Saturday, October 2, 2010

Blogtoberfest Giveaway & Childhood Favourites!

So I've decided to giveaway a copy of this fabulous book.

Plus I'll find a few other bits and bobs from my craft room to throw in for the winner.

Leave a comment on this post to be in the running - maybe tell me about your favourite outfit from childhood! All comments must include a means for me to contact you. And, because this is a pretty heavy hardcover book I'll only post within Australia. Any followers get a second chance in the giveaway - just leave me a comment telling me you follow. I will draw the winner on Sunday 31 October 2010!

And after asking you the question I should really share what my favourite outfit was from childhood - but I can't really recall one favourite! I was a child of the 80's so there was a lot of fluoro (think mesh socks over non-mesh socks), rara skirts and hand-me-downs. I recall owning a pair of suede ankle boots (at about age 12) that I'd tuck my jeans into. My brother and I had matching (but not the same) puffer rain jackets in neutral colours so they could be worn by us both. I wore a lot of tracksuits and raglan-sleeve t-shirts with my super-short shorts. My favourite colour was red and every second year I would have my long hair cut really short (like boy short - see photo below).Oh, and twice a year we'd go and select outfits for the season. Mum would put it on layby (usually at Venture or Kmart) and there'd be the inevitable catwalk fashion show for my grandparents when the layby was finally paid-off and picked-up!

I can't wait to hear about you're favourites!

55 comments:

Sarah said...

Oh ange - love those photos, so 80s, so cute!

The book looks ace.

Sartorial highlights from childhood include desert boots, speedos, a navy duffle coat, white roller skates, holly hobby knee high socks, one single party dress in black/white floral with lemon ribbon trim (made by nanna) and a yearly jumper knitted by mum. And all my horsey gear - the drizabone, the joddies, the top boots! Oh memories!

Sarah said...

oh and of course I follow you

Kirsty said...

My favourite piece of childhood clothing was a jumper my mother knitted for me, the whole thing was done in two pieces, front which included the front 1/2 of the sleeves and the back was the same. Then it was just sewn together, what made it so special is that it was dark blue with 52 different coloured diamonds on it. I was heartbroken when I realised that once I had outgrown it she gave it to my aunty who then passed it on to some other family once her children had outgrown it.

CurlyPops said...

Oh dear, I have so many tragic outfits as a result of the 80's. Let me see, my favourite was my bubblegum jeans in about 1985. I also had lots of those short boys haircuts. There was also that trend of three quarter zip jeans with flourescent socks and converse runners - funny!

Unknown said...

I don;t remember a favourite, When we were really young my aunt in the UK would send my sister and I matching outfits(my aunt only had boys). I remember coveting my sisters clothes and sometimes raiding her wardrobe if she was staying at a friends house. Also, I clearly remember dad making go to school in my PJs because I said I couldn't anything to wear!

Sally said...

I remember a purple velvet dress that I wore over the top of a pink skivvy... I still have it - waiting for my daughter to be old enough to fit in it - possibly next winter.

Thanks so much for the chance to win that awesome book.

Sally said...

... and I follow you :)

humel said...

I'm not entering - (a) I won from you last year, and (b) I don't live in the right country!! But you reminded me of my favourite outfit from childhood, and a story to go with it :-)

I don't quite know why, considering what a tomboy I was, but I loved a brown dress I had at about the age of 8. I loved it so much that when we were invited to a wedding I was desperate to wear that dress. Mum was equally desperate that I should NOT, but instead I should wear a new purple dress with smocked shoulders (this was early 80s, you understand...) We were both equally stubborn about it!

On the morning of the wedding I came down to discover that Mum had done a load of washing and my brown dress was hanging on the washing line, and clearly wouldn't be dry in time for me to wear it. I looked out the window to see this and said to her, 'You did that deliberately, didn't you?' At least she had the honesty to admit it, and the grace to blush as she did so!

Thanks for reminding me of the story, and for being patient as I told it... xx

Unknown said...

My favourite outfit was anything that matched my older sister. She always got the blue version and I always got the pink version. I guess it made shopping easier for my mum!

Unknown said...

I follow you. And I used to have boy-short hair like that too!

melissa said...

I wasnt much of a fashionista back then (still not!) but do remember Faberge jeans, court shoes, jumpsuits! (crikey) and other hideous items id rather forget!

Thanks for the giveaway would love to win this great book and Im a follower!

Bec Clarke said...

Oh I had this ridiculous tracksuit, it was navy blue but had puffy bands of colour around the arms and legs. Thinking back I would have looked like one of those Yo-you dolls, I am sure. I was devistated when I grew out of it.

Bec Clarke said...

I also already follow. Thanks for the great opportunity.

Jo's Place said...

oooo I've wanted this book for ages. I have just become a follower.

My favourite piece of clothing was a skivvy that my mum hand painted with pooh bear and flowers on it. I've still got it somewhere :)

Melinda said...

