Second Star to the Right

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey & jacquard

Booties: Wittner patent

Bag: Sunnybank Night Markets rubber with gold hardware

Necklace: Gift, gold with semi-precious stones (from Beijing)

Hinged Bangles: Gift, bronze with blue beads (from Shanghai)

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If you read my blog often, you'll know how much I adore all things Disney... well, specifically the "old school" stuff from my childhood & earlier like the fairy tales & classic literature turned into cartoon films for tiny folk. Add to this my obsession with all things ballet-themed & you've pretty much got the key to my heart, so an invitation to experience Queensland Ballet's "Peter Pan" at QPAC was something incredibly special!

For those who aren't immediately familiar with the much-loved tale by J.M Barrie, "Peter Pan" is the original boy-who-never-grew-up, leading Wendy Darling & her younger brothers into Neverland, a fantastical, imaginary world of fairies with fairy dust, overzealous pirates, ragged lost boys, irascible mermaids & one very large crocodile with a penchant for consuming timepieces. The ballet version - under the direction of choreographer Trey McIntyre & set designer Thomas Boyd - was full of breathtaking flying sequences, swashbuckling swordfights, oversized puppets & accomplished classical dance... in all honesty, it was pure magic!

"For to have faith is to have wings..."

"All you need is faith, trust & a little bit of pixie dust..."

A special occasion required the perfect ensemble & I knew the dress I wanted to wear right away - this stunning number from Anthea Crawford with its plunging black jersey bodice & pleated holographic blue "sea floral" jacquard skirt with just the right amount of swish - anchored with a pair of shiny black patent heeled booties with pointy-toes from Wittner. To pick up on the blue of the skirt, I carried a blue rubber handbag with gold hardware that I found at one of the stalls of the Sunnybank Night Markets a few Christmases ago. Rather than my usual measured approach to jewellery, I decided to go "all out" with a few matching pieces - a dainty gold/bronze necklace with blue semi-precious stone pendant that my brother brought back for me from a trip to China & a pair of chunky bronze & blue beaded "flower" hinged bangles that some friends brought back from Shanghai. 

Scroll down for a final look...

The Windy City

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jacquard

Heels: Wittner leather & elastic

Bag: French Connection suede with silver hardware

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Just a quick post to share a little Monday outfit inspiration with you all. The weather in Queensland that was so wonderfully cool & overcast has now turned hot & muggy, meaning that sleeveless or strappy dresses are pretty much the order of the day. This gorgeous jacquard number with its "cold shoulder" cut, sweet bow detailing on the arms & utterly divine blue hue is from Anthea Crawford & was ideal for a day trip into Brisbane City, particularly when mixed with my all-time favourite pair of Wittner leather pointy-toed heels & a boxy suede handbag with oversized silver handles from French Connection. 

A little side note to all my avid readers who will probably already know how clumsy I am when it comes to carrying food & drink... I did not spill the Aztec Blood iced tea on my person or any other people around me. That is what I would truly call an absolute WIN.

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New Farmers

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Dress: Saylor & Saige silk chiffon

Slip: Taking Shape elastane

Brogues: Country Road leather

Bag: Forever New vinyl with silver hardware

Bracelet: Gift, Kellie's Antiques Victorian silver

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After seeing Kenneth Branagh's new interpretation of Agatha Christie's masterpiece "Murder on the Orient Express" for the second time in as many weeks at Event Cinemas, Indooroopilly today, it got me thinking about the previous weekend spent hanging out in New Farm with my younger brother Louis before immersing ourselves in the world of a certain Belgian detective... 

Queensland weather can be unpredictable but one thing is commonplace & that's the heat & humidity, particularly at this time of year. The cooler, rainy weather we've been experiencing has been an absolute DELIGHT & because I know it won't last & we'll be back to dry conditions & heatwaves before too long, I've really been savoring every single moment, wearing some of my more elaborate ensembles replete with billowy sleeves or copious layers... all the while resting my aching feet by donning comfortable & stylish flat man-style brogues! The stunning silk chiffon Saylor & Saige dress I wore last Saturday was chosen specifically for its 1930s vibe & was so sheer (despite the tiered ruffles) with its mauve, grey & rose smoke floral print that a flesh-tone slip from Taking Shape was needed underneath for modesty's sake. As previously alluded to, I wore a pair of matte silver leather brogues from Country Road & carried a pale pink vinyl handbag with silver hardware from Forever New. Jewellery was kept simple with a chunky Victorian silver bracelet with oversized silver heart locket & teeny tiny key from Kellie's Antiques in the Brisbane Arcade, kindly gifted to me one Christmas by a dear, dear friend. 

