Donnadoesdresses

Blog

  • Having Fun Wearing Wigs

    Changing the Look of Things

    I really love changing things up, which my style being somewhat eclectic, reflects.

    When I saw this cute little synthetic wig I just couldn’t resist the fun of it.

    Teamed with a thrifted tartan boyfriend blazer and with plenty of texture in the linen-silk wide-legged pants and satin cowl neck top the whole look was edged up with these fabulous buckled shoes and a cross-body bag.

    The blazer is thrifted and I love the way it fitted so seamlessly into my existing wardrobe.
    The look is man style with a twist.
    Love the look of the bob from behind.
    I’m feeling arty and comfortable in this chic look.

    Saturday Night Vibes

    It was a weekend of wig wearing with the inclusion of more black, this time in the shape of a little black (velvet and thrifted) dress.

    I shifted the part of the wig to the middle for this look and the result was very pleasing.

    (Excuse the pics, the light is not good but it was too dark to get any pics outside as the days become shorter as we move towards the winter here in Australia).

    Velvet is such a beautiful and sensuous fabric, just love wearing it whenever I can!
    In the interest of excellent quality and sustainability I’ve been sourcing much of my wardrobe second hand.

    Out and About

    More second-hand thrifted goodies here and another opportunity to get the wig out and happening.

    A thrifted, short black designer trench finished this cute look.
    High-waisted thrifted tartan straight-legged pants, along with the thrifted, cool scarf, elevates this casual outfit.
    Leather and suede thrifted booties, thrifted of course, finished the outfit.

    This outfit proved to be chic streetwear, wearable, comfortable and elevated casual thrifted pants, booties, scarf and trench to a much higher level.

    It’s been a fun few days wearing this wig and I can see myself popping it on regularly for a change of look whenever the vibe grabs me.

    Life’s too short to wait for long hair!

    My own hair is medium/shoulder length and for a whole lot of reasons won’t grow much longer so it’s really fun to be able to pop on some length when the mood grabs me.

    I was so excited to put this gorgeous outfit together because I love romantic, retro styling and it was such a great opportunity to wear my long curly wig!

    The dress is not thrifted, nor is the jacket but I purchased them from a little boutique I have loved to frequent for going on 20 years, since not long after we moved from the southern highlands to Wollongong.

    Jude is a small scale designer who has decided to move onto other things, namely country music making so I was able to pick up a couple of cute pieces for a great sale price.

    The fabric of the dress is a gorgeous silk organza and the cord velvet jacket is such a lovely contrast of texture and is versatile and looks great worn with wide legged jeans as well as this beautiful dress.

    Paired with the beret and long boots and thrifted little case there was a definite retro vibe for a birthday lunch for my son at Bowral, in the chilly southern highlands.

    I loved the feminine vibe of this wig and outfit but I may trim it up a bit in future wears – who knows?

    I’d love to hear your thoughts on wearing wigs or hairpieces for the fun of it – just for fashion and to change up the look of things.

    Thank you for joining me here in my little corner of the web!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝🇦🇺

  • Going crazy for boho!

    Going crazy for boho!

    What is Boho style?

    It’s a style that’s making a huge comeback as we make our way through the 2020s, although some of us say that it never really went away.

    I can tell you that for my casual style, Boho has always been a favourite of mine, since way back when.

    It’s such a cute and fun look for a mild spring or autumn day.

    Since retiring from a career as senior executive in Education I find that ease and comfort are now front and centre, rather than being all buttoned up, so I’ve been pretty immersed in this delightful style.

    These warm, earthy colours work so well to give a more relaxed vibe.

    The mix of tones of brown, orange and cream work together to create a chic, elegant look.
    It’s hard to beat cool, linen, wide-legged pants, a lacy knit and a flowy duster ..
    The details of the fringed and feathered cross-body bag and patterned scarf, along with lots of other accessories, reflects the character of boho style.
    Don’t forget the wrist candy, the belt and bakers boy cap!
    Add a statement choker and you’re good
    to go!

    Back In Black..

    Of course, Boho also embraces femininity to the max and this beautiful embroidered dress encapsulates the style so well.

    The tiered skirt and full, bishop sleeves give a delicate and girly feel to the outfit and provides a lovely movement as you walk.

    This dress has a drawstring waist but I wanted to emphasise more shape because the dress is very voluminous.

