In 2015...

2015 was an exciting, busy, intense and fulfilling year, yet it was also a year in which I took a very long and over-extended break from this blog, one I never intended to occur. The last time I posted on this blog was on the 19th of December 2014, which, in itself, sounds like a million years ago and emphasises the reality that is, I have neglected this blog and not provided my "readers", that is if they still exist, with a weekly dose of my feelings towards fashion. Although the fact that not posting on this blog since late 2014 is terribly appalling and highlights how terribly inconsistent I am as a blogger, this break has given me time to focus on my studies and work towards the best results in my school life, which according to my NCEA Lvl 1 and 2 results, has definitely paid off (excellence ring-a-ding-ding). 2015 was a difficult year, not only in studies but in other aspects of my life, and although it was a strange and somewhat undesired decision to stop posting on my blog, it has definitely provided me with more time to focus on other things in my life that required my attention more. Yet, as cliche as it sounds, there was a light at the end of this 2015 tunnel which shined positive and incredibly rewarding results into my life, such as achieving NCEA Lvl 2 with excellence. I think I can speak for everyone who sat through Lvl 2 NCEA last year when I say the workload was tough and a huge step up from Lvl 1, but hopefully, everybody's results were as rewarding as mine were to me. 

Now, I hope that paragraph has not made my life sound overly dramatic, because largely last year was amazing. I traveled to the United States with my family for the third time, places in particular being Telluride and L.A (which I must say were both fantastic), I went to my very first school Ball, I met lots of new people and overall had an extremely successful year. I also thought 2015 was definitely a year in which, strangely, there were particular moments within pop culture (to put it generally) that I loved, which is what this post is about. 

One fashion show I loved in particular, which could be considered a bit cliche and obvious, was the Dior Resort 2016 show. Dior's chosen location, La Palais Bulles, perfectly resonated with the collection itself and was visually spectacular as the beautiful collection designed by Raf Simons, who I regret to inform (as if you don't already know) has stepped down as creative director of Dior, floated against the location. I loved the choice of colour palette throughout this collection. Simon's choice of muted, pink hues, olive greens, soft purples, oranges, and contrasting black perfectly resonated with the desert-y vibe of  La Palais Bulles. The collection was expressed through soft forms and beautiful textures which completed one of Simons' last collections with Dior. 

An Instagram account I particularly loved throughout 2015 was that of Michel Gaubert's. Michel Gaubert is the French DJ behind the music of the catwalks for Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton who alongside that, runs his very own Instagram under the username @michelgaubert. Gaubert humorously commentates on current happenings in pop culture, fashion or even politics as he selects images from the past and present that (merely) relate to the topic he is referring to. The images Michel Gaubert selects to post on his Instagram are generally both quirky and humorous and always succeed to provide me with a laugh. "Check it out" is pretty much what I am trying to say.

Also in 2015, the"70s" trend dominated runways and completely took over what seemed to be the entire fashion industry's aesthetic. But, like most people, I think now being in the year 2016 and all, I feel as if the 70s trend has had it's moment. And if I am entirely honest, I am relieved to say that the 70s will not be making an appearance on the runway anytime soon. The trend has had a good run, and within a lot of successful and beautiful collections designed by designers in 2015 the 70s was a huge influence. But for now, I feel as if the fashion industry should say arrivederci to the 70s.

Throughout 2015 I also fell deeply passionate with music. One of my favourite albums of 2015 was one surprisingly not released in 2015, but 2013. Now in saying this, I am probably really late in jumping on the Rhye bandwagon, but this Canadian/Danish duo's album 'Woman' is one of the greatest albums I have ever listened to. It's mellow, rhythm and blues sound is relaxing and beautiful and was/still is the album I gravitate towards to in times where my ears crave something to listen to. I remember at the start of 2015, shortly after I discovered Rhye, I was getting people to listen to it thinking "oh my god, this is amazing. Everyone needs to listen to Rhye"; however to my surprise, a lot of my friends and family weren't that into it, which is the type of scenario I have got used to in my life with a lot of things such as music and also fashion. However, although I know I have not successfully introduced Rhye to any friends or family yet, I know there will be at least one person reading this post who once they reach this point will be eternally grateful as I would have helped them discover a music artist who they might genuinely love. 

Two other albums I was absolutely obsessed with during 2015 was that of Tame Impala's 'Currents', and Adele's '25'. When you compare the two albums together, they sit within two completely different genres; however, both albums succeed in enforcing the same emotion on myself every time I listen to them, that emotion of course being happiness. Although both Adele and Tame Impala may not have intended to enforce that kind of emotion on their audience, the general sound of their music simply causes me to feel that emotion. In November of 2015, I was lucky enough to go to Tame Impala's concert which was incredible. Standing in the centre front row, right below Kevin Parker felt like a dream and is one I think a lot of Tame Impala fans wish would come true for themselves. I find it amazing to think that visually, such a simple, low-key concert can have such a powerful presence that's ultimately created through their sound...if that even made any sense. Anyway, to sum this up, '25' and 'Currents' both earn a 5 star review from me.

OK, this "thing" that I loved in 2015 was something I was definitely slow at hooking onto. Gossip Girl. I have never felt more obsessed and attached to characters within a TV Show than I have with the characters in Gossip Girl. The deeper I got into the series, the more I felt as if I was apart of their twisted, wealthy and extravagant lifestyle obsessed world. Although, a lot of the time Gossip Girl drew my attention away from my studies, and I probably used it as a way to procrastinate, nothing can compare to Chuck and Blair.  

Strangely and embarrassingly, another "thing" I loved throughout 2015 were the ever-changing hair colours of Kylie Jenner. I'm not entirely sure why I liked it, but all I know is that I found it exciting every time she changed her hair colour, especially when she wore that black fringed wig and dyed her hair green, I thought they were both pretty cool looks. 

This last "thing" couldn't be any more different to Kylie Jenner, but I absolutely loved (I think my brother would be proud to know that this is included in this post) Star Wars: The Force Awakens. When Star Wars: The Force Awakens came out on the 17th of December 2015, my brother and I went and watched it at the Embassy theatre. I loved it. I think the first thing I said to my brother after we walked out of the theatre was something along the lines of "Rey is one of the best characters in a film I have ever seen"; whereas his comment was "ah the ending makes me so mad, I can't wait 2 years for the next film". Obviously the film was my favourite part of seeing Star Wars as a whole, however one aspect of watching the film on its release date was being able to see passionate fans walk out of the screenings before ours, amazed with how well the creators of the film stayed true to the originals. It felt like a joyous time! Almost like a new King had been crowned or something. All I can say is that after I watched it for the second time with the entirety of my family, I told my Dad I wanted to be in Star Wars, somehow...

As you can see 2015 was a year of discovery and triumph, but I don't want to drag this "conclusion" part out so all I want to say is, 2015, you were great.