Day 367: Friday 30 April 2010

The Official End of The Year of Denim

Special Edition…

Vale, Year of Denim: as a gesture of farewell, we pay tribute to the pin-ups that lurk beneath Jane’s 367 everyday triple denim combinations.

Inspired by Helmut Newton’s androgynous fashion shoots, James Dean’s tough beauty, blaxploitation heroines like Pam Grier, and gender-bending burlesque, we have granted Jane licence to explore her glamorous alter-ego and tap into the popular cultural fantasies that drive much of her work as an artist.

These personae are not randomly chosen: they underline Jane’s interest in the borderlines between good and bad taste, queer and straight, masculinity and femininity, sexual allure and abjection. They also of course betray the fun of playing dress-ups, a playfulness that Jane shares with us as her friends, collaborators and audience.

It is a combination of courage — a dispassionate view of herself untainted by vanity; creativity — an ability to make raucous and astute references with the scantest of materials; and generosity — a desire to include others in her creative pursuits and explorations of self, that makes Jane so unique.

We congratulate her on having pursued, and now completed, the Year of Denim true to this spirit.

Cleopatra Jones - "The way I feel tonight, Muhammad Ali will have his hands full!"

Doodlebug - "Hair's like a woman. You treat it good and it treats you good. Ain't that right honey? You hear what I'm saying? Yeah, you got to hold it, caress it, and love it. And if your hair gets out of line you take a scissor and say, "Hair I'm going to cut you.""

Helmut Newton - "A woman does not live in front of white paper. She lives on the street, in a motor car, in a hotel room."

James Dean - "The gratification comes in the doing, not in the results."

Credits
Hair, make-up, camera, pinot noir: Beaver Dior
Concept, archival research, camera: HRH
Camera, prosecco, text: Jack
Everything else: Jambo

Over and Out

Thanks to all you readers, supporters, loaners and donaters of denim, commenators, rat bags, spammers, back stabbers, bitches and babes for an interesting Year of Denim. You know who you all are and I hope you all come along tomorrow night to celebrate the End of The Year of Denim.

Oh and today, as I gad about preparing for tomorrow night’s End of Denim function (if you’re reading this you’re invited) I am wearing this…

This image captures the Year of Denim perfectly. It's got it all: Tubes the denim snack, Taxi the dog, one of my fav denim itesm, the South Sea Bubbles bomber jacket, jeggings gifted exctly a year ago by AK, denim gym boots, studded denim cap donated by VOAK and a birthday cake from HRH

Top: South Sea Bubbles denim bomber jacket. I am so happy the weather turned so I got a chance to wear this on YoD one more time. Ta to the very generous donater of more than just the jacket, SLEE.

Bottom 1: Jeggings given to me on my birthday in 2009 at the very start of the Year of Denim

Bottom 2: JeasnWest denim skirt, bought in QLD for a song

Accessory 1: Denim gym boots gotten me through the hard times

Accessory 2: Denim bag with red piping slung over my shoulder

Accessory 3: Black denim, cap gifted

Accessory 4: Tubes, the self anointed denim snack

And don’t forget tomorrow night’s celebration of denim…

Day 366: Thurday 29 April

YoD Picture Special

I’m back from the beach (glorious) and ready to up-date the second last day of the Year of Denim.

I have decided to wear all those clothes I DIDN’T wear through the year for various reasons. So here we go…

Baby beach hat + skirt. Why did I never wear these? Don't know, although the hat makes me look like a pinhead

I was hopeful when I bought these long legged, high waisted 70s jeans

They fit like a dream except in one crucial area...

I can't get close to doing them up

I have no idea why I never wore these super comfy high waisted, pleated, narrow ankled jeans. They are lovely and flattering

These jeans never made it into daily useage on YoD. I think the animal print details might have had something to do with that

Shirt over sized, white denim quite under sized

Cute cap but super hot, too tight shirt, way too big Fletcher Jeans all add up to quite a combination

Yowsah! Cute shorty black dungarees. Nothing wrong with these! Or is there...

Nothing wrong except a severe case of camel toe

Mum found this nice denim detailed jumper... in the middle of summer and even now it's still too hot to wear

And this is what I am wearing out and about today

Top: JeansWest lightweight denim jacket, pretend old style

Bottom: JJ’s jeans, shows off my package nicely

Accessories: Some items that never made it onto the blog cos’ I forgot to photograph them. On the right I am holding a gigantic denim print pencil case. Thanks Mum. And on the left is a lovely address book/pen/key ring gift set courtesy of AK. And o my head is that tiny beach hat gifted by my Auntie Cath

Early blog entry…

I CANNOT believe what a snobby place Sydney is.

