Links a la Mode

A Touch of Frivolity

Edited by Retro Chick It’s been a long time since pay day and this weeks Links à la Mode brings a touch of much needed frivolity as we crawl into the second month of a new decade. Idiosyncratic Style takes Scooby Doo’s Velma as her style inspiration, Dirty Hems is inspired by dolls houses and Ode to Awe shows off her leopard print nails. Want something for nothing? A few Goody Gumdrops has an Aspinall of London bag to giveaway and Retro Chick (that’s me!) has 2 Valentine goodie bags to giveaway worth over £100 each. We’ve also got some great designer interviews and some practical advice. On a more sober note there’s some timely tips from Sway, Sway, Sway! on how you can continue to donate to Haiti without getting scammed, Shoe Daydreams discusses Tanya Golds “Why I hate Fashion” article and Ventures of Jenn shares her opinions on the body image debate. Bring on February! Note from Editor : Please be sure to check out the IFB Conference at NYFW : Evolving Influence

Links à la Mode: January 28th

• 39th and broadway – 5 Questions To Ask Before Beginning a Career in Fashion
• A Few Goody GumDrops – A Few Goody Gumdrops and Aspinal of London are Giving away an ever-so chic and sophisticated beige patterned skin clutch!
• Analogue Chic – Looking good while doing stuff – braving the weather and the commute with a sense of style.
• Bonne Vie – Invest in Quality Denim; featuring How-To Tips from Denim Debutante
• Cafe Fashionista – Style Secrets: Cowboy Boots Made Classy
• Cindy Whitehead – The Modern Snow Bunny
• Denim Debutante – Aeropostale Gives Back with Teens for Jeans Campaign
• dirty hems. – In the Dollhouse – Miniature inspiration and a teeny resulting DIY
• Dramatis Personae – a feature & interview with the designer behind i am dorkas
• Fasshonaburu – I challenge myself to follow my own dress code regulations in order to wow up my day to day ensembles.
• fête à fête – Clarins debuts first certified organic beauty soap
• Idiosyncratic Style – Inspired by the sartorially underrated Velma Dinkley.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers – IFB Presents : Evolving Influence Conference NYFW 2010
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS – Interview with Janeane Marie Ceccanti
• Ode to Awe – I review Minx Nails, plus my glamourous Russian Garnet cocktail ring
• Oranges and Apples – Vintage teenage hair inspiration
• Retro Chick – Valentines Day is on it’s way and Retro Chick has 2 goodie bags worth over £100 each to give away to help you celebrate!
• Shoe Daydreams – Fashion Influences (?)
• Style Eyes Fashion Blog – I have avoided eco and ethical fashion in the past because of the price but I have just discovered it is affordable and stylish.
• Style Symmetry – How to Choose Items at a Clothing Swap Party
• Sway Sway Away! – A passionate plea from a member of the global community to her fashionable brothers and sister: help Haiti!
• THE COVETED – Suzy Menkes, Facehunter, LeMads & The Coveted talk about fashion blogs
• ventures of jenn – on body issues

Icy wears

I think of this as my "race day" outfit. All it needs is a hat.

• Bias cut linen dress from Sussan. It's at least five years old but that good old bias cut means it still fits me. I love the cutouts around the hem, and it has the effect of a halterneck dress, though one you can wear a bra in. Perfect.
• Cropped jacket from Jacqui E purchased in September. It was part of a dress set, but I only liked the jacket. It adds wonderful definition to all outfits, from casual to formal.
• Shoes from Diana Ferrari from about two years ago. They're not particularly comfortable (not enough padding under the ball of the foot) but they look great in the office.

Happy Australia Day Ya Bludgers

Hey yous, it's tha most important day of tha year.

Australia Day!

That's where all us Ozzies celebrate tha founding of tha Commonwealth of Australia by bludging for tha day an' burnin' meat over the ol' barbie (unless you're an Aboriginal Australian, in which case you may feel differently).

