This is for all those days that I don't update

Today was actually gorgeous weather, but terribly windy and I had to go pick up a bathroom mirror for my boyfriend from the glass shop (twice, because the first time I went they said it wasn't ready. GRR. You say it's ready for Friday, it should be ready for Friday. So I had to go back) and do housework and play guitar, so wore this:


Jeans - Sportsgirl; T-shirt - The Disney Store in NYC; Shoes - Converse. (I look grumpy because I'd just got back from the glass shop for the first time.)

So pretty much any day that I don't update, I'm wearing a version of this outfit. Give me some groupies and I'm all set :)

- Robyn

Like a Harpoon in my heart

I've been trying to find a video of last Thursday, but to no avail, so here is my solo acoustic version of what transpired at the Jebs gig. Try to imagine a full band, and to ignore that one bung chord in the bridge.



Also, below is (part of) the reason this blog is called Chain Store Whore and not Designer Label Diva. Being a musician is an expensive hobby. It's not even my guitar either, I borrowed it from my old high school, but I have three others, and one big mofo amp in the other room.



- Robyn

Primary Colours

My scales are currently broken (which is perhaps a good thing really), but I know it's a good day when I can fit into my favourite vintage item, this wonderful vintage skirt I picked up on Karangahape Road in Auckland. That street is seriously the best vintage shopping EVER and I regret that I didn't spend more time there. I think I got the skirt for 20NZD. It obviously doesn't have an elasticised waist, and I haven't been able to fit into it comfortably for a while (I could wear it, but I wouldn't be able to eat a meal without popping the buttons), but today I can, yay! I'm all primary today too. Also, I nicked another one of my mum's lipsticks, this time a really cheap Australis one with quite a nice red colour. Port Red by MAC is still my favourite, but this will help me make it last a bit longer...


Skirt - Vintage; Top - Jay Jays; Cardigan - Coo Ca Choo; Shoes - Rubi.
(yes, I bought more of the cheap Rubi ballet flats...I'll eventually get them all probably!)

- Robyn

bowling, ballarat and bargains

I went to Ballarat on Friday to watch my sister's high school band in a competition. They came third but because of scheduling issues we actually missed seeing them...lol a long way to drive to miss it! We went bowling though. I didn't actually intend to bowl and so was wearing perhaps slightly odd leg wear...I had my Nine West knee high brown suede boots over the socks, promise!



I also had Jess trying to psyche me out when bowling - note the one solitary pin left. I unsurprisingly missed.


Still, justice and my mad bowling skillz prevailed, and I ended up with the winning score (Kevin=me - Jess is also a huge Jebs fan and decided to name me after Mr Mitchell).


And to prove our responsibility, a self portrait at 110 km/h!


So Ballarat wasn't a complete wash-out. Especially because I found this lovely jacket in the st Vinnie's for $5!



Dress - Don't Ask Amanda; Jacket - op shop; Belt - vintage; Sunglasses - Target.

I've decided I'm rocking the 90s look this spring.

- Robyn

Photos from Thursday night

Hmm. I forgot to upload photos yesterday, when we went to Ballarat, and now I'm in bed on my mac and my legs are killin me from work so they'll just have to wait. I do however have a couple of photos from Thursday's gig - just to prove it really did happen and that I'm not (completely) insane. I didn't bring my own camera (typical, the one time I don't bother bringing it!) so only had my phone, and hence have one photo.


Ness, most awesome bassist ever :D

the next couple were taken by my friend Steve on his phone (thanks Steve, although I know you won't read this!):


I think Kevin is laughing at my singing.



I was also extremely lucky to be standing next to Phoebe Hodgson, who runs Jebediah's Myspace and who took the following excellent photos:

Some tasty harmonising on the last lines (well, I hope it was tasty. I couldn't actually hear myself). Also, Kevin is much taller than I expected. His mic was above my head height, and Vanessa had to come over and say 'put your mic down a bit, she's short!' I was on the balls of my feet anyway...I'm not even that short...am I? *sigh*

- Robyn

ARGHGHRHAHGHRGHEARGHRHAGH!!!!

(please excuse the language in this post. I'm incredibly excited right now, for reasons which will become clear).

OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!!!!!

