Blue Suede Shoes

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Dress: Anthea Crawford crepe

Blazer: Peter Morrissey @ Big W crepe

Jacket: Miss Sixty leather

Short Boots: Emerson @ Big W suede

Bag: Anthea Crawford vinyl & suede

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Finally posting some pictures from Saturday night a few weeks ago, when we headed out for a family dinner at iThai, followed by (my personal favourite) Tea Fusion Milk Tea. Despite its position in suburban Sunnybank, the nighttime "hive of activity" that is Market Square meant that a smart casual ensemble with a bit of "buzz" was required.

Enter this eclectic combination of cobalt blue, matte black & leopard print...

The vibrant crepe dress from Anthea Crawford - with its slight asymmetrical neckline & paneled waist detail - was the ideal base, particularly when mirrored by the bright, blue suede short boots that I picked up from my local Big W store for the bargain price of $5. 

Although the dress has a below-the-knee hemline & is being matched with short boots - regarded by some as a leg-shortening fashion "no no" due to my 5 foot stature - it actually works due to the addition of black matte 40 denier tights in-between as a colour "break." The black of the tights is then repeated in the oversized Miss Sixty leather jacket used as an overcoat to ward off the rapidly falling temperature, creating a sense of cohesion. 

Adding interest to the shades of black & blue were touches of leopard print - a Peter Morrissey for Big W long-sleeved, long-line crepe blazer & a large Anthea Crawford suede & vinyl handbag. Without the black leather outer-layer, the interplay of the cobalt & leopard could truly be seen... scroll down to do so...

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"...there's more to the picture than meets the eye... hey hey; my my..."

Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) - Neil Young (1979)

You know it, Neil.

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Another Time; Another Place

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Kaftan: Gift, vintage chiffon & sequins (from India)

Slip: TS elastane

Heels: Target Collection patent & plastic

Bag: Gift, vintage resin

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Sharing some pictures of a recent "fashion parade" (you know, at home, as you do...) featuring a stunning vintage maxi kaftan - sort of a winter sari, if you will - that was sent to me by a dear friend who lives in India. It is so special that I will probably only end up wearing it on very special occasions, so I wanted to style it up & give it a little spin down the runway... er, hallway... 

The cut of the kaftan is simple - a straight, long rectangle with dropped shoulders (a pretty popular shape when it comes to kaftans from the late 1960s & 1970s) & a high, square neckline - all the better to showcase the amazing bronze & gold sequinned paisley embellishment on a background of vivid green chiffon. I'll be honest, it IS heavy & a flesh-tone slip was required underneath to protect my delicate skin from the slightly scratchy sparkles but those kinds of issues are quickly forgotten when I look in the mirror, see its beauty & feel its history.

What is also amazing is the thick strip of the same embellished material that is ruched & placed over the shoulder in the same way that a sari is wrapped around the body, easily adding depth & visual interest. Scroll down for more detailed shots:

With such a "full on" base, accessories need to be kept simple & tonal: a pair of flesh tone patent pumps (or court shoes) with pointy toes & clear plastic panels down the sides from my local Target store as well as a vintage handbag in glittery bronze/gold resin that was a gift from a dear friend for Christmas 2 years ago.

And just in case the ensemble wasn't amazing enough, there is also an amazing long strip of green chiffon that can be worn as either a belt or a wrap. I'm not really one for belts, due to the fact that I'm short-waisted, so it was basically predestined that I would place it gently around my shoulders for a "pop" of colour to match the kaftan edges... which are slightly asymmetrical on either side, which is one of the foibles of handmade vintage that makes me love it even more! 

I've spoken many times on the blog about the "stories" that come as "part & parcel" of vintage clothing (some may even say ad nauseum) but for me, it's one of the biggest draw-cards - something that is only emphasised by the fact that this kaftan was first worn nearly 50 years ago in a land that I have not yet visited... Who wore it before me? Was it for a special occasion? Did they feel as wonderful in it as I do? Did it change their life in some way? I'll never know the answers to these questions but there is an inherent romanticism in wondering... yes, even as I wear it for the perusal of my family on the tiled floor of the hallway in my suburban home on a weekday evening as that, my friends, is the power of (vintage) fashion...

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Weekend Wears #4

Although it doesn't seem like it right now, sitting here shivering at the computer screen while drinking a cup of hot Milo with marshmallows, the final few days of Autumn - a mere 2 days ago - were actually unseasonably warm. How things change in South East Queensland! 

Below are the casual, almost "beachy" outfits I wore on Saturday & Sunday, relegated to the "next Spring" pile for as long as this cold snap lasts...

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LOOK #1

Dress: Ruby Yaya cotton & mirrored beads

Slip: TS elastane

Sandals: Airflex by Betts for Her patent & sequins

Bag: Adorne vinyl & studs

Necklace: Prouds silver

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This gorgeous, crushed cotton Ruby Yaya shift with three-quarter sleeves & multi-coloured, mirrored embellishment was the ideal choice for a lazy Saturday afternoon spent traipsing around antique shops in my hometown, particularly when mixed with a pair of flat, silver sequinned sandals & matching boxy silver handbag. The sheer nature of the fabric meant that more coverage was required & my trusty white slip from TS fit the bill, the thicker elastane fabric creating a nice line. Finishing the look was a thin silver chain with a "peace sign" pendant to mirror the circular details on the dress.

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LOOK #2

Dress: Ankoa cotton

Sandals: Piping Hot @ Target leather

Beaded Bracelets: Emmala wood & silver

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Natural & make-up free for a casual Sunday spent soaking up the sun in my own backyard, trying out my newest Ankoa acquisition, the "Martha" dress in a vibrant blue & green print dubbed "Bluebell." I loved my first pink print maxi so much - the soft cotton fabric, the floaty style with shaped yoke & tie details - that I bought another... & may yet purchase a third in sweet shades of purple... To check out the entire range of ethical, sustainable, one-of-a-kind, artisan clothing, click here & head to the website.

Finishing the bohemian look was a pair of flat, brown leather lace-up sandals & neutral wooden beaded Emmala bracelets with silver charms that I picked up at the Coolangatta Markets earlier in the year. 

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"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind..."

C.S. Lewis

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