HERE IT IS ! ! ! !

If you're vying for his attention, not enough affection for you.
Find yourself a thing to do now, don't be crying that's below you.

Oh well, that's what you get falling in love with a cowboy.
Oh Lord, don't you forget, you fell in love with a cowboy.
That's what you get.

And a man must be his own, it's only for the best you know dear.
If he's got things on his mind well, there's a plan he's mustering so,

Oh well, that's what you get falling in love with a cowboy.
Oh Lord, don't you forget, you fell in love with a cowboy.
That's what you get.

And at night under the sheets, his arms come searching for your embrace.
Don't be mad, you know it's only what you wanted in the first place.

Oh well, that's what you get falling in love with a cowboy.
Oh Lord, don't you forget, you fell in love with a cowboy.
That's what you get.
That's what you get.

-Lanie Lane, 'Oh Well, thats what you get for falling in love with a Cowboy'

HERE IT IS!

THE BIGGEST THING I HAVE EVER ANNOUNCED ON HERE EVER!

'thecowboygeisha' is now officially a label

(pow pow pow!)

most of you have known this for quite some time, but I needed to officially announce it on this very blog...

This little old thing, a frigging blogspot.com, that inspired me to finally step off a cliff into my own and free fall into the biggest adventure of my life so far! 

This blog was born as an online portfolio of my work and shenanigans, and I would have never thought, in a billion galaxies (and all those cliches etc etc) that it would be the very thing that would push me out on my very own.

Without getting overly sentimental or emotional about it, I'm effing STOKED and cannot WAIT to show you all my work and get you all rocking it out.

I promise I will show you as soon as I effing can! (note how many times I have restrained myself from swearing in this post? gauging the excitement?GOOD! Cause I'm levitating off the floor right now)

ARE YOU ON THE EFFING BAND WAGON WITH ME, CAUSE ONCE I GET STARTED THERE WILL BE NO CHANCE OF STOPPING  (except for some cider, surf and snacks. der.)

I thought I'd give you a lovely little introduction to the vibe and the inspirations behind the label (incase you have no-idea what the heck I'm on about, and in that case 'nice to meet you' curtsey).

Prep it Up

The blonde in the bleachers
She flips her hair for you
Above the loudspeakers
You start to fall
She follows you home
But you miss living alone
You can still hear sweet mysteries
Calling you
The bands and the roadies
Lovin' 'em and leavin' 'em
It's pleasure to try 'em
It's trouble to keep 'em
'Cause it seems like you've gotta give up
Such a piece of your soul
When you give up the chase
Feeling it hot and cold
You're in Rock'n'Roll
It's the nature of the race
It's the unknown child
So sweet and wild
It's youth
It's too good to waste

-Blonde in the Bleachers, Joni Mitchell

Who ever thinks stylists have the crusiest job in the universe, I need to burst your ignorant little bubble right here and now. This sh*t be harrrrrrrrd work.
Prep day is always a mixture of pass and fail, win and lose, traffic traffic, courier nightmares, and last minute magic.
The shoot brief is 90s grunge/neon high fashion and the model is Teresa Omen *who is the next Zippy Seven for sure...which, is therefore a match made in 'let's do a rad shoot!' heaven.
For threads I went with Ksubi, Emma Mulholland, Shakuhachi, Alexander Wang, Levi's, Adidas, and thecowboygeisha (der). 
Shades from Karen Walker, Ksubi and Henry Holland for Le Specs. 
Jewellery from Dsquared, Topshop, Celeste Tesoriero (der), Sass & Bide, Heist, and vintage. 
Shoes from Jimmy Choo, Shakuhachi, and thecowboygeisha x LASSKAA.

There's nothing better than getting together with a bunch of creative people, smashing your brains together and making something awesome.

Fruits of the labor soon to come....

p.s I am next level melting over every single thing Emma Mulholland has done and is doing. Her shark print is the best thing I've seen in a while, and her jersey muscle maxi styled back with shakuhachi platform sandals and a vintage beanie is my pick of the bunch...(floor check below)
think I might need to add a ksubi flannelette shirt tied round the waist to really bring it into 90s trash territory.

Sparkly hooker Jimmy Choo's = yes

how great is the red cap on the left! Found out today its Koren for : 'Caution. Bushfires'. Perfect.

