There are so many outfits that the honourable Miss Fisher wears in Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries that I love, I want her whole wardrobe! I wish people dressed that elegantly nowadays. Even at home.
If you read about my love of lounge wear , you’ll know I liked a certain set of Phryne’s pyjamas. I have now made them!
Lounge wear – Backless vintage style pyjamas in the style of Miss Phryne Fisher
Backless pyjamas
I’m really pleased with the scalloped collar at the back and, although the tassle is heavier, I found pyjama tassles online for the back detail. The lace is appliquéd on by hand which took a long time, but I had fun looking for ready-made lace inserts, which meant the most intricate work was done for me. What can I appliqué next?!
Lounge wear – Backless vintage style pyjamas in the style of Miss Phryne Fisher
Lounge wear – Backless vintage style pyjamas in the style of Miss Phryne Fisher – back detail
These pyjamas are really comfy and look so glamorous I may only use them as lounge wear. The cord is soft and doesn’t seem to be uncomfortable to lean on. However, it is detachable.
I think I could change the collar to more of a V-neck, and embellish the front of the collar. Also, if I found some appliqué the right size, the hems of the trousers could be decorated too.
Miss Phryne Fisher’s pink backless pyjamas – front
Lounge wear – Backless vintage style pyjamas in the style of Miss Phryne Fisher – front
Are these pyjamas you would wear? Would you like to see them in my Etsy shop?
What other outfits would you like to see recreated?
Here, I’ll show you how to change a pair of pierced earrings into clip-ons. You might want to do this because you don’t have pierced ears, or, in this case, the earrings are too heavy to sit nicely with posts.
I couldn’t find the clip-on fixings in my local haberdashery or craft stores, so went online. I spent along time searching various craft sites, but for value and ease I bought a multi-pack from eBay. It has various sellers, so you can choose the colour and shape you like.
Most vintage earrings you will find are clip-ons, and sit covering the earlobe. At the moment, Art Deco designs and big Eighties earrings are on the high street. Some of these will have a design that covers the earlobe, but are for pierced ears. I find the weight stretches my ear and ruins the look. In this case, one of the posts broke from the weight! Clip-ons spread the weight, and keep the earring higher on the ear, giving a vintage look.
Audrey Hepburn in hoops
Audrey Hepburn in clip-on earrings
Grace Kelly
To change post earrings to clip-ons, you will need;
Earrings with a base of 1cm or more
Clip-on fixings/ notions
A fine edged sharp tool (use common sense and use responsibly)
Fine sandpaper or small sanding tool
Superglue
Cotton bud
Remove ear posts
Sand down back smooth
1. Firstly, if the earrings have posts, they can usually be twisted or bent off, but the base fixing will need to be pried off using something sharp and thin enough to work between the metal and the earring base.
(This should only be done by a responsible adult with common sense – work the blade away from you and watch your fingers!)
I didn’t have any special tool, I improvised by looking in the kitchen drawer. I used a fish knife. This is slow and delicate work as you want to avoid scratching the earring.
If they have a hook fixing, a small pair of pliers will loosen the join and you can remove them from the loop. I’ll show how to do this in another post.
2. Once you have prized off the post base, use the soft sandpaper to smooth the earring base ready to fix the clip-on onto the earring. Use a fine/ soft sandpaper to avoid damaging the earring. Wipe the earring base clean and lay back facing up on a sheet of paper.
Glue the clip base
Place and press on earring base
Comfort pads for clip-ons
3. Open the clip-on and put a small blob of glue on the back of the clip base. Place centrally on the earring base and once in the right place, pressing firmly.
4. Use the cotton bud to wipe away any overspill of glue. Leave for 24 hours, or as instructed on the glue packaging.
Art Deco style earrings
If you find wearing clip-ons all day makes your ears hurt, buy some rubber pads which can be pushed through the hole on the back of the clip.
Inspired by Rachael in Blade runner – Forties hairstyle
The stylist and costume department must have had a great time dressing the female characters in Bladerunner. I think I could live in this collective wardrobe, but would perhaps cause undue comment grocery shopping in a few of them. Iridescent scales for one.