I went to 4 bars last night, yes FOUR! And not a single one of them would or COULD serve me a blue cocktail of ANY description. One bar tender was down right hostile when I asked if I could have a blue drink.

So there has been, nor will there be, any blue cocktail taste test prior to Saturday night’s celebration of the end of The Year of Denim. In the poll so far its neck and neck between the non blue Bosom Caresser and the most definitely blue Blue Margarita.

So I’m putting the poll in again…. vote for the blue cocktail I should serve on Saturday night…

And I am not putting up a picture just yet as I have a sort of mini extravaganza of sorts planned for later on today. So stay tuned…

Day 365: Wednesday 28 April

The End of the Year of Denim celebrations are being readied right this minute. The big questions is exactly WHICH blue cocktail should be served at the function?

When I think blue cocktail Blue Lagoon is the first, in fact, the ONLY cocktail that springs to mind. So I thought a little research was necessary and I reached for my trusty cocktail book…

And you know what? There’s more than one blue flavoured and coloured cocktails…

And last but not least, especially as it has an awesome accompanying image….

Although I am quite partial to this particular cocktail, even though it’s not blue it just sounds, I dunno, nice and something I might enjoy…

So which cocktail should I serve to mark the end of the Year of Denim and to stain my guests’ tongues? I’ll be out tonight ‘test driving’ a few myself. Vote in my poll for what YOU want to drink…

In the meantime I today I am rocking the rock’n’roll tracksuit ala the Canadian Tuxedo, a look so ghastly not even irony will help it. I used a fancy handbag to trick it up, but I don’t think it works. And honestly I don’t know whether I can remain in this combo. I’ll walk the dog and decide…

Is that a bum on your head or are you just an arse?

Top: Classic and genuine Levi’s jacket blending almost seamlessly into…

Bottom: Ben Sherman straight leg jeans, sloppy

Accessory: Chanel (fake??) handbag, not helping this look at all

Nup. That outfit is horrible. I’ve changed in more ways than one. As someone I work with always says “You’ve changed, you used to be cool”.

Here’s my new look, much more appropriate for test driving blue cocktails…

Elegant and stylish is my name

Top: Target, uh huh, suit style jacket

Bottom: Dragstar fully amazing new high waisted flares, still so high waisted I can’t actually do up the the top button

Accessory: I’m sticking with the Chanel handbag. It’s a winner

Day 364: Tuesday 27 April

Today I look back at yesteryear for denim inspiration. Yes I am going the other way from contemporary fashion. I have turned my back on the skinny leg jean and instead have embraced the bell bottom like there’s no tomorrow.

While there IS a tomorrow here on YoD and a day after, and another day after and a day after that, after that day (Friday) there is NO YEAR of DENIM! Although I MIGHT have to embrace a LIFE of denim…

I had promised some special edition blogs this week that somehow have yet to occur. The final day there is an extra special photo shoot with guest blogger, and I also have a small treat planned for tomorrow and maybe the day after that too.

So chin up, here’s today…

Showing off some op shop handi-crafts, my flares and my new bag

Top: From way back before the dawn of the Year of Denim comes this incredible slice of vintage denim.  It’s mine

Bottom: Bell bottoms are the new skinny legs, you saw it here first. No more will you have to look at men’s skinny legs I predict

Accessory 1: Denim cap sent down from QLD in the early days of YoD. I still like it and will be keeping it

Accessory 2: My mum made me this denim bag from stripy denim I was given waaaay back with plans to do a little sewing. Once the sewing machine left the building I was stranded. Luckily Mum stepped into the breach and whipped this up for me. Thanks Mum. For everything

Don’t forget the end of YoD on Saturday night…

Day 363: Monday 26 April 2010

Yes, it’s the final days of denim. I am going through my wardrobe and wearing some stuff I promise I’ll never wear again. Although there  are many items too beautiful or ugly to give up.

This morning I WAS wearing one of the most loved donations and, in fact, a top 5 favourite piece of denim here at YoD… the denim bomber jacket. But it was too hot. I got sweaty simply standing around so I changed into something I love and something I hate…

Monday morning happy face.. just for show

Top: LOVE Dragstar denim vest. She changed her mind and I can keep the vests! I HEART Dragstar!

Bottom: HATE Denim for Sportsgirl jeans, although they are sort of concealed in this particular photo. What is hateful about them? Dunno. Just hate ’em

Accessory: LOVE denim gym boots

Accessory 2: LOVE Flaps loaned many zippered denim bag

Day 362: Sunday 25 April

Being ANZAC Day I suppose I SHOULD be doing a tribute to our troops, but being a pacifist I find it problematic to glorify and celebrate war, killing and invasion of other people’s countries.

