If you’re dreading the fast approaching Valentines day as yet another commercial holiday, there are so many ways you can make it count without spending a cent. Or for those of you who say, “I don’t need a special day to show my love.” no, I’m sure you don’t, but do you really put this much thought into it everyday, and just how touched will someone be when they are on the receiving end of one of these treats? Try something extra special this year and see just how much millage a day of lovely thoughts and gestures will add to your happiness reserves.

Time

They say the only thing you can get a person with everything is more time; and that’s just what you can do. Find something that your love needs done, and make it happen for them while they have some quiet time to read, relax, take a bath or simply sleep. Walk their dog, pick up their kids from school, mow their lawn; all these things help. And remember that old adage, a problem shared is a problem halved? Offer to share the load on a job they don’t really enjoy and chat your way through it. Help them do their late Summer gardening while chatting about the merits of cocktails. Wash windows while singing show tunes… all these things will give them time, give them love, lighten their load and lighten their hearts.  What more could you ask for?

Listen

There are certain tunes we always remember. Those that made us laugh, dance, sing or just plain silly. Sharing these with people we love is something that was par for the course when I was growing up. In fact I still have the first mix tape my high school sweetheart made me, complete with Posca written dedication!

Tap into your inner high schooler and create a mix tape for the one you love.  You you could go fully low tech if you still have that kind of equipment lying around, but otherwise, try these free online services like MixTapeMe. Try back announcing your song selection every now and then with a reminder of a fun time you shared together. It will sure make for some big grins when they hear it again in years to come.

Taste

If you’re not Australian you may not know this but there was a time when the women of this country were all mentally preparing to cook Tom Cruise a Lamb Roast. Now a lamb roast may not be your thing, (and neither may Tom Cruise for that matter), but the sentiment still stands. Cooking your speciality to hand deliver or serve up to your loved one is high on the agenda of impressive Valentines Day gifts. Imagine a huge basket of freshly home baked chocolate chip cookies arriving in a decorated basket on your office desk at lunch time. Feeling loved yet?

Memories

Now that just about everyone in the world has converted to digital photography, many of us never set those memories free once we’ve pressed a button or downloaded them to our desk top.  Give your special memories life and a place to live. Print your favourite photos of you and your love, have them framed, hang them on a string like bunting to decorate the room or put them in surprise places with notes on the back. Each one of these will deliver back to you a 100 watt smile.

Of course, not all of your Valentines will be with you on the 14th of February, and this is where our digital world comes back to our rescue. Write your messages of love in unexpected places. In chalk on the pavement, across your heart, iced onto a cake… the choices are endless. Snap a series of photos using cool apps like Instagram and send them throughout the day like a steady stream of love confetti.

If you have more wonderful FREE Valentines Day Gift ideas to share, please leave them in the comments and together we’ll be making some serious happy!

Dita Von Teese is the latest in the line of Designers for Target here in Australia as we all well know. I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting this range to hit the stores, so I headed out this morning to see if it lives up to the hype. Firstly, I decided to head to a suburban store instead of the city, Chadstone or Doncaster stores where I know are always the busiest. Would the hype have reached the suburbs?

By opening time at 9am, I and my tiny assistant were at the doorstep, and we were the only souls around! Not even the staff opening the door knew much about the range, so I figured there wouldn’t be much competition.

Here’s the tips for you; the suburban stores don’t have the complete range. They don’t have the corsets, chemise, bustiers or suspenders, but they do have a good range of sizes.  If you get stuck with your online purchases (you can shop for the range of Dita Von Teese Von Follies online here) or if you’re headed to the city and they are all out, make sure to hit up the suburban stores for your picks. Smart girls will head to the suburban stores where it isn’t so busy, to try their bras for fit , then be able to purchase the rest of what they want online, already knowing the correct size and without having the competition for sizes you’ll have when shopping in the larger stores!

Yes, I have made some selections for myself and no doubt they will make an appearance soon too.  Once I’ve had a chance to give them a proper road test for fit, feel and how they stand up to the test of my real world day; I’ll have even more low down on this line.  But in a nutshell, yes they are beautiful and very reasonably priced.  I was expecting to see a stronger vintage influence in the finish though. For instance, the suspender belts do have proper and substantial metal clips, but they’re only four strap, not the six you’ll need to keep your seams straight.  I’m also wary of how the weight of the elastic will stand up to a night on the dance floor, as wardrobe malfunctions have a high risk of occurrence with most ‘boudoir’ type suspender sets. The full brief knickers aren’t high enough waisted to give them a real vintage feel, but they are lovely nonetheless.

