fancy friday

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Daily outfit 23/5/2014

It’s Fancy Friday once again.  Every Friday I dress up in something a little more special than the norm to ring out the week in style.  This week I’m rocking a vintage blouse and textured tights.

I am wearing:

– Vintage pussy-bow blouse

– Black pencil skirt from Target

– Black fishnet tights from Leona Edminson

– Black patent leather heels from Nine West

– Vintage cocktail ring from Faye Bella

– Swarovski crystal earrings (gift from my parents)

I wore this outfit to visit my grandparents and have lunch out with my Dad and my Grandma.  The waitress at the restaurant pulled me aside as we were leaving and told me that I looked “So elegant”.  What a gorgeous compliment!

I bought this blouse quite a while ago and it was much too big for me.  It fit across the shoulders, but I found that the shape of the blouse was too boxy for me.  So I nipped it in a little at the waist to give it a more defined shape.  I love the way that the detail on the blouse and on the skirt are on opposite sides of my body.  I feel as though this helps to give the outfit some balance.  If all the detail were on one side of my body, I think it would look a bit heavy.

The weather was dismal so it was hard to get good shots of my makeup and hair.  I went with a pair of tiny victory rolls, muted red lips and a defined eye.  I felt pretty darn foxy!

What are you wearing this Friday?

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Daily outfit 9/5/2014

It’s Fancy Friday.  Every Friday a group of fashion bloggers put on our glad rags to celebrate the end of the week.  This week I’m mixing up some prints for my Fancy Friday look.

I am wearing:

– Skull print scarf from Sportsgirl

– Black bodysuit from Remember Me

– Zebra print skirt from Target

– Black zipper leggings from Rubi shoes

– Bondage heels from Rubi shoes

– Silver medallion necklace.

– Fleur du lis ring from Equip.

Today I chose my shoes first and then worked my way up, creating an outfit around them.  I bought these towering heels last year and they have begun to creep back into my outfits again.  I just adore wearing these.  I feel unstoppable when I’ve got these strappy sensations on my feet.

I’ve been really playing up the smokey eye look lately.  Instead of going for traditional shades like charcoal or grey, I like to use a deep purple to highlight the crease of my eye.  The shade I’ve used today is called Calm and it’s from Bella Pierre cosmetics.  It’s the most delicious deep grape shade, and it looks amazing when blended with silver shadow and a hint of black liner.  It’s a bit more subtle than a heavy black eyeshadow, but it still packs a smokey punch.

What are you wearing this Friday?

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Daily outfit 2/5/2014

It’s Friday again, which means that it’s time for another Fancy Friday post.  On Fancy Friday, a collection of awesome fashion bloggers dress up in their finery to celebrate the end of the working week.  Dapper Dolly is the gorgeous blogger behind this fab weekly tradition, and she always puts together an amazing blog post showcasing all the people who participate.  If you’d like to join in, just send a link to your Fancy Friday post to Dolly.

 

Now, onto my outfit.  Today I wanted to wear my comfy jeans, but I decided to dress them up with a printed blouse, a vest and some sophisticated loafers.

 

 

I am wearing:

– Blue jeans from Target

– Blue paisley shirt from Diana Ferrari

– Black Fletcher Jones vest (thrifted)

– Leopard-print loafers from Target

– Silver cross necklace (gift from my parents)

– Chain link ring from ASOS

– Diamond stud earrings (inherited from my grandmother)

 

I wore this outfit to when a couple of friends came over to have lunch with me.  It turned out to be the perfect outfit for a relaxed afternoon with friends.  I was so comfortable, but I still looked dressed up without overdoing it.

 

 

This blouse was unearthed during a trip to a factory outlet many years ago.  It was a steal at just $15.  The fabric is cotton and it is so soft.  Even after so many washes and wears, the print is still as bright as sharp as ever.  It fits me perfectly and I always feel great when I wear it.

