Ruled Out

Awww, I remember when I bought these cone-heeled platforms. Platforms were just coming into fashion. Generally I make it a rule to avoid heels that are leather-covered – they damage so easily, but I thought the cone shaped heels were simply awesome and bought them despite my misgivings. The leather was soft and they were comfortable to walk in. But look at them now. Scuffed, ripped, torn. Used up like an old shoe. It’s so sad. I hate to throw out things I once loved. They had their time in the sun though and did give me good service, so they deserve a tribute. Au revoir! 

A Found Fairytale

There is something magical about beaded slippers. They are the shoes that princesses of faraway lands in fairy-tales wear. And this is a tale of Lost & Found long ago.

It was 1999 when these particular magical beaded slippers came into being in the house of Gucci, as though a fairy cobbler named Tom Ford simply waved his magic wand and – poof! – there they were. An Australian girl, not so much a princess, saw them in a magazine and swooned. Of course they were far beyond the reach of her humble purse, so she merely sighed and flipped the page.

That is, until she saw black and white copies – just as though they had leapt joyfully from the page and into her life – in the shoe store Mollini. They weren’t quite the same: the little heels were black satin rather than a contrasting blue, and there was no delicate sling back strap. There was a red and white pair too, but she decided she much prefered the classic black and white: they looked more Art Deco. So she reached deep into her credit card and carefully counted out the coins. She paid for the magical beaded slippers and took them home with her, where they lived happily ever after.

The End.

Click on image for larger version

Over The Top

I’ve been waxing lyrical over socks recently, namely all these over-the-knee socks I purchased online in recent weeks. And here they are! Aren’t they lovely?

The merino wool striped pair are from Free People, and all the others were bought from Asos. I made sure to buy socks that were, if not 100% (allowing for Lycra for a better fit and non-saggingness), mostly made from natural fibres – from cotton, wool and angora.

I am excitedly awaiting autumn so that I can wear them, but with the seemingly endless heatwave in Melbourne it looks like those days are still a long way off.

Just Horsing Around

The other day I went op-shopping with a friend, and amongst the haul I took home was this amusing little grey tee printed with a prancing horse and embellished with sequins. My friend found it on the rack first and deemed it bad. “No, it’s good bad,” I shook my head, and took it into the change room with me. “Plus, it’s 50% off which makes it $4.50.” I rarely wear t-shirts, but the gloriously silly pony immediately appeals to my sense of humour.

I also purchased this vintage early 80s pleated cotton beige skirt for $20. I always have a thing for pleats, although I wasn’t entirely sold on the midi length. I tried both pieces on together in the Salvos store. The outfit was “just so hipster,” we agreed.

Any long-term readers of this journal know that I have a penchant for jumping photoshoots, but this was one instance when things did not end so happily … Ooops, woah there girl. 

When Vintage Goes Bad

A couple of evenings ago I made a horrid discovery. I was going out to the theatre with Rapunzel and Amelia-Jane, and looking for a little bag to carry.

I said to Rapunzel (who was patiently waiting while I rummaged around in my closet) that I seemed to have quite a number of large, casual bags for daywear, and many tiny little glamourous evening purses, but not much in between. Finally I pulled out a black asymmetrical leather bag I had bought years and years ago. I hadn’t used it for years. (I know, I really should clear out my wardrobe more often.)

It was when I tossed in the usual suspects – lipstick, keys, etc – that I made the horrid discovery. My fingernails inadvertently scraped the interior lining of the bag, and were filled with some kind of black gunk! The lining was disintegrating. What on earth? Whatever it is made from, it is most definitely not fabric. Why would you even do that? They just don’t make them like they used to. 

So while the exterior leather of the bag is still in quite good nick, and I have a sneaking fondness for the early 90s looking shape, I am ruthless: the bag must go.