The Dressed Aesthetic

Browsing CategoryDaily Outfits

Dream Within A Dream

Is there anything better than the phrase “Two for the price of one”? Not in my world, particularly when it pertains to vintage dresses (and probably coffee. Also shoes. OH! Anything sparkly!). But, when it comes to dresses doing double duty, an automatic two-for-the-price-of-one deal includes reversible garments, matching skirt and top sets, and this beauty – which is a fitted wiggle dress and a sheer, separate organza overlay for twice the vintage fun. (I kind of feel like a Doublemint commercial saying that…)

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{Tailoring}: Ribbon Roulette

My height (at a respectable 5’9 or 175 cm) was a definite source of despair when I was young. I sprang up like a bean sprout and had no idea how to manage my gangly limbs, which felt like a bunch of sharp angles that lacked a common goal. I’ve definitely grown into my height in later years (and admittedly make myself even more Amazonian with 5 inch heels!) But, as I’ve mentioned before, my fabulous vertical prowess also comes complete with an exceptionally long torso. While I fully (now) embrace my elongation, I have to admit there’s been many a vintage dress I’ve…

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Wood Nymph

This past weekend, we traveled eastward to the most beautiful Araluen Botanical Gardens to celebrate two of our gorgeous friends getting married. Their wedding actually took place in Scotland, with the reception back in Perth. The invitation said that the bride and groom would be decked out in their highland finery, and asked that we come as Lords and Ladys, Pirates and Faeries. Naturally, I opted for Wood Nymph…

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Truly, Mod-ly, Deeply

Sometimes, certain articles of clothing speak to you. And no, I’m not talking about the voices-in-my-head, one-flew-over-the-cookoo’s-nest sort of speak to me. But in general, you know when you clap eyes on a dress, tilt your head and think it’s lovely versus when you see a dress and your heart does a little hop and falls truly, madly, instantly in love. Much like love at first sight, my gut simply knew this cute little mod number and I were destined to have some fun together.

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On Pointe

Like most shoe lovers, I have a tendency to wear my shoes into the ground. As you’ve probably noticed, I own…well, let’s just say several pairs of shoes. I’d say more than average, but not yet reaching Imelda Marcos status. Despite the shoe boxes piled around my boudoir, however, I still have a difficult time parting with any of them after they’ve been well-loved and am a big fan of repairing instead of replacing. As such, I’ve worn a path to the trusted cobbler near work and can often be seen pacing back and forth outside the shoe surgery ward, anxiously waiting…

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Seashores & Sea Stars

Given my love of the sea, it was no great surprise that the minute I spotted this 1950’s seashell print dress, I hugged her so tight and refused to let go. There is just something about border prints – I can’t ever get enough. And when that print manages to be clusters of seashells and fishing nets, whispering stories of fishing lore and a life at sea, I can’t really be too hard on myself. Perhaps it’s a pirate’s life for me?

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Normal Day

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the concept of a Normal Day. How I usually pay little attention to life’s unremarkable moments and live through them impatiently, always on the lookout for those punctuated with excitement. Fidgeting and drumming my fingers until something happens to make the day noteworthy. But, I’ve come to realize that, although many of us despair the normal day due to a need for constant entertainment, beauty exists in their simplicity, only to become apparent once that normalcy shifts. Where we want nothing more than that time before the earthquake, where we were so blissfully unaware of the…

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No Ifs, Ants, or Buts

Picnic weather is rapidly going the way of the dinosaurs over here in Perth. We are all slowly adding layers and shedding our summer sundresses. Like any true dress-loving gal, I fight against the cold weather as long as possible, wearing my dresses with teeth chattering and head held high. Truthfully, my winter wardrobe tends to be my summer wardrobe with tights and cardigans and the occasional swing coat, but for some reason, despite my love of cosy layers, with every transition into the next season I still resist the change.

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Pop Star

A friend on Instagram asked me recently for advice on how to use accessories to incorporate pop color into an outfit. She always found that she was reaching for her black shoes to go with her black dress and was looking for ways to shake things up. I’m certain she’s not the only one who’s intimidated by this styling challenge, but trust me that anyone can embrace the pop color to make an outfit look effortless. Sometimes, I go a bit color crazy and over accessorize and have to backtrack to find the pop color happy medium. None of us…

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Changed For Good

If you know me, you know one of my very favorite things in the world is live theatre. I have a particularly soft spot for musicals – I actually performed in musicals all throughout high school and college, and found an incredible community theatre during my PhD (that I sorely miss). So, although I haven’t been onstage in quite awhile, I whet my appetite when particularly spectacular shows make their way over to Perth.

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