Fancy Fillies

Super Kawaii Mama and Porcelain Blonde

What a delightful and civilized way to spend a Monday morning. Today I met up with Porcelain Blonde for morning tea at the stunning Langham Hotel. With Miss One as our third, we enjoyed lots of delightful pastries, a wonderful view and very accommodating staff. After Miss One's efforts with the chocolate eclairs, we had to put the cleaning staff on notice!

Given that Melbourne's weather has recently taken a turn for the frosty, I had the opportunity to wear this gorgeous emerald green vintage jacket. A beautiful piece of 80's couture that after a little TLC, is now one of my favorite pieces. Yes, I probably should have taken some more detail shots, but I was having too much fun today to stop for all that messing around. So next time I promise.

Outfit Details: Vintage Couture Jacket - Maxi Librati, Skirt - SES, Shoes- Luca & Marc, Diamond studs and Monkey Brooch.

Porcelain Blonde taking Tea with Miss One.

And what a fun time we had! Strolling along the boulevard, we spied the gilded poles of the carousel and I couldn't help but make a beeline for it in all its kitschy glory. With a quick word to the operator, we hopped aboard, being careful not to lose our stilettos between the boards, and chose our ponies. And what a laugh! Riding around to that delightfully cliche carnival music in all our finery, we drew quite the crowd. Whether we seemed mad or amusing, it was smiles all over; and that is the best anti-age remedy I know.

How To Tackle A Monday

I am forever hearing about the Monday Blues or Mondayitis, and really, I know that not everything in life can always be fine and dandy, but your perspective has much to do with your mood. If you wake up on Monday morning to a shrill alarm clock, rather than that stunning original Dior gown you had just been dreaming about, it is a rather rude shock. But what is your first thought, (that is once you actually figure out what day it is and that you aren't going to get that much needed half and hour)? How can you make your Monday something other than the ugly precursor to what often promises to be another round of drudgery? As with most things in life, turning something simple into an occasion makes the whole things much more enjoyable and pleasant. Here are some of the tricks I use ( and those I should) to make Monday something to be anticipated not avoided.

Photo by Osamu

Organise breakfast the night before

If you don't have time for the full eggs and bacon experience, make sure you're prepared for something quick but delicious. Some fruity muesli, fresh berries and home made yoghurt; perhaps a fresh orange juice and some proper loose leaf tea. Set your table with some bright and fun linen, I have a vintage 1950's table cloth with little coffee pots on it I like to use. Make it a little "Bed and Breakfast" style and lay out a gorgeous teapot and matching tea cup, a linen napkin, even a toast rack. You don't have to actually use all these items (god knows I hate cold toast), but it is about the ambiance they create. If your kitchen looks this appealing first thing in the morning, you aren't likely to start the day only on black coffee and vitamins.

Photo by LuckySundae

Plan a fabulous lunch.

Whether you work from home, head out or spend you days just luxuriating around, it pays to have a plan. If you have things to look forward to in what can be an otherwise mediocre day, it can make the difference between mind numbing boredom and anticipation. Prepare yourself something both gorgeous and delicious, like a bento box full of your favorite treats. Make sure to include something you wouldn't usually indulge in at lunch time - like caviar and crackers, yum. But whatever you do, don't pack it with sugar, that is a sure fire way to induce that mid afternoon crash.
You could even include a decorative place mat or napkin just to make your lunch space something a bit more special. Rather than getting crumbs in your keyboard, if you can, eat out. You might not be able to find a good park, but make sure you get a change of scenery, even if this just means putting a street scene of Paris on your screen saver and clearing your desk for your polka dotted place mat.

Photo by Mizrobot

Wear your fancy underwear.

It might be Monday but, what better excuse to break out your A game? Find your favorite matching set, your suspenders or even just a silky slip. No one need know, but you'll have a little secret to make you feel glamorous all day long. This trick works particularly well if your chosen employment involves a uniform. Underwear is one very secret and subversive way you can indulge your whims and personality, without ever having to reveal it to the world.

Photo by KevinDooly

Get dressed to music.

Setting the scene is not just for Friday nights. Start you day off on the right note by waking up to something relaxing and calming rather than the screech of your clocks alarm. If you can, program your radio to a classical station where you are more likely to be woken by Bach than the Beastie Boys. Then move on to dressing music to set the tone of your day. Here's some of my favorites:

• Isn't it a Lovely Day - Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong
• The Whirled you live - Etherfox
• Got the Sun in the Morning - Doris Day
• It's a Hap Hap Happy Day - Stephane Grapelle

Now you have a few ideas to start you off, get plenty of beauty sleep and start your day in the best kind of style.