Personally, MrIcy, MissIcy and I will be simply grilling rather than burning our meat, but we'll be bludging with the best of them.

Image care of AustraliaDay.org.au.

Icy's week

House stuff

We're still waiting for the builder to send us a contract to sign, so nothing big has happened this week. I have called him and he said he was trying to finish another job off first.
I still think he could have sent us a contract though.

Writing stuff

I finished the edits on Friday after doing two days where I managed to revise 40 pages. YAY! I've started the rewrites and I'm one-eight of the way through and it's going slowly. My laptop spacebar is starting to squeak too, which is very annoying.
In slightly larger writing news, I've decided to split off writing updates to a new blog. You can find it at:

IsaByrne.com

(or possibly IsaByrne.blogspot.com if the DNS hasn't updated yet. If you're curious about the book I'm writing you can find out more information there. I'm pretty excited.

Anyway, I wish you all a great week.
Icy.

Links a La Mode

The Heavyweights

Edited by Dramatis Personae

Fashion’s getting heavier– and I’m not just talking about the rise of supermodels like Crystal Renn. This week we’ve got meaty posts covering ethical topics like the sustainability of bamboo at Awakened Aesthetic while Bonne-Vie covers the the implications of buying items made in China. We’ve got not 1–not 2, but 3 AMAZING Interviews this week at Alice in Stilettos, kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS, and White Rabbit. Even Gala Darling’s post on her 2010 Style Direction could serve as a paperweight, it’s so chock full of inspiring images, details, and notations.

As usual, there’s a fabulous collection of links in the forums for your continued reading pleasure!

Links à la Mode: January 21st

• Alice in Stilettos: – Interviewed brilliant 18 year old designer, Nathan Gerard!
• Awakened Aesthetic: – How Green is Your Bamboo?
• Bonne Vie: – At Bonne Vie, we talked about the impact of conscious spending on your wardrobe (and one girl’s journey to not buy “Made In China”)
• Cafe Fashionista: – Style Secrets: Stormy Sophistication. A comprehensive guide for the girl who wants to remain fashionable even in the midst of a monsoon!
• DailyDivaDish: – Vintage Broaches: 8 Unique ways to wear these treasures & more — includes many pics of different broaches & a DIY idea for reusing those with broken clasps.
• dramatis personae: – Following Your Instincts…When Meeting New People, When Shopping, When at Work, and When in Love
• Fashion Pulse Daily: – Ponders the significance of the C. Finley Wallpapered Dumpster Project
• For Those About to Shop: – nternational runway sensation Stacey McKenzie inspires aspiring models to be themselves.
• Gala Darling: – 2010 Style Direction: Psychadelic Ladies Who Lunch
• girl friday : – DIY Ribbon Necklace & Bracelet. tutoirial on how to make your own ribbon necklace.
• hello beauty! – In my post on Hello Beauty, I wrote about the new Bobbi Brown campaign. She’s using friends – not models.
• Idee Fixe: – Fashion and the arts charities supporting Haitian Relief on Idee Fixe
• In Life & In Fashion: – Make a “Most Coveted List” to avoid silly impulse spending! Includes tip on how to create your own list and what is currently on mine!
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: – How to Create Your Media Kit
• kaKofonie Of si(gh)lenS: – My exclusive interview with Inbar Spector, an Israeli London-based designer whose renowned avant garde Bjork-inspired designs have been worn by celebrities such as Rihanna.
• Model Max: – A special report on the history of male modeling – from the 1980s to the present time, with short profiles of selected male models who remain successful even after modeling.
• Oranges and Apples: – Top tips for organising your wardrobe
• Retro Chick – The 4 things I’ve always wanted but never owned
• THE COVETED – Marion Cotillard and Franz Ferdinand team up for Dior
• the fashionate traveller: – the rock/burlesque/voodoo vibe that is alternative Sydney label Baroque & Roll.
• White Rabbit: – Introducing Sorcha Gillet, the Irish born textile designer and blogger.

