Lady Melbourne: March 2009

30.3.09

Mad Monday

I don't have cable TV, I don't watch television enough to justify it. So, that means I am yet to have seen a single episode of 'Mad Men.'

However, it begins here on good old charity TV this week so I finally get to see what the hype is all about. Quite a few of you have mentioned the series to me before, so it is with curiosity that I will tune in this week.

Can you spot the sticky tape on the wall? I've had to tape my frames in places because the heat makes them peel off the wall.

Interesting discussion after my last post, I always welcome your many and varied points of view!

Shirt and skirt: Savers

Ring: Chanel

29.3.09

Old but New

This dress is old as in I bought it second hand on eBay and it was probably made in the late 1970s, but that I've had it for a few years.

It's been on the blog before, but I cut the sleeves off recently and it's like having a new dress. I've put it on eBay and the Etsy shop but no one wanted it so now I've decided to keep it.

These cute little leather ballet flats are new, I picked them up on sale at Lion in Love in Flinders Lane.

Such a cute shop, reminds me so much of shopping in Hong Kong, just with exaggerated price tags. I got these for $69 but I remember seeing them when they were new for about $100 more than that.

Most of the stuff in the shop is from Hong Kong or China, and I generally love everything but refuse to pay the jacked up prices they ask. $269 for a vinyl bag? I don't think so!

Mainly though I think it's because I've travelled to the place where they buy most of their stock and know just how much they pay for it. I understand capitalism enough to realise that in order to make a profit you add your own mark up to wholesale goods(world bank here I come) , but a $40AUS bag bought in Hong Kong and resold here for $269AUS is ludicrous.

I'd love to know what you all think.

My main ethos when shopping is that I will pay for the quality, whether it is considered a cheap or expensive item. That's why there is everything from Chanel to op-shop in my wardrobe. The label is not important to me, how the garment was made and how long it will last is.

Dress: eBay

Bag: MNG, Barcelona

Flats: Lion in Love

Heart pendants: Lady Melbourne

Pendant: Chanel

25.3.09

It's Autumn/Winter in my head...

We're going through that wonderful period in Autumn, when the season just doesn't know what to do with itself.

Will the heavens open today, or will the sun shine?

A little bit of both today.

I was hoping to see a lot more capelets at fashion week, but alas they didn't seem to be on the radar at many of the shows.

I'm also on the lookout for over the knee boots and cherry red belts. Specific? Yes!

So fellow Melbournites if you seen any you think you couldn't live without do share your find with me.

On an entirely unrelated matter, whilst browsing through the Myer accessories department today, I noticed that the majority of bags were made out of pleather or synthetic materials.

Once upon a time, such bags would sit at around the $50 mark because, well, they weren't leather.

I saw a synthetic bag on sale today for $189. Am I crazy, but when did this trend to pay almost $200 for a vinyl bag begin?!

Lucky I had a lie down yesterday!

Wool capelet: A little store in Harndorf, Adelaide that was closing down last year

Blouse: Carla Zampatti

Skirt: Savers....I think!

Boots: Primark

Socks: They belong to his Lordship but don't tell him because he doesn't like it when I borrow his clothes.....I just said that out loud didn't I? Damn.

Jewellery: Diva

Umbrella: For the life of me I cannot remember, I've had it that long. But I see similar ones around the place all the time, I don't think it could be too hard to find.

24.3.09

A cup of tea and a nice lie down...

What a difference a week makes!
This time last week it was fashion week madness, tonight I get to have a nice cup of tea before some study and an early night.
I'm reading 'Twilight Sleep' by Edith Wharton at the moment, anyone read it? It's about the jazz age in New York(amongst other things!), if you are a fan of the classics it's a lovely novel. Edith Wharton is one of my favourite authors, not necessarily for 'The Age of Innocence,' but 'Ethan Frome' is one of my all time favourite novels. So tragic and romantic....sigh....
Anyhow, I'm almost finished this book so if you have a suggestion for my next read by all means, send it through!

23.3.09

A rather casual affair...

Monday just sort of drifted by today, I did so many things it's hard to believe it's almost over.

The days are slowly starting to get shorter, day light savings ends soon so I expect I will have to be a lot more canny in my photography. I love this late afternoon sunlight, but it happens around 2pm in the middle of winter so who knows what I'll do!