Nice giveaway. That book looks fun and colourful. I remember wearing a bubble swimsuit on the Strahan beach (in the fifties), and a red parka with fur trim, back when they first came out.

Bessie handmade vintage and retro fabric bags said...

I do follow your blog.

Bessie handmade vintage and retro fabric bags said...

It looks like a beautiful book - I love the flouncy skirt.

My favourite childhood clothes? hawaiian print shorts with contrasting rickrack trim Mum made? corduroy pedal pushers (Mum's as well?) in 2 colours or the beautiful smocked white top my sister started as a textile and design baby's garment?

dillpickle said...

The book looks great! I remember sometime in primary school owning one of those wide-elastic-waist-full-circle-knee-length-skirts that I thought was just fantastic! I also had a hyper-colour tshirt (remember those?!?) that I wore so much it lost it's hyper-colour ability! Oh, the memories!!

PS I also follow ;-)

silver nutmeg & golden pear said...

So cool!!!

My fave outfit was a blue cord pinny mum had made for me and my 2 sisters and we always wore them with our brown knee high boots- we felt SO grown up!! Haha!!

Would love a copy of this awesome book!! And you know I follow you terrific blog!!
Hope all is well Ange,
Courtney x

Christy Franklin said...

What a fun giveaway! I don't know if I loved the outfits I wore growing up, but I certainly can remember them. My mum decided it would be a great idea for us to all MATCH for a family photo. She went out and bouth this GHASTLY blue and white stripey spotty fabric, and made a dress for my sister and I and a shirt for my my brother. Then mum and dad got out of wearing the feral fabric and they just wore white shirts with navy pants. I felt sooo jipped! I think the dress pattern mum used was nice and easy, cause after that, she made us that dress in every different festy fabric she could find. Oh dear. I laugh when I look at those photos now!

quilary said...

I had some pants that were in the 'David Jones' black and white check - only smaller (thank heavens). I loved wearing them with a black skivvy - I'm so glad there isn't photo of me in them...

Ducks and Rabbits said...

Oh how you've dug up some ugly memories - at least with respect to the clothing! I loved my pair of jeans that had triangle pocket flaps that snapped down to show off the flouro colour on the inside. And my purple parachute pant outfit - with lots of purpose-less black zippers. There's nothing better than a zipper without a purpose!

~ Kim ~ said...

Do shoes count? Cos I loved those jellies. I guess I would have to say t-shirts with cute vintage kids pics on them. I though they were really cute.

Shammy said...

As a small child my favourite outfit were some brown "Grasshopper" overalls worn with a yellow skivvy! As a teenager the bubble skirt was worn as often as possible! Oh and I now follow!

Danielle said...

i LOVED turning 13 and getting my very own pair of levi 5O1'S. daniellehevers@hotmail.com

Allana said...

What a great giveaway - that book looks awesome!! Thank you for the opportunity!
I am most definitely following you!
I don't remember having a favourite outfit from my childhood although there was lots of fluoro and hypercolour tshirts and the likes - however early 90's saw my teen self wearing blundstones, faded levi's and a denim jacket (also faded!) quite a lot, yep! tragic!
a_beamishparker@yahoo.com.au

Catherine said...

I had an over size tshirt that said "anything boys can do girls can do better", in oversize "wham" font... loved it!

Bellgirl said...

Ah, my favorite outfit was a long party dress, blue and white ginghams with a red ribbon round the waist. It was the era of the maxi!

Bellgirl said...

...and I'm a follower of course!

Lillabilly said...

I saw this book at Lincraft last week and browsed through it for ages wishing I had enough cash to buy it! My favourite outfit was one my Nanna sent me - a hot pink, short sleeved, button up, collared shirt over long cotton pants that were white with a whole lot of different tropical fruit printed all over them! Mum bought me a white d-ring belt to go over the shirt (what was she thinking!?) and I adored all of it until we were out shopping one day and I caught two random highschool girls pointing and laughing at my pants!! Needless to say I never wore them again. And I would love to follow you but can't seem to find a follow button! Is Blogger playing tricks or am I just too tired to see it?

Larissa said...

My mum bought me a matching top and skirt when I was about 7 with little mice playing around the hem. I remember blue stripes forming a border and flowers all over the rest of the skirt. I wore and wore the skirt until the fabric became really thin - I still have the skirt in a box of treasures - and I'm now 40! Think you could say it was my favourite!! :) Thanks for the chance to win!

Selina said...

My Mum made a lot of our clothes but my fave would have to be a handmade jumper that I decorated with those puffy fabric paints. Too cool. ;)

willywagtail said...

A book like this would be a treasure. I have sweet memories of a few clothes from my late childhood. One was a wide pinnie made from a patterned dark green cotton. Another was a skirt and matching almost bolero style top with butterfly sleeves. That was black with 50 cents size bright flowers on it. And the last was a frou-frou dress bought in chinatown. O the glories of three layers of bright green skirts. Cherrie

willywagtail said...

