Wuthering Heights

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Dress: Anthea Crawford stretch jersey & organza; beaded grosgrain belt

Cape: Gift, feathers & velvet

Heels: Emerson @ Big W patent

Bag: Vera May leather & marble with silver hardware

Cuff: St Paul's Cathedral Gift Shop silver

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Sharing pictures of the outfit I donned to attend a recent stage performance of "Wuthering Heights" at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre - or QPAC for those who love an acronym (I don't). Emily Bronte's 1847 Gothic tale of twisted, all-consuming love that transcends death into eternity was given a modern overhaul by shake & stir theatre company but (thankfully for this ardent fan) retained the savagery & turmoil of the tragic yet brutal Heathcliff & vain, cruel Catherine Earnshaw as well as the stark spectre of the Yorkshire Moors in the staging, lighting & costumes... the latter reimagined by the supremely-talented Leigh Buchanan, a veritable "hometown hero" around these parts...

But I digress.

Such an intense tale required a look to match & this "symphony in black" by Anthea Crawford was the ideal place to begin. The dress itself is a fit-to-flare design with textured stretch jersey bodice & floaty "mullet" skirt (shorter at the front, longer at the back) made from swathes of organza & cinched at the waist with a sparkly beaded belt made from grosgrain ribbon that ties in a bow at the back.

Winter temperatures meant that the dress couldn't possibly be worn all on its lonesome (I'm not a big believer in suffering for fashion, unless we're talking about shoes) so the gorgeous feather cape that was gifted to me by a dear friend's mother - worn at a recent gala event - was the perfect choice to ward off the chill. What's more, the black, charcoal & dark green ombre effect of the feathers really made the LBD below "pop!" Keep scrolling to see what I mean...

When it came to footwear, these shiny black patent platforms from Emerson at Big W added height... & kept my toes warm at the same time. Under $20, the cost per wear has been pretty much negligible; needless to say they are one of my BEST EVER buys. All that was required then was to add a matching art deco style black patent handbag with marbled front panel detail (picked up a few years ago now at Simona Ricci/Bare Traps on a shopping trip with my mother) & it was time to go. 

Well, not quite. I still had to add one finishing touch: a divine silver filigree bracelet that I purchased at the St Paul's Cathedral Gift Shop on a trip to Europe four years ago. It seemed only fitting considering that "Wuthering Heights" is widely considered to be a quintessentially English 19th century novel...

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Capri

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Dress: Anthea Crawford textured jacquard

Heels: Novo floral silk

Clutch: Gift, textured vinyl

Necklace: Principessa silver & pearl

Bangle: Principessa silver & pearl

Cuff: Wallace Bishop silver

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Wore this little number to see Agatha Christie's 3 Act Tragedy - starring the amazing Martin Shaw (a personal favourite of mine) & the preternaturally talented David Suchet as iconic Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot - with a dear friend last week. First published in 1934 titled Murder in Three Acts, it is a complicated story involving unexplained deaths, bizarre dinner party guests & a glimpse into the hubris of the thespian world... 

But I digress.

This Anthea Crawford textured jacquard dress - a gift from the friend in question - is the most amazing shade of turquoise called "Capri" & with that in mind, I wanted the feeling of a European summer-by-the-water to continue throughout the entire outfit. 

www.globustravel.com

The pleated v-neckline was the ideal frame for this silver & pearl choker necklace; a statement piece of jewellery that was then joined by the matching bangle & finished off with my trusty sculptural silver cuff. Scroll down for a closer look at all of the aforementioned pieces:

When it came to accessories, I just couldn't go past these floral silk peeptoe platforms to add a touch of pattern to the ensemble & picking up on the little touches of silver & white in the print, chose a chunky, laser-cut clutch to complete the fresh, summertide look...

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On the fourth day of Christmas

My true love sent to me:

Four calling birds

Three French hens

Two turtle doves

And a partridge in a pear tree

Isn't it funny when two different people - wholly unrelated to each other - each have the very same idea about a gift? And they're both "spot on" in terms of what they think you would love... Or what your Christmas Tree never knew it was missing...

