Vintage Origins

This week Nylon Magazine asked the question of whether people bought vintage clothing specifically because they loved the shared experience of the history of a piece or if they bought pieces because they were cool.


I've loved vintage clothing since I was a child.
The youngest of seven children, including four older sisters, I didn't get new clothes and instead wore their hand-me-downs while mum sewed or knitted items to fill in the gaps. 
The result?  Dire muddy colours, scratchy fabrics, grey knee-high socks and Bata Bullets (sneakers).
I rest my case here ...

I saw my grown-up sisters' closets as one giant dressing up box and frequently raided their gear to inject some glamour into my life while they were at work.
Flitting through the sheep paddock in a pair of 70s brown lace-up knee boots and cape a la' Wonder Woman was unforgettable!!
Especially if I'd forgotten to remove any traces of chook or sheep poo before surreptitiously returning offending items to their place:).  Oops!!

I started to learn sewing at age seven but it was at about 14 when I thought "Stuff it, I'll not wear this hideous gear mum's making for me, I'll make my own clothes!"
I'm sure mum's efforts were kindly meant but 14-year-old girls are impossible to please and I think she was relieved to hand the reins over to me.
Being the tail-ender of the family I spent much of my time in the company of older female relatives who indulged my ravenous appetite for soft, sensuous fabrics.

Many of these grandmothers, aunts, sisters and cousins and their sundry acquaintances didn't mind me gently touching and smelling the delicate and precious silks, velvets and wools and even the odd fur hanging in their closets.
I learnt at an early age how to handle aged fabrics and accessories which when combined with the glamour of Saturday afternoon 1940s movies on TV,  I ended up developing a deep and abiding devotion to fashion history. 

As a collector of clothing from various 20th century eras I've settled on wearing only natural fibres which has meant the 60s and 70s have taken a back seat in recent times.
The Brisbane climate is temperate and it's impossible to comfortably wear vintage man-made fibres.
As for style, I did go through a stage of head-to-toe vintage (any era!).
However something didn't feel quite right until it dawned on me that in head-to-toe vintage,  I was telling someone else’s story and literally walking around in someone else’s shoes/life. 
Now I prefer a look that I consider less "costumey", by mixing up vintage eras and modern pieces together. 
It seems to be a style that has also caught on for many and I think it has something to do with individuals wanting to tell their own life story, not somebody else's.
For now, I'm happy with that.
I'm back in the paddock, fancy-free, running around in a mix-up of bits and pieces, with some that once belonged to someone else.
Now I'm creating a story that's just my own.


So do share please!
What are the origins of your vintage fashion desires?
Why do you wear vintage?


Hail the next generation of vintage fashion lovers! (my seven-year-old)

Come along quietly now - DAY 10

I'm still tossing up whether animal prints only belong to throw cushions and shoes, or whether I can pull off the look in an item of clothing.  You know, keep it safe. Goodness knows I once rocked a pair of leopard-print faux fur hot pants about 20 years ago (Yep I thought they were hot!;D) but I haven't been game to wear the same print since.  
There's something about it today that evokes the following two words. 
Mutton and Lamb.
Still, a couple of months ago my hand reached out for this leopard print stretchy cotton dress in a thrift shop and I haven't worn it since.  I like the neckline, length and sleeves but there you go.
So I pulled out this vintage, maxi-length, cashmere kilt which I've been wearing as a cape this winter and decided the two would walk up the isle together and get hitched.
I'm not sure if it works, but I'm convinced that taking animal prints too seriously is just not the way to go.
Animal print = keep it fresh, don't try and sex it up, add something a little unexpected.
Have fun!

Getting greener - DAY 9

I really love green.  I've said it before - it's nature's-neutral.  Goes with everything - yes, even blue.
So I've finally ventured outside for this shoot in a Pretty Much New silk fluttery top that feels like a dream. I layered it over an American Apparel mesh dress.  And I've finally cranked out my beloved Audrey Cantwell leather leggings, the F21 booties once again, plus of course a purple vintage floral and veil headpiece;), vintage 1960s earrings and assorted bangles.
Ready for anything!!

