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

Dress 29 : This is the Purple Dress

So this is the purple dress that, the forget the purple dress post refers to!  I have to admit though it is a little worse for wear.  The back material has split, it’s not the seam it is actually the material! I have spoken to a few friends and unfortunately it cannot be fixed .. maybe I could turn it into something else as it couldn’t be donated to charity the way it is.

That is such a shame because this is an infamous dress!!  It has been to parties, worm to work, it is a dress to wear when I want that special feeling that comes from wearing something you love! It also appens as my theme this week I wore it on a first date.  I bought this dress with a voucher that Joy had given me for H & M.  I loved the military cut and the colour with purple being one of my favourite colours.

This dress was a favourite of Boyfriend A until the red dress came along, which also came from Joy!  It had worked on one Irishman I thought I would try it on another.  My first delve into online dating came in New York.  Meeting people at bars and through friends hadn’t brought Mr Right so I thought I’d jump on the new New York thing and join a dating site.

One of the matches to come up with a 100% match was an Irish boy.  After my experience with Boyfriend A I wasn’t sure I was ready to date another of his countrymen.  After a few months this guy just kept coming up so I thought why not, not all Irishmen can be bad!  I sent him an email and found out he was extremely funny.  We decided to meet at Eight Mile Creek as he had lived in Australia for a few years and missed Aussie Beer.  Another friend of mine owns this restaurant so I thought if he did turn out to be crazy like Irishman Boyfriend A I would have a friend close at hand.

I put on the purple dress and with horror realised the stitching was coming undone from the bottom of the dress and the lining was hanging down (this dress has been falling apart from day one!).  Fortunately I was meeting Joy and Rachel for brunch.  I timidly told them I was meeting an Irishman later for a drink which they didn’t think was a good idea.  But as Rachel was kneeling down on her apartment floor sticky taping my dress together she said ‘I hope he is worth it’!

The first date with we shall call him Boyfriend C wasn’t anything special, although it turned out he was from Northern Ireland land of my favourite potato chips Taytos – so he won points there as I love Taytos (especially because they are made in a castle!)!!  We had a few beers and nice conversation but I wasn’t fussed if I never saw him again.  A few days later he text and asked if I would like to go out again.  I normally say two dates is a good time to judge someone so I agreed.

We met at a place down in the west village where there is a bar and game tables everywhere.  You can play chess, scrabble, ping pong and there is even a band playing!  It’s such a cute place.  We played scrabble and I had a fabulous night.  When we went to leave we had been messing around with the horse from the chess board and when we got to the street corner he said to me do you think they’ll miss this? And he pulled out the horse from his pocket!  Turns out he did have something in common with Boyfriend A!  Although I did think it was very romantic thing to do and horse became a running joke with us.

After this date I realised he was a great guy.  Over the next few months we had a great time getting to know each other.  He met my friends and work mates (who actually approved of him), went to concerts and karaoke, we drank Guinness at his local Irish pub with his brother and he framed photos I had taken all over the world for his new apartment.  My family got to know him from afar and it seemed that things were finally looking good in my relationship area.

This was until just after New Year’s Eve.  Boyfriend C had told me he was separated and basically explained they were young when they married and that was how he was able to stay in the country (what’s with me and Irish men who need to stay in America through various illegal means).  Three days after New Year’s he told me we needed to speak.  We met at a local pub (great location to break up with someone by the way!) and he told me his ex-wife had been living overseas in Germandy and had just returned to America.  He explained that this was the first time he had seen her since they separated and he was feeling many emotions and needed time to himself.   He assured me I would find someone else and that it wasn’t me, he just needed to work out what these feelings were. 

So it ended.  As did my respect and trust for him.  It took me months of frustrating phone calls and emails to get my belongings back from him he kind of dissapeared and my friends and family were truly shocked at the person he turned out to be.  From his Facebook a few months ago I saw he was engaged to a girl he met 6 weeks after breaking up with me.  Who knows is this ‘ex-wife returning from Germany' was real or not but as I always say when one person doesn’t work out it just leaves the door open for the right one to walk in.. and tomorrow you may just hear about that boy who has just walked in the door.

Yours in Dresses

Skye

Dress 29 : This is the Purple Dress

Bought: 5 years ago
Price Range: $29.99
From: H&M New York (H&M near Bloomingdales)
What I like about it: I really like the military cut and the colour

Tag Info: Made in Turkey, H&M97% Cotton, 3% Elastane

Photo Credit: KMcKinnon

Valentines Day Special Dress

When I started the dress a day project, part of the reason was to encourage myself not to buy dresses and look to what I already had.  This lasted a whole month, which is probably the longest I have gone without buying a dress.  That being said I will admit I did buy a dress for my Aunty and it actually felt so much nicer to see someone else smile because of a dress than just seeing myself smile after buying a dress!

