That looks oddly familiar...

Dress - Vintage (Ebay)
Cardigan - SES
Brooch - Vintage
Belt - Vintage
Tights - Leona Edmiston and ??
Shoes - Scooter
Bag - Vintage (Ebay)

Yes, you've seen all of these items before, I fully admit! The dress is probably the most memorable, I wore it first in this post. Alas, I am a semi impoverished student and I do have to rewear my clothes rather often! However, I think it all looks significantly different and fresh put together this way. The tights effect is created by black tights under my usual red ones - I wanted a really dark red colour with the dress (and, it's cold).

My lovely readers, do let me know how you feel about this kind of post. Would you rather I only did outfit posts with new things, or are you happy to see "remix" outfits as well? I'd quite like to post my "remix" outfits, it fits in with my ethics about getting a lot of wear out of the clothes you do buy, and keeping them a while.

"Her hair is blond and curly, her curls are hurly-burly..."

Beret – Myer
Rollneck – Witchery
Brooch – Vintage
Belt – Vintage (Etsy)
Skirt – Self Made
Tights – Leona Edmiston
Shoes – Vintage (Etsy)

Today I didn’t have to be at university until two, so I had rather a lot of fun with my new Remington hot rollers set. I have always wanted curls, so getting to have them today was a lot of fun. The windy day absolutely destroyed them, but they were great fun while they lasted. I’m wearing two layers of stockings, and I had my leather coat with me, so I wasn’t as horribly cold as yesterday. I really ought to have ironed my skirt, but I liked this outfit a lot overall, it felt very “me”.

And, a close up of the curls.



Title courtesy of "Honey Bun" from the musical "South Pacific", a great favourite of mine as a child.

Mountain treasure...

Outfit posts will return immanently (now that I'm back at university, in particular!) but today I'm sharing with you the pretty things I found and bought on my trip to the Blue Mountains.


Two vintage dresses, probably to sell at the market stall Tim and I are planning (when the weather gets warmer). There is a third one, but it is still being washed. (I may possibly have spilled the tiniest bit of hot chocolate on it. Ahem.)



The suitcase I found on the side of the road during council clean up (I am quite the scavenger), with a fabulous scarf I found in an op shop, and a wonderful leather skirt (also from an op shop). I can't wait to take in the leather skirt and wear it with things - particularly with cardigans, brooches and pretty blouses. And, the hat! Not from a good angle, so here it is again;


It's navy in real life, and it's marvelous! I found it in a tiny, seldom open antiques store in Mount Victoria and it was being sold to aid orphans in East Timor, which is even lovelier. I want to get a white velvet ribbon for it as well. And, I am dying to get a perfect black cloche, and a perfect white summer hat.

In the mountains...

Firstly, an apology for my extended absence and an apology for the lack of wonderfulness of this post. Our Blue Mountains adventure was great fun in parts, but rather fraught with disaster, as the batteries in my camera died within the first hour of our being there (and Tim's is not terribly good, and was also low on battery) and by the end of day two, Tim had become terribly sick (he is now much better). As such, I don't have many pictures!

Beret - Myer
Blouse - Op Shop
Gloves - Ebay
Scarf - David Jones
Skirt - Self Made
Tights - Not sure
Shoes - Scooter

This is what I wore on the first day - shot from the very unflattering perspective of Tim's great height of 6'2 in our little hotel room. The skirt is the one I showed a picture of unfinished a while ago - it's great, very warm! The leather waist band and the leather gloves together make it all a bit edgier than I usually do, but I think with the blouse and mary janes it all works quite nicely.

Here I am in a fabulous Art Deco bathroom in the house at Everglades Gardens. All you can really see is my vintage leather trench coat, which has been featured before. Click on the picture to see it full sized - it's worth it!


This was apparently from the front of London bank and was taken apart and reassembled in the mountains here - which I find rather charming in a quite ridiculous way. It looked wonderfully out of place!

I'm afraid this is all I have for now, but tomorrow will bring pictures of my mountains purchases (three vintage dresses - probably to sell, a cardigan, a leather pencil skirt and the world's most perfect hat) and posting will return to normal!

