Pen pal

Hi there. How’s ya handle jandal? We haven’t checked in with each other for a while, but I’ll try my best with this one-sided conversation I’ve got to work with. Life on this side of the typeface is pretty swell, mother sends her love and the dog’s wagging its tail with glee, as always.

So my hairs won’t be taking me to NY I found out this week, but I’m all good with that. It was a very surreal experience and gi-normous fun having a platinum blonde personality for a while, even if my eyebrows had trouble keeping up at times. Plans to ditch the Gaga in favour of the Lady are now imminent, and who knows what that will look like.

So my NY visit will have to wait for my future book signing – yes, my first work of literary significance has begun! Or perhaps a stopover on my way to Colorado – due diligence is currently underway on my next business venture, which I’m truly excited about, and if proven feasible shall lead me there. Then again, there could be innumerable other reasons that take me to NY and I just love that unpredictability about life.

I hope you are well and laughing more often than not. The world delivers exactly what you ask and move in the direction of, so be who you want to be and watch all the marvellousness being propelled into your sphere. That’s really important, so please don’t forget. I want you to have everything of your wildest dreams.

All my love,
Anthea xxx

P.S. That smile really suits you, keep it up :)

Share with me your freak

Era infatuation

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” ~ Coco Chanel

I'm infatuated with 1920s and 30s style at the moment and have been doing some research just out of personal interest. I'm also intrigued by the life of Coco Chanel, arguably the most influential person of the 20th century in terms of style, and definitely one of the most interesting. I admire her sass, her determination and her vision.

A little of the incarnate rebel without a cause myself, the flapper era in particular has strong appeal for me. With woman gaining the vote in the 1920s, they started doing things their strict Victorian parents had never done - they smoked, they boozed, wore makeup, cut their hair and their hem lines short, and revolutionized fashion forever. It was freedom!

I have a big thing for antique jewellery (so much more elegant than modern contemporary stuff) and over time have collected the odd flapper trinket. And I have some relative modern day garments in the style of that era, but now the gem in my collection is an original 1920s dark blue, hand beaded, simply divine dress unearthed from London's Bermondsey Market.

Will I actually wear it? Probably not, it's bordering on being a century old, it's practically a museum piece. I think I will display it as such in my fabulous home of around the same era. When we have our (belated) housewarming party in the spring, we're thinking maybe a'la The Great Gatsby - so you can come and see it then - but only if you come in character!

My dress-up box

Maybe I am a little touched, have too much time on my hands (not that I’ve noticed recently) or it’s just my inner actress scratching to get out. But I think everyone should have and make use of a dress-up box.

On the whole, TV is boring. So when I’m not cranking up the stereo and dancing around the house for my own amusement, I often play silly buggers putting together different ensembles from whatever I have lying around. Some of them are to wear out for real and others just for a giggle around the house.

Although to be honest, the line between dress-up box and the clothes and accessories I choose to wear out publicly is getting more and more blurred the older I get – sometimes when I get up in the morning, I ask myself: “who do I want to be today” …well, tonight Michael, I’m… [a vamp], [a rocker], [a wholesome farm girl], [retro chick] …whatever – just insert as appropriate.

It’s nothing to do with how I look to others; it’s about playing, amusing myself, letting my imagination run wild and not being afraid to express myself. Yeah, sometimes I’m sure I come off as pretty tragic, but I actually don’t really care too much what others think. That's the beauty of getting older.

Admittedly, I usually play this little game alone (most people just don’t seem to have the same depth of inner child that I do). But I recall some rare occasions playing silly buggers with people not afraid to act the fool - not surprisingly, they have pretty much always resulted in all concerned rolling around on the floor in fits of shared uncontrollable laughter. Good times.

So my top tip for today folks - be a big kid and don't be afraid to play with your inner idiot…

Ladies will appreciate this

If you’ve spent much time around me, you’ll know that I’m pretty much a low key jeans and t-shirt sort of gal. Every now and then I make an effort, but I’m really a tomboy at heart. That was until earlier this year when I took an evening class in style and fashion. I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed it and how much it motivated me.

