Frocks & Frou Frou

Top: Dorothy Perkins

Cardigan: Ice Knitwear

Skirt: Manque

Boots: Duo

Here's how lazy I am: I live over the river from the Sophisticate (it's about a seven minute walk) and sometimes I'll stay over at his place, especially on weekends, because it's in the city and there's something really delicious about waking up to the sound of general hubbub under your window going out onto the balcony and thinking "I'm standing in the middle of the city and I'M IN MY PYJAMAS" (at least until someone looks up and spots you and you have to scurry back inside).

This weekend both my visiting Queensland friend and I ended up staying with The Sophisticate, and instead of going home (a fifteen minute round trip) to get a change of clothes... I bought one.

The cardigan was super cheap (two for $30) from one of those el cheapo clothes shops where nothing seems to fit over my generous bosoms but I loved the anchor print and figured I could wear it unbuttoned anyway. The skirt (by local Melbourne label Manque) was an impulse buy bought from Cat's Meow. Manque is a label that has previously escaped my notice, but in an odd little coincidence when I got home from my impromptu shopping trip I had an email from reader Sassydrcil suggesting I check them out. I didn't realise it was the same label until I saw it on the website she linked me to - it's called the Librarian.

The top? It's actually the too-short Dorothy Perkins "dress" that I never got around to remixing, but had been wearing as a nightie. 

Meanwhile, in other news - My Hairy Godmother's going on maternity leave in a matter of weeks, and since I couldn't see past me fringe I thought it wouldn't kill me to get a quick fringe trim at the local hairdressers.

TOO SHORT! You can see my eyebrows for the first time in a year! In the hairdresser's defence, I'd been wearing a cloche hat for most of the day and my hair was flattened when she trimmed, but now it's bounced back, and the result's more Bettie Page than Louise Brooks.

I've decided I have two choices... embrace the shorter length (for at least the amount of time it takes to grow back) or walk around like this for another month:

Dress: Vintage, via Thrush

Cardigan: Target

Boots: Duo 

I got a lovely surprise in the mail on Tuesday which made up for the fact that it was the coldest day in Melbourne over the last two years, and I'd completely underestimated the warmth of my outfit.

The surprise was this great pair of Talamore Boots which came all the way from sunny England, care of Duo Boots


I've been looking for a really great pair of brown boots for Quite Some Time now. I've got a pair from Boots For Broads and another pair from Reiker Antistress but they're both a very dark colour, and I wanted something a bit lighter and more weathered looking, especially for layering over jeans and whatnot, so this pair are perfect. (This photo probably gives you a better idea of the colour, though)


My suggestion for fit? Size down in the foot, and up in the calf! I ended up getting the 38's because the 39's were out of stock, and they felt great, but it took me ten minutes to get the left boot zipped up the first time.

I wore them all day yesterday, and they were pretty comfortable. They're easier to zip up, now that the leather's softened a little, and while I'm getting my usual ankle rumpling, I actually quite like the effect. They already look like a favourite old pair of boots. Give them time, and they will be.

Top: Sussan

Skirt: Sussan

Boots: Duo Boots

Necklace: Suzuki Night Market - no idea on the stall I'm afraid, but you can find a similar necklace here

Sometimes all it takes to turn an ordinary outfit into something a bit special is one really catchy piece of jewellery. 

With this basic (read: boring) black turtleneck and denim skirt combo, I decided to pair it with the fabulous brass necklace that my little sister found at the Suzuki Night Markets for me last Christmas. 

The black background makes the brass silhouettes of the pair on the trapeze really pop, and with such a statement piece nothing else is really needed by the way of accessories. 

Top: Dorothy Perkins

Jacket: Sussan

Jeans: Sussan

Boots: Duo Boots

Hello, old friend - I kind of forgot I owned you, but then I was going through the top shelf of my closet, and there you were, ready to be rediscovered! Sorry I've been so neglectful, you're an awesome jacket, really. I think I got a bit insecure about trapeze jackets after reading one of those fashion do's and don'ts lists for Ladies With Larger Busts, but really I should have known better. The only "fashion don't" I believe in is "Don't listen to fashion do's and don'ts". Seriously.

Top: Sussan

Skirt: Love To Love You

Boots: Duo Boots

It's been a few days since my last post, but I have an excuse: It was my birthday on tuesday! Hurrah! Happy birthday to me!

I had such a lovely day, punctuated throughout with little messages of love from friends and family - I really am surrounded by the most wonderful people, and I feel very lucky to have them all.

I got to wear something Very Special, too, because the day before I got a parcel in the mail... something I'd bought myself, but Loni from Love To Love You wrapped it up nicely with a little card and everything so it really felt like a birthday present. From me. Thankyou, me - I love it!

