Ladylike Tomboy

Hi and welcome to my fashion and art-loving blog! My name is Gabriella Williams and I am 22 years old, living, studying and interning in little ol' Auckland, New Zealand. I decided to start a blog just for fun! I wanted to share my two greatest passions with like-minded people, well, just because I can! My style cannot be categorised - I feel like I have a different style every day of the week (depending on my mood really). Colour often defines my life. I'll wake up in the morning and think to myself, I feel like being *insert colour here* today. The name of my blog is due to the fact that I grew up very much like a tomboy - used to play a lot of sport, never used to wear anything that resembled what could be defined as "feminine"...unfortunately for my mum, who had to deal with yet another "male" in the household (I have three brothers). So, understandably, she was very upset! Until, that is, I reached the age of 14 years old, and I started high school. My style miraculously began to evolve from trackpants and hoodies to dresses and skirts, much to my mum's excitement! However, my tomboy roots still remained - hence, Ladylike Tomboy was born!

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Check my previous blog titled “Rundown Residence” for information and tips relating to this outfit!

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Rundown Residence

I have a few new blog posts coming up, so brace yourselves - the blogs are a comin’!! I was recently in Christchurch visiting the bf and since he’s been living there he had a few places in mind which he thought I would love to use for the backdrop of my blogs (ofc he was right...and well, I ended up with three new blog outfits, woohoo!)

I wanted to give my blogs a bit of colour since the last one, but I also know how popular black and white is so decided it still deserved to be present in this blog. I love patterns but I also struggle with what to pair it with! I realised there is a very simple way to pair patterned clothing so here are my handy little tips for ya!

Handy hints:

It is very easy to go crazy on the pattern and just mix them all up but I feel a simple way to put a pattern outfit together is to stick to the basics for those of you who might be a little afraid of pattern!

1) Choose one patterned item whether it be a scarf, hat, jewellery or top.

2) Choose one bold blocked colour to pair it with ie orange, red, purple etc.

3) Match the shoe with the patterned item ie pattern is black and white, wear either black or white shoes. Make sure the shoe is not too busy! Try to keep it simple, like a strappy heel or some flats.

4) I’m not big on accessories unless my outfit is very plain, so in this case I skipped out on the accessories again! A beanie sufficed as it matched the pattern of my skirt.

5) It is usually important to note the distance the patterned items are from one another. For instance, a patterned top with a patterned skirt might have been too busy! The blocked chilli coloured top separates the busy pattern on the skirt and beanie.

Hope you enjoy the blogs so far! Clearly, I have not quite mastered the level of consistency I hoped through the blogs...maybe one day hahaha. Happy shopping everyone!

Ps. The next lot of photos I will post was going to be a blog but I decided it was the direct opposite outfit of this one...so...you’ll just get the pictures for that blog rather than a write-up. You’ll see what I mean! :D

<3 Gabby

[ladyliketomboy2015]

How To: Layer

Hey everyone! New blog post - about a week later - yay!

So I thought I would do a black and white shoot for once. There is always something so classic about black and white photographs - it never fails to satisfy!

My how to guide on how to layer will be fairly short and sweet. Here are some handy tips to keep in mind when layering: 

First-timers to the layering business should try wearing pants as a base for the outfit. I feel like skirts are more difficult to layer, particularly if you are short! Reason being: if the tops you wear are the wrong length it can cut you off at the wrong area of your leg and make you look stumpy = definitely not ideal! Not to say you cannot try this trend with a skirt... I personally find it trickier, but I will eventually come round to showing you an outfit with a skirt and the layering trend.

Layers depend on textures! So a classic texture combo I used is leather and denim.

Choose a plain block-coloured shirt in a tight form-fitting fabric. This assists in retaining your silhoutte despite the layers which adds weight to your body.

Extra embellishments such as hats and jewellery is not something I tend to wear when layering clothes as it can be a bit excessive. I feel like layering kept simple looks fantastic AND makes it appear effortless; and everyone loves to look like they threw an outfit together last minute without even trying!

