Miss Hospital Corners

Finding a mound of unopened mail is such a fulfilling experience isn't?  Like hell!
Lucky I tackled the job yesterday though, as I discovered I was due for a hospital appointment in two hours. Oh woopee.
I really cannot face going to potentially invasive appointments looking like I just got out of bed.
Call me vain, a drama queen, whatever!
So I got tarted up as usual, plus it helped take the edge off the panic.

As soon as I got there, who should start yelling the ward down but my favourite Nurse Jennie: "Arrrggghhhh I saw your shoes going up the stairs and just KNEW it was you!"
Dear of her:).
***Just so you're not worried, I'm in the peak of health and the lady-bits are in top shape especially for a woman who has had four natural births.***

It's been a bit wintery lately so I grabbed the chance to wear my 1960s tweed and fur suit, since spring is only juuuuuuuust around the corner.
The 1970s spotty silk blouse was from a vintage fashion fair and yes, my double bags are rammed with essentials.

The skirt has an interesting feature.  
It's fitted all the way down and has no back vent or pleat to aid walking.
For those who haven't worn "wiggle" skirts and dresses, the hem clamps the knees and it actually helps to walk if one is wearing heels.
But it also means one must wiggle the butty in order to move forward.
Those designers back then knew exactly what they were doing.
So duh, that's why they're called wiggle skirts - be warned: essential saucy wiggling = uproar.

A bit of hatty goodness in the form of a 1930s cocktail hat.  

Among several rather hilarious reactions to this outfit, most of which involved the words, traffic, glazed eyes, near dangerous accident and momentary loss of concentration, one poor man at the hospital nearly feel off his crutches and into the gutter - I felt very sorry for him, poor thing.
I mean, I didn't think I looked strange, but apparently I'm "a sight for sore eyes".

Dunno, must be the shoes.

Chucking Out the Rule Books

Would you like some styling tips from a woman who embraces the ageing process?
Yes? No? Yes?
I'm going to tell you anyway.
Firstly, read all the how-to style books you possibly can until you're having anxiety attacks every time you look in the mirror and your brain is ready to explode.
Now, do you feel really shit about the contents of your wardrobe? 
Confess.  Do you have the required classics such as half a dozen white shirts, a pair of black pants, wrap dress, classic jeans and black tights?  **Yaaaawwwwwwwwn**.
No?  Then please don't go shopping.

Pile up those books and burn them. 

Send them to charity, return them to the library or give them to someone you hate.  

Just get those books far away from you.

Now pick one item of clothing out of your wardrobe that you like but rarely or have never worn, throw it on the bed, then start throwing pieces in various colours around it.
Go for it.  You're getting warm when your eyes start popping in surprise at the sight of colours that aren't supposed to "go".
Today I started with this 1960s, gorgeously soft, wool, paisley sweater I picked up for a buck at a flea market.

 Next came the purple tights.  Yes, really.  
Once the green skirt came into the frame, I was really feeling the vibe.  
Repeat after me ... "Green is a neutral colour".
Enter pink croco mary jane VW Melissa shoes and I was on a roll. 
Woo-hoo!! Hey this is fun!
I needed a hat ... hmmm ... how about this Italian green felt 1930s cocktail hat?

No, I think I'll go with the velvet leopard-print hat that Nelly gave me.
Mis-matching is fun so I grabbed a 1940s snakeskin handbag - pile on those animal prints!
More animal needed and it's really chilly so I've added a 1940s fur cape.
Quite a bit of clashing going here!
It's all so very wrong isn't it?  And yet it feels so damn good.
Keep trying those crazy colour combos peeps ... when you get the hang of it, you'll be wearing two, then three (or more!) colour families.

D'ya loike me new lippie?  It's MAC's Ruby Woo.  I don't think I've ever worn such a bright, true red. 
Aren't ageing women supposed to wear paler make up?  Me, wear insipid make up?
Nup.
You can forget all that "style" bullshit too.

 I've added a few close-ups for you today.  I bought the bag about 15 years ago from a tiny antique shop in New Zealand.

 The bangles are all thrifted and I never pay more than a buck per bangle.
The ring on my first finger is thrifted, the second arrived yesterday from Chris's Etsy store (check her out!) and the rock on my third finger is from our lovely Vix ... cool eh?
The nail polish is Rimmel's Sky High.

 These vintage alarm clock earrings are also from Chris.

 The 1950s beads were thrifted years ago for about 50 cents and the 1960s necklace is another gift from Vix - thank you darling!
Yep, just pile up the granny jewellery with the hippy stuff ... give it a try, you never know, you might like it.  I do.

