Rock Around Randwick

And the winner is...

Vintage on TV

I was watching the new show, Love Child on Channel 9 and just reveling in the wonderful vintage wardrobe. Nothing sets the time and place of a television series like the costume. Think Downton Abbey (did anyone see Lady Edith’s ‘peacock’ gown – pure heaven) or the glorious Miss Fisher where the murder mysteries might be a bit much but the clothes are to die for.

Love Child is set in Sydney’s Kings Cross, mainly the Kings Cross Hospital in that delicious year of 1969 – just as the sixties are about to become the seventies. It captures what I imagine were the tumultuous times when women were starting to gain some real freedom and Kings Cross was as wild as it gets.

The wardrobe team has got it so right. I’m loving the swinging mini length coats in tangerine and blue, geometric printed mini dresses, the crocheted peaked caps, the pixie hair cuts and fabulous sixties jewellery. They’ve even got the make up exactly right, and you know what? It’s exactly now. 

Walk into Bowerbird Vintage any day of the week and you can be transported back to the sixties and seventies. We always have a wonderful selection of genuine vintage from this unique and quite amazing time. 

Click here to view our full selection of amazing vintage dresses and accessories.

They say if you remember the sixties you weren’t really there but if you want to show how much you love the sixties, you can always do it in vintage.

All for the love of the television dramas that show us how wonderful a vintage wardrobe can be. 

Kim

You can fit into any era.

It’s no secret that I believe vintage clothing works for everyone. Through the decades, every era has its own particular fashion statements and focus on emphasizing different parts of the body and making your favourite style work for you can depend on a few ‘extras’ such as the appropriate undergarments and accessories.

Annora Thoeng from NoraFinds is a Vintage Fashion specialist in Sydney. We are so excited to have Nora be our special guest this blog. She agrees that vintage clothing can - with a little help, work for everyone.

"Many of us believe that our body shape dictates what eras of vintage clothing we can wear. While it is good to choose an era that best flatter and flaunt your assets, I think it is more important to wear a piece that you like despite the era. The 50s, for example, is a great example of vintage clothing that flatters every shape. The New Look silhouette can be achieved by simply wearing the right undergarments. The small waist can easily be achieved by wearing cinchers or corsets, but some might find these pieces too restrictive. I myself prefer to buy a dress with a comfortable and generous waist measurement and then enhance the bust area with bullet bras. When you buy vintage you often think that the measurements are strangely generous around the bust but not the waist, so rather than passing on a special piece think about maybe altering it or rethink your undergarment."

I agree with Annora that your choice should be based on the piece you fall in love with. One thing with vintage is the quality the garments bring with them. The fabric, cut and the tailoring are just so special. The structure of a vintage garment can help flatter every body type.

Here at Bowerbird, we make sure you leave with something you love and loves you right back. We don’t compromise on quality and we can help you find something that fits your life and your style.

It’s all for 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

Vintage De Luxe. You know you want it.

What says vintage more than fur and velvet and a big buying spree over the last few months which has filled Bowerbird with some amazing vintage fur stoles and luxurious velvet.

Fur De Luxe

Now we don’t condone cruelty to animals in anyway, and I always endeavour to have faux fur or alternative choices for my customers.

However we are passionate about the history of fashion and we know there are those of you who would love nothing better than to swathe yourself in an authentic vintage fur stole.  Why not pop in to our Bowerbird store or jump online for a preview.

Vintage fur stole

One of our favourites, black fur jacket

And while you’re here, what can I say but velvet, velvet, velvet. Super on trend, these pieces are just incredible. No wonder I, well let’s just say I overindulged my love for these luxurious velvet coats from the 20’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  There are so many delicious colours, lengths and styles to choose from – some have collars, some have fastenings, others are worn loose and flowing- there will be one perfect for you. They will all be on line soon.

bold red velvet long vintage jacket, a must for Winter

1950's dress with velvet bodice and full skirt

Now, let’s talk super vintage pick of the day. It’s an original 1950’s dress with a velvet bodice and fabulous full skirt. To this I’ve added a Bowerbird 50’s inspired tulle petticoat for extra fullness and just to make this outfit absolute perfection – a black velvet bolero. Only $200 for everything is too much of a bargain to ignore.

So there are many great reasons to drop into our  online store or if you are in Sydney, pop in and see us at 71 Jubilee Ave, Carlton NSW.

Come in today and share the love. The love of vintage.

Next blog we are excited to share our Facebook competition. You could WIN a gorgeous necklace as worn by Noni Hazelhurst from Channel Seven's  'A Place to Call Home'.

Until next time.

Kim

Greetings all bowerbirds - Anyone for online shopping??

I love collecting stuff so much - particularly clothing from different era's - that nine months ago I opened a little shop in Sydney's inner west (a vintage mecca for sure!). My shop stocks many a treasure including vintage and contemporary fashion, handmade jewellery, handbags, scarves and hats.

Art works by local and up and coming artists adorn the walls, sharing space with art deco mirrors and retro paintings including the kitsch and the religious iconic.

There is old English crockery, hand-dyed cushions along with vintage children toys, and handmade aprons and bibs...the list goes on and on -
My idea was simply to provide people with a beautiful shopping experience where they would be surrounded by fabulous items at reasonable prices. I was inspired by the European shopping experience of boutiques stuffed with a hodge-podge of amazing clothes, jewels, collectables and other desirable objects.

The main focus though is really about sharing my passion of vintage clothing. I have been collecting vintage, particularly evening wear, for over 15 years and I take great joy in being able to source amazing pieces and sharing them with my customers.

Sooooo, nine months on (boy what a rollercoaster)we are motoring along quite nicely (at times not so nicely) but retail is a tough gig and sales can vary considerably from month to month (along with my confidence!). In fact, I'm now thinking that we might set up a little on-line store too.

It seems to me that online shopping might just be the way to survive in business going forward. Research show that consumer on-line buying in Oz is growing at an incredible rate and I've notice alot of the big retailers are all jumping on the band-wagon too.

I thought I'd blog my progress for you and hopefully get some advice/feedback along the way.

Oh, and once I've got the hang of this blogging thingy I'll post lots of great info/ideas/links about the stuff that I'm good at - collecting!