The Year that was 2015

You know how each year you always say, 'This will be the year that everything will be better!'. Well, sure, 2015 didn't bring hospital visits. But to say it was better? Possibly not. People I love and care about got ill, I struggled my way through my anxiety and depression, and I'm still struggling to get my weight down again. Ho hum.

That's not to say 2015 didn't have it's high points - it did. My Stockholm and London trip will always be remembered fondly. I've added yoga into the mix and my body and mind thanks me for it. I am really excited about being the Face of Daisy Jean Florals next year. I gained yet more friends - and from the blogging sphere no less. I feel like I know my dress style even better but aren't afraid to experiment either. I've written a lot. I've taken pleasure in small things again, like taking the dog for a walk and having manicures on a regular basis without guilt.

I've linked each picture to their original post from 2015. Enjoy if you want a refresh or are brand new. See you in 2016!

Love WTP x

Behind the scenes

Sometimes, when you're a fashion-related kind of blogger, people think you live a beautiful, effortless life. HAHA! Let's just say at the moment I cringe every time I look at the floordrobe accumulating near my actual wardrobe because I got half way through sorting it and gave up, I have some epic chin acne going on, and a laptop that won't upload the default Word templates. Of course. 

Oh yeah, and then there's that whole working to get big time fake-o Mei Mei Fashion Blog removed, a total copy of my actual blog. If you are reading this there, close the page. Come see the real content at www.wildteaparty.blogspot.com. 

The funniest thing perhaps is how often people think I just 'whip a post up' in between brushing my teeth and applying my moisturiser. I don't. In fact, I gave two friends a nice little run down of how a typical post comes together.... 

6am: Roll out of bed, make tea.

6.15am: Stare at pre-planned outfit that took me an hour sometime that week to devise (because I pre-plan everything I wear). Decide I hate it and my body and everything. Sip tea. 

6.30am: Run bath, sink into the bubbles. Scrub my body with sugar scrub. Get out. Put on outfit I hated half an hour ago. Decide I like it after all, once I switch the accessories. 

7am: Remember I left tea in bedroom. Reboil kettle and scoff Weetbix.

7.15am: Throw ALL the make up on my face.

7.45am: Try to do some hair style. 

8.15am: Decide I can’t. Start doing victory rolls and a bun.

8.45am: Remember I boiled the kettle and forgot to make more tea. Make tea.

9am: Gas myself with hairspray in between tea sips. Wonder if the hairspray is settling into my teacup and if inadvertently I am poisoning myself.

9.15am: Take selfie on phone. Realise it’s been three hours since I got up and I have only taken a selfie.

9.30am: Set up tripod. Dog tries to ram into it. Tell dog off. She runs away. Work out lighting and best location in my yard.

9.45am: Take a series of blown out shots despite best efforts because everything is damned green in my garden.

10am: Find good spot, take photos, all of which dog runs through and I can see her bum. Take dog inside.

10.15am: Repeat, without dog bum. Cloud cover has vanished, now a searing hot spot of squinty eyes.

10.30am: Trudge back inside with tripod. Get funny looks from house inhabitants.

11am: Arrive at local park, repeat process under the cover of pine trees. Get random dog walkers and families staring at me.

11.30am: Arrive home, realise all of the shots are blurry once they’re on the screen.

12am: Make lunch. Decide to try again around 4pm.

I hope you enjoy these dog-ran-through-shot out takes!

WTP x

Friendship (Garden)

Oops sorry for the radio silence kids. I've been glued to my bed, sucking eucalyptus drops and blowing my nose in extra thick and large tissues, and snorting saline solution to kill the sinus infection from hell. It's still not dead. Damn you, Sinus Infection! Of course, I figured, everything feels better with prettiness, so I'm sharing some beautiful images from Raab Imagery that were taken last month (holy heavens!) with my lovely friend Nora. She's shared her fave images over on NoraFinds, so here's mine! We had a great time, surrounded by the tranquility of the Chinese Friendship Gardens (these are in the centre of the city here in Sydney, can you believe?) and Harry was a pleasure to work with.

