Frocktober 2015: Day 29 - Natashya Manfield - Technicolour Love

It's big love with this frock that's high on colour. It's the fit, the cut and the design that has my heart swooning. 

The super clever Natashya Manfield crafted it - alas I believe right now she's ditched fashion to pursue law. 

That just seems almost criminal. 

Frocktober. Frock on! 

Frocktober 2015: Day 17 - Little Tienda

Day 17 and it's time for a Little Tienda sweet action. Comfortable, stylish and perfect - so perfect for this hot weather. WOO! 

Em generously donated $3 per shared shot on Instagram of beauties wearing their Little Tienda frocks using the tag #frockthatcancer. We raised $198 - going straight to Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

But it's only day 17, and we're not done yet! Please if you can donate a small amount, any amount to my fundraising, I will love you long time, and so will my ovaries. 

x

Frocktober 2015: A little frocking help from my frocking friends

Doing Frocktober is a lot of frocking work. It might not seem that way, it includes:

a) frocking up

b) getting a photo of me every single day for 31 days (cue awkward poses)

c) documenting it

d) getting people to sponsor me

e) thinking up themes

f) doing YouTube tutorials for said themes

g) getting up early enough to do said tutorials and get ready - 

it's demanding. And this year has been exceptionally tough given I've started a new job and it is super duper busy. (of course the kick back is huge, over the last four years I have raised over $20K).

But I've got my game face on. Let's do this. 

To my delight, this afternoon I took a peek at Facebook and discovered my former colleagues all frocked up in my honour - including some men. My goodness. You don't even know how much this touched me! IT TOUCHED ME! It totally made my day. In fact I just feel a bit wired still. 

They raised money, they dressed up the drinks trolley (yes you read right) with my pom poms and they did Frocktober frocking proud. 

Thank you my friends! Thank you!! 

And here's today's frock. I almost forgot to document it. But it's one of my all-time favourites, by Obus. 

Sponsor me here, I need to hit the high notes next week, and there'll be  a reward. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 4 - Vintage, Spotted and French

It probably wasn't a good day to choose this frock, because... it's a synthetic, and it's a steamy day. But whatevs. 

I like the cut of its jib and I like spots. And navy. And the ruffle down the front. And the fact it once belonged to a chic French woman. So I wore it. 

Sponsor me today! I dare you! Help me say - FROCK YOU to ovarian cancer. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 31 - Last DAY! Carmen Miranda

What a wild ride this month has been! Thank you for coming along. Thank you for your generosity. Your kind words. Your lifting me up in whatever way. 

Mid-month, I really, really thought I was going to struggle hitting the $10k. I was really worried and more than a couple of times my mouse lingered over the goal button, wondering if I should adjust it. 

I am so frocking glad I didn't. I am so glad you came along for the ride.

There are SO many people I need to thank that helped me reach my goal. So many. 

For starters, my excellent, beautiful, generous friend Emilie, who has taken my photo most days - she has a wonderful eye, and I can't even begin to thank you! Thank you mostly for being exceptionally patient - particularly when I kept banging on about taking my photo. It's a task! 

I must also thank Matt and the Doctor and Tiny. Most people won't know but I put a lot into frocking up each day (and then social media-ing 'til all hours after work) - which means my mind is elsewhere. The house is a mess, I may have been a bit grumpy, and you've been exceptional. Thank you.

I won't go into all the thank yous today, because really. Let's talk about the outfit. Carmen Miranda. A true style icon. I kept waking up all night wondering if Carmen was enough. Well of course Carmen is and always will be enough, but was Lexi as Carmen enough (after Frida, what would satiate the frocking hungry?). Then I wondered if the vintage frock I had kept aside was enough.

I hope you think it's enough.

I've had fun as Carmen. She's a brilliant, strong, inspirational woman.

And to raise money to support brilliant, strong, inspirational women? I hope it goes some way in finding an early detection test for ovarian cancer. 

