Taking A Break | AWOL Until Further Notice

Posted on April 23, 2012 by admin

The Rational Dresser is taking a break for the next little while.

Figuring out what we want to do in life is something we all do at some stage, as doing what makes us happy is so important. However, not many give the figuring out the appropriate effort and attention needed. That is why, to do this, I need to take a small blog-cation.

Having studied in Health Promotion / Health Science / Public Health, and that being first and foremost my passion, I am applying my undivided attention to it and attempting to gain employment, in some form, within that wider industry.

Do check back, I may decide I need to keep going with this blog, or I might decide to change focus and re-vamp it. I love writing though and I strongly feel it will always be a part of my life.

If you appreciate(d) my blog, are a regular or once-off visitor, or found something on my blog that was helpful to you, please feel free to email me or leave me a comment, I’d love to know. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter (@RationalDresser) and keep checking back here for updates.

Thanks for reading! x

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Volcom Give Jeans a Chance Campaign

Posted on April 16, 2012 by admin

The Auckland City Mission has been one of my preferred charities of choice for a long time. Their long-standing good reputation and continued work in the thick of Auckland’s most challenging environments; bringing hope and help to those in hopeless and helpless situations, is impressive and humbling.

Volcom is lending a hand again this year with their “Give Jeans A Chance” campaign, which saw over 3,000 pairs of jeans donated to homeless and disadvantaged people in need. I don’t know about you, but I often walk past homeless people in the central city, knowing that monetary donations aren’t always appropriate but wishing I could help them nonetheless. Volcom and the Auckland City Mission are providing that chance to help out in a practical way.

Most of us have at least one pair of jeans in our closets we don’t wear. This is the perfect way to free up some closet space and keep someone on the streets of Auckland warm this winter. I for one, have two pairs I’ll be donating.

The Details:
You have from now until May 31st to donate
Get to a drop-off zone at participating stores and hand over your jeans.
You’ll even be gifted a token of appreciation in the form of a tote, hat, DVD or sticker AND be entered into a prize draw to win a motorbike and a year’s supply of Volcom jeans or runner up prizes of one of 50 pairs of Volcom jeans.

Seriously, what more incentive do you need?

Note: As with all content on my blog: this is not an advertorial, nor a paid advertisement or endorsement in any form. I am simply a believer in a cause and collaboration for a charity and wish to express that by acknowledging it in my own, free space of the internet.
Posted in Events, Feature, Jeans | Leave a comment

Swish Me: Recycled Clothing Event | WIN a double pass!

Posted on April 12, 2012 by admin

Swish Me is a new and exciting way to shop for designer goodies. With their first event next Sunday, the new take on a bring-and-swap is bound to be a popular one!

We all have clothing, sometimes brand new, sitting in our wardrobes waiting to be worn. Yet some poor rejected items never get the chance. Give those items meaning and a new home by bringing them along to a Swish Me event.

The idea is simple, sign up, rummage through your wardrobe and grab some goodies you can safely part with; and in turn, you get to rummage through other peoples goodies and walk away with some potentially amazing bargains!

There are a few rules, like you can’t bring in a tatty t-shirt and expect to walk away with a designer dress. Fair enough, everyone needs to walk away happy.

After running the Blogger Closet Raid and seeing the success of the event, I expect Swish Me will also be a roaring success. And as Swish Me is a similar idea as far as recycling unwanted clothing goes, I can’t wait to check it out!

Swish Me
510 Richmond Road
Grey Lynn
Sunday, 22 April 2012
11:00 a.m.

And here’s the best part, you can check it out for FREE by winning yourself a double pass!
All you have to do is complete this sentence:

“Swish Me is the art of ________ clothes and accessories.”

Send me an email at sarah@therationaldresser.com with your name, phone number and the correct answer to the question by Monday 16th April and you’re in the draw! Easy!

Hint: you might find the answer on their website, Facebook or Twitter page. Like and/or follow them while you are there!

The prize is a complimentary “Golden Ticket” early entry for you and a friend. You, and the other golden ticket holders, will get to shop with a 10 minute head start before everyone else! Grabbing the best goodies has never been simpler!

Note: The winner of the double pass, and their guest, must be able to attend the event, in Auckland, on the 22nd April. The winner and their guest must sign up with Swish Me and register their interest after winning. Attendance at the event means you will be participating in “Swishing”, therefore you must bring clothing to swap. Be sure to read about how the event works and the event rules!

Good Luck!

Posted in Events, Feature, Shopping | Leave a comment

Hidden Treasures #04 | CouCou

Posted on April 10, 2012 by admin

Hidden away isn’t something you’d normally say about a store located in Auckland’s increasingly lively Britomart Precinct. But it’s not the first place you’d look for a quaint, vintage and recycled clothing store either, making CouCou a wonderful find for anyone that has the pleasure of stumbling upon it.

This little store boasts a gorgeous fitout design that will make you want to hang out here on weekends and during your lunch breaks. The clothing, set out into colour shades and organised into conglomerates of prints, are the stars of this store. They provide the treasure trove finish that will make you want to delicately trawl through every piece, eyes widening all the while.

There is a good amount of changing rooms, each with mirrors, plenty of space and continuing the beautiful store design. Your patient shopping partners can lounge on the vintage couch or peek at the sales rack at the back of the store while you carefully don the delicate clothing in the changing rooms.

CouCou is a must visit for any fashionista or vintage enthusiast. The prices are generous, assistants friendly and helpful and store layout not only easy, but a pleasure to navigate. Stocking some of the coveted European and US labels we poor NZ fashion lovers can’t easily get here, like H&M and Zara, this is sure to become a fast favourite with lovers of all things satorially beautiful in Auckland. Make sure to mention The Rational Dresser sent you!

Hours:
Monday-Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Masonic House
30 Customs Street East
Britomart
09-366-1694
coucou@hotmail.co.nz

These photographs were taken by me, and as such, I am the owner of them. I would love to share them with you, but to do so you will need to credit and link back to my site. Thanks.
Posted in ASOS, Designer, Feature, H&M, Hidden Treasures, Shopping, Zara | 1 Comment

Simple Upcycling

Posted on April 4, 2012 by admin

“Nico” Jeans in Python Print – Hudson – ShopBop and ReShip – (also seen here)
Cream Knit Top – Portmans – Upcycled
Brick Red Singlet – Glassons
Peeptoe Boots – Pulp – TradeMe (also seen here)
Rhinestone Collar Necklace – TradeMe
Bracelets Left – Casio Watch, Mimco Twig Bracelet
Bracelets right – Gifted Multi Semi-Precious Stone Bracelet, ASOS Brushed Silver Cross Bracelet (part of set)

This is quite a simple outfit, made a weeny bit different with the rhinestone collar necklace, python print jeans and combat boots.

I had this ultra comfortable cream top in my wardrobe for ages, only wearing it on “skinny days” when I decided it actually wasn’t that that put me off wearing it. It was the roll-neck. So, naturally, I assessed the seam structure of the top and found that it would create a perfect round neck if I chopped off the roll-neck. So I did. Voila! I’m always a little chuffed when I chop something up and it works, it’s like I have an entirely new item in my wardrobe.

Have you got something sitting in your wardrobe, that hasn’t been worn in far too long, but you just can’t get rid of? Tell me about it, I might be able to help you transform it!

Posted in ASOS, Ankle Boot, Boots, Designer, Grey, Hudson Jeans, Jeans, Knitwear, Mimco, Office Wear, Outfits, Red, Shoes, Snake Print, Top, TradeMe, White | Leave a comment