Day 12, 13 + 14 - Frocktober 2016: Three-in-one

I'm just going to keep it short and sweet, because hey - you probably follow me on Instagram already. Right?

Day 12 - well who isn't sick of my head by now? I certainly am
Day 13 - the Doctor and I went shopping, and he's a great shopper. We found this little gem, and I have to say - I have big love for it!! 
Day 14 - this harks back to my days hunting for bargains at markets. This beauty was $5 about 15 years ago. I still love her! 

You can donate to my Frocktober fundraising here. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 27 - Vintage Mama

WHOOPS! 

I forgot to blog this frock. I am totes playing catch up. 

Frock on. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 24 - Pink Lady

It was steamy on the weekend - phew! Zoo-wee mama! So it was time to crack out one of my all-time favourite vintage frocks. My pink as a musk stick frock. I love this one.

It does have a matching belt, but do you think I could find it on Saturday morning? Nope. Which is actually fine because I kind of like the mash up with my tan plaited leather belt, the pink and my Converse. Classic. 

There's still time to sponsor me, still time to help me raise money for ovarian cancer research. 

There's no early detection test. A pap smear won't do. So that's what I'm hustling for. 

Please sponsor me today. All money goes to Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 13 - Vintage and made by my Mum (a guide to awkward poses)

Frocktober is not just about the frocks. It actually becomes a month-long marathon of awkward poses. 

My case in point? See above. 

It's often been the case that when having my frock documented - how awkward it is to move your limbs so you don't look like a giant goofball. My case in point? See below. 

This is what I call my Kate Middleton pose. 

Composed. Hand holding. Restrained. 

This is known as the 'I don't know what to do, so I'll just do this ironic Charleston manoeuvre and hopefully not dislocate my knee'. 

Why don't you try some of these poses yourself? Given I can do them, they're really quite easy to employ. 

And the main reason you're here is for the dress. My Mum made it many, many years ago and I love wearing it for that reason. It was made by her, for her. And Matt calls it 'iconic Lexi'. It's something I wore regularly when we first met. 

PS Please sponsor me. Awkward poses and all. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 10 - Red Hot 70s Vintage

In case you were wondering, and you probably weren't. I am frocking getting sick of frocks. I hear my baggy shorts calling me. They whisper my name. 

This is one of those frocks I've bought at a flea market for next to nix.. Say $2. And it scrubs up all right, doesn't it just?

Here's the link so you can sponsor me. Like you needed reminding. All money goes to slaying ovarian cancer. 

Frocktober 2015: Day 7 - No Standing. Or Stopping. Sponsor me. PLEASE!

No standing, no sitting, no stalling, no stopping. Please, please please sponsor me today!

It's day 7 of Frocktober and already frock fatigue has set in. I spied a pair of jeans on my bedroom floor and felt that feeling of longing. 

Oh well. Only 24 days to go. 24 more frocking days. 

You could help me along. Sponsor me and help me take a good swipe at ovarian cancer. All money raised goes to Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

Sponsor me now. If I reach $2,500 by Friday - someone special will visit on Monday. If you know what I mean. 

Vintage frock. 

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 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 

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

Frocktober 2014:: Day 16 - Rocking The Suburbs (Boden Clothing)

What a joy to wake up and get frocked up to celebrate the halfway mark! Halfway through the month - halfway through my fundraising. I hit $5k!! Hoorah!! 

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has sponsored me. 

And if you haven't? There's still time! Any sized donation is appreciated - and all goes to an excellent cause, to find an early detection test for ovarian cancer. The Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation receives all funds from Frocktober.

Sponsor me here. 

Today's frocking fabulous frock is from Boden (now happily shipping to Australia!). The prettiest, retro-fantastic frock you ever did spy. Fully lined and completely beautiful to wear, this one is a real beauty.

Apologies to Betty Draper - I didn't have any gloves or pantihose. 

Dress: Selina dress by Boden
Headpiece: Vintage
Handbag: Vintage

Frocktober 2014:: Day 10 - Vintage, Blousy and Big Hair

Bigger the hair, closer to God. 

I went big today. BIG! 

Big or little, I'd LOVE you to sponsor me this Frocktober. 

Together we can raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation - and help to find an early detection test. 

There might be some big looks set for next week - if I can hit $4,500 by Monday. But let's see if you sponsor me! 

