On Christmas Night

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads … And Tatiana in her vintage 1920s silk boudoir cap, donned her silk Vietnamese vintage wrap*, and planned on lounging glamorously all the next day sipping wild hibiscus champagne and nibbling on raspberry flavoured Lindor balls while everyone else rushed around like mad things in the heat flinging their money around in the Boxing Day sales as though they had not spent enough already this Christmas.

It has been a lovely Christmas Day, fa-la-la, and while the clock will shortly strike midnight in Melbourne, somewhere on the other side of the world people are still enjoying it. A very Merry Christmas to you all, with love!

* For the real lyrics to this carol, click here. 

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring … except for a mouse!

A mouse in a 1950s cocktail hat, a mille feuille of black crin accented with a giant pearl bead. Earlier this year, I purchased this sweet little topper on Etsy, from The Vintage Hat Shop, and I wasn’t the only one who remarked it looked like I had donned a pair of Mickey Mouse ears.

But more to the point, what are you doing this Christmas Eve? This little mouse is about to get busy baking lots of tiny little lemon cheesecakes (how apt) for a family lunch tomorrow. Must scamper … enjoy your evening!

What I Actually Wore #0092

Serial #: 0092
Date: 04/09/2012
Weather: 24°C / 75°F
Time Allowed: 8 minutes

It is a beautiful spring day, all sunshine! And how easy is it to dress on such a morning, especially when one has planned the outfit the day before? My choice was made simple by the mere fact I had a new dress – and new clothes are meant to be worn immediately of course.

The vintage 80s polka dot dress came from Center Stage Vintage on Etsy, and the black cello straw lattice hat is vintage 50s, also purchased online on eBay. My jewellery includes a pair of black onyx bauble earrings and bangle. Black and white is always a classic combination, but I add a burst of spring-like colour with a pair of pink patent heels, and my vintage 70s hot pink silk coat to ward off the morning chill.

Amelia-Jane grins when she sees me, ‘Well, you’ve embraced spring, haven’t you?’ Who couldn’t be delighted with such a glorious start to the season?

Items:

Dress: Scarlett, vintage 80s, from Center Stage Vintage
Coat: vintage 70s
Hat: vintage 50s
Earrings: handmade
Bangle: souvenir
Rings: (onyx) souvenir, (silver) Roun
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Wittner

The Christmas Effect

Dear Snappettes (and Snappers), I do apologise for my long absence these past weeks – I have been unable to drag myself away from my drawing board and have been shamefully neglecting you my dear readers. Thank you for coming back and being so patient! Now, read on …

My all-time favourite red shoes: suede t-bar peeptoes, a vintage tweed trilby, amazonite earrings and a chrysoprase ring

What will you be wearing this party season? Will you be getting into the spirit of things and donning lots of sparkles, or perhaps it will be an ugly Christmas sweater with matching reindeer earrings?

Red and green are the classic Christmas colours, inspired by spiky holly leaves and their red berries, but I would never recommend wearing them together – at any time of year. I originally wore this little seasonal collection of red and green last July (except I swapped the hat for one of plain green), accessorising a pair of black trousers and a multi-striped jumper in red, green, purple and turquoise – thereby cleverly negating The Christmas Effect.

But if you must wriggle into something particularly redolent of the season, may I suggest a touch of red with white, or green with white – just so long as you don’t resemble a peppermint candy cane (although this could be quite witty if done right). 

A white dress with just a touch of glittery Christmas red

Shades of Black and White

Melburnians finally get a taste of summer, and what a scorcher today was! Just a few minutes in the sun this morning and I could feel my skin burning. It climbed to 36°C today, hot enough for a parasol. It’s becoming more and more common to see sunshades on the streets these hot summer days.

I only wish this meant umbrella manufacturers would broaden their horizons and start producing beautiful parasols in the style of centuries past, covered in embroidered fabric, with carved wooden handles and silk tassels dangling from them – but they haven’t moved past brashly printed polyurethane yet (at least not in this country).

This vintage black and white umbrella is in fact also made from some kind of vinyl or plastic, but the floral patterned lining is actually flocking. So very pretty, and unusual. Too bad the handle got broken on a freak tram accident (I seem to have an uncanny ability to break umbrellas), relegating the umbrella to a prop. I have quite a collection of these tragic ‘props’; happily, recently I found another vintage umbrella, in navy and white with a scalloped edge and a tassel. I hope it lasts the summer!