Out of Africa

It must be no secret that I love jewellery, and out of all the ways women have found to adorn themselves, I love necklaces and earrings the most. I have both minimalist and maximalist tendencies – sometimes a featherweight of jewellery is quite enough, and on another day more is more is more – so long as my shoulders can stand it.

I have long been attracted to tribal jewellery, particularly to that of Africa and Afghanistan, and prefer opaque stones to sparkly gems (unless it is ridiculously OTT in true Bollywood style). Anything that jingles will surely attract my notice (as my bemused work colleagues will attest!).

sometimes a featherweight of jewellery is quite enough, and on another day more is more is more …

I sport a small collection around my neck, two of which I made myself, and one that is vintage. The biggest is made from shells alternated with silver baroque freshwater pearls. The shells originally formed a belt, which I found in a charity store for a few dollars. It is quite heavy to wear, but I like that it is almost a piece of sculpture. I call it my dinosaur spine necklace. The other handmade necklace is made up of small and larger wooden beads and white pearls. And the third necklace is vintage Eighties, consisting of freshwater and glass pearl beads, that I bought on Etsy.

Although wearing piles of beads is fun for a photoshoot, I am far more likely to wear the dinosaur spine on its own, and let it shine in solitary splendour – I have a way to go before I can match these African ladies (photographed by Mario Gerth in Namibia, Niger, Kenya, Mali and Ethiopia).

Click the images and jump through for more.

What I Actually Wore #0094

Serial #: 0094
Date: 20/09/2012
Weather: 23°C / 73°F
Time Allowed: 6 minutes

I love to break such hackneyed rules as ‘blue and green should never be seen’, so on this balmy day I wear a boldly patterned navy and white blouse with a muted celadon green skirt. Although the temperature is mild, it is windy and overcast, threatening rain, so I wear a short vintage 50s silk jacket on top. 

The hat I am wearing is actually a 1920s straw cap, studded with pearls and trimmed with piped navy velvet, and would undoubtedly suit a bob better, but I fasten my hair back in a looped ponytail and clip it with a vintage diamanté and tortoiseshell clasp. I add a pair of turquoise-coloured agate drop earrings, and my turquoise ring from Spain.

My trusty snakeskin heels add a dash of anti-matching pizzazz – anymore turquoise or navy would be have been dull.

Items:

Top: Marni
Skirt: Veronika Maine
Jacket: vintage 1950s
Hat: vintage 1920s
Hairclip: vintage
Earrings: handmade
Rings: souvenir
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Zomp

Tie the Knot

I have heard it said that if a woman, when she is applying for a job at Vogue, does not know how to tie a scarf she stands no chance. It’s an amusing little quip, but what I want to know is this: how does Vogue know? Unless the applicant is actually wearing a scarf, do they ask her to perform a small number of manual tasks as part of the interview process?

‘Right, now, you’ve proven you know the maximum quantity of rings per finger, and how to seat two ex-wives at their ex-husband’s third wedding, but do you know how to tie a scarf stylishly? Please choose a scarf from this selection and tie the knot of your choice. Points will be allocated for ratio of correct scarf weight to knot style, speed, and dexterity. You have 90 seconds, and you may begin now.’

I’m sure that I would fail such a test under these harsh and repressive conditions. In fact, while I have a simply enormous scarf collection, I am always in far too much of a hurry in the mornings to choose one, let alone wrap it stylishly around my neck. I am more likely to choose a necklace, and adding a scarf on top of that would (usually) be superfluous and inelegant.

a beautifully knotted scarf is an elegant accessory, and does indeed separate the Voguettes from the rest of us hoi polloi

However, a beautifully knotted scarf is an elegant accessory, and does indeed separate the Voguettes from the rest of us hoi polloi. Unfortunately, more often than not I merely fling a scarf around my neck as I run out of the door, either wound around or casually knotted, or if it’s a windy day, in an easy European Loop. But when I take the time to tie a scarf properly, it truly does add that extra touch of polish.

But if, like me, you need a little help, you can do no better than consult the Scarf app from Japanese developers CenterWave (available for iPhone and Android) – it’s 99c I’ve not regretted spending. The app has a colourful step-by-step guide to tying 25 different knots – here are some of my favourites. (I do apologise for the inappropriate blouse – I wanted something plain to showcase each scarf, but I can’t claim to own a single white shirt!)