Bosart - The Opera Collection

A long time ago I bought a beautiful evening bag over the Internet. I paid a lot of money for it and I've used it three times. It now sits on a shelf looking beautiful.

Have I ever regretted my purchase?

No, I never have. I didn't think of myself as purchasing a handbag; I was purchasing artwork.

The Opera Collection from Bosart has a new style called the Tosca. It's rather doncha think? I love the crocodile skin look to the second bag.

So if you're in the market for a bag that will have people asking you about it as you walk down the street (as my bag does) go and check out Bosart. They don't have an online store, but they may be able to help you anyway.

You won't be sorry.

My wonderful statement jacket

Some time ago I talked about how I wanted a statement jacket for my birthday, and then again to gleefully report I found it. The next post was to be pictures of me wearing it, but a succession of cloudy days meant there were no photos.

So finally, I present it here. My wonderful statement jacket.

I love this jacket so much. I fufills all of the seven different criteria I wanted in a summer jacket and it can be worn three different ways as well.

The jacket is made from stretch cotton poplin, cleverly died so it has a black background with white and greys and yellows in a random pattern.

The wide collar I find very flattering for me, and it can be worn open, wrapped at the waist or fastened at the neck.

As it gets colder I'll line it and it should take me through autumn and next spring as well.

Can I say it again? I love this jacket.

If you'd like your own, you can order on line from Towanda. If you like the cut but not the fabric, there is also this jacket. Towanda do ship internationally.

Icy's week

House stuff

We had a long talk with out new builder on Saturday and he'll now go away and draw up a contract for us. We could start renovations as soon as next week. YAY! Finally!!

He invited us to his house so we could see what he was doing with his bathroom and kitchen. Loved the bathroom and it was in exactly the same colours as I want. Hated the kitchen colours, but the layout was fine.

So looking forward to having a new house and a new kitchen. Have I said this already? Well I am.

Work In Progress stuff

Revisions are going slowly. More than half of January is gone and I'm still 5 pages short of the halfway mark in the revisions. MUST PULL FINGER OUT!! Have I said this already?

Blog Stuff

I'm still writing posts day to day and I have nothing written for tomorrow. I know what I want to post on, I just MUST PULL FINGER OUT!! Have I said this already?

Save your skin - a summer accessory

It is hot here in Sydney, dayum hot. So in order to preserve my perfect moon tan, and prevent it turning the colour of my handbag, I have taken to using an umbrella when I go out in the middle of the day.

I feel so old ladyish.

On the other hand, is this not the coolest umbrella you've ever seen? Oh, and it keeps the rain off too. Thanks Miss K ^_^

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Samsonite Cosmolite - just sexy

I lurve luggage, just lurve it. There is nothing sexier than the perfect bag.

When I was flying regularly (before MissIcy) I spent hours and hours shopping for the perfect overnight bag (a red leather one, followed by a tan leather one with a brocade imprint when the first one died).

If this one had been available, I wouldn't have had to do all that shopping.

It's the new Samsonite Cosmolite and it's sexy, seriously sexy.

You can get it in silver or the rather fabulous red pictured here, and the carry-on size only weighs 2.2kg. Thats all! If I was still travelling I'd fork out the cash in a heartbeat. I wouldn't have to worry about it falling apart either.

Please Santa, I know I'm a bit late, but can I have one, please?

If you can't wait for Santa you can call Samsonite Australia on 1800 331 690 for stockists or check out the Samsonite website.

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Icy's week

Well, I suppose this post is really for the last few weeks, but oh well.

Holiday stuff

Christmas day was spent with our wonderful neighbours who kindly invited us to join their lunch when they found out that it was just going to be the three of us. How wonderful is that!

Boxing Day we flew to a country town for MrIcy's grandparents anniversary. We had both a good time and a bad time. Good in that we were staying at the same hotel as MrIcy's parents and sister (and husband and children) so MissIcy had a wonderful time being the centre of attention. Bad in that she didn't sleep, so we missed the big party and spent a lot of time trying to put a crying baby to sleep.

