Lady Melbourne has Arrived: The Celebration

Quite seriously, if your going to have a celebration I think that sequins are compulsory. I wore this to the launch party for the column held at Golden Monkey.

Lychee martinis + sequins = entertainment for all involved.

Dress: French Connection

Tights: Wicked

Shoes: YSL

Bag: Vintage

Leather Gloves: Sea Jewels Boutique

Lady Melbourne has Arrived: Part II

Everything that didn't make it to print............
Heels: YSL- eBay
Specators: I Love Billy
Tights: Wicked from Safeway(look out for a post dedicated to these by popular demand!)
Shift: Savers
Shirt: Vintage Lady Pelaco, Salvos
Black Trench: EG Collection(only available in Sydney, email me for details)
Beige Trench: Zara, similar on eBay
Pants: Ted Baker
Belt: Camden Market
Black/White dress: Sunny Girl, MXT in The Walk Arcade

For new readers there is a complete shopping directory at the bottom of this page.

Lady Melbourne has Arrived

I have had to keep a lid on this until it's release date, although if some of your are savvy enough you would probably have worked out by now that Lady Melbourne is the new Fashion and Beauty columnist for Metro News in Melbourne.

Tres tres exciting and I am absolutely thrilled to be part of an independent Melbourne publication.

The very fist column is about key trends for winter, you can check it out online now for those of you not in Melbourne that can't find themselves a copy.

This Season’s Key Trends
As the leaves begin to transform on our streets and boulevards, so do the trends in boutiques across our beautiful city.We are lucky in Melbourne to have so many options to choose from, so to help you in assembling your winter wardrobe, here are a few of the season’s essentials to look out for.
The trench coat
It is undeniable that the trench pops up year after year in international designer collections, a real wardrobe staple. The beauty of a classic trench coat is that it instantly updates any wardrobe with style and a twist of elegance, whether it’s paired with a suit, a shift dress or jeans. Since Christopher Bailey’s rise at Burberry, the iconic English trench coat label, the trench has shed its exclusive association with private detectives and has come to represent all that is elegant, a la Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Alongside iconic beige, this season’s are available in gold, navy, aqua, red and [let’s not forget we’re in Melbourne!], black. Whether you opt for classic double breasted, quilted, single button or knee length, there are plenty of trench coat styles to suit all ages and shapes. If you haven’t already discovered the versatility of the trench, pop into your local department store as a starting point for a great range. If you’re feeling adventurous then your local op-shop is always a great haunt for authentic, classic styles at a fraction of the price, and all for charity which makes your purchase even sweeter.

Patent leather
Patent seems to be just about every where this autumn. You can’t enter a boutique in Melbourne without stumbling across a pump, ballet flat or tote in any shade.
Although the rules of etiquette once dictated that one ought not wear patent before 5pm, this season is carving out it’s own set of rules, with everything from patent detailing on everyday items to patent shoes in the AM!
You really can’t go past a classic, black, pump to instantly update your look (best worn with a trench coat of course!).
For those of you bold enough, there are patent coats and jackets available in fiery reds and liquid blacks, or if you’re more conservative you can simply add a patent belt or wallet to participate one of the season’s hottest trends.

The shift dress
Whether this is a seasonal trend or just one that Melbourne seems to have adopted lately, just like patent, everywhere you look the shift dress abounds on our streets.
I suppose its appeal lies in how forgiving it is to those of us that don’t look like a teenage supermodel from Scandinavia, but we shouldn’t let that lull us into a false sense of security- it is still something to be negotiated with care.
Getting the shift just right is crucial to making sure you haven’t mistakenly stepped out of the house wearing your potato sack, or worse yet a tent.

If you’ are tall, opt for a shift that sits just on, or above your knee. This can look killer with a pair of opaque tights, patent heels and the aforementioned trench. Ballet flats can make the look work as a casual option, but avoid this if you’re short, as it is easy to end up looking stumpy.There is no reason not to belt a shift, and again depending on your height a lovely wide, bright option for those taller gals, or a classic, thin 1940’s style option for shorter women can really pull the look together.What will differentiate shifts this winter will be the cut and colour-range, so look out for those that aren’t too baggy, and go for lovely brights like peach, fuchsia or cherry red.

The idea for this columns topic came from a reader, so thank you to Georgina Kelly for her inspired suggestion.

