WTF DIY

THIS DIY pretty much had me yelling WTF through the whole process,  but even more at the end result! I'm obsessed with honestlywtf.com, and could litterally stalk the blog for days upon dayzzzz. But this particular little project needed to be documented. I am not a very patient person, so it is a rare occasion when I actually follow through and finish a project that requires "a bit of dexterity" along with three one-yard strands of twine and 18 hex nuts (silver, gold, or even some neon yellow spray painted ones...hmmm.) I'm kinda proud, and you must try it out! xoxo

Pastel and stripes

Centralia may be small but it's various historical homes are not! This little beauty behind some of the shots has to be my favorite. It's actually one of the many homes to interior designer Ted Tuttle who graduated from my high school. Check out the interior here.


I've been waiting to get a couple shots in this pastel stripped vintage button up I've had for over a year now. I styled it with a Nasty Gal sweater, J brands, Sam Edelmans, MK watch, super cheap rings I dug out of a thrift store downtown, and my moms old Coach bag.


Today was a very busy/productive day. After a full day of class and errands, I had the pleasure of sitting down for some coffee with Jammie Chasteen of faithfullyfabulous. She gave me some great great advice about the blogging/fashion world. It's so unbelievably nice to sit and chat with someone who you share so many of the same interests with (hard to find around here). She is such a sweet person, and I'm so glad to have met her!

Elliot Ward-Fear AW 2012 'Flame' collection - shot by Thom Kerr and starring Liv O'Driscoll

Drawing inspiration from "ancient Chinese warriors, medieval battle armour and 1970's science-fiction heroines", Elliot Ward-Fear's AW 2012 collection, aptly entitled 'Flame' supports the belief of many that Ward-fear is a fashion superstar in the making. The collection is comprised of one-off, made to order separates and features luxurious fabrications including Japanese fabric paper, gold lame, double-knot ponte, moleskin and a brushed suiting-grade wool/cashmere blend. One of the designer's signature notions with each range is the development of a character that Ward-Fear feels embodies the spirit of each collection's aesthetic. 'Flames' protagonist is an ancient warrior Princess, brought to life in this space-age rendition by NZ model Liv O'Driscoll (at Chadwick/Red 11/MHI) and shot by Sydney-based Black photographer Thom Kerr. Stylist Cassandra Scott-Finn who collaborated with Kerr on the fabulous God In An Alcove shoot in the latest issue of Black styles up a storm, turning O'Driscoll into a "futuristic battle-ready bombshell" with make-up by Becca Gilmartin and hair by Lauren McCowan. Assistants on the shoot were Anastasia Spathis and Brian Le. From cut-out mini-dresses, cropped lace-up tops and jackets to high-waisted pants or embellished arm and leg guards, Ward-Fear displays his own unique vision of a fashion future, right now.

Sh*t "fash hoes" say

THis is all sorts of HILARIOUS.. ha ha. Happy monday :)

Do You... Tattoo?

Once Tiny asked to see Matt's 'tutus'. It took a moment for him to realise she was wanting to see his tattoos.

I've flirted with the idea of getting a tattoo. But only momentarily. I think I'd get sick of it, and I just don't think it's for me. And basically, I am just a big scaredy cat.

But I like tattoos on other people. Well - content and placement dependent.

And then there's Tiny - who gets felt tip pens and scrawls tattoos all over her body, then rocks up to pre-school - hey guys she's done her own ink. She doesn't need to wait until she's 18. She's forging paths for other only just turned four year olds to make their mark.

I've seen this floating about on Facebook. It's kind of funny - and true, non?

Do you have a tattoo? If so, what is it of?

Rose Byrne - Michelle Williams: Perennial Favourites

Seen here at the Screen Actors Guild awards, Rose Byrne - well she just makes me smile. I love this embellished Elie Saab jumpsuit on her - and her Cleopatra style bob. Super sharp.

Who else would like to bottle that style?

It's well documented how much I love Michelle Williams. Well, well documented. I love her. In a non-stalkerish way. She is one hot damn stylish mama. Just look at her here in a signature red Valentino gown. This is understated elegance personified. Love her.


images via Fab Sugar

Censoring Music

More and more I'm finding that I am needing to censor music from my children's young ears.