Oh how I wanted everything Madonna wore in Desperately Seeking Susan - that jacket! Those boots!  
Interesting to see her recreate her past and flog it off to modern teens with her new Material Girl collection.  I smell a nice big earner for her and Macy's, but I can concede that it is a clever idea: 1980s icon and controversial feminist who led the way to today's Lady GaGa look.
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Bustle Up! - DAY 8

Blame my shameless Madonna worship, circa 1985. on my skirt.
Or blame the skirt on Madonna.
Or just me.  
Yes I love and do wear this skirt. 
It does tend to knock things over and brush delicate kick-knacks off shop shelves,  but I just think it has a mind of its own and wants some attention.  
Sooooo back to the circus world.
The skirt is part of a Studibaker Hawk dress which was a big Sydney label during the 80s and considered expensive at the time at around $500+ a pop.  
Once upon a time it was a dress and someone has hacked the strapless bodice off the top and probably just worn that and hidden the sad, forlorn and outrageously huge skirt part away.
You might recognise it as a permanent decorative feature in the kitchen in my post pics, accompanied by its sister - a gold and black number - which has not been destroyed and fits me.
I spotted the skirt's garish fabric at a vintage market stall a few months ago, knew straight away what it was and picked it up for a few bucks.  It had no waist so I sewed a thick band of black elastic around the top to make a waist band - too easy!!
Also wearing a thrifted lace blouse and Forever 21 booties.
Messy hair, tick.

That's it, I'm joining the circus - DAY 7

Every time I put this top on I feel like I should be on the high swing in a big top circus.
It's a vintage 60s wool and silk shell top absolutely covered in sequins and beaded tassels both front and back.
I bought the leather shorts from Bitching and Junkfood - they have so many pockets and are super comfy - check out their site for more and their 50% off sale.  Shoes are a thrifted pair of delicious metallic suede wedges.
Well, must be off to tighten the ropes!

Get Up Sister - DAY 6

Yes I am wearing a nightie.
Now we've got that out of the way I can truthfully say that after styling this 1930s lacy treasure I'm ready to wear it anywhere.
Gorgeous fabric - tick.  Beautiful colour - tick.  Tiny puffed sleeves and lace details - tick.
Add black tights, Docs, pearls and feather hair-comb and I'm off out.
This nighty's far too yummy for bed I'm afraid:).

Go flapper go! DAY 5

My son paid us a surprise visit on this glorious Sunday, resulting in many mind-blowing, hilarious and futuristic discussions and plans.
The result?  Today's 1920s-meets-Star Trek outfit:).
The dress is an original late 20s silk chiffon number with creme lace inserts in the front and back.  I love the fit around the hips with its finely pleated flounces.
The dress is so incredibly old that the sleeves are starting to shred.  So why am I wearing it?  Because it's beautiful, old and has soul. 
The shredding makes it even more charming and accessible.
Plus it's my favourite colour - green.
I've married the dress with AA silver leggings and tried it with Docs, blood-red platforms and a black silk jacket.
I also added a 1940s velvet, veiled hat; then a vintage Liberty of London silk scarf.


Question: Do you think old, delicate clothing or accessories should be worn or saved for posterity?

This week's Independent Fashion Bloggers update

Jealousy, Race, and Summer Jackets

Edited by: Thom Wong of The Sunday Best.
A  veritable cornucopia of stylish reading awaits you in this week's list.  You'll get taken on a tour of (rarely mentioned) downtown Halifax,  discuss again whether any role model should be based on image, and look  into doing the impossible with a dying medium. Along the way discover  what tips men might have for women's style, whether a closet can be  perfectly unisex,  and what Mormons might know about minimalism.


Links à la Mode: August 5th

• Amanda Lee: Avoiding Fashion Impulse Buys
• All Tumbled Down: Reflections on a year of no shopping
• An Early Life Crisis: Project 27 Completed!
• Beyond Fabric: Work appropriate: tips for being presentable at conservative workplaces
• Broke and Beautiful: You smell different.
• Clothed Much: How to create a minimalist closet
• Fashionable People, Questionable Things: Big Day Downtown: A Roundup of our shopping trip in downtown Halifax.
• Frenchleave: Who wants to wear a summer jacket
• Guacamole and Toast: An interview with The Impossible Project's Florian Kaps
• Independent Fashion Bloggers: How to take your own outfit photos
• Mariel's Castle: A case of unisex
• The Demoiselles: Women in the Media: Adele
• Stylish Thought: Losing Out Essence: Issues of Race in Fashion
• Modly Chic: Friend Friday: Blogger Jealousy
• Oranges and Apple German magazine bans professional models - nine months on
• Sparkle Birds: Sunday's Best
• Sugar and Spice: Christina Hendricks: curvy role model or another unattainable ideal?
• The Coveted: Three essential beauty products under $20
• The Sunday Best: Copy Fail | Gap CORE
• The Very Subjective: The Style Thing
• Un-Stitched: Best of etsy.com

CATCH UP TIME DAY 4

This is a catch-up post as I've hardly been out this week.
So ... I've been thinking of putting this outfit together all week and ended up wearing it to do housework ... you know, as you do ... hmmmmm.


