My Week in Pictures.

The vintage loot.

I blogged earlier in the week about The Way We Wear, and here are some photos from the Online Antiques store, which always has swoon-worthy items for sale, as well as the two bangles and scarf I picked up. If I had a spare $500, though, I’d be all over that black, white and red number! Very Grace Kelly in Rear Window, wouldn’t you say?

The dreary Monday morning.

Now, I normally love my Monday mornings (new magazines, new blogs, new week!), but this week it was nothing but a manic one. All I wanted to go was sit in front of the heater and watch movies all day. Alas, this is the view from a window at work.

The flowers.

To brighten up the house, I bought some orchids from the Vic Market on Saturday. It’s been a looong time since I bought myself flowers. And no one else is going to, so…

The stack.

Next week I’m going to be blogging about my real stack (ie. the pile of books, magazines and articles I’ve had on the backburner for most of this year) but, until then, here is this weeks reading material.

Lara Bingle’s “exclusive” is laughable (I couldn’t imagine anything worse than going on holidays with your beau and having a Who camera crew follow your every move in a bid to announce a new relationship to the world), and the mag is still perturbed by Katie Holmes’s body. Sure, she looks pretty gaunt, but is pointing it out on tabloid covers the world over really beneficial to her?

The show.

I’ve really been getting into the latest season of Law & Order: SVU and, as it is apparently Christopher Meloni’s last, and Mariska Hargitay’s role will be severely diminished next season, I’m savouring it. If the two main detectives aren’t in it, I don’t think I’ll be returning.

The organic blueberry pancakes.

After the vintage market on Saturday, my friend Linzie and I stopped in at Novel Kitchen in Williamstown, a cute little organic café with mismatched tables and chairs and a very unpretentious vibe about it.

Related: [The Early Bird Catches the Worm] My Week in Pictures 21^st July 2011.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] My Week in Pictures 14th July 2011.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] My Week in Pictures 7th July 2011.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] My Week in Pictures 1st July 2011.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The Way We Wear Weekend.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Loving… Grace Kelly as Lisa Fremont in Rear Window.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Katie Holmes in Who: Do Celeb Bodies Make Us Feel Better About Our Own?

Elsewhere: [Online Antiques] Homepage.

Event: The Way We Wear Weekend.

 

 

 

On Saturday morning, after some technical difficulties (iPhone loss on the part of my friend, Linzie, and getting off at the wrong train stop!), we arrived at The Way We Wear’s bi-annual market at the Williamstown Town Hall.

This is the best—and only, after going to some other—lackluster—vintage fair(s) in Melbourne. Entry was $12 for adults, although we had some discount vouchers, so it made it an even $10 each. Upon entry, we got a program of the weekend’s festivities, a free voucher for Becky Sharp’s Vanity Fair Vintage Fashion Market in September, and an entry form to go into the draw to win some vintage loot.

Having been to The Way We Wear three times, the usual vendors were there again, with several more since the market started selling homewares this time around.

I ended up picking up a dainty green and cream animal print scarf and two bangles, while Linzie got a beetroot Tupperware container (images to come in Thursday’s “My Week in Pictures” post)!

I had beginners luck at my first market this time last year, but never again have I seen the same success. Nevertheless, I recommend the market to vintage lovers everywhere. Hell, clothes and accessories (don’t forget homewares!) lovers everywhere. Even if you don’t pick anything up, just looking at the range of authentic vintage from over a century ago, as stocked by Online Antiques (images to come on Thursday, as mentioned above), more recent items, such as a Burberry trench coat, pink Versace jacket and YSL logo-printed dress or, as Linzie described them, Diva jewellery and Dotti tops from a few years ago sold for more than they cost then, is well worth it.

The next market will be on the 19^th and 20^th of November, at the Williamstown Town Hall. Hope to see you there!

Related: [The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The Way We Wear Vintage Fashion Fair.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The Way We Wear Vintage Market.

Elsewhere: [The Way We Wear Vintage Fashion Fairs] Homepage.

[Becky Sharp's Melbourne Vanity Fair Market] Homepage.

[Online Antiques] Homepage.

Event: The Way We Wear Vintage Fashion Fair.

Clear your schedules, girls (and guys), for this coming weekend is the biannual vintage fashion fair, The Way We Wear.

Commencing this Friday night at 6pm til 9pm, and continuing on Saturday at 10am til 5pm, and Sunday 10pm til 4pm, at the Williamstown Town Hall on Ferguson Street. To get there by train, take the Werribee line to Newport, then take the Williamstown line one stop to North Williamstown, and it’s a ten minute walk from there.

I’ve been to the market twice, and let me tell you: it’s the best vintage event in Melbourne.

Each year revolves around a theme: last year’s were bridal and the little black dress, and this winter’s is the Titanic. Perhaps they were inspired by the Titanic-themed restaurant nearby, or the Melbourne Museum’s Titanic exhibition last year?