Have you been awaiting this launch and have you already picked out your favourites? Let me know!

Today’s outfit is a little bit work a tiny bit fantasy… all because it is something I put together for a shoot and then proceeded to have a bit of a diva moment in. The divine Bernie Dexter sent me these incredible ‘Rosie’ dungarees as, I’ll admit, somewhat of a challenge. I haven’t in my adult life worn anything like these. In fact, the last pair I owned were green candy striped with a Smurf appliqué and worn while climbing trees! Mr. SKM has always asked me about these too. Being rather partial to a more down-home kind of girl, he’s been trying to convince me to wear a pair of these for ages, but all I could think about were the bad 1990′s versions worn by teen stars in school hallways! Eeeep!

So when it came to styling these up, I found I was presented with so many choices that it is likely you’ll see them appear in multiple guises over the coming months. But firstly I had to do something entirely classic, a little Betty Grable-esque and (aside from the fabulous shoes) an outfit that is the cutest little gardening ensemble you could imagine! Happy pre-Valentines Day Mr. SKM!

Outfit Details

Denim Dungarees (or as they are often known in Australia – Overalls) – The “Rosie” by Bernie Dexter. Super stretchy and very comfortable light weight blue denim. Two simple side pockets, rear zip and button detail. Yes, they are super fitted and true to size, so if you like things a bit roomier, go up a size or two.

Floral shirt – Princess Highway S/S 2012

Blue shoes – Urban Originals many seasons ago

White bangle – Diva, many seasons ago

Yellow rose – hair flower made by me

Blue Hydrangea – real!

Beauty Note

Nail colour -”My Little Secret” by Missa

Lip Colour – Beseme Red

*All original images by Helen McLean for Super Kawaii Mama.com – Images may be reproduced with appropriate permissions. Feel free to add to Pinterest, Tumblr etc…* 

Image via We Heart It on Tumblr

Valentines Day is one of those Holidays you either love or hate. I see it for its origins of love, faith and belief in something that transcends the every day and lifts us up. While Valentines day is traditionally the day to send your love out there to all those you have a crush on / admire / hope for more from, I think that this year we should do things a little differently. This year I propose that your Valentines be yourself! It’s about time you got some of the loving you deserve, and turned the mirror back on yourself to think of all the great qualities in you that ought to be celebrated. And that is why this Valentines Gift Guide, including some special offers from my lovely sponsors, is for you. For all the things you don’t buy yourself because you have something more urgent or sensible to do with your money. For all the times you gave up something to make someone else’s day, and for all the times we’ve been too hard on ourselves. This is the time to say, ” I Love you me. You are awesome!”

For What Lies Beneath….

A stunning, stretchy rose print slip from Cadeau Republic. Looks and feels amazing, and makes an excellent outfit solution if you decide to stay in for the evening. One visit to their store and you’ll be hooked!

These soft and beautiful stockings are from Sweet Pins, one of my lovely sponsors and where I head to for a gorgeous selection of seamed stockings and day to day pieces.  My new favourites are the Pretty Polly ones in Sherry. They feel super soft and smooth and have an excellent stretch to them. They have lots of new arrivals for Valentines Day but also loads of clearance stock from $10! Luxury..

For your Leading Lady moment

When you take yourself out to dinner for Valentines day you’ll want your Leading Lady moment. These gorgeous pieces from my friends at Miskonduct are my top picks for a dreamy, romantic look and I even have a special discount code for you! For 10% off store wide and the chance to win a $200 voucher, simply enter “Be Mine” at the checkout.

Capture your inner beauty

Two of my favourite photographers have some wonderful opportunities  to turn yourself into art with their Valentines packages. Finessence have their portrait sessions for you and your loved one (maybe even your puppy) to celebrate Valentines Day together with their $99 offer. Helen McLean, (for whom I’m stylist) also has a wonderful offer for you to either treat yourself or someone you love to her exclusive vintage glamour portraiture with a special Valentines gift certificate. Of course, if you’re not based in Australia I recommend seeking out some fabulous photographers in your local area and doing what you’ve been putting off. Capturing a yourself in a beautiful moment of time. Frame yourself in silver and put her on the piano!

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Now that’s got you started on just how to treat yourself this Valentines Day, make sure you check back on Wednesday for my guide to the Top 10 FREE Valentines Gift Guide. That ought to give you all the extra lovin’ you deserve!

