On Frocking Up

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Dress: Chi Chi London (via Asos) satin

Sandals: Novo leather lace-up

Clutch: Adorne textured vinyl

Bangle: Gift, vintage wood & beads

Cuff: Trinkit Hunter silver

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"Street Style" fashion blogging seems simple. Effortless, even. All it requires is taking a picture of yourself on any given day, uploading it to the social media device of your choice & waxing lyrical about it for a few paragraphs... Certainly easier than "Editorial" fashion blogging where you employ professional photographers, make-up artists & hairdressers, borrow designer clothing & scout for evocative locations, right? Wrong.

Editorial blogging requires playing a role, creating a character at once removed from reality. The alternative is, well, personal. A real individual, living their day to day life & sharing their wardrobe choices with friends & strangers on a scale that, frankly, can boggle the mind at times. After all, I am in my little corner of Australia, typing away in front of a computer screen while someone half way around the world, whom I've never met, is reading it! I am putting a piece of myself out there to be judged, never knowing what reception will be received.

Let's be honest - as a society we tend to judge people, often erroneously, on their appearance, usually whispering about their physique, haircut, length of skirt, height of heel behind cupped hands. The online world is a heightened version of this, the anonymity afforded emboldens many to post comments flippantly & directly to the individual concerned, as though there are no consequences. And not all comments are constructive, of course - some are nasty, some are downright cruel & meant to wound, some are from a place of jealousy & some are "put downs" delivered under the guise of concerned advice.

I began street style fashion blogging with trepidation despite my obvious love of styling, concerned by the fact that I wasn't a model or photographer & rarely traveled to truly exotic destinations guaranteed to pique interest... then I took a stand for authenticity & personal truth. This is me. This is how I dress on a daily basis. Yes, really. I style all of the outfits myself & own all of the clothing & accessories. Family members & (occasionally) friends take the vast majority of my outfit photographs & I do not retouch them or use special filters. I choose what I consider to the "best" or most flattering of the bunch & upload... that's where it ends.

Even when I was small, I liked to "dress up." Sure, it wasn't always a frock back then (I really loved corduroy overalls as a child of the 1980s) but I had a highly-developed sense of occasion. Some may call it "overdressing" & even say it is "old fashioned," "unrealistic" or "out of touch" to don fancy dresses made from fabrics like silk, satin, French lace or tulle for a day of shopping in the River City, dinner at a little cafe in the suburbs, a trip to the Museum or Art Gallery or matinee performance at the theatre or ballet... 

For me, it is WHO I AM. I truly believe that clothing has the capacity to make people feel a certain way at a certain time... & dressing this way makes me feel like my true self. I have always possessed an overactive imagination & penchant for making the ordinary extraordinary & in this crazy world, that is a trait to be celebrated rather than derided. We are all unique & it is our differences that define us. Often, my dresses are pure whimsy grounded in reality & this is the hallmark of my styling prowess; what differentiates me from those blindly following trends & fads devoid of their personal style. As Coco Chanel once said, "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different."

This particular outfit is one of my all-time favourites, worn to complete a styling job a few weeks ago. The satin, "prom" style dress from Chi Chi London (through Asos) is spectacular - from the stylised red & black oversized leaf print on the bright white satin background to the scooped back detail, gathered 1950s style fit-to-flare waist & mullet hemline. Such a "dressy" item required edgy accessories for daytime & a pair of black leather lace-up gladiator sandals with stacked heels from Novo & textured, faux snakeskin vinyl envelope clutch from Adorne fitted the bill. Jewellery was kept minimal & sculptural - a vintage black wooden bangle with sequinned beading (gifted by a dear friend) on one arm & a chunky silver "Bird of Prey" cuff from Trinkit Hunter on the other.

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Weekend Wears: Easy Breezy

Nothing says "lead up to Australia Day" like a weekend full of stifling temperatures & rising humidity, culminating in... well, a sprinkle of rain. Yep, nothing more than a sprinkle! To beat the heat, I styled up a succession of easy breezy ensembles perfect for the extreme Summertime weather experienced in this "sunburnt country."

