Holiday Time Fashions - Touring Holidays

 

The last of my 'Holiday Time Fashions' set - accompanied by photos from my family's own touring holiday. We took a day trip while in Northland up to Cape Reinga, which is the very top of the country, and utterly spectacular. The huge numbers of tourists irritated me a little - mainly because I think playing music off your cell phone is a little disrespectful at a place believed to be the 'launching place' of spirits into the next world,and where two oceans collide, but hey, that's just me. So a bit of etiquette advice to go with the following fashion tips - be respectful. Don't run in the art gallery or spit at the statues. Although I'm sure none of you lovely readers would ever think of doing such things :) Without further ado - the 'Touring Holiday'!

This is an opportunity for wearing lots of pretty two-pieces and smart, citified cottons. Go in for fabrics with crease-resistant finishes to avoid lots of pressing when you arrive.

Take two skirts, one straight, the other pleated, and several cool shirts and tops. 

Trousers are all right for loafing around, but choose your tops cleverly so that the effect is neat and crisp. 

You'll need walking shoes and sandals and a pair of smart shoes with little heels.

Summer Polaroids - The Swimming Hole

Photos from our trip up north - I didn't take any of them, but I did put them through the polaroid machine, which is exciting every time! We stayed with my Aunty, Uncle, and cousins at their house in Ahipara, which is right at the bottom of 90-mile beach, and pretended to be country children for a week.

Hit Me With a Flower

These photos are from a wee while ago - the first time I wore my petticoat! I love it so much. I've wanted one since forever, but the ones I found were always too expensive. This one was only $30 at a sweet little second-hand fair in a scout hall, a bargain! It's first outing was to my Gran's house (she's in the picture below) for lunch and playing in the sunshine with my little brother(also pictured). My Mum made both his adorable romper and my skirt! I then went to a tea party in the richest neighbourhood I have ever been in, at a friends Grandparents' house. There were beautiful tea-cups, a view of the sea, and vegan cupcakes. I adore tea-parties. Afterwards though I had to catch a bus from the north shore, which shouldn't have been hard, but our public transport system is about as functional as an ab-circle pro. I was at the bus-stop for more than half an hour waiting awkwardly, surrounded by huge houses. Extravagant displays of wealth make me a little uncomfortable, as do packs of rich women in jogging clothes. It was a welcome relief to go to the end-of-year volunteer gathering at the Greenpeace office- one of the places where I feel most at home. The vibes were definately better. Lastly I went to a suprise birthday dinner for a friend, so this certainly proved to be a versatile outfit! I'm actually amazed that I remembered all that considering how long ago it feels. I can't believe it's the middle of summer already!

Knitted Top- Op-shop Skirt-Homemade Petticoat -Secondhand fair Shoes - Etsy Necklace - Vintage store in Austalia Sunglasses - Used to be my Mother's

Swotting

Hello again dear Chums!
Also in my Great Grandmothers album I found some lovely photos of her and friends (including future husband, Dick) 'swotting up' in 1939 - they are shown below with original captions. I'm afraid this blog may become a little desolate over the next few week as I also 'hit the books' (although not nearly as elegantly, I shouldn't think). It seems as though we only just finished our practise exams and now the real things are right around the corner! Anyway, I have a few things lined up which I will post sporadically in the coming month,
Until then, toodle-oo!

Nan     Alva     Trix   - Nov 1930

Alva and Dick

Alva swotting for 'C' - Nov 1939

Halloween !

Dick 1927 - Masterton

Betty as a Daffodil, Alva as a Daisy

 

A few dressing up idea's from my Great-Grandmother Alva's photo album - Dick was her husband (my Great-Grandfather) and Betty her cousin. They probably weren't cotumes for halloween as it wouldn't have been celebrated here in the '20s, but they are darling nonetheless! October 31st is approaching and while personally I'm not much of a trick or treater,  I am going to a local halloween gig - we'll be having a ball like the 'Campers at Creepy Castle', except in costume. I haven't the faintest what to go as, so any ideas would be much appreciated!

Happy Tuesday! - The Editor

Train Rides and Love Hearts

Went out to Devonport today accompanied by my Mother, siblings, cousins, and babysitting charge. Windy and cold - but worth it to go to the op-shop, English sweet shop, and see all the lovely old houses by the waterfront. I spent the train and ferry rides there and back trying not to let my hat blow away, stealing all my sisters 'Loveheart' lollies, and admiring my beautiful wind-swept, sea-sprayed hair in all it's glory.

Hat -Once belonged to a family member
Shoes - Secondhand
Dress- Homemade by my Mother
Coat- From Texas Radio and the Big Beat

Billy Boy

I've noticed that lately more blogs have been posting things about vintage/retro mens fashion, so I thought I'd put up a few photos of my brother Billy. Sure, he's only four, but I don't think he stacks up too badly - he loves posing by old cars and always tries to dress 'funky'.

John - what a Double Intelligent Cool Kid!

Mining in NZ, really John? My family and I, along with 50,000 other New Zealanders marched against the governments proposal to mine a bunch of New Zealands national parks last weekend, it was an amazing turnout (the biggest march we've had in decades). I had so much fun painting placards, getting to experience the joys of Auckland public transport as I caught the train with my family, getting to hear all of my Grandmothers' (standing behind me in the second photo) amazing stories of the last protest marches they'd been on down Queen street, during the anti-nuclear protests, and reading all of the puns people had put on their signs - oh how I love a good pun - the main one being 'They say mine, we say ours'.
I guess this sort of counts as an outfit post? To save time on listing though, everything I'm wearing is from op-shops.