Doll Expo in Denim

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Dress: Portmans denim

Sandals: Florsheim leather, wood

Bag: Oh Jo Jo Boutique woven straw, diamantes

Bangles: Gift, silver & gold beads

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If you're an avid reader of this blog or you know me in real life, you'll probably already know that I'm an avid collector of certain bits & bobs including vintage dolls, teddies & toys so the Ipswich Gala Doll Show, held in the Civic Centre, was the ideal way to spend a weekend morning with my long-suffering browsing companion, my mother. A beautiful sunny day & balmy weather meant that I could wear my new faded-look blue denim 1960s-style A line mini dress with gold buttons that I picked up from Portmans (constantly mistaken for an Aje design at three times the price, might I add!) & styled up with my favourite pair of silver leather sandals with oversized gold buckles & wooden stacked heels from Florsheim, natural woven straw bucket bag with diamante details from the delightful Oh Jo Jo Boutique to carry all the essentials & a stack of sparkly gold & silver beaded Indian bangles that a dear friend brought back as souvenirs from a trip many years ago for that touch of daytime bling & a real juxtaposition with the denim that added a great deal of interest.

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Keep scrolling to see one of my purchases in her new home...

Purple Haze

 

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Dress: Forever New linen/cotton blend

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather

Bag: Target woven straw

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bracelet: Gift, Kellie's Antiques silver, filigree

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All the beautiful outfit pictures from a day when it was much, much warmer than today... not to mention much, much sunnier! For a trip to Paddington to see a play & do some antiquing with a dear friend, I donned a gorgeous purple & white botanical print linen/cotton blend midi dress with racer back detailing & princess seams from Forever New, styled up with a pair of mauve vegan leather deco-inspired heels from Kitten D'Amour for the ultimate fusion of comfort & style (ideal to walk up & down those heels in) & a natural woven straw crossbody bag from my local Target store to carry all the essentials. When it came to jewellery, I chose some favourite silver pieces including a stack of vintage Mexican silver bangles some friends brought back from an overseas trip a few years ago, a single thicker vintage silver bangle from 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles (formerly Coolangatta, now Tweed Heads) that my brother bought me & finally, a chunky silver Victorian belcher bracelet with oversized filigree heart locket & teeny tiny key from (sadly now closed) Kellie's Antiques in the Brisbane Arcade that a late, lamented friend gave me as a 30th birthday present to complete the look & add some daytime shine.

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Keep scrolling for a peek at the delicious meal we shared at Sassafrass of Paddington Cafe & a cheeky little selfie at Empire Antiques...

Smoked Mushrooms with Cheese, Polenta, Spinach & Onion

This is 42 (part 2)

 

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Dress: Gorman denim

Sandals: Birkenstock leather

Brooch: Gift, resin

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The birthday celebrations continue with a leisurely morning tea with family under the pergola in the balmy mid-Autumn weather. This time, I'm bringing the circus vibes & wearing a funky multi-pastel-striped denim pinafore with silver buttons down the front from cult label Gorman, a pair of black leather Birkenstock sandals & an amazing resin brooch depicting a sunbathing lady under a (you guessed it) striped umbrella that a dear family friend gave me a few years ago to complete the look.

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Dress: Anthea Crawford guipure lace

Sandals: Obsession Shoes leather

Bag: Sussan woven paper

Bangles: Gift, Lovisa gold

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Even more celebrations with a ladies-only coffee & cake morning with a dear family friend at our local Brothers Leagues Club. I'm wearing a gorgeous navy & light blue floral guipure lace mini dress from celebrated Australian label Anthea Crawford, styled up with a pair of navy leather sandals from Obsession Shoes for a modicum of height, a navy woven paper handbag from Sussan for that bohemian touch & a trio of gold bangles from Lovisa for some daytime shine.

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Delicious BLT for the win!

Always room for dessert... this time Wagon Wheel slice with a dollop of cream!

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Dress: Sacha Drake stretch pique

Sandals: Eos via Obsession Shoes leather

Bag: Eumundi Markets upcycled denim

Bangles: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

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Yet more celebrations with an afternoon spent at the arcade with my cousin & one of her rambunctious munchkins! After fortifying ourselves with gelato (not pictured... eaten way too fast for that) we headed to General Public to enjoy the sights, sounds & adrenaline of a myriad of games including my absolute favourite... the "Super Bikes." For the occasion, I wore a monochrome polka dotted stretch pique 60s-style mini shift dress from Sacha Drake, comfortable yet stylish black leather Eos sandals from Obsession Shoes, an upcycled denim crossbody bag from a stall at the Eumundi Markets to carry all the essentials while keeping my hands free as well as a stack of vintage Mexican silver bangles that some dear friends brought back from overseas & a single thicker vintage silver bangle from 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles (formerly Coolangatta, now Tweed Heads) that was a gift from my younger brother.

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Winner Winner!