Charity stores and abandoned school yards

Let me introduce you to my very stylish friend, Clare. A couple of months ago, we spent a whole day exploring our favourite local charity stores, both ending up with massive plastic bags bursting with thrifted cardigans, sweaters, dresses, shirts and skirts, most of which we got for $1 each because every op shop seemed to have a sale going on! (We didn't plan that, but it was a very nice surprise!) At the end of the day, we decided we wanted to take some pretty photos wearing some of our new items of clothing. We maaaay have then "trespassed" into this pretty abandoned old school building, because we couldn't resist the gorgeous old school architecture and and pretty leafy walkways. We had to be pretty sneaky about sneaking in, but it was definitely worth it - it is the prettiest place in our town yet it's all boarded and fenced up! Such a waste! Then we tried to take some outfit photos, with somewhat mixed/disastrous results. After taking about 70 shots of our knees and accidentally cutting off our heads, we gave up trying to get an outfit photo together. But I actually really like how the picture of our knees turned out - sometimes accidental shots are the best! Here's Clare showing off some of her thrifted goods: What we are wearing Clare Cardigan - Vintage, Hat - Vintage, Dress - $10  dress shop in Sydney, Necklace #1 (sand timer) - Equip, Necklace #2 (beads) - Vintage, Shoes - Bangkok markets  Me  Blouse - Vintage, Hat - Wholesale, Cardigan - Vintage, Skirt - Forever 21, Socks - Vintage, Shoes - Yesstyle, Bag - Vintage Before I go, let me tell you about Clare's challenge to "Live Below the Line" for 5 days - essentially living off $2 or less a day for 5 days. Clare's doing this in order to raise funds to help alleviate poverty, raise awareness of the prevalence of poverty, and to find out for herself how so many people in the world have to live, with no choice. She's actually on her last day now, but you can keep donating for the next few weeks! It's amazing how much going without food and proper nutrients can affect you - for instance, yesterday I was very amused by Clare trying to use her laptop as a touch screen (it's not a touch screen) - and after feeling completely exhausted and brain-dead for the last few days she is looking forward to a bit of a midnight feast when the challenge ends tonight. Anyway, this is an awesome cause to donate to, and if you could spare even a few dollars, that would be really sweet!

(My good friend Bonnie is also doing this challenge)

We hope you're having a lovely day!

xxx Annika & Clare

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Garden Parties

Double florals! I feel like this floral-y outfit would be appropriate for a picnic or garden party, hence the title. I matched this cropped vintage blouse (which I got in Japan) with these gorgeous sheer floral socks which the lovely Shop with Romi sent to me! Sydney-based Shop With Romi are the sweetest little online store, stocking the cutest collection of socks, tights and collars with an indie/Harajuku/vintage feel. Basically, my perfect store. And they definitely impressed! Go and check them out, particularly if you are in Aus, because they have a $7 flat rate shipping for us guys. Also, I decided to make a little gif of this outfit. Enjoy! Wearing: Blouse - Vintage Socks - c/o Shop With Romi Skirt - Wholesale Shoes - Wholesale Hat - Wholesale Have a beautiful day! Annika xxx

Body Movin'