I love my sleeping masks. They are my secret to successful daytime naps, as rare as they are, and also do a marvellous job at securely holding those much needed eye cooling gels.  I always love the way the romantic heroine awakes in bed and peers from beneath those satin hoods. Most memorable to me is the divine Auntie Mame who sits bolt upright, awoken by her nephew, to exclaim, “Not now darling, Mamie’s hung.”

My lovely friend Violet Le Beaux has been making some DIY sleep masks of late including this one you can customise with your own message; and so I was inspired to finally make the perfect one for me and share it with you too.  This is an easy to make, perfect gift for your Valentine, and of course yourself. Get creative and think of different colours and trim you can use to make this your own.  I’d love to see the results of your imagination and if you email me pics of your finished mask, I’ll create a gallery of your handiwork in a follow up post! Enjoy…

Prada’s Spring 2012 Collection

Remember those amazing flame shoes from last weeks post on the best flats to wear? They are part of this incredible new collection from Prada this season.  I’ve always wanted a beautiful Prada bag and now, it looks like I can’t hold off any longer. If I miss out on one of these beauties that could have been tailor made for me I’ll kick myself!

Check out some more of the beautiful images from this collection over at the gorgeous Debutante Clothing’s blog.

Marie Claire February  2012 Issue

This gorgeous shoot for Marie Claire is called The Last Days of Summer and captures that softening sunlight of the end of a season. I adore the  looks which as somewhat of a mash up between 1930′s sportswear and 1940′s hair and makeup.

Vogue Girl Korea Winter 2011

You know when shoots give you tingles? This is that! I LOVE these shots so much. The hair, the outfits, the lux fabrics and textures, the fire works display of colour. Hell yeah Vogue Girl!

Vogue UK Feburary 2012

This image by Demarchelier has such a wonderful tone to it. The coral jacket with the coral lip all against the iconic mid century blue piped upholstery. The model’s updated curled faux-hawk is the icing on the cake making this entirely edgy retro chic.

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This is only a sample of the numerous stunning and thoroughly vintage inspired shoots out there at the moment to capture your imagination. It’s enough to make you take a match to those t-shirts and jeans hiding in the wardrobe isn’t it?! If, by the way, you’d like to learn how to put your own looks together as amazingly as these; make sure to hold some dates in your diaries for the next series of vintage styling workshops I have coming up right across the country! I’ll announce all the nitty gritty details as soon as I can, so keep an eye on this page.

My secret for keeping both my makeup intact and my skin well hydrated is the constant use of a facial mist. Not simply a bit of a water spritz, but a multi vitamin spritz that smells amazing, wakes up my face, sets and re-sets my makeup as well as giving me a veil of delicate fragrance to sleep in.

Their are two products always on hand at home and in my handbag so I’m sharing them with you to help you keep the melting heat or drying winter conditions at bay.

Steal 

The Face Shop, Pure Water Facial Mist. RRP $9.99

This comes in a few different fragrance choices including a fresh ocean type scent. I’ve chosen Jeju Flower which is light and refreshing. It comes in a 70ml plastic spritz bottle, so it meets the standards for carry on luggage at under 100ml. The packaging is light and slender so it doesn’t add unnecessary weight to your handbag.

Ingredients list: (I’m including this as I know many readers have various allergies to products and I believe it is important to make informed choices)

water, butylene glycol, honeysuckle extract, rapeseed extract, glycerin, alcohol denat, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, octyldodecth-16, peg-60, hydrogenated castor oil, ppg-26-buteth-26, peg-40 hydrogenated castor oil, ethylparaben, butylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, disodium edta, fragrance.

Splurge

Vani-T Energizing Multi Vitamin Facial Spritz RRP $33.50

Housed in a brushed aluminium canister, this bottle comes in a bit bigger at 100ml, just making the cut for carry on liquids on flights. The canister helps to protect the contents from light which could cause quicker degeneration, and does stop it from heating up in your bag as quickly as its plastic counter part.

The mist itself is divine! Fragranced with Damascas Rose, it quickly become addictive for me and I find myself spraying morning noon and night.

Ingredients list:

Water, polysorbate 20, glycerin, aloe vera leaf extract, vitamin B, Vitamin C, rose damascena flower oil, lemon myrtyle leaf oil, lactic acid, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, benzyl alcohol, citral, eugenol, geranoil, linalool.

Verdict

If I had to choose between the two the Vani-T Multivitamin mist is my favourite, but I save it for my face and décolletage. I find myself using The Face Shop alternative more on my body for a quick refresh as it doesn’t have the same nourishing ingredients as the Vani-T Mist.  If you are looking for that quick pick me up that has the added advantage of nourishing and hydrating your skin, I really recommend trying the Vani-T mist for a handbag must have.