The beautiful photos are done by none other that Melbourne photographer Woodrow Wilson, and there are many more to come.

eBay Joy

I had to share these eBay finds with you, I'm practically bursting with excitement at their imminent arrival.

Reader suggestion

A reader suggested this, these gorgeous shoes hadn't even occured to me!

Very greatful for your stylish contribution.

Shoes: Filipo Raphael

Dress: Target
Jacket: Care Australia Op-Shop
Birkin bag: Hermes
Gloves: Sea Jewels Boutique

A red affair

Casual....

Work.....

Play......

I was walking to the pharmacy and out the front of one of my local op-shops I saw the sleeve of this jacket peeking out on a sale rack. I pulled it out to find this quite amazing fabric, in the form of a vintage 1960's shell top with a zip up the back. I didn't like the way it fit, but for $5 wasn't really going to give it up so I bought it and have turned it into a jacket.

Now I have the task of working out how to wear it.

What would you suggest?

Jacket: Care Australia Op Shop, $5

Jeans: Wrangler
Spectators: I Love Billy
Tuxedo Tshirt: Valley Girl

Red Birkin: Hermes

Black pants: Ted Baker

Red Dress: gift from Philippines

Heels: Zola

Jewellery: I made it

Patent Bag: The Glass Tree

Belt: Camden Market(yes that's right, Camden in London!)

p.s that's Marshmallows I'm eating, favourite sweets in all the world.

Times gone by....

Originally I wasn't going to post these, but after thinking about it for a while I decided they have a filmic quality, like a still from a 1960's movie.
Cardigan: Country Road
Shirt: Diana Ferrari
Skirt: Max Mara
Shoes: Nine West

LADY MELBOURNE'S RULES OF CIVILITY

Dear Lady Melbourne,
What do you think is appropriate dress for a funeral? Do you have to wear black?
Annie, Melbourne

Dear Annie,
This may seem like a fairly straight forward kind of deal, but it’s not the first time someone has asked me so perhaps this is one of those things that can stump even those of us who think we know it all when it comes to dressing for occasions.
When you present yourself at somber occasions, make sure that what you wear is suitably deferential and sober. Although black is not longer obligatory, it is always suitable as is any dark colour and preferably presented in a formal tone, such as a suit. Steer absolutely clear of bright colours, flamboyant jewellery, coloured hosiery and over the top make up- unless of course it is the will of the deceased.
LM

Right on Target

So here it is, the $49 swallow print dress from Target, amazing don't you agree?

Dress: Target
Shoes: Zomp
Jacket: Ladahk
Bag: Geya in Flinders Lane
Jewellery: hand made by me

Raining and Pouring

I don't think that one should ever use the weather as an excuse not to go out (simply as an excuse to accessorise more) should it be raining continuously as it was here today in Melbourne.
I do have a head as you all know, I just didn't manage to get it into this picture!

Boots: eBay
Wool/Alpaca dress: Target
Trench: Zara
Gloves: Sea Jewels Boutique
Scarf: Episode

p.s- I shopped as usual and have the most amazing dress from target to show you with a beautiful swallow print in of course, black and white.

Curious Objects...again

MOR Fruits of Conucopia body milk. Truly I bought it for the packaging but it is amazing on the skin, the fragrance is just divine. Website is super slick as well, for all of you international readers you can buy online.

Cherry brooch from a non-descript little Asian store in the Causeway between Collins and Flinders Lane. Amongst many gaudy, flashy brooches this little gem was waiting for me.

Faceted brooch is vintage.

What do you think Cashmere smells like? What ever the people at Dickens & Hawthorne have put in this I think it's spot on, such a subtle and soft scent.

Curious Objects

I have many new curious objects to show you over the weekend, but possibly the most exciting is that Jesska from Thousand Threads has agreed to hand knit me a black and white scarf, a sort of collaboration of sorts. Results will be up as soon as her fingers get through it!
What a doll, I knit myself but I would never dare show you the results, what better way than leaving it to a professional.
LM

Is it a coat, or a dress?