My parents came down for a few days last week which was also good. They helped look after MissIcy and Mum cooked every night. Bliss.

House stuff

Had two 3-hour kitchen renovation quotes last week. MissIcy was reasonably well behaved for the first one, and her grandparents entertained her for the second one. Had a very good quote from Freedom Kitchens. Now to see if the builder can better it.

Ended up with 3 quotes out of the four people we talked to and finally selected one on Saturday. Hopefully they'll be happy to do the job for us. Waiting to hear back from them.

MrIcy has been very twitchy to do stuff on the new house. He cleaned the gutters last week (and couldn't walk for 3 days) and then repaired roof tiles and took out the brick bar. I couldn't say he was having fun but he's certainly feeling like he's doing something.

Work in progress stuff

Out of the 200 or so pages I have to correct, I'm only up to page 52. Last week was a write off. At this rate I won't get the revisions finished by February in time to start the re-write. Must pull my finger out and get going.

Blog stuff

I have no posts ready to go. Argh!! Must write some today. I have ideas (and even photos). They're just not ready to go.

MissIcy stuff

She's ready for a big bed. She kept jumping on the trundle bed my Dad was sleeping on while visiting and saying "my bed". Off to Ikea today to see what we can find. We shopped for beds yesterday but we were unsatisfied with what we found (and it's another expense we don't need).

Talking is going ahead very fast. She said "I see Dad and Pop" which is her longest sentence ever. Everything is "mine" as well at the moment. Is this normal?

Eye stuff

Went back to the opthamologist last week who took a scan of my eye and pronounced himself satisfied. Turns out I don't have Wet AMD but something called "myopic choroidal neovascularisation". This has the same symptoms and treatments as Wet AMD but a different cause (severe short-sightedness). It also responds better to treatment, so the one injection was enough this time around.

However, it's extremely likely it will reoccur during my life and I'll probably have severe visual distortion in my left eye in the next 10-20 years (unless there are some technological advances).

We have to wait another few months before I can try to fall pregnant again as it's most likely to reoccur within that period. So, we're wating again. I have another scan in a month and we'll see how it goes then.

Other stuff

Err, I think I've covered it all. I wish you a very happy week.

Details, details, details

I saw a woman in a seriously killer red powerdress. It fit her perfectly, the red was more cherry than tomato (but not too much) and hit at a wonderfully flattering point mid-calf. It was rather like the one shown here from Nordstrom (who incidentally now deliver to Australia).

Her black heels were patent and suitable; she was carrying an expensive looking bag (Chanel, Coach? I don't know, it had a lot of Cs on it).

But...

Her hair, while respectable from the front, was pulled back with her daughter's purple hair tie, with the shiny silver join on top.

I know this may seem pedantic, but it's these small details that are important when finishing a look. There would have been nothing wrong with using the same hair tie in black.

The little things really do matter.

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undetectaBELT - a clever idea

I had a PR mail end up in my inbox with a rather cute idea. Meet the undectaBELT.

It's a plastic belt with a flat clip that you wear under your longer shirts. It doesn't leave that big belt buckle bulge that everyone has but doesn't look great, it's expandable (so good for pregnancy), it fits size 6 to 18, it doesn't set off airport security detectors (finally), and it's just AU$30.

If you're interested, check out Sparks and Frankie for more.

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Happy 2010

Well, here we are. 2010. It looks a bit odd really, writing 2-0-1-0, but I'm sure I'll get used to it over the next ten years or so.

Individual Chic is here with you for another year of bloggy goodness, and I hope you enjoy it all.

I don't do New Year's resolutions normally. I find I don't keep them and they're rather a waste of time.

This year is different. This year I'm making one resolution, and for the rest of my life as well.

Savour things.

Stop, appreciate, enjoy, celebrate, acknowledge, absorb, and a whole lot of other things. This is how I plan to live my life from now on.

I wish you all the best in the coming year.

Icy

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