Something older today; PJ Harvey’s very first single! Dress is quite a raw little song, compared to the gentle swoosh of her 2007 single When Under Ether from White Chalk. The video is charmingly low-fi – and there are lots of furbelows on that dress!

Also, Polly live on The Late Show in 1992…

I always like to see where the people who inspire me have come from – and to I guess that’s why I have spent hours studying pictures of young Sofia Coppola and Neil Young. Looking for something in their eyes I suppose… Something I can bottle for myself.

❤❤❤

• Sarah Lanarch is the clever cookie behind all the Ladyhawke illustrations we love so much. Obviously her other work is ace as well – how freaking genius is Mt Moggmore? According to her Myspace page she likes heavy matching, painting dirty pictures, boobs and .5mm HB pacer pencils. Yeah, me too.

• Cool little article on how to Learn and Practice Languages Using Social Media. Technology is our friend!

• A Not To Do list. I am guilty of many of these!

• Cute ‘vintage’ fashion editorial featuring cats, pastel coloured hair and Miles Alridge.

• I need to take better notes. For example, how did I click-click-click my way to this blog? Our City Lights is sweet and refreshing… the homemade lemonade of the internet?

• A NYTimes article about Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower. This Tokyo icon’s fate is up in the air… I hope someone saves it.

• A short interview with Charlotte Ryan from bfm. Charlotte hosts my number one favourite radio show -  naturally she has excellent taste in music and it’s always such a pleasure to tune in.

Gorgeous tights packaging from our favourite Swedes H&M. Helvetica Neue is often seen a a cop-out by some designers but in the right dose it works. Add some clean, to the point photography and you get something beautiful:

Why don’t more brands bring beautiful design to their commodity items?

I was shopping in the cute Auckland suburb of Kinglsand last weekend; spending some time browsing at a nice store called Dressing Dolls. It has a lot of ‘ball season’ and cocktail type dresses but there were some standout, wearable pieces too.I picked up a few frocks to try, and funnily enough, they were all from the same label – Celine Rita.

When I got home I turned to our old pal Google and this is what I dug up:

“The Celine Rita label was launched by Celine Chapman in Auckland, New Zealand in 2008, shortly after Celine completed her Bachelor of Art and Design majoring in Fashion Design at Auckland’s AUT University.”

Her latest collection (which I was coveting in store) is called Beautiful Little Fools – which is what y’all will turn into after taking a peep. Here’s my 4 favourite looks:

Left: Hannah Frock (pink). Off the shoulder for the win!

Right: Steph Dress (stripe). I like the quirky details of the pattern and the loud 80’s colours.

Left: Nic Hoodie Dres. I want this dress. A dress with a hood is all of my dreams coming true. I envision wearing this dress clubbing in winter, then to a nice wholesome family gathering by a fire.

Right: Natalie Dress (black). A sassy little number perfect for work, then drinks. Perhaps I would look more writerly wearing it?

As you’d hope, all Celine Rita garments are designed and made with love in New Zealand. Yay! I really look forward to investing in some pieces (they are very affordable) and seeing what’s next for the label.

You know I’m falling over these Issey Miyake Pleats Please sushi ads:

I think the images (and the word mark) all speak for themselves – simple and well executed. Creative by Taku Satoh Design Office.

I had a very thrifty weekend, but I did a hell of a lot! It was inspiration to write about 10 more cheap thrills. See this post for 30 other fun things to do for less.

The focus is on things you can do that don’t involve spending a lot of money – to relax, entertain or simply change tack away from the couch:

1. Visit your local gourmet food market. My favourite Auckland spot is the Parnell Farmers Market – places like these often have samples galore. Learn a little bit, taste a little bit and have a chat with vendors! I usually head straight to the fromagerie.

2. Meet a friend for coffee. Or don’t. Develop a love of herbal tea – it saves you money and buys you time! At most cafes (for the price of a latte) you’ll get you get an entire pot of tea, giving you longer to loiter, chat, work on your screenplay. My little red pot of raspberry and peach tea cost $3.00!

3. Cook something laborious from scratch. It doesn’t have to be expensive – just time consuming! Think vegetable risotto with homemade bread. Invite friends around and add a bottle of wine for an instant dinner party.

4. Find a cheap nail salon and get an outrageous manicure. Orange and aqua with diamantes. Leopard print. Cute fruits? I particularly love the elaborate drying process and reading trashy mags while my nails harden. Another option is to grab one of your girlfriends and do it yourself.

