The Graduate

 Hello you beautiful pickles, 

Turns out I ain't half bad because a few weeks ago I graduated from my Bachelor of Arts (Honours).
If I haven't told you enough times, let me tell you again, thank you for your support over the course of my degree. A kind comment here and there really does make all the difference! 

With the end of my degree comes some exciting news... at the bottom of this post... so now you'll have to keep reading... Ooh, so secretive.

Applying sunscreen in a somewhat suggestive manner... That's right, sun-safe is sexy. Umf, pasty really is the new black. (well that made little sense...)

Obligatory hat throwing shot

Clichéd photo of me "leaving the hallowed halls of university and taking my first big steps into the real world" which seems fairly just because, guess what, I'm heading to Europe!

Yep, that's my news! I'm visiting all over from England to Russia and all in between. 

If you have any advice for visiting Europe or favourite haunts please let me know in the comments! Even better, if you are an international vixen I would love to grab a coffee with you. I assure you, I don't bite and if I do, it's almost always into a cake.

x

Sydney Love Vintage Show

Over the weekend was the Sydney Love Vintage fair! These fairs are always a highlight in the Sydney vintage scene, but this one was extra special as I got to enjoy it not only as a guest but as a model!

This was my first foray into the modelling world and it was certainly something a bit different! 

I was styled by Bonnie-Rose for two different parades: a pop-up wedding and vintage clothing with a modern-twist. Here I am in the pop-up wedding parade as a 50's style bridesmaid.

As usual, I did my own hair and make-up, but I was lucky enough to wear this enchanting 1950's powder-blue dress with a matching floral hat and carry the super sparkly brooch bouquet by Nan's Button Box Bouquets. 

Thank you to Justin Lee for the first three beautiful photos! Check out his tumblr for more pictures of the vintage fair!

Some sneaky happy snaps!

On the red carpet with my matching bridesmaid the picturesque Nora from Norafinds. Clearly not a novice to modelling, Nora has aced the vogue couture face.
For more photos of both parades, including me in some psychedelic 1960's pants, check out Nora's post!

Thanks again to Bonnie Rose for including me in the parade, Nora for getting me involved and Justin Lee for the photographs! 

Whatever Happened to the Caped Crusader?

She returns, better than ever, with a glimmer of golden hope lighting a soul as tarnished as the black in the cape burdening her shoulders...

Or not...

Honestly I blame it on this 1950's set I recently purchased. It reminds me of the dresses a deviant dame would pour herself into before she settles back with a cold martini to watch her latest prey struggle in shark infested waters.

(Or something equally as menacing... perhaps sharks with lasers) 

Photo sourced from Youthstep Vintage

As it is most definitely a criminal's costume, here I am, trying my very best to look fierce.

Yeah gurl, that's right.

Fierce.

And you know, also smiley, because when I first wore it, it was my birthday! And I was in a cape and velvet, so you know, super-villains can't be all frowns.

dress : Showcase dress by DVT Muse

shoes : Betts (thrifted)

bag : gift from my chap (thrifted)

1950's cape : part of a set from Youthstep Vintage

I decided to debut the complete set at Old Hat's January social, where I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting fellow blogger Nora from NoraFinds. 

Follow the link to read all about her First Old Hat Experience and browse lots more photos!

(Again, If you are in Sydney I urge you to join us at an Old Hat event. They are fun, they are free and we are friendly!)

Why it's the delectable Nicolette and I! Photo kindly borrowed from NoraFinds 

 The above and below photos have been rudely stolen from atomic_tim and chimeraaa's instagram accounts (respectively)

Bye for now, with great capes comes great responsibility.

A few months on Instagram

 

 

 Caught up in real life, my blog has fallen behind. Here's some instagram shots to catch you up on my life. Above are my new old stock, black leather gloves.

 

Some good-hair days

 

Hexapuffs I've been busy knitting! Incredibly (or insanely) I've done over one-hundred!

Another vintage purchase, longing for a night out!

 

Sandwiches!

 

On Sydney's hottest day on record, off to the circus!

 

House-sitting treasures

 

 

As always, find me on instagram at eccentricpickles

Love

x

The year that was

Ahoy-hoy!
After a break from the net, I am back and thrilled to be mentioned on Super Kawaii Mama's blog!
Before I share some of my new 2013 plans, I thought I'd do a quick post summing up 2012.

 January began with picnics and sun 

 February I saw the Artist and made some new blogger friends

March was masquerade season and my first interview with My Vintage Hat Shop

April was a time for friends at Old Hat's tartan gathering

May the picnics be with you!

