New Friends

 

I had the absolute pleasure of enjoying breakfast with the lovely Em from the Illusive Femme last weekend. Em has been blogging for about the same length of time as me, and while I've seen her out and about at various events and been an avid follower of hers on social media, we’d never met properly so it was really nice to have a chat over coffee and bircher.

Em is also a finalist in the Kidspot Voices of 2015, she was a finalist last year too so I was eager to catch up and pick her brain about what the competition actually involves. It was also nice to just have a general chat about Perth and style and blogging. One of the things I love about blogging is how many like minded people it’s brought into my life. Through In The Dress Up Box I’ve been able to meet and connect with all these wonderful people who have the same interests, passions and ideas as me. Every time I meet a new blogger friend I always find myself thinking WHY HAVEN’T WE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS? The Perth blogger community is quite close knit but I’m definitely guilty of not making the most of these wonderful creative people. I really should put in more effort to get out there and meet more of them, because every time I do I come away exploding with new ideas and lovely new friendships.

When meeting another style blogger the pressure is always on to look appropriately chic but not like you’ve tried too hard (the impossible dream!). I was desperate to wear my new vintage patchwork leather skirt, so I built at outfit around it, throwing on all the weekend essentials (stripy t, hat, scarf, boots, sunnies) and waltzing out the door. Em complimented me on my skirt so I'm going to chalk this one up to a win!

Skirt: Claremont Vinnies $10

Top: Op Shop

Scarf: Claremont Vinnies $5

Hat: Vintage, eBay

Boots: Tony Bianco

Sunglasses: Pared Eyeware

PS Em and I put our heads together and came up with some ideas for an awesome collaboration (another blogger buzz word!), I'm so excited!!

Goyard or Garbage

What do you think of my Goyard tote? I bought two of these (the other one is a white pattern and slightly smaller) from Claremont Vinnies for $4 each. I thought the original  ones were leather so I didn't think these were the real deal, but liked the style anyway (and one can never have too many tote bags), hence I bought them home. BUT after doing quite a bit of Google research, I think I have actually stumbled on the real thing. It's definitely not the first time I've found designer gold at Claremont Vinnies, but I was still pleasantly surprised! 

I don't necessarily think they are worth the $1000 price tag, but my two Goyard totes have been extremely useful. They are perfect for lugging around all my stuff (camera, multiple pairs on sunglasses, iPad... all the essentials). I actually didn't plan to include the bag in these pictures, but seeing as I was actually using it with this outfit anyway, I thought I may as well. 

This is one of my extremely comfortable weekend brunch outfits by the way. Layering skinny jeans under a dress isn't something I've done before, but it worked perfectly with this loose trapeze dress from Seed (op shopped of course) and was a great for a chilly but sunny Saturday. 

Dress: Claremont Vinnies $12

Jeans: Cotton On

Shoes: Red Cross Willagee $5

Bag: Goyard, Claremont Vinnies $4

Necklaces: Both op shopped $3 each

Cuff: Opportunity Knocks $4

Hat: Glebe Markets

Sunglasses: Karen Walker 

Packing and Planning

Luke and I are heading off on holiday in 17 days! I am SO excited. As with all my holidays big or small, packing and planning my outfits is one of my favourite things. Our up coming trip is a little tricky because we will be spending a week camping in sunny Queensland and a week skiing in snowy Queenstown. So planning what to pack for two very different climates is a challenge!

To combat the temperature difference in our two destinations I'll be relying on lots of layers, which shouldn't be too hard. Years ago I did a snow season in Banff, and managed to survive the -35 degree temperatures wearing my cotton summer dresses layered with thermals, tights, beanies, gloves, scarves and the heaviest winter jackets I could find. So Queenstown with it's balmy -4 degrees should be a breeze! 

I'll definitely be taking along this whole outfit though (with the addition of some tights!). I found this kilt only a few days ago and I am SO IN LOVE. I've been wanting a kilt for ages, and while you often see them in op shops, I could never find one that was the right fit, length or tartan. This one fits the bill perfectly!

If any one has tips or suggestions on great places to eat, drink or see in Queenstown please let me know! We'll be spending most of our days on the slopes, but I definitely want to make time to explore the rest of the town. 

T-Shirt: Red Cross Willeton $6

Kilt: Anglicare Belmont $7

Jacket: Wittner

Boots: Tony Bianco

Socks: Target

Beanie: Hand made by my lovely aunt

Sunglasses: Pared Eyeware

Bad Girl

You know how some outfits are just really fun to wear? Well this was one of them. Ridiculous maybe, with my thigh high boots and Bad Girl bag, but fun none the less. You might be surprised to know that I'm not really an exuberant person in real life. My clothes make me stand out rather inadvertently, which I love and while I can easily make small talk with almost any one (it's actually my job) I am certainly never the loudest/craziest/funnest person in the room. 

Confidence and feeling sure of your self are traits that come easily to some, but others have to work so hard at it. I think I sit somewhere in the middle. I certainly don't care what people think about me enough to alter the way I dress, but I do always want to make a good impression and have people like me. It's not uncommon to find myself talking to someone and feeling way out of my depth, like I have nothing of value to add to the conversation. I'm also the type of person who will replay that convo over and over again in my mind, coming up with witty retorts and hilarious comments that I wish I had thought of at the time. 