 

Here’s wishing you a wonderful Friday!  I hope that you make it through the last little bit of the work week and start the weekend with a bang!

here

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Daily outfit 25/4/2014

Today I decided to get all dressed up for Fancy Friday.  I was feeling extra-fabulous because I ticked off one of my new year’s resolutions last night (more on that next week!) and I wanted to wear something awesome to reflect my mood.  So I slipped into one of my favourite vintage blouses and a no-nonsense pencil skirt and added a corset belt for good measure.  I’m feeling feisty and fierce.

Unfortunately, it’s always the day when you’re looking smokin’ that your camera decides to chuck a hissy fit.  I managed to snap a couple of pictures of my outfit before my camera called it quits for the day.

I am wearing:

 – Red ruffled 1970’s vintage blouse (generously gifted from my grandmother)

– Black and white polka dot skirt from Best and Less

– Fishnet tights from Leona Edminson

– Black Nine West pumps (thrifted)

– Claw ring from Diva

– Owl earrings from Diva

– Under-bust corset belt (gift from my ex).

This blouse is such fun to wear.  It’s so bright and vibrant, and I love the billowy sleeves.  I can’t help but swooshing my arms about to watch the sleeves flap in the wind.  It’s quite a boxy shape though, so I do like to wear something form-fitting on my bottom half to balance it out.  A pair of tailored trousers or a pencil skirt fits the bill.  This corset belt really helps to winch in my waist to create a bombshell-inspired hourglass shape.

This claw ring looks awesome, but it’s a bit of a bummer to wear.  I practically can’t do anything with my hands when I’m wearing this.  Typing?  Nope.  Operating my camera?  Nope?  Fixing your hair?  Nope.  Basically, I only wear this in photos or when I know I’m not going to have to do anything.  It’s outings are usually limited to trips to the movies and the occasional dinner out.

So I’m extremely happy with how this Fancy Friday outfit turned out.  I’m ready to ring in another long weekend!

What are you wearing this Friday?  If you do your own Fancy Friday outfit post, please remember to send me a link.  I’d love to see it!

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Daily outfit 18//4/2014

I’m so pleased that it’s Friday.  Not only is it Good Friday, but it’s the beginning of a long weekend.  I get four days off work for Easter, and I am so excited.  I’m planning on going to church (several times in fact, there are quite a few mass services over the Easter weekend) and spending loads of time catching up with family and friends who are in town for the holiday.  I’d also like to make a start on some spring cleaning that’s been hanging over my head for quite a while.

Today is also Fancy Friday,  a weekly event dreamed up by Dapper Dolly to encourage people to dress up at the end of the week.  Fancy Friday gives Casual Friday a kick in the pants and lets glamour and gorgeousness reign supreme!

Today I was feeling a bit of a punk princess vibe.  I know that I’ve worn this dress for Fancy Friday before, but I can’t help busting it out again. It really is one of my favourite wardrobe items.

I am wearing:

– Silver ear cuff

– Diamente stud earrings (inherited from my Nana)

– Black pearl necklace (inherited from my Nana)

– Black lace corset dress from 7 Angels.

– Black and white cardigan from Cotton On

– Black and purple 1/2 and 1/2 tights from Ambra

– Comic book platform heels from Betts

[img]http://i.imgur.com/wSaBXaD.jpg[/img]

I had hoped to wear my hair in a sleek ponytail today.  However it simply wouldn’t cooperate.  Every time I smoothed one piece down, another strand would pop up in another spot.  I decided to abandon the idea of a sleek do and just go with the messy texture my hair seemed determined to maintain.

Instead, I played around with this funky triple-decker bun.  I really liked the way my hair turned out.  Next time, I think I’ll really define the parts between the buns, tease out my hair even more and make it into a kind of faux-hawk style.

I’m so pleased that it’s cool enough to wear tights again. I do love a bit of fancy legwear, and it’s wonderful to be able to dip into my hosiery collection once again.  These half-and-half tights are an old fave of mine, and they’ve lasted remarkably well through four years of regular wear.

