So This Is Life on Mars?

I found Carmen.
She was lurking on the Salvos shelf among the discarded electric pie-makers, coffee percolators and video players.
She begged me to take her home.
What kind of soul-sista would I be if I just left her there, struggling to look stylish surrounded by tat?
Would my childhood dream of having hair like the girls in Seventeen magazine, circa 1973 finally come true?

Would I get my chance to join the Soul Train line?

Meet Carmen from Scandinavia ... the friend of oh so many 1970s, flat-haired, disco queens.
Just plug her in, wait 10 minutes and she's ready to cook your hair and a couple of fingers.

The occasion called for a beauty love-in with a fabulous old 1960s double-sided, hand-held mirror (for eyebrow perfection), a copy of The Blind Assassin, a pink chunky bracelet and a very heavy tribal necklace, all thrifted on the same day.

The rollers are in - I had to use regular hair pins to keep them in place - I couldn't find the special wide ones used for curlers ... I guess people don't buy them anymore.

Rollers out, a gentle flicking action with the tail-end of a tail comb and a heavy-handed shhhhwish with good old Cedel hair spray ...

et voila ... ready for my audition as an extra in Car Wash!

Check out that awesome flick action!  Reminds me of ... oh my it is ... lady copper Annie in Life on Mars!

See?
Hair twins!
Kind of but not really but you know what I mean.

I am certain that blonde and brunette hair twins would have gone down a treat in Studio 54 ... 'cept I was five in 1973.

Gratuitous shot of the Gene Jeanie.
I don't know how he managed to get a look-in here, but his souped-up Ford Granada* with the eight-track player adds to his raw "mystique"... oh and he's a genuine "hard bastard".
* Ooops!  Ford Cortina GXL according to The Phoenix thank you very much!I

I'm a few decades late for a Studio 54 appearance, meeting the Gene Jeanie and gettin' on down in Car Wash, but it's the thought that counts.

1970s red satin flares, necklace, earrings and bangles - thrifted

Peach lace bolero - gifted by the beautiful and talented Claire

Gold lurex bag - gifted by that luscious lollipop, Helga von Trollop

Swimsuit - Black Milk

Wedges - Target

Thank you to all you lovelies and gorgeous new followers for entering my Funky Shit Giveaway ... I am lurvin' your lurve!!!
There's still plenty of time to enter, there's nothing to it ... and you may win a swathe of life-changing floral headbands!
Stand and deliver honey!!
Baci,
Desiree xoxo

OMG It's the Funky Shit Giveaway!

Buona fortuna e molti baci,
Desiree xo

Dead Ants are Good Ants

I gave them run of the house for close on three years.
I was fair, patient, rather bemused, yet believed they would just move on one day.
But no, the day a sparky informed us it was "the ant plague" that had caused a blow out of the house's entire socket power, it was time to say "Guys, you gonna DIE".
So the executioner was called in and we have peace at last.

In other breaking news, I'm wearing a fabulous 1970s cotton maxi skirt I purchased from the big-hearted, beautiful Nelly.
Perfect for the sweltering summer days we're having.
The embroidery is mesmerising and it was the deep frill that took my heart away.
Soooooooo ... I'm happy coz, no fecking bitey ants infesting every nook and cranny and I finally have a frilled maxi skirt to swirl around in!

I've had this 1970s Australiana kitsch beaded handbag for a few years but it's been hidden away and I forgot about it until I bought a 1940s sideboard to take the dressing table/wardrobe overflow.

The wood veneer of one of the doors has a wee chip in it but I think the fabularsehole vintage carnivale costume is distraction enough to hide it until I daub it with some poo-brown stain.
Is my ploy working?

 There's even a mirror so one check out one's awesome dance moves from the kitchen!

 Spot the dead biatch.

Laser gun and 1970s James Bond Hot Wheels car ... remember it was an amphibious Lotus?

Gratuitous purple chola slut bra peekaboo shot especially for my beautiful Mexi Queen La Dama.

1970s embroidered maxi skirt - purchased from Nelly's shop, Vintage Wishes

Hologram eye necklace - by Liv of Original Seed
Crappy purple tank top - from under my pillow

Red rose headband - handmade

1970s beaded bag, beaded necklaces and bangles - thrifted

Leather bangles - gift from the delish Erica Louise

Blue dice earrings - gift from Miss Danni-Long-Legs

Red VW Melissa Wings - Amazon

Nelly squirrelled in a couple of cheeky pressies - this perfect "D" Scrabble ring (2 points!) and cane bangle ... so sweet:).
I hope your week goes off with a massive bang my gorgeousnesses!
Desiree xo

Cheap Skater

Now that's what you call hysterical laughter, Desiree-As-Circus-Freak style.
I'm laughing at The Stylist's description of the staff and clients of a busy hairdressing salon we'd just sauntered past.

