Blossom's Daytime Drinkies

As the weather becomes sweeter and warmer, it is a wonderful time to take Cocktail Hour forward a little (any time from
4 pm, really), and make the most of the sun while it shines. Perhaps we can even start taking our tipple outdoors, with the trees and the birds ... and the neighbours!

There is always that sense of celebration about Spring, and the toddies and Martinis and Manhattans of Winter just don't seem to cut it when we are standing outside for the first time without gloves and scarves, blinking in the light and inhaling great lungfuls of non-freezing air.

Even I, with my Martini habit, like to celebrate afternoon drinkies in Spring with something a little less serious ... a little lighter ... a little frothier. Something even slightly ... tackier?

So saying, here are my top three picks for your Spring Afternoon Tipple. You will need some crayzee garnishes for these classics. Slice up some orange and lemon wheels, dig out some colourful straws and small plastic donkeys. Fling on a pair of OTT sunnies, rustle up some fresh fruit and cheese, stick some swing on that stereo there, and celebrate cautiously — no more frostbite for a while!

XXOO
Blossom

Bellini

This pretty peachy number, popular in the Fifties, is exquisite with fresh white peaches in season. However, right now they are not — in Canberra at least. Don't let that worry you, as we are lucky to live in a world with supermarkets! I simply use peach nectar ... but if you have a penchant for canning, you can whizz up some of last year's preserved peaches in a blender.

Be warned that fruit pulp causes sparkling wine to fizz up in a radioactive manner. Add the champers carefully to avoid spillage.

Finally, a word on glassware. Anybody who knows the fizz will tell you to serve it in proper flutes, to preserve the sparkle and chill. But hey — it's Spring. If you have champagne saucers, baby, this is the time to use them. Especially nice little vintage ones.

Do you know how to stop champagne from going warm and flat when you serve it in a saucer? Drink it quickly!

• 3 parts chilled sparkling white wine
• 1 part chilled peach nectar or fresh or canned peach pulp
• Peach slices to garnish

First, pop your champagne saucers in the freezer for a while to chill. When they are nice and frosty, pour in the peach nectar or pulp, then carefully top with sparkling wine. Stir lightly with a glass swizzle, and garnish with a peach slice.

Moscow Mule

Another Fifties classic, lending itself perfectly to some completely insane garnishing. This is perhaps not the most tasteful drink — the blatant Cold War reference is hard to ignore — but it's very tasty!

This one definitely works best with ginger beer, not ginger ale. Use a properly brewed variety (such as our own Bundaberg) and you will find it even more refreshing. Also, go ahead and use a decent vodka, and real limes (remember, we're still in citrus season!)

Glassware: use a highball.

• 45 ml vodka
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• Chilled ginger beer
• Lime slices, swizzle sticks, fluoro straws, small plastic donkeys to garnish

Fling a few ice cubes into the highball. Add vodka and lime juice, then fill with ginger beer. Stir, garnish like MAD and serve.

Harvey Wallbanger

Now read carefully, my dears, you won't see these words typed by Blossom too often. She only gets this way for a few weeks at the beginning of each Spring, so enjoy it while it lasts ...

Let's do Seventies!

There is something about this number that screams 'let's forget about dignity and drink some cocktails, already!' Sure, it is basically a Screwdriver, but has been totally irresponsibly spiked with Galliano. Consequently you will need both highball glasses and an irresponsible attitude — but not too irresponsible, because I have it on good authority that a Galliano hangover is not for the best!

• 4 parts chilled orange juice
• 2 parts vodka (yes, this is strong)
• A dash of Galliano
• Orange slices and straws to garnish

Fill highball with cracked ice, and build vodka and orange into glass and stir. Float Galliano on top, garnish with orange slices. Drink with a straw.

Darla’s Fashion Tips: to dress … or not to dress

It really is the height of bad manners to ignore the dress code on an invitation. I remember hearing a story from one poor bride who specified ‘formal attire’ on her invitation and ended up with people (of the male persuasion) turning up to the wedding in trainers and t-shirts … aaargh! Suffice to say her pictures were a little spoiled — personally I would have had them evicted from the ceremony.

Australia is a very casual country and indeed it is one of the things I most love about the place, but it is also my greatest frustration. Canberra especially suffers from a terror of ‘dressing up’ to such an extent that when you do make an effort with attire you are left feeling overdressed and sticking out like a sore thumb. I did put up with this state of affairs for a number of years until my love of beautiful clothes reasserted itself, and instead of just playing dress up at home I started to let my beloved wardrobe run wild and free.