I always find that simple hair and make-up with layered looks always continues the effortlessness of the outfit. A messy up-do and a simple no make-up make-up look goes a long way with this kind of grunge-esque style! 

Happy styling everyone!

<3 Gabby

[ladyliketomboy2015]

How To: Work colour into your wardrobe.

Hi everyone! 

I’m attempting to get into the groove of making my blog posts a bit more frequent...so I have not left this one for too long. Woohoo - success! Let’s see just how long I can maintain this :P

So, as most of my friends already know, I actually love pattern and colour. However, I have noticed a lack of colour in my past blog posts because I have begun experimenting with black, white and grey a bit more in my wardrobe. It has been working out quite well for me! BUT, I would love to incorporate my original love for colour into my posts.

I know a lot of people find it quite difficult to incorporate colour into their wardrobe, so I’ll try and keep this short, sweet and manageable for all y’all!

Some handy hints to consider to bring colour into your closet:

Buy accessories which have multiple colours/patterns in it. Why? Simply put, those accessories have colour combinations and patterns that have been created by someone with an eye for colour or style. By owning something that comes equipped with multiple colour combinations or patterns, all you have to do is pick out a colour you like from the accessory. Then find something which is blocked in one single colour from your wardrobe. In my case, my scarf had a mustard yellow colour in it, so I combined it with a plain blocked mustard yellow dress. 

People often forget that grey is also a neutral colour which can be used in place of nudes like brown or something which matches with everything like black or white. Wearing grey shoes offsets the “easy” colour matching combination you would display through black or white shoes.

When wearing brighter colours you can downplay your make up quite a bit...in my case however, I wanted to elevate the pops of colour I was wearing, so continued that through my bright pink lippy.

For some reason, wearing bright colours is seen as obnoxious...people tend to think you are trying to hard to be seen or they simply cannot fathom matching multiple colours. Try not to overdo the colour matching - the last thing you want is a super matchy-matchy outfit ie everything is green or everything is orange. Although this can be someone’s personable preference, I would not recommend it. Breaking up colours and patterns in one outfit shows your knowledge of both colour and fashion in general!

It is a lot easier to create an outfit if you choose one item as your focus! I tend to do that whenever I am deciding what I want to wear. Basically, when I wake up in the morning, something from my wardrobe catches my eye, whether it’s a shoe, skirt or hat. I use that as my centrepiece and match everything around that item. With items with two or more colours, matching things around that item becomes a lot easier. If it is a solid one colour item, deciding what is complementary to it becomes a bit tricky - especially if colourful outfits are not your forte!

Flick me any questions you might have about this post or any previous post via [email protected].

Happy outfitting everybody!

<3 Gabby

[ladyliketomboy2015]

How To: Work the all-black-everything trend.

Hey everyone! 

It seems this monthly blog write-up is becoming a bad habit now haha. I need to be a bit more consistent with my posts - I’m working on that :P 

Also, I’m currently working on starting up a separate Facebook page with just my fashion stuff. Let me know what you think in the comments box below!!

Here are some handy hints for working the all black everything trend into your daily life. (Ps. I used to avoid wearing black like the plague but now....#allblackeverything #sometimes #letsnotoverdoitok).

Consider textured black pieces rather than all smooth black pieces. Although a simple all black look can look classic and chic, to change up the trend and add a bit of edge to it, mixing textures is a great way to start! In my look I combined: quilt (black wallet), stripe (black skirt), patent (black shoes), ribbed (black top), raised (black belt) and smooth (black nail polish).

A lot of people seem to think you cannot overdo the all black look....but you really can. How? Well, try wearing a mixture of all black clothing with multiple silver and gold accents, zips, lengths and layers and you might just become a right hot mess. 

To achieve a good balance: do not over accessorise (this is with any outfit you wear, my recommendation - choose two key pieces), choose one “hero” piece as the centre of your outfit, in my case, the black skirt, and incorporate the attraction of the piece throughout the outfit, in my case, the stripes/geometric lines. I then incorporated line through my quilted wallet, the ribbed top and grid patent black heels.

