Knuckle-Dusters

These little trifles are ceramic rings, souvenirs of my few days in Barcelona. I bought them from a shop called Art Montfalcon, which was truly an Aladdin’s Cave of treasures. I could easily have bought more there, but I stopped at (ahem) five pieces.

Like cartoon rings, they deliver a hefty pop of colour to my hand. They’re real knuckle-dusters too, their size belying their fragility: I knocked the red one in Lisbon, and tragically scraped off a bit of glaze. (But a little bit of paint will fix that.)

As mementoes of Barcelona they are perfect, because they remind me much more of Gaudi’s ceramics (such as the whimsical baskets of fruit atop the Sagrada Familia) than the official souvenirs. 

Sundae Dreams

These vintage garments are dipped in ice cream sundae shades of pistachio, mint, strawberry and vanilla. Click image for a drool closer up.

I often like to window shop on Etsy. I can waste a great deal of time in that pleasant occupation (sometimes for legitimate research), and over the years have collected quite a number of lovely favourites. Most of the items I genuinely consider buying, but I am usually content to merely ogle them for a while until I determine just how much I want them.

Sometimes there’s no time for such shenanigans though, and I’ve seen a few things snapped up beneath my nose. Other times I’ve had ample time to buy, but I’ve held off because they were a wee bit expensive, or I didn’t like them quite enough – and then someone else has come and snapped them up from beneath my nose anyway and I discover (by the sharp pangs in my heart) that I really did want that thing after all. Phooey.

…I am usually content to merely ogle them for a while until I determine just how much I want them

And then there are the things I tuck away into my favourites folder that I simply adore but they tragically do not fit me – or they are so astronomically priced that I couldn’t possibly afford to buy them. I have no regrets (no big ones that is) if they sell. After all, if I couldn’t have them in my home to pet and admire, then someone else may as well enjoy them.

So, from the top, left to right:

1. A delicious little pistachio cashmere 1950s cardigan with satin appliqué (discovered on a random Google)
2. A J. Crew ruched chiffon swimsuit (seen on some blog somewhere long out of season)
3. A 1940s ‘mile wide’ red sunhat (but too similar to a white one I already own)
4. A 1960s fishscale beaded tank (cruelly snatched from my grasp);
5. A mint and white 1950s gown fit for a prom queen (but alas did not fit me)
6. A striped red and white 1930s suit (also too small)
7. A reproduction 17th century Venetian corset (I dithered, I admit);
8. A tomato red beaded cardigan (stolen right out of my favourites folder); and,
9. A simply divine ‘1910's Antique Vintage Opulent Crisp-White Handmade Irish-Crochet Lace Floral-Motif Edwardian Victorian Sheer-Couture Low-Cut Plunge Goddess Bell-Sleeve Flapper Fairy-Princess Boudoir Garden Wedding Formal Cocktail Party Trained Dress-Jacket Coat’ (a steal at $990 … what?).

What I Actually Wore #0050

Serial #: 0050
Date: 19/11/2010
Weather: 20° day, mild evening
Time Allowed: 3 minutes to decide

On the rare occasions when I do wear black I more often than not pair it with white or grey. So it was this mild spring evening as I dressed for the theatre.

The outfit began with the thickly sequinned sleeveless top I had found in the West End Vinnies on my recent trip to Brisbane. The sequins make me think of the shiny scales of a fish, and the pleated silk chiffon trim feathers of some bird – the combination makes a mythic creature of legend. The top is so outrageous I paired it with a sober (albeit leather) black pencil skirt.

A vintage white velvet jacket, black ponyskin heels, a shiny box purse stamped with a crocodile pattern, silver bauble earrings and bracelet, and my silver lip South Sea pearl and white gold ring completed my toilette.

Jaws drop over sequinned top. Night turns cool. My girlfriends and I eat a delicious dinner at the Malthouse (wahu and salmon salad for me). We sit next to three enthusiastic Russians and see Life Without Me at the Sumner Theatre.

Items:

Top: Vinnies
Skirt: Kenneth Cole
Jacket: vintage Stephen Dattner
Earrings: handmade
Bracelet: eBay
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Bag: Aldo
Shoes: Diana Ferrari

Poetic Pedigree

The Vintage Hat Series: 50s or early 60s silk- or rayon- velvet tam; Gladys & Belle, New YorkLikely every style of hat has an interesting history, but perhaps the origin of the tam is one of the most lyrical – literally.

