Instantly #7

For those of you who don't follow me on Instagram, here's what you've been missing...

And remember, if you do want to follow me, it's @francespenny! 

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Dress: Vintage, 1980s crepe

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Clutch: Adorne silk & beads

Bunny Ears: Lovisa lace

Hinged Bangle: Gift, silver & resin

Hinged Bangle: Gift, silver & resin

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Heading out for another #monochromemonday wearing a vintage dress from the 1980s - gifted by a dear friend's mother - mixed with black patent platforms, a silk envelope clutch with tribal beading & finished off with silver & black hinged bangles for each wrist.

And because it was Easter Monday, I even got into the spirit by wearing a gorgeous pair of black lace "bunny ears" that I picked up from my local Lovisa store... CUTE!

"...I've been looking at you for a long, long time, just trying to break through, trying to make you mine; everybody wants a flame, they don't want to get burnt; well, today is our turn..."

Bonfire Heart - James Blunt (2014)

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Dress: Eve Hunter elastane & chiffon with diamante

Sandals: Simona Ricci @ Bare Traps leather & embellishment

Bag: LouenHide leather

Hinged Bangle: Wallace Bishop silver & elastic

Cuff: Gift, silver Ganesh (from India)

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Playing with a fresh colour palette of navy & white with a stunning Eve Hunter elastane dress, replete with floaty spotted chiffon overlay & tiny diamante clips at the shoulders, pair of embellished white leather sandals from Bare Traps at Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre & a white leather LouenHide shoulder bag from a summertime trip to DFO Jindalee. To complete the look, a chunky silver hinged bangle & silver moulded Ganesh cuff were added. 

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Tunic: Country Road silk

Sandals: Betts for Her patent gladiators

Bag: Target vinyl

Bangle: Oxfam paper strips

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Primary colours were the order of the day with this red & blue pattern-mixed silk Country Road tunic (that would have to be about 4 or 5 years old by now) & bright yellow vinyl handbag from Target. A pair of black patent gladiators were then added to "anchor" the look. The "hero" of the ensemble would have to be the oversized, upcycled paper-strip bangle from Oxfam, which adds an element of surprise & visual interest to what is otherwise a simple combination.

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Dress: Vintage, Mexican cotton & embroidery

Slip: TS elastane

Sandals: Soft Soul @ Myer leather & patent

Bag: Adorne vinyl & studs

Scarf: Flower cotton

Bangle: Gift, vintage silver & semi-precious stone

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

Cuff: Gift, silver (from Southbank Markets)

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Meeting up with a dear friend from interstate wearing a vintage Mexican shift with vibrant, multi-coloured floral embroidery detail. Accessories were chosen from a light colour palette - a pair of white leather & silver patent wedges from Soft Soul @ Myer & shiny, silver vinyl handbag with studded end detail that I picked up from my local Adorne store.

Echoing the brightness of the dress' embroidery & playing up the era from whence it came, a pattern-mixed, paisley print cotton scarf from Flower was looped around one of the bag's handles & tied into an oversized bow at either end. Finishing the look were a trio of silver jewellery pieces - a brushed silver cuff from Wallace Bishop, thin silver swirl cuff (given to me as a birthday present by a friend from university) & a vintage silver & semi-precious stone bangle sent by a dear friend who lives in India.

"...call out in the instigators because there's something in the air, we've got to get together sooner or later, because the revolution's here & you know it's wise..."

Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman (1970)

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey

Wedges: Novo suede & rattan

Bag: Vera May patent

Bangles: Tree of Life bronze, silver & studded

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Bright & bold for a casual Sunday morning in a pixel print Anthea Crawford v-neck dress mixed with an edgy pair of black suede & rattan wedges from Novo, bright patent Vera May handbag & armful of studded bronze & silver bangles from Tree of Life. 

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Kaftan: Tiara poly-blend

Kimono: Wave Zone @ Big W chiffon

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Clutch: Diana Ferrari patent

 Bangle: Gift, wooden & beaded (from India)

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More #monochromemonday madness in an eclectic ensemble, based around a 1970s white & black spotted v-neck empire-line maxi kaftan, covered with a tribal printed chiffon Wave Zone kimono (from my local Big W) - knotted at the waist - & black patent accessories including a pair of platforms & semi-circular clutch. The final touch, completing the look, was an Indian wooden & mirror-beaded bangle, shown in detail below:

And the aforementioned kaftan in all its glory...

"...I don't know if I'll survive in this magical land behind your eyes; & there's all these funny little men, asking me to dance & sing; I'm wasted..."

Wasted - Angus & Julia Stone (2007)

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Dress: Anthea Crawford jersey

Cardigan: Filo mesh

Wedges: Novo suede & rattan

Bag: Vera May patent

Bracelets: Gift, wooden beaded (from markets in China)

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"Bloomin' lovely" in this Deco-rose-patterned jersey Anthea Crawford v-neck empire line dress with black mesh Filo draped cardigan (tied up around the waist) to beat the sudden - yet very welcome - chill in the Autumn air. Black suede & rattan wedges "anchored" the look, while a bright patent handbag added yet another "pop" of colour & counterpoint to the red & pink of the print's roses. A trio of beaded bracelets from the markets in China - in shades of burgundy, tan & green - completed the look. 