Always add a small pop of colour to an all black ensemble - I love my bright lipsticks, so a great orange pop of colour perfectly brightened up what would have been a dull look (as black can wash a person out, it does for me sometimes!). You could try a bright wallet or bright nail polish - choose something that won’t completely detract from the outfit itself.

Life update: 

Some exciting things coming up next year in July...I was asked to go for an impromptu audition for an event called WCOPA. I’ve been asked a few questions about it and I’ll try to put it as simply as possible. Basically, it is a performing arts event equivalent to the “Olympics”. There are multiple categories but I will be competing in the petite model/spokemodel category. It was such a crazy last minute training and on multiple moments throughout the day I was very tempted to run out of the building. I think the biggest misconception of me is that I am perceived to be so confident. I write all these posts, I comment so often on things and I would consider myself quite personable in real-life. However, I am far from confident - this is something that I struggled with for a long time which people don’t seem to understand for the reasons I stated previously. My “confidence” is based on the fact that I focus on caring less and less about what other people think of me and more on what I think and believe about myself. However, this is a daily struggle!! I have some great days and I have some not so great days and it varies for multiple reasons. The reason I am so proud of myself for getting to do this event is that it is in fact quite out of my comfort zone. Although I can pose in front of the camera and take selfies, there is a big difference doing that and walking on stage in front of strangers who are paid to judge you and grade your performance. If you knew anything about me from high school or intermediate days you would know how true all this is haha. Hopefully this gives you some insight into my personal life just a little bit and I’m sure there are plenty of people out there who could relate!

Hope you all enjoyed this post! Any feedback (good and bad) would do me some good haha - lemme know what you all think :)

Love

Gabby <3

[ladyliketomboy2015]

How To: Effortless & Put-Together

Hi everyone!

So it has been about a month since the last fashion post - eeek! Somehow time flew by and I had not noticed! 

I have been doing a little bit of research on other blogs and noticed so many different styles and ways to write one. It has been something I have found difficult to get the right sort of feel for that suits me. I realised that what I appreciate from a blog is nice clear pictures and simple write ups; something that is not so time-consuming to read and write! 

Therefore, I decided to start experimenting with various changes in blog format to get a feel for what suits - so bear with me and give me some feedback on what works for you too! This How To guide to achieve an effortless yet put-together look is something I have wanted to try for some time now.

I have found that there are many ways to create effortless looks but there is a common factor between all the looks! 

Here are some handy tips to consider next time you want to create a similar look:

1) Pick three key pieces plus one or two accessory pieces. Example: Jeans, Top and Jacket are my three key pieces. I chose one accessory - my shoes. Another accessory I could have used is a chunky chain necklace or alternatively a scarf, or bag... but you get the idea!

2) Choose no more than two colours. Example: I chose black and grey (pretty safe choice) but you could try Khaki and Nude/Beige or Navy and Grey etc.

3) Simple things like rolling your jeans up a little, cuffing your sleeves, texturising your hair or tucking the front of a blouse and leaving the back out can make a huge difference and appear as though you have styled the outfit (but it took far less time than it looks).

4) Keep your make-up simple. A bit of eyeliner, blush and tinted lipbalm can go a loooong way!

                      Sincerely,

                          <3 Gabby

[ladyliketomboy2015]

WHERE’S WALLY?

Hi everyone!

It has been a little while since my last blog post...so I decided I needed to get back into and stop slacking! I recently went on a little shopping spree (by recently, I mean yesterday), and I found a fair few little gems. One of my favourite purchases is the black One Teaspoon woolen sleeveless jumper I’m wearing. It was part of a sample sale (FYI I love love loooove sample sales! one of a kind pieces? Need I say more?), and it was a bit pricey for my liking but I decided my wardrobe needed it more. The black and white stripe long sleeve was from Portmans and part of a very generous buy 2 for $30 deal - so... I maybe purchased another in plain black, I saved money though, didn’t I?

