ShowTellShare One Hundred and Eighty-One

Posted on March 24, 2013 by JGRuddock

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Share: Friday was one of those really busy days; meeting with a range of exciting people, and then catching the moments in between to send off emails and make deadlines. I was zipping around the city from one stop to another, propelled in part by one of my favourite, *vibrant*, The Social Studio silk dress…

Tell: Jenny Kee for The Wilderness Society scarf, earrings from op shop, handmade necklaces, beaded necklaces and bracelets gifted by my Dad and step-Mum from South Africa, The Social Studio ‘Magical Tent’ collection silk dress, ‘Birthday Suit’ stirrup leggings, Trippen shoes from Berlin outlet.

First up I met with Melissa from Sew Make Create. Melissa and her *gorgeous-hilarious* dog, Pepper, were lovely hosts and showed me around their Ultimo shop and sewing studio. Sew Make Create is a great initiative; getting people together locally to learn sewing skills, and you can also hire the machines/overlockers there too. I really encourage checking it out if you’re in Sydney…

On Friday I also had the absolute pleasure of doing some of The Social Outfit‘s planning work with the designer, Nina Maya Skrzynski. Nina has proven experience with her own fashion label, and she’s interested in lending her skills and expertise to develop The Social Outfit‘s business plan further. Needless to say, we’re very excited at this prospect!

Finally, the response from the ‘call out for artists’ for The Social Outfit Pilot in The Rocks has also been overwhelming. People shared the information far and wide, and we’ve had so much interest. So thank you! It’s brilliant to see so many artistic people out there excited about working creatively with Sydney’s refugee communities. Stay tuned to hear how our workshops develop, and a *big* thank you to everyone who made contact and has shown an interest.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Nine

Posted on March 17, 2013 by JGRuddock

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Share: With family in town, we headed off to the Blue Mountains for the day. Love a bit a *spectacular* scenery, and love *dodgy-retro* motel signs just about as much…

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Tell: Ben Sherman shirt ‘borrowed full-time’ from the First Hawaiian Officer, singlet from op shop, ‘Paris Blues’ 1980s denim skirt from op shop, Sportscraft belt, vintage leather bag gifted by Tamara, boots from the op shop. Tatty Devine rings and sheriff badge as necklace.

Plus I couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring some of my own bird-life on our day trip…

Hope you had a lovely weekend xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Eight

Posted on March 16, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: You know, I often feel very lucky about the people I work with. It’s not just that I ask them time and time again to meet me, and help develop The Social Outfit with their great ideas and insights; it’s also then that I ask for a photo so I can show you all who’s involved. Photos, photos for everyone!

So here’s Paul Bide and myself having worked together this Friday. I met Paul recently through the School for Social Entrepreneurs and Social Ventures Australia connections. Paul is an ex-finance guy, and he’s being a champion by helping me with drafting The Social Outfit‘s ‘First 90 Day Plan’. There’s *a lot* of work involved, so I really appreciate the opportunity to work through the detail with someone like Paul, and hear his own suggestions. Nothing like a deadline with someone to encourage motivation! Eeeep!

Then here’s the *fabulous* group of Ajak, Kit and Chloe, who are working together on our City of Sydney pilot project:

We’re just securing some of the important big details, and then I’ll be able to announce all the *fun* we’re about have with it. And I’m hoping you’ll be a part of our plans too! More soon.

And now to some outfits…

Show: Friday…

Tell: Handmade necklaces and earrings, The Social Studio top, vintage dress from secondhand store in Tasmania, retail tights and sock, Fluevog shoes.

And this was Tuesday…

Tell: Tatty Devine bracelet as pendant, vintage Fiorucci vest from op shop, Oroton belt from op shop, The Social Studio silk skirt as dress, Jonathan Aston tights, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Six

Posted on March 8, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: The Social Outfit eBay auction-extravaganza is getting closer and closer every day… Bargains! Ken Done! Vintage! 1980s! Doing *good*! Helping The Social Outfit! So many points of exclamation!

