Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down

Respectable fashion journals have been drumming certain styling rules into me for years.

Like the importance of scarves in the wardrobes of women, especially of a certain age.

Yeah, ageing women like me.

I've struggled with those elusive slippery suckers for so long and just as I gave up, I found my fairy scarf godmother.

Now I can be chic and age-appropriate.

Haaaaa! Had you going there for a second didn't I?

Nay I say - still not going down that path - but I have been rocking this head-scarf technique since discovering it this weekend.

Check out this darling girl from Liberty of London.

Halloween Forces

Shop assistants are starting to ask me, "What are you going to dress up as this Halloween?"
Well I'm not sure if I'll actually be doing anything, but my repeated and truthful answer is, "Probably myself".
It's true.
But then I guess when they see this get-up, maybe they think some people are starting early this year.

This is an everyday look for me.
I snaffled some Black Milk Bones seconds leggings that are going for just $30!
They arrived yesterday, the same day this 1960s red, wool cape reached out and slapped me in a thrift store.
It's alive!!!!!
I've yearned for a vintage, red cape for about ... well, forever.


As for Halloween, if the ghouls intend to drag me into their depths this weekend, they're going to have to haul me away as I am.
I have to admit that I'm seeing Halloween as an opportunity for some dubious craziness this year, probably because I have kids that want to do the same.
Oh well, I'll either spend the whole weekend making costumes only to fall into a sobbing heap come nightfall, or make rude faces at my neighbours.
Meanwhile, here's what I wore this evening.
Bones leggings; thrifted wool cape; 1930s peach silk top; Forever 21 booties; 1950s ostrich-skin bag; 1950s thrifted, cotton collar.

A few more details:
The cape needs a press, but I just couldn't wait to show you, I was so excited!

Is Halloween just another day for you, or do you really go for it?

Meet Zelda, my 94-year-old role model.

Yes, I have found a role model.  
It's Zelda Kaplan, who says:
"So many young people are so afraid of becoming old.  I would like them to know that from someone who is 94 years young, it is fun to be old".


The gorgeous New Yorker has been featured on Style Like U and I've added her brief, yet inspirational style-video for your viewing pleasure.
I wish she was my big sister.
Respect.



Zelda from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

Lady of Bacongo

I'm living proof that real people actually win stuff here on the interwebz.
I threw my name into the hat when one of my favourite magazines, the Toronto-based, Worn Fashion Journal, invited web-subscribers to win some fash-pash books and I leapt at the chance when I spied a copy of Daniele Tamagni's Gentlemen of Bacongo up for grabs.
And win it I did!
So what has this outfit to do with the book?

When it was released a year ago I saw these images and was desperate to buy the book, but it was not to be.
Nicknamed "Dandy Lions" in some of the press subsequent to the book's release, these chaps are irresistible.

I'm melting.

So the gods must be smiling on me because the same day I won the book, I stopped in my tracks at my local Aid for the Blind thrift store when I spotted this baby.

After sleeping on it, I realised the book was an inspiration for my next outfit and I decided I wanted to style one starting with my new gorgeous, African, fluorescent-yellow necklace.
I don't remember starting an outfit with a necklace, probably because I've never had one that's so loud.
It seemed destined for these shoes.

Africa and the chaps of Bacongo call.
I'm heeding it.

The dress is a 1950s duchess satin in my favourite shades of green and when I thrifted it for $3 it was already showing lots of wear and tear.
It had evidence of having been stored on a wire hanger and the right shoulder seam was going to blow.
It was only a matter of time.
Most of my refashioning ideas come to me at night and after many spent mulling over my dilemma, I schemed to remove the offending shoulder completely.
I waited and wore the dress until the inevitable happened.
Then I marked out where I wanted to cut in tailors chalk, held my breath, cut, then made a bias binding facing.
I think it's worked.
I hope the dress has retained its vintage charm, but it's now a little more modern to me.
Here with 1950s purple, veiled fascinator; 1960s purple, satin gloves/1950s cream, sheer gloves; fence-net tights; 1960s red, vinyl bag and white, faux-fur wrap.

