I've got this new (free) app on my phone called Camcorder. Most people will already know about this, but by this app you can make videos that look like your old school 80's/90's home videos (which is indeed very cool).

Secondary colours are the best! Give me Orange, purple and green anyday! Especially purple and green or orange and green make a fantastic arrangement. ORrrrr just plain green in all varieties. *sigh* Love those colour combos!

Plan de campagne! Meaning: having a plan or idea as to how you're going to 'handle' or 'tackle' a situation. For example: my room has been a mess for over a year now and it's only getting worse. A messy room means a messy mind, they say. No, I haven't yet taken any actual actions by cleaning it up BUT I've got a good idea how to 'handle' the situation. First things first: I've painted grandpa's mirror black (it used to be white). Who's winning?

And last but not least, PJs. Because they just can't get enough recognition. (wished mine looked as swish as these Dior ones...)

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique


P.s. There's a new video up on the Youtube... I know, very exciting! Watch [here] or below... Or not. There's always the 'or not' option, but, ya know, that's for the not so nice people. Are you a not so nice people? Thought so! Hope you enjoy...

While situated in the 'in between' (read all about that [here]), I've got some time left to do WHATEVER I WANT. And apparently one of the wantings I want (or wanted) is (or was) to make a wishlist of some sorts. Or rather: the wanting was to get the things on this list but... ya know... money or something holds me back in fulfilling this graving, so a list have to withstand. For now.

Anyway, I've been roaming the internet in search for some inspiration. I've been in a sort of 'style rut' lately. It's not a lack of inspiration, but more a lack of motivation (why dress up at all when you're sat at home abusing either your computer or your sewing machine? It would be the act of a madman! Especially with all that fluff in the air. Man! The other day my mum made a white fake fur coat and pieces of it are still stuck in my throat! It's everywhere EVERYWHERE!). So to get myself motivated I thought that a voice from the outside -instead from a voice within- could get me up and going. Or naturally dressing in this case. So here we go!

• [This] Sad Girls Club Sweater by Nikki Lipstick, [here] worn by the wonderful Leanne Woodful from Thunder & Threads. 
• S-T-R-I-P-E-S! [This] Stripe Wool Dress by The Whitepepper certainly knows its ways... Also, go check out their new knitwear collection they've launched yesterday. There are some real gems (ALL OF THEM), like [this] Pom Pom Cropped Jumper.
• I'm feeling a DIY coming up! (same goes for the top version of this dress) There's no denying [this] dress is a must! (as is thus the top version)
• In theme with this wishlist/moodboard: [this] Grid Sweater from UNIF. Obviously goes perfect withe [these] ADORABLE Ditto Mary Janes. There's always something about a Mary Jane I just can't resist...
• Say cheese with [this] Lomogrophy Instant Camera! (goes with the lifestyle)

• Are you a gal with a plan? Neither am I. But don't you worry! With [this] diary you'll soon be one. Hopefully. Otherwise, doesn't it look pretty?
• GUCCI. I know, I know... favourably everything, unrealisting something and most definitely nothing. BUT look at [this] cute blouse! There's more of that where it came from. Just saying. Casually.
• Ungrateful? Never. Unrealistic? Maybe. Spoiled? Most probably. [This] Spoiled Crop Sweatshirt is perfect for a gal like me (they also got it in tee shape [here]).
• You can never NEVAH go wrong with [this] classic Serve Skirt!

What's your favourite item? OR -being a wild child here- what's your least favourite item? Or both naturally. OR -now I'm getting carried away here- what's your second favourite item and your last but one least favourite item? Let me know in the comments below!

Love,
Dominique

This Monday we've got a very special muse, namely: in between. In between is situated in the middle of something. In between can also be phrased as 'interspace' or 'interval' or maybe even as 'an intermediate thing'. Meaning, you've just finished something and before you start the next thing there's this space left of nothingness (or at least that is in the eyes of the two things it's seperating).

I love in between times because of their -at first hand seemingly- uselessness. It's a time of breaking up with the old and making up with the new. You can once and for all put a hold to your work/life/whatever and look out for something new and exciting. Mostly exciting, partly terrifying. It's a time you can work yourself out of that big dark deep hole of 'getting on with things' and 'same of the same of the same' and be aspirational about all that has to come (cue terrifying).