So, what do you do when you receive an invitation with a dress code? Simple, if you are not sure what the dress code means just Google it! It is the work of moments to confirm the correct attire for any situation. If you are still in doubt feel free to ring your host or hostess to confirm that your choice of attire is suitable —they won’t mind, honestly. In the meantime please see my cheat’s guide to the dress code below.

Cocktails anyone?

Love, Darla

Darla cracks the dress code ... photo by ShutterBug Baby.

LOUNGE SUIT

Another way of describing a business suit or a day suit. It's usually the dress code for a function early in the evening for people to attend straight from work. But don't wear a suit that you've had on all day if it's a glamorous function. Usually a dark suit is required and the jacket must be worn, but a tie is optional. Girls can wear business attire or a smart dress and heels — not jeans.

SEMI-FORMAL

This is similar to ‘lounge suit’ and ‘cocktail’. Men can wear trousers, a shirt and a tie, rather than a tuxedo, and women can opt for a cocktail dress or a pants suit.

COCKTAIL

This is champagne and nibbles — dressy but not dinner and dancing. For women, it traditionally means a short to knee-length dress. Usually it's a shoe-string strap dress with a bit of bling either on the dress or accessories. Definitely no flat shoes, unless it’s ‘cocktails by the sea or pool’. Men should wear a dark suit and tie with a dressy shirt — usually one with a French cuff — and worn with the top button undone.

BLACK TIE/FORMAL

This is where men have to wear a dinner suit, a stiff fabric, French cuffed shirt and cufflinks, and a bow tie (black please!)

For women, a full length evening dress. If the invitation says ‘black tie optional’, it gives men the option of wearing a tuxedo or a suit and women a cocktail dress or evening dress.

WHITE TIE

This is for a really glittering, special occasion and is sometimes referred to as ‘ultra-formal’. Women must wear a long evening gown.

Men must wear a traditional black coat (or white if you're game) with tails, a white winged, collared shirt, a vest is optional, a white bow tie and, preferably, black patent shoes.

This type of gala dressing also applies to the ‘red carpet’ dress code.

MORNING SUIT

This is usually restricted to weddings or race-wear on Melbourne Cup Day.

Men have to wear tails, their jacket should be single-breasted, the front fastened with one button. If the jacket is black, trousers are usually striped. It is worn with a waistcoat, usually grey, formal trousers, a stiff-collared white shirt, black shoes and sometimes a top-hat.

For women, hats with large brims (if daytime and only if they suit you!), gloves and a feminine dress will do the trick. If it is a wedding please take note of cultural etiquette e.g. black, white and red are often considered inappropriate colours.

CASUAL

This doesn't mean ‘anything goes’. It means wearing something relaxed, such as a sundress or jeans with flat shoes for women and shorts and a t-shirt for men.

It doesn't necessarily mean you can wear thongs (unless it's at the beach or in a back yard). Check with the host to be sure.

SMART CASUAL

Still relaxed, but make an effort beyond what you would throw on for casual wear. Definitely no thongs! Men should wear dressier shorts — not board shorts — with a collared shirt such as a polo.

Meet some Sophisticates: Koop Kooper and Leah Austin

In this issue, we would like to introduce two people who really inspire the Darling Sisters with their style, personalities and talent.

 Koop Kooper is the charismatic man behind Cocktail Nation, our favourite podcast.

Cocktail Nation is all about lounge, jazz, retro and exotic music and news from the World of Swank. The Darling Sisters simply can't do housewiffery without it.

More to the point, Koop is a truly charming, stylish man with a voice that makes us both go a bit wobbly at the knees! He also has a penthouse apartment with a Tiki Bar, and a collection of vintage hats. Swoon ...

Koop Kooper - image by Jack St Cyr

Leah Austin, and her lovely partner Roy (a champion sweetie), are the creators of Custom Vintage, our favourite primate-friendly place for cosmetics, not to mention a huge range of clothing, accessories and gifts.

Leah is an incredibly energetic woman who loves all things retro and beautiful, and has created for us our very own body butters and soy candles! Leah and Roy have created their family-owned business from scratch and are moving from strength to strength.

The gorgeous Leah and Roy ... lovely!

Read on and learn more about these two wonderful friends!

