"Oh, coulda, shoulda, Prada!"

Here's lookin' at you, Smitty. Happy new year/season/hemline/liver.
xo

Shelf-bust 101

Talk about dreams imitating life imitating art imitating Clueless (well actually it was more of a montage of Clueless, Pretty in Pink and Slipper & the Rose)... In a dream last night, Sarah was designing me the most perfect party frock. Actually she had about three on the go because I wasn't exactly sure what style I liked the most and had to see them all constructed & photographed before I could commit (typical!). All of the dresses had '50s shelf-bust features. And '80s extravagance. The dresses were made variously from polka-dot taffetta (sky-blue with black 5c piece sized spots, pink with black, black with white). So, the purpose of this post is to express my conscious & subconscious love of the shelf-bust feature. And to explain to Sarah exactly what it is - something I didn't quite manage over muesli this morning. I may have used the term "shelf-bra" & really that conjures up images of '90s hip-house bustiers & the like.

So Sarah, this is what I was getting at:

And this:

Note the awesome airguns the brunette in lemon is packin'. Airguns! When a dress inspires airguns you know it's what I like to call a "Party in a Dress".

So, reckon we can put up a shelf-bust or two in my wardrobe? Don't panic, I don't mean for the witness-dress, just as a summer building project.

Perhaps we can combine it with the Magyar Sleeve project.

Ohhh and a quick yogel of Magyar just informed me that by definition, Magyar, being a sleeve cut from the body of a garment is technically a batwing!

"Think big and your deeds will grow...

...Think that you can and you will, it's all in your state of mind."

(Mum's marathon mantra).

Note: Sarah's homework outfittery- lilac floral-print chiffon maxi dress (thrifted from the dress-up box - Osti perhaps?), with pin-tucking and Pin-Wheel Deeley Bopper headwear. Now, why don't I study in such outrageous get-ups?!!! Time to take it to the next level as Sarah herself would say. And does.

At least 5692* times a day!

*Mum's other favourite mantra, "I've asked you 5, 692 times!"

Most days I do find myself wondering, "What would Molly do?"

Meanwhile Andy is probably pondering, "Blaine... Now, is that a name or a major appliance?"

Just studying, designing, daydreaming the day away today. Major Blaine drain.

xg

The Little Red Witch *

From across the wild seas, a spellbinding songstress commissioned a "bat-crazy" dress for conjuring her stagecraft.

After much toile and trouble, a bell-winged dress manifested itself (with a little couture alchemy courtesy of my scarily talented soeur - aka Sarah B.).

As the songstress herself declared, "It's totally Stevie Nicks meets Kate Bush in the forrest" and "the red pops like corn!"

* Dress named for a childhood favourite fairytale by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite.

House Coat - Olga Munro

Silk House Coat, Sample for Olga Munro cira early 1930's
Kimono style house coat with shirring at the shoulders, embriodery on sleeves, front and back

Sleeve detail

Back Detail

Harlequin

Garment created by Sarah B.
Dress with fitted bodice with button decoration and press stud opening, peter pan collar, pleated skirt, and long sleeves with button decorated cuffs.