all warm and fuzzy

Fashion Friday by Evie Kemp

Last week I wrote about nice girly hairstyles, in fact I ALWAYS write about girls. It's not very fair, so in the interest of fairness this week we're going to discuss/analyse facial hair. Please understand this is not a gratuitous, trawling-the-internet-perving-at-manly-men post but a genuine critique of structure and form. I swear.

Facial hair has the tendency to be a bit like marmite (and I don't just mean full of toast crumbs), you either love it or hate it. Regardless of your personal preference you can't deny that it does lend a certain masculinity that nothing else can because only men (not boys and only special ladies) can grow a proper beard.

Now I'll stop before I get all prehistoric on you and present: The Bad.

Clive Owen, The big mo. Makes you look like a creepy old school teacher. I think this is the worst facial hair I've seen in a long time. It shocked me to the core.

Brad Pitt, playing the 'look how big my beard is game' results in him looking like he hasn't seen a shower in years and completely dissolves any of that handsome jawline we know and love.

Matthew Fox, aka that guy from Lost. Soul patches are so lame. So, so lame.

And in the interests of a fair analysis: The Good.

Zach Galifianakis, ok he's not your typical heartthrob but he's cool and he wouldn't be half as cool without his fuzz. It's just the right balance of wild and tamed.

Justin Timberlake, he's a bit of baby face but his light covering lends him a certain something.

George Clooney, he's previously done terrible, terrible things with his beard but this gorgeous silver specked creation is perfection, like he spent the weekend at your house and forgot his razor.

So, beards or no beards? Who's your favourite furry fellow? (I just wanted to say that!)

Oh and if you're reading this and you have a beard, you have to check out this blog http://beardcoach.com/. It's brilliant.

the messy mind

I keep thinking of that John Lennon quote lately, you know the one "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans". I should learn not to post anything on this blog about my life as nothing works out the way I think it will.

I've just gone through one hell of a stressful seven day. In fact I can't believe it has only been seven days. I have been asking myself some very big questions and on the whole not been getting any solid answers. Maybe when it comes to life there are no answers, you either do or you don't. Well this has been my conclusion but like I said I've not really been thinking straight, so I would take everything I say with a pitch of salt:)

My big dilemma is really that I strongly feel that I do not want to return to the UK. I'm about as English as they come so it's a bit of a shock to find that I feel like this. When I think back over my the past 14 months in Wellington I can honestly say it has been one of the happiest times of my life and even over this past week, which has been filled with lows, I have had so many amazing friends looking after me both in life and online. In short I do not feel ready to leave New Zealand yet... I do not wish to state this as fact but it's close to being the case. I am very lucky to have a loving family who are supporting me and I have made my mind up not to think of it as anything more than what will make me happiest for the next six months. After that I can ask some big questions again.

these are the days of miracle and wonder

Before we get into 'fashion friday' I just wanted to do a bit of house keeping - it's been so long since I have posted anything on my blog. Since the earthquake that hit Christchurch nearly four weeks ago now I really haven't been feeling like myself, I think it was the strew that broke the camels back. I was already so stressed about moving back to the other side of the world, leaving my job and working out what's happening with my business that I'm not sure what happened but I honestly feel like I lost the plot a bit. Not in a bad or dramatic way, I've just been going out and having fun. I've pushed myself more and in ways I didn't expect and I've just been glad to be alive. Of course 'Carpe Diem' can only go on so long and my head is now coming back to where it should be. I very much plan to get this blog and my business in general back on track over the coming weeks. I totally know now that I am doing the right thing in moving back to the south of England for myself and my work, but it comes at a cost as I will miss New Zealand very much. Just to finish I would like to say I'm sorry for being so rubbish but I promise I'm back on form and ready to write:)

Miracle & Wonder tote - Miss Ellie May

I-don't-really-care Hair

fashion friday by evie kemp

I don't know about you, but i'm still hung up on trying to look like a geek/librarian/academic (the last few weeks of this blog are some what a testament to that). While the idea of vanity glasses didn't sit well with everybody I think this weeks topic of hair will.

