the photo phobic

Last Thursday night I went to 'The Complete History of World Rugby (Abridged)', performed by the uber-talented Outwits on the Daffodil Lawn in The Botanic Gardens, and had a fantastic evening of almost free entertainment. It's become a bit of a tradition for my family, as we've been going to The Outwits Summertimes performances for years, and no matter what their subject they are always absolutely hilarious, clever and witty. This year the rugby theme is quite appropriate with the 2011 World Cup in NZ approaching. I'm not a huge fan of the sport but that didn't mean I enjoyed the show any less. Although it was all brilliant the most memorable scenes for me were the ballet, Spargo's scrotum costume and the trios renditions of The Village People. If you're in the Christchurch area and are in the mood for a laugh it's a must see, and the good news is it only costs a donation. If you're interested pack a picnic and check out the details here x 

I promise I'm not already breaking my vow of shoe buying suspension, but I got these from Solestruck last week and just realised I hadn't posted about them. I'm not usually a big fan of animal print but there is something about these shoes (perhaps the fact they're JC) that make me love them. I was a little worried when I ordered them that the cheeath 'fur' may look cheap, but was pleasantly surprised at how good they look in person. I also like the style with the laces as they are slightly more casual but with a twist x

I received my package from Limecrime today with 2 new lipsticks from the Candy Future collection:  'Airborne Unicorn' and 'Great Pink Planet'.  I've been eyeing these colours for a while and finally got the courage to order them. First, the packaging is pretty cool, its very cutesy with the sparkling unicorn, but the bright pink colour does make it very easy to find in my bag. Also, the opaque finish is great and the pastel shades last well on your lips without staining too much. I wore the pink out today, but think the purple may need more of an occasion to wear than everyday x

I went into town today to run some errands and alas, Andera Biani just happened to be having a two-day sale, so I thought I'd pop in for a quick look which turned out to be an epic fail...I left the store with 3 new pairs of shoes. But then again who can blame me when all 3 came to less than the original price of one? Not only did I get a pair of Mollini Tanker Wedges, but also two new additions to my JC collection, the Swansong and She-Man. I was going to get the She-Man in black, but couldn't bring myself to buy three pairs of black wedges in one go, so thought I would compromise and get the brown/multi. They're definitely a statement shoe and very different for me because they're so colourful. As much as I love spontaneous shopping sprees and bargains, I am now making a vow not to buy anymore shoes for a while. Honestly I don't know how long it will last x

I love it when perseverance pays off! I've been on the hunt for a pair of Docs for quite some time now but have resisted the urge to cave and buy a new pair because I was hoping to find the perfect vintage pair...last week I did. They're the original, Made in England, 1460s and are in mint condition. Infact, I don't think they've even been worn, so it's up to me to break them in. While on the subject, I'm also coveting the new pastel 1461s. I love the old school-shoe style mixed with a modern twist, perfect with cropped trousers and tea dresses, but which colour to choose? x

Its hard to believe that a film could be successful when its about one man, in one confined location, for 100 minutes, but '127 Hours' does this flawlessly. Inspired by true events and the autobiography of Aron Ralston, the film is about a thrill-seeker who gets pinned between a rock and the canyon wall while climbing in the remote Blue John Canyon, Utah. In short, the film about one man's sheer determination, strength and will to live. Considering Ralston is trapped in one place for most of it, it's surprising how well the pace of the film flows and I never once felt bored. With so much screen time on one character, I felt connected to Ralston and could experience his journey, pain and decisions, making me wonder what I would do if I found myself in his situation. However, with several light-hearted moments, in particular Ralston interviewing himself, the film also manages to stay optimistic despite the dire circumstances.  James Franco is simply terrific in his one-man-show sort of role, he carries the film and his intense and emotional performance draws your attention and keeps you interested for the entire duration. Personally, I think it'll be a tough fight between Colin Firth and himself for the Oscar. Although it was brutal at times, I thoroughly enjoyed '127 Hours', and left the cinema with a smile on my face. It's definitely one of the best films i've seen so far this year x

After liberating them from customs, I finally received my Foxys! I've been after the black suede for ages but they're always out of stock in my size and I'm impatient, so when the nude came in I decided to order them as a bit of a change (most of my shoes are black or grey) and I'm in love. They make me super tall and are incredibly comfortable considering the epic height. I also love the neutral colour as it goes with most things and instantly spruces up a summer outfit. Foxy is definitely one of my favourite JC styles, they are no short of amazing in person. I hope the black is back soon, although my bank account doesn't x

I've been incredibly intrigued to see 'Black Swan' since seeing the trailer for the first time early last year. Since then, my anticipation has only grown which is strange as I usually shy away from films with elements of horror. However, 'Black Swan' has a perfect balance of psychological thriller, horror and drama that kept me guessing from the moment I sat down. It is the story of Nina Sayers, a fragile ballerina who battles with perfection to win the dual role of the Swan Queen in the company's production of Swan Lake. Nina embodies that of the innocent White Swan, but as she delves into her dark side to capture that of the Black Swan, finds herself consumed by obsession, paranoia, and spinning wildly into madness. The film was hauntingly beautiful and a true example of successful art cinema. Not only were the performances by the entire cast fantastic, but so too was the cinematography, mise-en-scene and of course the ballet. Another major appeal for me was the ballet costumes designed by the genius sisters behind Rodarte, all were exquisite but if I had to pick a favourite it would be between the Black Swan and Nina's gorgeous white party gown. The visual effects, particularly the contrasts of dark and light, are also enthralling. I came out of the cinema questioning myself and what I had just seen. This is certainly part of why the film is so successful, as I'm sure if I try to wrap my head around these questions I'll probably end up in the same spiral of madness as Nina. Although not for everyone, 'Black Swan' is wonderfully riveting and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Its not a film that will be easy to forget x

In preparation for the new generation/series 5, and to rid my memory of the abomination that is MTV Skins, over the past week I've been having a Skins marathon and went right back to the beginning to relive  my  favourite moments from the past 2 generations/4 series. I'm still undecided on my favourite cast but I think gen 1 might have the upper hand as I was pretty disappointed by series 4, not to mention it's awful ending...RIP Freddie. I've heard series 5 is going to be one of the lightest in terms of themes, but of course it will always have that typical skins grit which i've come to love so much. I know I'm a few days behind, but I'm definitely looking forward to catching up and seeing how the new cast get on x