A Rose by any other name

Your data, my data, the chromosomes match.

No, no, don't try to pretend to,

look surprised.

Always say in this

cynical thing,

hold me,

no ball and chain.

Out from under a rock, from the prehistoric sea we came.

I am a lyrical soul, bound to get carried away.

If

we’re in

love

we should

make love.

The name Roisin (pronounced ROW-SHEEN) is simply

the Irish word for rose.

Put the Murphy next to the Roisin, and boy

does the definition change!

In the siggielonglegs

dictionary Roisin

Murphy

is one hell of a spectacular blooming Rose.

Not only is she the most

stylish celebrity

I've laid my

eyes

on, she is also my

new favourite musical obsession.

Above and below is a very pregnant Róisín Murphy from the shoot which graced the fall-winter issue of Zoo magazine.

Photographed by Dancian and styled by Sarah Bachs, she still knew how to work those Comme des Garçons, Vivienne Westwood and Gareth Pugh outfits. Brilliant!

You only have to watch her music video clips to see that she is a lover and possibly even THE ambassador for today's Avante Garde designers.

Roisin clad in black and white Gareth Pugh for her 2007 Overpowered film clip.

My favourite clip of hers is definitely Let me know. The hat, gloves, leotard and structured cape if such a funky combination! Love the styling. The whole concept of the video is fabulous! But who would expect anything less from dearest Roisin and her team!

From her Sow into you clip.

Above and below: Stills from her You know me better film clip filmed in East London in 2008.

One of the best interactive websites I have ever come across is roisinmurphy.com.

Her concert in Belgium was filmed from 9 different angles with 9 different cameras. The website basically encourages you to make the best live music film clip from the videos provided. I procrastinated for hours and hours... It's loads of fun!

Definitely worth a butchers hook, even if you just check out her other fan's film editing efforts.

Recently I was lucky enough to have a candid encounter with Roisin Murphy at a London Fashion Week event where she was performing with Crookers DJ's.

I managed surprisingly well to hide the feelings of absolute shock, awe and disbelief that I was experiencing throughout our entire conversation. She stroked my wolf fur coat, I complimented her on how smashing she looked in her Dolce & Gabbana dress (from their S/S 2009 collection). Then we chatted about when and what she was performing... It was a 5 minutes of my life I will never forget. Of course straight after she walked away, my friend and I jumped around like fools mouthing OMG at each other.

Here she is performing Momma's Place with Crookers DJ's at the Linda Farrow for Roisin Murphy party held at Mayfair night-spot Aura during London Fashion Week.

Viktor Horsting , Roisin Murphy and Rolf Snoeren

I would like to leave you with a clip (which I must have watched at least 15 times) of Roisin performing for Avante Garde specialists Viktor and Rolf. The Dutch design duo, who are known for never playing it safe, had the show stopping Roisin sing Demon Lover whilst high above the crowd on a podium. Their preying-mantis like models clomped down the catwalk in some of the most bizzare creations fashion has ever seen. Bizzare, but ground breaking and totally amazing!

siggielonglegs- not so secretly wanting to be Roisin Murphy

Girl Crush

Firstly, I acknowledge 100% that this is purely an exercise in uploading photos.

Secondly, yes I am a major pervert. Sorry Mum and Dad.

Thirdly, as you can tell by the very little writing that accompanies these post, this girl leaves me speechless.

Her name is Abbey Lee Kershaw

The Chris Cunningham Flora by Gucci TVC tipped me off about this 22 year old Melbournian beauty. So, like a curious little cyber weirdo, I went on what I like to call an ultra google stalk and found her. Ain't the Internet a wonderful thing?

Now try and tell me you aren't obsessed too!

siggie longlegs - when it comes to catwalk models, I'm definitely a lesbian.

A thousand words a second.

Today I'm feeling confident enough to share a totally embarrassing story with everyone. I laugh at silly things that I have said everyday, so what's a few more people cringing on my behalf!!?!?!




This particular story is called 'The day I plucked up enough (FREE Fashion Week Party Champagne fueled) courage to speak to THE Michelle Jank, but ended up shamelessly rambling like a fool.'











Just in case you aren't on the same page as people who know of Michelle's work here's a quick catch-you-up:

Originally from Perth - Graduated from East Sydney Tech Fashion Design in 1999 - Showed her first solo collection at Mercedes Fashion Week in Sydney also in 1999 - Now based in Paris - Her unique jewelery is stocked in stores across Europe -

Retailing for around £400, I'm adamant that it's financially best if I leave this obsession alone until I rob a bank.

In my opinion, Michelle Jank can do no wrong. Every single piece I've seen from her has rendered me speechless.

