Image via Such Pretty Things on Tumblr here

If you’re dreading the fast approaching Valentines day as yet another commercial holiday, there are so many ways you can make it count without spending a cent. Or for those of you who say, “I don’t need a special day to show my love.” no, I’m sure you don’t, but do you really put this much thought into it everyday, and just how touched will someone be when they are on the receiving end of one of these treats? Try something extra special this year and see just how much millage a day of lovely thoughts and gestures will add to your happiness reserves.

Time

They say the only thing you can get a person with everything is more time; and that’s just what you can do. Find something that your love needs done, and make it happen for them while they have some quiet time to read, relax, take a bath or simply sleep. Walk their dog, pick up their kids from school, mow their lawn; all these things help. And remember that old adage, a problem shared is a problem halved? Offer to share the load on a job they don’t really enjoy and chat your way through it. Help them do their late Summer gardening while chatting about the merits of cocktails. Wash windows while singing show tunes… all these things will give them time, give them love, lighten their load and lighten their hearts.  What more could you ask for?

Listen

There are certain tunes we always remember. Those that made us laugh, dance, sing or just plain silly. Sharing these with people we love is something that was par for the course when I was growing up. In fact I still have the first mix tape my high school sweetheart made me, complete with Posca written dedication!

Tap into your inner high schooler and create a mix tape for the one you love.  You you could go fully low tech if you still have that kind of equipment lying around, but otherwise, try these free online services like MixTapeMe. Try back announcing your song selection every now and then with a reminder of a fun time you shared together. It will sure make for some big grins when they hear it again in years to come.

Taste

If you’re not Australian you may not know this but there was a time when the women of this country were all mentally preparing to cook Tom Cruise a Lamb Roast. Now a lamb roast may not be your thing, (and neither may Tom Cruise for that matter), but the sentiment still stands. Cooking your speciality to hand deliver or serve up to your loved one is high on the agenda of impressive Valentines Day gifts. Imagine a huge basket of freshly home baked chocolate chip cookies arriving in a decorated basket on your office desk at lunch time. Feeling loved yet?

Memories

Now that just about everyone in the world has converted to digital photography, many of us never set those memories free once we’ve pressed a button or downloaded them to our desk top.  Give your special memories life and a place to live. Print your favourite photos of you and your love, have them framed, hang them on a string like bunting to decorate the room or put them in surprise places with notes on the back. Each one of these will deliver back to you a 100 watt smile.

Of course, not all of your Valentines will be with you on the 14th of February, and this is where our digital world comes back to our rescue. Write your messages of love in unexpected places. In chalk on the pavement, across your heart, iced onto a cake… the choices are endless. Snap a series of photos using cool apps like Instagram and send them throughout the day like a steady stream of love confetti.

If you have more wonderful FREE Valentines Day Gift ideas to share, please leave them in the comments and together we’ll be making some serious happy!

How to Avoid the Post Holiday Blues.

Notebooks from Flirty Bird. Plush cactus in a pot from San-X Sabo. Sleep mask from Click for Art.

For many of us this back to work time is one of the hardest of the year. Especially if you’re currently struggling through winter as well and haven’t seen the sun in a long time. I’m one of those odd creatures that actually looks forward to this time of year, as I love the feeling of new beginnings that it brings. So I thought I’d share some of my tips for remaining upbeat and optimistic in the face of the back to work grumps.

1. Be Organised AND Cute!

Treating yourself to new co-ordinated stationery was always one of the greatest things about heading back to school, so do the same for your work. Even if you don’t work in an office, just a cute notebook and matching pen so you can write down thoughts and ideas as they come to you.
If you’re not a paper person and have made the transition to keeping everything electronically, these treats can be new phone cases, iPad/tablet cases, updated wallpapers and lock screens, even new list making apps like Wunderlist (I ADORE this!).

2. Take the time to clean.

Cleaning out your handbag, desk, car and emails is a great way to start the year without feeling the burden of the year before. Many of you will be on top of this already, but how’s that inbox looking? Don’t be afraid to liberally apply the delete button, unsubscribe from unwanted updates, check your FB settings to make sure that your privacy is protected and you’re not getting notifications all day.

Now that you’re on top of the organization front, you can at least go back to work feeling like you have a head start.

