Attempting to look composed whilst reading this hysterical piece in public.

You know I’m not really one for writing about parenting on this blog, after all, I think some of my techniques may be a bit suspect. However, today is an exception because this is something you should all know about whether you have kids of your own or not. We all know someone with children or someone who wants to have them, and giving them a copy of this book may be the best thing you ever do for them.  In fact, it is so good that you may find yourself written into their Will / given a holiday home/ keys to the city.

Dr. Madeline Hamilton became a friend of mine after writing her book Our Girls about Australian Pinups in WW2, so it was with surprise that I first began to read her blog about being a Mother; Sh*t On My Hands. Now Madeline and her co-author Bunny have combined their observations and experiences to bring you this gem of a book. When I first opened this up and began to read, it was like that moment in indian Jones when they open the Arc of the Covenant. All gobsmacked revelation, awe and joy / horror shared.  This is the book that I wish I had been given before I had kids, the book you should give others planning to take the plunge.

In fact, you can read one of my own tales of sh*tful woe here on Madeline’s blog.

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It revels in the joy of parenthood, but pulls no punches when it comes to giving you the frustrating, maddening, hysterical truth of it all.  If you think that having kids will be all about how to decorate the nursery, what type of eco friendly brand nappies you need and which school of parenting your style will spring from – You.Need.This.Book!

Handbag sized, this is perfect for taking anyway and reading on the go. The stories will have you laughing until the tears run down your legs, so I warn you to be prepared. To top all that off, the book is beautifully presented with a gorgeous array of vintage baby advertisements that make the dreamy romance of the situation all too clear in juxtaposition to the reality.

You can get your copy of Sh*t On My Hands from Arcade Publications as either a hard copy of ebook, and from good book sellers all over the country. I think I’m going to order a box of these in bulk and send them to every new mum, expectant parent and clucky friend. You’ll thank me later.

On the very first page of the very first chapter, I realised one major thing about author Kelly Doust and myself. Not only are we of the same ‘vintage’, but we suffer from the same addiction. Clothes.

Dressing is not simply the act of keeping one’s self from being naked, or a pursuit of the fashionable; but an all consuming, full sensory experience that never seems to be satiated. Clothes for us are another language, a vocabulary without which we would only be a shadow of our true selves.

“A Life in Frocks” is Kelly’s account of growing up keenly aware of the power of clothes and their ability to transform both physically and spiritually. As she begins to describe her first childhood pair of knickerbockers, I knew I’d found a kindred spirit having clear memories of my own pair. Navy blue velvet with little golden buttons, I wore them whilst playing cubby house in the country with my cousins, chasing them around with sticks and ordering them back to the coal mine in Dickensian fashion.

With all the colour and angst that being a teen in the 80′s and 90′s brings, Kelly relates her metamorphosis from child to teen. Each occasion costumed in the uniform of the moment, wearing rebellion, dreams and passion on her sleeve. My own memories are constructed in the same way. I remember my 7th birthday, not for the day itself, but for what I wore. The dress lovingly made by my mother with it’s little pink seashell belt, forever etched into my memory and the first key to unlocking the techni-coloured reel of images in my head. And this is the beauty of “A Life in Frocks”. it isn’t simply a book about fashion, but more a remembrance, a way of connecting with you and helping you weave the threads of your own fashion memory and the joy it holds.

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Beautifully illustrated by Zoe Sadokierski, it allows you to take the impression of the garments and fill in the blanks with your own unique memories. While Kelly and I have both developed our own unique styles, what is thrilling is to read the path that someone else has taken on their journey to style realisation.  To read where our paths converge and how we interpreted each developmental moment through fashion.

It is hard not to be a little greedy when reading this book, as you want to devour it in one sitting; much like a luxurious afternoon tea with a girlfriend.  But in taking each chapter a bite at a time, allowing it to seep in and work its magic on your own story, it becomes the beginning of a banquet.

“A Life In Frocks” is published by Murdoch Books and available now at all good bookstores.

Do you ever have those dreams, those perfect dreams where you find yourself in a charity shop full of vintage couture that is all for sale for $1? Well I do. But for one woman, this dream pales in comparison to her reality.  Meet Charlotte Smith, custodian of the Darnell Collection and author of the new book Dreaming of Dior.  Charlotte inherited a collection of over 3000 pieces of vintage couture from her godmother a number of years ago. Not only was this a treasure trove of fashion, but of history, of women and of life. During her lifetime of collecting, Charlotte’s godmother Doris had painstakingly cataloged the stories of each garment as told to her by the original owners and their families.  Dreaming of Dior shares that story with you, inspiring you to create your own suitably attired narrative.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Charlotte and seeing pieces from the collection of various occasions; it is truly heart stopping. So before you sit down to savour this delicious gem (not greedily devour it as I did in my eagerness – I’m a notorious speed reader), take a little time to relax and enjoy a moment of fantasy as I talked with Charlotte about her dreams of Dior.

This is the very first Super Kawaii Mama Podcast – so feel free to listen, download and take it to enjoy on your weekend road trip.  Just click the link to listen.

Interview with Charlotte Smith Author of Dreaming of Dior for Super Kawaii Mama