Frocks & Frou Frou: plus size

Showing posts with label plus size. Show all posts

Sunday, December 21, 2008

We Wish You a Merry Christmas (and a non-cringeworthy photo)

My Mum has a super power.

She can't fly, doesn't have super strength and isn't faster than a speeding bullet. She can sniff out cat pee on carpet at a hundred paces, but I think that's less of a super power, and more of a carefully honed talent.

No, what my Mum can do is take photos that almost invariably make anyone standing in front of the lens look really, truly hideous. (Sorry, Mum - I know my sister's on your back about this too, and God knows I love the family album and the fact that you chronicle everything, I really do, but honestly!)

Last year I wore a fetching green Diana Ferrari dress - It was shiny, and had a scoop-neck and did up at the back with a bow.

You've never seen it.

Nor will you.

One Christmas, and one look at the Christmas photos and I retired that dress on the spot.

This year I thought I'd give myself a sporting chance, and put together a selection of outfits that I know look good on film, but I'm having a bit of difficulty narrowing the choice down to one.

So I thought I'd put another poll together, and let you choose for me!

Opinions and recommendations are embraced: Don't like the top I've chosen? Suggest another! Haven't included your favourite dress? Let me know! Obviously disregard my lack of makeup and proper accessories

A) Suzi Chin Dress

B) Lily Dress & Portmans Cardigan

C) Carolyn Taylor Skirt, Yoshi Jones Obi & Country Road Tee

D) DIY Ikea Skirt, Country Road Top & Sussan Cardigan

E) DIY One Shoulder Dress

F) Portmans Skirt, Top from Markets & Belt From Markets

Friday, December 12, 2008

Where ARE you, Summer?

Shrug: City Chic www.citychic.com.au

T-Shirt: Giordano www.giordano.com.au

Skirt: Diana Ferrari www.dianaferrari.com.au

Boots: Duo Boots www.duoboots.com

Belt: Sierra Trading Post www.sierratradingpost.com

Good thing I took this photo this morning before I left for work, because I look like a drowned rat now!

It's pouring in Melbourne, which is great because we desperately need the rain, but I gotta ask: Where are you, summer?

We're well into what should be the warmer months right now and I'd been so looking forward to flitting about in my frilly dresses and floral skirts, but Melbourne's being typically contrary and instead I'm back into boots and cardigans.

Never mind - my cashmere sweater dress arrived in today's post, and if it stays cool, you may actually get to see it before next autumn.

Plus, I'm getting plenty of wear out of my red boots!

Friday, December 5, 2008

News Flash!

Fantastic! That most coveted of lucious lingerie companies, Pleasure State (http://www.pleasurestate.com/), has finally decided to cater to curvier gals with a new range called "Pleasure State VIP" which goes up to a 16G.

I saw the new range in Myer this evening, and it's everything that I've ever loved about Pleasure State (gorgeous fabrics, detailing, shapes) but in a bigger size! Hurrah!

The Pleasure State Press Release says:

"Available in body sizes 32-38 and cup sizes DD to G, the Pleasure State VIP bras are not only fashionable and sophisticated but also offer all-day continuous comfort, supportive fit and just the right amount of coverage.

Juxtapose a touch of edgy-elegance, feminine tailoring and you get a youthful and playful collection imprinted with significant sensuality that celebrates the audacious charm and confidence of a woman with a voluptuous bust.

The Pleasure State VIP collection also features new innovative technology that provides ultimate comfort; an ultra thin and smooth ‘embedded’ hook and eye that won't show under clothes and won’t be felt on the skin. Carefully tailored shoulder straps have been designed for comfort with graduated designs that are both supportive and look less cumbersome.

True to form, the creative team at Pleasure State continues to demonstrate exceptional expertise in the perfect cut and combination of fabrics and trims, an art this label is acclaimed
for.