3. Beautify your space.

If you have a desk, keep it clear – but not so clear that there is not something to rest the eyes on when you need a “calm blue oceans” moment. Fifty nick nacks is not a help, but a small plant, a picture of puppies/ kittens/ unicorns/Johnny Depp, will!
If you work in a store, or somewhere else where the space is not your own, think of things you can have on you at all times that make you feel a bit more special. Try silk knickers, a new fragrance, a locket with a picture of your happy making place. For chaps, things like gorgeous tie pins, a fresh manicure and even an old fashioned hot shave will go a long way to making you feel brand new.

4. Prepare the snappy come back.

This may sound a little pessimistic, but undoubtedly there will be those who will think nothing of ruining your holiday buzz with their kill joy attitudes. Let’s try-

“ I love being back at work, the dog wasn’t quite enough of an audience for this level of awesomeness.”
“Being back at work is just great. It really makes the weekends that much more fantastic.”
“I’m so thrilled to be back at work, I was really missing those LOL cats.”
“Lucky I’m back at work this week. Now I can stalk you in real life instead of just on FB.”
Or just mess with them and tell everyone that you can’t talk to them unless they hold up this giant @ reply cut out, cause that’s the only way you’ll pay attention these days.
… but seriously..

5. Eat well.

If you were fortunate enough to take your taste buds on a tour this break, bring the flavours back with you. Went to Thailand? Learn to cook a mean green curry and bring some to work. Sip of coconut juice for that tropical flavor. Add Pawpaw to your breakfast and relax with lemon grass tea. I know a few of you should be trying your hand and Malaysian food. And if you didn’t get away, just pretend you did and give your stomach a rest from the peanut butter sandwiches for a while.

6. Sleep.

After the New Years you had you’re still going to need it! It’s hard enough to get our body back into routine, but burn the candle at both ends and you’ll be ruined before the week is out. Plan to spend the evenings of your first week back in the most relaxing way you can. Skip the alcohol in favour of non caffeinated tea. Give yourself a foot spa or a long bath, then relax for half an hour with a chilled or warmed eye mask before hitting the hay before 10pm if you can.

These are my top tips for avoiding the post holiday blues. If you have some excellent ones that work for you, please share them in the comments. Goodness knows we can all do with a hand at this time of year!

Wow! It seems that after the last post on Pantyhose, I’ve discovered that I am not a freak after all… the rest of you have just been hiding from the fashion press. Either that or these ‘researchers’ have never asked around outside of their local milkbar.  After the overwhelming response from you all, and I must say a big THANK YOU for all your input, I’ve learnt so much more about the wearing of hoisiery around the world. I can say it is clear that the trend for gossamer leg wear is certainly dependant on your city of origin and your penchant for vintage. But it also became obvious that there is a serious lack of education and information out there about those funny things we put on our legs. So here it is -

Candice DeVille’s Guide to Hosiery.

The what’s what and how to find the right ones for you.

With all the different names out there for thing you put on your legs, it’s a common mistake to think that all these terms are interchangeable. In fact, they all represent something different. The only all encompassing term is ‘Hosiery’; which includes stockings, pantyhose, tights and yes, even socks. So let’s take a look at what’s what in a nutshell then we can get down to the nitty gritty of each style.

Pantyhose –

Pantyhose did not exist before 1959, when they were invented by Glen Mills. They were designed to combined both ‘panties’ (underpants) and ‘stockings’.  But just because they were invented, didn’t mean everyone was quick on the uptake. It wasn’t until the mid 1960′s that seamless pantyhose came around. Complete with ‘control tops’ or the heavier, stretch panty section, that they eliminated the need for girdles making them very popular with the younger market. Coinciding with the rise in popularity of the mini-skirt, Pantyhose took over as the hosiery of choice for most women until this day.

Made of a combination of nylon and spandex; referring to Pantyhose as “nylons” is a misnomer, the term being reserved for stockings that are made only of woven nylon.  The spandex in Pantyhose is what gives them their incredible stretch, allowing them to form fit to the leg and stop the bagging that so often occurs with fully fashioned nylons.

To give you a simple and clear definition of the difference between pantyhose and tights; pantyhose mostly have a denier up to 15, whilst tights have a higher denier.  To discover the technicalities of what “Denier” is, have a look at this definition. ( You may not care, in which case just read the number on the pack) But basically, it is the thickness of each thread used. And just as a matter of interest, the average human hair is 50 denier weight!

