Friday Fabulous Fashion Find

Today, I am introducing “Friday Fabulous Fashion Find”.

It’s a way for me to share with you images from the ages that I find inspiring from a fashion perspective.

Barbara Streisand

It could be the Roaring 20s, Swinging 60s or today.

Classic bobbed hair. Drop earrings and a metallic top/dress (I’m betting shift dress).

Philippe Halsman: Barbara Streisand posing in her apartment for a Cosmopolitan magazine cover shoot. New York City, 1965.

Both gorgeous and inspiring. Truly a fabulous fashion find for Friday.

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Autumn Rose…Sweater

Well, that’s the colour of the sweater, autumn rose.

A little bit of sunshine means it’s mandatory to gt outside and get some photos. So the Fashion Mister and I drove out to Clunes to take advantage of some of the lovely old historic buildings as a back-drop for this photo-shoot before stopping at a cafe for lunch.

It’s a little modern, a little retro and all about the autumnal colours.

Visiting Historic Clunes

History Repeating

Autumn Rose

Vintage Layers

Finding the Sun

Looking a little Retro

Which era is this look from?

Many layers of Vintage

The Look: This look not only has layers but it also has layers of pieces from or inspired by different decades! At the core, 80s bronze coloured skinny pants – just a little disco. On top a vintage argyle sweater. It looks like it could be from any number of decades but the beading really made me think 40s. It’s probably far more recent than that but because I purchased it from my favourite op-shop, I’ll pretend it has been around a lot longer.

Autumn Rose Sweater

Finding the Sun

Bronze coloured pants and leopard print shoes!

Accessories – Autumn Rose

Classic vintage Accessories

The Accessories: Continuing with the many decades theme, I have my red/burgundy 20s-40s style cloche hat. My 50s alligator skin handbag (my first Australian Vintage purchase from years ago), and my 50s inspired Diane Ferrari leopard print kitten-heel pumps.

With the shine and sparkle of the pants and the beading on the sweater, I really didn’t need a lot of jewelry so a few bangles and classic charm bracelet finish off the look.

I’m dying to know what you all think? Is it too much for a winter weekend? Has this autumn rose bloomed and faded?

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Second-Hand Rose

Drum roll please! As promised, today I am reveling in my status as Second Hand Rose and sharing with you the cool second boots I purchased over the weekend.

As luck would have it, the dress I chose to wear to the antique and vintage fair was not only a perfect match for the boots but also second-hand from an op-shop so the Fashion Mister and I took the opportunity for a little impromptu photo-shoot.

My beautiful Boots

Super Second Hand buy

Checking out my Second Hand Boots

Very Happy with my Second Hand Purchase

It ought to be illegal

More of Second Hand Rose

Second Hand and Fantastic!

Second Hand Rose

The Look: Well, it actually started with one of my op-shop finds – the Willow wrap dress in turquoise and brown. I had added some brown tights and was originally wearing my brown suede boots. And just for fun, I wore my hair the way I used to before I started letting the curl do its own thing. Predominately straight with bit of curl on the ends. Which meant blow drying my hair straight and curling the ends. I used to do that every day. However, I can’t be bothered with messing with it that much anymore so only occasionally do I fuss over it.

My beautiful Boots

The other Accessories

Totally Cool Vintage Boots

Second Hand Boots

Vintage Boot Love

The Accessories: The star of this show is the pair of boots I found at the Antique and Vintage Fair. Not just a perfect match for the dress but a perfect match for me! Love that they are knee-high and have the very retro swirl pattern to the suede. My necklace is a vintage deco piece that I purchased on my last trip to the US but the rest of the accessories are newer items. Newer in the sense that I bought them new. I have had the Coach handbag for  about 4 years now and the bangles are just a mix of a great number that I own.

The whole point of the day was to keep everything in the brown and turquoise ranges. Luckily, the new/second-hand boots worked with that! They cost $85 and had absolutely minimal scuffing to the soles which either means they had been resoled or likely only worn once.

Did you notice they have a very disco silver/mirrored heel?!

I really do love being Second Hand Rose in my second-hand clothes.

Do you like? Or too retro for you?

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You Must Remember Lana-Rose

I’m sure you do.  When I tell you more I’m sure you’ll wonder how you may have forgotten.

So tell I will. Because you must remember Lana Rose.

Today the Fashion Mister and I stopped into an antiques and collectibles show held at the Mining Exchange. Predominately because an acquaintance of ours organized it and partly because as it’s in the first year we know how difficult it can be start-up something new in Ballarat so we wanted to support the effort.

It was so completely worth it!

