Rock Around Randwick

Vintage wins the most awards.

We are smack bang in the middle of awards season, both in the UK and America. We have had the Golden Globes and today we are all excited about the Oscars.

We have shared our favourite gowns across our Facebook page, this year there were so many gorgeous Vintage inspired gowns. Which was your favourite?

                                                                                                                                Courtesy of dailymail.uk

In previous years many actors made waves on the red carpet in vintage designer outfits. In fact Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman were both wearing vintage Valentino when they accepted their individual Academy Awards.

 

One of the big talking points this year was the hat worn by Pharrell Williams at the Grammy’s. Not many realised it was a vintage Vivian Westwood designed by her in 1982. It made its first appearance in Malcolm McLaren’s iconic music video Buffalo Girls. Yes, if you want to be noticed, vintage is always the way to go. Especially vintage from Bowerbird Vintage.

The Brits starred again when the beautiful Emma Thompson wore vintage Lavin to the Golden Globes. Her daughter Gaia was not to be outdone in vintage Laura Ashley, just perfect for a young woman at her first awards night. 

Designers are always clamouring to get their designs worn on the red carpet and the amount of money they are prepared to invest in this means not as many stars do wear vintage. However those that do really stand out. In Europe, the trend towards ‘green’ clothing or sustainable fashion has made vintage glamour bigger than ever.

We would love to help you make a bit impact in vintage at your next major event. Not only do we have the perfect outfits to choose from, we can also accessorise head to toe. Perhaps not in Pharrell’s vintage Westwood hat but there will be something just perfect for you at Bowerbird Vintage.

In the meantime enjoy this award season and let’s be thankful we don’t have this many flashbulbs going off in our faces when we go out and about.

Finally, a big congratulations to the ever stylish Cate Blanchett for her striking performance in Blue Jasmine, winning her second Oscar for an Australian. So proud.

With love. The love of vintage.

Kim

Great Antiques and Essential Components

Have you seen us in the press?

We are excited to be featured in this months 'antiques and art in NSW' magazine,
Sept- Dec 2013 issue.  Here is the snipet from page 38 (words repeated as see in magazine).

GREAT ANTIQUES AND ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS

The Southern Antiques Centre, on the Princes Highway in the unlikely location of Kogarah, is a hub for stylists, collectors, shoppers and antique lovers everywhere! ...

STYLE YOURSELF VINTAGE

The Southern Antiques Centre is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of clients and the stock reflects trends in taste, fashion and style. Our newest dealer, Bowerbird Vintage, offers a gorgeous range of select vintage clothing prices to please. Luxurious fabrics, quality  detailing and fabulous prints abound. With the racing season approaching we know you'll find a one of a kind ensemble- complete with unique vintage hat.

Nothing does Formal as well as Vintage.

  

As we head into the season of school formals, remember nothing brings out youthful beauty more than a stunning piece of vintage. Or even vintage head to toe. Think of a young Ava Gardener, Lana Turner or Audrey Hepburn – how divine to own the room with that level of glamour.

Ava Gardener inspires us with a one shoulder strap elegant dress.

Lovely Lana in a sparkling black halter floor length dress.

The gorgeous Audrey in a flower print dress.

So many of today’s formal designs manage to – well, let’s face it – they all somehow look the same. Now that’s great if you don’t want to stand out but who doesn’t want to rock the room at their formal?

Two of vintage clothing’s main advantages, unique design and superior quality, are so appropriate for evening wear – all come with a high level of the ‘oh my God you look divine’ effect. 

Courtesy of Vogue.

When a vintage gown fits you, it looks like it was made for you and we could tell you so many stories of girls transformed into goddesses with just one pull of the zip.

Right now, Bowerbird Vintage is well stocked with hangers holding ‘that perfect dress’. You should make haste before the best colours and styles are snapped up.

If you don’t want to go vintage all the way, consider giving a modern gown that vintage twist with the perfect choice of jewelry. Current fashion, as highlighted in this month’s Vogue is all about a special vintage necklace or broach, paired with the latest catwalk looks.

