Vintage Fashion at Sydeny Design 09

The Powerhouse Museums annual International Design Festival is on again from the 1st of August until the 16th of August. This year it is jam packed with fantastic workshops, exhibitions and talk from experts in all design fields including fashion. In fact, there are a number of vintage fashion events that will definitely weasel me away from my fixed position in front of the fireplace.

What looks to be a seriously unmissable workshop for any vintage clothing collector is the seminar on conservation & restoration of vintage fashion and accessories on the 2nd of August. Experts will be giving advice on preserving, storing precious textiles and garments, and restoring beading and fabrics in vintage dresses and the like.

Also for budding fashion designers is the From Trash to Treasure workshops which explain the process of creating fashion from what would otherwise be waste. The first workshop focuses on “upcycling” of discarded materials through textile manipulation and rich embellishment. Reworking vintage clothing is a passion of mine so I will definitely be booking a spot for this one.

There is a myriad of other fashion related workshops and exhibitions too so I suggest you jump online at the PowerHouse and take a look for yourself.

Of course, if markets are your thing then I highly recommend the Young Blood Design Markets at the end of the festival on the 14th-16th of August. These are one of my favourite markets in Sydney and are usually only on twice a year. You can meet and buy direct from the best design talent in the country including fashion, furniture, jewellery, graphics, landscape and lighting designer to name a just a few.

Vintage Swimwear!

I know it's not exactly sun baking or swimming weather here in Sydney at present but if you love a vintage aesthetic and you are daydreaming about warmer weather (like me!) you should get yourself along to the Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour to see the new Exposed! The Story of Swimwear exhibition which is on right now until early October. Check out the ANMM web site for further details.

Sublime vintage swimwear and a history of popular culture and design influence. Oh, and it's free!

Thanks to the lovely Nicole at Circa Vintage for giving me the heads up!

Oh, to be free as a birdie

I've sadly become a terrible blogger...I used to be so good - sometimes I'd even blog 2 or 3 times a day about various going-ons. Now, it's more like 2 or 3 times a month. And I miss the lovely blogger community and just taking the time to sit down and have a little wander around all my favourites and other cyber haunts like Etsy and Madeit.

Life has gotten in the way! Businesses to run, studies to attend to and husbands to nag (not really...o.k sometimes...he likes it though...)

I'm always startled it's Friday - then the weekend flies by in a blink and away we go again.

I know! that's everybody elses life as well.

So, lets take 5 minutes out of our hectic day and look at pretty things...with birdies on them

...like these:

Someone...please buy me a handmade lamp from the Etsy store The Owls are Hunting

Made from reclaimed and vintage materials from the 60's, 70's and 80's

I'm in love...

or, I'd also be happy with adorable handmade little scarf from MINGUS. Who also makes lovely vintage inspired bits and pieces from reclaimed and recycled fabrics

and finally...

You can snap this little cotton tee up from Erin Jane at Strawberry Jam - home of all things handmade and vintage inspired...

It's that time again...

Yep, we are off on a vintage treasure hunt! Coasting down south this time with plenty of scheduled stops at my favourite vintage collectors and suppliers then back via the Snowy Mountians (Ski season opens this weekend!!!). I love a road trip - and after finally finishing off my Multi Media project for my Masters degree I feel like I deserve a bit of a break.

Actually, we have a lot of ground to cover and lots of vintage fashion and accessories to purchase in 9 days so it might be kind of hectic but hey, I've already bags'd the passenger seat (I'm dangerous driving long distances - I have a tendency to nod off as soon as I get onto the open road...makes for a long trip with 227 roadside stops doing star jumps to wake myself up!). Anyway, have lots of gorgeous new fashion mags for when I'm awake. Yes - I'm great company on road trips! I do share my crossword puzzles though...and my chocolate brownies.

One thing I hope to get time to do is visit the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. I'm very excited about the Vanity Fair Portraits 1913-2008 exhibition that starts tomorrow and runs to August 30. I've always loved the amazing celebrity portraits in VF and can't wait to see some of the vintage photography on display from the likes of Florance Vadamm. also on display are photographs by Mario Testino, Annie Lebovitz and Bruce Weber. Surely we can't miss that!

See you in a week and a half

x

Vintage Appeal - 1980's style

Hooray...vintage fashion is most definitely here to stay. With the passing of Rosemount fashion week and the latest winter trends from NY, Paris and Milan being showcased for their next season ...it is official – a vintage aesthetic is still the stand out design favourite with many of the top fashion houses both here and overseas.











Louis Vuitton does 80's glamour perfectly

Most notably, the 1980’s is having a huge moment with serious shoulder pads popping up everywhere and body con dresses in fluoro colours a catwalk fave! I’m thrilled. I’ve always loved the 80’s – the fashion, movies and music (maybe because that’s where I spent my teens and am ever so slightly nostalgic). It was such a fun era though and required a complete disregard for taste and rules. All you needed was attitude and confidence...the more colourful and flamboyant the outfit the better and nothing was too OTT. Obviously, there a many things best left behind, most notably blue eye shadow, bubblegum jeans and spiral perms (all of which I am guilty of wearing – occasionally at the same time!)

The great thing about referencing a fashion era is that designers now cleverly deconstruct the look. Shoulder pads for instance were often simply a matter of sewing in huge foam pads, giving the garment an often boxy, rather unfinished look. The current trend for power dressing and a sharp shoulder is all about amazing nips, tucks, pleats and rolls in amazing fabrics. It’s definitely OTT, but it’s also art – just look at some of the dresses and jackets from the likes of Balmain, Givenchy, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana – the beauty lies in the details.

