Shopping online; Retro inspired secretary dress with bow

This sweet 1950's style reproduction dress is made custom to order at just $100USD plus postage.

The 'Selena' Dress
$100plus

So very cute & perfect for Winter weather in Australia.

x Sianne

Shopping online; Retro inspired nautical dress

Following on from last week's post about a cute Nautical look...

http://www.getgoretro.com/Fables/SailorPearl.htm

$115

x Sianne

Retro recreation; Nautical dress with bow detail

I'm just putting it out there that this nautical outfit is gorgeous.

I love the silhouette & the oversized bow at the front.

I'd like to recreate the look & have found an abundance of nautical reproductions that can be purchased on eBay. Partner one of these with an authentic high-waisted skirt, red or navy heels & perhaps a refreshed over-sized bow & you're set!

White w/ navy detail
$22.99 plus postage

Navy w/ white detail
$22.99 plus postage

The view from behind!

Little navy wiggle dress.
Recently made famous by Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl.

Screen shot of said Gossip Girl character Blair.

Anyway, the dress is ultra cute as an item but I imagine it would look even more special with a skirt for added length, cinched in belt & a few red accessories.

x Sianne

The glamour of travel; Adelaide

This week I'm in Adelaide & very much missing my boyfriend.

I'll be home in a week & from there I can start uploading pictures again..

Yesterday I was feeling rather cold & flustered out & about amongst the crowds.. So I bought a dress. 

It's blue gingham & wonderful.

x Sianne

The racing season is upon us in Alice Springs!

Every year the Alice Springs Turf Club hosts the XXXX Cup Carnival at Pioneer Park at the foothills of the MacDonnell Ranges just a few minutes out of town. It's a big event for the Red Centre & I'm looking forward to making the most of it!


There are a few key dates in my diary over the next month; Girls Day Out, Ladies Day & Young Guns Day as well as the main XXXX Gold Cup Carnival at the very end of the month of festivities. Whether I am able to attend all of the above is a different story... but I'm certainly prepared in the dress department!

"The only decent people I ever saw at the racecourse were horses."

James Joyce.

There are a number of fashion parades & similar events to keep me occupied.. I'm in dire hopes of finding fellow dress lovers to make friends with but have been pre-warned that the standards in rural NT are not exactly as high as the Gold Coast... 


Regardless, there is a single milliner's shop in town & this week I am working on the accessories for my dresses. I have a few ideas in mind & am after a rather classic look with a few kooky touches to put my own personal stamp on the look. I'm still waiting on materials to arrive but am hoping to have pictures ready in a week or so! 

In the mean time, I have purchased some handmade accessories from a South Korean store on eBay.. they're rather cute...

Black Cameo Shoe Clips
$9.99

Victorian Cameo Brooch
$6.99

Black mini top hat w/ veil
$9.99

Clearly I wouldn't wear 2 sets of Cameo's in the one outfit.. But I wanted to have both options open.

x Sianne

Out of the slump & back on track

Hello again!

I've been in a bit of a slump for the past few weeks, mainly because I haven't a dollar to my name and therefore had a self-imposed ban on online shopping until I started work...

The good news is that I'm now working again & therefore have the right to go crazy on eBay tonight.

First of all I want to share a very cute store that I've had success with recently called Snow Outlet. This was the first dress I purchase with it's darling neckline and uber cute print.

Floral Butterfly dress
Purchased for $8.50 + $13.50P/H

The quality for $21.50 cannot be disputed, the dress is well made with a light cotton and the skirt is fully lined. I'm hoping to have at least a years worth of wear out of this one! All dresses from Snow Outlet are of course in the 'vintage style' which is their main appeal.

Here are a few of my other favourite designs - all of which are priced from $17.80 including postage via Auction & Buy it Now methods.

There is absolutely no shopping in Alice Springs, so I'm ordering the purple & black geometric dress next... very excited!

x Sianne

Jumpsuit lovin'; Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary

An advertisement for these suits popped up on my facebook this morning... how adorable are they?!

Navy stretch twill Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary
Priced at $100AUD

Priced at $100AUD

White stretch twill Sailor Romper by Vintage Suits by Mary

Product Information
Ahoy there!  Adorable 1 piece sailor suit romper in stretch twill.
Trimmed with contrast soutache braid with stars on back collar.
Comes in Navy, Red, or White

Find them on their website...

x Sianne 

Etsy lovin'; Lovely collage paper card

Out of the woods collage card

$7.35USD from StoriesDivinations on Etsy

I just love this sweet little card from StoriesDivinations on Etsy. Here is what the artist has to say about the product.

