Hello everyone, how are 'tings? I'm alright thanks for asking. I still love Melbourne and have been going through a few adjustments of late. A few doors have closed on old wounds and a few exciting ones have opened. But that is life hey? Imagine there was a nerve connected between our brains and our emotions that could just be switched off!? If the nurses think they've got something to strike about now, then whoah imagine if that shit could go down. Haha, I kid though. Heart break and heart ache and making up and breaking up are character building and all part of life experiences. Like, how good does summer feel after a long winter? Exactly.
Metaphors aside and on to some real weather and me self indulgently talking you through my instagram pictorials.
We just woke up one morning and summer had done a runner in the night like a one night stand. 38 degrees on the Sunday and then rain like a cow pissing on a flat rock on the Monday morning and it's been here to stay like the last irritating friend at a party. But then again, this is Melbourne so tomorrow we could all be in our bikinis again. Well not me, but girls who can. FUCKING WEATHER, WHAT A CONVERSATION STARTER.
This was taken in the midst of summer. Australia Day to be exact. My homie Paul with his ginger book ends Dave and Nick. Nick is the bloke on the right who has just moved to Australia from London along with his missus Emily and they are also my new housemates. Australia Day was their induction haha. I think they're loving it thus far but they dun know too many people so be sure to say g'day if you see them about, Most likely to be found in sneaker joints.
This is Emily. She is a vision of pastels and blonde hair and a booty you can crack nuts on. Fashion designer, bike rider and cocktail umbrella wearer. I took this photo last night at The LuWow in Collingwood. Dolly Daydream here was in her element.
They're also really good at dinners. Look at this guy for instance. Yummo. All protein and nutrients up in there. Which is good 'cause I'm back on the protein horse. I had a FUCKED 2011, I really did and this gut I'm carrying around is not only physical, it's emotional so I joined the gym and I told bread to take a long walk off a short plank.
This dress for instance. I used to fit in it like it ain't no thang and now it's just a decoration in my bedroom. Well nah ah gurl fran, I am sorting this shit right out. Stay tuned for the purple dress self shot. Hopefully it's sooner rather than later. Can ya'll feel my determination? I drank soda water and lime all night last night for Gods sake.
So a few weeks back there was the GIRLS IN KICKS exhibition here in Melbourne and yours truly was amongst the girls in the portraits. New Balance sent me these babies to wear to the opening night. Now I have always been a loyal supporter of the swoosh (even though I have been pretty much glued to my Vans Authentic's of late) but you know what? I am feeling NB in a big way. Plus they're made in England and I love England AND they are comfy as fuck. I quite fancy a pair in green hmmmm
What would the OWL experience be without the nail pics? A more tasteful one no doubt haha. WHATEVER, ACRYLICS FOR LIFE. Those who have followed this blog for a while will know I rocked the long, square, hoochie claws for a minute, then I took them a bit rounder and now they are 10 little pointy triangles and I luz dem. These are last month's though...
These are the ones I have currently. Except I broke 2 and then just had them painted black. They did it for free because APPARENTLY I'm 'there all the time' . I wonder if I will ever grow out the nail phase hey? Probs not, it's been 7 years
Every year I buy a new wallet and a new diary. Now I'm involved with Moleskine distribution, they were a natural choice for my diary game and bloody Hell you can see why it's such an iconic brand. I am never looking back. I usually get bored of diaries around mid year and then get stuck in again as Christmas approaches but I would actually be lost without this little guy. Green leather wallet I copped from FAT 4 on Brunswick street, holler.
Notice my cushion covers? A reader from Queensland made them and sent them to me with this cute little card! How is it that a stranger knows me better than some of my own family? Girl, you should give them tips in December. Not even worried if Mum reads this 'cause she quit reading the OWL a looooong time ago. Follow 'erincq' on instagram, she's such a doll. And I'm not just saying that 'cause she gave me stuff, she really is.
Has anyone popped into the Converse store in Melbourne Central of late? I haven't been back in since last year when I copped some black low's but I've been meaning to go because I quite fancy some plain white high tops. How good are their carrier bags?
This is another little addition. It kinda makes my room look like a brothel but maybe that will bring me some action. Nah I've just always liked neon lights, found mainly amongst red light districts and strip clubs. Hmmm, no coincidence I swear but really, it says 'LOVE' for fucks sake, it's cute and innocent like moi
Speaking of love. This broad. I think everyone deserves that friend who will straight up tell you like it is and not what you want to hear, and I have found one in this barrel of laughs. My girl Alex has beauty and brains and can sink beers with the boys with finesse.
