Melbourne at the moment is in that stage between summer and autumn. The place where it is hot and sticky during the days but can turn cold quite quickly. Those of us native to this fair city have long ago learnt the art of layering, preparing for all the unexpected eventualities thrown at us; which is why today’s outfit is summer dress, big hat and woollen bolero! I’m always amazed at how few people wear hats here as a matter of course. Given how high our UV rating can get, wearing hats is something people only really think about when heading to the beach or a backyard BBQ. It’s as if, come Monday morning, just because you’re at work or heading to the shops, the sun will somehow avoid you because that’s serious business. It’s certainly not for me. Large dark glasses and big hats are essential if outdoors for any time over the space of ten minutes here. Hats, daily sunscreen and water; my inexpensive secret and why I’m often mistaken for someone shall we say, “less experienced”.

This gorgeous cotton pink and purple polka dot dress is another design by my friend Bernie Dexter. It is a faux wrap with light boning at the front to help it hold the shape. I love the subtle folds at the bust line which give it “a nice undulation”, (that’s what the man at the coffee shop said!). The fabulous bolero is by local Melbourne label Miss Hussy, (who’s store is currently on hiatus) and the silver embroidered love birds seemed the perfect Valentines choice. Given that this is a wrap dress which has a certain tendency to be caught in the breeze, making sure that anything that may be on display is just as pretty is a must.  Because I like getting all match, I wore my pink and black roll on suspender girdle from Kiss Me Deadly, with a fantastic pair of Pretty Polly stockings from Sweet Pins. (I love the stretch and feel of these stockings, they are so smooth!) And because the temptation to amp things up a notch is always present with me, I added this gorgeous hot pink Chrysanthemum silk flower to the ribbon at the waist. Then it was perfect; I felt like a little polka dotted vintage doll, which can be a very good thing for the soul on a sunny day.

Outfit Details 

Hat – Unknown label

Pink and silver love bird bolero – Miss Hussy Clothing (Currently unavailable)

Pink and Purple polka dot faux sarong dress – Bernie Dexter

Rose pearl bracelet and earrings – Chomel

Framed handbag – Forever New

Pink and black roll on girdle with suspenders – Kiss Me Deadly (Sweet Pins also carries these here in Australia and have them in red too at the moment!)

Pretty Polly stockings in Sherry – Sweet Pins

Pink shoes with feature cut out -” Komfie” from Paragon department store Bangkok

Makeup note:

Base – Missha BB cream

Lips – “Rhubarb” by Savvy at Priceline

*All original images by Helen McLean for Super Kawaii Mama.com – Images may be reproduced with appropriate permissions. Feel free to add to Pinterest, Tumblr etc…* 

We knew fashion would come to it’s senses one of these days, and now that the love for vintage inspirations has really taken root we can rejoice in all the new eye candy coming our way.

Prada’s Spring 2012 Collection

Remember those amazing flame shoes from last weeks post on the best flats to wear? They are part of this incredible new collection from Prada this season.  I’ve always wanted a beautiful Prada bag and now, it looks like I can’t hold off any longer. If I miss out on one of these beauties that could have been tailor made for me I’ll kick myself!

Check out some more of the beautiful images from this collection over at the gorgeous Debutante Clothing’s blog.

Marie Claire February  2012 Issue

This gorgeous shoot for Marie Claire is called The Last Days of Summer and captures that softening sunlight of the end of a season. I adore the  looks which as somewhat of a mash up between 1930′s sportswear and 1940′s hair and makeup.

Vogue Girl Korea Winter 2011

You know when shoots give you tingles? This is that! I LOVE these shots so much. The hair, the outfits, the lux fabrics and textures, the fire works display of colour. Hell yeah Vogue Girl!

Vogue UK Feburary 2012

This image by Demarchelier has such a wonderful tone to it. The coral jacket with the coral lip all against the iconic mid century blue piped upholstery. The model’s updated curled faux-hawk is the icing on the cake making this entirely edgy retro chic.