I'll be gone...

Until Thursday evening!

Tim (my boyfriend and I) are going to the Blue Mountains for four days, so I'll be completely cut off from the internet until then (which is probably good for me!).

I promise to return with many pictures in various pretty locations.

Cheerio!

Out at night!

Headband - Diva (?)
Coat - Op Shop
Blouse - H&M (from an Op Shop)
Skirt - Myer
Cuff - Self made
Tights - Leona Edmiston
Shoes - Pulp

Believe it or not, sometimes I leave the house to do something other than attend an antiques fair or go op shopping! Last night I went out for dinner and drinks with some friends and dressed what I hope was accordingly. I must say though, I know why the H&M blouse was in the op shop - it's hideously badly cut and keeps gravitating to the right and sits horribly. *shakes fist* It's a shame, I love stripes! The coat is velvet, and possibly supposed to be a dress - I've sometimes worn it as one. I always wear it when I go out in winter, neglecting my proper winter coats which are much warmer because they just don't make me feel a little bit like a rock star the way this one does.

I apologise for the dodgy picture - it was taken in my boyfriend's bedroom at the end of the night with horrible flash. (Yes, the walls are black...) I shall attempt to avoid such things in the future.

New old things and awards...

My op shopping adventures on Tuesday proved fruitful, as they usually are.



The green wool pleated skirt is pure wool, and part of my attempt to wear colors other than black, white and red. It will have to be altered really quite a lot, but I think it will be worth it. The grey fabric is 1.5 meters of fabulous wool - I love finding fabric at op shops, it's so exorbitantly priced at places like Lincraft. The shoes are a find so fabulous they get their own pictures and description below. The scarf is a cute find, kind of to replace the ivory silk gentleman's evening scarf which I foolishly lost - until I find another! The blouse is H&M - highly unusual for an Australian op shop! I like the stripes and the sheerness, so it will probably be worn far too often come summer.

And now, shoe pictures!



I am so ridiculously delighted with these sandals - they are exactly what I wanted in a summer sandal, were exactly the right size (8.5), in very condition and a mere $4. I particularly love that they have a close toe, so I can wear tights and stockings with them fearlessly.



And these came from ebay last night! And cheered me up greatly when I was so sick (After about 18 hours of sleep, I much better!).

And, the very lovely Kater of All This Happiness gave me the "Inspired Blog Award" - thank you so very much! In addition to that honor, one of my all time favorite bloggers, Rhiannon of Liebemarlene Vintage listed me as one of the blogs that "inspire her with their fashion nerdiness" and "for going beyond standard fashion blog fare to include other passions and interests". I am very flattered indeed!

A debt of gratitude to Miu Miu...

Dress - Munky Bizness
Blouse - Bebe
Tights - Basque
Shoes - Pulp
Cuff - Self made

I was very much inspired by Kirsten Dunst for Miu Miu with this outfit, which I wore op shopping yesterday. The dress is kind of a 60's style tent dress - and I adore the lace overlay. I'm afraid I haven't much more to say today, I'm not feeling too well.

Here's a closeup of the cuff I made (from a leather skirt I bought at an op shop).

All I need is a white picket fence...

Dress - Vintage (Op Shop)
Belt - Vintage Cue (My mother's)
Petticoats - Esprit (sold as a skirt)

Shoes - Op Shop (I disinfected them before wearing them with no tights, of course!)

This is very 1950's housewife, is it not? Rather appropriate, as I had a lovely day at home today watching Project Runway, sewing, reading, cleaning out my room and having a fantastic long bath. My Dad said the dress reminded him of something his mother would have worn in the 50', which makes me like the dress all the more, as she passed away recently and I see it as a tribute to her. I haven't worn pink for a very long time, but I'm quite liking it.

The skirt that is now petticoats is a remnant of the boho era - it's tiered with tiny pleats and is very voluminous. I'm glad I didn't give it away, it makes the most perfect petticoat.

Brooch - Antiques Fair

This is the brooch I bought at the antiques fair I mentioned - I love it, it looks like a quill with a bow at the end of it. It didn't show up in my outfit picture, but I was wearing it!