While offering enough coverage and support, the Pleasure State VIP balconnet bras are revealing and sexy. The thongs celebrate the woman’s sensual allure while the culotte & briefs
exude sensuous femininity. From sexy to ultra-chic, the camis perfectly cross boundaries between the bedroom and the street.

Faithful to the Pleasure State brand, Pleasure State VIP displays fabrics that are richly worked, carefully detailed and embellished with delicate lace, trimmings, embroideries and the brand’s
signature item, Swarovski crystal buckles. Scalloped lace, guipure, Chantilly lace and ladder stitching trim insert acquire the feeling of sensuality when paired with the exquisite Italian woven jacquards, light sheer mesh and stretch silk satin. An abundance of delicious shades such as scarlet, teal and orchid associated with exquisite prints, and solid classic colours of black and ecru all blend magnificently with textures and adornments."

Here's a sampler:

Apologies to anyone if this is "old news" - the range has apparently been available since September, and they're planning to expand it next year, but this is the first time I've happenned across it, and I wanted to share!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

The Slimming Stripe

Dress: Gasby (57 Bridge Road, Richmond) - no website

Shoes: Zoe Wittner www.wittner.com.au

Now, I'm the first to admit that the number one fat-girl fashion rule (thou shalt not wear horizontal stripes for it maketh you look big) is bollocks, but I think there might just be something in the whole vertical stripes make you look slimmer thing.

I found this dress at one of those ridiculous little asian-clothing shops along Bridge Road in Melbourne. It stopped me dead when I saw it in the window, and I never dreamt that they would actually have it in a size that - albeit barely - would fit. Thank God for my little sister, who insisted I go in and check, and then again insisted that I buy it when I was vacillating over whether or not it was wearable.

It is absurdly tight, but I love it, and I'm often getting comments on it. It's actually an ingenious style - the dress zips up first before it buttons, so even though my generous thighs and bust are straining the seams the button closure doesn't gape. Hurrah!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

The Boots were made for Walking

Top: Sussan www.sussan.com.au

Dress: 8inkerman www.8inkerman.com

Leggings: MySize www.mysize.com.au

Boots: Boots For Broads www.bootsforbroads.com.au

Obi Belt: Yoshi Jones www.yoshijones.com

Man, it's fridgid today in Melbourne. I ventured out in the attempt to find a 30th birthday present for a friend (alas, no luck) and it took me three goes to find an outfit that worked that I wouldn't also perish of exposure in.

I often choose my day's wardrobe from a single item, then build up, and since I received my new red boots (red boots!) that one item is usually my shoes. er, boots.

But, because I'm a bit anal about this sort of thing, I have to wear things that match, and what I've discovered it, not much goes with red boots.

For starters you kind of have to go with a skirt, because the whole red boots over pants thing is just a smidge superhero (Superman, Spiderman, Captain America, Iron Man - dude, red boots are the footwear of choice for comic-book fodder)

Today I decided to haul my cashmere sweater dress out of storage, because its comfortable and snuggly, but I can't ever find a top to put under it that looks right, and while I look quite poochy in it unless I also wear a belt, I can never find a belt that works either. Coupled with the requirement that something ties it to the red boots the only thing I could do was wear it with my Yoshi Jones Obi and hope for the best.

I'm not entirely sold on it as an outfit, and I'm thinking I may have to invest in a new sweater dress for next winter (there's a few nice ones at Victoria's Secret www.victoriassecret.com that I've got my eye on ). One that will go perfectly with my red boots.

Hell, I might just indulge now, because it doesn't feel like it's going to warm up any time soon.

Do me a favour and keep your eyes peeled, huh?

Oh, also - I've had a few queries about the heel and style of the red boots - It's the "Jennifer" style at www.bootsforbroads.com.au they have a sturdy 5cm block heel, and after I installed a little gel innersole they are perfectly comfortable to wear all day.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Plum Crazy

Dress: Capture @ Ezibuy www.ezibuy.com.au

Shoes: Poetic License www.poeticlicence.us

First, let me apologise for going AWOL for a whole week! I'd love to say that I've been jetsetting around the world on a fabulous holiday, but really it's just been a manic week, with interstate visitors and the long-mad-leadup to a retail Christmas.

