Wishful thinking...

As far as the weather goes I think I am either a wishful thinker or maybe just a winter denier!

Saturday I was looking forward to a lunch date with a group of girlfriends. I was doing my best to embrace the advice of MaryDeluxe and her correspondent Desi De Lu Lu about practicing being a bus stop goddess; in particular making a bit more of an effort and to look good just for me.

I was looking forward to donning an outfit rather than just chucking on some jeans- a grey wool early 50s skirt, a red check Pendleton jacket and my trusty 40s Re-mix platforms...and then I looked outside. Cold and heavy rain, max 13C... Blah!

Hmmm so after Friday's efforts of being a winter denier and wearing summer sandals and getting completely soaked and waterlogged (well yes it did say approaching rain but it also said 17C- So I went with the 17C outfit choice and pushed the possibility of rain to the back far reaches of my mind).

As most Melbournians will attest we have been in drought for the last few years and so we have forgotten what a good downpour looks like. I know our winters pale in comparison to our northern friends, but I am just not a winter girl- give me summer, a frock and sandals any day! I honestly don't know how those in colder climates cope! Clearly my wardrobe (particularly my footwear options) are not set up for looking glam in a downpour.

So my bus stop goddess outfit got left looking dejected on the ironing board as I scrambled for the much less glamorous option of jeans and loafers.

Good company makes up for any weather indiscretion and if you're looking for good grub in Melbourne and I cannot recommend highly enough the cafe El mirage owned by mates of ours, Sarah and Martin.

Lunch consisted of pumpkin, spinach and pinenut risotto and was finished off with a gluten-free orange and poppy seed muffin (with yummy cream cheese icing) and copius pots of tea.

El mirage 349 Lygon St Brunswick East (sorry I forgot to take a pic).

I bid my pals a fond farewell and with my trusty travelling companion and oft partner in crime (Dawn) we popped next door to a very cute store called Five Boroughs.



This store is filled with loads of cool local handmade stuff, all very purchase and drool worthy. My fave pics- get your coffee beans in cool 60s repro cannisters or maybe a handmade leather purse with an owl appliqued on it?





Go check out the Five Boroughs Blog!

So I did manage to get a quick leaving pic. I guess I am not Robinson Crusoe here, but I have decided that I feel absolutely awkward when it comes to having my photo taken!



So outfit for today...
Red 1949er Pendelton jacket purchased at Retrostar Vintage
Kitty Carson side zip jeans gift from my ex and purchased in San Fran
Loake Doc martin loafer (not shown)
Brown belt thrifted
Bakelite bangles- bluemoon, red marble and tritone laminate in bluemoon, red and butterscotch- various ebay purchases
Bakelite mexican man brooch (hiding under my layers) Hyde and Seek Antiques
Green overdyed and carved applejuice bakelite ring- thrifted

Close ups of ring, bangles and brooch...






So what do others do to not feel like a complete dork when having their photo taken? Any and all advice welcome!

Ok, off to do some sewing...

Inspired by Fiona over at Straight Talking Mama...

So over at STM's blog she posted some awesome pics of herself when she was in her mid 20s (and BTW I think she looks equally awesome now!) and it got me thinking about how we as women see ourselves and how I see myself as I head into my 40s. Okay so I am 42- and at this stage while I don't like some aspects of how my body and face are aging, on the whole I actually like how I look now more than I did when I was in my early 20s. Gone is (most) of the self consciousness, I like how my sense of style has developed, and I think I would wear more womanly and revealing clothes now than I ever had the confidence to back then. I guess there's gonna be a tipping point where I maybe don't like what the aging process is doing (I know the weight gain "at the drop of a hat" is not thrilling me even now and my skin ain't what it used to be!) But on the whole give me 40 over 20 any day- I like looking like a woman.

Ok with that said, Fiona, who I think is one sassy chica, inspired me to drag out a pic or two of myself from back then. The pics below were taken twenty years ago when I was about 22. A mate asked me to do a job- he needed some pics for a newspaper ad and so I helped out and scored some neat black and white pics.






So what do I notice about myself at 22? I spent a lot more time on my hair- used to set it all the time (note to 42 year old self- could spend more time on said hair do!) And I reckon there's a whole lot my 42 year old self would like to say to that 22 y.o. about life, love and the world!

So what do others think? How easy is it as a woman to like yourself at any age?

Introducing myself
Hello, well I have landed in my new place (although this pic is not taken in it!) and I have been having blog commitment issues (should I? do I have time? Would anyone really care LOL!) I started writing, well, really for myself- (a bit of post break up, life transition musing and a bit of emotional catharsis, really). So here I am, not sure how much I'll post, but will give things a whirl and see where it goes.

So this is me- hello! Quick pic courtesy of my gal pal's hubbie, who was my dashing escort to my pal's burlesque festival (The very first Australian Burlesque Festival). I went to the Saturday night event, the Big Tease, and it was a very professional show with a mix of Australian and overseas acts. If you are in Sydney, the Big Tease is coming to you this Friday and Saturday night- check it out http://www.australianburlesquefestival.com

So it was freezing (well freezing for Melbourne) and after a swag of outfits strewn over the bedroom floor I decided to keep it simple and go for this look (which I accidently - but secretly pleased, managed to colour coordinate with my escort's outfit!).

So I guess this is now an outfit post!

Outfit:
50s Red bolero gifted from my pal cindy
Black 40s crepe blouse with floral sequining purchased way back in 1998 at San Fran Vintage Clothing Fair
40s wool black skirt thrifted
Red Remix platforms
Bakelite carved bangles in cherry and butterscotch- mix of ebay and from a wonderful jewellery dealer friend in San Fran (Hyde and Seek)
Carved bakelite ring courtesy of a dealer pal William
Not shown 50s Red leather handbag thrifted