Beach Fest Cronulla & Rock 'n' Vintage Roll Festival

I haven't posted for a while but never fear, university has finished for the year and I have some exciting ideas to share with you!

First I need to post about the fun rock-and-roll-packed weekend I had in early November. Despite having a big psychology report due on Sunday, I felt I couldn't miss out on either of these events. The Beach Fest at Cronulla is a two day festival of (primarily) surf culture with retro cars, live music (rock and rockabilly), some stalls (mostly food and art) and a retro swimwear parade. I only went for a short time on Saturday so I missed out on the fireworks but I did check out the cars and a tiny part of The Bonnevillain's set.

The bro

Skirt - Hell Bunny
Bag - The Market Basket Co

Best car there

 

Next day - Rock n Vintage Roll Festival at Ryan's Hotel, Thirroul. This event is much more centered around everything 1950's with quite a few retro cars, a decent number of stalls, a best-dressed parade and live music from No Brakes. The food was excellent (generous servings!) and we got to have a few dances to the band. We didn't get many photos but you can find a short video taken at the festival here.

The dancing crew

Top - Handmade by Mum from 1950's pattern
Circle Skirt - Handmade by Grandma
Bag - 1950's vintage
Shoes - ReMix from Bop Jonny's
Clip-on Earrings - 1950's vintage
Bracelet - Debstar Designs

This was the second time we've attended the event and we would definitely go again if more are held next year!
- Kirsten

Headscarves & Manly Beach

Ah, the headscarf. A must-have in a vintage wardrobe; it is versatile and chic. They provide a quick and easy alternative to achieving a vintage look and are a life-saver on windy days or when you need to hide your hair set. I almost always wear a headscarf with 1940's styling, I just find it easier. Here's how I learned the art of tying a headscarf from Candice DeVille (Vintage Current).

 

Some 1940's headscarf inspiration...

www.theatlantic.com
Lake demonstrates the importance of safety for factory workers in WW2 - bring on the headscarf/turban!

www.forgeofinnovation.org

1943 Canadian munitions factory - www.sfu.ca

www.flashbacksummer.com

weheartvintage.co

www.livinghistoryfarm.org

Scarf - Vintage.

My mother, grandmother and I ventured to Manly, a beach suburb in Northern Sydney. It was sunny and warm for a change and definitely felt like Spring. Two train trips and a ferry ride later, we walked around then ate at the beach-themed Ivanhoe Hotel. It turned out wearing a scarf on a ferry is a good idea (and securing with bobby pins is a must). Sometimes the time spent setting hair and styling is just wasted when it's windy.

Beer Garden

I promise we don't always take photos of our food!

My philosophy - never say no to crème brûlée.
Sunglasses - Ray-Ban
Jacket - Cripple Creek (gift)

The ol' "coat hanger"

- Kirsten

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

High Tea at The Palace Tea Room

On Sunday 21st September; Sue, Grandma and I went to The Palace Tea Room for high tea in the QVB (level 1) for Grandma's birthday. We chose this restaurant because the reviews praised the quality and freshness of the food (who wants stale scones??) and the price was good compared to other places for what you receive.
The decor is Victorian themed with beautiful chandeliers and furniture. We ordered the Sparkling Afternoon Tea as a treat - I didn't know what I was in for... at this point I would like to highly recommend booking a high tea for lunch not afternoon tea!

The Palace Tea Room

It was appropriate to dress up for the occasion and for some reason dressing in your 'sunday best' is always fun (a trend we wish would come back).

Sue's Dress - Retrospec'd
Cardigan - SES

Cheers!

The chinaware was pretty; Royal Albert, Royal Doulton and Wedgewood. Sue and I drank Paris Vanilla Tea (delicious). We got about 4 cups of tea each in the pot too.
The savoury part of the high tea included: chicken, salmon and egg sandwiches, lobster pastry, crab/lobster biscuit and a large scone with jam and cream. These were all fantastic, fresh and light.
The sweet part: passionfruit macaron, lamington mousse slice, raspberry cheesecake, raspberry (?) meringue tart and small cupcake.

We were SO full at the end. I wanted to be rolled home. After tea we walked around Pitt St.

Earrings - Vintage from Etsy

I did a pin curl wet-set on my hair for a change.
Cardigan - Vintage 50's from a past Love Vintage Show (bargain!)
Dress - Retrospec'd
~ Notable beard in background ~

My shoes - Clarks
Sue's shoes - David Lawrence

Bag - 50's Vintage from a past Love Vintage Show at a great price

Pitt St, Sydney

On a side note, strangers do act differently towards you when you dress up. We got some pretty great service in Myer, people came after us to help us (a la Pretty Woman) and a lady asked what the occasion was because she could "sense a theme."

We really enjoyed the high tea; the service was great, the food was tasty and the decor was elegant. They also have regular meals including breakfast, lunch and desserts.

- Kirsten

Art & About Sydney 2014

On Friday 19th September Sue and I went to see Art & About in the city for the first time - specifically, the Quarter Acre Block Party.

Art & About Sydney

Held in Martin Place, it was a free event meant to celebrate the opening of the festival with live music and  food with a theme of kitschy 60's and 70's suburban Australian culture. 

It was pretty crowded when we first got there so we decided to get a hot dog from the 'Car-B.Q.' At first I was highly confused then I finally realised there was a man barbequing on top of a car bonnet. I should add the pork hot dog with pickle remoulade was delicious.

Car-B.Q. ... apparently it's a thing.

After listening to The Morrisons, we boarded a free vintage bus (the same buses we got to ride at the Fifties Fair) to the Art Gallery of NSW.

Beret - Vintage from The Shire Vintage and Collectables Fair
Cardigan - Forever 21
Bag - Sportsgirl
Jeans - Retrospec'd
Lipstick - True Red (Revlon)

The only exhibition open to view was The Archibald so we just looked around and decided to eat.. again :)

AGNSW

We ordered a 'scone' with jam & cream but what came out of the kitchen was one tiny scone, not worth the price. It was fun to see the gallery at night too!

Sue awaits the scone

  - Kirsten