Out of the Woods - Out of the oppressive gloom and into a place where gigantic zinnias bloom...

A very special blank 5" x 7" handcrafted and lined collage notecard with a reproduction of one of my collages made with recycled vintage illustrations and music; hand-trimmed and mounted with care (and acid-free adhesive) and wrapping around luxurious, thick stationary with four deckled edges created in Italy by Cartiere Magnani.

Last year, Cartiere Magnani celebrates its 600th birthday. Among their customers have been many of Europe's reigning families and governments. Other notable customers have included Napoleon Bonaparte, who selected the mill to produce a special watermarked paper for the announcement of his wedding with Maria Luisa D' Austria. (The original mold is still held at the mill.)

Each card is enclosed in a clear resealable packet... Lovely to frame, to give with a gift or as a gift itself...

Just so sweet & also would be a fun craft project...


Sianne x 

Book love; How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World

Hello there!

This post has been a long time coming - as I read the book in October of last year - but finally I have had the time to write my review of this wonderful book, How to be a Hepburn in a Hilton World,  by Jordan Christy (Aug 2009).

Book cover - linked to Amazon

As most of you know, one of my very few idols is the lovely Audrey Hepburn. This book focuses on praising ladylike (Audrey-like) behaviour and shuns the lifestyle choices of celebrities like Paris Hilton... & rightly so. This book is timely and oh so needed right now. Young women are struggling with mixed messages and signals from the media and from society at large. This witty little number is the perfect birthday gift for any girl - as a refresher course or an introduction to proper living! 

To give you a taste of Christy's style of writing, this is how the cover reads;

"In a society driven by celebutante news and myspace profiles, women of class, style and charm are hard to come by. The Audrey and Katharines of the world continue to lose their lustre as thongs, rehab and outrageous behaviour burn up the daily headlines. But, despite appearances, guys still want a girl they can take home to their mother, employers still like to see a tailored suit and peers still respect classy conduct. So is it possible to maintain old fashioned virtues in a modern world without looking like a starchy Amish grandma? Christy shows women how in this guide to glamorous style, professional success and true love...the classy way. Full of fun assignments, notable names and real-life examples, Christy offers a new look at seemingly 'old fashioned' advice. She covers diet, speech, work ethic, friends, relationships, manners, makeup and fashionable yet modest clothing, showing modern ladies how they can be beautiful, intelligent and fun while retaining values and morals."

Christy reminds readers on the graces of being a lady. She reminds us that when it comes to make up the key is looking natural. Our behavior, our manner of dress, our language all work together to give others a perception of who and what we are. The makeup hints are outstanding. Many of them I already use, and for readers like myself this book provides a fun revision course and a good few laughs. 

I've passed this book on to friends of mine & it's on the list for a few birthday gifts this year too! It's simply a must & why wouldn't it be? Which of these ladies would you prefer to have for a friend or a sister or a niece or a cousin?

The lovely Audrey Hepburn

The notorious Paris Hilton

You know what to do!

x Sianne

Dreams Poster  by Seb Lester - Available at Soma Gallery

Indigenous Mexican art; cute new keepsake box

Indigenous Mexican art celebrates the skeleton and uses it as a regular motif. The use of skulls and skeletons in art originated before the Spanish Conquest with The Aztecs. I own a few bits and pieces of Aztec inspired art - my most recent piece being this funky little leather & wood keepsake box...

I call him 'Miguel' the styling skeleton.,

He's so adorable!

The colours are so rich and vibrant & I just adore his sweet little hat.


I purchased it from a lovely couple at a vintage sale - who had recently returned from Mexico and had decided to bring more Aztec style art to Australia. I wasn't going to tell them that the alternative scene (better not say 'rockabilly' - might offend some touchy people!) has a huge following for this style of art, especially when it comes to sugar skulls mixed with pin-up models mixed with low brow art mixed with the Southern Californian style Muscle Car scene. It's huge over here! 


Anyway, I'll surely be on the look-out for more gems like this - you just never know what you're going to find at a sale!

Until next time!


Sianne x

Summertime sales and frivolity

 Hello there one and all,

I've had a few queries come in over Twitter & Facebook & I wanted to share with you a few of my 'Sales' purchases made on Boxing Day...