Half Butterfly

This casual style of wrapping a knot looks stylish, and shows off a scarf to great effect.

This is such a pretty, loose knot that really will show off a fluttery silk scarf.

Double Ascot

A somewhat formal knot that makes a stylish impression. If you tuck the scarf into a shirt, the mood changes to something extra special.

This is the classic scarf knot you see glamorous fashion editors wear in films. I love this one for its formal but stylish look.

European Loop

The impression changes with the position of the loop. It’s suitable for high-necked clothing or with a Nehru collar.

I often wear my winter scarves in this loop – it’s quite cosy and sturdy when there’s a gale blowing.

Bow Tie

Adjusting the size of the scarf controls the nuances of impression you can make. A larger ribbon produces a showy effect, while a smaller ribbon suggests intelligence.

The preceding paragraph (quoted from the app) sounds like a dubious translation from the Japanese, but I imagine that the suggestion of ‘intelligence’ may come from the suffragettes, who wore little bow ties at the turn of last century with their shirtwaisters. (I may be overreaching slightly though.) A larger scarf as mine certainly does produce a flamboyant showy effect, but it is certainly delightfully fun.

Men’s Tie

This is known as a men’s tie knot, and it imparts a boyish impression. Because it doesn’t come undone easily, it is a practical way of tying a knot.

The classic men’s tie – also popular with the suffragettes and the women who went to work during WWI – is very sturdy. It would look great on a slightly fatter scarf than the one I used (Vogue fail!).

A Note on the Scarves

There is nothing like silk fabric for scarves (except other natural fibres for more casual scarves). Silk is lightweight and delicate, caresses the skin, and floats so beautifully. Artificial fibres more often than not just don’t sit nicely, especially vintage scarves made from acetate – those will tend only to work as headscarves. The five scarves I am wearing here are all vintage, except the cream and pink polka-dotted half butterfly scarf, and the grey leaf patterned men’s tie scarf.

Now Snapettes: go forth and experiment – just don’t tie yourself in knots over it! 

NB. Italicised text quoted from the Scarf app.

Little Bow Peep

Little Bow Peep :: Tinto 1848 // C-Type Plate // No flashThe Spring Racing Carnival is an excellent time to go shopping for hats in Melbourne. Whatever your budget, you are sure to find something highly fashionable (witty and cutting-edge millinery), merely serviceable (a wide-brimmed straw bedecked in overblown faux silk blooms), or downright hideous (a despicable piece of sinnamay trimmed in rooster feathers that by rights should be thrown to the floor and stamped out of existence).

And if you search thoroughly and carefully you can discover something in between, a hat that doesn’t scream Spring Racing Carnival, or a headband that will last the distance.

Take a Bow :: Loftus // C-Type Plate // No flashI found this sculpted confection by Max Alexander in the department store David Jones. Made from wide, woven ribbon-like straw edged in grosgrain, it is deftly twisted to form a complicated bow, and attached to a headband, perches on top of the head just so. It is decorative without being fussy; a girlish bow that is strong, not prissy.

I would even wear it if the weather cooperated. 

Brand Spanking New

It’s a brand spanking new year! A fresh day all shiny and sparkling with promise. In Melbourne it has in fact been overcast and raining much of the day, but that is just when an introspective mood overtakes me, which is perfect for thinking deep thoughts and contemplating resolutions.

While it’s great to make such vows as eating healthily, finding that new job or making other worthy goals, this year I am more concerned with immaterial things: such that will make my intellectual, emotional and spiritual life richer and more meaningful. Healthy food for the soul, if you will.

I don’t want the moon, I just want my spirit to soar above those rainy day clouds to glimpse the sunshine beyond; to remember to stop and smell the roses from time to time; to think uplifting thoughts, and not dwell on the negatives; to live a life that is true; to be a better a friend, sister, daughter – a better human being. And before I become too pious, let there always be something or someone to tug me back down to earth again.

Here is wishing you a happy new year and all the best for a dazzling 2014 ahead, my dear Snapettes – thank you for coming by!