One of the absolute loveliest things about vintage blogging and the vintage community is how many wonderful people I've met and friends I've made. Wearing and loving something other than what is 'So this season!' in the shops can sometimes feel like a lonely undertaking, but with people like Nora, well, it's okay that you look like you're about to go to a wedding when really it's just Sunday, and why wouldn't you want to wear a petticoat, gloves and hat on a Sunday? Actually, I wear a petticoat most days too. It's all cool kids, it's all cool. 

Also, stop by on Friday, I've got another hair tute for you ;)

Wearing...

Dear Golden 50s dress, thrifted gloves and hair scarf, Gorman sandals, Vintage Fabulous earrings, brooch and bracelet. 

So there's that...

Christmas, birthday and New Year is over for another year. So many parties and dinners, so many opportunities for dressing up, so much booze and food. I hope you had a happy break. I'll be back this week with the first of a few hair tutorials, yes, they're back. Let's go 2015. 

Love WTP x

Honey, I'm home...!

Sorry for the long hiatus. I've been stuck in survival mode for awhile, just trying to stay on top of everything and ensure I still leave the house. Photographing myself (other than an iphone selfie) seemed like an extra chore that's beyond me (and some days I haven't even had the urge to leave my bed, yet alone get dressed). I had a few dreadful weeks where a medication I tried really roughed me about and I had very dark, awful days. I was lucky though to have some really wonderful people around me who stepped up and asked how they could help, they reminded me they cared and they didn't take it personally when I cried, snapped at them, or hid in my blanket fort. I've changed medication and it seems to be helping now, so I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. But before we go gang-busters, a gentle ease in with a recap of some of the things that have been happening on my IG lately... Want to follow? My username is awildteaparty. 

Love WTP x

Sun and sea

It's kind of becoming a little 'thing' that Astin and I go photograph the sunset together down by the harbour on weekends. We're both avid photography fans and it's her favourite subject because it's always so different. This was from last weekend, down at a tiny little harbour beach at Vaucluse, and then up the hill a little higher for the final disappearance of the sun. It was a stunning, and oddly warm winter's evening. 

Love WTP x

Busy girl

My schedule has been all out of whack lately as I cram in as many hang outs and food experiments with my friends as I can... Here's a snapshot of what I've been up to lately (including the back of Alice's head and the delightful Lauren whose ensemble is featured over on Effortless Anthropologie). More adventures to come shortly. Don't worry, I've got two hair tutorials to hit the blog soon!

Love WTP x

Etsy Shop Preview

I've been working on a little something for a few weeks now. Gathering supplies, thrifting madly, shooting, writing, measuring, storing, washing, soaking, and pressing.

Yes, I'm starting my own etsy store!

I decided today to start editing the pics of the accessories that I had already shot up. I've had a shocking headache for about four days now (it refuses to budge) so I figured if I must lay in bed I may as well be productive. Which is also why I have no outfit pics this weekend. Sorry :(

Want a sneak peek of some of the accessories though?

Ok, you won me over.


I'm pretty much in love with all of these. So I do hope they go to a good home - particularly the faux croc bag. That thing is amazing! If it wasn't that I've already got a croc skin bag or two, it would be staying in my wardrobe. And I'm not even tempting myself by incorporating the gold and black evening bag or the brooch into my wardrobe. The red and gold enamel bangle was from my own collection, but I don't wear it much now that I've got a new red and gold bangle.

My store should go up very soon, I've just got to get through the clothing photography. You'll be the first to know when it does ;)

Love WTP x

Merry in Berry

Happy Weekend readers!

My holidays is fast coming to an end, but I'll be glad to be getting back into the swing of things. Rather than say, sleeping in until 9am and then reading, watching TV, eating and reading some more. Yeah, I definately need to get back down to business. I had a pretty exciting moment though yesterday when I saw the first issue of the first magazine I've ever been editor of on sale at the newsagency. Made me feel a little proud to see it in the flesh (or rather, in the plastic).