*Stay tuned tomorrow for the 200th post competition winner!*

When Procrastination is the Name of the Game

It's the weekend again. Perhaps you have a delightful agenda planned, full of glittering parties, witty conversation and generally spectacular company. On the other hand you may, like me, be spending your weekend avoiding some of those chores that must be done. Ironing, gardening, cleaning, or you might be so hung over from last night that you just simply can't be bothered. But never fear, today SKM comes to your rescue with a short and sweet list of some highly entertaining activities to help you avoid all your responsibilities.

• Are you old enough to remember the Telegram? Do you have romantic notions of the days of simpler communications? Retro-Gram offers a free e-card style "telegram" that you can email to your friends. It has gorgeous vintage styling and excellent print quality for keeping your for later. So skip the SMS and and show your friends you care enough to send a slightly more superior form of electronic greeting.

• Do you ever wish you could remind yourself of something ahead of time in a format you actually read? I often forget to check my diary, and I never write anything earth shattering in there anyway. But get onto Future Me.org and you could be emailing your future self a well timed warning to "put those cookies down", or to send links to your current favorite fashion sites giving yourself a giggle five years down the track. Or like me, you might simply want to remind yourself that September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
  

• No hanky panky happening in your bedroom? Pop on over to Wordle and create a word cloud of all your favorite titillating, dirty, arousing words. Then print it and pop it under your pillow. No doubt its mere presence will get your motor running. If your a little stuck for inspiration, head on over and visit the ever enlightening Violet Blue.

• Fancy yourself as a blushing blond, a smoldering brunette or even want to go so far as to see how you would look in full drag queen regalia? Taaz is the best virtual makeover site I have ever used. You upload your own photo and can change every element of your cosmetic appearance (from the shoulders up) as well as selecting products to make this happen from a list you can actually buy! But be warned, this is highly addictive! Personally I quite fancy myself as a magnificent blond Queen, a la Rue Paul.

So hide the ironing in the cupboard, give guilt the flicks and enjoy your weekend. Relaxing is what it is all about!

Daily Outfit - Off to Grandmother's House We Go

Outfit Details: Blue 1940's vintage hand knitted cardigan - Circa Vintage, Wide leg pants - Living doll, Black top - Miss Shop, Shoes - Wittner, Earrings - Diva, Cherry Clip - Genki.

Firstly, excuse the gratuitous outfit shots today, but I am just tickled pink with my new blue cardigan! I love the way something as simple as a well made, beautiful piece of clothing can put such a spark in your day. This beauty is an original 1940's hand knit that I picked up at the wonderful Circa Vintage, (you can read my previous post about them here). It is a fine woolen knit with slightly puffed sleeve, shoulder pads and even knitted covered buttons! Delicious. It is such a delight to find a vintage piece with this kind of quality and personality, and the price was more than reasonable. Let's just say that you'd pay more than this for something new, that was both made in China and mediocre.

I'm also quite chuffed with today's hair experiment. Inspired by The Freelancers post showing how she rolled her hair up at the back, I had to give it a go. While not quite as perfect as hers, I love the overall faux short effect. I used the barrel roll and sides up technique from my first hair tutorial, and combined it with the rolling technique. It is very 1940's and very kawaii I think.

And now that the little fashion show is complete... I spent my afternoon having tea with my Grandmother and my girls, which was why I decided to give my beautiful cardi its first outing. The only thing Nana appreciates more than a lovely cardi is a killer 1940's hair do. Not so much for its style points, but more for the nostalgia factor, and I am only too happy to oblige.

In other news of the day, I was interviewed by author Johnny Dale for his blog. Johnny writes a serialised online novel The Darling Budds, and his blog is an extension of his writing, along with a personal exploration on what makes style. He asked some very interesting questions that got me thinking both about my style and my life from an interesting perspective. (These thoughts should prove interesting post topics in the future too.) Here is a little excerpt.

• What was your style like when you were a teenager?
  
  SKM: Not surprisingly, I have had a strong aesthetic my whole life. When I was a teenager I was into some very contradictory styles as I loved both Gothic and child-like Rave wear. Now that look has its own term – Graver. That sounds so much cooler to me. For my first school formal, when all the other girls had coloured taffeta dresses made up, I wore a red velvet and black lace, 15th-century styled gown. I also took the one other Goth girl from my school as my ‘date’. That may not raise an eyebrow now, but at the time it was quite shocking! I also remember being thrown out of Sunday School for wearing a floor length red cape at 15. There was much talk of me being a witch as I chose not to go with the Laura Ashley style that was so popular at the time!

You can read the whole interview HERE.

So if like me, you are feeling the weight of a wet winter, pick something perky and get the Winter Blues instead!

