With my friend Marcus visiting from York-via-London-via-Melbourne, it's been a busy few days of stage plays, indoor ice skating, ballet performances, dining out, sightseeing & inadvertent storm-chasing in the River City... It was so great to see my friend from the "Mother Country" again & the perfect opportunity to bust out some of my most favourite dresses.
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DAY 1: PART 1
Dress: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery
Heels: Novo patent
Clutch: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery
Cuff: Amaryllis Boutique silver & diamante
Bracelet: Silversmith silver & assorted charms
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Day 1 revolved around a front-row seat at a stage play version of The Velveteen Rabbit (or How Toys Become Real), based on the 1922 children's book by Margery Williams. Avid readers of this blog would already know about my deep & abiding love for the classic tale - which has never been out of print in almost 100 years - about a velveteen rabbit toy & his quest to become real through the love of his owner... And I have to say, after this treatise on the transformative power of love was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the house...
www.arandadill.deviantart.com
Such a special experience required a special dress & this Monsoon pansy print taffeta shift dress - purchased at the Oxford Street store & carried around Europe in my suitcase - fit the bill, with its rich taffeta fabric, slimming black front panel, hand-painted floral side details & embroidered & beaded neckline to really make the print "pop."
One of the most amazing parts of the outfit is the matching clutch bag with 3D pansy decals on the front, enhanced by little diamantes in their centres. See below for a close-up:
Silver jewellery was chosen to capture the shine from the diamantes on the clutch, particularly in the large swirl cuff with its own diamante accents & my beloved charm bracelet that began as a gift for my 21st birthday & is now (almost) completely full. What I love about the old-fashioned kind of charm bracelets are the tiny, perfectly formed versions of everyday items that remind of you of someone or something in your life at the time. My charm bracelet is full of fairies, angels, tea cups, tea pots, cuckoo clocks, glasses, bells, rabbits - even a Coca Cola bottle - that remind me of people in my life who care about me & who I care dearly about.
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DAY 1: PART 2
Dress: Jacqui E elastane & velvet burnout
Heels: Novo patent
Clutch: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery
Cuff: Amaryllis Boutique silver & diamante
Bracelet: Silversmith silver & assorted charms
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After the play concluded, it was time for quick costume change before heading to an indoor ice skating rink to capture a whimsical wisp of Winter Wonderland, usually enjoyed by those in the Northern Hemisphere at Christmastime.
www.acottageindustry.typepad.com
It can be difficult to find a winter dress that can work with summer accessories, but this Jacqui E floral burnout smock doesn't look out of place with the jewellery from earlier & the Monsoon clutch bag as both a "pop" of colour & mix of pattern against the velvet.
Unfortunately no shots of me ACTUALLY ice skating, as I was too busy ensuring that I stayed upright & didn't break any limbs (I promised my mother!) but here are a couple of me spinning around in the dress with the floaty bodice panel swinging, so you can get an idea of why it was chosen:
www.acottageindustry.typepad.com
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Stay tuned for more of Marcus' adventures in the colonies... Part 2 coming soon!
I am looking forward to more, love this look:)
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