I am a woman; obviously I don’t need a lot of motivation to shop! More to step outside my comfort zone every now and then and try different things to see what works. Admittedly, sometimes the results are particularly tragic, but other times I feel like a million bucks. The best part is how much fun I have playing dress-ups just like I'm eight again!

My tutor told me the art of being stylish comes down to buying wisely and co-ordinating well. Did you know that most people wear 10% of their clothes 90% of the time? So this week I’ve put it all to the test. Every couple of months I head off for a few days of business/pleasure in Wellington. I always end up lugging this humungus bag around and most of its contents come home unworn. Last time the airport even plastered a HEAVY BAGGAGE >20KG sticker on it!

Not this time. Six days. A 3-day conference. Business meetings. Nights out on the town. Rugged adventures. What have I packed in my bag? My own personal record of only 14 separate articles of clothing. Please bear in mind it's wild windy Wellington, not known for its tropical climate. Wearing an average of 3 garments at any one time with no repetitive ensembles, I am ready to step out looking stylish for any and all occassions.

I’m taking bets on how many articles will come back unworn this time. See if I can get down to 10 items or less by next trip. I prefer to travel light…

Can I pull it off?

I got roped into going to a charity auction tonight. It was a good cause; raising money for a local woman’s cancer treatment. The food, wine and company were excellent. I didn’t actually intend to buy anything, but the items was pretty good and going for a steal (at least until the wine took effect and lubricated people’s wallets).

I’m not really a label chick, but my bargain purchase was a Trelise Cooper long velvet robe. It wasn’t until upon closer inspection when I got home that I realised it’s actually meant to be a dressing gown type of robe! To be fair, perhaps I should have twigged to this earlier; it is pink after all, with lace trim and intricate beading!

I don't care; I think it’s super cool. I also reckon I can get away with wearing it out in some trendy ensemble and no one will even twig that I’m actually wearing sleepwear!! Anyone willing to place a bet?

Whaddayareckon – can I pull it off?

Alter Ego?

I have a week to come up with an alter ego. An image that epitomises in my wildest dreams who I am and how I am perceived.

It’s all part of this fashion & style class I’ve been going to for something different to do. By now I possess (in theory at least) all the skills and dark arts to ensure I am never ever caught looking anything but my most fabulous. Yeah right.

It’s all good though. Next week is all about cultivating a personal style. So I need an alter ego apparently, but so far inspiration hasn’t exactly grabbed me. The woman who takes the class has a female James Bond as hers – sophisticated, sexy, resourceful, jumps buildings in a single bound – that sort of thing. Not bad, but my style is probably just a little more laid-back. That is, there are many aspects of my life where wearing glammed up gear everyday just wouldn’t work. Yet this is no reason not to be looking stylish at all times evidently.

So I’m thinking my alter ego would need to be pretty versatile. Like someone who happily hangs out in mountain cabins, looking gorgeous (yet fitting) whilst fixing tractors and covering oneself in mud. Is at home loitering around in dark alleys working as a covert spy (or perhaps is just mysteriously shady!). Yet with the uncanny ability to silence a room and send jaws dropping with classy and seductive evening style. Perhaps some sort of cross between Cameron Diaz, Urma Thurman, Lara Croft, Kate Hudson and goodness knows who else.

Hmmm… interesting, but I think it needs more work. As always, open to suggestions…

Broken But Stylish

Today I am 33 going on 70. I feel broken. All my muscles hurt. My magic pony Pegasus (more personality than the traditional broomstick) and I went riding up in the Richmond hills yesterday - blasting up mountain bike trails, leaping up steep banks in a single horsey bound. Unfortunately we were both so unfit it was inevitable the steam would run out... and it did, about halfway up a very steep hill. We are both fatter and lazier than ever. I think perhaps the only answer is to do it all more often so the aftermath isn't so painful. Not that I've spoken to Pegasus yet today to see how he's feeling. He doesn't say much anyway and what he does say is pretty much always centred around food or long-legged mares.

Despite all the pain I've still managed to wear to work today the 3-inch stilleto fake snakeskin boots I bought last week in a sale. They were just crying out to me from the wardrobe and I couldn't deny them. Gotta walk the walk, eh.