Kicking the habit

Phew.

It sure is hard to break that denim addiction.

Since the Year of Denim concluded I have fought a constant battle to NOT wear more than one piece of denim at a time. And I have failed frequently, with my denim cravings usually getting the better of me.

I not only struggle daily with my desire to WEAR double denim (and TRIPLE) the other day I made myself change after I put on jeans, a vest AND denim gym boots. I am wrestling daily with an over whelming urge to BUY denim.

Since YoD finished I have controlled my unnatural urges enough to have limited my denim purchasing to a pair of jeans, and a few days ago I splashed out and bought a coat.

While in the Salvation Army shop I convinced myself it wasn’t denim. On closer inspection by a third party I was forced to admit that, yes, it actually IS denim. But then I thought just a little taste of the jean fabric WASN’T giving into cravings. It was merely purchasing something awesome by anyone’s standards. Yes, anyone’s.

After some consideration I think I am deluding myself and may have to enter denim rehab, no no no…

A good look at my hairy legs AND my new coat

So there it is, another (yes I already own that Levi’s denim trench coat) trench coat. This one is by Tigerlilly, and I’m shocked it fits cos’ anything vaguely label-like is usually waaay too tight for my buxomness. And I am still unconvinced it’s denim.

Anyways, here are the jeans I bought. I NEEDED them. I don’t own  pair of black skinny leg ‘painted denim’ style jeans. And now I do…

Window posing is all the rage in fashion shoots right now

After the shakey classiness of the Tigerlilly purchase these Dotti jeans are welcome return to cheap label denim. And I like the way the socks casually match the jumper. Unintentional I assure you.

So now I have some new denim I am still procastinating over the old denim currently STILL piled up on my bedroom floor.

Piles of denim making me guilty

I have pulled one or two pieces out o the pile (I have no idea why) over the past 6 weeks but really it’s not ben touched sine I dumped it all there after YoD’s party. I need to jam it all into a one of those op shop bins that lurk around the place. But that would mean action on my behalf and right now I’m all about inactivity.

Every day, now with a soundtrack!

You asked for it, so here it is.

Every outfit of every day of the Year of Denim now with matching and very appropriate soundtrack.

Special thanks to Marty Rhone’s “Mean Pair of Jeans” slightly butchered.

Post Denim Party picture fest

Wow.

Thanks for coming to my end of the Year of Denim Party. You all looked amazing, filling my house to over flowing with denim.

I got up this morning (shattered) to find every surface smeared with either bright blue icing or blue curacao. Everything sticky, and food EVERYWHERE! So much food! Too much food. Cakes all over the place everywhere, denim climbing the walls, bottles strewn around the place (inside and out) and me feeling not right. At all.

But what a night! I had a great time all because of YOU!

Special thanks to Schappylle Scragg for bringing her beautiful self all the way from Smellbourne (her word not mine).

Don’t think I am capable of writing much more today. On to the party picture fest…

This is what the cakes looked like today

Happy birthday to me!

And a cake for the party

This is what the cakes looked like today

Schappylle Scragg with savage pitbull Taxi

Scragg & Jek in matching jeggings

Girls do double denim… It’s all about the eyebrows

Scragg shows off her new blue lipstick. No, that’s blue lips from drinkng Blue Lagoons

Media slaves double denim show down

Lakie’s new look + bonus package is really working for him

Lakie’s big package

Vulnerable pose on the shag

Kate Moss? No, it’s art glamour girl Elizabeth Pulie

A mess of arty types denim style

These cats prove smoking is cool

Pensive Pip poses perfectly

Love and other bruises

RPulie with one hand in my pocket and so LA’s

Manager of Milperra Waters enjoying his success

Pose off denim style, Mark vs Corrine

Upside down Raito’s turning me

Sweet-as denim clad girl hug

MarkS gets to grips with his girls. Literally… can’t you see how hard he is squeezing them?

Scragg does a taste test on RaqO

Sragg goes sniff test on RaqO

No idea what’s going on here, or why

Loving couple share a special moment

PeteNel feeling TeePee’s love… and it’s not soft

Biloela’s finest shows us what he’s made of

Sweethearts giving pussy a squeeze

Jane in her native attire of denim

KiwiVuv is the toughest! And the roughest! And the hottest!

Exs giving the cold denim shoulder

Dad shows of his special party t-shirt

Ant & Bex keep the love burning denim style

S & T eat some party snacks. No wait, that’s poo

Polynesian Princesses go head to head

” Why am I holding a turd? What kind of party is this?” thinks TP quietly to herself

The King of The ‘Ville with his bride

Grumpa shows the correct way to wear doube denim

Hutcho gets to grips with my mum

Something funny goin’ on… is poo coming out or being inserted?

Big pants dance off

Six struggle to get into Sarah’s pants

The battle in Sarah’s pants

Local hoodlums gate-crashed my party

They not only brought piles of food, they brought loads of style too

Glen angry, Vince frotting

I cut the cake whilst tasting

Scragg gropes me + a lemon

Battle of the belly n boob bulges

As you can see by my expression the cake icing is yummy

Rock gods feeling the passion

One two kick, sorry about your nuts Paul

Paul plays with his little choo choo train

Josie’s incredible edible denim pockets

Glen poses with his lovely new handbag

Ps, I love you, you are such a model!

The Guru tastes Josie’s denim pocket

Peter seems strangely worried by Shal’s fervent attentions

Another cake, Thanks Beavis

Shal thinks she can dance

Shall channels FlashDance convincingly

Shal takes Peter’s head off mid routine

The Guru models the pants EVERYONE wanted to get into

I cut some more cake

I eat some more icing very sensually

FiGi & Biloela bringin’ mega attitude

Chesty JP resplendent in Leisuremaster

The pile of denim in my room. Yikes

AnneK gets right into the pocket

Once again, I thank you all for your hard work eating and drinking etc last night. And FYI FiGi is a party ANIMAL!!!!

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 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 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….