You're Such A Doll

Barbie portraits used by permission. Photographs by Torno Photography.

This year, March 9th mark Barbie's 50th birthday! And my doesn't she carry it well? With an army of designers and plastic surgeons (quite literally) at her beck and call, it is no wonder this lady can still knock 'em dead. For her upcoming birthday she was being presented at New York Fashion Week with 50 new outfits by some of the world's most illustrious designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Anna Sui and Vera Wang. But why should she have all the fun?

Celebrating the style of a little lady we have all owned at one time or another, I've put together a selection of outfits just for you to channel your inner Barbie. And while I'm not a huge advocate for that awful phrase "dressing your age", I went with a certain feel for each age group. Feel free to mix, match and possibly steal from others as you please.

So whether you are a fabulous fashionista, a domestic diva or a queen in need of a new frock; get yourself a little Barbie style this week and celebrate the woman she made you.

They're Here!

Now they can be yours!

After being inundated with emails and constantly stopped in the street about my fabulous wide leg, vintage style pants, I've decided to offer them as custom orders through Etsy. I am offering sizes 8-16 (Australian) at this stage, but am happy to take custom orders for other sizes too. Just send me a message on Etsy for more details. Each pair will be custom made to your height so that there are no alterations to be done and you don't loose the lovely cuff detailing.

Every time I wear these I get so many compliments, and as they have quickly become a staple of my wardrobe I've decided that they are just too good not to share. So get in quick to order yourself some serious style. Originality guaranteed!

Daily Outfit - School Gate Chic

It was the first day of school and the beginning of a whole new era yesterday. Miss Four was all fancied up in her little dress and black polished Mary Janes. Her bag was filled with snacks and her heart high with hopes as she went off to meet all her new friends.

No uniform for this year. They are "highly recommended" to wear the official school tracksuit, but in my opinion that is asking for trouble. Imagine teaching them this young that wearing a tracksuit for anything other than the gym is acceptable! (puts hand to forehead in a faint)

And while fruit is the standard snacking fare, something a little more cheerful was required for such a momentous day.

As for me, I knew I had a whole new challenge on my hands with school gate dressing. Given that where I live the standard mum attire is either capri pants and t-shirts, or the full Ed Hardy soccer mum look, I knew that whatever I wore I was bound to stand out. But not wanting to over do it, I did my version of jeans and t-shirt with these vintage style pants I knocked up and one of my favorite new blouses. It is actually even more comfortable than a jeans and t-shirt combo, and in my opinion looks a million times better. A quick twist with the hair and up into a french roll, and I'm done.

Outfit Details: Blouse - thrifted (no label), Pants - made by me, Shoes - Rohde

Now the biggest challenge will be adjusting to a whole new routine. Packing lunches, leaving early, parent teacher meetings, bake sales... I wonder how long the enthusiasm lasts?

300 Posts and it only gets Hotter!

Outfit details: Dress - Georgio Fiorlini (recycle boutique find), Shoes - Rohde, Hair flower - Wicked Sista.
Makeup: Base - Laura Mercier mineral veil in Rose Tendre, Eyes - Laura Mercier Vanilla Nuts, Eyeliner - Shiseido liquid liner in black, Mascara - Loreal Telescopic in Carbon Black, Blush - Mac, Lipstick - Avon colour wear in Plush.

Where oh where have I been these last few days? Melting, somewhat like that scene in the Wizard of Oz. The weather here has been the hottest I have ever known in this country, as testified by the thermometer on my back verandah. While the rest of the city has been suffering power outages for days on end in this heat, I've been fortunate to still have cooling, which meant that my plans for an afternoon tea with friends this weekend was still able to happen.

With all this super hot weather I've had a chance to break out some of the fab summer dresses I brought back from the USA. This one is by Giorgio Fiorlini and I love the bright green tropical print against the hot pink piping. It makes me think I should be kicking back somewhere nursing a Long Island Iced tea. Now there's a thought...

Today I'm trying to relax a little on our first cooler day in a long time, as Miss Four starts school tomorrow! So with another super hot week predicted and the challenges of the first week of school, this is bound to be one for the record books.

Yes, this is actually the thermometer on my back verandah, can you make out what is says?

