If I Could Turn Back Time: Vintage Fashion Makes a Comeback

Women are empowering themselves through an unexpected source – clothes their mothers, or even grandmothers wore.

 

Swanky mid-century modern furniture, twinkling jewelry pieces and rows of little antique soldiers were hard to miss at The Sydney Fair over the weekend, but it was the vintage fashion that really caught my eye.

Rows of beautiful fur stoles, elegant evening dresses, colourful 50s party dresses, cute summer playsuits. I was in vintage heaven…

 

 

I started talking to Jaimi in front of her stall of eclectic clothes, beaded heels and enormous art prints of rock and fashion icons. She’s the owner and dealer behind The Sleeveless Society on Edgecliff Rd in Woollahra.

Jaimi’s young and fun, with a relaxed but confident vibe about her. She’s wearing vintage from head to toe. A leopard print jacket, patterned cardigan tied around her waist, and the image of Marilyn Monroe laughing effortlessly on her t-shirt.

“I love vintage because it’s unique, and every second person has come up and asked me about or commented on my jacket,” she says with a smile.

“I just think today what we wear is so generic, and everyone looks the same.”

Any piece from Jaimi’s collection is sure to make a gal stand out from the crowd, but according to her there are preconceived ideas about vintage that are holding buyers back.

“People have this preconception that vintage is smelly and old and grannyish,”she says with a laugh.

“I’m trying to make [vintage] a resurgence. At my shop I actually don’t have ‘vintage’ outside, so I like it when people do come off the street. They get to the end of the rack and they say, “Oh, is this pre-owned?”

As we stood amongst the ebb and flow of potential customers, Jaimi was nice enough to share with me her main vintage styling tip. “It’s about having that one piece that makes you an individual and sets you apart – that gets you noticed for being different.”

When it comes down to it, Jaimi thinks that the clothes you wear can dictate how you feel.

“Vintage can definitely empower women – I think fashion can. What you wear can be very empowering. If you look good, you feel good, and it’s quite important.”

The Sleeveless Society in Woollahra.

As the fashionistas out there know, vintage fashion isn’t easy. It takes effort. Sourcing, fitting, altering, styling, garment maintenance… the list goes on. Not to mention that people were smaller back in the day, and the average Australian woman ain’t a 24” waist anymore.

So in a time where fast-fashion is fast and a quick trip to the local Westfield will tick off all your fashion needs, why are women turning to vintage?

“The structure of the clothes have this special, magical aura about them that makes people that wear them feel that they are worthy of wearing them,” says Lena Slater of Coutura Vintage in Bowral. “I think that empowers people.”

“It’s very easy to go to one of the department stores and buy what everybody else is, and there’s some degree of comfort in being part of the crowd,” she continued. “Certainly you stand out a lot when you wear vintage, but I also think that it also helps with your deportment and posture.”

Ingela from Fossil Vintage thinks that vintage fashion can really be a transformative experience for the wearer.

“People feel glamorous when they wear it, rather than being like everyone else who just buys something off the rack,” she says. “They’ve got to source it, and find it, and make it fit themselves. You can’t just wear it, and not do your hair and make up.”

“It’s the whole package if you’re going to do it. You feel more glamorous than just the normal, everyday woman.”

Beyond the walls of The Sydney Fair there are many more vintage fashion markets, stalls and shops cropping up all over Sydney, so why not take the plunge and try it for yourself.

Plus, when someone compliments you on your outfit, you will get the satisfaction of replying, “Thanks. It’s vintage.” *hair flip*

Rows and rows of vintage…

Looking at getting into vintage fashion? Here’s a list of tips I stitched together to get you started on your vintage journey:

• Make sure the garment is in good condition. Sure, it’s vintage, which means it is most likely pre-owned and could have minor wear and tear, but make sure there are no substantial rips or holes.
• Don’t go ‘head to toe’ vintage if it scares you. Grab one bold piece and accessorize it in a modern way, or look for those timeless vintage pieces that can add charm to any outfit.
• Double check measurements before making any purchases. If you’re shopping online, it’s not worth the disappointment of the piece not fitting when it arrives. (Also, don’t fall in love with something online that will never fit… exit out of that tab before you get too attached!)
• Don’t alter pieces yourself. Unless you’re super confident in your sewing abilities, it’s not a good idea to make your own alterations. To ensure your vintage piece fits in the most fabulous way, you can always alter the garment, but unless you’re a master seamstress, take it to a professional. The last thing you want is irreparable damage to a one-of-a-kind piece.
• Research the fashion of the past. Doing your own research will help achieve the overall style or look you’re going for, and you’ll soon even be able to spot the decade of a garment just by the zipper!
• Have fun. Let your personality shine through with bright colors, interesting cuts of fabric, or sleek retro designs – express yourself!

Do you have any vintage tips to share? Comment below!

 

Fab Sakker – 450610420

“Killing God”: Why one girl gave up on religion?

Name: Hanyang Zhao

SID: 440580207

Tags: #Culture & society#Religion#Australia#youth#

Alex Kwak was writing a travel journal sitting at a corner table in a quiet café. I approached to the girl wearing yellow hair and in a black coat. When she saw me, she stood up and gently smiled. Everything around her seemed peaceful and at ease when she sat down.

But, she had struggled against her faith.

The girl, 26, born in a Buddhism family and was converted into a Christian at her age of 14 because of her mother’s influence, but now she said, “I gave up on Christianity and, technically I’m non religious.”

Alex had struggled against her religion life for many years until she got herself out from it. “Killing God” from her heart is a good “therapy” to keep balance of her physical world and spiritual world. She is one of many of Australian young people abandoning religions.

 

A Christian church Photoed by Hanyang Zhao

It lies in…

“Religion clashed with my thinking and views.”

As Philip Hughes, the senior research officer of Christian Research Association, says, people’s thinking and mindset clash with what the Bible and church teach people and the strict religious views such as homosexuality, premarital sex and some restriction of people’s body. Young people having modern life value are even harder to accept the strict and dogmatic religious beliefs.

“I vividly remembered I was told that homosexual people is not sinned because God made you, but the acting will be a sin upon it, but inside myself thought that was not right,” she said. Without accepting the core values it is hard to be belongs to the community.

Like other young people, Alex liked to question the existence of God and ask the clarification of meanings of Bible in the physical life. She failed to get the answers from Bible and church teaching, which gave her loads of pressure; thereby she decided to “killing God” from insides of her.

The clash seemed to be stronger to Alex along with her growing-up when she gained independent value and view towards religions. It led her to reconsider religious faiths. “I feel unfair” that her family’s traditions decided her beliefs not from her own choice.

Alex had met some teenagers whose attendance of church was out of their family’s expectation and traditions. She was not sure those young people would keep going church when they grow up and have independent views towards faiths.

 

School children are attending church on Sunday Photoed by Hanyang Zhao

 

External things dragged her out

Alex moved to Australia from Korea alone 10 years ago; at that time she was affiliated to Christianity. The different social environment of Australia from Korea was another reason that led her to give up.

She said, churches and religious organization in Korea were good at organizing people to participate religious practices and there are a lot of Bible studies going on, while religious institutions in Australia do not have as much strategic things as that in Korea.

“In Australia there are a lot of things to do in the leisure times, but people don’t have much choices for leisure activities in Korea on weekend. Many people still need to work on weekend”, she said. Going to church used to be a “good” excuse to get away from work and meet friends when she was in Korea. But leisure time is different in Australia, which reduced her motivation for going church.

Having a religion need a lot of commitment of your life, such as reading Bible every day, attending Bible study regularly and going to church weekly. Religious life could not go into Alex’s physical life. She could not handle balancing religious life and social life both in internal sides. Organized religious practices led to limitation on her social life, so religious life became a burden on her heart and life.

Church filled with elderly people Photoed by Hanyang Zhao

She was troubled with engaging with Bible study. Three-time-a- week Bible study workshops made her stressful and super tired. “I couldn’t work functionally well and it affected my working efficiency on the next day”, she said.

Alex experienced being left out her my friends. She had to reject her friend’s invitation after work or that on weekend, going for hiking, camping or a drink, because of attending regular Bible study workshops every week. “I hate being lonely. It badly affected my social life”, she said uncomfortably.