Some events for your diary

Parlour Wine Room Truffle Season Degustation
18 August 2009

It is coming up to the end of Canberra’s truffle season, when the fabulous comestibles are at their best. The wonderful folks at our favourite Parlour Wine Room believe this is the best time to allow their chefs to shine, and produce a stunning seven course menu (yes, of course you can manage it, just don’t eat much beforehand) featuring local truffles and Dalwhinnie wines.

 At $125 per head — a reasonable cost given the treats in store — this is certain to be an utter feast. Book quickly! Seats are limited: www.parlour.net.au or call 02 6162 3656.

Barry Barry Barry exhibition
29 August 2009

Harriet, Zoe and Emily Barry are definitely Sophisticated women. Canberra-based Harriet, who we adore, is a creator of the most exquisite jewellery. London-based Emily makes bespoke shoes, accessories and jewellery, and Melbourne-based Zoe is a talented musician and performer. Together, Harriet and her fabulous daughters are putting on a marvelous exhibition at Pialligo Estate (14 Kallaroo Road Pialligo), opening on 29 August. This is part of the cosy Fireside Festival (www.firesidefestival.com.au).

Because the Barry ladies are charm impersonated, there is of course even more to this than an exhibition. There will be special events on the evening of Saturday 29, and high tea on the afternoon of Sunday 30, giving us an opportunity to meet the ladies over refreshments, and share their great love of the beautiful and exotic.

You can find out more information here: www.firesidefestival.com.au/event/69.html. We believe this will be a beautiful Sophisticated weekend.

The Tweed Ride
12 September 2009

It is on again! A wonderful day of tweedy goodness, healthy exercise, hardy endeavour and family-friendly fun.

Starting at 11 am at Remembrance Nature Park, Treloar Crescent, Ainslie (behind the Australian War Memorial) for a spot of tea, and then out to Floriade to enjoy flowers galore, a picnic lunch, and — something special! Finally retiring to the Parlour Wine Bar to reminisce about the day.

We adore Canberra’s Tweed Riders and believe us when we say this will be a happy day. You can find more at http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=104342867736&topic=9315#/event.php?eid=103241290616

The Inaugural Rockabilly Ball!
19 September 2009

The Darling Sisters will be attending this fantastic showcase of Rockabilly Culture on Saturday 19 September from 7pm at The Italo-Australian Club in Canberra.

What is Rockabilly? We turn to our friend Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org) for advice:

Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early 1950s.

The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock (from rock 'n' roll) and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music (often called hillbilly music in the 1940s and 1950s) that contributed strongly to the style's development. Other important influences on rockabilly include western swing, boogie woogie, and rhythm and blues. Although there are notable exceptions, its origins lie primarily in the southern United States.

The influence and popularity of the style waned in the 1960s, but during the late 1970s and early 1980s, rockabilly enjoyed a major revival of popularity that has endured to the present, often within a rockabilly subculture. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rockabilly)

Thanks, Wikipedia! So what you’re implying is that the Rockabilly Ball in Canberra will be a festival of fab music (Queen Juanita and Rockabilly Big Band, outstanding), vintage-inspired culture (vintage guitars, oh yes) and fifties fashion (wait until you see what the Darlings will be wearing)! Rock and roll meets ‘frock and roll’. Lovely — we’ll see you there!

For more information see www.rockabillyball.com We would really love to see you there! And for those fiscally-inclined Sophisticates, the Darlings will have a wee stall set up with special prices for attendees ... and a brand spanking new range of rockabilly-inspired treats!

Sophisticated Travel - the Darling Challenge

We all know that the warmer months are perfect for travel, and the Darlings certainly have plans to pack our suitcases and get out and about shortly!
 
Travel is like everything else in life: you can do it thoughtlessly, you can do it thoughtfully, and you can do it in a Sophisticated way. How does a Sophisticate travel? You might have seen people who have the knack: they are the well-dressed folks who breeze through airports and terminals, effortlessly pulling a well-packed suitcase, their demeanour calm and cheerful. Queues do not worry these people, security guards and bus drivers alike smile at them, they are never harrassed or disheveled.
 
Yes, it does seem rather marvellous, but we swear it can be done. Of course things go wrong for everybody, everybody gets tired and a bit grumpy and a bit hot and bothered. There will always be the unexpected (especially when travelling with kiddies).

For the Sophisticated Traveller, however, it doesn't really show. The Sophisticated Traveller is ready for every eventuality (within reason), and they are charming and organised and consequently things are always that little bit easier than they might have been.
 
