Friday at Regattas

After finishing all of my uni work, I felt at a bit of a loss as to what to do so I was very happy to have a super fun night out at Regattas, last night, with some great company and very good music as a soundtrack, as it were. I even took some photos of things that aren't me for a change!

I wore pretty much the same outfit that I wore in this post so I didn't bother to take a full length shot - well, there was that and the fact that it was the hottest day of the week and I didn't feel much like posing.

One of my goals is to start taking more photos of my friends, so I made sure to snap a few photos of the very lovely, Miss Kitty Boo.

Miss Kitty Boo's sparkly handbag and strawberry daiquiri.

My two (non-alcoholic) strawberry drinks. They were both very yummy.

Betty Jane hiding behind her gorgeous Jane Russell handbag...

but I managed to snap a shot of her, anyway!

Lots of people were dancing but it was still too warm, even after the sun went down, for me to do anything but sit back and soak up the atmosphere.

Also, be sure to check out my guest post at Casey's Elegant Musings - I only had time to write up an outfit post, but I was super chuffed that Casey asked me as she's been one of my favourite bloggers since before I started blogging myself.

Hope you're all having fabulous weekends! I've got some blog reading to catch up on and comments to reply to, so I think that's how I'll be spending my Sunday.

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

This Filthy World

I did say I wouldn't be blogging until after Monday, when my final essay is out of the way, but I'm on a study break so I figured I'd write up a post because I've missed blogging so much. One of the most exciting things that I did whilst my blog was down was going to see John Waters do This Filthy World at Her Majesty's Theatre. I've been a fan of his films for quite a while (I watched Cry Baby quite a few times as a child though it wasn't until I was about 19 that I began watching his films in earnest) and have watched the recorded version of This Filthy World so I was beyond excited to finally get the chance to see him in person.

 

 {I need to go to IKEA and get a nice big frame for this soon}

The last time he came to Australia, he didn't come to Adelaide and I'm pretty sure I cried a little bit about it. So, when one of my friends told me about this show I jumped at the chance - and she got us front row tickets, too! I had planned on getting something new and fabulous to wear but ended up wearing something (still fabulous) that I already had.

 

Outfit details: necklace - mum's; 1960s dress - Red Ruby Vintage; belt - gift; bracelets - various; stockings - unknown; shoes - Rubi Shoes.

I've only worn this dress a couple of times - I don't generally wear straight skirts so much, just because I find full or circle skirts more comfortable - but it's a beauty! The colour is just so vibrant; I bought it as new old stock so I still have the tags for it around somewhere. I can't remember exactly where it was made but the fabric was made in Sweden - I looked up the company that made it and they're still in business! I was going to email them with a photo of the fabric but I never got around to it.

It's only just struck me now how much I like the combination of the blue of my dress with the pink walls of my room.

A close-up shot of my eye shadow - I don't usually wear anything other than a creamy beige colour but felt this gold was more in order for the occasion.

{My hands were shaking and my knees were weak...}

As for the show, it was fantastic - possibly the best night of my life, thus far. I can't remember the last time I've laughed so hard (though I tend to laugh easily) and at one point my friend had to lean over and ask if I was okay because I was laughing so hard. I thought I was going to pass out! It was brilliant. Laughing is one of the best things ever and laughing uncontrollably (when it's not in a situation where that might be awkward) is just so wonderful. Sorry for gushing but thinking about it still makes me smile. And you could tell he was enjoying himself, too - especially in the Q&A session at the end.

As you can see from the photo above, John did a signing after the show and my friend Jacoba and I got our photo taken with him - I was too nervous (as my caption may indicate) to say anything except for 'Andi...with an 'i'' when he asked who to make the signature out to. But I'll cherish that moment forever, just as I'll cherish the photo. I was brave enough to ask a question (on behalf of a friend who'd already asked one) in the Q&A session, though! I'm rather proud of myself for that because I usually wouldn't.

I could honestly write pages about how great the show was but I shall restrain myself and leave it at that. Now, I should probably get back to that essay...

Love,

Andi B. Goode

x

Outfit: You're not looking at a Queen, You're looking at an Ace!

In between my last post and now, I came down with a cold which completely drained me of my will to blog. Today, I am feeling better and come bearing an outfit or, rather, a costume.