I left with two purchases. One a gorgeous French Art Deco mirror that will go in our bathroom once the remodeling is complete (no, it actually hasn’t even started)! The other a fantastic pair of vintage suede boots from a shop called Lana-Rose. The reason I think you must remember Lana-Rose is because I have mentioned this great little shop in a couple of other posts. One on a killer pencil skirt and my two articles on Now & Later of a full-skirted dress. Both of those pieces were new pieces with retro inspiration. What I have not yet shared with you is that half the shop has fantastic vintage clothing as well.

I hadn’t expected to see any vintage clothing at this fair and when the one that was there turned out to be Lana-Rose, it had to be a sign! After all, just over a week ago I declared it Rose Month and here was Lana-Rose. Into the stall I stepped to have a look around at all the lovely vintage pieces. I asked the adorable red-head in her vintage navy blue dress if I could take some photos and started snapping away.

The whole time the Fashion Mister stood just outside the small booth with a funny look on his face. As I walked out to see what he was up to, I suddenly knew. There, right at the front of the stall, an amazing pair of 70s knee-high suede boots with a metallic silver high-heel. They were kind of swirly patch-work mix of blue, grey and brown and an absolutely perfect match for the wrap dress I was wearing.

“Oh my god, those are fantastic,” is all I could think and must have said because the Fashion Mister said, “I was wondering if you had seen them”? I picked them up to check the size and low-and-behold, they were my size – a 9! That is nearly unheard of in vintage. So I tried them on to make sure they would fit over my abnormally large calves…and they did!

So with a price of $85, I bought them!

You’ll actually get to see them tomorrow. I know, how evil of me to hold out on you!

Today, you get a few pictures of other items at the Lana-Rose stall.

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You can just see the top of my boots in the pic of the brown velvet dress.

If you have a chance, check out Lana-Rose.

 

Lana-Rose

509 Warrenheip StreetBuninyong, VIC 3357www.lana-rose.vpweb.com.auon Facebook – Lana.Rose.Chic.Boutique

Once you check out this shop, you will always remember Lana-Rose.

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No Yellow Rose of Texas Here!

No, not in any way is there a yellow rose of Texas here.

In fact, I don’t like to wear yellow. Mustard, yes. Butter, lemon or sunshine yellow…not for me! However, I did use the thought of the yellow rose of Texas to inspire today’s look. AND I did select a scarf with a small tiny hint of yellow for the connection. However, that is pretty well where the yellow rose stops.

The reference to Texas on the other hand…that is a little more prevalent.

The colour of roses

Country Inspired Rose

Rose in the Stockyards

Wild Wild West

Rosy color country

No Yellow Rose

The Look: You may remember this skirt from my posts last year about the gypsy look or my ever-growing collection of maxi-skirts. Well now that the cold has rolled in, this skirt will be back on high rotation. I love the colours, red, orange and a watermelon blend of sixties print magnificence. Someone took the time to make it at home (I can tell from the seams and lack of tag – plus I did work in clothing manufacturing long enough to tell a factory garment). I love that this long skirt gives me a longer look. Cause you know in my mind, the longer (taller) I look then the easier it is to trick your eye into thinking I am leaner! With the sun out and a hint of blue sky today, I opted to wear one of my many cardigans, this one in a watermelon shade, as a shirt to go with the skirt.

Head to Toe in Rose

Western Rose

A Solitary Rose

Red Rose Accessories

The Accessories: I’m pretty sure you have seen all these accessories before. If not, then you are new, because I L-O-V-E each of these items and find MANY opportunities to wear them. My well-worn red cowboy boots. Definitely a staple of the winter months. My red Furla handbag, purchased while shopping in Spain. A little orange, double-wrap watch, purple “gator” bangle, one of my vintage scarves tied a-la-country around my neck, large rose-gold drop earrings and a thin orange belt at the waist.

I have pulled my hair to a low side pony-tail to finish off the tribute to Texas and the country theme.

If you are wondering about the setting, it’s the old cattle yards on the edge of town. Well, not quite the edge of town anymore which is why they have moved.

Even though my look is country inspired, I hope there is enough chic in it to keep it from being too much Country Girl. No yellow rose of Texas here please!

What do you think? Too many rose colours? Or just too girl from the sticks?

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Everything’s Coming Up Rosy

Actually, for you in the northern hemisphere, everything IS coming up rosy!

However, here in the south we have to find our rose inspiration away from the garden. Me, I’m finding mine in fabrics, colours and of course…on Pinterest.

Pale rose coloured dress

Palest Rose

Rose print shoes – lovely for Spring

Coral Rose?

Shy Petal?

Pretty as a petal

Palest Rose Palette

Fab Rosy Pink Heels

Could you just die for this vintage dress?!

Rose and Mint – a favourite combo

Do love these colours together

Perfect match for the Rose Palette

LOVE this rosy look!