Lately...well not lately, I guess I/we have always known that with every action comes a reaction and reactions come with consequences. The chicken and the egg story..how did it all begin, where did it all start, whose fault is it, who can we blame, how do we handle things when we're hurt and confused. The truth is, while there are those that really do just like to fuck things up for people, I think that acting on our emotions are what make us human but what separates us from animals, is our ability to have a little self control. Today somebody told me happiness is letting go and moving on. I agree. Holding the happy memories is a lot easier to carry than the heavy weight of baggage. That reminds me, I need new eye cream.
I styled an editorial in Acclaim Issue 25 named the AUSTRALIA ISSUE. Perfect timing as this is the year that I finally have come to call Down under 'Home'.
This was a special project for me because Acclaim was the first magazine I ever bought when I moved to Australia. The shoot was a load of fun, the kids were great and photographer Chris Polack is a G!
The launch party is tonight at House of Bricks from 18:00. Cop the mag at the door and it will buy you free flowing booze, food and beats. And what fine weather we're having for it too! Melbourne you are a whore with your sunshine, but when you bring it, you bring it good.
I can't stand the raaaaiiiinnn against my wiiiiindow! I really can't hey. I seriously have always been one of those annoying people that goes 'I don't mind winter or cold weather etc etc etc' but that is when it is actually meant to BE winter, NOT when it is supposed to be the middle of fucking spring. I love Melbourne but hot damn the weather really does suck a dick. Everyone is like, 'Oh but you lived in England for ages, you should be used to this!' Yes but you EXPECT shit weather in England, this is Australia God dammit! This is the view from my living room last Saturday morning. When I say unimpressed I mean it.
If summer won't come to the OWL, then the OWL will come to summer. I know I went on bit previously about Melbourne's shit weather, but in it's defence, it's been pretty good this week. FUCKING WEATHER. Anyway. I bought these sherbet fruit plastic thingo ma bobs and they are just little kitsch pockets of summer in my opinion.
This is my friend Alex and her fella PJ, two of my rather new but very dear friends. They are also the machine that run Acclaim magazine and I spent quite a bit of time with them this weekend because I helped style an editorial for their new issue. It was a very long and tiring day, but working with them was an absolute pleasure. I tell you what though, LOVE is an important factor in a relationship, but integrity is the real glue that holds shit together, and these two have that in abundance.
And these are my feet. I got some new authentics, you like? I don't get a major hard on for VANS at all BUT they are pretty easy to wear, I won't lie. Plus I needed some new shoes for my London trip I'm embarking on this weekend. Do you like my little floral mini skirt? $10 from Kmart! Kmart is my mother fucking jam! I love that place. I got those plastic fruit things from there too. I could spend hours in that mass produced Mecca.
So I'm tryna do that thing where you light candles in a bottle and the wax drips down and eventually it's like COVERED in wax and it looks cool. I know, it's quite indie of me. We are at the beginning stages here as you can see.
A printing company sent me this for free this week! I couldn't bloody believe it when I opened the box haha! So funny! I'm thinking about getting them printed for realz (your plan may come to fruition Vista Print!) Cute right? I mean, my logo WAS designed by Cape Town uber artist MOTEL 7 so it's not like it's some shit thing. I dunno, would you cop one? I might source some better T's and get this done. I'm gonna cut the neck out though and let it drape over my shoulder like it ain't no thang. I'm a bit embarrassed by the lame mirror/iPhone shot but I am SINGLE TO MINGLE so how else am I s'posed to document this shit? Exactly.
*Legit though, if you would be keen on an OWL tee then inform a home girl!
Peep the interview with Cali based artist Lola, that I had the honor of getting together for Acclaim magazine HERE- it really is worth the peruse...and not just because I wrote it.
To be honest, the weeks leading up to my trip overseas are pretty yawn. The anxiety is fucking killing me. I have muchos outfits to plan, nails to get did, unruly pubic hair to wax (hey! don't judge) and travel insurance to sort out. I haven't exactly planned the nail sitch very well. I get them done every 2 weeks like clockwork (have done for the last 6 years!) but this time, I leave in the middle of my little fortnightly cycle. So I just had to get them freshened up until my next appointment which is a day before I leave!
Yeeeahhh, a bit more than freshened up, but you just WAIT until you see the marvels I have planned for Glastonamazing. It's gonna be hardcore, uncensored nail porn.
Haha, I had to take this photo. I'm a state manager for a clothing label (yeah I know, I'm real important) and these are my boys from one of my stores. They actually planned this ying yang shit. I swear to God, I keep threatening everyone, but I'm going to fire everybody and start all over again and hire some hotties who don't do gay shit like this. They are driving me to the edge of the edge. Which is why my staple brekkie is this fuck show ...