    The dragonfly is my spirit animal and this stunning necklace with turquoise accents is the perfect piece to give the dress a Boho Western look.

    As with the previous look where I was wearing pants, I stuck with wearing booties because to me, they most reflect Boho style and this outfit, in particular, also embodies a western look.

    The booties were a steal from a local op-shop (thrift shop) and were only $8, a great price for a pair of brand new booties!

    I always associate a fringed piece with Boho style and once again I was happy that this one also has a touch of turquoise to tie in with my necklace and earrings.

    The other good thing about this gorgeous dress is that it can easily be worn with tights and a big coat as we move into winter or with sandals in spring.

    Neutral Territory

    If you’ve read any of my other posts you’d know that I love wearing monochromatic outfits and lovely, soft neutrals.

    This ensemble is full of texture and has many of the features of the previous two outfits, such as lace details, a flowy scarf, a fringed bag and booties.

    The neutrals play well together and give a delicacy to this beautiful outfit.
    Things were kept relaxed with the crochet top loose over the bias, fitted satin skirt.

    It’s pretty remarkable that there are so many styles within the style of Boho that makes it versatile and accessible which makes it such a positive go-to for women of all ages and sizes.

    I’d love to hear your thoughts on Boho fashion and style so leave a comment below.

    Thank you for visiting my little corner of the web,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • As Winter Fades

    As Winter Fades

    It had been a long drive the day before from the farm in Eden back up to Wollongong and so a more casual and relaxed outfit was the order of the day.

    A pair of girlfriend jeans with a cute little hoodie top and suede loafers were elevated with my much loved brown tartan blazer.

    Overall, the look was simple and chic and very wearable for completing quite a few errands here and there.

    Love the pairing of blue with the brown blazer with its blue stripe.
    As winter fades it’s time to slip into something a bit lighter, although this much worn blazer came in handy again.
    A navy tote was perfect for holding a few goodies.
    These suede loafers are comfort personified and are nice and relaxed.
    The little blue hoodie top emphasised the relaxed vibe of the outfit.

    All Dressed Up

    Some people advise against prints but I really love this one.
    I added some turquoise that was present in the dress with the earrings and a necklace.
    A little brown leather cross-body bag was the finishing touch, along with the booties, belt and sunnies.
    The bare white legs are a bit confronting after a winter spent covered up to the max.

    The print works so well because this is just a simple sheath dress that skims the body and is incredibly comfortable and can be slipped into and out of, with ease.

    I have a very eclectic style but there is always a signature where my dressing is concerned, and that’s with wearing booties or boots, rather than pumps, with dresses and skirts.

    A simple dark denim cropped jacket over the top finished this look …

    A Different Take:

    The climate 400 kms south in Eden is considerably cooler than in Wollongong so I added some cute layers that gave this dress a whole new look and feel.

    Warm chocolate tights, a thrifted men’s vest and cosy suede western booties gave a snugglier vibe, although I kept the turquoise jewellery.

    With the addition of a thrifted men’s vest, a wide suede belt, thrifted western saddle bag and tortoiseshell sunnies, the look completely changed.
    Absolutely adore these suede western booties, thrifted, having never been worn.
    Nothing like a wide belt to create a bit of waist magic!

    A Nod To Menswear

    A black knit top is always a cosy and comfy option.
    I’m totally here for wide-legged pleated pants, in this case, simply styled with a black knit.
    This bowler hat is a constant for me during the cooler months, and this velvet scarf was hard to resist too..
    A cute, thrifted little evening bag was all that was needed to go into town and witness the final of the Battle of the Bands held at a local pub.

    It was a great night at the Australasia Hotel, watching the final of the Battle of the Bands, heartening back to a time when Australia had a vibrant musical community and produced some of the greatest rock bands like AC/DC, their big brothers, The Easy Beats, INXS, Icehouse and so many more … good times!

    Anyway, this outfit with my long black leather trench over the top, was perfect for a still pretty chilly evening on the far south east coast of Australia.

    I’d love to hear what your favourite colours and styles are as you head towards spring in the comments.

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝🇦🇺

  • Shifting Out Of the Depths of Winter!

    Shifting Out Of the Depths of Winter!

    As you will see, browns and chocolates prevailed in my choices with winter on its last legs.

    This blazer has a blue stripe so the teal blouse was a different addition.
    The teal of the shirt, together with the turquoise in the belt buckle and saddle bag gives a bit of a western vibe.
    The baker boy hat, Siamese kitty brooch and booties complete this fun look.