LASSKAA x thecowboygeisha

Take a little walk to the edge of town, go across the tracks
Where the viaduct looms like a bird of doom, as it shifts and cracks
Where secrets lie in the border fires, in the humming wires,
Hey man you know you're never coming back
Past the square, past the bridge, past the mills past the stacks
On a gathering storm comes a tall handsome man
In a dusty black coat with a red right hand.
-Red Right Hand, Nice Cave and the Bad Seeds




I have a serious love for dumplings. 
Eunice took me to a dumpling house in Singapore rated one of the top 10 places in the world and all I could keep saying on repeat was how happy I was to be there! (my mouth is seriously salivating at the memory alone)...

So whenever I hit Sydney I automatically/purposefully organise every single catch up meal to be at a place in Bondi called Miss Chu. (infact I've been there 2 days in a row already)

Anyone want a catch-up?You know where I'll be!


My room mate in Bali came to Sydney to also hit birds with stones, but mostly to have a rad time. 
So, I took her here (DER). We counted this lunch as a 'business meeting', cause we have done a little creative collaboration on the perfect boot for a cowboy geish (pow pow pow). 
She is shoe designer of her own label LASSKAA, and it only made sense to grab her on-board and make the ultimate love child for the brand.
Anyway, sitting there shoving dumplings down our throats, a nice lady with a serious camera came up to us and was all like "do you mind if I take photos of your shoes?" and we were all like "frigging snap away stranger", and we looked at each other and gave the nod and the smile. Hello winners!
These guys are made from vintage denim deliciousness and are biker-boot-meets-cowboy-boot heaven on earth. I am literally not taking mine off. Ever. They also come in black leather (der) which is a whole different level of eye candy.


Taking pre-orders now:
thecowboygeisha@gmail.com


p.s yes I am wearing striped socks. I have a recent addiction to the 'Where's Wally' app on my Ipad, and have decided he is my new style icon. Stripes, beanie and a walking stick? The answer is yes.

Partner

I'm stuck on the L.A. freeway,
Got rain water in my boots,
My thumbs done froze, can't feel my toes,
I feel a little destitute.
Wheels throwing water all over my axe
And Mr. Jones won't lend me a hand.
Up come two cats in a Cadillac
And they say, "Won't you hop in, man ?"
I went flying high
All the way — all the way.
Flying High, Country Joe & the Fish


There's nothing that I feel like doing more when I finish shooting a range, than grabbing a vintage pistol and shooting something else.
One thing I learned about handling guns, is I have a terrible aim. (note: pic 2 below where the revolver is almost going sideways. yep.) 
I, embarrassingly enough wasn't even really sure which eye to close and which to keep open.
No wonder I never won any toys at the Easter Show or when the Carnival came to town (fail).
Learn something new everyday heyyyyyyyyyy √
This was after a delirious evening of product shots for my jewellery range (more on that at a later date lovers)


Oh, who is the hunk of man meat i hear you asking?
This is Adrian Price.
You may have noticed him frolicking in a waterfall here and doing what I like to call the 'sleazy lean' here.
He's my partner in crime, and handy enough, a photographer!
Apart from the fact his job involves him spending his days looking at nearly naked models, he is ticking all the boxes.
p.s can you do me a favour and not judge my dreadlocks? thanks.

Close Enough

Sit in the sun
Fall asleep
Wish away
soul is cheap
Lesson learned
Wish me luck
Soothe the burn
Wake me up

I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone,
But I have a light
the day is done,
I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Or Maybe just happy

Think I'm just happy
-Dumb, Nirvana

How amazing is it to come home to your favourite nook after being deathly ill in an Indonesian hospital?!
Incase your privileged enough to have never experienced this, let me tell you, it's pretty effing good!
Not technically my own home, but definitely close enough, the only thing this place is missing is a huge effing fire-place! It is freeeeeeeeeeeezing here. Most likely any non-tropical weather would feel freezing to me, being used to having to sweat it out just eating brekky.
I'm in Sydney at the moment killing birds with stones (as usual), but apart from getting very excited (about very exciting things that are churning) the best bit of it is coming home to this joint.
My partner in crime also has a new found succulent fetish, which is a-ok by me. Plants indoors are always a thumbs up, especially ones you don't need to even water (boom).
Not to even mention that new log of eyeball candy on the couch, just waiting for me to get my strength back to take it for a little wave.
Bali and I are currently tiffing, and I'm not sure if the relationship is mendable, so perhaps I might start looking for a little love shack of my own while I'm here? On that note I'm off to pop some anti-nausea tablet's so I'll speak to you guys soon!
If you want to send me 'get-well' mail I'd really appreciate it. Flowers are even radder, and presents would be just too much (not really, do it)
xx