I felt like today was a wear-glasses-kinda day, so I thought why not make a blog featuring one of my favourite accessories. Although I don’t actually wear glasses, I love how the right pair can really frame a face. Round glasses suit my face shape so I bought a cheap pair from the place-that-shall-not-be-mentioned haha. However, I bought them a while back as part of a nerd dress-up event for work but it came in handy this time round!

Minimalism is one of those fashion blogger faves, so I decided to channel it for this blog. It is fairly easy to achieve if you have the staple pieces, starting with a midi length black skirt and short heeled round toe black shoes. From there the top half is simple - choose a top that is either plain or has a simple pattern and pair it with a long lined black coat or jacket or a chic loose and silky cardigan. In my case, a short sleeve jumper thing worked the trick just fine too!

Some key things to think about when purchasing clothes:

Don’t be afraid to buy more expensive items if it covers these key categories:

- Is it versatile? In terms of colour, black or white is always an easy choice if it is your first purchase of something. If, for instance, you’ve bought three other jackets in black or white previously, then go out of your comfort zone and try a bit of navy or royal blue to ease yourself into the change.

- Lengths: If it is the first time you are purchasing such an item consider the length of the piece. If it is too short, you’re limiting yourself as to where you can wear it. If it is longer, you are bound to play it safe as to where and how you can pair the item. Skirts of a midi length are great in that it hides enough skin but still appears modern and sophisticated without being too conservative. Skirts above the knee for most situations, would be considered inappropriate unless it is for a night out or it is a bright summer’s day!

- Patterns: I have found that a lot of people are afraid to wear patterns! Which is very sad :( Many are afraid to buy expensive items if they are patterned, merely because it tends to be harder to match with other items. However, the great thing about owning a “great” pattern is that by pairing it with plain coloured items, your outfit will appear as if you made much more effort than you really did. If you are afraid to try patterns, start with a “great” pattern that is always a “safe” option ie Houndstooth, Stripes as opposed to wild flowery patterns of multiple colours and shapes.

Hopefully you can take some piece of advice or information from this blog that would be useful or inspire you to start a blog yourself!

Hope you enjoyed reading - until next time!

Happy outfitting y’all :)

Gabby <3

[ladyliketomboy2015]

OH MICKEY YOU'RE SO FINE 

 Heeeeeey everyone! Yet another blog for your Friday night. I recently saved up and bought myself some Timberland boots. So far, best investment I ever made. I must admit though, I have been holding out for them for some time, so I am a little biased. However, they are so comfortable and go with just about anything - personally, best worn with jeans or track pants though! 

 For my first display of my new favourite shoes I had to feature my favourite jumper. My childhood was based on Mickey and Minnie Mouse, so it definitely resonates as an important item in my wardrobe...and what better to pair a white jumper with than a crisp white pair of jeans? To finish off the casual street wear outfit on a very cold winter's day, a nice simple grey beanie did the trick! 

 In terms of layering, if you wanted a more street chic look, add a longer top underneath, preferably a black tunic of a sheer fabric. Or a long black or grey A line winter coat to go over the top of the jumper. Wearing caps/hats rather than beanies work just as well! Also, checkered red and black pants or leather look finish jeans are another option for those afraid to wear white jeans - as a tomboy, white jeans is definitely not ideal! I tend to spill and mess on all my clothes as it is... 

 You know what to do if you have any questions - leave a comment! 

 Happy outfitting y'all :D

Gabby <3

[ladyliketomboy2015]

ALL TIED UP

Hi and welcome to another fashion blog by moi!

I’m still getting used to this whole blogging thing - I don’t know if I’m doing any of it “correctly” (if that is even possible). Hopefully, I will eventually figure out how I want to present my blogs. In the meantime, I’ll stick with what I have :P 

So as you probably already know by now my fashion style is not necessarily definable. I range from super girly girl to boyish and baggy. Occasionally I like to mix the two and wear something like I have in this blog. 