    I really loved this combo of blue and brown, the blue sort of freshens up the look.

    The cropped wide- legged jeans are here to stay and I’ve also invested in some light denim ones in the same cut.

    Actually as I’m petite in height, the crop works fine for me and I don’t think it cuts off my legs to make me look shorter.

    The boots, with their kitten heel add an extra bit of height without sacrificing comfort.

    Pants On Repeat

    These pants pair well with darks but I love them with the light shirt and cardi.
    I love this cropped cardi as it gives the impression of me having longer legs lol.
    The hat, along with the similar coloured booties give the outfit finish and polish.

    I love pleated pants as a nod to a menswear look, which is a favourite of mine and with the cropped cardi it gives the favoured 2/3 leg length to 1/3 torso length giving a sense of height.

    This is also the case below even with the trench over the top.

    Changing Up the Look

    Same pants but a whole different vibe.

    A light trench was all that was called for as the sun shone brightly.
    A thin knit under the trench was all that was needed to be able to make a fast exit.

    It’s hard to go wrong with these pants, I think I could style them so many different ways… I kept it simple here with the thin knit jumper and trench with just a leather satchel bag and suede booties to complete the outfit.

    Something Altogether Different..

    A colour I’ve always enjoyed wearing is red and couldn’t resist this dress in such a beautiful colour.

    I have lots of knit dresses, and as I’ve said many times, they are favourites to wear because they’re comfortable and usually fairly forgiving and flattering.

    This red is a great colour and one I used to often wear.
    The dress has a tricky fit so it’s my preference to wear it with a belt.
    The brown accessories work nicely with the red, good for a change from black.
    Love the vintage animal print coat with the red…

    The cut and details of this dress enable it to be worn a variety of ways and I love it with higher heeled boots.

    I’m not one for wearing sneakers much except for working around the house and even then I usually snooze loafers or booties as I just like how they make me feel and look.

    It’s hard to beat red with animal print and I love pairing this vintage coat with outfits as often as I can.

    I’d love to hear your thoughts on style and fashion in the comments below and really appreciate you joining me in my little corner of the web.

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • More Winter Warmers

    More Winter Warmers

    When it comes to winter warming, the best option is plenty of layers.

    I tend to aim for a variety of textures, in this case a soft poplin oversized puffy shirt, a slinky satin fitted waistcoat, some pleather jogger style pants with a smart tartan blazer over the top.

    My go-to for the past 40 years has been a crossbody bag, regardless of whether they are in fashion, as I have been known to put things down and leave them behind …although I also like the shaping it gives an outfit.
    For a trip to the southern highlands where it gets pretty chilly, a cute hat and pair of leather fingerless gloves is a great option.

    Classic monochrome always seems to work for me, so even though I’ve been going crazy wearing the chocolates, browns and creams, the simplicity of black and white never fails to work well.

    My Beauties On Repeat!

    I wear and rewear my clothes, as you will see from the following captures where I show what I have actually worn to go out and about.

    Buttoned up, the blazer looks more formal and with hair styled shorter and a bit straighter it completely alters the look.
    The addition of a fine, black knit and red and black scarf changed things up and helped breathe new life into the pleather joggers.

    Still In The Black

    In this next look I combined the delicious richness of brown with deep black to give a chic look to a knit dress and tights outfit.

    I love that winter offers the opportunity for layer upon layer of pretties and in this instance it was a blouse under the dress with a suede men’s vest over the dress.

    A belt was used to give extra shape, and it all worked perfectly under my tried and true long black leather trench.

    Another day, another knit dress, this time layered up with a blouse and some snug tights.
    Had to add my beautiful leather trench that I’ve owned for over 2 decades to complete the look, along with a hat, belt, and sunnies.
    A suede vest over the knit dress was a further assurance of warmth on a chilly winter’s day.

    You may notice there is no shortage of leather jackets in this post.

    I’ve collected quite a few over the decades, and although they may not be as roomy as they once were, they definitely come out to play on the regular!

    These pleated, tartan pants have been a constant over the last couple of winters, I just love the comfort, style and menswear vibe they give whenever I wear them.

    They also played dreamily with creams and browns.

    But Then Chocolate Is My Weakness…

    I can never seem to resist wearing all one colour – or chocolate, hehehe!

