Nothing Special

 

What's this? Oh nothing...

Just my new cardigan from none other than ALANNAH HILL!!

 Cardigan: Alannah Hill (squeal!)

Blouse: Forever New

Skirt: Op shop in Surry Hills

Black Flats: Kmart

 I've always been a big fan of the designs and clothing of Alannah Hill, and last week with the combination of  a $50 David Jones voucher I received for Christmas and a half off sale, I managed to buy my very first piece of Alannah Hill clothing for the low price of $30. 

 

 Ah. Mazing.

There's something about this cardigan that makes me think of desserts. Mint green, with little black and white lining, and the buttons could almost be like the decorations you get on cakes. One of my favourite things it is the adorable little velvet bow on the lapel:

 

I decided to match the little velvet bow with one of my own:

 

I bought this hair clip at the Vintage Fair in Canterbury last year, it was on a table full of 'broken' items being sold on the cheap. One of the teeth is broken but it still sits nicely in my hair, and who doesn't love a bit of floral print?

All in all I was delighted to put an outfit around my new cardigan and wear it around on the weekend, I'm very impressed with the quality of the cardigan and would definitely buy more Alannah Hill if I could afford it.

What sort of 'designer' pieces do you have your eye on? Is there that one designer you've always wanted to own something from? (I'd have to go with Wheels and Dollbaby! One day...)

Renata

xx

13 hour curls

I was heading out to a 21st last Saturday evening and got mum to snap a few pictures of my outfit:

 

 Dress: Forever New

Cardigan: Cotton On

Oxford Kitten Heels: Kmart

Curls: FABULOUS

 The most exciting thing about that night for me was the fact that my curls lasted from 11am that morning until I got home at midnight! 13 HOURS! Not to mention it was rather wet weather for me, and these curls survived shopping in sprinkling rain on Saturday afternoon as well as standing around outside for hours that evening at the party. What a miracle!

For a gal who has stuck to hot rollers and curlers for years, this is an exciting first for me. My 13 hour curls were achieved by curling my hair wet in velcro rollers, tight and wrapped up in a scarf (that lovely blue scarf from the garage sale post) and I slept on them that night. A bit uncomfortable, but for curls that last that long I would withstand pokey curlers in my head for perfect hair all day the next day...

Sigh... I'll have you again my lovely curls!

Renata
xx

Damper recipe

I told you all I would share my delicious recipe for damper, didn't I? Well, allow me to share with you an old favourite of mine for quick easy bread that warms you up in the wintertime and fills your hungry belly :)

First off, I should explain damper bread a bit more to my international readers. Damper is like a soda bread, known historically as a camping staple to Aussie drovers, stockmen and even Aboriginals. Perfect for camping due to the little ingredients needed to cook it! It's one of those classic images of Australian rural life back in the day, and was traditionally cooked over a campfire and wrapped around a stick (the hole left by the stick would sometimes be filled with golden syrup - yum!).

The recipe I use to cook this damper is available here, however I'll post it here as well:

DAMPER RECIPE

Ingredients

2 cups of self raising flour

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 to 1 and 1/2 cups of milk

2 teaspoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of butter

extra flour as needed

Method:

1) Mix the flour, salt and sugar together into a bowl.

2) Cut in the butter until fine crumbs form.

3) Add milk slowly and mix to form a soft dough.

4) Knead lightly on a floured board until smooth.

5) Shape into a round loaf, brush with milk and cut a cross in the top surface of the dough.

6) Grease and dust with flour a round cake tin. You can substitute a flat baking pan, but the round tin gives a better shape to the loaf.
7) Place dough in the pan and bake at 190° C (375° F) for 30 - 40 minutes.

To test if the damper is done, tap the loaf and it should sound hollow.

I prefer the damper when it's just been cooked, fresh out of the oven. Being the health conscious person I am, I slather the thing in margarine and jam or golden syrup and devour it with a nice hot cup of tea, like so:

I hope you enjoy this recipe!

Renata
xx

The Seven Year Itch

Who could forget Marilyn's show stopping billowing white cocktail dress in the movie 'The Seven Year Itch'?

