Hola Cholita!

Today I was inspired by Bolivia's Cholitas after reading a story about those colourful, brave women yesterday.

The women, who have been steadfast in dressing in their acquired style, were until recently, banned from wearing their signature bowler hats, shawls, enormous puffy skirts, heavy jewellery and gaudy makeup in many Bolivian public places.

It's not the first time women's clothing has been limited to private places or completely banned.

Until recent times, it was considered inappropriate for women to wear trousers to work in offices or to job interviews.

Platforms were banned by many workplaces in the 70s, but considering their wonderful, towering heights, the shoes may have been a public safety issue.

Still today, many countries ludicrously ban women from wearing specific items of clothing.

It seems so strange and fearful to outlaw a woman from adorning herself in the way she chooses. 

So today, during a bout of despair over my lack of clothing storage, I spied my beloved top hat, my puffy skirt peeking out from a pile of clothes and paid homage to brave, proud women around the world.

1940s men's top hat - De Mille Vintage, Melbourne

Bodysuit - Black Milk

Studibaker Hawk skirt - market

Melissa shoes - Amazon

Sparkly heart earring - DIY

Sugar skull earring - Etsy

Oh look at that.

Frida's peeking over my shoulder.

I hope she likes my rosy cheeks.

Here's the Cholita story: http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-26172313

We have NO Internet except for a limited amount on my phone, which crashes when I try to comment ... grrrr!

We've been told all will be fixed by next Friday. 

Meanwhile, all pics and this post have been brought to you by phone.

You're welcome.

Desiree xxxx

Somewhere

I found the perfect home.

It has everything I require.

Quiet spots to sit statue-like in silence, admire the view, spy on the neighbours.

A warm spot to contemplate my verdant garden, wee fireplace to warm my tootsies and enjoy a cuppa, even a daybed for drowsy kips.

Every imaginable comfort is at hand and in tip-top shape, ready for entertaining hoards of phantasmic guests.

You're invited.

If you like that sort of thing.

Let's have a peek upstairs then shall we?

Morning light pours through the bedroom windows.
Greet the day with a stroll in the garden, or enjoy breakfast in bed.
Of course, every modern convenience is ready and waiting.

Pics courtesy of artists published on Abandoned Asylums

My search for paradise took me to Everywhere, a place in which I found Somewhere.
I've been so far away for the past week, I'm lucky I didn't get lost.
I've almost made it back.

Earring - fashioned from a craft project by The Stylist

1980s teddy - hand-dyed and gifted by turquoise-haired beauty, Clare

Fox fur cape - gifted by our beautiful Kitty

White leather horse brooch - gifted by darling Vintage Sweetheart

Laura Palmer brooch - Etsy

1980s Studibaker Hawk dress, cat-ear headband, sparkle sunnies, silver granny beads, star necklace, silk flowers and other brooches - all thrifted

Shoes, green skull necklace, rings - craft markets

Fishnet top - dunno

I've been far, far away from Bloglandia.
I'm clawing my way back and looking forward to visiting you again.
Baci,
Desiree xoxoxo

Struttin' Like a Peacock

It's nigh impossible to avoid flouncing and strutting about while wearing an enormous 1980s  poufy skirt.
So why not just go with the flow?

I blame the "come to India" vibe I'm feeling these days.
And the ladies at the Sunday flea market who threaded my eyebrows yesterday, which naturally led to this mendhi design.

As a kid growing up in Fiji I longed for mendhi and couldn't believe such beauty could be painted free hand.

Style lesson for today:
1. Wear leopard-print tights at any age.
2. Treat yourself to a garment or beauty product you longed to wear as a kid.

The neighbour's cat joined me to love up against my leopard-print tights.
The skirt is the bottom section of a Studibaker Hawk dress I found neglected and forlorn in a suitcase at a flea market.
I recognised the metallic, bronze, hand-painted design and dived in to give it the kiss of life.
I sewed on a 2-inch wide piece of black elastic to make a waistband.

I'm wearing the skirt with a leather top I thrifted for $10, peacock feather headband from a local chemist and VW Melissa Three-Straps.
The multiple taffeta layers have plastic cord threaded through the hems which aid much ruffling and rustling action.
This was the signature style of Studibaker Hawk's hand-painted cocktail dresses so coveted in the 80s.

Which reminds me, isn't there a saying that "if you wore it the first time, don't wear it the second-time round?"

I have some very choice phrases for that theory.

The Stylist demonstrates quite clearly what I think about that one.

She doesn't really know what this sign means but oldies like me do.

Grab some bean bag time and get your head straight for the week ahead:))

Desiree xo

Take it Lying Down

There's nothing quite like a gold frock to inject some energy into the late stages of a marathon five-day long weekend.
Yes, here in Oz we had Easter and ANZAC Day rolled into one.
Between dodging downpours of rain, I thought it prudent to risk a soggy botty and have a bit of a frolic in the sunshine.

The evening frock is an early 1980s Studibaker Hawk I thrifted a few years ago for the price of a couple of espressos.
The team behind the Sydney label were a crafty lot in the early 80s, creating limited-edition "art-clothes" that many a party girl coveted and saved hard for, to show off in shiny nightclubs.
Studibaker Hawk's iconic handpainted, boned, strapless, multi-layered frocks came in a myriad of colour palettes and prices started at around $400.
That was quite a bit of coin back then!


I'm not trying to show you my knickers here, I'll save that for another day.
The dress is high-cut on the sides - wow, cool and breezy at the same time eh?

I think this frock has just the right amount of trollopy-ness (thanks Helga!)  for a windy day;).

The full layers are aided by plastic coated wire threaded through each hem so they stick out and swish when you walk.

The skirt is cut long in the front and back, while on the sides it's daringly cut to the top of each leg.

Notice anything?
I'm not wearing any jewellery.
Just a thin, black ribbon; DIY fingerless leather gloves and Vivienne Westwood shoes.
Gosh, I'm almost naked!

I cut my hair a couple of days ago.
I've given up on hairdressers.
I look like I've had an electric shock but I think it's just right for my vintage mash-ups.
Do you cut your own hair?

Having a bit of a lie-down.

I shed a wee tear today when I learned I had won my first giveaway.

This little darling bag is winging it's way to me from the ever-fabulous and incredibly stunning Sarah of Misfits Vintage.
She is my Queen.
Thank you so much Sarah, you know how much it means to me.


Today I also found out the beautiful, artistic Cry of Thru My Mind's Eye is gifting me the utterly gorgeous dress she wore to church on Easter Sunday!
Isn't she simply exquisite in this little number?  

I've promised Cry to come up with one of my little frock stories for this baby:)).


I hope you can take some of the glow from Easter and all its choccy goodness into the week.
Desiree xoxo