And, I made a headband! The red velvet skirt I bought wasn't in quite good enough condition to be altered, so I'm planning to turn it into a whole host of red velvet accessories; I want a bow tie, bows on bobby pins for my hair and a bow cuff. But, here is the headband;



I think it's rather Blair-esque.

And, finally, my boyfriend and I went scavenging given there was a council clean up in my area. People were putting out really great stuff - just to be thrown away! I was actually quite sad that they didn't consider donating it to a charity instead.

I found a very cute little hard suitcase - perfect for my mini break to the Blue Mountains next week and two framed prints of Paris in watercolor.

I think they're charming - they're going up on my wall soon!

Awards!

The lovely Laura from Punainen Kokonainen and Esme from Esme and the Laneway both gave me this award:
Thank you my dears! Very encouraging for one who's only been doing this for a month and a week!

The rules are:
1) When received, you may post the premio to your blog.
2) Link to the blogger you received it from.
3) Give it to 7 blogs
4)… link to those 7 blogs
5)…and leave those seven bloggers a comment about receiving the brilliant premio.

However, I'm not terribly good at sticking to the rules for these things, so I would instead like to give it to only two bloggers, both of whom are very new in the blogosphere but have already shown themselves to be wonderful dressers and I can only expect more wonderful things from them both.

The two ladies are:
Danielle from The Portrait of a Lady
and
Porcelain Blonde

Not quite a femme fatale...

Coat - Vintage (Ebay)
Beret - Myer
Scarf - Op Shop
Dress - Op Shop
Tights - Columbine
Shoes - Ebay



As above, and
Belt - Vintage (was my mother's!)

I went to a wonderful antiques fair today, in Wahroonga (it's on tomorrow as well, if anyone's keen!). I love going to antiques fairs, looking at so many beautiful things is such a pleasurable sensory experience. Each piece has its own little history, and such beautiful craftsmanship is evident in so many things. I have quite lost my taste for new things in the last year or so. Well, except for shoes and tights (and possibly shiny electrical goods). I think my taste in home decor and architecture is most firmly rooted in the past.

Anyway, the outfit! The coat is the most wonderful shade of reddish brown, and is so warm (it's real leather). It's very femme fatale, but I'm not. It had spent so long in my "to be fixed" pile I had forgotten about it. The shoes are the twins of my cream ones that featured in this post, but are a size larger. The cream ones pinch my toes, and the black ones are a bit too big - such is the tragedy of being an 8.5. The dress fulfills at least half of my polka dot fantasies, and was ridiculously cheap (about $4). I like it with the belt and the red scarf - I can't wait til Summer, the dress was very much hidden all day, I only took my coat off for the picture, it was very cold!

Jacket - Op Shop
Shirt - Market
Pullover - French Connection
Trousers - I don't know
Belt - I don't know!
Shoes - Op Shop

And, the boyfriend again - the cause of my visiting so many antiques fairs! (though I do very much enjoy them!) I liked his color combination today so much that he agreed to pose again for me. The shoes were a particularly good find - they're Italian and were $1, and they're reddish brown shiny brogues.

N.B. - Tonight I will have a mammoth session of replying to comments and emails, updating my links list (or maybe doing a blog roll), setting up my modepass account and giving things a general tidy up.

"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses"

Glasses - Ralph Lauren
Cardigan - SES
Brooch - Market
Belt - Vintage (Etsy - came with a dress)
Skirt - self made
Tights - Voodoo
Shoes - Pulp

The quote is from Dorothy Parker, who I adore, but I do not agree with her! I don't think my glasses suit me as well some people's do, but they're a nice change. I think they give the whole look an air of "librarian chic" - which is something I very much hope to cultivate, as I do want to be a librarian. The skirt is one of the first things I've made and have been able to wear in public. It used to have a velvet waistband, but it was made of ribbon and got a bit "tired" as so I took it off and haven't yet replaced it. As such, the skirt can only be worn with a thick belt. I should fix it though, it's the kind of skirt that goes with everything.

This is what I wore whilst watching Brideshead Revisited today with Tim. It's so lovely. I must confess, I've owned the DVD a while, but I've never got past episode two because I can't bear how sad I know it becomes. Today, however, I got to the end of episode three and am just coping.