It's a time full of uncertainties, but the good kinds (mostly). 'Under construction' might be the perfect way of describing in between. You're bursting with ideas, hope and inspiration, but you've got nothing at hand or anything solid to show for it. You're not yet working to something firmly and clear. Eerything's still fluid without a fixed shape and thus -as the characteristics of fluid goes- it all can easily flow its own way. Everything can change, however slight this change might seem.

So don't go wasting this precious time!

Love,
Dominique

Little Miss Sunshine. *sigh* I accidently stumbled upon this film on tv. I'd heard and saw some bits before and decided to sit out the rest... AND BOY am I happy I did just that. I think almost everybody's already seen this movie (I mean, it's won over 60 prices including two BAFTA's), but if you haven't (no shame in the game) you most definitely should! It's funny, uplifting and in some ways very realistic. Or better said: relatable (I mean [spoiler alert] 'kidnapping' your dead grandpa from the hospital and stuffing him in the back of a VW van isn't in anyway comparable or I gues realistic to my 'standards' of living (I don't know what you get up to on a Saturday night...) but it's very relatable as to how they get into that situation to some extent).

The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in #34 La Raffinée is a definite favourite these past couple of days. I find that it perfectly compliments my skintone (someone said this to me *blushes*) and thus I've been wearing it basically this whole week. Yes, my other lipsticks have been very very jealous about this, so next week I'll be showing them some love too (but, ya know, it's just easy when waking up early in the morning -in a rush- and just put whatever that's in your bag onto your lips. No fuss, no stress! Sort of).

Hats. Wait, wait, wait! Hats. With words. I KNOW. I'm not talking beanie or caps, I'm talking proper hats with proper words (although when's a word ever 'not' proper). I've seen one [here] or two [here] and I'm in love... Love, love, love... Where to get one or when to make one, that's the question!

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique

YES! These pictures were taken YEARS ago (look at that long hair!). And YES! These pictures are slightly inappropriate if you consider the weather ALTHOUGH it's summer in Australia, right? Well, then this one is especially for YOU. You're welcome, Australia, you're very welcome...

This is the first in a new series called Spongebob Squarepants. "Why?", you might ask, "would you call a new 'series' on your blog after an annoying cartoon starring a sponge who works under the sea in a fast food restaurant, you crazy?". Honestly? It's all due to his SQUAREpants. I go crazy for them. The Square part of it, that is. Not his pants. They aren't as exciting, maybe if they were crochet... 

That's right! My obsession with granny squares is still going strong and thus I thought it to be a good idea to share a few of my squared projects with you. So you -YES YOU- can be a square too. So with quite some proud I'd like to present to you the first ever (granny) squared object I've ever made. FIRST! I always thought that squares, rounds or triangles were an impossible task to ask from me. I'm in no way skilled or capable to do such a thing!  

Turns out I actually am.

Not because it's rocket science and I'm a really really smart person. No. (although I'm indeed really really smart). Just because it's a very easy thing to do. If you're known with the basic principles of crochet (cue grandma/youtube tutorial), you'll be fine!



The square is from the magazine Simply Haken (but which? I can't recall... sorry), but any square that's 8x8 cm will do. Like for instance [this] one, with a step by step explanation (ain't the internet just great?!). I've used yarn from Zeeman in Soft Royal Blue and Soft Royal White to contrast.

As you can see the pattern is very easy (just straight lines, really).

The front and back are equal to eachother (6x7 squares), as are the sleeves (5x6 squares) so of each you'll be needing two (ya know, two arms, one back, one front. Hardcore maths, innit?). And naturally to finish the whole project you'll be needing a neck (1x5 squares). Just the one.

There are many different ways you can 'sew' the squares together. I've just put two against eachother (the 'bad sides' on top of each) and using a double crochet (or if you use American terms: single crochet) stitching it all together. This way, by putting the 'bad sides' on top of each instead of the 'good sides', AND NATURALLY using a contrasting colour -in this case white- you accentuate the squares squareness (quite like a picnic blanket, ya see!).

