Wednesday 29 April 2015

Instantly #7

For those of you who don't follow me on Instagram, here's what you've been missing...

And remember, if you do want to follow me, it's @francespenny! 



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Dress: Vintage, 1980s crepe
Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent
Clutch: Adorne silk & beads
Bunny Ears: Lovisa lace
Hinged Bangle: Gift, silver & resin
Hinged Bangle: Gift, silver & resin

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Heading out for another #monochromemonday wearing a vintage dress from the 1980s - gifted by a dear friend's mother - mixed with black patent platforms, a silk envelope clutch with tribal beading & finished off with silver & black hinged bangles for each wrist.


And because it was Easter Monday, I even got into the spirit by wearing a gorgeous pair of black lace "bunny ears" that I picked up from my local Lovisa store... CUTE!


"...I've been looking at you for a long, long time, just trying to break through, trying to make you mine; everybody wants a flame, they don't want to get burnt; well, today is our turn..."

Bonfire Heart - James Blunt (2014)

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Dress: Eve Hunter elastane & chiffon with diamante
Sandals: Simona Ricci @ Bare Traps leather & embellishment
Bag: LouenHide leather
Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic
Cuff: Gift, silver Ganesh (from India)

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Playing with a fresh colour palette of navy & white with a stunning Eve Hunter elastane dress, replete with floaty spotted chiffon overlay & tiny diamante clips at the shoulders, pair of embellished white leather sandals from Bare Traps at Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre & a white leather LouenHide shoulder bag from a summertime trip to DFO Jindalee. To complete the look, a chunky silver hinged bangle & silver moulded Ganesh cuff were added. 



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Tunic: Country Road silk
Sandals: Betts for Her patent gladiators
Bag: Target vinyl
Bangle: Oxfam paper strips

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Primary colours were the order of the day with this red & blue pattern-mixed silk Country Road tunic (that would have to be about 4 or 5 years old by now) & bright yellow vinyl handbag from Target. A pair of black patent gladiators were then added to "anchor" the look. The "hero" of the ensemble would have to be the oversized, upcycled paper-strip bangle from Oxfam, which adds an element of surprise & visual interest to what is otherwise a simple combination.


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Dress: Vintage, Mexican cotton & embroidery
Slip: TS elastane
Sandals: Soft Soul @ Myer leather & patent
Bag: Adorne vinyl & studs
Scarf: Flower cotton
Bangle: Gift, vintage silver & semi-precious stone
Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver
Cuff: Gift, silver (from Southbank Markets)

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Meeting up with a dear friend from interstate wearing a vintage Mexican shift with vibrant, multi-coloured floral embroidery detail. Accessories were chosen from a light colour palette - a pair of white leather & silver patent wedges from Soft Soul @ Myer & shiny, silver vinyl handbag with studded end detail that I picked up from my local Adorne store.


Echoing the brightness of the dress' embroidery & playing up the era from whence it came, a pattern-mixed, paisley print cotton scarf from Flower was looped around one of the bag's handles & tied into an oversized bow at either end. Finishing the look were a trio of silver jewellery pieces - a brushed silver cuff from Wallace Bishop, thin silver swirl cuff (given to me as a birthday present by a friend from university) & a vintage silver & semi-precious stone bangle sent by a dear friend who lives in India.



"...call out in the instigators because there's something in the air, we've got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution's here & you know it's wise..."

Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman (1970)

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey
Wedges: Novo suede & rattan
Bag: Vera May patent
Bangles: Tree of Life bronze, silver & studded

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Bright & bold for a casual Sunday morning in a pixel print Anthea Crawford v-neck dress mixed with an edgy pair of black suede & rattan wedges from Novo, bright patent Vera May handbag & armful of studded bronze & silver bangles from Tree of Life


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Kaftan: Tiara poly-blend
Kimono: Wave Zone @ Big W chiffon
Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent
Clutch: Diana Ferrari patent
 Bangle: Gift, wooden & beaded (from India)

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More #monochromemonday madness in an eclectic ensemble, based around a 1970s white & black spotted v-neck empire-line maxi kaftan, covered with a tribal printed chiffon Wave Zone kimono (from my local Big W) - knotted at the waist - & black patent accessories including a pair of platforms & semi-circular clutch. The final touch, completing the look, was an Indian wooden & mirror-beaded bangle, shown in detail below:


And the aforementioned kaftan in all its glory...




