Last minute prep

Almost ready for the festival of the frock. Unlike Alison I'll be starting Frocktober in sunny Canberra, instead of by the sea. And further more, I have to go to work.

But I'm not going to let that get me down. Already my hand washing is done, my nails are polished and I'm just finishing up some last minute sewing tasks.

This is what I'll be wearing tomorrow. Can't wait to find out what it is? Well, stay tuned...it won't be long now.

The frockette clock says it's almost time to begin...

Well, my legs are shaved and moisturised, I've completed sewing a few extra items of clothing, including a skirt made from a pattern from Kimono House. My Frocktober will start in the beautiful little dairy town of Bellingen on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales.

For the first three days of October I'll be at the Bellingen Global Carnival enjoying warm weather, good company and fine music. I'll be dancing up a storm to the likes of The Bamboos, The Versionaries and Way Out West.

Kylie Auldist, vocalist with The Bamboos. This lady knows how to wear a frock with style!

I've packed some lovely summer frocks for the next few days, all with a little bit of a story behind them. I might even get to the beach! So stay tuned for Libby and my frock updates, if you have a gmail or twitter account you can follow us to show your support. Before Frocktober even begins I want to thank Dianne, Kerry, Barbie, Amy, Jo, Julia and Cyn for pledging money and support. Hmmmm, there are no boys names listed as yet, c'mon fella's, support us!

Sponsor Us!

Want to sponsor Alison and Libby? You can help to raise money for Frocktober any of the following ways:
Cash: when you see us in person, just fill out our donation form when donating your money.
On-line payment: visit the Frocktober website, go to the Donate page and include our registration number (Alison - 610171 and Libby - 610684) in the confirmation page.
Electronic Funds Transfer: Enter our registration number in the 'reference' field from your internet banking service. This will help track your payment.
Account name: Frocktober Inc
BSB 633000
Account number 134323187
Cheque / Money Order: Please make payable to Frocktober Incorporated and post to Frocktober Inc
10 Mulquiney Crescent
Highton VIC 3216

Make your own frock...

The V&A Museum website has all manner of amazing things sew, knit or make based on collection pieces.

This dress pattern was specially created for the Golden Age of Couture website and is based on a 1950s Day Dress by Horrockses Fashion from the V&A collection. It has been sized for modern day UK sizes of 10, 12 and 14 and the pattern is free, downloadable, ready for you to print at home on A4 paper, or at a printer’s on larger sized paper. Just assemble the printed sheets together to form the pattern, cut out and sew up your fabric.

The hardest thing is deciding what fabric to use!

A Gift For The Frockless

I couldn't resist purchasing another frock last weekend. This little number came from the Salvo's in Fyshwick, also affectionately known as Mancare Community Family Store to most Canberrans. It is a 1960s 100% polyester A-Line style dress. The fabric is a beautiful pale blue with a sliver fleck through the weave.

It fits me very snugly and to quote Sir Mix-a-lot, I'm "little in the middle but got much back" so this style of dress isn't the most flattering for my figure. It reminds me of a 1960s go-go dancer dress, a la Nancy Sinatra and would look amazing with a pair of white knee high boots. It also reminds me of something that soul singer Sharon Jones might wear.

I'm going to gift this dress to my frockless friend who I'm dedicating frocktober to. I think it will suit her perfectly and perhaps when she gets back from her East Coast surfing safari she can wear it to work and perhaps take a photo of herself in it!

In training

Alison and I visited the 1950s/Alternative markets in Tempe today and used it as a chance to start practicing for Frocktober. So far so good....we even managed to get by without stockings thanks to the lovely Sydney weather.

A big thank you to Anna for a fabulous, fun weekend (and for being our photographer)!

Update from Libby

Having done an inventory of my frocks I find I have rather a surplus. I am in fact too embarrassed to admit the actual number of dresses I own. But I can tell you I will be taking the challenge a small step further and wearing a different frock every day for October. It's probably time for some of the more unusual ones to get an outing. So stay tuned for some interesting (and possibly horrifying) outfits.

Like Alison, I also have a friend who needed one of her ovaries removed recently, making me all the more keen to raise money for this important cause. Ovarian cancer affects all of us in some way. So I hope you'll help us to make a difference!

The Challenge

Libby and I have decided to take up the challenge to wear a dress, frock, skirt, tunic, nightie, petticoat or kilt for 31 days of October to raise money for research into ovarian cancer. We like any excuse to dress up. And it doesn't involve running around a sports track for 24 hours or growing a handle bar moustache to raise money for a good cause!For me, it has extra special meaning, as one of my good friends had a cyst and an ovary removed this year and a very close brush with ovarian cancer. She is only five years older than me. The irony of the story is she doesn't own a frock!