The auctions start closing this Saturday… Good Luck and thanks for your support! All money raised (less eBay fees) goes directly to supporting The Social Outfit xo

Here’s Kit yesterday wearing her Mum’s vintage dress…

And last night The Social Outfit team had a board meeting. Check out Sarah… her dress is from a social enterprise working with African communities in France. Gorgeous! And *bless* the gang for always being willing for me to take photos; I just love showing you how many there of us involved and how hard we are working…

Tell: Lafont glasses, Wa-Nyika earrings, Tatty Devine necklace, handmade necklace, The Social Studio singlet, Diane Freis 1980s skirt from op shop (made into a dress by me), stockings from Japan, House of Holland socks, Fluevog boots.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Four

Posted on March 1, 2013 by JGRuddock

Showing My Ken Done Love as we launch our *Ken Done auctions for The Social Outfit!* Check out all the *goodies* set to find new, exciting homes! These pieces online are the last gems of Ken Done donated by enthusiasts during our What Ken Be Done year. Plus, we’ve added some *extra* fun vintage bits and pieces we hope you might like… All money raised will go to supporting The Social Outfit…

This was me on Wednesday night, off to see two spectacular films as a part of QueerScreen. The first was the premier of Aquaporko!, a documentary story of “Melbourne’s fat femme synchronized” swim team. And the film lived up to the description: it was SO *delightful*! The theatre was packed with supporters and nothing beats ‘wooping’ aloud in a cinema to show your appreciation. And then there was an older, brilliant documentary on the life of Leigh Bowery, whom I’ve loved for years. He was a dressing genius!

The timing of these events seemed quite serendipitous. Because apart from our own Ken Done auctions, I was also wearing Ken Done on Wednesday to pay my own tribute to the artwork of Kelli Jean Drinkwater, who is also the director of Aquaporko! Check out below the *stunning* art-piece Kelli Jean has produced of Ken Done appreciation…

Copyright, Kelli Jean Drinkwater (Australian artist, activist and filmmaker). Photo by Penelope Benton.

And titled here, by JGRuddock as, “One of the Most Fabulous Pieces of Artwork, EVER.” xo

So there you go. Happiness all round! And now while I skooch off again to keep at these funding deadlines, please help spread the word of our Ken Done and vintage auctions. All money raised (less auction fees) goes directly to The Social Outfit. And supporting us means *doing good in a fashion*… xo xo

Tell: Tatty Devine necklace, robot necklace from Young Bloods markets, Ken Done vintage t-shirt from eBay, Ken Done 1980s skirt from eBay, Jonathan Aston tights, retail socks, Fluevog boots, vintage Ken Done makeup case.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Three

Posted on February 27, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Time to keep moving! Three foundation grant applications all due very shortly (and there’s more we are working on too). This is me yesterday, juggling my university work, the grant applications, our other projects… and more. We’re heading into a busy time, and I’m so *pleased* to have the support of our many excellent volunteers at The Social Outfit helping me out. Everyone is really pitching in…

So back to work! To type out our dreams, and to fill in forms: all in the *hope* of making The Social Outfit a reality in Sydney… Please wish us luck as we give it a go! xo

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Tell: Earrings from op shop, handmade necklaces, Saba t-shirt stolen from the First Hawaiian Officer, handmade skirt from op shop, retail tights and socks, Fluevog shoes on sale from Sole Devotion.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Two

Posted on February 24, 2013 by JGRuddock

Show: It’s wet weather… and I’m invited to a wedding celebration for my dear friend, Tim (visiting briefly from New York)… and I need to get to the North Shore…

Let’s. Do. This!

Tell: Ken Done umbrella, Ken Done glasses, Tatty Devine ‘watermelon’ earrings and necklace, fluro singlet from op shop, Spin Dance petticoat, The Social Studio silk dress gifted by Jo, Black Milk leggings, Fluevog shoes (from Sole Devotion), Linda Jackson vintage bag.

Share: I love a celebration, rain or shine! And a happy weekend to you, xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-One

Posted on February 22, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: The Social Outfit just got ourselves an ‘Authority to Fundraise’. Hooray! And why might you be interested? Because within the coming weeks the final 20 or so donated pieces of Ken Done from What Ken Be Done will be up for auction! And all for the benefit of The Social Outfit… Let me explain a little more first…

So, you’re a charity (i.e. got your DGR status and tax concession). That means now you can *fundraise like a fiend*, yeah? Well, NO!