Having said that, I have been collecting authentic 80’s for a few years now, particularly disco frocks and sun dresses in mad colours and prints with plenty of frills. For every trashy, poorly made garment from that era there are still a myriad of fabulous designer frocks in great condition to be found.

Unfortunately, during the 90’s when fashion took a turn towards boring and safe and I went travelling for a few years, I stupidly discarded many of my glorious 80’s wardrobe including high waisted cut off denim shorts (although I’m quite sure I would not wear these now even though I weigh less than I did then...no one needs to see a 36 year old women in tiny shorts) , a black leather pencil skirt, a leather biker jacket, a few man style jackets and a black silk tuxedo suit that would just be so perfect right now...sigh!

Beautiful Balmain get it oh-so-right!

A few little VINTAGE FASHION gems to add to your Blog Roll...

Being the vintage mad, Internet obsessed woman that I am, spending time trawling like minded blogs and web sites is part of my morning ritual.

Of course nothing is fabulous if it is not shared with others right?

So, perhaps you have time to check these little gems out...?






I've only just stumbled across this London based site.
This amazing vintage on line magazine is a must for any vintage fan. Choc full of information about vintage fashion, beauty, and interior style secrets...It's definitely worth adding to your favourites!




"Whether you want to find the hottest vintage action By Location or By Decade, if you have a vintage piece ready to be revamped in our exclusive Make and Mend section, or even if you want to steal the style from our 100 Vintage Queens, we’ve got more vintage style advice and gossip than you could wave a Mark Cross overnight bag at! So if you bask in Bakelite and frolic in frills, our dedicated team of vintage-obsessed writers and gurus are making it their mission to bring you all that’s fabulous in the vintage world"

I know I've mentioned WARDROBE REMIX before but this Flickr site really is a brilliant photographic ode to the art of thrifting and a how to guide for all those gals who want to know how to wear their vintage and look fabulously cool and right on trend!

I love trawling through the photo's ...great for a daily dose of inspiration!













VINTAGE VERVE

A wonderful little blog by a vintage mad girl living in the vintage capital of Australia...Melbourne of course!


And speaking of Melbourne...

One of my favourite bloggers and go to girl for all things lady-like and vintage inspired...
LADY MELBOURNE is one of those wonderfully chic gals who just makes everything look good!

Vintage Fashion, Fashion, Fun!

Ok, so a little round up of things you really should get along to over the next few weeks...




Sydney Vintage Clothing, Jewellery and Textiles Show

WHEN: 17th - 19th April
WHERE: Canterbury Racecourse,Canterbury
WEBSITE DETAILS: http://www.lovevintage.com.au/main/page_program.html

This is the best vintage show around. Jam packed full of fabulous vintage fashion catwalk shows, vintage best dressed competition, vintage fashion workshops swing dance exhibitions and lucky door prizes. The best bit though is there are dozens of vintage stalls selling clothing, accessories, posters, fabrics and much much more.

Fashion Weekend - Sydney

WHEN: 14TH - 17TH of May 2009
WHERE: Royal Hall of Industries
WEBSITE DETAILS: http://sydney.fashionweekend.com.au/rhoi/
Presented by Shop Til You Drop Magazine, this is the first event like it in Sydney. Featuring a catwalk show, beauty makeovers, manicures, hair styling, cocktails and statement purchases from dozens of Australian designers at a fraction of their retail price!

It's not vintage but it's still a must for any girl who loves fashion!

The Finders Keepers Markets

WHEN: 15th-16 May 2009
WHERE: Carriage Works, Eveleigh, 245 Wilson Street
WEB SITE: http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/markets.php

A showcase of some 60 emerging designers and artists from all around Australia. The markets brings together new contemporary independent artists and designers of original and high creative standards. Art, Fashion, accessories, Jewellery - There's something for everyone!

The markets will feature free live music, with a cafe and bar open all day.

Vanity Fair Vintage Market
WHEN: 9 May 2009
WHERE: Leichhardt Town Hall, Cnr Norton and Marion Streets, Leichhardt
WEBSITE: http://www.vanityfairmarkets.com/index.html

Held once a month in Leichardt, this is a great market for anyone interesting in vintage clothing and accessories. There is a plethora of fabulous finds including dresses, bags and items made from recycled vintage materials, vintage accessories such as bags and shoes, jewellery, sewing accoutrement's, linen and lace, boudoir items, gentlemen’s clothing and accessories, fashion art, shopping ephemera such as old catalogues and advertisements, patterns.

You name it, you can find it at Vanity Fair.

Fashion in the City

This just in from one of my favourite daily alerts for all things fabulous, DAILY ADDICT:

The MLC Centre in the Sydney CBD is having a fashion moment with a photography exhibition featuring works by 21 top fashion photographers including Derek Henderson, Carlotta Moye and Simon Lekias. From Barely There to Wondrous Exhibition until Wed 8 Apr, MLC Centre, Sydney CBD. Free.

The exhibition embraces everything from Miranda Kerr floating on a duck to Eva Mendes bringing true glamour to Bondi. Although entry to the exhibition is free you can spend a pretty penny on buying up some of the fabulous limited-edition prints which are signed, beautifully mounted and framed (85 x 65cm), for price of $750.

The best bit? All the profits will go straight to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. That should have you racing into town for a sticky beak surely?