Paris Mix n Match

Despite explosions of colour from every designer from Chanel to Marchesa (God, how amazing is the detail in this red frock from her ready to wear), I'm thrilled to see the love affair with white, beige, off-white, cream, ivory (Excuse my Rich Benaud/12th man impersonation...tis the season!) still going strong.

And lets not forget metallic's...

Although, not a huge fan of Heigl's, this dress is just stunning (o.k, shes very pretty - I just didn't like 27 Dresses)

In fact I've found similar fabric - not quite as embellished though - at Pitt Trading on Rocky Piont Road, Sans Souci (a vintage accessories wonderland) and am going to attempt to plagiarise so I too might look like a princess....

In other Paris news, one shoulder is also here to stay for anther season and so is the 1950's frou frou party frock - rejoice!!

Yet another

favourite - Marchesa again...genius

All photo's courtesy of www.style.com except for Heigl (TMZ)

finally...dot com comes alive!

I'm sitting in the office on Monday of the long weekend, about to send out our first promo email to all my old customers from Bowerbird in Glebe as well as friends and family and other's I met along the way. It's been 5 and a half months since I closed the doors of my little shop in Glebe for the last time. Since then, I've spent every single day breathing life into Bowerbird Vintage.

I've used every bit of imagination, every bit of creative energy, every piece of inspired thought over those months to come up with a final product that I'm pretty proud of! One of the reason's it's all come together, of course, is that the people who actually designed and built it shared the same vision and enthusiasm me - without them there would be nothing...so thanks Kath, Rena, Baptiste...it's a beautiful thing!

So, anyway...There's not much more to say right now than I hope you like the new online store, I hope you find something that you I think can't live without, and I hope you come and visit regularly
XOX

some cute kids things...

As I mentioned, we are adding a childrens wear & accessories section to our online store (which incidently is completed!!!!!!!!!)

Ive been so preoccupied with the web building/designing shannigans over the past few weeks, I've had v.little time to do much sourcing. Having said that though, through my blog I've made some lovely contacts with people who are making some of the most beautiful hand-made childrens products - perfect for the store.

I have been very fortunate to meet Jennie from Posie Patchwork & Edna & Alcie May who makes delightful, vintage inspired clothing, accessories and toys. Over the next week or so I will be adding a whole bunch of things from her delightful range to the website.

Another gem...

I have uncovered another exquisite little website selling amazing hand-made jewellery. Part of the whole process of building my own on-line store has been surfing other people's sites to gather ideas and be inspired.

I have literally looked at thousands of great (and some not so great) websites. And although your finished product generally reflects your own personal style and aesthetic, finding wonderful, artfully designed web sites really can be very motivating. For me, it means that the possibilities are endless...

Check out http://www.iggy&loulou.com/ for a truly decadent experience. Not only is the website beautiful but the jewellery is simply stunning.

Street Peeper

I love this blog. Street Peeper goes around the world taking photo's of fabulous nobodies (and the odd somebody) wearing cool dud's. Lots of vintage, lots of quirky fashions and some really great pic's.

Kind of like a grungy version of The Satorialist but more fun!

bowerbird blues

I've mentioned this wonderful little artist/illistrator in past blogs...but check out her live journal - she really is so talented...

rescued tee's

just a couple of the little handmade singlet's I took up to QLD to work on... Vintage doilies and retro buttons, so cute!

Bowerbird Mood: Tired! (but happy)

I know, I know, I should be well rested - I've just spent 4 lovely days in QLD by the beach. But I'm buzzing with energy and excitement...

As I mentioned pre-Burleigh Heads break. This week is count down week! YES...after several months of intensive design, building, implementation, uploading, testing and finally de-bugging, we are almost at the finish line.

Well, actually, it's probably more likely that we have just completed the first lap...seeing as now I have a whole new list of things to do to get my little baby off the ground and orbiting brightly in cyber space...Mostly marketing, marketing, and more marketing...

With little more to do than, queek and polish, it looks like Thursday will be our Grand Opening!

Someone's been busy!

I know I've been pretty quiet about the website recently. Mainly because I've been so busy trying to get it up and running...the amount of times I've had to reload images is really quite scary...

But, the other reason is because I really couldn't see that elusive light that's supposed to be at the end of every tunnel. There are just so many things that need attention and when you think you have something nailed...something else comes up - and then you need to figure out how to make that work! It's called chasing one's tail I believe!

Anyway, after many months of blood, sweat and tears and lots of hours in front of this trusty laptop, it looks like we might actually go live with Bowerbird Vintage in about a week's time...Firstly though, I'm off up to QLD for a bit of a break (before being chained to my desk again for many moons I suspect) to catch up with lovely Fiancé (formerly known as my lovely beau...)

Come Monday, the countdown begins!

I'm taking up a few of our little handmade tee's to work on while sitting by the pool. Sewing and designing some of the Rescued range certainly has been welcome relief from the pressures of building websites!

Sustainable Fashion so fashionable

Eco-fashion over the last couple of years has started to find a place and a voice within the (once) fickle world of fashion. I've noticed a growing number of fashion designers have their focus toward limiting the impact clothing has on the environment. I know I've talked about fashion ethics before in my blog, but I'm really thrilled to see progress in this area.

I've just been reading about a sustainable design forums in the States that teach young fashion student about everything from the waste and pollution of manufacturing and packaging to how long the item will be kept, how many uses it has and how often it needs to be washed.

Many designers are now incorporating vintage fabrics and clothing into their ranges to make statements about recycling and being kind to the environment. Luckily, vintage is still high on the "cool" radar and I suspect part of this is due to ethical practices by high profile people hoping to send out a message that "recycled " is good for our strained environment.

