The Dress Up

Bloggers Corner: Fiona & Alexandra

We asked Fiona & Alexandra a few questions about each other and life down under!

Lovers of nature, red hair, science & imagination. Fiona (Mum) & Alexandra (Daughter) run Alex's Instagram @theburleighprincesses. The duo are from Queensland, Australia, a world away from the UK! To get to know the story behind @theburleighprincesses, we sat down with Fiona, Alex and Coco the cat to ask them a few questions about their lives, fashion choices, and each other.

So how did you guys start out blogging, was it something you wanted to do, or did it happen by chance?

(Fiona) Well we started out by using Instagram, I love to take pictures. I like taking photos of anything; wildlife, landscapes and whatever seems interesting! It made sense to start @theburleighprincesses because Alex is always with me, so she was usually the subject of the pictures. However Coco the cat does make frequent appearances as well.

We’re from the UK, a way away from you guys – have you ever visited?

(Fiona) We’ve been all over Australia but Alex hasn’t been overseas yet, we’d both love to travel further! We’d especially like to go to the UK and see the origin of Dr Who because Alex is a super fan. Dr Who is what puts UK on the map for us; we have relatives in Scotland too so it would be lovely to visit.

How would you both describe each other’s style?

(Fiona) I’d say I’m very plain! I get my inspiration and fashion advice from Alex. Sometimes I wear something and Alex says “Mummy, you’re not going out wearing that are you?!” Alex is the total opposite, she’s got a great sense of style! She knows what shoes to wear with what dress, what to do with her hair and how accessorise it. You’re either born with it or you’re not, I think we have a super stylish relative somewhere down the line because she didn’t pick it up from me!

What’s your favourite Paisley of London dress, what is it that you like about it?

(Alex) THE OLIVIA! I know the names of all the dresses but the Olivia is my favourite. I feel like a princess in it. (Fiona) Alex wears your dresses all the time.

" I asked her to get changed after school to go to the supermarket and she came down wearing a gown and high heels. You wanted to know Alex’s fashion sense – this tells you everything. She’s glamorous! "

Fiona

So can you describe each other in three words?

(Alex) Mummy’s really really clever, caring and generous. She’s a scientist and very smart!

Fiona is really proud to hear this coming from Alex – it’s a really sweet moment.

(Fiona) I would describe Alex as happy, adventurous and curious. She needs to know how everything works! She loves animals, every time we go out Alex will find all sorts of creatures like snakes, spiders, snails – she’s a brave one!

This is where we realised Alex is a lot braver than us…
Strawberries, grass and reptiles!

What do you want to do when you grow up Alex?

(Alex) I’ve always wanted to work with animals. Once someone told me they wanted to be a criminal, so I said I’d be a policewoman to chase them down! I’ve given up the police thing now though, I’d rather be a pirate or Dr Who, preferably with a talking cat companion (nearly there... minus the talking...).

If we were to come to Australia, what would you say the best places to visit are?

(Alex) I’d say Rottnest Island! It’s a bit up from Perth. I love it because of these little animals called Quokka. They come and rub their heads on your leg as if to say “can I have a pat please?”, but you can’t pet them. (Fiona) They’re protected so you can’t touch or feed them, but there’s 9000 living on this island! It’s a beautiful place, there’s a big lighthouse and huge coral reefs. It’s almost under-developed so you really feel at one with nature.

(Alex) I also love Melbourne and Burleigh. (Fiona) We have loads of friends and family here, they’ve got a fantastic art gallery in Melbourne (The National Gallery of Victoria) that we visit every time we go. (Alex) They have a really cool painting there called the “Weeping Woman”. It’s got a really interesting story behind how it got there. (Fiona) It’s a Picasso, it’s not Alex’s favourite because of that though, it’s because it was stolen! (Alex) They found it in a locker at a train station!

So you've had a sneak peak of Paisley of London’s soon-to-be released Magnificence dress collection, we’re wondering what you think of it?

(Fiona) They’re all gorgeous! She loved every single dress, but there was one in the sketches that you sent over that stuck out to Alex. (Alex) The Pearl dress! It’s the one with the beading and embroidery on the front, I really like it. I love the shoes in the collection too, especially the ones with butterflies on (the Buttercup). I love butterflies. (Fiona) She’s always bringing them home, but sometimes Coco the cat doesn’t mix well with them…