C O M F O R T.

{Jumper: thrifted country road, shorts: vintage, wedges: Jeffery Campbell, socks: topshop, rings: assorted vintage, YSL and bleach black}

So you know it's bad when you go to the post office and receive parcels that you've forgotten you ordered online or because you've ordered so many things you don't know what's coming on what days. First example: two pairs of Jeffery Campbell wedges i ordered back in January. Second example: my tangled branch gold ring by Bleach Black. Third example: a ridiculous amount of topshop stockings and knee highs. I'll admit it, i'm usually a very impulsive buyer so when i see something i like i usually stop myself, breath and really think about it for a few days. As for these beauties, i was frantically clicking as soon as i saw them online with no thinking required, i just had to have them as soon as i could and i'm absolutely smitten with my impulsive buying for once!

These JC wedges are honestly the most comfortable heels i own so i was immediately inspired and thought i'd give you a little insight into my day to day world with what i usually wear when i'm working and my perfect comfy outfit. I really wanted to make this outfit post as real as i could. I think sometimes you see girls blogs with unrealistic outfit posts wearing fur coats, leather pants, a face full of make up and killer wedges shopping for milk and you really wonder whether if that's something they wear grocery shopping or if it's a complete show to come across as something they're not? For me, I just adore an oversized soft fluffy jumper with some high waist shorts, which are usually equipped with some cute socks or stockings, gold jewelry, hardly any make up, messy hair and some ankle boots/brogues when i have to leave the house. Simple, yes. Fashionable? Probably not. But Comfortable? Defiantly. I couldn't think of anything else i'd prefer to wear, add these new studded wedges and my faourite red lipstick and i'd wear this outfit out at night!

I found this navy jumper by Country Road in an opshop in Tasmania. I really struggle to spend my money on basics, even when i go opshopping, so i'm not surprised i've been living in this ever since i got back. I was running errands yesterday (the post office is just behind this carpark) so i threw on my new wedges and took some photos quickly with Luke. It's starting to get extremely cold around here, the fashion is changing seasons, my skin is turning paler and i couldn't be happier. Cue more fluffy jumpers and panda head beanies, please! :)

T O C H R I S S Y.

As much as i wanted to spread my social butterfly wings this long weekend, i unfortunately had my new auctions fall on the exact same days which meant i spent the entire weekend chained to my mac listings items for 12 hours straight. But words can't express the relief i feel when i finally have my beautiful new listings ready and waiting to be sold from the store. It's one of the most stressful parts of my job (but also the most rewarding) and a part my friends are slowly beginning to understand how tedious and long the process can be. My friend, Genevieve, even brings me a healthy fresh salad when she hears i'm listing because she knows i often don't have enough time to eat lunch! But i can happily tell you that now there are over 130+ new vintage items listed in Gary Pepper and i don't have to think about it for at least 3 days! I also received a few things in the mail this week that i'd nearly forgotten i'd ordered online so hopefully you'll get to see them in my next post- a good distraction from doing any sort of work and a new means to feel inspired :)

Speaking of inspiration, here are a few new illustrations from Chrissy Lau and her collaboration with Gary Pepper Vintage.

// FOLLOW CHRISSY LAU HERE //

I want to dedicate this post especially to Chrissy as she's been so wonderful to me and my store from the very first day. I am so grateful for the time she dedicates to the collaboration between herself and GPV and am still in awe at the fact she finds the time to juggle this with her full time job, extra commissions and even planning her own wedding! It's becoming a rarity to find such beautiful, kind natured, selfless people, people who genuinely care about your well being and are more than happy to share in your success with you. This is what i adore about Chrissy. We still haven't even met, yet we share mutual feelings on so many things and excitedly celebrate in each others news.

In saying that, i want to keep you all updated on Chrissy as i think she's just simply wonderful and i cannot get enough of her and her intricate, whimsical drawings. She's currently published in this month issue of Women's Weekly magazine, finished working on a childrens textbook, is working on illustrations for a new shop in the UK and was recently featured on The Loop and Finders Keepers! Our friends over at HOME, Australia's largest nightclub, also noticed Chrissy's work on our blog and have kindly asked her to collaborate with them for the opening of their new WOLF BAR opening on May 7th in Darling Harbor and have featured her on the website which you can view here! Amazing, no?

It just makes me believe more than ever that good things happen to good people.
And Chrissy, you're simply the best. Thank you for your on going support and inspirational drawings. You've contributed more than you know to Gary Pepper and I can honestly say that I've never wanted a large floral tea cup to sit in more than i have right now :)

And just quietly, here is her drawing for WOLF BAR.

