Post break-up hair identity crises, treat yo'self season and the mini dresses on my wishlist
Fresh year, new beginnings? (insert sweaty laughing face here)
If you follow me on socials you may have seen the newsflash about me being freshly unattached at the worst possible time of the year.
But also maybe the best time of the year, in the context of a clean slate. Out with 2024 and in with god knows what for 2025; I feel like I’m in the process of pulling apart my life and repositioning all of the pieces, and it’s terrifying and probably a little bit exciting but I haven’t got that far yet.
I’m at the make myself a mug cake to eat in bed stage. (I’ll let you know when I find a goodie, just in case you also need)
However, there has been an obvious shift this week, a change in attitude that one only truly has the power to unlock in her own company. Unencumbered entirely by the responsibility of being a *girlfriend* on top of everything else, she gets to wiggle around a little in her own skin and get properly comfortable.
It started with waking up on Monday morning in air-dried waves, and taking to the upper quadrants of my unruly mop with a conical curling wand. It worked perhaps, a little too well, and I felt like a different, disco version of myself all of a sudden. I kept the curls for a few days, feeling a little bit self-conscious of my bold new look, but also, like, a diva? It felt like the thing you do post-breakup when you radically change your hair except thankfully, this option meant I wasn’t going to be stuck growing out bangs for six months. So. Highly recommend giving yourself a pretend perm if you’re feeling a bit down, you get to show up at your life as a different person for a few days.
(I also bought this thing as well, and it is a game changer, for $60?? My hairdryer has been rendered obsolete)
It was my birthday this week too, and it’s become my custom to pull a Tom Haverford and treat myself; first with a heavenly facial massage, then the aforementioned hair styling tools; a pair of shoes for the gym and a shopping spree at Recycle Boutique. I’ll have to showcase my finds next time, but there was a green wrap skirt, a denim bustier and some 90s florals for starters.
I pulled together this spring/summer 2025 Prabal Gurung inspired look to go shopping and it just feels like I’m having fun getting dressed again, or something has just clicked? Maybe it’s the unencumberedness? That freedom of expression that engages when you don’t care what anyone thinks of your outfit?
But it was when I was out and about, in my jeans and unnaturally-fibred sheer dress as a top, that I realised just how hot it is. Spring has left us in the unrelenting grip of summer all of a sudden and layers are all but out the window. I don’t think I can even attempt an outfit recreation unless the originally outfitted person is glowing with New York street sweats; for then I will know it is truly summer appropriate.
Summer in New Zealand is generally a scantily clad affair (the ozone hates to see us coming), and it’s such a balance to keep it classy and stylish but also some kind of comfortable in the suffocating heat. It sounds like I’m being dramatic but I swear, NZ summers be sticky as heck.
Floaty, linen, short, cotton and strappy are our new best friends.
MINI-MALIST
There’s nothing easier than a mini dress to beat the heat in.
I’m deeply in love with this simple and chic linen mini by Assembly Label (honestly they just don’t miss when it comes to timeless everyday styles) - or perhaps we lean into the whole rolled straight out of bed summer vibe with this sale find at The Iconic? It’s like a riff on this $630 Paris Georgia dress!
This trapeze silhouette is super cute; I’ll allow it for being lined in cotton (the florals are just too sweet!) or get a similar shape with this gorge secondhand backless Dissh. This one gonna be polyester as heck but y2k sparkles? It might be skimpy enough to get away with?? Or a structured yet soft and breathable strapless mini - so chic! And I’ve scoured the internet searching for a mini shirt dress but I kinda think there’s nothing better than a thrifted men’s oversized shirt worn as a dress?
Special mention for this 100% cotton Wynn Hamlyn stunner - unfortunately my treat yo’self budget doesn’t extend this far, but a girl can dream…
Talk soon,
Han xx
Thank you 🙏🙏🙏🙏