• Sew the tops of the front and back together (2 squares each side).
• Sew the sides together (4 squares each side).
• Put the sleeves in the two holes created.  Put the 'sew-line' (so a white stripe) equal to the line you've sewed together from the front and back. Sew, baby!
• Also get the front and back white lines of the neck equal to -you've guessed it- the front and back (this requires some wiggling). Obviously now you can sew the neck to the jumper, however I'd recommend using some pins to secure it first (otherwise it's going to be a real pain in the behind...).
• Done!

Lets go and picnic! Who's bringing what? (like, ya know, an extra blanket or something. Not to sit on, but to try and not freeze your ass off while a piece of cake has been frozen to your face and you're slowly drowning in the rain/snow that's been pouring out of the sky like there's no tomorrow AND worst of all: the tea has gotten cold. WINTER WHY YOU SO CRUEL?!!!!!).  
Happy picnic! ;)

Love,
Dominique

The other day (or actually a couple of weeks ago -maybe even a few months ago, I can't be sure....) I watched a documentary about Picasso, mainly focusing on the influence he's had on art, but also on lifestyle. The curator of the Victoria & Albert Museum explained the impact of Picasso on fashion. Being there in Paris among all artists (and thereby thus also creators of clothing) they naturally influenced eachother, looked (up) at eachothers work and adapted it into their own field of knowledge. As the curator said "fashion comments on modern life." Hereby modern life's been explained as the current being and excistence of what's going on in society.

As we all know, Picasso wasn't shy to experiment with his depcition and didn't step away from any medium to convey his inner images on (even pottery has been victimized). His steps into fashion, which wasn't conveyed in the documentary, goes further than just influencing some wandering spirits. He himself experimented with fabric and designed prints to wear (as you can see here). However, a design that he hasn't created, but still goes hand in hand with his signature, must be the stripe.


The stripe is almost unthinkable out of the daily street view. Everybody got some or want some. The attraction to the stripe is open for imagination and can be adapted by anyone who's wearing clothes. Although it must be said that the stripe got a certain image most of us want to pursue. The nonchalance yet sturdiness that a stripe recalls, can be fit to any type of person. Also the variety of the stripe can be mindblowing and adaptive to the situation.

HOWEVER the stripe of all stripes -the Breton stripe- has for some weird reason always a stripe (hahaha. pun.) ahead of all the other stripes. The Breton stripe has its roots down in the shores of France, Bretagne (hence the Breton in Breton stripe). Traditionally the Breton striped shirts were worn by French fishermen because of their thick double-twist cotton quality which protected them against the cold wind blows and other (bad) weather.


As said, the traditional Breton shirt is made out of double-twist cotton and has a 3/4 sleeve, a boat neck (which can be a pun on its own, get it? Fishermen and boat neck... I'm the funniest, I know) and -the real deal- has 12 navy and white stripes (allegedly each stripe represents a victory of the one and only Napoleon Bonaparte -also a French guy).

After the Act of France on the 27th of March 1858, the striped shirt became an official part of the uniform of the French navy. And as every other part of an uniform (or menswear in general, really), Coco Chanel fell in love with the stripes after meeting some sailors on vacation to the coast (where else to meet sailors, amiright?) and adapted them in 1917 into her own designs. Since then the stripe, they say, has never left the streets again. However, may the regular person say that Coco is the name behind the fame of the stripe, others might point back to our dear Pablo. (Although it must be said that Pablo and Coco (yes, I'm on first name-base with them) were friends. So who influenced who, really? OR was it all just a big clash of stripes between the two... OR plot twist -neither of them liked stripes. Seems indeed quite unlikely, but it would make the headlines...).



Picasso was naturally one of those lucky artists who became famous (like proper famous) during his lifetime (AND because of his art. Which nowadays is still a rarity). And as fame goes, there's a signature look to accompany it. Not only in his artwork, but also in his lifestyle. Clothes made the man, with a big frowny face. It's been told that Andy Warhol adapted the stripe into his wardrobe early in his career because of its associations with Pablo Picasso THE GREAT ARTIST. And then naturally Andy Warhol himself became a great artist, so other artists examined the life's of both and concluded that the success must be bound to the stripe and so adapted that into their wardrobe. etc etc etc. And as it goes, most of us want to be successful in life. One and one makes two! A stripe nowadays isn't just a stripe anymore (same goes with 'the shirt'). The stripe is infinitely bound to an image -a stereotype- that says France, victory, success, strong, artistic and most of all everyone. There's a stripe for all of us, really...