Accessory close-ups.

Thanks for bearing with me with the pics.
I love to see people's outfit details, so I've done likewise as there were lots of accessories.
Hope you're all having a wonderful week. xo

Oh Betsey!

I guess this is pretty a tame outfit, not a lot of rules being broken here.

Maybe the snakeskin clutch and shoe earrings kind of bring a bit of interest though.

I'm wearing this get-up to emphasise that we are still well and truly experiencing winter here.

But that's fine coz even though I live in a humid climate, I have more winter clothes than summer.

Go figure.  Clearly living in the wrong country.

The dress is Betsey Johnson bought on eBay.  I love the mesh bodice and sleeves - the mesh is incredibly firm like a bandage and feels so good.

The leather Normal Kamali vest gets another outing, plus tights and velvet platforms.

The Phoenix says it's time I tried some different shoes to these and my Docs;).

But don't you find yourself wearing a fave pair over and over until the next pair come along?

I've had these red, wooden platform earrings for 20 years - ga!

Experimenting with black eye-makeup.  Lots more practise needed but I love the effect.
Apparently at my age, I'm supposed to be toning EVERYTHING down a bit. 
Meh.

OK so enough about me, let's talk about me;).

The delicious Oranges and Apples has very kindly awarded me:

Plus that crafty artist Sewing Pixie has bestowed another:

Thank you both for thinking of me:).

I've had the latter on the back-burner for a wee while probably because I can't imagine why anyone on the interwebz would want to know anything about me.

Maybe I'm just over-thinking it.

I'm supposed to share seven things about me:

1.  I mix up my children's names, sometimes on purpose, or ask "What's your name again?" just so to see them laugh.
2.  Secretly I think they're insane, as is evident here:

3.  I'm addicted to tea.

4.  The film, The World's Fastest Indian, is the story of my grandfather (mum's father), Burt Munro.  He's my inspiration to grow old disgracefully.  

If any of you gorgeous creatures are worried about whether people will laugh at you in THAT hat or THOSE shoes, watch this and you will never doubt yourself again.

5. I was born in New Zealand, grew up in Fiji and have lived in Oz for the past 20 years.

6. I want to be Nancy Drew but I think I would get arrested.

7.  I don't have TV access, but instead immerse myself in series marathons.

So this is where I pass the baton on.

* Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Share 7 things about yourself.
* Pass the award along to 15 other bloggers who you've recently discovered and think are  fabulous.
* Contact the bloggers you chose and let them know about the award.

I hate choosing between bloggers because I love everyone!

I think five will do since it's Sunday and I'm nursing a houseful of people with flu.

• Petite Dejeuner
• The Well-Appointed Catwalk
• La Catrina
• Matchbox Muse
• Shine By Three

OK gotta go, I'm holding DD's head over a bucket:(. xo

Where Did You Get That Hat?

Don't you just love a bit of a vintage hat?
Even if it's quaint, a bit ludicrous, or just plain ridiculous, as long as I love it, I'll find a way to wear it. 
I adore hats, head pieces, veils and hair bands, particularly little cocktail numbers of the period from the late 1920s to the early 1950s.
So I thought I'd  show you my humble collection harvested over the years from eBay, thrift stores and flea markets.
Here are my cocktail hats, which have made the coffee table their semi-permanent home.
Wearing one of these babies always brings a smile to my dial.

The darling yet troublesome Peaches, who is constantly getting legless, is on the right and wearing my 1960s, vinyl, snake-print, belted trench.

Felt hats (L-R): 1930s red with grosgrain ribbon and 1920s burnt orange cloche, 1940s black with feathers (just seen).
Second row: 1950s black and white straw bucket hat, 1940s purple felt with grosgrain ribbon.
I don't wear these much as I have such a fat head:(.

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend. xo