The Lab Bench Is My Catwalk: January 2012

Tuesday 31 January 2012

Spring is in the Air

Spring is right around the corner...some plants have even started to burst into flower, which as a plant scientist I think is pretty f**ked up, January is far too early for that sort of thing - get back to your senescent state.

But botany aside, with a new season comes a new fashion - shrug of the old, drab thick winter ankle length blacks, greys and navys and enter into the vibrant shapes and hues of spring - we're talking candy carnation couture here.

This is my favourite season - the weather dictates that hemlines aren't so short you have to bear all yet the colours are like a botanic garden in bloom (forever a botanist!) and bring some light into what seems like an eternal winter.

And I know what you are all dying to know...what will I be wearing to celebrate this season's sweet return to life?

Peplums:

Not only is it a great way to accentuate your waist but it's such a cute word (I ♥ plums).

Ermanno Scervino

Moving on to the next point - colours:

Pistachio:

Now, Lady Gaga mentions mint green being the colour of next season - I beg to differ...well I don't beg - she's just misinformed - it's pistachio. I love all the pastels - pink, apricot, peach, lilac, lavender, lemon yellow, sky blue - but I am slightly obsessed with pistache.

Versace S/S 2012


ASOS Collection

And onto shoes:

Mules are back in...but with a twist. I'm loving the KG*Kurt Geiger metallic toe-capped version and Miu Miu mules are phenomenal. It's trends like this that make me happy I was born before the 90s - I have so many mules in my closet that can now see the light of day.

KG* Kurt Geiger Mules

Stilettos - I've always been more of chunky heel kind of gal (less likely to break your ankles) but Prada's Cadillac Stilettos have me wanting to dice with death.

And, of course, spring would not be complete without floral patterns, courtesy of Christopher Kane (S/S 2012):

And now it's my turn:

Shiny, flowery, sparkly jewellery!

The ring I'm wearing is probably the prettiest knuckle duster you'll ever see, it's also the fiercest - those sharp points will take your eye out.

Lavender Bows

Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Who has the cutest lavender shoes of them all?...Er...ME!

Thursday 26 January 2012

Cheerleader Look #6 - Everybody ♥ Hot Pants

So, on Tuesday the sky was a melancholic shade of grey and it was pouring down with rain and I was hungover. Combine this together and you have the makings of one very sad little girl. So, how do we remedy this situation? Two words:

Teamed with my pseudo-hiking boots and suspender tights = I'm a happy little Rainbow Pony!

Always make sure you limber up before walking several miles in heels...

And, of course, no look would be complete without a manicure. It's probably the quickest one I've done - accent nail (middle finger) in Barry M Grey and other nails in Mavala Adelaide.

Monday 23 January 2012

When Hot Men Happen To Bad Clothes

Can a hot man turn hideous clothes fashionable or do they reduce him to an ugly troll?

Apologies to Mr Zacky Vengeance for the above picture. I know, darling, you would never wear anything of the lime green variety...and if you did, I would forgive you (probably) because you would look so daper! Swoon...

However, if you are not Zacky Vengeance, I would advise you to exercise extreme caution in your fashion choices. I say this as last week, my life was ruined by a gorgeous man wearing the most revolting jumper - it was lime green - that left me having nightmares.

I see this beautiful man around the Dept. and he is so hot I could probably cook my breakfast on him. But last week, I was left not wanting to see him ever again...wanting to claw my own eye balls out. How...What...Why? The jumper was totally disgusting but not even his beauty could save it/him. The colour did not suit his skin tone, hair, eyes, jeans, shoes...it suited f**king nothing! Such a disappointment!

This sounds as if I think everything on this fashionable world should be done solely to please me...well, why not? I'm bloody marvelous...but seriously, I think it is a shame when people choose clothes that do not suit them. Yes, it sounds incredibly superficial - what counts is on the inside - true! But you would be lying to yourself if you said you have never judged someone on how they looked/what they were wearing - God knows, I get plenty of that from men in the Dept.

So there are two important morals to this story:

1) Not even a gorgeous man can save hideous clothes.

2) You only have one life, don't spend it looking like a disgrace.

Saturday 21 January 2012

A woman of many talents

My mother is one talented lady.

The other day she found an old History of Art exercise book of hers filled with notes and sketches taken when she was 17 at high school in Malta. It was completely mind blowing...she is one supa-dupa mother artist.

Botticelli

Michelangelo

Vermeer

Perhaps it is my ignorance to blame but I never thought History of Art students were required to sketch or draw the pieces they were studying. But it seems Art students of the late 60s and early 70s had to - and with exceptional skill.

My mother also showed me her old exam answer papers where she had to sketch paintings to illustrate her arguments. That is certainly obligatory for scientists. But my artwork is rudimentary 2-D rubbish...and that's without comparing it to her work.

Incredible! And do you know what is crazy? She didn't pursue a career as an artist but went into the Army. Madness!! But she is now taking a course in History of Art at the same fine academic institute as me. I'm very proud of her! Although, not so much when I have to type her 4,000 word essays!

♥Love you Mum!♥

Friday 20 January 2012

Shit Google Says

Yes, the trend of "Shit people say" has proved that we all talk a lot of shit - not even scientists are immune!

That video is rather accurate, although I think they could have made it funnier...perhaps they were trying to convey how mundane biological research can be...at times!

I also think they missed out a few, for example: all my plants/cells/organisms died (and it wasn't my fault), and I need another cup of tea, it's probably down to genetic redundancy...please let me know of any others you think may be appropriate.

But onto other shit. Blogger has recently updated their "blogging interface" - that's what they told me and the whole screen thingey looks different. Now, I can see who is stalking me...no, I kid, I kid! But it does allow me to view referring sites and URLs and what words internet geeks enter into Google that then land them on my site. Some are...unusual O_o.

My top three are (that is my most amusing top three):

♥ Fluorescent Green Protein Cat

♥ Types of bench

♥ Sex Labbench

The last one - what to do with that? I have a feeling they may have been disappointed when they landed on my page!

But how/why on earth did Google think my site was appropriate? GFP cats and bench sex? Either Google and the internet talks a lot of shit or I do...no need to answer that question people...we all know it's the latter...no, shit!...I mean the former!

Tuesday 17 January 2012

OMFG...I've joined the dork side! Tell Mummy I'm sorry!

So basically, I've created an absolutely geek-tastic manicure...and I did it not only without coercion, but I actually thought "Hey! That'll be a great idea for my nails!"

Seriously, I'm a freak, I'm a nerd, I'm a dork!

And to prove how dorkish I have become (why am I proud of this?)...I present the Mac OS (Snow Leopard) and Intergalactic Manicure!

Apologies for not capturing it in all its glory - it's hard to photograph a neutrino/exploding star when painted on a nail! I've only got an iPhone4to work with here people!

This is a work in progress but hopefully you can see a little of the "Intergalactic" effect on my index finger. I'll post the finished piece!

Sunday 15 January 2012

❤ ☯ ✯ ☾ Super Kawaii ☽ ✯ ☯ ❤

Super cute! Who doesn't love cute things? Cute accessories, shoes, clothes, food, stationery, animals, furnishings, homes, cars, trains...Cute Everything!

Kawaii 411:
Sanrio, Lolita (Gothic Lolita), decoden, glitter, unicorns & ponies, rainbows, mermaids, Sailor Moon, pastel shades, neon brights...you get the drift! And sometimes you can add a little gore, naughtiness and creepiness...I ♥ pink zombies!

I'm currently addicted to it ALL...and Tumblr is helping to feed my addiction - images below are not my own (unless stated).