Plus, Melbourne's decided that she hasn't had enough of winter yet, thankyou-very-much, and after a unseasonably hot and sticky couple of days the mercury has once again plummeted into the teens. Good news for my new red boots (hurrah!) bad news for the rest of the wardrobe.

I'm feeling sadly uninspired by my cool-weather clothing - especially with all my new floaty dresses and floral skirts batting their eyelashes at me from the closet. I've grudgingly reclaimed a few cardigans and sweaters from storage, but for the most part I'm shivering it out in trans-seasonal shirts and dresses like this one.

This mock-wrap dress is a gorgeous plummy colour that disappointed me dreadfully when I received it in a package from Ezibuy (www.ezibuy.com.au). On the website it looks like my favourite blood-red hue but in real life it's closer to raspberry. I'm glad I held on to it though - it's a very warm colour, and probably more wearable than scarlet - it's also a dress that I reach for when I'm low on time because it needs nothing to complete the look; it doesn't need to be ironed, and it goes with nearly every pair of shoes in my cupboard (except my red boots!).

Friday, November 14, 2008

Little Red Riding Boots

Cardigan: City Chic www.citychic.com.au

Top: Dorothy Perkins www.dorothyperkins.com

Skirt: Sussan www.sussan.com.au

Boots: Boots For Broads www.bootsforbroads.com

Have you ever wanted something so badly that it seems universally unfair that you've been built the way you are and not the way you apparently need to be to get what you want? For me it's always been red boots.

Maybe that's greedy. Maybe I should be happy to find boots that fit around my - frankly ginormous - calves at all, much less have demands about heel height and hue. Certainly as soon as I found knee-high boots that zipped up (thankyou God for Duo Boots www.duoboots.com) I was perfectly content to wear black knee-high boots.

But the more available wide-calf boots have become, the more obsessed I've been with find a red pair, damnit.

I scoured the internet, stalked Duo Boots and Wide Widths (www.widewidths.com). I posted requests on eBay, and even contacted bespoke designers. Finally, all the hard work has paid off, and it's closer to home than I might have expected.

Behold, Boots For Broads www.bootsforbroads.com

This new Canberra-based company custom makes leather boots to fit any size foot and leg. Really.

You send the wonderful Janice & Elizabeth a plethora of measurements: foot width and length, calf length and width at 5 cm intervals; and they send you a pair of boots literally built to fit your delightfully individual legs.

And at AUD$195 plus postage it's an absolute bargain!

There's six different styles, and three different leather choices. Imagine my delight when I discovered that one of those leather choices was red (!!!)

If you're in Canberra you can check the range out at the Old Bus Depot Markets on the first Sunday of any month. They can take your measurements then and there, and a few weeks later you'll have your spunky new boots.

Now, I know we're coming into summer, and the last thing most of my Aussie readers want to wear is a pair of leather knee-high boots, but please bookmark www.bootsforbroads.com and keep them in mind once the mercury starts to drop. The boots are wonderfully made, and Janice and Elizabeth are a dream to deal with - I had a bit of a problem fitting into the first pair they sent, and without hesitation they provided a second pair that fit perfectly - from my scrawny ankles to my fence-post calves. And if you're still not convinced, they offer a full money-back guarantee. On custom-made boots. Leather ones. Give them a go - you won't regret it!

Monday, November 10, 2008

"Ethnic" dressing

Top: ??? @ Shirts and Skirt Markets www.shirtandskirtmarkets.com.au

Hat: Adelina Design @ Rose St Markets www.rosestmarket.com.au

Gauchos: Ping Pong Clothing

Shoes: Joanne Mercer www.joannemercer.com.au

As you may or may not know, I am (fractionally) Chinese, and this year I've been discovering all sorts of interesting things about the family history.

