All is Fair at this Fashion Show

Last Friday I had the great pleasure of attending the Fair@Square Fashion Show at BMW Edge at Federation Square in Melbourne with one of my favourite Melbourne bloggers and the previous organiser and stylist of this event Leeyong Soo of Style Wilderness. What made this fashion show different from most is that it showcased the possibility to combine fashion that is stylish but can also be ethical as well and made to last as opposed to 'fast fashion' that not only creates waste in landfill, but leaves behind polluters from chemical dyes and toxins.

SPENCERLACY Enchanted Forest AW13

It's hard to imagine thinking about Autumn/Winter here in Melbourne when we are about to have a 38 degree day tomorrow (3 cheers for that!) but before you know it, Melbourne's good old changeable weather means you can never quite fully pack away your seasonal clothes as you'll still be fishing out that jumper or long sleeved tops when the inevitable cooler days approach and layering becomes a necessity. This is where Melbourne label SPENCERLACY as a brand comes in very handy as their pieces are not only great for layering, but also very comfortable and free flowing for the wearer so there is a real no fuss feel about it. 

You'll always be JR and Major Nelson to me!

Source here

It's funny when you spend a few days without turning on the TV or checking Twitter, the world still turns without you and events still happen without your control. When late at night I turned the TV news on to see the crawl across the bottom of the screen that Larry Hagman had died, I wished I hadn't seen that to be true. He is one of my all time favourite actors and as you would know if you read this blog I am a mega huge Dallas fan and without him, the show would be watchable, but with him, the show is unmissable!

Let's go cruising!

About a week ago on a rather warm, yet overcast and humid Sunday, the start of the cruising season happened in Melbourne at Station Pier with the arrival of the first cruise ship to kick off what is a bumper season of cruise ships to dock in out port. Rather exciting for me as I am a cruise ship fanatic, but concerning as to how I am going to fit seeing EVERY ship in my schedule! But the first one is always indeed special as it also marks the beginning of the warmer months up ahead, strolls by the beach, seagulls trying to eat your fish and chips and breathing in long deep breaths of that beautiful sea air!

Retro Summer Dreaming

Source here

The last few days we have had a taste of Summer weather finally here in Melbourne, although as I type this, the heater is back on, so it didn't last for long. But Spring has certainly been a busy time whipping through every aspect of my life and giving it a good clean out- if it no longer serves you well, is useful, makes you happy- then it's time to go. A philosophy that can be adopted to more than just things and clothes but people too. It is a very cathartic, cleansing and empowering thing to do for yourself, and you actually find that life goes on, you don't miss these things but you have created space to think, see clearly and allow room for the new into your life. As Carrie said in Sex and the City movie, she had been cheating on fashion with interiors, well, I feel the same lately. The weather getting warmer just makes you want to jazz up the home and create little nooks and cosy spots in the garden you can imagine enjoying a good book and an iced tea in. My inspiration always comes from the past. Retro homes and style always evoke a playful creative energy of possibility and livability to me that can be lacking in some of today's modern cookie cutter homes. The colours are a form of therapy in itself and you can't feel sad surrounded by cheery yellows and pale blues. Life's too short to spend it in drab interiors, you spend money on clothes, but you are not in them as long as you spend in your home. You don't like one outfit, you can go to the closet and change it, but you don't like your home-well, you are stuck with it until you roll up your creative sleeves and get to work. I'm all for thrifty, nifty ways of creating subtle shifts without shifting your bank balance too dramatically. So, the easiest way to start that actually does not cost you any money is to start by removing ALL clutter! Hard one for me, but I'm learning that you don't actually need everything you use out on display, it can be put in a drawer where it is still easily accessible. Only have out the things you love to see each day you wake up, and not a bad idea to have a monthly rotation where if you feel sad you don't have enough space to display everything at once, treat your home like a gallery and curate your own space, changing over objects which keeps your possessions fresh and your other items don't feel left out that they have been packed away. Then you can play with some textiles and if you are handy with a sewing machine, whip up some new cushion covers or curtains to instantly add some pop to a room. Outdoors, the amazing invention of solar lights have revolutionised my backyard with coloured lights hanging and fairy lights wrapped around the trunks of trees, I always look forward to nighttime to see the magic that a night garden can deliver, for after all, a garden is magical at any time of the day, but most people don't show them off at night where nature is at its most magical. So think about what little things you can do to shift your space and you will be amazed where the other shifts in your life can also start to manifest, and best of all, you can sit back and think about it enjoying that nice iced tea, in the garden at night lit up by fairy lights! Here's to summer!

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Happy Halloween!

Source here

Happy Halloween! A day to bring out your pumpkins and hack into them and dress up and get free candy! Sounds good, but also a day to remember spirits passed and offer blessings to them as a way of celebration. Naturally I chose to focus on cats and how they have long been associated with Halloween and anything mystical and spooky- especially black cats, but that's just because cats have a superior sense and can communicate with spirits and sense them before we do. Bless them, they're so smart. I'm honouring the spirit of my departed black and white cat and all the souls that have left this earth to begin their next journey. On this Halloween in particular, I'd like to pay respect for all those who died in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and to wish all my American readers the hope, strength and resilience to carry on in the aftermath of natures devastation. I hope you find more treats than tricks and invite those good spirits to guide you through your days. Blessed be. 