M Y P E N S I E V E.

I think i enjoyed taking photos of my new stock a little too much today. Why? I don't really know. I've had a skip in my step ever since taking it easy of the past two weeks and i can't seem to shake the feeling that one person cannot be this happy for so long. A few little things adding to my mood. Lovebento.com featured Gary Pepper Vintage on their website which you can read here. I also just found out the other day that i was chosen as one of Weardrobe's spotlight bloggers and had a banner of myself on their fashion website and various other places. Not only that but they have even been so kind to make one of my photos their default picture on their official facebook page! I also did an interview with Tongue in Chic, a fashion website based in Kuala Lumpar which you can read here. As if things couldn't get any crazier i just finished another interview with a wonderful lady, Maggie, who is launching a self help book for teens and was lovely enough to include myself and Gary Pepper Vintage. I'm still so overwhelmed by any sort of attention like this so a very big thank you to Lovebento, Weardrobe.com, Tongue in Chic and Maggie! You have me skipping all over the house.

On another note, there is this exquisite antique store in Tasmania that i just love visiting when i'm there so i quickly took Luke to have a look for himself on the weekend. I try to avoid this place as i always leave disappointed at the thought that i simply can't afford to ship any of the furniture back to my house. Everything is so reasonably priced and they have pieces that i have envisioned to belong in my future home, can you believe these antique wooden cases were only $150 for the three!?

These random snap shots from the weekend pretty much sum up a few of my favourite things to do when i have a day off: opshopping, tea and sunsets. I think evenings in Tasmania are exceptionally beautiful as everything is amazingly peaceful and just quiet enough that you can hear a car from a mile away. I especially love those days when there's hardly any wind and everything is so calm and still that when the sun starts to set normal lakes like this start to resemble crystal mirrors and you start to wonder whether or not the tress are really looking at themselves in their reflection. Or perhaps you're simply catching a quick glimpse into that world we all imagined as kids where everything is just upside down?

But want to know my absolute favourite? When the sky catches on fire for those last few seconds and you sit there wondering how you can somehow try and capture that perfect image to keep locked away for a rainy day. Lucky for me, we found a lake that began to quickly turn into a pool of silver light on sunset and what i like to call, Dumbledore's pensieve. It looked so surreal and all sorts of magical so i suppose i know exactly where moments like this, and my other favourite memories, will be kept safe and sound from now on... somewhere in Tasmania in my very own pensieve :)

R U N A W A Y S.

{Knitted jumper: vintage, shorts: camilla & marc, crochet socks: from tokyo, shoes/belt/brooch: vintage.}

I suppose you could say this is what i do with my time when i'm away, find a beautiful place with luke and relax for the afternoon. Lucky for us, there are a million beautiful places scattered all over tasmania so we drove around for a while until we found the perfect one, and i absolutely love that the first photo captures the feel of the day and looks more like an oil painting than anything else. It was a wonderful spontaneous trip and worth every penny even if it was only for a few days. I think Luke and i are both very blessed to have not only found careers we both utterly love so much but jobs that allow us to pack up and travel with some sense of freedom, and this trip was a win-win for both of us. I found some amazing vintage pieces for the store that i am immensely happy about and Luke shot some incredible photos which turned out extremely well as Kelly Slater happened to surprise everyone by showing up. I can happily tell you that his photos will now be gracing the cover of a national body boarding magazine, as well as a double fold out spread for another and is currently in talks of using his photos he shot of Kelly for Quicksilver in the US! I've been meaning to do a post about Luke so i can show you all some of his amazing surf photography so i suppose this is a good reason to finally getting around to doing it. I don't think we've both ever been happier that we jumped on a plane and ran away for the weekend even if we did miss our flight home by 10 minutes because we ordered poached eggs for breakfast. Next time, no eggs.

And isn't it strange when you're frantically trying to pack or find something to wear your outfit always seems to come together in a weird, unintentional, colour coordinated way? Mine was completely coincidental and i'm still laughing at the fact that i own a belt that is the exact same color as my shoes!

My new collection is coming and will be up by the end of the week :)

L I T T L E R E D.

