Luscious Leopard and a Wooden Watch (feat. JORD)

Hiya from Boston! I hope everyone is loving their respective shifts in temperature! I've been dying for it to hurry up and get proper cold, and it's slowly getting there. I'm headed to New Orleans for Halloween tomorrow and I think it's warm and humid there... i've been watching films like Waterboy to get myself even more excited for the bayou! * insert banjo music *

So here's a secret... I've been feeling a little bit decadent lately! As you know, I struggled to find clothes here in the USA for ages, and now that i've recovered from that situation – every outfit I wear seems to have a bunch of new pieces in it. I haven't been posting a lot lately because i'm designing my new blog (eeeek so exciting) but I have been taking lots of photos, and man I feel like a spoilt brat.

To top it all off, i've been gifted this really lovely watch from Jord Wood Watches and i'm just like ERMAGERD ALL THE PRETTY THINGS.

Now as you may have noticed, I don't really wear watches very often (y'know, my phone being an extension of my hand and all...). But when they make for a gorgeous accessory to adorn my outfit like a mechnical wooden star on my metaphorical christmas tree – well, i'm in!

This little darling is an absolute gem – it's made from contrasting darker and lighter wood, and you can see all the little interlocking cogs moving around under the watch face. As Jacqui noted when she was gifted one a while back, it's also super quiet – a big bonus! My other favourite thing is that it has a really large face. Ladies watches are usually far too feminine for my liking, so I love the fact that Jord have some unisex options that would look great on just about anyone.

My skirt is from Domino Dollhouse, and it was one the last pieces available in their massive closing down sale (sad face). It was only available in a size 22 which is a tiny bit big for me, so i've tacked the sides as much as possible AND I worked out a super cool trick for too big skirts with wide waist bands: put a thin width belt on but towards the bottom half of the band, and wrap the top down over. Ta-da! Fits perfectly, adds a little extra gather, and looks pretty darn cute! You decide for yourself!

It seems this the photoshoot where I look literally everywhere but at the camera. 
WHAT FOURTH WALL?!  

As always, thanks and love to Sam for snapping these photos!

OUTFIT DETAILS

SKIRT Domino Dollhouse (now practically deceased)

TOP Primark

SHOES Forever 21

NECKLACE Roswell UFO Museum

LIPPIE Colourpop in 'Dr. M'
WATCH JORD Wood Watches

Wooden Watches by JORD

As i'm sure you noticed, an item in this post was gifted for review. But as always: opinions are entirely my own and as much as I love fashion, my thoughts and feelings cannot be purchased. I love this because I love this, not for any other reason! :)

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I'm A Blogger Too... #NoShade (feat. Rue 107)

So first of all let me say a huge, heartfelt THANK YOU and FUCK YEAH to everyone who shared my “H&M Sucks” post, and who has been using the hashtag #whatfatgirlsACTUALLYwear. What I REALLY want to do, ultimately, is to collect a sort of “visual petition board” of plus size women who a) have radical style, and b) believe that the pathetic offerings from these huge companies is just NOT good enough, and alongside some of the comments i've been getting: actually approach a few of the companies and say “HERE YOU GO – here are our voices, loud and clear. WOULD YOU LIKE THESE WOMEN'S CASH OR NOT?” I'm sure they've been told before, i'd just like to do a big roundup and see if we can't get a bit of a collective momentum happening...