Love in the Backseat

While on my beach side retreat, I had a wonderful little moment of serendipity as I strolled down the road with my mum. Parked in the driveway of a most delightful beach front house I'd been eying off for many years, was parked this amazing 1939 Pontiac. Now, I am not a big car fan generally speaking, but I do have some knowledge in this area thanks to a former boyfriend who was a classic car nut. Years of trawling cars shows rubbed off and I came away with a fairly good general knowledge and an ever recurring desire to have one for my very own.

As it happened, the owner of said car was in the front garden giving it a little spif up and after a kindly, "Morning" agreed to let me have a gander and even offered to take a few shots for me. What a gorgeous car! With its bulbous fenders, running boards wide enough to hold a party on and shiny Indian on the bonnet; it was lust at first sight. This is a car into which you could quite comfortably fit a very large ball gown, petticotes et al; as well as the head room for a top hat, beehive or what ever head adornment takes your fancy. Rather than the 'leg room' you find in cars of today, you could almost stand up and turn around to alight from this carriage.

It also makes me just a little sad, as in contrast it highlights many elements of modern design where style and presence have lost out to comfort at all costs, speed and the cheapest product. These days to find a genuine wood grain dash you have to be looking at a Rolls Royce, Bentley or their buddies. To find this kind of backseat party room, you'd have to hire a limousine. And to my mind nothing on the market these days has quite the same mix of Bonnie and Clyde meets Red Carpet style. So it may not be the fastest, the loudest or have the best fuel economy; but the glamour factor of this marvelous car has me quite won over. Perhaps I'd better start penning next years letter to Santa...

Silver Sixties

Outfit details: Vintage dress from my grandmothers wardrobe and gifted to me, Earrings - Vintage thrift find, Shoes - I can't recall the label but I bought them at Dimaru ages ago and with their white heels they only get to come out on special occasions, Stockings - Levante, Lipstick - Sangria by Avon.
*Apologies for the quality of the hair detail photo, it was very difficult to get the detail with the lighting.*

This outfit is a rather special little number. My Grandmother has a wonderful closet full of things she has kept all her life ( my hoarder tendencies run deep) . So when she decides to let things go, they always find their way into my hands as the only family member to appreciate them. It was she who began my love affair with vintage clothing, gifting me a delicious fuchsia woolen 1940's coat when I was about 12 years old. So a trip to Grandmothers house always means a little glimpse into the past.

This stunning silver dress is part of an ensemble with a matching swing coat. She bought this outfit especially for a family members wedding and it had very little occasion to make an outing. It was passed on to me with great pride and I am so pleased to have a piece like this in my collection. The dress required some alteration as it was rather large for me, but its simple lines made that a relatively easy task.

I was heading out to a little Christmas party and then on for drinks last night, when at midday I had not decided what to wear. I began thinking Christmassy thoughts of sparkles and snow, when this almost forgotten ensemble came to mind. It had been stored in my secondary wardrobe where much of my collectable vintage lives, and hadn't yet been altered. So it was out with the pins and onto the sewing machine in haste to make it ready for last nights adventures.

Now that the dress is ready to make it's debut, I think an update of appropriate accessories is due. In particular I would love a pair of 1950's style fabric covered pumps with just the right amount of sparkle. I'm not sure where on earth I'll find these, but if bridal trends are anything to go by, I can probably have a pair custom covered somewhere. It may sound a little decadent, but for an outfit like this, perfectly matching accessories should see it last another life time. So onto the Lust List they go.

A Matter of Perspective

I do love a little experiment. My head is full of all sorts of grand ideas that are occasionally somewhat suspect, but this time I've proven my theory. You may remember my shoe post from this time last week, where I asked for your opinions on two pairs of shoes that made their way home with me. It seems that the overwhelming consensus was that the first pair were a go, where as the second pair were viewed with scorn and derision. I also posted my finds on a vintage forum I frequent, where the second pair were meet with enthusiasm and glee. So it seems that it is all a matter of perspective.

You may be surprised to know that the first pair I have been somewhat iffy about, where as the second pair I adore. "WTF?" I hear you say. But here it is. While I have been looking for something to fill the summer gap, they had to be comfortable and fit with my penchant for vintage styles. I was tipped off to some great vintage style summer shoes online, and after hunting around realised just what they reminded me of. Yes, you guessed it, Old Lady comfort shoes. Thus I began to look at all the elderly Nanas for inspiration, ( as is often the case when I raid their wardrobes.) So many of the shoes available to them have been designed with the hey day of these ladies in mind, as it seems that the mentality is, "You don't fix what aint broke" when it comes to design. Check out the similarity between this pair of reproduction vintage shoes and the pair I posted last week.

