Living Reflection of a Dream

I've resumed my studies after having two months off and quite honestly, though stress will always be present with the work load, I am glad to be back. Things are a little different now. It is strange coming back to the same campus, classrooms and classmates as a changed person. It almost feels like I've gone way back to my days at art school as a school leaver, completely on my own and unknowing of what will come next. For the past few years my future plans had been formed, shaped and set around another person. Before me now lies a blank slate. Like a teen aged Eleanor Rigby, I don't really know what will come next but I do know now that I have the power to make what I like of it.

I've been trying to keep busy lately. I'm a person that is attached so deeply to their thoughts and so naturally these can consume me from time to time. Keeping myself busy helps me to live in the immediate and focus on what is right in front of me. I've been cooking (those who know me well will understand that this is something trying for me!), giving myself more complex songs to learn on guitar, spending more time with my family and sorting through my possessions. It's been very refreshing and helps to instantly lift the weight off my shoulders when things become too stressful. I'm hoping that focusing on my studies will have the same effect.

What are some things that you do to keep busy?

I'd love to try something new. 

Title: "Tangerine" - Led Zeppelin

Submerged

You may or may not have noticed that I have been completely absent from the blogging world for the past three months. You also may or may not have noticed a particular post that I made on my original tumblr, The Carnabetian Army, announcing my blogger's 'retirement'. The truth is: things in my life have been very hard lately. And really, it's okay to admit that. 

Life will always surprise us no matter how much we plan and prepare for the future. What is important is that we don't let ourselves become completely submerged in the depths of despair when change comes our way, which can sometimes be so easy. We must always try our best to keep our heads above the water for it is here that we can see clearer into the distance with open eyes. It is here that we can feel oxygen flowing through us with each breath - a recurrent reminder that we are alive and in tune with the world. It is here that we can take control of ourselves and begin swimming towards the shore. 

In my absence I have been submerged. From barely treading water I sank and have been frozen beneath the weight of death, loss and heartbreak. In the depths I have lost clear vision of myself and the world that surrounds me. The person that I used to be seems like a distant echo calling to me from an unknown place and travelling helplessly through the cold. But it is now that I realize that I have a choice here. Do I grasp my way through the water in attempt to seek out the owner of the distant voice? Or do I look to the light and resurface? I think that it is time for me to take a breath.

I aim to start blogging again as a way to explore myself and who I am. I am hoping that it will help me in my journey to the surface, and eventually the shores that I desire. Things may seem quite different here in comparison to what you may have seen in the past, but another thing that we all must also accept is that it is okay for us to change. Why cage ourselves within a previous form? Embrace your freedom to change. Embrace your freedom to become the person that you want to be. 

I'd like to thank all the people who have kept me in their thoughts for their continued support. Knowing that there are others experiencing the same hardships or sending their wishes across the seas is such a beautiful reminder that even though sometimes it may feel like it, we are not completely alone. I send my love and best wishes to you all. Take care of yourselves and keep swimming. 

Eleanor Rigby

As change continues to plague my life, I've been forced to take a look back into the past. I pick up the antique mirror that sits on my vanity, greened with oxidation and tarnished with age, and peer through the fogged glass. I can just see her, only just: a girl that I had once likened to Eleanor Rigby.

She would always wander alone, be it through the town's empty cemetery on the hill or the long desolate roads of the rural highways; the solitary sound of her heels clicking with each step she took her only company. Often she'd carry a hand drawn map in her hand. She'd clutch it tightly as she ventured far away to new places she'd never been to as if it were some token to guarantee her safety or perhaps more so some chance ticket to a place where the grass would be greener and the sun would shine brighter. In days like these I wish that I had a map of these sorts to lead me through the unknown. But I don't. And so, instead of blindly pursuing a hidden path in the dark I look back to the days of Eleanor Rigby and retrace her steps - hoping again that I may find the greener grass and the brighter sun that I wished for so many years ago. 

Title: "Eleanor Rigby" - The Beatles

J'adore Adore Me Lingerie

When I was younger lingerie was something that I admittedly had mixed feelings about. I loved  the feminine designs, prints and fabrics but I felt that it was something reserved for a specific coterie of people with model worthy measurements and vibrant relationships. Now that I've grown older and have become more comfortable in my own skin I've come to understand how good lingerie can be for body confidence. 

I believe that wearing lingerie should first and foremost be for yourself. When choosing out a set and putting it on you are provided with an opportunity to embrace your femininity and love your body for exactly how it is. It's okay to feel confident about yourself when looking in the mirror and it's okay to wear something that makes you feel fabulous underneath your clothing, whether anyone else see it or not! We all deserve self love. 

