Eleventh Hour Resolutions

QUICK! You (if you live in Australia) have about six hours left to complete your 2015 resolutions! I am piling on the scarves today (despite the blistering 39°C heat) in an effort to scrape a passing mark.

I have tallied up my own score for your edification:

Resolution #1: Do Not Get Sunburned
Score: A-
Remarks: Was ‘sunkissed’ only a couple of times; no irreparable damage

Resolution #2: Wear Scarves More Often
Score: D+
Remarks: Average grade was brought up only because of winter layering; last-ditch attempt to raise score utterly ridiculous

Resolution #3: Keeping On Top of Ironing
Score: B+
Remarks: Basket perpetually full; no sooner one lot was done, clean laundry refilled it only to languish for a week or two before being attended to; however, it was getting done despite slowness

Resolution #4: Keeping Up with Mending
Score: B-
Remarks: Pretty good but more consistency required; final grade achieved by skin of teeth: last batch completed on penultimate day of year

Well, apart from the scarves I did not do too badly. How did you go with your own promises?

All of these resolutions are still keepers, and I am busy rustling up new ones too, just to keep me on my sartorial toes.

I hope you have had a great year, and here’s to a fabulous last night celebrating!

Photo: Today

Box Clever

Ever since I collected these vintage leather lace-up gloves from my old club one clean-up day, I have wanted to do a boxing story especially for Boxing Day. Originally I wanted to wear the gloves, but was never quick enough to organise a friend to come press the shutter for me (as I obviously could not operate a camera shutter remote wearing gloves). Finally I decided to go ahead anyway, as I love the way the laces allow the gloves to hang around the neck – a classic look not possible with modern gloves that fasten with Velcro.

Hattie Stewart, from the Bronx, New York (image from Pinterest)Researching women’s vintage boxing attire was extremely entertaining as of course with the Victorian mania for keeping women as covered up as much as possible during sporting activities, this meant donning all sorts of paraphernalia, such as silk sashes around the waist, ribbons in the hair, and pretty frilled socks and shoes. The image of Hattie Stewart from the Bronx, New York was my main inspiration for my outfit – it was the ribbons and the multi-coloured sash that sold me on it.

The only vintage items I am sporting are the gloves themselves, the silk ribbon in my hair, and a silk kimono I bought in an antique store in Vietnam years ago. I had to make do with a Gap tank and Adidas shorts, and leather fold-up ballet flats by Yosi Samra (super soft and comfortable, by the way). I laugh every time I see the lace socks paired with running shorts!

The Bennett Sisters, c1910–15

I haven’t done any boxing classes for a year or two – martial arts having given way to fine arts – but I still do a bit of shadow-boxing as part of my warm-up when I go running. Doing this shoot reminded me how much I miss sparring, although if I do take it up again in the New Year, I think I will be wearing more practical garments!

Photos: A few days ago

Clara Bow in Rough House Rosie, 1927Women boxing in heels in the 1920s (click through for more images of women boxing)Fraulein Kussin and Mrs Edwards fought on 7 March, 1912

Don’t Mess With Me

Don’t mess with me on Boxing Day. I mean business. I have fists and I know how to make fisticuffs. I AM READY TO DO BATTLE.

Oh … what? It’s not that kind of boxing day? Boo. Hiss.

Traditionally, Boxing Day was when the feudal lords gave out gifts, known as a Christmas Box, to their peasants, and also leftovers from Christmas Day feasting. I am afraid I am eating all my leftovers myself, and I don’t have any peasants anyway.

As for that other revered tradition, attending the Boxing Day sales – I have eschewed them this year. The crowds and the rampant commercialism are more wont to make me break out with a quick one-two to get people out of my way! I am spending a relaxed day at home perusing presents given me yesterday (a lovely vintage 1930s book, and a great art book), watching films, and eating the aforementioned cakes. I really ought to fit in a workout to work off all those extra desserts …

Photo: Today

Elves: Global Edition

We all know Santa has elves who help him in his enormous task of procuring gifts for the children of the world, and the even more monumental task of distributing them on Christmas day. This Christmas Day I will be discussing these little-known facts about Santa’s Little Helpers:
1) he has elves in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and
2) the varying climate necessitates quite different uniforms for each.

Red and white are the favourite colours of the elves, although many favour either green and red, or green and white. (Very few wear red, green and white.)

In the Southern Hemisphere, where it is hot at Christmastime, female elves of necessity wear thin, light garments, usually sleeveless tops and short skirts. Male elves commonly wear white linen shorts, cuffed at the hem. Both sexes wear hats or hairnets (hats, such as this red beret, are far more popular) to keep hair out of heavy machinery in the toy workshops.

Their Northern cousins must dress for warmth, naturally, and favour wool, velvet, and, more recently, polar fleece and puffer jackets. This Northern elven female costume consists of a striped velvet coat, pleated skirt, white leather boots and red velvet cap. Traditionally-minded male elves still wear their white velvet breeches, although the more avant-garde are favouring waterproof ski gear.

So there you have it! I do hope the elves have done their work properly and delivered the right presents to the correct recipients. (That is the main cause of so many disgruntled giftees going to the shops on Boxing Day to make exchanges. I assure you, Mr Claus is working tirelessly to fix this vexing problem.)

I hope you have had a very merry Christmas, dear Snapettes!

Photo: Yesterday

The Naughty v Nice List

So! It’s that time of year again. Santa is busy finalising his most important document for the year: the Naughty v. Nice List. Which side of the ledger do you fall upon?

I am an angel, as always, but sometimes it is fun to dabble on the dark side – in the form of this black sequin minidress, tied with a satin bow between the shoulder blades. Or maybe light is right after all, so long as it comes with a twist? Either way, dresses with cut-outs on the back should not be worn with bra straps showing – that is very naughty indeed.

Yesterday I got my hair cut too, just in time for Christmas. Although my hair had barely reached my chin, it was driving me insane, on my neck in this hot weather we’re having at the moment in Melbourne.

While you finish up your last tasks to impress Santa with before the Big Day tomorrow, don’t forget to leave out the milk and cookies – he’ll be watching.

One more sleep! Enjoy your Christmas Eve.

Photo: Today