Beryl the Peril

My Nana's name was Beryl.
One of her secret nicknames was Beryl the Peril, which seemed to suit her.
If she'd ever found out, we would have been given a mighty tongue-lashing from that tiny woman who drove her 1960s Mini Cooper, well into her 80s, like an absolute demon.
She died a natural death a few years ago, at almost 100.
I can't say I loved her, but I admired her tenacity and spunk, spending most of her busy days fending off would-be thieves and no-goods apparently dead set on ripping her off.

I've seen a photo of her as a schoolgirl, not long before she married and started a family in Invercargill, New Zealand (knocked-up-at-16-to-devastatingly-handsome-motorcyle-tearaway).

She looked a right "sort" and there's something about these pics of me wearing this original 1920s silk frock that reminds me of her.

Beryl approved of a woman in a modest frock.

I got to know Beryl best during the 1970s and right up until her death in 2006, she was absolutely mad about wearing and surrounding herself with bright colours.
She frequently boasted about her thrifty shopping habits, of buying most of her clothes from op shops, flaunting her fluorescent red and green pairs of crimpolene "slacks" to the world.
She knew she looked fabulous and no-one was going to argue with her.

But I always felt there was something about her that teetered on the edge of maniacal religious sectarianism and pant-less table-top dancing.
In fact I know she would have approved of my frockage and forgiven my saucy glimpse of lacy scanties.

Beryl would never in a million years have approved of a bottle-blond slattern with her roots on display.
But she would have been glad I had a clean hanky and giant clips to "keep your hair off your face".

1920s silk frock - Niddie's Rag & Bone Shop

Johnny Cash earrings - made by Mallory of Create Beautiful Beads

My wedding wrist corsage from October, 2011

Vintage tapestry bag and bangles - thrifted

1940s snakeskin handbag - vintage shop in NZ

Suede shoes - found

Beryl, you were a very strange woman and a scary grandmother, yet a tough and fascinating person.
I don't miss you, but I do think about you this time every year, as you lay in peace beside your own mother.
Baci,
Desiree xo

Quote of the Day

"You make me jealous I'm not a woman": one of my favourite local barista's response to this morning's outfit.
Bless him.

1970s bridesmaid frock (which I cut short), military blazer, leather gloves (DIY'ed) - thrifted

Headband - my latest creation, more in my shop Sassy Vamps!

1960s beauty case and sparkle shoes - markets

Frida Kahlo earrings - Etsy

Leggings - Black Milk

Cheap Frills Are So Frockin' Friday!

I've grown rather fond of Frock on a Friday.

It's like having a pet gimp in the basement I can pay a visit once a week.

Or not.

Will I, or won't I?

I'm never really sure what I'm in the mood to wear when I wake up.

But it so happens there seems to be a never-ending supply of frocks seeping out of every nook and cranny in the house due to my tendencies toward hoarding and domestic sluttery.

Having said that, I wore this frock on Sunday to visit a tiny wee pop-up vintage market.

I showed great restraint and only bought one frock, but I was struck by the glorious beauty of this 1970s nylon jersey men's shirt which made me instantly think of Helga's G-Man.
He would look amazing in this!

I snatched this splendiferous 1960s swimsuit off the rack and carried her about with me for ages before deciding she was too expensive.
Later in the week I kicked myself after seeing Hot-Legs Helga looking utterly glorious in a vintage blue swimsuit - arrrrgggggghhhhhhhh!!

How can such hotness be contained in one gorgeous specimen of a woman ... I ask you!

This little cutie is Matisse, who had a stall with her mum Glynnis.

Glynnis said she'd be going home with more frocks than she arrived with, as she'd had a wonderful splurge in the other stalls.
She's showing us an amazing 1960s evening maxi frock covered in rosettes and beads she managed to snaffle ... before me.

I wore this 1950s cotton frock I've had for about five years and decided it was time north Brisbane copped onto the double-bagging concept.

1950s frock - eBay

DIY floral headband - made by moi

1960s red vinyl bag - thrifted

1950s ostrich-skin bag - Camberwell Market, Melbourne

Red fence-net tights - eBay

Melissa Amazonia shoes - Melissa online sale

The following day I took The Stylist and her BFF out shopping and for lunch, wearing the 1960s blue and silver lurex frock I picked up at the market.

The day involved stuffing ourselves stupid on cake and enjoying general girly silliness with much giggling.