Instead I’m doing a tribute to Justin Beiber!

Who? He is the new Lief Garret, David Cassidy, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson. Yes, he’s a teen pop prodigy he is 16 but looks 12. And he has excellent hair brushed forward very artistically.

Only listen to this if you want your ears to bleed. It’s the most nothing piece of contemporary pop I’ve heard in a very long time.

But check out his shiny shiny hair…

Hi my name is Justin Bieber. I've got shiny hair

I have tried to emulate Justin Bieber, but it’s difficult when you are a 42 year old woman and he’s a 16 year old boy yet to hit puberty…

Back off paparazzi, mind my hair

Top: Joe’s Jeans jacket. Don’t know if Mr Bieber does double denim, but as he’s from Canada you would have to think he rocks the Canadian Tuxedo

Bottom: JayJays skinny jeans. Bieber tends to wear his baggy to hide jut how weedy he is

Accessory: Lightfoot Studio bag, gotta give it back soon. I have yet to see Justin Bieber with a denim bag, but you never know

Day 361: Saturday 24 April

After Thursday’s shocking football revelations (that I didn’t find out about until well into Friday hence no mention yesterday) that some players get paid out of paper bags and not through the electronic banking system (shocking) you would think I would be too upset to even consider footy.

But no. It’s simply directed my interest elsewhere in the league code… The Toyota Cup! (that’s reserve grade).

This afternoon I am off to watch a local derby between the Newtown Jets and the Balmain Tigers over at Leichhardt Oval. And I’m dressed in blue to support my team, the mighty Jets…

Outdoorsy hip-cocking, brim snapping type of gal

Top: I doubt I’ll ever wear this again in my lifetime, Ivy chambre vest

Bottom: Top Girl shorts. I like ’em enough to keep ’em

Accessory: I love my Glamour Girl denim cap purchased for 20c in Kempsey. Mine for life

Day 360: Friday 23 April

It’s the final countdown….

Yes, one week for the Year of Denim FROM TODAY!!!

I’m trying to dredge up some new looks without actually purchasing anything new (cos I’m a cheapskate), although if I wander past a charity fashion boutique today I might just pop in to see what they have.

I can’t decide what my penultimate denim outfit should be. Should it come from the YoD archives? Or should it be something never before seen? Should I wear multiple outfits? Or no denim at all?

Here’s today.

A tribute to hair metal or bedhead... you decide

Top: JeansWest shrug. How much cheap arse JeansWest, JayJays, Target, K-Mart, Supre denim do I have? Heaps. But even then I bought 99% of it at the op shop

Bottom: Mink Pink denim shorts, it’s gunna be hoot today and I’m heading off for asnorkel on the northside. Hurrah

Accessory: Very expensive (I have no idea of it’s price, it was a gift from the Guru) Japanese denim bag with awesome bamboo handles

Also only 1 week + 1 day until….

Day 359: Thursday 22 April

Early morning wake -up call… GET UPP!!!!

Why does waking up at 5.30am mean I always have puffy eyes? A comment on yesterday’s blog suggested I had an ‘Extreme Make-overish’ appearance. Perhaps over night someone has done a little plastic surgery to my eye bags?

Gotta rush, gotta catch that early morning train, cos my baby works from 9 till 5. No, that’s not right. Gosh, I’m gibbering…

Let sleeping dogs lie-in, cos they're old and need their rest

Top: Suit jacket style. I’m going to work so I need to look the ‘business’

Bottom: Skinny Gap jeans, cos I don’t know

Accessory 1: Denim bag. Not one of my favs but I’m trying to share around the last days of denim around my stuff

Accessory 2: Denim gym boots, here to stay. They won’t be going into the St Vincent de Paul’s bag

Day 358: Wednesday 21 April

What a surprise! I don’t have a hangover this morning. Not that I wake up EVERY day with a hangover and so that NOT having one is cause for remark.

No. It’s that I went out on the town (if you can call Petersham ‘The Town’), had a pretty delicious Portugese dinner, which kindly shredded the roof of my mouth, drank a fair bit. Then decided, no, we need MORE drinks! So off to Newtown for a few nightcaps at The Bank (boring), then a couple more at the Town and Country (where the atmosphere is great (thanks to Slim Dusty)). Then finally home.

As I first said, what a surprise I am NOT hung-over. In fact I look down right perky this misty morning.

Misty hippy apparition in the front yard

Top: Thanks Supre for all your cheap denim, including this distressed style vest

Bottom: Cut-offs, hell yeah

Accessory 1: Denim birkies singing into the grass

Accessory 2: Denim head scarf

I’m off to walk the dog and go for a snorkel, and who knows I might even change my outfit for my movie date this afternoon.

Oh and quick reminder….