Eunice

Blackbird claw, raven wingunder the red sunlightlong clothesline, two shirt sleeveswaving as we go by
hundred years, hundred moresomeday we may see awoman king, wristwatch timeslowing as she goes to sleep
black horse fly, lemonadejar on the red ant hillgarden worm, cigaretteash on the window sill
hundred years, hundred moresomeday we may see awoman king, sword in handswing at some evil and bleedIron and Wine, Woman King

Introducing my babin' friend Eunice Ward. (a.k.a the ultimate Cowboy Geish)

Eunice and I go waaaaaaaay back to when we were babies living in Bondi and working at General Pants together. When I first met Eunice I already knew my boyfriend at the time had pashed her, and that mixed with the fact that she is one of the most stunning things I have ever seen was not the best recipe for my self-esteem. She's all legs and lips and freckles and to top it all off is always rockin' rad gear.

Fast forward 6 years and she is based in Singapore modelling her socks off, whilst I'm pretty sure my boyfriend back then ended up gay, so there are no hard feelings there.

On my trip to Singapore we were lucky enough to have a huge catch up and I was lucky enough to have a local to share the city's secrets.

I also thought I'd like to introduce you to her since we worked on a little project together whilst I was there, and the fruits of our labor is also related to the news I have to share with you. (in a post in the very near future)

Your the frigging best Eunice and I can't wait to come back and visit so we can really take advantage of 'ladies night' at the Grand Park.

xx

Wang It

Oh I've been waiting, definitely
and my heart is here right after me
and my heart, waiting in the rain

And my heart, it is in with the storm
And my heart, heart, heart(heart, heart, heart)
-Grimes, Vanessa



This week I ventured off to Singapore to hit birds with stones...I mean, to kill more than one bird with one stone? Ah frig, you know what I'm trying to say...I went there to tick alot of boxes *let's just put it  that way...
and tick alot of boxes I did!
I suppose you would like to know the boxes that were ticked, but to tell you that would mean the announcement of the biggest thing I would have ever said on this blog (so I'm going to save that info for a special post of its own)...*I do a post on here every 3 months, so I'm guessing your pretty good at being patient right? yeh? good.
This little quickie is just purely to introduce you to the item of my latest affections.
Soft cotton panelled mesh deliciousness with exposed stitching to boot.
I've never been much of a 'head to toe black' kinda gal, but a little bit of Wang and a little bit of leather can go a long way. Actually, now that I think about it this little pair are a match made in 'appropriate for Singapore humidity heaven'. When it's 32 degree's and your rockin' leather, whack on a tee with heaps of holes in it (der).
Anyway now I know all your actually thinking about is my big news (and if you followed me on instagram you would already know) so I'll leave this short and sweet and get working on the best way to break the news...(no we are not breaking up lovers, rest assured!)
So in the end...
Thanks again,
 old mate Wang
p.s if your wondering how a chick who lives on a tropical island could look so damn white, I've been in hospital with frigging dengue fever so cut this kid some slack and remember "there's nothing healthy about a tan" (if I have a tan in my next post, you'll have to cut me some different kind of slack and forget I ever said the above) xx

Top: Alexander Wang. Shorts: my own. Shoes: thecowboygeisha x LASSKAA (available soon) . Ring: celeste tesoriero (made to order)

Tassie Tigers

"Used to be one of the rotten ones and I liked you for that.

Now you're all gone got your make-up on and you're not coming back.

Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under your breath.
Bleach in your teeth, smiling flash, talking trash, under my window."

-Anthems for a seventeen year-old girl, Broken Social Scene

Hand's up if you have voluntarily been to Tasmania (and not been dragged there on a family vacation, or a 'tournament of the minds' national championship competition)?...noone? √
Hand's up if you have a desire, or have had a fore-thought to voluntarily go to Tasmania?...noone? √
Mmm. exactly.
(for those friends across the sea's who have never even HEARD of Tasmania, don't feel ashamed, its a small and often forgotten island off Australia)
Well... I went there. 


Aido (lover)  and Chrisso (brotha from anotha motha) decided to take Tassie on. They flew to Hobart without a plan or any prior knowledge to the place, brought push bikes from a tip, loaded them up with vintage bowling bags and cameras, and set off to ride the entire way around the island.
I, decided to fly over and meet up with them for a couple of days of unexpected awesomeness.
I landed with a backpack, a sleeping bag, and a first aid kit (rookie camper over here in the corner), hired a ute, and set off for a 2 and a half hour drive through wilderness at dusk to get to where to boys were pitching our two man tent. (yes. you heard me. two man tent for the 3 of us. utterly romantic.)
I can honestly say I am completely lucky to be alive right now, as that drive was the most terrifying experience I have ever encountered (even scarier than being held in China for 2 weeks...but that is another story). 