 I sure can't. In fact, as far as dreams go, it's always been one of my dreams to own a dress just like that one. I can't explain where my complete obsession with this dress comes from, but like many other women I have an absolute admiration for Marilyn Monroe; her elegance, her classic style and most of all, her smile.

Yesterday I came across one of the best reproductions I've found on Modcloth, and it's fairly affordable considering the alternative prices out there. It may be missing the darling little bow at the front, but my oh my, how I sat at my computer screen staring longingly at this dress...

I'm supposed to be saving to go overseas, and I'm having a crisis over whether to buy this dress or not. Part of me doesn't want to be disappointed if I get it and my expectations were too high. I'm chasing a silly dream after all, and a dream that most people would probably call superficial at that. I don't necessarily need it, it won't enrich my life that much more, but is it worth it to splurge on something you've wanted for a lifetime?

Renata
xx

Tweed Ride 2012

The Sydney Tweed Ride is back for July 2012!

If you've not already discovered this elegant event, the Tweed Ride involves many dapper gents and fancy ladies in their finest tweed and plus fours, riding around Sydney and ending the day with a picnic. Doesn't it sound divine?

I only just discovered this last year, after the 2011 ride had already happened, however the 2012 Tweed Ride will be happening at the end of July around the 31st, so all you Sydneysiders with a bicycle, sense of style and a closet of tweed should register! For all my international followers never fear, there are Tweed Runs all over the world, including in London, Boston, New York, Pescara, Berlin, and in lots of cities around America! If you're not into riding bicycles so much then make sure you look at the pictures afterwards, it makes me glow to see all these people get together for a fun day out.

In honour of Tweed Ride, here's my pick for an elegant tweed getup, created through Etsy...

I'd start with a nice elegant blouse, perhaps in white or cream, preferably with a neck tie:

Blouse courtesy of tbclay

Then to add the tweed touches, a pretty pleated tweed skirt:

Skirt courtesy of vintagegrime

And, one of my tweed outfit favourites, a vest:

Vest courtesy of twigandspokevintage

I always like to add extra charm with a hat, this 1930s slouch beret is a dream:

Courtesy of Poppycock Vintage

Of course every good bike rider knows the importance of footwear, however I'm going to go with style over practicality and finish with my very own pair of Victorian style boots:

 Hey, it's my dream outfit, right?
Will you be registering for the tweed ride, either in Sydney or elsewhere?

Renata
xx

Garage Sale

One thing I've always been jealous of when it comes to other vintage lovers (especially in America) is their ability to come across cheap affordable vintage in second hand stores and often estate sales. Sydney doesn't seem to have quite the treasure trove of items available to be bought, however after today my new theory is that they're all being hidden away carefully in people's homes!

Today on my drive home I saw a sign for a garage sale which boasted 'retro and vintage collectables'. Sceptical though I was, I decided to drop by to take a little looksie.

Best. Decision. EVER.

This house was like a treasure trove of vintage collectables and great little items from here and there, if I had more money on me I'm sure I would've bought everything! As well as household items like glasses and old tea sets, there were these great embroidered handkerchiefs, old kitchen items still in their original boxes, toys, dresses, and a 60s green pillbox hat I really wish I hadn't passed up on! I could go on, but the point of my rant is that it was the greatest surprise to come across all these fabulous things just around the corner from my house. Allow me to show you the spoils:

This beautiful compact mirror (I'm guessing 1960s)

Ta da!

My favourite... This very worn hat pin, I'm guessing 1940s/50s era.

Frilly peach coloured nylon gloves.

Frills make you fancy!

An elegant pair of beige gloves.

Red chiffon scarf, love the colour!

With the finishing touches of delightfully floral edging.

Blue chiffon scarf, perfect for sleeping with curlers!

Love the flowers too...

And I got all these things for the low price of $19. A bargain in my eyes!
When I came home I baked some delicious damper bread to eat with jam and a nice cup of tea, it was a fantastic way to end my Saturday. I'll post the recipe later next week for all of you encountering some unseasonably wet and cold weather and in need of some comfort food!

Have any of you found some special items unexpectedly, whether it be in a garage sale or otherwise?

Renata
xx