To recreate this look or to make it your own, you will need:

- Denim bottoms: this can be dungerees or jeans or even faux denim jeggings.

- Blouse: preferably something tailored of any colour or pattern.

- Tie or Bowtie: you can be creative with this and wear something patterned, print or plain. Alternatively, there are collars that you can buy and clip on like a necklace which can look great with a plain blouse.

- Heels: stilettos are not ideal for this look because you want to create an effortless boyish but sophisticated look. Aim for an inch or two on the heel and something with a rounded or pointed tip to maintain the sophistication.

The key thing for me in this blog is to hear of some suggestions! If you have any suggestions about how you would like to see my blogs presented or if you think I need to include more information please comment in the notes! I would love to have some feedback on how you think each blog is working or not working for you.

I know this blog is a bit on the short side - but I really don’t have much more to say with this outfit! Sometimes, you have to let the outfit speak for itself :D

Hope you are all having a great week so far - and happy outfitting for the weekend everyone!

Till next time :-*

Gabby <3

[ladyliketomboy2015]

BADASS WEDNESDAY

Fashion Blog #4

Ok, so today’s post was a little bit silly and a little bit serious... As you can see I have a very serious resting b*itch face going on, but decided I needed to post some silly photos because I am a naturally weird person and I wanted everyone to see that hahaha.

I also felt like I needed to explain how awkward I feel when other people take photos of me. Taking selfies is one thing, but it is so nerve-wrecking to have someone else take photos while you “pose”!! I always try not to think about it so much but it is so difficult! I’m sure with all the photos I’ve posted up in my time on Facebook, everybody would have thought I don’t feel awkward in front of the camera...but trust me, I’m the most awkward turtle y’all will ever meet, hence, the silly photos made an appearance.

Anywho, today I had a day off (trust me, this is a rare occurrence!) and I decided to go and check out the In & Out exhibition at Pah Homestead (which I will be blogging about soon - don’t you worry!). However, I am NOT a winter baby and I desperately racked my brain for something that looked cool while looking effortless at the same time AND kept me mildly warm and comfortable enough to walk around a gallery space. My amazing combat boots makes another appearance in this blog because they’re THE BEST THING EVER. The top was a new purchase (sorry credit card) from Valleygirl - once again at a bargain price of $25!! Business in the front and party in the back? Now that is my kind of top! The great thing about this top is how well it falls, as if you’re wearing a maxi dress without all the added fabric (#bonus)! Another great feature about it is the high slit, so it looks like a crop top from the side - and I LOVE LOVE LOVE crop tops because of their versatility. Unfortunately, the top only came in one colour - grey, which was a shame because I enjoy more colourful items in my wardrobe. The bonus of that however, is that grey goes with many different colours and patterns (in the winter, try navy with grey - LOVE it!). My beanie was from Cotton On and my high-waisted black jeans were from Jay Jays which was paired with the top to suit the winter weather and keep me a bit warmer through the chilly wind today!

It has been a more relaxed week for me so far and I’m looking forward (somewhat) to my birthday next week - so look out for that post (new outfit alert!). I’ll be turning 23 next week - eeeeekkkk! I’ll be a cougar till November once my boyfriend catches up with my old self (many sighs.)

Hope you have all been having a great week so far - and happy outfitting!

<3 Gabby

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Leather, Lace, Lipstick

Fashion Blog #3

HIIIII EVERYONE! Welcome to my third fashion blog! This outfit is the epitome of my tomboy/feminine mix of clothing which reflects the name of my blog. I thought it was by time I finally did a blog which portrayed the origins of the name haha. So firstly, this outfit came about because, surprise surprise, I was shopping again when I shouldn’t have. Who needs savings, amiright?! To be fair, it was all on sale, as usual, I’m drawn to the bargain section of the clothing stores and I mix and match what I already have at home. 

