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So this is the outfit that I had planned for yesterday. In order to pull it off I had to dig frantically into my suitcases of cooler weather clothes and dig this jacked out before I left this morning. This dress is great but it’s sleeveless and I just don’t feel comfortable baring shoulders at work. Call me old fashioned.

I bought these tights a few weeks back as part of my epic haul. I can honestly say that these are likely the first piece of leopard print clothing that I have ever owned. It’s not a print that I am super comfortable with but my friend Hen (Hi Hen! Let’s do Mexican again soon.) rocks them so well that I sort of bought them as an homage.

I feel a like a bit of a rebel at work today. Red leopard print tights, denim jacket with badges and a scarf tied in my hair – on a Wednesday even. Also I just love the juxtaposition of the ruffley, tuxedo like feel of the dress against the denim jacket.

I’m pretty stoked on my badge collection here. My favourites are definitely The Breakfast Club and little John Cusack in Sixteen Candles. One of the girls at work today said she was going to get me a Molly Ringwald badge for my birthday this month. Awww yeah!

Scarf: Myer
Jacket: Was Mum’s
Badges: Various
Dress: Target
Tights: Target
Shoes: Nova

More Wine?

Hiya gang! Welcome back. I hope you’re all feeling suitably relaxed and inspired. We had a fantastic holiday. I had planned to take daily pictures and do a bit of a round up here. I started strong but it all fell down on day 3 when we headed to the RSL to watch the AFL. Note to self, when you are trying to decide whether to take pictures before you go or when you get back, take them before you go. You will not take them when you get back. Or if you do, they will not be suitable to show anyone. Moving on.

We went to the AFL on Thursday night. Great fun. Even though it’s not that cold up here yet it just doesn’t feel right to go to a game without a scarf. This was the first outing of the latest in my skull scarf collection. Ain’t she pretty?

Friday was off to Robba’s birthday drinks after a nice day of laying about the house. This is an example of why you shouldn’t take pictures when you get home after an event like this but I think this one is passable. Maybe. The Man said I was dressed like an old lady which is actually exactly what I was going for so wins all round.

Saturday we were off to the Coast to visit Skellets & Thornie (hi!!!!). Great times all round. We got to eat too much chocolate and take a walk on the beach. It was windy as all get out but still really nice. I took the Easter/floral thing as far as my wardrobe would allow. Turns out that's pretty far huh?

And Sunday is where it all falls down I’m afraid. I wore a hippie tunic and wide legged jeans if that helps.

Now back to today. I had something else planned last night but woke up in the early hours and realised I was missing a very vital part of the outfit so I went with an option that I’d put aside for later in the week.

This dress is proving to be quite versatile already. I feel respectable yet relaxed. The Man said that I look like Marcel the Waiter this morning. OK. I’ll pay that.

Apparently there used to be a bow tie day at work every month. It seems the task of bringing it back may fall on my shoulders. Though I think it would be hilarious to see various staff members sporting the ol’ BT as I like to call it, I am more than happy to fly this flag alone.

Today:
Shirt: Cotton On
Bow Tie: Junk Shop
Dress: Myer
Belt: Cue
Leggings: ?
Shoes: Chemist

Football Thursday:
Jacket: Hand me down
Shirt: Witchery
Scarf: Dotti
Jeans: Sportsgirl

Birthday Friday:
Hat:  Target
Dress: Myer
Belt: Valley Girl
Cardigan: Big W
Shoes: City Beach

Coast Saturday:
Dress: Valley Girl
Sash: Myer
Leggings: Valley Girl
Shoes: Target

Cowboys & Indians

I am so exhausted after this week that to be honest I wouldn’t notice if I was wearing a paper sack. My boots are broken, my hair needs washing, these necklaces aren’t quite right but frankly the fact that I got dressed at all is a miracle. No blasphemy intended.