To begin with, my lovely boyfriend saw fit to give me a perfect present for Christmas... a wallet of cash & permission to have an entire day of guilt-free shopping with my best friend, Merran.

Merran & I prior to a few Christmas drinks

We arose very early & were in the car by 8AM sharp, well almost, making sure we arrived at the doors of Myer well before opening time. So early were we, there was ample time for a coffee and banana bread before what was to be an epic day of shopping.

First stop was the shoe department, followed by handbags, wallets, hats, scarves and shawls... Next we made our way over to the mid-range designer sales... I excitedly purchased two lovely dresses at bargain prices, one from 'Hi There' by Karen Walker, the other by 'Princess Highway' by Dangerfield.
The lines for the change rooms were about 30 ladies deep, hence Merran and I made the isles our own personal changing areas & we enjoyed a good laugh with other resourceful gals doing the exact same thing... Great minds thing alike.

After raiding every isle in Myer, Merran & I ventured out into the rest of the shopping centre amongst a sea of people. We visited stores like Cue, Review, Saba, Novo, Nine West, Zimmerman & many, many more... Here are just a couple of my finds - I assure you there is a lot more where these lot come from & I managed to stay under budget! Only just!

Nautical dress from 'Hi There' by Karen Walker
Purchased at half price!

1940's style dress from 'Princess Highway' by Dangerfield
Purchased at 40% discount

Satin party dress from Target
Purchase at 60% discount

Snakeskin loafers by Diana Ferrari

Cute black pumps by Collection

I thoroughly enjoyed being amongst the crowd, which apparently is a nightmare for most, and of course loved spending time with my dear friend.

Now, the picture of the Karen Walker dress simply doesn't do it justice (I blame the 'point-and-shoot camera) so here is a picture of yours truly wearing said dress, next to my darling boyfriend, Dean. He is well aware that I want the same Christmas present every year.

My boyfriend Dean, myself & 'the dress'...

Until next time :)

Sianne

Etsy lovin'; Cute 'Wallpockets' from KitchAndKaboodle

Over the last few days I have spent a lot of time on both Ebay & Etsy to kill some time and list some clothes and accessories in need of a new home.. I've stumbled across quite a few awesome buys & I wanted to share these ultra cute 'Zanesville Wallpockets' featuring little flying ducks.

They don't match my decor, but I hope someone will give them a new home!

Much love! x

Pretty in Pink; Ultra cute gift ideas

At Christmas I often get stuck for present idea's... not this year.

Check out this ultra cute Australian site - http://www.prettyinpink.com.au/

Whilst I would usually go for a handbag, I love the little purses. Here are a few of my favourite travel cases... they might be presents to myself rather than to friends and family.

Pencil Case
$19.95 AUD

Vanity Case
$19.95 AUD

Satchel Case
$34.95 AUD

What's wonderful is the amount of choice in terms of fabric. From the very vibrant to plain and polka dot, there really is something for everyone.
x

Shoe Lust; Cute new pumps!

I've just purchased a really cute pair of shoes from Williams Shoes... They're called the 'Entertain' evening heel by Corelli.. but they're like a tuxedo in a shoe.

Corelli 'Entertain' Shoe
$69AUD

I already own a similar pair in a cute-out design so I couldn't go past the classic peep-toe look.

Australian buys; Prints @ Domayne

I was flipping through a Domayne catalogue recently and was surprised to find some wonderful decorator items on sale.. I love the prints especially. Although most prints in my possession are picked up from garage sales or antique stores, here are a few of my favourites from 'off the shelf' at Domayne.

Spring Unfolding Print
$299 AUD

Life needs more green lights
$599AUD

Keep calm and carry on - blue
$300AUD

Keep calm and carry on -red
$300AUD

Paris journal 1
$199AUD

Where there is love
$119AUD

x

Vintage buying; Springtime dinner sets

Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home;

John Howard Payne

I'll soon by moving interstate and, along with all the other preparations, I have started looking at lovely second-hand dinner set to make my new house feel much more like a home. 

Whilst I'll most likely find something in a local antique store, (can you really trust overseas postage to keep porcelain intact?), here are a few I've found and drooled over on one of my favourite sites, Etsy... (pictures are linked to original source)

Springtime dinner set; $199USD

Tea cup set; $15USD

Matching dinner plates; $17USD from same seller

Czech royal blue tea set; $16.50USD

April flowers 5 piece set; $195USD

Chinese floral 10 piece set; $175USD

Have a wonderful Thursday..

x