Heels: Tuck
Woolen/Alpaca Dress: Target
Flats: Payless
Jewellery: various hand made pieces, gold necklace vintage Chanel
Bag: 'Alma' bag, Armorni

Changes

There will be some changes happening over the next few days to the look of the blog, so don't be alarmed if you visit and everything looks like that woman in the office who went to 'Thailand' for a 'holiday' and came back looking incredibly 'refreshed.' They are just minor cosmetic changes, everything else is business as usual.
The website is now working so if you can't remember ladymelbourne.blogspot.blah.blah then just type in:
www.ladymelbourne.com.au
and oi la!
I welcome your feed back.
LM

A little leopard told me...

For regular readers, you will know by now that my life on a day to day basis is really just one big shopping trip. I shop all the time, even when I don't intend to, because I'm obsessed with detail and finding curious and beautiful things at bargain prices.As well as that, I have been asked whether everything I post is true. Whether you believe that the tea cups featured are from my Great Aunt Una, or that I've bought Max Mara, Christian Dior and Ralph Lauren (to name a few) from charity shops, or whether or not my hair really is a/real or b/ naturally this straight(it is), is something you have to decide for yourselves.

So here is the story behind this wonderful, leopard print coat gentle readers, I hope you enjoy the tale as much as I do telling it.

Shopping at a suburban shopping centre one day, I made my usual visit to Target. After doing a few laps I was about to leave empty handed when my mum spotted the leopard print across the floor.
In the plus size section.
The smallest size was a 14 so I tried it on and although it was a little baggier in places than would normally please me, we decided that if I wore it a la a 1920's movie star, sort of wrapped around me, then I could pull it off. Fully lined and in a soft pony hair feel, I stood in the middle of Target, channeling Clara Bow to the amusement (always to the amusement) of the other shoppers.
The price tag was $89 but when we got to the register is was discounted to $49, so basically I found this gem in the suburbs, in a generic department store, for $49. It's true.

Coat: Target
Tights: Wicked
Shoes: Kurt Geiger
Jewellery: I made it myself

Happy Friday

Happy Cocktail Day everyone.

Dress: Vintage, Salvos

Tights: Wicked

Shoes: Zola

Jewellery: Chanel

Chaseeeee

So it seems that people out there are discovering what Lady Melbourne is all about which is just thrilling for me, because as many of you know who read this, blogging can be quite introspective and you live in a sort of bubble of what you like and love.
Thank you for the links, I have tried to reciprocate where I can. The latest comes from yet another German blog, Dottis's Dots. There must be something strangely similar in German and Australian style because I admire these girls so much. I have tagged Silje's because I know she kindly visits these pages.

This portrait is from the series that Woody took, desperately trying not to post too much before the column arrives but as I don't have an outfit for today I thought I would share this with you.

Shirt: Vintage Lady Pelaco from Salvos.

Black and shiny

I think these tights are lovely, 120 denier! And from the supermarket would you believe, a brand called 'Wicked.' I think it's a diffusion label from one of the big hose companies but someone out there will have to correct me. Anyhow, my beautiful Wolford ones that I've had for 4 years now are not looking as opaque as they used to so in a moment of desperation I bought these.
Shoes: YSL
Dress: MXT in the Walk Arcade
Tights: Wicked
Cape: Shivers Boutique
Belt: Sportsgirl

To Tag and be Tagged

I have been tagged a few times recently, and as you probably know by now it's not really my thing to reveal too much about myself so I have ignored the 'rules' of putting up 5 things unknown about yourself.

So to acknowledge the latest person and all the others who have kindly linked to me, have a look at 'Things I Like to Read' for all the wonderful, stylish gal's out there that have popped past to say hello.
Thank to you to SpiegelEule who writes A Mirror, for the latest tag, I have in turn tagged All This Happiness.
LM

Flares....no!

You may remember these from an earlier post where I couldn't decide if I liked them as flares. Well, in the end curiosity got the better of me and I decided that I just had to see what they looked like as skinny jeans.

Not sure if I've put this bag up before, I've had it for a while and I love it. It's from Club House Lane Boutique in Adelaide where I always manage to find something incredible when I visit.

Jeans: Gripp

Jacket: Vintage Christian Dior

Shoes: Scooter

Bag: Club House Lane Boutique

Fur: Vintage, Savers

Top: Christopher Ari

Woody and Me

I've teamed up with Melbourne photographer Woodrow Wilson to put together some shots for a column I'll be writing shortly for a Melbourne lifestyle magazine. More on that later, here is a sneak peak, as usual black and white of course!

Curious Objects

Beautiful envelopes with cards from Zetta Florence. Thank you cards from this post also found at this amazing emporium.