So what exactly is going on in my head? I had in mind an image of a care free young girl in the 1940's, heading to the beach, hanging out at home, or perhaps what a starlet of that era would have worn on her day of to go picnicking with her par amour. And I found her in these shoes.

Made by Rohde, Both pairs of shoes were usually around the $200 mark, but due to amazing timing, I was able to buy 2 pair for $150. Given that most of the reproduction vintage shoes I was searching would have also cost me at least $200 a pair including shipping, I decided that being able to try them on, try them out and have the option to return them was more attractive; as was the price! As some of you pointed out, the ankle strap is not the most flattering feature, but with the right length pant or skirt they take on a whole new look. Given, this does make them very specific in terms on the context in which I can wear them, but it is so worth it. With a perfect red polish and top notch pedicure these shoes not only look exceedingly cute, but I will spend my summer blister free; which is an inordinately better look than rubbed red toes, that escape their prison looking like tortured animals.

The ensemble in living colour.

Outfit Details: Canary Yellow Shirt - Guess, Ultra High Waist Pants - Designed and made by Me (Please forgive all the creases, they are the result of a two hour car journey) , Earrings - Diva, Shoes - Rohde
Photos shot on location in Nana's backyard with authentic garden gnomes.

Just like the return of hammer pants (which I will not be doing by the by), mullets or fluro; it always takes one brave soul to tackle pieces that have been relegated to fashion purgatory.

So here I am, taking a stand; and I am exceedingly comfortable doing it.

Highballs & High Heels

It is not often these days, that one is invited to a cocktail party where you are ensured of both stylish company and an appropriate ambiance. This Saturday proved to be the exception, as I headed into Madame Brussels to meet with some blogging beauties for a delicious afternoon.

It was the perfect excuse to break out this frock which, although not yet seen here, has quickly become a favorite of mine. It is a late 1950's number in a light wool blend, with the most delightful shawl collar. The print is somewhat of a water coloured effect paisley in my favorite jewel tones. I discovered this gem in a huge vintage shop in Houston, which was primarily filled with 70's - 80's gear and lots of dirty looking second hand clothing. But the shopping gods chose to reward my patience and after getting rather filthy sorting through the dross, this little lady danced her way into my wardrobe. And yes, I did already happen to have the perfect purple pumps.

And so, with the promise of some scintillating company, and the rain clouds beginning their ascent, I headed in for an afternoon of Highballs and High Heels.

If you've never been to Madame Brussels, I'd recommend that you get together with your most stylish and witty pals, and spend the afternoon there pronto. If you go in for the dramatic and theatrical, this is the perfect place to play stage to your grand ambitions or perhaps to just take you away from it all.

Meet the Ladies: Porcelain Blonde, Lady Melbourne, Aus Style, Heart of Pearl, Peep Toes & Pedicures, Fashion Hayley, Esme & The Laneway, Circa Vintage and Vintage Verve.

The Bold and the Beautiful

Outfit Details: Blue silk cocktail dress - Vintage Tina Varigos, Shoes - Valerie Stevens, Necklace - Vintage pearlized glass beads, Earrings - Diamond Studs, Fur - Vintage Mink, Diamonte hair comb, Lipstick - MAC Russian Red.

Now what am I all tizzied up for this time? Well, whilst I look for any excuse to break out the sequins and silk, it isn't something I do every Friday night as a rule. However last night saw the launch of Melbourne's newest modelling agency, The Alternative Modelling Agency. Founded by local gothic glamour queen, Samantha Shields, the agency is set to invigorate the local fashion scene with a new and vibrant style of personality. If you are sick to death (like me) of seeing your models underfed, homogenized and surly looking; you are sure to see more personality on the pages with Samantha's stable of beauties.

Last nights festivities began with Champagne and belly dancing before we moved onto the main event, an eclectic parade showcasing local alternative designers and the agency's new talent. I snuck in a few photos, but as I'm no keen fashion photographer they aren't the best, but I did want to share a little of the evening with you. You can read more about Samantha and the agency here in the Age.

After all that eye candy, those delicious cocktails and divine personalities, it was pumpkin time for me. Yes I was tempted to stay and party the night away, but with another round of cocktails scheduled with some delightful ladies for today, I chose to get my beauty sleep and do it all again. And that my friends, will be a story for tomorrow.