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 just found out according to Shine UK, that apparently stockings and wearing them, went out in the 1980′s. Obviously these trends vary worldwide, but it I’m told that the last time wearing ‘pantyhose’ was fashionable was when Meg Ryan was in her heyday and we all wanted to dress like Princess Di. Luckily I don’t give a damn about being in fashion then isn’t it?!

It seems that at present, everyone is all a twitter about how Princess Katherine has ‘brought back’ the wearing of stockings with her sheer clad pins, but I have to wonder… did they ever really disappear?  Perhaps it is simply the circles I move in, but I can’t say I was really aware of a significant absence.  It may also be to do with where you live, but in Melbourne, wearing hose of some description ( be they pantyhose or my personal preference- stockings) is really a matter of necessity for climate.

Some years ago, when I moved to Sydney, I was horrified by the lack of properly attired office workers out there. I’d see girls enmasse on their lunch breaks in sharply tailored black suits, faux pearls and knees that looked like tangerines. I’d no sooner have gone bare legged than have gone bra-less, and couldn’t figure out why they did.  So I started to ask around.

The general consensus was two things; firstly it was too hot and humid in Sydney to wear them (although not too hot apparently for black suits), and that the girls who did wear them, was a matter of company policy to present a more polished image.  These numbers were few and far between. Mind you, that was almost ten years ago and every time I’m there now I’m still shocked at how many office girls forgot the other half of their skirts!

Reading this latest article in Shine UK, the overwhelming sentiment seems to be that people saw wearing stockings / pantihose as “uncomfortable”, “painful”, and oppressive. To quote the article-

“First Lady Michelle Obama, though known on occasion to sport the legwear, is not a fan. “I stopped wearing pantyhose a long time ago, because it was painful and they’d always rip,”"

And I have to wonder, what are these medieval torture devices these ladies seem to have experienced? I must say I’m not a fan of pantihose myself, although I do find that compression hose certainly have their uses. But still, in all my experience the biggest complaint I have about them is that they just aren’t sexy. But painful? What are you wearing? And how can this possibly be worse than the paralysing stilettos we still continue to wear nylons or no nylons?

Forgetting the matter of what is ‘proper’ when dressing, it seems to me a total no-brainer that you would choose to wear stockings rather than to go barelegged for the most part.  The girls I know who do go barelegged, are always the ones forking out for spray on tans, ending up with streaked legs the moment it rains.  These same girls are the ones seen standing by the side of the road shivering in their ‘state of undress’ at 3am.

For me, wearing stockings not only makes sense when it comes to regulating body temperature and colour, but they are just so much more chic. Shiny or matt, there is the way they feel as they hug your legs. (Maybe because I buy the kinds without the inbuilt spikes Michelle Obama seems to have experienced.) Wearing a dress without stockings makes me feel naked.. and not in a good way.

So I’d like to know your thoughts and experiences. Have you experienced these “killer” pantyhose that so many seem adverse too? Have you always worn them or never? Do you only save stockings for special occasions or do you make every day on occasion?

Just the other week I finally cleared my calendar to go and spend the morning with the darling Cecylia in her Armadale boutique. Cecylia and I met at the Nuffnang Christmas party last year, where we spent a very long time talking over the merits of vintage; both wearing and collecting. During the usual, “and what do you blog about?” conversation, I learnt that Cecylia was a bit of a dark horse really.  Not only did she pen a beautiful style blog, but she had recently opened her very own boutique, fulfilling a childhood dream. Mind you, this was no small achievement as she is also a vet and still working at that practice as well! So it was no surprise to me when entering the boutique to be greeted by her most charming sales assistant.

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And what a beautifully edited selection of garments can be found there; in fact in can be so hard to take it all in that Cecylia has just the space to help you relax.  In a gorgeously decorated salon environment, Ms Cecylia serves tea and cupcakes to her visitors, all whilst helping you navigate the marvellous pieces on offer.  Cecylia is not a vintage boutique, but what I like to call a “Future Vintage”™ boutique. That is, they focus on showcasing new work by both local and international designers that is both of exceptional quality and design pedigree.  These are the investment pieces that bring your look to a whole new level of chic; no detail left forgotten.

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For the next few hours we played a delightful session of dress ups. Pink silk palazzo pants, mongolian cashmere sweaters, sumptuous costume jewellery; the biggest dilemma was deciding what had to come home… and to see the beautiful silk, twin horse blouse I purchased by Sara, have a look at Cecylia’s blog post, complete with even more photos! (I cannot wait to style and shoot this one!)

Cecylia has though of everything the perfect boutique should have. Not only does she serve tea and cupcakes, but they are furnished with the most expansive and luxurious changing rooms, complete with great lighting. Bliss!

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You can find out more about the lovely Cecylia boutique and the stores stunning selection of garments on their blog, and see even more of the temptations thrown my way when I went to visit. Mind you, the only thing I really wanted that wasn’t for sale was Theodore, the Casanova Chihuahua! But shhhh…. don’t tell Cecylia!

Over the last week, I’ve received an avalanche of emails all wanting to know what to wear for the Royal Wedding celebrations. It seems that there are a host of events happening to mark the occasion, from High Teas and formal garden parties, to backyard BBQ shenanigans. And while it is highly likely that you’ll know the common dress code for the later (plastic tiara anyone?), it is the much more formal events that seem to be causing the most consternation.