Vintage Jewellery, Courtesy of Vogue.

Come into the store and we’ll help you find the perfect look for a school formal you’ll remember forever. We have so much to choose from. If you can't find it online, be sure to email us so we can check our stocks, which we rotate regularly.

With Spring in full bloom (a little earlier than expected but hasn’t this weather been simply divine) we would like to share that we are exhibiting at The Vintage and Retro Fair, Friday Sept 27th to Sunday 29th September. This gorgeous Fair will be at Australia Technology Park, Eveleigh Sydney.

Tickets can be purchased in advanced to save a few dollars.

We love this Fair and chatting to all of our Vintage fans and followers. It is a great day out to be absorbed in all things Vintage. From Vintage Fashion & Jewellery to Vintage Cars, Vintage Furniture and so much more. Mark the date in your diaries and we look forward to seeing you there.

It’s about the love.  The love for a change of season and the love of Vintage.

Kim

Everyone's a winner

We think everyone who falls for vintage is a winner in the great fashion statement of life. However, as you would know, we’ve just held a competition offering everyone the opportunity to win a truly beautiful vintage black crystal necklace. This necklace has already played a staring role in the TV series ‘ A Place to Call Home’ and now it will play its best part yet – around the gorgeous neck of our lucky winner, Maria Moriarty.

Maria got us where it counts when she said her favourite vintage pieces that she can’t live without were her ‘black sleeveless satin swing dress which holds a classic 1950s design. Along with a fresh water pearl necklace.’ Maria shared that if she won ‘can’t wait to dress up to take me back to a time I should have been born in.’ Don’t we all Maria!

It really wasn’t easy to choose. Audrey reminded us of the power of memento when she told us of her Grouse claw brooch, from the father she never knew. He died in WW2 when she was only 8 months old. She said the brooch is well worn and no wonder.

Leanne was lucky enough to be given her grandmother’s pearl necklace to wear on her wedding day – that’s borrowed and old covered right there – and Sarah has a vintage Spanish bracelet and ring from her great, great grandmother.

Aime loves her vintage red Mary Jane shoes because they make her feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and Kirsten loves hers ‘even though they cause me pain, they’re too beautiful to resist’. Now, that’s commitment.

Jess has all her grandmothers Glo-Mesh bags (score) and Wendy adores her 1950’s vintage pink coat. There were just so many wonderful stories behind the entries to this competition. Our imaginations ran wild.

And of course that’s one of the special things about vintage – the stories behind every special piece. You’ll find enough stories to fill a book in our store right now, so make sure you drop in to check out the new arrivals.

And a big thanks to the many people who entered our competition. There will be more, I promise. Congratulations to Maria Moriarty. We hope you enjoy wearing your exquisite necklace for many years to come.

Thanks for sharing the love.  The love of vintage.

Kim

Your time to sparkle.

Is it the extra lustre?  Or the beautiful and sometimes complex designs?  There is no doubt that the lovers of vintage jewellery have many reasons for their devotion but let’s agree, like everything vintage, it has a lot to do with individuality, not to mention great taste. 

The one advantage vintage has over contemporary jewellery is that it looks just as beautiful worn with sleek, modern fashion as it does with the more feminine and romantic styles.

                                    

And vintage jewellery brings its own story – just imagine the lives of those who came before, the thrill when it was first fastened, what times has it seen. The stones are brighter and the settings more elaborate and romantic. Everyone shines in vintage jewellery.

The good news is that right now, you can enter our competition and win a 1950’s amazing vintage black, Austrian crystal necklace. It was worn by Noni Hazlehurst on Chanel 7’s A Place to Call Home and will look stunning with everything and anything. 

Like us on Facebook and this beautiful piece, valued at $300 could be all yours. See our WIN tab for further details.

In the meantime, stop on over to our online store Bowerbird Vintage and see the amazing pieces we have available for every jewellery lover. Vintage jewellery is classic and timeless – it will never look outdated and always hold its special charm.

You can also visit us at our retail store in Sydney's south and share the love. The love of sparkle, the love of Vintage.

Kim