At 2pm on Saturday and Sunday there’ll be a “Dressed for the Voyage” fashion parade of garments worn around the time the Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage.

In addition to the always fantastic selection of vintage fashion and accessories, ranging from $2 to $2000, this year will incorporate vintage homewares into the mix for the very first time.

I don’t know about you, but I’m psyched! Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids and are available at the door on the day.

Hope to see you there!

Related: [The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The Way We Wear Vinatge Market.

Elsewhere: [The Way We Wear Vintage Fashion Fairs] Homepage.

Image via The Way We Wear Vintage Fashion Fairs.

Event: Go Get Frocked—The Way We Wear Spring Vintage Fashion Fair.

It’s that time of year again, when The Way We Wear vintage market rolls around again.

Six months ago I cleaned up, picking up a gorgeous yellow dress, some jewellery and some postcards.

This time, however, I had my heart set on an A-line floral skirt and/or dress, and maybe some more jewellery, but to my chagrin, the items that caught my eye—a red, Victoria Beckham-esque shift and a navy and white floral A-line dress with matching bolero—were way out of my price range.

Instead, I got a scarf with a Hermes air about it, and a black satin poodle skirt for my Mum. As Clueless’s Cher would say, “It is a far, far better thing doing stuff for other people.”

In accompaniment to the vintage wares on sale, the event hosted a “Little Black Dress” exhibition, with authentic dresses from the likes of Chanel. In an ode to this week’s “Outfit Envy”, Lauren Conrad was also featured as a LBD aficionado!

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Event: The Way We Wear Vintage Market.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Outfit Envy: “Sartorial Conservative”.

My Week in Review (Plus a Couple of Extra Days Thrown in There).

My week usually consists of work, catching up on the multitude of blogs, mags and books I read and my TV shows, blogging (or, as my friend April likened my days off to, “blogging, jogging, more blogging, watching True Blood, and more blogging!”), working out and catching up with friends on one or two nights. I’m lucky in my paid job is very much like a socialising session, as a lot of my friends are also my colleagues. I don’t like to overextend myself too much, but I also like to keep a healthy balance of “me” time and “we” time, which I have blogged about in the past.

This past week, as you will see below, differs from the ideal, above.

Saturday 6^th: Work, then went to the last Victorian Roller Derby League tournament before the final at Melbourne Showgrounds on Saturday 27^th November.

Sunday 7^th: Finally, after more than six months of gruelling labour, abuse by the public and exhaustion in general, my workplace celebrated the end of an era, venturing to several waterholes across the city in merriment. But not before I finished up a 9 til 6 shift at said workplace. Give and take.

Monday 8^th: Blogged in the morning, devised a workout circuit in my apartment block’s carpark with my roommate/cousin and then went to a friend’s comedy gig at Spleen Bar on Bourke Street. Thoroughly enjoyed myself, and there were lots of timely Joel Monaghan jokes to whet my appetite for inappropriate humour.

Tuesday 9^th: More blogging, then played some pool at Red Triangle in Fitzroy and shared some drinks with a friend.

Wednesday 10^th: Back to work, followed by a friend’s going away drinks at The Pumphouse in Carlton.

Thursday 11^th: Said friend Tess’s last day at work, which was a bit emotional for her. Some co-workers asked why I wasn’t upset. I replied with the fact that we are such good friends that it’s not like I’d never see her again; in fact, I saw her again the following night!

After sleeping in (started work late), I spent the afternoon shopping for costumes for the work Christmas party at Rose Chong’s costumes in Fitzroy, followed by ice coffee with friends. This was my first night home since last Friday night, and I relished it by catching up on some reading and indulging in Gossip Girl.

Friday 12^th: It was too hot to do much, but I blogged in the morning, attended the meeting for the Christmas party mid-afternoon, chilled in front of the TV with Glee and some lemon sorbet, then went out for drinks with Katrina (whom I affectionately, but much to her dismay, like to call Treen Bean) who’s going to the Red Centre for two weeks at The Union in Fitzroy.

After that full on week (which will be reflected in the lesser amount of blog posts than usual this week), I can take solace in the fact that I’ve only committed myself to one talk at the Wheeler Centre, one coffee date, and one evening of Desperately Seeking Susan (which has to do with a top secret blog post I’m working on) and Jennifer’s Body, all of which I will be engaging in solo, as well as a mother/daughter/sister trip to The Way We Wear vintage market in Williamstown on the weekend and a morning jog with a friend this week. Oh, and I guess I’ll have to fit the tedium of work (not to mention blogging—which is anything but tedious) in there somewhere! Ahh, I can’t wait for the uneventfulness of it all…

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Taking Inspiration from MamaMia: 10 Things I Need for Work/Life Balance.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Derby Girls: Leaders of the Pack.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] Beauty & the Bestiality.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The (Belated) Underlying Message in Glee’s “Never Been Kissed” Episode.