Op Shop Treasures, Part 2

Being on holiday from university has meant I've had a lot of time to go op shopping lately. It's been fantastic fun, but I've spent rather a lot of money! Mainly by going into speculative china, ceramics and painting ventures with Tim, on his advice - which I hope will pay off! So, here are the fruits of my labor. I've been all around Sydney, and to about 15 different shops, so it's not all from a particular place!


The scarves were, I think, $1 each and are rather larger than usual, so I think I will be able to wear them around my waist. The velvet skirt is too large and I don't like the hemline, so it will be undergoing a transformation to look like this one by Karen Walker ("Lucky" collection). The fabric is a kind of stiff gauze, I think it will make a wondrous petticoat. The cream shoes are the ones responsible for leaving bits of their heels all around the office at work, and the black ones I wore last Friday night, with great glee.


The tweed skirt and the argyle vest are both things I'm not passionately in love with, but were incredibly cheap (< $2 each) and will be very appropriate for work. The belt has already been useful, and has the advantage of having no holes, as it's woven. This is very good, as I have a small waist that is difficult to find belts for. The red blouse will be perfect for summer, if you enlarge the picture you can see the pretty detailing. The beads are to satisfy my inner flapper, and the bow tie is just big enough to go around my head as a wonderful headband.
The floral dress is pleated from the waist, which is what attracted me to it. It's rather a nasty polyester in feel, but it's really very pretty on, and will perfect for lounging around on long hot summer afternoons. I may or may not make it shorter. The beaded belt is the result of a lovely and kind lady at Vinnies showing me and opening up the "vintage cabinet" - I think it would be just delicious with a black shift dress (particularly one that pleats from the waist, and in silk) which will be my next sewing project. The purse I bought at the same Vinnies - I think it was what made the lady think I'd fancy the belt. It's very cute indeed, the strap can be put inside it, which tempts me to use it for everyday.


I'm sorry about the way this picture looks! I didn't use the flash, because it reflected in a horrid way. Anyway, this is a leather bag I found (today!) for Tim (my boyfriend) to use for uni, as his current bag is fraying to bits. It's really rather nice, and at $4 he doesn't have to worry if it takes quite a bashing in daily use.

And now a couple of non op shop things!


This is a skirt that I am making - as yet it is unhemmed and has no zip at the back. The waistband is made from leather from the enormous leather skirt I mentioned buying at an op shop a few weeks ago, and the main fabric is very lovely Italian wool, which I bought in the post-Christmas sales at Lincraft. I’ll probably be using the same two materials to make a bag sometime soon.


And these are non op shop purchases! The peacock clips were a whim, but hopefully one that will come to a good end. I think having one stick up from a low messy bun would be rather delightful. I bought them on Etsy, there are quite a few such things available. The note book came free with this month’s Harper’s Bazaar – I have been buying magazines which I don’t do except whilst sick or on holiday. The book is the most wonderful resource of op shops second hand shops of all kinds in Sydney – it is highly recommended. You can buy it online here, but I found my copy in a rather darling old wares shop in Newtown.

I apologise for the lack of outfit posts in the last few days- my camera has been out of battery, but is now recharged and ready for action. I have tomorrow's outfit planned already!

About Me

What can I say? I'm a University of Sydney Arts student who will very probably undertake post-graduate studies to become a librarian. However, I also intend to run a bookstore/cafe, write a great deal of fiction and non-fiction and possibly design and have manufactured a fabulous clothing line produced in an entirely ethical way. Evidently, I am very keen on clothes and all things wearable - but there are many other things in my life!

My thoughts on how I should live my life consist of two main ideas. The first is that of all the ethical theories I have read and examined and argued about, having done a lot of philosophy at university, I don't think there is anything better to live by than the motto "Be kind". I always try to be, and will continue to try harder still. The second is that I will enjoy my life most when it is in keeping with my aesthetic ideals. I want a life that I find beautiful, and to have that, I believe in both pursuing what I find to be beautiful and to find beauty in what I have.

