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.

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

Don’t Miss The Vintage and Retro Fair

For all lovers of vintage, we hope you have the dates of this weekend,  27^th – 29^th of September inked into your beautiful leather diaries because the The Vintage and Retro Fair is here!

This year, Australia’s largest collection of vintage will be gathered at a new venue – Australian Technology Park in Everleigh, Sydney. Now that might not sound too compatible – technology? – but it’s the perfect venue and really has lots of charm.

The best dealers in vintage, antique and retro clothing, fashion accessories, textiles, jewellery, homewares, furniture and collectables will together under one roof. It’s the ideal opportunity to vintage shop until you drop and then get up again to shop some more.

If you can bear to drag yourself away from the fabulous clothes and accessories you’ll find there’s so much to do and see. I love the idea of indulging in your own pin-up shoot with the help of a vintage stylist or grabbing the front row at the many pop up fashion parades. And not to be missed - Miss Chrissy from the Lindy Charm School For Girls will hold several talks on how to you can give yourself the complete vintage glamour makeover.

Of course it’s Spring and the Spring Fashion Parades will demonstrate just how you can turn out perfectly in vintage for events such as the races, social picnics – even a day at the beach. Renowned Sydney base stylist is also on the list.

Naturally Bowerbird Vintage will be there and I am excited to share all of the new vintage treasures we have been collecting for the fair.

We’ll be featuring some incredible hats, just in time for the spring racing as well as hand-selected fashion, both dresses and separates. We’ve outdone ourselves with bags and accessories this year so make sure you make your way to Bowerbird first – I’d hate you to miss out on some of these original pieces.

I am really looking forward to meeting lots of new lovers of vintage and our dedicated followers on Facebook. Can’t wait to see you there!

Remember if you don't already like our Facebook page, pop on over and LIKE the page and be in the draw for $50 online gift voucher. 

Let’s all go for the love.  The love of vintage.

Kim

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