I bought the vintage 1960s dress from a Brisbane market and put my absolutely favourite jacket with it - a mid-green vintage 70s leather jacket I got at Camberwell markets on a trip to Melbourne.  I luuurve Melbourne.  
The hairpiece is from an Auckland market - red silk roses and feathers on a hair-comb, which I bought for my Nana's funeral a few years ago.  She would have understood - she loved bright colours.

Headless Chook DAY 3

A day of running errands so I wore a couple of  Babooshka pieces - a super-soft dress that is cut higher at the front and their nude and black two-tone leggings.
Something vintage? A white leaf and veil hairpiece of course:).

Dress and leggings: Babooshka; Doc Marten boots

Stop Buying More Shit - DAY 2

Well that's a jolly grand start isn't it?  Days two and three were a total cock up - torrential rain and I never stepped out of the house.  BUT. I didn't shop so that's a good thing eh?


Which brings me to why I'm doing this.
I follow a lot of blogs and I respect and admire many, many, many artists and creators of fashion and design.
I especially love sharing the thrill of a new purchase and how a blogger incorporates new items into their wardrobe.
But surely there comes a point when we have enough stuff?
Sure, sell a bit on etsy or eBay, consign things and send clothing and shoes to thrift stores.
It's a bit of joke really though isn't it?
Our closets soon fill up with more shit we don't wear.


Which is why I have renamed my pledge from Shop My Closet to Stop Buying More Shit!
Has a bit more weight to it when you think of the true cost of that new yet unnecessary shredded t-shirt, studded belt, or another pair of cheap, crappy platforms ("but so cute I couldn't resist"!).
That $30 could be used to buy a couple of blankets, some healthy tinned food, or a pair of school shoes for a kid that needs an education.
Try and make do with what's already in the closet.
So stop. Just stop and think.
And Stop Buying More Shit!!!

Black Milk Geisha leggings; vintage mens tuxedo shirt; Forever 21 feather cape; Doc Marten boots

Shop My Closet: DAY 1

Welcome to the first day of Shop My Closet:). I've pledged to go 30 days without shopping for any fashion items and instead dig through my wardrobe and come up with hopefully interesting outfits that make me smile.


Today I chose a vintage 1920s dress that I bought on eBay about two months ago but hadn't worn.  It fastens up with eight tiny, fiddly buttons up the left side and lots of little self-covered buttons at the back of the neck.
It has lots of fringing around the skirt, but a big chunk of fringing missing at the left-front side.  
Now you might think I'm nuts to have bought it with that flaw but I have recently been buying up Edwardian and 1920s bits and pieces with shredding and other flaws deliberately.
I love these beautiful clothes that have been danced in, hugged, drinks spilt on and generally loved by their original owners.
To me, those flaws give the clothes some soul.


I added a rickety old velvet leopard-print hat, chunky bracelets, teal tights and blood-red platforms and my beloved Mona Lisa earrings.

A detail shot of the fringing, tights and shoes.

(Must mop that floor tomorrow:P)

So here's the challenge ...

It's no secret I've been strapped for cash for most of my life.  
I don't miss what I've not had or known ... a new car, a new and/or designer wardrobe, new house, a decent primary and secondary education, overseas holidays, regular shopping trips for the latest gadgets, solid parental support.
Never had them, so never missed them.
But I think good things have resulted in not having everything I needed or wanted.
It's given me an appreciation of anything handmade or the refashioning of old items into new.
I respect people who have had to drag themselves out of poverty-stricken backgrounds or escaped from lives of abuse and control.
I'm proud of the standard of living I've carved out for myself - with little or no reddies.
Fast-forward to this week and life has taken another turn.
My darling man, the Phoenix, has entrusted me as his full-time carer and accordingly, to my surprise, his doctor and the government seem to think I can fulfil the role.
I feel both honoured and nervous about my responsibilities, but I think it will work out OK.