It's not like I'm listening to NWA or any heavy-handed lyrics. I'm talking everyday music that I once took for granted. Lily Allen. Gotye. Black Eyed Peas. I could go on, but I can't think of anyone else right now.

Apparently everyone's dropping the f-bomb in their lyrical miracles, and it's become au fait.

You're talking to PottyMouthMama here. I tried to delete swearing from my vocab the moment I birthed my first babe.

I'm not just playing Justine Clarke CDs over and over again, but help a girl out - what's your tactic when artists are getting their swear on? I'm not some little prude sitting in the corner. Surely I am not alone.

I want my kids to remain kids for as long as possible. To preserve that innocence for as many years as possible.

I remember vividly playing records on my Uncle Silas' record player, discovering the Beatles, Tiny Tim and many others as I worked my way through my parent's collection.

I remember puzzling over lyrics and wondering what they meant - and imagining my own innocent meaning - but I don't remember them cussing on the mike. Ever.

Now piles of CDs are relegated to times when I am alone, in the car, or if the smalls have gone out. Clearly, my music collection is somewhat refined when in their company - but their innocence is worth more to me than listening to a song. Can you dig?

URGENT DONOR CALL OUT: Breastfeeding Melbourne Mamas

I have removed this post as the family has now been inundated with milk donations and now has a waiting list. Thanks everyone.

Via Naturally Better Kids

Are there any breastfeeding Mamas in Melbourne, Australia who could be part of a milk tree?

BLACKLOG EDITORIAL #21: Gianluca Santoro shoots Robyn Lawley

Top and choker by Emporio Armani, corset and heels by House of Priscilla, ring by Gucci

Robyn Lawley has graced the pages of Vogue Italia, French Elle and many other magazines in recent times. She is larger in 'size' than your average fashion model but this really means very little as, quite simply, she is hot and we love her. Photography by Gianluca Santoro and fashion by Tiana Wallace @ Viviens Creative, make-up by Natasha Severino @ Company 1 for YSL Beaute, hair by NZ's own Richard Kavanagh @ DLM for Redken NYC, assistant: Eric Altomare, all in a truly 'Black' style. Look out for an interview with Robyn in issue #16 of Black...

Left: Vintage dress from The Vintage Clothing Store, briefs by Nearly Nude,
bra by Pleasure State, harness by Scanlan and Theodore, boots by Friend of Mine

Jumpsuit by Alice McCall, heels by Prada, choker and belt by Shakuhachi

Left: Bodysuit by Prada, gloves by Gucci
Right: Bra and briefs and rope necklace by Calvin Klein,
heels by House of Priscilla

Left: Fur coat from Grandma Takes A Trip, heels by Prada
Right: Bra by Pleasure State, dress by Alex Perry, vintage coat by Azzedine Alaiam
harness by Scanlan and Theodore

Naked? In Front Of Your Kids? *GASP*

A couple of years ago I heard of a couple who never got naked in front of their kids. This isn't an urban legend. The children had never seen their dad naked, and according to the parents - they weren't ever going to either.

I was a little shocked  because - well nudity is a feature in our house. We're not nude all of the time, but we're not not nude all of the time.

But what I found most shocking was the organisation that this would entail.

I re-enacted it in my head. I would have to take all my clothes to the bathroom when I showered. I would have to close doors. I don't usually close doors. But above all, I wouldn't be able to stand at my wardrobe, in a definite state of undress, deciding what to wear for the day. This startled me. I usually walk around the house in the morning in various states of dress before finally getting my stuff together and getting it on. I thought about how small our house (smaller than a shoebox) and how difficult life would be if they never saw me naked.

I think it's good to be nude in front of my kids!

And this is part of the naked upside down breastfeeder talk. People, generally men, didn't like the idea that she was nude! And she was breastfeeding.

But for me, being nude is good. It's a positive! Being nude shows children real bodies. Bumps, lumps, hips and dips. Everything. I have thought about all those perfect images of women and men being presented perfectly in the media - airbrushed, over-styled, and after sitting in a make-up chair for a couple of hours. 

While my body isn't perfect it is pretty awesome. It's grown babies. It's birthed babies. It's fed babies. It can run up and down stairs. It does so much cool stuff. And my brain drives it. Pretty rad when you think about it.


image of Chilli Peppers via

More on Breastfeeding.