{Cape: Vintage & in store now, Rose Top: Vintage, Shoes: Orbit}

I decided to quickly take some photos of this adorable little red knitted cape that is now available in the Gary Pepper store to show you all how cute it looks on. I was so tempted to keep it for myself and even had luke commenting on it saying 'if i was a girl, i'd wear cute things like that' (?). Alas, my wardrobe is overflowing with vintage already and i am thinking of doing some major spring cleaning or in this case, winter cleaning, and selling some of my prized possessions very soon.

Unfortunately, whilst i was wandering around these neck of the woods i walked through a very large spider web and threw my camera and everything in my hands meters in the air as i frantically started jumping up and down screaming. In all the chaos, my beloved ring (the engraved one that i shared with you in my last post) flew straight off my finger and i haven't been able to find it since. It's probably best if we don't talk about it yet...

In happier news, with a last minute and spontaneous decision, i booked tickets to Tasmania on Thursday night and flew out Friday afternoon to go opshopping and find some new treasures. The opshops are running a little dry around here due to school holidays and various other reasons so what a perfect opportunity to not only go opshopping but to visit my family! Luke and i returned only last night and i'm already up to my eyeballs in things i need to get done before the week is out. It doesn't really matter because i found some incredible vintage pieces that i cannot wait to start photographing to show you! And just quietly, i'll be updating GPP with some new vintage goodies tonight so be poised and ready to pounce for our store update!

Over 120+ vintage pieces are ending tonight in the Gary Pepper store so please be sure to have a look and see if there is anything you like. I think this was honestly, my favourite collection to date. Some big changes are coming for Gary Pepper so there's no time to waste! I hope you all had a wonderful wonderful weekend :))))

IN STORE NOW:

1. Vintage White Tulle Babydoll Dress // 2. Vintage LISA HO Mesh Bodycon Dress

3. Vintage Floral Peach Fan Sleeve Dress // 4. Vintage floral Peach Pleated Button Dress

5. Vintage Two Toned Backless Halter Dress // 6. Handmade Red Satin Tulle Babydoll Dress

7. Vintage Yellow Polkadot Dress w Ra Ra Frill // 8. Vintage Cream Crochet Boho dress w Wooden Buttons

9. Vintage Red Knitted Tassel Cape // 10. Vintage Black Suede Tasseled Cropped Jacket

11. Vintage Cream Boho Jumper w Crochet Detail // 12. Vintage Cream Soft Knitted Cardigan

13. Vintage Metallic Floral Grunge Jacket // 14. Vintage TABLE EIGHT Tuxedo Cropped Jacket

15. Vintage ESCADA Gold Quilted Bomber Jacket // 16. Vintage Denim Grunge Jacket w Checkered Sleeves

17. Vintage Faux Giraffe Fur High Waist Skirt // 18. Vintage Floral High Waist Skirt

19. Vintage Red Abstract Printed Top w Pleated Bow // 20. Vintage Black & Gold Rose Top

// SHOP GARY PEPPER VINTAGE NOW //

C R O C H E T F I E L D S.

{Dress: from thailand, Jacket: vintage, Shoes: from tokyo, Rings: gift & samantha wills, Crochet neck piece: DIY.}

So here are a few photos from the other day when i was busy celebrating with my coloured confetti. The day was just perfect and everything had a beautiful whimsical feel to it so I wore some easy neutrals and my new favourite necklace i made. It came about when i felt like my outfit was still missing something so i grabbed a crochet doily, cut it, added some ribbon and wore it as as a neck piece. It's actually one of the DIY projects i am going to show you all how to make but i literally made this as i was running out the door so it's not completely finished yet. I plan on adding some cream ribbon around the neckline where you can easily tie it into a bow on the back, or front, whichever, and wear it with pretty much anything. I also tried to photograph my ring which has engraved "It's never too late to be what you might have been" - a quote by George Elliot and a gift form Alex and Eleanor. I feel like it has a whole new meaning since starting gary pepper so i decided to wear it to add a little personal touch to the celebrations :)

I think this is really one of the most beautiful places i've ever been. I've always adored large open meadows and am constantly talking about how i'm still looking for the perfect one so when luke found this place he immediately took me there, and i still can't believe how perfect it is. I'm not even kidding when i tell you there are butterflies chasing each other around and tiny little yellow ladybirds scattered throughout the pastel pink grass. It was just insane. I loved it so much that i took Alex and Laura back there that very afternoon where we enjoyed one of the funniest afternoons i've had in ages. We got a little carried away picking wands and somehow ended up having a contest with who knew more spells from harry potter. Apparently, with the help of wikipedia, i didn't know as many as i thought!