What I Actually Wore #0033

Serial #: 0033
Date: 25/11/2009
Weather: forecast 25°, a lovely spring day in the city
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

Here is an outfit that is a real mix of eras. I had such fun putting it together, and it definitely started with the dress. From top to toe we have:

• 1940s straw hat, trimmed in dove grey grosgrain ribbon and netting. Utterly adorable with its turned-back brim; the twist on the side is accented with a jaunty bow. I bought this on eBay from an American seller, and just learned Marshall Field & Co was a famous Chicago department store.

• Laser-cut lattice wooden earrings, a birthday gift two or three years ago from good friends.

• Mint condition 1950s crisp (but not crunchy) linen dress, with black piping. I totally fell in love with this printed fabric when I saw it at the Salvos. The only problem with the dress is that while the waist fits nicely, the belt that comes with it (made from the same fabric and finished with a bow) is too tight. I could move the snaps I guess, but in the meantime…

• Oh! A patent leather, warm grey belt with a fine, upstanding bow (sensing a theme here). After seeing it in a retail store and mourning the price, I managed to find this in a sale shop a few months later, drastically reduced. Score!

• Another extraordinary find from an op-shop, this fab 1970s bag is made from hard white plastic. The inset panel is real snakeskin, and it dangles on a fine gold chain. I was positively drooling over it, but was held in check by the fact that another shopper had put it on hold whilst she wandered around the store. The salesperson suggested I go ask her if she wanted to take it or not, but I didn’t want to precipitate a crisis: the woman might have snapped it up after all if she scented competition. I had to loiter around the counter for ten or fifteen minutes, and whiled away the time trying on all the jewellery in the cabinet.

• These flamingo pink shoes, also patent, have featured on SNAP pages before. I like the scrolldown with its startling finish: neutral, neutral, neutral, SURPRISE! Much less sensible than wearing, say, dove grey courts that matched my belt, like a staid Fifties matron.

I tripped into the city on a lovely spring day to meet a friend for an afternoon of gallery-hopping, followed by coffee and cakes. Lovely.

Items:

Hat: ‘The French Room’ by Marshall Field & Co.
Dress: Sharene Creations
Belt: David Lawrence
Earrings: Moyou, from Design A Space
Bag: vintage (no label)
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Jane Debster

What I actually wore #0032

Serial #: 0032
Date: 17/10/2009
Weather: forecast 17°, cold, drizzly, windy … miserable
Time Allowed: 15 minutes

It was a freezing cold day: the skies were gray and threatened imminent rain. So much for the ‘Spring’ Racing Carnival.

As is often the case, my outfit starts with one item, and I build around it. The most important fashion item during the racing season is the hat, of course. My original outfit – now scotched because of the cold weather – had revolved around a black velvet and white feather vintage hat that I had bought especially for the occasion. With the change of plan, it was my gold foil rah-rah skirt that became the focal point.

I refused to be one of those scantily-clad floozies who are covered with more gooseflesh than cloth…

Fortunately, I own so many hats already that it was almost a matter of negligent choice to find one to match the skirt. Certainly I would not be wearing the tiresomely ubiquitous fascinator. I found a light-coloured sinnamay fedora hat that sported a leopard print and bow around the crown. So much fun to wear a fedora at a jaunty angle!

The skirt is eye-catching, to say the least, so I toned it down for day with a charcoal polo-neck that also provided warmth. I refused to be one of those scantily-clad floozies who are covered with more gooseflesh than cloth, and can’t properly enjoy the outing because they are too busy warding off the chill. So on went the black opaque stockings too.

To lighten up all that grey I don a shell waterfall necklace that never fails to excite comment. Each teardrop catches the light and reflects a golden glow on my face more flattering than any light-reflecting makeup.

As for my shoes, I tower high in them, and I know that by the end of the day my feet will be sore and tired, but I can’t be too sensible! I head out the door: champagne and frolics await.

Items:

Jumper: Saba
Skirt: Bub-lee Imports, vintage
Hat: Jendi
Bag: vintage 70s
Shoes: Zoe Wittner
Necklace: from Portobello Lane
Earrings: from Gazelle

What I actually wore #0031

Serial #: 0031
Date: 03/09/2009
Weather: forecast 22°; a lovely, mild early spring day
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

Now that is a real blouse. I say that because no-one uses the word ‘blouse’ any more; it’s too out-dated. This is an out-dated blouse though, because it’s vintage. I love that the dyed quartz earrings are exactly the same shade of blue.

I rarely wear strapless garments, but teaming this bright blouse with it turns this neutral dress into a Statement Dress. I wanted something a little exciting, as I was working at the art gallery for a few days.

