Ahoy Captain

I recently saw this stunning navy sailor inspired dress on Gossip Girl and decided I had to find it, and yes figure out how to get it to Melbourne. So after much hunting I found my way to an old favorite site called Bettie Page clothing, and as luck would have it not only did I find my dress I also discovered that it was made in flare and pencil skirt versions.

Captain Navy Pencil

Yes seeing Blair Waldorf in this stunning dress did mean I had to get one, and now that I have the super cute Navy peep toes heels what better reason can you think of. This super cute navy dress is made from navy stretch Bengaline (why does that fabric have to keep haunting me – I worked in a fashion store where 90% of our suits were made from bengaline) is double breasted and has a white satin trimmed ruffle sailor collar. Plus you can also get the handbag to match!!!! All I can say is please sent it to me now.

Captain Navy Flare

And then I came across this gem. So now the decision is do I go pencil or flare, or as Kendiedoll would say BOTH! This one is also made from navy stretch Bengaline and is double breasted and has a white satin trimmed ruffle sailor collar. So now its all about decisions…because lets face it I can find a reason and place to wear both and like I said now with my navy heels there isn’t really a reason not to. Or not at least one that jumps quickly to mind at the moment. What do you think??????

Pleasure State

While out with Ms Firedoll last weekend she re-introduced me to an old favorite and their new collection. Pleasure state is one of my favorite lingerie houses because a) i adore the designs, b) the fit perfectly and c) the more I talk with my dolls the more I find I'm not alone in the love of this house.

This stunning little piece was Ms Firedoll's favorite and I can see why, when you can have a silk kimono that doubles as lingerie and dress what more can you want.

So head to your nearest supplier (for many thats Myer) and start trying on.

Lock it away

Apart from and obsession with watch inspired jewelry, I also have a weakness for anything with keys at the moment. I just adore them in all sizes, key shapes and especially in silver. I have two main ones that I’m wearing one larger set and one smaller single key. The small one I bought a few months back at a little street market in Fitzroy (I think) and the larger one I picked up on my airport travels of late.

For some reason they really appeal to me, could be that inner steam punk screaming to get out, or maybe from watching all those moves where a big old fashioned key holds entry to secret treasure. There is even something magical about one of those big brass keys on a length of ribbon that still sends me off into a dreamlike state.

I would love to one day get my hands on a Tiffany and Co key, just a simple silver one maybe in a heart design and small 16in silver beaded necklace which would only be about $400. Not that I’ve thought about it or anything. So magical present fairy if your listening please feel free to deliver me a little blue box from Tiffany’s.

Tiffany and Co Keys

Rugged Up

As the weather turns cold the thought for many to leave the warm confines of their house seems crazy but for me as long there is a big jacket and some warm gloves its time to head out into the night and see what the crisp night air brings. Why am I heading out in the low temperatures you may ask; simply in honor of my old pal Ms La dolce Vita coming to town for a conference and it was my duty as a local to show here some of our hidden treasures.

Now I admit I adore winter for so many reasons: Roasting fires, hot chocolate, winter jackets, gloves, scarfs, hats and even red wine seems to taste better. With that in mind it was time to head to transport at Federation square for drinks and then to Tony Starr’s Kitten Club for some yummy tapas.

You have to love the fact that the locals will still rather be outside and huddle around the heaters just as much as be in the clubs. We headed to the Kitten Club which is one of those great places you can only find if you know where you are going. So after a brisk walk it was time to go behind the green door, up a flight of stairs and enjoy. There was much removing of jackets and gloves and scarf’s to adjust to the warmth and then decisions about food. If you haven’t been to the club its worth a trip, and make sure you climb the second set of stairs and find the bar above if for reason to check out the velvet covered walls.

All in all another great night with the hidden secrets of Melbourne.

XOXO Gossip Girl Fashion

So during my last flight I decided to while a way my time by watching the in flight entertainment. Thankfully one episode of my new favorite comedy “the big bang theory” was on so I could giggle away in my seat, however once finished I figured “hey I’m on a 2 hour flight lets see what this Gossip Girl thing is”. So by the end of the flight (since there was only 1 episode to watch, the pilot thankfully) I was hooked into the fashion of this show. Story wise ok (the more I watch the more I like) but it’s the fashion and hair that I’m addicted to at the moment; especially that of one character, Blair.

For those of you who aren’t watching this show Blair isn’t the main the character but I must say when she’s on the screen all the other girls pale in comparison. There is something about her prep school / vintage inspired look that has just grabbed me. Maybe it’s also the fact that like me she’s a brunette and all of us non blonde girls must stick together. LOL And with that stunning mane of chocolate and cinnamon brown, often with luscious curls it didn’t take long for her to become my favorite.