Now look, I really want the chance to explain to y'all that I strongly and firmly believe in first and foremost supporting small and indie designers. I have lots of pieces made by the likes of Candy Strike, Chubby Cartwheels, Pho Sizzle Threads, Domino Dollhouse, Rue 107, Bombshell Vintage etc etc. I also thrift A LOT because, well, I love finding unique pieces that nobody else is going to have, on top of the more important issue of trying to reduce landfill and shitting (even more) on our glorious planet. But also – unique pieces :D

But I am also a realist, and I know that sometimes fast fashion just cannot be avoided. For some people, it is purely a matter of finances/economic struggles. My recent issue (for those who haven't been following along at home) is that I temporarily moved to America with practically no clothes because I thought it was a shopping mecca (it isn't), and I'm not in a position to spend a huge chunk of cash on summer clothes to see me through a span of about 6 -8 weeks in which it's still really hot. I will be getting (and have already begun to organise) certain pieces from certain designers that I will be able to wear when it gets cooler, but a bitch can't be naked or feeling completely deprived of creative style until then?! Explanatory note: personally, fashion is a strong form of creativity and I feel wretched when I can't express myself in this medium.

On top of all of that, this is also an issue of having the right to shop in brick and mortar stores along with the straight sizes. In the comments section on the Facebook post I had a few people telling me to “just shop somewhere else” and then listing online stores. Like, guys, I KNOW how to use Google, okay? THAT'S NOT THE POINT! I even had one woman go so far as to tell me “fighting this to want them to make skinny girl clothes in our sizes is like trying to push back on a meteor. Not gonna happen”. Well, not with that bloody attitude, that's for sure!

So yeah, i'm pushing against a friggin' meteor, but i'm pushing alongside a bunch of other incredible women (and men – although I don't have direct contact with them) who are fighting the good fight, in an attempt to create some semblance of a more diverse and inclusive retail landscape. We may never win. That prospect makes me sad, but it only makes me want to fight harder and longer.

Who's with us?!

Sometimes you just have to gif out

A few questions and comments about the photo on the right lead me to realise that I actually photographed this outfit, but totally forgot to blog it!! The photos were taken by my good friend Jacqui's good friend Kristie – on an afternoon a good number of months ago.

The crop top (it very cheekily says “I'm a Blogger Too #noshade) is from Rue 107 (no longer available, sadly) and used to be a crop sweater. Well, the weather was too hot so I chopped them sleeves off! HAR HAR.

The skirt, I made myself, and there's a cute story to it: I bought this exact tablecloth/ant print fabric from a dingey old shop in Brisbane when I was about 14, and I made a pretty crap skirt out of it (I mentioned I was 14, right?). A couple of years later, the skirt has seen better days and gets thrown out. Last year, my Nana very sadly passed away and she left me her fabric, and in the pile was metres of the exact same fabric!! I just knew I had to make another, better, skirt (now that I know how to box pleat!) and to always remember my Nan when I wear it.

Speaking of which, this red coat came out of my nan's cupboard and I don't remember the brand but it's a rather generic old lady brand like Miller's or something, and I just added green fur to the colour.

The sunglasses can be found everywhere on the internet, just search “Mr Quiffy Sunglasses”, and the adorable strawberry headband was made by my friend Jacqui, mentioned above. You can also get yourself some similar cherry earrings right here!

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Ii Desuka? Ii Desune! (ALTERNATIVE CURVES)

AHHHH I can’t believe this month is over, AND that i’m just scraping it in with my Alternative Curves August post! Ironically, I did these photos in JULY before I left Australia. But, well, i’ve been having such an amazing trip and a much needed rest from all kinds of reality, I hadn’t gotten around to writing up my post.

Mine and Sam’s Route 66 road trip has come to an end, and tomorrow we are leaving Chicago to set up in Boston for uni orientation the next day. So many feelings of excitement and nervousness! I’ve been a bit slack about it - I need to back track and upload all my favourite photos - but if you’d like to keep an eye on our travels, i’ve made a tumblr blog (mostly for my own benefit of compiling my adventure in one spot). It’s here.