    This has been my signature since very young and I really love the look it gives me as someone petite in height with a curvy build – in other words I think it’s flattering on me.

    These days, I’m less concerned with what’s flattering or not, but I still gravitate towards a one colour look.

    And so it is with this chocolate/brown from head to toe..

    The dress is a soft dream to wear being a neat cotton knit and it paired so well with the thrifted, pure new wool oversized blazer, the thrifted western wedge booties and the thrifted brown leather saddle bag.

    The look was completed with brown tights, a stack of cute bracelets, necklace, earrings, pocket scarf and a nice wide leather woven belt.

    With its ruched skirt detail, the dress looks cute and fits well whereas the suede, wedged western booties and blazer ensures the outfit has a relaxed vibe.

    This outfit ticked all the right boxes for me.

    I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my winter go-to’s with you, as a woman in her mid-sixties who has faced a lot of health issues including mastectomy, multiple failed reconstruction surgeries, several heart attacks and small strokes and who believes it’s important to show up and dress up every day that we can because life is too tenuous and short to wear boring clothes! lol

    Let me know what you think in the comments below,

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝🇦🇺

  • Cosy can be Cute!

    Cosy can be Cute!

    There’s nothing like some accessories, such as a fab hat, scarf and jewellery to turn any outfit into cute!

    I’m all for being cute, winter, summer, autumn and spring and I don’t let age, weight, ill-health or anything else be a barrier to that.

    In this post I’m going to share a few different cute, but cosy, looks for our fairly moderate winters here in south east Australia.

    The print on this linen dress is so unique and gorgeous and fits with my sometimes zany aesthetic.
    The handmade felt hat, felt scarf and thick tights kept me pretty warm with an overcoat over the top when we headed out the door.
    It’s pretty sunny or glarey here on the south east coast of Australia, even in the middle of winter, so sunnies are a great idea.
    Dragonflies are my spirit animal so I couldn’t resist this handmade felt scarf with this motif…

    This dress outfit is overall one that appeals to the arty want-to-be side of me.

    I love the nod to Japanese styling in this, something quite unique for me.

    Shearling Snuggliness…

    In a previous post I discussed my love of textures, in food, homewares and in fashion and this outfit really goes the extra mile to show that!

    I’ve paired faux leather pants with a slinky cool-to-the-touch blouse and a velour v-neck jumper all under a cosy shearling coat thrifted from a local charity shop.

    The look was topped off with a green hat I’ve had for 20 years and some lovely leather gloves.

    The result was warm and stylishly comfy as I set about my day.

    This thrifted shearling coat had barely been worn and being oversized is great to just throw on and go!
    Layers are key to keeping cosy and cute during the cooler months and these ones worked a treat together.
    I find if my head, hands and feet are kept warm, then most of me stays warm …
    I love the front tuck, as it gives me the right proportions and lengthens my legs, giving a relaxed vibe to my outfits.
    Again, it was a sunny winter’s day!

    When some Glamour is called for..

    I always remember my Dad’s elder sister coming to visit in the early sixties when I was just a little kid. She was all glamour!

    I remember fur, red nails and perfume, she was such a beauty and I know she has been an influence on me as I make some of my outfit and clothing choices.

    Once again I’ve opted for the beauty and sheen of satin in combination with quality faux fur.

    The whole look gave off a boho vibe and I’m very much here for that!

    I’m always here for a vest/gilet because they’re so comfortable and warm. I have lymphodoema in my arm, coming out of breast cancer treatment, so I love that there’s no tightness or constriction…
    The length of the vest/gilet gives lovely feminine movement to the outfit and it’s just so gorgeous and snuggly.
    The detailed crystal belt gives nice waist focus to the ensemble.

    Continuing my Love of Knit Dresses.

    Knit dresses have been a crazy favourite of mine since forever and I have an extensive collection.

    I love their simplicity, their comfort factor and their general wearability and in a large number of contexts.

    They’re great under a blazer in a professional environment and perfect with boots for a date night and also look great paired with sneakers and a denim jacket for a brunch date with friends.

    I wasn’t sure about this beautiful butter coloured dress but the faux wrap side-tie sold it to me.
    I own a variety of knit dresses and I find them not only comfortable but also very versatile.
    Paired with the tan booties and tan coat the overall look echoed that boho aesthetic yet again, showing it to be a real favourite style of mine.
    I’ve owned these fishnet tights for years and they really work in giving warmth as well as a flattering neutral coverage, which I love.