Um. So. I can't remember if I mentioned it, but tonight I went to see Jebediah, who were my first ever real favourite band. Their second album Of Someday Shambles was the first CD I ever bought. I was also completely inspired by Vanessa, their bassist, who wasn't trendy or anything like the girls at my school, and yet completely cool because she didn't care what other people thought (I was something of an outsider at school - mainly through dorkiness and geekiness). In year 11 I used my formal dress money to buy a bass guitar and amp (and spent $20 on my formal dress in an op shop) then proceeded to learn as many Jebediah bass lines as possible. I only got to see them once, at Big Day Out 2003, so tonight was the first time I got to see them play a full gig, and OMG. They are SO GOOD live! SO GOOD!!!! HEAPS GOOD!!!!!!!

I was already in died and gone to heaven mode with a big dorky grin on my face, midway through the set, when Kevin (singer/guitarist) said 'we're going to play a really old one now...and if you think you can sing one of our songs from 1997 without knowing what it is, put your hand up.' I was right in front of the stage and unthinkingly put my hand up, thinking he'd pick someone else, and then he looked at me and said 'Get up on stage!' and suddenly I found myself climbing up on stage...and looking out and just seeing a sea of faces (600 is apparently the capacity and tonight was sold out). Kevin said 'we're doing Harpoon' and introduced me to the biggest load of people I have ever had to face EVER while I quietly shat myself. It was like karaoke gone completely and utterly mad. Ever since I was 13 I'd harboured dreams of playing bass with Jebediah (and marrying Chris, the guitarist, which I'm still working on) and suddenly I was standing next to Kevin as he started playing Harpoon...can anyone say 'holy shit holy shit when will I wake up'?

Anyway. I completely forgot the words to the second verse and was staring desperately at a girl in the crowd trying to read her lips, but apparently everyone was yelling 'go Robyn!' etc which I couldn't hear because I was too busy having a panic attack whilst surrounded by Jebediah. I actually kinda enjoyed myself from the bridge onwards - I mean holy SHIT! I'm singing with JEBEDIAH!!!!! And Kevin was grinning at me and making guitar rock god poses at me and Vanessa was smiling away and apparently I sang in tune and Kevin and I did the two people singing in one mic thing and then it ended and Vanessa, my all time hero and saviour of my teenage years gave me a beer and I got off stage and collapsed in a puddle of panicked goo. It was a seriously cool experience, although the rest of the set I was trying hard not to pass out (my body does not react well to extreme stress and anxiety).

And the best bit was calling my little sister afterwards. I had called her earlier for Leaving Home and my exact words were 'I was going to call you for Harpoon but I couldn't because I was FUCKING ON STAGE SINGING IT WITH THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

So yeah. Now I have to calm down because I'm up at 8 tomorrow, but my outfit:


Jeans - Sportsgirl; T-shirt - Bonds; Jacket - Jay Jays; Scarf - Vintage; Shoes - Big W.

Sorry for the long, long, long post. I hope you understand.

- Robyn

The glittery, glam life of a 'musician'

Really quick one, as I feel like I haven't slept for days and I'm working tomorrow. The Sisters of Sass played Dizzy's tonight, I think we played better tonight than last time, although I'm still yet to solo. Connie is sadly ill so we had a replacement singer, and I also didn't get my agent 99 dress, so wore this one instead...and had to be very careful to not bend over or make any sudden movements, lest I flash my gusset.


dress - vintage; shoes - witchery.

Might I also add those shoes still haven't stretched much and my left foot feels like the toe is about to fall off...friggin ow...anyway I'm crawling to bed, night all.

- Robyn

two sides to every story

Hope y'all had a good weekend...melbournians how bad has the weather been!? Spring my arse, today was wet and horrible. My wife Georgie had her 24th on the weekend and I wore an optimistically warm outfit:


T-shirt - Bonds; Skirt - My sister's; Necklace - also my sister's; Shoes - Rubi.

I ended up adding a cardigan, scarf and leather jacket for the cold, and some lazy rock and roll 'yes I've been dragged through a bush backwards, what are you going to do about it' makeup to match my hair of the same name:


I borrowed Georgie's MAC eyeshadow in Black Tied for this and just packed it on, too easy. Fluffy eyelashes courtesy of mum's Diorshow Waterproof mascara (I do my makeup in the same bathroom as her and haven't bought mascara for three years now), Stila lipstick in Kelly. I also swear by my Shiseido makeup stick in control colour (which is a very pale green) to take down the red in my cheeks and even out skin tone - I don't wear blush or foundation (mainly because my foundation which I bought two months ago is already too dark).

Tonight we went to the ballet to see Interplay, three new contemporary works, so I had to be a little more...shall we say...presentable. I think I channeled my inner geek/librarian here, all I needed were some glasses. The cardigan was a find from my mum's wardrobe cleanout - it's all wool and lovely and warm, and she stopped wearing it after shrinking it in the wash.


