When was the last time you dressed up? There is a special joy in getting dressed up. It’s not an outfit for work or the gym. Dressing up expresses something about ourselves. It can be a statement about dignity, class, purpose and sometimes even a chance to create art. It can transport to another place and time.
I don’t always do it for a reason. I’ve got three sequin dresses that I absolutely adore and sometimes if I’m feeling sassy I’ll put one on as I do the housework whilst listening to Ella Fitzgerald. When I was a kid, there was a dress up once a week to go to church and am quite nostalgic now about the feeling of putting a nice outfit together and what it feels like to wear it against my skin. My own family now have an annual ‘frock day’ where we wear the dresses that we wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to wear.
So this weekend (May 20) for Plate Up Ballarat, there is an excuse to dress up for an event at Craig’s Royal Hotel called ‘Diamonds on Ice’. It’s a High Tea held at Craig’s in collaboration with local jeweller Gems and Jewels, but with a delightful twist. One lucky attendee will find a 1/4 carat diamond worth $1500 in their dessert. Even without the diamond hiding in the petit fours, to sit in a room with such elegant decoration that had been graced by the likes of Prince Albert and Dame Nelly Melba dressed up would be such a divine experience. Not only that, 50% of the ticket will go towards Ballarat’s maternity outpatients clinic.
To get in the mood for the event, myself and my sister Goldfields Girl got dressed up and headed to Gems and Jewels to explore their incredible range. I’d never been there before and didn’t know what to expect, especially given it’s a small jeweller in a regional city. Before attending, we dropped into Blanc Boutique to pick up something special to wear to help set the scene. We entered Gems and Jewels and were greeted by the beautiful staff who took us to the back table. We walked past exquisite selection from international jewellers to sit with hot cups of freshly made blood orange and pomegranate tea, amongst their custom-made pieces. This is where this store shows what a treasure it really is. Off a bustling street in a regional town is an elegant space where for more than twenty years, an expert jeweller has been bringing jewels hand selected from all over the world to make custom pieces of divine jewellery. Pieces made from gold found in Ballarat. Pieces made with gems from Europe. Each piece tells a beautiful story and when partnered with the heart of a person, it starts a life story.
To get your place at this weekend’s High Tea, check out Plate Up Ballarat’s website.
– L
Follow: bloglovin| feedly| instagram| pinterest| facebook| tumblr| modcloth
