my summer basics

my summer wardrobe:

:: soft grey and pastel tone scarves

:: elise carrel leather bag - a great size for work

:: cheap slouchy mens cotton t-shirts :: $10 each!

:: my funkis clogs from gorman :: a birthday pres from my sister

:: country road sleepware :: i love grey marle and stripes

I've also found a couple nautical stripe slips from sussans which have come in handy to throw on after a swim. Ha, I'll soon be known as the weirdo that wears her pyjamas around town.

pussy bows

I love pussy bow blouses, but I find they're abit hit or miss on me.

I've got some lovely vintage ones but it really comes down to the perfect fit for me to pull it off. The wrong fabric, shoulder pads, wide billowy fit can make one look a tad frumpy and matronly rather than the desired feminine and dainty look.

I fell in love with the cute details of this one from CR.. Love the loops and the sweet print and fits a treat!

op-shop finds

I feel like ranting about some of my op-shop finds, so bare with me..

This check smock shirt, I bought a few months ago in Philip Island. I love the big pockets cut on the diagonal. It reminds me of kindergarden art smocks or like some thing out of the Toast catalogue. Oooh I feel like going camping or finding a log cabin hideaway.

This week I uncovered three op-shops near work.

Paid $3 for these Italian woven navy flats. Shame they're half a size too big and are in serious need of topy shoe sole grip. So I found out the hard way: I had a magnificent stack down the stairs in our apartment foyer. Was on my sore bottom picking up all my handbag contents! Lucky no neighbors were around to see it. Bargain? Perhaps not.

a weekend of excesses

An unexpected big friday night, lead to a very sore head & horrible hang over which lasted all of Saturday. I won't be repeating that again anytime soon. Horrid.

Today, I got up bright and early ran errands and unexpectedly burnt a massive hole in my pocket. 5 pairs of shoes; soft vintage boots (finally!), ballet flats, loafers, and these two...

One pair is going back for a refund. Keeping both is a wee overboard. Which colour, I am yet to decide...

I think they'll look better with opaque tights...

little buds of spring

The warm sunshine over the weekend has inspired me to get out some of the my frocks out of the wardrobe, sans opaque tights.

Here's one of the dresses I bought in Phillip Island. I think the white flower buds are rather sweet, however, I will need to take the hemline up..

Hoorah to some colour...

Lovely vintage light weight dress made of 100% Thai cotton but well lined. I had to hand sew the hemline up, but went a wee shorter than I had intended.. Tsk, tsk, tsk, oh when will I ever learn?

Well then good bye for now, see you again in Summer..

Dwell Studio - grey & mustard love affair

As you may have noticed fashion & bed linen has been on my mind alot lately...

Dwell Studio's lovely new bed linen range

Dwell Studio via Oh Joy

My favorite out fit combo at the moment - I wore it twice last week..

Market thrift mustard knit

Country Road grey marle skirt

My Country charcoal peep toe platforms

Grey pleat skirt

On occasion my op shop purchases will require a little bit of work shopping ie. hemline to be taken up or re-sizing and to be taken in. They currently sit in my wardrobe and are added to my never ending to do list..

So with winter here and hibernation in mind, little niggling projects can now be taken care of. Lets say I aim to alter one piece a week I should have a new wardrobe by Spring.
Here's one I did this week..

Before: Long length skirt

Grey pleated checks

Now: High waist & knee length..

Weekend bargains

I went to the Country Road warehouse in Richmond and grabbed a few basic bargains for work.

Honest, not everything in my wardrobe is grey & dreary, but for some reason this winter it's all I seem to be buying..

Ruffle plaid shirt dress was $129 down to $79.95

Fine wool dress was $149 - reduced down to $49.95

Grey marle skirt was $129.95 down to $29.95

Charcoal Peep toe platforms $149 down to $59.95

Oh and I manage to score JD a knit for $29.95!

When I was in high school my part-time supermarket check out chick pay packet was blown 90% on clothing 10% social life activites.. These days priorities have changed and I'm more drawn to buying homewares or splurge on eating out, oh and there's that darn mortgage, and therefore less on clothing.

I try to be a bit more savy with how I update my wardrobe by budget friendly vintage thrift buys mixed with wardrobe staples from stores like Country Road and the like. I'm lucky that I also have a generous sister who always thinks of me when she's overseas or sample shopping ;) ox

Winter woolies

This week I bought...

These yummy knits from a special sample and seconds sale held by The Bowerbird for family and friends. They are the fashion agents for new Melbourne knitwear label Braide and cheap and cheery label Mink Pink. Love a bargain!

He, he, he my seed-esque styling

The stripe knit & waffle knit by Braide

& the long cardi was Mink Pink sample

I also bought these new vintage brown Robin school shoes from an op-shop, not as nice as the ebay ones but not bad for $5. Hmmm, is it daggy for a grown person to be wearing school shoes?

Confessions of a op-shoppaholic

Ever squealed silently (or out loud) as you've just uncovered an absolute op-shop gem?

What a dream.. just in time for winter, perfect with ribbed tights!!

This is an oldie - all the way from St Vinnies in Wangaratta

Or bought something (even though it's not your exact style) but you just couldn't bare to leave it behind because:

a) some one you know would definitely dig it?

A beautiful mustard colour with a stunning golden bronze shimmer

b) because of its absolutely stunning embroidery detail... Even though it's only 1 curtain and not quite wide enough to fit your window?

For $7.50 who would complain??

c) because it's vintage Bally for $5!!

BUT ALTERNATIVELY, you may:

a) Have it hanging around for a year only to:
b) Assume someone would pay squillions for it on ebay and delude yourself that you could make a good profit
c) But then no one does, and you're a doofus and ya can't even give it away for free!
d) End up giving it back to charity
e) Ask yourself what on earth was I thinking?? And think oh well, at least the money has gone to a good cause.
f) All of the above

With some luck you may cherish it for years, use it constantly, adore wearing it, or smile proudly as walk you past it it your home.

PS Ummm, I was suppose to be on my way to buy paint from the hardware store for our bedroom. As you can see I got a tad side tracked... Oh well, try again tomorrow (ha, op-shops don't open on Sundays)