To say that Tassie is abundant with wildlife would be an understatement. On that drive, I began counting the amount of animals I came across (mainly so I could boast when I found the boys, 'cause I'm REALLY good at spotting them!), but little did I know that it would come to a point where I could no longer keep up! 
Kangaroos sitting on the side of the road ready to bounce out in front of the car at the exact point where it is too late to brake, entire possum families in the middle of the road, bunny rabbits running straight into the lights of the car, echidna's posing as rocks, and sadly enough, endangered Tasmanian devils (who are BLACK) running out in front of me.
I ended at least 3 animals lives that night, and if I hadn't of been driving 10kms an hour every time I saw beady eyes in the distance, I'm positive it would have been many more. 
To top this off, Tasmania has decided it is so insignificant to the point where they do not have cell reception, so if I had of had a collision with a daddy of a kangaroo, I could have totalled the car and been stranded in the middle of nowhere with no way of contacting anyone (heavy).
"but you could have waved down a car or walked to the nearest gas station (drama queen) " I hear you say ...
well, firstly, there were no other cars. at all. secondly, everything in Tasmania closes at 4pm (including gas stations) thirdly, each gas station had a sign out front stating "last gas station for 257km" (slightly exaggerated with the km figure there, but go with it). Fourthly, I'm a chick (and a pretty wimpy one at that). And lastly, small Tasmanian towns are the frigging creepiest things at night (and mostly during the day too).
So, I made it (obviously) and met the guys at the 1 pub in town (on the 1 road of the town), shared a few $10 jugs of beer and made out with Aido on the pool table.


The rest of my adventure ticked ALOT of boxes. Hiking, camping, making mermaid shrines, cleansing crystals in a waterfall, sleeping under the stars, feeding a wild wallaby (And then recruiting it as our pet), and hearing Chrisso sing every word of 'spice up your life' .


I walked into the 1 shop in town and they had 1 sad/neglected disposable camera on the shelf. It felt meant to be.
Here's a film diary of the trip.
Also check out this rad clip of the boys doin' their thang here

Shell Shack of Whack

Come on let's twist again like we did last summer
Yea, let's twist again like we did last year
Do you remember when things were really hummin'
Yea, let's twist again, twistin' time is here

Yeah round 'n around 'n up 'n down we go again
Oh baby make me know you love me so then
Come on let's twist again like we did last summer
Yea, let's twist again, twistin' time is here
- Let's Twist Again, Chubby Checker


When I was in Australia for a small (yet constantly extended) stint in summer I hopped randomly into a bongo van full of beautiful strangers and headed down the south coast to a mysterious holiday shack. Little did I REALISE the amazingness, and magical wonderland this place would be! 
Let's do a little mathematical sum here (if I were to tell you how many excel spreadsheets I have done in the last two months,  you would understand my break-down method)...so, the town in which we stayed is trawling with amazing vintage, antique and op shops...add that with the fact that who ever stays at this shell shack of whackness hits up those shops, finds the most beautiful/strangest/raddest item they can and adds it to the house. Finally, throw into the equation that one of the relatives linked to the abode is a crafty GENIUS and makes literally anything you can think of out of shells! and I don't mean 90s shell bracelets and necklaces (although I wouldn't put it past the over-done peeps trying to get snapped as 'street style icons' at fashion week, to try and revive those...you heard it here first)...I mean lamp shades, shell fairy lights, vases, and crazy huge wind chimes!
You don't have to be a frigging mathematical WHIZ to realise all of the above = THE ULTIMATE BEACH SHACK EVER. (you can gage my enthusiasm by the capitals right? yep. good.)
So when we were doing the group grocery shop, disposable film cameras were on sale from $20 to $6, and it felt like it was meant to be.
Playing Hawaiian love song records and doing the hula in the lounge room, Jenga, Uno, knitting, twist dancing at the shore for yabbies then boiling them in beer for lunch, naming flowers, vintage hunting, cooking, reading, having one too many 'dark & stormy's' and sleeping in till 11.
"Draw two, Draw four....suffaaaaaaa"
Here is a film diary of the trip.


Dear Adrian, Jack, Tom, Rach, Chris, Lexi and Leny 
let's do this again soon!
Love your friend from across the sea 
Slezza xx