Love,
Dominique


Sources
http://wikifashion.com/wiki/Breton_stripes
http://www.manrepeller.com/2014/05/consider-the-breton-stripe.html 
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/history-breton-stripe-simone-branson-harper
Documentary of which I've forgotten the name... probably from the BBC (are there any other documentaries?)

This week has been quite... well... sh*t. All the more important to make a list of loves...

I've been listening to Swim Deep's album Where The Heaven Are We on end (naturally followed up by Mothers, which is also very good and together they make an absolute excellent playlist) while writing essay after essay after essay. Yes, I know if I was a little bit better at time management I wouldn't be needing to write essay after essay after essay in high speed tempo, but you can't always get what you want! However, when put in this situation, I find that the music on this album is the best thing to listen to. It's mostly got a low tempered beat that's just perfect when banging your fingers passive aggressively onto the keyboard. Who'd thought?

Just in the nip of time I bought myself last year two trenchcoats in the local charity shop. One is your classic trench-colour trenchcoat and the other is a lovely green. And as a matter of fact I've been wearing that lovely green one for weeks (or 'week' but who's counting anyway), which is very out of character for someone who likes to wear -and actually can 'afford' to wear looking at my wardrobe- more coats during the week NAY, during the day!

Faces of the Victorian Era is one of my favourite yet disturbing (to some extend) blog I follow on Tumblr. The ladies and gentlemen presented on this blog look the part in every single way. But -as many with me will most probably acknowledge- there's always something... well... creepy, I guess, about pictures of dead people. Especially dead people you've never known or pictures of dead people who aren't related to you. I can endearingly look at a portrait of my great grandmother, but my oh my if it's some stranger of which the only thing you know is 'Young Lady c. 1880s' the goosebumbs on my neck are having a party. But besides it giving me the chills, I also absolutely ADORE these pictures. A real insight in Victorian Era portraiture (and therewith the 'latest' fashions) speaks mystery and intrigues the mind...

What's on your list of loves this week?

Love,
Dominique

What's buzzin', cousin? I've got something wacky for you today! When I was doing some research (aka: when I was procrastinating) I came across some slang from the past. As most of you will know, in my book language is one of the most mesmerizing things ever. So I couldn't let this opportunity pass by and decided to make a small collective of the words I've found. You're welcome.

Most of this slang is from the 1920s up to the 1940s. I love how particular some words/phrases are and how some of them have survived the passing of time. Although sadly not all of them (and there are some really really good ones out there). So I think it's about time to re-introduce some of these humdinger words and phrases back into society! And soon everyone will be uttering sentences like:

So don't be a drip and take a gander through The Incomplete Dictionary of Vintage Slang! I'm sure I won't be whistl'n your Dixie. ;)


A
Jiffy = Quick
Jitterbug - Style of dance
Jits = Jitterbug
Jive = Swing Music

K
Keen = Attractive, appealing
Keister = Rump
Khaki wacky = Boy crazy
Kicks = Shoes
Killer Diller = The best, ultimate, good stuff
Kisser = Mouth
Knock off = To kill/To Quit
Knocked out = Asleep
Knockin it out = Dance amazingly
Kopescetic = Fine, okay
Knuckle sandwich = A punch in the mouth
Knucklehead = A stupid or foolish person

L
Lamb = Nice person
Lay an egg = Be Boring
Lay off = Leave alone, quit bothering
Let someone have it = To give the full brunt of your thoughts/to shoot someone
Lettuce = Money
Like crazy = Fast and hard/furious
Line = Exaggerated facts or lie, insincere flattery
Lulu = Something beyond the pale, or excellent, outstanding

M
Make a pass = Seducing
Meatball = A sucker
Megabucks = Wealth
Megillah = Details
Mitts = hands
Moolah = Money
Motorized freckles = Insects
Mug = Face

N
Nada - Nothing
Nice going! = Interjection of congratulations
Niftic = Good, sharp
No dice! = An interjection of rejection
No fooling = Telling the truth or utterance of surprise and re-assurances
Nuts = Crazy, insane

O
Off the cob = Corny, goofy
Off the hook = Exonerated, cleared of guilt
Off-time jive = Bad manners, incorrect
Old hat =  Out dated
Old lady = Slang for females, usually wife or mother.
On the beam = Cool, A-one
On the nose = Exactly.