Anywho, the theme this month is Japanese Streets and although it’s slightly cliche to automatically jump to a Harajuku-style interpretation, I actually visited there when I was 11 years old and it was such an eye-opening and inspiring experience to have at such a tender, whee age. In particular, I remember a super shy baby Kobi nervously approaching the outrageous babe in the photo below, holding out my camera, and shakily asking “ii desuka?” (“is this ok?”). She nodded once, slowly, and struck what was probably her signature pose. ARGH. YES!!!!
All these years later, I look back at that photo and I ponder:

1. Was this a beginning of my love of out-of-the-box style and attitude?

2. WHY oh WHY was I obsessed with photo caption stickers?

Regardless, I still wonder who she is and what she does now, where her life has taken her, and if she continues to dress in garbage bags from time to time. I also think this photo has really resonated with me over the years because it so directly aligns with my belief that it's not WHAT you wear, it’s HOW you wear it. Style is also an attitude. Don’t you think?

(Yes, those are bloody zombie scabs on my knees. Just cos I can.)

Sadly, I don’t know who else will be participating this month, but if and when they get in on the action, you can see them below alongside Fashion and Pho and myself! :)

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Sexy Circus Moth Madam (feat. Candy Strike)

HELLO AND WELCOME TO LOOK NUMBER THREE FROM MY SERIES OF POSTS FEATURING THE CANDY STRIKE 2 PIECE DEATH MOTH OUTFIT (and pieces thereof)! 

In case you missed it; look #1 (both pieces together) can be found here, and look #2 (featuring the skater skirt) can be found here. 

I honestly don't know what my inspiration for this look was (I cannot confirm whether it was, indeed, a "Circus Moth Madam" - O_o) but one thing is for sure: I felt sexy as fuck in this outfit. What exactly is it about a laser cut pencil skirt and a bare midriff that makes me want to gyrate on the nearest ringleader and/or person in top hat. Oh, it might be this marvellous tails jacket... hehe!

On the topic: what a fortuitous week to be rocking a crop top! Oprah Magazine can suck a fat one, cos this outfit would be collecting a lotta dust in the back of my cupboard if I was waiting for the day I had me a flat belly! Dumplings are way too delicious.

This crop top is available from Candy Strike, and if moths aren't quite your thing - check out the rest of the tops (and skirts, and dresses, oh my!!) in the Beautiful Creatures collection. I have a feeling something from the Switchblade Sister print might be next on my hit-list...  The presale is on RIGHT NOW! Run, don't walk, to your nearest internet machine.

Do you possess any of your own Candy Strike pieces? Link me, please!



Thanks and love to Sam for snapping these snaps!

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DISCLAIMER: In case you didn't guess, this is a sponsored post, but as always: opinions are entirely my own and as much as I love fashion, my thoughts and feelings cannot be purchased. I love this because I love this, not for any other reason! :)

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, LYDIA!

MAH GOODNESS! It's almost Christmas, and yet my heart still pines for Halloween. I'm trying not to wish the new year away just so it can be closer to October. I just need to remind myself; Halloween is not just a holiday - it's a lifestyle. Heh heh hehhh.

A little while ago Ms Annalog kindly invited Margot Meanie and I to do an interview about how Alternative Curves came to be! She also asked us to do some sort of a themed photo set, which really excited me - what's funner than coordinated outfits? Coordinated DRESS UP outfits from OPPOSITE SIDES OF DA GLOBE!

We both love the shit out of Halloween so immediately knew we wanted to do something of that flavour. After a few ideas passed around we finally settled on a Beetlejuice/Lydia theme! I know this isn't exact, I would one day love to do a proper Lydia costume. But for now, let's just call this Lydia-inspired. I was also delighted to discover everything I needed was already in my closet. Ahh the joys of being a costume-freak!



Remember, if you want to be a part of Alternative Curves you can! Use the hashtag on Instagram, and if you're a fellow blogger who would like to do the hop, join our Facebook group! 

Also, big love to Sam for taking such fun photos!