Cardigan - Laura Ashley; Skirt - Esprit; Silk Scarf - Mum's.

I was wearing those silver ballet flats again but it was wet outside and I didn't wear them in. When exactly does spring start again?

- Robyn

I like shiny things (in case you hadn't guessed)

I really really adore shiny things, I think at heart I'm still 12 years old. So you can imagine my delight when I saw these in Big W yesterday, for the princely sum of $6.97 a pair. At a price like that who needs to decide between gold and silver?





I think I'm going to Springvale for a haircut and to get out and enjoy the last rays of winter sunshine.

- Robyn

Newness!

First of all, look! A shiny shiny new header! How exciting ey. I can even tell you what clothing's in it :D

Silver - my vintage sequinned gig top (until my dress is fixed, apparently); Yellow - Supre dress; Orange - Sportsgirl shorts; Pink - Yeojin Bae for Target dress; Purple - Cotton On top; Blue - Basque dress; Green - Threadless t-shirt.

Tonight mum and I went to a dinner/wine tasting, for a newish Margaret River winery, Sandalford Estate...or something...Only I didn't get to drink any wine because I was driving. I did have one little tiny sip of a sem sav blanc though, and it was really nice. I'm thinking of doing a wine course at some point - I don't really drink wine and usually when a customer asks me what's good, I just recommend whatever's been selling well that week. I wore my springvale eye palette for a bit of fun, and MAC Port Red lipstick, quite possibly the best red ever, shame it's limited edition...


Coat - Bauhaus; Shoes - Rubi Shoes. Dog - Sushi (Nori's companion and chief tormentor).


Dress - Basque; Cardigan - my old cream one.

And a close up of the makeup:


My internet is working at home again and the weather's just beginning to be a bit less arctic, so hopefully I'll be updating a bit more frequently from now on :)

- Robyn

Bring on spring+Rubi shoes

Sorry for the non-updating of late...my internet has been down at home for a few days, so I'm using my boyfriend's computer (he asked me if that was the only reason I came over tonight...and now that we have a Foxtel IQ at home, I pretty much have to say yes XD). I went shopping at Chadstone with Liz on Saturday (check out her blog surface layers on my favourite blogs list) and picked up some awesome stuff :D Hooray for Target, is all I can say! They had some adorable clothing. I'm also wearing my new red shoes from Rubi shoes - their ballet flats are 2 pairs for $20! I got silver ones too. I had actually been wearing a gorgeous pair of jewelled ballet flats from Witchery, but I'm still stretching them out and they were mangling my little toes.


Top - Dotti; Skirt - Topshop; Vest - Sportsgirl; Shoes - Rubi; Bag - Fossil.

I didn't actually buy *that* much from Target, but stashed my jacket, cardigan and scarf in there. Now I just have to wait for warmer weather so I can wear my new stuff :D

- Robyn

Splash of colour

I ended up not going out yesterday...ate something that didn't agree with me and...well, you know the rest. I'm feeling better today though, and going out tonight to the city with Bren and friends. I haven't worn this skirt in ages, picked it up from Alannah Hill at the boxing day sales last year (although it's still one of the most expensive pieces in my wardrobe!). I'm usually at a loss trying to find a top to go with it, and was actually going to wear a vintage blue swing skirt I got on K road in Auckland (seriously the best vintage shopping EVAR) but the waist is unelasticised and is just a tad tight right now, so my hand fell on this skirt and voila.


Top - Sportsgirl; Cardigan - one I've had for 13 years; Skirt - Alannah Hill; Boots - Nine West.

- Robyn

Getting out of the rut

Yay! I finally got out of my long jeans and hoodie rut today. Still had the hoodie, but it's still winter here and freezing! I also found a tripod today, while looking for the bicycle pump, so I'm not confined to my bedroom anymore. I was hanging out to wear this dress, which I haven't worn since the summer. Then I piled a whole lot of stuff on top of it...


Dress - Supre; Vest - Sportsgirl; Belt - Vintage; Shoes - Converse.


Hoodie and Cardigan - Jay Jays.


Jacket - Op Shop; Scarf - Myer; Beanie - Some camping brand.

I was actually hoping to get out of the house today but I had so much laundry to do (my parents are away) that I was stuck doing that, then had a jam session so there's my day gone. Hopefully tomorrow is still niceish so I can head out (once I've done all the ironing, that is).

