CROSSROADS

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I suppose I have arrived at a crossroads, an integral point in life where it feels like some things are ending while new, albeit unknown, opportunities lie ahead in the most ambiguous of ways; not quite a quarter life crisis as such, but more of a transition period where it just feels like something has to change in order for things to propel forward. 

This blog, the Blankbird identity, started as a means for me to explore my love for, or the thought of my love for, fashion and styling. There was a thrill in being able to piece together an outfit that was personal, that was an expression of me, myself and I. That was just over two years ago now. 

I can safely say that the past two years have been possibly the most productive and self-initiated period I have experienced thus far. And as you'd have it, things change - rather, they evolve, and while I do still gasp in awe and admiration of beautifully crafted pieces of clothing and editorial images, I have come to the realisation that I no longer have a need to share only 'personal style' posts with the online world. 

It has also dawned on me that I have indeed been shaped by my environment (all that nature and nurture thing is true, guys), quite literally meaning Melbourne, and also the inspiringly innovative and creative minds I have the pleasure of meeting and working with. Simply put, this means that I now get ridiculously excited discovering new places and meeting new people who have the guts to get out there to do incredible things that they love, and do it well - be it fashion, design, food etc. The more, the merrier, really.

And so, I'm working on something new and look forward to it all coming to life very, very soon. But for now, I'll leave you with that. Stay close on Instagram. We'll be back! 

x

Winter in the City

Wearing Wish top, In Good Company pants, Zara bag

In the last few weeks my life has basically revolved around the piano, comfortable jeans + jumper combinations (I now understand the importance of (stylish) basics), ridiculously flexible mealtimes and nonsensical sleeping habits. Throw in the odd flatlay, a rare brunch visit and old episodes of Friends or HIMYM, and that's pretty much what's keeping me sane at the moment. Somewhere in there at the back corner of my head are also plans for a revamped Blankbird site.

The Wish x Honda Style Challenge is as good a reason as any for me to come out of blog hibernation even just for a second - it seems like cut-in necklines and good prints still get me. Worn with my favourite pants of the moment that are equal parts tailored and casual it got me out for an evening where we discovered the wonders of nature with a nearby street lined with vibrant red leafy trees and reminded us that we're barely days away from winter in the city!

Much love for Wish x Honda for having me x

Photos by Thomas Lo

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TRIED & TRUE

Wearing: D-ID jeans / Sportsgirl top / Zara shoes / Coach bag

Denim and white is a tried and true formula that (we are told) will never go out of style. The kind of effortless 'model off-duty' vibe that we can hope to emulate though in my opinion can easily toe the fine line between minimalist street-chic and well, boring. 

For the longest time I had developed an aversion towards jeans. It had seemed impossible to find ones that 1) fit right, 2) look good and 3) let you move around the way you actually want to move around. My comfortable solution to that was leggings and tights - until one fine day I realised that I did actually want to wear fancier pants of the real kind and fell in love with pants in various prints and colourways. The more ridiculous the print, the better. Blue, black or white jeans were still a foreign concept at the time.

But that was nearly 2 years ago now and like everything else, things change, or evolve gradually. I now find a few good pairs of 'basic' jeans in my everyday wardrobe and this pair of D-ID denim skinnies does well with the little ankle zip and knee detail. And they're soft and smooth and feel so good on. I add pops of my favourite colour to play with and hope that the result ticks all the right boxes on street-chic x

Photos by Thomas Lo

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THE FRAY

Wearing: Finders Keepers top, D-ID denim shorts, Shakuhachi sunnies, Boohoo shoes

    

Most commonly associated with wild indie festivals and DIY projects on op-shop finds, frayed denim cut-offs aren't everyone's cup of tea. The bf and mother fall into that category. I am all about effortless comfortable dressing and denim cut-offs seem to do just that for me - as long as it does decently cover your behind and isn't paired with a skimpy midriff bralet/crop top (a high-waisted midi skirt would be my top choice for that). 

Photos by Thomas Lo

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LEOPARD

It's no secret that I go gaga every time a new collection drops on The Fashion Bunker. It's news that travels from Melbourne to my girlfriends in Singapore and back. Indeed there is a certain satisfaction in scouring through new designs, feasting your eyes on new cuts, and new prints.

In all honesty a half-body of leopard does not fall into my typical dress code. It is a print that works well on a pair of loafers, pumps, or your clutch; one that has it's recurring phases in the spotlight but never, in my books anyway, as the main item of clothing that you are wearing. So it took me some time before spotting something in the depths of my (perpetual) floordrobe that I was comfortable pairing it with - in fact, I tend to favour lighter separates as an alternative to the convenient comfort of black pieces.

Wearing: Cameo top, Topshop culottes, Jeffrey Campbell shoes, Jolie & Deen necklace/bangle

Photos by Terry

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VAMFF IN A NUTSHELL

As far as Fashion Weeks go, I am most certainly far from being a well-seasoned pro - though my trip to MBFWA last year was a major eye-opener to these industry events and the ridiculous amount of attention street-style photographers paid towards the 1) high-profiled and/or 2) wacky. VAMFF in Melbourne is a slightly different scene - being a consumer event you get anyone and everyone. From the usual bloggers and photographer suspects, your high school fashionistas and budding fashion design students, to the mature and sophisticated types, indie rocker chicks and the guy who looked like he just rolled out of bed and got dressed in ladies' pants that were two sizes too small. All in all, it makes for a pretty fascinating people-watching experience. 