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LOOK #1

Dress: Vintage Bobbie Brooks

Sandals: Novo vinyl

Clutch: Smoked Til Sunday calico

Necklace: Tree of Life silver & semi-precious agate

Cuff: Gift, silver & semi-precious agate

Faux Tattoo: Sportsgirl

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"Purple Haze" was the name of the game on Saturday, beginning with this floaty, vintage Bobbie Brooks 1970s cotton smock that I picked up from The Gold Coast Antique Centre in Miami during my beach holiday in September. What I particularly love about this style is the gathered v-neckline with hand-knitted yoke detail, leaving some of the back & decolletage exposed to the elements.

To keep things light, I donned a pair of dove-grey vinyl sandals with woven wedge heels from the Novo sale & carried an oversized, printed calico envelope clutch from Smoked Til Sunday (purchased from one of the pop-up stores at DFO Jindalee) covered in a "saturated" photo-realistic tropical palm tree scene.

This casual, bohemian vibe continued with the chunky tribal jewellery - a silver necklace from Tree of Life with an oversized pendant covered in pieces of coloured agate & a chunky silver vintage Indian cuff (gifted by a dear friend who currently lives over there) covered with similar, albeit larger, pieces of agate. That's what can be so wonderful about fashion; when two items are found in entirely different sources yet seem MEANT to be together & can be united in one eclectic ensemble. 

Rather than just posting these images on Instagram, here are pictures of the "outfit planning flatlay" that I create as a stylist's trick when putting an ensemble together. Truth be told, it doesn't work in every instance, but it often helps to get the correct "tone" for a look & ensure a sense (however tenuous) of cohesion... 

#flatlay #lifeofablogger

"Peace comes from within. 

Do not seek it without."

Buddha

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LOOK #2

Dress: H&M stretch lace

Sandals: Novo leather lace-up gladiators

Bag: Colette by Colette Hayman vinyl

Scarf: Gift, chiffon (from Singapore)

Hinged Bangle: Lillee Fashions bronze & faceted bead

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"True (Primary) Colours" were the way to go for some leisurely window shopping on Sunday morning, starting with this drop-waisted stretch lace smock from H&M (my first-ever purchase at the newly-arrived megastore in Mt Gravatt) with its relaxed shape, circle-cut hemline & vibrant cobalt hue.

Black accessories seemed almost too stark with this look, so tan alternatives were found in the form of these leather lace-up gladiator sandals from Novo & boxy vinyl handbag with bronze hardware from Colette by Colette Hayman to fit in all the essentials. Tied around the handle was a striking red paisley patterned chiffon scarf that some dear friends had brought back from a recent trip to Singapore, adding another primary colour to the mix.

Jewellery was kept to a minimum - a chunky bronze hinged bangle with red faceted beads creating the shape of a rose that I picked up from Lillee Fashions at Yamanto in early December & a whimsical ring in the shape of the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland that some friends gave me for Christmas.

As with the first look, I created a flatlay to plan the ensemble, pictured below:

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Australiana

To celebrate Australia Day, I have listed some of my favourite Aussie songs, movies, television shows and books for children and adults alike. This is by no means a comprehensive list - there may be some that are beloved by many that I've missed - but if you're looking to immerse yourself in all things from "The Land Down Under," it's certainly a great place to start!

SONGS

1. I Still Call Australia Home - Peter Allen 1980/1982

2. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda - The Bushwackers 1983

3. I Was Only Nineteen (A Walk in the Light Green) - Redgum 1983

4. Lanterns - Birds of Tokyo 2013

5. Solid Rock - Goanna 1982
6. Down Under - Men At Work 1981

7. Great Southern Land - Icehouse 1983

8. You're The Voice - John Farnham 1986

9. Khe Sanh - Cold Chisel 1978

10. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS 1987

Also worth a mention... 

Click Go The Shears 
(lyrics by C.C. Eynesbury 1891; recorded by Rev. Dr. Percy Jones 1946)
"Click go the shears boy, click click click
Wide is his blow and his hands move quick
The ringer looks around and is beaten by a blow
And curses the old snagger with blue-bellied Joe"

Kookaburra 
(lyrics & music by Marion Sinclair 1932) 
"Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree, merry merry king of the bush is he..."

