Australian farmer saves kangaroos from drowning in flood

This has been a tragic time for Queenslanders but also a time of so many selfless acts of kindness. These poor, wet, wild kangaroos look so exhausted but content just to be on something dry. What an amazing man.

Betty Draper is wearing my dress only hers is blue.

Apart from the catastrophe unfolding in Brisbane at the moment I couldn't believe my eyes when I opened The Courier-Mail this morning and saw a photo from Mad Men with Ms Draper wearing a stunning 1950s dress as I have the very same vintage dress for sale on vintageclothing.com.au Only difference, mine is in pink. It also has the original belt and has never been worn.
I had to inform the lovely Courier Mail fashion editor, Laura Stead, who kindly did a piece on her blog http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/behindtheseams/

Just love Zuburbia's Ebay vintage clothing roundup

Congratulations to zuburbia.com for their regular roundup of fabulous vintage clothing and accessory finds on Ebay. Just click on the photo at the site and you will be taken to the auction. I was delighted to see they had included a vintage dress I had listed on Ebay recently.

For those who loved and wore The House of Merivale

Fabulous vintage 70s Merivale leather jacket
shown on omdiddyom.blogspot.com

I have found a wonderful post and thread about The House of Merivale fashions over at circavintage.com.au It has inspired a generation of fans, including me, to reminisce about our times spent shopping at either their Sydney or Melbourne store during the seventies. Here's an excerpt from the The Powerhouse's site on the post.

Established by John and Merivale Hemmes, the landmark House of Merivale and clothing designed by Merivale revolutionised the Australian fashion scene. John and Merivale Hemmes were mavericks in Australian fashion. Modelled on London’s famous concept boutiques and catering to 18-25 year olds, the House of Merivale was the first specialty fashion boutique in Australia.

The House of Merivale was not just a shop; it was a phenomenon that significantly influenced a generation of young Australian’s attitude to shopping and the fashion experience. The House of Merivale was the place to go to for the latest trends in music, fashion and make-up and was the first store in Australia to sell the mini. The popularity of the boutique was such that teenagers would be lined up outside the door.

Yes, I was there nearly every Saturday morning while working in Sydney spending my hard-earned cash on some amazing item of clothing. Even now I can describe every piece I bought in detail. Recently I spotted on Ebay the same fabulous brown leather Merivale jacket I bought from the store. Even though it was far to small to wear I just had to buy it to have another look. Incredible what an effect clothes have on us.

Ebay's Top Shopped report for 2010

Military jacket

Plaid

50s fashion vintageclothing.com.au

FAUX fur

Lady Gaga, McQueen

America’s 2010 Top Fashion Obsessions as reported by Ebay's Top Shopped report:

A Salute to Fashion: One of the biggest fashion trends this year, military jackets topped the list as the fashion obsession for 2010 with fashion fanatics buying more than 1 million related items on eBay (1,038,026 related items sold).

Pretty in Plaid: As the favorite fabric for fall, plaid was a hot commodity on eBay, coming in second as a fashion obsession with 718,365 related items sold.

Return of the Decades: Retro fashion was haute this year with decades like the 30s, 50s, 80s and 90s trending high on eBay. The feminine 1950s took the cake with 626,264 related items sold, followed by the 1980s (378,222 related items sold), 1930s (321,103 related items sold) and 1990s (299,785 related items sold). Neon was also a big fashion trend this year and was a bright spot with 469,356 related items sold.

The New Glam: Decadent materials like faux fur (105,988 related items sold) and feathers (121,983 related items sold) as well as dramatic, bold prints – specifically leopard print (80,120 related items sold) – were all the rage with the fashion-savvy set of 2010.

Fashion Icon Lives On: This year marked the passing of iconic fashion designer Alexander McQueen. His legacy has lived on with fans buying 20,070 related items. In addition, McQueen’s unofficial muse and fashion icon for the new millennium, Lady Gaga, had shoppers vying for her look with related sales that totaled 96,470.

Best wishes for a joyous, peaceful and loving Christmas

Wear the same brooch that Rita Hayworth wore

I was fascinated to see that a vintage crab brooch and earring set by Eugene Joseff is for sale on cooljools.com The top picture shows a young Rita Hayworth wearing the same brooch in second top photo. Eugene Joseff is reported to have designed up to ninety percent of the jewellery worn by Hollywood who's who from 1930 to 1948. His jewellery was worn in many famous movies including Gone with the Wind (1939), High Society (1956) and Cleopatra (1963). The other photos are of more stunning jewellery for sale on the same site.