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

I Got My Mojo Workin'

I have to eat my words.
In my FBFF colour-themed post I declared there was scant red in my wardrobe.
Well, the next day these 1930s red silk lounging pants appeared in the mail - I'd forgotten I'd fallen for them on eBay and grabbed them for $7.

After my 1950s tuxedo trousers, these have to be the most divine pants I've worn in a long time.
They're embroidered with a five-fingered Emperor's dragon.
The silk is just, well ... so silky and when I turned them inside out I found the pants had been made using French seams.
I haven't seen a decent French seam for many a moon.

The jacket is actually a bed jacket made from a beautiful, weighty, ivory embossed satin.
In the tradition of new mothers, mine made one out of her wedding dress.
She said it was the done thing for new mothers to chop the bottom off their wedding gowns to make a bed jacket, which they wore after the births of their children while they convalesced in hospital (sometimes for up to two weeks!!).
Lipstick and curled hair were also expected during visiting hours.
This little number is not my mother's but thrifted and it's the best of its kind that I've seen in years.
I love the bracelet-length sleeves and the ties at the neck - this one has a bit of a kimono feel to it.

A close-up of the kind of fabric women were using to make their wedding gowns during the 1930s and mid-late 1940s.

I recently picked up this veiled headpiece on eBay too, as I go weak at the knees for early-mid 20th century cocktail hats, frou-frou and what-nots.
I'd never seen a black veil combined with white flowers and green leaves and thought it looked interesting.

Another white cotton lace collar as necklace, plus Asos bodysuit which has a couple of sheer panels that make it so cool to wear in today's 34-degree heat.

A favourite pair of very, very old earrings - I'm guessing 1930s.

This snakeskin bag is my pride and joy - probably rarely used by its original owner as it's in perfect condition.

I'm going mad for 1930s and 40s under-thingys at the moment ... I might scare you with some of these silky delights soon:)))
Desiree xoxo

Life Ain't Easy for a Boy Named Sue

I'm in love with Johnny Cash and adore men's vintage clothing so this is my tribute to both.
This 1920s tail-coat arrived during the week after a thrilling eBay bidding war ... you know the kind - "You shall be mine ... oh yes, you shall be mine".
I love the splendid details of men's jackets and pants - they have secret places and pockets within pockets, within pockets.
This is my take on black-tie dress-ups - the Phoenix took one look and said "Right we're going out babe";).

Well the colours are simple but there's quite a bit going on here.
From the top, I'm wearing a 1950s black veiled fascinator and white cotton collar, which were worn to decorate plain sweaters.

I tucked a pair of old white crochet gloves into the top pocket.

I popped a 1930s pinky-peach camisole over an Asos black bodysuit and you can't miss my favourite Liquid leggings from Black Milk - now that's what I call a wicked pair of "tuxedo" pants;).

The Stylist attacked my toenails while I was dozing - I like them!  The Vivienne Westwood Wings have a mind of their own.

This silk camisole gets so much wear - I need more!!  I'm working on it:)).

The clutch is a 1920s or 30s embossed leather number.

Aren't old labels so beautiful?  I've heard some people remove and collect old labels from vintage clothing (!?).

I wonder if the Man in Black would have approved.

 D xoxo

Jolly Nice Frocks

What is it about a jolly nice frock that makes us go gaga?
I was going through some pic archives and found these two of me taken by the Phoenix a year ago.
I love these two blue gowns but they rarely get worn.
The first is a 1940s number I bought off eBay and wore for my 40th birthday - it's made up of two separate garments - a fitted slip and a deliciously soft and swishy chiffon gown.

It would get plenty of wear if it wasn't so long and dragged along behind me - I don't want to ruin it.
I feel very upright and lady-like wearing it so it's only just that I bring it down a peg or two;)).
Just making sure the "girls" are in their rightful place.

My god I look tired in these pics - but I remember I'd just had a marathon hairdressing appointment that day and wanted "hair" pics.  Shame I didn't pop on some lippy.

I bought this 1970s gown at a vintage flea market stall for the Brisbane premiere of a film made about my grandad a few years ago.
I wore it again for a media awards night - I was a finalist and didn't win my category, but what an amazing honour it was to be shortlisted.
There are happy memories stored in these gowns.

Colour Me Happy

My closet was once known as The Black Hole.
I think things are turning around though.
Yes, I've admitted to 24 black dresses and counting, but there's plenty more in the way of glorious colour that's feeding its way in there now.
So I jumped at the chance to answer Modly Chic's weekly question-time - this Friday it's all  about the power of colour.

