Frocks & Frou Frou

Top: Giordano

Vest: Barkins

Skirt: American Apparel

Stockings: Columbine

Shoes: Poetic License

Brooch: CatRabbit

I bought these polkadot panti-hose a few weeks ago, ostensibly to wear under my short-shorts, but they looked dreadful, so this is their first outing.

They're great fun, and I was delighted they fit because patterned stockings that encompass my generous proportions are a bit few and far between, and this is the first dotty pair I've managed to find.

It's actually the brooch that caught people's attention today though - I couldn't get a proper photo of it, but here's the image off CatRabbit's website:

It's adorable, huh?

Top: Giordano

Vest: Target

Skirt: Queen Clothing

Socks: Sock Dreams

Shoes: Poetic License

I had a few appointment cancellations this morning, so getting dressed was a bit more of a leisurely affair than yesterday!

I have such a soft spot for this skirt, but I don't wear it that often, because it's such a statement piece. 

The illustration on the front (and the back, for that matter) have been done by a very well-known Melbourne Street Artist known as Ghostpatrol, and I just love his work, especially the pieces like this one of feral children. It's very Where The Wild Things Are.

It's so cold in Melbourne at the moment. And dreary and grey to boot, so I'm trying really hard to stay warm without having to surrender myself to jeans and great big snuggly sweaters. Today's pro-tip? Socks!

To be honest I'd actually prefer a really thick pair of ribbed grey stockings, but I can't find some anywhere. Keep your eyes peeled!

Blouse: Liz Jordan @ Noni B

Top: Target

Jeans: Embody Denim

Shoes: Poetic License

Oh dear, I've been absent for days, and I've returned with an outfit that I'm not actually that sold on, but I didn't want to make you wait any longer.

I actually have a really cute new dress that I bought last week, and I wore the heck out of it over the weekend, but every time I thought about going outside to take my wardrobe shot the heavens opened, and it rained and rained and rained.

So instead here we are, Monday morning and an early start and I was lying in my warm bed mentally trying to put an outfit together so that I could spend as little time as possible naked.

The problem with dressing in the dark is that on paper an outfit might sound fine, but in reality the different components don't actually pull together that well. 

This morning's outfit is case-in-point.

In retrospect (and if I'd given myself more time to get out the door this morning) I'd have exchanged the jeans for a pair in darker denim that were narrower in the leg so that I could balance out the volume of the knitted top. Probably I'd have swapped the heels for flats or boots, and I may have rethought the combination of polkadot shirt and top as well because the blousy sleeves on the shirt kind of dwarf my upper half. 

Oh well, you can't win 'em all.

Top: Liz Jordan @ Noni B

Vest: Target

Skirt: Portmans

Shoes: Poetic License

Hat: Morgan & Taylor

On Friday my delicious housemate Joss and I had the very great honour of attending our first ever fashion parade!

I'd been invited by Chitra Mangma, the mastermind behind indie Melbourne label "Chitra's Closet" which is described online as "ultra feminine" "colourful" and "vintage", which all sound jolly to me.

The theme of the night was "The Cat's Meow" and it promised to pay homage to the romance and fantasy of the 1940's, with all its nipped-in waists, curvy silhouettes and fishtail skirts.

I got into the spirit of the evening with my most 40's-esque outfit, hat and all, and I ended up feeling quite at home amongst the glamourous models, and Chitra herself, who was decked out on the most adorable ensemble from the top of her yellow hat and polkadot cravat, to the edwardian style ankle boots.

Looking back on my notes for the night they're punctuated with "lovely!" and "gorgeous!" and "the buttons!" and "want!".

Chitra's put together a wonderfully timeless range of clothes for Melbourne's winter season - little details like contrasting buttons, flashes of scarlet silk lining, scalloped edges and kick-pleats - then she gave them names like "Maggie Gyllenhaals Secretary" and "Demure Bodice Ripper" and sent them down the runway on a range of gorgeous girls of all shapes and sizes.

