...In the eye of the beholder

Lately I've had a longing. A yearning for a little something in my life - to cuddle, play with and care for. When I see someone walking by with their own little guy, I can't help but run over for a play.
No, my biological clock is not in a state of overdrive - there's plenty of ticking left on that timekeeper. Rather, my cluckiness is concerned with a companion of the four-legged variety.

Having been without a pet for the last year and a half, I've found myself drawn to all the little pups that seem to be running round recently. This infatuation has led to many conversations with friends about our favourite breeds. And repeatedly, my dogs of choice have been met with disagreement, shock, and occasionally disgust. In my eyes, a dog needs to have character. Sure, golden retrievers or labs are beautiful dogs - our family pet for 16 years was a lab cross - but to me there's nothing cuter than an ugly little pooch. Boston terriers, pugs, bulldogs, chihuahuas, staffies... the weirder looking and more squished their faces are, the better. How could you say no to their big, googly, slightly cross-eyed puppy dog eyes?

Salto Wear

Promo time.

On the weekend myself and two friends jetsetted off to Adelaide for a quick visit. Very brief... less than 24 hours in total, from departure to arrival lounges. We swept in, rocked Adelaide to the core, then before they knew what hit them we were back on a plane home, on very little sleep. The reason for our trip? Two of our good friends who once lived with us in Melbourne have left us to go back home to Radelaide. Well, that happened a while back. But now one of them is leaving to go even further afield - NYC, the Big Apple. Plus, it was her birthday. Plus, she was holding a fashion show for her new label, Salto.
Hence, the promo.

Salto is an urban, fresh, male and female clothing line. It combines a range of tees, singlets, cardigans and dresses for both sexes. The current range is cute, fun, very wearable and the girls' pieces have a hint of sixties flavour. Pieces are currently stocked in a number of boutiques in Adelaide, and start at about $60. Despite having only just begun retail sale, the line is receiving rave reviews, and the stores are reporting that pieces are flying out the door.

Salto has it's own Facebook account, so please feel free to add the label as a friend to keep updated on all the latest news.

Below are some pics of the most recent line, as long with some snaps from the parade. Enjoy!

much love for the nineties

Yes, I know it's currently a major trend. Yes, I realise I'm likely to fall deeply in love with the style of another decade within the next few months. But I have a serious fashion crush on the 90s. And I don't see it fading, no matter what trends flaunt themselves in shop windows and magazine spreads, trying to steal my affections away. Many people claim it's a moment in fashion history that should be forgotten, but I beg to differ. The cropped tops, the plaid pieces, the black and white, floral dresses, black ankle boots. The grungy, yet put together look. Think Empire Records, Bridget Fonda in Singles, Dazed and Confused, White Men Can't Jump, Single White Female. Really, how could the fluoro of the 80s, flares of the 70s or velvet of the 60s compare? I may be biased, having grown up in the era, but I stand by my claim - the 90s, a fashion moment to be savoured.

kiss hug

ps. check out some 90s nostalgia here

josh thomas. best.

Yayoi Kusama: a bit dotty

On a recent trip to Sydney with my best friend we made certain to stop by the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art. And I'm glad we did.

The installations were bizarre, disorienting. Who knew how strong the effect of being surrounded by dots could be. After mere moments of being shut in a mirrored space, only metres wide and long, the unsettled, loopy feelings began to set in. When the museum's workers opened the doors to let us out, it was like drawing in a deep breath of fresh air, as relief washed over us. But it wasn't a negative experience - rather it was an enjoyable sense of unease.

Yayoi Kusama is a Japanese artist - she paints, she sculpts, she performs, she creates installations. This self-proclaimed 'obsessive artist' has one theme that links all her art together however - pattern and repetition. The unsettled feeling her works evoke is no coincidence. Since she was a young girl, Kusama has apparently experienced hallucinations and obsessive thoughts. She explains that the trademark polka dots that pop up throughout her artwork are taken directly from these hallucinations.

Despite her poor mental health, Kusama can certainly not be described as a withdrawn artist. After moving to the United States in the late 50s, she staged a number of public events in conspicuous locations, including anti-war demonstrations, mass nudity, and fashion shows. Her work was widely acknowledged, and she soon became a leader in the avant-garde movement. Although she returned to Japan due to ill health in the late 1970s, her work has continued to be exhibited and awards have continued to be awarded.

It all just goes to show - the little bit of crazy in each of us may not be such a bad thing.

Well Plaid

Oh hello, it's me again

I'm back.

After a rather lengthy hiatus, Ici et La's engines are grinding once again.

So much time has passed, so many months, so many seasons, so many parties, so many battles fought, so many walks walked, talks talked, laughs laughed and so much chocolate eaten. So much time spent under the doona, solving Sudoku, curled up on the couch, cuddled in the arms of friends, texting on my mobile, singing along to a favourite tune. So many magazines read until they're dogeared. So many dumplings eaten. So many memories captured in a snapshot. So many new discoveries, new friends, new bands, new clothes, new goals and new experiences. And just a bit more of old books, old hoodies, old friends, old favourites and old music.

So much, so many.

And here I am, back again.

How to be an annoying crowd member

I spent another day at the National Gallery of Victoria today as part of my internship within the Fashion and Textiles Department. The NGV was crazy busy, I'd forgotten that not only is it school holidays, but the Art Deco exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London just opened a couple of weeks ago. The result? mammoth lines and mayhem.

After I finished up my work with the curators, lovely Dani let me into the exhibition for free on her security pass. There really was some great stuff on display - anyone with any interest in history, design, furniture, fashion, painting, ceramics or textiles would have a field day.

But the downside of attending the exhibition at such a busy time was being reminded how rude and annoying people can be, especially when they're huddled together in swarms moving around the room from piece to piece.

My first pet peeve in the initial busy room was an inability to get close enough to any of the pieces to actually read what they were. Every time an opening was created a little old woman would step in and fill the space. And not wanting to hip and shoulder a senior citizen out of the way, I was left piecing together the sentences over heads and under arms.

In the next room, I encountered more consciously annoying people. Well, mainly one woman really. There I would be, standing by myself in front of an image or cabinet. Plenty of room around me, plenty of space to stand. But no, not once, not twice, but repeatedly, this woman would come and wedge herself directly in front of me, between myself and the artwork. Necessary? I think not. Rude? mmmyes. Bad gallery etiquette? Uh, hell yeah!

Another- actually rather amusing- characteristic of the annoying gallery attendee? Discussing art as though one possesses very little brains at all. Now I don't pretend that I know very much at all about art or ceramics or furniture or the Art Deco period in general, but really....

Direct Quote: "Ohhhh look honey, look at that chair! Oh I love how they've put the legs and the chair like that! OOOH and it's pink!! Perfect for me!"

The final straw was in the last room when I moved to the next dress along the wall only to step into a big, smelly cloud of gas. That extra little cherry of class and sophistication on top of the whole frustrating cake.

Having said all that, I'm not a total bitch, and there were many lovely people there also, who seemed to be genuinely interested and enjoying the exhibition. Which I recommend anyone in Melbourne goes to see.

kiss hug

the dr is in.

feeling a little ruffled