As it’s only a 20 minute walk from home, I took a chance and wore heels to walk there (usually I don walking shoes of some sort – NOT runners, let me assure you!). These snakeskin heels are old favourites from Zomp, bought many years ago. On another occasion walking to work one of the heels snapped, to my horror. Fortunately the shop was near my office at the time, and I was able to drop past at lunchtime. The shoes had then been worn only a few times, and although I no longer had a receipt, the sales assistant looked up their records and immediately organised a replacement pair for me! I was truly impressed; what great customer service.

My other hero is this handbag. I really like how the buffalo-hide (or it could be cow-hide) clashes with the snakeskin shoes. I totally fell in love with this bag 3–4 years ago in Stanley Market in Hong Kong. I had gone to China on a business trip with a colleague, bookended by one and a half days of shopping in Hong Kong. What a fabulous whir that was!

On that trip, our shopping motto became: “Buy it! When are you next going to be in Hong Kong?”

On the last day of our trip, I dragged Aurora all over the city; Stanley Market was just one of our destinations. I spotted the bag early on, but as it was expensive, I decided to think about it while we explored the rest of the market. I found a lovely cream cashmere shawl trimmed with rabbit fur that I still use (it’s currently draped over an armchair, ready for chilly autumnal evenings), a diamanté belt, and some rare black onyx beads, among other things.

On that trip, our shopping motto became: “Buy it! When are you next going to be in Hong Kong?” (How many times have I heard people lament not buying souvenirs, because it wouldn’t fit in their bag, or they didn’t really need it? That, cough-cough, doesn’t happen to me.)

With that in mind, I returned to the handbag stall only to find some American woman eyeing it off. To my relief, she decided against the purchase, and I became the proud new owner. I am so glad I did buy it; I haven’t been back to Hong Kong since, and the bag has drawn so many compliments over the years from friends and strangers. My sister Star has even claimed the bag should I ‘ever get tired of it’. Sorry Star, that won’t happen!

Items:

Dress: Barkins
Blouse: Edith Hart, vintage from Shag
Earrings: Larama (boutique no longer open)
Rings: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Bag: Stanley Market, Hong Kong
Shoes: Zomp

What I actually wore #0030

Serial #: 0030
Date: 29/08/2009
Weather: a top temperature of 15.5°C during the day;
FREEZING at night
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

A Saturday night in the middle of winter, a movie with the boys.

I didn’t feel like going ultra casual despite the cool temperature, and picked out a black leather pencil skirt that I had not yet got round to wearing. The semi-transparent knit top I chose to wear with it is vintage 70s; I love the blouse sleeves and their little ties at the wrist.

…that bag is loud and brash like
the 80s, and I love it!

Just so I wouldn’t be wearing all black, I stepped into a pair of patent taupe heels and carried a new metallic bag that I’d picked up at the Salvos for $10. It is embossed with a reptile skin texture; studded; and you just can’t miss those enormous bronze coloured crystals. Combined with the gold chain, that bag is loud and brash like the 80s, and I love it!

But it was winter, and for the life of me I can’t remember wearing a jacket. I do recall dashing across the street just to warm up – daring enough of me in those heels! – so I fear I was silly enough to go out without a cover-up. Did I not learn from all those years living with my mother? “You aren’t going out like that! You’ll freeze!” Indeed.

Items:

Top: vintage
Skirt: Kenneth Cole
Jewellery: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Bag: No label
Shoes: Zoe Wittner

What I actually wore #0029

Serial #: 0029
Date: 20/05/2009
Weather: 21°
Time Allowed: 5 minutes

It was early autumn the last time I wore this same velvet panelled skirt and wool top. I had a lunch date with a friend, and it was a lovely sunny day. This time I decided to lighten the dark base with a cosy beige cashmere cardigan I bought in a Vietnamese boutique, and shoes of a similar hue. The cardigan is quite a loose fit, so I brought my waist back into view with a plaited leather belt I’d bought on eBay.

I came home with rather a lot of souvenirs from Vietnam, and this cashmere cardigan was probably the most expensive. However, I have worn it so many times since it was definitely worth it – if you use the cost per wear ratio.

The silver filigree ring and ethnic earrings came from Ben Thanh market. This particular stall had a fabulous selection of inexpensive jewellery, but most of the silver was not sterling, being around 85% pure.

Cashmere, wool, velvet: perfect textiles for autumn.

Items:

Top: John Smedley
Cardigan: Italian-made, Vietnamese souvenir
Skirt: hand-made
Belt: Faith
Jewellery: Vietnamese souvenirs
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Zoe Wittner