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This is only a sample of the numerous stunning and thoroughly vintage inspired shoots out there at the moment to capture your imagination. It’s enough to make you take a match to those t-shirts and jeans hiding in the wardrobe isn’t it?! If, by the way, you’d like to learn how to put your own looks together as amazingly as these; make sure to hold some dates in your diaries for the next series of vintage styling workshops I have coming up right across the country! I’ll announce all the nitty gritty details as soon as I can, so keep an eye on this page.

It’s not exactly Kermit green, but I’m stuck between two greens at the moment. A more light mossy green and a greyer sage type green. And I just can’t make up my mind!

 Grey-er Sage like this  &           Mossier green like this.

For once this is a bigger decision than which eye shadow of the day, or even which frock on the rack I’m choosing. This time it is carpet.  Since we moved into this house some five years ago, there has been a list of aspirational renovations we’ve wanted to do that are a mile long. Some were tackled immediately, (purple ceilings anyone?), others a slower process like when I stripped all the wallpaper and went peacock blue in the bedroom.  Then my fix it up streak went on AWOL. That is until I can no longer live with the carpet I have in my most often used rooms; my studio and the family room. As much as I’d like to replace the floor in the whole house, it looks set to cost the sum of a decent car, so for now I’m applying a bit of make do and mend to the situation. Which brings me to my dilemma.

The January sales shortly come to a close and I’ve managed to secure a deal on two carpets that I like. One is a safe option, a rather modern grey green called sage and the other a thicker and rather more adventurous moss green.  Of course my instincts tell my that adventure is always my chosen path, and from everything I can see in my research on mid century homes, colour was all the rage.  So do I go bolder even though Miss Seven says it looks like frog vomit?….  This is the serious conundrum of my Wednesday. Will you weigh in and help me decide?  ;)

Here are the in depth tricks to creating Sophia Loren’s classic cats eye liquid liner look. I spent many hours studying photos of Ms. Loren and just how she achieved this look over the years. Now I’ve broken it down into simple steps for you!  I’ve started this look with my face already made up with a matt base, pink pouty lips and lightly smokey eye. There are new tutorials coming on how to achieve this basic look too, but for now we’re concentrating on the liner which is all you need to add to your current day time look for a sexy alternative.

 

Products Used

Essence – Liquid liner in black with brush tip

Flat angled brush

Maybelline ‘Falsies’ mascara in black

Dark brown shadow by Physicians Formula from the Baked Sweets Trio

Lash Grip clear lash glue

Flat Nose tweezers from Manicare

There are lots of new tutorials in editing at the moment. Hair, makeup, skin care; even cooking!  If you have any suggestions for things you’d like to see, please ask away. In the meantime, make sure to subscribe to my Super Kawaii Mama You Tube channel where all the new video content appears first!

~Daily Outfit Inspirations~

~Sophia Loren & Guess Jeans~

When it comes to high voltage casual looks, no one does it better than the classic hollywood bombshell. And nothing captures this look better for me than the iconic Sophia Loren.  When I started thinking about what I wanted to wear for today’s date to the playground with my daughter and my girlfriend, I turned to Ms Loren for a bit of inspiration – vamping up the look with some killer cats eye makeup. It was once I’d actually dressed and looked in the mirror I was drawn by the parallel between the classic Loren look and the gorgeous Guess Jeans campaigns.  This wasn’t a tricky look to achieve by any means, and was perfectly practical for a day spent in a seaside park, eating burgers and playing on the grass.

Outfit Details

Gingham western shirt with pearl snaps – Harris Scarfe

Denim stretch capri jeans – Bernie Dexter

Lucky Horseshoe necklace – Etsy

Rope soled wedges – Target (years ago)

Carved scrimshaw style bangle – Diva

Eye makeup – Inspired by Sophia Loren and a new tutorial coming soon!! (Currently in editing)

* All original images by Helen McLean for Super Kawaii Mama.com – Images may be reproduced with appropriate permissions. Feel free to add to Pinterest etc.. with linking credits.*