Yesterday I made this top out of some old fabric that's been lying around for years (mum says it was probably once my grandma's). I'm so exited because it's one of the few pieces I've made totally from scratch, even creating my own pattern for it. It wasn't actually made to fit me, I was planning to sell it, but I think I've fallen in love... This is probably my favourite piece of clothing I've ever made. Photography is by the amazing Isaac Henry.

I'm heading to a Luminate Festival today, for eight days, and I'm planning to photograph my outfits each day and create some kind of blog series out of that for you, along with must haves for festivals etc. Also I'll be helping out in my friend's stall Rethreads where she sells her amazing clothing all made out of secondhand fabrics. I might even be selling some of my own creations alongside her brand. So if you're coming up, come visit me! Eek! I can't wait!

xxx
M

I first saw this dress in an opshop, it was about five times wider than it is now, with extremely awkward t-shirt sleeves. But I took a chance because I loved the fabric, so I took it home and adjusted it. Trash Palace in Takaka (Golden Bay, New Zealand) is probably my favourite second-hand shop ever. Every item is only $1 or you can fill a bag for $7, I've got so many awesome clothes there, including this dress. The Madcat jacket I got in Wellington from the opshop in Aro Valley, but it's actually made by a designer in Nelson. The tie is an old one of my dads which I like to wear as a belt because my only actual belt is turquoise and therefore clashes with almost everything. I got these wonderful leather shoes for $5 at the Sunday market in Nelson. It just shows that you don't ever have to look far to find awesome, affordable, unique clothing, you just have to know where to look. When you're opshopping you always find interesting things rather than a rack of basically the same shirt in a few different colours. I find most of those normal clothing stores boring. Basic sewing skills are always good to have because when you're opshopping and something doesn't fit quite right you can't just grab a different size, everything is a one off! Plus I find it makes a garment more special when I've made the effort to adjust it myself. Also a personal rule of mine when doing any kind of shopping is I always ask "do I need it?" and if not, "do I love it?" This way I rarely end up with a pile of things that I never wear. 

xxx
M

Yesterday I was listening to The Beatles song "Revolution" and it was raining outside so I figured why not dress up and take some new photos? I made the top out of my boyfriend's old t-shirt, the shorts were created by Rethreads out of second-hand fabrics, I made the flower hairpiece for Titania - Queen of the Fairies when I directed Midsummer Night's Dream, the leather jacket is second-hand from the Saturday market in Takaka, I bought the gold sparkle tights from Socks Queen in Wellington and my boots are Doc Martens. I want to start making more clothes, things like this cut up t-shirt and other more interesting pieces. I love being able to take something I like but never wear and make a few little adjustments and it's suddenly one of my favourite clothes. This outfit was inspired by the Anonymous movement, Bob Marley and The Beatles.

xxx
M