    So that’s a few of my favourite winter outfits and I look forward to sharing more in my next post.

    Thank you so much for joining me in my little corner of the web and I’d love to hear from you in the comments.

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • Getting Cosy In Delicious Chocolates …

    Brown is such a great combo with black..

    In my years as a senior executive in education I wore a lot of dark, black, grey, charcoal and so on suits, dresses and blazers with some colours brown in there from time to time and it’s taken a few years to really move past the corporate look as I’ve still found myself gravitating towards formal professional wear.

    All that is in the past.

    I’ve found I so love chocolates, browns, camels, caramels as well as some black to go!

    I’m going to share some of the looks with you, starting with chocolate and black.

    I love that these sunnies, long vest and cap are pre-loved and keep out an eye for the beautiful booties, also pre-loved and brand new…
    I definitely love a more is more look – so went for western suede booties, a wide, woven leather belt and crossbody fringed, boho bag.
    The button details add interest to the dress and add a slimming effect, encouraging the eye up and down.

    The thing I really love about knit dresses is the comfort and cosiness, and I find them flattering to my curvy figure.

    There’s no doubt that pleather, vegan leather or what have you, is still a strong trend and I love it because I’m a big fan of texture in my clothing and actually in my decor and food too, now that I come to think of it!

    Slipping the lacy knit off the shoulder gave the outfit a bit of a sexy boho look.
    The texture mix of the pleather, lace knot and tapestry wrap gives the look a nice wintry vibe.
    The crystal buckled belt finished the western/boho look.

    Pieces on Repeat…

    I wear and rewear as many of my pieces as possible, which is completely consistent with my environmentally friendly approach to my wardrobe.

    It’s always fun to get something new but it’s also great to be getting wear out of the different pieces I have hanging in my wardrobe, so I really love working my wardrobe.

    I really love wide-legged pants and I’m enjoying wearing the cropped versions because they’re just so young and fun.

    Many say that the shorter length doesn’t work on petite heights but I do not agree, but like so much with fashion, it’s a matter of personal choice.

    I find that it’s all about proportions and having the jumper loosely tucked into the jeans, bootie’s with a bit of a heel and my bright, fun wrap all round gives a great finish and balance to the outfit.

    Thank you so much for joining me in my little corner of the web!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • My Love Affair with Menswear Style!

    My Love Affair with Menswear Style!

    I’m always a fan of monochromatic outfits and I loved combining the camel coatdress with the flared pants for a chic suit effect.

    If you haven’t been here before you won’t know that I’m a big fan of feminine dressing styles, although lately I’ve been enjoying the nod to the 1970’s and the wearing of pantsuits, waistcoats/vests and even cute little shoes like loafers and a variety of other flats.

    For years I’ve been borrowing the odd vest, shirt or pair of jeans from my partner’s wardrobe and I’ve loved it as a juxtaposition to my usual go-to of feminine styling.

    This particular outfit boasts some real versatility with the jacket doubling as both a coat or can be worn as a dress.

    The suit paired well with some camel booties, a handmade leather crossbody bag, suede belt and an animal print scarf, just to lift it that little bit.

    Here’s a look at the outfit without the pants, a distinctly different look and vibe.

    I’ve been loving my light neutrals all this winter, (and last winter too), as the following outfit shows.

    The little pleather jacket was an absolute gem of a find in my local op-shop for only $12 and had basically not been worn.

    I scored the jacket along with the men’s vest, which was the perfect fit and colour for the look I was attempting to create.

    Matched with the tartan pants that have a caramel coloured stripe through it and the little silk scarf and the whole look came together just as I was hoping.

    Of course, the booties and little cross-body messenger bag are on repeat …

    Darker Days…

    You could be mistaken for thinking that I have completely deserted the wearing of dark colours, namely black, but this is not the case – I still make them a must during the cooler season, just I tend to wear more of the light neutrals.

    I really loved the hat but I ended up not wearing it as I felt it made me look shorter – because I’m also wearing these gorgeous red pointy flats but at a lotto over 5’2”, I can look a little on the short and dumpy side, if I’m not careful.

    Once again I’ve added a waistcoat/vest, although it’s one I’ve had in service for many years – I still think I’ve captured the menswear details and I’m loving these pleated, wider-legged pants for elegance and incredible comfort.

