It's always wonderful to get a some media limelight and this month Bowerbird Vintage has three little 'shout-outs' for vintage fashion finds.
We are featured in April's In-Style magazine as a go-to website for well priced vintage frocks. We even get have a featured dress in the editorial!
I buy In-style religiously each month. I love the layout and the celebrity endorsement's of all those coveted designer labels - so it's nice to get a little recognition from one of my mags.
We are also mentioned in OK Magazine's annual ECO issue this week which is a tribute to all things green, sustainable and environmentally sound. They have listed us as a great website to grab some fab vintage finds. Thanks OK!
And finally, the new edition of Peppermint Magazine, one of my absolute favourite magazines (it even smells devine...printed on recycled paper!) has featured three of our dresses and two vintage Glomesh bags in their "Garden Party Glamour" article.
This beautifully edited mag is a must read for anyone interested in a sustainable lifestyle. They consistently feature amazing fashion and accessories from up and coming designers doing fabulous things with natural fibres and recycled fabrics, as well as vintage fashion and handcrafted treasures.
It seems vintage inspiration is the order of the day with a "return to gentle, classic and nostalgic" ladylike fashions using sentimental fabrics such as tulle and velvet. Fur is making a big splash too and leather is huge this season.
The era of vintage clothing most referenced by many designers were the 1920's with polished ladylike yet slightly masculine lines and the relaxed bohemian vibe of the 1970's.
The 80's are still big with pleat front pants and bigger shoulders (although not too Balmain proportions!). Slouchy layering is huge and animal print is everywhere.
...Chained to my desk upgrading the Bowerbird site (Hope you like the new look) and photographing new stock (still trying to get descriptions up etc but check out some for the new vintage dresses and things we have amassed on a our recent treasure hunts around the country...)
Anyhoo, while all this hard work was going on I also managed to download a bunch of fantastic songs from iTunes. (Thank you Apple Store for providing me with such a fun diversion - You have made purchasing that absurdly expensive iPhone worth it) .
Friday 11 December 2009 5pm to 9pm Saturday 12 december 2009 10am - 4pm
The Leichhardt Town Hall is the venue for Vanity Fair Markets - Sydney’s monthly undercover vintage markets where dealers from all over Australia offer bargain hunters vintage, antique, retro and designer label clothing, textiles, jewellery, fashion accessories ranging from exotic millinery to Sixties ‘winkle picker’ shoes, fashion drawings, buttons and bows, boudoir items and so much more....................
KIRRIBILLI FASHION MARKETS Kirribilli Fashion Market features approximately 90 outside stalls of new, second hand and vintage fashion and accessories, antiques and collectables, bric - a - brac and homewares.
The next Kirribilli Fashion Market date is December 13th. BRADFIELD PARK MILSON'S POINT
SURRY HILLS MARKETS First Saturday of every month, at the corner of Crown and Collins Sts, Surry Hills, in Shannon Reserve, regardless of weather. In wet weather, the market may be restricted to the paved area. Over Christmas and New Year, the normal schedule is maintained, so there will be Surry Hills Markets on 5 December 2009 and 2 January 2010. Come and enjoy
THE FINDERS KEEPERS SPRING / SUMMER INDEPENDENT DESIGN AND ART MARKETS CO-PRESENTED BY CARRIAGEWORKS
Revel in the simple joy of discovery and explore the best in new contemporary art and design at The Finders Keepers markets, a bi-annual event that showcases the work of emerging designers and artists from Sydney and around Australia.
With fresh designers, new artwork and original merchandise at every stall, the Spring/Summer installment of The Finders Keepers features over 70 stalls and free live music in the bar. Click here to check out the line up of local live musicians who will keep the stage busy and the vibe chilled all weekend.
Perfectly timed for finding unique Christmas gifts, The Finders Keepers are partnered with creative 'Three Things Project' by Oxfam, who will be present at the markets. The Finders Keepers merchandise also donates a percentage of the profits from their stall.
Of course, Bowerbird Vintage is a pretty good place to pick up a few great gift ideas too...or a fab frock for yourself. I will even give you a 15% discount on anything in store. Just type the promo code BBVBLOG into the promo field when you check out!
The lovely and super cluey Nicole Jenkins, costume designer, vintage clothing expert and owner of Circa Vintage Clothing in Melbourne has just released a gorgeous book on vintage fashion.
Nicole has been my "Go To" girl on all matters of vintage. Not only has she been extremely supportive of Bowerbird but also very helpful identifying era's on some of my pieces and offering advice when I ask for it.
Her knowledge of vintage is extraordinary and her taste is impeccable so I highly recommend you pick up a copy. It's filled with helpful hints, beautiful photo's and lots of great information about fashion throughout different era's.
"This book is the culmination of almost 30 years of studying, collecting and repairing vintage clothes, fuelled by a passion for the art of design and a humble respect for the dressmaking skills of a bygone era that brought such creative visions into reality"
You can purchase online at CARTERS for $49.95 plus delivery or ask for it at your local bookstore.
Perths Art Gallery of Western Australia is currently holding a vintage Barbie exhibition to celebrate the iconic dolls 50th birthday. The collection includes vintage Barbies from 1959-73 including Dior Inspired models, hippies and mod era dolls.
Vintage Barbie @ The Gallery is on display at the Art Gallery of Western Australia from Wednesday 23 September - Sunday 11 October 2009, 10am-5pm. Closed Tuesdays.
I often stumble across wonderful blogs inspired by vintage creativity that I feel compelled to write about on my own blog - the love needs to be shared around after all!
Today, I stumbled once again onto something wonderful...and not via my (work avoiding) cyber trawling and keyword googling methods that I usually get up to either.
Today, one of my very dear customers quietly mentioned that she would be putting up pictures on her blog of the 50's fair at Rose Siedler house that was on over the weekend (and which I forgot to tell you to diarise - I'm losing my touch!).
Having sold several of my favourite (Bowerbird) vintage dresses and vintage bags to her in the past I was more than a little curious to check out the site and to put a face to the name I knew so well. That's the downside to having an online store I'm afraid - no personal contact means I never get to see how the vintage dresses I sell are transformed by the women buying and wearing them. And sadly that's really the most fun.
I do get happy customers occasionally sending through pictures of themselves in their bowerbird vintage finery which is wonderful and a real thrill but I definitely miss the personal interaction and service that comes with owning a shop.
So, it turns out that my lovely customer, who is a Sydney journalist, writes a beautiful blog with tonnes of stunning photo's and bountiful information about all things vintage, thrifted, arty/crafty and creative. I Highly recommend that you drop by right here: A Wild Tea Party
d mag is a must read for anyone interested in a sustainable lifestyle. They consistently feature amazing fashion and accessories from up and coming designers doing fabulous things with natural fibres and recycled fabrics, as well as vintage fashion and handcrafted treasures.