Adore Me Lingerie is a New York lingerie brand that believes that lingerie shouldn't be reserved for special occasions. It should be something to boost women's confidence in their everyday lives and make them feel feminine, fabulous and comfortable. They aim to produce great fitting designs that are not only quality but also affordable for the average woman. They produce their sets quite flexibly in sizes that range from 32A to 42G and they have a large series of styles to choose from to suit your individual preference. 

For most of my lovely lady readers Spring time is at last on the way. Adore Me have just released their new Spring 2015 collection and goodness I really think it is just lovely. The collection is filled with lovely and lacey pastel sets with ornate embroidery and pretty detailing such as satin finishes and lace scalloped edging. I adore the bright colours and romantic designs. It's not often you see happy daisy yellow or mint green lingerie!

I was also surprised by the below grey set. Usually I'm not at all drawn to grey hued lingerie but this particular set is so pretty with the lace detailing and subtle baby blue accents. I also love the balconette style. 

This set is perhaps my favourite of the new collection. It has a very romantic and feminine style and the colours remind me of something you may see on the dress of a pretty little china doll. Very dainty and very delicate. 

Adore Me Lingerie also stock swimwear and sleepwear in a variety of styles.

Do check out their website if your wish, you may find something you like. 

If not, I hope that you at least enjoyed the pretty spring time pictures - I certainly did!

This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. 

Inspired: Pattie Boyd by Traeger

A while ago on the blog I mentioned that I was hoping to start sharing various look books, spreads from the fashion world and work of photographers that inspire me not only style wise but also in the sense of art and design. Though I am no longer studying under this industry I am still passionate about it - always imagining, always keeping my eye out and still often like to sit down once in a while to put my ideas onto paper.

I've recently been looking over past spreads from Vogue in the 1960's. I thought I'd share this spread of Pattie Boyd photographed by Ronald Traeger. Here she is wearing dresses from Jean Varon and Foale & Tuffin. She looks stunning in this wig and I love how simple the shoot is: just a chair, beautiful clothes and the creativity of model and photographer working together. This spread featured in the April 1965 issue of UK Vogue.

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One Rainy Wish

I've just completed my first week back. All around me I see familiar faces returning after a long break away and there is a fresh buzz in the air of school leavers and crisp lined pages turning. I think that it is safe to say that I will miss this place when it is time for me to go (though that may still not be for a while yet - I'm contemplating postgraduate studies), and I will also miss the walk to and from my campus. 

February here is the rainy season. The skies darken slightly with low layers of clouds and there is a long awaited verdancy. Yesterday evening's walk home was just delightful. It had been pouring heavily and through the window I could see the force of the rain against the world. I got completely soaked despite being equipped with an umbrella and my shoes would no longer cooperate, so quite simply I walked barefoot. I love walking in the rain, especially during twilight. The world falls silent with only the sound of raindrops upon the surface of empty roads to be heard. There is a vibrancy among all life that is rejuvenating for the soul and to see the soft glow from distant windows and imagining families warm and dry inside is comforting. This is only reinforced by the aromas of hot cooked dinners filling the chilled air, calling to mind memories from my childhood of a gentle urgency to be home in time for tea. I thought I'd share some picture that I took when the rain had momentarily stopped and before it got too dark.

Title: "One Rainy Wish" - The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Love You, Love You

And so another Valentine's Day is here. I understand that many people have mixed feelings about this day, believe me - I was once there too - but now I've come to see just what it can be. It is not just a day dedicated to soppy couples and expensive candlelit dinners, but all kinds of love; the kind that we all live and breathe off. Love as a basic human need. Love of family, friends, partners and pets (mustn't forget them!) and, perhaps most importantly, love for ourselves. Some of you may think, what is the point? Shouldn't we express these feelings everyday? Well of course! But I think any excuse to go out and go overboard with expressing such a wonderful thing is a good excuse, so why not? I've been keeping the spirit of the upcoming day by wearing lots of red recently and my feet are practically glued to these Mel heart slippers of mine. Perfect for the occasion, no? 

Whichever way you choose to celebrate the day, whether it be having a day out with friends and family, a night in with your sweetheart watching Netflix, or indulging in a bulk load of chocolate and a rose petal bubble bath, I hope that you have a marvelous time and remember to spoil yourselves.

"And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make"

Title: "The End" - The Beatles

Norris

After almost six months I finally go back to my studies next week. Though times have been rough I am honestly quite glad to be going back. Time off is great but I believe there is such a thing as too much time off. I need structure, regularity and routine. Life has been chaotic as of late. Living back and forth between homes, looking after two very lively younglings and still trying to tame the overflowing wardrobe of mine. I've discovered that my favourites days as of late are those in which I can stick to plans and just get things done. 

