Dress 52

Sick

Dress 51

Dress 50

Vote Now!

Dress 49

Dress 48

Dress 47

Dress 46 :

Coming soon

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Dress 45 : One Day that will fit

Dress 44 :

Dress 43 :

Dress 42: Black Dhalia

Dress 41: Back to Front

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Dress 40 :

Coming soon!!

Dress 39 : Under the Sea

People always say you are either a cruise person or you are not.  A few years ago I decided to find out which one I was!  Joy had decided to head on a cruise to celebrate her birthday so Zoe, Fran, Joy and I headed on down to New Orleans to take a cruise out to Mexico.  Cruises in the US are really cheap, I think we paid about 299 for a four night cruise – the airfare down to New Orleans was more expensive than the cruise!

The ship was massive!  My boats to date probably had only been small dingeys, rafts and canoes so the Carnival Cruise ship was definitely the most impressive ship I had ever been on!  We had a small cabin to share with bunks.  On arrival we made a make shift bar in the central are aand a make shift nail bar in the bathroom – after patting the towel made dog on the bed we were set!

We explored the ships different levels and after finding the buffet, 24 hour pizza bar, spas, three night clubs and bars I think I realised being on a cruise wouldn’t be so bad.  Food and drinks whenever you wanted and dancing what more could I want? .. well who would have thought but turning the corner into the gaming room there it was : karaoke!  It turned out there was a karaoke night every night and one during the day.  I was in heaven, food, music, dancing, singing, sunsets and my friends .. plus the adventure of waking up at a new location every day and not having to do anything .. why hadn’t I cruised before!

After singing karaoke the first time the girl running it told me I should enter the guest talent show!  The talent show is on the second last night of the cruise and guests are invited to sing with a live band in a theatre on board that can seat oh around 2000 people!  After a fun day trecking around Chichen Nitza Mexico I was to go and audition.  The entertainment manager handed me a book and it was a list of songs the band could play – the band!  It wasn’t even a backing track eeeekk and no words either!  I had a quick crash course run through for 5 minutes with the band of half of the song and that was it!  Even though the song I had chosen the band didn't have the last page of the music they told me they could wing it - but could I?  I had made it through though ..   I was to sing in the talent show that night!

I was so nervous as it was the biggest amount of people I had ever sung in front of, but stepping on the stage a mass of darkness in front of me the band started playing and it was the buggest rush ever!  I had so much fun in that four minutes I really didn’t want to leave the stage!  The hardest part was balancing on high heels on the stage while the boat rocked as it passed through the Meixcan gulf.  Later that night Fran won the air guitar competition and the boat trophies I had received and she did were proudly displayed back in the cabin.

The other good part about being in the talent show was they filmed it and played it on the internal TV screen through the ship.  Over the next few days I was stopped by random strangers telling me they had either seen me at the show or on TV .. it was like being an overnight star with celebrity status that lasted only two days!

This dress I bought from one of our stops in Mexico.  It reminds me of one fun trip with good friends and the time I got my 5 mins of fame.  I have included my video from singing on the ship .. it also gives a sneak peak of a dress to come!

Dress 37: Under the Sea

Bought: I wrote two years on the other Mexico Dress but I think it was actually three years now!
Price Range: 10.00
From: Mexico
What I like about this dress : It reminds me of good times
Tag Info: Made in Indonesia, Cabali, 100% Rayon
Photo Credit: SACondon

Dress 38 : Sleep Under a Palm Tree

It was hard to leave my friends in New York.  I was excited to come home to my old friends but it was tough leaving everyone behind.  Especially since I was moving to the other side of the world.  I worried would I return to visit or would they come and see me?

I have actually been pretty surprised at how often I had seen everyone back there.  Whether its meeting someone in transit at the airport at 5am in the morning or choosing counties to meet in between my friends back in New York and I have managed to keep in touch.  Regular Skype dates and Facebook make this much easier too.  I have also been back to visit twice which has also been good to just keep in touch with New York City, someone once said once the city has a hold of you it is a part of you forever - I couldn't agree more.  New York is like another friend.