Alex’s brother also had the same situation with her, wavering his religion. And many Australian young people shared some same reasons that lead them away from religion.

Spiritual but not religious

The religious affiliation, either Buddhism or Christianity, pressured her. And she could not keep participating in the form of organized religion as her parents do. She would rather embrace an inside spiritual aspect instead of being associated to organized religious practices. “Being quiet with my thoughts and praying myself whenever it is needed are easier for me”, she said. The vague and unsystematical spiritual world, she believes, is comfortable with her.

As Hugh Mackay in his book Beyond Belief reveals, young people who are turning away from God, are fond of other forms of spirituality instead of being restricted by religious institutions and practices. Hugh Mackay call them as “Spiritual But Not Religious”.

“Will God revive among the youth?”

“It is hard to say so, but I will never give it up bringing young people back to church,” said John, a Bible teacher in Sydney.

He has made a lot of efforts to improve church life to make religious life fit in today’s young people.

It is not uncommon that some people are struggling with the Bible teaching, because they think it is repetitive, unrealistic and meaningless to daily life. John thinks churches should provide more opportunities for young people to explore faith instead of expecting them to attending the religious rituals or asking for commitment.

Young girl listening to sermon in church

To improve it, he is engaged in a Bible study group with young people exploring some issues of everyday life, which will open more opportunities for questions and discussion, rather than passively listening to sermon.

2011 census reveals 28 per cent of Australian young people aged between 15 and 34 have moved away from religion. It is still hard to say God will revive among the youth.

 

Professional or rookie? It doesn’t matter – Fu linfang’s life as a vlogger.

Lin Chen | 440555788

Tags: #vlogger #vlogging #fu linfang #social media #bilibili

14th February 2016.

Streets are full of love birds holding hands together, shops are crowded with gentlemen buying flowers for their beloved ones, even the smell of chocolates is flowing everywhere.

Why?

Because it is one of the most romantic days in a year, the valentine’s day.

While in Tintagel way, there is a house, inside this house, there is a men staring at the screen, watching a man, which seems to be himself, in video, cooking a meal,  without chocolate and without a valentine.  

Is he lonely? Surprisingly, no, he is not lonely.

Why?

Because he’s a vlogger, he has thousands of valentines online. Oh, I mean,  thousands of friends he considers as lovely as valentines online.

Vlogger Fu linfang

This man is ‘Fu Linfang’, an English vlogger, who lives in UK, shoots video for Chinese audiences, on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, Bilibili, Youku and Sohu.

A few days before 14th February, Fu Linfang cooked himself a meal, recorded the process of cooking. Then on the night of 13th February, he uploaded the video to those Chinese social media.

After a long nice sleep, on the morning of valentine’s day, when he opened his laptop on the bed, with messy eyes,  he received tons of comments from his fans under that video. By that time, even as a single man, alone in his bedroom, on valentine’s day, he felt cared and loved by others.

“To me, they’re friends more than fans” says Fu linfang.

Vlogging has become a part of Fu linfang’s life. He uploads video every single day, reads every comments and messages under his video, does livestream on social media, he even creates groups on instant messaging apps like Wechat and QQ to talk with his fans, to listen to the suggestions his fans has for him.

Fu linfang started this whole vlogging thing by making videos about teaching English. He used to live in China, back then, a lot of people came to him, asked him to teach them English on Wechat. Then instead of answering questions one by one, Fu linfang started to make videos to answer those question all in once.

Later, when he came back to England, he continues making videos.

Time pass by, more and more people watch his video and he started to make videos in other genres

cultural difference video

language video

make up video

game video

cooking video

travel video

(Fu linfang doing other genres of video including gaming video, culture difference video, language video, react video, cooking and travel video, click here to check the full video, source: bilibili.com) 

Fu linfang says, different types of videos take different preparations, but in general, being a vlogger doesn’t need high technology. For him, he just uses his phone, his laptop and, occasionally, when he is shooting for travel video, his camera, and then, most important of all, his brain.

