Daisy

Cardigan - vintage, dress - made by me, everything else thrifted

This is the last outfit from my Easter weekend adventures! This was what I wore on the monday when we took our guests to visit the Melbourne Zoo (hence the slightly awkward posing again.. there were lots of people around!) These photos were actually taken in the butterfly house, with the hopes that a few would land on me, but I think we only managed to catch that one in mid-air in the photo above and then they all seemed to avoid our little corner, I guess they were as photo shy as I was being.

This dress is one I made recently from a bedspread I got at an op shop - I couldn't resist the colour or the big daisy print!

The pattern I used was McCalls 5695. I originally had plans to make the little matching jacket too, but ran out of the fabric I was using. I'm thinking of making it now out of a solid coloured cotton, like white, and doing the collar and bow details with the daisy fabric, but we'll see.

I promise it fits much better than it looks here, I just was too nervous of the people to notice that I needed to adjust =/

I really love how it came out. The skirt is done in four parts and has pleats the whole way round so that was pretty time consuming but not difficult. I had a go at my first ever lapped zipper (and a hand picked one at that) and it came out pretty well! I really like the vintage look it lends so I'll probably use this technique on most of my sewing projects from now on. Also when I first made the muslin the bodice gaped quite a lot at the front so I had to work out how to fix that, which I did reasonably well.

I had planned for my set to last the entire weekend but alas, it was not to be, so I straightened it and chucked some rolls/curls in the front and topped it all of with a scarf.

Forties in Fitzroy

Hat - vintage, skirt - made by me, everything else thrifted

Another one from last weekend - we took our guests on an epic walking tour of the city which ended at the Clear-It outlet in Fitzroy, where I subsequently bought four cardigans.. heh.

I was rather proud of my outfit this day, I wore not one but three items I've never worn before - the vest, the hat and the blazer. The blazer I bought YEARS ago at Savers because it has a cute velvet bow and it's red..  but recently I realised it is (or would be) pretty 1940's looking.. after I removed the GIANT shoulder pads, that is.

The hat is one of two new hat acquisitions from a vintage store down the road from my work. I saw them there when I went wedding dress "shopping" and couldn't stop thinking about them so I went back a week later and they were still there so I bought them.
They're both rather plain but good basic hats that will go with many an outfit!

I felt rather awkward taking these photos (hence the boring, frozen looking poses) as we were down a side street of the very busy and trendy Brunswick St in Fitzroy, and people kept walking past and staring or needing to pass through where I was standing.. I still haven't conquered my fear of taking photos in public places and I'm thinking I may need to force myself into it as the area we are soon to move to has many beautiful tree-lined streets and a river and old houses with lovely gardens spilling out onto the footpath. These things need documenting, you know!

Happy Easter!

Beret - Dangerfield, everything else thrifted/vintage

Hi! I hope everyone had a great Easter weekend. Mine was crazy busy, and it's only now at the tail end of it all that I'm able to start blogging again - I've barely had time to return text messages to friends.

Eli's sister came to stay with us this weekend with her partner and their daughter, and as it was their first time in Melbourne for a very long time we had to pack a lot in! This outfit is from the day we went to visit some of their relatives out near Eltham. It was a lovely cold (but as you can tell, very sunny) day and I wore this jacket for the very first time. I'm still not entirely convinced that I like it because it's rather boxy but it sort of worked.. I'm thinking some darts in the front might remedy this, but whether or not I'll get around to doing that is a totally different story!

This brooch is one of about 6 brooches/necklace pendants that I've collected over the years from op shops and markets. It's a very Australian-outback-esque scene made primarily from paperbark. It's a little hard to make out, but its got some trees and some birds in the top left hand side there. This one is a little melted up top (it came like that) but in otherwise good condition.
I posted another one from my collection on Instagram last friday which features a little bark boat on a bark sea. So cute.

I don't have much info about these pieces, and I haven't really done much research but I've been meaning to. Has anyone else come across any of these?

The perfect pussy-bow blouse

Blouse - secondhand, trousers - Vivien Of Holloway, shoes - Wittner

I scored this amazing blouse earlier this week at my local op shop and I'm so stoked. I desperately need more tops in my wardrobe since I now have to wear jeans for work, so when I came across this pretty thing on the rack for $3 I didn't even try it on. Luckily it fits perfectly, and despite being (I think) from the 1970's/80's, it has a perfect 40's look that is exactly what I'm after for Autumn.

"Shopping" for dresses, buying other stuff

Hat - Glassons, blouse, belt, skirt & bag - thrifted, shoes - Wittner

Hello everyone! Firstly, I'd like to let you know I've started up a Facebook page for this here blog, because sometimes there are things I'd like to post/say that aren't really long enough for a full post, and aren't accompanied by a photo (i.e. something I'd post on my Instagram). I am completely useless at Twitter, so Facebook seemed like the best place for it! You can also use it to keep up to date with my blog posts. I'd love if you could "like" my page!