This dress reminds me of a time when two of my close Aussie girlfriends Joy and Fran were both back from New York visiting at the same time.  Bec and I met up with them and the four New York girls were together again. We had a great night out in Melbourne together – the first time all of us Aussie girls had been out in Australia together.  We then headed down to Anglesea to stay a few nights with Bec’s family and I wore this dress down there.  It was funny because it was the middle of January and it rained the whole time we were there. We managed one break in the clouds to get a walk on the beach, but really the rain didn’t matter it was one weekend when we could all be together again!

Now Joy is home but in another State we do get to have these catch ups more often with her.  But the past year or so has taught me I needn’t worry, we all turn up at each other’s door stops at some part of the world at one time or another and we are all just a Facebook away from each other.

I did iron this dress but wearing it all day it has creased!

Dress 37: Sleep Under a Palm Tree
Bought: A year and a bit ago
Price Range: 10.00
From: Tightrope in Fountain Gate
What I like about this dress : It’s very comfortable and I love the print and pockets.
Tag Info: Made in China, Tightrope, 100% 65% Cotton 35% Polyester
Photo Credit: JCorbett

Dress 37 : Gone with the Wind

I must say I lost a little motivation during a busy week last week.  So I do apologise for taking some days to update my blog! 

I did manage to photograph each dress this week.  This dress however was quite challenging to photograph outside!  It has a full circle for the skirt part and in the wind this was flying all over the place as I was photographing myself - I can't imagine what the neighbours must have thought was going on!

I think I have only ever worn this dress once!  I got lots of compliments at work but I did need to wear it with a T-Shirt and jacket at work.  For my last week showing off summer dresses the weather has not been my friend, it was one of the coldest weeks! 

Dress 37 : Gone with the Wind
Bought : 5 years ago
Price Range : Can't remember :(
From : H&M, New York
What I like about this dress : I love the pockets it has and I really like the old classic style of the dress
Tag Info : Made in India, Divided by H&M,
Photo : S.Condon

Dress 36 : To Fringe or Not to Fringe

When your little you don’t have much control over your hair.  My mum would always make me get a fringe (or bangs).  I finally became old enough to grow it out and vowed I would never ever get a fringe again.  As the years rolled on somehow fringes made a comeback in a massive way everywhere you turned girls had them!

I resisted for a very very long time until one day I gave in. My cousin is a fabulous hair dresser and has been trusted with my hair ever since I moved home.  One day after much talk she decided for me.  I said hmm what do you think? .. hmm maybe next time? .. but then she said why wait let’s do it now! A chop and snip later and much tethering and feathering and things I have no idea of I had a fringe that I hadn’t had since I was 10 years old.

When I finally opened my eyes and looked in the mirror I was in LOVE!  It was amazing and from the remarks I got from other people they thought so too.  I think though it was just my cousins amazing hair ability and really nothing to do with me.  I kept it through last year until I went travelling!!  Those who have had a fringe will know the upkeep you need to make it stay straight down and then the ongoing battles with your new worst enemy the wind make you question every day .. why did I get a fringe?!?!  It takes a good hair dry and brush which sometimes are things you don’t have when visiting the other side of the worlS.  I am constantly reminded of that fact when I look at some of my recent travel pictures.

So I have grown the fringe out once more … but I am thinking I may want a fringe again!  The day my cousin cut the fringe back I was wearing this dress which is the first picture I’m sharing today... I don’t know what do you think to fringe or not to fringe? ... that is my current question!

I have also included a cute picture I saw on Emma’s Facebook today .. it is very true .. a dress doesn’t make the woman .. the dress compliments something already fabulous!!

Yours in Dresses

Skye

Dress 36: To Fringe or Not to Fringe
Bought: 1 year ago
Price Range: 19.00
From: Store in Perth WA CBD
What I like about this dress : I really like the contrast of colours against the black and the fact it is such a comfortable dress.
Tag Info: Made in China, Chicabooti, 100% Rayon
Photo Credit: EJackman / SCondon

Vote Now!!!

Well we come again to the end of another week.  I hope you enjoyed bird dress week!  Its time to decide is there any dress you think should fly away?? Next week its the last week of summer .. we are going enjoy it by wearing the last of my summer dresses... lets hope the weather stays hot for one more week!!!