What ya gonna do? Nah seriously though, I love my staff. They pretty much put up with me too as I'm not your regular boss lady. I do sometimes make them put my number in the bag of a particulary fuckable customer from time to time. So they are pretty good sports. There is always the whole 'threatening of their job' thing ... they know how it is. Yeah I got 'old mate' off old Ebay. This was seriously the highlight of my week. Which is slightly concerning. I'm considering getting a troll tattoo wearing air max 90's. That wouldn't be in bad taste at all ....
I should probably throw in the towel and admit that I have an unhealthy obsession with chicken katsu at the moment. I have pretty much had it for lunch um .... every day ... kinda. It's just so blinking tasty! And sometimes, if you lead a life like mine, which is about as predictable as an Icelandic earthquake, some predictability does not go fucking amiss ... I can tell ya THAT for free. So I might just continue my little ritual because small comforts should not be underrated.
Not sure if I mentioned it, but I'm going to Glastonbury....hahaha sozz. ANYWAY. there are like 8 of us hitting it up, and we have decided to make one another a poncho 'that best fits that persons personality'. (FYI - if I get a poncho making me look like a fucking owl, I'll smother you with it in your sleep) Ehrm. So I went on a 'lil fabric hunt over the weekend in order to get my craft on and I found this fabric. (No Jerome, it's not for you) I seriously want a bomber jacket made out of this hey. With black and white zebra print lining. Hell, why not make it reversable too? Who is up for the challenge!? I'll pay you with gratitude and friendship, 'cause it's all I actually have right now.
Which explains why when I see some Reebok freestyles going for 50 smackers, I seize the moment. Hmm, I suppose it doesnt matter that they are a size too small (3 and a half) because with that price, you can't really go wrong. But you CAN go cripple. Totes worth it though.
With a name like Ben FrostOF course you're gonna be an artist. Seriously how cool is that name? Excuse the pun. Giving your kids great names in possibly the most responsible thing you can do as a parent hey? Like Ben Frost ain't gonna be no janitor now is he? Neither will Julian Casablancas. Nah man, with names like these, you are destined to do something increddy.
Last Saturday night was Frosty's 'Tales of Terror' exhibit at Wasteland Gallery here in 'ol Perthetic. The art is actually pretty wonderful. So was the free booze, a fair amount of hot ass and my outfit. Other than that, the people who go to these things are SOOOOOOOOO fucking up themselves. They roll in to the exhibit lookin all 'shabby chic' and keep glancing over your shoulder just in case there is sombeody better they can be seen talking to. I hate that. I walk into things like this thinking, 'I am the coolest mother fucker in here and you can all suck it' - it's false confidence but it works! Seriously. Nobody is that important.
Here's me looking amazing. hahaha
Me again with Ben Frost. Jesus. Why do I have my 'fuck me' face on? He looks a little scared. I don't bloody blame him...
Well apparently not ... Peep the little recap I did for Acclaim here. There are more pics from the night there too, all taken by my favourite photographer Luke Thompson. So thats it then. Yet another riveting post about the week of O.Owl. Bet you can't get enough of this shit. kisses xx
I frikkin love lady bloggers. Especially those with wit, style and flair that easily outshine the boys. (viva la Girl Mafia!) Alex Weiland - otherwise known as @cc_mayoress on twitter is a prime example of what I'm talking about. One of the ladette (her term) contributors for Mayoress and boss lady of Acclaim magazine -which is amazing, Ms Weiland is a woman of substance and hilarity. I can't actually imagine her living in Melbourne where the sky is not always blue, 'cause she blatantly belongs in Miami or some shit. Plus lets just take a nano sec to check out missus bling...yup. Pretty increddy. Tight.
So I threw a few unfinished sentences her way and this is what she came up with. GOD I can't WAIT to head over to Melbs and get rowdy with this lass.
Bet she smells of coconut.
I'm so happy ... I didn’t end up with a career in advertising. I was so close to taking a full-time job at the shit agency I was at when I saw an internship come up for ACCLAIM (remember myspace?) and thought fuck it, I’m applying. I’ll move to Melbourne if I get it. I got it.
I am glad ... I moved to Melbourne. Melbourne is definitely the best city in Australia to live. But yeah, weather sucks.
I love ... getting emails back from awesome people that I’ve hit up out of the blue with an editorial request. I’ve found that the most talented people are often the nicest and the most arrogant motherfuckers you’ll meet are usually the people that have fuck all going on with their lives and no talent. Woah, that sounded negative.
I can't stand it when ... people are unreliable. I’m not the most dependable person on the planet but fuck man, I am constantly amazed at what incompetent flaky idiots there are out there. So many. So so many.
Sometimes I ... feel like I should have fucked off uni and become a PA and sat on 60k a year in some office job. I then realize that I’d rather be doing what I love every day than be in a job I despise five days a week so I can shop on netaporter.com on the weekend. Fuck that, give me Valleygirl any day if the trade off is my happiness and self worth.