I'm not about to rave about each and every outfit that I saw over the few days that I was there, but these are curated snapshots of styles that I'd love to wear myself or genuinely caught my eye.

1. Sunset over Docklands

2. Top-to-toe florals, and a slouched beanie - so much perfection in this

3. Low backs over low fronts, any day.

4. Tailored harem pants, and that dusty lilac fedora. Casual chic in the colour combination of the moment. (Divine Wanderer) 

5. Mix your prints in black & white - always a winner. (Lionlion Bazaar)

6. Super feminine florals and a grin to match (The 3000 Chapter)

7. The ever so stylish Gary Pepper girl. Just a little bit smitten.

8. Models off-duty in a bit of grunge

9&10. She made her own dress and I loved it. This young lady will be one to watch! (Stephanie Alyce)

11. Sunsets and the Bolte. Nothing like the San Francisco Bay Bridge but still magical all the same.

P.S. Thank you for the 2200 followers on Instagram! Head over here - you know you wanna be part of the fun too. 

Photos by myself

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LINDY KLIM X VIKTORIA & WOODS

Much like an early morning yoga session, freshly brewed camomile tea, and light-streamed white washed bedrooms, the Lindy Klim x Viktoria & Woods collaboration, or anything V&W for that matter, beautifully embodies the purity and that clarity of mind that comes out of understated simplicity.

The 20-piece capsule collection is Lindy's first foray into fashion, and such a natural extension of V&W's existing offering. There are structured wool coats and boyfriend denim, sleek leather skirts and relaxed cotton designs - clean cuts and classic pieces that allow for versatility in an effortless kind of way. I sure am looking forward to further similar collaborations.

And as with any launch event, the vibe of the place is just about as important as the clothes themselves and this was one I truly enjoyed. A pop up coffee cart by Lovebird Cafe and FINN cold-pressed juice just about sealed the deal for me. 

Thank you bonelpr & Viktoria & Woods for having me.

Photos by myself

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SHAKUHACHI LUST LIST

The Shakuhachi Cruise Collection  was one that I absolutely lusted over at MBFWA almost a year ago now. It was an explosion of print perfection in a fresh spin on cuts that weren't entirely predictable - structured yet exceedingly feminine with bustier tops and wispy skirts, clean shifts and subtle cut-outs. Don't even get me started on the sunglasses.

It was love at first sight.

The Winter 2014 collection builds on this in similar florals except with a darker, edgier feel - a bit of street-meets-ladylike glamour - and this organza skirted piece has just shot straight to the top of my lust list. Sinful indulgence.

Wearing Shakuhachi dress and sunglasses, Tony Bianco heels, Jolie & Deen necklace

Photography by Thomas Lo

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#OWNIT

#OWNIT.

Confidence, summed up in one nifty hashtag.

Over the past week I have met and come to learn more about three creative individuals, each enthusiastic and passionate about their work, each with a vision - be it to provide the ultimate new & cool casual dining experience, to create images that gives justice to the saying 'a picture speaks a thousand words', or to explore the endless possibilities of interactive design in within our modern landscape. What inspires me and motivates me most is their curiosity and initiative to create something new, something different. 

I have also come to the realisation that despite being in a relative progressive cultural environment such as Melbourne where artistic collaborations abound and one-off cultural events are a seemingly weekly occurrence, that there are always two sides to a story. Two sides to every brilliantly conceived and executed idea. And really, you cannot afford to try to please everyone involved. 

In a similar fashion (pun clearly intended), not everyone is going to agree with exaggerated pointy-toed patents (my dear sister said they looked like chilli), transparent clutches, houndstooth prints, or  ridiculously round and reflective sunnies that came only with half a frame.

But they worked well for me so, backed up by Boohoo's latest campaign, I say, #OWNIT. 

Wearing: Boohoo Dress, Shakuhachi sunnies, Her Fashion Box clutch, Zara shoes

Photography by Thomas Lo

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Houndstooth

Every so often I pick myself (and a suitcase or two) up, jet off to the other side of the world, hop around a couple of cities, get busy discovering and rediscovering new places, and fall off the blogging bandwagon for longer than I ever intended to. Tonight I was at Boohoo's AW Collection launch (free shipping to Australia, ladies), caught up with some familiar blogger faces over platefuls of Capricciosa and Margherita, and was instantly enveloped not only by their genuine passion for fashion, but also reminded of their commitment to blogging as more than just a mere side project - which, in all honesty, commands respect and re-inspired me to get off my lazy, inarticulate backside and get things happening again.

So here I am, in a breezy houndstooth dress that worked like a charm in Singapore's humidity, and proved that a print clash with floor tiles does make for a weirdly appealing Instagram post that works as a trippy optical illusion or something. Houndstooth on the other hand was never really something I instantly considered 'appealing' - something about it seemed jarring and kind of hazardous, but hey as long as they don't come in bright neon colour ways they're pretty alright. Almost versatile even, I'd say.

Wearing: Boohoo Dress, Steve Madden Sandals, Coach bag

Photography by Thomas Lo

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