I hope that you all have a wonderful long weekend.  What do you have planned?

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Daily outfit 4/4/2014

Even though today is Fancy Friday, I felt like wearing something fairly laid-back and casual.  So I thought that I’d show you how I dress on days when I don’t want to get all gussied up but I still want to look well-dressed.  Let’s call it lazy-but-fancy dressing!

I am wearing:

– Purple headscarf from Siricco

– Navy blue tank top from Best and Less

– Tie-dyed crop jumper (thrifted)

– Frida Kahlo brooch from Lost at Sea Accessories.

-Satin paisley trousers from Target

– Floral puff thongs from K Mart.

– Crystal beaded earrings made by my aunt.

– Silver ring

-Agate ring (thrifted)

This picture makes me giggle a little. I was watching Miss Jelly roll about in the grass, and I kind of forgot that I was supposed to be posing when the timer went off.  Oh well.

Still watching Jelly.  She’s very amusing when she’s outside!

These trousers are one of my favourite relaxed outfit options.  They are so comfortable and easy to style, but they look infinitely more dressed-up than a pair of trackpants or jeans.

Comfortable, pull-over jumpers in fun colours are a great way to add a bit of pizzazz to an otherwise dreary outfit.  Look for interesting details like draped sleeves or patterns.  I bought this jumper from the op-shop last weekend.  I love the cropped shape and the drapey sleeves.  But it was the beautiful tie-dyed pattern that caught my eye.  I bought another one as well, in shades of orange and pink that remind me of a sunset.  They are perfect for wearing on their own or layering over tanks on days when I don’t want to show off my belly.

I’m loving the swishy sleeves!

Biggin’ up my girl Frida!

A few simple accessories, a headscarf, some funky rings and a brooch give this outfit a bit more of an edge.  You don’t have to go over-the top, but just adding a few finishing touches will give an outfit a bit more punch.

So that’s how I make myself look presentable on days when I feel like slobbing about in a tracksuit.  This outfit is just as comfy but looks so much more stylish.

What do you throw on when you want something comfy-yet-funky to wear?

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Daily outfit 28/3/2014

Lately I’ve been dabbling in a bit of androgyny.  I love man-meets-woman styles of dressing.  I feel so powerful when I add a slightly masculine vibe to my outfits.  I like to draw inspiration from women like Katharine Hepburn, by keeping my silhouette feminine while wearing my androgynous ensembles.

I am wearing:

– White button-down shirt (thrifted)

– Black pencil skirt from Veronika Maine

– Nude stockings from Target

– Trilby hat from Sportsgirl

– Black patent leather heels (thrifted)

– Diamante studs (inherited from my Nana)

I love mixing masculine and feminine elements in my outfits.  The buttoned-to-the-neck shirt, the loafers and the felt hat are all quite masculine.  But the pencil skirt, the heel on my shoes and the slightly twinkling stud earrings keep a feminine vibe running through the outfit.

I wore this outfit to have dinner with my parents.  When I arrived, my dad nicked my hat and tried it on.  It suited him very well!

One thing I love about this shirt is that it tapers up and inwards at the waist, to highlight the curve of the waistline.  I tend to wear this shirt untucked because it draws the eye to my waist without needing to be tucked in.

This week I’m linking up with Dapper Dolly for Fancy Friday.  On Fridays we dress up to send off the week in style.  You can join in by sharing a link to your own Fancy Friday outfit on Dolly’s website.

I like to keep my hair and makeup very simple when I’m rocking an androgynous look.  Just a hint of mascara and lipbalm to highlight the lips and eyes. I use a bronzer to contour my cheeks and I also shaded in my brows to give them some dramatic definition.

Do you ever like to gender-bend with your outfits?  How do you mix masculine and feminine elements in your own wardrobe?