My boyfriend and I took a little day trip down to Berry on New South Wales's South Coast this week to enjoy some lovely scenery and this pretty little 'village' which is really more a major stop on the highway for weary parents and their equally weary children to take a break, go to the bakery, have a coffee, stop for some touristy sights and make their way on again. It's always bustling with passers-though - especially in the holiday season.

Even with all the people, it was a great day, and has some lovely old buildings and pretty parklands. We stopped to take a few photos in the park before we went into the Berry Musuem. I was fascinated with the vintage and antique clothing they had on display, including a beautiful 30s/40s silk wedding dress with matching beaded gloves! My boyfriend seemed to love the diary farming equipment. I swear I heard a quiet, 'Woah' at some point as he looked at the equipment. I was also intrigued by the baby scales.

We also stopped for lunch and explored a few of the stores. My favorite by far was the lolly shop! I got boxes of Junior Mints (an American lolly I believe that a co-worker introduced me to. Love!) and turkish delight and pineapple chunks. I love those choc-coated goodies :)

One of my favorite things about Berry is this funny signpost. It points to capital cities, key locations in Australia, places in Berry, even 'Whykickamoocow?' if you look closely.

Top: SES
Skirt: Miss Shop
Cardigan: Don't know
Shoes: Wittner
Bag: Vintage from Allen Company Inc
Beret: Not really sure, it's always been mine since childhood
Necklace: Inherited from grandma

Anyway, all in all it was a great day, and we escaped the heat of Sydney. When we got back we couldn't believe how hot it must've been. So I settled indoors with Harpers Bazaar and read to my heart's desire.

See you soon kiddlets,
WTP x

What is it about morning light that makes everything alright?

Happy New Year my readers/friends!

The sun rose this morning to a new decade and I was exhausted! I didn't crawl into bed until 4am. Unfortunately the taxi my boyfriend and I booked didn't show up (well, rather it did, but 12 hours later. It appears they booked our cab for 1pm, not 1am). We ended up nabbing another cab and taking a convoluted route home involving a train, walking and then another taxi. Let's just say - thank goodness for the three layers of padding in Peeptoe Shoes!

Last night was great fun! My lovely friend LN hosted a NYE party at her home and it was a delightful night. We watched the fireworks from her backyard and I also spent the party catching up with someone I hadn't seen in two years and previously hadn't had much to do with. By the end of the evening however we had discovered our mutual love of Sci-fi shows, (the written version of) Sherlock Holmes and shoes! A few participants were into hugging strangers (yay?) and I talked to some of LN's lovely Church buddies :)

Here, some pictures of the fireworks last night over Sydney Harbour!

I decided upon my New Years resolutions on the train this afternoon in between reading Sherlock Holmes (for the second.... third.... time). I definately need to save towards a European holiday. I should of course wear more of my jewellery and vintage clothing on a daily base (I hum and ha about wearing hand wash items to work so much). And one I always mean to do - wear perfume everyday! I have so many lovely perfumes and they only get worn on special occasions.

On another note, I have discovered I am crazy about winter clothing. This is bizarre seeing as Sydney is in the heat of summer and I'm wearing cotton dresses and skirts nearly everyday. And yet I've got plaid and winter coats and fur collars on my mind. I believe this is due to reading Northen Hemisphere blogs, so I'll blame them! So I just bought myself a plaid A-line skirt for winter. How I long for cool weather! (Until it is cold, at which point I miss my cotton fifties dresses). I have also bought some winterish shoes from Stylebrazil. They have some AWESOME shoes at the present, and I couldn't resist these.
But now I've also got my eyes on these:
I must say, they've been oh so polite and pleasant to deal with - I would gladly buy from them again. Of course, I need to receive my first purchase before I go getting carried away buying more!

Aside from that, thank you to everyone for the kind wishes for my birthday! Always muchly appreciated :) Tomorrow I will have a new dress from the post office, and I might get my boyfriend to help me take some photos of my recent purchases. Finally, don't you love this sign in a shop window under Martin Place?

Happy New Year to you all!

Love WTP x