What does this rambling have to do with my outfit? Well I guess I use my personal style as a bit of a weapon, reasoning that if I can't think of anything memorable/intellectual/entertaining to say at least people will remember my sweet Bad Girl bag!

Skirt: Good Sammies Freo $5

Top: Save the Children Subiaco $4

Belt: St Lukes op shop $3

Bag: Vinnies Claremont $5

Boots: Wittner

Sunglasses: RayBan

PS Now I'm looking at these photos it's really bugging me that the silver buttons on my skirt clash with my gold accessories... grrrrr

Life Recently

The end of this month totally snuck up on me! I was lying in bed yesterday morning telling myself that I had to get up to take outfit photos because I had nothing to share on the blog on today, when I realised I was due for a Life Recently post (and a lazy instagram collage). HUZZAH! I bought myself an extra 30 minutes of sleep! 

Since moving away from Freo I’ve been making a detour via my beloved colourful walls and snapping outfit pics on my way to work. This means I generally end up shooting my office outfits because the alternative is getting changed in my car on the side of the road. I have done that a couple of times (don’t say I’m not committed to this blog!) but when the temperature drops to 3 degrees I’m not so keen to get half naked in some alley in Fremantle, hence lots of work outfits. So now you know what I have to go through to get these outfit pictures! 

Eating pasta and soup and potatoes and bread, I think I’m going into hibernation mode!

Drinking mulled wine (courtesy of Luke who has a killer recipe)

Cooking scones, purely so I have an excuse to eat jam and cream

Watching Silicon Valley, perfect to tune out to at the end of a long day

Buying this hilarious crab hat to wear for a volleyball competition in August… don’t ask

Wearing ALL OF THE LAYERS, I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it enough but it’s freezing in Perth at the moment

Reading blogs, my life has been so busy recently that I’ve fallen behind with all my favourites

Avoiding looking at my bank balance (I think I say this every month) one day I’ll be financially responsible, today is not that day. 

Browsing eBay for more Melissa shoes… I don’t need any more but I really really want them!

Dreaming of my snowy vacay, only 16 working days left until Luke and I jet off to New Zealand for two weeks!!

One big thing that actually happened at the end of last month but I didn’t get a chance to tell you about is…. We got a puppy! Well, my parents got a puppy, but seeing as Luke and I are living with them at the moment I’m going to claim her as my own. Her name is Olive and she is a 1 year old blue heeler cross who we got from the Shenton Park Dog Refuge. She is the most adorable thing! Our beautiful old dog Ivy died at the end of April and our family has been seriously doggy deprived so Olive is getting a very warm welcome in our home. We don’t know Olive’s back story or how she came to be in the refuge, she is very timid and nervous, particularly around men. We have had her for a month now and she is coming out of her shell more and more each day. We love her so much already.

Have a happy weekend!

All pictures from my insta (@inthedressupbox)

1 - snapping outfit pics on a chilly morning

2 - making and eating scones is my favourite thing

3 - brand new Bottega Veneta heels, best op shop find EVER

4 - I need to stop buying costume jewellery

5 - successful Salvos haul

6 - poked myself in the eye at volleyball training, it was bung for a whole day!

7 - OLIVE!

8 - beautiful autumn colours at UWA 

Derelicte

I braved the coldest morning of the year to take these outfit snaps, so naturally I had to layer up with every piece of clothing imaginable. I call this look homeless-chic or ode to Derelicte... but seriously I do look a bit like a Game of Thrones extra with my giant faux fur stole. It kept me warm and cosy while the mercury dipped perilously close to freezing on Tuesday morning though, so I ain't complaining!

Over the last few weeks I've been trying to pre-plan my work outfits for the week ahead. At the start of each week I check out the weather forecast and then write down what I'll wear on each day according to the temperature and what's in my diary. It's been pretty good so far and I haven't changed my mind too many times. It makes waking up and getting dressed each morning SO easy, because I've already decided, washed, ironed and laid out every thing I need to put on that day. A bit OCD maybe, but I'm enjoying it! 

Do you like my new bucket bag? I was very excited to find this lovely metallic leather one in the new Anglicare op shop in Fremantle. It fits a surprising amount of stuff and is very easy to cart around. You should check out the newly refurbished Anglicare store on High Street, they have done a really great job with the layout and merchandising, they even have special sections dedicated to vintage and designer gear, well worth a trip to Freo!

Skirt: Salvos O'Connor $6

Top: Op Shop

Jacket: Good Sammies Freo $7

Bag: Anglicare Freo $7

Shoes: Chloe, via eBay

Stockings: Leona Edmiston 

Fur: Asos 

Sunglasses: Pared Eyeware

Never Ever Pay Retail

By far the most common question I get asked is 'what is your favourite op shop?'. It's like asking me which of my (non-existent) children I like the most! Well maybe that's a little exaggeration, but it is hard! The lovely Hannah from Never Ever Pay Retail is also a thrift-a-holic just like me and as she is based in Queensland, she asked me to share my five favourite Perth op shops on her blog. It was a tricky task, but I think the five I've chosen really are my favourites (at least for now!)

Head over to Never Ever Pay Retail to get the scoop! And if you end up visiting any of my recommendations please share with me the treasure you find, either on Facebook, insta (@inthedressupbox) or in the comments below, I LOVE hearing about others op shopping success.

P.S If you're in the mood for a bit of Flash Back Friday, just click on the photos above and you'll go to their corresponding post from my blog archive... also from looking at these photos it seems I really like hats... so many hats!