P
Pass the buck = Pass responsibility for
Patsy = A scapegoat
Peanuts = Negligible
Peepers = Eyes
Pennies from heaven = Easy money
Pinch = To arrest
Pistol = Person full of themselves
Pulleys = Suspenders
Pushover = A person easily convinced or seduced

Q
Quenchers = Cold Drinks

R
Rag = Teasing
Rhubarb = Argument
Ritzy = Elegant (from the hotel)
Rub out = Murder
Rug cutter = Dancer
Run out of gas = Lack of interest
Rusty dusty = Rump

S
Sappy = Romantic
Sauced = Intoxicated
Say = Expression of Surprise
Sell out - Bribed
Sharp = Brilliant, edgy
Slack happy = Dumb and happy
Smooch = Romantic kissing
Snap your cap = Get angry
Specs = Eyeglasses
Squidy = Sailor
Stompers = Shoes
Strictly from Dixie = Corny, not cool
Striders = Trousers
Spew your guts out = To reveal everything
Spiffy = To Look the best
Spivvy = To Dress Up
Swabbie = Sailor
Swell = Great
Swing a wing = Dance Swing

T
Take a gander = To Look
Take a Powder = Get Lost, Lay of, to leave
Tap = To borrow money
The big house = Federal prison
Thingamabob = An adjective for something
Through the wringer = A difficult situation/repeated berating or questioning
Togged to the bricks = Wearing best clothes
Tough = A difficult situation
Two cents worth = Opinion

U
Unmentionables = Undergarments
Up for grabs = Anything goes

W
Wacky = Out of sorts, wild
Wad = Money
What's buzzin', cousin? = How's it going?
What's cooking? = How's it going? What's new?
What's eating you? = What's the matter?
What's up? = How is it going?
What of it? = What business is it of yours?
Wrack your brain = Examining all facts/evidence
Whistl'n (Whistling) Dixie = Wasting Time
Whoopee = Romance, having a good time
Wise guy = Obnoxious, rude, smart aleck
Wolf = Man with romantic intentions
Wow! = Expression of surprise/delight


Which words and/or phrases do you think will definately need a revive? Spew your guts out below!

Love,
Dominique

Love,
Dominique

David Bowie, David Robert Jones, died yesterday after an 18 month battle with cancer. YES, that's a lot to take in when you're half dreaming and half awake. I wasn't even sure, at that point, if I was dreaming or if I was actually awake. Unfortunately the latter seems to be the truth.

As it goes with icons and music legends, the name means so much more than than it seems to embody. David Bowie was so much more than just David Bowie. As he once said himself: I always had a repulsive need to be something more than human. I felt very punny as a human. I thought 'Fuck that. I want to be a superhuman'. May this be in the obvious way as Ziggy Stardust and other alter egos or the music he made or naturally the movies and plays he starred in. And may this also be in the less obvious way of the many things he 'catapulted' into (popular) culture and the many references and influences he's had on the way this all has developed over time (and naturally the way we look and appreciate certain aspects of this culture). Knowingly or not, David Bowie has paved a way for many artists of today (and the future) and the way they make music and most certainly the way they present themselves and this music.


It's quite unbelievable, really, and at the same time it's the burden or tragedy that we all carry with us (how depressing that may sound...). However I can say without a doubt that through death David Bowie certainly most definitely hasn't died. He'll be immortal thanks to his work, his life and his general presence or existence he's had and will continue to have. As I read somewhere: One can not retire from greatness. Through being he's become so much more.
So. Much. More.

Love,
Dominique

What does one do when their parents are renovating their bedroom? Naturally invade the place and claim it as your own paradise! Duh. Put a fancy dress on, grab yourself a fan and start fluttering. Don't forget to parade through the room in a strut that says 'Beat it, creep!'.


