Tea For Two

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Dress: Mossman Clothing embroidered silk/satin

Mules: Wittner suede

Bag: Forever New metallic vinyl with silver hardware

Bangle: Gift, vintage wood & beads (from India)

Bangle with Charms: Pandora silver & onyx

Ring: Pandora silver & onyx

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One of my all-time favourite places to wile away a weekend morning is at French-Patisserie-style cafe franchise Passiontree Velvet, sharing a delicious meal with family & friends. This time, however, my mother & I decided to truly treat ourselves, enjoying a "Devonshire Tea" experience (not dissimilar to a High Tea) for something a little bit different... before hitting the shops for some retail therapy, of course...

For the occasion, I decided to wear the gorgeous monochrome embroidered floral silk/satin retro-style shift with "swishy" godet hemline from Mossman that I last wore on Good Friday with a light black mesh three-quarter-sleeved cardigan from a (now defunct) label called Leaf, tied at the front in a large bow to give a modicum of shape at the waistline, a pair of comfortable yet stylish black suede mules with a small heel from Wittner (ideal for the cooler weather we've been having) & shiny silver handbag from Forever New. When I came to jewellery, I decided to stay with shades of silver & black, wearing a chunky vintage wooden bangle with heavy embellishment that a dear friend brought back from India & a matching silver & onyx charm bracelet & ring from Pandora. 

Scroll down for a peek at how the morning unfolded...

* Couldn't resist taking a "mirror selfie" in one of Kitten D'Amour's AMAZING retro-inspired changing rooms! Love everything about that store from the impeccable designs to the exemplary customer service! *

High Tea

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Dress: Anthea Crawford embroidered organza

Sandals: Bare Traps leather & embellishment

Bag: Adorne vinyl with silver hardware

Necklace: Karen Walker silver & cameo

Bracelet: Karen Walker silver & cameo

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver

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Enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebration with a dear friend last week in our own inimitable, anglophile style: High Tea (with darling rose-covered cups & individual three-tiered stands!) at the newly refurbished Pig & Whistle at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown. It may have been a heatwave outside, but inside we could pretend that it was going to be a rather quaint White Christmas... well, ice-cold Rosewater Lemonade notwithstanding.

For the occasion, I wore a pretty special embroidered floral organza fit-to-flare dress with modified sweetheart neckline, tulle underlay & sparkly tie belt from Anthea Crawford; silver leather sandals with stacked heels & embellished t-bar detail from Bare Traps (purchased this time last year from the Simona Ricci store at Mt Ommaney... also good for beautiful patent leather Vera May handbags) for a smart-casual twist & shiny vinyl handbag with "riveting" (sorry but I love a pun!) design on either end from Adorne.

When it came to jewellery, I decided to go all-out: a silver necklace with blue & white "girl silhouette" cameo with matching bracelet from Karen Walker, gifted by a dear friend who is sadly no longer with us & a chunky hinged bangle from Wallace Bishop to "even up" each arm & complete the look.

Scroll down for a little peek at the delicious fare:

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Monsoon Season

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Dress: Monsoon shot silk & embroidery

Kimono: Vintage, Japanese silk

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Clutch: Monsoon jersey & embellishment

Headpiece: Lovisa satin

Cuff: Southbank Markets silver & diamante

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Celebrated the arrival of Spring by heading out for a spot of High Tea with a dear friend; floral headpiece obviously mandatory to evoke the season of renewal & revitalisation...

This amazing shot silk shift dress was bought from the Monsoon store along Oxford Street during my 2012 trip to Europe & although expensive (thanks to the abysmal exchange rate) was well worth the hefty price tag. The classic shape & unique pansy print means that it can be worn season after season - ad infinitum with delicate hand-washing - while the black panel in the centre elongates my five foot frame, making me appear longer & leaner... That's what I call a definite fashion WIN! Here it is in all its unencumbered glory:

And while you're checking out the pansy print of the dress, be sure to notice the embroidery & beading that gives the neckline of the dress a 3D feel. It really adds something extra special to the look...

The unpredictable Queensland weather meant that a further layer was required & this vintage silk, three-quarter sleeved kimono with its traditional Japanese scene, was the perfect way to add a relaxed, "boho" edge to such a prim ensemble. In this instance, the pattern-matching works as the colours compliment each other & the prints are vastly different - abstract flowers meets traditional, pastoral scene. Check it out below:

Black patent platform heels from my local Big W store were the obvious choice, providing lift while letting the rest of the outfit take centre stage - particularly the embellished clutch from Monsoon that was made to be worn with the dress, adding a sumptuous richness with its hand-sewn haberdashery pansy patches & subtle beading. This subtle beading was then echoed in the silver "snail" spiral cuff with diamantes that I picked up at the Southbank Markets a few years ago. Scroll down for a closer look:

Finishing this ensemble was the aforementioned oversized black satin floral headpiece from Lovisa, the wires in the rose petals able to be manipulated in a variety of ways. Personally, I love the rose to be caressing my blunt bob, as thought I am being "enclosed" within the flower & the fact that the colour & sheen of the satin almost match that of my hair only adds to the illusion! Keep scrolling for a peek:

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Hundred Year High Tea

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Dress: Vintage, Gift

Heels: Target patent

Shoulder Bag: Target

Hinged Bangle: Disney Couture

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It really WAS a birthday weekend! 

Attended yet another celebration this afternoon, with a combined 100th Birthday High Tea for Belinda & her mother, Cathy. Despite the hot weather, the decorated backyard was shady & cool, creating the perfect space to enjoy pleasant company, eat delicious finger-food & watch the birthday girls blow out the candles...

Decided to dress to theme with this sweet vintage dress, generously gifted to me by a friend's mother, who had it specially made in the 1960s. The baby-pink crepe with white lace floral overlay was just crying out for some pastel accessories & I happily obliged, mixing it with a pair of mint green patent pointy-toed pumps & a mint green textured shoulder bag with tassel. To draw both of the hues together, I added a hinged Disney Couture bangle with a scene from Cinderella - including the pumpkin coach & castle - on one side & a beautiful message that "Dreams Come True" inside. Scroll down for close-ups:

All that remains is to say:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BELINDA & CATHY!

May the years ahead bring good health & happiness!