I intend to spend a great deal of my adult life reading, cooking, dressing, poking about antiques stores, spending time with my family, friends and lovely boyfriend (Tim) and generally living rather than achieving.

I have a great passion for the past, I get most of my fashion inspiration from the 20's to the 60's. Most of the books I read are also from or before this period. My favorite authors are Evelyn Waugh, Alec Waugh, Alexander McCall Smith and a whole host of pre 1950's children's authors, but I have enjoyed so many other books by authors not here mentioned that it seems almost ridiculous to mention any.

I spend the majority of my spare time (of which I have had a lot recently, as I work only one day a week and have not been a diligent university student) reading, watching Bargain Hunt and the Antiques Roadshow with Tim, 'doing my internet' (which includes browsing, reading, commenting, posting etc.), sewing, going to endless markets and op shops (mainly with Tim), watching old films, new films and BBC comedies, drinking tea, cooking, taking pictures, spending time with my beloved friends and family and doing rather more than the average amount of thinking about absolutely everything and consequently worrying about it.

Finally, I confess to being a complete geek. This is because whenever I have an interest, I become completely obsessed with it and intensely passionate about it. Eventually, the passion fades as something new takes its place, but all of my past obsessions still hold a place in my heart. Past obsessions include: The Lord of the Rings (I began to learn Elvish), Harry Potter (I have two sets of homemade robes), the Chronicles of Narnia (when I was 6 I could recite a great deal of the BBC version), The Monkees (Davy Jones!), Rogers and Hammerstein musicals, Nietzsche (I made a t-shirt) and paganism (I had more candles and incense than a Catholic church!).

Comments and Contacting

I adore receiving comments, as most of us do and indeed I most cordially invite each and every one of you to comment as you please. I regret that I am no longer able to reply to every single one, but I will answer any questions and address any statements that need a response, so do check back.

I do moderate comments to avoid spam and trolls, but I'm online quite a few times a day, so I will publish your comment quite quickly.

Also, I do often go to the blogs of those who comment, and I don't mind being reminded to do so.

My email address is rachaelnw@gmail.com - I would be delighted to receive any questions, comments, ideas etc. Overtures of friendship are also very much welcome, I adore the idea of a "blogosphere" community.

About the Blog

This blog is to share and celebrate my love of aesthetics, with a particular focus on the realm of those things that we wear. As I say in my first post, I believe that beauty is the promise of happiness, and so I try to create and find beauty in every day of my life. Quite frankly, dressing in a way I find beautiful is tremendously enjoyable, and so this blog aims to share this enjoyment and its product with the like-minded.

I also endeavor to show that one can dress beautifully in things that are mostly second-hand. I have a great moral dislike of "disposable fashion" and hate the idea that I should buy a whole new wardrobe every season of shiny new things produced in an unethical and environmentally damaging way. I do like to have a lot of clothes, and I do like to have things that are new to me often - I enjoy variety and novelty. But by buying second hand things, I can do this in a responsible way, and, at the risk of sounding pompous, I am trying to set an example.

Finally, I suppose I should mention that I am very much irked by the stereotype that an interest in one's clothes means that one is shallow and probably quite stupid. I suppose if such an interest manifests itself in slavishly following chainstore fashions, then it might be somewhat justified. However, most of the "fashion blogger" community let their interest in clothes inspire them make clothing a form of enjoyable creative expression. I like to think of my love of clothes as a hobby - no different to being very keen on model trains, or Doctor Who. And really, I have nothing to say to those who disapprove of hobbies.

Horror Movie Child

Headband - Diva (Bow tie attached by me)
Dress - Vintage (Market)
Tights - Columbine
Shoes - Vintage (Op Shop)
Necklace - Antique

...My outfit tonight made me feel like I was playing a disturbed/evil child in a horror film, so I decided to go with the bow headband (not very visible) and play it up. The dress was originally much longer, and I shortened it a little too much as the waist on the dress is above my natural waist. Still, I like the delicate pleating/gathering and the lace detail far too much to stop wearing it. The occasion was dinner for my step-brother's 21st tonight - happy birthday Jeb!