Tea cups an inheritance, hand made biscuits from The Hub boutique art and craft market.

Bloom notebook with lovely inscription, a very thoughtful gift indeed.

Mineral Makeup Rave

I don't write a lot about beauty, but I discovered this at a boutique art and craft market today that I really felt I had to show you some pictures, if anything for the colours.
Vivien was the consultant who kindly spent a lot of time with me blending a custom powder specifically for my skin tone. I know that in the beauty world this is nothing new, but as someone with an eye for detail I thought it was ironic that I'd missed this beauty phenomenon!


You can find more details here, just click on the Motives icon.

I Love Billy

Spectators: I Love Billy
Trench: EG Collection
Tights: Target
Bag: Vintage

Mercie Vendreditreize!

I discovered that I have been linked and featured on this lovely French blog, Vendreditreize.
Thank you so much, it's nice to know that not everyone out there thinks all we wear are thongs(flip flops for you northern hemisphere readers) and lie on the beach all day!

Flares...yeah?

So I think its quite obvious to everyone that I can't stay away from thrift shops, and these I present to you gentle readers, are my latest finds.
The shirt is just beautiful in it's detail- for all of $5.75 I could hardly believe it myself.
The flares: in desperate need of wider opinion. I think they could rock, given the right style, but I've never been into flares- I'm so short! Given that I can sew, I had decided to make these into skinny jeans, but before I take to them with the scissors and my Janome I thought I should ask your worthy opinion.
Spectator heels: Vintage Taranto
Jeans: Gripp, Salvos
Shirt: Vintage Pelaco, Salvos
Blazer: H&M
Bag: Mango, Barcelona

Uh-oh!

Dear Readers, here I go again presenting you with yet another cream/white/off white and black outfit but I simply can't help myself. At least I've accessorised in almost every possible way and as you all know I love accessories!
I adore this fur and as it's now officially cold, and one could say officially winter(well not technically but don't tell Mother Nature) I am getting a chance to wear it.

I don't think I can put this as eloquently as Rumi from Fashion Toast, so I will paraphrase here, but you can see her post in in entirety here:

'I know that people are really sensitive in regards to the topic of fur and just want to make it clear that I would never buy a new fur coat that supported modern fur industries, but I do think that when it comes to vintage it's more of a gray area and you're kind of just using something that would lay around unused otherwise. So vintage fur is a yes for me but I know that people have all kinds of different viewpoints and explanations for them, which I completely respect.'

Like her post that attracted many reactions I welcome yours as well and certainly do not intend to offend any of my readers out there.

Shirt: Vintage
Jeans: Evie
Wedges: Nine West
Bag: 'Alma' bag from Amorni
Vest: Valley Girl
Jewellery: I made it
Fur: Savers

Winter arrived today....

So winter just seemed to arrive today, right on my doorstop and it meant a chance to wear this crocheted hat that my grandmother made. I didn't wear it for many years on account of the pom pom that I thought was a bit twee, but now I think it's what makes the hat fabulous.

I'm now on the look out for a similar black(of course) or pale blue version.

Whilst at the seaside, I picked up these brand new leather gloves that are fully lined for an unbelievable $25 because it was the last pair and the woman wanted to get rid of them. A little puzzled(wouldn't it be great if every 'last item' was reduced like the last pair of Chloe shoes in DJ's) I handed over my money before she changed her mind.

Dress: Vintage thrifted from Salvo's

Trench: Zara
Bag: Mango from Barcelona
Tights: Wolford
Spectator Heels: Vintage Taranto
Hat: Nan made it!
Gloves: Sea Jewels boutique

A seaside sojourn

Dear readers I'm off the the seaside for a quick get away, as it is quick I figured the best way to mix up what I'm wearing is to just take lots of shoes. Have a lovely weekend, happy shopping!
Scarf: Episdode
Shoes: Kelly from Club House Lane Boutique
Jeans: Wrangler
Shirt: Vintage Laura Ashley
Heels: Vintage Taranto from Club House Lane Boutique

Do it the Lady Melbourne way

Sometimes I get asked to do styling work, and this shoot was one of them for a Melbourne photographer called Rachel Ernst. I will often source all the the clothes second hand/vintage, and occasionally thrown in some of my own stuff. You'll no doubt recognise the belt.