The Road to Gundagai 
(lyrics by Jack O'Hagan 1922; recorded by Peter Dawson 1924)
"There's a track winding back to an old fashioned shack along the road to Gundagai,
Where the green grass is growing, the Murrumbidgee's flowing, beneath that sunny sky."

Waltzing Matilda 
(original lyrics by A.B Patterson 1895; recorded by John Collinson 1926)
"Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me"

Give Me A Home Among The Gumtrees 
(lyrics & music by John Williamson 1975)
"Give me a home among the gum trees
With lots of plum trees
A sheep or two, a kangarro
A clothesline out the back, veranda out the front
And an old rocking chair"

I Am Australian; We Are Australian 
(lyrics & music by Bruce Woodley of The Seekers & Dobe Newton of The Bushwackers 1987)
"We are one, but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come
We share a dream & sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian"

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MOVIES

1. Picnic at Hanging Rock 1975
The Peter Weir masterpiece - adapted from Joan Lindsay's celebrated tome - about a group of boarding school girls who go missing during a Valentine's Day picnic at a scenic rock formation called Hanging Rock in 1900. A haunting musical score, whimsical costumes & stunning cinematography make this a MUST SEE!

2. The Man From Snowy River 1982
An Australian "Western" based on the poem by A.B (Banjo) Patterson that tells the story of the tough horsemen of the Snowy Mountains. Worth a watch if only to experience the amazing "theme song."

3. The Sum of Us 1994
Based on the play of the same name, the comedy/drama stars Jack Thompson as father & widower with Russell Crowe as his homosexual son, dealing with issues of love & life in the face of adversity.

4. Sirens 1994
Based on real events, the film stars Hugh Grant as Tony, an Anglican priest newly arrived in Australia who is asked to visit notorious artist Norman Lindsay (played by Sam Neill) to dissuade him from exhibiting a "blasphemous" painting of the crucifixion. There he is accepted into the artist's compound in the Blue Mountains, privy to his bohemian relationship with his wife & multiple "sirens" (painter's models), flagrant nudity & frank conversations about human sexuality.

5. The Sapphires 2012 
Loosely based on a true story, the film centres around four indigenous women who are discovered by a dishevelled & slightly unscrupulous talent scout, form a singing group called The Sapphires & travel to Vietnam in 1968 to entertain the troops. Hard-hitting & unflinching in some areas but sure to get your toes tapping in others... particularly the numbers by the supremely talented Jessica Mauboy!

6. Dot and the Kangaroo 1977
Based on Ethel Pedley's 1899 tome & combining live-action & animation, the Yoram Gross film tells the story of five-year-old Dot. After becoming lost in the Australian bush, she is found by a mother red kangaroo who has lost her joey & who promises to help her find her way home, introducing her to many other native animals & teaching her a greater appreciation for nature along the way.

7. Babe 1995
Adapted from Dick King-Smith's 1983 novel, The Sheep-Pig, the film tells the story of a piglet who unexpectedly becomes a champion sheepherder with the help of his canine "stepmother." Worth the watch if only to shed a few tears at the end when Farmer Hoggett gently says, "That'll do Pig; that'll do."

8. Tomorrow, When the War Began 2010
Based on the first book of the Tomorrow Series by librarian-turned-author James Marsden, the tense film deals with the unexpected invasion of Australia by a foreign superpower. Heroine Ellie & her group of friends - camping in the bush during the initial attack - wage guerilla warfare on the enemy from their small country town of Wirrawee.

9. Young Einstein 1988
A ridiculous comedy loosely based on the life of Albert Einstein - had he been born in Australia, split the atom with a chisel in a backyard shed & invented both surfing & rock 'n' roll. Completely absurd waffle from comedian Yahoo Serious, it was however, a "right of passage" for children growing up in the 1980s.

10. Gallipoli 1981
Also directed by Peter Weir, the film chronicles the experiences of two young men from rural Australia who enlist in the Australian Army during the First World War. Throughout the course of the movie, they slowly begin to lose their innocence about the purpose of war, culminating in tragic (yet all too real) scenes on the ANZAC battlefield of Gallipoli.