This is my third year of Frocktober, I wanted it to be bigger and better - and it frocking was. You  guys made it frocking frocktastic. 

Thank you. 

(this is a photo Emilie took of me working. So serious. Find Em on Instagram at @milietea - you should follow her. She's ace)

You can still sponsor me here. 

All funds raised goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Frocktober 2014:: Day 30 - It is easy being green (BirdsNest)

I can't even begin to tell you how frocking tired I am. Exhausted even. 

Frocking up doesn't sound like a lot, but there's the planning, the learning new hair and make-up, the social media-ing late at night. I am totally pooped. 

Thankfully I had this maxi from Birdnest to throw on. Seriously. A saving grace. 

A casual classic, it's great belted, or if you prefer things breezier, leave it loose. Either way, it's super comfortable and the oversized shape works well on lots of body types. 

Now let's carefully think of this. There's only ONE more day of Frocktober to go. 

That's one more day of me banging on about it. You might be relieved, well I am more relieved-er. I was looking forward to a sleep in on Saturday until I realised we had swimming first thing in the morning. And by first thing I mean we have to leave the house by 7:45am.

Cue the world's smallest violin.

By the way, if you haven't already donated to Frocktober to help kick ovarian cancer to the kerb, you still have time! Go here now - every amount is brilliant. 

The OCRF is not government funded, and with one Australian woman dying every 10 hours from ovarian cancer, it's the aim to find an early detection test to help change that figure. 

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me this month. I really couldn't have reached my goal without everyone of you. Thank you. 

As a side note, if you feel like getting frocked tomorrow - please do! I'd love to see your frock - so please use the hashtags: #frocktober #pmmfrocks so I can see you! We need to raise awareness for ovarian cancer and spread the word. 

Dress: Bonnie Maxi dress in Floral Garden by that bird label from Birdnest

Frocktober 2014:: Day 29 - Shine Bright Like a Diamond (Natashya Manfield)

Big news! Today I hit the $10k! OH EM GEEEEE!!! Thank you to all 164 of my motherfrocking brilliant sponsors. You guys are the frocking biz! 

So today, it feels fitting to go full tilt colour - with this Peggy dress from Natashya Manfield. How ridiculously beautiful is this?! Natashya is an incredibly amazing designer from Melbourne. Check her out. Now. 

If you haven't already donated, I'd be ever so stoked if you still threw a few dollars my way. 

The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation receive no government funding and rely on the support of our community to assist in driving research forward.

Don't be shy! Any donation is awesome - and anything over $2 is tax deductible. 

Dress: Peggy dress from Natashya Manfield

Frocktober 2014:: Day 27 - Spot On! (Madeleine Charles)

Guess what?! It's the last week of Frocktober! That's right motherfrockers - and only five days left. Which means only five frocks! FROCK! 

Today's is a spotty delight from Madeleine Charles. It's the Paloma coat paired with the Emily Shift dress, and it garnered lots of compliments today! 

Given there's only a few days until it's over for the year - perhaps now is a good time to sponsor me? Go on! Give up a coffee for a day - and donate the $3. It's tax deductible - and every single dollar helps. 

Dress: Madeleine Charles 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 25 + 26 - Camping, Frocking, Cockatooing, Fundraising

Quick. Gather around. I've got something to tell you. 

There's only five more frocks to go. That means there's only five more days to donate to Frocktober. To work with me to hit ovarian cancer where it hurts. To help fund an early detection test. To find out what makes ovarian cancer tick. 

We need this test. 

I know I've told you this a million times before. But let's think about it in terms of real life people. 

One Australian woman dies every 10 hours from ovarian cancer. 

That's HUGE. 

If we can find an early detection test, we can improve the survival of women with ovarian cancer. 

Over 50% of the community incorrectly think that a pap smear will diagnose ovarian cancer. Wrong. But don't stop having pap smears. 