This stunning collection (below) shown at Australian Fashion Week in Sydney (2005) was spectacular. I remember seeing photos of this in magazines/newspapers/on TV and thinking WOW, she is incredible.

A long time ago I was an impressionable teen studying at a predominantly Academic and Sporting orientated boarding school in Melbourne. I used to spend my homework time scissors in one hand, glue stick in the other with wide fashion hungry eyes. I hacked at copies of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar or whatever I could get my hands on. Many a scrap book was dedicated to endless documentation on what inspired me at that moment.

All three of these 2001 designs (below) were included in my crazy cuttings and pastings covered with the enthusiastic annotations of a mad woman. 9 years on I still adore them...

That's Emma Booth on the left with the red hair there (model turned actress).

I know the only reason you kept reading is to find out exactly what I did to embarrass myself....

I remember the night going something vaguely like this:

I was in my second week of Costume Design studies at Swinburne University (c. February 2005) and my class had been invited to help backstage at a Melbourne Fashion Week show.

Basically, we were employed to be enthusiastic shit kicking students, but that didn't deter me at all, I was SOOOOOOOOOOO excited to finally be in this environment! We steamed garments (including an incredible fire engine red Valentino gown which was the finale piece) and dressed models for what seemed like an eternity...

During rehearsals I remember seeing a beautiful blonde woman who looked quite important and I thought maybe she was the shows stylist. She was floating around backstage and adjusting garments and accessories on models. I couldn't put my finger on where I knew her from, she looked so familiar and it annoyed me all day. Hours later it dawned on me, this woman was the designer I had loved for so many years through high school who inspired me to journey down the design path.

Fortunately, I was in the know (well at least a lot more than my fellow students were) about goings on after events such as this one. Where there is smoke there is fire, and in this case where there are celebrities and fashionistas there is champagne.




Earlier that morning I had packed a pair of heels in my hand bag... Cheekily, I did the footwear swap, put some extra face on and tousled the hair a bit. I snuck out to where the fabulous beings were being fabulous. To my absolute surprise, a rather rotund beastly looking woman intercepted and congratulated me on my walk in the show and commented on how wonderful a spectacular it was. HAHAHAAHAHHAAAAAAAAA... I had just been mistaken for a catwalk model. I thought to myself, nice one, and honed in on a cute waiter carrying a tray of fluted bubbles.



Flash forward several Verves to a tipsy me fumbling around on my stilt like shoes. Like lines from a play, I worked through in my head what I was going to say to Michelle. But alas, things never come out of your mouth they way you practised them, especially after plenty of booze...



My dreadful display of badly constructed sentences can only be described as pathetic.
With one almighty exhale, the rambling sounded something like this...

'Hi Michelle, I am such a huge fan of your work and I am so glad to meet you and when I was asked at my interview for RMIT's Fashion Design degree who my favourite current designer was I said you, you are definitely my favourite designer and I never have thought I would meet you but I am so happy you were working on this show blah blah blah ramble ramble ramble gush gush gush...'

Michelle said a kind thank you and I backed away slowly so not to embarrass myself further by falling over or spilling my drink on her.

What a total idiot I must have sounded like! I am almost certain there was a lot more ridiculous content to my speech but I am struggling to recall exactly what it was.

Maybe it is better left unwritten...



siggie longlegs - famous verbal diarrhoea artist

Once you go black, you never go back.

For all those revolting people who have minds that reside in the gutter, I'm talking about coffee!



coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee coffee.




Black is definitely the way to go. I grew out of my 'I'll have a skinny latte' phase years ago so don't even start me on the 'soy vs dairy' debate. What a poor excuse for milk!!?!?! It tastes foul and smells even worse... I am gagging just thinking about it!



Cappuccino drinkers call it hardcore- but its just how I like it. Strong and thick and full of caffeine. The short black or espresso is an experience to behold. It takes a bit of getting used to but perseverance is the key with this one.

I have suffered through way too many horrific cups of bitter brown liquid from a place that rhymes with Car Sucks. It doesn't matter how much sugar you stir in, it still never agrees with the taste buds. Visiting this place has usually been at the point of absolute desperation for a little pick me up... It's like a hangover, I am only reminded of how bad it really is when I am in the middle of it.




North-South-East-West, I have been on the hunt for the best espresso money can buy.

Nude Espresso - 26 Hanbury St, London, E1






Starting with my favourite little East London spot for coffee (and warm choc chip cookies) is Nude Espresso. Of course it goes without saying that the treats are delicious, but what a great place to hang out! The vibe is chilled and the people are the epitome of trendy. I have been known to sit for several hours at a time perving on the cool kids cruising past.















