Where The Wicker Bags Live..

One thing I just love to collect are wicker bags.

Wether they be true vintage or new reproductions they are just a work of art that I adore.

Wicker and woven bags were highly popular in the 1950s, often contracted into novelty shapes to add a hint of quirkiness to an outfit. 

So today I thought I'd share where Ive found some amazing wicker & woven bags..

If you're like me you've scoured though page after page on eBay and Etsy but the prices are usually astronomical! Now in saying that.. if your willing to cheap regularly and put the time in sometimes you can snag a bargain. 

I found this red one for about $30 and this gorgeous brown woven purse was about $45 (those prices both included shipping). 

Ive found searching under different names can help the bargain hunt:

-wicker bag
-wicker purse
-woven bag 
-rattan bag
-vintage straw bag
etc.

My first recommendation would be to pop into antique stores, usually these shops are so focused on selling the big price items like furniture and jewellery that things like bags are marked quite cheap.

Now you have to be willing to look for bags, they are not always on display.

Look in boxes, under shelves and even at the bottom of the bargain boxes.

I picked up these bags below each for around $15 and they are in perfect condition.

 

Now for new wicker & woven bags, the best kept secret. 

Aliexpress!!!

A lot of big name companies actually purchase their wicker bags from Aliexpress but sew in their own labels and mark the prices up 100% or more. 

Again you may scour through a few pages to find some bargains (they will have many of the same products but with competitive prices) but they are totally worth it and they usually come with FREE SHIPPING.!!

I usually just search “wicker bags” and here are just some of the results..

 (some may look familiar..)

The snail bag is a Kate Spade knock off which retails for over $300!!

A lot of pinup companies are selling these bags for over $50

Another Kate Spade knock off again the real thing retails for over $300

Hope This helps you on your wicker bag hunt

Much Love

Betté

xx

All Hail The Eyebrow Queen

Today I would love you all to meet a good friend of mine, 

and also my personal eyebrow saviour..

Stephanie aka Style By Divine

This stunning lady did a complete overhaul on my eyebrows last week and I just had to share this amazing woman with you all.

During my session with Steph, I got to talk to her about her business 'Style By divine' and also about her new cosmetic line (which I will be reviewing and blogging about in the coming weeks!).

Firstly, lets just start by saying how darn beautiful Steph is, inside and out!

I first met Steph when she worked at the local Vintage Repro Store Miskonduct, and being honest, kind, and caring person its really hard not to fall in love with her!

Walking into Stephs Studio, I was just in awe of all the amazing vintage pieces she had. 

You could see that she just had a connection with every single item and each was picked with passion admiration.

 If i could have, i probably would have run away with this gorgeous mid century display case and immaculate sofa.

I adore this picture of Stephs mother who won the Golden Jubilee in 1954. Isn't she just stunning, you can definitely tell where steph got her good looks from.

Before she got stuck into my brows we had a chat..

Hey Steph, can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I was trained as a beauty therapist in 1990 at The Advanced School of beauty therapy, I then went on to further develop my makeup skills with Ross Fairhurst and Ive also trained at the Sydney college of make up art.

Always working in the beauty industry I have previously managed and owned my own salons, and currently I have a small home studio where I take appointments for brow, make up and hair styling.

When I'm not in the studio I am a mum/step mum to 5 teenagers and a wife to my best friend. 

How do you juggle being a mum,a wife and running your own business? 

It crazy, I’m actually busier now than when I was working full time. 

Honestly, some days I think “how do i do it?!”  , with 4 teenage boys still at home, their sport and my business, We definitely have routines and Im lucky to have an extremely helpful husband.

when/how did you get into the vintage lifestyle? 

Ive always had a fondness for things vintage, when I was a little girl, my dad and I would always go around and collect vintage furniture and restore them, my house is full of old things we found together. But it wasn't until about 6 years ago was when I really started dressing vintage that it kind of became my life. 

Your the eyebrow queen, what do love about doing eyebrow makeovers?

I just love the transformation, and the reaction form my clients. The fact that when eyebrows are styled they can shape and frame the face in a completely different way.

A lot of ladies say when time are tough if they can just get their eyebrows done it make them feel a million times better!

What beauty products can you absolutely not live without?

Definitely eyeliner and eyebrow pencils!!

Do you have any words of wisdom you would want to share?

They say many things in life are sent to test us...Its not how many times u get knocked down.. Its having the strength to get back up and carry on. 

Just be honest and be yourself and everything else will fall into place.

 Don't you just love her?

........... 

Below is a Before and After picture of my eyebrows.. 

What a transformation right!?
I never thought my brows were bad but when Steph gave them a makeover I swore Id never go back to my big bushy brows!

For my transformation Steph waxed, precisely shaped and tinted my brows, she then finished off with applying some 'Poni Brow' products to fill them in and accentuate the shape.

 Stephs recommended brow cosmetics, Poni Brow

 She also recommends McArthur Skin Care Products, which are great if you have sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema. 

As I said before I will be also reviewing Style By Divine Cosmetics, you can find out more about these products or if you have a brow enquiry by contacting steph herself..

stylebydivineinfo@gmail.com

Please also Check out Stephs website

Stylebydivine.com.au

and

Instagram @stylebydivine

Much Love

Betté

xx

Seaside Siren

The Sea Garden Skirt From Banjo & Cake

When this skirt arrived in the post I squealed in delight because it was even more perfect in person than in the pictures.

