What I Actually Wore #0038

Serial #: 0039
Date: 13/01/2010
Weather: forecast 23°
Time Allowed: 5 minutes

This was a super-easy outfit to put together. LWD + shoes = what could be simpler?

It was a mild summer’s day, and I was heading out to the ‘country’ (Berwick, a 40 minute train trip from where I live in the inner city) for lunch with my three sisters. It’s a rare occasion when the four of us get together, as one of my sisters lives interstate.

The white Mango dress is covered in white embroidery; such a summery look. I love the bell sleeves and loose shape: so cooling on hot days. I like white with wholesome tan leather, so I picked out a pair of wooden heeled mules that are also embroidered in matching thread. Perfect!

As I walked to the train station, I was amused and taken aback when a young woman – admittedly rather dowdily dressed – read me a lecture on wearing such high heels. To give her credit, at the culmination of her homily she had to reluctantly admit they were good-looking shoes. Thanks mum.

Items:

Dress: Mango
Earrings: Moyou
Rings: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Zoe Wittner
Dog: Pepito, cavoodle (now available in blonde too!)

What I Actually Wore #0037

Serial #: 0037
Date: 31/12/2009
Weather: a sultry 36.7°, it a spectacular storm hits
Melbourne early evening
Time Allowed: planned out days before*

I was sooo excited when I first saw these little sequinned bloomers by Bettina Liano in a catalogue last winter.

There were two problems: they were ridiculously expensive** (considering their diminutive size) and it was winter. Which meant I wouldn’t be wearing them any time soon. (I’m one of those strange people who like to roam the streets in the dead of winter warmly dressed.)

However, I eventually succumbed to my desire for the pricey pantaloons, and intended to wear them in the springtime at the racing carnival. … It was still too cold then. They would have to wait for summer proper, I realised, and decided they would have their big debut on NYE.

I had a special little velvet strapless tank that I had not yet worn: hot pink and shirred to boot. And I love velvet that is made from silk or rayon – it’s just so soft.

I matched the outfit with a woven metal bangle, patent sandals and a pair of darling little earrings that I made myself. The metallic pink ‘raspberry’ beads are Indian, and the green rectangular beads are jade. I love how they dangle so merrily, and I am always given compliments whenever I wear them.

But it was the sequinned bloomers’ night to shine!

* I was so ahead of myself I took these photos two days before New Year’s Eve.
** There was also a longer length version, in a harem pants style that cost only $30 more than the shorts. I thought this odd considering how many additional yards of fabric they held!

Items:

Top: Third Millennium
Shorts: Bettina Liano
Earrings: So Not A Princess
Bangle: from the Salvos
Shoes: Zoe Wittner

What I Actually Wore #0036

Serial #: 0036
Date: 25/12/2009
Weather: forecast 31°, it reaches 26° at lunchtime
Time Allowed: days of forethought!

We like to dress up in my family for Christmas Day lunch. Actually, I should amend that to: the women in my family like to dress up for Christmas Day lunch. We tend to plan our outfit days or weeks ahead.

In the lead up to the big day, along with the standard questions of “Who’s hosting this year?” and “What dishes are you bringing?” is “What are you wearing?” Sometimes my sisters, nieces and I may have more than one option, depending on Melbourne’s unpredictable weather (it often storms on Christmas Day).

Invariably, the men merely turn up in shorts and t-shirts, ready for any eventuality such as tending barbecues, playing cricket in the backyard, and dealing with pet poop. (One dog got sent home in disgrace last Christmas.)

…I don’t think I have ever specifically gone shopping for a Christmas outfit:
I like to let serendipity decide.

However, I don’t think I have ever specifically gone shopping for a Christmas outfit: I like to let serendipity decide. Last November or December whilst browsing in the Salvos (a common pastime), I saw this lovely mint chiffon dress hanging up high on the wall. I immediately requested the salesgirl to retrieve it for me, and was in ecstasies when I discovered it fit me perfectly.

The salesgirl and another shopper (a stylist or costumier or the like) oohed and aahed in equal reverence. The stylist offered to fight me for it, but upon a casual reference to my taekwondo training, he laughed nervously and instantly backed away. Another shopping foe vanquished.