Orange is an old favourite of mine: thrifted 1970s kaftan, sunnies and beads, 1960s beauty case and metal daisy earrings, black silk rose hair clip, oriental parasol and leather & cane wedges.


1. What color dominates your closet?
Ok so I've established that almighty black is my basic neutral colour.
But I've had a rifle through my closet today and no suprises, there's an abundance of green.
Pale pink and peach seem to be a recurring theme, which were popular underwear colours during the 1930s and 1940s.
I try and pick up vintage pieces in all the above colours when I spot them and the price is right.
Red doesn't feature except in the case of a 1960s wool cape and a 1950s overcoat.
I like to wear red on my lips instead.


2. If money weren't an issue how would you change the color emphasis in your closet?
I wouldn't change a thing.
Most of my wardrobe is thrifted/vintage and I'm utterly hooked on the unplanned aspect of my shopping habits.
I never, ever know what I'll stumble upon and bring home to hook up with the rest of my clothes.
If money wasn't an issue, I'd still shop mainly secondhand but I'd probably travel far and wide in my search for old treasures and buy more high-end collectable vintage.
If I love something and I can afford it, I'll get it even if it's in a colour where there's not an immediate outfit or styling idea that springs to mind.
I know I'll have a lightbulb moment eventually.

3. What is your mantra about mixing colors?
There's nothing to fear but fear itself.

4. For you, how do you incorporate color into your outfits?
Hmmm ... that's tricky because I don't really plan outfits.
I prefer to play around with colour and proportion or shapes.
I'm naturally attracted to faded-out colours but I have plenty of bright bits and pieces - I usually like to throw bright with bright, faded with faded.
A vital aspect of growing old disgracefully involves wearing ensembles that make me look like  a film-set escapee.
I never, ever wear head-to-toe new clothing - I hate to feel starched.
So throwing a little old something on in a never-seen-today colour is vital to creating the  feeling of screwy oddity that I love;).

5. Which blogger(s) do you think do a good job of incorporating color
into their wardrobe?
Sacramento of Mis Papelicos lives a wonderfully artistic and colourful life ... even her daughters have followed her lead;
Franca of Oranges and Apples knows how to pop bright surprises out of the bag; and
the Comtesse de ferveur never fails to delight me with her wonderful eye for colour.

Ooh, Suits You Sir!

After two decades of ceaseless searching, I've finally found the perfect pair of black pants.

Well I think so anyway.

God knows, I've tried.

I've had to pass a few pairs on to others as they've never been quite right - if they fit at the waist, they're too baggy in the bum or if they fit the bum, the waist is too tight.

So I took a chance and bought a pair on eBay for the grand price of A$30.

Bingo.

They're 1950s wool tuxedo trousers with the stripe down each leg.

They're loose at the waist, but because they're for a man they sit perfectly at the right spot on my hip and skim all the way down.

They have incredibly soft, deep pockets and long metal zipper.

I feel very laddish swaggering about with my hands in my pockets - "Hey babe, gotta match?"

 My sequined tops have a new friend, this purply-blue silk job that I thrifted last week for $8.

 I decided against black shoes and chose a pair of vintage pewter-colored leather dancing shoes.

I love the almond toes and t-bar straps - so comfy!!

 Old velvet leopard-print hat, pearl and old glass beaded necklaces and blue feather earrings join the party.

 

You can see the grosgrain stripe down the leg here.

 The lovely Sarah of Misfits Vintage wanted a closer peek at my cotton sunfrock and bag I wore the other day - here 'tis:).

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

Patched Up

I blame Woodstock, Janis Joplin, Carol King, Joni Mitchell and Seventeen Magazine for my long-standing obsession with patchwork clothing.
As the youngest of seven, I spent most of the 70s trawling my siblings' record albums featuring the landmark festival and countless other groups and singers.
As a youngster, the music was all about the clothes and velvet or cotton patchwork pieces seemed to be the mark of the true rocker.
Patchwork helped plant the seeds of my lust for a crazy mix of folk, blues and 70s rock-inspired clothing.
Now I finally have the perfect 70s patchwork dress that I wished for as a child.

I bought it for $1 in a Dandelion Vintage sale - unbe-frickin-lievable.

 

Pure cotton handmade squares attached to the bodice of a 60s store-bought dress.  I nearly passed out when I finally unwrappedmy new best friend.  How fickle of me;).

I decided it needed a bit of platform height so I wearing it with Urban Sole leather and cane wedges, 70s tooled leather bag, oriental parasol and a couple of junky knick-knacks.

A big thank you to that glorious beauty Crimson Rosella who interviewed me for her new Sunday Blogger feature:).