Home and Abroad

Amelia-Jane models some of her favourite garments and tells us about shopping in Tokyo, and at home in Melbourne.

Tell me about that comfy-looking dress.

It is comfy! It’s from Uniqlo, in Tokyo. I bought it on my second trip there, a few years ago. The dress is a wool/cashmere blend. I was really drawn to the shape, and the fact that it’s not fitted. I like the enormous sleeves too, cut like a kimono. Plus – it’s wool, and a dress!

Was that something you were particularly looking for?

No, but it’s hard to find knit dresses that are pure wool. They’re often acrylic.

So what else did you find shopping in Tokyo?

I didn’t have a shopping list. I was just browsing generally for anything that caught my eye. Uniqlo specialises in knits. I went crazy in that shop! Great prices on woollen knits, cashmere and mohair – unlike here in Australia. Cashmere’s the price of wool, around $80 for a jumper. I bought jumpers in wool and cashmere, and they’re both still going strong after two or three years.

I adore pompoms. Where did you find that scarf?

So do I. I bought it from DFO [Direct Factory Outlets]; I can’t remember which store. It’s cotton – natural fabrics are very important – but all the pompoms fell off one by one, and I had to sew them back on individually. But it was cheap, about $12, so no surprise they fell off. I still like it though!

Woah! That's dedication – there are a lot of pompoms on there. Those dark grey boots are a major item. Tell me about those.

I love these boots! I haven’t even worn them out yet. They’re from Cactus Jam, by D.Co Copenhagen. I did a design job for a friend, and she gave me a Cactus Jam voucher. I love grey – it will always catch my eye when I go shopping. Most of my wardrobe is grey, although I like to dress it up with colour.

I hardly ever see you wear colours! Give me one example.

I bought a colourful maxi dress from Country Road. It’s in turquoise, melon and black, and has a splotchy pattern like camouflage. … And I bought a grey dress at the same time!

And did you wear this colourful dress?

Er, no … there weren’t enough hot days this summer. I wore another dress instead.

Sounds suspiciously like an excuse to me. Where else do you like to shop?

Country Road is good for me because they stock a lot of clothes for tall people, unlike other places. But I used to like Witchery, but not lately. Gorman, and Fat (but they’re both pricey). I recently bought something from FCUK, and something else from Country Road.

I like to go off the beaten track normally, but not many shops have inspired me lately. But I have started browsing on Etsy. I’m looking for some sort of neck ornament – a necklace or scarf.

Etsy certainly is fantastic for finding unique items – failing a shopping spree in Tokyo! Thanks Amelia-Jane, looking forward to next time. 

Carrying the Flag

Today is International Women’s Day. It is ‘a global day to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future’.1

Suffragette poster from 1912It all began exactly a hundred years ago with the suffragettes. These were women who were frustrated with their status as second-class citizens; women who fought to be recognised as the social and economic equals of men – to be able to vote, to open a bank account in their own name, for the right to work and earn money.

Their methods were militant – smashing, burning, even bombing – but they were certainly determined. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are today. Imagine being told that you were too emotional and could not think as logically as men, so you should not be allowed to vote! They were, but we are not.

suffragettes wore colours to distinguish themselves:
purple for dignity, white for purity, and green for hope

Back then the suffragettes wore colours to distinguish themselves: purple for dignity, white for purity, and green for hope. Unfortunately there are still millions of women around the world who are suffering just because they are women.

So keep carrying the flag!

Suffragettes in Swindon, in South West England, 1908

1. Source: International Women’s Day website.

The Ultimate Flower

What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. This quote, by Shakespeare of course, is probably the most famous quote about roses ever written. Roses are always beautiful, although the motif may not always be in fashion. Why are they universally adored? What is their history? This I wondered as I assembled a number of rose-shaped hair accessories I have collected over the years.

Aphrodite and Adonis, by Edmund Dulac (1882-1953)The etymology of the word has its roots (pardon the pun) in antiquity, and comes ultimately from Old Persian where it simply meant ‘flower’.

An ancient symbol of immortal love and beauty, the rose is associated with the goddess Aphrodite. She was often depicted with a garland of roses adorning her head or feet, for a rose bush grew from the blood of her slain lover, Adonis. She gave a rose to her son Eros, who in turn gave it to the god of silence.

…vampires cannot cross the path of the wild rose … I can’t believe Joss Whedon didn’t write this into Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

For the ancient Romans it was a symbol of secrecy: a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where confidential matters would be discussed. Hence the term sub rosa, or ‘under the rose’, meaning to keep a secret.

In pagan mythologies, the undead and other ghostly creatures (particularly vampires) cannot cross the path of the wild rose. Placing wild roses on the coffin of the recently deceased would prevent them from rising again. I can’t believe Joss Whedon didn’t write this into Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

So when I tie back my hair with one of these rose ornaments, I will be simultaneously proclaiming immortal love, declaring my utmost discretion and keeping vampires at bay! A winner all round. And here I just thought it was pretty.

And here is ‘rosa aphrodite’ itself. It does have a beautiful shape.

What I Actually Wore #0046

Serial #: 0048

Date: 28/09/2010

Weather: a sunny morning, forecast 15°

Time Allowed: 8 minutes

It’s a cool but sunny morning and I am dressing for work at the Hume City Council in the marketing department. The outfit started with a tea rose pink top, which is new (ergo, it must be worn immediately). It’s silk, by Cue, and I found it in a charity store; it looked barely worn. It has a great 40s feel with that sailor-esque collar and bow-tie. There are so many lovely details: pleats, puff sleeves, buttons that serve no purpose …

The skirt is a very old favourite. I have always liked it for its asymmetrical cut and sculptural effect. The zip is cool too: black material with silver teeth. I like suiting fabrics when they make up totally unconventional garments. 

I like to wear clashing colours sometimes – just to flout accepted fashion rules – so the fire-engine red hat came out to play. It proved a particular favourite with my temporary work colleagues: I was given so many compliments when I arrived in the morning. One woman insisted hats did not suit her, but I maintain one simply has to find the right hat shape for your face. The lace-up three quarter boots seemed just right with this vintage-inspired outfit.

Items:

Top: Cue
Skirt: Ammo
Hat: Milano

Shoes: Joanne Mercer
Earrings: Baku
Ring: NGV giftshop
Watch: Kenneth Cole

Nina’s Colours

When I saw Black Swan about a fortnight ago, one of the things I really liked about it was the costume design, particularly the minimalist colour palette.

White, grey, black and pink were used to define the characters: Nina starts off in girlish sugar-pink and white, and by the end of the film she is wearing black and grey. Costume designer Amy Wescott explains this, “As Nina’s character unravels, her colours become darker.”

Vincent Cassel and Natalie Portman in ‘Black Swan’. Image from Life.Wintry and delicate, these colours suit the popular notion of a ballerina, and perfectly expresses the frightening transformation of the sweet white swan into the seductive and terrible black swan.

It would be a pretty palette to try out this winter, although I don’t think I could wear it exclusively (I’d get bored). Grey and white are always favourites with me; black I wear on rare occasions, but soft pink almost never. My one concession is this pink wool scarf that reminds me of cotton candy – and of the fluffy white scarf Nina wears in the film.

Read an interview with the costume designer Amy Westcott at The Ballet Bag, and check out some of her sketches at Clothes on Film.

From light to dark: ballerina, dove, smoke, noir