Every six weeks there is a grad dance for the Swing Sesh (their courses run in six week blocks) - they used to be held on Saturday nights but now they have joined forces, I suppose, with the weekly social night, Light Square Stomp. There is always a theme and, as it was also a farewell for Lexi (one of the teachers - she's going overseas) the theme was Alice in Wonderland (it's Lexi's favourite). I re-watched the Disney version (which I still favour) to get some ideas and, after many which I would not have been able to achieve in the time I had, I settled for the Ace of Hearts!

Outfit details: hair bow - etsy; hair ribbons - ?; earrings - gift; shirt - op-shopped (heart + buttons sewn on); 'a' brooch - craft fair; skirt - made by my mum; petticoat - Hero Vintage; stockings - Whacky Shack; shoes - Kmart. 

I think most people thought I was the Queen of Hearts, though. Never mind!

I was inspired by Ruby's version of The Freelancer's Fashion Blog's five minute hair tutorial (which I think I missed the first time around? How did that happen?) but did my hair in plaits because...I didn't want to curl it and I have too much hair to hold in a bun. I usually don't bother with rolls and things because, frankly, I'm too lazy to perfect them! But I thought I'd do something different last night.

Boy, I hate flash. Shows up all those pesky flyaways.

We sewed buttons and a heart onto a t-shirt I bought at an op-shop the other day.

A few of you asked to see more photos of the Adelaide swing scene so I took a few shots last night during the Jack and Jill contest, just to give you a bit of a glimpse, at least.

As it was an Alice in Wonderland themed night it was a special 'Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum' Jack & Jill so everyone had to try to mirror what their partners were doing. It was a lot of fun to watch! I took some other photos with a point & shoot film camera I bought for 3$ the other day but we'll have to wait for those. Hopefully, they turn out!

And, to explain the title of this post, here's what is probably a terrible song from a terrible movie (sequel), which I happen to love, unabashedly.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

War Notes, again, and an apology

Firstly, the apology - I promised to do a style icons post every fortnight but I'm going to have to miss it this week. I've been terribly busy dancing, socialising, seeing Fringe shows, looking for work and looking after my dad's partner's house while they are away and haven't had time to collect enough bits and pieces to make a post that would be satisfactory to me.

But I do have an outfit photo to share to hopefully make up for it a little bit -

Outfit details: faux pearls - North Adelaide Vintage and Fashion Fair; 1940s dress - Gilles Street Market; belt - gift; stockings - Pins Vintage Stockings; shoes - Spend--Less; bracelets - borrowed + Rubi Shoes; hair flower - Diva.

I wore this to see War Notes, again, with a couple of friends last Saturday. The show was just as wonderful second time 'round - there were a lot more people there, too, and when the power cut out at the end (it was raining quite a lot that day) we all had a bit of a singalong to We'll Meet Again. I bought this dress quite some time ago, but I don't think I ever blogged about it as it looks far better on than it does off. Here's a detail of the print -

Anyway, I hope this makes up, somewhat, for the lack of a style icon post this week and I assure you I won't miss the next one as it shall be a very special post.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

Circle Skirts and Elvis

The title of this post isn't entirely misleading as last night I went to see A Burlesque Tribute to Elvis: Elvisarama, which is A Wink and a Smile Burlesque's Fringe show for this year. (I also wore a dress with a circle skirt.) It was an absolutely wonderful show! I always enjoy A Wink and a Smile's shows - the highlights of last night were Maxi Mae as the human milkshake maker (which, among other things, involved a vibrating belt machine*) and Miss Cherry Valens' fan dance to Are You Lonesome Tonight? The first was hilarious, the second was incredibly beautiful.

I decided to wear a dress that I've only worn once before as I thought it somehow seemed fitting for an Elvis themed night.

Outfit details: scarf - ?; 1950s circle skirt dress - Gilles Street Market; belt - gift; bracelet - Rubi Shoes; stockings - Voodoo Killer Legs Vintage Stockings; shoes - Rubi Shoes.

Here's a very lazy picture to show you the contrasting seem on my stockings. These held up a lot better than the first two pairs I bought in this brand - they laddered immediately. But I let the company know and they sent me replacements, so all is well.

Two other things not related to the rest of this post:
I've hit the 300 followers mark! Huzzah. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported my blog thus far. It's kind of overwhelming. I would love to do a giveaway to mark the occasion but I have to think on it first.
Secondly, my awesome friend Katey (who was my first swing instructor) has just started her own blog about her quest to learn to play the guitar and I think you should all check it out: Kate vs. the Guitar.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

*Does this have a name other than 'vibrating belt machine'? I'd love to know.