The Darlings do a fair bit of travel together and we have discovered that a combination of charm, attitude and preparation does indeed lead to a more Sophisticated travel experience. However, when we both travel independently of each other but with friends later in the year, we intend to put this theory to the test publicly, by setting ourselves the Darling Travel Challenge, and keeping a diary of every bit of it.

And yes, that includes anything that doesn’t go right as well as those travel successes! There is only one way to get things right, and that’s to give them a try then learn from the mistakes. Hopefully they will be of the amusing variety …

At the same time, of course, we will be bringing you some more traditional travellers’ tales in the form of the best (and if we are not so lucky, worst) of the shopping, tourism, fashion, food and beverage we encounter.

Now, before we go, we’re dying to get the benefit of your experiences! If you have any exciting travel tales, tips to share on packing, transport, things to do or avoid — please send them to us at thedarlingsisters@live.com. Let’s share our wisdom in the name of all being fantastic Sophisticated travelers.

Safe journeys,
Darla and Blossom

To Absent Friends - a letter from Darla

The lovely B was a lady I kept failing to meet.

Let me explain. B was a good friend of my friend Kaet, and every year at her Easter party Kaet would tell me about B and how we had so much in common and must meet one day. In the years I didn’t make it to Kaet’s Easter party Kaet would tell B the same story. Finally last year the gods smiled, and B and I met for the first time at the Easter bash. It was love at first sight. Who could resist: 1940s shoes, a do-rag, hot red lippy and a smile that could light up an air raid shelter. The girl was dripping glam.

It was later that day that Kaet told me about B’s illness. She had breast cancer — thankfully in remission. The lovely do-rag was hiding her hair loss after a dose of chemotherapy.

B was actually the inspiration for the Sophisticates Society as we both sat bemoaning the fact that there was nowhere we could dress to the nines in Canberra (including wearing lovely hats), and no occasion where we felt that we could do justice to our lovely wardrobes. After our moan we decided that the Lord helps those who help themselves, and resolved to create occasions where we could dress up and have some vintage style fun. We could also invite like-minded people to these outings. It would an oasis of good taste, good manners and sophisticated fun. And so, with my dear sis Bloss, the Sophisticates were born.

Sadly B was never able to attend any of the Sophisticates events — by this stage she was undergoing more chemotherapy and was too sick.

B left us earlier this year. Her cancer was back and had spread. It was a huge shock: she was only 35 years old and had so much living to do. The lovely B was a fabulously stylish lady, even post-chemotherapy she looked so glam it was easy to forget that she was sick.

We would like to dedicate the inaugural edition of the Australasian Sophisticate to dear B. I know she would have loved it. Let us resolve to go from strength to strength spreading charm, sophistication, wit and fine cocktails! And let us always live life to the full, taking joy in every moment.

Love
Darla

Meet some Sophisticates – Bertie and Mistress Farquar

"Bertie" is the Sophisticate's very own wine enthusiast and resident Drone. When not boring people with wine trivia, he is determined to act as a preux chevalier. After all, one is either preux or one isn't.

A self confessed oenophile and amateur inventor, Bertie has spent the last ten years of his life researching how to remove those pesky bubbles from Champagne - fortunately without success.

Bertie lives with his friend and lifelong companion Ponsonby, a corpulent ginger cat he won in a bet. While Bertie finds domesticity dull, wearing and stultifying, Ponsonby at least makes his home life tolerable, He is also a keen banjoist, although his enthusiasm for the instrument far exceeds his talent.

People he admires include PG Wodehouse, Arthur Conan Doyle, Charles Chaplin and Richard Francis Burton - all proud Knights of the British Empire.

* * * * *

Miss Farquar — or rather Mistress Farquar, to those people not fortunate enough to be a member of her intimate social network - is an amateur equestrienne. She is partial to tight lacing, gin, whiskey, cads, bounders and the lash. When she's finished chasing the hounds, she is eager to impart her opinion on those less fortunate than herself.

Miss Farquar - that's Mistress Farquar to you, boy - is currently accepting applicants for helotry, however she has a VERY strict criteria. A bridle and a lunge line is a must...

Her idols include James Mason, Katherine Hepburn and, of course, Vicomte de Valmont. Maquis de Sade was a boorish clot.

