Blue Sky Thinking

1. (idiomatic) Thinking that is not grounded or in touch in the realities of the present.
2. (idiomatic) Open-minded thinking.

I’ve interpreted Blue Sky Thinking quite literally as thinking under blankets of clear blue skies because that’s exactly what I’ve been fortunate enough to look at for the past fortnight in both Phuket in Thailand and the Central Coast of New South Wales, where I went to film a little something something with MTV Australia for their MTV Trippers series.  I’ve returned having overindulged in pineapples (the fruit and the emoji), ridiculously clear blue waters and temperatures that feel like they’re scoring you, when you’ve been indoctrinated to consume nothing but roast potatoes, hot toddies and dozy TV Christmas specials.

With not too much going on in fash-un world yet (except for dubious rounds of Chinese whispers about Dior and Lanvin), I’d thought I’d indulge a bit more in those blue skies, with the hope of encouraging some actual blue sky thinking in my currently under-used noggin.  When you’ve been clasping your hands together and exclaiming how beautiful the sky/sea/sand/grilled prawn is, harping on about subculture-derived design movements or creative director movements.

That sense of escapism only intensified when I got to Australia and commenced my three day road trip up to Glenworth Valley with the spirited Mimi Elashiry for our MTV Trippers jaunt.  Lost Paradise was indeed, as epic as its inverted namesake poem, as you get to hear trance and house music bounce around a vast forested valley and see the stars so clearly, you’re finally able to pick out constellations (even with my own scant knowledge of astronomy).  And in between, you’re forgetting about your normal standards of city-bound hygiene and bathing in muddy creeks, walking barefoot and generally going just a little bit feral.  I didn’t get to realise my Ballet Russes bohemian costume dreams from my previous post, but thankfully Molly Goddard’s suitably voluminous dresses plus foraged plants from Glenworth Valley provided sufficient decoration.   In the end, it was more Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies, than Rite of Spring wildling.

2016 commenced way ahead of my friends and family back in Europe and as the moon rose up to illuminate the festival, I was about as far away from the reality of a new year as one could possibly be.  I’m now faced with the act of opening up the mind to the prospect of immediate deadlines, new projects and longer term thoughts of what 2016 might bring.  Without wanting to make a big song and dance about it, it will soon be ten years since I first started this blog.  I wasn’t going to dwell on it because it would feel like I’m jumping on the ten year anniversary bandwagon that fashion so loves to celebrate.  Still, it’s lodged into the back of my mind as a reminder that somehow, I need to get more out of this year than other ones, because a decade ago, 2006 was such a brilliant beginning.  Now, if only the skies were actually blue in London for longer than a few hours.

Swimming out in Astrid Andersen at Sri Panwa

Sunrise at Sri Panwa 

Pondlife from Sri Panwa

Wearing Off-White x Ssense t-shirt and Prada sunglasses

Caves of Phang Nga Bay

Feeling little next to James Bond Island

Too.Much.Hair

Heart this pic by our canoe boatman, who rowed us around Hong Island

Dude anchoring down our speed boat at Koh Panyee… best sunscreen look I’ve ever seen

Panyee Island

Gooooo Panyee F.C.

Wearing Vivienne Westwood swimsuit and Prada sunglasses on Naka Beach

Inside Sri Panwa’s Cool Spa

Wearing Auria swimsuit in Maya Bay

Viking Cave on Phi Phi Leh

Wearing painted Luke Brooks t-shirt, Marco de Vincenzo sunglasses and Loewe ‘Elephante’ bag

Monkey Beach by Phi Phi Leh

My poor slash first attempt at underwater photography 

Louis Vuitton Twist ‘MM’ bag sitting on the edge of Sri Panwa’s in-room pool

Wearing Mother of Pearl sandals on Sri Panwa beach

Landing in Sydney

Prints by Karen Burmese and Eloise Rapp for Social Outfit in New Town, Sydney

Accessories at Social Outfit 

Looking out at Hawkesbury River, wearing Astrid Andersen robe and Craig Green shorts

Riding Mexico down in Glenworth Valley, wearing We are Handsome body, Chanel shorts and Nike x Liberty Air Rift shoes

The secret waves of Little Beach in Bouddi National Park

Wearing vintage Kansai Yamamoto top, vintage pleated dress and Miu Miu sunglasses

Wearing Topshop crop top and shorts from Phuket

Lost Paradise nestled in the vastness of Glenworth Valley

The ‘Arcadia’ stage of Lost Paradise

Sitting down to my first cacao ceremony and hoping for a high

Getting into the moment… Wearing Miu Miu resort 2016 dress and earrings

Wearing Molly Goddard dress with Loewe ‘Elephante’ bag for Eve of New Year’s Eve 

Jamie xx 

Canoeing down in Glenworth Valley

A natter with Mimi down by the creek

Wearing vintage t-shirt and ASOS dress

Ready for New Year’s Eve… A headdress made out of foraged foliage from Glenworth Valley and friendship bracelets from Lost Paradise

Mimi the modern mermaid and me as an interpretation of Cicely Mary Barker’s Flower Fairies

Unicorns United… Wearing Rodarte top, Molly Goddard dress, vintage frilly shorts, xxx sandals and Loewe ‘Elephante’ bag, bracelets from Social Outfit

Burnished with MAC neo-orange pigment

Headdress abandoned

At the stroke of midnight… 2016