Most of my video starts with an idea, then I write down the idea, come back to it on another day, write down more ideas and jokes, create a script, write tips about how to film, then the next day,,says Fu Linfang go do it, it’s an easy 4 step process.

The equipment is easy, the process is easy, as long as comes up with ideas.

Fu linfang making vlog in 4 simple steps, source: Lin Chen

For Fu linfang, sometimes ideas come to him gradually, sometimes ideas come from his fans. In the future, Fu linfang wants to move out of the small town his living now so that he’ll have more things to film and his life itself could be interesting enough to present in his video.  

But is it for real that with an interesting life or an interesting mind is a potential vlogger?

A professional Vlogger?

Well, sadly, I’m afraid the answer is no.

Take Fu Linfang as example, in some way, he considers himself to be a professional vlogger. Which means not as a rookie, not a someone with a little bit interesting going on in his life.

“I earns money by doing it.” Fu linfang says. “I does promotions and  the advertisers on video platforms like Youku and Sohu would pay me to have their ads appearing in my video.”

However, dose that really counts for “professional”?

 Dr Jonathon Hutchinson from Sydney University points out, a professional vlogger needs to have media productions skills. Besides knowing how to shoot and edit video, a professional vlogger should also understand his audience, be good at using his language and know how to communicate with audience well.

Dr. Hutchinson says “a professional vlogger is a vlogger of vloggers”.

Usually, among those professional vloggers, there are 2 models of working as Dr. Hutchinson said. One is vloggers working with vloggers to achieve massive audiences. Two is vloggers partner up with organisations, brands, services and so on to increase their visibility and exposure.

Judging by that, perhaps, Fu linfang as a lone wolf, is still a semi-professional vlogger?

Fu linfang says, one of the greatest part about vlogging, is that “I don’t lose control over things and I’m making things that I’m proud of.

I guess, in the end, professional or rookie, it doesn’t really matter.

Vlogging, for Fu linfang, is all about sharing life, making friends and doing thing’s that he felt proud of.

Vlogging is just a work full of possibilities.

For those who wants to share their life as a vlogger, just be brave, vlogging isn’t rocket science.

For those vloggers who has an ambition for massive audiences, then,  be ready, for change and for collaboration.

Understanding Depression in Australia

JIE ZHU  SID:440111311

More than 400 of motorbike enthusiasts gathered together to raise funds and public awareness of depression and suicide at Penrith leg of Black Dog Ride’s annual One-Dayer.

Black Dog Ride One-Dayer is a nationwide event held at 34 locations across Australia on the same day, thousands of bikers come together to revving engines in support of raising public conversation on mental health issues.

“Depression is a silent killer among communities, there are lots of people in communities are living with depression, but few of them have recognized the seriousness of depression”, said David Peach, the coordinator of the Black Dog Ride One-Dayer.

A 2014 national survey shows that around 2.1 million Australian have experienced depression and more than 6000 Australian depression suffers attempted to take their own life in one year. But only 39 percent of Australians view depression as a mental health issues.

Mr David said he can understand the reason why public fail to understanding the   depression. Because feeling depressed and anxiety is that everybody experienced. It is normal reactions to the stress and difficulties in our life. But when the anxiety intensified, it lifted to an anxiety disorder that affected people’s life. “The blur distinction between normal everyday anxiety and anxiety disorders makes people confused.”

Mr David said the aim of Black Dog Ride One-Dayer is to getting people talk about the depression and suicide. “With things like this rolling to towns across Australia, people want to know what it is all about.”

“It is a good way to deliver the message that depression is a illness that need more focus and understanding”, he added.

Riders are ready to depart Photoed by Kenley

 

Better Knowledge, better treatment

Jess Seigle, a depression suffer was introduced the Black Dog Ride after attempted multiple suicide last year.

Mrs Jess has been affected by depression for a long time. But she did not receive any professional treatment until last year. Instead, she turned to alcohol and drugs as a way to escape the depression, which has worsen her conditions. The intensely painful resulted from continual distressed promoted her actions to take her own life.

Extensive research has show that the delay to seek treatment is prevalent among depression suffers. Studies says only a few people seek professional help in a timely fashion although efficient treatment is available in Australian.