Ever yours,

Kobi x

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Mean, Green Nursing Machine (Aussie Curves)

Hello! My goodness, it's been a few weeks since I participated in an Aussie Curves challenge. Things have been full on! Most exciting of which, I have been asked to be a judge at Monster Fest (which, if you don't know, is Melbourne's only HORROR FILM FESTIVAL)! So for the last week and a half I've been watching all the horror, blood and gore that my strange little heart desires, and totally ignoring my friends - blog included. I think i'm about 17 films down, with another 5 - 8 to go. YEE HAW!

If you live in Melbourne and love horror, make sure you check out the program and get along to see some stuff. I'm definitely going to be heading to the all night Friday 13th movie marathon next Friday, and I can't wait! And can we just take a second to appreciate how glorious this poster is?

Today was also the open casting for runway street models for next year's Curvy Couture Roadshow. It was so damn awesome to be surrounded by so many beautiful, stylish and FUN ladies!!
As for the challenge, I had to jump back on board this week for the theme "favourite colour", because I love any excuse to wear green! It's hard to pick a favourite between green and purple, but I was definitely feeling the former that day. Sam and I were headed into the city to eat dumplings and watch a double feature of the new Hunger Games and Interstellar (yep, MORE MOVIES!), and we stumbled across this adorable little alley chock full of plants and fun doorways. Yep, that graffiti says "sex is fun"... \m/

Helloooooo boob gape!

I found this dress vintage 80's dress at Savers about two years ago, and for the last one year it's sat at the bottom of my mending pile. I recently found it and repaired it, and now i'm loving it all over again just like it's new. I like to pretend i'm a war-time nurse. Wow, that just got weird.

Two things I noticed after seeing these photos: 

1. I really should invest in an iron.

2. I love these avocado earrings so hard. One of them has the seed and the other doesn't, 

and the two halves fit together PERFECTLY. So, damn, satisfying. 

That's all for now. I know i'm last to the blog hop party this week (as with a lot of weeks), but definitely check out the other ladies outfits and spread the love! Blogging is not a one-sided activity, it's about sharing and community! <3

OUTFIT DETAILS

Dress: Savers

Jacket: City Chic

Boots: Docs (handpainted by moi)

Earrings: purchased from Quick Brown Fox

Brooch: was a set of earrings, also from Quick Brown Fox

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Why This Secondhand Skirt is Different (Aussie Curves)

This week's Aussie Curves theme is 'secondhand'. As somebody whose wardrobe is, I'd estimate, at least 70% secondhand, this week is EASY! A little too easy... *twinkle in eye*

This theme last cycle was actually my VERY FIRST participation in the Aussie Curves challenges, and I tackled a hectic phobia of wearing a body con dress.

I was also really inspired by Jacqui's entry of showing us 3 different pieces she owns, and why they're sentimental to her. And it got me thinking about what items of clothing I feel sentimental about. I mean, I inherently tend to over-attach myself to possessions anyway (perhaps the side effect of starting boarding school at the age of 6), but the love I feel for my clothes is NEK LEVEL.

Since my Nan passed away earlier this year I got a few things of hers, but (hilariously!) they are pieces of "fast fashion" from places I normally wouldn't even step inside of, like Millers and Supre. I don't expect they'll last very long, but i'm enjoying wearing them while they do.

So, i've been babbling a bit, but I guess I want to talk about this ASOS swing skirt that I bought from Jess West (aka Orange Jess, of "The Jess's") at the A+ Market a couple of months ago. Yes, it's also fast fashion, and there's nothing particularly excellent about this skirt - aside from it's awesome twirl, and gorgeous colour. But what IS special is that it kind of represents my newly acquired circle of babin' babe friends that i've made in the last 6 months.

Don't get me wrong, I love and cherish all of my friends from the very bottom of the heart, but never before have I had a circle of plus-size girlfriends (Sasha, Jan and Helen I still love you even though you're not fat). Until now! And it's so fricken awesome! This year, for the first time in my life, i've been swapping, borrowing and buying clothes with and from friends!

I talked a little bit in this plus-size pinup post about my phobia of having to share clothes with people because i've just never been close enough friends with anyone around my size. Well, not close enough to share clothes with. And now I have this whole circle of fierce babe friends with killer style! It's so exciting!