Don't quote me on that though. As mercurial as I am I may change my mind mid semester and just want to lie in bed all day with no cares, worries or deadlines. Kind of like 'Norris' here who surprised me the other morning upon waking. No, that's not actually her name. Anyone else like to christen their pets (and perhaps partners) with ridiculous titles that have no relevance or resemblance to their actual names? I'm notorious for it.

25th Jan

I had to post a photo of the sky from a not long ago evening here, not just to share with you but also so I don't ever forget it. It was a very quiet day. Not the kind of quiet of hushed voices and dripping taps but the kind that you can feel in the empty spaces around you as if it had its own tangible presence. Things are different now. Plans have changed and we can't control it. We cannot control life. It just happens like water from an endless stream overflowing into a tiny cup that is our time here on Earth. But we can control how we see things, like this evening sky that came, I believe, at a time we needed most: storm clouds forked with lightning and rolling gently in over the mountains. Rain coming to soak into the ground and into our minds.

Life ends, but life also begins. 

Having a Fringe: Tips and Tricks

I've had a straight cut fringe, or 'bangs', for the most part of my life. I'd consider it my signature style and I feel completely odd on occasions when it must be pinned back or has temporarily grown out. Though I'm not at all in any way, shape or form a hair expert I thought I'd share with you all some of the tips and tricks I've picked up over the years in regards to maintaining a fringe. Some of these may be completely obvious to those of you that too have a fringe but if you are new to them, or thinking about getting one, I hope you find something helpful!

Terry Cloth Bands

I find these to be an utmost necessity for having a fringe. I'm sure all of you who have one have experienced an occasion in which you are trying to wash your face, shower, moisturize or apply your makeup and your fringe just completely gets in the way to suffer the wrath of hot water and oily products. Alice bands can work but if your fringe if quite short tendrils of hair can fall out and prove to be disruptive. I find terry cloth bands work well as they are wide, ensuring greater security, and the material is perfect for absorbing chance splashes of water. I myself use an elasticized cloth band over one with velcro for maximum security of my fringe and the fact that the velcro ones can often cause discomfort by clinging to stray hairs. 

Dry Shampoo

Let's face it. Sometimes we are just in too much of a rush to wash our hair and I would never recommend washing your fringe on its own! Dry shampoo is a life saver for hair, especially fringes. Give a quick spritz, fluff up your hair and then brush it out. Voila! I find that a soft bristled brush works best for this. I always keep a can of dry shampoo on my bathroom shelf and take it with me when travelling. Some brands are even available in handy travel sized cans. I find it particularly handy for hot and humid summer days. 

Rest

Some days I think it is good to just give your fringe a bit of a break, especially during hot weather. Oils from your forehead can make your fringe quite oily and it's not the best look or feeling. It will also give your forehead a break, espcially if you have problem skin. Alice bands are perfect for this and many cute 'dos can be styled around them. I find that toothed bands work best, with better grip to prevent stray hairs from falling loose. Bobby pins can also work for longer fringes. 

Flathead Hairdryer Attachment

On days when my hair is not as tame as I'd like it to be after a wash, when damp and combed, I like to give my fringe a blast with my hairdryer's 'flat head' attachment. This attachment concentrates the airflow onto a specific area of your hair, enabling a greater amount of control when styling. I blast it directly down from the root the to ends on a warm setting with medium strength, straightening the hair out into place and creating a nice shine. I then go over it with a quick cool setting to set it and then let the rest of my hair dry naturally. This method can also be helpful to tame some cow's licks. 

Rolling

A good trick to do when your fringe is getting just that little bit longer in between trims is to roll it. This is done when styling your hair for a day or night out. Soft bristled roller brushes work best for this. On dry hair, lift the brush up under your fringe to the root and roll it away from you through the hair. While doing this, blast your hair with a hairdryer on a warm setting with medium strength. Gently brush it out. The results should be a nice and bouncy, slightly shorter fringe.

Trimming

I have been trimming my own fringe for years now. Some people are against the idea of trimming your own fringe as if it were taboo but I say do what you feel comfortable with. If you are happy to get it done on a regular basis at a salon, fabulous! But know that you can do it on your own at home with the right equipment and by adhering to certain instructions, saving time and money. Let me say, never, never use nail or safety scissors when cutting your own hair. Always use a pair of hair cutting shears. These can be bought from various salons or beauty stores. A good tutorial you can watch to learn how to trim your fringe properly can be found here.  

Do you have any of your own tips or tricks when it comes to fringes?

I'd love to hear of them!

Image: Jane Birkin photographed by Eric Swayne, 1966

Biba Love and Dolly Eyes

Back in this post I shared some of the latest additions to my wardrobe with you. Here is the late 1960's vintage Merle Stephen maxi dress. I've been pining to wear this one since I first laid eyes on it but the weather just won't allow it. Today, being a little cooler and with nothing planned but lounging about and relaxing, I thought I'd play dress up. The dress is a deep plum purple with a small vine print. It has an empire waistline, ruffled collar and bishop sleeves with covered buttons (please excuse the fact that in the picture above they are only done up half way - the heat you see). 