So with the change in circumstances, I've decided the occasion calls for a full turnaround of my spending habits and I'm going to embark on Shopping my Closet!!
"Woohoo - so what you say, it's been done before".
Well, I just think I've got enough stuff that I've thrifted, handmade or bought online to last me through a 10-year siege so it's time to call on my skills learned through desperation and necessity.
I'm starting by going 30 days without shopping for clothes, knickers, socks, shoes - everything.
Even thrifting isn't allowed.
I just have to make do.
Case in point, my everyday flats have fallen apart. 
But I have a wardrobe full of boots and heels - so what's my excuse?  I have shoes - so I must wear them.
I have skirts, t-shirts, jeans - blah, blah, blah - I have no reason to shop.  
Yeah sure most of my clothes cost under ten bucks but I really don't NEED to go shopping.
We're going to be pretty skint for a while so why not try and turn it to into something positive?
I know of other bloggers who have decided to undertake a similar challenge, but I'm not sure how many of them were doing it for purely economic reasons.
I hate wastage on cheap, nasty clothing as much as many others do, but I simply cannot afford more stuff and I don't think I really NEED anymore.
So I think some outfit posts with (hand-on-heart) me wearing only existing wardrobe items are needed from here-in.
I've been thinking about it for a while and I'm really looking forward to the challenge.
So here goes!


***I pledge not to shop for clothes, accessories and any kind of fabric or adornment that can be used to fashion new clothing items.  
I will only wear what I already have or make new garments from stashed fabrics or existing items in my wardrobe.
I promise that I will post a daily outfit consisting of the above for my pledge duration of 30 days***

It's actually winter here you know

Winters in Brisbane are short.  
I mean really short. 
Sometimes we don't even have them - just a few cold nights and mornings, followed by blindingly beautiful sunny days.
No complaints there, but for some strange reason my spare closet is rammed with wool, cashmere, leather, fur, suede, feathers, denim, faux fur and velvet winter goodies.
They don't see the light of day all that often but I try and play fair by giving them an airing at least once during the "season".
This year is just plain ridiculous though - I have more capes than I can shake a stick at, a long leather trench and a stack of vintage felt hats.
What is going on here?  
I feel the cold - I'm practically a reptile in winter - I go into semi-hibernation!
I cannot justify one more winter clothing purchase for a season that we rarely fully experience.
I have a love-hate relationship with the cold.
But I just love layering up.  
I love texture.
I love muted, wintery colours.
With our winter approaching its end, this post is in honour of that elegant, bare, exposed and bracing season where nature's beauty undergoes a renewal.
If not for winter, we would have no spring, no warmth, no colour or long, balmy evenings.


So here's to winter ... you beauty.

Above pix courtesy of Photobucket

Vintage Thierry Mugler coat dress from Olive Shoppe

Black Milk bandage leggings

Layered looks at Olive Shoppe

Spanish Moss Vintage

ASOS 

Time to Style Like You

Yes, it's that time again ... another offering from the hard-working Elisa of Style Like You who has stumbled across the fabulous Nicole. I love this girl's relaxed approach to life ... I can see her gaining even more confidence and freedom of expression with age. Isn't she a breath of fresh air?

Nicole Youngblut from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.

Come fly with me

Black Milk pvc leggings; Forever21 feather cape; eBay fur cape; etsy feather headband

Hats Off to Mimi

I'm definitely getting this movie. Mimi is an inspiration! Just check out the trailer to the doco about this incredible woman who is still dancing, acting and flirting her way through her nineties:).

The Big Wave

I've had my Big Wave leggings for a while now, but I have been getting so much wear out of my Galaxy leggings that I've only just grabbed them off the shelf.

I guess it was the arrival of this beautiful vintage silk kimono from the fabulous etsy seller toottootsie, which made me reach for them - the kimono seemed to call out for James Lillis's Black Milk leggings that are based on Katsushika Hokusai's beautiful painting:

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa,

The Great Wave leggings worn with Doc Martens: ebay; silk kimono: etsy; 1950s feather headband: etsy; ASOS tank (that I seem to be wearing out!).

Here I've switched the kimono for a beautiful, soft vintage fur cape from the Aid for the Blind thrift shop in Wynnum here in Brisbane.

Style Like Them

I love Elisa's style blog Style Like U - when I wonder how many more "onesies", drapey tunics and ugly shoes I can bear, this site gives me the reassurance I need that there are so many people out there doin' it for themselves.
Daliah seems such a sweetie and loves adding a bit of strangeness to every outfit that makes me smile:).

Daliah from Stylelikeu.com from Stylelikeu on Vimeo.