Friday 31 July 2015

Smoking










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Dress: Anthea Crawford crepe
"Smoking" Jacket: Vintage, Oriental silk (from China)
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Novo patent
Necklace: Lovisa glass beads, diamante & tassel
Bangles: Gift, gold, silver & beaded (from India)
Sunglasses: Witchery

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Rocking my version of a vintage men's "smoking jacket" in a vibrant royal blue, red & gold Oriental print silk for a day of shopping in the River City. Rather than wearing it Yves Saint Laurent style - what we commonly think of as "Le Smoking" - with a matching pair of tuxedo pants & tie, I stayed true to my trademark & donned a stunning lipstick-red crepe dress from Anthea Crawford, with draped neckline & pleated waist detail. 


The traditional "smoking jacket," with its shawl collar, turned up cuff, breast pocket detail & toggles or tie fastenings (I took the tie fastening off this one to decrease bulk & make it more streamlined for a woman's silhouette) was popular in 17th century England, when goods flowing from India & Asia brought spices, tobacco, coffee & silk to the continent. Suddenly, it became the "done thing" for upper-class gentlemen to be depicted wearing their decadent silk robe de chambre to denote prosperity & opulence. 

Short smoking jackets soon evolved when the popularity of cigars & alcohol skyrocketed after the Crimean War & gentlemen retreated to smoking rooms or dens after dinner to imbibe, donning the jacket to absorb the smoke & protect their clothing from falling ash. Then Hollywood became involved, with matinee idol Cary Grant favouring the style, Fred Astaire being buried (!) in his & Rat Pack members Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra carousing in them during some of their famed Las Vegas shows.

Declining in popularity from the 1950s due to a marked decline in European gentry & the fact that smoking was no longer de rigeur, the smoking jacket is now seen as a curiosity from another age or even an eccentric English alternative to formal wear... & as you may have already realised, worn by stylish women inspired by designer YSL's game-changing androgynous juggernaut...


As usual, the intense colour of my dress & jacket was "anchored" by the addition of a pair of black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli, matte 40 denier Razzamatazz tights & boxy, patent handbag from Novo. Jewellery was minimal yet striking - a trio of sparkly, gold & silver beaded bangles from India & a long, glass bead necklace with a diamante ball pendant & hanging tassel from Lovisa.


Finishing off this outre look was a pair of oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses from Witchery, just the ticket with my blunt fringe & red lips...


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Thursday 30 July 2015

Instantly #11

For those of you who still don't follow me on Instagram, here's what you've missed lately...

And remember, if you change your mind, just click on the little Instagram icon on the right hand side of the screen & you can join in the fun & the fashion!




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Dress: Vintage, homemade tweed
Jacket: City Chic vinyl
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Leona Edmiston vinyl & gold hardware

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Heading out on a cold Winter's day wearing a handmade black, blue & silver checked tweed shift with high neckline & set-in sleeves. Updating this clearly 1960s number was easy - I simply added a cropped, "leather-look" vinyl motorcycle jacket from City Chic, black suede & neoprene booties from Corelli & boxy patent handbag from Novo


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Tunic: Tree of Life rayon
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier

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Continuing with the "blue" theme, this time a simple outfit comprising of only 3 pieces - a three-quarter-sleeved Tree of Life mini tunic in floaty rayon with embroidery & a tassel at the neckline, matte 40 denier tights from Razzamatazz & my trusty pair (well, one of 2) of suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli.



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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Novo patent
Pashmina: Market Stall cashmere
Jacket: Vintage, Trinkit Hunter denim & decoupage
Rings: Tree of Life silver

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Looking "fancy in floral" with this gorgeous pansy-printed jersey dress from Anthea Crawford - the v-neckline balancing out the three-quarter-length sleeves to show a tiny hint of skin - matched with a floral embossed pashmina in the softest cashmere as well as a vintage denim jacket from Trinkit Hunter with handmade floral decoupage details for when the weather took a turn for the worse!




And a close up of the silver "rings on my fingers" for the day - all are from my local Tree of Life store.