"...I don't know if I'll survive in this magical land behind your eyes; & there's all these funny little men, asking me to dance & sing; I'm wasted..."

Wasted - Angus & Julia Stone (2007)

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey
Cardigan: Filo mesh
Wedges: Novo suede & rattan
Bag: Vera May patent
Bracelets: Gift, wooden beaded (from markets in China)

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"Bloomin' lovely" in this Deco-rose-patterned jersey Anthea Crawford v-neck empire line dress with black mesh Filo draped cardigan (tied up around the waist) to beat the sudden - yet very welcome - chill in the Autumn air. Black suede & rattan wedges "anchored" the look, while a bright patent handbag added yet another "pop" of colour & counterpoint to the red & pink of the print's roses. A trio of beaded bracelets from the markets in China - in shades of burgundy, tan & green - completed the look. 


...And the look without the cardigan...



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Tuesday 28 April 2015

Sailor Stripes











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Dress: Gift, vintage poly-blend
Sandals: Betts for Her patent
Bag: Novo patent
Bangle: Gift, vintage wood & beaded (from India)
Cuff: Gift, silver Ganesh (from India)

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Busting out some vintage sailor stripes for a trip to the hospital to meet new baby Oliver, a little brother for my little kindred spirit, Jeremy! This sweet baby doll dress - pun intended - was a birthday gift from my friend Alice & comes all the way from America. In the interest of honesty, I will admit that when it arrived it had teeny tiny sleeves that I had lopped off by my seamstress Desley to streamline the look & draw more attention to the pointed (double) collar at the front, bib detail at the back & buttons on each corner. Check it out below:



To inject a bit of edge into an otherwise "cutesy" washed-out grey & white look, I wore black underwear underneath the sheer poly-blend material, as well as donned a pair of black patent gladiator wedges from Betts for Her & a cobalt blue patent handbag from Novo for a colour "pop." Sculptural jewellery - a chunky, wooden bangle with mirrored silver beads & silver moulded Ganesh cuff - finished the look with aplomb.


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Scroll down for a little peek at baby Oliver's presents...
 & a little something for his beloved big brother, of course!




I decided to go with a Winnie the Pooh theme, as I absolutely adore A. A. Milne's tales of Christopher Robin & his friends - Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, Kanga & little Roo - contained in the tomes Winnie the Pooh (1926), The House at Pooh Corner (1928) & children's poetry anthologies When We Were Very Young (1924) & Now We Are Six (1927). 

The timelessness of the prose, befuddled perceptions of the bumbling bear & his adorable insights into things many take for granted is equal parts charming, entertaining & inspirational. These simple little creatures, brought to life through the power of a little boy's love nearly 100 years ago, often reflect a small part in all of us: humble, silly, wise, cautious, creative & full of life & wonder. Just the thing (in my humble opinion) for growing minds who will one day shape & change their own world, if not THE world...

As the "chubby little tubby" himself says:

"As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen."


"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."


Piglet: "How do you spell love?"
Pooh: "You don't spell it, you feel it."


"Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved..." 


"The things that make me different are the things that make me, me..."


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And for Jeremy...


"Promise me you'll always remember: 
You are braver than you believe; 
Stronger than you seem; 
And smarter than you think..."


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CONGRATULATIONS 
Belinda & Arthur on the birth of your second son, Oliver & sweet little brother for the amazing Jeremy! May he have a life filled with health, happiness, joy, whimsy & curiosity...

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