June brought cocktails and canapes

At an Evening with Our Designers in August

Enjoyed spring at the Fifties Fair

In November I turned 22

  

And in December I celebrated the holidays with my family

Thank you for joining me last year. Thank you for all your support and inspiration. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. I can't wait to show you what this year holds.

Love 

two-two

Ahoy-hoy!

Thank you for all your kind comments over the past few months. Last week I handed in my thesis, attended a Cavalcade vintage fashion presentation and turned twenty-two! I'd love to write more about the Cavalcade (it really deserves its own post!) and show you more photos but unfortunately my computer has crashed and I have one last essay to write. Instead I'll leave you with these two photos I did manage to save and upload.

This is what I wore on my birthday to the Cavalcade presentation on "The Art of the Cut: 1930's evening gowns". It is a late 1930's or early 1940's lace illusion gown. Not only is it black lace (swoon) but it features the most amazing exaggerated hips. With drapes like those it's near impossible not to strut. 

We found this beautiful car, by complete chance, parked in a nearby street and decided to take advantage of the perfect photo opportunity. I'm not sure what the owner must have thought...

 

I'm holding a birthday present (from me to me...) an Elgin powder compact. The front features silhouettes from different fashion eras, from Egyptian to Victorian, as well as a 1920's Flapper! I think it is from the late 40's or early 50's as the etching on the front doesn't show the typical Dior new look (presumably because it hasn't been seen yet). Coincidentally, after I bought the compact I read this Dita Von Teese interview via pocketvenus and if you have a look at the sixth photo... ta-da!! Not too shabby! (Also, let's all have a collective sigh at the beauty of Dita's home!)

I'd love to learn more about this compact, so if anyone has any information or knowledge on vintage compacts, please let me know in the comments below!

Love

x

Dealing with Stress

Hello there you wonderful gherkins,
The reason I haven't been around (and that my posts have been a little lack-lustre) is because I am in the final weeks of my university degree and along with some large serves of anxiety I have been given a substantial side-order of stress. While I am by no means an expert on dealing with tough times, I thought I would share what I've found to be the most beneficial techniques for me to reduce stress but still actually get something done.

• Candles. This sounds rather strange but a deliciously scented candle on my desk has helped make my productive time a little less soul-destroying and a bit more fruity and fresh. Not only does it smell nice (duh!) it helps reinforce when I ought to be working and when I deserve a break. Lighting the candle signifies getting down to bussiness. (In a let's-write-something kind of way not in the Flight-of-the-Conchords kind of way... though candles are also nice for that too.... *shifty eyes*... anyways!) Here are two of my favourites:

Papinelle Pear and Cinnamon: sweet but not cloying

 

Dusk Lychee and Black Tea: light but mysterious

• Light. Sunlight that is! Getting outside and enjoying that good ol' melanoma-inducing sunlight is proven to lift spirits and quite frankly, though many of us love a porcelian complexion, it doesn't mean we should abandon our outdoory ways (after all no-one wants to be mistaken for a twi-hard). Go outside, get some vitamin D! Just try to avoid the hours with the hightest UV so before 11 and after 4pm.

On a sidenote, this comic is brilliant!

• Exercise. If you know me, you know I don't like exercise. It's not that I don't want to, it's not that I wont, I just don't get the kick out of it that some people do. I find it boring and quite frankly, if I had an hour to spare I'd rather watch the newest Downton Abbey/Bones/HIMYM/Grey's/Big Bang Theory/Castle/Sherlock/Black Books/Pushing Daisies/there-you-now-know-some-of-my-dirty-television-secrets-and-believe-me-I-could-go-on. However, for all my indifference and exercise annoyance we all know the benefits, we all know we need to be doing it and when you do you get that fun side-effect of being just a tad smug to anyone else who hasn't.

Plus if you are a particular pessimist like me, exercise has the added bonus of being something else to be angry at. No longer do you have to cringe at your poorly structured sentences or horrific grammar!! Refer your anger to that steel enemy: the cross trainer.

If you need extra incentive, try my top-secret strategy.

Pretend you are a superhero (or villian if that's your cup-o-tea) and kick some ass.

I call it... Avengersize.

 

In my head I am part Black Widow, part Aragorn, folded with 007 and sprinkled with a touch of Sherlock (Robert Downey Jr or Cumberbatch, whatever takes your fancy *cough both cough*)

 

• Swear. I didn't use to curse much (I am a lady after all; A laaaaady!), then I started my honours course. This is not for everyone, but sometimes it does make you feel better.

Well, that's all from me for now, some of us have work we need to pretend to do.
Do you have tips for de-stressing?
Love