Panoramic Stereo - Bedroom Colour Study

Finally-it's here! The post that so many of you have been requesting, I am finally ready to share my bedroom. As my style and personal tastes are constantly changing, so are the spaces around me. So, my bedroom tends to take on a different look almost every week. I've been putting this post off for a while, as it never feels quite ready to share, I'll always be in the process of perfecting it. But for now, welcome to my bedroom!

For this colour study, I've included several of my favourite corners/zones in my bedroom, as well as a few of my absolute favourite items! I thrift most of my decorations, however larger furniture items I've had for a while (desk is Ikea, wooden shelf is George & Willy and stool is also Ikea!) My white dresser is a hand-me-down from my grandmother, which I upcycled by giving it a fresh lick of white paint and some groovy vintage handles. The hanging light beside my bed is thrfited and so is the floral tapestry above my bed!

I've spent a lot of time curating these pieces and I'm nowhere near done, especially around my desk. I'd love to invest in a proper record player and a new vintage lampshade! For now, the extent of my decorations is a peace lily plant, vintage 70s cane tray for my pens, paintbrushes and lamp etc and a few other odds and ends. I like to keep only the necessary items on display, as my clutter isn't pretty. So, I have a few of my favourite books, including my David Hockney and Nguan art books and a large collection of green folders storing my various pieces of ~important~ paper.

The wooden shelf/pegboard installation above my desk has been there for several years. In fact, if you scroll back far enough on my blog you can see all the different ways it's been styled over the years. It's not my favourite thing in my room, but it's been very well attached to the wall and also provides a few more shelves for my books etc. So, it can stay for now. On these shelves, I have some of my most favourite possessions, including my lil 60s flower mug, water jug and tray (which will all be in my own kitchen someday). I have a small stack of photography, art and poetry books, as well as glassware and pottery from various op shops and a small Chinese teacup that Ben brought back for me!

If you've been following me for a while, or you've seen my room in person then you'll know just how cluttered the walls have been in the past. Like most teenagers, I went through my phases of absolute bedroom wall takeover, with posters, polaroids and random movie tickets covering every inch of wall available. I like to think that as I've matured, my style has become slightly more refined and I can now actually see some white wall again. I love coming up with interesting and different ways to display art on my walls. Behind my bed is a retro-style tablecloth, thrifted with the intention to use it as a backdrop for photos. But, I actually love the way it looks hung up above my bed, as the colours match my linen perfectly. I like to call it my 'tapestry', but secretly I like the idea that some random family in the 70s would eat breakfast off this tablecloth. I also love to use vintage record sleeves as art, framed silk scarves and old clippings from magazines/postcards. These are all super unique and cost-effective ways to keep your walls constantly changing and looking forever groovy.

I recently invested in a new linen duvet cover, in this incredible brown/terracotta colour. But, if you want to see a more comprehensive look at my bed click here. As I've mentioned before, I like to invest in nice quality linen and avoid thrifting or buying cheap sheets etc. However, the exception to this is my two absolute favourite retro floral pillowcases, which are both from op shops (I washed them, don't worry). As I spend a lot of time in my bed, I like the space around it to feel as cosy and welcoming as possible. My bedside table and light fitting are both thrifted, as well as the plant pot, wicker basket and scarves on the wall!

All of my clothes are neatly tucked away in my closet, however, this didn't stop me from fully decorating that space too. Inside my closet, I keep all of my shirts, dresses and jackets in an embarrassingly neat and particular order. I also like to have my favourite earrings and hairclips on display on one of the shelves next to the hangers, decorated with Ben's postcards from Vietnam!

For me, a bedroom is a sanctuary, somewhere to feel safe and cosy and also productive when you need to be. I prioritize my work and sleeping spaces and make sure to only keep the necessities on hand, in order to avoid clutter. I'm still on the hunt for many more pieces to make my bedroom perfect and realistically, I'll never really be done. But, that's the joy in decorating.

If you have any questions about my bedroom or items within these photos, feel free to message me on Instagram or leave a comment down below!