One more form, people! In NSW, if you want to fundraise (i.e. ethically ask people for money via campaigns and request for donations… *NOT* hassling, mind you), you need an ‘Authority to Fundraise‘. You fill in forms from the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, and show how you are legitimately doing charitable work. Then a little bit later, they let you know it’s OK, and you can begin fundraising. The Social Outfit got our confirmation this week. Yee-haw!

So if you, or anyone you know, wants some (more) *GOLD* pieces from my Ken Done fashion archive, you’ll soon have your chance. All the money raised (other than the auction fee) will go straight to The Social Outfit! And we’re going to use the money for our pilot program (supported by the City of Sydney). As soon as Kit gets the auctions live, we’ll let you know. You get Ken Done, and WE all get to support creative, great programs celebrating people from our refugee communities in Sydney. I like it!

So, in short: things here are MIGHTY busy, I can tell you…

Also, Kit got her hair cut. It’s *fun*, it’s got *verve*, and we have the photos to show, of course… xo

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Tell: Wa-Nyika earrings, Ken Done scarf handmade by Susan, The Social Studio silk dress, Ken Done leggings, retail socks, Fluevog shoes.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy

Posted on February 18, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: ’Twas a coloured-eyebrow kind of weekend clearly…

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Show: Sunday involved a Positive Psychology lecture at the Sydney Opera House, and a festive outfit to match my upbeat mood…

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Tell: Ken Done 1980s glasses from eBay, vintage beaded necklace from Santa Barbara, vintage handmade dress from op shop (with some adjustments by me), Jonathan Aston tights, Fluevog boots.

And Saturday was all about more Hawaiiana…

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Tell: Cambodian silk scarf as hairpiece gifted by my Mum, vintage Hawaiian top gifted by the Hawaiian First Officer, Katies skirt from op shop, retail tights, Happy Socks, vintage boots from op shop.

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Sixty-Nine

Posted on February 16, 2013 by JGRuddock

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Tell: Glasses from op shop, handmade beaded necklace, ‘Ara Modell’ vintage jacket from Perth op shop, Laura Ashley shirt from Canberra op shop, Sportsgirl dress from op shop, retail tights and Fluevog boots.

Share: For the most part, I keep my university work and my The Social Outfit work pretty separate (although clearly both inform each other). I divide out my days and try and keep my focus on the task at hand. So it was a little weird yesterday participating in a graduate workshop at the University of Sydney with the visiting Professor Ann Cvetkovich (from University of Texas). She specialises in gender and cultural studies, especially theories of the ‘archive’, feelings and intimacy. Each person had 7 minutes to present their own work, and so I talked about young women and ‘selfies’ (self portraits, usually taken with one’s own mobile phone) through a lens of my own experiences of What Ken Be Done, The Social Studio, The Social Outfit and fashion archiving. It proved a really interesting exercise, and one I reckon I’ll be thinking through for some time to come. Then, on the way home, I saw this quote on Twitter: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I’m pleased when I take up opportunities to put myself in different ‘rooms’, and keep being open to learning. I feel like that’s so important for the progression of The Social Outfit, and myself. There are so many smart and wise people to learn from; many in completely unexpected places. That I also get to dress up, and *love* fashion at the same time is a complete bonus. xo

ShowTellShare One Hundred and Sixty-Eight

Posted on February 14, 2013 by JGRuddock

Share: Ah, the city of Sydney!

Yesterday Kit and I met with the cultural development team at the City of Sydney council offices, to talk about The Social Outfit‘s pop-up shop and creative workshops we’re organising in the coming months. Exciting! We’re going to have our work cut out for us as we strive to run the project really well, as well as continue the larger The Social Outfit development plan into Sydney. And when there’s hard work, I’m always up for finding time for a bit of *fun* too: like posing in front of these Sydney architectural miniature models. We’re like giants! Giants who want to bring *good fashion for good* to Sydney!

Here’s what we were wearing yesterday. As you know, I always like to wear The Social Studio as I do this work… it’s keeps me purposeful and *hopeful* about how we could also work creatively with Sydney’s own refugee communities too.

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Tell: Lafont glasses, earrings from op shop, handmade necklace, handmade brooches, 1980s Keith Mattheson men’s shirt from Rozelle markets, The Social Studio t-shirt, Anthea Crawford skirt from op shop, retail tights and socks, Fluevog boots.

Jackie Ruddock

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ShowTellShare One Hundred and Seventy-Nine

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