CuttingShapes

Singin' in the rain

For those of you reading this who know me, it probably comes as no big surprise that Singin' in the Rain is one of my all time favourite movies. Although I will readily admit that a large part of this is due to all the ridiculous, over the top dance numbers, the other thing that draws me back in over and over is the amazing costuming by Walter Plunkett.

There are so many things to love about the costumes, least of which being there are great hats in almost every scene. I love hats, and I wish people (especially men) would wear them more often. I don't mean fascinators to the races either. In fact I think I hate fascinators. Anyway...

 

I love Debbie Reynolds little lilac cap. I can't for the life of me remember what this kind of hat is called?

I think I am going to have to find or make something similar for myself. Might look a bit silly with my long hair at the moment though.

Same scene here again with better details on the mens hats. Also, check out Lena Lamonts amazing glasses and hat combo! I love it. I wish I could find a better picture of her in this scene.

  

Another cute hat on Debbie Reynolds. I don't know if its her round face or her short haircut in this movie, or both, but she looks gorgeous in hats. I really like this one, though i'm not sure about the matching biege on beige ensemble it is paired with. Gene Kelly is looking dapper, even in his torn tuxedo.

 

Debbie in a kind of silly but cute drop waisted dress. Most normal human beings look awful in this kind of thing but she looks great. I also like the little scarf at her neck. No hats in this scene BUT there are two men wearing waistcoats which more than makes up for it.

I think a large part of the reason I read the Sartorialist is for all the pictures of handsome middle aged men wearing hats, three piece suits, overcoats or a combination of all three.

I was going to say that I wish there was as much singing and dancing in my kitchen as in this scene, but to be honest, there is a lot of that in my house anyway. I just wish we all looked quite as effortlessly cool as these folks when doing it.

  

Speaking of effortlessly cool; I don't care for Debbie Reynolds chiffon number in this one but it is worth noting that Gene Kelly is wearing what is essentially a cricket outfit with high waisted pants and he still manages to look awesome.

And last but not least:

   

The amazing Cyd Charisse. She even makes smoking look cool. If I could swap my curly hair for anything it would be this sharp black bob. If I had the sharp black bob and cool smoking then I am sure I could pull off the ridiculous green sequined flapper outfit as well. Hah.

Artikel

I just discovered that one of my favourite shops in Wellington, Artikel, has a website, so I figured I would share it with you. I apologise if this seems like one big ad for the shop, I just really love it, and the staff are always so lovely and helpful (and stylish!) as well.

Artikel is full of jewellery and homewares and art and clothing and is always my first stop when looking for gifts. The jewellery there is always a good bet for a present because they have a huge range and there is always something affordable. 

My boyfriend got my sister a really cute set of squirrel brooches for Christmas (sadly this picture is a bit average):

 

I really like this Meadowlark apple-core pendant:

Sadly I seldom buy anything for myself there, but if I could afford it I think I would go crazy kitting out my house with the amazing homewares.

I love this red filing cabinet. They use variations on these cabinets to display a lot of the stock and I love them so much. I have no idea what I would keep in it but I'm sure I could find something...

 

I also would love one of these bus blinds:

 

They have a variety of different ones from New Zealand, London and New York and they are so stunning. They are pretty big as well. The New Zealand ones are great because they go through a number of small hick towns with fantastic names.

As per request

A picture of me wearing the Karen Walker sunglasses from my earlier post. I love them so much. Please excuse my messy hair and complete lack of makeup!

Best/easiest chocolate cake ever

I made this last night but unfortunately I was unable to take any pictures of it before it was devoured by hungry flatmates and friends. It was supposed to be for my friends birthday today but it lasted only about 5 minutes after I removed it from the oven.

The recipe originally comes from a good friend of mine, and is crazy easy because it involves no beating of butter or anything like that.

