What I Actually Wore #0070

Serial #: 0070
Date: 27/07/2012
Weather: a chilly 10°C (apparent 7°C) in the evening
Time Allowed: 20 minutes

Last year, reading international magazines, I learned that it was de rigeur for New Yorkers to forego stockings, even in the depths of winter. I don’t know, maybe these women are hopping from their chauffeured limousines and heading straight up the red carpet into their glamorous parties, but I cannot approve of such goings-on here in Melbourne – not with our arctic breezes blowing in. It’s just too freezing here in winter to go gallivanting about on public transport half naked. So when I was dressing for a party last July I hit a snag (no pun intended): I had no party clothes that were also suitable for travelling.

It’s just too freezing here in winter to go gallivanting about on public transport half naked.

I had recently been watching the Phyrne Fisher murder mysteries, set in 1920s Melbourne, and was inspired by the lustrous fabrics in all the draperies Phryne wore. I took a fringed dévoré silk kimono that I had bought from House of Maryanne as my inspiration and layered. And because one loses most of one’s body heat through the top of one’s head, I wore a 1940s floppy velvet cap (you can see it close up here). That drew the most compliments from party guests. I wore my cashmere coat over all for the commute (and was still freezing), but ironically, I had to remove even the kimono at my friend’s home, the little apartment was so warm and crammed with partygoers.

Items:

Jacket: House of Maryanne
Top: Ada, vintage
Camisole: Enamel
Pants: Dizingof
Over the knee socks: Levanté
Mary-Jane Pumps: Wittner
Coat: vintage
Hat: vintage 40s
Bag: vintage
Necklace, earrings: vintage
Rings: souvenir; Autore pearl ring
Watch: Kenneth Cole