I'm pretty excited to be on JustB today talking a bit more about that photo - and my experience of breastfeeding.

Come join the conversation.

This beautiful image is from Vogue Italia. Love.

Georgia's Not So Little Secret

New Zealand model followers will probably know by now that Kiwi model Georgia Fowler, recently signed to N Model Management here in Aotearoa, has shot for Victoria's Secret. This is no small feat given the particular, almost obsessive nature of the VS casting process. "Picture perfect' girls are required so congrats must go to the 19 year-old NZ beauty for making the grade, bigger things await...

Squishy. Soft. Supple. Boobies

I posted this video a few years ago, but I'm bringing it back. It's one of my favourites to watch over and over.  

Well. That Was Ugly.

Well last night took a very different turn, and I can say with every inch of truth in my bones, I innocently posted that image - and overnight it caused a freaking riot on my Facebook page.

Let's recap:



- someone threatened to report me to the AFP for posting an image of a woman breastfeeding


- I got told I was a hippy feminist AND that I am a paedophile


- apparently my friends have low intelleck (sic)


- I was told I was a coward and a communist

- I got told I was Hitler


-  And I am the one who got a very firm rap over the knuckles from FB for posting the shot of the woman breastfeeding

Did I threaten anyone? Harass anyone? Bully anyone? No. I just stuck a photo that I loved on Facebook and the troll patrol came out in force.

Well screw them.
I stand my ground. Breastfeeding is natural and awesome and beautiful and brilliant - if you can do it.
 
Breasts. Made for Milk.
 
PS - image by Picasso - of a woman *gasp* breastfeeding

Let's Discuss: Breastfeeding

image source: Daughter of the Sun

I posted this photo on my Facebook page tonight. And it created much debate. And then it got deleted.

I am only hazarding a guess that someone found it offensive, flagged it, and Zuckerberg pulled it down. Ripped it straight off my PMM wall - blu tac and all, took all the comments and *POOF* it's gone.

It might not be everyone's style of breastfeeding, but I think it's pretty rad. If I could headstand, starkers, I'd be doing it in a flash.

Bon appetit baby. Bon appetit.

Pop that collar

   ~DIY by Refinery29.com~

 ~Collars Via-Pinterest~

 ~Adorable beagle with collar via Instagram @Polychava~

~Collars Via-Pinterest/Oh-fancythat.com~

I see a new DIY in the future! I'm obsessed with collars. Ladies all over have been rocking the collar up and down this year. Can't wait to rock em'.

Does Your Man Hate Shopping?

Well I have just done you a huge favour. Looky looky what I found for you. US designer Thom Browne's new Autumn-Winter show in Paris. If your man's not inspired by this collection, I don't know what will inspire him.

Want more shopping inspiration? Click here.

Topshop Spring/Summer 2012 Campaign

A definite king in the retail department, Topshop share their Spring/Summer 2012 campaign images with us photographed by Josh Olins.

This season sees Topshop play with ideas such as "surf luxe" mixing acid brights with pastel shades, "Aztec and Native-American", "festival stylings" of rock and roll inspired lace inserts and "blanket-wear", and "south pacific" a highbred of contrasting kaleidoscopic baroque borders, animal prints and high octane hibiscus florals which are all brought together by stylist Kate Phelan (ex-British Vogue Fashion Director). Models Magdalena Laguinge, who we are a little nuts over here at Black, and Nadine Ponce beautifully embody that aspirational, youthful spirit and powerful energy that is Topshop. Go get some!

ANNIE

My fab cousin and I had a little time on our hands and went out to take a couple shots. Annie is the most stylsih girl I know,my blood and luckily the only person I know who shares the same tired and true "passion for fashion" as I do. Expect to hear and see a lot of her, and hopefully a collaboration in the near future! 
Annie is the ultimate thrifter, and almost everything she is wearing had either been thrifted or found at a vintage store. She's got an amazing eye for it and she's always bringing home the coolest things.I'm very envious. 
Our little town is full of vintage stores and  buildings this could be our only advantage. They're everywhere and the exteriors of the shops are so fun to photograph. The sun finally made it's long overdue appearance, and so did my camera. We sure needed it after our week long snow storm. Enjoy these pics!!
P.S: check out her blog HERE