There's no snow at Christmas

 

One of the things about being Australian is our Christmas would confuse those from the Northern Hemisphere. We get sold that traditional Christmas vision - snow, fireplaces, snuggling under blankets on a sleigh ride, hot cocoa and really ugly sweaters, but it doesn't translate for us! 

The closest we get to snow is well, the air conditioning blasting as we watch White Christmas. We build sand men, eat prawns and oysters and lobster, play backyard cricket, run in the sprinkler, and have to wait until 8.30pm for it even be dark enough to see Christmas lights...

And I'm not complaining. I'm really not. I'm actually fond of this curiosity. Though, I still laugh at how confused my brother's Swedish friend was when he spent a summer Christmas with us! His face when the platter of prawns appeared was priceless, though I'm not even sure if it was solely because of the appearance of cold prawns, or their sheer size in comparison to Swedish ones.

So when I saw this snowflake brooch from Luxulite I thought, yeah, I will actually wear that in winter and save the snowflakes for all my navy sweaters. But then it came to me, how well it would match my beloved 50s rose print skirt! So, here is my summery take on snowflakes and traditional Northern Christmas style. Which, really, suits my icy Christmas tree, doesn't it?

And never mind we are in the middle of a heat wave!

Love WTP x

Wearing:
The Original Bad Girl Atomic Glitz top, Vintage 1950s rose print skirt, ASOS Senorita heels, Daisy Jean Floral Designs Pink Veronica's Roses, Luxulite brooch

Team colours

Some people are passionate about sport, or space travel, or wine, or dinosaurs, or insects. My passion (other than Welsh mythology and tea) is of course.... shoes, and I wore my "team colours" today - shoe earrings, a shoe top, and shoes... yeah I added the and shoes and thought well duh, but, pointing out the obvious is sometimes necessary to create a list.

This t-shirt cracks me up, because of course I need to remind myself sometimes to keep calm when my workload is a little nuts, and there's a lot going on with me personally too (like a ridiculous pelvic/back/shoulder issue and a little baby dog who doesn't feel well). When the make up is off lately I've got some epic dark under eye circles going on (briefly remedied with this insanely expensive eye cream sample I got and concealer) and I can't seem to fall asleep before 2am, and then won't stay asleep for a full eight hours. My mind is full of thoughts - some creative, some problem solving, some from fantasy land, others rooted in insecurity and upset.

I try a lot of things to get my mind to settle - tossing and turning myself into a burrito, a wheat bag, Sleepy body cream, breathing exercises, mindfulness activities like colouring in, turning off electrical devices at least half an hour before bed, drinking chamomile tea, doing gentle stretches. Nothing seems to be helping with my monkey mind.

At least in life there's fun things like rose print skirts and fun jewellery, and sweet nylon scarves to dress up a tired face and long Friday. And shoes, my beloved shoes. This pair of wedges I've had ages and I've forgotten how comfortable they are, being a cork base. They always seem so specific in my mind with their colours and print, yet I think in this case they really work.

Shoes have the power to transform an outfit, this we all know. But they also have the power to shape how we feel about ourselves and our environment. We've all had those days when our shoes were horrendously uncomfortable, when the balls of our feet throbbed, or our toes lost circulation, or rubbed us into a blistered, bleeding state. And no matter what you're doing, this painful betrayal by our shoes taints our enjoyment. Shoes also have the power to elevate us (figuratively and literally). There's something powerful about wearing great shoes and strutting down the street, and knowing people are looking, or standing up and feeling confident to do your best work. A new pair of shoes certainly make me smile too, not that I buy that many anymore! Yes, shoes are a friend I wouldn't trade in for another passion, not even while sleep deprived and definitely not for dinosaurs. And wearing these shoes today definitely filled me with springtime optimism and a little joy.

Wearing:
T-shirt: gift
Skirt: Retrospec'd
Nylon scarf: Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Shoes: Seychelles Footwear
Bangles: Dinosaur Designs
Earrings: Gorman

Late bloomer

A belated Easter post? So unlike me. I usually am all over that chocolate coated holiday of dreams with my floral ensembles. But this Easter was different, and my weekend escaped into a blur of things that didn't go to plan. I won't go into it, but needless to say, getting a blog post up hasn't been priority one these past few weeks.

Autumn is starting to creep into Sydney finally, after all, it's now May, and I admit I'm not thrilled. I have some great winter clothing, but as I work mostly from home or in private residences, my excess of silk velvet and fur tipped jackets is overkill (though will be greatly appreciated in a few weeks for MBFWA). This dress was lucky to get an outing really!

I teamed it with a hair scarf and gloves for a traditional look you guys know I can never resist, but like to deviate from. My taste in clothes is so all over the place in the best kind of way - I feel so free these days to wear whatever I like when I take the fancy, after all, clothes are just fabric that express an attitude. And who knows, tomorrow I may wear a sequin mini skirt if it takes my fancy!