So, this one's for my luscious ladies - you know who you are ;)

"When a mummy and a daddy Birds of Paradise Flower love each other verrrry much..."

If I look like a flower, I must BE a flower! No?

TA-DA! Just trickin'!

Oh dear, but I do amuse myself sometimes. 

OUTFIT DETAILS

Skirt: ASOS Curve

Top: Rivers

Necklace: Miss-A-Ree Guts Creations (click name for link)

Earrings: Creep Heart (click name for link)

Flower Crown: Sweet As Candy Vintage (click name for link)

Boots: Anarchy

Excitement: MINE!

Big thanks and love to Sam for taking my photos xx

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Turn Around, Bright Eyes (Aussie Curves)

The Aussie Curves theme this week is "Then and Now", but I keep thinking of it as now and then, which causes to me to get Bonnie Tyler's 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' stuck in my head (because of the repeated lyrics "every now and then I get a little bit.... *insert various thing*).

So. Yes. Ahem. Excuse me.

It's funny, but I do often reflect on how my style has changed in the last couple of years, probably most since i've moved to Melbourne. I believe that's because I suddenly had access to more shops (new and thrift) and also because I felt I could finally, fully unleash my creativity and personal style in this glorious and thriving city.

But what I don't often reflect on is what came before that. Like, early teen and high school.

So I jumped into a long lost box of photos that haven't seen the light of day for, ohhh, probably about 6 years.

Firstly, I was not nearly drunk enough to deal with some of the stuff that was in there.

Secondly, it was SO DAMN DIFFICULT to find any full length photos of me in that era. There were thousands of photos, but so few of me. The most prevalent were group shots, and oh what do you know... I always just so happened to be riiiiiiiight at the back!

15 year old Kobi's uniform - baggy 3/4 denim shorts, stripy knee-high socks, a baggy dark t-shirt and my prized possession; a pair of Oakley sunglasses in pearl white. 

I worked SO HARD to save for those bad boys. 

So I had my hardcore tomboy years in which pants, 3/4 short and t-shirts were all I would ever be caught dead in. Seriously, I wore shorts and t-shirts to go swimming. That outfit on the right (above) with the tight(er) jeans and the blue check shirt... I remember my mum buying me those because she wanted me out of baggy clothes, and that was my only compromise. I still remember how uncomfortable it felt to be so "restricted", but I also remember getting some serious compliments from my friends. That'd never happened before!

And then I started to "develop my style" (hahahaha) by making my own circle skirts (which I would often tuck up into my undies to achieve some weird draping effect I really liked - see top left grey skirt below) and op shopping for black shirts. Seriously, I want to give me a hug right now.

The bottom is my year 12 formal dress that I designed based loosely on a dress Christina Ricci wore in the movie Sleepy Hollow. It was a stunning and unique Victorian bustle dress, and possibly the first time in my life that I ever felt beautiful.

I won't bore you with the story of "and then I transformed, like a caterpillar shedding it's cocoon", because I feel like I crap on about those reflections quite a fair bit.

But what I will say is that THANK GOODNESS I made it through those terrible years of self-hatred. I now see "fashion" (I use inverted commas because fashion to me is just personal style, not actual fashion fashion) as purely a means of expression, and something enjoyable that I choose to do when I want to. Which, granted, is quite a lot.

Some days I feel like getting dressed up and doing my makeup when i'm not even leaving the house. But some days I just go out in a scrubby house dress and not a skerrick of makeup. Point is, the things I put on my body no longer reflect how I feel about myself as a person, and they certainly don't contribute to or impact my feelings of self-worth.

Now, clothes are just for fun.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Dress: thrifted (note, I had to stitch the front closed... #boobieproblems) Boots: Dr Martens, hand-painted by moi Lipstick: Lime Crime Velvetine | Suedeberry

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