More pale rose

Rosy

Modern Rose Print

A few of these are cliché’ but a couple of them I simply L-O-V-E!

The rosy pink heels…divine! I want a pair.

The pale rose sort of vintage 40s dress…gorgeous!

And the bouquet of roses that is mostly green with a hint of pale pink and a little touch of a darker pink…Beautiful.

In fact I love the look of pink and green together. Pale pink and mint green are lovely for Spring, especially if you mix in a neutral. I also like the deeper versions of those two colours together. But then by now you know that I think if Mother Nature can put a couple of colours together and look fantastic, then so can I!

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Is everything coming up rosy for you? Do you have a favourite rose inspiration? Are you a pink, white, red or yellow rose person?

 

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The Great Gatsby Premier

Well, it has finally come! The night that inspired this months theme. The Fashion Mister and I attended the charity fundraiser night of The Great Gatsby premier.

Naturally it was shown in cinema 1 of the Regent here in “The Rat” as it is very much an old-fashioned Deco inspired theater.

Regent Theatre Auditorium

Champagne cocktails were served prior to the movie. Personally, I think a champagne cocktail is how you ruin good champagne but at least it was in keeping with the spirit of the night.

Charlie Brown does Great Gatsby

All that Glitters

Ready for the Roaring 20s

Gatsby Inspiration

Flapper influence

Inspired by The Great Gatsby

Roaring 20s inspired Hair

Almost as much hope as Gatsby

The Look: Obviously inspired by the Roaring 20s and The Great Gatsby. The dress is a Charlie Brown dress that I picked up during last years clothing swap. You may remember I invited a bunch of people to come together to swap things n their wardrobe that they no longer wanted and this was one of the items I chose to join my wardrobe. It has a plain black slip-underlay and the over-dress is a black netting with pink embroidery work. All very 20s dahhhhling.

Accessories: I went full on fashion flash-back with the accessories. My newest scarf done in one of my recent favourite styles as a head-wrap. I used my long strand of pearls, wrapped them once so I had a choker length and a long length then used the vintage deco style brooch purchased at the Love Vintage Show to pin on the long length of the pearls. A few bracelets, a brocade wrap, silver leather clutch, cocktail ring and a great pair of vintage inspired shoes.

The Make-up: For the ultimate finishing touches, I darkened up the eye brows, did a smokey eye and red lips.

Hair: I played up the curl in my hair by starting on one side and twisting it to the other, holding it in place with the occasional pin. Then I did a big pin-curl with the ends. Repeating the process with the front section of hair twisting to the back. A good bit of hair-spray to keep it all in place and the head scarf a la’ 20s.

I enjoyed the movie. It was very Baz Lurhman. If you have seen Romeo + Juliette or Moulin Rouge, you wouldn’t have been surprised. And even 30 years after reading the book while in high-school…I still dislike Daisy Buchanan.

So attending The Great Gatsby premier is how I will finish my month of Gatsby inspiration.

I’m sure you are all ready for me to move on to something else by now.

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Art Deco Gown Goes Modern

As this month the focus has been on the Great Gatsby and all things inspired by the time I thought I might do a post about Art Deco gowns going modern. Funny thing, when I Googled “Art Deco Gown”, one of the first pictures I found was of the pattern I used for my bridesmaids dresses nearly 5 years ago!

Art Deco Dress Design

I was going for a fair bit of a vintage feel for the wedding. We got married at Neider Weisel which is a big grand old Victorian home that was a B&B at the time. The wedding was in the front garden and the reception was held there in the house. We had hired out the whole place from the night before when myself and some friends stayed over. Then the bridesmaids and I got ready there in the cottage on the property. The photographer took all our photos there. After the reception, the Fashion Mister and I had moved into the big Bridal Suite, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen plus their partners and two other dear couples who were staying in suites, went out to the back conservatory for a few drinks.

The next morning we all had breakfast together and I think it was a lovely way for us to start our first day of married life, surrounded by our dearest friends.

Anyway, it was a perfect setting and all worked really well with the vintage theme. I had searched high and low for dresses for the bridesmaids and absolutely fell in love with this vintage Vogue pattern when I found it. When I was in Hong Kong organizing having my wedding dress made, I bought the most gorgeous silk in black and purple for the dress and the contrast. However, I had envisioned a slight tweak to the dress and wanted the bottom panels to be in chiffon. I actually found silk chiffon in black and the exact same shade of purple!

We then organized for a local seamstress to measure up the girls and make the dresses.

I was very happy with how they turned out and surprisingly both of the lovely ladies actually did wear their dresses for other functions!