Apparently my great grandparents came over to Australia from the B'Tau village (famous for a Bean Curd Factory) in the late 1800's to set up a general store in the New South Wales goldfields. Apart from an ill-fated trip back to China to educate the children (it resulted in the kidnapping and eventual death of my Great Grandfather, Chung Hin Gee) we've been here in Australia ever since.

The family in 1908 (apparently the baby is my grandpa)

It's nice to have a link to such a wonderfully established culture, and I only wish that I'd been exposed to more of it as a child.

As it is, apart from the fact that I make a mean Fried Rice, the only Asian thing about me is my almond eyes, so when I saw this Cheongsam-inspired top at the Shirts and Skirts Market in Abbotsford, I knew I had to have it.

I like Ethnic-inspired clothing. For general-wear it toes the line between fashion and costume admirably. Remember a few years ago when Cheongsams were all the rage? I was having a field day, because I actually looked legit in them.

I also really like Saris and Salwar Kameez, and there's some fantastic places to find them online, including www.eshakti.com who I've ordered from before, and provide gorgeous custom-made clothing inspired by Indian clothing. Perplexingly they don't seem to ship overseas anymore, but customers outside of US & Canada can always try a shipping service, if you see something you Must Have.

So what corner of the world are you from? Do have a national dress that you'd be prepared to wear out in public? Lederhosen, anyone? I know at least one of you is descended from the Bolyen family...

Friday, November 7, 2008

Unmentionables

There's not a big range of "Unmentionables" (read: knickers) for curvy girlies. Not fun ones, anyway.

The range for gals 16+ seem to fall into two categories: Pornographic or Practical.

Personally I prefer the "practical" style, so my knickers drawer is made up of sensible cotton panties from Target and K-Mart. The most adventurous of them have (gasp!) floral or polkadot patterns.

It doesn't stop me from pining over the fun prints, colours and ruffles that can be found two racks over in the "regular" section; so after living vicariously for years I approached etsy seller TouchMeNot (http://touchmenot.etsy.com/) and asked her to make me an entire lingerie drawer of fun - but practical - knickers.

Mary worked very closely with me - even going so far as to send (for free! From Canada!) a trial pair, to make sure we got the sizing right - and my finished results arrived today.

I honestly couldn't be happier - my parcel was a veritable candy box of colours and prints, different styles and cuts, and even a pair of ruffle-butt tanga knickers. Ten pairs in total, which means I can chuck out my entire collection of boring cotton nana-pants and replace them with a cornucopia of Mary's wildly comfortable and tantalizingly flash-worthy creations. Of which the following is a tiny sample:

If, like me, you're keen to overhaul the knickers drawer and treat yourself to some fun new panties drop Mary a line - she also has a blog: http://pedal-pushers.livejournal.com/ which gives you a tasty little glimpse of her full range

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Blue Skies

Dress: Suzi Chin for Maggy Boutique @ Nordstrom http://www.nordstrom.com/

I'm unreasonably in love with the high-waisted skirt look, but being somewhat voluminous up top I find whenever I wear a high waisted skirt over a blouse I'm forever ducking into the ladies to tug the ever-creeping shirt hem down. This dress (yep, it's a dress that just looks like a two-piece ensemble) combats that problem marvellously, and is ridiculously comfortable in the bargain.

I bought it from Nordstrom and it's one of those dresses that I've always kind of considered "too good to...", which means of course that it never got worn.

Which is just downright silly, so (continuing on the new All Dresses Must Get Worn rule that I put in place over the weekend) I bit the bullet, and wore it to work today.

And apart from several surprised "ooh, you look nice today" comments, no-one suggested that I was maybe just the teensiest bit overdressed, and once I got over feeling self-conscious I was actually more comfortable than I am in jeans and a t-shirt.