It’s a short week this week what with Good Friday tomorrow so they’ve let us go Casual Thursday today. If I went as casual as I was feeling I would have rocked up in The Man’s hand me down Deftones shirt and a pair of Cowboy and Indian flannel pants. Being that I would like to keep my job I made an effort with the work dress but bought the Cowboys and Indian’s along.

My beloved boots are now flapping when I walk so they will be making a trip to the boot hospital in the coming days. I’m pleased with how my hair went and if you could see the image on my shirt it’s actually of a cool Indian girl. The shirt used to be Mum’s and I was all shades of excited when she handed it over to me. We share a lot of stuff. Such is the beauty of having a super cool Mama.

We’ve just had a major sugar blow out at work so my brain is set to crash before too long. We have a 4 day weekend ahead of us now and I haven’t decided if I’ll post Friday & Monday’s outfits yet. Stay tuned.

Happy Easter to you all. I hope you enjoy a limitless sugar high!

Shirt: Was Mum’s
Dress: Was Mum’s
Belt: Myer
Socks: ?
Boots: Thrifted
Necklaces: Myer & Diva
Ring: ?
Wrist attire: Thrifted, gifted, Diva, customised and unknown.

Styling The Cerebrum

Today's event should be the last for a while so regular posting will resume soon.  I am totally exhausted and the clip that I wanted to post wont work so I've decided to share with you my favourite flower.

Image courtesy of www.freewebs.com

The marigold. Beautiful, underrated and my favourite.

Styling The Cerebrum

Another day in corporate dress, another post on what's inside my head.

Image courtesy of http://www.heartbreakpublishing.com/

Jack Vettriano is an all time favourite artist of mine. I first fell in love with this image and then explored a little further to find that this incredible man is self taught. The mood that he creates is just so palpable. The women are seductive, the men are masculine and they are both so strong. I love it. I have a book of his called "Lovers and Other Strangers". If you can get a copy of it I highly recommend it. There are few things more indulgent than spending a little time in Jack's world.

Challenge v2

It's a busy week this week. Knowing that I had training all day today and two off site events that will see me in corporate dress this week I felt little inspiration when thinking of what to wear. So, after the success of the last challenge, I asked The Man to choose something from my wardrobe again last night.

He picked this plaid shirt. It's always reminded me of a school uniform and, with training today, I figured what better place to take this outfit than the classroom. 

I've been looking forward to pairing the tweed look of this dress with some flannel when it gets a little cooler but I thought this check would work in the meantime. And it did. I've had these socks for about 2 years but this is the first time I've actually worn them. They are actually thigh high socks and, well, my shape is not exactly conducive to thigh high socks. So they're folded a few times at the knee but it works.

 
And every self respecting school girl needs a matching bow. 

Shirt: Valley Girl
Dress: Trade Secret
Belt: Target
Socks: Sportsgirl
Slip: ?
Shoes: Chemist

Valley Girl

I went to bed last night with no idea what I wanted to wear this morning. I felt a little scared, a little liberated, I wanted to see how I would go with no forward planning. I love what I ended up with but have to be honest, it's a look that I've had in mind for a while. 

I bought this skirt a while back for the J-Pan Fan launch and didn't realise until I got it home and had taken the tags off that the stitching had come undone on some of the pleats. Being that this skirt is all about the architectural pleats I felt that I should get it mended. Which I did but I ended up paying more for the mending than the actual piece. I guess that will teach me to take it to a dry cleaner in the middle of the City. It's all about the 'burbs guys.

Ultimately I am glad I got it fixed though because it feels much stronger and I'm sure I'll get a lot more wear out of it. Today I decided to take it to the 80's. A little Valley Girl influenced if you will, with this fantastic green denim jacket and the trusty pink Keds.

I do not know what is going on with my hair. I used a new conditioner and seriously all it wants to do is hang in thick, heavy curls. As I write this it's all tied up underneath a bandanna but it certainly was a struggle today. I honestly believe my hair has a mind of it's own and once described it as follows:

If I were an illustration in a childrens book my hair would have birds flying around in it and would curl in every conceivable direction. It would make friends as we walked down the street and by the end of the story there would be apartment buildings nestled in there with little old jewish women hanging out washing on the hairs strung between.