The Tam o’ Shanter was a Scottish bonnet originally worn by men. It was named after Tam o’ Shanter, a character in Robert Burns’ 1791 gothic poem of the same name. 

Reminiscent of a beret, the tam is a floppy hat with a pompom in the centre. Its upstanding crown is sometimes up to twice the diameter of the head. The original men’s woollen hat was made only in blue due to the lack of chemical dyes, but today the masculine version comes in tartan and can be worn casually with Highland dress. 

Who knows how quick women were to notice the cuteness of this headwear, but they appropriated the Tam o’ Shanter for themselves and shortened its name to ‘tam’ or ‘tammy’. Taking it from traditional uniform into the realm of fashion, women didn’t stop at woollen plaid.

Anything with a pompom gets my vote, although my deliciously golden velvet tam has a black silk velvet button instead.

The Wedding Guest

Sapphire was going to a wedding in Sydney in June. She tells us how she put together the perfect outfit, including two hats and two pairs of stockings.

It all starts with the dress doesn’t it?

Absolutely! I suspected the wedding was going to be on the conservative side, so I didn’t want to wear anything too flashy. I was trying to go for a ‘Hamptons housewife’ kind of look, with a dress in a classic shape. It’s silk, so a bit warming – and teamed with fishnets, I thought it would be good for the milder Sydney climate. The dress comes with a tie belt, but it’s a little big so I decided to define the waist more with a wide faux leather belt from Landes. I bought it especially for the outfit, and chose patent to add a little sparkle. This was exactly the silhouette I was after.

Where did you find this vintage frock?

It’s from {also}, quite a nice little boutique on Smith St; well-edited for people who don’t like to trawl and ferret through charity stores. It cost about $50, and I was quite happy to spend that small amount instead of much more on a modern dress. And even though it’s a little oversize, I’ve worn it a couple of times since the wedding, and no-one’s noticed.

I really wanted to wear a hat too, because, you know – wedding!

It’s the accessories that really set an outfit apart, isn’t it?

Yes, I really wanted to wear a hat too, because, you know – wedding! Last time I spent a lot on a hat from Shag, you suggested shopping on eBay. I ended up bidding on an auction of two hats. I thought, a choice of two is better than one. I took both with me to Sydney, and I was undecided until the very last minute. I ended up going with the red-toned hat – it picks up the tiny dashes of red in the print of the dress.

That’s not red, love, it’s puce!

Funnily, there was an over-zealous customer in the boutique where I bought the dress. She tried to style my outfit for me – kept bringing over inappropriate red accessories from all over the shop for me! I was thinking, “What are you doing lady? I can dress myself! Do you work here, or get paid a commission?” It was very, very odd. I definitely didn’t want to match the red so exactly or so obviously with bright red.

It is a classic combination: red, black and white, but it doesn’t always look fresh, does it? Tell us about your other accessories.

The black suede shoes are from Witchery, and I bought them specially. I liked the fact that they’re wedges as I’m no longer good with heels – I just don’t wear them enough – and for comfort reasons. I’ve worn them to parties, and work, and I find them easy on the feet and trans-seasonal. As mentioned, I wore fishnets. I actually took two pairs with me, in case I ripped the first!

The necklace is made of nuts from Tahiti. An old friend of mine brought back heaps of these beads and sold them at markets.

I also wore a pair of elbow length grey suede gloves (which I forgot to bring to the photoshoot unfortunately). I bought them the year before in Germany at H&M – a glorious, but cheap, fun store. Sydney’s beautiful weather turned disgusting, so I was really glad to have them. Their length worked perfectly with the ¾ sleeves of the dress to keep me warm.

That can’t have been the only thing to keep you warm?

No, it wasn’t. I wore a kimono-style knit wrap that I found in Alphaville. I have no nice coats – only jackets – and when I initially went shopping I was thinking ‘delicious and knitted’. I imagined something lacy and flowing.

I thought Witchery at first, but as soon as I walked in the door of Alphaville I saw knits that were soft and tactile. I did the obligatory round of all the shops, but found that prices were similar everywhere. So I spent my money on something I loved.

Wise choice. And how was the wedding?

It wasn’t as conservative as I’d imagined: the bride wore purple. And coincidentally, many guests wore clothes in similar tones to mine – the wedding looked like it had been styled.

Well that was fun – I feel like I’ve just gone shopping myself! Thanks for gracing SNAP’s pages again Sapphire.