Frocks & Frou Frou

Top: Sussan

Dress: Target

Stockings: Ambra

Shoes: Naturaliser

I've had a particularly heinous week I'm afraid, and I never seem to get home until after dark, so here's an outfit shot that I prepared earlier! 

I wore it about a week ago, but wasn't entirely sold on it, so it's been sitting in my Frocks & Frou Frou folder waiting for an occasion such as this; when I realise that I haven't blogged since Monday, and it's already too dark to go outside and blog my real outfit of the day (black dress, patterned stockings & green cardigan).

I'd seen a girl earlier wearing a similarly polkadotted dress with black opaques and a black cardi, and I thought it looked so swanky I'd try my own hand at it, but I'm actually not in possession of a black cardigan (I know! a terrible oversight that I'll be quick to rectify) so I tried layering the dress over a long-sleeved black top instead, and the result is... a bit meh. Hence why you didn't see it earlier, but oh well - beggars can't be choosers.

Daylight saving is still months away, but I'll endeavour to be better organised next week and actually get outside to take some pictures before the sun sets, leaving my in flash-photography hell!

Blouse: Dream Diva

Cardigan: Target

Skirt: Kelda Leigh

Shoes: Chie Mihara

Brooch (gifted by Haz-Mo's Mama): Tango and James

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to discover that here at Chez Lillipilli it's all about comfort. I don't like "support garments", I don't believe in slimming pantihose, and nine times out of ten I'll wear flats over heels.

A few months ago a girlfriend of mine introduced me to a particular shoe designer "Chie Mihara" whose speciality isn't simply classic, almost retro looking footwear, but shoes that are designed for comfort.

Chie set up her own footwear brand after having worked at an orthopaedic shoe store learning about foot anatomy and common foot problems. All her shoes are made with an anatomical footbed designed specifically to accommodate a woman's foot. She says (rightly so!) that all women are workers and that while we want to look "feminine, beautiful and attractive" we shouldn't have to sacrifice comfort to do so. 

This video gives you a bit of an idea as to her philosophy, and you can all "aww" over her adorable accent, too:

Now, I can vouch for both the extremely comfortable comfortableness of these shoes, and the frightening price tag (you're looking at several hundred dollars a pair. On sale) but here's my secret. eBay. Keep your eyes peeled, because they pop up all the time, and instead of spending five times what you'd normally pay for a pair of shoes, you can pay what you'd normally spend for a pair five times as good.

Top: I.D.S.

Vest: Target

Skirt: Tartanista

Stockings: Best and Less

Shoes: Naturaliser

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.

Blouse: Dream Diva

Vest: Target

Skirt: Tartanista

Stockings: Ambra

Shoes: Chie Mihara

So, I found some grey ribbed tights from Myer on reader Lauren's recommendation - they're pretty good, though I'm going to keep looking for a pair that are slightly lighter as well.

It's a long weekend in Australia this weekend, but due to the miserable weather and the fact that I'm a bit skint until next paycheck I'm being very domestic and have so far spent the weekend baking at home.

The Sophisticate's best friend is abandoning us for the warmer climes of Sydney, so to see him off (and better encourage him to come back to us!) I hosted a home-cooked meal last night with a delicious herby tomato quiche and apple crumble for dessert. Today's been pancakes, then scones with home-made jam. Om nom nom nom.

I'm not sure how much detail you can make out on my brooch, but I quite love it. I picked it up earlier this week at one of my bookstores: Brunswick Bound which, in addition to having a great range of carefully hand-picked books, has some of the best accessories I've seen.

It's by, er, someone. I've lost the card it was on originally on, but maybe Sarah McNeil? There were a few of her brooches in the same cabinet...

ETA: Eagle-eyed reader Madeline let me know that the brooch was made by Julia Swaney - Have a look at her store, the brooches are too gorgeous for words! Thanks, Madeline!

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: Giordano

Vest: Target

Cardigan: Target

Skirts: Kelda Leigh

Shoes: Ben Sherman @ Solestruck

Hat: Chitra's Closet

I'm on a bit of a retro kick this week, can you tell? 

I love this new hat - I picked it up last Friday at the Chitra's Closet fashion parade and (here's the exciting bit) I've been wearing it all week.

This has never happened before; as I'm sure I've mentioned earlier I'm somewhat prone to impulse buying hats that then sit unloved and unworn in my cupboard. 

This one reminds me of a burgundy cloche hat that I used to wear when I was a teenager and less inclined to care if my headwear drew excessive attention from strangers, but it's better - a lovely soft flexible felt that's a dream to wear.

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!