- Robyn

PS This is my dog Nori. He likes finding comfy places to sleep, and my guitar cases are a favourite of his. As soon as I take the guitar out he's in there for the day.

what I'm looking forward to

There just isn't much happening by way of fashion with me right now...Melbourne has been freezing and it's forecast for rain all week, and I haven't been to the gym in ages and I'm feeling slobby and daggy. Urgh. I did however buy this cute skirt from topshop online over the weekend:



I had some money in my paypal account, from doing email surveys (who would think you can actually make money off those!) so treated myself to the skirt.

I also found an old dress of my mum's. It's the classic 80s style high collared, mutton leg sleeved monstrority, but the fabric is nice:



Unfortunately the orange belt is cut exactly to fit the waist of the dress, which must be 24 or 25 inches - in any case it's way too small for me (especially as I haven't been to the gym in two weeks and have gained a bit of weight. ugh). If I knew how to sew, I would cut the skirt out, hem it to knee length (it's mid calf length right now) and put in a flat waistband...or I might just take it to the tailor. In the meantime I'm going to push away the family sized block of dairy milk and hang out the washing. Joy.

- Robyn

New Haircut

Because it is way too cold for a new outfit at the moment. And I was playing with my hair and realised it was FULL of split ends.



I'm really really sorry that I haven't blogged for so long, but seriously guys, way too cold here right now. Some mornings my car has been covered in ice. Most days I'm wearing this:



I figured I wouldn't bore all of you with my repetitiveness as well!

- Robyn

Dressing in cold weather sucks

Hey guys, sorry for the non-posting, but how cold has it been in Melbourne lately!?!?!? I've been snuggling down in jeans, hoodies, converse and duffel coats. Last night I made an effort though, because we went out for drinks. Having a perm has made it impossible to blow dry my hair after washing so I had it up in a very messy bun sorta thing. And I think the coat is the only not-seen-before item in this picture (I bought it last year but don't wear it much)...I need to mix it up a bit!


Boots - Nine West; Dress - Target; Scarf - Myer; Trench Coat - EDC by Esprit

Keep warm guys!

- Robyn

Kind of blue+yay for cheap shoes!

So, I've kind of been having a crappy week. Job satisfaction is at an all time low and I canNOT get a retail job. Someone bloody employ me already! I've seen some of these girls that call themselves SAs, I can tell you I'm a damn sight more presentable, eloquent and knowledgable than some I've seen, but of course having no retail experience immediately makes me a heathen in the eyes of the head office. Grr. Anyway. I was in Myer today and found cheap cute shoes ($19.50!) so that kind of improved my mood.


Shoes - Myer; Skirt - Esprit; T-shirt - Love Police (it's a Muse band shirt); Scarf - vintage; Coat - Bauhaus.

Oh and I recently (re)discovered the joys of the children's clothing section. Because I've quite flat chested I can fit into the larger children's sizes, which means cute pieces (like the cardigan below) at lower prices than in the women's section.


As above, with Cardigan - Target.

I probably won't update before Monday, so hope your weekends are all better than mine.

- Robyn

Channeling cartoon characters+crazyass weather+suburban artiness

So I FINALLY found a black pencil skirt that fit in Supre of all places (I've been looking for one for quite a while). It's not high waisted but I'll live! I have a much smaller top than bottom (in case ya hadn't realised!) - I'm a size 8 top and size 10-12 bottom *sigh*. My measurements are actually 32-25.5-38.5 which is just a mess. Most high waisted things don't fit both my hips and waist, and I can forget about most rigid shift dresses (size 8s won't fit my huge arse, size 10s swim on my non existent chest). That's my rant for the day.

On Sunday I went down to Malvern RSL to see Connie Lansberg do her thang with some awesome jazz musos, then in the evening went with my mum to see Clare Bowditch, who was completely enchanting. She had Guy Blackman and Hot Little Hands supporting. Guy Blackman were like the Whitlams only not as good, but I really dug Hot Little Hands, despite the strangeness, and got their album afterwards. It's very very good. When I came downstairs after getting changed Kat said 'dude you look like Daria'. I should've worn my geek glasses and a hoodie.


Oooh, I look grumpy! Twas late and I was tired. Boots - Hot Topic; Skirt - Supre; L/S Top - Dotti; T-shirt - from the Grates gig; Cardigan - Jay Jays; Scarf - Myer.

Then today, OMG wtf was with Melbourne's weather!? It was like summer in July...crazy. I wore my new floral floor sweeping dress to hike up to the bank to put my pay in and felt like Elizabeth Bennet waiting for Mr Darcy to sweep me off my feet (well, Colin Firth was in Melbourne over the weekend but he never called, the sod).