A national survey shows that only 28 percent of Australians attending specialists treatment services in the year of onset. Even when people do receive treatment, they typically wait for many years before seeking help. The average length of delay ranges from 8.2 years to 50 years.

Clive Jones, an associate professor of Psychology at Curtin University and a specialist on the treatment of mental health illness, explained that there are series of barriers faced by people with mood disorders when they take the first step to seek treatment. “One of the most commonly barriers is a fear of stigma associated with Depression. Patients often feel shamed about their depression and anxiety”, said Mr Clive.

Mrs Jess said she has realized pretty earlier that she was different from everyone else, but she did not tell anybody as she get a bit embarrassed. “ When I felt the depression come on, I just hid out in my room or just got into my car and drove for days.”

But her suddenly disappear has upset her families and friends. “ They have been gone through a period that they were scared as they think I was angry with them”, Mr Jess said. “ My illness made me endangered with my families.”

Until last year, her families and friends started to notice that she was struggling with depression. Instead of blame, her families try to understand each of her symptoms by reading a lot of materials.

“I was lucky that people around me are so supportive, they offered me patience and encouraged me to take step to seek professional help. I have met someone with mental health illness whose families did not support them and their husband and partners left them. I do not know how can I cope with my illness if I were in that situation”, said Mrs Jess.

Mr Clive also noticed this situation in his daily work. He said that families and friends understand and support is the most powerful thing to facilitate help-seeking.

 

Concerns about flaws of mental health system

Despite some patients have intentions to seek professional assistant, few of them obtain effective and adequate treatment.

In a national survey of 8841 Australians aged 16-85 years conducted in 2007, 17 percent of respondents met criteria of affective disorders. Of these, 67 percent of Australian adults have consulted a health professional for their illness, but only 30 percent of them received adequate “dose” of psychological therapy stated in Australian treatment guideline.

Mr Cliver said the mental health system is flawed. “In Australia, GP is the entry point of mental illness treatment. Patients with more complex and serve disorders will be refer to specialists by GP. However, this is rely on reach GP with sufficient knowledge in identification mental health issues”, Mr Cliver explained.

Further, he said: “patients with severe mood disorders normally are not able to work in general, many of them lost their jobs after diagnosing with depression. However, the occupational therapist that tailored to people with severe distress not covered by Medicare Benefits Schedule. Thus, it is impossible for them to afford the appropriate treatment.”

“When I was in public hospital, I see someone who give up treatment as they are not able to pay after they lose their jobs and their families’ supports”, Mrs Jess said.

“There are lots of things such as Black Dog Ride and lifeline that make we get better and better in understanding depression, but there is still a number of missing pieces in our mental health systems”, Mrs Jess added.

Key words:# Mental Health # Suicide # Depression # Black Dog Ride #Australia

Author: JIE ZHU            Email: kenleyzhu9536@gmail.com

 

 

 

The Great Barrier Reef coated sunscreen

Have you ever noticed your sunscreen floating on the water? Do you know the sunscreen is harmful to coral? What can we do to avoid this tragedy happen? Join me to enjoy the beauty of the Great barrier Reef and protect it!

Tag: #The Great Barrier Reef #travel #scuba diving #snorkelling #sunscreen #coral bleaching #coral conservation

By Ko-Ning, Hu (440480996)

The Great Barrier Reef, no doubt, is one of the best diving sites in the world. It is the heaven for people who love swimming, diving, snorkelling and sailing. The living masterpiece of nature is so gorgeous; it can even be seen from outer space. The Great Barrier, which ranked in the World Heritage, along the Queensland extends more than 2,000 kilometres of coastline. There are over ten sights attract great numbers of tourists day by day. After doing detailed research, I, who with a passion for the ocean, decided to go Airlie Beach for exploring the mystery of the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Source: Australian Geographic

 

