the block party.

 everyone always warns you about the woes of living with a partner for the first time. let me speak about it under a different light...

Anthony crazily suggested we move in together very early into the relationship, and as excited as i was to say yes to the idea i was shitting myself. everything so far has come together fittingly due to perfect timing. as stressful as the process of house hunting and organising the end of lease at our previous residence was, we were offered two beautiful apartments which we both would've happily taken. but here we are nearly a month in at our new cosy one bedder. just like our amazing taste in junk food, our eye for interior decorating is complimenting. lucky, because playing house wouldn't have been much fun for neither of us.
more than anything in the world, this is the one thing i really wanted. him. he never disregards my crazy ideas, he runs with it. perhaps we'll have you over at Anthony and Maie's Pizza Parlour sometime, along with the company of our hyper-active cat (who you can take home with you if you like).

and that was that.

so before anyone else asks me how amazing Vietnam was, here's the run down. i've never really had an interest in exploring South East Asia, with the exception of Tokyo which is probably my most favourite place in the world. i did not want to be a tourist on this trip, i purely wanted to find a tailor and relax in my fancy hotel rooms. i found that the Vietnamese people were very friendly and helpful during most of my stay, even though their voices sound aggressive in nature. there were times i thought i was going to die crossing the streets and riding bikes. but it almost became a comical game of survival as i screamed with fear across the streets of Saigon. but i didn't come away with nothing, my experience at the Vietnam War Remnants Museum had me teary and feeling sick at the images of what was this country's history.

i leave this city partially disappointed that the artistry of tailoring and creating things isn't held more with pride as it is to make as much money from tourists. in fairness, i don't like to haggle prices because i know how much time is worth. and in return expected abit more attention to detail. in saying that, i can't wait to get home and set up studio in our new home (wherever that might be) so that i can perfect my own art and present you all with another great show!

life with Lei.

forgive me for not making it back home to have one last drink with you. please know that you alone made a difference in this lifetime. a positive energy that will never be forgotten. you resonate the same bright light as the colour you love so much. and i thank you for your presence in my life. i miss you so much. my heart is broken. 

rest in peace my crazy-Lou...

head over feet.

"…you treat me like i’m a princess, i’m not used to liking that

you are the bearer of unconditional things
you held your breath and the door for me, thanks for your patience
you’re the best listener that i’ve ever met
you’re my best friend, best friend with benefits…

- A. Morissette

there's a secret i've been perfecting.

all photographs and edits by Tamara Lawniczak, 2013.

one can argue that the art of photography is being able to capture a candid moment in time. this is true. but to me to perfect this art is more than just having the technical skills to work a camera. anyone can learn that, but not everyone has the eye for composition or the imagination for concepts. which leads me to my official introduction to this creative i’ve had the pleasure of getting to know really well and finally collaborating with. my friend, Tamara Lawniczak. small in stature, but large in talent and creativity. i loved every minute of working with this girl, and i think it’s because she shares the same obsessive compulsive-disorder as me. she is an absolute perfectionist with her work and so i know i can trust her with the smallest detail. but besides her artistry i am honoured to have her be part of my network and social circle.

special thanks to the following people who made our visions come to life. such a great job all round. please take the time to click on their respected sites and ‘like’ them on FB.

photographer | TAMARA LAWNICZAK www.tamaralawniczak.com

https://www.facebook.com/TamaraLawniczakPhotography 

hair and make up | RENNAN DIZON www.rennandizon.com

https://www.facebook.com/rennandizonart
an amazing artist and close friend of mine who i've been collaborating with for years.
model | SEPIDEH ASGARI
a beauty that i have admired and had been wanting to shoot since last year. 
work experience assistant | BRANDY POSE
a beautiful young lady whom i've had the opportunity to watch grow. my first willing work experience girl.

view the rest of album HERE.

just enough to fill the void.

love. i was afraid my perception of the noun had been tainted from the past, but in reality i’m surrounded by it. therefore how could one not be a believer or a witness to it, right?

submission and possession, i confuse the two for love. but this is how i see it. there’s this boy i know, and it wasn’t until i found out that he had found ‘the one’ that i realised our relationship was in every way an exemplification of the word. after all, this world only reflects what you see and believe in your own mind. i captured these images from the past couple of years knowing it would illustrate a story somewhere down the track. and here it is, the things i want in life. 
...
i know you randomly read these threads when you’re curious of what i’ve been up to. this post is for you. as pessimistic and closed off as you were about love when we first started to get to know each other, i am at peace with where you are in your life. words can’t explain how proud i am of you.