Also let me know if you have a page for your blog or business so I can check it out :)

Today I went with my Mum and Sister to look at wedding dresses. I wasn't looking for "the one", rather doing a bit of research into fabrics and what styles suit me best.. Turns out pure white is an awful  colour on me, so I'm going for a light ivory. Also those dresses are heavy! And hot!! 

I also picked up a sample of some potential fabric to use and I'll be starting my first muslin very very shortly.. eep! It's all very well and good to tell people I'll be making my own dress, but to actually start this immense project.. so very daunting. I'll hopefully remember to photograph and take notes along the way so after the fact I can let everyone know about my experience, and hopefully help anyone who's thinking of doing the same thing!

I bought myself some new shoes from Wittner yesterday after all of my favourite shoes decide to all die at the same time (naturally.) It's nice to have shoes that don't have holes in the soles/toes!

I also picked up a few other things...

A lovely light cotton dressing gown.

A pretty pussy-bow blouse (missing the top button, but at $4 thats totally fine with me.)

Two more lovely floral fabrics (as if I needed more.. I should do some sewing) and a Besame lipstick in Red Hot Red, which I have been wanting to try for a while now. Keep your eyes peeled for a review soon!

My makeup and skin care favourites

I always like these kinds of posts on other blogs, so I thought I'd do a post about my usual makeup.

I generally do my makeup the same each day, sometimes omitting liquid eyeliner if I'm in a hurry or not really going anywhere. If I'm going out I'll occasionally play around with eyeshadows but usually very subtly.

Growing up dancing at concerts and competitions, I have an immense dislike for the feeling of heavy makeup on my skin, so makeup for me is about using the bare minimum to enhance my features - no foundation applied with a trowel for me, thank you very much!

I'm also pretty lazy and get frustrated by having to spend too much time on my makeup and hair in the mornings so I've streamlined my routine so I can apply it quickly and be on my way!

First of all, I always wash and moisturise my face every morning (and night) with Cetaphil. I've tried fancy skincare products but my skin is very hit and miss and can be quite sensitive at times. I've just found that Cetaphil just does what it's supposed to with no drying or irritation, so I've stuck with it!
Every few days I will mix some with a bit of baking soda for a gentle face scrub.

I'm lucky that my skin is (generally) pretty good, so depending on what I'm doing on any given day, I may or may not choose to use foundation. While I was in the USA I went to Sephora and got them to colour-match my skin tone with their fancy little wand thingy and suggest some products. I wanted something that would give me a nice matte look, was creamy and didn't feel super heavy on. I ended up trying out this one by Ardency Inn and I absolutely love it! Obviously the colour is perfect for me, but also because it is concentrated it gives awesome coverage when used alone, or you can mix with primer or moisturiser for a lighter coverage. It doesn't highlight the dryer areas of my skin (around my nose can be particularly bad) and is also a very useful spot concealer. I just apply this with my fingers a little at a time and make sure to blend it all in.

For powder I LOVE Illamasqua's loose translucent powder (excuse my dirty brushes, eep), even putting it straight onto your bare skin will somehow magically even out your skin tone and create a beautiful matte finish. I tend to use this if I'm having a lazy makeup day/don't have enough time for a full face or over the top of my foundation if I'm going somewhere fancy.

I picked up this cheapo blusher for about $3 at the local chemist. I had been searching for a matte peachy blush but couldn't really find one in the right shade. I like to buy cheap brands to test out colours before I invest in something better, and I really do like this colour so I'll probably be purchasing Illamasqua's blush next if they have the right shade.

I shape and fill in my eyebrows using a pressed powder compact for brows by The Body Shop. I only use the darker colour (as you can probably tell!) and I rarely use the little brush it comes with as it's too stiff.

For mascara, I've been using this Rimmel one lately and it works just fine. I really hate changing mascaras because I never know what the brush is going to do to my lashes till after I've gotten it home and tried it. Why are there SO many crazy mascara-brush shapes?? What do they all do?? It's all too confusing so I just stick to this one, which I buy at the supermarket because it's easy.

Not pictured is my liquid liner - I've been using this Maybelline liquid eyeliner or something similar for ages. I tried out the new pen-type ones and also that little gel pot one with the brush but I'm just way more used to these old ones and find it a lot easier to control how thick or thin the line is.

I only use MAC lipsticks at the moment, because I find that they give the best coverage and last the longest without being drying. The shades I currently use are Russian Red, Lady Danger and Girl About Town. I'd love a nice brick-red for autumn but have yet to find one I like. I also use a MAC lip liner in Cherry whenever I use my Russian Red to stop it bleeding.
I am clearly down to the dregs of my red lipstick, so I'm looking at perhaps trying something new next (maybe Limecrime or Besame I think.)
On occasion I will use this Revlon lip stain too, sometimes as a liner and sometimes on it's own for a more subtle look.

And thats pretty much it! It seems like a lot more than it is writing it all down, but it's a routine that I've got pretty much down pat.

Do you have any favourite products? Any recommendations for cheap powders, blush or lipsticks welcome!


*** All products shown have been purchased by myself. I have not been paid to endorse any of the companies mentioned, I just like and/or use these particular products currently :) ***