The average age of women at diagnosis is 63 years. Think of all those beautiful, strong women we could help by donating a small amount.

******

Above is day 26 - a frock made from beautiful painterly Nani Iro fabric. 

Below is day 25 - since we were going camping/gramping (on Cockatoo Island), I decided not to pack the picnic rug but to wear it instead. 

Please sponsor me today. I've frocked my guts out this year (my third participating in Frocktober) and would dearly love to help the OCRF with much needed funding. 

Click here to sponsor me. All donations are tax deductible. Every little bit helps. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 24 - Calling Iris Apfel

It was the day that had to come. It was the day I wore half my body weight in jewellery. It was the day I had to muster my inner stylista and become the one and only -- Iris Apfel.

Can you see the uncanny resemblance?

And yes, for most of the day - I was Iris. And then a board member saw me and I conveniently disappeared into the lift. Still in full Iris mode.

The likes, the comments, the shares - they're all great and important, because it is about awareness, but if you threw me $2 (which is tax deductible) you'd also be helping find an early detection test for ovarian cancer. 

I am grateful for each and every donation. Please, if you can, throw some coin to my fundraising and help us get closer 


Here's why your fundraising dollars are crucial to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation:

• Did you know ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cause of cancer death in Australian women?
• On average three Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every day.
• The five year survival rate for Australian women with ovarian cancer is only about 40%.
• In comparison, the five year survival rate for breast cancer is about 88%

If you'd like to donate - please go here. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 23 - Ethereal Elegance (Lee Mathews)

It's been a long month. And there's still a week to go. 

Today, after exercising in a frock, I was excited to switch into something light and ethereal. Meet the Charlotte dress from Lee Mathews. Silk and lace, it's a cinch to feel good and look smart. I've tried it with my favourite Chucks, but it looks good with sandals, or a neutral heel too. 

It's a great day dress (heck, there ain't no Lee Mathews dress I've ever met that I didn't love) - I can imagine it's going to be a firm staple in my summer wardrobe.

Speaking of wardrobe - Frocktober is not just about fashion. It's about raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Please help me reach my goal - I'm so close, but still need your help. 

Dress: Charlotte dress from Lee Mathews 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 22 - Vintage, Zesty and Brief. Just the way you like it.

Today is day 22! Only nine days to go! Nine days until Frocktober is done and dusted for the year, and I will stop banging on about ovarian cancer. 

Or will I?

I know a full tilt month is pretty heavy handed. But heck, it's totally worth it. I get to raise money for a cause I am passionate about - and I get to spread awareness of this terrible, silent disease. It's pretty important. 

So what can you do right this minute? 

Share it on your own social media feeds. One Australian woman every 10 hours - that's a huge, staggering figure. 

You can donate. ANY size donation is amazing. And $2 from everyone that follows me on social would well and truly help me reach my target. 

I just really, really want you to help me reach my target. I work really bloody hard ALL MONTH to spread the word. And it's tax deductible. 

I'm passionate about this because it's important. Women are important. Gynaecological cancers are the pits. Any cancer is the pits. You know it. I know it. We all know it. So let's kick it. 

Donate now. Please!

Dress: Vintage Simona 

Day 21:: Fifties. My Favourite (Boden Clothing)

While I'm getting frocked up every morning, I wonder - is anyone going to sponsor me today?

Every day I hope I have reminded people why I am doing it. 

The frocks are fun. But the crux of it is ovarian cancer. The silent killer. The cancer that has no early detection test. 

If you'd like to be part of finding a cure, I'd really love you to sponsor me today. 

Every dollar counts - and any donation over $2 is tax deductible. Big, small, no matter what size, it all goes towards the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Forgo a coffee for a day and donate that money to Frocktober? Go on. Your ovaries need you. 

Today's frock is from Boden. Holy toledo. It's one of my favourites. Such a gorgeous fifties inspired cut, and that print just thrills me! Plus it's in cotton sateen, so the fall and drape is really, really pretty. 

