Good bye to my Fashion Mashie wardrobe $5 a piece. I’m at Coorparoo Bowls Club’s Car Boot Sale today – it is time to sell the things that didn’t go to the RSPCA. We dropped 4 bags off at their thrift in February and today is part 2 of getting ready to buy more clothes. I obviously broke the habit but I am starting a new job in a week and I would like to buy some new clothes for my fresh start.
Just need to make some money so I can afford to shop again!
I spent the first week of the year wearing something new every day and that was really fun. Then when I went back to work it was great to not have to think about what I put on – mornings are a bit more relaxed! But now comes the hard part … Sorting out my wardrobe.
After each load of washing I am reluctant to put anything in the cupboard because I am just going to have to take it all back out one day … One day soon! I can honestly say I have been making lots of plans and been as busy as I possibly could be to avoid sorting out my wardrobe.
Then today I got a sign – sitting in my mail box when I got home was a bag from the RSPCA asking for donations of clothes. It is time. I have lots of great excuses now to sort out my wardrobe.
Time to start Wardrobe Workout II – The Spring Clean.
Well this is it – the last outfit on the last day. That’s officially 366 days of different outfits every day from one wardrobe with no shopping. Some days there have been two or three outfits and none of them have been repeats; some days I haven’t blogged every outfit but at least one has been every day for the year.
The no shopping went really well – and I have made confession blogs for the things I did buy!
1) a great dress from my local supermarket on Day 4 that just got tonnes of wear!
2) an Alannah Hill dress in case of wedding bridesmaid emergency that hasn’t come out of the bag (we settled on me wearing an existing bridesmaid dress)
3) my outlet shopping in the States that’s in a bag ready to break out TOMORROW! Whatever will I choose?
So what can I tell you about this outfit? Well the theme at Coorparoo Bowls Club’s NYE party is New Orleans Bourbon Street blues bar so I knew I needed something to party in. I’m kicking off the night with family dinner and then will get to the bar in time to kiss my gorgeous man at midnight but my family don’t mind a bit of fancy dress!
This top was a gift from a woman I used to work with in Hong Kong who had two sons and always wished for a daughter. I was lucky enough to fill that gap for her for the four years I worked in Hong Kong. Due to its very sparkly nature it doesn’t actually get out very often but I thought tonight was the perfect opportunity. These pants are one of many hand-me-downs from my gorgeous, glamour aunt who nobody believes actually exists! She had them made in the 1980s.
I started my blog 366 days ago on new years eve as I entered 2012 in my hot pink pants and bright blue shirt so I’m taking out the year in sparkles and celebrations.
Thank you to my blog followers, Facebook followers, friends, family and everyone who has added to my wardrobe over the last 20-odd years (yes, that’s how long some of it has been around) thank you for your support, thank you for following, thank you for telling me that my blog has inspired you to shop your wardrobe and see what combinations there are and how fun accessorising can be! Thank you to those who told me my blog was worthwhile and it wasn’t just something silly and girly to do this year but something that has made people realise that we do shop too much and we can make tonnes of outfits from our wardrobes and that handing down clothes will make more stories and more exciting wardrobes. Thank you to all of those who have decided to take some time off shopping as well, I hope that the time was rewarding both monetarily and also in a way that helped you realise that your wardrobes have lots to offer. Even though only very few of us have lions and witches in our wardrobes, there are still some fabulous things, some wonderful stories and history, to be found when we dig through and play. Thank you to all of you who have given me hand-me-downs over the years. I can’t wait to wear anything that I received after mid-year as I haven’t worn any hand-me-downs since the middle of the year. Nothing added but lots gained.
And finally thank you to everyone who has taken photos for me throughout the year. I know it was painful and I really, really appreciated it especially those who were asked on multiple occasions: like Mum and Kaylee and every other day it was Tony who used all his creative inspiration to help make my blog photos more interesting and got me out from in front of my mirror!
Here’s to the great purge that starts tomorrow, starting with anything that has a hole! Interestingly that is mostly stuff bought in the last few years … And remember the last few years in my wardrobe is about 10 years!
Here’s to 2013 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!
First blog picture ever!
With my glamour aunt who gave me these pants – she is real!
Happy new year! May it be bright and shiny and full of fun, love and wonderful surprises.
With love from the Fashion Masher
This gorgeous hand-me-down made in the 1970s is from an old family friend who passed away in 1996. I wear it with love every time. I have been saving it up for this week of holidays and a date with my gorgeous boyfriend.
I thought black Giordano basics created a nice simple background for my vintage Perri Cutten skirt handed down from my mum.
But my morning walking friend obviously thought the background needed spicing up!
I had this dress made for me out of a beautiful piece of cotton given to me by my mother in my first year teaching – 1996. I wore it for my graduation as well because I loved it so much. Mum and Dad had moved to London and I didn’t drive in those days so my aunt picked me up and took me to the dressmaker’s. I have so many happy memories about going to the dressmaker and trying on this pretty little dress being made for me. It was the perfect weight to head down to the Coorparoo Bowls Club for a New Zealand hangi for my second Sweet As New Zealand Sunday. Sadly this was my only chilled out moment today! Getting ready for my next round if pre-Christmas visitors EXCITING!
You know you’re busy and stressed when you’ve been taking a photo and blogging everyday for 318 days and then one day you forget!!
Anyway, yesterday I needed to be dressed to teach across 2 campuses then get to awards nights. This Veronika Maine hand-me-down dress from my aunt is always my smart day stand-by and I added this hand-me-down belt from my sister for colour.
Today I reached back to the dressing up box. Well, actually, this skirt came out of the dressing up box a few years ago but hasn’t come out of the wardrobe for a year or so so it was time! This skirt was made for me for a photo shoot for our choir in Hong Kong when we were doing an Andrews Sisters tribute. I have been singing Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy all day! We wore black pants and khaki shirts for the show but this was for the advertisements. Love this 1940s length.
When Tyrone “Cyclone” Tongia AKA Australian boxing champion decided to retire from boxing, he had a big party to say thank you to all who had supported him and launch the next phase of his career. I was lucky enough to be invited as he trains my gorgeous BF – keeping him young and fit and keeping the pressure on me to try to one day be younger and fitter!
Talk about punching above my weight – I decided to take on a major fashion challenge … The black and white striped skirt that belonged to my mum – she of the 18-inch waist – in the 1980s and was handed down to me, cocktail length, in the 90s. Being the 1990s I decided to have it taken up to ridiculously short 90s length. I was young and skinny and it was cute.
I could never throw it out. Nearly 4 decades after its original incarnation, ridiculously short 90s looks respectfully long and demure! Though I did need to ask Tony to put the skinny-knee filter on the camera.
Every year, in honour of my dad, mum presents an award to the Queensland company doing great things in innovation in export.
It’s an inspiration each year.
Hand-me-down skirt from my sister (made by mum in the late 1980s) and hand-me-down shirt from my aunt for an all-round retro feel.