I thought it was about time to leave the house to take some photos for once. I used to always take outdoor photos, but the convenience of my little strange set up with a bit of patterned fabric as my background has meant that I've gotten lazy and started taking all my photos there. But it also means I've been able to take a whole lot more outfit photos, because I don't have to drag someone along with me to be the photographer.  So it's a win/lose situation! Anyway, I hope someone appreciates the diversity in photos today :) This new boater hat, tights and bag are c/o wholesale-dress (yes you read that right! Wholesale-dress - only my favourite online store, as you will know if you read my blog - sent me a lovely gift!) anyway, they are seriously amazing! I really was in need of some new hats, I wear the same old one from that I got from wholesale-dress about a year ago ALL THE TIME, and it has held up extremely well seeing as it was only $2, but it's nice to have something new to wear as well. This one was $4, but even though it was so cheap I was extremely impressed by the quality of it! Same goes for this satchel bag ($8). Find the links to the individual items below. Wearing: Sweater - Wholesaledress Boater - c/o Wholesaledress Bag - c/o Wholesaledress Skirt - Wholesaledress Tights - c/o Wholesaledress Shoes - Wholesaledress Ribbon Collar Thing - DIY Cameo Brooch - Ebay Ah.. Okay. The outfit is actually about 90% Wholesaledress stuff (everything except my collar thingy & brooch), which I completely didn't realise until writing that list just then! Goodness gracious. Well, I guess I think they're pretty rad. Music for this look is my favourite Beastie Boys songs in memory of MCA, who sadly passed away just yesterday. RIP MCA. Beastie Boys - Intergalactic Beastie Boys - Body Movin' Beastie Boys - So What Cha Want Hope you're having a sweet day! xxx Annika

All the vintage ladies put your hands up!

I love vintage. You may have realised this, if you have read my blog for, oh, more than two blog posts. I made the lovely realisation the other day that more than half my wardrobe is thrifted goods. In fact, it's probably about 2/3 vintage. I'm pretty proud of that, I have to say! I'm very lucky to live where I do, I have realised, because I've been getting lots of comments lately to the effect of "I wish vintage stores/op shops in my area were as good as yours!!" Solution to your problem? Maybe so. The eyelet sweater I'm wearing is also pure, lovely vintage, but is actually from an online store, Shoppalu vintage. One of my new sponsors, Shoppalu vintage is super neat because you can fill your wardrobe with awesome vintage but skip that whole part of going to the op shop and sifting through mountains of smelly second hand stripey polo shirts from the 90s and the like (especially good if you don't have particularly good vintage stores in your area! I told you I had a solution for you!) Shoppalu hand picks vintage pieces for you, and there are no gigantic bras, velveteen tracksuits or puffy-sleeved 80s monstrosities to be seen! They also stock new brands as well. Check them out here if you are interested! Items from Shoppalu which I'm a little bit lusty for: Links: Floral Blazer Orange Button Down Embroidered Cardigan Eyelet Clogs/Wedges And what I'm wearing: Dress - I made it! Sweater - c/o Shoppalu Vintage Bag - c/o Mochi Beaucoup Belt - stolen off a vintage dress Necklace - Vintage Hat - c/o Wholesaledress Tights - c/o Oasap Shoes - Yesstyle Hope you're all having the sweetest day, Annika xxx

A quick & easy DIY - Lace collar dress update

Wanna update a dress? Here's a really simple way of doing so! Just grab a metre of so of lace from your fabric store, and hand-stitch it around the collar and buttons of a collared, button-up dress! So easy, only takes about half an hour to do, and totally updates the dress! Before: After: Wearing: Dress - Forever 21 + DIY Bag - c/o Oasap Hat - Wholesaledress Belt - Vintage Socks - Vintage Shoes - Yesstyle I was also just informed that I have attained the status of "Style Icon" on Chictopia! How very exciting :) Much love, Annika xxx

No pink... (kind of..)

While I was updating my little outfits page today, I thought "hmm. Everything is... pink..." Not that this is a bad thing, but I have been wearing mostly pastel colours and pinks lately, and maybe with my hair also being pink this is getting a little out of hand, so I thought I'd break it up a little with a no-colour black & white outfit. Plus it's good to try something totally different sometimes (in fashion, and in life in general), so you don't get stuck in a rut! Apologies for the lack of photos on this one... for some reason I only took a full body photo and then had a brain snap and forgot about taking photos of the details as well... Wearing: Hat - Wholesaledress Blouse - Vintage Collar Ribbon - DIY Brooch - Ebay Belt - Vintage Bag - c/o Oasap Skirt - Wholesaledress Tights - Wholesaledress Shoes - Yesstyle Playlist for this look: M83 - We Own the Sky Art Vs Science - A.I.M. FIRE! Bertie Blackman - Byrds of Prey Much love as always! Annika xxx