OOTD | Comfort in Check

Lace Top - thrifted via Uniting Church Thrift Shop / highwaisted check shorts - thrifted via Salvation Army / tote - handmade via Uniting Church Thrift Shop / loafers - second hand via Shag Vintage / bent spoon pendant - Noosa Antique Upcycle Artisan / sunglasses - Sportsgirl

If you're not in Brisbane, or Australia for that matter, let me inform you that it has been sweltering hot these last few weeks. Jess and I are rather big fans of iced black coffee, not only to keep cool but it's a bonus, and I wore this on our last coffee date. I found these shorts a week ago and am so obsessed with them. They are ridiculously comfortable, light weight and the perfect size. For $2, I would buy a pair for every day of the week if they  existed. I am contemplating investing in the creation of one or more duplicates; but we shall see. 

The rest of my oufit is just me attempting to stay as cool as possible. I love how this lace top lets the air through but isn't see-through and doesn't show too much skin. I found both the top and the tote bag in the same thrift shop many years ago and it remains my favourite store to this day; the location a secret to most of my op shopping friends. 

I hope you're all keeping cool and staying out of the sun. 

Happy Sunday! 

Erin xx

OOTD | Spring Wallpapers

Dress - vintage via Can You Keep a Secret? / belt and bag - thrifted / The Jackson Sunglasses by *MKL Accessories - Karmaloop / Mary Jane shoe by Dr Martens - Downes Shoes, Fortitude Valley / Cutlery earrings - Covert Designs by Claire Woodfield

Another sunny day off out and about with Jess, and this time Honor (!), and another outfit that is anything but a work uniform. Jess was the one that found this dress hanging in a $20 rack at our favourite vintage haunt, Can You Keep a Secret?, and told me to hurry myself along to try it on. Obviously, I loved it and today was definitely not its first outing. What is there not to love? The fabric, the pockets, the way the stripes change direction, and the super-simple cut. This dress could not be more 'me'. 

This is also the first outfit in which I've worn my Dr Marten Mary Jane sandals. They have taken me a while longer than predicted to wear in but I love them so much; and I'd want to as I wear them to work every day. These super comfortable shoes fit my orthotics (what of it?) but also maintain ultimate cuteness at the same time. 

Accessories wise, I kept it fairly simple. The belt to maintain the bloused top of the dress, my black messenger bag to carry essential bits, the Covert earrings because I am obsessed and my *MKL sunglasses as a 'change' from my regular Sportsgirl staples. 

Also, how great is big hair? I was feeling particularly Carrie Bradshaw (early seasons) this morning when I did my hair. I am really loving how much extra volume I can gain now my hair is growing out. 

Hope you're having super awesome weeks!

Erin xx

OOTD | Mid-Week Midi

Grey V-Neck - BONDS / Midi Skirt - vintage via Can You Keep A Secret / cutlery earrings - Covert / tote bag - thrifted / sunglasses - Sportsgirl / sandals - Birkenstock

Hello lovelies, sorry for my brief absence. I was not in the greatest of health over the weekend. This outfit here is probably going to be worn to death over the coming months in one variation or anoter. The relaxed flow of the midi skirt has me obsessed with this style. I can't wait to find more like this one which I picked up in a recent sale at Can You Keep A Secret? 

What I'd really like to highlight are my sodding cutlery earrings. I am not a girl who changes earrings on the regular by these have me won over completely. Aside from my usual studs are rarely find a pair that goes with any outfit or that is worth the effort to change them out. Last week, at a QUT CI event, I picked these beauties by local designer Claire Woodfield from Covert. Her designs are definitely worth checking out as she limits production to a maximum of 50 for that extra special exclusive feel. 

Last of all, can I just put in an extra special mention to whomever made Birkenstocks fashionable this time around. Nothing should come before comfort when you're walking around all day everyday forever. Love your feet! 

Happy Wednesday, lovers!

Erin xx

At Home | Crystals and Cookware

Its been quite a while since I've posted about vintage home-wares finds. To be perfectly honest, I plan on moving in the near future so I have been quite restrained with my purchasing. I picked the crystal-ware in the first photo up at my local Salvation army store whilst the vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster was a gift from my mother; no it wasn't hers she found it in a Ballarat vintage store. 

You might remember a post a did a few months ago about some neat jewellery organisation pieces I found op-shopping. Well I have now added and fiddled with it and am even happier, for the moment. I used to use a crystal ring dish and blue porcelain bowl. I've now upgraded all of the jewellery storage to crystal-ware with a bowl and a flat dish. I really love the way my fairly simple collection looks sitting in the glass. These dishes sit on my dresser intermingled with my makeup collection.

It is no secret that I love old things nor that I love cooking. My mum knows this all too well, so when she saw this vintage Sunbeam Mixmaster she was almost certain I would fall head over heels.  Considering I don't own a new mixmaster I am hoping to get a lot of use out this machine (fingers crossed it lets me). I love how the dial at the back instructs the user about what is best for tasks; that would never happen with modern appliances. 

