Braids, Buns & Twists at the Barre

We're off the barre! Or the bar.
Really, you can wear your hair in buns, braids, intricate plaits and twists either to the gym, yoga studio or bar. Or the office. A waterfall plait says "I'm creative but I am in control here. Don't mess with me!"
I am loving this book by Christina Butcher, Braids, Buns and Twists! Step-by-step tutorials for 82 fabulous hairstyles. 
I discovered it on a Google hunt, naturally.


 I also discovered Power Yoga For Athletes that gives pictures and instruction on 100 poses that are intended to improve sporting performance. It can be difficult to gain the confidence to go to a yoga class for the first time, especially when you are skilled in a particular sport and you have to face being a beginner BUT starting out with a book and streaming online classes is a great introduction. Author, Sean Vigue is a skilled and notable pilates and yoga instructor who also runs online classes and writes for various yoga and pilates journals.

I Am A Real Woman & So Is Every Woman Even In Yoga Pants

I fully endorse the feelings expressed here by the wonderful yoga teacher, Kathryn Budig. I wear tight, fitted clothing for teaching and working out and I yet I feel like I need to wear a big logo warning people not to give me their opinions on my body.
I'm not wrapping myself up like chopped meat that you can scan and decide if you'll buy me. I am human in yoga pants. So keep your opinions to yourself. That goes for all men and women in tight pants. We're human, too.
Also - if you love barre but you're sick of all the airbrushed models on Instagram that are apparently the "summer bodies" or "barre bodies" you're going to achieve if you pay to do classes, don't subscribe. I have had to let a few go. Barre is amazing for your body - both how it looks and feels. And it's fun. Be selective with the images and messages you subscribe to.

Ode to the Maverick Fashion Twins Viktor & Rolf

I love quirky, edgy, strange and surreal. I love intelligent, rule-breaking, ferocious spirits that burn bright. So, it will come as no surprise that I love Viktor & Rolf.
I know you weren't expecting to read about haute couture here (yes, no leggings!) but I couldn't resist when I saw the pictures of Viktor & Rolf's ridiculous, amazing, funny and clever haute couture show in Paris.
Staged in a gallery, models appeared to be wearing the paintings - complete with wooden frames and paint-spattered canvas clothing. Rather than lurking backstage, designers Viktor & Rolf awaited the models on the catwalk to remove the canvas pieces and hang them on the wall! Thus, creating their own gallery. Check it out on their Instagram.
Genius.
I'm thinking I might frame my yoga leggings and make some sort of psychedelic rock-poster-yoga-style gallery in my living room. It's art.
I can't afford to buy haute couture - so it may be the closest I come to Viktor & Rolf style fashion madness. I have loved them since they brought a model out with a pillow attached to her head and her hair spread out as if she'd just awoken Sleeping Beauty like from a trance. I got obsessed with
Flowerbomb. Remember the perfume bottle that looked like a glass grenade full of pink?
A photo posted by Viktor&Rolf (@viktor_and_rolf) on
It's the ten year anniversary so use this opportunity to go discover it if you haven't already. It's very sweet, very sparkly and yet it's in a GLASS GRENADE. It will look a treat displayed in my framed yoga legging gallery...
Flowerbomb @ Myer
Viktor & Rolf Website

Match your Yoga Pants with your Nails

It's as simple as the title suggests. I'm not going to tell you anything hugely deep and insightful. The world is a big, difficult and troubling place. But it's also full of tiny little joys and for me, nail polish and a kickass pair of yoga pants will make me ecstatic.

Find the little joys.

I do feel guilty over waving pom poms around when I find rainbow zebra print leggings (ahem, Dharma Bums!) and polka dot print with ROSES (thanks, Om Shanti!)... but really, if I am able to be so easily thrilled by something SO simple then I know I am blessed to be alive and to be me.

Maybe you find your joy in taking yourself for a coffee and people watching, or reading TV Week, or getting a pedicure, or watching that Disney movie for the 500th time... whatever it is, stop feeling guilty. Life is too short. And if there's haters? Well, haters gonna hate. This is how we roll!
Find your inspiration on Instagram - and then just try getting off it...
Om Shanti Clothing
Onzie
Fifth Element
Dharma Bums
Orly
OPI