Winter Warmth (and how to achieve it)

By Blossom Darling

As most of the Sophisticates live in Canberra or surrounds, we are familiar with the cold! The days are shortening and there is a very delicious nip in the air. Our gorgeous glittery Canberra frosty-but-sunny mornings are just around the corner. The Darlings adore the cold weather. Our wardrobes are winter-friendly and we simply adore curling up in the evening, with a hot tea or a nicely warmed glass of brandy, our furred and feathered families by our sides, some fab music tinkling away and a healthy but hearty casserole bubbling away on the stove. Oh, bliss.

Some people have recently expressed surprise that Blossom is so excited about the onset of the cold weather. This is because Blossom’s favourite garment in the world is a stunning 1950s burgundy velvet swing coat with a tricksy little collar detail, discovered at a Vintage Fair by a wonderful wonderful wonderful friend who attracted Blossom’s attention from the other end of the crowded room, then stood over the coat to ensure it wasn’t snapped up until Blossom came to claim it. That, Charming Friends, is true friendship. Every time Blossom wears the coat she thinks of this gorgeous friend and feels even better.

The coat goes magnificently with a clever little muff designed and made by Darla. Blossom has worn coat and muff several times lately, and has always been very grateful for the delicious warmth of the muff, as she feels the cold in her hands and wrists. Each time, an orderly queue of ladies has lined up to admire the muff and ask if they could pat it on their laps for a moment. This is Blossom’s Favourite Accessory of the Season. If you would like to purchase one of your own, with perhaps a matching stole and a neat little hat, do mention it to Darla.

This is all very well if one is feeling well enough to frock up and rush out. However, what happens if one is really not up to the job? There is a lot of ‘flu about. (The Darlings worry about the term ‘Swine Flu’ – how charming – terribly sorry my dears, I can’t come out as I have a teeny touch of the Swine Flu. Do pass my apologies to Her Majesty. Erk. Not charming.) But no matter what the cause, what can one do when one has a touch of what a dear friend refers to as the ‘snotty-gobbles’?

This is, of course, the entire reason for the creation of the lounge, the quilt and the DVD player. (Well-known fact.) Soldiering on? Rubbish! Being brave? Appalling! Don’t do it, Charming Friends! Give up, give in, give work a little phone call, get into those jimjams and hit the lounge. If at all possible, encourage a furry friend to join you as a foot-warmer. Pop something cosy and non-challenging on the telly (Blossom favours old comedies), make a HUGE pot of tea and pop it onto the coffee table along with a box of tissues, a box of aspirin or paracetamol, a plate of sliced oranges, the remote and a bag of sweets. Remain, leaving only to answer calls of nature, breathe some steam or eat a toasted sandwich, until around 6 pm, at which time you can switch from tea to hot whiskey with lemon and honey. Drink a large amount of water. Go to bed early. Repeat until you are absolutely better – which means that, as well as feeling much better, you stand absolutely no risk of spreading the joy to your colleagues.

To prevent the snotty-gobbles from spreading to you and others, we all know that the best possible thing is to wash your hands a lot, especially after touching things like door-handles and stair-rails. Politely avoid people who are coughing and sneezing. Always use a tissue if you cough or sneeze, and then discard it into a closed rubbish bin afterwards. Ladies, carry a little packet of tissues with you in your purse (get a sweet little tissue holder). Gentlemen, a nice hanky is better than nothing but really tissues are best for controlling infection. Handkerchiefs are for peeking out of your pocket, gently drying a ladies’ tears when she breaks a heel on her favourite shoes, or waving frantically to get a friend’s attention across a crowded sports stadium. Carry a hanky for these reasons by all means, but pop a packet of tissues in your coat pocket for the sneezes.

Try to stay healthy, which means getting enough sleep and exercise, eating lots of plants, and drinking lots of water and not too much hot whiskey. They say vitamins can help. Blossom says that if you are eating plenty of plants and not too much nasty unpronounceable stuff, there is a good chance you are getting vitamins already, but citrus is lovely and coming into season, so you might as well enjoy it.

This all sounds very saintly, but we should not be too saintly, or else our good friends may not recognize us any more.

A nice non-saintly way to warm up is with an evening winter drinky. The Darlings swear by a nice brandy in a gently warmed glass, or a whiskey with or without a mixer (Blossom quite enjoys her whiskey taken American-style, with a little splash of soda, but drinks Scotch straight, the way nature intended.)