The shoes I found in an equally fluke-ish way in another charity shop. Normally I shy away from synthetics, but red satin peeptoes for $12! How could I resist them? And the vintage pearl shoeclips were found on another op-shop counter for $10. They were perfect for the red shoes. The red grosgrain headband is from Alannah Hill.

I do love mint and bright red together; it’s a classic combination, and a subtler take on the traditional Christmas theme.

Items:

Dress: vintage, Collette After 5
Headband: Alannah Hill
Rings: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Barkins
Shoeclips: vintage; check out Emmersen

What We Actually Wore #0035

Serial #: 0035
Date: 17/12/2009
Weather: forecast 23°
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

It was a mild day, but a little sultry. A storm was brewing, I knew. I was meeting my former work colleagues for a Christmas lunch at a café near my old office.

I had recently been to the Way We Wear Vintage Fair* in Williamstown, and took out the Zambesi dress I had bought from there. I had liked it because the vertical pleats and straight lines of the dress reminded me of a 20s tennis frock. The linen fabric was lovely too.

I belted it loosely around the hips with a red leather belt I had fallen in love with at MNG, in Dubai a couple of summers ago. I have a large collection of belts, but often forget to wear them except on special occasions (usually because I am in a rush in the mornings). This belt was expensive, but so soft and buttery – I love it. I had also bought from the Vintage Fair a silvery, heavily sequinned belt that actually worked well with the Zambesi dress, but it felt too glitzy for this occasion.

Because the skies threatened imminent rain, I slipped on a blue coat – also from the Fair – with lovely pleated details on the sleeves and pockets. I’m always attracted to anything with pleats. (The coat came with a matching dress but I am yet to wear that, as it needs to be downsized by a tailor first.)

The black bangle – one of the few I wear regularly – is woven from some kind of plastic mesh. It’s chunky and quite substantial, but light at the same time. That was a great score for $8.

The thongs I wore out of practicality – I wanted something comfortable to walk in for half an hour, and being coral pink, they clashed nicely with the red belt. (Doesn’t do to match too well, although I forgot to photograph the red leather envelope clutch I carried. Its colour matches the belt exactly.) And as promised, it rained on my way home: the coat kept me from the cool breeze, but my feet were drenched!

Items:

Dress: Zambesi
Coat: vintage
Belt: Mango (MNG in Australia)
Bangle: Salvos
Earrings: Turkish earrings from Palm Beads
Rings: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Elle Effe

~

*The Vintage Fair is on again NEXT WEEKEND at the Williamstown Town Hall.
Saturday 19 June 10am–5pm and Sunday 20 June 10am–4pm.
Entry $12

What I Actually Wore #0034

Serial #: 0034
Date: 12/12/2009
Weather: a mild 22° during the day; cool by night
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

I was heading out to farewell drinks for a friend who was moving from the city to the country. It was summer, but the day had been only mild, so I suspected it would be even cooler by nightfall.

The wrap dress I picked out to wear was made from 80% silk, and 20% wool. That should keep me warm enough, I decided. As an afterthought I grabbed an old wool pashmina and stuffed it into my bag. Being in a hurry, I didn’t have time to consider that the turquoise shawl was too matchy-matchy. Of course, by the time I arrived at the bar, the wind had picked up and a chill had settled in the air, but it was too late to consider the problem then.

Still, the fabulously-coloured dress wowed everyone, and I was totally thrilled with my new black heels – the slingback straps are trimmed in patent black bows. They are even comfortable to walk briskly in, as I invariably do to make up for lost time.

I don’t often wear bangles during the day, but for this evening party I wore a carved red jade bangle I had bought as a souvenir in Vietnam; it has a matching ring. The earrings are sterling silver hoops woven with turquoise chips, and a grey pearl dangles in the centre.

Luckily we eventually got out of the cold wind and made it indoors… to a Vietnamese restaurant called New Wind!

Items:

Dress: French Connection
Pashmina: eBay
Earrings: from Portobello Lane
Rings and bangle: Vietnam souvenir
Shoes: Zoe Wittner