Brand Loyalty shattered...

For many years I have been loyal to Nike sneakers! I guess other than a pair of Puma boxing boots in the 80's, I have only ever worn Nikes to show my Pseudo-interest in being considered part of a healthy active life. Mostly I wore them because in NY they had cool street credibility in the 90's and I jumped on that band wagon. I also really like the swoosh, just saying! I'm a sucker for great branding.

But, last week I discovered that Nike don't really make shoes for great arch support. (A shift away from aesthetic to practical need emerging me thinks, yuk!) Whilst my ageing body has been undergoing testing of many new "support" style garments, I've finally had to surrender my monogamous sneaker relationship in place of structural strength and cushioning. So I have switched...I now have a pair smashing hot pink and lilac of Adidas under my bed...

So today at the gym, I wore them with trepidation, how would I feel, would people notice, would I be able run and jump and bounce and, and ....

Well sadly, they don't perform miracles, I was still my klutzy, unco-ordinated self, tripping over feet, doing pathetic little knee bends while the others were doing deep lunges and squats. But here I am in the dating phase of my new brand...I hope we get to the honey moon phase, leggings and training tanks next... :-)

Cheers,
Deb

"Choose change" says Abbott- I couldn't agree more...another freaking *%#@ blue tie...

Sorry if I am sounding a little jaded, but really these guys are just bordering on the edge of downright fashion morticians...where is the colourful characters of past decades, the fashion elders, wore crazy ties and their hearts on their sleeves- these candidates are sooooo conservative! Not only has Abbott worn blue solids for 18/21 days, he has re-used the same tie 14 times...I'm losing my enthusiasm!

Rudd, well what can I say, he has mixed it up a little more, sometimes blue, a safe republican red, a showy gold and then a mediocre yellow, but I don't get any sense of personal style at the moment...

What a miserable state of the nation, I am close to giving up...death by necktie...choked by the bad tie...lassoed by mediocrity...hung by neutrality...I might move on to Katters' hat party...

Earlier I saw that Rudd, leader of the ALP was wearing a tie, not Red, not Blue...at first it appeared ...yellow...but upon further deeper forensic investigation, I can say it is in fact...

Gold...with white coin spots! Underdogs don't wear gold, I say!

I really don't know what to say, or how to say...Rudd is declaring victory! Gold has symbolised power and victory in many regimes-in ancient Egypt gold represented royalty and was symbolic of the highest order of society. In Ireland, it is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

So now, I have had a chance to see that Abbott has gone for a tie he used day2-no foulard, jacquard texture...just a dobby weave with surface interest!

What do you think?

Don't mess with fashion...more on the "Neck and Neck" Commentary.

Yesterday bought the leader of the LNP, Tony Abbott to my own neighbourhood. He is seen above with members of the local netball community and our local member Wyatt Roy, Australia's youngest member of parliament. It is of particular interest to me, the link Abbott has drawn in recent days following his description of a female member of his team as having "Sex appeal", and that he has now referred to same sex marriage, as something of a "recent fashion".  I just add...

The phenomenon of western “fashion” in dress began during the Middle Ages, and referred to political and social change. Furthermore, “Fashion” has been defined as “a pattern of change in which certain social forms enjoy temporary acceptance and respectability only to be replaced by others” (Blumer 1968) 

I suggest Abbott knows fashion very well!

1st week of political mayhem...

So it's one week since Rudd finally called the much anticipated Federal election. My facebook friends have followed my weeks commentary on the "Ties" of the 2 main candidates...but there has been an enormous revelation tonight that women are turning away from the KRudd, and I can only believe it is because the colour of his ties over the past few days have erred on the warm palette and red, is a colour of aggression violence and anger...just saying!

The Divine Comedy

Midway in our life's journey, I went astray
from the straight road and woke to find myself
in a dark wood.  How shall I say
what wood that was! I never saw so drear,
so rank, so arduous a wilderness!
Its very memory gives a shape to fear.
Death could scarce be more bitter than that place!
But since it came to good, I will recount
all that I found there...

(Dante, The Divine Comedy, Inferno, Canto 1)

I wonder what I'd wear for such a journey? It feels a bit like my experiment here with research and trying to understand something which is so tricky as identity, sounds a bit like my self reflective rants on this blog...

Choosing happiness.

Fabric Folk-Lore- Tell me a story, please?

I'm working on an idea to help illustrate my research, and I would love your help.

I have been inspired by the stories you have sent me via email; there is a rich pool of delightful folk lore which accompany's you through the clothes you are wearing as your life unfolds...kind of like a costume to the script of your life. I'm going to begin to design a collection of clothes about your stories...

To get started, I am asking for photos of you in your favourite outfit with a brief comment about why it is your favourite, and how it makes you feel. Of course, any outfit would be great, love it or hate it...its the story I am interested in.

 I want to translate those in to illustrations, I won't use your photos directly, but instead use them as reference.  It would be fantastic if you post them directly on the blog, or if you are shy, you can e-mail me.

Thanks again for your involvement in my research.

Choosing happiness!

I love this piece, a dress made from stories @ "http://www.christineelfman.com"-storydress 1

Happy Sunday,

I'm reading Simone de Beauvoir's "the Second Sex"for my research, when I come across this-

"It is sometimes surprising to see the strange getups elderly women like: tiaras, lace, bright dresses, and extravagant necklaces unfortunately draw attention to their ravaged features.  Now that they have given up seduction, clothes often become once again a gratuitous game for them as in their childhood."(1989:588)

Hmm, interesting, as I reach those middle years, I have noticed an attraction to enormous necklaces, and even have noticed myself lately looking at clothes which have a dash of colour in them (my usual urban uniform is Black and more black). In fact, I've almost fallen back into love with dressing up!

Then I think about the amazing excitement for fashion that the women in the video I posted last time (http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/3/23/1382/advanced-style-age-and-beauty)  showed for fashion, and I am wondering if age , and the lack of need to seen as sexy liberates women in their "golden years," and let's fashion just be fun again!

What do you think? How has getting older change the way you feel about your choice of clothes?

Choose Happiness
(Picture from : http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com.au/2011/01/advanced-style-documentary-project.html)

I've been feeling that age is this rising Tsunami wave that has come crashing over me lately, my skin, my hair, body all beginning the slow slide into middle age...oh dear!  But I have also been thinking about how lucky I am to have a heap of life memories which often pop to mind when I see a certain necklace or a particular handbag in my cupboard. It's easy to get nostalgic, and reminisce about those items and I will probably never say goodbye to them.

Is there something in your wardrobe which makes you go...argh, I remember....? Love to hear about it.


So in love with this little video-

http://www.nowness.com/day/2011/3/23/1382/advanced-style-age-and-beauty