I will be honest, I was never a big fan of the ponti pant because to me it was just like a pair of leggings but thicker...however, I now practically live in those pants! And it is quite possibly one of my best investments. I bought it while I had worked at Max Fashions - so I got a hefty 50% off clothing there. The great thing about ponti pants is the COMFORT. It feels like you’re wearing nothing! It stretches and shifts with your days activities without breaking a sweat, great discovery I tell you! My life will never be the same without them. I dread the day they reach the “black bag” stage of its life. Another bonus is how easily it accommodates for boots - which for winter, its a must for me! I hate when I have pants that sag over boots or you can see they aren’t the right style to suit a boot - pants that aren’t versatile? Ain’t nobody got time for that!

The top was the new (credit card damage) purchase from my local shopping centre at a store called L’Amore. At only $19 - this was a steal! (My credit card will forgive me later, it always does). A lace detailed top with a lace cowl neck...I mean, come on people, did I really have a choice? Where in the world do you find that in an every day store and for that price - uh, never! I love wearing an all black outfit but breaking it up with either an interesting top or shoes or a nice necklace if it isn’t too distracting. In this case, I wanted the lace top to shine through! So I stuck to using a gold, not-so-chunky necklace with a bow and heart on the front from Juicy Couture. The leather jacket (Jeans West - again it was on sale for $60) was worn due to the colder weather here in Auckland (winter, ugh, I ain’t about that life).

Besides the top, I think the boots are just amaze. Zip-up combat boots? Loves it! A lot of people find this kind of shoe difficult to wear, as if combat boots are designated for a certain type of people (am I supposed to be a hardcore badass in order to pull it off?), well, no, and I still think anyone can wear it as long as you wear it with confidence! Every one needs to be willing to experiment with their style and if for some reason people disagree with it well, who cares, at the end of the day you’re happy wearing it!!

Happy outfitting!!

<3 Gabby 

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Fashion Blog #2

PALE SEAFOAM GREEN APPRECIATION DAY

This outfit would not have been made possible had I not gone out shopping with my bestie on Sunday after brunch at Casablanca. If there is one thing in this world that I cannot resist more than chocolate, I would have to say a good sale is right up there. The skirt was picked out by my bestie Lok Yan, but she is so tall and has the longest legs, that the skirt was too short for her (trust me, this is a common problem for her. Every. Single. Time). Unfortunately for her, but lucky for me, I have the opposite problem haha. Everything is always longer for me, so of course, I tried on the skirt…and for a record $22 (down from $110), I bought the skirt! Can you blame me though?! I mean that’s a saving and then some! I should list it as one of my special skills on my CV: Skills in the sacred art of shopping (as seen on my Instagram, it’s the caption to my life story, just fyi).

Annnnywho…I should probably talk a little bit about this look. Strangely enough, I had a few items I could and would have paired with this maxi skirt. It seems like such a difficult colour to pair something with, but in actual fact, pastels are pretty easy, simple and effortless to get right. To make sure that pastel colours are “foolproof” and paired correctly - always pair with other pastels (if you’re after a colourful look). Some suggestions that would work with this pale seafoam green would be pastel purple, yellow, green or pink, pretty easy right? I’m sure every female own’s at least one of those four options (or maybe it’s just me…)! Other ways to make the outfit more casual would be to pair it with sandals and a denim top. There are endless ways to dress the skirt up or down, I could seriously talk about it for days…(don’t worry, I’ll refrain). 

Pointers:

Maxi skirts are great to elongate your legs (if you’re shorter that is!) or if you’re already tall it accentuates your height. A good maxi skirt cinches in at the waist - a must if you’re wearing a baggy top! There is a lot more fabric with a maxi skirt, hence, a cinched in waist assists in maintaining or creating a shape without compromising on the feminine, sophisticated appeal of the skirt.

If you are wearing a top with a collar and want to accessorize it with a necklace, avoid long chain necklaces and opt for the shorter chain one’s. A chunkier necklace goes well with any collared top! However, any rounded necklaces would work if you don’t like or own the chunkier kind.

