The Fashion of Fabulous Miss Phyrne Fisher

"Occasion dressing was fundamental to a woman of Miss Fisher's status.

It was a point of etiquette to wear appropriate outfits for every occasion."

Every day is an occasion.  I have never understood why people think otherwise.  If you know me a little then you know I "occasion" dress A LOT.  This occasion had a special reason so of course I was going to dress in homage to Miss Fisher.

In case you don't know who (the honourable) Phyrne Fisher is... she is the main character in Australian author Kerry Greenwood's series of detective novels set in 1920's Melbourne and very successfully adapted for television by Deb Cox and Fiona Eagger.

Read more here.

I am wearing a vintage floor length green & cream chevron striped dress from one of my favourite op-shops, Over The Top Vintage, which I hiked up and belted to resemble a 'flapper' drop waist dress (but is askew due to rushing around!), worn over vintage cream silk lace hemmed pants, accessorised with my vintage purple Cossack hat, an ostrich feather boa and an absolutely delicious teal Chinese coat (Manchu style?) from another favourite op-shop, Recycology plus linen gold shimmer plimsolls. 

Phyrne Fisher is my kind of (fictional) role model!  

Fierce, fearless, intelligent, sensual, sexual, deceptively laidback, sharp as a tack, multi-talented, multi-faceted, cultured, streetwise, noble, ethical, logical, practical, independent, glamourous, a feminist, feminine and fashionable!

In the TV series she is played by the wonderful Essie Davis who imbues her character with the right amount of insouciance and nonchalance and sass... in her era, Phryne would have been both a Renaissance Woman and an upstart, a rebel with class... and the wonderful costumes by costume designer Marion Bryce manifest her personality.

 Phyrne Fisher's costume from Season 3 ep 1 'Death Defying Feats'

MORE images after the jump.

GlamOcean Belt Bag

Click image to Buy Now!

I have been (making and) wearing these bags for a LONG time... and according to Vogue they are de rigueur (again).  Just please don't call them [shudder] "fanny packs" or bum bags. THIS is a belt bag and it's called GlamOcean... inspired by the iridescent turquoise/aquamarine of Fiji waters...

image by me Dec 2012

More images and how to buy after the Jump.

Fabulously Pink.

‘Fabulously Pink’ is a fashion charity event, showcasing the latest in Indian designer wear and promoting breast cancer screening awareness amongst the Indian and Sri Lankan communities and in general.
The two named communities are amongst the lowest mammogram users in New South Wales, as well as being one of the fastest growing demographics.

I'm not quite sure why this ratio discrepancy exists, from what I have gathered it is considered a stigma. I don't know why, no one can tell me.  Is it yet another feminine 'weakness'?  Like menstruation?  It's our fault we bleed. {insert the sound of dripping sarcasm here}

However, I do believe that all women tend to have a Pollyanna attitude about health, that whole "oh it won't happen to me" (I know I am guilty of it!). 

It may seem strange that a glamourous fashion parade featuring bridal wear is being used to highlight such an intense, serious issue but ‘Fabulously Pink’ is a clever association of things that matter to us; celebration of life and good health AND longevity.
'Fabulously Pink' hopes to help lessen what seems like a race specific stigma associated with breast cancer screening. Glamour is all glitz and glory and getting on with the show right?  It makes everything more palatable*.
(something I need to write about another time. The glamour of public altruism... people are so generous when they're on and for show... )

[more info and images after the jump]

Model Shivani for EthniQ by Dilini Janaratne