Bella 🌼

Crimson & Clover - Mixtape

Not only is this blog a time capsule and (hopefully) entertaining source of information for some, but it's also a reflection of my interests and identity. Music is such a huge part of my life and is constantly playing in the background in some way, shape or form. Since discovering the wonders of 60s/70s music, I've been completely obsessed with creating playlists and hunting down my favourite tracks. Every week I curate an insane amount of music and I guess the thought occurred to me that you might like it too? So, here is the first instalment of my Mixtape series, where I'll share, discuss and drool over my favourite songs of the week/month. As a bit of background, I love The Rolling Stones, Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas & The Papas and anything by Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks. If you want to check out my comprehensive playlists on Spotify, click here.
This is the Crimson & Clover mixtape,

Reach Out Of The Darkness - Friend & Lover (1968)
One of my most recent finds, this song makes me want to get up and dance, which is always a good thing. Friend & Lover was an American folk duo and are best known for this track, released in the Summer of 1968. To me, this song is everything I love about swingin 60s music, it's loud, funky just a little bit strange.

California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas (1966)
Of course, an absolute classic. After playing the José Feliciano version from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood on repeat for weeks, I slowly transitioned back to the original. This song is one of my all-time favourites and The Mamas & The Papas are one of my go-to bands from the 60s. While there are many great renditions of this track, nothing can beat the original.

You Make Loving Fun - Fleetwood Mac (1977)
An obvious one, as I'm completely in love with Fleetwood Mac. After seeing them in concert last month I've been binging all their albums and even discovering new songs I hadn't heard before. This one came on in an op-shop the other day and completely took me by surprise. I'd completely forgotten about how truly incredible this track was live and I've been playing it non-stop ever since.

Crimson and Clover - Tommy James & The Shondells (1968)
This is a special song for me, naming one of my prints from my latest photography collection 'Crimson and Clover' was just the beginning of the obsession. I love the chorus, the change in speed and Tommy James is an absolute 60s legend. Plus, best song title ever?!

With A Girl Like You - The Troggs (1966)
Another recent discovery, this song reminds me of Summer, long car journeys and hot sun. Tracks that make you wanna sing and do a little seat dance are so important and this is definitely one of them. Plus, I love the album art, with that crazy 60s font!

Woman - John Lennon (1980)
Although I'm not personally a fan of John, this song is without a doubt a classic. If you're able to separate the artist from the music, I'm sure you'll love it too. John's voice is so distinctive and the romantic nature of this song comes across through the oh-so-very-John lyrics.

Sunshine Superman - Donovan (1966)
This song just screams Mod 60s Britain, maybe because it featured in one of my favourite docos about the 60s in London, but I just love it. Again, very much a boogie song and some crazy cool album art that I wish I created myself.

At The Zoo - Simon & Garfunkel (1968)
This is my favourite song and has been for about a week now. Simon & Garfunkel have been my go-to for a while now and I'll always love 'Mrs Robinson', but this one comes in a close second. It's such a cute song, with cute lyrics and makes me feel like I'm back in primary school, but in a good way?

Bella 🌼

Mid Month Colour Study

We're midway through October and officially entering birthday/anniversary/Christmas territory, which is both terrifying and exciting. It's come to my attention recently that I actually have a few avid readers of this lil blog. After receiving some lovely messages from several girls about the blog I want to say ~hello~ and welcome, if you're a new reader or you've been here for a while, thank you!!

In the month of October, I've had lots of time to think about my business and the future of the store. I'm having so much fun doing what I'm doing and I'd love to expand or at least open my horizons to new opportunities. I was lucky enough to spend a day shooting and playing dress-up with the lovely Virginia from Ferdinand Vintage, blog post about that coming soon! It was so nice to spend time with someone who's almost completely on the same wavelength as me. There was so much to talk about and relate to, especially because Virginia is possibly the sweetest person I've ever met. Spending the day with her and talking about creative things, projects and collaborations made me realize that I want more! I'm keen to expand my circle in the next few months and take every opportunity that comes my way. I've already signed onto a super exciting project with another fellow Kiwi gal and I can't wait to talk more about that soon. But, if you'd like to collaborate in some way in the future please reach out. I'm open to new ideas and eager to get out there and meet some like-minded people!

As always I've been thrifting as if my life depends on it. I really feel like I've picked every Wellington op-shop dry and I'm now expanding into Kapiti and beyond to collect new stock. I've had a fantastic response from my latest collection, The Retro Collection and a new curation of pieces is already in the works. I'd love to start sharing more behind the scenes content here too, as some of you have asked for some personal tips and info about my business. Let me know if you'd be interested in that!