This year however I did have another reason to buy a dress .... Valentine's Day.  I probably did have something cute in my cupboard but then I saw this dress I totally fell in love with it.  I decided that as long as I continued the project for the day I could wear a new dress at night.  So the back up dress was the one I wore Valentines Day and this dress I wore Valentines night.

Valentines Day was very special this year because I was spending it with someone special.  Its been a long time between Valentines Days for me and this year a new dress just added to one of the most magical nights I've ever had.  So I thought I would share just one teeney peek into my Valentines night.  The rest is saved for me and my Valentine.

Dress details to come
Photo Credit : HJackson

Dress 28: Request for Back Up

This is actually a staple date dress for me.  The colour is fun, the material is good so you can wear it all day (in case your date is after work – what were you thinking!)  and it has a nice shape to be a little revealing but still girl next door.

The last date I remember wearing this on was with an American I had actually met online.  We met up at The Australian in New York (A great place for those looking for yummy Aussie good, a cold beer and friendly staff, oh and the owner is a good friend of mine).  For anyone who has ever been online dating there is a code that you have with friends to request back up.  In New York our code was at 9pm for the other to text how did Australia do? And you would either write back Australia was winning or losing. 

The other girl would wait staring at her phone all night to ensure that your friend hadn’t been abducted by a psychopathic murder.  You would also tell them the name of the restaurant you were going to and all dates photos were vetted by or coven of girls beforehand.  Any one of us was more than happy to drop everything and run to the rescue of an online date gone bad or sometimes if it had gone well but there was another problem – they had brought a friend.  I remember one night getting a distressed call from a girlfriend who will remain nameless that I was to meet her at a bar in the UES in 20 minutes no questions asked.  Of course it was the middle of summer and I was wearing a bikini on my couch (my apartment didn’t have air conditioning)   but in no time flat I was up meeting her and her new friends.

This back up was a great plan .. I on the other hand did have another back up to get me out of a date which was to take them to karaoke.  If a date wasn’t going well I would suggest that I had a friend who did karaoke nearby – which was true!  Karaoke does something to people.  It brings people together to talk .. and better to drink!  It is also a distraction. If you can’t talk to the person you can talk about the latest American idle on stage or just watch in amazement as the latest drunken person to be belting out total eclipse of the heart takes to the stage.
This unfortunately did happen to this guy who I met at The Australian.  The conversation was easy enough when talking about the meat pie in front of us or the fact Australians don’t drink Fosters but that’s where the conversation ended… at least for me.  He was quite happy to keep talking and putting his arm around me – eeewweee .. no touching on the first date!  I casually mentioned that my friend hosted karaoke near by and he was up for the night to continue.  Once we had a few drinks (and he was a little drunker) and I sang a few songs, it was an easier way to let him down that I’d had a great but I didn’t think we would be singing karaoke together again.

But for those reading this that has been to karaoke with me it’s not always the case of taking bad dates, karaoke can suit any number of occasions for me.  Birthdays, happiness and also when I want to say something special to someone I can’t say in words .. so the next time I or someone takes you to karaoke just check there may just be another motive behind it .. and if it is because your date is letting you down easy call me I’ll be there to rescue you!

Dress 28 : Request for Back Up
Bought : 5 years ago
Price Range : 49.00
From: Quicksilver New York
What I like About it : The colour, the meterial and the neckline is very flattering.
Tag Info: Made in Macau, Roxy by Quicksilver, 100% cotton
Photo Credit : K.Brett

Day 27 : Meet for a Coffee?

Moving back to Australia I wondered if you still met people at the pub or if the dating scene had changed.  In the US Online dating was all the rage and coming home it seemed it had caught on quickly too in Australia.  Since we werent going to the Hallam anymore I decided to try Australian online dating.

One date from Online I went on I wore this dress.  It was a casual luch time coffee at starbucks in the city.  He was from NZ and it turned out we actually knew some of the same people in the police force .. both for work related reasons … and I hope nothing more I certainly never saw the inside of a cell!!  After this date we had several other dates.  What I liked about him was that he was one of the first mature people I had dated.  He ran his own business was confident and sure about what he wanted .. except for one thing .. a relationship. 

