I swear, I did not buy 10 kilograms worth of clothes

More importantly, I must REALLY love everything I paid so much for to struggle with 40kgs of luggage halfway across the world. Quite frankly, yes, I do. I spent the majority of the flight home imagining all the outfits I can put together to go with my Givenchy gems and now I just need to dig myself out of the mess of unpacking so I can go out and wear said dream outfits!
I was confronted with an interesting concept whilst unpacking my room with a dear friend this afternoon and he stumbled upon my scrapbook of sketches and cut-out pictures from magazines. He commented that in some of the shots from runway shows, things like the hair and make-up seemed totally outrageous, so much so that it actually detracted attention from the clothes. I used the following example from John Galliano's 2005 S/S collection for Christian Dior to illustrate my explanation for all the theatricality:

My theory is that the runway show of any design house is the most concentrated version of the collection. The hair, the make-up, the selection of models and the combination of the different pieces are all chosen in order to express the designers inspiration for that season. This Dior show, for example, used very elaborate make-up and hair designs that strongly evoked the 1970's/Hippie inspiration for the collection. The intention of such exaggeration is not to suggest that girls start to go crazy with purple glitter eye shadow, but to give a clear reference for the collection and to fashionistas everywhere. If you a having a hippie moment, then pairing the "Dior Not War" top with flared jeans and lots of necklaces can be your more wearable moment of John Galliano's vision. The theatrics are so important in order to inspire trends. It is so much more creative and invigorating to display a collection with the full support of hair, make-up and accessories than to just send the clothes out on bare models. It is rare that anyone would buy a complete look from a collection and wear it exactly as it was styled on the runway. The pieces that tend to be the most popular are those that are not the collections "signature" pieces, but the ones that are more classic, versatile, and less likely to date. However, if a girl is able to accompany that piece with their version of the collections make-up look, that enables them to get into the particular character that the show represented.
I must be in a Dior mood, because I am using another brilliant Galliano example:

This is from the '09 Couture collection, which makes the collection as itself even less accessible, as the couture collections generally contain the most extravagant pieces and concepts that can barely even find a place of the red carpet, let alone to a bar for Friday night drinks. However, to me, the girls in this collection look incredibly sophisticated and sexy. So, when I feel the need to step out with my best 1950's sex bomb attitude, I throw a dress on top of my suspenders and stockings and do my best impersonation of Dior's eyeliner flick and bright red lips. It works, and I don't destroy the innocence of children on the train.

Dress to impress?

Having been officially single for a good while now, I realised a significant change in my attitude towards dressing myself and the outfits I have ended up in since my last relationship ended. I believe the general trend for most girls is to go to a lot of effort when you are single in order to snag the guy, and then after your pretty sure he'll stick, drop the act and the hemlines and start getting around in outfits that take much less thought and are much more comfortable. Both guys and girls will attest to this. Without realisation or intention however, I have done the exact opposite. As a single girl, I am no longer rocking up to uni in a pair of platform heels every day with a bright scarf tied around my head. Instead, my uniform has become one of jeans and a grey/black/white t-shirt and flats. I haven't completely lost my edge, I still accessorize, and my uni bag was a stunning suede fringed, studded masterpiece that made so much noise when I walked it was impossible to sneak into a lecture late without being noticed. Still stylish, and yet lacking the real edginess or dramatics that had made getting dressed in the morning so much fun. I hadn't stopped caring, I just didn't care nearly as much. Which lead me to assume that I cared more about what I was wearing when I had someone who I wanted to impress. It was a great feeling when I took that extra time and they looked at me with such appreciation. That logic is somewhat romantic, wanting to look nice for your partner is a lovely gesture. However, what about dressing for yourself? It has taken a bit of concerted effort, but my heels and bright colours have been trickling back into my every day ensembles. I don't believe you should stop caring about what your wear and how you express yourself with fashion as soon as you get into a relationship. I also don't believe that you should dress for anyone else except yourself.

My mother recently commented that the way I dress intimidates people, and if I wanted to be more approachable, I should dress more casually. I considered this, because its actually not the first time that the idea had been presented to me. I came to the conclusion that if I started to think about what I wore based on whether it would affect people's minds about whether they should talk to me, it would do myself an injustice, as well as create insecurities I don't need. What I wear reflects who I am. The friends I have weren't scared off by that and have accepted me blisters from heels and all. These are the people I want in my life. So I encourage you all to think about putting a bit more of yourself into what you put on your back, and seeing how the world reacts. I think you will pleasantly surprised and liberated.

After a witnessing a frightening conversation between two spelling and grammar fanatics today, I am slightly anxious about publishing this post. Its nearly 1am and I was extra vigilant today, so please, be kind.