Loni's shop came to my attention when I was originally looking for bustles - her "Ruffle Bum" skirt popped up and caught my eye:

It's a BookBook! Thanks Mum - I LOVE it!

Striped Top: Giordano

Puff-Sleeve Top: Dorothy Perkins

Jeans: Piper @ Myer

Boots: Duo Boots

Continuing on the cool-weather theme it occurred to me that now might be a good time to talk about that most covetable item... the wide calf boot.

I have big calves. Big, strong, wide, calves.

For years I tried and failed to find leather boots that would zip up over my big, strong, wide calves. It was horrible and demoralising and embarrassing and I hated every second of it, but the ephemeral dream of knee-high boots drove me on.

Every autumn I could be found in shoe shops around Melbourne trying to judge with the span of my fingers whether these, these boots stood a chance of zipping up before daring to ask the sales assistants for my size.

Inevitably they wouldn't, and each time I would be subjected to the same mortifying pantomime as the staff member would struggle with the zip trying to assure me that the boots would stretch, while I red-faced tried to tell them that no, they wouldn't.

Well, thankfully, those days are no more, and thanks to the magic of teh interwebs I have not one, but six pairs of knee high boots!

I thought I'd give everyone a bit of a run-down, pair by pair, of the boots that I have in my wardrobe, starting with my first ever pair of wide-calf boots: The Duo Madrid's:

Duo Boots are a great UK based company that fit boots not just by shoe size, but by calf width too. Such a simple idea, but such a brilliant one!

I've got two pairs of Duo Boots at the moment (you'll see the second pair later this week), but I've bought and retired another three pairs so I've had a fair bit of experience with the brand.

All of the boots at Duo are 100% leather, and personally I've found the quality very good, though I've read a few reviews online from the occasional buyer who hasn't had as positive experiences as I have.

The customer service is excellent, and you should definitely take advantage of it because the sizes and widths can fluctuate between styles somewhat.

International shipping isn't cheap - £20 per pair - but it is extremely fast. I'm on the opposite side of the world and I've never had to wait longer than a week from shipping for my purchases.

One of the best things about Duo Boots is the range that's available: They have different heel heights, different toe shapes, different leather styles and colours so you're not limited to a basic all-purpose style.

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Tartanista

Boots: Duo Boots

So Daylight Savings ended over the weekend, which means that the last couple of wardrobe shots I've taken have been done in near darkness. Let me apologise for the quality, but I look dreadful with the flash on!

I'm really delighted with this new plaid skirt from Tartanista. The first skirt that I ordered from them is great too, but this one's a little bit more pudgy-knee friendly, and I don't feel nearly as self conscious on the streets and I do in the mini.

It's also hard to tell with the dodgy grainy picture, but this cardigan - current season from Target - is awesome. The perfect length and fit, though I have a sneaky suspicion it shrank a little in the wash, because I kept finding myself flashing midriff today.

Hurrah! Frockapalooza has finally reached it's end, so to tie us up here's a few (dis)honorable mentions that didn't quite manage to make it in for one reason or another! They're still in my closet, so I felt like I had to include them.

So, that makes 41 dresses. 41.

Considering they made a movie called 27 Dresses, and I've left that number in the dust I'd say it's probably time to reassess my wardrobe!

At some point in the next few weeks I'm going to do a drastic cull, and I'll be putting the overflow up on eBay, so I'll let you know once I've got my act together and put them up on offer. I thought I'd donate some of the proceeds from the sale to one of my local charities.

So, without further ado - Frocapalooza, the (dis)honorable mentions:

Dress: 8Inkerman

Blouse: Victoria's Secret

Boots: Reiker Antistress via Shoebuy

Too hot for this dress over summer alas, but I still like it, it's great for snuggling.

Dress: Monsoon

I was actually going to wear this dress for New Year's, but when I put it on prior to coming to Canberra I discovered that I've lost enough cup sizes that it won't stay up. Quite sad about this, as I've worn it to almost every wedding I've been to over the last three years.

Dress: Thrifted via eBay

I bought this dress for the express reason that it zipped up the front like my favourite shirt dress, but it hasn't been worn for a while, and I sort of forgot it was in my cupboard at all (!)

Dress: Crossroads

Cardigan: Portmans

Shoes: Wittner

Still love this dress, but I forgot to pack it! I bought it a few years ago during the Year Of Great Frocks That Are Also Cheap, and it's the only one that's lasted the distance.

Dress: Cast Couture

Cardigan: Crossroads

Boots: Duo Boots

Managed to drop a bit of oily something on the frill of this dress which prevented it from being worn in time!