A fantastic experience of snorkelling

I took the yacht and started my journey. It was a sunny, lovely day; I coated sunscreen on my skin while having the preparation course for snorkelers. The staffs carefully explained steps of snorkelling as well as all safety matters. After having some snakes and a little bit of fantasy on the yacht, I finally arrived at the destination. Snorkelling is the easiest way to enjoy the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef directly. All the equipment you need is the mask, snorkel and fins (people who are fear of drowning may put on life jacket). Standing on deck and feeling the salty small of the sea, I could not wait to jump into the water. I will never forget the moment that I jumped. From the beginning, you might feel a bit of dizzy; however, your body will adapt it soon. I dove into the water and saw colourful coral in front of me vividly. I was so excited but on the other hand, I feared to touch and hurt them. All I can do was floating on the sea and leave the image inside my mind. While diving, I got to see a baby shark, turtle, Nemo (clownfish) next to me. They were so close to me and had peaceful coexistence mode with reefs. After an enjoyable skin diving, I set on the deck and took some pictures of my friends, who were still in the water. The sunlight was so strong and suddenly I saw a layer of sunscreen floating on the water. I did not notice abnormal until I removed my makeup at night. “Will the sunscreen hurt reefs?” this question hovering in my mind for couples of days. I promised myself that I must find out the answer.

 

Source: NOAA

 

Sunscreen is polluting the Great Barrier Reef

According to a study, benzophenone-3 ,which is an ingredient in sunscreen lotions that protects against the damaging effects of ultraviolet light, is coral reef killer, as long as one drop is enough to make an area of coral reefs decease. There are about 3500 kinds of sunscreen products containing oxybenzone and it is easy to imagine the pollution. The coral reef ecosystem is very fragile. Putting a drop of oxybenzone in six and a half Olympic-sized swimming pools has been sufficient to cause pollution. Oxybenzone (also called benzophenone) is adequate to collapse coral reefs to survive. It will not only kill the coral, also will cause DNA damage to adult corals. Moreover, infancy coral will have DNA defect, this will hinder the normal development of the coral. The region with the highest concentration of oxybenzone was found in the most popular place for tourists. In addition, oxybenzone can also cause coral bleaching; this is the most important reason that causes the death of coral worldwide

 

Source: NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program

 

NOAA made the chart and explained the reasons and process of coral bleaching. NOAA believed that the main cause of large-scale coral bleaching is global warming, and followed by pollution. Excessive exposure to sunlight or air can also cause bleaching. This year, scientists point out that 93 percent of coral of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia has been bleaching. Facing El Niño, they also predict that more than half of bleaching coral will die.

 

Source: AAAS

 

Steve Doo, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney studying the impacts of changing climates on animals in the Great Barrier Reef, explained:” The most direct evidence comes from the beaches, where have large numbers of people playing. Another way is polluted water. After playing in the water, people will take a shower but forget the sunscreen will flow to other places.” Each year, there is approximately 14,000 tonnes sunscreen flow into the water. Most of the coral contain 1 percent to 10 percent of oxybenzone, however, at least 10 percent of corals on the world have exposed to high dose of oxybenzone.

 

US National Park Service recommends how to protect coral, enhance environmental awareness.

 

What can we do when choosing sunscreen products?

Although there is no guarantee of any sunscreen products that is harmless for coral (reef friendly), using a natural mineral sunscreen would surely be beneficial to protect the environment. General sunscreen products are divided into chemical and physical sunscreen and most of the chemical sunscreen products that contain chemicals oxybenzone. This not only causes coral bleaching, also cause skin sensitivity, cell damage, and even interfere with hormones. Professor David Booth, who is one of the members of The Australian Coral Reef Society (ACRS) from School of the Environment in the University of Technology Sydney, said: “The main ingredient of physical sunscreen products is light particles from natural minerals. It will form a thin film on the skin surface and then block UV light. This will neither penetrate the skin nor be harmful to the environment.” Therefore, we should pay attention to ingredients when choosing sunscreen products to avoid harm to the environment.

 

Marine area accounts 70 percent of the Earth and gives birth to countless marine life. Coral reefs are so important because they provide a living environment for 25 percent of marine plants and animals. Once coral reefs bleaching and death, marine ecosystems will inevitably chaos. The ocean is facing a serious threat, will you be willing to do more to change their habits and save the ocean?