I'm pretty sure they would have offered me multiple free treatments if I'd asked them, judging by the slack-jawed stares until we were out of sight.

She mimicked much eye-balling, sideways-banana grins and dropped scissors.

One of those beautiful moments for her to treasure.

Thank you so much for all your wonderful comments about my sartorial/daughter dilemma - a parent dressing for one's own pleasure and mood can be extremely embarrassing for kids, judging by some of your wonderful tales!
But hey, peer pressure is going to exist in some form and none of you discouraged my individualism for anyone's sake, so I'm sticking with what I know.
Like the Black Eyed Peas sing, I will continue to "free your inhibition, follow your intuition" - but I might have to be careful with the "R" word;).

Yesterday I snaffled this awesome sparkly, organza costume for five bucks from my favourite thrift shop, Aid for the Blind.
Today I went back to snatch up a huge pink tutu skirt for the same price, after many palpitations during closing time as to whether it would still be there this morning.
Sweet relief, it was and you'll see it soon while I'm in this carnivale mood.

I'm really not sure what this frock is for: ice-skating, ballroom dancing or bare horseback-riding.
I thought it perfect for picking up some cheap milk and the busy supermarket shoppers went home with a story of a bona-fide mad woman on the loose.
I figure I'm doing the poor bastards a public service.

It's not worth holding back on your creativity and suppressing your inspirations.
Trust mama and wear your frilly chonis on the outside.

Mad costume frock, bangles and 1960s crochet bag: thrifted

Rose headband: made by me

Leggings: Black Milk

VW Melissa shoes: thanks to the lovely Suzanne

Dice earrings - gifted by Miss Danni-Long-Legs

Happy days!!

Desiree xo

Let's Get Retarded!

Collecting The Stylist from her classroom early this afternoon for her new gymnastics class, I was greeted with a scowl and a hiss: "Why did you have to dress up Mum?"
Me: "You know this isn't dressed up"!
OMG it's started!
The shame!
The embarrassment!
My mother is a total retard!

 The poor wee dear ... so many mixed feelings for both of us.

What?
Too much?
Surely not!

Away from the prying eyes of gawping little girls, The Stylist got camera-happy.
In fact, I couldn't stop her!

Hat: a beach shop

Bodysuit: Black Milk

Pink and orange sparkle necklace: the glorious Krista

1970s cotton maxi, all other jewellery, sunnies and floral granny bag: thrifted

VW Melissa Wings: Amazon

Pink bloomers: eBay

Blue toenail polish: the Vixacious Vix

 It appears that in the public eye, she is proud and happy to be clutching my hand, hugging me and enjoying a girly giggle.
Today's temperatures soared, I felt a bit hot and sweaty and she thought it an absolute hoot when I decided it was time to ditch the skirt and finish shopping in my granny bloomers.

 Ooops!  There goes my bottom half again!

Ooooh a lovely stretch was just what I needed:).

A close-up of a bit of sparkle and those delicious bloomers for you my lovelies.
Be true to you and your treasured darlings.
"To lose this inhibition, follow your intuition, free your inner soul and break away from tradition.
Lose control, all body all soul.
Don't move too fast people, just take it slow.
Don't get ahead, just jump into it.
Get started, get stupid."
Molti baci,
Desiree xoxo

Come Join the Circus!

Admit it.
You love tutus but if you didn't get one when you were four, you're always eyeing them up to buy one for your favourite wee chickadee.
If like me you didn't get a fluffy tutu, you still want one ... don't you?

I have been completely obsessed with vintage circus and carnival outfits for while now.
So when my sore eyes fell upon this old purple satin one-piece show costume in a local op shop, I was ready to chuck in the towel, buy a caravan and start my own family circus.

Then I realised we're already a family circus ... so I'd better get on with the show eh?

This costume has had a hard life with plenty of wear.
I think it's from around the 1950s judging by the cut, fabrics, hand-stitched sequins and the puffy, bloomer-style bottom.

You can never go wrong with stripes, especially when it comes to carni-style and how 'bout that stupendous cape Helga gifted me?

I even have my own wee gypsy girl to help me dress in time for the show ... ain't she a scream?

She's giving me the nod to start limbering up for the show ...

I think I'm about ready to walk the tight rope.
The one behind me that someone keeps sticking washing on ... so inconvenient!

Well if no one buys a ticket to my show, I could always don a pair of "Kath Day Fancy Dance Spanx Pants" and join Kath and Kel on the dance floor.

Headband: made by me

Circus costume: thrifted

Cape: gift from darling Helga

Blue pendant and nail polish: gifts from gorgeous Vix

Pink necklace and orange scarf: from lovely Krista

Bangles: thrifted

Earrings: Etsy

Leggings: Black Milk

Shoes: from Suzanne at the Melissa sample sale