Swanky Panky - Some Words On Happiness

This may seem an odd diversion from my usual style and fashion based posts, but I do think that happiness also plays a part in the search for style. It is not so much that being chipper makes you a stylish individual, but that the attitude needed to cultivate your own happiness is a very attractive quality. The study of happiness could become a rather serious and philosophical discussion, but rather than taking that tact, I present you with some cheap and cheerful ways to be your own little ray of sunshine.

Good Old Days Moleskin - Tea for Bini on Etsy

"Because for all you know, these could be the Good Old Days." Tea For Bini. I love the idea of this customised Moleskin. Many people keep a journal, but to keep a journal of random moments you can look back on as the Good Old Days, is such a wonderful idea. Whether you choose to write detailed prose or simply sketch the moment, take the time to make something that will unlock your memories in the future. Stick in the feather you found at the park on your picnic date; the swing tag from the dress that makes you feel pretty; kiss the pages with you favorite shade of lipstick. If your pennies are otherwise engaged, make you own customised number from a 50 cent school note book, wrap it in brown paper and knock off some magazines from your neighbors recycling.

Humidor Fragrance - From Perpetual Kid

Sometimes our surroundings are not as pleasant or as aesthetically pleasing as we would like. (You may be living in chaos or incarceration, Google Analytics doesn't give me quite that much info). While I am a very visual person, sometimes it is good to close your eyes and remember to treat your other senses. Fragrance is a wonderful mood alteration tool. You may choose to indulge in the more traditional route of essential oils, but I also like the idea of tying fragrance to a happy memory. Personally, I love this Humidor cologne as it reminds me of happy childhood camping days, where the old man that owned the site used to sit around telling us stories and gifting us his cigar boxes. They become some of my most treasured possessions. Perhaps your grandmother loved to wear Yardley's Old Lavender or always smelt of fabric softener from perpetually doing laundry. Add some of these to a handkerchief, close your eyes, breathe deep and remember with a smile.

Love Letter Necklace - from Citizen Fox

When Valentines day seems a distant memory, words of love may be sadly absent from your day. Don't leave your heart to fate and take matters into your own hands with this delightful necklace from Citizen Fox. Wear it close to your heart as your own personal talisman and allow it to make you feel just a bit more special. And while your feeling the love, make sure to spread it. Compliment a stranger, smile at the person who enters the lift, send a real love letter via snail mail - with sparkles!

Photo credit - fotologic on Flickr

Experience the joy of creation. No matter you age, circumstance or financial status, everyone can create something wonderful. Check out these links for inspiration on how to create everything from something as simple as a handmade card to a fabulous pair of speakers from a vinyl doll!

• Threadbanger
• Crafty Vixens
• Instructables

You have your mission for the week; and please share any cheap and cheerful remedies you have with us all. So come on - get Happy!

Awards That Grow On Trees

** Regular outfit and style posting will resume again tomorrow as these more personal posts aren't really what this blog is about, but it is nice to share sometimes. **

When you are feeling a bit lack luster, (I found the bottom in a couple of bottles of Red last night) it is so wonderful to know people are thinking of you. And this week has been a lovely one for kind thoughts. I received the Brillante Blogger award from Freelancer's Fashion And Fashion Hayley.

Here are the "rules" for the Award:
1) When received, you may post the award to you blog.
2) Link to the blogger you received it from.
3) Give it to 7 blogs
4) Link to those 7 blogs
5) And leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.


I'd like to share the love by passing this award to:

Outsapop: For providing what is quite possibly the best Trashion and DIY blog out there. Whenever I read her work and see her latest creations I am so inspired to put down the computer and pick up the scissors.
OhSnail: For being so creative, honest and having one of the most unique personal styles for such a young blogger. When I read her work it is just like she has stepped from the pages of an Enid Blyton novel, and I think my 15 year old self would like to spend an afternoon with her.
Old Hollywood Glamour: For providing a veritable feast for my eyes as well as all the low down to go with it.
Times of Glory: Not only for her beautiful outfits, but all the time and effort she puts into styling her photos.
Tokyo Bunnie: For her art which ALWAYS makes my day. You cannot possibly be sad, depressed, angry or feeling any kind of negativity while reading her blog. Super Kawaii!
From Betsy With Love: For being my go to place for new blog introductions. I think Betsy is one of my Style Soul sisters, and we often seem to find our inspirations in similar places.
Fashion Binge: For providing not only eye candy, but really helpful style links such as this Humidity Predictor to help you harness you bad hair days before they happen.

Also Aus Style and Fashion Hayley have handed me what is called The Tree of Happiness, which is basically a nice excuse to share your joy with the world. I have to tell you 6 things that make me happy and pass this on to another 6 people.