    Of course, what’s more menswear than a 3 piece pinstriped linen suit, very Gatsby, and this one was worn in the autumn when the weather was still pretty pleasant.

    I really loved the unexpected cream with the black which gave the look an edgy vibe.

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web, it’s always great to have you here!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • My Love Affair With Light Neutrals

    My Love Affair With Light Neutrals

    This has been one of my favourite light neutrals of late.

    The straight cut cream pleather pants are versatile and fit perfectly with this cosy soft knit tunic and, together with the faux fur gilet, make for a really special winter outfit.

    Comfort was increased with these soft, suede loafers and leather gloves.
    In this version, a cute hat and boho bag was just right.

    I actually wore the gilet upside down because being petite, it is much more flattering.

    Hair up and a long necklace for an alternate look of the tunic and gilet.
    No belt and a bias satin skirt gives this outfit a completely different vibe.

    A sparkly clutch purse and suede booties in a matching light neutral finished things for an evening out.

    The gilet is worn the “right” way in this pic, but I preferred it turned the other way around.

    When I wear this gilet upside down it fulfils the rule of thirds, with having the top take one third, whilst the bottom takes two thirds, giving the illusion of longer legs, essential for me as a petite woman.

    I really love getting as much wear out of my pieces as possible and with a few variables, the whole outfit can be transformed.

    I’m enjoying the current trend of faux fur and pleather and I foresee them lasting the test of time.

    And There’s More!

    I’m a big lover of monochrome and to make it work, lots of texture is key.
    These little suede booties are in constant rotation.
    The bias satin skirt gives the outfit a touch of glamour and I’ve always loved some glam.

    A More Relaxed Approach

    A completely different approach for this bias satin skirt.
    You’ve seen these fabby loafers and cute boho bag before ..

    Again, a change of shoes and accessories, like adding this cosy wrap, completely alters the vibe and gives the outfit a relaxed look.

    At first I wasn’t so sure about wearing wraps but I’ve been more and more sold on them – they’re particularly good for me with lymphodoema coming out of breast cancer treatment because I find some things can feel so tight in the arms, even if they don’t look tight. This doesn’t mean I don’t wear more fitted sleeves but I’m learning to size up….

    My style is eclectic and I love wearing skirts, pants and dresses – they’re all to my liking.

    In the following look, layers rule, along with faux fur and satin.

    Layering the satin blouse under the knit dress, provides extra warmth and the longer gilet is just such a cosy option.

    I quite like the dress without the belt but the belt does give more shape, although I’d probably prefer the dress a touch longer ….

    You will rarely see me without my sunnies because it’s rarely anything but sunny or glary all year around where we live here in Australia.

    So thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web and I’d love to hear your thoughts in neutrals and monochrome in the comments and wish you all a great rest of the week!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • Repurposing from Thrift!

    Repurposing from Thrift!

    Something I’ve been having a whole lot of fun with of late is repurposing items that I am finding in op-shops or thrift stores.

    Not only has it been enjoyable but it’s also been spot on with fitting with my philosophy of being environmentally conscious.

    The Chelsea boots toughen up the look, while the appliquéd details on the jacket and big hair give the outfit a more feminine bent.
    I love these fingerless gloves and wear them pretty much all through the winter.
    The striped top was a thrift find and with the hem cut on the angle it adds interest to the outfit and prevents an unflattering straight horizontal line at the high hip.
    This was my first attempt and I went pretty crazy with the lace sourced from other pieces as well as appliqué and buttons … lots of buttons!
    The toughness of the camo jacket and the cargo skirt contrasts with the lace and details in the jacket and the satin fabric of the skirt.

    The green outfit was perfect as we transitioned to autumn here in Australia while the denim was ok for early winter as well.

    With both outfits I loved the tension shown with the juxtaposition of feminine and masculine.

    I’ve always been a fan of menswear for women and have really enjoyed exploring it more this year – which I will show in further posts.

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web and I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🐝

  • Sparkly Saturday Dress🥰🙌🤩

    Given the Cold Shoulder:

    I live a fairly quiet life these days with my time spent between a remote property in the bush on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia and a satellite beach city an hour or so south of Sydney.

    Each place has its advantages and I consider myself fortunate to have access to both places and lifestyles.

    It’s nice to head out somewhere nice for dinner on a Saturday night and to dress in something special.

    I wanted a Saturday night vibe so went for this cold-shoulder dress, something that fits with my preference for clothing that is classy, yet stylish, without showing too much skin.

