What I Actually Wore #0097

Serial #: 0097
Date: 27/09/2012
Weather: 27°C / 80.6°F
Time Allowed: 8 minutes

One of my work colleagues sadly was moving on to another company, and we – all her friends across a few departments – were celebrating her last two weeks with a different colour fashion theme every day. Someone had even drawn up an Excel spreadsheet explaining the colours, distributing it amongst her workmates. There was every hue in the rainbow, and stripes and polka dots too.

This day had been designated blue, and it was a lovely warm spring morning. I had not yet made the seasonal wardrobe changeover, so all my summer clothes were still in storage. Fortunately I had a new purchase made on Etsy to fall back on.

The cotton dress is vintage 1940s with a cherry print. The only way in and out of the dress is through those buttons on the front, and it is always a bit of a wriggle to extricate myself from it at the end of the day. It is so light and comfortable on though. I accessorised with a pair of blue suede peeptoes and a grosgrain headband. (I forgot to take a full length shot, whoops!)

It was such a fun way to celebrate a friendship instead of feeling blue the final day!

Items:

Dress: vintage
Headband: Alannah Hill
Earrings: handmade
Ring: Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: David Lawrence

What I Actually Wore #0096

Serial #: 0096
Date: 22/09/2012
Weather: 23° and sunny
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

On this warm and sunny day I was attending a housewarming barbecue. And because I believe that new clothes should be worn as soon as possible, I already knew I would wear my new vintage 1920s pink silk skirt appliquéd all over with black velvet hearts. When I saw it on Etsy the first time my heart pounded fiercely, all the blood rushed to my cheeks, and I fell instantly and irresistibly in love. I had to make it mine.

The black crocheted top is my own, but it is so old it is practically vintage, bought perhaps in the early 90s from Australian chain store Portmans’ up-market label Blasé, which no longer exists. The coral nylon petticoat is also vintage (1960s, at a guess).

As the silhouette is reminiscent of a ballerina, and the skirt was probably once a theatre costume, I carry on with the theme, styling my hair in two little buns above the nape of my neck, and accessorising with a silver Alice band and black ballet shoes. Another secondhand purchase, the vivid jade green bag is made of snakeskin, and lined in powder blue – I love to wear complementary pink and green together.

Cleverly, with childhood jazz ballet classes a distant memory, I’ve even managed to place my feet here in something somewhat reminiscent of fourth position!

Items:

Top: Blasé (former label by Portmans)
Skirt: vintage, 1920s
Petticoat: Tricozette, vintage 1960s
Headband: David Jones
Earrings: handmade
Rings: (onyx) souvenir, (pearl) Autore
Bag: vintage
Shoes: IN.u 

What I Actually Wore #0095

Serial #: 0095
Date: 21/09/2012
Weather: mild day, 19°
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

I almost never wear jeans, and even more rarely to work. I just don’t find them exciting. They’re so common too. Everyone wears them. And – it may surprise you to learn this – but I have never wanted to look like one of the herd. But once in a very blue moon (ha, see what I did there?) an indigo mood strikes me and I will don jeans and sport them in public. That’s what happened this Friday.

As jeans go, I thought these wide-legged pegged pair were rather cute. I wore them with a striped knit, a casual ruffled cardigan (also striped) cinched in at the waist with a plaited belt, and a pink cashmere scarf tossed around my neck. I particularly love my raspberry red heels here because they clash juicily with the sugar-pink scarf. (Every time I see these in a picture I think I should have bought two pairs – let that be a lesson to you dear Snapettes.)

The outfit is casual and cosy for a mild spring day, although it would be far more fun to wear it strolling on a wild beach somewhere rather than at work!

Items:

Cardigan: Anthropologie
Knit: David Lawrence
Jeans: One Step
Hat: vintage
Scarf: eBay
Belt: Faith
Earrings: Baku
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Wittner

What I Actually Wore #0094

Serial #: 0094
Date: 20/09/2012
Weather: 23°C / 73°F
Time Allowed: 6 minutes

I love to break such hackneyed rules as ‘blue and green should never be seen’, so on this balmy day I wear a boldly patterned navy and white blouse with a muted celadon green skirt. Although the temperature is mild, it is windy and overcast, threatening rain, so I wear a short vintage 50s silk jacket on top. 

The hat I am wearing is actually a 1920s straw cap, studded with pearls and trimmed with piped navy velvet, and would undoubtedly suit a bob better, but I fasten my hair back in a looped ponytail and clip it with a vintage diamanté and tortoiseshell clasp. I add a pair of turquoise-coloured agate drop earrings, and my turquoise ring from Spain.

My trusty snakeskin heels add a dash of anti-matching pizzazz – anymore turquoise or navy would be have been dull.

Items:

Top: Marni
Skirt: Veronika Maine
Jacket: vintage 1950s
Hat: vintage 1920s
Hairclip: vintage
Earrings: handmade
Rings: souvenir
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Zomp

What I Actually Wore #0093

Serial #: 0093
Date: 12/09/2012
Weather: 22°
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

It is always wonderful when spring gives us a beautiful sunny morning, because it means at last the long coats can be put away. Only a short jacket is needed. I like this outfit for its graphic simplicity and bold colour. The red wool jacket I bought in a charity store for less than $10, although I did need to replace the buttons as one of the originals was missing. The red wool beret – also a charity store find – is a perfect match.

The patent and wooden heeled wedges are another old favourite – these were purchased on eBay before Aldo opened any stores in Melbourne. There is something I very much like about wooden heels – is it the considerable weight that adds gravitas, or the satisfying sound they make walking along? They are also a potential weapon in self-defense!

Items:

Jacket: vintage
Blouse: Veronika Maine
Skirt: Anthropologie
Hat: vintage
Necklace: souvenirs
Earrings: hand made
Rings: (onyx) souvenir, (silver) Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Aldo