The Changing Seasons...

We just had a 5 day weekend thanks to Easter and ANZAC day all rolling themselves into one. I'm a bit sad it's over now, no more sleep ins and pj days spent knitting, watching Poirot (I'm up to season 10 I think, I started from the beginning last year and am slowly making my way through them all. Next up, Miss Marple) and eating lots of chocolate.

The weekend before I spent my Sunday swapping my wardrobes over. I've never really had to pack away my closet for the seasons before but due to the sheer lack of space we have, the things I don't wear need to be packed away into a suitcase and tucked under the bed. As I was putting away my pretty summer things and pulling out those things I put away after we returned from our wedding, I found myself wondering how on earth to get dressed in the morning. What will I do now that I can no longer throw on a cute dress and a pair of sandals and be ready to leave the house? I have to layer now?

As much as I'm loving the cooler weather (and Autumn is my favourite!), I've decided my wardrobe is sorely lacking in the cool weather department (despite living in Dunedin for 6 years!). As I'm on a limited budget right now, I need to turn to my stack of fabric and start making myself some more seperates - a grey wool skirt is top of the list! I'm so glad I saved a folder of cool weather inspiration on my computer!

How about you? Do you struggle with inspiration in the changing seasons?

XX
Jen

Jan 1st, 1949...

I thought I would share some more scans from my collection of Home Journals today – can anyone spot the item that would be considered these days to be slightly controversial in the hand of one of the ladies?

Note: To read any of the articles close up, click the images and it will take you to my flickr account where you can choose to see them in the biggest format.

Isn’t it funny to think that smoking back then was acceptable and seen as rather glamorous, to the point they’ve taken the time to add this little detail to the cover of the magazine. How things considered controversial back then are completely normal these days, yet what could be seen as rather controversial these days was the norm back then.

I think that’s one of the reasons I really like collecting and reading these magazines, the social commentary alone is marvellous, and it’s fun to see how society’s views on certain things have changed.

Aren't these blouses the prettiest? I have a pattern for some lovely 40's blouses that I need to make up for Spring. I love the button up back.

I particularly like the little sections on accessories - the above explains 'new ways with a hanky' and how to wear jewellery - it pays dividends afterall (a nice thing to have on my quest to accessorise more!).

Add some ribbon trim to your outfits, it's all in the details...

Glamorous Millinery:
Hats will be dramatic and lovely. Flowers, ribbons and yards and yards of veiling will give a garden party look to hats this summer. Large hats are so flattering to all ages and with the veiling, well, it gives added charm.

And look at those pretty shoes...

Have a lovely evening,

XX
Jen

PS) More scans here.

Playing with Accessories...

I'm sure it's not a surprise to find out that I really like simple outfits - a pretty dress, cute shoes and a belt to top it off. I don’t tend to accessorise my outits much and if I am accessorising then most of the time it’s a bag or when it’s colder, a scarf. Lately though, I’ve been drawn to long layered necklaces and dangly earrings – I’ve been noticing how much they complete outfits on other people and I’m going to experiment!

I own jewellery, but mostly dainty pieces like my little pinecone necklace, and while I’ll always be a dainty jewellery kind of girl, I’m feeling the need for long strands of beads, bracelets and sparkly brooches. This is the necklace I snapped up at the market on Saturday last week. It is long and copper coloured with coral beads adorning the strand at various intervals and to top off the accessories in this outfit, I even wore my straw hat that I’ve been neglecting ever since I bought it at the beginning of summer (sorry for the semi blurry photos though, it was getting late when we took these and the wind was picking up as well as the rain!).

Wearing jewellery is something I really don’t think about most of the time and when I’m running out the door in the morning, all I’m worried about is that I’m actually dressed. So, I'll need to:
a) remember to put it on before running out the door
b) not fidget with it

and

c) try and get used to putting it on when it's cold in the mornings (I hate putting cold jewellery on on cold mornings!).

So what about you? Are you a skilled accessoriser or do you prefer to keep it simple?

XX
Jen

Confessions...

Saturday was a beautiful day here weather wise. I think all of the flowers with a heavy scent must bloom at the end of Summer in Sydney as the sweet smell wafting through the neighbourhood is just amazing at the moment. David and I lazily wandered up to the markets and had a nosey around (I bought a necklace) before grabbing some lunch and doing the weekly grocery shop.

I've had this dress for a long time - probably ever since I started collecting vintage, and I have a confession...this is only the second time I've worn it because I need to take up the straps!

There, I said it. I'm a bad person. I have a small pile of vintage dresses hanging in my wardrobe that need some form of adusting, whether it's taking up the hem, taking in the bust or resewing a zip.

Must. Get. Onto. It!

Thank goodness for Easter break coming up in two weeks time.

XX
Jen

Monty in Black and White...

And this is what I wore on Sunday.

My last photography class went well yesterday, despite the fact I was 30minutes late because I was stuck in traffic! And now that I know how to use my camera, I'm looking forward to investing in a new lens and getting out and taking some awesome photos!

The class particulary liked this photo of Monty I showed...

And with that, I don't really have anything else left to say.

Have a great night.

XX
Jen

Pretty in Pink!

In case you were wondering, this is what I wore on Saturday..

Sorry for not posting for a while...last weekend I was a bit zombi-fied after my first week of work and I ended up not doing anything. This weekend, I was feeling a million times better and David and I went out exploring (I also needed to take some photos for my last photography class on Wednesday) at Vaucluse house on Saturday and Carisbrook house on Sunday.

I ended up taking so many photos for my last class that narrowing them down is looking like a bit of a daunting task and we're only allowed to show 12-30 images!.

We also kissed day light savings goodbye on Sunday, and while it made getting up much easier this morning, the afternoons are so much darker. Winter is certainly on its way...

I hope you all had great weekends!

XX Jen