But you’ve asked, “why do my pantyhose fall down or sag at my ankles?”, “Why do they cut in at the waist?” And the answer to this is all in the sizing.  After reading so many of the responses to my investigation, I’ve discovered that available qualities and sizes of pantyhose differ between countries. Some of you even told me that until recently in the UK, Pantyhose only came in a One Size Fits All! So fret no more, here is how you get the right fit for your pantyhose.

Every pack of pantyhose should have a size guide on the reverse. They look something like this.

Depending on the brand and the country of origin, sizing could be letters, numbers or even names. Just like fashion labels, sizing has no real consistency, so you should ALWAYS check yourself against the information provided.

Basically, sizing goes by weight and height. You need to read the charts the same way you do with map references. Finding your correct weight and height, then finding the point where those rows intersect and what size that indicates.  Being a ‘tall’ in one brand, doesn’t necessarily mean you are considered a tall person.  For me, I wear ‘talls’ in most brands, but I am only 5 foot 4 inches in height. So don’t guess – measure.

Keep in mind that the sizing in pantyhose hasn’t really kept up with fashion, so someone who may be a tall or x-tall could still easily be an Australian sized 8-10. (Us 4-6) Confused yet?  What this means is that there is a whole new market for ‘plus-sized’ pantyhose, which most of the well known brands are now catering for.

In Australia, brands that carry plus sized  and maternity pantyhose include Ambra, Kolotex and Platinum amongst others. In fact, the big department stores now have entire sections devoted to plus sized pantyhose.  If you’re searching online though, the trick is all about having the right keywords in your searches.  Depending on your size there are three main terms used; Plus Sized, Queen Sized and Oversized.

It is clear to me by the sheer volume and range of pantyhose available on Australia shelves, that they certainly haven’t gone out of style here. In fact, the rise of stockings on our shelves tends to indicate that our interest is both growing and divergent.

History lessons aside, Pantyhose have never had the glamour or the sex appeal of a simple pair of stockings, so stay tuned next week for Part Two of this educational exploration, when we tackle ‘Stockings’.

I’m exceedingly excited about this upcoming weekend,because for the first time, the Love Vintage Fair is coming to Melbourne!

You’ve seen a few of my eye candy posts of the Sydney Fairs, but this will be the first time I can bring you the inside scoop from Melbourne.  Over three days you’ll be able to come and enjoy the offerings of over 60 dealers from all over Australia. Clothing, textiles, jewellery and all kinds of ephemera make up just some of the treasures on offer. But that’s not all!

There’s great prizes for the Best Dressed in Vintage; (- 1st Place will win a Classic Pinup Shoot valued at $600 sponsored by the talented Helen McLean Photography) Swing Dancing demos, and of course the most marvelous vintage fashion parade put together by Circa Vintage and yes I’ll be up there too wearing some incredibly beautful pieces.  The ladies from The Lindy Charm School for Girls will also be doing vintage hair & makeup demonstrations.

I’ve been flat out these last few weeks working on a secret project for the fair and can’t wait to show you the results. You’ll find me right next to Circa Vintage and the main stage, so please do come over and say hello! I have some complimentary tickets to give away too, so just leave me a comment on this post and I’ll draw the winners at random tomorrow evening so you can get your passes for the show.

All the details

Friday 27th May  5.30pm – 9.00pm      Saturday 28th May   9.30am – 5.30pm

Sunday 29th May   10am – 4.00pm

Exhibition Hall, Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, AscotVale

Tickets at the door – Adult $14, Pensioner $10, Child $5

More information on the Love Vintage Website.

This is the perfect opportunity to bring your mum, bring your nana or even bring your kids along for an education.  In fact, I’d love to see some children dressed up for the Best Dressed in Vintage this time, so break out the bloomers and let the little darlings loose!

Can’t wait to see you at the fair!

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Next to ” How do you wear red lipstick?” the second most question I’m asked by readers is, “How do you get those amazing eyebrows?” And the answer is, “At the hands of a highly skilled professional!”