[The Early Bird Catches the Worm] The Way We Wear Vintage Market.

On the Net: How Very Proustian.

Fellow bookworm and blogger Megan of Literary Life adopted the novel idea of the Proust Questionnaire on her blog, which I am going to steal borrow to post here, with additional questions from the loyally Proustian publication, Vanity Fair.

What is your most marked characteristic?  I would hope that it was strength; which a certain friend of mine says makes me come across as an “ice maiden”. I’d rather be an ice maiden than a pushover.

What is the quality you most like in a man?  Strength, intelligence, companionship.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?  Un-fakeness. And un-vapidness.

What do you most value in your friends?  Loyalty, and being surprised by just how loyal they can be. And knowing me inside and out.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?  My inability to keep my mouth shut!

What is your favourite occupation?  Wedding planner, big cat keeper, historian (if I had the discipline), vintage buyer, writer (shock! horror!).

What is your idea of perfect happiness?  Generally, I subscribe to Mia Freedman’s notion of contentment: “Bombarding myself with pop culture, diving in deep and splashing happily around…” Also, it’s something that takes me by surprise. My happiest times have occurred when I’ve least expected it; designing and executing a tower out of straws during a Year 10 sociology class; shopping at Big W with my Mum one Friday evening; attending a Target fashion show in the scorching heat to see Whitney Port with my cousin; this past weekend during a Pictionary tournament at a friend’s house and at The Way We Wear vintage fashion market.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?  I cannot fathom that and hope to never experience it.

In which country would you like to live?  The US of A, baby. However, I am beginning to warm to the country I do live in.

Who are your favourite writers?  It’s no secret that they are Dominick Dunne, Mick Foley and Mia Freedman.

Who is your favourite hero of fiction?  Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird, Gus Bailey from Another City, Not My Own, Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, The Lost Symbol, the rabbits from Watership Down, Chandler Bing from Friends (well, he is a FICTIONal character!).

Who is your favourite heroine of fiction?  Um, like, Bella Swan from Twilight. Not! Scout Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird, Belle from Beauty & the Beast, Elphaba from Wicked.

Who are your favourite composers?  Does Michael Jackson count as a composer? If so, I will add Lennon & McCartney and the blokes from INXS to that list.

What are your favourite names?  Jude, which is my mother’s maiden name and is just beautiful for a boy.

What is it that you most dislike?  Not getting what I want. Also, loud iPods on the train/tram/bus when I’m trying to read, people with low personal hygiene standards and bad spelling and grammar.

Which talent would you most like to have?  Singing and playing piano.

How would you like to die?  With those closest to me being prepared for it. There is nothing worse than having someone snatched from you with no warning.

What is your current state of mind?  Inspired, but stressed.

What is your motto?  Everything happens for a reason.

What is your greatest fear?  Getting Alzheimer’s or dementia. I would rather die than not remember.

What is your greatest extravagance?  Magazines. Clothes.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?  Spontaneity. There is a lot to be said for routine!

What do you dislike most about your appearance?  My skin.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?  Like, OMG.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?  This here blog… Wow, I’m sad!

What is your most treasured possession?  My mind and my books. Some superficial items like clothing and vintage items. My laptop (even more so once I upgrade to a Mac!).

Which historical figure do you most identify with?  Marie Antoinette and Cleopatra. Oh, the tragedy! Also, Belle from Beauty & the Beast, even though she’s not technically an historical figure.

Which living person do you most admire?  Mia Freedman and Mick Foley.

What is your greatest regret?  Giving up on my dream.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?  Reading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Event: The Way We Wear Vintage Market.

This weekend I went to The Way We Wear Autumn Vintage Fashion Fair at the Williamstown Town Hall, and let me tell you, it was fab-u-lous!

I picked up some jewellery, vintage-inspired cards and a stunning mustard yellow, one-shouldered dress with black sash and shoulder detail that I can’t wait to wear.

I spent about $100 on my few items, but the calibre of clothes and accessories on display went up to the high hundreds and into the thousands of dollars. For example, Online Antiques had vintage Louis Vuitton, Tiffany and kimonos for purchase that, as Rachel Zoe would certainly have said if she’d been there, “I died” over.

There were also some gorgeous reworked ’50s dresses and beaded frocks dating back to the ’20s from the likes of one of Australia’s largest vintage sellers, Seams Old.

And the accompanying And the Bride Wore… exhibition featured a wedding gown from 1870!

Looking back on the day, I wish I’d had more time and money to spend… but there’s always the Vanity Fair Vintage Fashion Market in two weeks time to tide me over til November when the next The Way We Wear Fair rolls into (Williams)town!