However, for something sweet and comforting to welcome your winter dinner guests in from the cold, try mulling some nice Australian wine. Mulling is so easy, plus it is pretty and smells and tastes wonderful. Stud a lemon or orange with cloves and drop it into a big saucepan or pot. Pour in a bottle of nice red (it doesn’t have to be anything posh), then pop in any other spices that take your fancy: a cinnamon stick, a vanilla bean, a knob of root ginger: even a few bay leaves can add a bit extra. You can add brown or raw sugar at this stage as well (or else splash in some simple syrup towards the end). Warm the wine gently, stirring it occasionally, until it is steaming hot but not boiling. Fling in a splash of port or brandy and ladle into pretty heat-safe glasses. Garnish with a slice of lemon or orange (good for preventing the snotty-gobbles, apparently) and serve to your guests as they enter and pass around a plate of homemade cheese biscuits, or serve after dinner with a box of chocolate cherries.

For guests who are designated drivers, you can mull lovely clear apple juice. Keep the cloved lemon or orange, add spices and a touch of clear honey, then heat the same way as you would the wine. At the end, instead of adding port or brandy, you can add a touch of freshly squeezed lemon juice for zing, cranberry for a pretty colour, or dry ginger ale for sparkle. This is perfectly delicious and works very nicely with your homemade ginger biscuits.

As for what to serve at your dinner parties – oh please indulge your guests with homemade soups and casseroles to your heart’s content. Made with lovely fresh ingredients (go to your local farmers market) they are healthy and nutritious. Cooked sloooowly, while you bake your biscuits and sip your mulled wine, they are utterly delicious. It doesn’t matter what you put in as long as it is in season and fresh. Serve with damper that you have nonchalantly whipped up, or steamed pearl barley, and follow it with stewed seasonal fruit. Blossom guarantees you will have happy healthy guests who accept your future invitations almost before you can finish speaking.

Love
Blossom

Words of wisdom for would-be winter fashionistas

By Darla Darling

Dear Friends, winter is upon us, at least it certainly feels like it in Canberra. As dear Blossom said, this is one of our favourite times as year as we both have a strong penchant for velvet, faux fur, wool and more velvet! Don’t bury yourself in polar fleece my dears, this is such an elegant time of year and you should take full advantage of it. On that note please read on for my top tips to become your own Winter Wonderland …

1. This is the time of year to put all those lovely summer dresses, tops and skirts safely in storage for next season. Don’t forget to wash or dry clean your garments before storage and also to undertake any little repairs that may need to be done. Add a scented lavender bag or cedar moth repellent. (You can buy little wooden balls made of cedar wood in the supermarket — fabulous moth repellent that won’t leave you smelling like a charity shop next season).
2. Unearth your winter jumpers, coats and heavier clothing. They will probably need refreshing in the sunshine on a fair day or another hand wash to get them in tip-top condition. This is also a good time to review your winter accessories such as scarves, hats, gloves, wraps and other goodies.
3. Fashions may come and go, and classic pieces are timeless and a great investment for winter. Winter wardrobe pieces are more durable and last longer so are really worth investing in. One winter must is a fabulous coat and this is where vintage comes in to its own. A new winter coat may cost anything from $150 – $700 but a better quality unique vintage counterpart can be purchased for a fraction of the cost and better still, nobody else will have the same coat. As with all vintage fashion, be prepared to get some tailoring done. It really is worth employing a professional to adjust the length or fit.
4. COLOUR! Black, brown and grey are not the only winter choices. This a fantastic opportunity to inject some rich jewel-like colours into your wardrobe. If you are not feeling brave try with accessories first before you build up your confidence to try bolder statements. My personal winter favourite colours are red, emerald green, winter white and silver. Bloss looks amazing in strong colours, lucky girl.
5. Fake it, ladies. There is one area where I love a touch of fake and that is fur. These days faux fur comes in exquisite textures, colours and patterns. It is snug, glamorous and practical. As most of you know, Bloss and I love the glamorous fashions of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Fabulous suits, hats and, of course, elegant furs. Now, there is the rub, Bloss and I both like fur firmly attached to our furry friends and although Miss Cloud is happy to drape herself across my neck at any opportunity, 14 kilos of Cocker Spaniel is a tricky accessory to carry off. In desperation I sourced the best quality examples of fake fur I could find and teamed them with jewel-coloured satin lining to make my own version of the classic fur stole. I must say wherever Bloss and I wear our lovely stoles we get many compliments. Still, there was something missing — yes, the fur muff. Why muffs went out of fashion is beyond me. They are the sweetest winter and evening accessories a gal can have. I am currently running up some fur muffs to match the stoles with a cunning interior pocket for money, lippy and phone, padded lining for extra warmth, and a little strap for an mp3 player — modern fashionistas need their music! Stay tuned to our website for a link to our online store for some fab faux fur winter glam. But still, something was missing…..hats! I struck gold, finding a stash of vintage feather pads, and have madly been making some very cunning little hats. I don’t use the word fascinator — I dislike it intensely as it conjures up some frightful blobs of feather and netting which can be seen regularly on Australian race days and weddings. I am talking real vintage, show-stopping glam.