Blazer: Witchery

Jeans: Hong Kong

Stilettos: op-shop

Shirt: Shag

Scarf: Camden Market

Pearls: Primark
Sunnies: Scarlet & Sly
Gloves: Cyril J Prestons

21.3.09

You can colour too...

I came across these illustrations on From Betsy With Love originally, but if you want to know more about Edwin Georgi you only have to look here.
If there are any illustrators out there(and I hope there are!) I'd love to know what you think about this kind of work that was created in the 1950's.
It still seems relevant today, but I wonder whether that is because it is fashionable rather than admired for it's artistic merit.

Chirp chirp!

20.3.09

Happy Friday

Getting towards the end of a rather busy week here in Melbourne so it's nice to catch a quick drink in my favourite room of the house.

I picked up this cardigan at the Country Road sale the other day, his Lordship thought it was veering towards 'new wave hipster'(thus inferring that it wouldn't suit me), but I had an early Chanel, Great Gatsby feel in mind.

As they said, it's all how you wear it. I'm wearing a black shift dress under it, but I can imagine that it will be one of those versatile pieces.

Anyhow, happy Friday everyone!

19.3.09

Colouring in...

I was down at the Docklands today for fashion week and popped into an old dis-used warehouse to check out an exhibition.

I couldn't resist the walls as the perfect back drop for these photos.

Dress: Nique

Flats: Innovare

18.3.09

And another thing....

I am super busy this week, I am keeping up to date with all your blogs through my 'following' application, but apologise for not being up to date with my commenting.
Sorry guys!

From the front row: Got Black?

Two days into L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival and I have to tell you I was a little worried after the first show.

Not because it wasn't great fun and well put together(kudos Arts Events), but mainly because I felt as though I was seeing the same thing over and over: an abundance of black.
Locals might baulk at this observation- it is well known that Melbourne has a love affair with black and that it rules the fashion pack.
But I don't go to fashion week to see more of the same, I go to be inspired.

Here are some wearable looks from the Loreal Paris Runway 1 presented by Grazia on Monday featuring -
Ksubi, Karen Walker, Tina Kalivas, Kirrily Johnston, LIFE With BIRD, sass & bide, Romance Was Born, Josh Goot, J'Aton

So black, grey, body con- you got that?!

Onto Loreal Paris Runway 2 presented by Vogue Australia on Tuesday, and things definitely start to pick up with Yeojin Bae, Dhini and Camilla & Marc amongst others presenting a lighter palette of wearable looks.

Thats all I have time for at this stage, but if you want a great look at whats going on in and around the shows, check out Melbourne Street Fashion, they have great daily coverage of what's going on.
LM

The Librarian

I think I've mentioned before that I read a lot, time permitting a book a week. I devour magazines and have invested virtually the GDP of a small African nation in my habit over the years.

I know I'm not alone in this, there are blogs on my blog list devoted purely to magazines and their content.

Even though I talk about my books and magazines I don't think I show them enough, so I'm on a mission to start to photograph the piles that sit on surfaces all around the house.

Top to Bottom:

Chanel, Francois Baudot and Francoise Aveline, Assouline, 2003

Grace Kelly: A Life in Pictures, Pavillion Books, 2007

Hopper, Rolf G. Renner, Taschen, 2000

Jeff Wall, Craig Burnett, Tate, 2005

Illusive: Contemporary Illustration and its Context, 2nd Printing, 2006

Vintage Fashion, Carlton Books, 2006

Lula issue number eight

Lula issue number six

Chanel: Collections and Creations, Daniele Bott, Thames and Hudson, 2007

Hotel La Chapelle, David La Chapelle, Bulfinch Press, 2006

Country Road are having a sale at the moment, I picked up this silk shirt today for $79 which I thought was a nice little mid week bargain.
Skirt: Savers

Blouse: Country Road

Flats: New Look

Pearls: A little shop in London of no name, in an arcade

Corsage: Chanel

P.S- to answer some of your questions, yes I am attending fashion week and will be kicking around the shows, the docklands or the pop up events. See you there!

17.3.09

Go Here

The L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival is in full swing this week, but apart from the parades there is plenty going on as part of the cultural program.

Portable Film Festival
When this came across my desk I thought it was worth sharing as all you overseas readers can watch as well.
I have seen two of the films that feature- 'China Blue' and 'Veiled Ambition' and can recommend them to anyone interested in social and human interest stories behind the fashion industry.

Little creatures...