    The colour is a striking navy – which is a bit tricky to see in this light.

    It’s now the middle of winter and although we can’t complain about the weather here too much, it has come up very cool as temperatures sit around the early teens °C ( in the 50s Fahrenheit??) and terribly windy and I couldn’t get outside to take my pictures, so it’s in the kitchen for this lot!!

    All That Sparkles…

    A simple sheath style, the sparkly fabric, along with the cold shoulder, adds beauty and glamour to this dress.

    Even as an older woman I like to look feminine and attractive when I head out for a lovely evening!

    I toned the sparkle look down with navy tights and any suede shoes because as you would be aware by now, I do love a monochromatic look to give my petite, curvy frame height and balance.

    I love the slinky fit of this dress that has a zip at the back, and three-quarter sleeves for extra warmth and elegance.

    The Little Things…

    I don’t have a less is more approach to anything really – and this also applies in my dressing where I happily add bits and pieces to outfits to get the look I’ve envisaged!

    We were going to a warm restaurant but as it’s winter I still wanted to add some things to give a cosiness to my look.

    The silk scarf really did make things a bit more snuggly, as did this wool cocoon coat and of course I added my little robot necklace I bought from an artist when in Hobart, Tasmania, the Southern most state of Australia – bet its cold down there at the moment!!

    Thank you so much for joining me in my little corner of the web and I’d love to hear from you in the comments or leave a like or follow as I always love hearing from people from all around the world..

    Donna

    🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🙏

  • Bumble-Bee Magic in Dressing 🐝🐝🐝🙌🥰😉

    All That’s Gold!!

    I rarely follow trends.

    When I do follow trends I notice they tend to be in the area of colour.

    In an earlier post I talked about my experience with millennial pink and that although it’s a pretty colour, it’s not a good colour for me, see https://donnadoesdresses.com/2019/04/17/a-millenial-pink-dress-and-me/

    I have found that this yellow is a colour that not only lifts my spirits, but also my complexion – and I need all the help with that I can get!!

    I haven’t worn yellow for many decades, preferring jewel colours to bring out my red hair and and fair skin.

    The outfit shown here is a yellow skivvy and long cardigan with a tie and a knit scarf which I paired with my old pleather/ponte pants and suede booties.

    Less Is More!!

    Recently, the news abounds about the fragile state of our beautiful planet and one of the main issues is the excessive amount of textiles from “fast fashion”.

    This has led me to think very carefully about my clothing purchases and attempting to ensure that I actually get plenty of wear out of most of my things.

    So many of the outfits I feature on this blog, and my instagram, have been in my wardrobe for a very long time – in fact these pants and booties I’ve had for 4 or 5 years and they’re a style that still work and they are in excellent condition, so why get more??

    Winter Warmth and Cosiness!!

    We are pretty lucky on the south east coast of Australia with the beautiful mild climate we have.

    It can get pretty hot in summer, although the nice sea breeze of the South Pacific Ocean helps to offset too much hideousness, and the winters are mostly sunny with only a few days under 10°C, so this sort of outfit is certainly very suitable.

    The cardigan has a nice weight so that it drops and drapes nicely and the large collar frames the face beautifully when it is tied back.

    When the belt is tied at the front, it gives a flattering v-neck.

    Even though I went for a classic bumble bee look, this beautiful oomphy colour would be great with denim or clash stunningly with purple.

    Anyone For Colour In Winter??

    So I think it’s clear what my thoughts are about wearing colour in winter – I wonder what your thoughts are about it?

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web and leave your comments, or you can like or follow for more of such posts!

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🙏🐝

  • Stunning Cobalt in a Dress!! 🥰🤗🤩

    Feeling Blue!!

    Those of you who have been following along on my blog for a while will know that I love jewel colours in my clothing, even in the cooler months of winter, which we are experiencing now in Australia.

    For a Saturday night out, this cobalt @josephribkoff dress was just so perfect.

    The colour is super with my red hair, being a real compliment to it.

    The fabric is a bit heavier and double layered throughout, making it hang well and fit beautifully.

    It’s a very comfortable, forgiving material that keeps it’s shape well without being too restrictive.

    This is the ideal dress to wear out to dinner, or to an event such as a wedding or even a cocktail party, although I’d likely pair it with strappy heels for those events.

