Teenage Kicks

A few very kind readers let me know that I was featured on the Teen Vogue website this week as Girl of the Week. Here's an extended version, exclusive to Owl and the Grapes. Thanks Teen Vogue and a big sickly sweet (not unlike Santa's breath) welcome to all you new readers.

AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Sydney, Australia

WHAT SHE'S WEARING: "The belt around my head, cropped black top, purple top and the bag are all hand-me-downs from my mum. I uncovered them trawling through the gigantic bag she was giving to charity. The satin dress is a night dress from a charity store and the scarf was a gift from a neighbour. The boots are from a local vintage store and the tights from a local department store."

THE STORY BEHIND: "Being a size 41 in shoes, I spent months trawling the Internet, charity stores and vintage stores for second hand leather shoes. I don't agree with buying new leather goods as I'm a vegetarian which made it just that much more difficult. When I turned these shoes over to see the number 41 glaring back at me, I quite literally squealed with joy."

INSPIRATION: "With the original inspiration [for this particular outfit] long gone from my mind, I couldn't tell you why I decided to wear this with that and that with this. But I do love layers and autumn colours, even in the height of Summer. [And in terms of everyday inspiration,] there are too many to mention. My boyfriend Bobby is a constant style inspiration. I love to steal his colour schemes and super skinny ties. I also have a girl crush on Marla Singer from Fight Club."

FAVOURITE DESIGNER: "Upcoming label FTW, consisting of Marissa Ziesing and Jack Mannix are one to keep all four eyes on (assuming you're wearing glasses like the rest of the cool kids, if not, two is fine too). They're doing some amazing things."

FLIP THE SWITCH: "My style is a product of my inspiration. It's forever changing. It's eclectic, used and abused, a little grandma, too many dresses and not one pair of jeans. "

FAVOURITE COLOUR: "I tend to gravitate towards greens and other natural colours. I am by no means a fluoro type of girl."

FAVOURITE CITY TO SHOP: "Thus far, I have only ever shopped in Sydney and Melbourne. Both have treasure troves of second hand goodness if you know where to look (the pay-by-the-kilo kind certainly being the best kind of goodness)."

HIDDEN TREASURE: "There is a market in Melbourne called Trash and Treasure which is held in a drive-in in Coburg. It is like fifty garage sales at once. There I found a brown leather belt with two bronze teddy bears as the buckle that I haven't been able to stop wearing. It's arrived at the point that the teddy bears even have names."

DO YOU FOLLOW TRENDS? WHAT'S THE NEXT BIG ONE?: "No I don't intentionally follow trends. Glasses however, are certainly going to be even bigger (literally) this season. Everywhere I look I see girls with glass for lenses or even no glass in the lenses at all. I'm sure all those geeks who, back at school, were called four eyes are having a good chuckle now. I think, when done right, it's wonderful. Now excuse me while I go and get my eyes tested..."

EXTRA CURRICULAR: "I could spend all my days hunting down bits and bobs from charity stores, I love to have something specific to look for, like the perfect fitting blazer, high waisted paisley shorts or a monstrous '80s jumper. I also enjoy painting and drawing. Reindeer and rabbits especially, though talk to me in a month and that will have changed completely. I also like cooking wholesome vegetarian meals, listening to good music like Kitty, Daisy and Lewis and Kimya Dawson and scouring things to write about for my blog Owl and the Grapes."

AND DO THESE THINGS INSPIRE YOU TOO?: "All these things inspire my style. Art, music, movies and books. It's so important to me to be surrounded by things that are constantly inspiring. Using these things as inspiration for the way I dress is not about translating images or words from one mode into another, but more about capturing a feeling or vibe."

ON HOLD: "Being on the tiny budget that comes with freelancing, I shop purely in charity and second hand stores. While I wish I could afford designer, when you find that deliciously perfect piece in a charity store you feel all the more accomplished. For the time being, designer pieces shall have to remain purely an inspiration."

IN BLOOM: "I would love if high-waisted bloomers made a comeback - especially in swimwear. I haven't the perseverance or expertise to make my own, and find them impossible to find in vintage stores. It would be wonderful if more swimwear brands branched out into vintage inspired designs."

TIMELESS PIECE: "Men's blazers."

BEAUTY PRODUCT: "Mascara. I thought I had lost mine last week and almost cried. That, of course, had nothing to do with it being that time of the month"