It's an amazingly striking dress; the blue is an extraordinarily vibrant cobalt silk with an almost hammered texture, and the skirt is a crepe that hangs beautifully, and doesn't crush (the photo above shows the dress after a long-hard-day at work).

I've never been much of a blue girl, I love my reds and my pinks, but it makes my skin look like double cream, so I'm going to get as much wear out of it as I can, and damn wardrobe conventions that say it's better to be underdressed than over - If you can't wear an expensive imported silk frock to a day hauling boxes of books in and out of the car, then when can you wear it?

It is on sale at Nordstrom right now - at 40% off - but it's only available in a 16W, which should be considered about an Australian size 20 - remember that Nordstrom does (despite all evidence to the contrary) ship to Australia, and the shipping cost is a flat rate US$50. You need to ring their customer service directly to place the order, and the number for us Aussie girls is: 0011 1 206 303 4700.

Sunday, November 2, 2008

My Secret Shame

I'm feeling an odd combination of virtue and guilt as I write today's post.

The virtuous feeling is easy to identify: I just spent the morning ruthlessly sorting the chaff from my wardrobe.

I do this periodically as I have a tiny amount of space in which to keep my spoils.

In fact, what you can see below is the sum total of all my clothes (not including the knickers drawer, winter sweaters - which have been put away, hopefully - and coats or jackets)

I rather like this enforced limitation. It's like bonsai in a way. I'm regularly pruning away the clothes that don't fit, haven't washed well, don't look the way I hoped, or that I've simply become bored with. (Did you know that most women wear only 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time?) So what's left is really the stuff that I consider to be the best of the best.

Granted, it's a little frustrating when I'm hunting for something that I "retired" six months previously, and I'm often replacing identical items, so it's probably not the most cost-effective way to manage a wardrobe.

Now we come to the guilty part. Post-cull, as I was re-hanging all my clothes on matching non-slip hangers (because that's the kind of anal-retentive I am), I discovered that I own twenty-three dresses.

That is twenty-three dresses post-cull.

Surely twenty-three dresses is an excessive number of frocks, even for me. Especially twenty-three dresses that I simply couldn't bear to part with, regardless of whether I ever actually wear them or not.

Mindful of the 20:80 percent rule, I've decided to make a concerted effort to ensure that every dress in my wardrobe earns its keep in the coming months.

So, in the interest of that, today's wardrobe was this safari-esque dress from Barkins (www.barkins.com.au).

Dress: Barkins www.barkins.com.au

Shoes: Zu www.zushoes.com.au

I feel very Katherine-Hepburn-In-African-Queen, though I'm sure the inestimable Kate would never have voluntarily donned a skirt this full.

It's a two-season-old dress, so it's unlikely to be still in-store, but if you like the look, check out the two Igigi (www.igigi.com) dresses below - they're both radically on-sale (find them under the "final clearance" section of the website) and they're very limited sizes, but you might be the lucky one.

Trench Dress in Stone - RRP $145, sale price $41.70

Tailored Portrait Dress in Grey - RRP $145, sale price $58

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Minnie The Moocher

Cardigan: Big W www.bigw.com.au

T-shirt: Giordano www.giordano.com.au

Skirt: Evans www.evans.co.uk

Shoes: Rocket Dog www.rocketdog.com

I feel a bit like I'm channelling Minnie Mouse today, but because this Evans skirt was so much more serious than I thought it would be, I really wanted something to team it with something fun. And what's more fun that red-and-white polkadots?

I've never before owned anything from Evans (www.evans.co.uk) as they've only recently started shipping to Australia. I actually bought this navy blue bubble skirt off eBay, and expected it to be somewhere closer to my knees than my ankles, but my (extremely rudimentary) sewing skills aren't quite up to shortening a bubble hem, so it is what it is! I'm quite pleased with the quality, and now that I've got my size down pat, I might give a whirl to buying something off the website next time.