The best styles look like you tied it up in your sleep and then got dragged through a hedge backwards and yet look so romantic and a little scatter brained. The key is to look like you couldn't care less about your hair when in reality it's of absolute importance. Put your hairspray away and cancel your appointment with the hairdresser.

As usual I've collected a few pictures of my favourites. If you're fortunate enough to have already perfected the ultimate messy topknot (with a pencil in it?) or the falling out ponytail you could consider trying one of these. Just don't let anyone think you care.

Boys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses.

Fashion friday by Evie Kemp

Or maybe they do?

I sit here writing this post safe behind my fairly strong prescription lenses. For me wearing glasses isn't really a choice (ok, it is and most of the time I choose contact lenses) it's a matter of personal and public safety. Lately, however, the trend has developed for people to wear big statementy frames often with blank lenses.

In searching online I found blogs that got incredibly upset over the use of blank glasses as a fashion statement and claimed that they trivialise a physical impairment. Firstly, I am going to say - they're just glasses. Calm down. Secondly, I'm going to argue that yes glasses are cool and the right pair can really frame the face and give a person a new look.

I don't think it's a question of necessarily looking geeky (though obviously you generally will) but of looking different and looking good. Just like doing your hair differently or wearing a dress when you always wear jeans, experimenting with how you look is your prerogative and no one has the right to question the strength of your prescription (except perhaps if you're driving them home).

Anyway, I'm stepping off my soapbox and sharing some cheap inexpensive fake frames, no one needs to know you didn't go for an eye test.

Oh, and the title of the post? Isn't true. Obviously.

Feel free to disagree/agree in the comments. (Loved the slightly heated discussion over Cate Blanchett's gown last week!)

ASOS Jeepers peepers round frame clear glasses £12 (free shipping) ASOS Jeepers peepers wooden frame clear glasses £14 (free shipping) Monikapolitan clear glasses $7US Wow Vintage Grady slim clear clubmasters $17US

the oscars

fashion friday by evie kemp

This week started with the Oscars and though we might pretend not to care, it's difficult to resist sitting down and doing a full on fashion critique. It's easy for us to gasp, ooh and pretend to gag while sitting in our pyjamas in front of the TV (or is that just me?). Slamming a persons outfit is mean but these for these events it's accepted (even encouraged, ask Joan Rivers).

This years Oscar fashions fell flat. Usually there are more blatant displays of absurdity and bad taste, where this year even the ugly dresses felt somewhat tame. Similarly in the past there have been a number of stars who dressed amazingly and totally knocked us out, this year I feel there was only one.

Starting with the good and then moving through the bad to the downright ugly I would like to volunteer Cate Blanchett for Best Dressed. She is one person who seems to always get it right, which is irritating but true. Her beaded Givenchy gown was both fashion-forward and incredibly flattering on her. Highly commended would be Mila Kunis in her Lavender Elie Saab gown.

Amy Adams , Florence Welsh and Sharon Stone all get an A for effort from me as comparatively they looked like they'd made a real effort to be different. None of them totally pulled it off. But I admire their attempts (sure Sharon Stone looked like Cruella Deville but I thought that was quite becoming of her).

Now it starts to get dull as a bevy of undeniably gorgeous ladies in light, metallic frocks trail past. Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Williams, Mandy Moore and Halle Berry all took on this look. You can imagine all the over paid stylists uttering 'ethereal' to their clients, apparently unaware that between them they created an entire hoard of angels. When the aim of the Oscar game is to stand out this wasn't good.

I think we can all agree that it was better to be a member of the above glittering, glowing club than the early 90's flashback that Reese Witherspoon, Penelope Cruz and Jennifer (who is this person?) Lawrence were channelling. Skin tight, full-length lycra that even the best body can't make interesting. For us at home wanting to be wowed these seemed so lacking in style or direction. Reese Witherspoon went a step further dressing how Elle Woods (Legally Blonde) would for the Oscars.

I'll finish with the worst dressed. Scarlett Johanssen. This is all the more damning as someone who has dressed so well in the past. This outfit is so unflattering, so ugly and such an awful colour. Her relationship with Sean Penn should have told us that she has no taste (couldn't resist).

These are just my opinions so feel free to share and debate your choices in the comments - it's half the fun!

And check out this gallery of the worst Oscar outfits in history too.