Today’s outfit draws on some very diverse inspirations. When I first got this red top and blue skirt ensemble from Bernie Dexter, it has obvious cues to style it up in either a military or nautical fashion. The high waist skirt, the gold button trim, the navy and blue combinations; all of these have the classic hallmarks of the cute pinup style I know and love. But when something comes with such a strong personality the challenge for me to shake it up and give it my own personal style stamp is just too much to resist.

Taking a cue from Dolce & Gabbana’s campaign featuring Madonna, as well as a good dose of 1960′s Mod style, all combined with my signature twist on cute vintage chic; I came up with this ensemble that ticked all the right boxes for me.

Outfit Details from head to toe

Sunglasses – Portmans

Silk scarf in hair -Vintage Oroton

Necklace – Crystal Dollies

Red “Venice” top – Bernie Dexter

Navy “Maria” high waisted pencil skirt with gold button trim – Bernie Dexter

Black and Gold “La Box Bag” – Estilo Emporio

Black & White cut out mod heel shoes – “Komfi” from Paragon Dept. store in Bangkok

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.* 

I’ve been waiting for the perfect day to wear this 1940′s styled, vintage inspired dress by Trashy Diva. The Sadie dress really gets it right. A light cotton blend with a strong green background and delightful floral print, all with a waterfall of tiered ruffles across one hip. Sadly, Melbourne’s weather has not been playing ball this last month, alternating between cold and hailing then hot as hell the next; neither of which you’d want to be outside in. So yesterday, when the weather man predicted a delightful day, I made plans to meet a friend for breakfast on the streets of Melbourne and knew it was time to take Sadie on an outing.

Given the strong 1940′s style of the dress, I wanted to style the look with a more modern for the day, and so I anchored the light floaty fabric with a chunky hot pink suede wedge heel. With unstructured hair and a silver sequinned bag, it was perfect for a stroll in the morning sunlight, while the breeze carried the heady scent of chocolate brioche our way.

Outfit Details

Vintage Style Sadie Dress – by Trashy Diva and available in Australia from Miskonduct Klothing

Pink wedge shoes – Tony Bianco

Silver sequinned bag – unknown label and origin (picked it up at Camberwell market)

Beaded ring – handmade market find

Floral clay and ribbon earrings – Crystal Dollies hand made accessories

Diamonte crystal bangle – Chomel

Lip colour – “Frosty Berry” by Savvy @Priceline

Nail colour – “That’s my little secret” no.215 by Misa

* 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.* 

~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.*  

~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.*   

~Daily Outfit Inspirations ~

~Marie Antoinette Does Colour Blocking~

Sometime I like to put a whole new twist on my vintage dressing. Sometimes it’s less about the clothes themselves but about the stories I create with them, and the characters that emerge. Upon receiving an delightful invitation in my inbox for an occasion of historical significance (which you’ll see next week), the wheels of inspiration began to move and a whole new plan for these pieces in my wardrobe was born.

Imagine Marie Antoinette, circa 2011, taking on the colour blocking trend and taking it to the streets. And so I dressed.

Outfit Details 

Pale pink ruffled jacket – Angel Sissi

Purple velvet bow tie – 1970′s vintage find

Yellow silk blouse – op shop

Hot pink raw silk skirt – op shop

Red suede wedges – Spendless shoes

Red patent leather bag with gold chains – label “Sexy but Cute”

Floral corsage – handmade one off

Pink pearl earrings on silver bows – Chomel

Pink and silver kitten fob brooch – “Drink Me Alice” label by Melbourne jewellery designer and blogger at Sea of Ghosts.

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