Market day.

On the first Saturday of every winter month in Dubai, Safa Park hosts a weekend flea market. I've only been twice, first time I had my own stall and sold a bunch of clothes that I deemed unworthy of closet space. Managed to make about 1300 dirhams profit from it though;). This month was apparently the last month the flea market will be held until after summer, but I heard they may have it in a closed venue for June (let's hope it does continue during the summer).

You can find anything in this flea market, from paintings, knick-knacks, designer clothing, shoes and more. I found a stall that sold Aussie designs such as Sass & Bide. She had two dresses there, with tags still on for 100 dirhams and 65 dirhams each... But I was good and didn't buy much because my closets really don't need more...

Studded vest from dotti, tie-dye skirt from Forever New, earrings from Diva (Debanhams)

 

My favourite stall was this lady selling hand-painted ornaments from Tanzania. All money raised from purchases of the colorful and cute wooden animals would go back to that village in Tanzania.

Only bought a couple of things: This awesome evil eye ring for 10 dirhams.

And this cute Miss Budd purse for 10 dirhams as well.

It's so nice to sit in a park in Dubai. You really feel like you've left the city.
I mean, we're surrounded by sand and high rise buildings all the time, it's so relaxing to be sitting under a tree.

Except for the bugs. Eek.

Metallic stripes.

Tonight I attended a small fashion show called Strawberry Spring hosted by Galeries Lafayette in Dubai Mall, who were showcasing their new Spring collection consisting of many designer brands.

Appletree Boutique vintage dress; Steve Madden wooden heels.

Unfortunately by the time I got in the mall, I had a run in my tights (blaming that on my rings getting caught and making a hole as I parked my car and that hole turned into a looong ladder with every step forward).
I felt bad because the dress is a little short, and Dubai malls have pretty strict dress-codes... If you're wearing something considered inappropriate they'll give you a little slip of paper, reminding you what is (I've never gotten one of these).

Melbourne in the 1930s.

Speaking of the races, that reminds me of a purse that I bought the last time I was in Melbourne just earlier this year in January. I was on my favourite shopping strip, Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, browsing the vintage shop Hunter & Gatherer when I came across this small purse.

Inside was a ticket to the Flemington Race Course for the 3rd of November 1936.
You can only just imagine how excited that made me. My friend at the time (and several others I've told the story to) told me that it's more likely that the store staff just put the ticket in, that it doesn't necessarily mean the purse was used by a lady back in the 1930s. I don't listen to them though.
I'd rather believe that in 1936, the purse was filled with a powder brush, some pennies and mirror, clutched tightly by a well dressed lady in a bonnet with a small feather, hopping off the tram with her friends, excited to see her first horse race...
Or something like that:-)

So I scoured the interweb for photos of the people of Melbourne in the 1930s.
I saw bonnets and sequins and intricately detailed pieces. Fashion was a lot more complicated back then. 

I really admire the effort that women would have had to go through.

 Info and credits to these photos below:

Don Nicol - National Library of Australia

Miss Bridget O'Brien - Picture Queensland ~ State Library of Queensland : digital image collection

Mrs. Marcus (Marjorie) Barlow - State Library of Victoria

Cyril Ritchard with two unidentified female performers - National Library of Australia

Shoulder poppin'.

I had steered clear of shoulder-emphasizing dresses til now, mostly because I think you need a small waist (aka b&w model above) to pull it off, and also because I haven't done as much shopping this year as I have in last years. I'm growing up, saving pennies;) 

I do love the Balmain mini dresses that have 'inspired' countless numbers of high-street brands to provide us the same style. I found my special inspired dress in London at a little vintage boutique called Appletree on Portobello Road, Notting Hill. It was about 32GBP and as soon as I saw it on the racks I knew I must have it. It's super short and I need a belt to cinch in the waist, for the reason above, but also because it's a bit of a straight cut, a little loose.

Photo of the shop window courtesy of this site.

Wedding.

I attended my good friends Kim & Lars' wedding in Manila, Philippines last week. The morning of the wedding, I was at the mall with my cousins doing a sort of 'amazing race' of shopping. We had 1 hour only, to find many things. I was looking for shawl, cardigan, bag, and a new dress because I didn't feel like wearing the one i originally picked out.

I ended up finding everything I needed plus more. I picked up the cute parasol I'm holding there for only 395 pesos. Unfortunately I forgot that at the apartment and didn't bring it back with me to Dubai! Eventually, I just wore the dress I originally bought for the wedding (a vintage find off ebay), despite buying two new dresses for the day... Well, a girl's gotta have options!!

My friend and fellow blogger Mr. Manalo, also came wearing pink, I think we're quite a cute couple.

At the end of the evening, the bride & groom gifted us with fireworks! It was a perfect fairytale wedding.