Secondhand

 

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Dress: Perri Cutten via Vinnies Paddington jacquard

Mules: Wittner leather

Bag: Elk via Mott & Mulberry leather

Belt: Empire Antiques painted wood, rope

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There's a clear movement towards sustainability in the fashion industry at the moment & if you happen to read any fashion magazines, you'll probably already know about it. Due to the fast-paced nature of the industry & the obsession with new-now-next in the supply chain, it's one of the world's biggest polluters & the incredible amount of wastage is, quite frankly, horrendous. In the main, clothing doesn't seem to be "made to last" anymore & is quickly discarded, only to end up as landfill. I'm not an environmental campaigner or climate change activitist or anything of the sort & I'm probably as guilty of buying fast fashion as the next person, but the older & (hopefully) wiser I become, the more I'm attempting to make small, subtle changes in order to make an impact. Not only do I keep/store many clothing items for years in order to re-wear at a later time (owing to the cyclical nature of fashion trends), I also give away my unwanted clothing to receptive family & friends or donate in small batches to charities, make sure to hand wash when possible for longevity & shop for many items - particularly accessories - from op shops & secondhand stores... which brings me to the outfit pictured... This stunning gold & black geometric print jacquard shift dress from Australian label Perri Cutten retails for over $500 yet I discovered it - practically unworn - at my local Vinnies Paddington for $25. I've styled it up here with a pair of tan leather pointy-toed mules from Wittner that I've had for at least five years, a matching tan leather crossbody bag from Elk via the lovely Mott & Mulberry boutique that definitely won't go out of fashion anytime soon & a vintage painted wood & purple rope belt from Empire Antiques that seems like it was made in the late 1970s/early 1980s in some tropical destination that I'm happy to give another life to in my wardrobe this spring/summer & into the future. Clearly, I'm not trying to be preachy here when it comes to secondhand or op shopping & I know it's not possible for everybody for a variety of reasons, but I've long felt that vintage/antiques/second hand items are amazing & full of character & deserve a second life (in fashion, jewellery, furniture & home decore) & hope that this might inspire you to go out & find something a little bit special that might need a second chance...

One for the Money, Two for the Show

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Dress: Perri Cutten twill

Cardigan: Kitten D'Amour knit

Heels: Jo Mercer leather, elastic

Clutch: Arte Color Handmades via Etsy woven, tassels

Bangle: Dinosaur Designs resin

Ring: Dinosaur Designs resin

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Jazzing up this stunning 1960s-style "little black dress" (LBD to the initiated) made with heavy-weight twill with a bateau neckline & asymmetrical ruffled skirt from celebrated Aussie label Perri Cutten with vibrant blue "pops" of colour. These accents - a knit cropped cardigan with three-quarter-sleeves & diamante buttons from Kitten D'Amour & gorgeous handmade Mexican floral woven clutch with tassels from Arte Color Handmades boutique on Etsy - really bring life to the black leather strappy heels with elastic ankle straps from Jo Mercer & matching chunky black resin wave bangle & rosette ring from Dinosaur Designs. The deliberate colour choice was also a little nod to the event that I was attending that day, celebrating all things Elvis Presley & the fact that Baz Luhrmann's biopic that was predominantly filmed on the Gold Coast isn't that far away, as well all know that the "King of Rock n Roll" was also fond of the colour blue... suede shoes or Hawaii, either works for me... 

Earning My Stripes

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Dress: Perri Cutten twill

Sandals: Novo leather, laces

Bag: Renee Loves Frances painted cane

Brooch: Gift, vintage plastic

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There is always something so timeless & classic about stripes. They are one of the only prints that seems to never go out of fashion... the other is polka dots. I absolutely adore this gorgeous striped twill dress from Aussie designer Perri Cutten with its mixture of blue, white, red & black stripes at varying widths to create interest on what is, essentially, a well-cut midi-length shift silhouette with slight v-neckline. I've styled it up here for another sunny afternoon of social distancing with a pair of white leather wedge sandals with laces from Novo (a few years old now but still seemingly going strong), a white painted cane handbag from the Renee Loves Frances boutique in Bulimba & finally, a vintage plastic Donald Duck badge/brooch that a dear friend gifted me for my birthday, knowing how much I loved my Minnie Mouse brooch of the same ilk (mentioned only the other day in yet another blog post) when I was a child. 

Love Week: Little Black Dress

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Dress: Perri Cutten twill

Heels: Tony Bianco plastic, suede

Bag: Vintage, Oroton beaded with brass hardware

Brooch: Gift, handmade resin

Cuff: Disney Couture "Winnie the Pooh" brass, silver

Ring: Disney Couture "Winnie the Pooh" silver

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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE... well, so say The Beatles & I must admit that I have to agree with them. Regardless of what is happening in life - the good & the bad, the ups & the downs - it is important to be mindful of continuing to be love, show love, graciously receive love & give love... even if there is no chance of receiving it from certain parties in return (we all know those kind of individuals, am I right?). Not just romantic love, mind you but love towards your family members, dear friends, good neighbours, strangers you pass who may need a friendly smile to get them through the day, people who may read your blog or Facebook or Instagram page to pass the time or find inspiration from afar, animals including beloved domestic pets, the earth & environment & finally, if you're religious like I am, your Lord & Saviour to whom you offer blessings & praises. 

The week of Valentines Day, I committed to wearing a little something each day that pertained to the "Love Week" theme, starting with this Little Black Dress look, complete with this funky & amazing red resin heart brooch that a dear friend made especially for me! The dress in question was this utterly divine black twill number from Aussie label Perri Cutten with its 1960s vintage-inspired silhouette including a slightly off-shoulder, fitted bodice & asymetrically-ruffled, knee-length hemline & is so classic that it can be worn for years & years to many different events with a myriad of accessories. This time, I styled it up with a pair of rather sensual clear plastic stiletto-heeled mules with black suede pointy-toes from Tony Bianco, a true vintage black beaded handbag with brass hardware that once belonged to my great-aunt & finally, matching Disney Couture jewellery pieces - a brass cuff with silver Winnie the Pooh embellishment & matching ring.