I wore it today with flats, but I've tried it on with heels and that looks HOT. 

I curled my hair, added a snood, did my winged eyeliner and have decided that fifties is my era. I love fifties. However, the time required to maintain this look? Yowsers. Betty Draper must have had a lot of spare time on her hands. 

Admittedly, the more I do this beauty regime, the quicker I get. So I guess that's going for it!

Dress: Amy dress from Boden Clothing 

An Interview with Kylie Zerbst - Obus

I've said it many times before - I am really passionate about our local industry. I've always been an avid supporter of independent Australian labels. Back when I was 19, just starting out in PR, I introduced myself to the ksubi boys (way back when it was tsubi) and offered to do their PR for contra. It was a crazy time, but awesome to cut my teeth on an iconic brand. I love being part of that creativity, that buzz. Nothing's changed since then.

It's a passion that feeds into my wardrobe where most of my clothes are mostly vintage, or locally designed. I don't really pay much attention to what's happening on the world stage of fashion (except to marvel at the couture catwalks) because we have SO much awesome talent right here. 

So this Frocktober I aimed to work with local brands that really resonated with me. I almost didn't approach Obus because - let's be honest, they are ridiculously cool. Then I decided to throw caution to the wind and approached. 

I am so happy I did - I got to work with a super cool, quality label - that's locally made, and I got to learn more about Kylie, founder of the label. 

Describe Obus in 10 words

Quality threads for the modern adventuring woman... 

Life before Obus. What was it? 

I was a graphic Designer. I studied at RMIT, then did my masters as well as taught Design... They are broad skills to have and although I've ended up in a different place those design skills are part of my everyday way of working.

Where do you find inspiration? 

Well it just pops out at you whenever it feels like it and sometimes not when I need it - but the idea of Obus is to take our ladies on a journey each season... So travel, the places I visit on my holidays… But also in very ordinary everyday things... Broken umbrellas, flowers, people, small moments and films.

What's the design process for new collections?  

Going around in circles it feels like sometimes… But we get there (somewhere!) in the end.

If you had to choose just one - what is your favourite piece from the Obus collection? 

Ha ha I can never just choose one - The Nathalie Mesh top in citrine... The Spots skirt... The Kachina tee...

Best part of your job? 

I love working on the prints for each collection. On a different level though it feels so good to roll into the Obus studio (which is on top of the Obus store in Northcote) and work with such an amazingly creative and strong bunch of women each day!

Is there a worst bit? 

Of course. Retail can be very tough sometimes, and that's hard on the whole team. It's hard to know how to keep everyone feeling good about what they are working on - because no matter how hard you try sometimes things just don't work. 

What's your career highlight to date? 

Obus opened the show for the Ford Supermodel of the World awards in New York many moons ago. That was such an amazing moment waiting with all of the aspiring young ladies backstage for the announcements, I will never forget the atmosphere! 

What was your creative outlet as a child? 

Knitting, drawing, sewing, writing.

Did you have a dream job when you were growing up? What was it? 

Archaeologist, writer of GRUG books.

Got a song on repeat? What is it? 

Ha ha sorry I can't think of one right now... But something by The Knife maybe.

All time favourite movie? 

Any period drama will do me.

Early worm or night owl? 

A bit of both, probably not always in the best order. Orlo was in bed with me VERY early this morning, around 4.30... So I was regretting staying up until late reading, but I wouldn't give up the cuddles for anything!

Champagne or cocktails? 

Champagne THEN cocktails...

Social butterfly or homebody?

Homebody! My partner Simon and my little 2yo man Orlo are always there... All the fun in the world!!! 

If you could only have one beauty product for the rest of your life, what would it be? 

Does lavender oil count?

Last person you spoke to? 

Annie who works next to me in at the Obus studio.

Stripes or spots? 

Spots.

Where to next? 