I'm also premiering some yummy new earrings from Etsy seller Jewelera www.jewelera.etsy.com

A closer inspection (you can see them in her shop, or on her blog: http://dailydream-dailydoodle.blogspot.com) shows them to be a pair of poppies made from gorgeous vintage beads in my favourite scarlet with oxidised silver stamen. She's got one or two pairs still available in her shop, but they sell quickly, so if you like the look of them ignore the miserable exchange rate and snap them up pronto, or you're likely to be disappointed

Earrings: Jewelera @ Etsy www.etsy.com

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Impulse Buy

Jacket: Sussan www.sussan.com.au

t-shirt: Giordano www.giordano.com.au

Skirt: Basque @ Myer www.myer.com.au

Shoes: Zensu www.zensu.com.au

Today you're looking at two impulse buys at opposite ends of the impulse buy spectrum.

The first is a hot pink linen jacket that I saw in a shop window as I dashed past en-route (late, as usual) to a business appointment.

I knew I had to have it despite price (reasonably prohibitive for me, at the time) and definitely despite the fact I didn't need yet another jacket.

In fact I was so terrified that it would be gone by the time I got out of my wretched appointment (nobody knows better than I how quickly the larger sizes sell out) that I ran in, tried it on in the racks then fronted up at the register all watch-checking and fingernail-tapping impatience.

Didn't regret it, either.

I usually try not to impulse buy. I have a lot of padding in my wardrobe, and it's easy to forget that I already have three red cardigans when I'm in a shop, and oh bliss, the red cardigan that I saw through the window actually fits!

That said, sometimes it's difficult to say "no".

F'rinstance. The second impulse buy that you're looking at is a Basque tulip skirt that I bought from Myer last week. I have several black skirts already, and the one was actually a size too big, but it was down from $100 to $16. Who's gonna say no to a nice black skirt for $16?? No-one. Especially not me.

And I don't regret that either.

What have you impulse bought, lately?

Monday, October 20, 2008

Lemming

Dress: Neeso - Bought from eBay www.ebay.com.au

Boots: Reiker Anti-Stress from Shoebuy www.shoebuy.com

So a few months ago I saw this curvy chick strutting her stuff in a fitted denim dress, and I thought "hmmnnn.... I don't have one of those."

You'll know the exact moment I thought that, because it was the same exact moment that denim dresses vanished, without a trace, from all stores in Australia and on-line.

Of course, having been thwarted, it became imperative that I own a denim dress. My wardrobe was incomplete without a denim dress, therefore my life was incomplete without a denim dress.

I hunted fruitlessly. First, in the stores that did curvier sizes. Then in stores that didn't. Not a whisper. Eventually I turned to eBay.

The weeks passed without The Right One showing up, then finally, on the US eBay I spotted a promising candidate.

It ticked the right boxes: It was short sleeved, it had stretch, it had a waistband and a fly rather than buttoning all the way down. And, joy, it looked to be my size. I placed my bid and sat back to wait.

Well, it's been a while, but it finally arrived today, and after some emergency dress surgery (thank God for my Nana, who insisted I learn how to operate a sewing machine, even if I've forgotten everything but how to sew a seam) it's about ready to wear.

I had to unpick some weird Frankenstein-esque orange stitching from down the sides, and the waistband was closer to a kneesband, so I had to shorten the torso by a couple of inches (which in turn shortened the hem to a daunting length) but all in all I'm pretty happy.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Tiers Before Bedtime

I spent this weekend away in the 'berra visiting friends and family so I don't have a wardrobe blog for you today, but I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten you, so instead here's a post on some of my favourite things...

Being a self-confessed girly-girl I must admit to a strange addiction for frills, ruffles and tiers. And this year - for the first time in a loooooong time, we're actually seeing them back in vogue. But it seems to be slim picking for those of us on this side of a size 14. I've scoured the 'net and tracked down some of my favourites for you, but drop me a line if you've discovered something really delicious that you want to share...

