2011 has been one of the biggest and most demanding years of my life to date. There have been a lot of highs and indeed, lows as well.

• The year started off with a fabulous trip to Thailand and Singapore. Kicking back, enjoying numerous Happy Hours, visiting the zoo and loads of shopping.

With Dweam shopping in Singapore, and with my two ‘little rabbits’ at the Singapore zoo.

• Miss 6 started school and became Miss 7 during the year!
• The opportunity to talk about my favourite subjects (shopping and vintage), on a number of national radio stations and even featuring on primetime T.V.
• Presenting some wonderful vintage shows for the National Trust and Heritage Houses Trust around Australia.

With Bonnie Rose at Wintersun & with a reader Tina at the Love Vintage Fair.

• Travelling all over the country to many of our wonderful nostalgia festivals.
• Conducting wonderful vintage glamour workshops and meeting so many delightful people.
• Learning to dance (properly)!

Dancing with Mr. SKM (awesome pic by Helen McLean) and my stand in favourite man, DJ Ray.

• Creating so many amazing vintage bridal looks with loads of stunning and inspirational ladies.
• Launching my new venture Some Fancy Ladies with my girlfriends!!
• And last, but by no means least – Writing for you!  This is by far the biggest privilege; to be invited into your lives to read about all my ramblings and goings on.  Sometimes blogging (and keeping up with the schedule) can be incredibly difficult.  Honestly, I’ve found this year a real struggle to stay on top of things and there are pages and pages of things I’ve wanted to write, film and chat about, but simply haven’t been able to find the time.  Sometimes, when you’re trying to keep everyone happy it can be hard to keep your mojo. BUT… I’m happy to report I found my mojo under the cushion on the couch!!

And so, I’ve been working away this holiday break planning all kinds of goodies and fun for you here. I’ve been shooting, editing, writing, musing, eating, laughing and generally doing all the things that make a happy blogger. So I thank you all for being a constant source of inspiration, friendship, laughter, and a good old fashioned chat.

My wishes for you in 2012 are these….

Clarity, Hope, Dreams, Joy, Strength, Passion and Kindness.

Thank you for being a part of the journey.

Much love, Candice xoxo

Just prior to Christmas, I spent a little time exploring some stores in Melbourne I hadn’t yet had the pleasure of playing in. I was particularly eager to visit a small optical store in Fiztroy with an exceptional collection of vintage glasses; Che Eyewear. Now I don’t wear reading glasses (although I have them, I haven’t worn them in ages) I do have an addiction to buying cute sunglasses.

Given that so many of my favourite cats eye and bejewelled vintage glasses are now being reproduced at alarming price tags; I wanted to find out what was available in the way of deadstock originals. So I spent some time with the wonderful owner of Che, Rose.

Rose and her family own the business and aren’t just your usual optometrists, but serious vintage collectors. Tired of the same old, sub par experiences on offer; Che have created a beautiful boutique experience where choosing the perfect pair of glasses becomes and adventure in style and in time. Inspired by her Great Aunt’s love of a killer frame in the 1940′s, Rose uses images of this lovely lady and her delightful specs all around the business.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking….

Rose was simply lovely, both helpful and knowledgable. In fact she is one of those people you feel you already know, such was our shared enthusiasm for old world designs and quality. All of the stock is new-old stock, which means the frames are in tip top condition for their age and can be fitted with almost any prescription. The price range was incredibly reasonable, and certainly far more kind than many of the (far less impressive) reproductions I’ve seen.

If you wear glasses, including sunglasses; this is one place to add to your Places to Visit list. After all, you can visit Che Eyewear for eye examinations too – a great way to get your eye check bulk billed while in the most pretty of vintage stores!

I haven’t been brave enough to count how many shoes now live in my wardrobe.  I know that there are quite a number that should really never been worn outside of a photo studio for fear of permanent injury… yet I do.  After weeks and weeks on my feet and suffering from the most hideous swollen legs and crippling foot pain, I called an end to stupidity. Could I find cute and comfortable shoes?

Given that I think my podiatrist and osteopath have me down as their future retirement plan, I know I can’t give up my fancy heels; besides which it is too damaging to my psyche. But finding heels of a manageable height with good width, comfortable foot bed and retro looks as well as something I can dance in? The hunt was on.

The problem with so many of the cheap and cheerful shoes out at the moment is that they are just cheap really. There is nothing cheerful about how much pain you are in after an hour or two. When you consider that many of my events mean standing for a 10-12 hour day, then spending another 5 hours on the dance floor, you can imagine how medieval most shoes feel at the end of that!  While I haven’t yet put these through the ultimate test of one of those events, I have worn them for a 5 hour straight session of standing up on ‘stage’ presenting. And they didn’t kill me!

Shoes – Wittner - “Mood” in black or red suede. (Damn you internet shopping, I found another three gorgeous ones on the site while just looking for this link!)

Price – $159.95

Available – Instore and online

Features – Ankle strap (a must have for dancing), sturdy square design heel, cushioned foot bed, black suede with self bow.

Comfort Factor – Very good! I bought these with the express purpose of not being crippled after a 10 hour stun of standing at events. So far, they aren’t as good as flats of course, but right up there with the more comfortable end of heel wearing.

If there is something you’ve been dying to find to fix your vintage wardrobe, but just haven’t found; add your request and let’s see if we can find you your own Vintage Style Find o’ the Month.

~Daily Outfit Inspirations~

~What’s Behind The Red Door?~

Today’s outfit inspiration comes from a few places. That I had had a long weekend of work and my Monday was starting early, meant I wanted my outfit to be a simple, casually elegant solution. I have also just had my hair cut to it’s shortest in a very long time, and wanted something simple that didn’t spoil the clean fresh lines of the new hair feeling. But simple elegance without a little punch is just not my style; and so it is with a daring slash of red on an erstwhile grey scale ensemble, that I went about my day.

Outfit Details

Grey scale plaid wide leg 1940′s styled pant – Retrospec’d

Cream blouse 1970′s vintage – op shop find

Pussy bow – borrowed from it’s own matching blouse, another recycled find

Black suede peep toe shoes – Target many seasons ago

Amazing red bag – “Sexy but Cute” label from Paragon dept. store

Silver glitter foil 1950′s cats eye sunglasses – by ‘ Savage’ from Miskonduct Klothing

Lips – “Rhubarb” Savvy lipstick from Priceline

* All images by Helen McLean for Super Kawaii Mama.com – Images may be reproduced with appropriate permissions.*