Meet the new face of Bowerbird Vintage

A classically beautiful face, meet Penelepe.

We found each other through the world of social media and first met just last week for a chat.
It was an instant attraction (for us anyway, look at Penny's beauty)!

Penelope Quinn is a craft fanatic and vintage lover with a passion for upcycling, environmentally sustainable fashion and craft. 

The darnsexysecondhand.com craft blogger is also the official craft expert of Lifestyle Channel http://www.lifestyle.com.au/penelopequinn/ and has enjoyed a career as a TV presenter, model and journalist. 

When she's not blogging, upcycling, holding craft demonstrations and throwing the occasional crafty party for hens and baby showers, you can find her ferreting through op shops, markets and vintage stores and trying (unsuccessfully) to convince her cat Steve to wear hand-knitted beanies.     

Penelope is delighted to come on board as the face of the divine Bowerbird Vintage and is  being a devoted advocate for vintage and sustainable fashion. 

We welcome Penelope on board and look forward to the great dreams we can achieve together.

darnsexysecondhand.com 

twitter.com/penelope_quinn 

lifestyle.com.au/penelopequinn/ 

instagram.com/penelope_quinn

Kim

All you need for Christmas is Vintage

Christmas is coming and although the songs may tell us it’s about jingling bells and reindeer we know that, ding dong merrily on high, it’s about parties. It’s that festive time of year when too many parties are barely enough, especially when you have a beautiful vintage wardrobe to sashay through every one of them.

In fact, quite a few people believe this is the best time to bring out the vintage because with the right outfit you can look like the girl from Christmas past and future.

This is when you can show all the sparkles, keeping in mind the more sparkling the accessories, the simpler the dress must be. Beautiful, flowing Gatsby inspired dresses will have pride of place this year and the very figure flattering and floaty A-Line skirt below a nipped in waist and tailored vintage top will always feature. It’s always important to know your size in vintage and get it right every time.

                                          Photo Courtesy of Examiner

Vintage must fit you like it was made for you and that’s one of the reasons why Bowerbird is the perfect place to get you ready for Christmas. We have such a wide and wonderful range to choose from and we make sure everything looks divine and fits you perfectly. The range of vintage colours can suit and flatter women of every age and the right dress will make your silhouette look slimmer, younger, and more romantic. 

Vintage dress with matching crop overlay buttoning at 
the back in silk is one of my favourites in store now

Dress to impress #1950s #satin 

Christmas party inspirations #1940s inspired 
.

Your outfit will bring your own theme to every party. It might be in a Victorian or Edwardian style – a touch of Downton Abbey perhaps or new age jazz with long strands of pearls. You could wow them in a flirty fifties outfit or something svelte and swinging from the sixties.

Here at Bowerbird, we can’t wait to help you find the perfect outfit and make this the most wonderful festive party season ever.

It’s for the love.  The love for vintage at Christmas.

Kim

Vintage fashion leads the field

'A dress five inches above the knee, no hat, no gloves and no stockings well’, huffed a former Lady Mayoress of Melbourne, ‘if she wants to do that in London that’s her business, but it’s not done here’. 

Of course this was the Melbourne Cup in 1965 when the world’s most famous and most beautiful model dared to wear a mini dress to the iconic race day.

Jean Shrimpton’s outfit welcomed the sixties into stuffy Melbourne and the following year mini dresses were all the rage at the races, accompanied by, we’re pleased to say, hats.

The Spring Carnival is the ideal season for vintage millinery. In fact many fashion experts say vintage hats are a strong favourite with the judges of Fashions on the Field. One reason for this is they’re so flattering and of course, completely original.

Vintage Hats from Bowerbird Vintage (hyperlink)

How you wear your hat is just as important as the piece itself. It’s very chic to wear your hat at a jaunty angle and classic glamour is always a safe choice. A favourite style is the pillbox, often trimmed with eye-covering netting and vintage adornments.

Buying vintage also makes it possible to own a couture hat for less and it’s an investment you’ll make a return on next racing season.

Jackie O made the pillbox hat famous, so classy.

Vintage racewear has made a huge comeback and Kim of Sydney’s own Bowerbird Vintage says this year it will be all about sixties glamour.

Echoes of Jean Shrimpton will be trackside this spring in A line shift dresses, waistless bag dresses and mini skirts.

Rebecca Twigley wears ‘The Shrimp’ at Derby Day.

Trouser suits and flowing caftans in big, bold, beautiful prints will also be popular. Kim reminded us that the perfect accessories are oversize sunglasses, fabulous Maryjane’s, glomesh clutches and of course the pillbox and also the wide brimmed hat.

Audrey and the oversizes sunglasses.

Bowerbird Vintage wide-brimmed hat

Sixties fashion fits in with spring racing so perfectly as that gorgeous super model showed us all those years ago. Search out your own outfit in psychedelic colors, geometric prints, space age shimmer or funky over sized floral and you’ll find what was once such controversial fashion will be a safe bet in 2013.

The A-line dress, monochromatic or with funky oversizes florals.

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