The confidence, maybe even the arrogance that one gets when wearing a fancy dress and a fan is intolerably amazing (and thus something I dearly recommend). The fan is a character on its own and deserves a credit line at the end of the film. Nay! It's got so much character and personality -and obviously the best lines (we all know these oh-so-quotable figures word by word)- that it even deserves its own spin-off. An atttude, really, that lifts the whole thing up and basically the solid reason you're even watching this. That fan. *sigh*

Love,
Dominique

I've had a soft spot for veils ever since I can remember. There's just something about having a fabric casually  ruining your view that's somehow appealing to me. So I went out on investigation to find out if I was the only weirdo around the block who likes sniffing fabric from time to time (spoiler: I'm not).

It's almost unnecessary to say that the veil most probably has its roots lying in ancient times. Yes, those bloody Greeks and Romans proudly proclaim FIRST on almost every garment you know off. However there's evidence of the veil already popping up in 13th century B.C. Assyria (so beat it, Greeks!).


Over the course of its 'excistence' the veil is probably most known for its religious 'purposes' (think of the hijab or a wimple), but the more popularized version (if you can call it popularized) is naturally the wedding veil (which funnily enough is also related to religion, but for many it's lost this annotation and has simply become part of the whole wedding shebang as a ritual on its own).

However on a whole other level there's the veil as a fashion item. Who doesn't look longingly at those pictures of perfectly dressed woman in their extravagant yet simplistic and chic outfits (you can see I'm a bit bias towards these WONDERFULLY dressed woman (or man. But mostly woman). How can one do anything but swoon facing these pictures?). These kind of veils are mostly made out of (black) netting and are descendants of the Victorian Age mourning fashions. That's right: mourning fashions. They didn't just mourn, they did it in style.



The Victorian Age officially started in 1837 when Queen Victoria (hence 'Victorian' in 'Victorian Age') became queen of the British empire. She was married to prince Albert who unfortunately died on the 14th of December 1861. Victoria (I may call her Victoria) famously stayed in mourning for his death until the day she herself died on the 22nd of January 1901. That's right! 40 years of mourning... dedication, they call that!

Naturally 40 years of mourning didn't slip under the radar and as a result there was such a thing as mourning fashion (because there's nothing as fashionable as grief and tears). You didn't just loose your husband as a woman (this 'trend' was naturally mostly aimed at women), you were the one appointed to reflect the feelings of the family to the outer world (aka sad). Not only did you needed to follow a certain clothing restriction (preferably anything black -which represents the absence of light and therefore life (fun fact: black as mourning colour is something the Romans introduced 'the mourners could prevent being haunted from the ghost of the deceased by cloaking themselves in black')- but it depends on which stage of mourning you were (yes, there were different stages of mourning. By half mourning (who knew you could mourn in half?) you're also allowed to wear grey, mauve, purple, lavender, lilac, white and red. And black, obviously)), one was also to be accounted with certain etiquettes. The first year you for instance weren't supposed to leave the house (accept to go to church), just like the queen had done so before you.


The fashion of mourning slowly died away (sorry not sorry) after the death of the queen. However the colour black was still stained with the world of mourning, funerals and all that fun (although, side note, it had been that way for a very very long time). However, guess what, another claim to fame fanatic besides the Greek & Romans, came here to save our lives. Obviously I'm talking about the one and only Coco Chanel, who 'revolutionized' black around the 1920s by wearing it NOT for mourning, but just because. She used the colour for the all famous, most notorious and raved about (clothing) item of all time: the little black dress. It's almost unnecessary to say that this little black dress has changed the way we dress today (hereby even disregarding all those other clothing items she either introduced or popularized within the world of (women) fashion). Black became chic, elegant and not just for remembering the dead.