Flat White - 17 Berwick St, London, W1

The 'flat white' I am told, like me, hails from the Antipodes.
It is prepared by pouring steamed milk from the bottom of a steaming pitcher over a single shot of espresso. Apparently it's different from a latte, but who really cares, all the awesome people drink black coffee!


This cafe I have only visited a few times, but my good friends swear by it for their morning coffee when doing the Central London hike.





Note- great art in a cafe makes for a heightened coffee experience. Tick!











Inspiral - 250 Camden High St, London, N1



This is for anyone who has wanted to turn totally hippy. A vegan cafe right in the heart of kooky Camden. Inspiral was one of my absolute favourite places to spend time when I lived up there. It's certainly provides a different vibe in comparison to the other places I have mentioned.



Definitely one to visit, even if it's just to admire the view of Camden Lock while you eat your delectable stuffed peppers!

Brew - 45 Northcote Rd, London, SW11






I discovered Brew through a fellow coffee lover from Australia whom I met in London.


Now, I have in the past been one to put Clapham and it's surrounding neighbourhoods down. No apologies there, it is what it is... But if you need a coffee to make your experience in Clapham a little less dull (and lets face it, you will need something) the Brew is the place for you.

The Breakfast Club, 33 D'arblay St, London, W1

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Apart from yellow being my second favourite colour and the 80's film being totes amazing, The Breakfast Club in Soho is never short of good looking people drinking good looking coffee. Oh and the food is to die for. YUMMMMMM!!!!!!

siggie longlegs - London coffee house slut

Like mother like daughter

My beautiful Mama is known for not leaving the house without her lips painted in an eye catching shade of red or pink.

Is it possible that I have inherited the love of lipstick? Or maybe I like drawing attention to my mouth? Or is it just that I can't stop purchasing amazing Mac lipsticks?

I have broken so many colour rules for a fair skinned freckled lass...

- russian red -

This is the colour I pick when I want to make men go weak at the knees with every word I say. You must, above all else, ooze confidence when wearing a fire-engine red. The hue of passion and sensuality.

- vegas volt-


My favourite colour for Spring. It's warm, cute and feminine. I have matching earrings that I like to whip out to team with this shade. It's for the days when I don't require as much punch as a brighter colour.





















- snob -


Ok so I will admit that yes I did buy the colour inspired by Paris Hilton. But a girl has to have a more neutral tone of lippy for the days when a smoky eye is needed.

It's like not wearing lipstick at all... at least I know it's there.






















- violetta -

A make up artist I worked with once told me that she thinks I am the only person who can carry off this colour. I beg to differ. This is another lipstick that is mainly about having the balls to wear it!
I bought it on a -19 degree day in Prague, Czech Republic. It makes me feel like a punk ice queen and I love it!

- girl about town -




I have never been a huge fan of any shade of pink but you have got to love this 'look at moi' colour! Lovely and glossy and bright, for the days when I feel like being a barbie doll ditz.













- morange -

This stunner was my first purchase almost 2 years ago.
I hunted around for this colour for SO long and when I finally found it at Mac I fell in love. Such a good summer colour which I will buy time after time! I wear it when I want to be the centre of attention... Needless to say it's running out!











The real thing.







Where to next? I was thinking maybe a deep burgundy. A good one for disguising those wintery mulled wine stained lips that have been occurring waaaaaay too much lately for me...









siggie longlegs- never fully dressed without a (coloured) smile

wet dream

I would like to introduce you to Ash Stymest. I first layed eyes on this beautiful creature when I was working for American Apparel. EY! Electric Youth magazine was one of my favourites to read when I was pretending to be really busy.


SWOOOOOOOON!

Is it hot in here? I'm feeling flushed...

I then spotted him in the December 2008 issue of Dazed and Confused, topless and sprawled across a bear skin rug.

He has graced the pages of plenty of magazines including, Vogue Italia, Attitude, Huge Magazine, Vogue Japan Homme, and i-D.

When I saw this editorial in Dazed and Confused I totally lost my shit and became completely and utterly mesmerised... I desperately needed to know who he was.

He's a youngen... 17 I think...

Couple more footy seasons and he will be ripe for the picking! (said in a creepy old woman voice) Eeek, I even scare myself sometimes.

Ash ain't just an incredible looking kid, apparently he has the strut to go with the cheekbones. This infant has walked for Hedi Slimane, Balenciaga and Costume National. It's a sight to behold people, let me tell you!

Even his polaroids are to die for. What a gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous thing he is!!!

I just don't know what else to say about this boy other than...

AAAHHH!

MAAAHHH!

GAAADDD!

siggie longlegs- giving two thumbs up to skinny young boys with tough tattoos and pretty faces.