Wearing:
The Vintage Drawer 1950s dress, Zomp heels, Vintage 50s suede gloves, Daisy Jean Floral hot pink scarf

Tickled pink

Harbour breezes, soft pink silk, feathers, lace, tassels, rhinestones... just a typical Sunday for me really...haha! Oh well, a girl can wish! It's been such a busy month already; I can't believe how time is flashing past, so taking time for a little luxury is definitely something I am prioritizing - whether it's getting my nails done, giving myself a face mask, or wearing decadently beautiful things.

Self love is literally one of the most important lessons I've had to learn this past year, and it's still a challenge. Be kind to yourself, be compassionate, be aware of what you enjoy and allow yourself to do it. Forgive yourself for not living up to your own unreasonable standards. Remember you're doing the best you can at any given moment. But it also comes from treating your body nicely! Exercising because it feels good for the body. If you need a day to stay in bed, do it. Wear the things that make you happy, be aware of how things feel on the skin and make you feel when you wear them.

And that's why I am so excited to share these gorgeous pieces from Evette Dubois! Not only are the pieces delightful to wear, there is literally nothing I love more than supporting small creative business, especially those in Australia, and especially with a fabulous woman behind the brand. Evette Dubois is Melissa's lingerie boutique, and represents her life-long love of vintage and dressmaking - and represents her passion for vintage lingerie from 1910-1950!

In this post I'm wearing the Elsie May Bralette, the Georgia tap pants and the swoonworthy Lillian dressing gown. The bralette in a size small is a comfortable piece for my 10DD bust, though I wouldn't personally wear this piece day to day, but rather as a lounge wear piece due to the lack of underwire, but adjustable back clasp. The Georgia pants are sweet straight cut tap shorts designed to sit just above the hipbones and fit true to the size guide - though if you're in between you may find it better to size down. I love the little detail on these: lace trim and pearl buttons on both sides. The silk used in all of these pieces is pink, though definitely on the peach side of pink, but are available in blue, black and nude too. I'm sure if you ask nicely Melissa will be happy to make your wishes reality! She also has some other gorgeous things on offer, so make sure to have a look.

And because Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and it's wonderful to treat yourself (or be treated!) Evette Dubois is offering all of my readers 20% off with the code VDAY20, valid until Valentine's Day 2017! Just make sure to add the code during check out on Etsy! You can shop here or check out @evette_dubois on Instagram.

How do you like to treat yourself when life is crazy? Leave me a comment!

Love WTP x

Credits:

Photography: Lila Jean Vintage or Instagram: @lilajeanvintage

Elsie May Bralette, Georgia Tap Pants: Courtesy of Evette Dubois

Lillian Robe: Supplied by Evette Dubois

All other items from A Wild Tea Party wardrobe

Have yourself a happy holidays

If I have learned anything this month, it's that the more lights you have on a Christmas tree, the harder it is to get a photo next to it in focus.

It's now two sleeps until Santa swings by and brings me the things I asked for (trust me, Mrs Claus told me that my wish list was acquired) and I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for another year reading along, commenting, sharing and liking over on IG. I always appreciate every moment you share with me! Enjoy your holiday season, dress well, eat well, laugh and rest!

Make sure to check out all my Christmas fun and holiday ensembles over on IG this coming week, I will still be sharing there, and I will be back in a week, rested and ready for the new year to begin!

Wearing...

Bernie Dexter dress, Cristian G heels, Deer Arrow snow globe brooch 2015, Daisy Jean Floral signature rose double in peach

O Christmas tree!

This year has just flown, and in funny ways for me, but something I am crazy excited for is the décor of my house, especially my Christmas tree! I've spent hours on this tree, and I still have plans for how to improve it for next year, but I am excited to show you my beautiful tree. The theme of my tree is a traditional combination of red, burgundy and gold, with ribbons. I love including quite foresty items too, so I have Hansel, Gretel and a Gingerbread house, foxes, birds galore and even a moose! 

I've already spent weeks around this tree, enjoying the process of planning how to improve it from last year, putting it all together, playing with ribbon and laughing my head off at my attempts with my mother to get the beautiful twigs at the top into a more manageable form... they came as huge long branch pieces for vases and I had to cut them down with hedge trimmers and wire cutters, and was being sprayed by glitter pieces from all the cutting enthusiasm.

Oh, yes, and the glitter. I won't be surprised when I'm still finding it on me in February.

Have you decorated your tree? What's your favourite holiday decorating theme?

Love WTP x

Wearing...

The Original Bad girl tee, Retrospec'd skirt, Daisy Jean Floral Christmas Candy Cane brooch and Penelope Peony in red, vintage enamel bangle, KJL earrings

What to wear where: work Xmas party

Ah December, you're here - and so are all of my Christmas accessories too! I like to create holiday ensembles with pieces that I wear all year round, accessorized with brooches, hair flowers and bags that lend some festive flair.