As it goes, there are many versions of the veil. Not all are mourning related, mostly depending on the material used. In the 19th century crepe and silk were popular fabrics to use, anything thin and see through yet covering the face would tick the boxes, really. And again, it was Queen Vic who popularized needlework (and therewith perhaps the veil as fashionable item) in Great Britain and the United States by commisioning handmade honiton applique (a particular kind of lace) for her coronation, her wedding veil and the royal christening gown. Nowadays (I say nowadays, but like -making an educated guess- around the end of the 19th and begin 20th century -when one was able to fabricate lace or netting industrially) netting became a popular fabric to use for veils. Netting isn't obviously made to hide your face from the world, but adds that touch of elegance (and sometimes mystery) to an outfit. I mean, just look at the pictures above and dare to say those women don't look elegant and mysterious!

Love,
Dominique


Sources:
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8717.html
http://www.vogue.co.uk/person/coco-chanel  
http://www.biography.com/people/coco-chanel-9244165 
http://www.morbidoutlook.com/fashion/historical/2001_03_victorianmourn.html 
Needlework Through History: An Encyclopedia by Catherine A. leslie (via Google Books), p. 30, 116-117.
https://adventuresincemeteryhopping.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/paint-it-black-mourning-in-the-victorian-age/

Oh yes, I'm milking this new year thing to the fullest extent! You'll be reading about this '2016' thing all the way to the last day of December! Mwahahahahahahahaa!!

As they say, a person just needs three things to be truly happy. First of all you'll need someone to love, secondly you'll need something to do and last but not least you'll need something to hope for. And hope, my dearest, I do have a lot of. Not only hope for love and a goal in life, but also hope for the things that will come onto my path, like, idk, pom pom earings. Just. Yes. I want, nay NEED pompom earings. (oh how consumeristic of me to take such a lovely thought and tear it to the ground of stuff and spending money and never being fulfilled with the things I have. Well, you always need something to wish for, amiright? Right? Guys? Hello?). So without further ado I'd like to present to y'all my wishlist of 2016...




Seen anything you'd wish for upon a star?

Love,
Dominique


*Represented by Miss Twiggy, because I tried cutting out the actual sunglasses (which are beyond the point of devine) but it looked terrible, so I went for a similar shaped like frame on the nose of Miss Twiggy (however the Miu Miu one has got glitters on them... like... GLITTERS).

**I really want to see the film Victor Frankenstein (with Charles Xavier, Harry Potter and Moriarty... So we're in for a blast, hopefully). It'll take some time, though, because the film will be shown in theatres here in bloody March (the 17th to be exact) and I'm afraid I'll forget about it (because I'm that type of person who forgets about it) so put it on the wishlist as a reminder to myself... Is it any good?

I find that no beginning is ever a new beginning, but we can try and take a step back -start with a new chapter- and breathe.

2015 wasn't very fruitful regarding my resolutions I'd made earlier that year. 11 books? My behind! Although, in total I must've read like a hundredthousand or so books, but -as I didn't specify at the time- these 11 was only to be included things I'd read in my spare time and everything school-related didn't wouldn't make the list. *sigh* I mean there's a slight difference between reading about the vision of the Dutch government regarding the cultural sector in 2017-2020 OR reading idk the biography of Vivienne Westwood.*

To be honest, I'm not quite sure if I've reached my second 'goal' of the year either (20 things sewn by moi). I've indeed been much busier with the sewing machine, but twenty? TWENTY? Uhm... most probably not...


For 2016 I think a different approach will be needed. So instead of violently grabbing any number that hangs in the air (11 books? Why 11? I mean, at least I could've typed like, I don't know, 12. Like, ya know, one book each month or something. Not that that would've bring me any closer to achieving the actual reading of it all, but still.... 11?), this year I've decided to clearly specify my goals.

Without any real logic to it, here's my list of 7 resolutions for 2016:

1. Make myself dungarees in all colours of the rainbow. Or to start with just one, either in curduroy OR in tartan (OR if I'm really feeling frisky: velvet I know I know). I've already got a pattern and fabric lying around the house, I just need to do it (and getting yet one step closer to my dreamjob of being Alexa Chung. Or naturally being that girl who casually can pull of dungarees (which in fact is Alexa Chung FULL CIRCLE)).
2. Make myself a 1950s dress. I'm actually cheating with this one. Not only do I have a pattern and fabric lying around the house, the actual pattern and fabric are already cut. All it takes is to grab the sewing machine and start sewing. Just do it man!!
3. Knit/sew/crochet myself a hat of some sorts. I've once tried making a crochet hat, but it went terribly wrong (pattern didn't match up to reality. Hate when that happens). And never since have I attempted hat making again, which is a shame really! So when I received from my Vintage Secret Santa a fabulous handmade hat/turban, I thought another try is in order...
4.  Knitting [this] coat cape. Fell in love the moment I saw it. And while I'm at it, also [this] crocheted bolero should make the list. *sigh*
5. In 2016 I want to have read Longbourn by Jo Baker (already started and it's AMAZING so far), Manet and the Object of Painting by Michel Foucault, Vogue on Vivienne Westwood (and naturally Vogue on Coco Chanel) and last but not least The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton.
6. Getting myself out there. This year I want to get something by me or about me (I'm not picky) being published somewhere. Positive, obviously. Not for instance a news item on how I've robbed a bank or rather: how I tried to rob a bank and failed, otherwise I obviously wouldn't make the headlines. Duh. (note to self: don't get caught while robbing a bank)
7. And to end with a bang: 200 blogposts will be published in 2016. Mind you, not all at once! But a nice achievable goal (like, I'm on a roll! This is already 1/200!).

As a way of keeping track on the 'completion' of these resolutions, I naturally will be making blogposts (as a blogger ought to do (AND keeping goal #7 in mind *wink wink*)) when... ya know... it's done. Finito. So, something to look forward to this year... Or not.


What SPECIFIC goals are hanging above your head this year? Let me know in the comments!

Love,
Dominique


*Books I've read this year:

•  Loving Art: The William & Anna Singer Collection by Helen Schretlen This book is about the American couple Singer (not from the sewing machines) and their love for art (especially their love for collecting art). You get to taste a bit of their life through the works they've collected in combination with the places where they lived. Quite interesting.
• Vivienne Westwood (biography) by Ian Kelly & Vivienne Westwood Words to live by!
• The Wooster Code by P.G. Wodehouse Reading this book is like watching Fry & Laurie in your head, through words and stuff. Funny, quick paced and brilliant (had to take a break from it once or twice, because of the too much silliness).
• Love Letters of Great Men and Woman edited by Ursula Doyle Love letters jumbled together of big names we all have most probably heard of. Kills the idea of romance with romance and gives you another understanding of the meaning of love through different ages. 
• Insanity in world of literature by Pieter Steinz An essay written for the Dutch Booksweek 2015, giving you a peek in the way literature has described (and been described by) insanity. Not only concentrating on the characters or creators of 'insane' works, but also giving you an understanding in the history of insanity and the way people treated and looked upon it (so not only the insane, but also the role of psychiatrists and the way they've been depicted throughout famous literature works). We want more!
• Sidney Chambers and The Shadow of Death by James Runcie This book contains five short stories about one of my favourite 'detectives' I've met this year. It's funny how the stories have a lot of simmilarities but a whole different tone to it than the series. The serie is very true to the basic nature of the book, but is -I think- much stronger in narrative (James Norton brings Sidney Chambers more to life than the book does). Good read, can't wait to get my hands on more, but definitely go see the series too...

[EDIT 4 January 2017]
As I'm not planning on making an updated resolutions blogpost *because I'm already perfect* (just kidding). Here's a little update on how well/bad I did this year in regards to my 2016 resolutions:

1. Indeed made myself a pair of dungarees. Not in every colour (sadly). But one in dark grey with a small stripe and one in orange check print (although that one still need buttons...)
2. I tried. I failed. I will try again. (Hopefully).
3. I made a hat! A white one and a yellow one. The pattern of it you can find in the first issue of my zine... fancy, I know...
4. Nope. Not even close.
5.  Check, no, no (no) and check. I actually read a lot of books this year, just not all the books I listed...
6.  Well... sort of... I 'published' my first very own zine, got a small mention on a review I wrote about Bloom Magazine London on their Instagram and... well... I'VE BEEN BUSY ALRIGHT!! Past me very seriously miscalculated the burden of trying to get a degree.
7. No. 64 in total. And this year I'm aiming even lower: 52. One every week. That should do the trick, right?