Earring in the New Year

Recently I’ve had a real bonanza on vintage earring finds in op shops (thrift stores).

The first pair that caught my eye (below) in a Sacred Heart secondhand shop were red and navy clip on baubles that are suspended on chain. The navy beads have dotted lines around the centre, so that they look like cricket balls. I guessed they were 1960s or 70s, so I thought $5 was a fair enough price for them.

The following four pairs were all bought on the same day, in two Salvos stores.

The very fun French flag hoops are made of enamel (70s or 80s?), and were the cheapest of the lot, costing all of $1. They were actually an afterthought purchase, serendipitously spotted at the counter in a sale bin while I waited for my friend to finalise her purchases.

The gold oval hoops and the snaky knot danglers that you see in swinging action are also metal, and both possibly 1970s. Each cost about $3, and were found at the second Salvos store.

And once more in the same shop, I made an afterthought purchase with the 1950s (or 80s?) jumbo pearl clip-ons. I was actually leaving the store when a staff member, busily stocking a display box near the entrance, showed me them to admire. I laughed aloud because they were so enormous, and immediately decided they were so OTT I had to have them. She and I both agreed they looked much better on than in the hand. I think these were $5–6, and worth it for sheer fun.

I remember when 1970s and 80s fashion was considered so passé, hideous even, but given enough time any era regains a lustre. Old things, taken out of their stuffy or old-fashioned contexts, become new again, especially when they are recombined with modern items or things from quite different eras. Tarnish transmogrifies into desirable patina.

A Grecian (T)urn

A few years ago I befriended an artist and craftmaker through Instagram (Crude Things), and while our aesthetic is quite different in many ways, we share a love of dressing-up. Lana asked if I would be interested in photographing some of her items and featuring them on my blog – of course I said yes, I would love to.

I used a textile rope that could be wrapped around the body in any way one pleased, and took a Grecian direction with matching turquoise jewellery and a long white dress, which you can see here.

Here are some of my unpublished out-takes, taken with my Hipstamatic app.

Photos: May 2013

The Scary Shoes

A few weeks ago I bought a pair of Dalmatian print pony-hair loafers in a thrift store for a song. I don’t recall how much, but they were under $10.  They are actually a size smaller than my usual (but only a little tight), so I have been wearing them at home with a pair of thick socks to stretch them out a little.

That is, until, the day my cat noticed them and was terrified, especially when she saw their ghostly reflections in a glass door. She was persistently jumping up onto the kitchen bench in fear, and trying to cower under the wooden dish rack! She had me completely mystified until I realised what was going on, and as soon as I took the shoes off, she calmed down. She is quite disinterested in them as long as they’re not on my feet.

Photo: July 2017

Mediterranean Dreams

This morning I had to go to Albert Park for a photoshoot location reconnaissance, and as I walked through the streets I managed – brilliant multi-tasker as I am – to fit in some window shopping.

This adorable bird bag by Minä Perhonen in the window display of Scarlet Jones instantly drew my eye, and I immediately started fantasising about toting that around. That is, however, until I called the store and discovered the price: $1000 exactly, just a tad out of my price range. My little daydream instantly collapsed.

Since 2000, Japanese label Minä Perhonen has been producing a single Tori bag every season, a collector’s item which is made from quality thick leather. This bag from Spring/Summer 14/15, literally draws its inspiration from the Mediterranean sea with hand painted ocean-blue swirls. You can ‘add to cart’ here, but on reflection, I think I would prefer to invest the money into a holiday on the Mediterranean!

Cotton Candy Autumn

Autumn is nearly over and I have yet to do a seasonal story! I walked past this amazing orange shrub this morning in Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens, and instantly thought what an amazing backdrop it would be for today’s pink outfit – and here it is.

The wool felt platter hat is vintage 1940s, which I bought in a Salvo’s op shop last year for an extremely modest price of around $10. The label inside says Newhaus, by Herta Maria Melbourne. It has such a lovely profile too. (You can see the twisted detail at the back at a different angle here.)

The angora wrap cardigan is by Ted Baker, and like the pearl earrings, was another thrift store purchase. Its sleeves have a pretty bishop shape, also known as a bell or Magyar sleeve. A rare retail purchase from a boutique somewhere many years ago, the fluffy wool scarf makes me think of cotton candy. It’s also extremely warm, which is probably why my cheeks are so flushed!

I decided I could get away with this much pink when I have such a short, boyish haircut. However, the rest of my outfit is in varying shades of brown, so once I slip off the hat and scarf (and the cardigan in the warm office), I present a very altered appearance. Accessories really do make the difference in your outfit.