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TELEVISION: KIDS

1. Lift Off 1992-1995
2. Blinky Bill 1993-2004
3. Seven Little Australians (mini series) 1973
4. Play School 1966-
5. Mr Squiggle 1959-1999
6. Ship to Shore 1993-1996
7. Romper Room 1953-1994
8. Bush Patrol 1996-1998
9. Skippy 1966-1970
10. The Wayne Manifesto 1996-1998

Also worth a mention...

Round The Twist 1989-2001
If you were an Australian school student in the 1990s, chances are you've watched at least one episode of ABC's Round The Twist, chronicling the trials & trevails of the Twist family (widower & artist Tony; his children Peter, Linda & Bronson) in their haunted lighthouse. If you've never seen it, hightail it over to the ABC Shop website & get a copy of this hilarious series - you won't be disappointed!

Have you ever, ever felt like this?
Had strange things happen - Are you going round the twist?

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TELEVISION: GROWN-UPS

1. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries 2012-
2. Love Child 2014-
3. The Dr Blake Mysteries 2013-
4. Cloudstreet (mini series) 2011
5. Water Rats 1996-2001
6. Murder Call 1997-2000
7. A Place to Call Home 2013-
8. The Man from Snowy River 1994-1996
9. Seachange 1998-2000
10. Bondi Rescue 2006-

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BOOKS: KIDS

1. Where The Forest Meets The Sea - Jeannie Baker 1987
2. One Wooly Wombat - Kerry Argent 1982
3. Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Series - May Gibbs 1918
4. Greetings From Sandy Beach - Bob Graham 1990
5. Tiddalick: The Frog Who Caused A Flood - Robert Roennfeldt 1980
6. There's A Hippopotamus On Our Roof Eating Cake - Hazel Edwards 1976
7. Wombat Stew - Marcia Vaughan 1984
8. Mulga Bill's Bicycle - Kilmeny & Deborah Niland (from the poem by A.B Patterson) 1993
9. The Magic Pudding - Norman Lindsay 1918
10. Blinky Bill - Dorothy Wall 1933

Also worth a mention...

Bossyboots - David Cox 1988
This hilarious children's picture storybook about a bossy little girl called Abigail, who infuriates her travelling companions until their stagecoach is "bailed up" by bushrangers & her bossiness just may save them all!

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BOOKS: TWEENS

1. Playing Beattie Bow - Ruth Park 1980
2. Seven Little Australians - Ethel Turner 1894
3. Mandragora - David McRobbie 1991
4. Strange Objects - Gary Crew 1990
5. The Burnt Stick - Anthony Hill 1994
6. The Cairo Jim Series - Geoffrey McSkimming 1991-
7. Storm Boy - Colin Thiele 1964
8. "Just" Series - Andy Griffith 1997-
9. Spooner or Later - Paul Jennings, Terry Denton, Ted Greenwood 1992
10. Looking for Alibrandi - Melina Marchetta

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BOOKS: GROWN-UPS

1. My Brilliant Career - Miles Franklin 1901
2. The Phryne Fisher Mysteries - Kerry Greenwood 1989-
3. Picnic At Hanging Rock - Joan Lindsay
4. The Resurrectionists - Kim Wilkins 2000
5. Thornwood House - Anna Romer 2013
6. We Of The Never Never - Jeannie Gunn 1927
7. All The Rivers Run - Nancy Cato 1958
8. The Secret River - Kate Grenville 20015
9. Burial Rites - Hannah Kent 2013
10. Puberty Blues - Gabrielle Carey, Kathy Lette 1979

Also worth a mention...

Corinna Chapman Mysteries - Kerry Greenwood 2004-
Absolutely NOTHING like Kerry Greenwood's other mystery series starring the lithe, sexually-rambunctious, titled Phryne Fisher & set in the Melbourne of the 1920s; the Corinna Chapman Mysteries are set in the present day & chronicle the life of overweight accountant-turned-baker & reluctant investigator Corinna Chapman & the eclectic mix of interesting individuals who live in & around the quirky Melbourne apartment building called Insula.

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