It's so crazy how quickly this year is coming to a close and pretty soon the majority of my friends will have left high school forever. This year has felt almost like a headstart for me, whilst a lot of my peers are still at school. So, it'll be strange when we're on a level playing field again and especially because several of my closest friends will be moving out of Wellington. As of now my plans for next year are pretty undetermined. We'll be in Wellington, as Ben continues his degree and I'd love to continue down the path I've been exploring this year. But my eyes are open to new opportunities and I'm constantly looking for the next project or sign that can lead me in the right direction. Of course, I'll continue to update this blog as often as possible and now that I have a few new readers I'd love to create some content you've been asking for. Stay tuned...

Bella 🌼

The (almost) Summer Curation - Depop

(All prices have been converted to nzd at the current exchange rate as most sellers are from the US. All original listings have been linked in each description, any images belong to sellers.)
Items Listed Top Row to Bottom Row (left to right)

It's been a hot minute since I did a Depop Curation, one of my favourite ways to show you some of my favourite styles and trends, whilst supporting fellow Depop sellers! I've recently begun investing in some Summer pieces (I know!!) and it's made me go absolutely Summer crazy, my Depop wishlist is growing by the minute. I even picked up a pair of 1970s vintage sunnies from Ziggurat a couple weeks back and I've been praying for sunny weather ever since. Luckily, the weather does seem to be warming up and I've (maybe prematurely) whipped out the singlets and denim cut-offs. So, in celebration of the gloriously warm and golden months to come, here is my (almost) Summer Curation.

1970s Vintage Faded Glory Bellbottoms - $156 nzd
If you know me then you know I'm an absolute denim fanatic. Most days I would be seen wearing double denim or my favourite Cliff Booth inspired Canadian tuxedo. So, a pair of denim bellbottoms like this is bound to get me tempted. Obviously, the price is a reason to stop and maybe reconsider my impulse buying habit. But, how incredible is that orange contrast stitching, curving along the leg, so 70s! If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket, these flares need a good home.

Vintage Prairie Maxi Skirt - $54 nzd
One thing I'm severely lacking in my Spring/Summer closet is a vintage maxi skirt and this one is an absolute dream. Although it's slightly overused, the prairie skirt/shirt trend is still one of my favourites. I love how floaty and girly prairie skirts look and they're just made for a pair of brown cowboy boots.

Vintage Cream Leather Cowboy Boots - $50 nzd
Speaking of cowboy boots, how incredible are these?! I am still on the lookout for the perfect pair and I can't quite make up my mind whether tan leather or cream is the vibe I'm going for. I love the Western floral details in the leather that make these boots stand out from the rest. They would look seriously cool with a mini dress or maxi skirt like the one above.

Psychedelic Swirl Platform Mules - $101 nzd
Okay-just imagine these insanely cool mules with some bellbottoms and a lil crop, major disco vibes and an absolute show stopper!! As much as I love these epic shoes I really don't know what occasion I could wear them for, as unfortunately, I don't attend many discos (like ever). But the colour scheme and overall chunkiness of the platform is just perfect.

Vintage Beige & Brown Butterfly Shirt - $59 nzd
With more of a 90s feel, this lil shirt has the funkiest colour scheme and is just screaming to be worn with a floral maxi skirt and some boots! I love the boho look, with the brown lace trim and embroidery along the bottom. It's always essential to have staple pieces like this in your closet to throw with some statement pants or a more colourful skirt.

1970s Crochet Purse - $54 nzd
Despite being slightly impractical for everyday use, I just love the crochet purse trend. I have many in my own collection and probably don't need any more, but this one is very tempting. Listed by one of my favourite sellers, Spaced Out Mama, I love the colour scheme and almost patchwork style of this bag.

Khangura Vintage Retro Orange Jacket - $70 nzd
Obviously, I'm all about a good statement piece, given that my entire closet basically consists of them. This jacket is the ultimate statement, with vibrant orange psychedelic swirls and 70s vibes all the way! I would love to style this with some denim bellbottoms and tan leather boots, a green turtleneck would look epic underneath this piece too!

1970s Denim Flares - $111 nzd
Another pair of crazy cool denim flares that would look great with some platform boots and a prairie-style shirt. I'm actually looking for a light wash pair, as an excuse to buy some more denim. But, I just adore the shape and lil pockets on this pair.

