i want to ride my bicycle.

I saw a rather stylish looking girl on a bike in newmarket last week, meandering through the shoppers. She was even equipped with a horn and cane basket. Felt like a 'thesartorialist' kinda moment, wished I'd had my SLR handy (oh wait I dont have one!). It's making me excited about getting back on the bikes again at the bach with the girls, think 'My Girl' slash 'Now and Then' movies (except we aren't children?)

cool dudes.

It's not often I post about boys clothes, however I just couldn't go past the lookbook for Stolen Girlfriends Club spring range 'Weapons of mass seduction'. What a casual looking duo. A mix of american prep in knit sweaters, bad ass in blazers, right through to chilled out in basketball gear. Killer hair too. (Kinda annoys me that clock never changes time though?) Anywho wouldn't mind that white knit + star patterned jeans combo for myself.

rita.

Rita Angus' exhibition Life & Vision opens tomorrow, 1st August at the Auckland Art Gallery and runs till 1 November. Entry is free, choice! This can't be missed, ol' rita has become a bit of a kiwi icon. I mean the women has painted more self-portraits than I've had cooked dinners (well that may be an exaggeration, but she's done a fair few). I'm looking forward to seeing her impressive collection up close.

Images: 1 Self-portrait 1936-37, 2 Leo Bensemann 1938, 3 Fay and Jane Birkinshaw 1938.

colourless.

A collection of some nice photoshoots in black and white with a little bit of brown.

Images: 1, 2 & 3 'Heroines issue' Numero magazine, 4 'Forever Young' V magazine, 5 'Coco Dancer' Vogue Paris.

pen to paper.

Thanks Kendyl for this beaut, The Blake Wright blog sure does make you chuckle.

gone all gooey.

Came across this shoot 'Darling Hotel' for iO Donna magazine (which I've never seen before?) thanks to the always handy Fashion Gone Rogue blog. Such dreamy looking photographs. I've seen this road trip/motel type narrative done many a time, but nothing quite like this. It has an awkward, kind of bored feel about it, in a good way. Nice minimal styling, with pared back colours, leaving you feeling just a little bit gooey inside.

librarian chic.

pretty flash.

I seem to be on a bit of an art buzz at the moment. 'Flash' is a current exhibition by Andrew Barns-Graham on at Sanderson Contemporary Art Gallery. His work deals with the ideals and desires promoted by Western society’s obsession with the cult of celebrity - beauty, glamour, perfect bodies and the latest fashion. Yip those are some pretty smokin gals with flawless skin, which is the appeal of the art right? So does that mean he agree's with those ideals? Anywho lets not get into that and keep it light-hearted aye... I adore that sun-dress in the below painting.

(The portraits have rather a Peter Stichbury look about them right?)

booked in.

My plan for this upcoming week is to read 'The Catcher in the Rye' the classic novel by J.D Salinger, I have had it recommended so many darn times and frankly feel a little embarrassed I havn't read it already. But that's all about to change. (I probably won't look as cool as the witch-like book worm in the below editorial, but hey I'll do my best.)

blue in the face.

Now I'm not usually a fan of facial tattoos (or any kind of tattoo), but how freakin cool are these artworks by Auckland based artist Sam Mitchell. They reference comic book type characters, in smurf-like colourings. He uses acyrilic on perspex, quite a novel medium right. Interestingly Mitchell doesn't have any tattoos of his own. These portraits look pretty darn spectacular in the flesh. See more of his work at Anna Bibby Gallery.

Images: 1 'Fanta' 2007, 2 'Electric Eyes' 2007, 3 'Nineteen Eighty Five' 2007.

saskia.

Shot some artwork by Saskia Leek yesterday for the Oct/Nov issue of HOME New Zealand (fashion + architecture issue, choice!) By golly I love her work, those enchanting horses and little houses she is drawn to. Perhaps I like them because they remind me of the subjects I would draw at primary school? Anywho, I rather fancy the simplicity of her paint application and charming colour palette. See more of her paintings at Ivan Anthony Gallery or at Hamish MacKay Gallery.

Images: 1 'Untitled' 2004, 2 'Folds turns' 2007, 3 'Back brainer' 2006.

word on the street.

Cool! The Sartorialist book by Scott Schuman is being released on August 12th in the US, and worldwide by early September. I reckon this one will hit the bestsellers list in no time.

flew the coop.

Went and saw work by my talented jewellery making friend Anne last monday, at Fingers Gallery. Her exhibition "The troubles of leaving the nest/flying the coop" is on till the 25th of July, which means there is still time to check out her beautiful range of brooches and necklaces. I adore those hand-crafted birds feet, too cute! Anne's statement explains the work nicely: "This has been a tough year for jewellery and I. Our partnership has been rigorously tested since leaving the comfortable and sheltered confines of University. Like a young bird leaving the nest for the first time, I have struggled to find my 'wings' and learn to work independently. This series of work is a narrative of this struggle and follows on from my graduate work." I think this talented lass has found her wings for sure, I'm excited to see what curiosities she'll create next.

made me smile.

Beautiful hand-tinted antique postcard sent to me from my happy travelling friend Olivia all the way from Rome. This gal is pretty as a picture, thanks liv what a great find!

bubble gum & chelsea buns.

More sweet treats and candy on the brain. Artwork inspired the wee outfit below.

Images: 1 & 2 Anne Noble at Two Rooms Gallery, 3 Dick Frizzell at Gow Langsford Gallery.

keep me posted.

A few recent finds from my ever expanding poscard collection (lame, but true). Currently I am drawn to black and white ones that have been hand-tinted, with a wash of subtle colours. So pretty.

slide by.

It was my late grandmothers birthday in June, I missed it. I feel a slight twinge of guilt, but mostly sadness. It's nice to see that famliar warm grandmotherly smile once more. On another note, how I love those old slides, the way that tiny rectangle is bursting with colour and detail when you hold it up to the sun. Genius.

four ways with a blanket.

My latest craft project, I got stitching to create wintery uses for an old blanket. Check it out in the August issue of Your Home & Garden magazine, on sale now!

ps. on the computer these images look super washed out? rather unfortunate.

sweet tooth.

Just some delicious looking sweet treats, found here on flickr. One does not need to justify the relevance of posting about cake.

stockholm please.

My good friend Haley has just returned home from her trip abroad. She spent a few weeks in the charming Stockholm, Sweden. A place near the top of my list of 'places to visit'. She adored it, the buildings and streets are old, quaint and perfectly preserved. The bars are relaxed and cool, in an effortless way. The boys and girls are super stylish. She certainly sold me on it, I already have the wallpaper travel guide all I need now are the tickets. See below, a few of my favs (and future friends?) from a stockholm streetstyle site.