Image Copyright Keith Glennan

With Rosemont Australian Fashion Week in full swing, it is easy to forget just what a luxury real fashion is.  And by real fashion I don’t mean your Made in China and attach a designer label to it. I mean genuine made to measure, chosen in a private salon, couture. As in the heyday of Dior, Chanel and Schiaparelli, fashion was shown to a select group of clients in a salon setting. Mannequins modelling the garments up close and personal for madame to make her choice and put in her orders for the season. You would be hard pressed these days to find a designer that presents their range in such a manner, and even less likely to be invited to one such event.  That is unless you can get yourself to Melbourne next week.

Australia’s  celebrated and genuine couturier Robert Fritzlaff, will be showcasing decades of his work in just such an environment. Organised by the National Trust and hosted at the stunning Como House Ballroom, you have to rare opportunity to become a lady (or gentleman) of leisure and take in the beauty of Robert’s collections first hand.  With garments spanning the 1960′s through to the early 1980′s, this is a once in a lifetime chance to see a collection of historical couture in its natural habitat.  Even if you have already seen the exhibition, you will be treated to a selection of pieces that have not yet been available to the public and some that have been created especially for the occasion. Of course I do have a vested interest in seeing you there as I will be modelling the garments for the show! So when I tell you they are works of art, I know what I’m saying. The morning includes the Salon Show, High Tea and an audience with the designer, Robert Fritzlaff.  Hosted at 11am on Thursday 7th May, you need to get in quick to secure your place. Tickets are strictly limited and will be available for this one show only. Learn More and Book Here.

Image copyright Jeff Paine www.photograjph.com

I know some of you will be very curious as I haven’t mentioned my modeling work here much yet, but besides all my writing, this is my other”real job”.

And although it is a work under construction, should you wish to hire me for any occasions, I can be found here.

Buying vintage shoes to wear is a nearly impossible task. Not only are they few and far between in their existence, those that are around tend to run to lilliputian sizes. I’ve been told by some that during the 1940′s and 1950′s, women’s shoes were only commercially manufactured up to a size 6, but one of my trusted and knowledgeable sources tells me that the reason for there scarcity is that those of us of average modern size have just worn them all out! (See comments).  This doesn’t leave much room for the majority of the population now days.  As a rule all the vintage shoes I come across are both tiny in length and so narrow that I would possibly have to hack of half a foot to get anywhere near to fitting them.  I thought that perhaps the examples I was finding were unusual, but after seeing the footprints of Doris Day and her contemporaries at Mann’s Chinese theater, I can tell you that these women were of entirely different dimension to what we are today. ( I will perhaps devote another post to that topic on another occasion).

So when it came to sourcing vintage or vintage looking shoes for a fashion show I am involved in next week, I was a little lost. If you are looking for fun, flirty pin up style options, the choices are many and varied.  But seeking out your more sensible, grown up day wear or cocktail shoes is another kettle of fish.  All my usual resources are entirely useless in that department, so I had to think divergently to come up with a solution. And because you dear readers, are so loyal and clued in to be reading these pages I’ll let you in on my secret.

You’ve seen  me seek out shoes in an orthopedic / Nana shop before with success, now I head into suburban wedding and debutant footwear shops for the last word in “retro”.  It works like this; seek out the discount shoe stores in outer suburban areas.  Generally you will find a range of shoes that run from the skanky to the old fashioned and nothing good in between.  But these stores have their place, and are just perfect for finding styles that were fashionable a good fifty plus years ago.  It was here amongst the pearlised debutant shoes and sensible Nana heels that I found exactly what I was looking for. Almond toed court shoes with a mid heel, no super fancy detailing and a vintage look that will work for both day and evening wear.  While they are not 100% period accurate, they are a close approximation. Close enough that the overall feel of the outfits when paired with these, should pass muster.

Do you have a secret shoe supplier?

A Mad Men Style series would not be complete without a piece dedicated to the man who gives me shivers, the delectable Donald Draper.  And while I’m no expert in men’s fashion, I’ll do my best to break it down for you in straight forward terms.

Mr Don Draper is a curious cat. Brooding and serious with a hidden past, he is not the one dimensional womaniser he first appears to be. But aside from his well cocked eyebrow, there are a few key elements to Don Draper’s style that you can employ to make them weak at the knees.

We do occasionally see “sporty, casual Don”, but for the purposes of an iconic look, I’m concentrating on Professional Don. In an era when a man was not dressed without a hat, and smoking in the office wasn’t even queried, Don’s character relies on both for intrigue and mystery.

*  Smooth Hair

No respectable man would be seen without a short back and sides. You can achieve Don’s look first with the right cut, (yes, you ask for a “short back and sides”) and a healthy application of pomade.  Lucky for us, pomade has made a come back and can now be found at all good hair retailers in a variety of brands.  Make sure to keep a comb in your pocket to maintain that smooth coif after any lunch time rendezvous.

*Slim Grey Suit

There are finer details at work here in the tailoring to achieve that streamlined 60′s look, but the basics are to look for a single breasted suit with a collar “v” that is not too deep.  The “v” should end just below your pec’s, not above or way below.  The suit should be slim lined, not boxy and not waisted. The hem of the jacket should finish just below the crotch area of the pant, not sit higher on the waist.

*Skinny Tie

Not as skinny as the ties we wore in the 80′s, but more slim lined than your modern version, and certainly not in pink or any crazy patterns.  Stick to grey, charcoal and simple striped patterns. When tying the tie, make sure the tip of the tie ends just above the belt buckle in length, and the knot is a small or a four-in-hand knot. Stay away from Windsors or Fat Boys.