An outfit like this is fantastic for a work Christmas party and yet, I wouldn't have to buy a thing new!
I love my Pin Up Girl Clothing Spanish fan print skirt, and wear it often with a red jumper in autumn, or a white tee in summer, but teamed with my red Collectif Dolores top it works for the holidays. Just add some cool heels, a Christmas brooch, Daisy Jean Floral hair flowers and a fun clutch! While this clutch isn't available this year, it came from ASOS who have some cute Christmas clutches again.

When getting dressed up for an outing, just make sure you're keeping it appropriate to the weather, venue, and crowd. If you're in a cold climate - hi European and North American readers - then look for something fun like a felt skirt and cute sweater or a knit dress with some sparkle jewels. The colder it is, I always think a little extra sparkle makes it more fun. Oh hell, let's be honest, I just love sparkles all the time...

The Xmas party check list:

• festive colours like red, green or white
• a clutch bag with definite holiday feel - think metallic, glitter, or a Christmas design
• cute jewellery like a brooch or earrings in a festive design like a santa, tree or gingerbread man
• party shoes that you can dance in

These What to Wear Where posts are a little taste of what goes on in my head; all of those 'costumes' I devise for what I'll wear in the countryside, on a cruise, to a NYE party, and every other possible place I might set foot. Hopefully they'll also inspire you! If you have a dressing challenge you'd like help with, drop me a line on my contact page. To see my other posts, visit the What to Wear Where tab.

Love WTP x

Roses and lace

Melbourne Cup day always makes me conflicted. I hate the cruelty to horses, but I love ANY excuse for a hat or fascinator. As I don't work in an office anymore either, I was tempted to let the day slide by unnoticed, but then I remembered that I had the perfect outfit for it so I treated the neighbourhood. They love it, judging on how cars slow down to look at me haha.

I'm wearing the Daisy Jean Floral limited edition Miss Ellen Fascinator. Yes, it's named for me and only available until the end of the year! If you like it, I suggest nabbing one for yourself before it's too late. I've teamed it here with one of my favourite Alice McCall dresses, and while modern, I feel this dress has a definite vintage nod, especially with these accessories. I can't believe I've never actually put this dress on the blog, given how long I lusted wildly over it the very first time I saw it go down a runway a few years ago. Alice McCall is one of those labels where every season I see one piece that really tickles my fancy for it's nod to vintage style.

Do you have a modern designer you're super soft on? And what have you got on your head today if you're in Australia?

Wearing...

Alice McCall In Motion dress, Peeptoe Shoes sample heels, Jean Jean Vintage 1960s rhinestone earrings, Daisy Jean Floral Miss Ellen fascinator, Cane Valley Emporium 1950s Foster Grant sunglasses

Not quite the witching hour

Happy Halloween week! I am keen for this week to be about novelty brooches and outfits dedicated to the spooky! Admittedly my head hasn't been much on Halloween this month because I got distracted by Christmas which is only 62 sleeps or something. Oops. Moving on...

I wanted a Halloween look today that nodded to my vintage aesthetic, yet still had a whiff of witchy. I have had this dress a little while and not worn it; I get so worried about wearing delicate lace and rayon pieces for my day to day life, but with Halloween on the horizon this just seemed perfect. I decided to go a little outlandish for my hair, and before anyone asks, yes, this hair style was surprisingly simple, but I plan to get better at doing it so it's really smooth and polished.

I feel like ensemble is the perfect balance between Halloween and vintage glamour for me, and certainly made people double take.  I guess that would be the black roses and big hair... and witchy filters. Sorry, I couldn't resist a little Halloween vibe on these photos. You'll forgive me.

Wearing...

Vintage 1940s dress via eBay, Innovare heels from Myer (several years ago), Daisy Jean Floral black rose double, Jean Jean Vintage 30s celluloid and rhinestone bangle and crystal drop earrings

Vintage Ladies Picnic

You know how last post I was all... I'm gonna wear all those winter pieces one last time? Yeah, so, I'm wearing sandals this post (hi blue toenails!) and a cotton dress. Whatever! It was for a picnic day at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney, so of course I had to wear sandals and a giant 50s straw hat.

I met up with some gorgeous ladies for a casual picnic sharing sweets and cheese under the shade of a tree, overlooking the gorgeous Sydney Harbour. We had some very silly laughs, took some ridiculous photos, and there may or may not have been a parasol fencing session (hint, there was). Now that's what I call the perfect way to spend a Saturday!

Thank you to Naomi of Lila Jean Vintage for the outfit photos!

Wearing...

Vintage 50s dress, Zara sandals, Jessamity Vintage 50s hat, Wild Fell Hall Vintage 40s Lucite brooch, Daisy Jean Floral Agatha's Orb resin earrings.