As always, scroll down to see how the day unfolded & for my brief review of the film...

Stopping for brunch at Brio Breakfast in Newstead, one of our all-time favourite haunts. I couldn't go past the Spicy Corn Fritters with Haloumi Cheese & Poached Egg with Hash Browns on the Side, washed down with one of their inimitable Banana & Peanut Butter Smoothies!

This is what happens when you try to make a break for it between torrential downpours because out of all days, THIS IS WHEN YOU FORGET TO BRING AN UMBRELLA! You really just have to laugh... or in this case, document it with a brother/sister selfie.

Keeping with the theme & drooling over exquisite art deco bookends at one of the best antique stores that I've ever had the pleasure of exploring - Commercial Road Antiques in Teneriffe.

Skipping down the tree-line streets, past old houses, in between scuds of rain...

Two eager Agatha Christie fans at the New Farm Cinema!

MY VERDICT?

Avid readers of this blog probably already know that I am a die-hard (ha! get it) fan of Agatha Christie's work & murder mysteries books, movies & television shows in general & when remakes of my favourites come along (sometimes all-too-often) I get a little bit concerned that the original material will be changed beyond recognition. This particular interpretation of "Murder on the Orient Express" is striking similar to the Peter Ustinov films of the 1970s & early 1980s, of which I am a big fan. Kenneth Branagh's Poirot wasn't perfect - in truth I much prefer the way the David Suchet portrays the obstinate & particular Belgian - but much better than Albert Finney in the version with Lauren Bacall. 

Obviously there were slight changes to the material to account for modern sensibilities & tastes but I am happy to report that it wasn't too egregious. This new type of Poirot is slightly more "athletic" than perhaps Ms Christie planned for him to be & there are several scenes where he uses his walking cane (purported to be expensive) to subdue an opponent. Moreover, there is a scene where HE SHARES A DESSERT (a second fork is asked for) with another traveler on the Orient Express, which I just don't believe that the character would actually allow himself to do. Poirot doesn't share food. Furthermore, there is more gunplay than is written into the original & for me, a question mark over issues of what would/could actually be logistically possible & Bouc's involvement in the crime. I won't say anything more about this, however, in case some readers haven't read the book or seen a previous interpretation as I would hate to ruin the plot twist.

Regardless, I enjoyed the film - enough to see it twice, I might add... & not just because of the gorgeous Tom Bateman, who was a favourite of mine from the short-lived television series "Jekyll & Hyde."

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Dial M for Monochrome

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Dress: Zimmermann silk blend

Coat: Perri Cutten crepe

Heels: Wittner matte leather & elastic

Bag: French Connection suede with silver hardware

Brooch: RockLeaf silver & eucalyptus leaf

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Avid readers of this blog will know how much I adore vibrant colours & florid patterns but sometimes it's nice to go "back to basics" as it were & wear something a little more muted & timeless. This look, worn to a lecture on the mythology behind certain famous gemstones in the company of one of my dearest friends who was visiting from overseas, is a true mix of girly & sophisticated: the sweet, polka-dot-printed, pleated mini dress from Zimmermann is youthful & cute while the stark white crepe, collarless jacket from Perri Cutten is classic & could by worn by all ages as a wardrobe staple for many, many years. Once again, my trusty black matte leather pointy-toed heels from Wittner were the ideal choice for elongating the legs & lengthening the entire look while the boxy suede handbag with oversized circular silver handles (reminiscent of the dress' dotty print) from French Connection was useful for carrying all the essentials, including a small, fold-out umbrella (yes, I kid you not!). Jewellery was kept simple - a statement brooch from Australian company RockLeaf, which coats eucalyptus leaves in gold or silver (in this case) for a truly iconic piece of the "Land Down Under." I like to think the look is a little Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder but I'll let you make up your own minds...

Scroll down for a closer look at the dress beneath...

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