugh-O-Gram, what a dude. I hope you have a weekend as awesome as everyday was for him, especially the day this photo was taken!

Got to go to...Peru

Macchu Picchu

Skull Poison

Frenzied Film Noir

Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon

The Film Noir genre arguably began with the movie "The Maltese Falcon" in 1941, and is defined by an overload of shadow and disorienting angles on actors, and holds a very mysterious crime style allure. Acting is often tight lipped and restrained, or frenzied and a little crazy. City life is portrayed as full of greed and corruption; almost toxic.

The men and women in Noir films were toughened up by getting through the Wars and the Great Depression, and perfectly show the mainstay of fashions of the 40's and 50's. The stars of these films wore fedoras and smoked cigars, had fingerwaves and wore furs and whilst being corrupt and crazed had that elusive 40's charm which let it all slip by....

Wonderous & Wintery

There's not too many of us out there, but if you love Winter like me this is a bit of an exciting time in New Zealand, the trees have turned twiggy and the air is crisp, you can sleep with all your blankies and keep warm with home made soup & hot chocolates; and you can hear rain on the roof! It's been a pretty Wellington like month filled with an excess of rain and cold and it got me all excited about coats & hibernation. Imagine if it was generally accepted that people could hibernate for Winter... the bears have it all sorted!

Andy & Edie

Last night I was out for dinner and there was a boy on a date who was about 20ish sitting over from us who thought he was Andy Warhol. I wish I got a photo! He had a grey bowl cut bob, hilarious. I'm waiting to see Wellington's Edie Sedgwick now and I will have my camera on me at all times...

Chief of Spending...

Homely Pigeons

One of my closest friends sent me a postcard from Berlin, I think it took around 5 weeks to arrive in New Zealand, insane! It must have arrived via homing pigeon. Just like these ones. Pigeons can look so surreal, wintery, and dainty.

Bulleted Bustier

Madonna's Jean Paul Gaultier Bullet Bodysuit from the 80's

The Young Bob Dylan

If there is one man who has stood the test of time it would have to be Bob Dylan. I love this photo below, the way he's standing and his boots and pants kind of morph into each other. More than anything it captures that he's not trying to be anything or anyone but himself, and that's most certainly a quality to be appreciated!

Pretty as a Picture

Alfred Einstaedt - The Parisians 1963.

These little kiddies were watching a puppet show and this photo was taken the moment a dragon was slain in the show. Tehehe!

All time Favourites - Mies Van Der Rohe

Ludwig Mies Van Der Rohe is the man who comes to mind to me when thinking of anything that is made from the finest materiality the world has to offer, and the most articulate subtle detail a person has ever thought of. Mies was an Architect who was a pioneer of Modernism, he designed the famous Barcelona Chair and constructed transparent walls of marble and onyx (!) My favourite building of his would have to be the Tugendhat house. The floor to ceiling windows have a mechanism which enables them to be wound down into the floor, it has custom designed furniture and a Winter garden. Genius.

Tugendhat House Interior - Brno Czech Republic built 1930

        Barcelona Pavillion Interior slash omgolly look at that wall

Dear Gentlemen....Military Muchacho

Vintage Hawke Military Muchacho Jacket

Military issue paraphernalia has always been something which I love when it comes to clothes, hats, bags and boots for men, particularly from WWI & II. One of my favourite bags is a little Czechoslovakian gas mask bag I got from an army surplus store, it came with a secret pocket that had a miniature box with a block of the most extreme glyceriney brown soap in it!

There is something unmistakeably definite about the way military issue clothing is constructed and tailored, the epaulette features, the shiny buttons and the exaggerated pockets to hold all the little medals and badges, the fabric and beautiful quality. I will be stocking the store with as much authentic military clothing that fits the criteria that I can find, because it will last forever and will more than likely have an epic tale of adventurous carnage to share with you, it will be like your jacket equivalent of your good friend who has all those rad stories! (I'm looking at you dear fiendish Mr McEnteer)

The wait is almost over for the rest of The Big Bands collection sneak preview, what a wait it has been! Nothing like a bit of anticipation right?

Party Time Peacock

It's a long weekend in New Zealand to celebrate the dear Queen's birthday. Which calls for some extreme measures of party time! Hope you have extravagant plans for a fun filled weekend while being as beautiful as this peacock xx

Gamine Grace

60's makeup is so drama without being over the top, but over the top all at the same time!

It involves drying your eyeliner with a hairdryer, tripling your fake eyelashes, and reducing your lips to a mere puff of a pale pink shadow.