Dress 35 : Copy Cat

I remember when I moved to New York I took a little bag I would use to go out in with me that I had received as a present, I think from a Secret Santa. The first night I used to it go out in an American friend smiled at me and said ‘Looks like someone has discovered China town already’. This comment of course went straight over my head I had no idea what she was referring to!

After a few months of acquainting myself with the city I finally made it to China Town. The comment that girl had said became a realisation in front of my eyes. China Town was full of huge knock offs and fake everything’s. I’m not into designed but it turned out my little purse given to me in Australia was a fake Coach. This knock off stations didn’t just appear in China town but mean would walk around with sheets holding bags and lay them out on New York Street sidewalks whenever they saw an opportunity.

Later that year I did also head to Bali for a vacation and the same things appeared. Fake Gucci and Coach bags were shoved in your face and overflowed in little stores. I did buy a few things but then I had an attack of the guilt’s. I know designers overcharge ridiculous amounts for their clothes and bags but I knew deep own it was wrong and besides I wasn’t into those high end brands so why did I want to walk around with a fake one anyway.

Years and years have gone by and I haven’t bought a fake anything, until this dress!! Moving back home I started perusing the Myer Miss Shop and the sale rack with my Aunty. A designer (I won’t name because I can’t be sure I’ll name the right designer) had this new collection and gorgeous hummingbird print. I first saw Hummingbirds in California when Kirsty and I had visited the Getty museum in 2002. The museum overlooking the smouldering LA skyline has an outdoor area where these cute little birds flitted in and out of the potted green plants. I adored the dress but at over $200 it was well out of my price range.

Shopping a few weeks later at my new DeJaniero store in Melbourne I spotted this dress. It is a knock off of the dress I had seen in Myer that day .. but at ¾ of the price!. I really like the way the back floats when I walk and for a moment I feel like a catwalk model. I don’t endorse copy cat things or the black trade that goes on with them, but do designers have the right to price things so high that their wears are exclusively for the well off – or should fashion be for everyone?

Either way I love this dress and the way it makes me feel when I’m wearing it, I do apologise to the designer for wearing a knock off but maybe they could design something I can actually afford to buy because obviously I do like their style!

Day 35 : Copy Cat
Bought: A year and a ago
Price Range: 40.00
From: The new DeJaniero in Melbourne CBD
What I like about this dress : I really like the floating feeling the back of the dress gives me when I walk and the pattern of the material
Tag Info: Made in China, Angel, Biba, 35% Cotton 65% Polyester
Photo Credit: HJackson

Dress 34: New Beginnings

There may be a leadership challenge in the wings here in Australian politics but the only wings I’m interested in are the ones on my dress!!  Although thinking about the job of the Prime Minister it’s really not something I would want : mass responsibility, lack of sleep, having to be nice to people you really don’t like in public, always being picked on for everything you do .... I’d rather the job I have now… but come to think of it ..maybe those things I’ve listed happen in any job!? Lol   

The first day I wore this dress was a very special day indeed.  It was the day I started the current job I am in.  Looking back over the years I am very proud of the jobs I have had and even sometimes wonder how I got the jobs in the first place!  Not that I don’t have faith in my own abilities but sometimes I just think WOW I really did that!

I have certainly come a long way from the days of my first job: working in a fish and chip shop.  The lady there was Greek and one of the meanest people I have ever met.  She would yell at me all the time while gesturing wildly with a smelly fish in my face.  I only lasted there a few months thank goodness, but it scared me off working again until I was 18!

In between then and now I have had many exciting, different and wonderful jobs.  But most of those are stories for another day.  Last week on Valentine’s Day I celebrated one year with being at my current employer.  I feel happy that this dress can remind me of starting a job I really love.  When I moved home I decided I wanted to work in an industry that I had always wanted to: media.  I ran my own little magazine for a year or two while I was in America but after getting my degree in journalism that as was far as I had delved into the world of media.

My role isn’t fully involved in the journalism side of things… but sometimes it can be more fun to watch on the sidelines and actually know what you’re watching!!  Who knows what may lay ahead in my future job crystal ball, I may become a cupcake maker, professional dress wearer or world traveller (hmm that would require money) but so far I’m happy where my professional career has taken me – around the world and back again to a wonderful place.

