Frocktober 2012

Are you wondering what's been happening since Frocktober 2011? Where have Alison and Libby been hiding for the last 12 months? There have been quite a few changes since Frocktober 2011. Libby has left Canberra for the sunny shores of Sydney and is having an absolute wow of a time enjoying the beach, boutique op shops and a bounty of bakeries and other food delights.

I am still at the National Museum of Australia and still in Canberra and enjoying all the things Canberra has to offer.

As veterans of Frocktober, Libby has retired to the RSLoF (Returned Service League of Frocks, but may make a few guest appearances) and I'm and still soldiering on with a new team of ladies from the National Museum of Australia. More than twenty of them, count 'em!

So with so many ladies on board, we've decided to start a new blog called Frocktology to cater for all the dresses! You can sponsor us as a team here the National Museum of Frocks. If you've enjoyed this blog, I'm still going to post my Frocktober wears on my blog, fotofraulien. I hope you'll enjoy Frocktology just as much. I think this year will be huge and full of awesome frocks, so stay tuned. :)

Day 31: Madams of Mitchell

We've finally made it to the last day of Frocktober. To celebrate Alison and Libby took a trip up to Pretty Woman (perhaps the finest of the Mitchell brothels? Would anyone care to comment?) and had their impressive gold lions join in the fun!

 Libby wore a tangerine dress she picked up from a cute boutique in New York called Darling. If you're ever near the meatpacking district you should stop in. Libby spotted this dress in the window on her way somewhere else and just had to make a return trip to try it on. No surprise that she walked out with it (and another one for good measure).

Alison wore a dress she got from Allens in Dickson before it changed to Harris Scarfe. Yes, she only shop at exclusive shops designer shops! By coincidence, Libby and Alison wore similar style dresses, both with large fabric covered belts and fullish skirts.

 

We should clarify that we didn't venture in to Pretty Woman, just loitered outside taking photos. But we definitely gave the woman from the plumbing store down the road a good laugh when she saw us posing as she drove by.

Later in the day we caught up with some fellow frockers for drinks and a debrief. The consensus is - Frocktober is hard work but so much fun and we are so glad we did it. We hope your glad too. Thanks so much for watching and for all your support. It's not too late to donate so if you'd like to help the cause, go to our pledge page.

Travelling frock: Bangkok

This photo is a one-off of my mother in a skirt. Normally, she wears shorts or trousers. At the moment, she's travelling overland for six months from London to Sydney. This skirt went with her for emergencies. She wore it for the first time in September in Hanoi. That's when she got knocked down by a motorbike. The skirt is a sturdy wrap-around, but it didn't keep her from skinning her knee and falling on her face. You can see her magnificent black eye at her blog. This pic was taken Thursday on the skirt's second outing. She and dad visited the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where skirts are compulsory. Mum whipped this out of her backpack and dad took the pic. He's a bad photographer, and it took three shots before he managed to get mum's face and skirt in the one pic. 

The skirt is complemented by one of mum's holey merino t-shirts and the obligatory backpack.

Day 30: the penultimate day

Libby and I headed into the Canberra Museum and Art Gallery today to check out an exhibition called Fashioned Here: the business of fashion in Canberra. It featured some classic frocks including the original Sylvia Parson's mannequin Sally, Tracey Lord hats and a Phuan Thai dress which Libby and I purchased from the St Paul's Anglican Church op shop.

After lunch we went for a ride on the horses at the carousel. With Melbourne Cup just around the corner it seemed like the right thing to do. Plus being the tragic romantic that I am, I always thought this would be a great way to end a first date. So any Canberra men who think this is a great idea, contact me! Hey, can't help the girl for trying!

Libby enjoyed the date thoroughly, and wore a vintage blue chiffon frock - with two inbuilt petticoats, which proved a godsend on such a windy spring day. It has a small tear in the bodice but another beautiful obi belt from Rachael, this one in burgundy and gold tones, hid that well.

I wore the second of my new dresses since Frocktober 2010. It is a Collectif dress I got from the Darling Sisters with my gift voucher for winning best dressed lady in the September Canberra Tweed Ride. It is quite bright blue with a tiki pattern, perfect for playing the ukulele in!

