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Bloggirls Q & A

7 May 2012

Kate Whitney Chauncey, the lady behind The Pessimiss, chats to us about her blog and the things she loves.

By Liesl Pretorius

Name: Kate Whitney Chauncey

The name of my blog is my own personal joke. People used to tell me that I was judgmental and pessimistic, but I always knew that I was actually just observant. I love the play on words and I use it as a kind of analogy for my eye on fashion.

Why a fashion blog?

My dad used to call me 'the clothes horse' and tell me that life wasn't a fashion parade. The thing is; he's wrong! If you're going to do something, you should do it in style and you should do it your own way. It makes each day remarkable.

Day job:

I'm online all day. My job as a social media manager means that Facebook and Twitter are a constant part of my life. It's like constantly mixing business with pleasure for me - I love how quickly things move and how willing people are to share their lives online.

Best cure for the blues:

Some of my best friends and (now my parents too) are living overseas, which means I've devised little ways to alleviate that dull ache I get when I'm missing them all. Usually I'll wear or carry reminders of them, like the little neon Peruvian people brooch from my BFF, or a note that my mom scribbled.

Things I love:

G&T o'clock, really hot chillis, all-girl rock bands, doing things I'm not supposed to, book exchanges, vintage silk scarves, a good argument, men with their own style, unapologetically big gold bling, great soundtracks, Cancerians, rooftop parties, black velvet, affectionate friends. Music is everything to me. I'm quite sure the people in my block hate me, because I listen to music pretty much permanently. That, or they're slowly becoming bigger rock 'n roll fans. I like to think that I'm enriching their lives with shared sound.

Blogs and sites I love:

Miss Moss (duh), Style Bubble (my favorite), Hayibo (for laugh-out-loud satire). I also derive much enjoyment from following funny people on Twitter. My favorites are @Queen_UK, @Losephine and @fieldnotes_za.

Things I love right now:

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These maroon Adidas high tops are on my hit list for winter. I'm really not a sneaker girl, but I've got a real thing for adding street-inspired accessories to an otherwise femme look. I also love the playfulness of mixing masculine and feminine pieces.

I've been drooling over Bryan Greenberg since his ginger undertones and urban groove made their way into my heart in the movie Prime with Uma Thurman. He's currently earning his title as my favourite man in How to Make it in America. It makes me want to move to the Big Apple (hopefully with my very own Ben Epstein).

I adore skulls. Macabre, pop culture, Vanitas, in art, on walls, around throats and in poor taste. The Book of Skulls was a Christmas gift from my BFF, Katy. It's a tribute to the global fascination with the symbol of the skull in art, fashion and culture.

I came across Anomali jewellery at the Fringe Arts market recently and was so taken with their handmade rings, hair accessories and earrings. This topaz orchid would make such a lovely gift.

I'm a longtime lover of The Rolling Stones. I listen to the Stones every week, if not every day and I'll never tire of them. My favourite is ‘Beast of Burden’, followed by ‘Wild Horses’ and with special mention to ‘Gimme Shelter’. The Power & the Glory on Kloofnek Road will always be close to my heart for the simple reason that they, too, are unbridled Stones fans.

Give me outlandish accessories and I'll be your girl. Big, bright, crass, whimsical, witty - I'm sold. These gloriously kitsch ASOS heels are a case in point.

A renewed global interest in 'ethnic' prints recently saw the popularization of Aztec and Afro-inspired patterns. I think we do it best back home. Local prints that have caught my eye include Jozi's Babatunde for flat caps with attitude and zebra -striped pumps by Township.

I don't feel right if I’m not wearing something vintage. I feel like modern clothes simply can't be as authentic, silly as that sounds. In Cape Town I love Woodstock treasure trove The Cat's Meow for quirky accessories and unexpected bargains. The rest are my secret!

I can't recommend Woodlands Eatery in Deer Park to enough people. I eat there just about once a week and, no matter what anyone else tells you, theirs is the best pizza in town. The bacon, gorgonzola, chilli and avo is my regular, but everything on the menu is good.

Print genius Mary Katrantzou's recent collaboration with Topshop brought new meaning to the term 'print clash', with girls around the globe lining up online and on streets to get their paws on a piece. Her delicate, luminous and hyper-real prints take my breath away.

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