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

It's all about the Tailoring

Source here

Continuing on with my love of retro cop shows, I am glad my viewers are enjoying my Miami Vice post, that pleases me so! I always think the shows that you grew up with stick with you longer and resonate with you more. Not sure if its nostalgia or simply re-visiting something as an adult and appreciating it with different eyes, but I don't seem to tire of retro TV, especially ones with impeccable wardrobes. Kojak fits the bill. They are playing re-runs of it now and again, here's another cop show like Miami Vice where the wardrobe is almost just as important a character to the story lines. For those that are not familiar with the show, Kojak is an American TV series staring Telly Savalas playing the title role Theo Kojak, a New York Police Department Detective Lieutenant who has a penchant for sucking on Lolly pops and delivery blunt, direct dialogue that has had some begging for mercy. He oozes cool, calm and collective. Helping him achieve such stature I believe is superb tailoring which helps the wearer carry themselves with a different posture of self-assurance and confidence. Telly's wardrobe was specifically made by American apparel brand Botany 500, who have a long list of TV characters as their clients such as Don Adams from Get Smart, Dick Sargent from Bewitched, Bob Newhart from the Bob Newhart Show, Jack Klugman from Quincy, M.E and popular TV talk show host Phil Donahue. The brand is over 100 years old, founded by the Daroff Family in the late 1800's and is still the most recognised men's apparel label in the United States with a stellar reputation. Kojak's outfits consisted of pin stripe suits with waist coats, natural toned suits in greys and browns, double breasted wool coats, his signature black fedora hat with striped ribbon band and gold rimmed glasses. The fashion, which is from the 70's is timeless and can easily be worn today and I think that is a very key point, that when you choose classic, timeless but well fitted clothes, you cannot put a date stamp on them necessarily as they can be worn again and again, as opposed to trend based clothes that can easily be pin-pointed to a time and place. Classic wins out again and again as value for money wardrobe investing. The show aired from October 24 1973-March 18th 1978 on CBS and if you haven't seen it yet, might I suggest you hunt it down on DVD, and watch yourself get hooked.

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

Source here

On with the Show!

Sometimes being an adult can be hard and rather boring having to be responsible all the time. So, when those occasions get you down it's best to regress to childhood and take part in carefree activities like attending the Royal Melbourne Show. I don't have a memory of the last time I ever went to the show, but I'm informed that we definitely did go as kids, and every year I see the fireworks display and hear the music playing and the sound of people having fun. So, you might as well join them! The big lure for me was having the chance to spend the day with lots of wonderful animals and that was worth the entry in itself. All your cares seem to disappear when you are patting a warm, beautiful creature or hand feeding a sheep and feeling their mouth hoover down the food you held out for them. There was just nothing like it. Well, actually, patting a tiny Spring lamb while sleeping comes close, or watching them smile while looking into their beautiful eyes melts your heart. (Yes- and re-affirming why I'm a vegetarian!) When patting the Merino sheep, I thought, wow, this is the wool of some of my favourite clothes that kept me warm during the winter, so I made sure I gave them a big thank you on all our behalf. 

From this...

To this! Award winning wool!

'Hey! Somebody stole the wool off our backs! Oh well, at least Summer is on its way, we can feel the breeze now!'

And here's what you can come up with when using such beautiful natural fibres such as Alpaca wool.

They are such gentle creatures and make great pets! 

I wished I had a bigger backyard, I would take one of these home with me. Aren't they gorgeous! Actually, I would take 1 of EVERYTHING!

This gave me a great idea for a vertical garden, made out of pallets which are so cheap and you could even paint them pretty stripe colours. Great space saver for those with limited areas but big green thumbs!

Ah, something rather soothing about jams! Especially a whole cabinet devoted to them wrapped in pretty little gingham hats! 

Cabinets like these made me cry tears on the inside being a Coeliac sufferer and seeing such a display of delicious wheat! Oh how you taunt me so!

That's one way to jazz up your dining chairs with some colour!

You can't have a carnival without Hot Chips! It's just not right! So I did my bit.

Look at that pose! Work it!

I have never seen one of these in real life- only movies where I don't want to point out the fate of them! Amazing! Such grace swanning around the pen with those feathers hoisted up in the air.

As night falls, the rides really come alive with carnival atmosphere, even the seagulls got in on the act.

When we arrived at the show and saw this ride at the entrance and heard the screams coming off it, I certainly did not anticipate that I would conquer my fear of roller coasters but as the sun set, that's just what I did! And I think my screams made quite an impression to the staff as our carriage pulled up at the end so I just had to get a souvenir photo of my mouth wide open on the ride. Such an exhilarating experience that I figured life gives you more twists and turns, this ride only lasts a few minutes so I'm glad I bucked up and faced my fear- and lived to see the glorious fireworks display to end what was a great, fun day!

Can't wait for next year!