Brow maintenance is a highly underrated factor in created a perfectly polished look. But a DIY job is likely to be a DIYD job (that’s Do It Yourself Disaster).  There are two things that ever woman (and a lot more men) should have at their disposal – An eyebrow guru and the perfect eyebrow pencil.

As someone who is naturally blessed with eyebrows of Brooke Sheilds follicular proportions, I learnt very early on that keeping them under control would make a break or girl come high school. But it took me some time to find just the right person in which to place my trust for this highly skilled operation.

First, my disaster story. And like all good disasters, this takes place on the eve of my wedding.

As a well organised bride with 24 hours up my sleeve before my Vegas wedding, I made the mistake of visiting a local beauty parlour for a bit of a touch up.  I didn’t think that my brows were particularly out of control, but I did want them to be perfect for the next day.

(Aside – I should add here – NEVER have your brows done less than 48 hours before a big event as you’ll sometimes experience redness, swelling or a reaction to waxes that you’d hate to happen just then).

Right, so I showed the technician a photo of how I usually styled them and let myself relax on the table.  About ten minutes later she smiles and chirps at me, “All done. Wanna take a look?” Having no inkling of the horror that awaited me  I took the mirror from her hand and looked up…and it was a moment right from a Hammer film. I had no eyebrows!!

Okay, so maybe not exactly none, but what I didn’t know was that the trend in Vegas was to shave them off to little more than stubble then pencil them back in again. Oh dear god. I immediately broke out in a cold sweat, grabbed my bag and headed for the nearest department store to try and track down my saviour in pencil form.

Still to this day I hate the close up photos from my wedding because I just don’t look like me.  And let that be a lesson; before trying out someone new to wax your brows, first test out their rudimentary skills as a bikini waxer, then ask to see their book of before and after shots. Brow shaping is an art and a science, and more importantly, it is one that EVERYONE will see.

To find the right eyebrow technician, choose someone who has been in the game for a long time. Someone who takes the time to analyse your face shape, as well as your life style (do you generally wear much makeup?), what style you’d like to replicate, (high glam, free spirited, silent film star…) and is able to translate all that information into the correct solution for you.

Just like hairstyling, I also suggest taking along pictures of brow shapes you love so that nothing is lost in translation, but keep in mind that what will work on you will be a version of your ideal.

I personally recommend brow tinting for everyone, not just light blondes; but do remember that tints come in many different shades so if you only see blue black on the technicians swatches, maybe give it a miss!

I don’t recommend getting your brows tattooed, because just like hemlines, the fashion for brow shapes change. And not only that, as your face changes with age, your brow shape can be an instant facelift and you don’t want to rob yourself of that option.

So in the spirit of sharing and caring, I took along my camera yesterday when I went to visit with my own personal Eyebrow Queen, Eileen Harper. Elieen has been looking after me for at least ten years now, and with more years in the beauty industry than I’m sure she’d care to mention, I have the utmost trust and faith in her work.

After a few months of travelling around, I hadn’t been for a touch up in a while. Here’s how things looked before hand..

Okay, they’re not so dreadful that they’ll jump off the page and smoother you, but the could certainly do with some attention and cleaning up.

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It all looks rather surgical, but that just goes to show what a precise operation it is..

No, this isn’t me screaming in pain, but in fact laughing hysterically at how ridiculous it is to be taking one handed photos of yourself while having your brows waxed. It was very hard to hold still and serious during the ‘operation’ while we shot these.

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And that’s one side done.

You can see how this is a far more involved and multi stepped process that just lining yourself up in the mirror, tweezers in hand.  After both my brows have been shaped, I then have them tinted with some dark brown or blue/black tint.  This is especially handy if you don’t want to pencil them in for drama each day, or if your heading off on a swimming holiday. And that’s the salon part done.

For those of you in Melbourne, you can find my own personal Eyebrow Queen at Eileen Harper Beauty Therapy in Canterbury on (03)9836 2294.

The next day, after any redness has subsided, they are ready for the final touch.  I almost always pencil my brows for a crisp dramatic frame.  Rather than using an actual brow pencil though, I use the Dior Powder Eyebrow pencil in sable.  In is much easier to apply than a hard pencil, easier to blend and build to the desired intensity. Using the brush on the end of the pencil, I groom them into shape, then with fine, short feathery strokes, I finish of the shape I want for the day.

And that’s it.  Brow perfection!