After taking numerous photos of ourselves whilst the horses were going round and up and down, we realised we could actually take a photo when the carousel stopped. Silly us!

Travelling Frock: Tokyo

Today's travelling frock edition is brought to you by the letter C. My frock was originally described as Cute, then later as Churchy. When I received it I thought it was both but also Country, and definitely Conservative. Anyway, I thought where better to wear my country-cute-conservative church dress than to my local... shrine.


I did my very best to look innocent and pure (try to ignore the biker boots). After I tried this frock on I was surprised to discover how sheer the top half was. I guess it was supposed to be worn with a cami. Still, that seems very risque for someone who chooses frocks with pussy bows and puffy sleeves, and that button all the way up to the neck. I would have liked to have gone the 'naughty' route but I don't own a cami, so I had to wear a T-shirt, thus making the frock even more sensible.


The shrine, by the way, is Shoinjinja. So there you have it! The travelling frock in Japan. This was really fun. Thanks for inviting me to take part, girls!

Day 29: Inner city peasant

On Saturday I took my peasant dress out to lunch in new acton - looking very out of place amidst the sleek, modern architecture. Admittedly, I'd decided to over-do the bohemian feel of the dress with a lace blouse and a floral headscarf so I probably would have looked out of place anywhere, except maybe the Croatian club in 1963.
My almost antique mobile was also looking out of place and although it tried its hardest, its 1990's battery couldn't sustain my phone conversation with Alison. Hence me having to borrow an additional phone and do my best Naomi Campbell impersonation, as shown below. But I can assure I didn't throw either of them at anyone.

Day 29: black and white and red all over

Like a lot of my Frocktober days, it all seems to be about the accessories. I think I could've also done a 'black skirt' Frocktober with different tops, jackets, bags and other accessories. Today I caught up with a friend for a drink at Wilbur's in Hackett. I wore my stripey Revival top, love heart shoes and my new airline bag I got from a bric-a-brac shop in Coolgardie, Western Australia. It was one of those deliberating  purchases - do I really need another airline bag? Will it fit in my suitcase? Blah, blah, blah... but after walking around the shop with it on my arm, I decided to part with my $20 and now I don't regret it one bit. And it is in very good condition, all zips and handles in order.

I already have an Ansett-ANA airline bag of the same era, so this MacRobertson Miller Airlines is a nice addition to the collection. There's something romantic about the glory days of airline travel!

Day 28, 2011: two foxy morons

Its Halloween time again and once again Libby threw an awesome party, even Warwick Capper was there! But the ladies from Fountain Lakes took the cake (or baby cheeses)! Kath and Kim partied on with a cardonay and Midori pine splices or two. Sadly Kel, Brett and Epponnee Rae had to stay at home to look after Cujo who has kennel cough.

Travelling frock: Jersey Shore

Some of you may remember the dress that Libby bought in San Francisco at the beginning of Frocktober...

It made its way to Kelly in New Jersey where she had a lot of fun with the dress, creating scenes from Jersey Shore. I think Kelly looks very Snooki in the first photo...

...and how cool is the Jersey postcard, Jersey Girl, Bruce Springsteen and Frank Sinatra pillows?

Thanks Kelly, we love you!

Day 28: not a care in the world

I've got the day off today - what a treat! To better enjoy it I chose this light and breezy green cotton shirt dress, just the thing for relaxing in the hammock, reading a book and....forgetting all about the pumpkin pies in the oven!! Oh, no will they be alright?

Phew, don't worry, they're perfect :-) Must be that lucky green dress, saving the day.

Day 27: Urban armour

Today's outfit is as close as I come to looking professional. Really, for me all it takes is a white shirt and a blazer to make me feel corporate. It's just the kind of armour you need to hide behind when you're visiting the accountant after not having done your taxes for two years - WHAT, who would do that!? Certainly not me, I'm a good upstanding citizen - anyway, where were we?

The star of the show is the beautiful pencil skirt I bought in New Zealand. I call it my Esther skirt since I bought it in memory of my great aunt Esther, who loved nothing more than shopping and wouldn't have let me leave Christchurch without this piece. It's far and away the most expensive thing I own but worth every cent. I just love and with its circle motifs woven into the fabric it matches perfectly with one of my other great loves, the hoop earrings Hannah brought me from Morocco.