The necklace is very special indeed, my boyfriend gave it to me for my birthday this year. It's an antique, the middle stone is a garnet, and the sparkly parts are marcasite. I'm afraid I can't provide an enlargement, it would be too pixelated, but I will take one especially for my next entry.

The shoes I found at an op shop on my travels yesterday - the first time I have ever found shoes at an op shop that fit me and are nice! These are the more fun of the two pairs - the others are cream, and I wore them to work today. The bottoms of the heels completely disintegrated throughout the day, and I left pieces of black plastic all over the carpet at work, and when they were completely gone, the staples at the bottom started pulling at the carpet with every step. Quite mortifying! But both pairs are worth being re-heeled.

Shoes, close up!

Tomorrow I am getting a hair cut and then sewing until my fingers bleed. There will be pictorial results of both!

I just can't stay away!

Shirt - Ebay
Skirt - Vintage (Ebay)
Scarf - Self Made
White tights - Columbine
Black tights - Garage Sale
Shoes - Scooter
Bag - Vintage (Ebay)

I know that the holes in my stockings are very visible! The clasp on my bag tore them just before I took the pictures, very sad-making, but I think they can be fixed. The shirt is a men's tuxedo shirt I tailored to fit me. I was very keen on (men's) shirts when I bought it (a mere 8 months ago) but I'm utterly enamored with blouses now - but I do wear it now and then. And, yes, I am at Sydney Uni during holidays - my boyfriend and I both had to return library books and then absolutely pillaged the library for holiday reading - we have about 13 books each, mine are primarily very old-fashioned etiquette guides and some lovely books of vintage fashion, and his are entirely about antiques.

Close up of the layered tights


Jacket - Op Shop
Tie - Op Shop
Vest - Op Shop
Shirt - Not op shop, but unknown!
Jeans - Cheap Monday
Shoes - Not op shop, but no idea!

And Tim the fashionable boyfriend, antiques lover and usual photographer guest stars again! He and I had the most wonderful morning, we went to a couple of local op shops and found some amazing treasures in the art/ceramics/china field. I also found two pairs of shoes (I have never found shoes before!) that are great and fit beautifully, a pretty blouse, two scarves and a belt. Pictures of those are to come!

Six Unimportant Things About Me

Well, I've now been tagged by the lovely Super Kawaii Mama and the gorgeous Alicia of Sea of Ghosts, so I shall engage in this whole tagging shenanigan.

1) I can't stand to make tea with water that isn't absolutely boiling hot. It has to be just after the kettle "clicks" - if I accidently leave it too long because I was doing something else, I reboil it.

2) I don't have a favourite color. I can honestly say there's no color I particularly like more than others. There are some I wear more, but I don't particularly like them more.

3) I have a bad habit of starting to alter clothes, but not finishing, so I have about 20 garments in pieces or in process needing to be finished, including two winter coats which I really ought to be wearing.

4) I call my cat "Mrs Cake Muffin Love" or "Mrs Bunny Cake". Her name is Tiger.

5) I love reading old-fashioned children's books when I have a lot of leisure time, particularly E Nesbit - there will surely never be a greater children's book than "Five Children and It". I read Mark Twain's "Tom Sawyer" a couple of days ago, and really enjoyed that - children today seem so fettered and unimaginative.

6) I don't know how to use the vast majority of setting and fancy things on my Nikon D40 (digital SLR). I do however hope to learn, but until I do, it takes great photos on auto, which is why I love it.

I won't tag anyone else - anyone I would conceivably tag has been tagged!

So much better on holiday!

Enlarge the photo! The skirt looks different!

Beret - Myer
Cardigan - SES
Scarf - Gift
Top - Sussan
Skirt - Op Shop
Tights - ?
Shoes - Vintage (Ebay)

Up close, the skirt is black and white checks, and the buttons are half sous. So cute! Though, if ever I wear this skirt, I always wear it with exactly this outfit, I just can't seem to think of something else. Today was lovely, my boyfriend and I went op-shopping and I got more things than him, for once! Many more! I'm sure they will all feature on here in good time. I'm very much enjoying the break from study, though I really need to get a job if I'm going to take the next semester off (which I may or may not).