Day 34 : New Beginnings
Bought: Just over a year ago
Price Range: $29.00
From: Claude D’Alba, Royal Arcade Melbourne CBD
What I like about it: I LOVE the old fashioned style of dress, the silk material and the colour and the pattern!
Tag Info: Claude D’Alba (couldn’t find any other tag info L)
Photo Credit: NCullen

Dress 33: Wesley the Owl

My dress today is a real hoot (yes pun intended!).  Over the past few years owls have become very popular!  From clothing to jewellery and statutes you can see owls everywhere at the moment.  I didn't really think I was an owl person until this phenomenon started.  The dress I am wearing today was given to me by Kirsty as a Christmas present a few Christmasses ago.  That same Christmas Nadia gave me some owl earings.

There is no particular story that this dress really brings to mind but it is a dress I love.  The straps you can actually chance to make to halter, spaghetti or none at all.  Its a fun print and I always get comments when I wear it.

The only story I thought I'd share today is about a book I read many years ago called Wesley the owl by Stacey O'Brien.  It is a very cute book, so if you are looking for something to read I would recommened it.  owls are very facinating creatures and I loved reading this book.   I even skipped karaoke on the night I got it to stay home and read in New York. Basically the story was about a girl who was something like an animal vet or something (can't remember!) and was given an owl chick to look after... however she never gave him back.  While most people would settle for a dog or cat as a pet she had a wild owl!

The stories of Wesley will make you laugh and cry.  I didn't know but owls are very sensative creatures.  Apparantely an owl is with their mate for life and if the other owl dies before them they will turn towards the tree and just wait to die themselves.  owls also feel complicated emotions like shame.  One of the funniest parts of the wook is where Wesley is learning to fly.  When she would try to comfort him when he crashed he would turn away from her and he wouldn't let her near him as if he were ashamed.

I don't think I would have an owl myself, Im not fond of feeding live mice to a creature that could probably bite my hand off .. but I am quite happy to wear cute owl print dresses and on various accessories. 

Yours in dresses and cute books

Skye

Day 33: Wesley the Owl
Given 1 year and a bit ago
Price Range: ????
From: Kirsty
What I like about it: I LOVE the OWLS!!
Tag Info:  It doesn’t list where it is made L , Traffic People, 100% Polyester
Photo Credit: HJackson

http://www.wesleytheowl.com/

Dress 33 : Breakfast at Tiffanys

It is true that I do have an addiction to dresses, but then I look around and see other people have similar daily addictions: coffee, chocolate, red bull or that end of the day glass of wine. In my family I share a similar addiction with my Aunty. Her addiction is a little different though, she is addicted to jewellery!

When out shopping with my Aunty you cannot escape without a quick look at at least 5 different jewellery stores. She is on a first name basis with every local jewellery store at her local shopping centre and can look at a diamond for a split second and tell you its carets. Buying jewellery to her is what buying dresses is to me - something that makes you happy and you can show off to all your friends.

When I lived in New York my Aunty got excited - because it meant that Tiffany's wasn't a far off dream. Tiffany's did open in Australia a few years ago but there is something special in saying you got it from Tiffany on 5th Avenue in New York. I like jewellery and adding a certain something to a dress but I guess as far as jewellery stores go I am usually more at the Diva end of things than Tiffany’s. Diva is similar to the $2 jewellery stores you find on 14th Street in Union Square.

When I had that sudden realisation that I really was leaving New York I suddenly decided I needed something from Tiffany's. On my first ever visit to Tiffany in New York back as a 21 year old in 2003 I do remember being in ore at the sheer size of the building. You also do feel a little special with door men greeting you at the front doors and elevator operators asking you 'maaam which floor please?'.   Hundreds of different things sparkle at you from locked cabinets daring you to ask how much they are and Breakfast at Tiffany images of Audrey Hepburn in that dress go floating by.

Over the years I would post my Aunty Tiffany’s catalogues and she would peruse the Tiffany web site and find items she would like to one day own. I did buy one or more things on my Aunts request while living there. I have even carried out jewellery orders in other countries for her when she wanted something from a particular store in Dublin, Ireland.