With a dash of red lipstick my corporate outfit managed to stretch to an exhibition opening in the evening. And what a great exhibition! If you're in Canberra make sure you head over to Canberra Contemporary Art Space in Manuka before the 6th of November to see Helen's show and be amazed by the universes she's created. You can see a little of her work in the first shot of me, which was taken in the gallery.

Day 27, 2011: art crate orange

Getting ready for the National Museum's Open Day our stores are looking spick and span, ready for the general public to see the many treasures in our collection. Today I wore a skirt I made from a Kimono House pattern. It's a wrap skirt with a contrast waistband and front panel. I made it from a Bula shirt I got from an op shop (surprise, surprise!). Bula shirts are kinda like Hawaiian shirts, but from Fiji, and I reckon this one was circa 1970s. I loved the colour and pattern, but no way was I wearing it as shirt.

In my tea break, I played some ukulele with my favourite conservator!

Day 26, 2011: hump day

Libby's frock is another fabulous find from Mitchell Salvo's. Originally it came from Valley Girl, or a similar cheap teen store, and when she found it she was astonished they had manufactured something so conservative, and almost classy. No doubt it was cast off by a dissapointed teen in favour of somthing shorter, tighter and brighter. Libby's win!

The blue and white of the dress go perfectly with ballet flats picked up from ebay. Matched with oversaturated red tights and the red dinosaur designs bracelet Libby's sister gave her, it created more than a splash of colour to compensate for a cold, dreary day.

Alison was very biege and pale pink today, featuring a cute cardigan with a light brown skirt with thin pink tweed-like highlights. The pink cardi blew out in the photo, but everyone kept telling her how great she looked in pink, something she never wears. Think she is a bit obsessed with her new necklace. it features again!

The colour of Alison's top and skirt were not unlike the colourings of Miss Mouchette, but trying to get a hungry cat to sit still, is a tricky thing!

Day 25, 2011: day and night

During the day I'm a mild mannered librarian (for objects) and by night I become a raging go-go dancing fag hag. And it's only Tuesday night!

Part one: Today I was very librarian-like in my attire. I wore to work a black skirt and red cardigan with a shirt Libby gave me for my birthday. I also wore my new necklace which has an A typewriter key and my 1960s mens brogues I got from Vinnies in Mitchell.

*     *     *     *     *

Part two: as the sun set over Canberra and I changed into a dress I headed off to the Canberra Theatre to see one of my heroes John Waters. What a funny man! He brought back so many memories from my late teens and early 20s. When he signed my book he said "Oh Cry-Baby's girlfriend!" Yes he was referring to my name and the character Allison Vernon-Williams and just like her "I'm tired of being good!"

I wore my orange glittery dress which I got from the Smith Family in Goulburn. Originally full length, it looked like I was in a cult, so I decided to cut it off at the knees, which is much sexier for this 70s frock. After the show we headed to the Phoenix for a drink where drag bingo was on. How could I resist getting my photo taken with the two hostesses!?!

Day 24, 2011: sew it goes...

On the same day, at the same time in Frocktober 2010 I did a very similar pose and I thought it was time to recreate the pose for 2011. Once again I am preparing to do a community radio program.

I made this skirt and it featured a few weeks ago in my unfinished sewing business. I got the fabric at a vintage clothing sale a few years ago. Libby and I queued for ages at this sale but we came away with some classic bargains. My mother is a dressmaker and she has always said "Sewing with good quality fabric always makes a difference." And she is right! She is never wrong, ask my Dad! This skirt sewed up like a treat but as my sewing machine had a little melt down, after a service I could finally do a button hole and finish it off. I got the 1970s pattern from an op shop. It has a little kick pleat at the front, which was easy to do and great for bike riding. And a tip from my Mum, to create a nice pleat, spray the fabric with white vinegar, then iron. Balsamic vinegar is a bit messy! 

Day 24: Just one of those days...

Those of you who suffer from allergies probably already know how bad the pollen has been these last few days - but for those of you who don't I can assure you it's been bad. Awful. Today was one of those miserable, cotton wool head days where I just wish I was at the ocean, where everything is grand and no one ever suffers from allergies (actually I have no evidence to back up this claim, but it's always seemed that way to me). Lying on the office floor with my Hawaiian frock on and a sun hat to rest my allergy eyes was as close as I could come.

