And the Wise Old Woman Said ...

What makes your blog tick?  
Modly Chic's weekly Friend Beauty Fashion Friday group asks bloggers to share the five hardest blogging lessons they've learned.
I've tweaked this week's question and decided to share the greatest lessons I've learned, from a blogger who is growing old disgracefully.


1. Read widely.  
One of the earliest lessons I learned was to make time reading blogs I liked and making mental notes on why I kept returning for more.  
I discovered that my favourite blogs included posts about the writer and their life, with the main focus on inspirational outfit of the day posts, DIY, re-fashioning and bargain finds - especially secondhand treasures.
Time spent reading has in turn helped me to shape my blog into a manageable and focussed one.
Don't forget about books - inspiration plus!

Reading about sapeurs in the book, Gentlemen of Bacongo, inspired me to style-up this 1950s frock.

2. Post one topic at a time.  
Art, home decorating, fashion, crafting and food are great topics to read about and look good pictorially, but I find they pack more punch if they're kept to separate posts.  
It's easy for a reader to skim over important content if they're feeling weary.  
Split that content into bite-sized chunks and you've given your reader one thing to focus on at a time.  
Remember, bloggers spend a lot of time reading other blogs and brains get tired.

3. Post big pics and include close-ups.
Creative minds love detail and many fashion bloggers need to see all the little patterns and textures of fabrics and accessories to quench their sartorial thirst.

This kilt had been kicking around my closet for a while and simply shortening it gave it a new lease of life - a simple refashioning ripe for a post.


4. Comment, comment, comment.  Share the love!


5. Write about what you love - it shows.

After decades of coveting, my mother gave me her 1940s silk suit and after finding a photo of her wearing it, I couldn't resist this post.

Enjoy the weekend ahead you delicious minxes! 
Desiree xoxo

Tipping the Scales

"Headless chook" is a phrase commonly used to describe someone trying unsuccessfully to get everything done all at once, with perfection.
I happen to think it means trying to please too many people all at once.
This week, Katy of Modly Chic has asked the Fashion Beauty Friend Friday group to explore the concept of "finding the balance" between blogging, working and playing.


1. When it comes to prioritizing your life, in what place does blogging fall?
I'm not great at prioritising as during the past decade I've taken on a hell of a lot with children, study and work commitments.
The result of all that juggling?  An addiction problem, a marriage break-up, two nervous breakdowns and total physical exhaustion.
It all sounds rather grim, but I allowed my life to resemble a non-stop roller coaster ride before I decided to jump off the hurtling wagon and start creating some peace.
Blogging is one way to relax and connect with people who share similar interests with me, so in time it has actually become an important priority and a tool to recovering from all the crap.
Besides, as any fashion blogger knows, playing dress-ups is an unbeatable pastime!

2. We all wish we had more free time to dedicate to blogging and all it entails. What are your tricks for taking advantage of the time you do have to be as productive as possible?
Take today's outfit pic:

This is what I wore to walk my daughter to school this morning and run a few errands later on.
I enjoyed putting the outfit together and wearing it, so I snapped these pics off as soon as I got home.
When I'm wearing something I've put together for the first time, picked up some great second-hand finds or made the odd new purchase, I'll play around with ways to wear those new pieces and do some outfit shots at the same time.
That's how I manage my time with the photography side of blogging.

3. Have you discovered any short-cuts that makes blogging easier or more time efficient?
Outfit pics are time-consuming but they are fun because I'm shopping my closet everyday to make full use of everything I have and coming up with interesting looks.
I have a raft of outfits in my memory bank that I can throw together in a couple of minutes because I've taken the time to think about pieces in my closet I love but haven't worn for a while, or ever!
So blog pics have created short-cuts in real life.
As for blogging short-cuts, I don't really have any apart from the photography side of things I described above.

4. Do you have an editorial calendar or something similar that helps you plan ahead?
Nope.  I guess I should but blogging has purely been a hobby so far.

5. If time wasn’t an issue what you would be doing on your blog/for your blog that you aren’t doing now?
I would spend more time discovering other blogs and attend more vintage fairs and fashion-y events to showcase here.
In the meantime, you'll just have to put up with my boring mug, warts and all;)).

Today's outfit is comprised of a new Black Milk bodysuit which I didn't realise had a nice little feature until I unpacked it.
See? Sparkly!!!!

All of the accessories were thrifted except for the $9 Kmart flats.  The 1930s silk lounging pants were $7 from eBay.  Bargains galore!
A couple of you lovelies have asked about my red rose ring.  It's leather and I bought it from Thousand Island Dressing.

I hope you all have a wonderfully wild weekend:))
Desiree xoxo