I don't know about you but for me this dress calls to mind the sultry Biba dollybirds of the late 1960's and early 1970's. Whilst wearing it I can imagine myself lounging across the couch in the shop window of the Biba Kennsington Church Street store. And so, to keep with the aura of the dress, I had to do my Biba style makeup to go with it. I then had loads of fun prancing around and grooving out to the sounds of 1968. What fun! 

A brilliant tutorial to follow to get the Biba girl look is this one here by renowned makeup artist, Lisa Elridge. 

It is clear and simple, and was created with the assistance of Barbara Hulanicki herself.

Do check it out!

Pour Votre Poitrine, Du Charme!

I recently attended a vintage lingerie exhibit by the Victoria and Albert Museum and my oh my how I feel even more in love with the drawers of decades past than ever, in particular those of the 1960's (of course!).

During the 1960's lingerie styles evolved to reflect the changing fashions and attitudes at the time. Designs were glamourized with new fabrics, laces and fastenings and girdles were on the way out, allowing more freedom of movement and more skin to be showed off. Pantyhose and tights became popular and into the later years of the decade we saw the emergence of colourful sets and fabrics printed with fun and youthful designs. 

Being so inspired I thought I'd share with you some of my very favourite fashion photography from the 1960's featuring designer lingerie. You'll see the work of prominent photographers, such as Terence Donovan and John French, various 1960's models and figures, such as Celia Hammond, Marianne Faithfull, Brigitte Bardot and Jill Kennington, and some vintage advertisements for Christian Dior hosiery. 

Images:

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 

New In My Wardrobe

You may have noticed recently that there haven't been many outfit posts published on my blog. Other than not having the time to document what I wear each day, the reason for this is that it is just too hot here in Oz to wear my usual and favoured style of 1960's clothing. I do not particularly like to wear my vintage clothing items during the Summer season. Many of the dresses from my collection were intended for colder climates and seasons, with long sleeves and thick fuzzy fabrics - certainly not appropriate for this weather! In this heat I find myself wearing more weather appropriate clothing that I am not too worried to get damaged from long, hot walks or impulsive leaps out in the rain. That is not to say however that I have not been adding to my vintage collection. I thought I'd share some of the lovely things that I've managed to get my paws on these last couple of months. 

Above is a pair of silver, spangly shoes from the 1960's. They are in very nice condition, surprisingly very comfortable for a size 5 and 1/2 (I am a 7, would you believe?), and they only cost me $1.50 - neato! This psychedelic mini, also spangly and shimmery and from the 1960's, was bought on a bit of a whim. It is a size too big for me but I could not leave it sitting alone tucked away in between a hoard of cheap children's play costumes in a charity shop. It had to come home with me. I mean who can resist bell sleeves like that?

This spotty dotty orange mini sits happily in my wardrobe with an air of cheek about it. I found it in a charity shop, however it looked a little different then. Instantly recognizing it as 1960's vintage from the corner of my eye, I pulled it out from the racks and marched straight to the change rooms without looking at it twice. Upon slipping the dress over my head I realized that someone had recently altered it, I imagine for some sort of fancy dress purpose. The buttons had all been undone and the collar folded right down over them and stitched into place. To describe it as revealing would be an understatement. Sneaky me couldn't wait and wanted to see the dress in its former glory. So out came the keys from my purse and snip! I unpicked those nasty stitches.

 It's okay - I did intend to buy it in the first place anyway!

I cannot quite remember where the blouse with the gold trimmed ruffles and string bow came from, but I have planned a lot of outfits around this one. Pinafore dresses shall become its new best friend come winter time. The black velvety purse was found for a just few cents in a sale bin up north. It was worth the rummage. 

Here we have a 1970's midi length dress with matching cloth belt and a full circle skirt. With a nice and breathable fabric it should be perfect for this autumn and will look fabulous with a pair of black suede knee high boots. Next to it is this beautiful, ruffly, butter yellow prom dress that is from the 1950's. Too tiny for me but it looks just darling hanging up on the inside door of my wardrobe permanently. 

And lastly, perhaps my favourite of the bunch, a late 1960's Merle Stephen maxi dress. Wearing it makes me feel like a BIBA girl. It calls to mind smokey dolly eyes, big floppy felt hats and glossy black nail polish. Lovely. Hopefully these will all make appearances in outfit posts on the blog sometime soon. I'm a little over the blazing heat and am missing my old dollybird get-up. What's something that you have been missing lately?

To see more from my vintage wardrobe click here and here.