1.Painting makes me happy. Not the artistic on canvas kind (although that is good too), I mean painting walls. I love that you can instantly change the mood of a room with a quick coat of paint and that, like fashion, you can choose to be as brave as you want to because there really are no rules.
2. A nicely set table. I love buying vintage linen on Ebay and making up my own matching sets of cloths, napkins and other trimmings. It is amazing how eating your dinner from a hot pink gingham cloth can be such a pick me up.
3. To Do Lists. Ticking things off a to do list, gives me such a buzz. I actually save my favorite stationery to write my lists on and usually have Hello Kitty or someone similar 'telling' me what I have to do.
4.Ella Fitzgerald. Whenever I am getting really cranky and my temper is frayed, I just put on some early Ella Fitzgerald and I can't help but start singing and dancing around like a crazy person.
5.Fashion and the freedom we have here to express ourselves through fashion. I am so grateful that I live in a time, and a country, where there really are no limits to what you can wear (except your own confidence). Wonderful vintage fashion also makes me happy as I like to imagine the life of each garment and what wonderful memories that it may have been a part of.
6. My Mr. I am SO so fortunate to have the man I do. It would take me a long time to list all of his good points, but one of the best things about him is his generosity of spirit and he always makes me feel like number one. Oh, and it helps that he never complains about the VISA bill!


I'm going to add a bonus happiness piece to my list, because more than anything else, it is these two cheeky critters that make me happy.

So I am now passing on this Tree of Happiness to Heather Shade, Cybill at Sorting it Out, Amy at The Daily Mail, The Tatooed Mama, Tizzalicious and The Cherry Blossom Girl.

Now that I've done all that, it's back to my To Do List and finishing my latest sewing projects so that I have some new outfits to show you this week.

Feeling A Bit Famous

I spend a lot of time and money buying fabric. Sometimes I shop with a particular project in mind, but most of the time I find a certain fabric and then get inspired to turn it into something particular. I now have a whole cupboard full of inspiration. Occasionally though, I find a fabric I love but just can't imagine it on myself. Such was the case when I came across this beautiful pleated tulle fabric. When I rolled out this baby in all its frothy goodness, all I could think was Susie Bubble. And so it made it's way home with me to become a little something for Susie. And why am I feeling famous? Because Susie kindly wrote this piece about her new skirt and made it a perfect part of her look.

Part of what I love about blogging is the community that develops, and the way we all get to know each others unique style and idiosyncrasies. Which is why when this fabric crossed my path I just had to spread the love.

The tulle fabric is in a soft pink and a pale minty blue that looks grey in some lights. I couldn't make a decision between the two, so I decided to use both and make it reversible. Knowing how much Susie likes to explore the versatility of her clothing, I tried to build in features that would make this easier. So the skirt is attached to a wide basque that closes with hook and eyes. Rather than fully seaming the skirt, I attached cord on the inner layer of the pink so that it could either be left completely open, ( letting the weight of the fabric pass over itself) or be tied together protecting you from a swift breeze. I decided to add a little embellishment in the form of this dusty blue and brown tartan, tulle edged ribbon, attaching it with press studs so it can be removed and worn without.



On the mannquin here it looks quite like something out of the fairytale post I did yesterday, but with Susie's fabulous styling it becomes edgy, grounded and fun.

Quietly Celebrating

Today I am quietly celebrating this, my 100th post! I can't tell you how much I enjoy this blogging lark, and there are so many more surprises to come. I am currently fleshing out some surprises to reveal over the next month, that should make this experience even more fun and interactive for you all. If you have any special requests for posts or information you would like to see, ask away.

I had a lovely day today. Not expecting anything special, just a trip to the pool and the usual tasks, I was pleasantly surprised by some lovely packages in my mail box. My best friend who lives on the other side of the world, sent me a lovely card and a pack of gum; just to make me smile. She knows me so well.

My latest Ebay purchases also turned up and I am now the proud owner of a rhinestoned, 80's knitted cocktail dress. I can hardly wait to wear this baby. It is soft, warm and sexy all at the same time.


















While doing the most banal sort of shopping, I found this lovely little vintage re-released Golden Book, "Nurse Nancy" from 1952. I just adore these illustrations and it makes bedtime stories so much more fun for me.



And of course, I couldn't leave you without a daily outfit. It was layering (again!) today, as it is 16 degrees outside but about 38 degrees inside at the pool. Quite the wardrobe challenge.

Red top - Miss shop, Black asymmetrically zipped jacket - Viviennes Collection, Vintage Kilt - Ebay, Black thigh highs - Sock Dreams, Shoes - Wittner, Skull earrings - Diva.