Monsoon www.monsoon.co.uk really excels in the ruffles-and-tiers stakes, which makes it doubly upsetting that they won't ship internationally. But since I don't need any new dresses anyway, it's a valuable exercise in self-control:

Monsoon Rita Frill Dress

Monsoon Lalita Dress

Monsoon Angel Tiered Skirt

Yeah, I know you've already seen this Alight www.alight.com dress, but I'm counting on one of you buying it, so I can live vicariously through you. It's available in different colours as well. Go on, it'll make you happy...

Alight Triple Tier Dress

This dress is from the designer Abby Z www.abbyz.homestead.com It doesn't seem to be listing on her website anymore (look for it on Alight www.alight.com) which is a shame, because it has a lovely 1920's feel, and that shrug's a great accessory for girls with shy-shoulder-syndrome.

Abby Z Tier Dress

Torrid www.torrid.com has a couple of cute casual tiered dresses on offer:

Torrid Chiffon Tier Dress

Torrid Triple Tier Dress

And good old neverfail Nordies www.nordstrom.com has a few more dressy options:

Tadashi Strapless Silk Dress

Adriana Papell Pleated Tier Dress

Maggy London Tiered Mesh Dress

And of course, as the piece de resistance, the Tadashi dress that I fully intend to get married in, should the day ever happen (and assuming I don't see anything I like better in the meantime)

Tadashi Long Tier Dress

Friday, October 17, 2008

Coming Up Roses

Necklace: tidabeads @ etsy http://www.tidabeads.etsy.com/

Shrug: Monsoon http://www.monsoon.co.uk/

Dress: remixed Lily @ Nordstrom http://www.nordstrom.com/

Shoes: Diana Ferrari http://www.dianaferrari.com.au/

In case you didn't know; I am a girly girl.

As a child my favourite colour was pink.

I took ballet.

I had lots of dolls.

And I would not, on pain of death, wear trousers. It was all skirts, all the time.

Which just goes to prove, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

It's coming into the Spring Racing Carnival in Melbourne at the moment, which means that everywhere I looks there are dresses, dresses and more dresses! And this season's ultra-pretty florals and full skirts are like my childhood dream wardrobe, so I'm going a little crazy here.

The one saving grace for my bank balance is that in most of this season's delicate florals and pretty pastels I look just this side of religious nutter so instead I have to opt for the less common bold prints and bright colours.

T-shirt: Target http://www.target.com.au/

Cardigan: Crossroads http://www.crossroads.com.au/

Skirt: Portmans http://www.portmans.com.au/

Shoes: Diana Ferrari http://www.dianaferrari.com.au/

I just LOVE this Portmans skirt, and once I got over the shock of fitting into it (since when did the Portmans size 16 get so generous?) I wondered why I hadn't seen it before.

It would appear that Portmans made two versions of this skirt - the one I own, and a second identical skirt in a pretty pink and red Monet-esque print of blowsy roses. The second skirt is the one that went into general production and can be found instore currently. The first ended up in the clearance centre, where Lilli, in a fit of great excitement snapped it up for a song. There's more out there girls - keep your eyes peeled!

It has deep pockets (hurrah!) and a full skirt (double hurrah!) and - wait for it - a tulle petticoat. Yep, that's right. It's practically a tutu (swoon!!)

Also on the bright florals topic, today I picked up my new (now remixed) Nordstrom dress from the dressmaker:

I bought it at the same time as my new handbag and it was basically just an add-on because I couldn't bear to put my first Nordstrom order through, and not get some gorgeous frock.

It was drastically on sale, which is good. But it arrived, and was at least two sizes too big, which is less good, and after the cost of taking it in, taking it up, and giving it straps (because if I can possibly avoid strapless bras, I will) it was considerably less of a bargain than it had started out as.

It came back from the dressmakers a bit shorter than I had expected, and I'm not sure the straps were such a good idea after all, but it's still a lovely dress that looks like it was made for romantic picnics in the botanical gardens. I wonder if Himself will get the memo?