Stop Staring! Ok, You Can Look!

As per my previous post, last Sunday I got together with some wonderful Australian bloggers to meet, share blogging tips and tricks and have just a jolly good afternoon.

I pulled out a dress that I have only worn once to the races a couple of years ago and decided it needed another outing. From the US label Stop Staring Clothing, this dress has a vintage 50's look, with modern fabric and detailing. The bengaline fabric has just the right amount of stretch to be both flattering and supremely comfortable.

Slightly over-exposed photo, but a good indication of the 'new look' shape of this dress.

I love the opportunity to wear my crinoline (petticoat). Click to make all my images larger Kittens.

Neckline and tie/button detail

Bright red lips were the order of the day!

I'm only posting this photo because if you look carefully, you'll see a butterfly flitted past just as the shot was taken. Can you see it?

Stop Staring make some really lovely vintage reproduction dresses, which is very handy if you, like me, are not strictly a vintage purist. As I am not a collector of museum pieces, I see nothing wrong with altering a vintage piece to suit or fit me better. Clothing is (IMHO), after all, meant to be worn.

Meet Me In Melbourne

Well Melbourne certainly turned on all its charm for the Meet Me in Melbourne Bloggerati get together at Federation Square yesterday afternoon.


It was a great opportunity to get together, talk fashion, blogging, inspiration and to generally just share the love!

It was, let me tell you Kittens, a very stylish turn out too. In attendance:

Lady Melbourne
Angela See Angela Blogg
The boys from NuffNang
Circa Vintage Clothing
Fashion Hayley
Ink and Leather (all the way from Canberra!)
Poppet Vintage
Lady Smaggle
AusStyle
Sea of Ghosts
Super Kawaii Mama

Yours truly with Super Kawaii Mama, sending our respects to Imelda (photo courtesy of Sea of Ghosts)

David from NuffNang and Fashion Hayley


SKM, Ink and Leather and gorgeous Lady Smaggle


AusStyle, Poppet, Sea of Ghosts and Angela See, Angela Blog.

Details of Jules, from Poppet Vintage's dress. Her dress was soooo cute (sigh, if only I had the legs for it.....). Good news for you Kittens - Jules will be making more of these divine little dresses for her shop very soon!

Unfortunately my camera battery died after only a couple of happy snaps, but I'll post more of my outfit shots shortly...stay tuned.

A Very Vintage Wedding

Everyone loves a wedding!

C'mon Kittens - admit it. Every time you see a car hood adorned with ribbon you hope to catch a glimpse of a bride on her big day as the car sails by. You crane your neck when you see a happy couple having their "candid" photos done on the beach or in the park with their various attendants traipsing along behind them, bouquets in hand.

The most interesting thing I find about weddings is the fashion. Of the guests and bridal party alike. Pick up any of the massive bible-thick tomes dedicated to selling the marriage day dream and you will see interesting interpretations of what to wear on "the biggest day of your life" (well for most, it is only the biggest day so far Kittens, remember that...).


What's in vogue now may not be what our grandmothers wore, but ever since Queen Victoria chose a white gown that was specifically intended to only be worn on her wedding day, Western brides around the world have followed suit.


White silk gown circa 1910


Silk Damask gown circa 1946


Groom Wears RAF uniform, circa 1947 (don't you just love their happy expressions and all the confetti?)



Hand crocheted gown circa 1972 (check out the fab velvet bow tie and white suit on the groom!)

For me, with my adoration of Dior's "New Look", I just love the modern reproductions and interpretations:

The original:

Audrey Hepburn, 1954

The Modern Reproduction:

Dolly Couture "Milan Dress" 2009

All these photos got me thinking.... Did you or would you wear your mother, grandmother or other female relative's gown on your own wedding day? Why or why not? Should the day be a pure reflection of the couple's own style and taste, or is there room for family tradition or sentimentalilty?

I want to know what you think Kittens.

Melbourne = Unromantic? Sydney = Derivative? Prove Him Wrong!

If you are not already following The Sartorialist, please at the very least have a good look. Scott Schuman's blog was named by Time Magazine as one of its "Top 100 Design Influencers" and with good reason. He has an amazing talent for photographing street fashion and finding the core essence of his subjects. I love his images and can find inspiration in just about every one of them.