Bridesmaids in Vintage Vogue pattern

Back of the Bridesmaid dress in Mirror

I loved the back of the dress. Each of the girls wore one of my grandmother’s vintage brooches pinned at the back where the purple comes together before draping down. You will also see that not only were the panels at the bottom in chiffon but that the ones at the back that formed a bit of a fish-tail were in the matching purple.

Simple black heels with a little bling at the open toe, long black gloves and vintage beaded handbags completed the look.

We had all agreed that purple orchids in a wrist corsage would allow them to have their hands free.

Loved taking this little trip down memory lane. I may have to dig out that pattern or take the pic with me to a dress-maker and get one made for myself because I still love this silhouette. Of course then I will need to find somewhere to wear it!

What do you think of my choice for my bridesmaids? Would you have loved it or hated it had it been you?

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3 Happy Hens and 1 Happy Chook

Every time I drive down to Geelong I pass an egg farm called “Happy Hens” and when I see those 3 Happy Hens out front I become 1 Happy Chook. For my northern hemisphere friends…Aussie’s call chickens – chooks, but it’s also a bit of a name used for mature aged women. Sometimes as a term of endearment, and sometimes a little derogatory.

I don’t mind being a chook.

So this last Sunday we planned to meet some friends from Ocean Grove at the Hotel in Batesford for lunch. It’s about a 40 minute drive for both of us, so perfect for a Sunday outing. Two other great reasons to meet there? The food is pretty darn good for a pub and we get to drive by the Happy Hens. On this day, I made sure I had the camera and that we left a little early so I could stop for a photo shoot with the girls.

Happy Hens and Happy Chook

Dancing with the Happy Hens

Hanging with the Happy Hens

The Accessories

Having Fun with the Hens

One Happy Chook

Dressed for Country Living?

Hen worthy Accessories?

The Look: Above all else, priority was to be wearing a smile. Which was easy because I always think the Happy Hens look like they are doing the Macarana! Next, the weather is cooling so layers and we were going to be spending some time in the car and sitting at a restaurant so comfort. I love the black vintage dress with polka-dots purchased from Lost & Found and it makes a great starting point to layering a look with a bit of red.

First the dress, then black leggings for warmth. A red cardigan for colour and warmth. Decisions between the black cowboy boots and the red…red usually win! Belt the cardigan to give myself some shape, then add a black and white scarf, a red poodle pin purchased at the Love Vintage Show last weekend, a little black and silver wrist bling and a classic black handbag!

Perfect look for Sunday lunch with friends and for celebrating with the 3 Happy Hens!

Which is why I am 1 Happy Chook!

What do you think of my look? To scrambled? Or does it show the sunny side up?

 

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Vintage Inspiration – Quilt

Earlier in the month, not only was it Mother’s Day but it was also my mum’s 70th birthday. She pretty much has everything that she wants so it can be a real challenge to get her presents. This year I used some vintage inspiration and sorted out a quilt for her.

I didn’t make it myself. I think I could have but as I don’t even own a sewing machine it really isn’t my thing. What is my thing is fabric. I LOVE textiles! Of all kinds and especially anything that is a bit vintage or vintage inspired. My mum’s living room is predominately cream and a pale blue. All very neutral. I wanted to give her something that would add a pop of colour and personality to the room but wouldn’t stray too far from what she obviously feels comfortable with and a nice quilt for curling up on the couch seemed a good idea.

Luckily, my dear friend and Sister From Another Mother loves quilting and doesn’t mind if I pick out the fabrics. She made the beautiful silk brocade quilt on our bed from fabric I brought back from Hong Kong and has done a couple of baby blankets and a lap blanket for my mother-in-law. It always amazes me how fantastic my motley mix of fabrics look when she gets done with them!

Vintage Inspired Modern Quilt

Vintage Fabrics that Inspire

Quilt for Mother’s Day

A little Surprise on the Back

Vintage Inspiration – Mother’s Day Gift

There were so many lovely vintage inspired fabrics and I thought to add another colour into the mix of blue and cream would be fun…especially when it’s lime green! Vintage florals, paisley and stripes all in similar hues set the tone. To really get the vintage vibe there is a print that is pear’s and to keep it a little modern a brown with pale blue stripes trimming the edges. When mixing textiles, it’s always fun to put in a little something unexpected so I chose a brown and cream Giraffe print for the backing.

To give the quilt a little more personality and to make sure I added something to it, I went to my favourite little haberdashery shop for a variety of buttons and randomly sewed them on to the quilt to give it a personal touch.

I absolutely L-O-V-E the finished product and certainly hope my mum does too!

I guess if she isn’t in to the vintage inspiration or the quilt…she can always give it away…or ship it back to me!

What do you think of this quilt? Too old-fashioned?

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