...And the look without the cardigan...

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Bright & Bold

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Dress: Pure Hype poly-blend

Vest: Lee Cooper @ Big W lace (Gift from Jenny)

Sandals: Wittner elastic & patent

Bag: Mascotte vinyl

Scarf: Sportsgirl poly-blend

Thick Bangle: Vintage, American (from Frock Up Brisbane) brass

Thin Bangle: Tree of Life brass

Ring: Southbank Markets brass

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"...and if this is what we've got & what we got is gold, we're shining bright & I want you, want you to know..." 

Stay The Night - James Blunt (2010)

Curing my "Mondayitis" with a bit of Blunty blaring on the stereo before heading out for some adventures in babysitting... Cue "Sweet Baby James," a tiny photographic interloper who is wearing an ensemble as eclectic as my own...

Wearing bright & bold layers to beat the oppressive Queensland heat & humidity, starting with a zig-zag print Pure Hype drawstring maxidress with tie straps that has been shortened for my petite frame using two trusty rubber bands & a bit of twisting. Not only does this really easy trick stop me from falling flat on my face all day, it creates a draped effect that I really love, making this chain store bargain ($10 - can't beat that!) uniquely mine.

Owing to the constant changes in temperature throughout the day - in air-conditioning in the car, then out, then back in when you enter the house, then back out when you get back into the car etc... (I'm sure you see where I'm going with this) - I threw a cream floral lace sleeveless vest from Lee Cooper over the top that was a Christmas gift from a dear friend of mine who knows how much I love to rock what I have deemed a "sophisticated boho" vibe. The cream of the vest picks up a shade of cream in the zig-zag pattern of the dress, creating a cohesive look despite the pattern-&-texture-mixing. 

The eclectic mixing continues with a pair of laid-back, flesh-tone sandals from Wittner - the ideal length for the sweep of the dress - matched with a tan handbag from Mascotte with black piping & flesh-tone stitching along the sides. Yet another element is then added with a daisy print chiffon scarf - with black background - tied in a bow on one of the handles. Although these little details may not be immediately apparent to the casual observer, they create an overall impression of balance that subconsciously makes the ensemble "make sense." 

Jewellery was kept simple - a 1930s thick, twisted brass bangle that I picked up at the last Frock Up Brisbane event, thin brass bangle from Tree of Life & a funky bronze ring from the Southbank Markets with 5 different geometric print circles, shown in detail below:  

And in case you haven't had enough of my little "partner in crime," here are the last couple of snaps... You never know what's lurking in a suburban backyard, do you? A blogger doing an impromptu fashion shoot or a... Tyrannosaurus Rex?!?

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Walking on the Moon

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Dress: Montique

Jacket: Just Jeans leather

Boots: City Chic

Bag: Sportsgirl

Cuff: Vintage tribal silver

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With only a week to go until the long-awaited Bob Dylan concert experience, I thought I'd get into the spirit by reminiscing about another fantastic event I was lucky enough to score tickets to earlier this year: James Blunt's 2014 Brisbane Concert. I just HAD to post the pictures I took coming home in the middle of the night, ears still ringing... 

I am obsessed with the idea of sparkles mixed with leather to give that rock 'n' roll edge suitable for any evening concert experience. This Montique dress is a little bit of everything you need: special enough for a night out due to the all-over embellishment, a little bit sexy with the 3/4 sleeves & low back & stretchy enough to comfortable when contorting to fit into those fold-up seats they have at many entertainment venues. What's with that? I mean, as soon as one person in a row sits down, the idea of having more space to move becomes a moot point... 

But I digress. When it comes to concert jewellery, I like to keep it simple. After all, there's nothing worse than trying to jump up & down or clap & having dainty bracelets or rings getting caught up in one another. The triangular sculptural shapes of this chunky tribal cuff mirror those created by the beading on the dress, resulting in a subtly cohesive overall look. Messy hair & bright lipstick complete the Shirley-Manson-esque look... I know, I know... I wish! 

But back to Blunty... The night itself did not disappoint, with the ubiquitous man-of-the-moment belting out hit after hit while tinkering on the piano, filling the space between songs with bawdy jokes & self-deprecating stories. 

Of course, no concert experience would be complete without lining up (for what seemed like hours) to buy a whole host of over-priced merchandise. I went with the Moon Landing tote bag as you can never have too many of those, particularly with the unpredictable Queensland weather which could have you carrying an overcoat, a water bottle, a pair of togs & a sunhat all in the one day. It's a little creepy with the larger-than-life-size picture of his face plastered across the front (see below for the evidence), but as long as I turn it around when I'm getting changed or something, it's all good. 

And for the uninitiated among you who evidently didn't turn on your radios in 2005 when his first hit, "You're Beautiful" was on, like, every hour of every day for months & months & months... Check out these bad boys on You Tube or at your local music store... 

Franny's Top 5 James Blunt Songs:

Same Mistake

Wisemen

Stay the Night

Bonfire Heart

Goodbye My Lover