(Very) Little Black Dress

*

Dress: Aje plisse chiffon, cotton (grosgrain ribbon added by me)

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather

Bag: Kitten D'Amour woven straw, resin beads

Bangle: Gift, 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles vintage silver

Bangle with Charms: Gift, Pandora silver, onyx

Ring: Gift, Pandora silver, onyx

*

Those who have followed along with this blog for years will already know that I don't often wear all black (after years of wearing mostly black during my university days & again while working in a certain department store) but I will make an exception from time to time for something exceptional... like this absolutely divine VLBD (very litttle black dress for the uninitiated) plisse chiffon trapeze micro-mini dress with cotton lining & funky staid woven neckline from Australian designer label Aje (monochrome polka dotted grosgrain ribbon tie straps added by me) that was perfect for an event in my beloved River City on a hot day in the summertime! I've styled it up with a pair of retro-inspired black vegan leather Mary Jane heels with a myriad of straps & buttons, a natural woven straw handbag with black resin beaded handle - both from "girly" label Kitten D'Amour - as well as some gorgeous silver & onyx jewellery pieces including a vintage silver bangle from 20th Century Antiques & Collectibles & a silver hinged bangle with charms & matching heart ring from Pandora that some dear friends gave me as a birthday gift a few years ago now to complete the look.

Scroll down to see more...

Keep scrolling for a few cheeky pics in one of the changerooms at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown...

Race That Stops A Nation

 

*

Dress: Sacha Drake jacquard

Heels: Wittner leather, elastic

Clutch: Gift, Alannah Hill beaded

Headband: Lovisa mesh

Bangles: Gift, vintage silver (from India)

*

Although I didn't attend as many Spring Racing Carnival events this year as I normally would due to a packed work schedule, it didn't make my outfit for the "Race That Stops A Nation" or the raceday celebrations any less special! For the occasion - bubbly & a bit of a flutter for charity - I wore a stunning navy blue & silver floral jacquard fit-to-flare gown with asymmetrical neckline from Australian designer Sacha Drake, styled up with a pair of black leather & elastic gladiator-style stiletto heels from Wittner for an unexpected bohemian touch, a silver art-deco style silver & black beaded envelope clutch from Alannah Hill that my parents gave me as a birthday present a few years ago, a black mesh headband with rosette detailing from Lovisa (hiding in a box in the back of my closet for at least ten years, which is why I try to hold on to as much stuff as possible... you never know when it will come in handy for a look) to continue to evoke the "roaring twenties" vibe & finally, two chunky vintage silver bangles that a dear friend brought back from a trip to India to complete the look & add some daytime shine.

Scroll down to see more of the ensemble in these pictures taken under the breathtaking tree arch at a local park...

A Tropical Aje

 

*

Dress: Aje cotton poplin

Heels: Kitten D'Amour vegan leather, buttons

Bag: Witchery woven straw, leather

Bangle Stack: Gift, vintage Mexican silver

Bangle: Gift, Precious Stones Jewellers silver

*

Bringing the tropical, warm-weather vibes on a cold day in South East Queensland in this stunning ensemble, worn to a special event in my beloved River City. I've styled up this utterly magical large-scale floral cotton poplin tiered mini dress with voluminous sleeves, v-neckline & oversized ruffled collar from Australian designer Aje with a pair of black vegan leather strappy heels with buttons from Kitten D'Amour, a natural woven straw handbag with black leather clasp from Witchery to carry all the essentials & some favourite jewellery pieces in the form of a wave-shaped silver hinged bangle from the lovely ladies at Precious Stones Jewellers that my parents gave me as a birthday gift a few years ago as well as a stack of vintage Mexican bangles that some dear friends brought back from a trip overseas.

Cleo

 

*

Dress: Sacha Drake embroidered mesh, satin

Slingbacks: Gorman vegan metallic leather

Bag: Sussan woven paper

Bangle: Gift, Metropolitan Museum of Art Gift Shop silver, gold

*

Those who know me well in real life or are long-time readers of this blog will already be aware that as well as fashion & antiquing, I absolutely adore archaeology, paleontology & anthropology, so was obviously elated to be invited to an event celebrating all things Cleopatra, Ptolemaic Queen of Egypt from 51-30 BC, shrewd political operator & famed lover of Mark Antony... with one of the most bizarre (alleged) suicides - by asp! of all things - in the ancient world. For the occasion, I decided to dress with an Ancient Egyptian sensibility in mind (clearly tweaked for modern sentiments, of course) with a stunning floral embroidered mesh shift dress in metallic gold & light green with darker green satin slip beneath, embroidered straps (added by me) & a tie belt from Australian designer Sacha Drake, metallic gold vegan leather slingbacks from Gorman for a touch of daytime shine, a green woven paper shoulder bag from Sussan to carry all the essentials & a single silver & gold scarab hinged bangle from the Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop in the 1990s that a dear friend brought back & decided to pass on to me.

Scroll down to see more...

Keep scrolling for flatlay pictures...