So, lovely ladies of fashion: please look out for the latest Darling line of accessories — the label is ‘Darla and Miss Cloud’, the products are vintage glam and no two pieces are alike. Available via the Darling website, or email thedarlingsisters@live.com for more information.

Happy Winter!
love
Darla

A lovely place for a winter warmer in Canberra

At the moment the Darlings’ favourite place to be in Canberra is the Parlour Wine Room (www.parlour.net.au), in the Newacton Pavillion.

The Parlour Wine Room is like a bar from an older, sweeter era. Somehow, the owners have created a place for all the seasons: it is bright and airy in summer, yet in the cold evenings it is a cosy haven of comfy chairs, beautiful lamps and lovely fabrics.

In terms of drinks and comestibles, the Parlour Wine Room is fabulous. It has a gorgeous and varied wine list, including a range of lovely local wines. It has a cocktail list that might have been insisted upon by Blossom! Full of classic, time-honoured cocktails, expertly (and correctly) mixed, including a very tasty Sazerac. Blossom cannot fault the Martinis. Furthermore, to support these delights there is an ever-changing menu of tapas, each more delicious than the last.

These are great things for any venue, however there is more. Charming Friends will have encountered the Darlings’ great dislike of places that lure you in with cosy lounges and lovely cocktails, only to then blast you with horrible music played at ear-bleeding volume, so that you cannot enjoy a pleasant conversation, and can only crouch in dazed confusion, unable to hear or to be heard.

None of this rubbish happens at the Parlour! The music is fabulous: jazz, lounge and other suitable choices, played at a muted volume such that one can hear and enjoy without needing to raise one’s voice. The Darlings extend their congratulations to the owners and staff of the Parlour Wine Room for getting this very important detail right!

Furthermore, it is possible to book in advance, meaning that one can guarantee a cosy chair. The staff at the Parlour Wine Room are extremely professional, very friendly, and very attentive. The Darlings and friends always feel welcome. It is like popping into a friend’s living room, albeit a very stylish one with a marvelous bar.

For this reason, we urge our Charming Friends who may not have visited to give this place a try. We are certain that you will enjoy your evening and that you will find excuses to be back.

The Darlings have chosen this place as the best possible venue for the Sophisticates mid-year Christmas party. The manager Brigid has been extremely professional, friendly and accommodating. We are certain that all Sophisticates and their invited guests will have a fabulous night.

Get ready for A Very Darling (mid-year) Christmas

Charming Friends,

Mid-year Christmas celebrations are very popular in Canberra these days, and why not? Why waste the lovely crisp weather we get here?

This June we are holding a special Sophisticates event: a mid-year Christmas at our favourite place to be: the Parlour Wine Room.

On this glamorous evening Sophisticates and their invitees can enjoy the Parlour's wonderful tapas, and a glass of sparkling wine or soft drink for all attendees. The bar will also be open so that Sophisticates can purchase the Parlour's wonderful range of wines and cocktails.

For your enjoyment, the Darling Sisters and their talented friends will be putting on a program of live family-friendly entertainment, from Bing Crosby Christmas classics (oh, how we love Bing!) to jazzand light classical music, dance and comedy. There may even be opportunities to sing along.

We urge you all to dress to the nines in your best and most glamorous outfits. This is definitely an occasion for your suits, your dainty little hats, your cravats and your evening gloves.

Keep an eye out for your invitation, and book out the evening of Thursday 25 June for some cosy but very glam mid-year entertainment.

• A Very Darling (mid-year) Christmas
• For Sophisticates and invited guests
• The Parlour Wine Room, Newacton Pavillion
• Cost: $45
• Includes tapas, a glass of sparkling wine and live entertainment
• Dress: Winter Glam