The top you choose to wear with a maxi skirt can make or break the outfit. Depending on the pattern or cut of the maxi, the top needs to seamlessly blend in. Try not to overdo colours and patterns, especially if you’re just starting out and experimenting with your style…unless you like that kind of thing - then go for it! I chose a top that had a smidgen of pastel lemon yellow in it so that my outfit wasn’t overwhelmed with the pale seafoam green colour (although it is a beautiful colour, it is best to break up your colours a bit so it doesn’t appear as a “safe” option aka “matchy-matchy” haha). 

Hope you enjoyed reading my second fashion blog! 

Happy outfitting y’all :)

Skirt: Witchery 

Top: Farmers

Shoes: Warehouse

Necklace: Charming Charlie’s

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Art Blog #2

Face to Face IV (2013)

Anthony McCall

Background:

Anthony McCall is a British born artist who had begun his light series of works in 1973. He develops his series using two projectors in a dark room which casts simple morphing compositions of bright white lines upon suspended screens. The manner in which he uses light creates an ambient haze as if the rays are spectral. McCall establishes the differentiation between subjective experience and objective truth - How does the work make us feel versus what he has established as prevalent to the present.

My thoughts:

Light is a very interesting media to manipulate and transform into a work of art - In what ways can light be seen as an art form? Is it sculptural, cinematic or a drawing? Is it all three or none of the above?

By far the most intriguing part about Anthony McCall’s Face to Face IV (2013) Exhibition, held at Trish Clark Gallery, is the viewer’s ability to manipulate light using their bodily movement. The projections of light promotes a feeling of freedom and energy because it is present in an expansive space - so I ran through it, under it and even sat in it. It developed a very tangible solidarity to it which made me want to touch it and stand in it to see how it would mould with my movements or whether it would develop a separate entity to myself if I moved around in it. Despite light being an immaterial thing, McCall accesses the sculptural quality which light can have given the right space. The interaction and intersection of one’s self with the projections modifies the meaning of the work depending on the person manipulating it through an expansion, contraction or the unfolding of light. His work has very strong references to film qualities but places it within an art context which then amalgamates these two practices and asks the viewer to question their notions of both.

There were two projections which were face to face - reminiscent of a comboy shootout - both projections are equally present to the viewer. By introducing a third “shooter”, the viewer, competes with the two different projections in a manner which changes the light depending on their interaction with it. The swirling line projection versus the solid line projection were both very immersive and mesmerizing as it transformed the dark room into a vibrant work of art. The dark cavernous space itself becomes a part of the work and interacts as a spectator to the projections. Interestingly, although the room was flooded with light, the space still remained quite dark, emphasizing the sculptural solidarity of the projections.

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Fashion Blog #1 Part #2

As a continuation from the first fashion blog I did - this is from the same photoshoot with Shakinah Singh.

So, this particular dress in this picture has got to be one of THE most favourite dresses I own. Yes, I went to far as to say this is one of THE most favourite dresses I own (I own a lot of dresses - trust me). Why, you ask?

1) ITS TEAL - how often do you find such a beautiful, vibrant, Spring season colour for a lace dress?! Uhhh never! 

2) ITS LACE - ok, so this one is simple. I’m a sucker for lace. Don’t judge me, It’s beautiful, who wouldn’t be in love with lace? Amiright?  

3) CAPPED SLEEVES - it is so so so soooo (did I mention sooooo) difficult to find dresses (particularly in NZ, that you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for), that has a cap sleeve!! Cap sleeves are great in that it covers just that little bit of arm to make the dress modest and sophisticated and it aligns my shoulders with my lower half, creating a subtle hourglass shape and therefore, balancing my upper half with my lower half. 

A dress like this does all the talking for me, really. Although it is accessorized in these photo’s with a chunky chain necklace, normally I would wear this dress as is - throw on your favourite pair of white heels and you have yourself a winner! 