#1 What Rhymes with Orange?

This beautiful - HUGE! - Waterford bauble was a gift for my mother from a dear friend at work & is the most vivid shade of orange that it really "pops" when the light hits... 

In tree decoration, as in fashion, I like things super bright, so this is right up my alley...

#2 Green Scene

This second - HUGE! - Waterford bauble was a gift from the son of one of my dear friends who knows that "Aunty Frances LOVES bright colour." All of the beautiful multi-coloured glitter really sparkles under the lights & bounces around the walls. Magical.

In tree decoration, as in fashion, I like things sparkly, so this was right up my alley...

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Marcus Visits the Colonies: A Wardrobe Edit

With my friend Marcus visiting from York-via-London-via-Melbourne, it's been a busy few days of stage plays, indoor ice skating, ballet performances, dining out, sightseeing & inadvertent storm-chasing in the River City... It was so great to see my friend from the "Mother Country" again & the perfect opportunity to bust out some of my most favourite dresses. 

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DAY 1: PART 1

Dress: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery

Heels: Novo patent

Clutch: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery

Cuff: Amaryllis Boutique silver & diamante

Bracelet: Silversmith silver & assorted charms

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Day 1 revolved around a front-row seat at a stage play version of The Velveteen Rabbit (or How Toys Become Real), based on the 1922 children's book by Margery Williams. Avid readers of this blog would already know about my deep & abiding love for the classic tale - which has never been out of print in almost 100 years - about a velveteen rabbit toy & his quest to become real through the love of his owner... And I have to say, after this treatise on the transformative power of love was over, there wasn't a dry eye in the house...

www.arandadill.deviantart.com

Such a special experience required a special dress & this Monsoon pansy print taffeta shift dress - purchased at the Oxford Street store & carried around Europe in my suitcase - fit the bill, with its rich taffeta fabric, slimming black front panel, hand-painted floral side details & embroidered & beaded neckline to really make the print "pop." 

One of the most amazing parts of the outfit is the matching clutch bag with 3D pansy decals on the front, enhanced by little diamantes in their centres. See below for a close-up:

Silver jewellery was chosen to capture the shine from the diamantes on the clutch, particularly in the large swirl cuff with its own diamante accents & my beloved charm bracelet that began as a gift for my 21st birthday & is now (almost) completely full. What I love about the old-fashioned kind of charm bracelets are the tiny, perfectly formed versions of everyday items that remind of you of someone or something in your life at the time. My charm bracelet is full of fairies, angels, tea cups, tea pots, cuckoo clocks, glasses, bells, rabbits - even a Coca Cola bottle - that remind me of people in my life who care about me & who I care dearly about.

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DAY 1: PART 2

Dress: Jacqui E elastane & velvet burnout

Heels: Novo patent

Clutch: Monsoon taffeta & embroidery

Cuff: Amaryllis Boutique silver & diamante

Bracelet: Silversmith silver & assorted charms

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After the play concluded, it was time for quick costume change before heading to an indoor ice skating rink to capture a whimsical wisp of Winter Wonderland, usually enjoyed by those in the Northern Hemisphere at Christmastime. 

www.acottageindustry.typepad.com

It can be difficult to find a winter dress that can work with summer accessories, but this Jacqui E floral burnout smock doesn't look out of place with the jewellery from earlier & the Monsoon clutch bag as both a "pop" of colour & mix of pattern against the velvet.

Unfortunately no shots of me ACTUALLY ice skating, as I was too busy ensuring that I stayed upright & didn't break any limbs (I promised my mother!) but here are a couple of me spinning around in the dress with the floaty bodice panel swinging, so you can get an idea of why it was chosen:

www.acottageindustry.typepad.com

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Stay tuned for more of Marcus' adventures in the colonies... Part 2 coming soon!