All At Sea

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Dress: Jayson Brunsdon Black Label @ Myer silk, embellishment

Cardigan: Yarra Trail mesh

Brogues: Country Road leather

Bag: Olga Berg @ L'Onda, Sunnybank Plaza patent with silver hardware

Watch: Pascoe's Jewellers silver, calico

Hinged Bangle: Gift, vintage silver (1940s)

Dreamcatcher: Gift, woven thread, wool, haberdashery

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Finally posting (many, many) pictures of the outfit I wore to bid farewell to a dear friend who - despite the many accolades & accomplishments of his corporate life, frequent trips abroad & countless hours spent enjoying ballet, theatre & opera performances in several states - was never happier than when he was "messing around in boats" as Ratty from The Wind in the Willows would say. As such, his memorial service & wake were fraught with meaning yet rather low-key; the latter including a catered boat ride along the Brisbane River, which I was obviously paying homage to with my outfit choice, many elements lovingly gifted to me.

The look revolved around this stunning navy satin 1930s-style midi dress dotted with 3D silver beaded embellishments from Jayson Brunsdon Black Label, exclusive to Myer stores. I loved the way it harked back to what many regard as the "golden age" of leisure cruising & was dressy & almost a little bit "prim & proper," as my English ancestors would say. 

Obviously the late Winter weather meant a further layer was required (particularly on the river) & this navy mesh, three-quarter-sleeved "waterfall" cardigan - knotted at the front - from Aussie brand Yarra Trail was ideal, providing warmth without covering up too much of the dress. I'm not one for hoarding (well, anything OTHER than dresses, anyway...) & when I "spring clean" I am usually ruthless, but this is certainly an advertisement for keeping clothing items in classic colours that you may need some time in the future. I purchased this particular cardigan from the Jindalee DFO almost ten years ago & with a quick airing, it was as good as new!

Scroll down to check it out in even more detail:

And with the mesh cardigan untied & left to drape on either side...

And without the cardigan altogether; allowing the sweet (almost) "butterfly" cut sleeve to be seen...

When it came to footwear, these supple, silver leather brogues with bone laces from Country Road were an unexpected yet inspired choice; giving a nautical nod to proceedings while maintaining an air of relaxed sophistication with the shiny colourway. It is also interesting to note that they give the illusion of longer legs & more height due to the fact that the dress is midi-length (therefore "cutting me off" at the most flattering part of my leg) & the brogues are cut away to expose the ankle bone. Just goes to show that the "fashion rulebook" isn't always right & it's important to experiment & TRY THINGS ON before discounting them altogether. 

Rather than a shiny silver tote or clutch, I decided to carry a dainty Olga Berg single-handle "box" bag (yet another 1930s-style touch) for a polished look. Truth be told, the shade of silver isn't identical to that of the brogues; it is more a mixture of the silver leather shade & the bone hue of the shoelaces. It was really just luck that I found it - after looking EVERYWHERE for the perfect bag for the occasion, a pair of shoes caught my eye in the window of the L'Onda boutique at Sunnybank Plaza... Long story short: the shoes didn't work but the bag that was sitting across from them on the shelf was the one I had been searching for... & it was on sale! Talk about a dream come true; fashion-wise, that is.

With regards to jewellery, less was definitely more this time. I chose two pieces in total - a vintage silver fleur-de-lis hinged bangle from the 1940s that a dear friend gave me for my 30th birthday & a sailor-style silver watch from Pascoe's Jewellers with a large navy face & navy & white woven calico band/strap that I picked up during a shopping trip with my cousin to fit the theme of the day.

Lastly, just a word about the beautiful "dreamcatcher" that features in the vast majority of these photographs: it was a posthumous gift from the dear friend who passed away, chosen because it reminded him of my various aspects of my personality; beautiful sentiments I am keeping to myself for now. I will treasure it always.

Vale, Professor.

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