That's my favourite second hand items from the last few months. I've got a few months before I move so I'm in the process of culling and figuring out what I do and don't need. These things definitely go on the 'Do' list. 

Happy hunting fellow thrifters! 

Erin xx

OOTD | Rekindled Love

Shift dress - Can You Keep a Secret / Anorak - Gorman / Belt - thrifted / Loafers - Shag Vintage / Bangle - gifted and not branded

Hello spring, it's ever so nice to see you peeking around the corner. I wait all year from this kind of weather and it's very slowly creeping into the end of winter.

I am again rocking my favourite loafers which I hope to get as much wear out of before it's too hot for leather shoes in the summer. 

The denim anorak you see is from my favourite designer, Gorman, and has seen far too little wear since I purchased it. It is a little bit too oversized and can be kind of awkward to wear but it still has me head over heels for it's casual-chic charm. It's been too cold to wear it this winter but I will definitely be letting it see more sunshine when spring rocks around. 

I picked this simple summer dress up in a sale at my favourite vintage store, Can You Keep a Secret? a few months back and have never really worn it either. Ditto for the belt which I think I found thrift shopping one day. 

I will definitely going to make more use of these garments, especially the anorak, this spring. I love the combination of a light block coloured jacket with a cutesy print like the gum-nut/eucalyptus on this dress. 

Happy hump-day! 

Erin xx

OOTD | Collected Comfort

Light-wash waisted and cuffed jeans - thrifted / white collared button-up - thrifted / embroidered pink cardigan - vintage via Ra Ra Superstar / 'Grandpa' loafers - vintage via Shag Vintage / The Jackson Sunglasses by *MKL Accessories - Karmaloop

Here I am again presenting you with the epitome of my style, all totally second hand (minus the sunglasses). I think I will again try to convince you of how well shopping second-hand can suit any, and every, human and their individual style. Aside from the very obvious societal and environmental benefits (reduce, reuse, recycle people!) there are major benefits in regards to personal styling efforts. 

OOTD | New Reflections

Gold crocheted top - thrifted / Acid wash denim jacket - thrifted / Black High-waisted jeans - Arlene by Dr Denim / Jodhpur boots - Greg Grant Saddlery / The Burbank Sunglasses in Mirror Blue - Miss KL

This outfit is full of new things that I've picked up recently. I finally took the dive and bought myself new high-waisted black skinny jeans. I tried many different styles on in General Pants a month or two ago and decided that Arlene by Dr Denim was definitely the pair for me. I got these in a 28 which is quite snug around the waist but the room in the legs makes me sure that they will stretch. I wore them for the first time today and could not be more impressed. They were comfortably all day and are yet to make my hands or legs black... even with prior warning that they could. If you're in the market for some new high-waisted jeans and don't mind the $130 price tag, totally do it. I'll keep you updated on their fading/stretching process.

OOTD | Born In The Wrong Era

White Dress - Box Vintage / Pastel Pink Pullover - Ra Ra Superstar / Acid Wash Denim Jacket by Indiana Blues -  thrifted via Lifeline / Loafers - Shag Vintage / White Socks - Target / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl / Gold Bangle - gift

Happy days are upon us. Winter is slowly emerging of a never ending summer and I have finally found my most lusted after wardrobe staple; a denim jacket! I don't think I have been as ecstatic about a clothing purchase since I bought my first pair of high waisted jeans or Dr. Martens. I found this beauty in my local thrift store for $6 which makes the experience even better. This find makes me so glad that I waited instead of forking out the $50+ price that a lot of vintage resellers have on their denim jackets. Is is super good quality and I hope it will be in my possession for eternity. 

OOTD | Made For Walking

Vintage Floral Sundress - Can You Keep a Secret? / Embroidered Denim Button Up - Thrifted / Knee High Cowboy Boots - The Amazing Mill Markets, Daylesford / Sunglasses - Sportsgirl

For as long as I can remember pining for a pair of shoes, I have pined for cowboy boots. I have been waiting, with my eyes wides open, for the perfect pair to come along but because of my large feet it has been a long wait. Finally, while trying not to buy anything too outrageous at the Mill Markets in Daylesford over my summer break I stumbled across these beauties. They were part of a larger collection and, astonishingly, in my size. I know my men's shoe size almost better than I know my women's so I saw an 8 1/2 and crossed all my fingers as I slipped them on. At $60 for shoes in such good nick I couldn't possibly say no. These babies are steel capped and super sturdy and I cannot wait to kick around in them all winter long. 

The rest of my outfit is nearing my last adieu to summer weather. I picked up this handmade retro bargain of a dress for $10 in my last Can You Keep a Secret haul and couldn't be happier seeing the season out in it. The super cute and comfy outfit needed some sun cover and a bit of extra warmth at night so I added a denim shirt of mine that doesn't get out much. I love the embroidery and the scalloping on the sleeves but it can sit awkwardly on some outfits. Fortunately, it suited this 1970s bohemian country attire well. 

Hope you've all been having a grand long weekend.

Happy Easter!

Erin xx