*  Pocket Square

Don’s character relies on small details to flesh out his look, a pocket square and cuff links are two of his trade marks. Stick to a plain white square sitting horizontally above the breast pocket flap.  As for cuff links, gold settings are much more era appropriate than silver or pewter finishes.

*  Fedora

What is a man without a hat? He can hide his seedy eyes the next day, give you a sly wink from underneath or doff it to you in passing. The art of the Fedora is an entire blog in itself, but for Don’s look, choose a fur felt Fedora with a taller crown and more shallow brim (as illustrated). Ideally in a mid grey with a darker wide band to match the suit.

*Black Shoes

Black, shiny, and a square round toe.  Nothing too pointy or super almond shaped for day time office wear. These are the shoes a man shines himself (or has shined if he is so lucky) and acts as an advertisement for just how well he is looked after at home. Subtle, but don’t head into the office with a scuffed pair or people will think your wife has left you!

Item Details

** So now you boys have one for yourselves, keep those contest entries coming! **

For some time now I have been looking for a nameplate necklace. I’m not talking Carrie Bradshaw imitations here, but something that was embedded with my personality, fun and bright, and perfect for the double take.  Of course I found the object of my desire on Etsy, that beacon of creativity and independent trade.  After  a few emails back and forwards with the artistic lass who created my piece, we had struck on just the right thing for me.

In case you’re wondering, the irony of the Ed Hardy popularity of such designs is not lost on me. However, I refuse to boycott what I love, just because some marketing genius has ruined a perfectly good art form by making it trendy.

I’ve been a bad girl this week. I’ve allowed my long weekend to throw out my system and as a result I have been playing catch up all week with appointments, writing and dithering around with my studio. I swear my intentions are good, and even with an extra pair of hands I still haven’t managed to get on top of all the requests yet this week.  So that means that this weekend will have to be all work and no play if I intend to make big things happen next week.  This is one of the inherent problems of not having a work place to go to. There is no real division of life versus work, and contrary to all popular recommendations, if I try and achieve that it just makes things worse.  Ahh the joys of being a creative type. Still, I must stick to the plan, tick off the lists and get the world on track.

What I’ll be Doing.

• Pausing for Anzac day on Saturday. A day where we remember and recognise all those who give their lives in service to our country.
• Cataloging all my recent vintage finds, fabric stash, miscellaneous debris that has taken over three rooms in my house.
• Writing all those posts you have requested. Everything from vintage to vampires, interviews and more Mad Men specials.
• Buying new technology to rescue me from my ridiculously duplicated world of contacts, appointments and clients.
• Shopping at Ikea, because that is where all overwhelmed individuals head in their quest for an organised utopia.
• Attempting to streamline all my social networking and forum sites. Craving efficiency.

For You to Do.

Win

I love it when shops I like give things away, and this time it could be you they give them to. Be it Spring or Autumn in your neck of the woods, it is likely that you will need a funky pair of rain boots to see the season through.  Even if you have no garden, a pair of Pluey’s are so cute that you could wear them to the market, the movies or your mother’s!  If you’d like to be in the running to win a pair, Pluey’s is running a comp on their Facebook page. And YES, they will ship globally to the winner! I’m eying off the Sublime.

Read

Links à la Mode

• 39^th & Broadway: Even fashion designers can get scared of a new and forward trend.
• Agent Dreamer: An interview with Rachel Lanese of Crafttastrophe – designer of beautiful shoes and other wearable art.
• Agent Lover: Hunting for the perfect retro bathing suit, part two.
• Breakfast at Saks: A review of independent designer retailer, Moxsie and Itsola dress.
• Broke & Beautiful: Miss Elle experiences amazing handmade jewelry in a video post!
• Consume or Consumed: Review and hypothetically shopping at Net-A-Porter’s sister sale site: The Outnet
• Culturistas: Update your wardrobe for Spring using the clothes you already have!
• Dirty Laundry: How to wear Maison Martin Margiela without breaking the bank via DIY alternatives.
• Fashion Pulse Daily: Perry Ellis surprises with a fall line-up of classics that with please your Dad and your hottie 20-something boyfriend simultaneously!
• Felicia Sullivan: eco-friendly fashion on a budget: toggery by kate d’arcy.
• Haute World: An inside look to the ever famous Louis Vuitton flagship store in Paris.
• Hello Kelli: New Japanese technology creates a loose wave digital perm.
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: Starting your own blog? IFB helps find the right blog platform for you.
  
• LuciteBox: HBO’s Grey Gardens – beyond the fashionable women.
• Retro Chick: Celebrating one year blog birthday with a reader goodie bag giveaway.
• Star Fashion Addict: A roundup of the hottest handbag styles for spring.
• Style Symmetry: Inspiration Flashback – a look back at Little House on the Prairie.
• The Coveted: Basic Investing, is it better to invest in basics or statement pieces?
• The Curvy Fashionista: Interview with plus size high fashion designer, Monif C – breaking all plus size stigmas.
• The Demoiselles: The Littlest Demoiselle discusses ANTM’s Short Model Season, and “under height” models of the p
• The Sunday Best: Why Club Monaco should bring back the crewneck.

So enjoy your weekend all, and come next week I should have some photos for my super streamlined, organised work space to share. And while you are enjoying all the fun and frivolities the weekend brings, remember to pause and remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.

Saturday 25th Anzac Day. Remember.

Image by FotoRita