Dress: Vintage black lace dress
Wig: 100% plastic

Frocktober 2014:: Day 8 - Vintage Leopard - MEEEOW!

Today was the first day I craved jeans. But I didn't cave. No. Of course I didn't. Instead I threw on a frock. Did a winged eye. Tousled my hair. And off I went, into the wilderness. 

Many years ago I used to live in Bondi. Each Sunday I would wake early and wander down to the markets to check out what vintage wares I could peruse. It was pre-inflated prices of vintage goods. I picked up this leopard print beauty for a measly $5, and she's given me so much love over the last 12 years. In fact I must be in the negatives if it came to cost-per-wear. My ROI is in the bazillions. 

If you haven't already, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could sponsor me - all money goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

The statistics are startling, and I can tell you - all the facts and figures, but what it comes down to is people. 

Cancer sucks. Wouldn't it be great if we could switch it off? It sounds simpler than it is, I know, but if everyone invested a little money into research, then maybe we could help more people live longer, healthier lives. 

You can sponsor me here. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 6 - Vintage 70s Floral Maxi

Welcome to day 6. It was stinking hot in Sydney, and I had to select something that - again - was not synthetic. 

BINGO! I pulled out this 70s halter that my other sister found for me. All florals and long, easy to wear, easy to love. 

We enjoyed a game of hide and seek in the park, the kids running rings around my running skills. We ate ice cream lying on the grass, we chatted. We timed ourselves going down the slide. We felt the heat on our skin, and relished the shadows. 

Spring. She has arrived. And this frocking was perfect for this easy day.

Please sponsor me today! Make a difference! Help change the startling numbers of Australian women dying from ovarian cancer (1 every 10 hours). It's too many! Let's help find an early detection test. 

For the whole month I'm wearing a frock to raise awareness and funds. It's called Frocktober. Please consider sponsoring me today. Any amount is a good amount, and every donation over $2 is tax deductible! 

For the record, the Doctor (my 9 yo son) would like everyone to know he took these photos. 


Dress: Vintage cotton frock. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 4 - 70s Floral

It's day 4 frockstars! 

Today I brought out an old favourite. A vintage frock I bought off eBay, back when I shopped for vintage on eBay. Like over 11 years ago. Vintage to me, and vintage back then, it's totes legit vintage. 

It's one of my all time favourite frocks, circa 70s, and bears a beautiful bright floral print. It's floaty and feminine and I really love wearing it. I wore it to one of Matt's early exhibitions when we were first courting. Yes. I did just write courting. 

My friend Em kindly took my snaps today, thank you Em! 

Don't forget there's a serious reason I am frocking up. Despite the frivolity and the fun, there is fury in my fundraising.

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of all gynaecological cancers.

Over 50% of the community incorrectly believe a pap smear diagnoses ovarian cancer.

Too many good women have been lost to ovarian cancer, now's our chance to make a difference and fund research into this insidious disease. Please sponsor me now and help find an early detection test. All money raised goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

Frocktober 2014:: Day 1 - Studio 54

Today marks the first day of Frocktober! To celebrate reaching my first $1,000 milestone, I went all Studio 54. 

Drawing inspiration from Angelica Houston, I donned a pale lilac wig, one of my favourite vintage frocks, fake tanned it up, spent over an hour of power on my make-up (not to mention the research!), and laced up my wedding shoes. Yowsers. 

I sweated over this look the night before, kept waking with anxiety thinking I couldn't do it. Yes. Such is the pressure my friends!

How did I do? 

If you don't know Frocktober is. I'll tell you! I wear 31 dresses in 31 days to help raise awareness and funds for research into ovarian cancer. All money raised goes to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Want the facts?

• Every ten hours, one woman dies from ovarian cancer in Australia
• Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death of all gynaecological cancers
• Unlike other cancers, there is NO early detection test
• Over 50% of the community incorrectly believe a pap smear diagnoses ovarian cancer
• Ovarian cancer has a lower survival rate than both breast and cervical cancer
• When detected and treated early 80-100% of women will survive beyond five years compared with only 20-30% when diagnosed at a late stage

Please help me fundraise this Frocktober and kick ovarian cancer to the kerb! 

Dress: Vintage

Shoes: My wedding shoes

Wig: From some crazy party shop

Bangles: Gifts

Tan: Fake

Stuff I Do

This weekend was wildly exciting. WILDLY! 