Dress - General Pants Co (can't remember the brand, cbf checking); Blouse - vintage; Vest - Sportsgirl; Sunglasses - Dotti; Shoes - Target
OK, so maybe Elizabeth Bennet wouldn't have worn Dunlop Volleys. But I bet she would given half a chance.

I also took some arty photos surprisingly enough with my phone on the way there, so excuse the self indulgence.



- Robyn

Back In Black and the Grates Surprise Party

Tonight my wife George and I went to see The Grates, one of our favouritist bands ever. We couldn't believe it had been so long since we saw them live (the last time we saw them was October 2006. That gig was recorded and released on DVD. You can see us in it - Patience called me a motherf***er). They were holding a 'surprise party' to celebrate the release of their latest single Burn Bridges from the upcoming album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (god I sound like an advert right now). It was at Ormond Hall, next to the Belgian Beer Garden on St Kilda road, a pretty nice venue. They as usual put on an AWESOME live performance, marred for us only by the two absolute dickheads in bad costumes 'dancing' around and injuring other people. Me, George and two other girls ended up trying to pummel the living daylights out of them in frustration. But I digress.


George looked smokin hot, although godDAMN was it cold (and windy, as you can see!). I love love love her fuschia tights paired with the black dress and jacket and the bright purple scarf. Perfection would be to add a little splash of bright yellow somewhere. She's also a thrifty girl - her jacket is A|X (she used to work there) but the scarf is Cotton On and the dress is Supre.


Patience started out the gig wearing a fuschia sash around her dress but discarded it after a couple of songs. She asked us to form a hole in the crowd so she could come down among us to sing Rock Boys...it was amazing. She's also given me an unhealthy desire to get an American apparel lame bikini top. I'm hoping that desire will no longer haunt me when I wake up tomorrow morning.


And what would be a surprise party without little party bags? We got heart shaped lollipops and the cutest badges.


So finally, what I wore: Shoes - Joto; Socks - Target; Leggings - Target; Dress (worn as skirt) - Supre; Top - mum's; Belt - Target; Scarf - Myer. All (well mostly) black - I also had on the Jay Jays black leather jacket and my black gloves (as well as the geek glasses) but left them downstairs when I took photos. I ADORED the big scarves Country Road had for winter...but at $120 they were way out of my price range. I got this one on sale in Myer for about $20.


And yes, my turnout is shocking, my point is shameful, my arms are all over the place, my posture sucks and my shoulders are probably too high...but I haven't done ballet for 8 or 9 years now. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!

- Robyn

I would just like to point out

That exactly one year ago today I was at the Corner Hotel in Richmond, watching Crowded House who are my most absolute favourite band in ever. I was brought up listening to Crowdies but they broke up when I was 10 and I figured that I'd never get to see them live. My fantasy, never-gonna-happen gig was always to see them play the Corner Hotel which is a great intimate live venue. Then last year they reformed and blah blah blah, they announced a fan club show at the Corner. First of all I nearly died because the announcement came on email while I was procrastinating going to bed, and I wouldn't have got the email in time otherwise. Talk about lucky. So yeah, this time last year I was living my dream gig. Good times!


This is how close I was! It doesn't get much better than that.


I should add, both those guitars are Gretsches. I own one like the black one, but it's silver (and a much less expensive model!). I don't play it much though because it's way, way, way too heavy and cumbersome, and the strings need changing which are a biatch to do on that sort of guitar (it has a bigsby, which is a spring loaded tremolo arm) and the wiring's gone funny and I'm too lazy to go get it fixed.


This is my died and gone to heaven moment though...I met Mark Hart, the guitarist/keyboardist for Crowded House. He is like my ultimate musician hero because he's AWESOME at guitar and keyboard and piano and melodica and lap steel and singing and pretty much everything. Plus he's the nicest guy ever.

Oh, and please excuse the hoodie and backpack. I'd been in Sydney for Live Earth, then flown back down that morning and gone straight to the Corner at about 12:30 pm to wait all day for a good position (me, obsessed? Never!). I compromised by wearing my Chanel red lipstick...shame it didn't suit me!

So yeah...no interesting outfit today because I was working, although funnily enough my friend Pat, who I had met at this gig and hadn't seen since the beginning of the year, dropped in to say hi, so that was cool. He's a pilot and is working one month on, one month off. Bastard. Tomorrow I'm going to the Grates Melbourne Surprise Party so expect a very costumey outfit (ooh I should post my Split Enz costume photos...they were very strange!).

- Robyn