Before I begin, let me just say I really didn’t understand what all the fuss was about. I’d never played Angry Birds but my girls do, and like everyone else I spoken to who has; they are obsessed! Suddenly, this game that has not yet stolen away a portion of my life, is everywhere I look.  Hats, back packs, toys, t-shirts and now nail art. I’m not about to start carrying my possessions about in a large fluffy bird back pack, but these I think, may be too good to resist.

This tutorial from Cute Nails may or may not be your thing, but it is certain to make you smile.

Check out her channel for some of the most fantastic DIY nail art.

It must be the start of Spring time, the change of weather and the gorgeous sunshine; but all I want to do at the moment is skive off and go shopping.  I get this insatiable urge to hit the streets and just wander on days like this, but it always seems to happen just after I’ve paid off all the bills and don’t have much in the way of ‘walking around money’.

Picking up a new magazine is an exercise in anxiety more than inspiration these days, as they spend so much time telling you whether you’re ‘In’ or “Out’, what new jeans you need, or even if your eyeshadow is too last season. It’s enough to make you want to live in a cave. While I was out today, wandering aimlessly in a large shoe store, I saw two ladies (in their mid 50′s) wandering around with little black dresses in hand, picking up every pair of silver glitter platform shoes they could find.  One says, “Why don’t you just get those pretty black one?” to which the other replied, “They are so beautiful, but black is out so I have to get these glitter ones.” Oh man…. really?!

One of the greatest things about being a vintage style aficionado, is that whatever I love is already so far dated, that its ‘classic’. But that doesn’t stop me falling prey to that feeling of intense shopping lust that can take over when the sun is shining. But instead of just being a consumer today, I decided to channel that energy into something more creative and start planning out some DIY rescue and Make It Yourself projects.

I have a cupboard full of clothes that I can pull apart and put back together, boxes of fabric, flowers and hot glue gun. All I need now is an evening on Polyvore, a list of my favourite craft and DIY blogs like Violet Le Beaux and about two weeks to produce something really amazing. So given that today is the beginning of school holidays, I’ve decided to enlist the assistance of Miss 7 in my office here and turn our shopping bug into a great school holidays project – Be Your Own Fashion House – and let Miss 7 work with me on creating our very own, one off fashion collection to kick off spring!

So with the collage above that I’ve put together, I’m getting started on making my own version of this outfit with some taffeta plaid I have on hand, a pair of wedges dying to a DIY and some old handbags that have been relegated to the back of the wardrobe. Stay tuned to see if we can breathe new life into these outfits and find some new tutorials along the way!

With Spring just around the corner I know we’re all looking for new ways to reinvigorate ourselves for the season; and my new series of workshops aims to do just that! First up on September 4th, I have the honour of presenting a whole new twist on traditional High Tea.

From the Press Release-

“Alison Waters of The Waters Group has developed an exciting opportunity for discerning tea drinkers to join David Zhou at the Melbourne Central Oriental Tea House, and introduces Candice DeVille; Australia’s premiere vintage stylist. Candice will  present a truly memorable and authentic Yum Cha High Tea workshop. In a New World twist on an Old World tradition, Candice DeVille will guide you through the etiquette and elegance of a vintage Yum Cha Tea Ceremony with all the charm, flavours and delights of East meets West.

 Experience the time honoured traditions of the tea ceremony in this afternoon workshop, set in the fragrant ambience of the Oriental Tea House’s vintage Shanghai vibe.  With a banquet selection of Yum Cha morsels and a superior selection of teas, this exclusive offering is a feast for the senses.

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!

Winter in Australia can be really miserable what with the rain, sleet and all round bad weather; especially in Melbourne. But in June, there is one absolute lifesaver of an event that will fix every kind of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Wintersun!!  This fabulous nostalgia festival has been running for the last 24 years and is going from strength to strength.  This year for the first time, it is being held in sunny coastal town of Port Macquarie, where all of my favourite vintage festivities will come together.

Originally begun as a bit of a Show n Shine type of event, Wintersun has grown and morhphed into the biggest and most lauded nostalgia festival in the country.  Running over ten days (yes that’s 10 big ones), there is everything from cars to pin up girls, markets, vintage fashion fairs, vintage parades, the best swing and rockabilly bands from around the country, dance work shops, fashion and style workshops (that’s me amongst others), and more retro contests and activities than you can handle!

I’m telling you about this now so you can start planning your winter get away and shining your dancing shoes. In fact, let me give you an idea of a common day at Wintersun for me…

9am – breakfast on the balcony, swathed in silk and watching the shiny, souped up classic cars drive by.

10.30am – a bit of a promenade down the street with my vintageous lasses, arm in arm as we head down to the market.

10.45am – pose for photos with cars enroute and eye off the talent.

11.00am – find beautiful vintage frocks at market; squeal with excitement and make deals as to who gets what without loosing an eye.

12.30pm – lunch on the terrace at main street, checking out dapper chaps from behind our sunnies and making plans for the evening.

2pm – Vintage fashion parade – strut some stuff.

4pm – Hanging out en’masse in our apartment, doing each others hair and talking beauty tips (yep, super girly)

5pm – Cocktails and comparison of purchases. More excitement, donning of sequins and a little dancing around the living room.

7pm – Dinner with as many suitably attired people as you can muster, all descending upon a local establishment where Mojitos are on the menu.

8.30pm – Arriving at the first band venue

Until at least midnight – (or 3am for some of us)- Continue to dance until you can’t stand up, laugh, joke, chat and give those vintage frocks the time of their lives.

….. then do it all agin the next day!

So just what is in store this year? Well read on and click through to Wintersun’s VINTAGE ALLEY for information and ticket details for each event.  Be there or be Square!

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Tickets for all Wintersun events can be found here!

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And you know what… you can even apply to be the next Face of Wintersun!

So book your tickets, pack your suitcase and come hang out with me vintage style!