“Pink is for girls”

My friend male has vowed to “add pink” to his wardrobe. Check out his blog post about how this colour is just a colour – “like any other” not just for girls! This vow to wear more pink is a great comfort zone challenge for him and I can’t wait to see what he buys…..

Man vs. Pink's avatarMan vs. Pink

Pretty in pink Pink is a girls colour. Why do people think it shouldn’t be? Girls love to dress in pink, to play with pink toys, to have pink rooms filled with pink things – it’s just a fact that pink is for girls. They still have plenty of choices – just as long as it’s in pink.

While it’s unlikely that girls do indeed have a predilection for pink, the marketing-industrial complex is very clear: “Pink is for girls”, and they keep churning out their wares targeted at them.

It’s all too easy to have or buy our girls ‘plenty’ of pink things. The big problem is one of smallness – the focus of what these things are remains relatively narrow, and this is potentially limiting our girls imaginations, opportunities, and ambitions. It’s for us as parents, and our children themselves, to set any parameters – not those trying to sell us things.

I completely buy into this…

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Westfield Style Week – The Style Workshop

If you were not one of the lucky VIPs who attened the final event of Westfield Style Week – The Style Workshop, this video give you a taster of the fun we had. Marc from the Hits & I gave away awesome prizes plus I presented the looks of the season and workshopped them with the audience looking at Heritage, 90’s, menswear and accessories. It was a fantastic night and judging by the crush of people wanting a closer look at some of the items after the show, everyone was inspired!
Enjoy!

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Handmade 2014

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It is only three short weeks away until Wellingtonians and visitors get the chance to play, learn, listen, create and be inspired by a weekend of exciting events: Handmade.

This is my second year of being involved with this incredible event and I had such a blast presenting last year that I am even more excited about taking part this year with my Masterclass: Up-cycling 101.

What better way get a taste of what my Up-cycle 101 class is about than to hear from some people who were there last year. I received these emails from a members of the audience after last years show and they just made my heart sing!

Hi Sally-Ann Just wanted to tell you “thank-you” for the great Masterclass talk you gave at Handmade last weekend. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you. You were very entertaining and made me reassess some things. In particular – having fun and not caring about what others might think, and lastly – “Perfection is getting something done.” Much better way to view perfection! So thank you very much for a great two hours. And if I’m ever looking for someone to go through my wardrobe or take me shopping (your Vintage shopping trip sounds intriguing), you’ll be the one I contact. Many thanks, Marilyn”

“Dear Sally-Ann, I am a Scot, and although proud of this; was often ‘worried’ about the clothes I wore whilst living in New Zealand, whilst living here for a few years about 10 yrs ago. ( not helped by my beloved late mother in law when perusing my trench coat ‘ We don’t wear that sort of thing in New Zealand dear’……! Returning to NZ with my husband again, I was delighted to be able to attend your seminar at Te Papa today. Firstly, I thank you for all the energy and excitement that you incited in me today; not to mention admiration at how you managed to deliver a 2 hour session without apparent notes. That is not easy! Your session made me aware that despite a low self esteem, I can maybe just agree to accept my own ‘style’ ( conservative, with attempts at style!” which has been virtually the same for 30 yrs. Having said this, I DO keep an eye on what is in fashion, and ‘take’ things into my wardrobe, if I feel I can do so. I try not to be ‘open’ to new aspects, and it was encouraging to see from your session that actually some of the things I do are fine. To be honest, a lot of Brits have not often been very complimentary about NZ fashion. To me, from my previous time here, there has been a huge gap between ‘bottom end’ fashion, and ‘high end’ fashion; which is super. The gap in-between I would say previously was often very wide. It is good to see though that this seems to now have been filled, with the advent of the new shopping centres ( much needed in my humble opinion!) such as the Westfield. I have often thought that NZ is SO far ahead in so many ways, but it has taken a while on the ‘general public’ shoppers field. Hope that doesn’t sound too rude! Meanwhile, I would like you to know that you have encouraged me not to worry about what people think about my own style…. Thanking you again, Susan”

 

Thank you both for your lovely words of encouragement.

I look forward to inspiring a whole new class of Handmade enthusiasts.