I love little details, I search for them in everything that I see. I notice what colour shoe laces a person has, the stitching on their jeans, the hint of a tattoo. I was describing a mutual colleague the other day to someone and I said, 'You know, the guy with the emerald green shoe laces?'
Perplexity stared me back in the face.
Anyhow, this isn't the best photograph of these earrings but none the less you get the idea of how clunky they are. Well I hope you do!!
They cost me $1 from a shop on the very ground floor of Melbourne Central, sort of near the train station. It sells beads, crystals and some ready made jewellery and for the life of me I can't remember it's name! Help me readers!
The point is, if you like them they have heaps so there is a little treasure hunt for you.

I wore two outfits today that were a combination of both. Same jacket, same hand bag and jewellery. One was the dress above and one was my new high waisted Faberge jeans and this cute little tank from Kookai. I shopped at Kookai in high school and during my university days, so haven't really gone back there since because I think to some degree, we compartmentalise certain shops with certain times in our lives. Eg: I have never and will never wear emerald green as it was my school uniform colour.

I digress, I was strolling past the other day and popped in to have a look. Not everything appealed, but they seemed to have great basics, this being one of them.

This is a little jacket/blouse that you wear under a dirndl, I picked it up at Episode on Sydney Rd. They are narrowing their collection, but you can buy dirndl's, blouses and traditional German clothing there.

16.3.09

Where the wild things grow...

I live in a very old part of Melbourne, but don't equate that with old money, old families or anything of that nature.

The suburb was established about 1840, which means that there are many of these blue stone lane ways still in tact, and still being used.

Although many of the original Victorian facades have disappeared over the years, the lane ways remain as a reminder of a time gone by.

I thought I'd tell you about it, specially for overseas readers because no doubt some of you must wonder, 'What the hell is she doing in that lane way?!'

The history, and old, rambling feel make a wonderful back drop, specially when inner city, there isn't always a different century worth of inspiration just outside your door.

And finally the weather has dropped down a few degrees which has meant I can start pulling out some of my favourite Autumn dresses.

I bought this dress on eBay from a vintage seller last year and I love, love, love it!

Dress: eBay

Trench: Zara(most recent trip last year)

Heels: Tony Bianco

Bag: A little market in Hong Kong

Corsage: Chanel

15.3.09

Hello there....

I do believe that Mother Melbourne wore 'Faberge' denim in the 80's. I don't normally go in for that new wave 80's thing but I kinda liked these jeans when I tried them on, purely for the fact that they remind me of my childhood.
Jeans: Faberge
Bag: Longchamp
Booties: Primark
Blouse: Carla Zampatti
Glasses: Scarlet & Sly

Little pleasures....

A reader suggested that I try this 'reverse' manicure. It needs a little tidying up, but you get the general idea.

I found all of the pieces of this tea set separately at op and antique shops but it would appear they belong together!

New additions to my kitsch porcelain collection.

12.3.09

Seeing Double

I took Mother Melbourne to the Langham today for a little birthday lunch(hers, not mine) and decided this casual yet chic little outfit might just do the trick. Plus I was kind of trialling it for fashion week next week as well, I do like a good road test!

Anyhow, while down that way I popped into Made In Japan and they have a new lot of Japanese fabrics in store so I bought up and intend to make a whole lot of little camisoles. Anyone living in Melbourne will tell you that layering is essential all year around so they come in handy that's for sure.

This little cream tux jacket is a new edition, I bought it at D.F.O(Direct Factory Outlet for overseas readers) from Witchery. $199 down to $49. I can't understand why, there is nothing wrong with it but there were only two left so perhaps they just wanted to get rid of them.

Jacket: Witchery

Pants: Country Road

Camisole: I made it

Pearls: Primark

Shoes: Tony Bianco

Bag: Louis Vuitton

10.3.09

Childhood Lessons....

Quite some time back I posted an interview and pictures of these gorgeous Belle & Boo original prints that I bought on Etsy.They sit quite near my cherry blossoms, which aren't real but do a pretty good impersonation of the real thing!
It's fashion week next week and as usual I have plenty of clothes but nothing to wear. I never really feel 'fashionable' at fashion week, but it is always nice to go along and have a look at what’s out there for the season ahead.

On my wish list for autumn/winter is lots of over the knee boots, hand knitted sweaters and caplets- we’ll find out next week that’s what I see!

Skirt and blouse: Savers