Archive for the 'Fashion' Category
October 21 2008: QOTW: Finders Keepers
Filed under Family & Fashion & Q.O.T.W. with 27 Comments
My father gave me a ring today.
Granted, due to the extreme frugality of my parents, it wasn’t exactly a ring they purchased. Rather, my father found it on the pavement when he was out grocery shopping - one of those freak “hey, look what I found, finders keepers!” incidents. Needless to say that if it had been something of great value (e.g. something more than a cheap piece of costume jewellery like this - which would cost a maximum of $50AUD), my father would have handed it in to the police station, but for something like this, there’s hardly any point.
As I’m the only young woman of his acquaintance (or, so my mother would hope), I was, through necessity, the only possible recipient of this ring. My mother is now encouraging me to purchase some good quality pieces of jewellery (e.g. made out of platinum) for a long-term investment, for though my wardrobe is bulging with clothes, I own only a couple of pieces of costume jewellery because I prefer having liquid assets.
Question of the Week: What’s the best example of an item you’ve randomly found on the street (or elsewhere)?
October 13 2008: Jingwen’s Competition #6
Filed under Fashion & Online with 15 Comments
Regarding my “outfit for the races” post two days ago, Bobbi-Lee commented that the bulk of it consisted of sale items, that wouldn’t necessarily be published in the paper as not everyone can go to a sale! An entirely valid point, which is why I now present to you an outfit for the races made up entirely of full-price, purchased on eBay, and thrifted from second-hand store items (the type of items that the paper published), that still falls under the $100AUD outfit threshold.
- Second-hand gold dress by Review - purchased on eBay for $16AUD
- Snakeskin clutch by Olga Berg - thrifted from an opshop on High St, Ashburton, Melbourne for $8AUD
- Black diamante-studded heels from Payless Shoes - purchased in store for $49.95AUD five years ago for a school formal
- Fake pearl and gold charm fob necklace, $3AUD thrifted from the Salvos store
With the previously mentioned $15AUD self-created headpiece from Spotlight, that brings the total to: $91.95AUD.
Which brings me to an idea which may or may not work. Probably the latter due to the effort it’ll take the readers of this blog, but, we’ll see. Idea explained below, and will make up my new competition for this month.
What It Is
A competition run by yours truly, in order to give current, and potential, readers of Jingwen a tangible prize. Prizes will differ from month to month. Some may only be suitable for a certain demographic, others will be gender and age neutral.
The Prize
This month’s prize will be something bought by myself, for you. The item will be purchased following my own bargain shopping rules, which regular visitors will be well familiar with. It might be purchased on extreme discount (e.g. 75% off the original reduced price), thrifted (e.g. bought from a second-hand store), or off eBay. The item will be tailored to yourself as an individual, and I will try to make it something that you could make regular use of.
How To Win
Following my example above, you will have to create an outfit for the races (e.g. dressy, cocktail, etc.) out of completely thrifted, heavily discounted, or eBay items. This outfit can either be for a female, or a male, as long as the total price for the outfit (clothes, shoes, handbag, headpiece) doesn’t exceed $100AUD.
Note that the individual items don’t have to be something you actually own - as long as you can furnish some proof as to the price (e.g. link me to an eBay auction or an online shop), the outfit will be eligible to win the prize. What I do require are photos of all items you include in your outfit (polyvore is a great way of pulling it all together), as well as details of how much each item cost and where it came from.
You will need to email me at acchamanda@gmail.com with:
- Your full name
- Your postal address
- A URL (if applicable)
- The complete outfit
You will also need to comment on any entry on this blog between the 13th of October 2008 and 30th of November 2008 in order to qualify for the draw.
Summary
The winner of this competition will be chosen on the 30th of November 2008, based on what I believe to be the best, or most original, outfit. You will be notified by email, where I will also ask you a few further questions in order to better choose a winning item for you. The winner will also be announced on this blog. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to address them here in the comments for this entry. Spread the word, and good luck!
October 11 2008: Dressing For The Races On A Budget
Filed under Fashion & Media with 11 Comments
The Herald Sun’s Saturday paper has a supplement entitled “Weekend”, which always has a page or two dedicated to images of outfits for a made-up scenario. Today’s edition was a double-page spread on outfits “on a budget” for the Spring Racing Carnival (a month of horse racing on racegrounds around Melbourne, ostensibly for sporting purposes, but really an opportunity for Melbournian women to get dressed up, get drunk, and totter around on heels that sink into the turf, all the while giggling maniacally).
I have no intention of ever going to the races, but any time that the media like attaching “on a budget” to any fashion photoshoot they might do, the cheapskate in me feels the need to point and attack them for being out of touch. The complete amount of the outfits they suggested, which really weren’t anything special, were: $362.90AUD, $233.90AUD, $328.90AUD, $433.90AUD, $422.90AUD, $400.90AUD. Erm, what? I don’t even spend that amount on three complete outfits, let alone one outfit.
To the right is what I would wear to the races, with all items pulled from my existing wardrobe:
- Fuschia silk/sateen cocktail dress, $25AUD down from $239.95AUD at the Pilgrim clearance outlet
- Black Basque heels, $25AUD down from $139.95AUD from Myer
- Fake pearl and gold charm fob necklace, $3AUD thrifted from the Salvos store
- Metallic gold clutch, $1AUD from $29.95AUD at Miss Shop in Myer
The only thing the outfit lacks that I don’t already own would be a headpiece of some sort, which is required as part of the dress code if one decides to go to the races. But when the haberdashery store Spotlight has individual feathers, beads, and ribbons for sale, and when you can get a cheap plain headband at a $2AUD store, you can craft your own individual headpiece for under $15AUD.
So take that, Polly Kerdel. My outfit for the races only cost $70AUD! This is how you dress for the races on a budget!