PS Are we having another vintage sheet swap soon? Please please. Cherrie

Anonymous said...

Oh what a lovely give away!
Favourite outfit would have to be a shirred bodice dress, red white and black, with little bears playing soccer all over, that my mum made me. I was about 8.
Ally <'v'>

mistyeiz said...

i love ur giveaway!! :) i grew up on handmade clothes my mum sewed up and grandma used to crochet us dresses. i've always had a soft spot for this floral hand-dyed summer dress my mum sewed for me. wish mum kept it but she gave it away. anyways, it always brings back sweet memories! ;) thanks for this lovely giveaway....

Photography said...

Oh What a great book! I remember a "twirly skirt" i had it was rainbow colours and tiered. I just LOVED that skirt and wore it as much as i could :-) Posted your giveaway in my side bar.

Photography said...

I follow already :-)

Photography said...

I am pretty sure I already do follower as have visted a few times before :-) (can't see your link? do you have agoogle follower link?)

Kylie said...

My favourite piece of childhood clothing would have to be a dress that my mother made me when I was about 5 or 6. My cabbage patch doll also had a matching outfit.

Kylie said...

I am following you too:)

nicole said...

looks like a great book!

i remember picking out an outfit for my birthday one year, purple tartan leggings with a massive white floral jumper and matching earrings.
suave!

Beeshebags said...

Hmmmmmm I think one of my favourite outfits from my youth was a pair of white ankle boots...wore them to death, wish I still had them!

Thanks for the chance to win your giveaway. Hugs Naomi

Beeshebags said...

I couldn't find your followers sections, so have resorted to the follow section at the top of the blog page....hope that's ok. Hugs Naomi

eva mei and me said...

I love thinking back to my childhood. I had a really cute shorts and top set made by my grandmother - the top was kind of like a short sleeved jacket with a little collar. The fabric was dark blue with lime green strawberries all over it. It had green strawberry buttons down the front of it but no button holes - Nan crocheted some loops out of lime green crochet cotton and attached them down the front of the top for the buttons to go into. I adored this outfit - I can still see the fabric and the strawberry buttons. I was born in the late 60's and remember my childhood from the early to mid 70's - Bobby dazzler socks were one of my favourite with my rolled up jeans. I hated it when Mum cut my hair short cos I looked like a boy. I also had a favourite red poncho that had a white fluffy trim - I used to put in on my head and pretend to have long hair.
Oh such sweet memories.

eva mei and me said...

I love your blog and am now a follower - this books looks great - I am a bookaholic - expecially sewing and crafty ones.
Thanks for the opportunity

Unknown said...

I'm not sure what was my favourite outfit from my childhood, but my mum used to make nearly all of our clothes. I remember one fairly simple dress that had elastic around the neckline, the sleeves and the waist. I had one in floral, and my sister had a matching one in green with white spots. I had short hair all the way through my childhood.

Unknown said...

I'm a follower.

Notchka said...

I would love to win this book. I live in NZ, but if I win you could post it to my cousin in Sydney and she will get it to me. I loved your photos - I went through the 'boy short' hair phase too. And I remember kelly green short shorts with white binding and white buttons on the side. A also remember a Laura Ashley sunday school dress with smocking across the front and a white peter pan collar and puff sleeves....but like you there were so many favs. I guess I was into fashion from an early age!

Notchka said...

whoops - I forgot to add my email is notchka [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

Another kiwi here but can give you an aussie address to post to. My favourite outfit was a wee gingham dress with a family of bears printed around the boarder. :-)

Jo in TAS said...

Hey fellow tomboy, I dressed in similar clothing and I followed my older brother everywhere, played army games, cricket, hated playing dolls with my older sister. I'm sure my childhood led me to my career choice and preference to work in such a male dominated industry!
PS I don't need the book!

Seaweed and Raine said...

My fave outfit as a kid was a white top that was made of one piece of fabric with a neck hole cut in the middle, joined at each side with a strip of yellow fabric that buttoned on (think kind of like an art smock) It had 3 fishes appliqued on it - red, yellow and green with eyes that were buttons. It also had matching red shorts. I think I was about 3. I loved that outfit. Sigh.

Happy Homemaker And Momma said...

My favorites were the ones my mom made just for me:)

A Life Less Complicated said...

omg I am giggling to myself reading all these - I had the bubblegum jeans, suede cowboy boots (oh how I loved those!), cord knickerbockers, oversized tees and ripped denim shorts (which I see have made a comeback) but Mum used to make a lot of our clothes too AND she broke the #1 rule of dressing siblings - yes we all had the same but in different colours arrrrgh fair enough if we were twins or triplets but we're not. I'm following now but I have to say I completely failed Blogtoberfest due to some family dramas :(