If one was actually attending the nuptials in person, it is likely that you’d already be familiar with some of the more subtle do’s and don’t of such an occasion.  But given that most have had little exposure to truly formal events, I’ve put together this little guide to help you in your quest for an elegant and perfectly royal appearance.

Young, chic and sophisticated; this look pulls together all the rules without coming off fusty and old fashioned. Tone on tone camel with sharp black accents and tailoring, are given a little cheek with a 20′s style cloche and high heeled brogues.

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First, the rules.  Here we’ll apply the same rules that a guest of the Royal Wedding uses as their guide.

NO sleeveless , strapless or spaghetti strapped dresses on display. If you do choose to wear almost sleeveless, the arms must be at least partially covered by a shrug, jacket or some type of bolero.  Leave the pashmina at home though, this is no ordinary suburban wedding.

NO bare legs. Stockings or tights of some description are a must for a polished appearance.  But if your shoe is a peep toe, please make sure you buy the toeless style specifically designed for such an occasion. Reinforced toes on display are just ugly.

NO above the knee dresses or skirts. The correct length for a day dress at a formal wedding is either right on the middle of the knee or just below. Ankle length is for evening only.

Many of you will be watching the Royal Wedding at cocktail hour, the perfect time to really amp up the swank factor. This ensemble keeps with rich, jewel tones and a soft feathered hat; but anchors the look with the geometric lines of the Louboutin shoes and studded leather cuff.

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HATS are a must for a formal church wedding of this magnitude. If you choose to wear a hat for your event,  choose a hat that compliments your outfit and ensure you know how to wear it. Not every hat is designed to be just plonked straight on top of the head, in fact most aren’t! It’s all about balance, both in the lines of your outfit and the embellishments. No overdoing the look unless you want to come off like the mad hatter.

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A simple, but killer two tone option for your Royal Wedding look. A little change of accessories to take you from day to night, or perhaps just for different personalities. One great feature dress paired with a vintage hat and ultra modern matching accessories, show fashion savvy and ingenuity on such a formal day.

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GLOVES may be seen as a somewhat archaic tradition, but they offer the opportunity for even more accessory shopping, hence why I never say no. Gloves should only be pure white if you are doing your First Communion or Debutant ball.  In the case of the Royal Wedding, your gloves should match your other accessories and be the correct length.  That is, no long gloves for day wear. Instead choose wrist or bracelet length gloves.  If you have a High Tea event on April 29th, these would be the perfect lady-like addition to your outfit.

COLOURS are all important when attending formal weddings. Despite what fashion editors may tell you about what is acceptable at modern weddings (Melbourne is shocking for this), black is not only an inappropriate choice, it is also a cop out. Wearing black or white to the Royal Wedding would be a major social faux pax, so think a little harder and try something else.  Instead of black, look to slate greys or deep blues. Instead of white, look for a chic nude colour or a rich camel.

A formal evening option, this ensemble is pure class. A soft, draped jersey dress in an unexpected olive hue, set off with modern pieces of antiqued gold jewellery and sculptural McQueen heel.  A faux fur shrug, red lip and rouched satin gloves make this look positively regal.

It is all about taking those time tested rules and thinking outside the square.  What may at first appear to be an old fashioned set of guidelines, actually make a wonderful blueprint to work your stylish wonders within. And no, not all of us will have a budget befitting the Royal Couples guest list, you do have one up on them – your very own SKM Royal Wedding Style Guide!

Okay, I’ll start by saying that it isn’t often that I go out and purchase a new handbag.  Although I can’t count how many handbags I actually own (I’m currently cataloguing all my collections), The majority of them are vintage.  But for a long time now I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect day bag. Simple, chic, elegant and able to fit all the basic necessities as well as my camera.  Finding a piece that fits that bill and doesn’t have to be the size of ruckasack isn’t easy.  But the other week, I was shopping in David Jones (hunting for scarves in their sale), when this beauty literally stopped me in my tracks.

La Box Bag from Estilo Emporio – yes this is pure indulgent handbag heaven.

Midnight black suede and camel leather trim, with serious gold hardware. It is just the right size to hold my SLR, phone, wallet, key and makeup. It keeps its shape and hangs perfectly in the crook of your arm.  It isn’t so unwieldy that you knock things over in store, and it balances perfectly on the bench while you find your keys.  The only thing missing from this bag to make it 100% perfect, is feet. I wish more manufacturers would include them on their bags, especially the suede ones.  So I’m having the cobbler attached some for me, just to keep it lovely and fresh on the bottom as everywhere else.

The bags come in a variety of finishes, including a chocolate alligator box bag and there is even one with leopard print sides I’m told! They are currently available as part of the Autumn Winter range, and for me these fit beautifully into the category of Future Vintage. (More on this coming up soon….)

It’s a funny feeling finding a bag that is so super, it makes you feel very clever and pleased with yourself; as if it has never been done before in history and you’re a total genius for uncovering it. (I wonder how the designers feel when they makes these?) And while that is a bit silly, it is still rather nice.