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