Vintage 1960s Bikini - $50 nzd
This swimsuit is my holy grail and if it was my size I would have to invest. The colours, the style and that 1960s Palm Springs vibe is my favourite and such a look for Summer. The bright and garish colours just scream the 60s and I'm obsessed with the dinky belt detail on the shorts. Like most gals entering Summer, I'm never initially confident enough to whip out the proper bikinis. So, this one is perfect with a high waisted fit and more coverage on the leg.

Bella 🌼

Depop - Presentation & Shoots

Last week Ben and I embarked on the biggest, longest and most ambitious Depop shoot yet. Luckily, the weather stayed relatively good for most of the day and we managed to smash out all the photos, resulting in a total of 1,177 shots! I tend to share details on shoots once a month with my Depop preview posts (see this months preview here). However, I've been receiving quite a few messages through my Depop and Instagram page with questions on my photography for the store and how I go about the presentation of my pieces. It's something that has come quite naturally to me as I'm a major perfectionist and lover of good photography. But, I'm still learning with every shoot and every sale how to do this strange lil job! Here are some (hopefully) helpful tips on how I personally like to present my Depop items and the way I run my business. Feel free to message me if you have any additional questions, I'm always happy to chat!

I tend to thrift at least twice a week, so by the end of the month I have quite a large haul to get photographed. However, this shoot was exceptional, with pieces from Auckland, all over Wellington and some items from my personal collection too. It took us over four (slightly frustrating) hours and a lot of snack breaks / motivational music. I'm lucky enough to have a very patient and helpful boyfriend who takes every single one of my photos, which is no mean feat. I'm super picky and very much a perfectionist, so Ben will often be (lovingly) forced to retake shots over and over again until I'm happy. I understand that not everybody has access to a photographer or a helpful friend/partner to assist them. However, some of my favourite Depop sellers and online stores use mirror photos, tripods and self-timer to their advantage in a really clever way. I'll always prefer to have someone take photos for me and if you can swing this too, I'd highly recommend going to that extra effort. But, if that's simply not possible try getting crafty with a mirror, or prop your camera up in front of a window and set that self-timer.

My number one tip when it comes to presentation will always be colour and lighting. These two aspects are absolutely key to producing click-worthy pics. I like to use vibrant and colourful backdrops with a subtle pattern. I invested in a comprehensive collection of retro bedsheets from TradeMe at the start of the year and hang them in front of my wardrobe doors for the best lighting. If you're thinking of trying this technique out, I'd recommend going for light pastel-like colours and the more faded the pattern the better, you don't want your backdrop to distract from what you're really trying to sell; the clothes! I will always layer a light pink sheet underneath my main backdrop to ensure that as little of my wardrobe doors/walls are showing. This is also a great way to add another tone or colour to your photos, everything counts! I've been having fun with the colours I use on the floor with this shoot too. Usually, I stick to a light pastel sheet that provides a blank canvas and doesn't take away from the focal point of the image. However, this time I played around with a warmer toned blanket, which I think adds another element of colour and depth to the images where my legs are the main focal point.

Of course, lighting is always key and my preference will always be natural lighting. I've experimented with different spots in my house for the best direct lighting. But I always end up back in my original location, next to a great big window in my room. If the sun is shining, it's perfect. I love the way the directional light looks, with the different textures of the clothing. It also helps to accentuate slight curves and folds in the backdrop, which I really like for adding a bit more dimension to each shot. If you don't have access to directional lighting, I would recommend anywhere that gets a bit of sun. Artificial lighting can definitely work in some contexts, but I always tend to prefer the more warm look of natural lighting, plus; it's free!

When embarking on a major shoot like this one I like to first dump all of the items I'll be shooting on my bed and start sorting. I categorize into three simple plies; blue sheet, pink sheet and yellow sheet. I try to keep all three piles as even as possible and make sure to avoid obvious no-nos such as pink shirts in front of pink sheets or warm-toned pants in front of the yellow sheet etc. There's a lot to be said about complementary colours and selecting tones that work well together. I'd love to gain more practical knowledge on this but I do think a lot of it comes from instinct as well. Throw pieces together that work and use bright colours to make more simple or monochromatic pieces pop in each photo. When shooting black, white or cream pieces I like to throw a bit of colour in there too, whether that's through my earrings, a funky hat or layering pieces underneath the item.