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Dress: Vintage, Evelyn Eve poly-blend 
Cape: Sportsgirl wool & vinyl
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Bag: Novo patent
Bangles: Witchery resin, bronze, silver & ribbon

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Heading out for the afternoon wearing a 1970s Evelyn Eve maxi dress in a vibrant red, white & orange print on a black poly-blend background. A bright orange wool midi-length cape with black vinyl piping from Sportsgirl was then worn over the top to ward off the incoming chill. Anchoring the look was a pair of black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli, matte 40 denier tights from Razzamatazz & a boxy, patent handbag from Novo. Clear resin bangles from Witchery - with touches of bronze & silver... & even a bow made out of black ribbon - completed the look.


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Kaftan: Vintage, handmade & embroidered brocade
Cape: Sportsgirl wool & vinyl
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Novo patent
Thick Bangle: Vintage, American brass
Thin Bangle: Tree of Life brass
Oval Ring: Equip brass & resin
Circle Ring: Creative Waves brass, printed paper & resin

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Clearly loving the bright orange wool & black vinyl piped Sportsgirl cape from the previous look - this time pairing it with a handmade forest green brocade maxi kaftan from the late 1960s/early 1970s covered with a myriad of red, orange & white hand-embroidered flowers & a heavy, hand-embroidered neckline. 


Once again, the look was anchored by a pair of black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli, matte 40 denier Razzamatazz tights & a boxy, patent handbag from Novo


When it came to jewellery, more was definitely more - a chunky, vintage American twisted brass bangle from a recent "Frock Up Brisbane" event, thin brass bangle from Tree of Life, chunky brass & orange resin oval ring from the Equip sale & a funky, "octopus" style brass & printed paper ring from a now-defunct store at Coolangatta called Creative Waves. See below for close-ups of all the pieces & while you're there, check out my awesome fake tattoos from the Dalai Lama's "Ocean of Wisdom" Tour...





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Dress: Witchery knit & crepe
Slip: TS elastane
Cape: Suzanne Grae wool
Booties: Corelli @ Wiliams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Novo patent
Cuff: Gift (from China) material, beads, bells
Sunglasses: Witchery

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A change of pace from my usual "hippyish" attire with a bit of Beatnik style! Absolutely loving this spliced Witchery dress with a button-down knit striped top & black crepe skirt - despite my need for an elastane slip underneath to ensure modesty. 


As usual, my trusty black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli anchor the look, particularly when mixed with a pair of matte 40 denier Razzamatazz tights & a boxy, patent bag from Novo. 


Pattern-mixing flair comes in with the addition of this fringed red, black & grey tribal print wool cape from my local Suzanne Grae store, as well as the only piece of jewellery this outfit needs: a stunning ethnic handicraft from China, made by traditional artisans to be sold for money to aid communities decimated by recent earthquake activity. Check it out in detail below:

 

...& what kind of Beatnik would I be if I didn't wear a pair of round-framed sunglasses? Luckily I don't need to find out, as this new season tortoiseshell pair from Witchery really add a perfect finishing touch to the whole ensemble.


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Dress: Vintage, handmade chiffon
Coat: Vintage, handmade blanket with silk lining
Cape: Sportsgirl wool & vinyl
Booties: Corelli @ Williams suede & neoprene
Tights: Razzamatazz 40 denier
Bag: Novo patent
Ring: Equip brass & resin

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Trotting out the gorgeous, bright orange wool & black vinyl piped Sportsgirl cape once again, with yet ANOTHER vintage gem - this time a homemade floral silk chiffon maxi dress from the 1970s with fluted, three-quarter-length sleeves & high, sequinned neckline. 



As with many of my Winter looks, black suede & neoprene heeled booties from Corelli anchor the look, matched with a pair of matte 40 denier Razzamatazz tights & a boxy, patent handbag Novo handbag to carry all of my essentials. Jewellery was kept to a minimum, merely a chunky bronze & resin cocktail ring from the sale at my local Equip store... & the remnants of my temporary tattoos - those things seemed to take forever to go!



To ward off the evening chill when late-night shopping, I added yet another layer in the form of this vintage, homemade jacket that was made by my seamstress Desley in the 1970s. Truth be told, I actually have a blanket that is the exact fabric, however this one is lined in a luxurious cream silk & has a hood! Scroll down for a peek:




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