I love anything with a cute and quirky pattern, and this one just ticked all the right boxes..

Seriously.. octopuses, squid, fish and seahorses, how could I say no?!

Discovering Banjo & Cake on Instagram, I fell in love with there rockabilly inspired range. 

Usually I go for more of the traditional pinup look, however sometimes I like to branch out into edgier styles and I feel like the Sea Garden Skirt works so perfectly. 

Made from silky poly/cotton material with a lining of a soft knit and tulle, which gives this skirt shape with or without a petticoat. 

Designed with a simple invisible zip at the back, and the best surprise ever... pockets!!

From the picture below you can see how chuffed I was to discover those bad boys, I just think every dress and skirt should have pockets!

How adorable is this print...I'm in heaven!!

Ive teamed this gorgeous skirt with a top I bought from Forever New, a simple blue chiffon scarf, belt from Pinup Girl Clothing and Black flats from Target.

The simplicity of the red lipstick and nails create a beautiful contrast amongst all the blue and black, and its such fun look which can be easily dressed up by adding heels.  

These photos were taken by my loving fiancé at the gorgeous local beach in Dudley, NSW. 

Being such perfect weather and such an amazing location we were able to run around and get some amazing shots. 

If you love this skirt, it also comes in a dress, leggings, socks, cardigan and swimwear (which is a personal fav)..

Check out this skirt and much more at 

Banjo & Cake

www.toofastonline.com/m-292-banjo-cake.aspx 

instagram.com/banjoandcake

Much love

Betté

xx

Hello Miss Monica

The Monica Dress By Pinup Girl Clothing

 Lets all just take a moment.. 

To marvel at the utter brilliance that is this dress!

I have been drooling over the Monica for over a year now, wanting it in every amazing colour it has been released in (of course) but had never had the occasion to actually buy it.

So when we started planning our engagement party I knew that this was the dress!

Never having owned, let alone even tried on The Monica, I'd heard raving reviews from everyone who did. So with their knowledge and admiration for the dress I took a chance..

and when my FedEx package arrived (surprisingly quick too) I was head over heels in love.!

 Wearing Earrings from Lovisa

 Literally hugging your curves, The Monica moulds to the body with ease.

I bought the size small and whilst it is a squeeze to get on (i simply step into the dress and pull up..seemed a bit harder over the head) its surprisingly extremely comfortable.

Wearing it all night at our engagement party, I had no problems at all with the dress..

 well except trying to tell my sisters/cousins "no" to when they asked if they could please try it on. 

Admiring the Monica for so long there was several things I noticed when I first tried it on. First of all there was the side zip, for some silly reason I thought the dress was stretchy enough that it just slipped on. But the side zip is one of the key elements of the unique design, an invisible zip which sits right in with the touching of the dress, almost unnoticeable unless you lift you arm (as I did in the picture below).

Also there is an amazing lining in the bodice, 

which is a firmer material to really pull you in and 

help create that marilyn-like hourglass shape. 

Again it was something I didn't expect..but now I wish all my wiggle dresses had this feature!

 All photographs were taking by my amazing cousin Clair in Morpeth NSW.

The Monica comes in sizes XS-4XL and is one of those amazing dresses that truly does suit every shape and size, its like every single Monica is sewn with a little bit of PUG magic to make every one wearing it look like a screen siren.

Pinup Girl have created an Iconic dress and every women needs to own at least one Monica.. or two, or five!

The Monica comes in 13 different colours and they are all so perfect.

Check them out now 

pinupgirlclothing.com

I hope you enjoyed this post

Much Love 

Betté

xx

Dapper Doll

The Elvy Dress By Daisy Dapper

My first ever Daisy Dapper dress... The Elvy dress in Sand!

Wearing this dress last weekend I actually had a lady come up to me and ask if it was 

true vintage!

Now this is an easy mistake to be made, especially with its 1940s design and the fact that it is made with the finest cotton/poly material.

Drooling over this dress on the Daisy Dapper website I knew it had to be mine, 

the tough part was choosing the colour! 

The Elvy comes in Plum, Sand and Salt/Pepper.

 Such perfect colours, it was literally like having to choose between my favourite children (not that I have any).. 

so maybe more like picking out a favourite icecream flavour... 

hahaha what am I saying its always chocolate!!! 

I have been searching for new clothes to wear for winter, and as I found out the hard way, the Elvy definitely keeps the heat it.  Being the thick cotton/poly blend and if I add stockings and a coat or cardigan, the Elvy will get me through the winter blues!

The Elvy features a high back and such a unique collar, the material has stretch and with perfectly positioned darts in the back, side and front, the dress moulds around your bodies  shape. With the assistance of the included belt, which draws in the waist, I was given a heavenly hourglass shape even without wearing a corset underneath.

Another thing I love about this dress is the the long zip at the back, it is an enclosed zip, so it doesn't open at the top, but DD have designed the zip to be long enough that the Elvy can be slipped on with ease.

I just love the detail on the Elvy

All Photographs were taken by my uncle Geoff and cousin clair, in my uncles backyard. Thank you so much to both of them for helping me out!

Daisy Dapper can be found on Instagram and Facebook, 
where they constantly tease a girl with perfect new designs.

And check out their amazing website for more unique designs

daisydapper.com

I hope you have enjoyed this post as much as I have! Please remember to send feedback or leave comments as I love to hear from you.

Much Love 

Betté

xx