A beautiful baroque interior by Tony Duquette.

As you probably gathered from the last post bemoaning my indecision on carpet choices, there are some changes afoot here at home. I’ve always been a creature of change, never settling for long on one thing or another. Not shoes and never jobs, and least of all the environment around me. I’m an easily discontented sort, always on the look out to improve, embellish or otherwise chase some other version of perfection. Which is why my career as a style blogger and vintage hair & makeup artist is such a constant source of joy to me. It is always and forever changing.

This time, my living space is once again in the line of my decorative fire. I’ve spent the better part of the last four days hauling furniture, trawling Pinterest, climbing ladders and annoying carpet sales men. Anyone around me at these times knows that the correct response to any of my queries is, “Oh that’s genius!” “Absolutely, ‘Lime Dream’ is an inspired choice.” (Which is by the way, the name of the colour I have only just today finished painting in my studio.)

I’d like to tell you that my decorating efforts take place from the comfort of a deck chair, gin and tonic in hand whilst an army of minions completes the tasks. But no, being the pedant I am (read – control freak), all decorating efforts take place at the hands of me and my very patient father. This is the one time you’ll find me in spandex yoga pants, balancing on one foot atop a ladder, in some oddly contorted position, paint brush in hand. Yes, it is still with red lacquered (but somewhat paint spattered) nails, lashings of mascara and chiffon scarves.

Decorating, like ironing; is for me a kind of Zen. I have some of my very best thoughts doing this kind of work. It is probably the only time I have a single track mind without the usual multiple mental conversations. And today I had another thought. I think the candidate most in need of a makeover at present is the internet, or should I say, the way people behave to each other on the internet. This was not prompted by any particular moment, comment or thought, but just by a general observers view as I wade through hideous Facebook posts, dreadful comments and other ‘ugly’ sentiments.

So while I kick start this (yet another) decorating phase, I’m inspired to think of decorating our insides just as we do our outsides. Shining a light on those neglected corners of friendship, dusting off the cobwebs of forgotten manners and finding a shade of attitude that compliments us well.

 Grey-er Sage like this  &           Mossier green like this.

For once this is a bigger decision than which eye shadow of the day, or even which frock on the rack I’m choosing. This time it is carpet.  Since we moved into this house some five years ago, there has been a list of aspirational renovations we’ve wanted to do that are a mile long. Some were tackled immediately, (purple ceilings anyone?), others a slower process like when I stripped all the wallpaper and went peacock blue in the bedroom.  Then my fix it up streak went on AWOL. That is until I can no longer live with the carpet I have in my most often used rooms; my studio and the family room. As much as I’d like to replace the floor in the whole house, it looks set to cost the sum of a decent car, so for now I’m applying a bit of make do and mend to the situation. Which brings me to my dilemma.

The January sales shortly come to a close and I’ve managed to secure a deal on two carpets that I like. One is a safe option, a rather modern grey green called sage and the other a thicker and rather more adventurous moss green.  Of course my instincts tell my that adventure is always my chosen path, and from everything I can see in my research on mid century homes, colour was all the rage.  So do I go bolder even though Miss Seven says it looks like frog vomit?….  This is the serious conundrum of my Wednesday. Will you weigh in and help me decide?  ;)

Today’s outfit draws on some very diverse inspirations. When I first got this red top and blue skirt ensemble from Bernie Dexter, it has obvious cues to style it up in either a military or nautical fashion. The high waist skirt, the gold button trim, the navy and blue combinations; all of these have the classic hallmarks of the cute pinup style I know and love. But when something comes with such a strong personality the challenge for me to shake it up and give it my own personal style stamp is just too much to resist.

Taking a cue from Dolce & Gabbana’s campaign featuring Madonna, as well as a good dose of 1960′s Mod style, all combined with my signature twist on cute vintage chic; I came up with this ensemble that ticked all the right boxes for me.

Outfit Details from head to toe

Sunglasses – Portmans

Silk scarf in hair -Vintage Oroton

Necklace – Crystal Dollies

Red “Venice” top – Bernie Dexter

Navy “Maria” high waisted pencil skirt with gold button trim – Bernie Dexter

Black and Gold “La Box Bag” – Estilo Emporio

Black & White cut out mod heel shoes – “Komfi” from Paragon Dept. store in Bangkok

All original images by Helen McLean for Super Kawaii Mama.com – Images may be reproduced with appropriate permissions. Feel free to add to Pinterest etc.. with linking credits.*