1960s frock - vintage market

DIY floral headband - by me

1970s bag and leather bangle - gifted by the lovely Erica Louise

Brolly, sunnies, earrings and bangles - all thrifted

Shoes - Melissa sample sale courtesy of the unstoppable Suzanne of Idee Fixe

Have yourselves a wonderful Friday my lovelies and don't stress about Christmas too much - it's only ONE day out of 365!
Baci, Desiree xox

Summer Chillin'

Let's get one thing clear.
I am a bit of a Christmas Grinch.
No apologies.
Just not into it in a big way ... so I let The Stylist have free reign when it comes to lights and decorations.
The dear wee hen has already done all her shopping, wrapped her pressies and festooned the house with blue lights.
Stumble out to the loo at 1am and it's a full-on disco going on minus the thumpin' beats.

I must say though, I am really enjoying the cool snap we're having here in Bris Vegas.
We've been rugged up with heaters on, sneezing with colds and I'm back in tights - weeee!!

After the Melbourne Cup Day vintage parade I've been stalking eBay for hot sticks to curl my hair 1930s style and they finally arrived in the mail last week.
So last night The Stylist and I had our first hot stick hair-do playtime.
I'll need more practice, but I thought I'd show you my virgin attempt.

I must have had heatstroke when I bought this 1950s crepe wiggle frock with this amazing fur collar from Etsy about two weeks ago.
It was on sale for $19 - bargain!!
But my, my it certainly came in handy to keep me toasty warm last night.
Anyone out there have ideas on what type of fur this is?

I picked up Gloria Swanson's autobiography from an op-shop for a buck this week.  I've added it to the leaning tower of bedside books - she sounds like one feisty lady and the pics are amaze-balls!

The rose flower clip is from Circa Vintage in Melbourne; 

earrings and bangles, thrifted; 

green glass beads from De Mille Vintage in Melbourne; 

white pearl necklace from the glorious, multi-talented and beautiful Claire; 

bag from Dandelion Vintage; 

I see you baby, shaking that ass!

Glory hallelujah I can wear tights because it's so chilly!
I'm making the most of it before the drippy, sweaty humidity returns.

Oh dear, I seem to have done it again ... Melissa Australia had a two-day 75%-off online sale last week so I got these VW Temptations II for a song - yee haa!!!!

Last week a surprise parcel arrived from the amazing Claire.

 I nearly fainted!!
An utterly gorgeous peach lacy jacket and french knickers (they fit!), a lovely vintage double-row string of pearls aaaaaaaaaaand ... MICE!

 Mink mice sweater clips ... oh lordy I'm in heaven!!

They both have their pink eyes intact.
Thank you so much Claire you wonderful, adorable, talented woman!!
Happy belated birthday to my darling Vix! What a hornbag!
Molti abbraccio e baci.
Desiree xo

Nighty Night

Is it a frock?
Is it a nightie?
Is it a disgrace?
Why yes it is!
I was a day out for Frock on a Friday, but I snapped these off as soon as I got home yesterday because I felt so awesome swanning about in this 1930s bias-cut satin nightie.
The seas parted, the queues shrank and the traffic stopped to let me cross the street.
Thank you strangers.

To compliment my gown (create subversion), I popped on my Norma Kamali leather vest that I bought on Etsy last year, Melissa mary janes ($20!), one of my DIY floral headbands, I double-bagged it and put on a shite-load of jewellery.

Ooooooh what have we here?
Hornbag Helga made me this AWESOME leopard-print bow tie **swoon** and I really, really, really believe it looks just as good as a bracelet.
The agate and feather necklace was handmade by Liv of Original Seed aka Wham, Bam Fuck You Man.
Liv is such a talented re-fashionista and sells her creations in her online shop - just go there.

Thanks to my awesome new nude granny knickers, it was a case of "nothing to see here folks"!

Sunnies from Melbourne.
Speaking of food/vintage paradise, thank you to all you beautiful creatures for your kind words about my family in my last post.
It was such a memorable holiday for all of us, well unforgettable really considering The Phoenix and I went there to get married!
And a special squishy arse-squeeze to my new followers - you're welcome!
The Phoenix and I will be having a weekend away in the mountains courtesy of the Haemophilia Foundation so I'll be back to say hello early next week.
Unless either of us gets treated by a therapist like Jill.
Warning: you may piss your pants.
Love Desiree xo