The best thing I ever saw … was the crowd at our recent launch party in Singapore. It was our first ever international launch and it was just crazy! So many people came through, Haji lane was packed and everyone was partying so hard. There was crowd surfing at one stage! We sold out of all the mags and tees just about too. It was just so refreshing to see all these cats so into the scene, no posers, just good times. When you’re standing in the crazy humidity with a beer in your hand, a massive event turn out and Bob Marley blaring from the speakers in a foreign city, life is good!
My most favourite ... lunch to get on Victoria st near my work is tomato rice with garlic and beef. (Thanh Thanh 2 holler!) Seriously, you need to try this shit. I actually ate it way too much (several times a week at one stage) and am kinda over it now truth be told. I also ate stingray in Singapore, it’s amazing! I don’t get why white people don’t eat that shit. Untapped resource yo.
I have never ... had magic mushrooms. I know, crazy right?
I always ... need water next to my bed when I go to sleep. The habits of a (slightly) reformed binge drinker die hard.
I wish ... I didn’t have to share my wardrobe with my boyfriend. Like whoah.
Back in the day ... Fiorucci was my shit. Man I loved that fucking brand. Wish I had hung on to some of my tees. Love that classic two angels logo.
I love wearing … bikinis. I love the beach and pool. I own about 10 pairs of bikinis and like two winter coats. My wardrobe is in Melbourne denial.
If I could ... afford it I’d buy my boyfriend a Rolex. He’s one of the hardest working people I know.
There will always be ... a little part of me that has a soft spot for Brisbane. Everyone there is so chilled and friendly, no one’s got ‘beef’.
My top 3 … coconut related products. Reef lotion Malibu and pineapple juice. Those little biscuit things that are just grated coconut from Vietnamese bakeries.
I would totally ... go to the gym if someone paid for my membership and walked me to the door with a gun to my back every morning. (hahahaha. Sozz, love Owl) I reckon the Obnoxious Owl ... should come to Melbourne and have some gin and tonics with me.
The redesign by the creative director Pj Smith is really floating my boat. It's clean, it's fresh and it jumps out at you from the newstand. I dare you not to flick through it, and while you're at it...buy the fucker. Issue 20 is also guest edited by Pete Le Chic of For The Homies. Oh yeah.
It also Features the photography of Yasumasa Yonehara and articles with Hajime Sorayama, Dex Pistols, Big-O, Verbal, Loopwheeler, MXMXM, Mai Ikuzawa.
Here's a list of international stockists. Get your paws on one of the freshest mags to come outta Aaawstraaalia x
Oh yes I did! After an unsuccessful hunt for blue lipstick a dear friend put me onto this fresh website called Lime Crime and I found the perfect shade of smurf! Don't be too much in awe with my out-of-the box thinking ... I was actually inspired by this photo...
And to my utter joy, I peep'd Acclaims new cover and the broad on there is sporting a lovely sky hue lippy too. Gee, aren't I just like sooo fashion forward? So anyway, Lime Crime saved the day and I found it!
The brand was started by a bodacious Russian lady named Doe Deere, who is based in New York. She specializes in high impact colour and pure dopeness (real word). Check the fiery haired, unicorn loving temptress out..
That's one hot mama, and she obvs knows her stuff!Come on, don't tell me you aren't licking your smackers at the sheer possibilities of these delectable shades of lippy? And that's not all...Lime Crime do a ridic amount of eye shadows that'll make your lids look like mini candy stores. Get your plastic card out and get shopping for these bad boys, 'cause at 16 bucks a pop for a lipstick and 12 big ones for the magic dust that are her eye shadows, you can't really go wrong, now can you doll face?
So if you want to purchase said goodness and check out Doe's uber cute blog, click on the ad on the side of this page, or the banner at the bottom and it'll link you straight up to cosmetic heaven. That is if your idea of heaven is fresh make-up resembling a jar full of sweets. If not...then we have nothing in common. Unless you enjoy a bit of manhood, then I guess we do.
Oh yes I did! After an unsuccessful hunt for blue lipstick a dear friend put me onto this fresh website called Lime Crime and I found the perfect shade of smurf! Don't be too much in awe with my out-of-the box thinking ... I was actually inspired by this photo...
And to my utter joy, I peep'd Acclaims new cover and the broad on there is sporting a lovely sky hue lippy too. Gee, aren't I just like sooo fashion forward? So anyway, Lime Crime saved the day and I found it!
The brand was started by a bodacious Russian lady named Doe Deere, who is based in New York. She specializes in high impact colour and pure dopeness (real word). Check the fiery haired, unicorn loving temptress out..