So what does a modern ‘90210’ (yep showing my age there) have to do with my love of vintage fashion and lingerie you might well ask. Well after a few episodes it was clear to see that the costume department has taken cues not only from fantastic modern pieces but have also included some vintage glamour. This little navy sailor inspired dress above was a perfect example. Add the right hat and a pair of white gloves (and a slightly longer hem line) and you’d be forgiven in thinking this was vintage. Plus her combination of demure and racy outfits show that there is so much you can do with dare I say it, modern vintage.

It has really inspired to start looking again in more conventional stores to find a few key pieces that can be transformed into my “good girl gone bad style” and also reminds us that even the bad girls can still do park avenue princess.

Sage Slip from Dollhouse Bettie

What I did find amazing was in one of the episodes (1^st series) when Blair ends up at a Burlesque club, then undresses to her green slip not that far away from this sage slip from Dollhouse Bettie which I recently featured. Plus the added wow factor a modern gal who seems to always wear stocking and suspenders…a girl truly after my own heart. With this all in mind it wasn’t that long till I came across an amazing couple of finds….a grey knit dress and a divine black fitted jacket that just screams OWN ME!!!!!!! Watch this space as yes they both did somehow find their way into my wardrobe.

And my last word of Blair and gossip girl… if you fancy a visual feast and don’t mind curling up on the couch in pj’s with a hot chocolate for some girl tv, rent out the series. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.

XOXO Tiki Doll

Melbourne Comedy Festival

So its Saturday night, your best mates in town and its the last Saturday of the comedy festival. What do you do? You do you a) stay in a hotel order room service and watch movies or do you b) walk your little boots down to the Melbourne Town Hall and see whats on. Well what do you think we did?

That's right we got all dressed up and headed into town. Now if you've never been to the festival the first and probably the hardest part is figuring out what to see. Watching Mikii's face go from excited to puzzelled to excited again was classic, I think he might of been a little thrown by the massive list and was a bit taken aback when I said "yep they're all on tonight, what do you fancy?" After a bit of a discussion and a wonderful chat with one of the event staff we decided........Kitten D'Amour Sailor shirt

And with tickets in hand and time to kill Mikii and I headed out for dinner, drinks and fill the next few hours as our show didn't start till 11. First off we headed to china town in search of Section 8 a very groovy bar made from 2 containership containers in an old parking lot. A very groovy place and thankfully it didn't rain (as there isn't really a roof) so it was a couple of drinks, great chats and then time to hunt out some food.

Section 8

Tony Starr's Kitten Club

Which is how we ended up at Tony Starr's Kitten Club for Tapas. Super yummy and it was under much restraint that we didn't order the entire menu. So more food, more drinks and so much more talking. Such fun. Then with a desire for dessert it was time to walk up to the theatre district for sweets, we ended up lapping around these really cool blocks and took ages to decided on this quaint Italian counter top coffee shop for almond cake with ice cream and hot chocolate.

And after a quick watch check it was time to make our way back to the town Hall for *drum roll* ALI MCGREGOR'S LATE NIGHT VARIETY NIGHT

For people here is a little bit about her from her webiste:

"In the late 19th Century, a group of chorus girls used to creep out of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, dash across to the east end and perform their arias in their corsets and drawers for the vaudeville loving public. In 2005 Ali was inspired by these ladies of the operatic night to do the same. She crept out of Opera Australia's production of 'Manon' and into The Famous Spiegeltent creating the very first Opera Burlesque. She has now been firmly bitten with the cabaret bug and although she still regulary sings operaticaly around the world, her reputation as a unique interperator of mordern day pop and rock classics is growing ever stronger. Oh, and she plays the autoharp, omnichord and stylophone which they never let her do in opera."

Basically she is amazing and at the variety nights you never know what your going to get. Last night featured Frisky and Manish, The List Operators, Adam Hills and Gypsy Wood and the amazing Saxon. We even got to witness Saxon to a dance first in a silk moo moo and then in a skin colored body suit while Ali sang Kate Bush's Babushka on the auto harp. PRICELESS!!!!!!

Another great night for the comedy festival and congrats Saxon (Asher Treleavan) for receiving the critics Choice award.

who told?

I was recently sent this link about my favorite little store Kitten D’Amour and the fact that a certain famous person has been shopping there.
From GC Bullentin http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/11/26/162875_gossip-news.html
“POP princess Britney Spears' hectic tour schedule has called for some much needed retail therapy with the singer spending $1500 on dresses from Brisbane store Kitten D'Amour. Spears spent 20 minutes in the Adelaide Street store yesterday buying dresses, bags and accessories. Accompanied by her burly security guard, the mother-of-two said she was impressed the designs were manufactured in Australia. She told staff she would take some of the purchases home to give to her girlfriends. Kitten D'Amour operations manager Simon Griffin said she was `absolutely delightful'. ``We were a little bit starstruck,'' he said.”
So I think I may have to keep shopping to snap up these gems and watch the fashion pages to see where the outfits end up. So keep watching those stars.