    I find the yoke hitting higher up the waist to be very flattering, as it emphasises the smallest part of my figure.

    The little pleats across the bodice are a cute touch too and add some interest and flatter the bust and there are complimentary pleats at the waist as well to provide interest and balance.

    Nothing up my sleeve!!

    I always prefer sleeves on my clothing and I love the beautiful cuff on this dress – it’s nice and full and falls just below the elbow.

    I wanted to give this beautiful dress a bit of an edge so I wore it with matching cobalt tights and shoe booties for a monochrome finish.

    The Devil is in the Detail…

    This brand of dress is pricey but it does have classic styling as well as little extra details – the sleeves, pleating and tucking and a gold zip or two, which gives this elegant dress uniqueness and beauty. To extend its use I dress it both up and down.

    A pair of cute blue, stripy earrings and my old cream embroidered, furry, suede jacket and I was good to go…

    Thank you so much for joining me in my little corner of the web and I would love to hear what you think about wearing bright colours, even in winter or anything else spoken of in this post today,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🙏

  • Dressing in Camo … 🤩🤗🙌

    Going Undercover …

    If you to want keep below the radar, what better way than camo?

    ( Just ignore the ladder and mini-orb in the background, a temporary measure to keep out wildlife like kangaroos, wallabies and wombats who love to break into the home perimeter and eat all my plants … I’m not going to be performing any dynamic hi-jinx!)

    I’ve had these jeans for years, like so many of my things, but as they still fit I shall continue to wear them and style them accordingly.

    Green with Envy

    I generally prefer jewel colours so I decided to team the camo with a colour from the opposite side of the colour wheel – coral.

    I feel this colour compliments and lifts the energy of the outfit and certainly of the wearer.

    I love wearing feminine clothes so somehow this was a compromise with the pretty coloured jumper and other additions worn with the camo jeans.

    Continuing with Monochrome…

    I’ve said many times that I prefer monochromatic looks – always have – maybe because I’m on the spectrum and I find they fit my sense of order or maybe because I’m petite and all one colour should make me appear a touch taller!

    All I know is that I prefer a monochromatic look so in this case I delivered my pretty colour and monochrome by putting my olive green military jacket over the top of the jeans and jumper.

    Tying it Together!

    I added a multi- coloured headband, cute chocolate coloured shoe-booties and my old sunnies to finish the look.

    I also wore an olive crop-top underneath the jumper to prevent it from clinging.

    In these last couple of pics I look like I’m about to jump over the fence!

    Thank you for visiting my little corner of the web,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️❤️🙏

  • Formal Dressing … and me 🤔😬😻😉

    A Night In Vienna!!

    So I rarely have occasion to dress up in a formal way, but last weekend we went back up to the beautiful Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, for the Winter Magic Festival for the winter solstice.

    On the Saturday night we went to the lovely Hydro Majestic Hotel, one of the lovely Hotels in The Blue Mountains, for a special concert – A Night In Vienna!

    The show consisted of a pianist, violinist, cellist and tenor vocalist.

    The music was so wonderful in the beautifully decorated and lit Hotel Ballroom and the tenor’s fabulous voice filled the space with ease.

    Although the musicians had spent a lot of time working in Europe, it was great to know that they had started their study in The Conservatorium of Music in Sydney.

    There was also a degustation menu provided consisting of 6 courses of beautifully prepared and delicious food.

    This beautiful food, washed down with a few glasses of bubbly and the wonderful entertainment, made the night very fun indeed!!

    Basic Black and Hair Up!!

    I really was uncertain as to what to wear to this lovely event because there was no dress code mentioned.

    Remembering that we are in Sydney where people are very reluctant to dress up I couldn’t help but go for what I consider to be the epitome of stylish dressing, which is basic black and put my long hair up, which was ideal with the stand-up collar of this jacket.

    Luxurious Fabrics … and other good things too:

    Along with wearing basic black and my hair up I felt that wearing the luxurious fabric of velvet and my beautiful garnet necklace would be the perfect addition to add a certain something, something …

    I also wore a little sparkly camisole and my small corset underneath to add to the glamour.

    A Cut Above

    I just love the cut of this beautiful fishtail velvet skirt and how that is mirrored in the peplum of the jacket, the medieval turn of the collar and the bell sleeves.

    I wore my red cape over the top of this and carried my little black velvet evening bag.

    Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web,

    Donna 🧚🏻‍♀️🙏❤️

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started