Andi B. Goode is a Curious Cat

Last night (being Saturday night) I went to see Cats, for the second time (the first being when I was about eight or nine years old), and, oh my, it's amazing. There aren't a whole lot of chances to see musicals in Adelaide so I try to take every chance that I get. I wanted to buy something new to wear but I decided to save my pennies and give this dress, which my wonderful mother made me, another outing.



Outfit details: 1950s hat - etsy; necklace - Diva; gloves - gift; dress - made by my mother (from a repro vintage pattern); Jonathan Aston hold-ups - Myer; shoes - Rubi Shoes.


After the show, Jacoba and I went on a suicide mission to Chocolate Bean. I say suicide mission because we consumed lethal amounts of chocolate. I had a lavender truffle, jasmine chocolate icy and half a slice of walnut cake (the icing was as thick as the cake) which had chocolate sauce drizzled over it. It may or may not sound like much but, trust me, I felt ready to die. It was all divine, though.

Then we went to the Crown and Anchor and one of Jacoba's friends politely asked me if I had been to a funeral. I was rather amused.

Now I am keen to buy myself a copy of Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and the soundtrack to Cats (I may have to go back to the theatre during the week and pick up a copy) so I can pretend I'm a Jellicle Cat and have a little sing-along.

Has anyone else seen Cats? Which Cat do you wish you were? I'm not sure which one I'd like to be but I do know I'd definitely swoon over the Rum Tum Tugger. As an aside, a cat just walked past my window. She must have known I was thinking about her kin.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

P.S. I had had this all set up to post tomorrow morning so that I could do a Silver Screen Sunday, today. However, I've just spent a couple of hours screen-capping and now I'm pooped! So, the SSS shall have to wait. Perhaps one day I'll actually do it on a Sunday.

Andi B. Goode, the social butterfly

So, I've been quite a busy lady these past few days. Today, however, I spent a good deal of time reinstalling my operating system as my computer died just a little bit. Everything is OK now and nothing (so far as I can tell) has been lost but I had an enormous scare, nonetheless. I am now quite frazzled and almost literally cannot type. So, instead of anything detailed, I bring you photos of the outfit persuasion.

Wednesday night I attended Lucky Seven's Christmas show, with my friend Stef, at the Casino. It was a rather great show and I felt I ought to wear something a little festive.

Outfit details: Santa hat (with sparkles) - ?; faux pearls - Mum's; 1960s dress - Rewind at Glenelg; bracelet - etsy; shoes - Big W.

I was also sporting second day curls that survived two very hot days!

Thursday night I went to Cushdy for the Peaches 'n' Gin Burlesque Christmas show (Dear Santa...), which was absolutely fantastic. As I mentioned, I am frazzled and cannot write anything more than that at the moment, which is a shame. I will just say it was a wonderful night and I was glad to finally be able to wear this dress!

Outfit details: 1930s dress - Red Ruby Vintage; earrings - Diva; bracelet - etsy; stockings - Love Kylie; shoes - Big W.

And last night was the Lindy Lounge Christmas P-Jam so I wore one of my vintage nighties (but took a change of clothes as I went into town, after, for pizza and didn't fancy eating out in my pyjamas!) It was another fun night - I think I danced more in the one night than in all the social dance nights I'd been to up until then!

Outfit details: scarf - Mum's; curlers - possibly Hairhouse Warehouse; vintage nylon nightie - an op-shop at Victor Harbour; slippers - Big W. I'm also wearing a leopard print singlet and leopard print boxer shorts underneath as the nightie is incredibly sheer!

Apologies for the limited descriptions of my nights out but computer problems are so draining! Now I need to catch up on blogs and other internet things.

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

Dreaming of a White Christmas...

This week's transmission of Silver Screen Sunday is interrupted to bring you a special presentation of last night's White Christmas Swing Ball.

A few weeks ago I showed you a sneak preview of a dress I bought for a very special occasion and, last night, I finally got to wear it. So that means you all get to see it in all of its glory!


Outfit details: hair flower - taken from a bunch of cheap fake flowers; necklace - Diva; 1950s flocked dress - Red Ruby Vintage; corsage - home-made; shoes - Payless.

I really love my dress so so much. It's beautiful and I got a lot of compliments on it, too. And was also asked by a drunk guy, standing with a group of other drunk guys in the street, if I had just got married. How witty of him - his friends thought it was hilarious. I was merely amused at how funny they found it to be but I wasn't bothered.

I love the 'v' shape of the back.

DIY Corsage.

A couple of close-ups of my hair...

I curled it a fair bit tighter than I usually do in hopes of getting a shorter, more 1950s, style.