When it was my turn to finally buy something from Tiffany I was grateful I had a credit card ... although I was still buying something in the low hundreds. I decided to buy the typically heart Tiffany charm and then decided to buy the actual necklace in Australia so my necklace was half Australian half American - which is how I felt.  The charm reads 'if found return to Tiffany 5th Avenue' - I figured this was a safe warning seeing as I wasn't sure how living back in Australia would turn out.

For my 30th Birthday my Aunty decided to buy the chain for me. We went on a special shopping trip to Chadstone Tiffany and it turned out our sales assistant was just about to head to New York himself.  On my birthday she gave me my necklace which I just love.  A combination of two different countries all in a beautiful necklace.

The way you accessories a dress can really make or break the entire look.  The dress I am wearing today I have seen on three other girls in the past few months. Sometimes I loved what they had done with it, one I saw and was horrified at what she had accessorised it with; this super cute dress didn't look like a super cute dress at all!!!  I hope my accessories today have made this dress!  Sometimes I do wear this with a white cardigan but its been a bit cooler so I wore it with my blazer jacket and tights.

A BIG thank you to Boyfriend D last night who put up with my bossy Camera directions as Chadstone was closed and I couldn't get into Tiffany .. but still wanted the sign in the picture.  Also Happy Pancake Tuesday - this dress is good enough to hide my full tummy from yummy pancakes!

Dress 33: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Bought: About a year and a half ago
Price Range: $19.95
From: Cotton On, Bourke St, Melbourne CBD

What I like about it: I really like the cut of the dress and the way it can be worn with or without tights, winter or summer this is a great dress

Tag Info: Made in China, Cotton On, 100% Viscose

Photo Credit: HJackson

Dress 32: Times they are a’ changing

Now I have moved back to Australia I have been confronted with so many changes to our urban landscape.  Housing Estates are now sprawling across acres that use to be farms.  Shopping complexes have appeared where horses and cows once grazed.  Returning to my home town of Narre Warren the shopping centre I once knew had seriously taken some steroids and has now doubled its size.

Since dating Boyfriend D it has been even more apparent at just how big Victoria is getting.  As I mentioned he lives in the area I grew up in and in the past two months I have been visiting that area more and noticing more and more changes. My High School now has two campuses and a third one is under construction.  The once sleepy street in Beaconsfield now has two major shopping centres, an abundance of new cafes and stores and more!  Although this has happened in 12 years it’s still a bit of a shock.  I will say something like ‘wow that’s new’ and he will say umm that’s been there for about 5 years!  It really doesn’t feel like I was away that long.

Not only have I returned to a changed landscape there are all sorts of new shops and trends that have opened that I need to get used too.  Boost juice is the best things since sliced bread, everyone and his dog has an Iphone and new fashion outlets like Forever New have popped up at every shopping mall.  It has actually been fun to see these new trends and stores although at first I did feel a little out of place without the stores I loved in New York like Express and H&M.

The dress I am wearing today is from a store I discovered when I first returned home.  I thought it was extremely new when I waltzed in there in 2010 but now looking at their web site they have actually been there since 2007 – I am so behind the fashion times!!

Factorie is sort of a smaller scaled Old Navy with a bit attitude.  They have fun prints, colours and styles that tend to turn over every few weeks.  The price is usually right and the young staff are always friendly.  The store also donates a proceed of your sale on certain items to the WWF (World Wide fund for Animals), which means not only can you leave the store with a new purchase but you can also leave with your conscience feeling great that not only did you help yourself to something cute but your also helping an equally super cute animal somewhere out there.

Check out their web site:

http://www.factorie.com.au/

Yours in dresses

Skye

Day 32 : Times they are a’Changing

Bought: A year and a half ago
Price Range: $20.00
From: Factorie, Fountain Gate, Narre Warren
What I like about it: I LOVE the birds
Tag Info: Made in China , Factorie, 62% Polyester 23% Viscose 5% Elastane
Photo Credit: SCondon/RHunt

Vote Now!!

Well first date dresses have hopefully moved onto second dates .. or have they?  Vote now for which dress should not see another date again!!  Next week were flying away with bird dresses!