See you all soon,

xS

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Westfield Style Week – The VIP Launch.

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It has happened – the VIP launch of Westfield Queensgate Style Week.

I was not expecting the crush of eager faces in the crowd. I think every single VIP that we invited must have come along with a friend. WOW! Excitement overload.

The night was a taster of the events to come. A chance for MC Cam from The Hits to talk about each of the events happening over the next seven days and for me to showcase the two major looks that Westfield will be presenting throughout the week at each fashion event. Plus we announced to the crowd a wonderful charity and community minded initiative from Westfield Queesngate: VIPs are encouraged to bring in an old piece of ‘suitable for work wear’ clothing to donate to the charity Dress for Success. The first 200 people to do this would receive a $10.00 Westfield Voucher. How is that for ‘feel-good’ giving? I bought in an old (but still fabulous) Max charcoal grey waistcoat and took it to the Customer Service centre after the show. (I didn’t take my $10.00 voucher – I was just excited to know that I was helping someone into a new job).

It was an exciting night for Cam & I and for the team behind the scenes as this is the very first Westfield Style week in the country, not only have Westfield taken the mystery and the guess work out of fashion and made it easy (#Heritage is trending) (#90’s is trending) but now they have created a week of events to pick and choose from to learn how to make these looks work.

 

Across the week I’ll be hosting in store styling events in 5 stores (a chance to receive one on one styling with me in your favourite store) , two Style Tours (an intimate look at how we shop, how to shop better, what the trends are and how and where to find them easily), a Mummy Morning – (a relaxed event where Mums can bring their babies and kids along to a 30 minute style presentation tailored for busy mums on the go) and culminating in the big event: the Style Workshop on Thursday night. The massive show with goodie bags, bubbles, music, fun, fashion, games and prizes!

 

I have been in my lair pulling together all the looks to show to you at each of these events and wondering what on earth I am going to wear to each event. Hmmm. I need a stylist! I think I know one….

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Accessory du jour.

This leather and gemstone ring gives my purple silk Zambesi dress a bit of zing.

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Westfield Style Week.

Tomorrow marks the very first Westfield Queensgate Style Week! I have been working alongside the W.Queensgate team for many many years now and this event has grown and evolved from very simple beginnings.
I have spent the last three days working behind the scenes styling the winter looks so that the five events I am hosting go off without a hitch.
I have spent hours scouring the entire centre hunting down the best representations of each look. Sourcing accessories, shoes, coats, male looks, female looks, absolutely anything & everything that will work well on stage and set the scene for the looks we want to present in the coming days. Our gorgeous models had their fittings today and tomorrow everything goes live. Along with a very special announcement. Stay tuned for that.

Wether it be through the VIP launch tomorrow night, the instore styling events, the shopping tours, the Mummy Morning or the Style Workshop, I look forward to presenting the best winter trends to you and sharing some stylish tips and tricks along the way! See you at Westfield Queensgste soon!

Until then here are some behind the scenes snaps to whet your appetite:

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Accessory du jour.

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Skull ring Louvisa black gun tote Wild Pair.

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Shopping for kids.

Today I was walking along Willis Street in Downtown Wellington when I spied this sign advertising kids for sale.
I don’t want any myself but I know a few friends who might be keen to buy one or two:

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Just in time for Mothers Day in May too. Perfect.

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Accessory Du Jour.

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I have just enjoyed a restful holiday in the Marlborough Sounds. While there we did a day trip to Nelson where I couldn’t resist a visit to my fave cheap&chic accessory store: Louvisa where I found this hilarious and beautiful black rubber necklace.

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Catwalk heroes.

It’s all about the clothes on the catwalk at iD Dunedin Fashion Week so I decided to train my lens on the oft overlooked heroes of the catwalk: the shoes. They take a beating, especially when they are at the mercy of a 120 meter long catwalk – a catwalk that they have to walk up and back numerous times.

According to the catwalk at Dunedin brogues, chucks, Louboutins, wedges, flats and heels are all part of winters essential footwear fads. Notice the lack of co-ordination. Mix don’t match! It is fun to clash.
I take all that I saw on the catwalk as ‘anything goes’ for the foreseeable future. Awesome!

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