Frocktober : Week Four

I've been avoiding this post, just a little, because really - who wants to put a collage of ten goofy selfies on their blog? Not me. But here it is. Frocktober, the last ten days. (In case you're wondering, it's not too late to sponsor me. Go ahead, click on over, cough up a fiver or two for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Thanks.) It's been six frock less days (well, not completely frock less. I have frocked up for dinner most nights). Have I missed it? Well...yes and no. 

Yes because it was fun being a part of something; it was ace getting those 'you've received a donation' emails. And yes, because I always like having a little project to do, something I'm committed to and accountable for each day. And yes, because we raised just under $1300! So great and way beyond all my expectations. Thanks again for all the support! 

But also no because it was harder than I thought it would be. Which sounds so stupid and kinda lame. I mean, I'm complaining about wearing a dress everyday? Get a grip lady! But it was tricky. No 'uniform' to fall back on; having to actually think about what to wear each day. And don't even mention the often uncooperative weather (it was a very windy month here in Sydney!). (Clairey Hewitt wrote a bit about this too, about the surprising challenge of wearing a frock every day for a month.) 

And then there was the whole selfie business (which stupidly I hadn't even considered when I signed up). Taking and posting a photo of myself every day was something very far outside my comfort zone. But I did it. And towards the end I didn't care so much about my weird looking knees or my shiny, frowny face. I felt a bit more comfortable in front of the camera, I had a bit of fun. And I realised my legs are pretty ace, actually. I might even do a few more 'what I wore' posts. Might. Quite surprising what a journey a month of dressing up can be. 

Frocktober also forced me to have a good, hard, honest look through my frock-drobe. I've rediscovered hidden gems and I've parted with a few frocks that really just weren't me. I've also re-embraced a bunch of frocks that were relegated to the 'too booby' pile while we were living in Korea...

Korean ladies love tiny skirts and super short shorts; they'll wear bottom bits so small you sometimes think they've forgotten to put pants on. But their busts stay very well hidden - even the lower neck area is a no go zone. In the early days of moving to Seoul I made the mistake of wearing a tee with a slight scoop neck, and I've never felt so conspicuous and so uncomfortable. From then on I was pretty cautious about my necklines, and a lot of frocks became unwearable for a few years. But - in Sydney these same frocks look positively chaste! So welcome back, booby frocks! 

Outfit details: 

22. Frock - Totem / Sandals - Zara 

23. Denim Sack of Awesome (number six - and yes, I know technically it's chambray) - French Connection / Sandals - ALDO / Bangles - Kate Spade 

24. Frock - made590 / Heels - ModCloth / Movie star hair - Desmond & Molly Jones

25. Frock (well, more a tee shirt really) - Threadless / Sandals - ALDO 

26. Frock - ModCloth / Heels - Anne Klein / Really messed up pose - A crazy day

27. Frock- Threadless. That is all. 

28. Frock - Ganni via asos / Belt - Sportsgirl (I think. I bought it years ago.) / Heels - ModCloth 

29. Frock - H+M / Blouse - American Apparel / Heels - Hoehyundong Underground Shopping Centre 

30. Frock - ModCloth / Heels - Nine West 

31. Frock - ModCloth / Cardigan - Marks + Spencer / Heels - Midas / Brooch - Samah Designs on Etsy / Goofy Grin - Thanks to you!

Frocktober : Week Three

Week three - DONE! We are in the home stretch people! And I've raised my target again - hit $1K, now aiming for $1300. Really amazing. I thank you. The ovaries of Australia thank you. And if you haven't donated yet there's still plenty of time to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation - just click on over. Even five dollars is awesome, if that's all you can spare. 

Week three was a busy one for me, and a rather emotional one too. Lots of ups and downs. There was a photography workshop with Brooke Holm, where I got to meet the ever colourful Gourmet Girlfriend in real life. And I met Megan Morton too which was pretty ace. (More on that at a later date). I went to a play and saw some art and ate lots of food, and stayed out late on a Saturday night for the first time in a very long time. I battled stinking hot days (Sydney) and hail storms (Melbourne) and I got to hang out with some of my favourite people. Hurrah! 

Outfit details: 

15. Denim Sack of Awesome (number four) - ASOS / Ankle boots - Novo 

16. Frock - Oasis via ASOS (now half price!) / Slingback heels - Vintage Bruno Magli (from an Etsy shop which seems to have closed down) / Belt - Gorman 

17. Shift dress - Gorman / Top - Witchery / Ankle boots - Novo / Overexposed photo - Exhaustion 

18. Frock - A Wear via ASOS / Top - Uniqlo Heattech (aka the best thermals on the planet) / Scarf - Zara (I think) / Ankle boots - Novo (get the impression I'm a bit in love with these shoes at the moment?) 

19. Frock - Marks + Spencer / Peep toe heels - Moschino / Weird knees - Mother Nature / Underexposed photo - Exhaustion

20. Denim Sack of Awesome (number five) - Zara / Sandals - ALDO / Arms of steel - Low weights, many reps 

21. Frock - ASOS / Flats - Ecote via Urban Outfitters / Jazz hands - By popular demand / Humiliation - It's for a good cause...

I didn't realise how much ASOS I was wearing until I put this list together!

ps. If you want a better look at each outfit and/or each ridiculous facial expression you can find bigger pics on my Instagram (posting daily) and on my sponsorship page (posting almost daily).

