The Wind Will Change and Your Face Will Stay Like That

Remember the purple velvet dressing-frock I wore all last weekend?
Well it was one of two delectable items I picked up from Aid for the Blind, the other was this $4.50 purple velvet blazer I've been wearing all week.
Tuesday:

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

Leather circus pony brooch - gifted by sweet Em of Vintage Sweetheart

Blazer, other brooches, necklace, rose bracelet, green bangle and green granny bag - thrifted from Aid for the Blind

Leggings - Black Milk

Doc Marten's - retail

Thursday:

Snow White headband - more at Sassy Vamps!

Divinyls t-shirt - Ms Mink

1970s flares - eBay

Bangles - Salvos

Flower ring - ballet shop

Shoes - second-hand market

Red feather brooch - Aid for the Blind

Saturday:

Just checking the chi chi's are in place.

Feather hair clips, 1930s lace frock, peach slip and VW Melissa shoes - eBay

Earrings - gifted by Her Holy Hotness, Helga

Tights - Black Milk

Fur scarf - flea market

Green ring and peach feather brooch - thrifted

I loved styling the same blazer and bag all week:).

Have a wonderful weekend!

Molti baci,

Desiree xo

Dotty Delirium

I spent the past 24 hours glued to the radio for the latest news on the second earthquake Christchurch has suffered in less than six months.
I understand the splendid Helga von Trollop is safe thank goodness, so it was with a skip in my step that I grabbed a rather loud frock in honour our favourite honorary Kiwi.
I wore this outfit when I rocked up for an appointment with my solicitor this morning.

The bow is in my favourite shade of green - whenever I see anything in this colour, my hands reach out instinctively and money changes hands.

Mona Lisa earrings and my first ever MAC lipstick - Russian Red.
I've discovered online makeup and books - both are, I believe, prohibitively expensive here in Australia - so I've bought a couple of things from the US and Hong Kong that would cost me double here.
I love these 1960s beaded wool cardigans - I have another in black with long sleeves.

The dress is a 1970s deadstock number I picked up for a buck.

Both the dress and pin-up girl printed wedges I've worn here before, but the tote bag is one of two I thrifted last week for $3 each - they still had their original price tags on them at $25 each.

They're made using 1970s fabrics - cute eh?

A 1960s red plastic clip and 1970s sunnies - I think the 70s beats the 80s hands down for sunnies:).

Desiree xoxo

Orange You Glad to See Me?

My vintage frilly orange brolly is my constant companion in the sweltering heat and humidity we've been having here.
I've decided that since I haven't anywhere to go nude and get an all-over tan, I'm keeping the sun well away from me this summer.
Those of you in northern climes freezing in blizzards and once-in-a-lifetime storms this week, probably think I'm mad to avoid the sun.
But with a brolly and matching cotton 60s sunfrock like this, I figure I can try for pale and interesting.

 

The perfect day for my VW Wings - sorry if I get boring wearing these all the time.  I've added a thrifted bow tie, silk rose hair clip and 60s make up bag that's too cute to hide away.  The sunnies are from around the 40s.

 

Category 5 Cyclone Yasi has ripped North Queensland to bits and my heart goes out to those who have lost their homes and suffered from brutal conditions once again this summer.  We're just getting the humidity off it here in Brisbane.
Thanks so much for all your very kind and funny birthday messages - it made my day very special to me:).  My computer's getting an extreme makeover this week so I should be back next week to visit you all.  I haven't forgotten you!!

Desiree xoxoxo

House Rent Boogie

I think the shoes came first in choosing this outfit.
How impractical for soggy, wet grass - but it just had to be done.
I haven't worn these wedges for ages.
I bought them about five years ago and thought they were going to be an expensive, regrettable, trendy item that would date after one or two seasons.
NOT!!!
I still love them as much as the day I floated out of the shop with them.
It was a good lesson to learn - who gives a crap about whether they're the latest thing or not?
When it comes to shoes, if they make you feel like a horny toad, then work them.
I really wanted to get these shots done outdoors between the torrential downpours we're having - so I chose something happy to wear to perk me up after a tough day juggling the pennies around.
This is a 1970s old-stock dress I thrifted last year, with its original tag still attached.

I love wearing it - I feel like I should be strolling the streets of New Orleans in this get-up, with some crusty, old busker crooning passersby:).
I've added a 1940s fox collar, fishnets and bangles - of which my collection is s-l-o-w-l-y growing.
I want armloads like Nancy Cunard.

I've added my favourite Mona Lisa earrings which are starting to look a bit worse for wear, 1960s black mesh gloves and a 1960s gold plastic hair clip.

Butter wouldn't melt while wearing my Mary Janes;P.

Shoe porn shot (don't look at my nails - I said don't!)

Trinkets.

Cheeky tip of the day:  Dive into the back of your closet and style something, anything that you find there.  After all, if it's in your closet, why aren't you wearing it? xoxo

We'll Meet Again Some Sunny Day - DAY 19

I dug up this photo of Mum (front) with her two sisters and brother taken during a family reunion in the  mid-60s, a few years before I was born.

Mum's wearing a ready-made silk suit made in New Zealand at the end of WWII, purchased for Mum by her mother, before her wedding in 1945.
Off-the-rack clothing was a complete no-no back then; rationing was incredibly tight and so was Nana;)!
It was unheard of for struggling families to have such luxuries as this and Nana would have thought long and hard before spending precious pounds on such an extravagance.
I can't remember how much it was, but recall Mum telling me it was exorbitant for the time.
What I find amazing is that this feather-light silk has survived nearly 70 years without acquiring any moth holes, rips, stains or any damage whatsoever - and that's with my parents having seven children!
What is even more incredible to me is that the suit fits Mum perfectly in this photo, shortly after she had given birth to baby number six, my older sister.
The suit would have been pretty dated in the 60s, but I still think she looks extremely chic and glamourous!
The jacket is unlined and the so is the collar, which is softly pleated around the neckline and  allows the collar to float in the breeze:).
It fastens with yellow pearlescent buttons and has a very stiff peplum at the bottom of the jacket, typical of the period.
The pencil skirt is lined, has a narrow waistband, metal zipper, matching button fastening and a vent-type split at the back.
There's a little twist to the tale.
With five daughters clamouring after the precious suit for more than 50 years, Mum managed to keep it from us and a couple of years ago she let it go.
She gave it to me.
I still gasp when I look at it hanging in my closet.  
I was only allowed to touch it with clean hands as a child.
Now, it fits perfectly and I'm completely overwhelmed with gratitude for a gift that is irreplaceable to me.
I will be keeping it safe from harm's way until my own daughter is well aware of the suit's history.
So just in case the sky falls, I thought I'd better get some pics of me in the suit.
I'm sorry there are so many, I don't usually add many pics, but I'm sure you'll understand.
In styling the suit, I didn't want to go all-out vintage, but instead chose modern accessories which I felt gave a nod to the 1940s.
I'm wearing Forever 21 black fishnets, Nine West bottle-green velvet wedges, black silk rose  hairclip, assorted bangles and a leopard-print ponyskin belt worn around wrist.
Thank you Mum.
Do you have a similar story to share?  A much-admired-from-afar piece that finally ended up with you?  Do tell!