The mix of 80’s futuristic sci-fi and Forties film noir is spot on and works so well. Forties and Eighties cross over a lot. Think big hairdos, shoulder pads, empowering tailoring for women and even the transparent coat!
Following are my favourite looks from the film, and what I have used from my wardrobe to emulate the most wearable and stylish outfits – those worn by replicant Rachael.
Rachael
Rachael Blade runner
Rachael has a classic femme fatale Forties hairstyle and make-up, which echo the film noir style of filming this futuristic sci-fi story. Her make-up seems to change slightly through the film, but the basic features remain – strong eyebrows and cheekbones, smoky eyes, red lips, with red nails.
Blade runner Rachael – hair and make-up
My attempt at Rachael’s make-up
Forties Blade runner hairstyle
Eye make-up detail
I found good tutorials for Forties hairstyles like Rachael’s in Vintage Hairstyles.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The colour palette for Rachael’s wardrobe are muted shades of grey and blues and greens (just about visible on her blouse), that work well with the film noir lighting and photography.
The grey suit with horizontal stripes of tonal fabric is straight out of the Forties, even Marilyn Monroe owned one similar to this, before she was famous. The crossover detail on the neck is also a detail used on clothes in the Forties, as is the matching thin belt. The straight cut and just below the knee length skirts are Forties too.
Under this suit, Rachael has a long sleeved V-neck blouse with pintucks of various colours. This is seen when in Dekkard’s flat, sitting at the piano.
The black suit, in futuristic fabric with a sheen, has a high neck again. The collar looks like a shirt collar, with a diamond shape Art Deco style brooch centrally placed, instead of a bow or tie. At one point she has a clutch with an Art Deco pattern too.
Notice the heeled court shoes too, if you can. The pair with the grey suit have an interesting two-tone design.
On Pinterest I’ve saved more photo’s of Rachael’s outfits.
Button back Eighties skirt
Eighties does Forties skirt suit
Fur coat
The grey suit above is from Vintage Guru. It is an Eighties does Forties skirt suit, with a high waisted pencil skirt and a collarless box jacket. The buttons at the back are a lovely detail and are actually used as the fastening. The buttons around the waist and hips needed moving slightly to give me room to move, and the skirt was shortened from ankle grazing up to below the knee.
Navy jacket and pencil skirt
Mandarin collar military style jacket
Art Deco pattern vintage heels
These navy separates go well as a suit, with the skirt I made and the vintage heels echo the Art Deco detailing featured in Rachael’s outfits.
Peplum blouse/ jacket with waterfall collar
Peplum and pencil skirt
Grey waterfall blouse
Art Deco shapes on modern heels
Here are some other outfits from my wardrobe, inspired by Rachael.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Pris
Spray paint futuristic make-up – Pris
Blade runner Pris clothes
The spray paint futuristic make-up is one I want to use for a party. Chokers are back in vogue,and something I wear anyway, but my stocking’s stay under my clothes. It looks like Pris is wearing a playsuit.
Zhora
Zhora’s clear raincoat
This clear PVC swing coat is something I’m still looking for. I was surprised when researching this to find that clear plastic raincoats were fashionable as early as the Forties. The swing shape makes this unusual, as most available now are trench coats or hooded poncho’s.
I love the stand up mandarin style collar and the large oval top stitched pockets. The piping around the yoke and the small pockets on the chest are fairly traditional, but I like that the edges of the sleeves and hem are not outlined, but you can only see them when the light catches them.
Anyone out there able to make this? Get in touch, please!
Over-the-knee boots are finally back in fashion. Not that if they weren’t it would stop me wearing them, but to be fashionable means one is able to buy a pair easily. The spikes are less practical, and I like the thigh cuff, which reminds me of Princess Leah’s slave outfit, with the intricate metalwork.
See my posts about The Avengers and Mrs Peel for more on over-the-knee and thigh high boots.
Zhora’s showgirl outfit
The show ‘outfit’ (I use the term very loosely) of iridescent scales or body gems looks amazing, and could be nodded to with a sequined flesh tone top or body, worn with more conventional skinnies or would even look good with a fluid silk skirt.
The Girl loves vintage 