I particularly loved the use of colour, lots of reds & lilacs:

and the little details like the scalloped hem on a vest teamed with pleated cuffs on a long sleeved blouse set my heart a'racing:

So, congratulations Chitra on a beautiful and stylish new season - it looks like it's going to be amazing, thankyou for inviting me to be part of your special night. 

And an extra-special thankyou to Joss as well, who attended as my official photographer and did a stellar job!

Dress: DIY

Shoes: Poetic License

So I actually ended up having a very productive day yesterday, and managed to not only start - but complete - my Macaron dress from Colette Patterns.

Look, I'd be the first to admit that my sewing skills are a bit dodgy. Both my Mum and my Nana were pretty consummate dressmakers (as my stash of formal dress would attest) but I've always been too impatient for the rigours of sewing.

But I saw this pattern, and I had a bit of a look online, and so many people seem to have made it with great success, so I thought I'd try my hand at it.

It was easy! (relatively!)

The instructions were perfectly well laid out, with lots of diagrams, and suggestions on how to do things right. And head down, bum up, it took me about nine hours (with breaks inbetween to make a sad little orange poppyseed cake) to make. Pockets and all!

But still, I'm feeling pretty proud of myself.

T-shirt: Bonds

Skirt: American Apparel

Shoes: Poetic License

Hullo, hullo! Did everyone have a scrumptious week? Are we all as glad as I am to find Friday knocking on the door again?

I feel like I've had one of those weeks where I've been working like crazy, but have somehow managed to accomplish... nothing.

I had lots of little jobs to do - mending, cleaning, cooking, sorting - but the only one I've managed to complete is:

Hurrah!

You've all been very patient, I know I've been promising to do this for months now, but I've finally got around to it.

Blouse: Barkins

Vest: Target

Skirt: Tartanista

Shoes: Poetic License

Bag: Hideo Wakamatsu

OK, I'll be totally honest, I actually wore a different outfit out today (something a little less provocative!) but I couldn't think of a better way to feature my new "Randoseru" bag from Hideo Wakamatsu!

The Randoseru is the very recognisable firm-sided backpack that's used by schoolchildren in Japan, and they're incredibly resilient and - let's face it - adorable.

Mine came from Hideo Wakamatsu, a Japanese luggage company with a particular focus on traditional craftmanship and timeless designs (for the Grown-Ups they also have the most beautiful attache case I've ever seen)

It's the most fabulous quality and there's all sorts of little bits and pieces that come within, including a notebook and a keyring, but really it's the quality of the workmanship that really sells it:

The back is wonderfully padded, so it's comfortable, even when it's full of, say, a purse, two phones, some sunglasses, lipbalm, business cards, a hairbrush, housekeys, the new Patrick Ness, and other assorted things that a girl can't leave the house without.

Enough room for everything.

I'm wearing it mock-schoolgirl style in the picture, but it's such a classic style that I think it looks just at home over jeans & a t-shirt, a little dress, flirty skirts... I'm looking forward to getting lots of use out of it.

Dress: DIY!

Shoes: Poetic License

So, I was looking at the construction of my Dream Diva skirt/dress and it seemed reasonably easy, so when I spotted this stripy 70's jersey at Spotlight for just a few dollars a metre I thought it wouldn't hurt to have a stab at making a similar piece for myself.

It's insanely basic: a circle skirt sewn to a boob tube, really. There's LOTS of tutorials on how to make a circle skirt available online, and the boob tube's just that - a tube of fabric large enough to squeeze your torso into.

I actually misjudged the length of my body somewhat, with the result that the top's a bit too long, but it means I can drop the waist on the dress to sit on my hips like I did the top picture, and it's easy to fix if I decide I need to.

I was tempted to add straps or little cap sleeves so that I can wear it with a bra, but I thought I'd stick to strapless and wear it with a bolero if needed.