cult of clothes

I used to salivate at the news agent every two months, waiting for the new Russh magazine to arrive. I loved the grainy, out-of-focus editorials, the 60s & 70s flavour, the bizarre styling of clothes on models with the bodies of tall, skinny teenagers and the fact that their book reviewer shares my middle name: Pilar. That the magazine is published every two months made snatching up the newest issue even more exciting.

But I haven’t picked up Russh in a long time. It may be that my taste has changed, or that I’ve gotten tired of the 60s & 70s flavour, or that no matter how hard I try, as a 29-year-old short girl, I can’t identify with clothes that only look good draped on models with the bodies of tall, skinny teenagers. For whatever reason, I needed a break.

I was pleasantly surprised when their November/December 2009 issue caught my eye. The new matte cover done in tones of dusty pink and Daul Kim’s proud face were enough to make me hungrily snap up the magazine, just like in the old days.

I’d never heard of Daul Kim before, but I was drawn to her unique face. It’s not that often that you see an Asian model on the cover of a western magazine, but there she was: bleach blonde hair lopped crazily on top, bronzed skin, black eyebrows, lanky slim body with legs that reach out to forever, gorgeous blue satin boots, all beautifully topped off with ATTITUDE. I thought, I’ve found my new favourite model. I also thought, Dear Santa, could I please have those boots for Christmas? I promise to be nice to my sister, within reason. (They’re Meadham Kirchhoff, and I’m pretty sure I DON’T love that The-Ring-just-climbed-out-of-a-well-all-creepy-like thing they’ve got going on with their homepage image).

Here are some shots from the editorial, brazenly scanned from the pages of the magazine. Thanks Russh! I think you’re pretty awesome.

Source: Russh magazine November/December 2009

Over the next few days, I happily thumbed through the pages of the editorial, studying the outfits, her burning stare and of course my new boots. You can imagine my surprise when I read that she had committed suicide.

It makes me feel sad that some people’s grip on life is so tenuous. For some people, holding onto life is like holding onto a thick, soft, silky rope. It’s easy and comfortable. For other people, it’s like holding onto barbed wire. Sometimes they need to let go.

R.I.P. Daul Kim

Tags: Models, Style by Grace
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I went to the Glebe markets on the weekend, browning my shoulders in the new summer sun, in search of some characters from olden times.

Alas, no beans. I guess these days everyone just goes to the mall for their butchery, bakery and candlestick makery.

Making up for the lack of meat and fresh bread, the Glebe markets are packed with stalls selling cool and sometimes stinky vintage pieces, and lots of this and that from all over. This pretty much sums it up:

I hope when I’m old, someone uses those words to describe me. In preparation, I should start collecting weird hats and wearing too much blush a la Anna Piaggi, (except she is so not obscure).

The sweet smell of almonds and peanuts tossed with sugar in a hot copper pot lures you inside and you can get lost wandering up and down the pathways between stalls, following the sound of the live band and whatever catches your eye.

Noni and Phil at Holy Kitsch supplement their online shop with a market stall selling Dia de los Muertos (All Soul’s Day) knick knackery and Mexican religious iconography, among other things. I picked up the always important Luchador wrestlers. I may send them to my sister as a bribe next time I need a favour.

I love their collection of vintage photos. There are only a few listed on the website, but as you can see, there were boxes full at the market stall.

You could decoupage furniture with these photos, or hang tons on the wall, (as long as your landlord isn’t a gnomey, anally retentive freak who counts the holes in the wall on each quarterly visit).

I love these creepy, colourful skull candleholders and boxes. I wish the skull images were printed on clothes, because really, who wouldn’t want a dress with a big weird smiley skull on it?

A few stalls down, I came upon these two guys who seemed completely disinterested in actually selling anything because they were so enjoying themselves serenading passersby.

They freestyled a song to me about a “Filipina bonita” which pretty much made my day. They insisted I was Latin American, but I’m just one of those clever chameleon people whose parents aimed to diversify the gene pool. As a result I can blend in almost anywhere.

I can’t say I actually liked the stuff in this next stall much. The guy did a lot of denim corset tops sewn to neon rah-rah skirts and weird bomber jackets cobbled together from leather, needlepoint art and more denim which made for strange clothes and an eye-catching display. Unfortunately he didn’t like to share the photo love and grumpily told me I couldn’t take pictures. I snapped this one before he got all uppity and shut my operation down.

IN YOUR FACE grumpy 80s guy.

I realise that I didn’t take that many pictures of clothes at the markets, but that’s because I just can’t get down with the vintage. I’m not one of those people who can search for hours to find the one treasure elusively lurking amongst the old jeans.

But all was not lost: I realised I can take inspiration from the colour stories at the markets. My favourite came from a stall run by a hippie Japanese girl. She was very mellow and edited her display very well. These pastels are not boring. They’re dusty and beautiful:

And I love the wood tones accented with blues and whites from this stall selling handmade picture frames:

After a full afternoon of strolling around by myself, I wandered home, purchases in tow, to take a nap. I’ll tell you all about what I bought another time.

Tags: Shopping by Grace
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It would be a totally worthy trade.

The good people at Urban Outfitters have added this brilliant piece to their offering:

Source: www.urbanoutfitters.com

I think it’s a pretty worthy opponent for the famous Three Wolf Moon t-shirt. (Read the product description on Amazon. Truly genius) Urban Outfitters’ wolf tank’s mystical powers would include: looking stylish in the face of danger, fitting 100 pairs of shoes neatly into a tiny closet and wrangling cheap rent from the landlord by batting fluffy eyelashes in order to secure funds to buy even more shoes.

Tags: Cult covets, Shopping, Style by Grace
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Everyone, I’m pleased to introduce Miss Twig Penelope Bikington:

She’s a Schwinn Supreme cruiser and was born in China, but shortly after her birth, she moved to Manly. A couple of weeks ago I took the ferry over to adopt her from the Manly Cycles Cruiser Shop and now she lives on my balcony. You may think that’s not the most dignified abode for such a prim lady, but she enjoys the fresh air and the company of my little grapefruit tree.

She takes me to the gym and work most days, and sometimes we just amble around the neighbourhood, I, in a nifty outfit and she, pretty in purple.

Since Penelope moved in, I’ve discovered a new appreciation for my LeSportsac by Tokidoki travel bag. Riding a bike with a handbag (as opposed to a shoulder bag) is pretty awkward but my LeSportsac can scrunch up to neatly fit in the basket, or I can use the long strap to sling it over my shoulder, messenger style. I’ve always thought being a bike messenger would be cool, but somehow I don’t think the bike messengers in the city would take kindly to being joined by a girl wearing a dress riding around on a 7 gear bike with a basket. Snobs.

Here she is having a rest in the park near my house:

And the always important cycling accessory:

It’s not just a bag, it’s also a reminder for me to do things like brush my teeth:

eat my evil watermelon:

and make sure my friends get their recommended daily intake of poison:

FIN.

Tags: Accessories, Bicycle style, Style by Grace
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