Internet Shopping Didn't Kill Retail: Retail Killed Retail

This is a dress that I am currently in the running for owning from http://www.facebook.com/vintagemarketplace1 

So, you live in a town like Alice Springs that is almost entirely devoid of any type of fashion bastion besides that one vintage store where it was a bazillion dollars to own anything and the staff made you feel like at a size 14 you should be busy dying rather than wearing clothes. You went to the pub last week to to celebrate your bestie jetsetting off to NZ for a week, and no less than 3 other women were wearing the exact... same... jacket as you. Suddenly you understand your city pal's cries of "OMFG TEH DESERT SHOPPING SCENE SUCKS!!!!111!!!". Well, who would have thought a town 1,500 kilometers away from the nearest metropolitan area has a less than awesome fashion scene?! NOT YOU! Apparently you're too busy with your head in computer games. What is a girl to do?!

I'll tell you what's a girl to do, and that is to turn to internet shopping! Screw feeling all fat and out of place in a strictly size 8 shop you've accidentally wandered into on a holiday back to Perth! I'm going to buy my clothes online and save myself the bulimia inducing cry fest that such esteem shattering places induce. The clothes may not fit, you say. I say that there are plenty of people -- especially in a town like Alice -- who would kill to wear clothes from a boutique store, but they can't even afford food so "hot" clothes aren't even something of their dreams, let alone something they may stumble across at the local bitchfest known as Good Sammy's. Perspective; you should get some.

So, Mister Myer, and Mister David Jones, and every other fucking fashion outlet who is crying poor because people are turning to internet shopping to fill their wardrobes, how about you stop focusing on the metropolitan areas in your fiscal reports and come up with ways to make your regional customers feel more involved? Maybe then your profits wouldn't be at an all time low...

Lets Talk About Tattoos

One morning in the 70's, after a particularly boozy night, a young man woke up to find his arms had been used as a practice canvas and he was now sporting some rather crude prison style tatts. Needless to say, he regrets them to this day and tried his hardest to convince his kids that tattoos are a bad idea.

In today's society, the negative connotations of tattoos have eroded away. Some may even say that they're the latest "fashion trend". So, what happens when (if) tattoos become unfashionable again? Commenter Gia from The Punch: Trendsetters aren't the only fashion victims sums it up nicely:

"People who get tattoos as a fashion trend and picked some random flash off the wall of a mediocre tattoo parlour may well regret them. Those who choose to tattoo themselves in order to mark a significant event, collect amazing artwork and have well thought out, planned custom pieces will be unaffected by the changes in ‘trends’.

Some people’s idea of beauty is more classic, others like to add some colour to their lives! I know quite a number of people in their mid/late 40s/50s who are just getting in the chair for the first time now. Some of them secretly wanted a tattoo for a long time but never did because of the social stigma, others getting ink now because of a significant moment in their lives. Some of these people used to have a revulsion for tattoos - often because it was only opinion ingrained from childhood, i.e the previous generation drilled it into them that tattoos are for easy women/bikers/criminals. Now that people from all walks of life are increasingly expressing themselves via art on their skin, it’s challenged such close-minded beliefs."

I have some wonderful friends and family whose choices in body art have really showed me that a tattoo so much more than a fashion accessory: they're deeply personal reflections of yourself. From names, to lyrics, to symbols of our childhood, it doesn't matter what it is and what others think about it. It is for yourself and no-one else. In many ways I am envious of people who have something they feel so passionately for that they find the inspiration for a tattoo. Sadly, as much as I want to take the plunge, such inspiration is yet to find me and so it's back to the drawing board, sigh.

Neri approves of tattoos, regardless of what daddy thinks!

PS. Show me your tatts, tell me your stories in the comments! I need all the help I can get in the inspiration department!

Apparently it's Fashion Week, or something

Only 30kg left to lose and I will totes be rocking this frock...

I spent most of my teenage years raging against the 'girl' streotype by playing Footy at lunch, spending my afternoons at the river fishing and constantly getting in trouble for wearing pants to school that were violating the dress code. I had no real interest in magazines like 'Dolly' and 'Girlfriend' (Unless it was to have a chuckle at the sex section) and was not allowed to wear makeup. I was basically a 12 year old boy.

I remember the day in year 12 when I decided that I'd have a crack at this whole "pretty" thing. I wore a skirt. I wore my hair out. I even snuck some mascara and fountation on! So many people complimented on how great I looked! My new found femininity only lasted a few days though; doing all that work was just totes too hard.

Fast forward 12 years and I find myself on the opposite end of the spectrum. If I know people are coming over, or if I'm going out - even just to do the grocery shopping - I always try to make sure I look presentable. I might not spend two hours getting ready, but I'll make sure I switch my Warcraft shirt and baggy jeans for a nice, feminine top (That conceals my mothers' apron) and some nice skinny leg jeans, as well as throwing on some tinted moisturiser and maybe some mascara.

In a cruel twist of irony, I do not have the figure for fashion at all. In highscool I was a twig; but now I am pushing it if I can shop in a normal boutique store (Not that there is any of them here in Alice Springs). So why the hell am I looking at Fashion Week runway photos? Am I a sucker for punishment?

Anyhow, in case you didn't know, it was Fashion Week in America. Jezebel has been covering the shows all week, but I'm a slow and only just realised this now. Derp.

Neri approves of Gwen Stefani's Spring 2011 L.A.M.B collection. There's some gross shit in there, but there are some very funky pieces also.