The frock came from an antique store of sorts on the Hawaiian island of Kawaii. I've had to mend it several times as the thin cotton is so worn it keeps tearing so I'll try and make a mending post soon to show you just how easy it is to repair small tears (as long as you're not a perfectionist).

In other news, it's my darling sister's birthday today - so Happy Birthday!! Lucky Scorpio, she gets the most exciting horoscopes and to celebrate her birthday during Frocktober!

Day 23: Happy Birthday

 Even though I've been almost smothered by hayfever today I managed to struggle outside and pose (next to a tree!) for today's photo. The dress is a black silk number with a stylish tulip cut, fitting for spring. Although the wrap across element becomes a little risky on a breezy day like today.
Today is Sophie's birthday (Happy Birthday!) and for the occasion I found her what is probably a frock (but may be a shirt. It's hard tell sometimes: see my post from day 15) from Gungahlin Vinnie's. I think you'll agree, it looks sensational on her.

Thanks to my family for my accessories today. The green glas beads are from my mother and the tea drinking lady ring is from the tea drinking lady (my sister). Love them both!

Day 23, 2011: Summer (and Christmas) is on it's way!

This is one of the three new dresses I have bought since Frocktober 2010. All the rest have been secondhand. And with the last week of Frocktober approaching, it's time I got them out of the closet. I got this dress from Hoola Hoop Clothing in Braidwood. It's called the Rebecca (which happens to be my middle name) and I like the 'country and western' neckerchief pattern.

It was a warm 29 degrees in Canberra today, but I spent the day with Sonja at the Irish Club in Weston selling rockin Christmas decorations at the Burlesque Bazaar. We made a nice amount of cash. Shame we spent most of it on beers and snacks. It was a fun day spent chatting to punters and other stall holders and now, I am well and truly ready for a nap!

Day 22: Frocks and creatures

 On Saturday fellow frocker Christina held a Frocks and Creatures dress up party. The idea was to go as something a little creepy or strange. There is nothing I find creepier than moths so I set about trying to create a costume in that fashion. And after gluing my fringe to my eyebrows and my eyelashes to my face I finally managed to get my moth wings attached to my eyelids. It proved a divisive costume - some loved it and others hated it (and Steve just felt like I was awkwardly winking at him the whole night because I'd nearly glued one of my eyelids shut). Having so much stuff stuck to my eyes was definitely uncomfortable - and my ensuing limited field of vision made me feel drunk long before I was. But otherwise I count it as a success.

The dress came home with me from New York and I just love it. Some people (cough*Daniel*cough) find the print a bit too much. But, you know, nothing's too much for me :-) and I so love the cut. I hope to be wearing it often this summer, but maybe without the feathers.

Day 22, 2011: leaving on a jet plane

 My work in Perth is done and I left today on the 3.30pm direct service from Perth to Canberra. I am extremely tired and my body clock is totally out of wack. No rest for the wicked... or so they say.

Today I wore a skirt with a large broderie anglaise pattern which I got from the Barrack St Salvo's in downtown Perth. It's kinda like one of those patterns - do you see the circles or the triangles? I matched with a lime coloured t-shirt and a sarong worn as a scarf which I got from the Global Carnival in Bellingen. I love purple and green together. And circles, they are my favourite shape!

Just before leaving I came across the event organiser's golf buggy. He was seen zooming around from one end of the convention centre to the other. So I snuck in a quick shot in Rick's buggy whilst he wasn't looking.

Day 21: Cabaret

Stopping in at Kremlin for a drink before dinner we found it the ideal background for todays green, flocked silk gown. It's certainly an eye catching dress with a beautiful fish tail that swishes when you walk and floats in the breeze. One of my colleagues said when she saw me this morning that I looked like someone from the 1920s. And this red velvet lounge surely brings out the '20s cabaret singer feeling of the dress.

I picked it up at Y buys in Kingston for about $6. It had a few battle scars around the hem that I took to be nicks from stray stiletto heels. However, as I was riding to dinner it occurred to me that the lady before me may have just made my mistake of not hitching the dress up adequately while cycling, thereby getting it caught in the break pads.