I was therefor, very excited to see that he is currently in Australia as a guest of The Australian Tourism Board at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week and managed to stop in Melbourne for two days.

In an article published on Tuesday he was asked to compare the women of Melbourne and Sydney (*yawn*)..... Clearly the journalistic agenda of the so called "Melbourne/Sydney rivalry" is alive and well. But I shall leave that subject for another rant.

He said Melbourne women had a "very serious" style preferring "over design" along the lines of Comme Des Garcons and Yohji Yamamoto and flats over heels.

"A lot of times they kind of dummy it down a bit and kind of dowdy it down, which to me I don't find that romantic," he said

"Where here [in Sydney] they work out hard, they are beautiful girls and they really play that up. But somewhere in each place there's that difference. Heels and all that don't always make the look."

Read the article in full here.

Now, I don't mean to get defensive about the town I love, or it's gorgeous Harbour City sister, but exactly how much of Melbourne did he see in two days to qualify 'A lot of times..."? Plus the fact that he was quoted after spending one day at RAFW (making that around two days in gorgeous Sydney) suggests that his view is somewhat skewed.

I got the feeling he was saying that essentially, Australian women just aren't put together very well. Yes, we are beautiful, but we lack true sophistication or self awareness of our style.

This Kitten disagrees. A. Great. Deal.

I want you to prove The Sart (as much as I love him) wrong.

In fact, I want you to rush out and capture a photo of yourself or someone who you believe embodies their own sense of style or romanticsim. They don't have to be Australian, but they must be photographed in Australia. Email them to me at vintageverve(at)hotmail.com by Friday 9th May 2008.

Naturally there will be prized awarded. Romantic, stylish, Australian and cutting-edge-cool prizes god damit!

Whew! I worked myself into a bit of a tizz Kittens. Better take a Bex and lie down.

Indecent Obsession?

Just how many shoes does a fashionista sista need? How many pairs is too many? Is there really such a thing?

Even a girl with a strict budget like myself seems to be able to accumulate a vast array of footwear fashion. At the moment I am aquiring at least two pairs a month. In certain circles I been known as "Shoosie" I'm actually starting to run out of proper storage space for my tootsie covers.

So I thought I'd let you have a peek inside Vintage Verve's shoe closet so you can tell me: is 48 pairs of shoes too many for one vintage kitten?




I've got them all!

Casual Trainers
Wedges
Stilettos

Platforms
Pumps
Peeptoes
Sandals
Ballet Flats
Kitten heels
Thongs (Flip Flops)
Boots....

The only ones I can think I am missing are Taser Heels from Imelda!

What is it that you can never say no to one more of? It might be handbags, brooches, perfume bottles or lipsticks. Perhaps you can't say no to another Tim Tam. What wiley ways have you devised to you keep yourself in check?

Every Girl Deserves: Red Shoes

Don't you just love statement shoes? I've posted before on my love of them. Without a doubt, I think that a pair of red shoes has the power to lift, not only your entire ensemble, but your confidence and mood. Red shoes say "I have flair, style AND the confidence to pull them off" plus, I have never, EVER heard a single person say anything negative about any of the four pair I personally own and wear.

I think we all need a few more Dorothy moments in our lives!

Here are my newest additions:

Red patent leather, kitten heels and bling! What's not to love?

What are your "statement" pieces and how do you style them? Share your thoughts with me Kittens.

The One That Got Away...

Have you ever looked at something a couple of times, gone back and forth, ummed and aaahed, then finally made up your mind to go ahead and buy it, only to find someone has beaten you to it?

Oh the misery!

Here is the object of my covetous desire:

While waiting for an answer from an overseas seller on the postage options available, someone else snatched this one away from me.

I even have the shoes to go with it!

To make matters worse, I have a looming deadline for an important event where not only am I a VIP, but the theme is "Vintage Glamour". I almost cried as I kicked myself for not buying it yesterday, when it still could have been mine.

I'm off to lie down and have a Bex. Maybe drown my misery in Champagne. *sniff*

It makes me want to know Kittens: how do you make yourself feel better when you've had a less than perfect day? I'm in dire need of inspiration!