We have made it through another year, kids! As today is New Years Eve, I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on the positives of this past year, rounding up my highlights and favourites of 2017.
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| One of my favourite outfits of 2017 |
I have hinted at this year not being the best, but I am trying not to dwell on it and focus on the positives instead. In hindsight, a lot of great things have happened in 2017 which have only set me up for a better, brighter future. This was my first year (and it turns out, actually my Gap Year) from Uni. As one of the few who wasn't still studying, I thought it would be a struggle to keep in touch with friends, but if anything, I have gotten closer to people to create a great circle of friends. This was also a year where I decided to stop holding myself back and go for the things I want, and do what I want to do. I learnt to go out and do things by myself which, for someone who is close to their twin sister, was harder than you would think. But working up the nerve to attend things by myself saw me doing some of my best moments of this year! I went to Melbourne Fashion Week, took ballet classes, and event went to a performance all on my own. Anyway, this post is a bit of a long one, so I will just get into the rest of it!
HIGHLIGHTS
Hobart
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| Bruny Island was my favourite day of our Hobart trip. |
Moving apartments
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| This was taken the day Claire and I got the keys to our new apartment. |
In August, Claire and I moved apartments! Our old apartment was the first place I moved in to when I moved out of home to Melbourne, back in 2014. This means I had been living in our previous apartment for 3.5 years, and Claire for 2.5 years (she lived on campus first year of Uni). It was a bit of a weird apartment, but there wasn't too much to complain about. Moving is such a hassle, so we stayed. To be honest, after my first year living there I have had moments of thinking about moving. I have even gone to inspections at other places, but since there were advantages about our current apartment (security and location mostly), we weren't going to move unless we found something better. After another spur of the moment inspiration to move, I attended an inspection for an apartment after work one day. We applied for it the same night and got accepted the next day! It was kind of crazy, but I am so incredibly happy with our new place. One day, I may do an apartment tour if that is something you would like to see.
Sitting second row at Melbourne Fashion Week
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| My view from the second row, including a look from the Gorman runway show at Melbourne Fashion Week 2017 |
Seeing The Killers live at the MCG
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| The view from our seats (quite high up) in the MCG for The Killers' post-AFL Grand Final free concert. Despite being so high up, it was still a great experience. |
Getting accepted in to fashion school
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| This is the outfit I was wearing the day I found out I was accepted into The Whitehouse Institute of Design - which isn't that spectacular, so I find it funny. |
In my last post I shared with you all that I have been accepted into The Whitehouse Institute of Design to study a Bachelor of Design, specialising in Creative Direction and Styling! The Whitehouse Institute of Design is the number one fashion school in Australia, and before I even thought about attending the University of Melbourne (where I completed my first undergrad and I claimed it was my dream school), the Whitehouse was my OG dream school to attend. I spent countless hours in primary and high school watching Project Runway, and the Whitehouse is where they filmed Project Runway Australia! I was looking up the courses and planning which one I would do before I even graduated from Grade 6. I am so incredibly excited to finally enter the fashion industry, and I am going to take The Aussie Prep along with me. I can already tell I will be using what I learn at school to help improve this blog. I can't wait!
FAVOURITES
TV Shows:
- The Bold Type
The Bold Type was a new show this year and I LOVED IT. If you have a chance to watch it, I highly recommend it. To me, what I love most about it is how accurately it portrays female friendships in 2017. Plus, the character of Sutton really spoke to me. - Stranger Things
I finally jumped on the Stranger Things bandwagon when season 2 came out and I can't believe it took me so long to watch it! I watched both seasons together, and I kid you not, once I finished Season 2 I started watching the whole series from the beginning again. Everyone in that cast is amazing, and somehow I have become fascinated by a group of 13-14 year olds. Why are they so much cooler than I was when I was their age? - The Office (US)
Claire and I started The Office this year, and while we have yet to finish it, we really enjoy it. Starting a show with so many seasons is a risk with us, because eventually we will get bored with it and never finish it (I stopped my watch of Grey's Anatomy after Season 5, and I still haven't watched past Season 8 of One Tree Hill). But I know we will definitely finish The Office - especially because I hear it is going to be on Stan (an Australian streaming service) in January!
Books:
- Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman
Claire and I saw the film for this book at the Melbourne International Film Festival (more on that below), and we knew we needed to read the book as well. This is one of the best books I have ever read in my life. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and it is so sentimental, my heart hurts thinking about it. It is incredibly beautiful, I highly recommend it. - Classic Style by Kate Schelter
We all know I identify my style to be "classic", which is what drew me to reading Classic Style by Kate Schelter. I started reading this book just after I got accepted to study Creative Direction and Styling, and I loved how Kate, who once was a stylist, defined classic style and how what is classic is different to everyone. It was a great read for my own style journey and I know I will be going back to it over the years to come.
- Call Me By Your Name
As I mentioned earlier, Claire and I first saw this film in August at the Melbourne International Film Festival, and let me tell you - this movie stays with you for at least a month after you have seen it. I have never had an experience like that with a film before. We saw it again last night and it was just as beautiful as I remembered it. It is currently out in cinemas, and if you get a chance I highly recommend it. - Wonder Woman
Seeing a positive (and natural) representation of women on screen, and as a superhero, was such a surreal experience. I have never felt more comfortable (or emotional) while watching a movie, ever. - Their Finest
This movie made me feel things and wow, I am now seeing a pattern of my favourite films here. This year made me more emotional than usual. - Jasper Jones
Australia can make amazing quality films y'all, and this is one of them.
- The House of Dior: Seventy Years of Haute Couture at the NGV
Dior is one of my favourite fashion houses, and this exhibition was breathtaking. Read my full review of the exhibition from my post in September. - Who's Afraid of Colour? at the NGV Australia
This was an excellently curated show featuring the work of Indigenous women artists and perfectly showed the range in mediums and styles these women work. - On The Origin of Art at MONA
This was a fascinating show and was a different experience I have had viewing art before because of the 'O' MONA uses for its didactic texts. It was also interesting because it was curated by scientists, not art curators, therefore presenting their perspective on what art is, and what it is for.
Music:
It's not a secret that music is a big part of my life. This year was a great one for music, as three of my top four favourite bands (The Killers, Phoenix, Foster The People, and Vampire Weekend) released new albums - and they are all so so good. Fingers crossed for a new Vampire Weekend album in 2018! Then, Lorde came back with Melodrama and she nailed it!
- Sacred Hearts Club - Foster The People
- Ti Amo - Phoenix
- Wonderful Wonderful - The Killers
- Melodrama - Lorde
Special mention: Aly & Aj came back with new music with their EP Ten Years - anyone else still know all the words to their album, Insominatic from 2007?
What are some of your highlights of 2017? I would love to hear them!
I hope you have a safe and happy new year, and that 2018 brings you lots of love and joy.
Love from Australia,
Grace.
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