The next Obus journey is 'Memphis Dreaming'... Memphis inspired prints, colourful sandals and espadrilles, swimwear and loads of great dresses for a beautiful summer...

*********

With special thanks to Kylie, Annie and Obus for supporting me this Frocktober.

Shop the Obus collection now. 

Follow Obus on Facebook. 

So much inspiration on the Obus Instagram feed.

Or maybe follow Kylie on Instagram? Her curatorship is tres magnifique! 

Or get inspired with their Pinteresthttp://www.pinterest.com/obusclothing/ boards

And you can tweet the good Obus peeps too!

Frocktober 2014:: Day 20 - An Homage to Barbara Cartland

So I didn't reach my $6k milestone, and I'd promised Iris Apfel if I did. So I didn't do it. I didn't commit to Iris. 

Instead here's my modern-day homage to the Duchess of Pink - Barbara Cartland. And if you're like my colleagues and have no idea who I am referring to - google is now your best friend and quit making me feel ancient.

By the way, in case you thought I just dressed up for my photo and then ditched the garb - I don't. My beautiful colleague and friend Em photographed me in the wild, sitting at my desk typing. I go to work in my outfits. All day. And go to lunch. And anywhere I have to go. 

How's that for commitment to slaying ovarian cancer? 

It's day 20 which means there are just 11 days left to go.

Are there any special celebrity requests? 

Is there something you'd like me to do that will tip you over the edge? 

Go on. It's tax deductible. Donate today and you can put in a special request. All special requests will be considered dutifully. 

Hit here. Save our ovaries. 

Dress: Vintage
Coat: Vintage

Frocktober 2014:: Day 19 - Out Of Africa (and on the home run) (Fabrik)

Can you believe I've been through 19 days already? That's 19 different frocks. 

You might think 'Big deal PMM, frocking up is no big deal.' I thought the same until I started doing it three years ago. And pretty quickly you realise that wearing a frock, and being on public display, and talking about it, and getting people to engage, give their hard earned money, and come onboard. It's bloody hard work. 

Of course - it's all worth it. Every single dollar I raise goes to help find an early detection test for ovarian cancer. Currently there is none. Can you believe it? Ovarian cancer is known as 'the silent killer' because symptoms are vague. We don't know enough about it. 

If you donate to Frocktober, you will be helping wage aware against this insidious disease. One Australian woman dies from ovarian cancer every 10 hours. 

Today's frock is from the fabulous Fabrik. It's a beautiful linen frock that I threw over my head, threw on a necklace, and BOOM! I am out the door.The more I wash it and wear it more, the fabric will become even more beautiful, such is linen! 


As a special offer to PMM readers - Fabrik is offering 10% discount. Just use the code: POTTYMOUTHMAMA. (Available until October 22nd). 

Dress: Linen Hanky dress by Fabrik
Corny Pose: Model's own

Frocktober 2014:: Day 18 - Sick Of Me

Sick of seeing my head? Yes. Me too.

This one is for you. 

Sponsor me here.

If I hit $6k by Monday - a big milestone frock for you. Iris Apfel. 

Go on. Dig deep. You know you want to. 

Frocktober 2014:: Very Vintage-y (Lazybones)

So Spring decided to revert back to Winter, and things are what I'd call - chilly. I brought out my velvet bolero that I wore for my wedding, and worked it back with the Lara frock from Lazybones. 

The print (Sorrento) is so, so lovely - vintage inspired, and the cut suits me to a tee, A-line delights. You can never go wrong! 

I carefully coiffed my hair into pin curls, donned a snood, some red lips and an oversized flower that Nan from Rummage made many years ago (still a favourite). 

Et voila! 

Many thanks to every single one of my frocking sponsors. You really know how to make a grown woman cry. 

If you've been thinking about sponsoring, every single dollar counts, so if it's small, medium or large - it all goes to kicking ovarian cancer's ass. 

Please help today. 

Dress: Lara dress in Sorrento by Lazybones