5. Find an addictive computer game and clock that mother. I favour Roller Coaster Tycoon and other old school games I wanted to dominate as a kid.

6. Go for a run. It’s free, you get fit and some fresh air. Win win.

7. Host a couchsurfer. Do a weary traveller a favour by offering them a couch, and in exchange you’ll enjoy scintillating conversation, a taste of a new culture and perhaps make a new friend! Do give it a go, you weren’t sitting on that couch anyway.

8. Make a pinhole camera!

9. Structured photo missions - shoot yellow hues only, snap pictures of things starting with A, circles, whatever. Choose something and stick to it. This is one of my favourite time wasting activities – it’ll make you look at the world with fresh eyes!

10. Play pool. Hanging out at a pool hall for a few hours won’t cost much at all… improve your skills, drink, talk a load of crap with your friends or just soak up the atmosphere. The mustier the hall, the better!

What do you do to entertain yourself that’s affordable, and rad? I’d love to know!

This is my latest greatest bag! A sparkling black sequin tote. I bought in Yangshuo, China, mostly thanks to the deadly haggling skills of my Irish shopping companions. I’m totally in love with it – despite how hard it is to photograph. It’s a disco hobo sack!

What’s in my bag? To my surprise, not that much – and it’s all orderly! The only thing missing from the picture is a well thumbed copy of Anne Lamott’s Bird By Bird – my current squeeze read.

Clockwise from top left:

1. Moleskine year by day diary. My life is crammed in there!
2. Writing instruments.
3. Beauty supplies -  Lush Jasmine temple balm, Loreal lip gloss, Palmer’s Lip butter, Mac Plush Lash mascara, Copper Eyeshadow from the Body Shop.
4. Purse, also from Yangshuo.
5. Functional cellphone. I’m not allowed fancy phones until I can stop leaving them under pillows at backpackers and dropping them in glasses of water etc.
6. New 50mm lens.
7. Moo Flickr cards that I use as business cards.
8. Earplugs, in case I ever get stuck in a club or bar with amplification aimed at destroying my hearing. Sadly after a Flying Lotus show earlier this year without plugs it might not be the same again.
9. My watch – a 25 year old fake citizen watch from Hong Kong via my dad. I need a new battery for it.
10. Violet lighter, in case of fire emergencies. People are ALWAYS going to ask you for a light.
11. Asthma inhaler, in case of lung failure.
12. 4GB  USB stick – essential documents, songs, etc.

What’s in your purse, satchel or manbag?

Thinking I might post a few of the cool tees that I snap here and there. Stories too, if there is one.

Jess’ Osaka Castle tee was purchased by my friends Jerm & Jules in Japan, a souvenir of their adventures through Asia. Apparently they had bought a ‘cooler’ shirt earlier, but as is the life of backpackers, one of them ran out of clean shirts and pilfered from the stash of gifts. This one is still very nice! It reminds me of cyanotypes and classic pottery.

If you have a graphically devastating or favourite t-shirt you’d like to show off, email me!

]]> http://www.codeforsomething.com/2009/07/get-shirty/feed/ 0 http://www.codeforsomething.com/2009/07/lacoste-stealth-sneakers/ http://www.codeforsomething.com/2009/07/lacoste-stealth-sneakers/#comments Sun, 05 Jul 2009 11:22:36 +0000 Amber http://www.codeforsomething.com/?p=6941

I went sneaker shopping with my dear friend Nikhil today. He needed a little bit of style advice and I gladly obliged him, in exchange for good conversation and tea. Oh and vicarious consumerism… I LOVE it when other people buy stuff I want.

After hitting up local stores Area 51, Loaded and Made, we found the perfect pair – Lacoste’s kooky version of the boat shoe! Technically they’re called the Lacoste Cabestan Cup LA 1 Black/Grey and hail from Lacoste’s more experimental Stealth collection. They have thick vulcanized soles, cute detailing and popping colours – perfect for the boy running about town.

I think Nikhil made an excellent choice – the grey is flattering and lace detailing is very sharp. (The packaging is nice too). If grey doesn’t happen to float your boat, you can also buy the Cabestans in pink/black or yellow/white:

I think all 3 colourways are pretty tight – but if you’re feeling adventurous the pink ones would look AMAZING in summer with shorts. Ahoy sailor! Nice one Lacoste.

A unicorn mask found on Etsy. I can’t decide… I seek your opinion.