J' Adore: Suzy Perette

One can never have too many LBDs - Rather like shoes (but I digress).

I'd like to share my favorite with you.

I have spent an inordinate amount of time looking at vintage clothing online, both here and overseas and every so often you discover a name that you realise is synonymous with quality and style.

One of these is Suzy Perette. Here's a little bit from the Vintage Fashion Guild about this particular brand.

Imagine how excited I was to find one of my own.

I love this dress for so many reasons:

It's more Joan Holloway than Peggy Olson
It's in my favorite "Festive Melbourne Black"

It hugs my curves in all the right places

It has a deep V back

It has pockets, Kittens - POCKETS!!

Here is a slightly over exposed shot to show the bow detail at the front.

What's not to love?

The LBD can be dressed up or down. Killer heels for the inner vamp, diamonds or pearls for the sophisticate. Puurfect for cocktails, dinner or swanning around the office with a cute cardi and vixen eyes...

Be truthful - how many little black dresses are in your wardrobe, Kitten? What do you like to wear them with?

It's Couture Kittens! COURTURE!

Oh my goodness, I think I may have to have a lie down!

The reason for my somewhat over-excited state is re-visiting all the gorgeous photos from the "Golden Age of Couture" Exhibition I recently visited in Bendigo with the delightful Nicole from Circa Vintage Clothing.

Once again, I urge you to visit this exhibition if you have the opportunity. I am based in Melbourne and it was worth every minute of the entire 4 hour round trip drive just to see it.

These were my stand-out favorites amongst an impressive amount of truly stellar examples. Click on the images for a closer look Kittens!

Dress and petticoat by Pierre Balmain: Perfect for a 50's retro bride don't you agree?


We saw this stunning, silk rose-print Pierre Balmain dress, sans black bow. Spectacular!


This above is the famous Christian Dior "Zemire". The V&A acquired this ensemble in 2006. It had been stored in a cellar by the Seine in Paris and had to be cleaned and repaired before it could be displayed.

This hand-beaded organza gown by Hubert de Givenchy was awe-inspiring in its detail.

But this was the gown that took my breath away:

This red silk evening dress by Cristobal Balenciaga is beyond divine. Quite plain and simple at the front, it is the covered button, bustled skirt and bow detail at the back that makes this gown the belle amongst a large collection of BEAUTIFUL ballgowns.

Photos courtesy of The Golden Age of Couture exhibition catalogue edited by Claire Wilcox and the V&A website.

Sunday Road Trip

On Sunday a girlfriend and I took a road trip from Melbourne to Bendigo and met up with the lovely Nicole from Circa Vintage on the steps of the Bendigo Museum, temporarily the home of "The Golden Age of Couture" exhibition which is on loan from The V&A Museum in London.


Let me just say, the four hour round trip to get there and was well worth the effort and I urge anyone who has the opportunity to do so. It finishes on the 22nd of March 2009. I will do another post exclusively on the exhibition, as I was so privileged to have Nicole - a true expert give her fascinating and valuable insights into the incredible pieces we saw and I'd love to show some of them to you.

In honour of the New Look, as pioneered by Christian Dior I wore the following dress (remember to click on my images for a closer look):


I have a crinoline underneath to give it pouf and swing when I walk, so it's a lot of fun to wear. I got lots of lovely comments from others visiting the exhibition.


Cute bow detail on the detachable modesty panel at the front. The panel is fastened with press-studs at the shoulders and base.


The nice, wide collar wraps around the back and meets low at the front at the large button.

I always had assumed this dress to be a home-made 50's confection, but the eagle eyed Nicole spotted the union tag, hidden away in a side seam near the dress hem. After a little Googling, I now know it is a professionally made dress from around 1955-56. Happy Days!