I'm really excited to see books like "Green is the New Black" from London It Girl Tamsin Blanchard and "Sustainable Fashions and Textiles: Design Journeys," by designer Kate Fletcher.

Making ethics and the environment "cool" really is one of the best ways to educate our youth. It's the ticket into the hearts and mind of the younger generation...and that's a great thing!

Great little treats for you and your friends...

Yes, Christmas is over and the sales are making us all feel exhausted...and sick of shopping (yikes!)

But...you really must check out Mintd. The Aussie version of that wonderful concept store/seller's market; ETSY.


Again, I'm overwhelmed by some peoples talent!

and really , who wouldn't want to buy something called Adorkable Jewellery or Nothing Too Fancy?

I love arm-chair shopping at the best of times but when I stumble across a bonafide trinket lovers paradise like this well...I just want to tell everyone about it!

Dress Code

Hi my name is Joanna and I'm an over-dresser. My last overdressing experience was...well, today actually!
Yes, it's true, anyone who knows me will indeed attest this little fact. I wear taffeta to bbq's, sequins during the day, rarely wear jeans at all anymore and never leave the house without having put some thought into what I'm wearing.

I love to dress up, and I always admire other women who make an effort. I'm forever on the look out for a gal who's really put something together well. I'm not talking about spending fortunes on clothes....hell, some of my best purchases have been off Ebay for under $30. I'm talking about style, luxe and sass.

The secret to a killer look is to stay away from overkill. The best looks, even when overdressed, are subtle. I believe it's perfectly acceptable to overdress for an occasion but it's a cardinal sin to wear too much all at once.

I'm very comfortable wearing a fifties silk dancing dress to a BBQ lunch. But I'd wear it with a little t-bar sandal. Yes, in silver...but understated. No jewelery, or very little. Then I'd just pull hair off face and wear natural makeup. The key is to make 1 statement. Not 20. The dress would shine in the above scenario and you'd look a million bucks (as long as it's a fab frock of course!)

Or if your going for the classic LBD, wear a pair of amazing shoes...in red and then sling a contrasting coloured bag over your shoulder or wear some bold jewelery. I've been known (often) to wear a red stilleto with a fushia cardi and a animal print belt. The vibrant colours and print on black are a great way to add quirk to an outfit. Just leave out the big earrings and bouffant hair!

I definitely think it's fine to put in the effort to. So what if your in a dress and killer heels and your friends are in jeans. The worst that can happen is you will look better than everyone else right? I'm sad that no-one really gets dressed up that much anymore. In Europe, plenty of women still do it. And New York. Not so much here in Sydney though...

I like to push the envelope with clothes but not so much that I'm making a spectacle of myself. I keep away from anything too short (as should all women of a certain age!) I make sure it fit's together well - even if it doesn't match (all the better) - and I never, ever wear something that hasn't been ironed properly, has holes in it or is missing buttons or other vital component's. This includes shoes and accessories too. If you have worn your fave shoes to death and their looking a bit shabby have them re-heeled. If that isn't going to make them look better - toss them. Same with handbags and jewelry. If it looks grubby then so do you! There is a difference between vintage and worn out!

So, now that I've had my Nanna rant - Frock up girls...Go forth and dazzle!



Ok soooo...Dita's got it. Marilyn needs to work on his makeup. It's either lip's or eye's honey

Fashion Central on the WEB

Yes Yes, have been web surfing again in between working on website...Here are some nifty, crafty people doing really fab things...

Made by White online store, home of the most beautiful perspex jewellery pieces such as Brooches, Necklaces, Bracelets and Rings as well as pespex Wall Hangings. I WANT IT ALL

Check into this lovely designer's myspace page for some seriously quirky and very cute designs. Retro paradise!...Miss Abigail

and another sent to me from a friend and fellow fashion fiend....

Sling Fling - where eco meets retro. I really like what they are doing here. Based in Byron Bay, these designers have set up a climate nuetral business using solar power and creating very lovely clothing with reclaimed fabrics. Hoorah for environmental/ethical fashionista's

THE ART OF CALM

I love the beginning of a new year. There's so much to look forward to and I always feel a deep sense of excitement at what the next 12 months might have in store.
Looking back over 2007, there certainly were plenty of highs and a few lows too. Lots of progress, some back peddling...A million laughs and quite a few teary occasions...dozens of milestones, ditto learning curves. Some very significant life lessons and one marriage proposal!

2008 has a lot to live up to!
Having laid such lofty foundations throughout the final months of 2007, I'm embracing it whole heartily!
But, this year I hope to make a couple of significant changes in my approach to things.
I'm going to slow down a bit and learn to focus a little better.

It has recently dawned on me that we spend a inordinate amount of our time stressing about ... well, time! And generally being crazily busy...which in turn makes us less affective at what we were trying to achieve in the first place. I've actually noticed I become less focused when I give myself a million and one tasks to complete.
I'm not saying I'm going to do try and do fewer things...because I know that's simply not true, nor is it realistic - I have a business to get off the ground after all!
I'll still write my lengthy To Do lists I'm sure, but I hope to do the tasks at hand with a little more focus and a whole lotta calmness.
I (like many people I know) spend a lot of time preoccupied, worried, nervous and fearful of consequences and outcomes...so much so, that I'm beginning to wonder if I'm ever fully present in the task's I'm performing.
So, my promise to myself is to spend a little more time caught up in the drama of what I'm doing rather than going through the motions - all the while busily planning what I should be doing next in my head, or regretting how I've done things previously, or worrying about the outcomes of current tasks.
I'm going to spend more time being present, being focused and being aware, regardless of how simply or mundane the task may be.