We had many things in common a love of beer, exploring the city and having fun but I guess when it came down to it, maybe those were the only things.  I respected him as a person and did have some good times with him but in the end his contant indesisiveness about what he wanted didn’t help the relationship continue any further.   We dated about 4 months, there were certainly plenty of laughs and plenty of money wasted playing pub computer games we seemed to like those.

We are still friends and theres always a reason someone doesn’t work out for you… it allows you to be free to find that person who is meant to work out for you…. And it also allowes me to contiue on with first dress date week!! 

Day 27: Meet for a Coffee
Bought: A year and a half ago
Price Range: $20.00
From: The new DeJaniero in Melbourne CBD
What I like about this dress: The different colours of purples and lilacs and the softness of the sleeves.  It is a see through dress so you have to wear a slip or tights underneath.
Tag Info: Made in China, Caroline Morgan, 100% Polyester
Photo Credit: KMcKinnon

Vote Now!!

Another week down and the flower dresses have all been picked!  Which dresses did you love and which did you hate?  Vote now for which dress should voted off!  Someone asked the other day how do you know which one actually gets voted off .. thats a great question!  I havent gone back through and made a tally yet .. I must do that this week.  I am thinking of making a poll to make it easier - so stay tuned on this one!!

Next week is Valetnines Week so the dress theme this week was nominated  by Rachel in New york and it is : First Date Dresses - theres sure to be some juicy stories there so check back in next week to see what I'm wearing and score if I would have made it to a second date!!!

Dress 26 : You Got a Friend In Me

I remember how hard it was to say goodbye to all my new friends in New York.  But it wasn’t anything I hadn’t done before.  When I moved to New York I had to say goodbye to so many good friends here in Australia.  As most of you know I never say goodbye, it’s just see you later!
Visiting Australia every few years I would catch up with my girlfriends from High School and each time I visited it was like nothing had changed.   Before Facebook we really didn’t keep in touch too much besides the odd email here and there, but when Facebook began it was so much easier to know who was up to what.

I’ve spoken to a few people and it’s amazing how many people have lost touch with their high school friends.  I guess it is very easy to do.  Friendship is hard work.  If you don’t work at it, it can easily disappear. 

I remember visiting home for one of my high school friends weddings which she had asked me to sing at.  It was such an honour to be asked to do this, especially as 7 or more years had passed since I had promised her in High School that I would sing at her wedding.  The years had changed, countries and boyfriends had changed, but the most important thing remained - our friendship.  I remember that night dancing on the dance floor with all High school girls and I had the sudden realisation of how important their friendship was to me and how lucky we were to have kept in touch.

Moving back to Australia I wondered if our friendship circle would be the same.  Girls had gotten married, engaged, bought houses and I was moving home with none of these things.  I needn’t had worried!  Now that I am back, we may not be heading to the Hallam on a Friday night, but I still catch up with my high school friends every few weeks and we are all still great friends even after I have been away for 8 years.  Whether it’s for a coffee, meeting a new baby or a few wines with cheese we are all still great friends supporting and laughing with each other like we were when we were 15 – only a lot smarter and wiser now!!

Last year I wore this dress to one of the girl’s houses for a Melbourne Cup party.   Wearing it today reminded me again of that day and the girlfriends who have been in my life for the past 15 years.  I hope they are still there in 15 more.

Yours in dresses

Skye

Dress 26: You Got a Friend in Me
Bought: 8 months ago
Price Range: $49.00
From: Femme Fatale, Melbourne CBD
What I like about it: I LOVE the silky feel and pattern of the material and the tulle underneath the skirt, totally 1950’s housewife!
Tag Info: Made in China, Caroline Morgan, Polyester Elastane
Photo Credit: JCorbett

Dress 25 : Seek Alternative Route

There is one thing flowers desperately need to survive and that is water, but sometimes the one thing that can keep something alive can also be the one thing that makes it die.

A year ago in Australia the State of Queensland was ravished with unforgiving floods that swept houses and people away.  As Victoria lies on the East Coast of Australia we often receive the run off of the storms and hurricane weathers.

This was the case last year when Victoria was receiving this weather.  It rained so much in such a short amount of time that parts of Victoria flooded that had never flooded before.  Where I lived in Narre Warren was actually on filled in swamp lands.  We also had a flood reservoir catchment across the road from our estate.   After a night of heavy rains we awoke to a very strange looking landscape.

The water catchment couldn’t contain the amount of water it had received and it had overflowed onto the main road.  The water came all the way up to our driveway as the drains couldn’t cope with the sudden deluge of rain.  We could walk down some of the footpaths to look at the main road.  What we saw was a very peculiar site.  There was a man kayaking with a slab of beer down the road!  Four Wheel Drives and Fire trucks could just drive through at a slow speed but the water was up to their windows.