Ingredients:

-2 cups sugar

-2 cups flour

-1/3 cup cocoa

-1 teaspoon baking powder

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 cup milk

-1 cup hot coffee

-2 eggs

-1/3 cup melted butter

Directions:

Sift all dry ingredients together. Beat eggs into milk. Mix all wet ingredients into dry (mixture will be very runny). Pour into greased and lined baking tin. Bake at 180 degree for approx 1 hour (its a big cake) or 35mins if seperated into two tins. Ice with chocolate icing (butter/icing sugar/cocoa).

So easy.

Super duper strength

I had my eye on these kind of ridiculous Karen Walker sunglasses since I saw them on eyeheartglasses in October of last year, and I finally sucked it up and bourght them for myself as a Christmas present just before I went away.

I loved them in the blue frame with pink lenses as featured in the "Master of Disguise" ad campaign

 

But in the end I got them in black, as the pink lenses didn't really do much in terms of blocking glare.

 

I was a bit unsure of them at first but I really grown to love them. I've been wearing a slightly ill-fitting pair of vintage tortoiseshell wayfarers from the 80s (courtesy of my mum) for the last year or so and it is kind of nice to be wearing something different to everyone else now. They are pretty huge on my face and I get some strange looks but i'm really happy with my choice. Everyone at the moment in Wellington seems to either be wearing wayfarers or oversized squared off frames, so the roundness of these is pleasingly unusual.

I love Karen Walker sunglasses (and the ad campaigns that go with them) and luckily there are plenty of places that sell them online if you don't happen to be in New Zealand.

Is he dead?

Just thought I would share this painting that I am lucky enough to have hanging in my office. I'm pretty much in love with it, even if it is a little less than office appropriate. Luckily not many people come into my office.

The painting is by brother-in-law Angus Walker and its for sale (sadly I currently only have it on loan at the moment).

Other paintings by him I wish I owned:

Here is a little film about Angus as well:

Faster faster pt 2

As per Jarrods suggestion I just googled Brigitte Bardot in relation to motorbikes and came up with the most hilarious/awesome/camp music video ever:

I think I just need to get some thigh high boots...

Either that or I could go the 80s red leather look with giant hair ala Liz Taylor:

I would have to get a dapper gent in a matching red outfit to go with it as well.

I also rather like the Joan Jett motorbike look; I could find some pleather one piece wearing motorbike ladies and we could form a sexy biker gang.

 

Fug

So i've been reading gofugyourself on and off for years now. I've realised recently that apart from the really obviously ugly and unflattering stuff, I often disagree with them fug girls. I saw this post of Jessica Alba today and realised that I would totally wear her outfit:

Is it wrong that I now want high waisted purple pants? I have a pair of brown wool Karen Walker pants with a very similar waist that I love. Wearing them (and all of my boots and scarves) again is one of the few things I am looking forward to about winter.

Faster, faster, faster

"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death"  
    - Hunter S. Thompson

Ok, I know that the above quote is probably a little too dramatic, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to quote Hunter S.

I've been riding a scooter for three years. It is a gorgeous machine, a Vmoto Milan, and I have loved it dearly.

However, today I passed an exciting milestone. I finally sat and passed my basic motorcycle handling skills course, which means I am one step closer to this (or something along the same lines):

I have to admit I was a little nervous this afternoon on my way to the course, but my nerves quickly evaporated and I loved every minute of it. All I need to do now is go and sit a theory test and I can ride a proper motorbike. I am so so excited.

It's interesting actually, since I got my scooter three years ago i've seen more and more young women on scooters, which is awesome because they are fun, economical, and cool looking (ha!).  However, in those three years I've noticed only a handful of women riding 'proper' motorbikes, and almost all of those women have been middle aged or older. I wonder why that is?

From a purely aesthetic view point, I love retro styled motorbikes, just as much as I love my cheap chinese version of a vespa. I can't wait to finally get one of my own (hopefully in the next month or so).

Only problem is, the only stylish motorbike riding role-models I can think of are men; James Dean, Brad Pitt in the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Ewan McGregor etc.   I'll make sure to take pictures of myself looking like an idiot in head to toe leather as soon as I can.

And please, if you can think of any stylish role models for me, let me know!

xx

K

Twitter

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xx

K