You will never, ever in a million years guess what I did this weekend. And you're going to be insanely jealous when you find out.

Because guess what.

I cleaned out my kitchen cupboards.

I know. I am wild. I am a party animal. I have such a compelling social life. 

But to be completely honest, it was quite satisfying. 

We live in a small rented house. It's actually no bigger than a Kleenex tissue box. When we moved in, in order to be able to move around, we just put things away - thinking "We'll come back to that and organise it once everything's unpacked."

And it's been four years. And we never did. Until this weekend. 

I sorted out my vintage vases. Yes. I have a collection. I found all this old paperwork, warranties etc, I find little pieces of family history. I tossed out some things. Like vitamins dating back to 2009. I made a few cupboards look pretty, yet I am still not finished. 

BUT on the way home from doing a little family walk, I saw an antiques store closing down. This is basically like walking a cat past an open tin of sardines. I had to have a look around, though the words from Matt rang in my ears. "Lexi, we're meant to be decluttering. You can look, but you can't buy anything. AND we don't have any money."

Well that bit was true. And yes the other bit was true too. But vintage things are my weakness. I love other people's old stuff. This is well documented from my bin diving days. 

So Tiny and I went for a quick snoop around, and in just 35 minutes I fell madly in love with these vintage shelves. Well I knew we barely had any money in the bank. But they were pulling at my heart strings. 

Everyone got really mad at me (everyone in my family, not the shop) so I took everyone home. Then (shamefully) asked Tiny if I could borrow some money from her money box, and pay her back with interest. That little dolly let me. 

So I snaffled one row of those tin shelves. And yes, Matt told me they were dysfunctional, nothing fits in them properly, but I got them. I know I am ridiculous. 

But I really love them. 

Sleep Is For The Weak:: Annelise by Sussan

It seems insomnia has taken a hold of me. I've spent many sleepless nights this week looking into the darkness. Listening to Matt sleeping. And wishing, hoping, praying that I would fall asleep quickly too.

I am like a crazy zombie.

So sleep is top of mind this week. When isn't it? Last week I told you how much I love sleep, this week I'm telling you how much I am missing sleep.

Sleep. Where for art thou?

So it seems perfectly apt to be telling you about this beautiful new collection by Annelise for Sussan.

Designed using antique laces and prints foraged from around the world, the collection is as perfectly vintage as it is timeless.

How could I resist sharing these playful images with you? It's like they've been ripped straight from a vintage magazine, and they made my heart go bompity bomp!
 

These cotton voile pyjamas are high on my Christmas wish list. Santa, yes please!

And this chemise fits so beautifully. It feels so luxe on, I've been swanning around the house in it.

In store and online now
Prices from $9.95

Day 29:: Frocktober - Sex and the City - The Whole Team

Today is a good day. Our whole team at work came dressed Sex and the City stylie, frocked to the hilt to help raise some more money for Frocktober.

And the only male in our team came as Julius Caesar. HUZZAH! 

Despite the fact I look like Patricia Field and Miss Havisham's love child, I still have meetings. External meetings. Can you imagine my delight?!

Please sponsor me! I beg you!

Dress: Vintage

Bed Jacket: Vintage

Shoes: Country Road

Necklace: Diva reject rack

Day 28:: Frocktober - So You Think You Can Nana.

This frock has a story. Pre-Frocktober I spied it in a oppie. I walked past it. I walked back to it. I looked at it. I touched it. I wasn't sure about it. So I Instagrammed it and asked you if it was too nana. 

After many people said, yep, too nana, I went and tried it on. And I liked it. Actually. I really loved it.

Not only is it vintage, but it's hand-made - and the detail is pretty darn charming. The buttonholes have been carefully hand-stitched, the lining has been carefully selected to match the green of the print. I could say I fell in love with it. 

So I snapped it up. And waited and waited and waited to wear it. 

And today was that day. It might be a bit nana, but I really love it. 

Add a belt and a pair of heels and it freshens things up. The fabric is SO so good, it's just cute.

SO this is the dress that you might have hated and I definitely fell head over heels for.

There's only three days left of Frocktober. If you've been thinking about sponsoring me - the time is nigh! 

Dress: Vintage
Shoes: Country Road
Belt: Country Road
Earrings: Sophie Kyron