Happy Feet

Stripey Merino Socks :: Foxy // Sugar // No flash

I dislike full-length hosiery. I much prefer to wear stay-ups, thigh-highs, over-the-knees, stockings, wachamacallums. But they have to be interesting – I get bored with the stock-standard black that Melbourne stores seem to be chockful of every winter. Last winter caught me unawares, and I was forced to wear the despised tights just to don something colourful.

In preparation for autumn/winter 2013 I started hunting early. End of season is a good time to shop internationally online, because there are all sorts of bargains to be had a season ahead for those of us living in the southern hemisphere.

Late last year I found these gorgeously soft merino wool over-the-knee socks at Free People and snapped them up immediately. At $28 they were a steal. This kind of sock would cost much more retail in Melbourne stores – double at least. Summer started late last year so I actually have worn them out already, and they were much admired. The blue and purple pair I am wearing in the previous post I bought in Lisbon last year for only €11.

Then just yesterday I had another look on Asos and found many more cotton and wool socks on sale, some as low as $6. I bought more. Lots more. My parcel has already been despatched. I am now very excited for autumn, and there’s still one month of summer to go! 

Ode to Yellow Beads

A Bead Tragedy :: Lucas AB2 // Dylan // No flashI remember when I bought these beads. I saw them there, in the op shop cabinet, all shiny and new wooden and old and it was love at first sight. Graduated beads, the largest of which is almost the size of a golf ball, are very hard to come by these days, old or new. And certainly not in yellow. They wanted $10 for them. I gave it to them without argument.

And now look, there they lie: all in pieces, like my heart.

I was at a celebratory drinks celebration thing (who cares, whatever, my beads broke) with work colleagues when all of a sudden the beads hanging around my neck just collapsed and went tumbling to the floor. Everyone instantly sprang to the rescue. Once the excitement was over, I, of course, immediately saw the photographic possibilities.

And don’t worry, I restrung the beads on some good, stout leather and they are as good as new. Or old. Whatever. If only hearts were as easy to mend.

A Photographic Opportunity :: Lucas AB2 // Dylan // No flash

Sun Protection Factor: Variable

Sunscreen :: Wonder // GS-0 // No flash

Here is my very own Battenberg lace umbrella that I purchased new in the mid-90s. I remember carrying it on the beach in Queensland while wearing a cream Fortuny-pleated top and matching wide-legged pants. I had a 20s style bob then too. No-one ever carried a parasol then, even in Queensland where it’s hot nearly all the time. I was stared at a lot that holiday.

Now it’s quite a common sight, even down in Melbourne where the weather is quite variable (four seasons in one day). Just like the SPF of this holey parasol. I’ve even gone out in the morning with this parasol, and come home in the evening wishing it a bona fide umbrella as the weather had turned to rain.

As for that Queensland holiday, I am pretty certain that somewhere there is a photo of me in just that outfit – look out for it in the next few days.

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Vintage Shopping At the End of the World

Fifties Dress at World’s End :: Tinto 1848 // C-Type Plate // No flashIt was the end of the world, they said, and instead of preparing myself for it … and creating a post-holocaust/Mad Max type of dress-up story to commemorate the event (SO disappointed I didn’t think of it earlier), I was vintage shopping instead.

In Shag, I found a 1950s sleeveless blouse in pink and green. It had a washy floral print, and would complement my new ikat-print heels. I still had some time to kill before meeting a friend, so I moved on to Retro-Star Vintage. This shop is enormous, an Aladdin’s cavern of vintage splendour as it were, and one’s mind boggles slightly at the prospect of sifting through so many racks of clothing. But my eye was caught by a rather dazzling iridescent purple dress, poking out amidst the jammed racks.

Fifties Blouse at World’s End :: Americana // C-Type Plate // No flashThe fabric – which I guess is jacquard woven rayon – features square checks on the bodice, and diamond checks on the skirt. There is no zipper, but it slips over my head. It is a trifle loose at the high waist – lower than an empire line and most assuredly not a babydoll – and I realise if I decide to have it altered I would also have to have a zip inserted as I would not be able to get my shoulders past the waistline.

I am not sure whether to purchase it, and put it to the Facebook test. It takes only a few minutes before a number of SNAP followers immediately urge me to buy the dress. Then my friend arrives, and I drag her off for an opinion – she practically twists my arm (it’s Christmas after all), and the dress and I go home together.

Christmas Ikat Shoes :: Tinto 1848 // C-Type Plate // No flash

Raindrops Keep Falling

Raindrops Keep Dirtying My Skirt :: Loftus // DC // No flashHow appropriate that it was my paisley print skirt that was spotted and splashed with rain on the way home tonight, for the paisley motif is based on a teardrop. And how typical of Melbourne at this time of year: 35°C heatwave in the morning, and a cool change by home time.

Those lying meteorologists did it again, forecasting thunderstorms and clearing showers in the evening. You really do need to carry an umbrella with you at all times if you live in Melbourne. Happily my Kookaï skirt is just light cotton and will wash out easily.