Frocktober : Week Two

Frocktober week two, in which I manage to look like a complete goose in every photo except one (pick which one!). We're at the halfway mark and - I never thought I'd say this - I'm a bit over frocks. Oh to be able to throw on a pair of jeans and a tee! (By the by, I'm pretty sure I'd be a little less over frocks if you sponsored me...)

It's a bit sad knowing that once I've worn a frock I can't wear it again until November. I'm a uniform kind of girl, not a wear-something-different-every-day kind of girl! At any one time I have a handful of outfits that I rotate through the week, but not this month. I've been very conscious of not binging on my most favourite frocks in the first half, I'm trying to spread them across the whole month. But it's tricky!

For week three I'm taking frocktober to Melbourne - hurrah! And there just might be jazz hands (yay!) and wearing my hair down (blergh!) in a future selfie... 

Here's all the outfit details: 

8. Frock - Ark + Co via ModCloth / Bodysuit - H + M / Heels - Nine West / Lipstick - Rouge Coco Shine in Sari D'Eau / Smile - Courtesy of all you wonderfully generous people! 

9. Frock - Marks + Spencer / Belt - Namdaemun Market / Slingback heels - Vintage Bruno Magli from an Etsy store that seems to have shut down

10. Frock - Anna Thomas / Heels - Midas 

11. Denim Sack of Awesome (number three) - Gorman / Flats - Ecote via Urban Outfitters / Photo of Ferdi the Handsomest Hound in the World - My Heart 

12. Frock - Gorman (again!) / Belt - Zara (I think) / Heels - Midas (definitely)

13. Frock - Uniqlo / Sandals - ALDO 

14. Frock - Ruby by Leona Edmiston / Flats - Zara / Goose Bumps + Blue Lips - Sydney's crazy Spring weather

ps. If you want a better look at each outfit and/or each ridiculous facial expression you can find bigger pics on my Instagram (posting daily) and on my sponsorship page (posting almost daily).

Frocktober : Week One

Well, for someone who very rarely puts themselves in front of the camera this isn't confronting at all. Nope. Cough. But, it's all for a good cause - I'm wearing a different frock every day this month in support of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. 

There's currently no early detection test for ovarian cancer, which leads to a high mortality rate. The OCRF is working at developing awareness of the symptoms and causes of ovarian cancer. They're not government funded, so to do their good work they rely on people like you and I handing over our hard earned cash. So, if you have five bucks to spare, sponsor me! 

One week in and I'm slowly getting over my dread of the selfie. And - in even better news - we've raised $600! Wow! A big thanks to all of you who've donated, I really appreciate the support. And thank you too for all the lovely comments on Instagram and Twitter and Facebook. It's made posting the daily photo much less traumatic. 

Anyhoo, here's all the outfit details: 

1. Frock - Marks + Spencer / Belt - Zara / Heels - Midas 

2. Denim Sack of Awesome (summer weight) - Uniqlo / Flats - Ecote via Urban Outfitters (these are my absolute favourite flats. This is my third pair in 18 months, I wear them until they fall apart.)

3. Frock - Whistles via ASOS / Ankle boots - Novo 

4. Denim Sack of Awesome (winter weight) - Muji / Ankle boots - Novo 

5. Frock - Gap / Flats - Urban Outfitters / Ridiculous expression - All mine 

6. Frock - Mata Traders / Pretend high heels - Stylists own 

7. Frock - Gorman / Belt - Gorman / Ankle boots - Novo / Frown - From when I hadn't reached $500 yet. Frown no more!

Frocktober!

Something's happening tomorrow. Something that combines science, frocks, preventing cancer and puns, so many glorious puns. That something is Frocktober. Frocktober is a month of frock celebrations, big and small, in aid of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women. It's often called the 'silent killer' because the symptoms are vague; they are not detected by a pap smear. The OCRF supports national research focussed on developing awareness and an early detection test to increase the chances of survival. It receives no government funding. Basically, it's an organisation well worth supporting. 

In a fit of madness (inspired somewhat by this lovely lady) I've put my hand up. I pledge to wear a different frock every day for the month of October. You can sponsor me here. Every single dollar is appreciated - even $5 is a frocktastic donation for a frockin' good cause! (Did I mention PUNS?!!!). $5 is like half a coffee in Australia these days right? So give up one half a coffee during the month of October and give it to the OCRF instead and help prevent cancer and feel AWESOME. Yay!

Even after my recent wardrobe clear out, I have a lot of frocks so this should be a breeze, but I'm pretty sure by day five I'm going to be missing my jeans and shorts and yes - leggings as pants! Also, can you wear a dress to the gym? What are the rules there? Anyhoo, these photos are a little teaser of what frock-joy your eyes will be assaulted with throughout October. I'll be cracking out some vintage numbers and some never before worn, back of the closet gems. I am a bit sad that my most outrageous vintage frocks are currently on a boat heading from Seoul to Sydney, but I've still got some great ones to work with. And, if you're lucky, and if I can convince the husband to take me out for a fancy meal or two, and if I lose about three kilos or so, I might even bust out some of those M Missoni numbers. 

I'll be doing daily posts on Instagram, and weekly round ups here (both depending on how enthusiastic and/or competent my photography assistants are). So from tomorrow - it's goodbye comfortable, easy jeans and hello frock-tastic-ness! Frock on people! 

ps. Sponsor me?