What I Actually Wore #0052

Serial #: 0052
Date: 24/11/2010
Weather: 23.5° weather warm, rains late
Time Allowed: 15 minutes – to iron the dress!

I have a date at Ladro, and probably this red silk dress is overdoing things, but well, it’s new, so it must be worn. A dress is always easy too, because all you need to do is find shoes and you’re done. Except of course unless you need to iron said dress and it adds 15mins to your skimpy dressing allowance.

I pick out a a pair of Asian-inspired wedges from Unique – they make me think of black lacquer with red trim. That footwear chain Unique has closed down now. Such a shame, because it really did sell some unique shoes. I very fondly remember some 3/4 red marching band boots with suede tassels at the side. They went to shoe heaven years ago, and I still mourn their passing. 

My other easy accessory was a little white leather vintage 70s clutch. Hair in a high ponytail, red lips and off I go.

The dress must have proved a hit with my date because he wanted to go again, but it was not to be. C’est la vie.

Items:

Dress: Pepe Jeans
Earrings: Silver baubles (hand-made by me)
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Bag: Vintage
Shoes: Unique

What I Actually Wore #0051

Serial #: 0051
Date: 20/11/2010
Weather: forecast 20°, a mild day turns quite cool by evening
Time Allowed: 5 minutes

I race home from work and rush to ready myself for Lulue’s birthday dinner. French girl has picked a French restaurant (par naturellement). I picked out a vintage 70s pink and white polka-dot dress, and after that the accessories were easy. I found the dress in the window of a Vinnies in Brisbane: candy-pink with white polka-dots! Sunray pleated skirt and collar! How could I go past that? I didn’t of course. The saleswoman smiled and said the dress had been put in the window just that morning. She had prophesied to her colleague that it would be snapped up quickly.

I decided to go for a Seventies vibe, with vintage accessories and eyes made-up with cream eye-shadow, 70s style blush and shiny pink lip gloss. My hair was wavy from being in a plait all day, but it would have been perfect if I had planned ahead and given myself a centre part for the day. 

The odd little gold metal earrings are clip-ons, with slinky chains dropping from a flat disk. The clips are murderously painful, and I have to take them off before the end of the night.

I had bought the little handbag fairly recently in another charity shop. It is hard white plastic with snakeskin panels on both sides and a long gold chain strap. I had spotted it in the counter at the shop, but upon enquiry learned that another lady had claimed it and was wandering leisurely about, browsing whilst she decided if she wanted to fork out for the bag. It was expensive for an op-shop ($50 or so), but I had fallen in love with it. My determined lingering must have psyched the other woman out, because she finally decided against the purchase.

I topped the all that pink with a taupe Montana-design linen coat that my sister had made me, and little slingbacks.

Items:

Dress: Knightsbridge, vintage 70s
Coat: Montana, Vogue designer patterns 
Earrings: vintage 70s
Bag: vintage 70s
Shoes: Diana Ferrari

What I Actually Wore #0050

Serial #: 0050
Date: 19/11/2010
Weather: 20° day, mild evening
Time Allowed: 3 minutes to decide

On the rare occasions when I do wear black I more often than not pair it with white or grey. So it was this mild spring evening as I dressed for the theatre.

The outfit began with the thickly sequinned sleeveless top I had found in the West End Vinnies on my recent trip to Brisbane. The sequins make me think of the shiny scales of a fish, and the pleated silk chiffon trim feathers of some bird – the combination makes a mythic creature of legend. The top is so outrageous I paired it with a sober (albeit leather) black pencil skirt.

A vintage white velvet jacket, black ponyskin heels, a shiny box purse stamped with a crocodile pattern, silver bauble earrings and bracelet, and my silver lip South Sea pearl and white gold ring completed my toilette.

Jaws drop over sequinned top. Night turns cool. My girlfriends and I eat a delicious dinner at the Malthouse (wahu and salmon salad for me). We sit next to three enthusiastic Russians and see Life Without Me at the Sumner Theatre.

Items:

Top: Vinnies
Skirt: Kenneth Cole
Jacket: vintage Stephen Dattner
Earrings: handmade
Bracelet: eBay
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Bag: Aldo
Shoes: Diana Ferrari

What I Actually Wore #0050

Serial #: 0050
Date: 20/10/2010
Weather: forecast 20°, a gorgeous spring day
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

I am working in the Department of Education for a couple of days, and when one has to cleared by security before one can enter the building, it seems to behove one to dress nicely.

It is a lovely morning, and I decide to wear an easy vintage 50s belted green silk dress bought from a vintage boutique in St Kilda. I was attracted by the print when I first saw it many years ago, and always receive compliments whenever I wear it.

However, this morning it turned out not to be so easy to find a jacket to wear with the dress. Nothing seemed to match. I finally went with a vintage 80s cream linen bolero style because the balloon sleeves fit nicely over the loose sleeves of the dress; both sets of sleeves are elbow-length. (It’s a trifle too yellow for the dress, so I have not included it in this photoshoot.)

The shoes are snakeskin – I pick those because their flecked pattern echoes the print of the dress. I look so respectable I make it through security without a hitch.

Items:

Dress: vintage
Earrings: Moyou
Rings: from Dittoday
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Zomp

What I Actually Wore #0049

Serial #: 0049
Date: 06/10/2010
Weather: 24° and mild, until down came the rain and washed us out
Time Allowed: 5 minutes

I’m off to see the Tim Burton retrospective at ACMI, an exhibition that calls for something at least a little colourful. I make this outfit up as I go along, starting with the raspberry-coloured top by Veronika Maine. The top is made from nylon, cotton and metal, the last of which gives it volume and structure. It does mean it’s a little foofy with the grey skirt: I add one of my favourite belts so my waist is visible again.

I carry a vintage silk paisley handbag for the first time; pin a dusky rose into my hair; slip on some cloisonné pussycat earrings, and buckle up a pair of ponyhair and suede heels.

After the exhibition (which was fantastic), I buy a pair of coral taffeta shorts at Kinki Gerlinki, and then Rapunzel and I have coffee in Centre Place. That’s when the downpour begins, and I must dash to the train station under the awnings, for fear that my shoes would be ruined. But I make it safely home. All in all, a lovely afternoon!

Items:

Top: Veronica Maine
Skirt: Staff
Belt: David Lawrence
Flower pin: Salvos
Earrings: souvenir from Vietnam
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Handbag: vintage, from Etsy
Shoes: Diana Ferrari

One of my favourite belts, by David Lawrence. I love the colour.