Living in these Estates their generally is only one main road out and we found out this more than ever at this time.  There was a back way out but because the one main road at the front of the Estate was closed off at every entrance about 5 or more everyone was using the back way.  I remember trying to get to work the monad after the floods and sat in traffic just on my street for more than an hour.  I tried everything to get out of my estate and to the only train station I could get to.  The problem was everyone else had the same idea and I couldn’t get a car space anywhere.  The lawns, the hills, the side streets all were covered in cars!

It took many days for the water to recede and then more for work men to be able to come and fix the road damage.  Slowly one road opened that I could get to my normal train station, but we were still cut off from the main shopping centre.  After a week Mum and I decided we had cabin fever and decided to try and get to another shopping centre by our town.  We left very early on a Sunday to beat others trying to get out of our Estate.  We did make it to the shopping centre by our house and it was a little taste of freedom.  Mum and I found a little dress shop and they were having great sales which is where I bought this dress.

Of course my story is nothing compared to the heartache others across the country experienced due to these floods and our country is again experiencing floods in these same areas right now.  I really feel for those affected and hope that those who are fighting right now survive and those who have fought and lost can heal.  Mother Nature can be so evil on one hand and then suddenly kind again.  I hope everyone in the world can think of those suffering in the floods at this very moment.  While I am safe and warm writing this blog post many Aussies are doing it tough tonight. 

Day 25: Seek Alternative Route

Bought: 1 year ago
Price Range: 15.00
From: Shop in Cranbourne
What I like about this dress : The vibrant green and purple colours together.
Tag Info: Made in China, Caroline Morgan, Viscose Elastane
Photo Credit: DWhite

Dress 24: The Language of Flowers

This weekend I went to a country craft market in Warragul.  One of the things I love about country markets is the fresh produce and home made things you can buy.  Tables of plump pies and ripe peaches look so much more appealing on a wooden trestle table with rolling hills as a backdrop than the florescent lights and fresh produce containers at Coles or Dagastinos or Tesco or Aldi or whichever supermarket you have in you corner of the world. 

 

The other wonderful produce you can buy at these markets is flowers.  They are usually in big bouquets and are cheaper than the city florists and flower boutiques.  On Sunday there was the usual flower man and he had buckets full of brightly coloured roses.  Red, pink, yellow and orange that looked like they were hand painted by fairies.  

  

One of the even more wonderful things about a market is that if you get there just before closing time they will be reducing the prices and you can get more for less!  We happened to get to the market with an hour or so to go and the flower man had upped his two bunches of roses for $10 to three bunches of roses for $10.  We decided to look a little more before buying some of the beautiful roses and when we did head back there he had an even better deal four for $10!

I brought the roses to work and placed them on my desk.  It’s always amazing the reaction you get with flowers.  Carrying them to work everyone on the train smiled at me and when I put them on my desk at work the questions started flying.  Of course the first comment is always your flowers are beautiful but then curiosity over comes people.  Is it your birthday? Is it from a boyfriend? Is it a special occasion?  Flowers conjure up so many questions!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner it’s so interesting that we still express our emotions through the years and generations through such a simple thing as flowers.  Flowers can carry so many different messages: I’m sorry, I love you, Get well soon, Happy Birthday.  Even types of flowers carry different meanings and are appropriate for different occasions.  Rachel in New York has a tattoo of Rosemary flowers for remembrance. 

Kirsty has just introduced me to a book called the Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh who uses this concept of the meaning of flowers to guide a story of a woman.  The author says that while doing research for the book she was intrigued to find that flowers can carry so many different meanings, even for the same type of flower.  There are many books written on the interpretation of flowers.

Maybe it’s time the world started to speak in flowers.  Maybe a peace lily could help warring nations share something beautiful instead of sharing hate.  Even if it’s just a flower picked from the garden, a flower can make you feel special.  I don’t think flowers are ever given in hate.  If anyone knows of a hate flower please let me know!! 

So even if you’re not giving someone flowers for Valentine’s Day to express love and romance why not give someone a flower for any day just to see them smile.  Because every time I look at the flowers on my desk regardless of the reason they were given to me it has made me feel special all this week.

Dress 24: The Language of Flowers
Bought: A year and a half ago
Price Range: 39.95
From: The new De Janeiro in Melbourne CBD
What I like about it: I like the classi 1950's bring and sleeve style
Tag Info: Made in China, Luxx, 100% Polyester
Photo Credit: SACondon