Many Happy Returns

"I'm concealing a lot things. That's what a lady does." 

Kerry Greenwood, Queen of the Flowers

"Phryne was getting out of the car. Dot closed her eyes. 

Miss Fisher was about to happen to someone again." 

Kerry Greenwood, Dead Man's Chest

"She smiled brightly on Mrs West. 'Who's your dressmaker, Mrs West?' she asked, with a view to avoiding the woman at all costs. Such extremes of fashion as the purple shift dress which Mrs West was almost wearing was not for Phryne. She preferred her personality to supply the outrageous edge to her appearance, not her exposed bosom." 

Kerry Greenwood, Death By Water

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Dress: Vintage, 1950s handmade (from Frock Up Brisbane)

Jacket: Vintage, 1950s handmade (from Frock Up Brisbane)

Platform Sandals: Novo patent

Bag: Novo patent

Cuff: Gian Paolo Maria of Paris (from Lannah Dunn)

Hinged Bangle: Oxfam silver

Ring: Swarovski

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Celebrated a dear friend's birthday last night with dinner at the utterly incomparable Oishii Sushi at Sunnybank, where the food is soooooo good, it will absolutely ruin you for all other types of sushi... Trust me. It's so delicious that some people have been known to drive over half an hour just to pick up take-away... 

But I digress. Such a special occasion called for something just that little bit different in the form of this vintage-1950s-with-a-nod-to-the-1920s matching dress & jacket ensemble that I found at the Frock Up Brisbane Vintage Fashion event I attended earlier in the year. Updating the look for 2014, I added a black patent handbag, platform sandals & unique & beautiful jewellery in the form of this chunky, handmade Gian Paolo of Paris cuff (made with Swarovski crystals & semi-precious stones), silver Oxfam hinged bangle & Swarovski cocktail ring, pictured in detail below:

 To me, the whole ensemble has a very "Phryne Fisher" look about it which I love as she is one of my fashion inspirations, particularly when it comes to the quintessential 1920s bob hairstyle, as shown: 

www.librarything.com

For those haven't met the Honourable Miss Fisher, she is the heroine of a series of novels - so popular that they have recently been made into an ABC television series - set in 1920's Melbourne & written by Australian author Kerry Greenwood. Phryne is wealthy, fashionable & sharp-as-a-tack & along with her eclectic group of friends & loyal employees solves a myriad of perplexing mysteries in her guise as a "Lady Detective." 

www.jeweldivasstyle.com 

Well, there's not much let to say except 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY FINN! 

Wishing you a year ahead filled with laughter... 

& shopping; lots of shopping... 

& if in doubt...

www.keepcalm-o-matic.co,uk