Jacket: Valley Girl

Singlet: Kmart

Skirt: Myer

Socks: Stolen from The Man

Shoes: Ross

Orange You Glad

Another example of the boldness/impulse purchasing I exercise at a sale rack. This dress has ruffles, of which I am usually not a fan. Plus its 2-3 sizes too big. But hey, $7? Yes please. This belt fixes the size problem and the toughness prevents the ruffles from being too sweet. Sweet was yesterday. Today I am not sweet. I am tough. Not so tough that it doesn’t hurt when a green ant bites me on the butt though. Ow.

With the extra swooshiness (that’s right) of the skirt that the added size gives I feel a bit like a punk rock princess. Though not like a legitimate one. I know that wearing a studded (though this isn’t even studded) belt doesn’t make you a punk. Don’t get mad Hen. But I think if I was to see this look in a magazine somewhere that’s the lame title they’d give it.

I really wanted some studded flats to pair with it. All these killer heels with zipper and stud details are gorgeous but I am yet to see them translated well, or at all, into flats. If anyone sees any please let me know. I am more than willing to plug my savings into cyberspace if it means I get a gorgeous pair of tough babies to have and to hold. I know what I want in my mind but I still haven’t quite figured out how to make them appear in front of me.

It’s the first game of the AFL season tonight. We’re off to the RSL to watch it with an old friend. $4 Bloody Mary’s here I come!

Bow: Junk shop, customised by Lovers, Saints & Sailors
Cardigan: Was Mum's
Necklace: Cotton On
Dress: Target
Belt: Kmart
Leggings: Dotti
Shoes: Rubi 

Goody Two Shoes

I had a different outfit planned for today. But then I got a message late last night that tonight’s meeting was postponed so I decided to go with a slightly sweeter look that I had grouped together in my wardrobe from a couple of weeks back.

I just love the colours and details of the shoes with these socks. I know The Man is far from a fan of the socks and heels look so when he conceded that it looked cute today I knew I was onto something.

This skirt is very special to me and I’m always happy when I get to wear it. With this pretty embroidered top and the full slip underneath I feel like such a lady. There is something about wearing a slip under clothes that makes me feel like a proper lady. I love to think of the ritual women had in the past with getting dressed. I know that corsets and pantyhose are restrictive and we are ultimately lucky to be able to dress in any manner we please, but the care that went into dressing is alluring to me.

I also enjoy letter writing, cooking, embroidery, jazz and gardening. Hmmm, does anyone have a time machine?

Hair spins: Diva
Top: Jacqui E
Slip: Was Mum’s
Belt: Was Mum’s
Skirt: Witchery
Watch: Customised by Lovers Saints, & Sailors
Socks: Myer
Shoes: Big W

Nearly Not

I ummmed and ahhhed about this dress on the weekend. It was on sale but not as dirt cheap as I got used to paying the weekend before. So I literally stood in the aisle of the store arguing myself in and out of it when The Man stepped in and made the executive decision that I should get it. I think he was itching to move on and knew that if I didn’t get it I’d end up regretting it. Thanks sweetie.

I’m glad that he made me get it now. It’s uber comfortable and the perfect slouchy layering piece. I see many pairings in it’s future come the colder times. Scarves and jackets and tights, oh my!

What better path to take with a slouchy off the shoulder number than the bows and pearls of the 80’s Girl. I almost want to do a Molly Ringwald dance through the hallway at work. And any outfit that makes me think Molly Ringwald is alright by me.

Dress: Kmart
Rosary: gift
Pearls: Klein's customised with bow by Lovers, Saints & Sailors
Belt: Kmart
Bracelets: Rubi
Leggings: Myer
Shoes: Rubi