The story behind THE dress:

I used to work at Max Fashions - a NZ women’s clothing store targeted, but not limited, to an older demographic. I worked there for almost a year and a half and I remember looking at this dress and thinking - wow, the price, and wow I should definitely not try it on because I’ll most definitely fall in love with it. Low and behold, temptation got the better of me and I tried it on…five minutes later, my Eftpos card slipped out and (oh no!) managed to pay for the transaction. Although my wallet was not too pleased with me (I was only a part-time worker and full-time university student at the time), my heart and soul will be forever and ever eternally grateful that I bought THE dress.

[ladyliketomboy2015]

First blogger art review of the week! I decided I need to blog about fashion and art as these are my two biggest passions in life. To begin with I figured I could talk about one of the bigger exhibits I attended at the Auckland Art Gallery about 3 months ago. 

Cubic structural evolution project (2004)

Olafur Eliasson

Background of artist and the work:

Born in Copenhagen in 1967, Olafur Eliasson is of Danish-Icelandic descent. His work invites gallery visitors to become the “architects” of their own world through Lego blocks. Using the Lego pieces, each visitor has the opportunity to create endless and reformed structures without any limitation - just pure imagination! Visitors subconsciously contribute to the work through construction, modification, destruction and reconstruction - a process inherent to any metropolis! This work comments on community decision making and urbanism: how does one destroy another person’s design? Do people really think about the construction and destruction of buildings and how that affects the space around them? By exploring the relationship between maker, spectator and object, visitors are left with the decision in their hands. Will you build up on someone else’s design? Or reconstruct it? Or demolish it altogether? Why did you make the decision you did? How does your decision affect everyone else?

My thoughts:

The exhibition was recorded as people interacted with the project and the space. The fast-paced recording showed how quickly the space was occupied and altered depending on the person occupying that space. The white Lego made the project appear very uniform to allow people to concentrate on the action rather than the aesthetic of the constructions they were developing. The white benches really opened up the space and created a very casual atmosphere. The use of Lego made the process seem more like an activity than a chore, which emphasized the users ability to have their minds run wild!

It was interesting to note that my boyfriend refused to destroy someone else’s construction, yet, the children right next to us could not wait to take other buildings apart or continue to build on top of it. Moreover, I found it more interesting to play the role of spectator and watch my boyfriend create buildings than create any myself (I did attempt it, but I was more frustrated that mine did not look as cool as the ones around it :P). It was great to watch how the children interacted with the work because they were far more interested in competing with each other and seeing which person’s work could outdo theirs.

[ladyliketomboy2015]

Welcome to my first blog post! 

I thought I would start off with an old fashion shoot I had done with Shekinah Singh about 8 months ago. This was one of the most fun-filled days for me with this talented young lady - I have never done a fashion photo shoot before, but it was such a great experience and allowed me to showcase my favourite fashion must-haves! I have never been that big on accessorizing my outfits, but there are some staple items every female wardrobe should have. 

Number One: Flower crown headband. Pros: It can be used to create a bohemian chic outfit or make an outfit especially feminine. If you are having a bad hair day it draws the attention away from your hair and more towards your eyes and face.

Number Two: Chunky gold chain. Pros: It goes with just about any low neckline top or dress and maximizes the shape of the neckline whilst creating a more formal look (as if you made more of an effort than you actually have!).

I thought I would give you a bit about my back story and why I felt like starting a blog. Besides starting a blog for the fun of it, I decided that the world needed more blogs with shorter models. Now just to make this clear...I have no problem with my height, but I have found that, in particular, the fashion world on all its glorious forums tends to favour average to tall height women. I am yet to see more fashion blogs of shorter women! (I am 1.5m, just fyi). I love to encourage women of all shapes and sizes to experiment with fashion and not being afraid to do so! Express yourself! I worked in the retail fashion industry for a little while and began to notice how women are ridiculously conscious of every single part of their bodies - rather than focusing on their assets! I want to be able to express my fashion sense and style and hopefully encourage more women to take the plunge and do what makes you happy! At the end of the day you only have one life, so why waste it feeling less confident about yourself? We can only be the very best version of ourselves and nothing more. 

Happy outfitting y’all!

Dress: Dotti

Shoes: Hannahs

Accessories: Diva