 I love the heart buckles on these shoes.

The green tweed skirt, thick tights and mary-janes are all very granny-like but the skirt is form-fitting, the tights are coloured and the shoes have hidden platforms - sexy granny;).

 The neighbour's cat has adopted us ... such a gorgeous, affectionate creature.
There's a tiny bit of bling on my left wrist, a sweet bracelet from the saucy Sarah Misfit.

I shall name this my hippie-granny look.
So did you learn anything today?
Here's a speedy recap.
1.  Green is a neutral colour.
2.  Animal prints go with everything ... the more the merrier.
3.  The older you get, the more jewellery you should wear.
Happy dressing!
Desiree xo

Miss Marple Does Miami

If Miss Marple retired to a condo in sunny Florida, I'm sure she'd take my advice and try sporting something like this.

What's not for her to love?  

Tweed skirt.  Check.

Silk blouse.  Check.

Mumsy hat.  Check.

Sensible flesh-coloured tights.  Check.

Handbag.  Check.

Brooch.  Check.

It's all there!

Margaret Rutherford is my favourite Miss Marple.

She likes to play dress-ups and jumps at the opportunity to don a disguise.

Dame Joan Hickson is classic Marple and knitting is her game.
Swap knitting baby booties for knitting a white swimsuit, and it's Hello Miami!

Can't go wrong with nude fishnets, or a 1970s silk blouse with giant dots.

I even think Miss Marple would approve of my Laura Palmer brooch. 
But maybe not the false eyelashes and rings.

She may even concede to a pair of Vivienne Westwood Melissa 3-Straps.
Dame VW herself would approve I'm sure.

Black-seamed fishnets are just the thing for throwing a batch of pumpkin scones in the oven.

I snapped up the blouse ($20), skirt ($15) and hat ($30) at the Gold Coast Vintage Fashion Fair a couple of weeks ago.
I'm happy with the prices I paid ... so much cheaper than Brisbane op shops that's for sure.
Tomorrow I'm off to the West End Vintage and Designer Fair for hopefully more bargain goodies.
I hope you've had a marvellous week:).
Desiree xo

You Got Me Hummin'

The Stylist took about two days to get ready for her first school disco.
It involved many fashion parades much to the entertainment and delight of the The Phoenix and I.
And a bit of squirming on my part: "Gawd am I such a prancing show-off that I've spawned another?"
Well, if making an effort is showing off, then dammit I'm a proud show-off!  
And I'm glad I did, especially after seeing all the outstanding outfits the seven and eight-year-old little girls wore to sparkle and shine on Friday night.
Their sartorial statements included: princess tutu dresses, hair and body glitter, matching outfits, sequins and more sequins, tulle skirts, flashing lights in their hair, plus I saw one little girl in what looked like the actual red glittery shoes Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz and another girl wore her mum's sequinned mules (they were too big and I melted at her bravado).
I was not going to let The Stylist down and wore my new pink tights - which had many kids doing a double-take;).

I wore a 1960s green tweed and fur suit from eBay and a black sheer blouse that the lovely Nelly gave me on her visit the previous day.

I'm also wearing the bracelet Nelly gave me and the Etsy jewellery I wore here.

I forgot to set my camera for outdoor night shots, but here's The Stylist tearing up the dance floor without a rest.
Ahhhhh ... that's my girl!

We stopped off at the shops on the way home and she bought me a silk rose to thank me for taking her ... or maybe for dancing with her and her friends.
You get a better look at the tights here.  They are from Sock Dreams, recommended by Meg Needles.  Thanks Meg, I don't think I can ever wear black tights again!  The shoes are Vivienne Westwood Melissa 3-Straps.  The face and hair is by: exhaustion!

And the bag?  I actually won it in a competition and it arrived from Saba this week.
Entrants had to pick an item from their online store, right a couple of lines about it and then forget about it guess!
Can't believe I won the item I chose, this gorgeous leather bag called Monique, which retails for $249.  I know people pay that sort of money for bags but I never have ... makes it extra special for me.
My entry was this letter ...

My darling Monique, you need not stay in night after night so lonely on a dusty shelf any longer.  
Bright lights, clinking glasses, gossip and tittering laughter can all be yours.  
You want to see the night, feel a fresh breeze rustle over you and feel your new owner clutch you nervously at the sight of her lover.  
You will see it all.  
You will be loved.

Thanks Saba!
I hope you're all having a fabbo weekend.
I plan on spending the evening with The Phoenix watching something British with lots of lovely murders:))
Desiree xo