Dress 31 : I'm leaving today

So another venture into the online world of dating brought a British gentleman to me.  We had chatted online and decided to meet for a drink.  He arrived 30 minutes late.  By then I was friends with the bar tender who was from the USA.   Once he fainlly arrived we had a drink and he was actually really funny and nice.  I forgave the 30 minutes late for another beer.

We made it to another two pubs before the night came to an end.  He advised me then that he was heading back to the UK in four days!   But the upside was he was coming back in a month or so once his permanent visa came through.

He moved back to the UK and we kept in touch online.  He didn’t seem very happy to be home but it was really only because he was torn between moving back to Australia and staying in the UK.  In the end he decided to stay in the UK.  We kept in touch for a little while after he made his decision but now I just see random facebook updates from him online and it seems he made the right decision to stay in the UK.

One good thing did come out of this meeting in that I bought this dress!  I did wear it on a few other dates and its always a great dress to wear for meeting friends for a Sunday brunch or meeting a first date for a drink… not that I should be needing that for a while!

It was a small frock up friday this week!!  But as usual the girls all look super cute in their Friday frocks! Thanks girls!

Dress 31 : I’m Leaving Today

Bought: 2 years ago
Price Range:  Dotti, Fountain Gate
What I like about this dress : I love all the flying butterflies and dragonflies that you don’t really see until you look close
Tag Info: Made in China, Dotti, 100% Viscose
Photo Credit: HJackson

Dress 30 : It's a Small World After All

My last relationship ended because he cheated on me.  There will be more to come on that story! 

After that happened there are so many things that you feel :  Betrayal, shock, humiliation and what’s wrong with me!?  I had meet Boyfriend B at a fundraising function so had thought he was a pretty good guy, turns out I was wrong.  When it ended I thought to give myself an ego boost I would join online dating again.  A friend of mine was trying it again at the time and she was having fun receiving kisses and chatting with new people.  At first I didn’t really participate I just let people contact me and with each kiss I received I thought well there you go Boyfriend B didn’t know what he was doing!

One day I received a kiss from a guy who seemed really honest and down to Earth.  I decided to kiss back and say I was interested for a change .. what harm could it do.  We shared a few emails before he asked if I’d like to meet.  I was still a bit wary of boys so I suggested we have a chat on the phone first.  He called me a few days later and we started off by speaking about where we grew up, which was actually in the same area.  We went to different High Schools but he mentioned he knew someone who went to my High School but that he was a few years younger than us.  He didn’t think I would know him but I told him to try me anyway.  It turned out that he one of his good friends was  Kirsty’s brother Scott.   It also turned out that we had both been to many of the same parties and places at the same time we had just never met each other!  Scott had also come to stay with me in New York and had been travelling with this guy before he came to the USA.

Talk about it being a small world! 

Initially I thought this might be an issue only because I’m so close to Kirsty, so I spoke to her to see what she thought of him oh we shall also call him Boyfriend D.  Kirsty said he was a really nice guy and I should go on a date with him.  We decided to meet a week later at Hogs Breath Café (a very romantic place for a date!).  When I met him it wasn’t awkward or even really new.  I mean I know online dating is like setting yourself up for a blind date and you sort of already know the person but this didn’t even feel like that.  It was just meeting someone I already really knew just for the first time.

We had a great night that night and now 5 weeks later things are still going really well.   Im excited for the future and am just enjoying spending time with someone who truly cares about me.  I don’t know how much more I should write because I want things to continue going well with Boyfriend D!!!  But for now he makes me very happy and I feel like a very lucky girl. 

Fate finally decided it was time we met and that is something I am grateful for.  Obviously this dress was a winner because it did win me many more dates with a wonderful man.  So please don’t vote this dress off because although I may not need it for a first date in the future I do need it as a memory of a night that brought someone truly wonderful to my life.

Dress 30: It’s a small world after all
Bought: Almost two years ago
Price Range: $49.00
From: Jay Jays, Fountain Gate (Narre Warren)
What I like about it: I LOVE the cut of the dress and the strawberries in the pattern
Tag Info: Made in China, Jay Jays, 100% Cotton
Photo Credit: DWhite