Mostly Ghostly

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey & organza

Sandals: Wittner woven leather

Bag: Sunjellies plastic

Cuff: Gift, silver

Bangle: Thousand Island Dressing silver & faux pearl

Brooches: Gift, handmade in Ipswich

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Finally posting a few pictures of what I wore on a "Ghost Tour" of Brisbane City a few weeks ago. I decided to go with a monochrome vibe - rather like that of some my all-time favourite black & white horror movies - with a fit-to-flare dress from Anthea Crawford comprising of a black jersey bodice & licorice striped organza skirt with grosgrain ribbon belt; woven tribal flat sandals with statement ankle straps from Wittner; black plastic retro-style handbag from Sunjellies (purchased at That Shop in Woolloongabba) & matching jewellery - a silver moulded cuff, gifted to me a few years ago by a dear friend & a silver bangle with black faux pearl ends from Thousand Island Dressing at Paddington. To complete the look, I added a little kitsch - a pair of plastic "disembodied skeleton hands" with bows attached to the ends that were handmade in Ipswich. They really made a statement when attached to the bag & worked well with the theme of the day.

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Franny's Top 5 Favourite 

Black & White Horror Films

(for those who may want to curl up during this rainy weather with something scary to watch)

1. The Old Dark House (1932)

Driving through a brutal thunderstorm in Wales, a group of weary travelers take refuge in a large, eerie house owned by the Femm family. Reluctantly admitted by owner Horace Femm, they sit down to a truly bizarre dinner. Horace is a neurotic, mute butler Morgan is an alcoholic & Horace's sister Rebecca rants & raves about chastity. When the storm forces chorus girl Gladys DuCane Perkins to join the party, Morgan's lust & Rebecca's ire are both ignited... 

Stars Boris Karloff as the Butler.

2. Dracula (1931) 

After hypnotising a British soldier called Renfield into becoming his mindless slave, the dashing Count Dracula travels to London to take up residence in an old castle. Dracula soon begins to wreak havoc, sucking the blood of innocent young women & turning them into vampires. When he sets his sights on Mina Harker, the daughter of a prominent doctor, famed vampire-hunter Van Helsing is enlisted to stop his blood-lust once & for all.

Stars Bela Lugosi in the title role.

3. Frankenstein (1931)

Obsessed scientist Dr Henry Frankenstein attempts to create life by assembling a creature from the body parts of the deceased. Aided by his loyal yet misshapen assistant Fritz, he succeeds in animating his monster but, confused & traumatised, it escapes into the countryside & begins to wreak havoc. Frankenstein searches for this elusive being, only to be forced to confront his tormented creation.

Stars Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster.

4. Carnival of Souls (1962)

Mary Henry is the sole survivor of a fatal car accident through mysterious circumstances. Trying to put the incident behind her, she moves to a small town in Utah & takes a job as a church organist. Unfortunately, her "fresh start" is interrupted by frightening visions of a fiendish man. As the visions become more frequent & more horrifying, Mary finds herself inexplicably drawn to the deserted carnival on the outskirts of town which may hold the secret to her tragic past.

The ultimate in B Grade fare.

5. House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Rich eccentric Frederick Loven has a proposal for five guests at a possibly haunted mansion: show up, survive the night & receive $10,000 each. The guest of honour, mind you, is Loven's estranged wife Annabelle who, with the help of her secret lover Dr Trent, has concocted her own scheme to scare Loven's business associate Nora Manning into shooting the madcap millionaire... but more shocks & scares throw a wrench into that plan...

Stars Vincent Price. Need I say more? That stare, the moustache, that voice...

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