I didn't get any other photos of anyone else at all, except for this one taken of Jacoba (who bought her awesome dress from Midwest Trader) and I before we left. At least it's some proof that I know other people! Enken (who has her own blog, which is pretty darn awesome) took a few photos that have me in them so hopefully I can provide a link to those at some point as proof that I was actually there! Actually, it was the first time Enken and I ever met, which was lovely. We mentioned how it's very strange to know someone online, who lives in the same city, and to not meet them!

Anway, despite the lack of photographic evidence (my camera doesn't work well at all in low light and I'm not fond of on-camera flash) the night was a blast! The hall was decked out with fabulous decorations, there were absolutely outstanding performances by the Swing Sesh student performance team as well as Peaches 'n' Gin Burlesque and the atmosphere was just great in general. I'm so glad I had the courage to start swing dance lessons when I did because I've had such a great time, so far, and look forward to continuing to have many more great times. Hopefully some others will upload photos of last night to various places and I can provide links...until then, you can, at least, see my dress!

Oh, I just remembered that I filmed myself twirling around because, well, it was fun! And I just love watching the way dresses swing out when you twirl around...it's not the most graceful footage of me but it's also the first footage of me on Ye Olde Internets. No talking yet, though!

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

Andi B. Goode goes out on Friday night...

...and she comes home on Saturday morning!

OK, so it was only barely Saturday morning (12.30am) but I've always wanted to make a reference to that song. Luckily, my night was a lot nicer than the one related in the lyrics!

My friend Jacoba and I started the night at the Chocolate Bean with flavoured icies (she had orange, I had rose, which is divine) and then headed down to Cushdy for the Lindy Lounge (a social dance night). It was such a fun night. I only had one dance but just being there and actually talking to people was wonderful.

I decided to wear one of the dresses I bought the other day

Outfit details: hair flowers - discount store; faux pearls - Mum's; dress - Salvos; gloves - Goodwill; stockings - stockingshq.com; shoes - SpendLess.

A close-up of my hair (which I got many compliments on!)


And this is what I wore during the day
Outfit details: necklace - Fisherman's Wharf markets; dress - church op-shop; stockings - stockingshq.com; shoes - Big W.

I hope everyone is having a relaxing and fun weekend!

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x

Andi B. Goode Goes to a Punk Rock Show

Last night I went to one of my old ‘haunts’ – Enigma Bar – to see a friend’s brother play his first ever show! He’s a solo act so he was very nervous – I can’t think of how to describe his music but if any of you are familiar with Against Me, then it’s a little like that. It was a good show, but Enigma Bar is one of my least favourite places to be – as I mentioned I used to ‘hang out’ there all of the time in my younger years watching local hardcore bands and the like. But now I just stick out like the proverbial sore thumb if I so much as set a foot inside! For what does a vintage loving gal where to such a place? Why, the same thing I always would.

Outfit details: dress - 1980s does 1940s Katie's from Salvo's; belt from another dress; fishnet stockings - Love Kylie; shoes - Big W clearance table.




I was actually very proud with how my hair turned out! I set my hair in hot rollers (using a heat setting spray) and, once they were cool, took them out, misted my hair with hairspray and put them in sponge rollers to set the curls better. This was the inspiration (I saved this picture off of Betty Lou’s blog a while ago) – no mugshots of me, though!



I got a few strange looks and I think I overheard someone talking about me as I was waiting to be picked up but all I caught was a guy standing nearby with his friends say something about ‘that chick’ and look in my direction. A girl did come over to me to tell me I looked like Dita Von Teese!! I know that’s really a generic kind of thing to say to a vintage gal these days (isn’t it?) but that doesn’t make it any less flattering!

There was also a Celtic punk band playing, called The Thieves, and they were jolly good! They clearly have a dedicated following as the crowd got a bit rowdy (and sweaty, no doubt) and some crowd surfing was done and quite a few shirts came off (of the girls as well as the boys) but, from a safe distance, the music was quite enjoyable. It was, however, a bit too loud for me – my ears clearly aren’t used to that kind of show anymore! I must admit I was half wishing that I was at home curled up on the settee with a nice cup of tea, watching Midsomer Murders. Ho hum.

I want to leave you with this video of my favourite Celtic punk band – the seminal act, The Pogues! I know it’s not my usual sort of vintage (but I suppose it does count as a kind of vintage because their heyday was back in ye olde 1980s) but if it’s not your thing, just ignore the video and look at me instead!

Love,
Andi B. Goode
x