only for the diligent.

i recall the time when it was no longer fitting to wear baggy jeans out clubbing. i also remember not giving a fuck about what was ‘socially acceptable’ to wear out in public. the ever growing trend of fashion blogging has somewhat destroyed the illusive world of fashion for me. it used to mean something to get accepted in a recognised fashion school to study the design principles among other enthusiasts and be taught by professionals in the industry. now all you need is a url and hey presto you are a certified style icon. here are my top 5 fashionista woes:

1. having mountains of clothes doesn’t measure how fashionable you are, i can guarantee you that a good amount of that wardrobe would not be accepted at Salvos.
2. designer wear is all the hype. half of you don’t even know why you spend thousands on a designer piece, other than the fact that it was featured on your instagram feed. high end fashion was once known for it’s impeccable detail, quality and exclusivity.
3. enhancing your body and saying it’s to boost your self confidence and then having the sudden urge to post provocative ‘model’ shots on the web AND THEN letting the world know you are unimpressed by the unwanted attention you get is just…confusing really. way to be humble.
4. throwing on all your mismatched clothing doesn’t make you eclectic. it just doesn’t.
5. and lastly, uploading shameless selfie pics (clothed or unclothed) with your iphone in the frame is not attractive. nor is it sexy.

this is not me being cocky, this is my developed thought process and evaluation of how quickly technology and society has advanced, or rather, misinformed the scope of fashionistas out there. dare to start a fashion blog, but please do have something different and informative to talk about.

preparing for twenty eight.

second week in and most of my boxes are unpacked. scribbles in sketchbooks are accumulating,  sewing machine plugged in, and studio set. we've befriended the locals on our strip and have become regulars at the cafe next door. the inner west has that sense of aspiration in the air that was lacking in the west. but don't get me wrong, i've been missing home like crazy. i am so far from my safety net and i feel people are already awaiting failure. it's this misconception of happiness and succes that baffles me with some people. i've been having alot of impromptu catch ups with friends, and their perceptions of my life and expectations of where i should be in life have been a little more than disheartening. here's the thing about me, i am a simple creature. the images i post don't portray a fancy life, they're my everyday objects in my everyday life. and you should already know that i see things differently. to me, the ugliest things in life have the most potential of being a work of art. take this as a metaphor or take it as it is. people need to analyse their own lives before they let me know how to live mine. i had an old man who i say hello to everyday at work ask me, "how do you keep a smile on your face everyday? you're always so happy."i actually don't know the answer to that question, it seems to be my only facial expression. even i don't know how i feel sometimes. but right now i'm happy daydreaming and getting back into the swing of things with my art and designing. so the moral of the story is, i've got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one. think about it.

all the cards begin to stack up.

the truth is, i'm finally ready to move on. in every sense of the statement. life is traveling a hundred miles an hour right now and i'm overwhelmed and abit nervous. but more so excited. i've decided that i will have to pick up the bridal projects again if i want to live comfortably in the new chapter i'm beginning. but in saying that, i'm not going to say yes to clients with 'budgets'. bridal wear is strictly business and that's exactly how i'm going to treat it. 

these are exciting times ahead. wait for it to unfold.

the happiness machine.

i think i saw this written somewhere and archived it,

i'm pretty sure i didn't come up with it myself.

"i want to fall through the cracks of the earth so i can see it in all it's beauty, fall right in and be a witness to the truth."

whoever i was then, i can't ever be again.

this long weekend consisted of all the good things in life. long chats, furry friends, doodling, inner west living,

 communal catch ups, and excessive food and chocolate intake. i documented this in the form of photographs, as i do.

p.s the highlight of this Easter break was scoring a pair of second hand overalls during my stroll in Newtown. definitely winning this weekend! :)

swag is for boys. class is for men.

...and i could not agree more with that statement. 

there's this pilgrimage that happens twice a year in the fashion capital city of Florence, where the masses of stylish men flock to view the latest menswear collections, gadgets and gear. they call it Pitti Uomo. i have a huge appreciation for menswear, both street and formal, hence my 3:2 ratio of women's and men's clothing in my wardrobe. the craftsmanship is next to nothing when it comes to tailoring and detail with men's fashion. it's a well composed combination of structure, colour, texture, functionality, modernism and tradition. i'd easily choose to witness this trade show over a Celine parade any day. bucketlisted.

photo credits: I'M KOO, Becaria De La Moda, The Sartorialist.