Swing

A hundred years ago the world was recovering from its first world war, lifestyles were changing rapidly, and people were brightly optimistic about the future. We cannot say the world is currently in a similar state of positivity; however, while the 1920s roared into life they ended with the Great Depression, so let us hope at the start of this new decade we slowly see the pendulum swing to the opposite direction, that is, to change for the good.

But every new year at least begins with a party! I’m wearing a classic 1920s-inspired look with a bob, grey silk dress, jet bead lariat, that decade’s ubiquitous mary-jane shoes, and attempting a Charleston swing.

Here’s to fresh starts, brand-spanking beginnings, a youthful spring in our step and swing on our hip – happy new year!

Photo: March 2014

Hurrah and Farewell!

It’s the end of a decade, and I’m sending off these Teensies with some 1910s fashion: some antique cotton bloomers and a modern printed cotton dress worn tunic style, which is very reminiscent of Edwardian-era bathing costumes.

I used to wear these bloomers as fun shorts in summer as their very voluminous bottoms were so cool in the heat, but those same baggy bums eventually made me retire them to storage. They are a fun thing to have in a vintage collection, but they do not really work with the typically slim 1930s silhouette!

I hope you all have a fun final day of the year, and a wonderful evening celebrating … see you in the Twenties!

1910 bathing suits – give me that umbrella! Image found on Pinterest

Photo: March 2014

THIS is Melbourne Cup Day, Right?

In recent years there has been a lot of noise in the media – by which I mean social media —about the cruelty of the horse racing industry. Mainstream media is of course still promoting it because it means big money, particularly in the fashion industry.

As a hat-lover extraordinaire, far be it from me to discourage anyone from wearing hats at any time, but today I was struck with a dazzlingly brilliant idea (which is why this story is illustrated with a very old photo): the new tradition for Melbourne Cup Day is all about drinking quality cups of tea or coffee, preferably over a delicious repast, and most certainly wearing stylish outfits and toppers!

Who’s with me … next year, for a tea party?

Photo: February 2013

Winter Favourites

Last month I raced to photograph all my winter outfits before I did the biannual seasonal clothes storage swap-over, and spent about four days over two sessions to get through everything. This meant I had a compressed overview of which items were my popular over autumn/winter.

While it was interesting in hindsight, I was also a bit annoyed with myself for ‘overwearing’ some things considering how many other items in the same categories went unworn, or worn little, especially my hats. I have so many hats I don’t have time to wear them all even if I did wear a different one every day!

But, for what it’s worth, here are the favoured ones.

3 x

Three times wearing this vintage 40s purple hat (above) doesn’t sound like too many for all of autumn/winter, but this was all within a few weeks, and I simply own too many hats for this not to seem like I am squandering opportunities to make use of my marvellous collection.

5 x

This blue ribbed wool cardigan by Australian label is a vintage 1970s piece, and has been a favourite for many years since I found it in a thrift store in Berwick when I went op shopping with my sister, who lives out there. I just love the colour, which is what stood out: one of the gems amongst rack upon rack jammed with dross.

5 x

One of my favourite vintage brooches is this soaring seabird (above); I think it is probably celluloid. Admittedly, I have more than once worn it simply because I have left it on this cardigan – but that just speeds up the process of getting dressed in the morning!

7 x

These black leather Mary-Jane heels with the little bow on the strap are so comfortable and easy to walk in, it’s no wonder I reached for them so many times. On the days I wear higher heels, I walk to work in a flat pair of shoes, which is an extra thing to carry. If I don’t have to, that’s a bonus.

7 x

Simply an outright favourite, I reached for this double enamel cherry brooch many times this winter. Considering how many brooches I own, this is remarkable, but these cherries look good enough to eat. Plus, I must confess, while rhinestones catch my eye in the thrift store, I end up wearing them very little. I have always preferred opaque stones over sparkle – pearls, lapis lazuli, turquoise – and the same goes for costume jewellery. Enamel, Bakelite and wood win hands down over the multitude of rhinestone brooches I own.

And … drumroll … the winners!

8 x

The cherry earrings (photo before the above) just pipped the cherry brooch at the post, beating it by only one wear. I usually wear them together, but once I wore the earrings with a glass fruit necklace. I always love a cherry motif, but these earrings are also so bright and cheerful, and seem to go with so many things. 

8 x

The black pants by Ming (above and below) were worn eight times. I was rather disgusted by that total, as I do own other winter trousers, some of which only were worn once. But these are elasticised at the back, and the sheer wideness and soft wool flannel and suiting combination make them very comfortable and relaxed to wear. I have had them so many years, and had to do more than one repair, but they have proved their worth countless times, they deserve a prize!

Most of these favoured items were found in thrift stores (except for the two brooches and the hat which were bought from vintage boutiques). In fact, except for the red hat, every other item I am wearing in these pictures was also found in a thrift store, so I consider that a pretty good testament to a trained eye, able to spot a good purchase in the jumble of op shops!

Photos: August, September 2019

Strong and Bold

In honour of the Australian Rules Football Grand Final match today, I bring you this yellow and black vintage 1950s dress, in the team colours of the Richmond Football Club, a club that has been running for more than a century. They are playing Greater Western Sydney Giants; in contrast, a modern team formed only a decade ago, whose colours are a rather odd combination of orange, black and white.

I don’t barrack for (that’s Aussie for ‘follow’) Richmond except for today, although I live next door to the inner-city suburb in which it was formed, and in fact Richmond East is my local stomping ground.

This is an outfit I wore in the summer of this year, with a 1950s cello hat, a 1960s bag, and modern patent shoes and belt. Richmond’s club mascot is a tiger, and I’m rather pleased the way this dress emulates a tiger’s claw slashes … if a tiger had decided to dip its claws in black paint and do some textile design! Previously I’d thought the pattern reminded me of the grasses of an African savanna, which is also apt.

Today I shall finish with Richmond’s club song:

Oh we're from Tigerland
A fighting fury
We're from Tigerland
In any weather you will see us with a grin
Risking head and shin
If we're behind then never mind
We'll fight and fight and win
For we're from Tigerland
We never weaken til the final siren's gone
Like the Tiger of old
We're strong and we're bold
For we're from Tiger
Yellow and Black
We're from Tigerland.

Go Tiges! Oops, the game is starting, bye!

Photo: April 2019