Although each photo turns out bright, colourful and relatively uncluttered, behind the scenes is a different story. I have multiple pairs of shoes, pants and accessories strewn about my room to help assemble each outfit. I'll often call on my favourite pair of green plaid pants to spice up any photo with a bit of colour and I'll nearly always reach for my big green flower earrings too! It helps to style up each look as much as possible, whether that's with pieces from your own closet or other items you're selling. This helps the buyer picture how they would style the garment themselves and adds to the overall look of your store. To put it simply; it sells your pieces.

As a keen photographer myself, being in front of the camera can sometimes be conflicting and quite frustrating. I want things done my way and that can come down to the smallest of details. Luckily, Ben is pretty used to this by now and he knows that I need a mid-shot, close up, side, back and front for each item. But, I can't stress enough how important angles are! Whether that's your most flattering angles or the direction that shows the garment off the best. For example, pants, skirts and dresses should be shot from a low angle (yes-this means literally getting your photographer to lie on the floor). Shirts need a mixture of close-ups (to show the texture and details in the fabric), back, front and side shots. I see so many online stores that either don't take enough angled shots of their pieces or the shots they do have are all of the front, as this is obviously the easiest. Buyers want to get a feel for the garment and how it will look on them. This means providing as much information in your photos as possible.

I could probably write about this forever and I'm sure there are many things I'm forgetting to mention, but I'd be happy to create a part two at some point! I'm still very much learning about the ins and outs of this job myself, but I'd like to think I've picked up some useful knowledge over this first year that could help some of you. There are so many different aspects that go into selling an item, but good presentation is the first step to creating something that people want to spend their money on. Basically, good photos = sales!!
See my store here

Bella 🌼

Friends On Film

Photos by Fran (here), edit by me

Since leaving school I've found that only my true friendships have stood the test of time, I guess that's sort of inevetable. There are those who I see from time to time and then there's a small group of my very best friends. You've probably seen Fran, Matt and Ben many times if you follow this blog or my Instagram. But, I adore these latest film photos by Fran and I wanted to share them. As much as I write this blog for others to read, it's also something of a time capsule for myself to look back on. So, here are some funky friends on film from the past few months!

My own film camera has been sitting in my wardrobe untouched for almost a year now. Every time Fran gets her photos developed I'm reminded of how much I love the look and feel of film and how I really need to get some for my own camera. I love the slight grain and the unusual, sometimes accidental compositions. It's great developing and looking at a month's worth of photos when you've completely forgotten they existed. It's such a fantastic way to document memories.

As I continue to share my photography and business on here, I'd love to delve into some more personal topics too. My friends are so super important to me and a huge part of my life, so I want to start sharing that here as well. If you like the look of these images, go check out Fran's photography page (here) for some more funky film and digital pics. More to come soon...

Bella 🌼

Depop October Preview

September was a great month for my store and I went on many thrifting trips throughout Wellington and even Auckland! October will be the month of epic flared pants and so many fluffy bucket hats, with green, brown, pink and tons more colours and styles coming to the store.

During my trip to Auckland with Ben (read about that here) I picked up a few pieces from Savemart for the store, as well as a couple of bits thrifted from stores on K Road. It's always interesting thrifting in different regions and getting a feel for the trends and styles in the city. I absolutely loved K Road for vintage shopping, the overall vibe is so funky and full of life. I found some incredible 1970s vintage pieces for my own collection, read about those here.

My Grandma and I went on a giant three-day thrifting adventure, all throughout Wellington, Petone, Upper Hutt and everywhere in-between. I picked up some fantastic pieces from both Savemart's in the Wellington region, including the most gorgeous pair of bright red vintage corduroy pants (pictured above). I also scored some great mesh pieces for Summer and festival season, as well as a ton of cute skirts and dresses for the warmer months coming up in NZ.

This month I plan on making some changes and overall improvements to my store that will hopefully help me and my brand to grow. I've started planning several flash sales, as well as fun giveaways and competitions for you to interact with. I'd love to delve into the world of styled bundles too and give that a go! There will also be some more collections coming soon, including a second instalment of The Retro Collection (here) and possibly a few more tailored curations, specific to the 60s/70s era.

I'm still learning and trying to improve all aspects of my brand as I go and it's been such a rewarding process so far. I can't wait to start putting some of my new ideas into play and testing out different ways of marketing/utilizing social media for my store. It's always great to receive feedback too, or any styles/pieces you'd love me to sell in the future (also working on a larger range of sizes, which has been highly requested)!
See my store here

Bella 🌼